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August 15, 2009
1st Frenchman to Play Lead in a Korean Weekend Soap
Pierre Deporte
When the cast and crew of the new TV drama "Tamra, the Island" met the press on July 29 at a hotel in Seoul, French actor Pierre Deporte, one of the leads, attracted attention with his fluent Korean.
"Tamra, the Island" is Deporte's debut. He plays young Englishman named William who drifted to the Island of Jeju (Tamra is the old name of Jeju). On acting in Korean, Deporte says, "I thought the most important thing was to thoroughly understand the script before thinking about the acting. I read the script, looking up words in the dictionary on my mobile phone."
Thanks to the influence of his Korean stepmother who married his French father, Deporte learned Korean in France from the age of five, and his fluent Korean reflects this history.
Director Yoon Sang-ho says, "Although there were concerns about Deporte because he was a foreigner and a complete rookie, he absorbed coaching and cues very quickly. And because he is so Korean in his thoughts and behavior, he seems like a Korean with blond hair."
It is the first time that a foreign actor was cast in one of the lead roles in weekend TV drama. But Deporte is not the only rookie among the five leading actors; all five are fresh faces.
"Tamra" is based on a cartoon inspired by the story of Dutch explorer Hendrik Hamel who was shipwrecked in Jeju Island on the way to Japan in the mid 17th century, and the first European to give an accurate account of Korea.
It started to air from Aug. 8 on MBC.
Credits: englishnews@chosun.com |
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August 15, 2009
1st Frenchman to Play Lead in a Korean Weekend Soap
Pierre Deporte
When the cast and crew of the new TV drama "Tamra, the Island" met the press on July 29 at a hotel in Seoul, French actor Pierre Deporte, one of the leads, attracted attention with his fluent Korean.
"Tamra, the Island" is Deporte's debut. He plays young Englishman named William who drifted to the Island of Jeju (Tamra is the old name of Jeju). On acting in Korean, Deporte says, "I thought the most important thing was to thoroughly understand the script before thinking about the acting. I read the script, looking up words in the dictionary on my mobile phone."
Thanks to the influence of his Korean stepmother who married his French father, Deporte learned Korean in France from the age of five, and his fluent Korean reflects this history.
Director Yoon Sang-ho says, "Although there were concerns about Deporte because he was a foreigner and a complete rookie, he absorbed coaching and cues very quickly. And because he is so Korean in his thoughts and behavior, he seems like a Korean with blond hair."
It is the first time that a foreign actor was cast in one of the lead roles in weekend TV drama. But Deporte is not the only rookie among the five leading actors; all five are fresh faces.
"Tamra" is based on a cartoon inspired by the story of Dutch explorer Hendrik Hamel who was shipwrecked in Jeju Island on the way to Japan in the mid 17th century, and the first European to give an accurate account of Korea.
It started to air from Aug. 8 on MBC.
Credits: englishnews@chosun.com |
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August 15, 2009
Late actress' burial urn found missing: police
source
YANGPYEONG, South Korea, Aug. 15 (Yonhap) -- A cinerary urn containing the ashes of the late actress Choi Jin-sil has been found missing from her grave in Yangpyeong, south of Seoul, prompting police to launch an investigation, officers said Saturday.
Choi Jin-sil, who was one of the nation's most well-known actresses, committed suicide on Oct. 2, 2008 after suffering from extreme stress caused by malicious rumors and messages on the Internet. Her cremated remains were placed in a graveyard in Yangpyeong, about 50km south of the capital.
"A security guard at the graveyard found Choi's tomb ransacked and her urn missing while on duty early Saturday morning," said a police officer. "An extensive investigation is now under way."
Choi's death came as a painful shock to the nation, which had watched over the past two decades as she climbed the entertainment ladder to become a household name.
Credits: [email protected] via yonhapnews.co.kr |
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August 15, 2009
Late Actress Choi’s Ash Jar Stolen
Choi Jin-sil
The ash box of the late South Korean actress Choi Jin-sil disappeared overnight from her tomb and the police are investigating the case, Yonhap News Agency reported Saturday.
The police were informed around 8:10 a.m. on Saturday from the cemetery management office that the late actress' ash jar inside her tomb in Gyeonggi Province was stolen.
