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NEWS INDEX page 97
March 25, 2009: Zo and Kim off to serve the country
March 26: Ku Hye-sun Talks About her Role in "Boys Over Flowers"
March 26: Korean Films to Return in April
March 26: Widowed Comedian Returns to Radio
March 26: Dead actress' manager made confession copies
March 27: Kiefer Sutherland and Han Ye-seul at preview of "Monsters vs. Aliens" in Seoul
March 26: 揙ld Partner |
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March 25, 2009
Zo and Kim off to serve the country
Hallyu stars Zo In-sung and Kim Jae-won are on their way to the barracks. In a tearful farewell, Zo, who will report for duty to the ROK Air Force on April 6, met with 700 of his fans at the Gwangjin Naru Art Center in Seoul on Monday.
The 28-year-old heartthrob is popular throughout Asia and has been one of the top Hallyu stars in the region through his popular television appearances such as "Something Happened in Bali" and the acclaimed 2006 gangster opus, "A Dirty Carnival," where he turned in a gritty performance that garnered him wide praise from both critics and moviegoers.
Image source & more HERE
Meanwhile, fellow 28-year-old Hallyu star Kim Jae-won was processed into the army on Monday as an active serviceman according to his management company.
Kim reported for duty at the Chungnam Nonsan Army base and will undergo five weeks of basic training before beginning his 24-month service in the army.
Known as an actor with a million dollar smile, Kim made his television debut in 2001 with the SBS sitcom "Honey, Honey" and various television dramas such as "Wonderful Life" and "Hwang Jin-yi."
Credits: [email protected] via koreaherald.co.kr |
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March 26, 2009
Ku Hye-sun Talks About her Role in "Boys Over Flowers"
揕oving someone despite all obstacles may be one of the most difficult things in life. It may be harder than living in poverty, |
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March 26, 2009
Korean Films to Return in April
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
揢rijibe Wae Watni (Why Did You Come to My House)擺/size]
South Korean cinema offers only a handful of releases this month, but a big lineup of homegrown films awaits moviegoers in April. Some 10 domestic titles are slated for release next month, of which a majority are mainstream franchises that will play in theaters nationwide.
Leading the pack is "Private Eye," coming to screens April 2, starring Hwang Jung-min as a private detective and Ryu Deok-hwan as a young medical trainee who try to solve a serial murder case during the Japanese colonial era (1910-45). A special preview of the film with English subtitles is taking place at 7 p.m. tonight at CINUS Myeongdong Theater. The subtitled film will be available on the official release date at the venue, as well as CINUS Gangnam.
A week later, Gang Hye-jung, the charming heroine of "Welcome to Dongmakgol," will return to the big screen opposite Park Heui-soon ("Seven Days") in "Urijibe Wae Watni (Why Did You Come to My House?)," a quirky tale about a bizarre young woman who interrupts the suicide attempt of a frustrated man.
Yang Ik-june's "Breathless," which recently made headlines by winning a series of awards at European festivals, will be released April 16. It's expected to continue the renaissance of independent cinema here, following the hit movie "Old Partner."
On April 23, Kim Ha-neul and Kang Ji-hwan will star as secret agents tangled up in a comical love affair in "My Girlfriend Isn't an Agent" (working title).
揟hirst擺/b]
April 30 will have a big showdown for Korean films, with the simultaneous release of celebrated director Park Chan-wook's provocative vampire story "Thirst," starring award-winning actor Song Kang-ho and starlet Kim Ok-vin; "Insadong Scandal" (working title), a conspiracy story involving the local art scene with heartthrob Kim Rae-won and sex symbol Uhm Jung-hwa; and "Gimssipyoryugi (Adventures of Mr. Kim)," a comedy in which an unlikely pair, Chung Yeo-won and Jung Jae-young, end up stranded on a desert island.
All three franchises feature big stars and unique storylines and are backed by some of the country's major producers and distributors. Several other indie flicks also await release in select theaters.
The mass release of Korean films in April can be seen as a result of avoiding the months of March, which is usually a slack time for cinema, and May and June, when Hollywood blockbusters start rolling in.
But the high competition, with additional rivalry from highly anticipated foreign films due in April, is not always in the best interest of local ticket sales, according to some film marketers. In February, three homegrown thrillers, "Marine Boy," "The Scam" and "Handphone" were released at one-week intervals, and while each received positive feedback, ticket sales were split among the three and none marked a big hit.
