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10Asia + Star Vol. 17 (November 2012)
Source: yesasia.com
YesAsia Editorial Description
Top actor Lee Byung Hun, whose latest film Masquerade has turned into one of the top ten grossing Korean films of all time, is on the cover of the November 2012 issue of 10Asia+. This issue also includes features on Dong Bang Shin Ki, G-Dragon, and Super Junior's Eun Hyuk.
Technical Information
Product Title: 10Asia + Star Vol. 17 (November 2012)
Artist Name(s): Lee Byung Hun | PSY | Dong Bang Shin Ki (TVXQ) | G-Dragon (Big Bang) | Eun Hyuk (Super Junior)
Release Date: 2012-10-30
Format: PAPER COPY
Publisher: 10Asia
Shipment Unit: 3
YesAsia Catalog No.: 1031891890
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Interview Magazine Kanryu T.O.P 01707-11 2012
Source: yesasia.com
Technical Information
Product Title: Interview Magazine Kanryu T.O.P 01707-11 2012
Artist Name(s): Lee Byung Hun
Magazine Code: 01707-11
JAN: 4910017071121
Release Date: 2012-10-16
Language: Japanese
Publisher: Mentor
Shipment Unit: 2
YesAsia Catalog No.: 1031754840
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October 25, 2012
Masquerade Slips Into 10 Million Club
By Dean Napolitano WSJ
A scene from Masquerade, featuring Lee Byung-hun (left).
The South Korean movie “Masquerade” broke through the 10 million admissions level last weekend, making it one of an exclusive handful of Korean movies to reach that lofty goal.
Since opening on Sept. 13, the historical drama about palace intrigue has been seen by 10.5 million moviegoers and earned 76.04 billion won ($68.9 million) at the domestic box office, according to the Korean Film Council, known as KOFIC. Only six other Korean films have passed the 10 million threshold, including this year’s blockbuster “The Thieves,” which opened July 25 and holds the No. 1 spot for a Korean movie with 13.03 million admissions and 93.66 billion won in box office receipts.
The 3-D Hollywood hit “Avatar” claims the top spot among all movies in the country, with 13.4 million admissions. (Korea traditionally measures box-office in terms of admissions.)
Director Choo Chang-min’s “Masquerade,” which puts a Korean spin on Mark Twain’s “The Prince and the Pauper,” is set in the early 17th-century during the Chosun dynasty and revolves around a commoner who’s a dead ringer for the king and agrees to swap places after a suspected assassination attempt against the ruler. The movie stars Lee Byung-hun in the dual role and has won rave reviews.
After a slump in recent years, the Korean movie industry has come roaring back with a string of hits.
Lee Byung-hun (right) and Ryu Seung-ryong,
both of whom star in Masquerade, pose at the Busan Film Festival in October 2012.
“I have been really surprised at how well Korean films have done this year,” said Darcy Paquet, who teaches film studies at Kyung Hee University in Seoul.
Mr. Paquet attributed the rebound to studios expanding their reach to older audiences from the traditional demographic of teens and 20s. They also have placed a focus on female moviegoers, as demonstrated with the popularity this year of romantic dramas and comedies such as “Architecture 101” and “All About My Wife.”
“Producers have figured out how to target this group a bit better,” he said.
This year is the first time that two Korean films released in the same year have crossed the 10 million admissions mark. The dual milestones come as audiences in Korea are flocking to cineplexes. Admissions hit 82.7 million in the first six months of the year, up 21% from the same period a year earlier, according to KOFIC.
Korean movies grabbed 53.5% of the total 639 billion won in box-office receipts for the period, while American releases took 41.3%. Films from Europe, Japan, China and elsewhere had the remainder.
Seven Korean films have hit the 10 million admissions mark, according to KOFIC:
“The Thieves” (2012) — 13,030,227
“The Host” (2006) — 13,019,749
“The King and the Clown” (2005) — 12,302,831
“Taegukgi” (2004) — 11,756,735
“Masquerade” (2012) — 11,483,910 (still in release)
“Haeundae” (2009) — 11,390,000
“Silmido” (2003) — 11,081,000
Last edited by katt on 9-11-2012 01:45 PM
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October 28, 2012
Korea film industry has come down with 1970 fever
By Jung Hyun-mok Korea JoongAng Daily
From left, Lee Byung-hun, Ryu Seung-ryong, Jung Jae-young, Hwang Jung-min and Park Hee-soon. Each actor has become a well-known figure in the Korean film industry, and each was born in 1970.