"A security guard was patrolling around the cemetery this morning and discovered the flowers on Choi's tomb were littered around the place in a disorderly manner. When he approached to clean the site, he discovered that the tomb was broken and Choi's ash jar was missing," an official with the cemetery was quoted as saying in the piece.
The police are examining the two empty Soju bottles in front of the tomb for traces of finger prints as well as closed circuit TV footages for possible clues.
Apparently, the incident happened sometime after 6 p.m. Friday night because the cemetery patrol didn't find anything suspicious at that time.
The incident may have been committed by an emotional fan who was deeply attached to the late actress, South Korean broadcaster YTN said.
In October last year, Choi's mother found the actress, 40 at that time, with an elastic band around her neck, tied to a shower stall in her home in southern Seoul, in an apparent suicide.
Since her debut in 1988, Choi swiftly climbed the career ladder to become a household name, clinching main roles in soap operas, movies and commercials to win subsequent awards.
Credits: koreatimes.co.kr |
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August 16, 2009
Zhang Ziyi sends love to So Ji-sub
Zhang Ziyi, star of "Memoirs of a Geisha" and the Oscar-winning "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," visited Korea on Thursday to promote "Sophie's Revenge" along with Korean co-star So Ji-sub.
Clad in a silky pink one-piece dress and with her dark hair pulled back, Zhang looked every bit the ravishing beauty the world got to know in her debut as the butt-kicking warrior in Ang Lee's "Crouching Tiger." "I don't want to be the type of woman that's rough-around-the-edges anymore," she said during the press conference at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul.
Her subsequent portrayals of tough-as-nails characters have left her with the label, the one she has been trying to shake, of a one-dimensional actress. "Sophie's about 60-70 percent of my real self. I'm always bright, bubbly and full of charm, as she is in this film. I hope I can show off those qualities as naturally as I can on the screen," she said.
In the film she plays the eponymous lead, a popular Chinese comic book artist and writer who vows revenge after being dumped the day before her marriage to surgeon-boyfriend Jeff (So Ji-sub). The film is also her first foray behind the scenes, as she is credited as one of its producers.
The 30-year-old Zhang co-stars with So Ji-sub, one of Korea's most popular silver and small-screen heartthrobs. "He has a lot of fans in China because of his popular Korean dramas. When he made a promotional visit to Beijing, there were a lot of fans that turned out to see him," she said. "I admired his commitment because he invested so much time and effort into learning the Chinese language and mastering the cadences specifically for this film.
"I, of course, having experienced the same difficulties acting in English and Japanese in my previous films understand what he had to go through and place him in the highest regard as an actor."
Zhang was complimentary of more than just So's professionalism, though. "He's also very attractive, of course, and has a killer body and I would love to work with him on another project in the future if chance permits," she joked.
The actor, most famous for the KBS television drama "I'm Sorry, I Love You," replied with his own words of glowing affirmation. "She's known mostly for strong characters but in person she looked adorable and was always so friendly with everyone. She's a consummate professional who really gets into her roles as fervently as she would in a more serious film.
"The word going around was that (Ziyi) sought me out to take part in the film but I didn't get that confirmation from her," he joked.
So's involvement mirrors Zhang's motivation to take on a different type of character, as the brooding 31-year old is known mostly for prince-of-darkness-type characters in both television and film. "This is my second foreign film after taking part in the Japanese production 'Kitaro,' so I thought ... this would be my chance to shed some of the gruff image I've been mostly known for," he said.
"And because my co-stars in the film are hugely popular in China and Taiwan, I wanted to be a part of it as that would give me more exposure -- though my role in the film doesn't take up much screen time."
Asked who he would choose between Zhang Ziyi and Fan Bingbing -- the film's other Chinese starlet -- So stayed diplomatic, simply stated each of the leading women's appealing characteristics. "I quite like the character of Sophie in the film, but if I were to make a choice in the real world, I couldn't say. Ziyi is humble and very cute and she's a lot like Sophie. She even said this was the first time she played a character that was most in common with her real self.
"As for Bingbing, she was very charismatic and very quick on her feet when it came to immersing herself and getting into character during the shoot."