"The lineup of foreign films waiting to be shown in April is pretty tough, and it's a big worry that all these Korean movies will be released around the same time,'' said one marketer for a domestic film awaiting release next month.
International Releases
Three Korean films, with support from the Korean Film Council (KOFIC), will soon be available to international audiences, the council announced Wednesday.
Yoo Ha's "A Frozen Flower," starring heartthrobs Zo In-sung and Joo Jin-mo, premieres Friday in Taiwanese theaters. Infinity International secured the distribution rights for sexually charged historical epic.
Eleven Arts acquired the American distribution rights for Noh Young-seok's "Daytime Drinking," which is tentatively scheduled to enter U.S. cinemas April 10. The humorous indie flick revolves around an unfortunate man who is dumped by his girlfriend, stood up by his friends and victimized by the Korean drinking culture.
Belgian Cineart pursued the rights to screen Na Hong-jin's gritty thriller "The Chaser." Belgians will be able to view last year's multi-award winning film beginning April 22. The film recently won Best Action Asian Film Award from France's Deauville International Film Festival.
Credits: hyowlee@www.koreatimes.co.kr
Top to Bottom, clockwise: Private Eye, Why Did You Come to My House, Breathless, Insadong Scandal,
Thirst, My Girlfriend Isn't An Agent |
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March 26, 2009
Widowed Comedian Returns to Radio
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Comedian Jung Sun-hee
Popular comedian Jung Sun-hee will make a comeback as a radio host in mid-April after a seven-month hiatus, Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) announced, Wednesday.
Jung had left last year another major radio station MBC when listeners complained about her criticism of anti-American beef protesters. The 37-year-old then took a break from the entertainment scene altogether when her husband of less than a year, actor Ahn Jae-hwan, died in September 2008, and her best friend, actress Choi Jin-sil, committed suicide two months later.
Jung will re-enter the public radar as the DJ for a show on SBS Love FM (103.5 MHz). This also marks her return to the station after 10 years. The news was released earlier than scheduled in order to silence recent rumors that the widowed star had killed herself, a staff member of SBS radio was quoted as saying by Newsen.
"Jung Sun-hee did not rush her comeback," said the staff member. "She showed great enthusiasm to return to broadcasting. She has been through a lot of pain, but I hope work will help her recuperate."
Details about the radio show, such as the title or content, are yet to be announced. But considering Jung's hosting style, it will most likely feature people's life stories, said SBS.
Credits: hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr |
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March 26, 2009
Dead actress' manager made confession copies
The former manager of deceased actress Jang Jan-yeon made copies of her hand-written documents where she confessed to being forced to have sex with influential figures, police said yesterday. "Yoo Jang-ho admitted having made draft and copied versions of the documents," said an official of the Bundang Police Station, who questioned Yoo on Wednesday over allegations of his defaming the dead actress by spreading false rumors about her.
Yoo helped Jang write the revealing documents after she had said she wanted her agency head to be punished for his actions, he said. "Before we finalized a 4-page document based on her statement, we went through seven or eight draft pages, of which we made some copies," he said.
Whereas Yoo earlier said that he and Jang's family burned all existing copies of the documents shortly after her death, KBS aired shots of the contended documents caused controversy over their authenticity. "The reporters seem to have taken the draft versions that I threw in my office trash bin," he said.
Yoo also showed part of the document to some media reporters on the day after Jang's death, he said during police investigation. However, he denied passing on any of the documents until after Jang killed herself. Some observers recently speculated that Jang committed suicide when she found out that her confession had been leaked.
The former manager also said that Jang seemed to be intimidated by Kim Sung-hun, the agency head whom she accused of forcing her into unwanted relationships, whose threatening message was recorded in the actress' cell phone. "Kim seems to have demanded her obedience by threatening to kick her out of the entertainment business," said a police official in yesterday's briefing.
Kim, who has resided in Japan since last December, filed a suit against Yoo late on Wednesday night for defaming him through written documents, according to the Bundang Police Station.
By Bae Hyun-jung ([email protected])
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/03/27/200903270028.asp |
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March 27, 2009
Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland and Korean actress Han Ye-seul pose at a preview of "Monsters vs. Aliens" in Seoul on Thursday. /Newsis
Source: english.chosun.com |
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March 26, 2009
揙ld Partner |
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March 27, 2009
S. Korean film selected for Hong Kong financing forum project
SEOUL, March 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korean director Na Hong-jin will receive about US$13,000 in financial support from the Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) to make his upcoming film, which was selected as one of 27 projects to be funded by the HAF, the organisation announced on its website Friday.