Do these names ring any bells? Lee Byung-hun, Ryu Seung-ryong, Kim Soo-ro and Hwang Jung-min.
If they don’t yet, they will soon. These booming actors have all starred in lead roles in 2012 films or soon-to-be-released flicks. And apart from their exceptional acting talents and sharp looks, they share one other commonality: They were all born in 1970.
During the last few years, these men have contributed so much to the Korean film industry that nowadays, many say that without them, movies are bound to struggle at the box office.
“For the few actors who become successful, their heydays come during their mid-30s to mid-40s. There are so many actors born in 1970 who are doing very well,” movie critic Kim Hyun-seok says.
Starting out on stage
Except for Lee Byung-hun, who rose to stardom in his late teens, and Cha Seung-won, who started off his career as a model, the rest of these actors made their debuts on stage, performing in plays for seven to 10 years before moving on to films. Most started out in Daehangno, the artsy theater district in central Seoul.
Go Chang-suk, who acquired fame through his portrayal of the head of a Vietnamese gang in the movie “Secret Reunion” (2010), once earned his living by working on farms and in iron foundries.
After accepting the Best Actor award at the 2005 Blue Dragon Film Awards for his role in the movie “You Are My Sunshine,” actor Hwang Jung-min revealed the hardships he went through during his youth in his now famous speech: “All I did was add a spoon to a dinner table that had already been prepared by others.”
The speech described how sorry Hwang felt for being the only one to receive the spotlight while the rest of the staff was working hard as well.
Viewers born in the ’70s are increasingly becoming the major target audience in the film industry.
“Since last year, there are many middle-aged people who come to watch movies not for the good-looking actors but for those who are of their same age because they feel a connection,” said Kim Taek-gyoon, the department head of film distributor Showbox.
Actors Ryu Seung-ryong and Hwang Jung-min captivated middle-aged audiences through their talented roles in “All About My Wife” and “Dancing Queen,” respectively.
Jung Joon-ho’s fifth sequel in “Marrying the Mafia 5 - Return of the Family” will provide some comedic relief, while Jung Jae-young plays an unstoppable detective determined to catch his killer in the movie “Confession of Murder” that is set to be released next month.
Won Dong-yeon, the vice president of the Korean Film Production Association, said, “Actors born in 1970 are the power of the Chungmuro cinema district. They have the ability to attract both the younger and older generations.”
In their eyes
Those who were born in 1970 lived through the liberalization of Korean society after the Park Chung Hee era.
They were allowed to wear anything to school for several years, listened to the music of Seo Tae-ji, one of the most influential Korean pop icons in the ’90s, and were introduced to foreign pop that later had a powerful influence on Korean culture.
These aspects of popular culture and openness appealed to many people, and it was to the extent where the competition rate in the Department of Theater and Film at Chung-Ang University and Dankook University was 40 to 1.
Actors Jung Jae-young, Hwang Jung-min, Park Hee-son, Yoo Hae-jin and Ryu Seung-ryong all graduated from the Seoul Institute of the Arts at similar times.
Board member of Lotte Entertainment Lee Sang-moo says, “Those born during the second baby-boom generation from 1968 to 1974 are conscious of both the analog era of the ’70s and ’80s, and of the digital era of the ’90s.”
By Jung Hyun-mok [[email protected]]
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October 26, 2012
Masquerade
Lee Byung-hun and the royal we
By Mark Jenkins The Washington Post
Critic rating:3 out of 4 stars
A sumptuous yet sometimes earthy costume epic, “Masquerade” offers a fictional answer to a genuine historical question: Why did Korea’s 17th-century King Gwanghae briefly act like a regular guy?
The movie supposes, implausibly but entertainingly, that Gwanghae behaved like one of the common people because he was. That is, the man who ruled Korea for about two weeks in 1616 was actually the king’s body double, a cabaret-style performer named Ha-seon. (Both the king and the stand-in are played by Lee Byung-hun, who’s appeared in such Korean imports as “I Saw the Devil” and “The Good, the Bad, the Weird,” as well as Hollywood’s “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.”)