Known as a thoroughly available bachelor, So also tackled various inquiries about his love life.
"Marriage is an important thing, isn't it? You're being bound to one woman who you will have to live with forever and the question of 'is this the right one?' is something everyone has thought of. Of course, I wouldn't know since I've never been in a serious enough relationship, but I could never do the thing my character does in the film of just leaving his bride-to-be hanging at the altar the night before the big day," he said.
"Even if I had someone who I really liked, I'd probably just go around in circles since I wouldn't know how to express my feelings, as I'm pretty reticent when it comes to opening up to women."
By Song Woong-ki ([email protected]) via koreaherald.co.kr |
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August 16, 2009
'Sophie,' highlight reel for Zhang
"Sophie's Revenge" is not really a film. It is a collection of montages designed to place Zhang Ziyi's assets on display adorning a variety of fashionable clothes while showcasing her acting chops in situational comedy.
No doubt, producers will be knocking on her door after this film with offers of roles that will give her even more opportunities to act bubbly on-screen.
She is the only saving grace in this rudderless effort that is riddled with cliches and overacting, and too cute for its own good. As a highlight reel for its vivacious star, which is exactly what her management camp probably wanted, the film works quite well.
For most of her career, Zhang has portrayed strong women with a stubborn nature that perfectly befitted her seemingly cold facade. Her role in the film is a far cry from the roles she has become famous for in such films as "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Memoirs of a Geisha." No doubt, that was why she took on the role of Sophie, a frumpy, neurotic, socially awkward career woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
The film also stars popular Korean television and film heartthrob So Ji-sub, an otherwise competent actor who showed considerable range in last year's critically-acclaimed sleeper hit "Rough Cut." Here, though, the 31-year-old So is as wooden and inanimate as a bar stool. This cannot be blamed on him, as his cardboard cut-out of a character leaves him little to work with.
Zhang plays Sophie, a popular Chinese comic book artist and author who vows revenge after her groom-to-be surgeon, Jeff (played by So) leaves her for a famous actress the day before their wedding.
The other woman is played by Fan Bingbing -- China's most popular actress in real life -- and is a spoiled brat who clings to Jeff everywhere he goes. Characters established, the film then becomes a series of silly situational sketches that fail to mold a cohesive narrative.
By the film's end, all characters involved remain relegated to archetypes whose characters can be summarized in a phrase or two. There's the jilted lover, her philandering beau and the free-spirited man the heroine eventually falls in love with.
We really don't know how Sophie and Gordon, the other leading man played by popular Taiwanese singer-actor Yao Chen, fall in love. We only know that they've spent time together through a series of vacuous montages of the two doing things that the romantic comedy formula requires them to do.
The film also includes the obligatory "Pretty Woman" sequence where Sophie is seen trying on different outfits at a department store to the tune of a Chinese cover of a popular Korean pop song while her man watches.
The film's first-time director Eva Jin seems hell bent on proving to the viewers that Beijing is a lot like London or Manhattan. She overuses sets through gaudy art direction far detached from reality and stays away from filming busy streets to avoid reminding us that this is China.
We all know that country is on the fast track towards prosperity, but locals who watch the film will no doubt ask themselves where the heck it was filmed. Had the film's aim been set in an otherworldly universe like the French film "Amelie," the fantasy aesthetic might have been appropriate.
But romantic comedies, however far from reality they usually are, must still be set in environments we can easily identify. Here the lack of realism becomes a distraction. This might be due to the fact that the director's previous job was tied to the comic book world, which also explains why the film is just a collection of situations, rather than a movie with a beginning, middle and end.
By Song Woong-ki ([email protected]) via koreaherald.co.kr |
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August 14, 2009
Andy Picked as Ideal Husband in Thailand
Actor/singer Andy (real name Lee Seon-ho, 28) has been picked as the ideal husband in Thailand, said his agency, TOP Media, on August 12.
