From Red Carpet to Vietnam: British film expert mentors filmmakers

Paul Moody's career is a long, cross-genre movie blending art and education. Since his first student films in 1982, he's journeyed through the worlds of film, television and media production, from major feature films and TV dramas to historically significant documentaries, award-winning short fiction and commercials. He is no stranger to international film festivals and markets such as Cannes, Berlin, and Rotterdam and is well-connected internationally.

Beyond being a filmmaker, Paul Moody is a committed educator. He has worked at a senior level at prestigious institutions worldwide, including the UK's National Film and Television School, Goldsmiths University of London, the Royal College of Art, London College of Communication, and the London Film School.

He has also shared his expertise at the Polish National Film Television and Theatre School, La Fémis (Paris) Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, and Ramon Llull University in Barcelona.

During his seven years at the UK's National Film and Television School, he played a crucial role in its transformation into one of the world's leading institutions for cinematic talent.

Moody has since chosen a different path: travelling thousands of miles from the UK to Vietnam, where the film industry is still finding its global footing. What drew him here, he says, is simply the sense of potential and opportunity.

“I deeply admire Vietnam and its people. The Vietnamese film industry has immense growth potential. The young, talented workforce has potential to expand rapidly each year,” said Moody.

Teaching ‘know how’ and ‘know why’

Bringing decades of experience in film and education, Moody joined British University Vietnam (BUV) as Head of the School of Communications and Creative Industries (SoCCI) and quickly began shaping the school with a clear international outlook.

Under his guidance, the school's programmes have been developed and continuously updated, to remain cutting-edge and aligned with industry demands.

The Contemporary Creative Practice course has been enhanced with animation - a field Moody sees full of growth potential in Vietnam.

With expert colleagues, he has developed the BUV’s new Film and Media Production course, drawing on the framework of Arts University Bournemouth - a renowned UK institution for arts education.

Every aspect of these internationally accredited programmes has been meticulously researched, calculated, and tailored to suit Vietnam's market and forward-looking vision.

Instead of relying only on traditional lectures, BUV emphasises interactive learning by engaging students with real-world scenarios and case studies. Lecturers act as facilitators, sparking critical thinking rather than simply delivering information, empowering students to develop their skills and confidence.

Moody has also focused on expanding BUV's faculty with highly qualified academics, all holding international degrees, ensuring UK-standard teaching quality.

Lecturers bring hands-on experience from film sets and creative industries in the UK, Vietnam, US, Australia, Finland and others, directly into the classroom.

Student-centred education

If there's a common thread running through Moody's philosophy – 'humanity' or, as he puts it, "The narratives and relationships that we create."

Moody believes that truly valuable work lies in telling real stories about real people. He emphasises the importance of understanding human relationships and historical events in filmmaking, from storytelling, sound and design, to how teams collaborate.

Above all, he aims to balance artistic integrity with commercial viability in a work. This is also the goal he pursues in BUV's higher educational programmes.

Moody sees virtual production and generative AI as major trends shaping the industry's future. AI can help accelerate the production process, from storyboarding to testing film concepts, serving as a powerful tool to bring filmmakers' once-unimaginable dreams to life.

However, he is candid about its challenges, particularly the risk of over-reliance on AI at the expense of the human touch.

“The biggest downside is that some people think they can do everything with AI. That's a huge mistake,” Moody asserts. “AI is just a digital tool, not the end product, as it often produces formulaic visuals lacking depth and humanity.”

The most successful students Moody has taught, from undergraduates to postgraduates, are those who commit to writing their own scripts and bringing them to the screen.

Similarly, as film fund manager and lecturer, he has helped develop numerous talents that are now producing major international feature films and television series.

At BUV, Moody fosters the same ethos: write your own stories and create the films and media inspired by your words and drawings.

On the Film and Media Production course, he stresses the importance of creating and owning intellectual property rights. Students are not just trained to be directors, but to become professional organisers and distinctive storytellers with their own unique narratives.

Moody has been deeply impressed by the dedication and capabilities of BUV students. He believes that upon graduation, they won't just be industry-ready professionals but also carry a strong sense of ethics and responsibility, thus thriving in competitive environments and making meaningful impacts.

Arriving in Vietnam in early 2024 to join BUV marked a new development in Moody's career. He enjoys the opportunity to develop creativity and nurture emerging talent, and aims to shape the future of Vietnam's communications and creative industries on the global stage.

For Moody, this is more than a regular job. It's a mission, a journey to build and improve students’ creative industry ambitions upon high-quality teaching: with British accredited degrees, delivered by internationally qualified, industry experienced faculty on a new, well-equipped 5-star BUV campus.

Explore more about the School of Communications and Creative Industries at: https://www.buv.edu.vn/school-of-communications-creative-industries/

British University Vietnam (BUV), located on a 6.5-hectare green campus with a total projected investment of $165 million, has become the first university in Vietnam to achieve the prestigious EDGE Advanced Certification. This global mark of excellence in sustainable building design was awarded on November 21.

British University Vietnam (BUV) inaugurated phase two of its 5-star campus on April 1, an initiative with a total projected investment of $165 million aimed at delivering accredited British education to thousands of students.

British University Vietnam (BUV), located on a 6.5-hectare green campus with a total projected investment of $165 million, has become the first university in Vietnam to achieve the prestigious EDGE Advanced Certification. This global mark of excellence in sustainable building design was awarded on November 21.