When the story begins, Gwanghae correctly suspects that some of his courtiers are trying to kill him. So he sends his chief secretary (Ryoo Seung-ryong) to recruit a man who can impersonate him. The official discovers Ha-seon, who bears an exceptional likeness to the monarch. Although his act is a bit disreputable -- he plays a lecherous king who’s always molesting his ladies-in-waiting -- the double is no peasant. He can actually read.
This skill proves useful after the king is drugged by some of his enemies. The monarch is spirited away so he can recuperate, and his double must take his place. Ha-seon initially struggles with living like a king, notably the lack of privacy. But he comes to master policy issues, as well as the real ruler’s lower, more resonant voice.
Also, it turns out, the substitute is naturally noble. His kindness to his household staff earns him affection the actual king never enjoyed.
Following his instincts, Ha-seon increases taxes on the wealthy and bans exploitation of the poor. Such actions make the fake king even less popular with his advisers than the man he’s impersonating. A crisis is inevitable, but when it arrives the double finds he has some loyal supporters and one unexpected ally.
Inspired by a brief gap in the records of Gwanghae’s 15-year reign, director Choo Chang-min’s movie dusts off a plot used by Mark Twain’s “The Prince and the Pauper” and Akira Kurosawa’s 1980 “Kagemusha.” Stylistically, “Masquerade” has much more in common with the latter.
The widescreen film opens with an imposing shot of the palace’s grand hall in the snow and features opulent costumes, elegant details and stately compositions. There’s more slapstick than swordplay, but the courtiers’ hostility toward both kings does finally lead to a showdown.
“Masquerade” is, above all, a showcase for Lee Byung-Hun, who doesn’t waste the opportunity. It’s a regal performance, even when the actor is playing someone who doesn’t know the first thing about the king business.
Contains violence, torture, bawdy humor and brief profanity. In Korean with English subtitles.
October 29, 2012
Washington Post's Positive Review on Lee Byung Hun & Masquerade
Source: Nate.com
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October 30, 2012
Actor Kim Nam Gil Jealous of Lee Byung Hun and Jung Jae Young's Excellent Acting
Source: Nate 1 l 2 l 3 l 4 l 5
Was looking for the gist of the related articles highlighted at Nate, thanks so much to Shenny(she shared LBH's KBS PhotoDocumentary 2006/2007clips & captures with us before ^^) for writing this at her site.
October 29, 2012
Welcome back, Kim Nam Gil!
by ay_link jazzholic.com
“Bad Guy” Kim Nam Gil is back on TV! Well, not really, but he’s getting there!
Last night, tvN “People Inside” with Baek Ji Yeon invited Kim Nam Girl on the show. After being released from the the mandatory army duty, Kim Nam Gil ended his service last July after being away from the industry for two long years. The actor was back on his feet with his self-produced film, ‘Ensemble’, and was invited to come to the 8th Jecheon International Music & Film Festival and he also went to the 17th Busan International Film Festival.
During the interview talk with Baek Ji Yeon’s tvN “People Inside”, he mentioned that he was afraid on how he could make a comeback after starring in a drama as a ‘bad guy’. His last drama before he served in the army was SBS “Bad Guy”, in which he wanted to leave a mark before he went away on his service to his country. Now, having to come back to the industry again, while talking about the hottest movie in South Korea right now, Lee Byung Hun’s Masquerade (also known as “Gwanghae, The Man Who Became King”), Kim Nam Gil confessed that he was so jealous with how well his seniors (Lee Byung Hun and Jung Jae Young) was doing in the movie. ”I can’t believe how well he does in the movie… how could he act so well like that?”. The “Masquerade” movie has recently passed its 7 million viewers mark and has stayed 3 weeks in a row at the box office; making it the #1 hit movie in Korea right now.
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October 30, 2012
'Gwanghae' sweeps Korean Oscars
The Korea Herald
 Twitpic by BH_Boss
The local costume drama "Gwanghae: the Man Who Became the King" scored a knockout victory at the South Korean "Oscar awards" for this year on Tuesday, claiming best picture and 14 other trophies.
The box-office hit about King Gwanghae, the 15th ruler of Korea's last kingdom, the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) was given the best picture award at the 49th Daejong (Grand Bell) Film Awards.