Andy's popularity rose after he appeared as a virtual husband of singer Solbi on the MBC TV show "Sunday Night - We Got Married." On August 9, he participated in the taping of the famous Thai talk show "Speak Out," which airs on the cable channel True Vision Network. The channel has been airing "We Got Married" these days and the show has become a big hit in Thailand. At the taping, the production team announced the results of a viewer vote, which showed that Andy was picked as the "best husband" and that he and his virtual wife Solbi made the "best couple."
Actress Top, who hosted the show, said that she thought of Andy as a "cute guy" when she watched "We Got Married" but found him to be very stylish when she saw him in person. She also credited him for his humble and polite personality. After the taping, she told Andy's fans in the audience that she had also become Andy's fan and even asked them to give her the Web site address of his Thai fan club.
At his fan meeting on August 8 at Siam Paragon in Bangkok, Andy performed his hit songs "Love Song" and "Propose." The meeting was attended by the singer's fans from Thailand, China, Japan, Malaysia as well as Mexico, Australia and the U.S.
A person from Andy's agency said more than 300 journalists from some 100 media outlets had covered Andy's news conference and that various shows featuring Andy, such as "X Man" and "Love Letter," were very popular in Thailand.
Andy is currently appearing in the SBS TV series "Two Wives" and preparing his second solo album.
Source: KBS Global |
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August 17, 2009
Disaster Movie 'Haeundae' Heads for 10-Million Mark
The Korean disaster film "Haeundae" has attracted more than 9 million spectators in the 26 days since its release and is about to surpass the 10 million mark. Dstributor CJ Entertainment on Monday said the film drew a total of 9.07 million viewers by Sunday. And as of Saturday, with an accumulated number of 8.8 million spectators, it already surpassed "The War" to take the fifth place in the all-time box office hit parade for Korean films.
"Haeundae" is also the second fastest of four Korean films that attracted over 10 million spectators, topped only by "The Host," which drew 9 million viewers in just 18 days. "Taegukgi: The Brotherhood of War" took 31 days, "The King and the Clown" 38 and "Silmido" 45.
"Take Off," a story about ski jumpers, is enjoying growing popularity in its third week, topping the box-office chart in terms of the number of spectators per day for three days since Friday over "Haeundae."
According to statistics compiled by the Korean Film Council as of Sunday morning, "Take Off" lured 442,000 viewers in 483 cinemas nationwide from Saturday to Sunday morning, while "Haeundae" drew 425,224. "Take Off" broke the 4 million mark by Sunday.
Credits: englishnews@chosun.com |
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August 17, 2009
Police Hunt Thief of Actress Choi Jin-sil's Ashes
Police investigating the theft of an urn containing the ashes of actress Choi Jin-sil are asking the National Scientific, Criminal and Investigation Laboratory to look for fingerprints and possible DNA traces on liquor bottles left at the scene.
No other evidence has turned up as a surveillance camera near her tomb had been broken for three days before the incident, but other cameras in the cemetery will be checked. The 7 cm thick stone wall of the tomb had been broken into.
The broken tomb of actress Choi Jin-sil, from which an urn containing her ashes was stolen
Police suspect the theft is the work of ardent fans as her tomb has been continuously visited by them since her suicide sent shockwaves throughout Korea in October 2008. But they do not rule out the work of a common criminal.
The actress' mother has urged the thief to return the urn to let her daughter rest in peace, saying she would forgive the criminal if she could get it back safe.
Credits: englishnews@chosun.com |
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August 16, 2009
Bae Yong-joon Worth W9.5 Billion
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Bae Yong-joon
Hallyu star Bae Yong-joon is taking the lead in exporting Korean cultural content through a new book and other projects.
Keyeast, the firm specializing in cultural content of which Bae is a major stockholder, revealed Friday on its Web site (www.keyeast.co.kr) that profits in the first half of the year amounted to 9.5 billion won.
In May, the firm became the largest stockholder of Digital Adventure (DA), a Japanese digital contents distribution company, and the merge will make way for more lucrative business developments in Japan in the latter half of the year.
In September, Bae will publish a photo essay in Korea and Japan introducing beautiful travel sites around the country.
The 36-year-old actor will hold a large-scale event inviting some 100,000 fans from all over Asia including China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore on Sep. 29 and 30 at the Tokyo Dome. His "Winter Sonata" co-star Choi Ji-woo will join him to promote an animated version of their hit TV series, which is slated to air in Japan in October. The event will also showcase various cultural and traditional themes.