The HAF, founded in 2000, is a film project market that aims to bring talented Asian filmmakers with upcoming film projects to Hong Kong for international co-production ventures.
By bringing together Asia's top filmmaking talents to meet with the world's premier film financiers, distributors, buyers and funding bodies to Hong Kong, the HAF provides opportunities for filmmakers to privately discuss their latest projects with a variety of potential co-production partners over the three-day event period.
The seventh edition of the forum, which opened Monday, selected 27 film projects from 11 countries including Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan and South Korea.
Na, the creator of last year's local box office hit "The Chaser," has been shooting another thriller drama tentatively named "The Murderer," aiming for a summer release next year.
"We very much look forward to the realization of these projects as we are quite confident that they'll have an impact on the future of the medium," HAF director Jacob Wong said, according to the Web site.
Credits: [email protected]
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/culturesports/2009/03/27/42/0701000000AEN20090327003400315F.HTML
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March 27, 2009
Park Jin-young Divorces His Wife of 10 Years
Korea抯 hottest producer/singer Park Jin-young has announced that he is divorcing his wife of 10 years. Posted on the homepage of his production company, JYP Entertainment, Park said that 16 years have passed since he met his first love at the age of 20, but they have grown apart, rather than alike, over those years.
Married in 1999, Park and his wife, Seo Yun-jeong, have essentially been separated since Park started his venture in America. He spent most of time in the U.S., looking after his business interests there, while his wife ran a flower shop in Seoul. Those close to the couple were not surprised by the news of their divorce, because they were certain that no marriage could survive such long absence from each other. The two do not have any children.
Despite the announcement, the couple is technically still married, because they haven抰 filed for divorce yet. Legal proceedings will begin when they both return to Korea from overseas stays.
Source: KBS World |
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March 27, 2009
Jeon Ji-hyun Cell Phone Rigger Gets Jail
Jeon Ji-hyun
The person accused of cloning actress Jeon Ji-hyun's cell phone has been sentenced to one year in prison. The man, identified as Kim, is believed to have been ordered by the actress's management firm to monitor Jeon's phone records and text messages via the replica phone in 2007.
The phone had been altered to allow it to receive any communications the actress received on her actual phone. News of the celebrity spy case came out in January.
The Seoul Central District Court says Kim was paid close to W40 million (US$1=W1,335) by several other clients to invade the privacy of 12 people.
Source: Arirang News via chosun.com |
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March 27, 2009
TV bride to get hitched for real
Actress Shin-ae, 27, may play a bride on TV, but this time she抯 tying the knot in real life.
Shin-ae, who until recently appeared in MBC-TV抯 揥e Got Married, |
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March 27, 2009
Tragic topic for actor抯 1st book
Actor Cha In-pyo now has one more title to add to his resume: author.
This week, he released his first novel, 揋oodbye Hill, |
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March 27, 2009
'Female Big Bang' About to Be Revealed
A new girl group groomed by YG Entertainment, one of Korea抯 biggest entertainment agencies, will reveal themselves in a commercial where they appear alongside the idol boy band Big Bang.
Referred to as the "female version of Big Bang," the group consists of four members -- Sandara Park, a Korean who became a star in the Philippines show business; Park Bom, who appeared in a commercial with singer Lee Hyo-lee; Kong Min-ji, a granddaughter of legendary traditional Korean dancer Kong Ok-jin; and rapper CL, who is fluent in four languages.
The commercial featuring the group is scheduled to go on air on Saturday, and before that on Friday, the new group's digital single 揕ollipop |
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March 27, 2009
Park Jin-young Ends 10-Year Marriage
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Park Jin-young
Singer and producer Park Jin-young, also known as JYP, is divorcing his wife of 10 years. The 37-year-old announced the news through his official Web site, Friday.
"We (my wife and I) have decided to split after several years of much pondering and hovering," he wrote in the online message. "I am sorry that I wasn't able to keep the vow we made before our loving friends and fans."
Park, who has produced some of most popular K-pop stars such as Rain and the Wonder Girls, met his wife, a florist known by her surname Seo, in college. They tied the knot in 1999 and had no children. News of their divorce spread quickly through the local entertainment scene, and reporters sought him for a statement. "I though it would be better that I told everyone myself, rather than through the media," he said.
"I spent the past 16 years with my first love that I met when I was 20," he wrote. "We shared the most precious years and the most beautiful moments together, and loved each other passionately. But we started drifting apart a few years ago."