Lee Byung-hun won the best actor award for his dual role in the film as the king and the humble acrobat Ha-sun, who stands in for the monarch when he faces the threat of being poisoned, with Choo Chang-min chosen as best director.
The flick also received awards for the best supporting actor, the best editing, the most popular artist, the best lighting, the best screenplay, the best costume design, the best art direction, the best music, the best cinematography, the best technical achievement and the best sound effects.
The festival, created in 1962 and the most prestigious in the country, is considered South Korea's Academy Awards.
As "Gwanghae" swept two thirds of the 23 awards up for grabs at the annual event, "Pieta" by Venice winner director Kim Ki-duk and "The Thieves," a star-studded heist film that set a new all-time audience record with more than 13 million viewers earlier this month, won only one prize each. The best actress award went to Jo Min-su for her role as the self-proclaimed birth mother of the male protagonist in "Pieta." Kim Hye-sook picked up the best supporting actress prize for her role in "The Thieves" about 10 Korean and Chinese thieves who plot to steal a diamond necklet in Macao.
"Gwanghae" has drawn more than 11 million moviegoers, becoming the second local film this year to break the 10 million audience record following "The Thieves."
In South Korea, films drawing 3 to 4 million moviegoers are considered a box-office success. Only five other local films have ever passed the 10 million milestone. (Yonhap News)
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October 31, 2012
‘Daejongsang’ Lee Byeong-Heon, his first the Best Actor award, “For a beloved one”
Source: Innolife Korea
Lee Byeong-Heon was awarded with the Best Actor at Daejongsang Film Awards.
At the 49th Daejongsang Film Awards which was held at KBS Hall in Seoul on 30th, Lee Byeong-Heon got the Best Actor award for the first time after his debut with the movie ‘Masquerade’. The representative Lee Byeong-Heon’s agency got the award on behalf of Lee Byeong-Heon who is taking a shooting overseas and said, “If Lee Byeong-Heon were here, he would say thank you for his beloved one.”
The candidates for the Best Actor of Daejongsang in 2012 were Choi Min-Shik of ‘Nameless Gangster : Rules of Time’, Kim Myeong-Min of ‘Face Maker’, Hwang Jeong-Min of ‘Dancing Queen’, Lee Byeong-Heon of ‘Masquerade’ and Ahn Seong-Gi of ‘Unbowed’.
There were hot competitions of 20 Korean movies which were reputed as the best movies of 2012 for a total of 22 trophies at Daejongsang Film Awards.
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October 31, 2012
"The Masquerade' Sweeps Victory at Korea's Academy Awards
Reporter : [email protected] l Nate
2012 has been a bumper year of Korean film and the picture that arguably stole the show this year has swept the board at a prestigious local award ceremony.
"The Masquerade," released under the Korean title "Gwanghae," scooped the Best Picture Award at Korea's version of the Academy Awards.
The motion picture won fourteen other gongs at the forty-ninth Daejong Film Awards Tuesday with Lee Byung-hun winning Best Actor for his dual role as the king and an acrobat.
The movie attracted roughly eleven-million moviegoers within two months of its release, according to box-office figures by the Korean Film Council.
Kim Ki-Duk's "Pieta," which won the Golden Lion Award at Venice Film Festival, won two trophies -- the special award from the panels and the Best Actress award for Jo Min-su.
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October 31, 2012
"Gwanghae" reigns supreme at S. Korea film awards
AFP via TheStar.my
SEOUL: A costume drama about a stand-in monarch has swept South Korea's domestic Oscars, winning 15 of the 23 awards up for grabs, including best film.
"Gwanghae: The Man Who Became King" - distributed internationally under the title "Masquerade" - also won a best actor gong for its star Lee Byung-Hun at the annual Daejong (Grand Bell) Film Awards on Tuesday night.
Lee won for his dual role as King Gwanghae, the 15th ruler of Korea's Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), and the humble acrobat Hasun, who stands in for the monarch when he faces the threat of being poisoned.
The film, which also picked up best director, best supporting actor and best screenplay awards, was one of two Korean films this year to break through the 10-million ticket barrier at the domestic box office.
The other, "The Thieves", a star-studded casino heist movie shot in Macau, only managed one award - best supporting actress for Kim Hae-Sook.
