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June 4, 2009
TV Drama Writers Conference Kicks Off in Seoul
The Korea Foundation for International Culture Exchange is hosting the "TV Drama Writers Conference of Asia" here in Seoul this week.
Approximately 300 drama writers and producers from countries around Asia are participating in the conference. They will be discussing the similarities and differences in popular soap operas from different countries.
Individuals who have helped improve their respective drama industries were honored at a welcoming dinner held Wednesday.
Source: Arirang News / http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/06/04/2009060400708.html
[ Last edited by katt at 4-6-2009 17:12 ] |
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June 3, 2009
'Thirst' will sink fangs into U.S. in July
Film will hit Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York first
By Park Soo-mee
"Thirst."
SEOUL -- "Thirst," Park Chan-wook's vampire flick and a recent Cannes jury prize winner, will be released in the U.S. on July 31, the film's North American distributor Focus Features said Wednesday.
The screenings start in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York and will gradually expand to include other states for a wider release.
"Very few films I've ever seen, going back to Hitchcock's 'Vertigo,' have that kind of feel of love and at the same time has horror and a terrifying philosophical exercise in thinking through the greatest extremes of what human emotions and human ambitions can lead to," said James Schamus, the CEO of Focus Features in an earlier announcement of the company's collaboration with CJ Entertainment in March, referring to Park's film.
Locally, the film, since opening in early May, has attracted 2.2 million spectators and was sold to 20 countries in Europe, Asia and South America.
Source: hollywoodreporter.com |
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June 4, 2009
Bae Yong-jun Named Honorary Curator of Japanese Museum
Korean Wave star Bae Yong-jun has been named honorary curator of Iwayama Lacquer Art Museum in Japan. The museum is operated by Korean lacquer artist Jun Yong-bok, who has gained worldwide recognition, and is the largest of its kind in the world.
Bae抯 agency, BOF, says the actor is currently writing a book on Korean culture and that he visited Japan secretly in February to learn lacquer art from Master Jun. "Bae Yong-jun learned the entire lacquer painting process firsthand, and as the honorary curator of the museum is determined to publicize lacquer art and hone his skills as well as bring lacquer art closer to the public, |
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June 4, 2009
Drama writers from Asia foster ties at conference
"From now on, I would like to say, 'Asiallyu,'" said Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Yu In-chon, proffering a new term for the phenomenon that was once christened the Korean Wave. But, as evidenced by the congregation of Korean, Japanese, Chinese and Southeast Asian scriptwriters in the room, it has now stretched beyond one nation.
During his address at the opening dinner for the 4th TV Drama Writers Conference of Asia 2009 on Wednesday night at the Grand Hyatt Seoul, Yu not only touched upon the widening drama market but also stated, "I think it might be time to explore ... joint productions a bit more."
Chairman Shin Hyun-taek of the Korea Foundation for International Culture Exchange took it a step further during his speech when he said, "I feel certain that Asian dramas can compete in the global market." Hosted by the Korea Foundation for International Culture Exchange and the Seoul Metropolitan City, the four-day conference kicked off on Wednesday and will end tomorrow.
This year's conference will explore the similarities and differences between major hit dramas in Asia. Writers asked to present at this year's conference include Taiwanese wordsmith Chi Hsi Lin -- who scripted "Meteor Garden," the hit adaptation of the Japanese comic "Boys Over Flowers" -- NHK drama series "Atsuhime" writer Tabuchi Kumiko and SBS court drama "God's Balance" writer Yoo Hyun-mi.
Approximately 120 scriptwriters and drama producers from Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Beijing, Shanghai and Southeast Asia were invited to attend the conference.
Guests include "Love, Don't Cry" writer and Korean TV and Radio Writers Association adviser Park Jung-ran, "Hourglass" director and producer Kim Jong-hak, President Shinichi Ichikawa of the Television Radio Writers' Association of Japan, and "Tokyo Tower" writer Nakazono Miho, who were all awarded a plate of gratitude.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who also gave a speech during the dinner, KOFICE chairman Shin and Yu handed out awards to Asian writers and producers. Following the awards ceremony, highlights from "Telecinema," a series of eight feature-length dramas created by Japanese scriptwriters, Korean directors and Hallyu stars, were shown.
The 3rd TV Drama Writers Conference, which took place last year in Nagasaki, served as a stepping stone for this joint project, which was produced by Samhwa Networks, adding significance to its preview screening on Wednesday night. Performances by Korean pop and R&B singer Wheesung, Korean female group Big Mama and Chung-Ang University's percussionists and dancers rounded out the opening dinner.