According to the Yonhap News Agency, Park's management agency, JYP Entertainment, said ``the two have made up their minds, but have yet to complete the legal procedures of the divorce.''
Credits: hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr |
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March 27, 2009
'Private Eye' Signals New Detective Genre
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Hwang Jung-min, left, stars in "Private Eye," which will open in local theaters on April 2
Debutant director Park Dae-min brings a delicious mix of drama, comedy and adventure in "Private Eye," which, moreover, paints rosy prospects for South Korean cinema as it signals the potential of homegrown detective films.
Set against the Japanese colonial period (1910-45), the movie invites viewers to hop on coolie-drawn carts and join an accidental Sherlock Holmes (Hwang Jung-min) in tracking down a serial killer on the loose.
If 2007's "Shadows in the Palace" hinted at the possibility for an Agatha Christie-style suspense, "Private Eye" promises something more solid, and perhaps even a serial franchise. It keeps things smart and intriguing rather than mind boggling or cryptic, and leads the audience half a step ahead in the cat and mouse game. The movie also manages to be entertaining without being too light as it gives birth to a detective with character.
Hwang plays Hong Jin-ho, one of those amiable rude people, whose successful survival is more a factor of luck than skill. He's nevertheless a detective who is well equipped for the job, with his sixth sense for investigation ― but he keeps far away from dangerous cases that might spoil his hand-pressed suit and white hat. Instead, he pockets money by catching cheating housewives and other small matters that decorate tabloids _ in order to manifest the great American Dream in a country with a larger population and thus more adulterers and more income.
The "Happiness" star brings yet another unforgettable character, and the film actually allows the actor's immense talents to fully sparkle ― as if to make up for how "A Man Who Was Superman's" narrative flaws eclipsed the endearing persona Hwang pulled off, and how the suspense factor got lost in the gooey gore of "Black House."
Rising actor Ryu Deok-hwan ("Our Town") melts into his role, somewhat reminding you of a young Park Hae-il, as Jin-ho's unlikely sidekick Gwang-soo. The enthusiastic medical intern finds an abandoned corpse in the woods that would be perfect for dissecting, but his lucky day turns into a nightmare when the dead man turns out to be the missing son of a powerful politician.
Afraid of being accused of murder, Gwang-soo seeks the help of Jin-ho. Our dandy personal investigator refuses, naturally, but is eventually won over by the hefty cash reward. The two are forced to team up and solve the puzzle with a couple of clues found at the murder site, a small pack of white powder and a mysterious Japanese "karakuri" doll.
As the two explore odd corners of old Seoul, the viewer is taken from secret drug rings to exotic Joseon-era circus shows during a time when slaves cost less than cattle. The artist of last year's hit "The Good, the Bad, the Weird'" provides exquisite period details.
Despite their initial bickering, intuitive Jin-ho and brainy Gwang-soo become a productive pair. Meanwhile, Um Ji-won makes a small but memorable appearance as Sun-deok, a quiet noblewoman by day and quirky inventor by night who provides C.S.I.-worthy tips and nifty gadgets for the case.
Shortly thereafter, another important social figure is killed and discarded in the same manner. Here, the movie lets the viewer know whodunit, and the task at hand is to figure out the tantalizing why bit. The police, led by ambitious social climber Young-dal (played by yet another talented actor, Oh Dal-su), are eager to close the case by framing an innocent man. Jin-ho and Gwang-soo, however, discover crucial evidence that leads to astonishing secrets.
English subtitles will be available at CINUS Myeongdong and Gangnam. The movie will be released nationwide April 2. 15 and over. Distributed by CJ Entertainment.
Credits: hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr |
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March 27, 2009
Next Hallyu in Musicals?
Japanese Tourists Flock to Musical Theaters
By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter
From left: Actors Shin Sung-rok, Hong Kwang-ho, Kim Seung-woo and Ju Jihoon
are drawing Japanese viewers to their musicals.
The Japanese yen's surge against the Korean won is driving a welcome resurgence in Japanese spending here, helping the Korean tourism industry.
The strong yen not only contributes to local tourism but also the musical industry, as tourists choose local musical performances as part of their tours to Korea. Foreign audiences, especially Japanese visitors, have already attended non-verbal performances here. But it's a new phenomenon for Japanese viewers to see musicals in the native tongue.
It seems to be part of the hallyu effect, in which various Korean heartthrobs who have appeared in television dramas airing in Japan are taking to the stage.