And there was only a single prize for "Pieta", maverick director Kim Ki-Duk's gritty revenge thriller that won the Golden Lion - a first for a Korean production - at this year's Venice International Film Festival.
The movie garnered a best actress award for Jo Min-Soo, who won for her role as a woman claiming to be the mother of a brutal loan shark.
2012 looks set to be a record-breaking year for South Korean cinema.
The Korean Film Council recently announced around 120 million cinema tickets had been sold across the country by the end of the second quarter of 2012, a year-on-year rise of around 20 percent. - AFP
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October 31, 2012
The 'Daejong Film Awards' are Taken Over by 'Masquerade'
CJ E&M enewsWorld Lee, JinHo Translation Credit: Erika Kim
Masquerade won the awards for Best Director, Male Supporting Actor, Editing, Popularity, Design, Lighting, Scenario, Costume, Artwork, Audio, Music, Filming, Video, Male Lead Actor and Best Film at the 49th Daejong Film Awards, practically swepping in all the awards it could get its hands on.
The Thieves, which recorded the biggest audience in Korean film history, and Pieta, which won the Leone D′Oro at the Venice Film Festival, only won the Best Female Lead Actor Award (Kim Hae Suk) and the Judges′ Special Award.
The Daejong Film Awards were held on October 30, hosted by MCs Shin Hyeon Jun and Kim Jung Eun. This day, the biggest actors and actresses in Korea gathered to be at the most grand film festival of the year.
The day was swallowed by Masquerade. It took over almost all of the most weighted awards, and at this, Shin Hyeon Jun was led to repeat again and again, "This really is a day for Masquerade."
The string of awards for Masquerade started with the Costume and Artwork award. Costume directors Kwon Yoo Jin and Im Seung Hee, and art director Oh Heung Suk stood onstage to thank everyone for what would be the start of a flood of awards for the film.
Editor Nam Na Young, scriptwriter Hwang Jo Yoon, supporting actor Ryu Seung Ryong, music director Kim Jun Sung, designer Im Sang Jin, video director Lee Tae Yoon, video technician Jung Jae Hoon, lighting director Oh Seung Chul, audio director Lee Sang Joon and Lee Byung Hun all went on to win their awards for their work with Masquerade.
Director Kim Ki Duk and a judge for the Daejong Film Awards of the same name clarified, "We believe there will be suspicions on why the awards have been given to one specific piece. We used to judge each piece and then compare each area, but this week, whenever the screening of a film ended, we put down our scores, sealed the envelopes and kept them in a safe. Even I, the judge for the ceremony, didn′t know this would yield such results. Since we didn′t get to compare, we didn′t know which piece would be winning which award. We hope you understand."
Even after the comments were made, the awards for Masquerade didn′t stop coming. Director Choo Chang Min won the Best Director Award, and Lee Byung Hun also won the Best Lead Actor award. The film then topped the day with a win for Best Film, sweeping through a total of 15 categories in all.
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November 1, 2012
'Gwanghae: The Man who Became King' wins 15 awards at 49th Grand Bell Awards
By Korea Star Daily | Kpop Fighting
At the '49th Grand Bell Awards' held on October 30th at KBS TV Hall in Yeouido, Korean film 'Gwanghae: The Man who Became King' set a new milestone as it picked up 15 awards on the night to become the most medaled film winner in the awards history, brushing aside 'The King and the Clown' (director: Lee Jun Ik) who held the record previously with 10 awards.
Directed by Choo Chang Min, 'Gwanghae' won a total of 15 awards in Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Screenplay, Best Costume Design, Best Art Design, Best Music, Best Sound Effects, Best Lighting, Best Editing, Best Production, Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, and Popularity Award, becoming the biggest winner of the night.
Compared to 'Gwanghae', competing films 'Pieta' and 'The Thieves' which won the prestigious Golden Lion at Venice and broke 10 million admissions respectively paled in comparison when it came to awards. Kim Hae Sook won the Best Supporting Actress award for 'The Thieves' while 'Pieta' won the Special Jury Award and Best Female Actress award (Jo Min Soo), and went accordingly to the form book. The Best Actor/Actress award went to Lee Byung Hun and Jo Min Soo respectively, while the Best Supporting Actor/Actress award went to Ryu Seung Ryong and Kim Hae Sook respectively.
