RWCMD living cost support 2019

Yung D. Nguyen is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

Hi people,

*I’m going to update the campaign amount when I receive donations from people who’s given through other means*

Before I begin I like to share this info. for those who don't know about drama school. Every year, roughly 2000-4000 people apply per school to accredited drama schools across the country and only 20-30 of them get selected every year per school.

This is my dilemma. I cancelled my student finance believing that the drama sch has selected everyone because most drama school starts on 16/09/19. Although I reapplied for the tuition loan, I missed the opportunity to apply for a scholarship. I don't come from a rich background and I'm a working-class citizen.

The way I see it £1 from 10,000 people would complete this campaign. Any amount of support would truly help. I'm saying this from the bottom of my tender heart.

I believe its courtesy to give you the breakdown of why I need this amount. What I need for this school year:

Rent - 110.39x43=4,746.77
(previously - 130x43 =5,590)
Food - 35x43=1,505
Travel, study books, bills and other expenses 100x43=4,300

Total - 10,551.77

The rest will come from my beloved mum who will cover the £1,395.77.

My name is Yung Duc Nguyen. I was born in Tuen Mun Hospital, Hong Kong in 1993, my parents are both Vietnamese who moved to Hong Kong because of the aftermath of the Vietnam War. My parents didn't know each other until my dad married my mum after seeing her in a refugee camp. They moved to the U.K. in 1998 just right after the transfer of sovereignty in 1997 to the People's Republic of China.

I lived in S.E. London where I learned to speak English. Over the years, I became accustomed to British inner city culture and had Afro-Caribbean friends. It made me into the person I am today, a fusion of 2 different cultures where Vietnam meets the hood. My life really took a turn when I had a desire to understand who God was because Buddhism didn't believe in a Creator who created this beautiful and complex world. In 2016, I was unfulfilled working in O2 phone shop and decided to look at what gave me joy and life in school.

I decided to pursue acting. I joined a youth theatre called Intermission Youth Theatre (IYT) with Mark Rylance and later Naomie Harris as patrons. They gave me the opportunity to perform Shakespeare on stage for a month on 3 different occasions from 2016-2018 under the direction of Darren Raymond, who I'm proud to call my mentor and the man that helped me draw closer to Christ. During those years I was involved in Old Vic Summer School 2017, National Youth Theatre 2017, Cannes Short Corner 2017, Shakespeare Globe 2018, and Open Door 2018-2019.

I auditioned for drama schools the second time with the help from Open Door, this year I didn't get in but I got further than last year with 3 final rounds at Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) & Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD).

After my auditions, I went to Vietnam for 3 weeks to reunite with my family after being away from them for 17 years. What happened there changed the way I see life. I had the determination to have a well-paid salary job, a chef because I realised how much of difference I can make by sending money back home and how privileged I am to be in the UK. The pound currency is so valuable over there. I was prepared to complete a Level 2 Food Safety & Hygiene course. However, during that week I came back, on 5/09/19 4:31pm I received a call from Patricia, RWCMD who told me that someone dropped out and they wanted me from the reserves list. There was a silence from me as Patricia tried to fill it up by telling I have time to think about it because she is aware that it is very late notice. I immediately told her, yes, my heart is in Wales I just to take my body there. RWCMD was my 1st choice and became the last person to complete the 2019 cohort.

By the end of this 3 years course, I will have a BA (Hons) Acting degree.
I aim to change the film and TV representation in UK & US because growing up I didn't see many East Asian actors let alone Vietnamese, I'm sure by the end of this training a difference will be made regardless of how small or slow that change may take. I believe it will eventually happen with your support; the people. I believe one day the people will demand a more true and accurate representation of people from all around the world in film & TV.

I hope I receive your support and understanding. My family means the world to me I want to do them proud, I want to say thank you in advance for your financial support. Thank you so much! and God bless you

My granddad (mom's side) & I
My brothers and cousins (mom's side)

My family, uncle & cousin (dad's side)

The day I left my dad's family. The pic below is when I decided to change the atmosphere by taking 1 final picture
https://youtu.be/i9oV6EMYUTc

Some of my dad's family with both of my grandmas in the front

My mum, brothers, and cousins (mom's side)

Lunch time with my dad's family

A little clip of me in IYT 2017 practising a self tape for Nina Gold casting
https://youtu.be/9Ih4Dv4QAP4

Capture (2017) - a sci-fi short that was featured in Cannes
https://youtu.be/p4HCBYLXTAY

IYT and Darren Raymond