Keyeast also plans to support craftsmen of the Korean traditional arts through exhibitions and publications.
"The majority of Keyeast’s 2009 profits are expected to come from the September showcase,’’ said Kim Ki-hong, CEO of Keyeast, in a press release.
Credits: hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr |
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Post Last Edit by katt at 20-8-2009 13:43
News Index Page 35
Aug 17: Dae-sung to Undergo Surgery This Week
Aug 17: Luxury cosmetics, with a male bent
Aug 17: So Ji-sub: 'It's Good for Actors to Have Wrinkles'
Aug 18: Korean Actor Lee Byunghun's Takes on the World in GI Joe
Aug 13: 2NE1 to appear in Asia festival
Aug 16: Victory Performs More Than His Role in Musical 'Shouting'
Aug 17: 'Take Off' tops Korean boxoffice
Aug 18: ]New Drama to Bring Modern Princess With Edge
Aug 18: Entertainer Ordered to Compensate for Contract Breach
Aug 18: Choi Jin-shil selected as best newsmaker
Aug 19: Choi Jin-sil's Ashes Stolen
Aug 19: Riches-meets-rags in new drama
Aug 19: So Ji-sub Makes Chinese Film Debut with Zhang Ziyi
Aug 19: Actress Defector Kim Hye-young to Marry S.Korean Actor
Aug 18: Dae-sung to Undergo Surgery
Aug 19: Park Hyo-shin Releases New Album
Aug 19: Astro Boy makes silver screen debut
Aug 19: Star series features Hallyu brat pack
Aug 19: Actress Kim Hee Sun on Magazine Cover With Daughter
Aug 19: Yoon Sang-hyun, Kim Bum Named PR Ambassadors for Korea Drama Festival
Aug 19: Journalist Convicted of Falsely Accusing Actor Song Il Kook
Aug 20: Star Hall of Fame Celebrates Choi Ji-woo |
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August 17, 2009
Dae-sung to Undergo Surgery This Week
Dae-sung
Dae-sung, a member of pop idol group Big Bang, is expected to undergo surgery this week due to injuries he sustained during last week's car accident.
Dae-sung, 20, had his nose and orbital bones broken in the accident that took place near Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, last Tuesday, while returning to Seoul after shooting SBS television program "The Family Is Out!''
The van hit the guardrail as it skidded amid heavy downpours, said YG Entertainment, the group's agency.
According to press reports, doctors advised him to undergo the surgery for the bones simultaneously.
Dae-sung received first aid treatment at a nearby hospital and has been hospitalized in Seoul. Doctors required him to receive treatment for eight weeks. He was unable to appear in the musical "Shouting'' that opened last week.
Dae-sung made his debut with Big Bang's four other members ― T.O.P., G-Dragon, Victory and Taeyang ― in 2006. Since their debut, the group has garnered fans with their stylish looks and distinctive sounds. The five members have also pursued their individual paths as well, with Dae-sung and Victory starring in musicals, Taeyang and G-Dragon releasing solo albums and T.O.P. appearing in television dramas.
Source: koreatimes.co.kr |
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August 17, 2009
Luxury cosmetics, with a male bent
Korea is leading the charge in the thriving men’s cosmetics industry.
Jang Dong-gun is the face of Hera Homme. [JoongAng Ilbo]
Remember the good old days, men, when all you needed to be fairly presentable was sleek hair and some reasonably clean clothes?
Not so now, a day and age when some of the hippest guys line their bathroom shelves with fancy cosmetic products, be it lotion, shaving gel, sunscreen or even anti-wrinkle cream. An obsession with healthy skin is clearly no longer the domain of just women.
And Korea is leading the charge in the thriving men’s cosmetics industry, highlighted by a surge in sales and a wave of new product lines over the past few years.
Biotherm, a cosmetic brand of L’Oreal, recently introduced its Aqua Homme Club in Korea. The program is aimed at the company’s male VIP customers. In addition to brochures and coupons for the latest Biotherm products, members receive information and tips on skin care.