The first 'Grand Bell Awards' took place in 1962 and it has been over 50 years since its inception. It gives out awards for Best Film, Best Actor, Best Actress ,Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best New Actor, Best New Actress, Best New Director, and many other awards. It is considered to be a prestigious film awards ceremony that has contributed much to the Korean film industry.
The following are the list of winners:
# Best New Actor: Kim Sung Kyun (The Neighbours, Nameless Gangster)
# Best New Actress: Kim Ko Eun (Eun Gyo)
# Best New Director: Choi Jong Tae (Hand in Hand)
# Best Short Film: Choi Ji Yeon (Woman)
# Best Costume Design: Kwon Yoo Jin, Im Seung Hee (Gwanghae)
# Best Art Design: Oh Heung Suk (Gwanghae)
# Best Music: Kim Joon Sung (Gwanghae)
# Best Sound Effects: Lee Sang Joon (Gwanghae)
# Popularity Award: Lee Byung Hun (Gwanghae)
# Lifetime Achievement Award: Kwak Jung Hwan, Ko Eun Ah
# Best Supporting Actor: Ryu Seung Ryong (All About My Wife, Gwanghae)
# Best Supporting Actress: Kim Hae Sook (The Thieves)
# Best Lighting: Oh Seung Chul (Gwanghae)
# Best Editing: Nam Na Young (Gwanghae)
# Best Production: Im Sang Jin (Gwanghae)
# Best Screenplay: Hwang Jo Yoon (Gwanghae)
# Best Cinematography: Lee Tae Yoon (Gwanghae)
# Best Visual Effects: Jung Jae Hoon (Gwanghae)
# Special Jury Award: Kim Ki Duk (Pieta)
# Best Director: Choo Chang Min (Gwanghae)
# Best Actor: Lee Byung Hun (Gwanghae)
# Best Actress: Jo Min Soo (Pieta)
# Best Film: Gwanghae
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October 31, 2012
'Masquerade' sets record for Daejong Film Awards
By ED MOY Examiner.com
"Masquerade" experienced sweeping success at this year’s 49th Daejong Film Awards (Grand Bell Awards) on October 30th in Seoul, Korea.
The Daejong Film Awards are the oldest film awards ceremony in South Korea and is presented annually by the Motion Pictures Association of Korea, making it the equivalent of the American Academy Awards.
This year, "Masquerade" won awards in a total of 15 categories, bringing the ceremony host Shin Hyun-jun to comment in awe: “This truly is a day for Masquerade.”
Masquerade’s 15 awards obliterates the record for most wins last set by The King and the Clown, which garnered 10 awards at the 2006 Daejong Film Awards.
Beating out stiff competition from Pieta, this year’s Venice Film Festival Golden Lion awardee, and Thieves, now Korea’s highest grossing film ever, Masquerade won awards in the ceremony’s most coveted categories, including Best Film, Best Director for Choo Chang-min, and Best Actor for Lee Byung-hun, whose “commanding central performance” (Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times) has been praised by critics beyond the film’s home country of South Korea.
"Masquerade" tells the story of King Gwanghae (Lee Byung-Hun) who has been the King for the past 8 years. He now suspects that someone within the royal court is attempting to poison him. In response, King Gwanghae orders his councilor Heo Gyun (Ryoo Seung-Ryong) to find someone that looks like him to sit in his throne.
Heo Gyun then comes across a clown named Ha-Sun (Lee Byung-Hun), who performs lewd shows in front of drunken noblemen. Ha-Sun indeed strongly resembles King Gwanghae and is even able to imitate the way King Gwanghae speaks. Heo Gyun takes Ha-Sun to the royal palace without giving any explanations. At night, Ha-Sun takes the King's seat, while the King slips away to his mistress's home.
A short time later, King Gwanghae collapses and is taken to a safe house. Meanwhile, Ha-Sun continues his ruse as the King until the King can recover. Slowly, Ha-Sun's own personality comes out and the people in the King's inner court notice the changes. The King appears more humane to those around him and far less volatile. While Ha-Sun's true voice comes out, enemies within the King's inner circle plan their next move.