By Jean Oh ([email protected])
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEW ... 05/200906050007.asp |
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June 4, 2009
Seoul hosts Tourism Awards 2009
Korean actor Ryu Si-won, Japan's popular television personality Ikko and renowned drama director Yoon Seok-ho were among the recipients of the 2nd annual Seoul Tourism Awards yesterday.
The ceremony, which took place at Shilla Hotel in central Seoul, was hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan City government and attended by some 450 travel experts and business people from the Asia-Pacific region.
The award marked the peak of the five-day annual tourism event that also included the Seoul Tourism Forum and the Business Travel Mart. The awards were given out to a total of 17 recipients for different categories including Person of Merit, Person of Tourism, Tourism Policy, Tourism Program, Online Tourism, Best Overall Convention and Best Tourism Service.
Edmund Ho Hau Wah, chief executive of the Macau Special Administrative Region, received the tourism merit award for the Asia Pacific region for his contribution in promoting Macau as Asia's top convention, resort and casino city.
Korea's noted television series producer and director Yoon Seok-ho was named the person of merit for Seoul tourism for leading Hallyu, or Korean wave. Park Ki-tae, head of Vank, a non-government organization of volunteers dedicated to informing the world about Korea, was also awarded for his promotional activities overseas with the foreign press.
Japan's popular television personality and make-up artist Kazuyuki Toyoda, better known as Ikko, was named as a popular Seoul tourism celebrity by promoting Korea's shopping and cosmetics market. Ikko has been acting as an honorary ambassador for Korean tourism by the Korea Tourism Organization since February.
Ryu Si-won was picked for the Korean celebrity category for serving as the special Korean culture promotion ambassador for the past three years and bringing a massive number of his fans to visit the country, among other reasons.
At the Seoul Tourism Forum, which was also held yesterday, travel professionals from countries such as Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore gathered to discuss ways Seoul can become one of the world's best travel destinations. The topics included tourism vision and strategies for Seoul's celebration as a global tourism city, as well as the success story of Malaysia and tips on destination branding, among others.
The Travel Mart as a side event allowed business people to build their networks, while a Seoul familiarization tour allowed participants to get a taste of Seoul.
"To develop Seoul Tourism Awards as a great contribution to the growth of the tourism industry, Seoul will exclusively differentiate the event from the previous awards. Taking a step forward, Seoul with develop the Seoul Tourism Awards into an international festival for everyone to enjoy and participate, rather than simply recognizing and awarding those who have contributed to the industry," organizers said.
By Lee Joo-hee ([email protected])
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/dat...00906050009.asp |
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June 4, 2009
S. Korean western to hit Japanese theaters this summer
SEOUL, June 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's spaghetti western "The Good, the Bad, the Weird" will be released in Japan this summer with a domestic distributor directly handling the film's marketing, Korea's CJ Entertainment said Thursday.
"The Good, the Bad, The Weird" will be screened at over 100 theaters in Japan beginning Aug. 29 with CJ Entertainment and Japan's Show Gate jointly handling the distribution, the Korean distributor said in a press release.
This marks the first time a domestic firm has formed a consortium with a foreign distributor for a local film's overseas release.
"The Good, the Bad, the Weird," directed by Kim Jee-woon, has been well received by audiences in Korea and abroad, debuting at the Cannes Film Festival and topping last year's box office sales at home with 6.8 million viewers.
A comedy inspired by Italian director Sergio Leone's "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," the film depicts a battle between three men over a treasure map in Japanese-occupied Manchuria in the 1930s.
Credits: [email protected] viayonhapnews.co.kr, image from gbw.jp |
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June 5, 2009
Movie Review
Jeon's Hollywood debut 'Blood' falls short of anticipation
By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, June 5 (Yonhap) -- If you find yourself roaring with laughter while heads and limbs are being atrociously slashed off in this movie, don't doubt your sanity but blame the film's creator.
While botching nearly every effect it aims for, "Blood: The Last Vampire," a supposedly brutal slasher, martial arts movie hybrid, does manage to make audiences laugh at the film's silliness and coarseness.
As a Hollywood debut piece for top South Korean actress Jeon Ji-hyun, going by the stage name of Gianna Jun in this international film, local movie fans had high expectations since the film's crank-up some three years ago.