Nam Gung-won in a 1970s Amore Pacific ad
Like many other cosmetic brands in Korea, Biotherm has long offered that service to its women customers. But Biotherm officials say they launched the club geared specifically toward men as the result of growing demand in recent months.
Indeed, several companies say they’ve seen similar trends in Korea. Sales here of a shaving gel by DHC, a Japanese cosmetic brand, rose seven-fold during the first half of this year compared to same period in 2008.
Iope, a Korean skincare brand, said sales of its new For Men Power Aging product line hit 1.7 billion won ($1.4 million) in just one month.
According to Euromonitor International, a U.K.-based market research firm, the industry racked up 530 billion won in sales here in 2007 - up from 320 billion a few years earlier. In fact, Korea easily ranked as the world’s largest market for men’s cosmetics that year, with more than twice the sales of runner-up Japan.
Daniel Henney in Biotherm Homme ad
The impressive growth trend in Korea dates back to 2000, when a host of cosmetic companies launched entirely new brands aimed specifically at men.
Amore Pacific’s Mirepa and Odyssey lines were some of the biggest at the time. Amore Pacific is Korea’s largest cosmetic maker and one of the first cosmetic companies in Korea to jump into the men’s cosmetic business.
Others followed suit, with Somang Cosmetics unrolling its Man with Flowers line and Estee Lauder’s releasing its Aramis products. In recent years, though, the trend has shifted. Companies are now bring existing brands to the male side, often incorporating the word Homme, which means “man” in French, in the new products.
The Amore Pacific line Hera, for instance, offers Hera Homme products. OHUI, LG’s cosmetic brand, introduced its OHUI For Men line. Lancome Men, Biotherm Homme and Clarins Men are other examples.
Experts say that launching new lines instead of developing entirely new brands makes it easier and cheaper to promote and market the new products.
The most beneficial aspect, they say, is that the brand has already been established among female consumers, who often buy cosmetic products for the men in their lives.
Products have also become more diverse than ever. While before men’s cosmetic products were largely more or less regular creams and lotions, these days they focus on everything from wrinkles to firming up skin.
The competition is about to get even more heated in the coming months.
Missha Cosmetics will add a new men’s line, Missha Homme Urban Soul, by the end of August. Missha already has two men’s cosmetic lines, but the new one will feature products of enhanced quality and therefore will cost more.
Somang Cosmetics will also launch a new, more expensive men’s cosmetic line, called Danahan, next month.
The way companies advertise these products is also evolving. In the past, the typical advertisement might, say, feature a man splashing his cheeks with water or the actual products to some macho rock music.
But these days advertisements for men’s cosmetics often attempt to grab the attention of females as well. Take this line from a recent ad for the local brand Essor; “I slept at his house. I used his skin????.”
A look into the history of men’s cosmetics at Amore Pacific tells it all. A 1970s ad for its men’s cosmetics brand featured actor Nam Gung-won flying in a helicopter and riding a horse in the wild. Nam represented the typical “tough guy” of the time.
In the 1980s, Amore Pacific discovered that women typically bought the cosmetics for the men. So the company changed its marketing strategy, promoting its products as “men’s cosmetics approved by women,” and saw its sales jump five-fold.
In the 1990s, advertisements for men’s cosmetics had an urban, chic and futuristic feel. The strategy changed again over the last decade. Amore Pacific has been featuring popular actors that appeal to both men and women, like Jang Dong-gun and Hyun Bin.
The apparent hope is that the ads will make men say “I want to be like them” and make women say “I want my husband or boyfriend to look like them.”
By Song Ji-hye [[email protected]] via INSIDE JoongAng Daily |
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August 17, 2009
So Ji-sub: 'It's Good for Actors to Have Wrinkles'
"If I keep appearing in foreign productions, someday I'll get a chance to debut in Hollywood," says actor So Ji-sub, who is currently appearing in the Korean-Chinese movie "Sophie's Revenge."
At a news conference on August 13, prior to the movie's release, which is slated for August 20, So told journalists that he had gained more experience by filming in China. The actor said he had chosen the movie because he wanted to shed his "tough guy" image and try a lighter role.
