Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Song Seung-Heon – Kwon Sang-Woo ‘Sukmyeong’ Crank-Up


The encounter of the three of Korea’s most handsome actors, Song Seung-Heon, Kwon Sang-Woo, and Ji-Sung, in the movie ‘Sukmyeong’ (means ‘Fate’, Director Kim Hae-Gon) was enough to make headlines as filming came to an end last Wednesday (12th).

In the last scene, Yeong-Hwan (Ji-Sung) is seen greeting Woo-Min (Song Seung-Heon), released from a 2-year imprisonment, after being betrayed by Cheol-Jung (Kwon Sang-Woo). The two actors naturally portray their characters, as Song Seung-Heon’s performance shows the sorrow and anger of being betrayed by a friend, while Ji-Sung acts the part of Yeong-Hwan, who greets a friend involved in a complicated situation.

Song Seung-Heon picked up smoking again after quitting due to the passion he put in to the filming of this production, stating, “It was a strange feeling shooting the first scene of the movie last.” He continued “The movie will be a great success, due to the hard work the staff and actors have all put in to the film.”

Song Seung-Heon and Kwon Sang-Woo are known to be very close friends off-screen, stimulating each other’s passion for the movie during filming and with an odd competitiveness of good intentions. The trailer that launched a few days ago has also been receiving hot reviews.

The casting of the Hallyu stars have been igniting international attention as the ‘Sukmyeong’ is to premier in the first half of next year.

source : tour2korea

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Monday, December 10, 2007

Kim Tae-hee Puts Up 'Fight' Against Critics



When people think of Kim Tae-hee, they often say she is beautiful but her acting still has a long way to go. Her perceived shortcomings in acting have been constantly talked about while she worked to be recognized as a true actor than a graduate of the elite Seoul National University. Can “Fight,” her new film opening on Dec. 13, change all that? The Chosun Ilbo met her to find out.

People say you have improved but still many say your acting is amateur.

In the past, I didn’t even realize I was bad. I was too busy. And even when I saw my shortcomings, I simply turned away. But about two or three months ago, I bought the DVDs for ‘Love Story in Harvard’ (Kim’s 2004 TV soap) and I was so embarrassed. Sure, I was sincere and I put in a lot of energy into it, but I simply wasn’t ready technically.”

Are you satisfied now?

I feel I have gotten better. Of course, I still have a long way to go.

How do you feel when people criticize your acting on the Internet?

I get frustrated and angry to the point of not wanting to live anymore. But at the same time, something inside me refuses to accept those comments and drives me to work harder to get recognition one day.”

Why do you have to act with all these people attacking you? You could lead a comfortable life by just shooting commercials.

When people are faced with something new and challenging, they get excited. In the past, acting was like a tough homework assignment, and I didn’t get any joy or sense of achievement from it. But these days, I feel I know what it is like to act and I think I’ll be truly happy when I become a great actress.”

Why did you choose the character in the film? She’s a divorcee and Seol Kyung-gu, who plays her ex-husband, is 12 years older.

Many people were against me doing this film too, asking why I’m trying to play a character who’s older than me. But the truth is, it’s hard to draw a stereotypical image of a divorcee or a married woman in Korea any more. They all look really young now. As for Seol, he felt more like a friend than any other actors that I had filmed with. I don’t know why, but the whole female crew liked him too.”

When frustrated, your character Jin-a puts on a purple wig and cries her eyes out, while Seol’s character Sang-min, a cleanliness freak, scrubs the bathtub. What does the purple wig signify?

I think it means hope. Reality bites, but the wig, in a surreal way, talks of future hope.

What do you do when you feel empty? Do you also cry like Jin-a?

I rely on my friends. I get lonely really easily and I can never overcome that by myself. But I want to be strong and independent one day.

Do you feel you were able to become one with the character?

I never intentionally tried to fall in love for the sake of gaining pointers for my acting, but experience did help. Of course, I never had the experience of marrying someone, and then hating the person once the fantasy is over. But I’m sure we all had similar experiences. Falling in love, I think, is crucial for acting.

When asked to describe you, people around you say two things: you are very claver to the point of being shrewd while almost narcissistic, and you are very naïve to the point of being simple.

What’s wrong with having confidence in yourself? I think every woman needs to be narcissistic to some degree. Women become more confident when they are beautiful, feminine, and adorable. As for being shrewd, I’m not because I simply haven’t had enough experience of life. In fact, there are certain things that people want to believe of me that are not true at all. Anyway, it hurts me to hear those comments.

Some say you approach acting intellectually, like a subject for study, rather than really feeling it.

What makes an actor? A senior professional told me that an actor is an actor because he has to learn constantly. I admit I want compliments like the ones I got in my schooldays. When we were shooting “Fight,” Seol told me that it’s really good to see me enjoying every moment of acting. He said he gets too sensitive and feels a lot of pressure. People think I’m always rational, but that’s not true.”

source: Chosun Ilbo

[ photo from Kim tae-hee new movie " the fight" ]

Official site : www.ssam2007.com

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The Railroad Wins Two Awards at Torino Fest


KIM Gang-woo received the Best Actor Award at the 25th Torino Film Festival for his acting in The Railroad. Director PARK Heung-sik’s film also won the Fipresci Award.

The Railroad
premiered successfully in 2006 at the Pusan International Film Festival in the New Current section and enjoyed a limited release in Korean cinemas around May 2007. The Railroad is PARK’s second feature film and was supported by the 2005 KOFIC Production Support for Low-budget Films.

KIM plays a man whose path crosses a woman portrayed by SOHN Tae-young. Both happened to be on the same train and end up together at the last stop before the North-South Korean border.

KIM is quickly rising to stardom this year because of the box office hit Le Grand Chef and is in the spotlight again because of the upcoming film Rainbow Eyes. SOHN featured in the assembly cast of Sad Movie and numerous television drama

Yi Ch'ang-ho (KOFIC)

source: KOFIC

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Monday, December 03, 2007

The 28th Blue Dragon Film Awards


Korean actress at The 28th Blue Dragon Film Awards

Song Kang-ho and Jeon Do-yeon


Daniel Henney wins Best New Actor

Jung Ryu Won wins Best New Actress

The 28th Blue Dragon Film Awards

Date: 23 November 2007


List of WINNERS at the 28th Blue Dragon Film Awards

Best Film - The Show Must Go On

Best Director - Huh Jin Ho (Happiness)

Best Leading Actor - Song Kang Ho (The Show Must Go On)

Best Leading Actress - Jeon Do Yeon (Secret Sunshine)

Best Supporting Actor - Kim Sang Ho (Happy Life)

Best Supporting Actress - Na Moon Hee (Cruel Winter Blues)

Best New Actor - Daniel Henney (My Father)

Best New Actress - Jung Ryu Won (Two Faces of My Girlfriend)

Best New Director - Kim Han-min (Paradise Murdered)

Best Original Screenplay - Kim Han Min (Paradise Murdered)

Best Cinematography - Yoon Nam Joo (Epitaph)

Best Lighting - Im Jae Young (Hwang Jin Yi)

Best Technology - The Restless

Best Art Direction - Epitaph

Best Sound - The Happy Life

Popularity Award - Kim Ah Jung, Joo Jin Mo, Kim Tae Hee, Hwang Jung Min

Congratulations to all the winners!
List of WINNERS Credit to Shirley@ soompi

Photo credit to popseoul,soompi


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