It is nice to watch the beautiful heroine flying gracefully about the screens wielding a katana but alas, that's about it, with the negatives outweighing the positives by far.
Based on a Japanese animation of the same title, "Blood" features half-vampire, half-human Saya (played by Jeon), who is inserted into a high school at a U.S. base located in post-World War II Japan as part of her secret mission to hunt demons in disguise.
While the anime film, directed by Oshii Mamoru in 2000, was widely popular in Japan and elsewhere, spawning a fifty-episode anime series, a video game and a manga sequel, the live-action film adaptation appears to fall way short with tacky computer-generated imagery and awkward acting both contributing to the sense of disappointment.
Jeon, who has never played an action heroine before, apparently put a great deal of effort into playing Saya, who cuts through demons with a blade like hot knife through butter, and speaks both English and Japanese fluently.
But it would only be fair to say Jeon's effort has gone to waste. With no villain really a match for the powerful Saya besides chief demon Onigen (played by Japanese actress Koyuki), most of the chase-and-fight scenes are a yawner.
And while Jeon manages to speak English fluently, Koyuki's English diction makes the audiences strain their ears to try and make out what she is saying. As a result, the climax showdown between Onigen and Saya triggers laughter, rather than tension. An outcome of over-reliance on badly delivered computer graphics, several chase scenes and the coarse appearance of bat-like monsters draw ironic laughter from audiences.
Swift and stylish, the scene of a ninja attack set in a leafy Japanese forest was considerably well-shot -- a rare case in this very choppy film -- but it still manages to amuse very few viewers, provoking a sense of deja vu for fans of recently released Chinese martial arts movies.
To round things up, the only impressive aspect in "Blood" is the apparent effort actress Jeon made, showing a potential in her future Hollywood career. "I could not imagine shooting a sequel with an actress rather than Gianna," Bill Kong, producer of the movie, said in a press conference after the film's Seoul preview Thursday. "I was highly satisfied with her acting, especially considering the fact she has no experience in action movies."
Kong is dubbed the "Midas of Hong Kong" as the producer of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Hero," which were internationally well-received. Smiling broadly at the compliment, Jeon asked viewers to enjoy the film as an "animation fantasy."
Directed by Chris Nahon, the creator of "Kiss of Dragon (2001)," "Blood" opened in Japan on May 26, the first release among more than 10 countries that will be screening the film including Singapore, France, Britain, the United States and Taiwan.
The Hollywood film, jointly produced by Hong Kong and France, will hit the local theaters beginning June 11.
Credits: [email protected] via yonhapnews.co.kr |
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June 5, 2009
Warning: contains cheese, sugar; lacks nudity
Doo-re (Joo Ji-hoon), Sang-in (Kim Tae-woo) and Mo-rae (Shin Min-a)
are tangled in a love triangle in 揟he Naked Kitchen. |
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June 5, 2009
Beyond a look at the average ajumma
The title character in 揗other, |
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June 4, 2009
Lee Jae-jin Sentenced Two-year Probation
Singer Lee Jae-jin, a former member of |
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News Index page 15
June 5, 2009: Jun hypes vampire movie
June 5: Won Bin montage opens
June 5: Jun Ji-hyun Shines but 'Blood' Disappoints
June 5: Yoon Tae-young Tears His Knee
June 4: Bae named honorary museum director
June 5: Firm sues dead actress for being beaten - and wins / Choi Jin Sil
June 5: S. Korean female band to make U.S. debut
June 5: 2009 PIFAN Announces its Short Film Jury
June 5: World Beware: The Wizard is Coming this Summer
June 5: JUN Ji-hyun Readies Debut on World Stage
June 5: Actress' Heirs to Compensate Advertiser for 'Disgrace'
June 5: John Woo selects KIM Jong-hak
June 5: PiFan Shorts Jury and Industry Program Announced
June 5: Mother Triumphs over Competition
June 5: CJ to Expand Art House Film Screenings
June 6: Koh Hyun-jung Talks About Changes On Screen and Off
June 5: 'Two Days and One Night' Cast Competes with 80 Staffers for Bed
June 5: Han Hyo-joo: 'Good People Deserve to be Happy'
June 6: Wondergirls to Make US Debut
June 7: Veteran Actress Do Passes Away
June 7: Ryu Si-won Wins Hearts of Japanese Through Localization
June 7: [Incheon Fair] Girls' Generation to Promote Incheon Feast
June 7: Director Tran talks of moving from violence to Murakami's famed 'Norwegian Wood'
[ Last edited by katt at 8-6-2009 11:45 ] |
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June 5, 2009
Jun hypes vampire movie
Jun Ji-hyun held a press conference in Seoul on Wednesday to promote her latest movie 揃lood: The Last Vampire. |
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June 5, 2009
Won Bin montage opens
Actor Won Bin attended the opening of a special exhibition
on Wednesday highlighting his recent trip to Africa.