Yamada Akiko, 42, has seen "My Scary Girl," starring Shin Sung-rok, three times. "I'm a big fan of Shin Sung-rok. I've seen his musicals many times," she told The Korea Times.
Yamada said the first time she saw Shin was in his TV drama "Hyena" in Japan. "He's the most handsome man I've seen. I heard that he is a musical star and I tried to come here to see 'Hamlet' and then 'Siryeonnamnyeo' (Broken Lover). I was very close to the actors in the small theater," she said.
Yamada said that although she began seeing the Korean musicals because of Shin, she's now a big fan of other Korean musicals as well. "The level of Korean musicals is very high compared to that of Japan," she said. She's seen musicals such as "Finding Kim Jong-wook," "Thrill Me," "Jekyll and Hyde" and recently, "Zanna, Don't."
While seeing the local musicals, she discovered Hong Kwang-ho, who performed in "Jekyll and Hyde." "Hong Kwang-ho's dancing and singing is very good, I think. I like him, too," she said.
But how can she understand the Korean lyrics and songs? "Before I saw the musical (My Scary Girl), I saw the movie and memorized the story. Also, I heard the OST music of 'Thrill Me' and I know the story of 'Jekyll and Hyde.' Before I see the musical, I prepare through the Internet and CDs," she said.
She explained that when she saw "Hi, Franceska" here, there were Japanese subtitles. But she said that she couldn't focus on the actors while concentrating on reading the words. "So I don't care about the language. Musicals |
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March 28, 2009
Film 慜ld Partner |
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March 29, 2009
Wonder Girls Pull Off First Concert With Success
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
The Wonder Girls, which consists of Sun-ye, Ye-eun, Yu-bin, Sun-mi and So-hee,
perform at their first concert at the Olympic Gymnastics Stadium, Saturday.
With about 8,000 fans cheering, the members showed off their colorful talents
throughout the two-hour long event./ Courtesy of JYP Entertainment
Girl group Wonder Girls showed that they were ready for the world with their singing and dancing at their first concert, "The 1st Wonder," at Olympic Gymnastics Stadium, Saturday. The five-member group, consisting of Sun-ye, Ye-eun, Yu-bin, Sun-mi and So-hee, appeared on stage right on schedule, with fans who ranged from elementary students to parents, cheering and shouting their names.
Dressed in black leather leggings, sparkling green boleros and black "kill-heel" sandals, the girls greeted the audience with their first song, "I Wanna." The 8,000-strong crowd shouted whenever members' faces filled the two large screens on both sides of the stage, shaking purple and red glow sticks along with the music.
Then the girls appeared with a more futuristic look, with silver jackets and sparkling make-up, and offered the songs "Bad Boy" and "Good Bye." But the LED screen in the setting seemed a bit awkward, as it showed images of flowers, which was hard to connect with the metallic image the girls were going for.
When the melodies of the group's hit number ``So Hot'' played through the speakers, the crowd once again cheered on. "What's up, Seoul!" Yu-bin, 20, yelled to fans after the song, smiling and waving with the other members. After an acoustic version of "Nobody," a song that swept the nation and local pop charts last year, the girls continued offering their personal style and talents.
Ye-eun, 19, sang "Killing me Softly with His Song," showing off her vocals and stage presence, while Sun-ye, 19, sang her solo "Ilwoljiga" dressed in an elegant purple gown, her hair and outfit blowing in the wind, resembling a scene from the movie "Bodyguard" in which Whitney Houston sings "Run to You." Youngest members So-hee and Sun-me, both 17, showed their sexier sides by singing and dancing to the songs "Single Lady" by Beyonce and "Invitation" by Korean singer Uhm Jung-hwa, respectively.
Yu-bin surprised fans by walking down to the stage from the third floor of the audience, dressed in white shorts and a silvery top, singing "Sexy Back." After more songs including "You're Out" and "Irony," the girls went backstage to change while the audience welcomed fellow JYP Entertainment group 2AM. The music blared after the four-member group began singing, but the audience cheered them for being such good sports.
The Wonder Girls finally came back onstage, all in white dresses, and sang "Saying I Love You" and "Take Away." The girls finished up the concert with yet another version of "Nobody" and their popular number "Tell Me," this time asking fans to stand up and follow the famous dance moves.
After offering encores and also blowing the candles from a cake brought up to the stage by 2AM, the members thanked the crowd, some bursting into tears, and bade farewell. "We hope to meet you all again at a much bigger stage next time. You will all wait for us until then, right?" Sun-mi asked.