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November 1, 2012
“Masquerade,” Swept the Daejong Film Awards
By Jaeyeon Woo WSJ
How many awards are too many? That question has been bouncing around the sets and offices of South Korea’s movie industry over the past couple of days.
“Masquerade,” a saga of palace intrigue starring Lee Byung-hun, grabbed 15 out of the 22 awards that were presented Tuesday night at the 49th Daejong Film Awards, South Korea’s version of the Oscars. It was the biggest haul ever. Indeed, the movie won in every category it was nominated.
In the U.S., the most Oscars ever won in a single year is 11, and that’s been done by three films — “Ben-Hur” in 1959, “Titanic” in 1997, and “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” in 2003. The “Lord of the Rings” likewise won every nominated category.
“Masquerade” has been a popular success as well as receiving critical acclaim. It has so far attracted more than 11 million moviegoers – the sixth biggest box office hit ever – and is still on show nationwide.
Some movie critics and fans, however, raised a question about fairness of the award process, given the breadth of high quality movies made in South Korea this year.
Daejong’s 20 finalists this year included “The Thieves,” which last month became South Korea’s biggest movie blockbuster of all time with more than 13 million admissions. Other excellent movies that were up for awards: “Architecture 101,” a memory-stirring romance of young university students back in 1990s that got attention and sympathy from Korean thirty-somethings; Kim Ki-duk’s “Pieta,” a shocking drama about a ruthless loan shark and a mysterious woman that won the Golden Lion at the 69th Venice Film Festival; and “Dogani,” a terrifying film based on a real life story where school officials repeatedly raped hearing-impaired students.
Kim Ki-duk, chairman of the Daejong screening committee, left in the middle of Tuesday’s ceremony, raising speculation that he was unhappy with “Masquerade” taking all the limelight of the night. Kim Soon-mo, who came up to the stage to receive a “Special Judges’ Award” on behalf of Kim Ki-duk, said the director Kim left early because “he doesn’t feel well.”
The organizer of the award ceremony introduced a new screening process this year by appointing 54 ordinary citizens, on top of the existing professional judges, to enhance fairness and to acknowledge different opinions. Each judge individually scores every entry based on a given guideline – without sharing notes each other.
Won Dong-yeon, the chief of Realise Pictures, producer of “Masquerade,” wrote on Twitter Wednesday, “Thanks. I have a lot more to say but I just wish that all the hard work by our staff and actors who did their best for ‘Masquerade’ should not be paled into insignificance for whatever reason.”
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November 1, 2012
Lee Byung Hun Approved of the Mention of Lee Min Jung at the ′Daejong Film Awards′
CJ E&M enewsWorld Lee, JinHo Translation Credit : Erika Kim
Son Seok Woo, head of Lee Byung Hun′s BH Entertainment, opened up about what Lee Byung Hun said about his win at the Daejong Film Awards...and his lover Lee Min Jung.
At the auditions for the play Masquerade held on October 31, Son Seok Woo met with enews to talk about how the film became a play and about what happened at the Daejong Film Festival held on the day before.
When asked whether Lee Byung Hun knew about Son Seok Woo′s mention of ′his lover′ while he was accepting the award on his behalf, Son Seok Woo said, "He said I did good (Laugh). He said he would′ve said the same himself if he had been there to accept the award."
At the 49th Daejong Film Awards, Lee Byung Hun won the Popularity Award and Best Lead Actor Award. Because he was in London at the time to shoot his film Red 2, he sent his agency rep Son Seok Woo to accept the award on his behalf.
Son Seok Woo said onstage at the time, "If Lee Byung Hun had been here, I believe he would′ve had some last words to say for his lover."
"We had actually been talking to each other through text messaging even during the first half of the ceremony," he added. "After winning the Popularity Award, we had given up on the Best Lead Actor Award. Still, I asked him what he would say if he did win the award, but he said he didn′t believe he would win and that he would write his name with his butt later. We joked around like that and just enjoyed the festival."
"I hadn′t prepared anything to say, so I felt blank onstage. We′ve worked together for a long time, however, so I just said the things I thought he would say himself. I called him because I was worried the couple would feel uncomfortable, but he told me I did good."
The second round of auditions for the play Masquerade, held from October 29-31, drew 500 contestants. The play will confirm its cast through another round of interviews, then be performed onstage from February 23, 2013.
Photo credit: enews
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