揋ambia - Children on the Smiling Coast |
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June 5, 2009
Jun Ji-hyun Shines but 'Blood' Disappoints
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Jun Ji-hyun
After blockbuster vampire movies like "Twilight" and "Thirst," here comes another movie about those bloodsuckers. This time, hallyu star Jun Ji-hyun, also known as Gianna Jun, plays a half-vampire, half-human demon hunter in her first English-speaking role in the film "Blood: The Last Vampire."
Based on a popular Japanese anime film, series and manga, "Blood" follows Saya (played by Jun) as she tracks down and brutally kills those nasty demons in human disguise throughout Tokyo in 1970. Saya does the dirty work for a group of mysterious men in black suits, but she is on a personal mission to hunt down the "oldest and vilest of all demons" Onigen, who she blames for the death of her father.
The youthful but age-less Saya goes undercover at high school at a U.S. military base in Japan, even though one of the characters pointed out ``she's older than all of us combined." She soon rescues Alice, an American student, from two mean girls who turn out to be actual demons.
Directed by Chris Nahon ("Kiss of the Dragon"), "Blood" suffers from a convoluted plot (especially for someone who has not watched the original anime), cheesy special effects and exaggerated acting from the supporting cast. Some of the stunts are impressive but reminiscent of other Chinese martial arts films, which is probably not surprising since the film's producer is Bill Kong, who also produced "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Hero."
The title ``Blood" should be a clue for how much blood and gore is in the film, but much of the violence seems gratuitous. Do viewers really need to see a close-up of a man gruesomely slashed in half? How many scenes of demons being killed does the viewer really need to see to get that Saya is a fierce fighter? It probably would not have been as bad if the computer-generated effects were not so laughable.
Kong defended the violent scenes, saying the film needed stronger, edgier action scenes since it is competing with other action-packed TV series and movies around the world.
The film bombards viewers with non-stop action and violence, but the much-anticipated showdown between Saya and Onigen (played by Japanese actress Koyuki) lacks any real excitement.
Jun is probably the only bright spot in this film. Clad in a Japanese schoolgirl uniform for most of the film, Saya doesn't speak much, preferring to hide her pain behind a tough, almost emotion-less facade.
Jun delivers her lines in fluent English, although at times stiffly, while in comparison, Koyuki's thick accent makes it difficult to understand her lines. Jun, who gained fame for her role in "My Sassy Girl," also does well with the action stunts. In a press conference after the film's preview at CGV Yongsan, Thursday, Jun admitted having a hard time preparing for the action scenes, but is pleased with how the movie turned out.
Kong praised Jun for her commitment to the film, and even leaves open the possibility for a sequel.
"When we embarked on this movie, I asked Gianna whether she is willing to commit to do a movie in English and because this is very important... The second most difficult thing was if she's willing to commit to the time to train to become the biggest action star in the world. It takes a lot of time and devotion and commitment. Looking at the film, I think she did more than we asked for. If there is any sequel to this movie, there's nobody else in the world that can fill the role better," he said.
"Blood" jointly produced by Hong Kong and France, hits theaters in Korea on June 11.
Credits: cathy@koreatimes.co.kr |
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June 5, 2009
Yoon Tae-young Tears His Knee
Actor Yoon Tae-young of the 揟he Legend |
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June 4, 2009
Bae named honorary museum director
Hallyu-star Bae Yong-jun was appointed honorary director of the Iwayama Urushi Art Museum yesterday according to his management, Boundaries of Forest.
The Iwayama Urushi Art Museum is captained by Korea's master lacquer artist Jun Yong-bok and is one of the largest lacquer art museums in the world.
Bae, who is penning a travelogue of Korea titled "The Beauty of Korea," visited Jun's museum in Morioka in February to get a weeklong crash course in lacquer art. The experience set te wheels in motion for his appointment as honorary director.