In "Sophie's Revenge," So plays a doctor who likes to flirt with women. He betrays his girlfriend, Sophie, just two months before their scheduled wedding, and Sophie, played by Zhang Ziyi, embarks on making him come back.
The movie can be regarded as an entirely foreign production because the majority of the cast and the director are Chinese. It's So's second foreign production after the 2008 Japanese movie "Ge Ge Ge Kitaro."
So said the most difficult part about working in China for three years was inconvenient restrooms and the language barrier. "Because of the problems in communication, I didn't have much choice in terms of interpreting my role in my own way. But that's all. I didn't face any other major obstacles," said So.
So also talked about his experience of acting opposite two beautiful actresses - Zhang Ziyi and Bingbing Fan. "Zhang Ziyi is very upbeat and cute. She is like her character, Sophie. By contrast, Bingbing Fan exudes powerful charisma. They are both very good at portraying feelings," said So.
With regard to his possible Hollywood debut, So said, "I can't just show up in Hollywood at my own will. If I keep appearing in foreign productions, someday I'll get a chance to debut in Hollywood."
Working overseas is no easy task for So. Apart from the language barrier, each action that he makes can affect the reputation of Korean actors in the eyes of foreigners. "Everything I do determines Korean actors' reputation. I did my best to take extra care. That was also kind of stressful. I want to play roles that suit my age. It's good for actors to have wrinkles on their faces, though I could get a few Botox shots if I get older," said So, laughing.
Source: KBS Global |
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August 17, 2009
Bangkok fest embraces homegrown cinema
Will promote Thailand as filmmaking destination
By Patrick Frater
HONG KONG -- The seventh Bangkok International Film Festival is set to be an event more focused on regional cinema than in previous years, organizers said.
"The film program will reflect and display the growing strength of filmmakers in the ASEAN region, the role of film in rapidly changing societies, and the technological developments that have made this possible," said Jareuk Kaljareuk, chairman of the Federation of National Film Associations of Thailand and festival director. "The program will focus particularly on the new generation of filmmakers in the region, throughout Asia, and around the world."
Kaljareuk said the lineup would include more than 80 films, but at a news conference in Bangkok on Monday he did not name any. He confirmed, however, that celebrities including Jean-Claude Van Damme, Lee Byung-hun and action star Armand Assante are scheduled to attend.
The event, which is backed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, will unspool at the SF World Cinema and Paragon Cineplex in downtown Bangkok from Sept. 24-30.
Promoting Thailand as a filmmaking destination is also high on the agenda. "(The festival) is a great opportunity to promote the Thai film industry and also promote Thailand not only as the entertainment hub of the region, but as an increasingly important international filmmaking center," Tourism Authority chairman Weerasak Kowsurat said.
"For a number of years, the Thai film industry has expanded both in its technological advances, its professional skills, and its artistic development. It is ready to take its place as a leading member of the international filmmaking community," Kaljareuk said.
Source: hollywoodreporter.com |
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August 18, 2009
Korean Actor Lee Byunghun's Takes on the World in GI Joe
Lee Byung-hun’s GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra is doing impressive business around the world. The movie based on the Hasbro action figures made 56.2 million at the box office in North America over the last weekend, 100 million worldwide storming into 35 territories combined.
Other Korean stars such as Rain and Gianna Jun appeared in Speed Racer and Blood the Last Vampire respectively, but these films failed to garner much international attention or substantial box office results. This is the first time that a Hollywood film, starring a Korean actor speaking English has had this much international success.
Such success may create more opportunities for Korean stars overseas. Rain is currently shooting his second Hollywood film Ninja Assassin. GI Joe opened here in Korea August 7 and has already racked up 1,000,000 in admissions.
Credits: David Oxenbridge (KOFIC) |
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August 13, 2009
2NE1 to appear in Asia festival
Two of the hippest groups of Korea's current pop scene, Big Bang and 2NE1, will be appearing at the 2009 Asia Song Festival Sept. 19 at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
The 6th annual festival will feature 14 popular singers and teams from nine different countries from 6 p.m., according to the Korea Foundation for International Culture Exchange, which is organizing the event.
The latest line up for the show also includes Japan's popular group V6, as well as Hong Kong's actor-cum-singer Ekin Cheng.