Unlike boy bands that boast a large, loyal female fan base, girl groups find it difficult to hold concerts by themselves. But the Wonder Girls showed that they were a well-rounded pop group with fans ranging from young students to housewives, businessmen and even senior citizens. The members were a bit shaky with their vocals here and there, and the overall program was a bit mediocre as they spent most of their time singing and dancing instead of connecting with their fans like many other singers do during concerts. But the concert was still a great way to thank their fans, finish their activities here and gear up for more in the United States.
Credits: sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr |
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March 29, 2009
DreamWorks Sees 3D as Key for Future
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg, right, poses with South Korean
actress Han Ye-seul, who dubbed the voice for the local version of "Monsters vs. Aliens."
The 3D animation will be released April 23. / Yonhap
Animation maestro Jeffrey Katzenberg sees 3D animation as the key to the future. DreamWorks Animation presents "Monster vs. Aliens," which, shot entirely in 3D with a completely new technology, is its most ambitious project yet. This can be seen as something of a revolution in not just animation but in all of cinema history.
"The first two great revolutions in film were the introduction of sound and the introduction of color, and the introduction of 3D could be as impactful as those were," the CEO of DreamWorks Animation said in an interview in Seoul, Thursday. Five years in the making at a cost of $165 million, the "very long, very expensive" franchise, said the 58-year-old, employed an entirely new technology called InTru3D. Specifically developed for "Monsters vs. Aliens," it combines DreamWorks' authoring tools with the latest technology by partner company Intel.
The new tool solves problems posed by past 3D films. "All of the elements that go into 3D today are so dramatically better than what existed even just a few years ago," he said. Moviegoers must wear glasses, which are polarized and more comfortable than the old colored paper frames. A very powerful digital projector delivers precise images, that "aren't blurry, don't give eyestrain, don't give you a headache. We are in absolute perfect control of 3D," he said.
This certainly makes a mark in modern day cinema culture, as it provides a one of a kind, theater-only experience. "Monsters vs. Aliens" in 3D cannot be replicated at home _ kissing goodbye to pirated DVDs. Meanwhile, InTru3D required artists to "learn a new language," said Katzenberg. He compared the experience to Anglophones having to learn and work in Korean overnight. "They have to think in 3D now. They have to think about the dimensionality and how the filmmakers will ultimately translate that onscreen," he said, further explaining that artists have to conceive characters differently, such as moving through a 3D room. Though initially a little scared, he said, "our artists have loved it and have been excited from day one."
"Yes," all future projects will be created in 3D, he said definitively. This comes in spite of technical barriers, that most theaters are not equipped with digital projectors. Providing glasses to moviegoers will also be costly. "This is just the beginning. I think that there are twice as many theaters (for 3D films) today than there were a year ago. Next year there will be three times as many as today. I think there is a great future. Rome was not built in a day," he said.
"Monster vs. Aliens" features retro themes ― quite ironically rendered with the latest modern technology ― "a happy accident" according to Katzenberg. It pays tribute to B-movies of the 1950s and '60s and even makes a parody of "ET" as it tells the story of a young woman who, on her wedding day, is hit by extraterrestrial gunk and explodes into a 49 feet 11 inch-tall giant (1958's "Attack of the 50 Foot Woman," anyone?). She's immediately captured by the military and is detained along with other strange creatures. When aliens attack Earth, however, this ragtag group of "monsters" becomes mankind's only hope.
Korean screen beauty Han Ye-seul provides the voice for the main character, which was originally dubbed by Reese Witherspoon. "She (Han) is a very talented actress and has a very beautiful melody to her voice, which is a very good match for her character. And I think she did a really great job," said Katzenberg.
Dreamworks' previous franchises such as the "Shrek" trilogy and "Kung Fu Panda" have scored well at the local box office. "In the field of feature animation, DreamWorks has become the most successful and biggest studio in the world," he said. In the past five years, DreamWorks and Disney/Pixar have both created and released 10 films, grossing $4.8 billion and $3.2 billion worldwide, respectively.
"So we're 50 percent bigger on a worldwide basis. You know, I'm proud of that. I think that's a great accomplishment. Of course they and others like Bluesky make great movies," said the former Disney studio chairman.
When asked about the company's secret to success, he said, simply, "good storytelling. I think that's the most important thing."
"Monster vs. Aliens" is due in theaters April 23. Polarized glasses will be available in theaters. 94 minutes. All ages admitted. Distributed by CJ Entertainment.
Credits: hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr |
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