"Bae learned the basics such as properly holding the brush, using a variety of lacquer colors to paint illustrations on panels, and even properly cleaning up after the completion of a painting," his management said.
"Not only will Bae continue to hone his craft as an honorary ambassador of the Korean lacquer arts but he will also be an instrumental figure in promoting the superiority of the art and commercializing it with the help of master Jun Yong-bok."
Bae is also currently in the recording studio to do voice work for the upcoming animated version of his popular 2002 television program, "Winter Sonata."
His Korean travelogue, "The Beauty of Korea," is slated for publication later this year.
Source: [email protected]
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/06/04/200906040055.asp
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June 5, 2009
Firm sues dead actress for being beaten - and wins
Models who failed to maintain appropriate dignity as representatives of the products they represent should compensate for the damages caused to their advertiser, the top court ruled.
The Supreme Court reversed the original ruling and ruled in favor of a construction company that filed a suit against the deceased actress Choi Jin-sil, who committed suicide last October.
The company, upon hiring the top actress as their representing model in March 2004, concluded a contract stating Choi's duties to pay back 500 million won ($399,361), should she depreciate the company's social reputation.
However, in August, Choi appeared on television and newspapers with her face full of bruises, allegedly caused by the violence of her then husband and retired baseball player Cho Sung-min.
Choi and Cho, who had been living apart since 2002, divorced soon after the incident.
The advertiser company thus filed a suit against the actress, requesting for 3 billion won as compensation. The amount included the 500 million won in damages as stated in the contract, additional compensation of 400 million won and 210 million won in advertising costs spent by the company.
"The purpose of the brand model contract is to use the model's social reputation and images to draw the customers' interest," said the Supreme Court in the ruling. "The model's failure to maintain an adequate image constitutes a breach of the hiring contract."
The concept of the apartment Choi was supposed to advertise was dignity and happiness, and Choi, as its model, was under the obligation to act accordingly, said the court.
A lower court said in an earlier ruling that Choi could not be held responsible for depreciating the image of the apartment or the company as she had not been proven guilty of causing her former husband's violence.
Choi's mother presented herself at court, as legal representative of her two children who succeeded their mother's duties and became defendants of the case.
The estimated value of Choi's estate is about 5 billion won, including real estate and bank savings, according to her family.
By Bae Hyun-jung ([email protected])
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEW ... 05/200906050055.asp |
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June 5, 2009
S. Korean female band to make U.S. debut
SEOUL, June 5 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's top female pop group Wondergirls will debut in the United States this summer, releasing an album in English and joining U.S. idol group Jonas Brothers on a concert tour, Korea's JYP Entertainment said Friday.
The all-girl-band recently signed a management contract with the Jonas Group, and Hollywood's Creative Artists Agency will be working as their agent, the Korean firm said.
Wondergirls will make their debut with an English version of "Nobody," a big hit here last summer. Its first U.S. album will also feagure English versions of other hit songs including "Tell me" and an electronic house song written and composed by the Jonas Brothers.
Wondergirls will be touring with the U.S. band as the opening act in concerts throughout Portland, Los Angeles and Atlanta beginning June 27 through August.
Credits: [email protected]
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/ ... 0605004100315F.HTML |
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Thanks to the highlight by mimerita at soompi.com
June 5, 2009
2009 PIFAN Announces its Short Film Jury
PIFAN has put together a small but diversely experienced and talented group as the Pucheon Short Choice Jury. First up is lead actor and director of Breathless (2008) YANG Ik-Joon. This movie has just rode the crest of an independent wave playing and winning at festivals around the globe such as Rotterdam, Barcelona Asian, Buenos Aires Independent Film Festival and France's Deauville Asian Film Festival. Also included is Hanna LEE producer of Lee Chang-dong抯 Secret Sunshine (2007) which was nominated for the Best Actress Award at Cannes. Last but not least is jury member Todd Brown Co Founder and Editor of Website 慣witch |
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June 5, 2009
World Beware: The Wizard is Coming this Summer
Korea抯 own super hero movie Jeon Woo-chi is set for release this summer. The movie is highly anticipated not just because of its colloquial superhero themes but its super star cast and director. Choi Dong-hoon known for the colourfully large War of the Flowers or Tazza (2006) and The Big Swindle (2004) helms this ambitious Taoist action film feat. Equally as well known as Choi are its actors who are mainstays in Korean cinema. Gang Dong-won, young star of 慚 |
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Author