The foundation released the first list of stars for the festival last month, including Super Junior and Girls' Generation from Korea, and rocker Gackt and duo mihimaru GT of Japan, along with China's popular star Chris Lee, Taiwan's solo singer Luo Zhi Xiang Alan, Thailand's five-member male group K-Otic, Vietnamese actor/singer Ho Ngoc Ha and Agnes Monica of Indonesia.
The foundation said 2NE1, a newcomer to Korea's pop scene who has already been making an impact with two singles, will be receiving the fresh face award given to the potential stars of Asia.
2NE1 of YG Entertainment has been dubbed the female version of the highly popular boy group Big Bang, who are managed by the same company. Their debut single "Fire" was released in May.
Entry into the festival is free and tickets can be downloaded from the official site www.asf.or.kr from Aug. 21.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEW ... 13/200908130040.asp |
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August 16, 2009
Victory Performs More Than His Role in Musical 'Shouting'
By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter
A scene from musical “Shouting”
The car accident and subsequent absence of Dae-sung, the member of popular idol group Big Bang who was scheduled to star in the musical "Shouting" alongside Victory, also of the group, seemed to cast a dark cloud over the show.
However, Victory wiped out all worries and stole the limelight in the musical based on the trials and tribulations of the group.
The show is the first joint production of YG Entertainment, a local pop agency, and Seol & Company, one of the country's major musical production companies.
The musical has drawn much attention due to the casting of the pop stars, and aims to attract the teenage market.
It features the two stars and uses their real names to portray the dreams and efforts of young wannabes who shoot to stardom after working as stage staff at a broadcasting company. It is partially based on the group's best-selling autobiographical book, "Shouting to the World."
Without Dae-sung, Victory proved his singing ability and successfully worked alongside Kang In-young, an understudy who took the role of Dae-sung.
Victory dazzled the audience with his charismatic showmanship, brilliant dance moves and powerful vocals.
His voice drove the songs forward and provided a rich and soothing spirit tinged by his nasal yet attractive style. Victory also proved to be a proficient and effective actor who knows how to engage the audience.
Although he looked little nervous while acting, his performance has significantly matured from his previous work, "Sonagi (Rain Shower)."
Kang, who actually physically resembles Dae-sung, performed well and lived up to the expectations of the audience.
Also, veteran actress Hong Ji-min, who played Effie in the blockbuster musical "Dreamgirls," and actor Joo Won-sung supported with stable acting and singing.
Though the storyline is a bit weak, the musical successfully offers comical characters, catchy musical numbers and an impressive stage set.
The show entertains not only teenagers but also 20-to-30- somethings, due to its inclusion of classic numbers from Deux, Fin K.L. and Hyun Jin-young, along with new songs such as "Shouting to the World."
Previously, Dae-sung performed as the sexy rebel cat Rum Tum Tugger in the musical "Cats," while Victory appeared as a pure country boy in "Sonagi (Rain Shower)."
Dae-sung sustained injuries to his nose and back in the car accident on the Pyeongtaek Express Highway, Gyeonggi Province, while returning to Seoul after shooting the SBS television program "The Family is Out!" Due to his injuries, YG Entertainment has canceled his engagements, including the musical, during his recovery, which is expected to take six to eight weeks.
Dae-sung and Victory made their debuts with Big Bang's three other members ? T.O.P., G-Dragon and Tae-yang ? in 2006. Since their debut, the group has garnered fans with their stylish looks and distinctive sounds. The five members have also pursued individual paths as well, with Dae-sung and Victory starring in musicals, Tae-yang and G-Dragon releasing solo albums and T.O.P. appearing in television dramas.
"Shouting" will be on stage through Aug. 23 at KEPCO Art Center in southern Seoul. Tickets cost from 66,000 to 88,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3141-8425.
Credits: chungay@koreatimes.co.kr |
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August 17, 2009
'Take Off' tops Korean boxoffice
'Haeundae' places second
By Park Soo-mee
Source: asiae.co.kr
SEOUL -- "Take Off," a sports drama about Korean national ski jumpers directed by Kim Yong-hwa ("200 Pound Beauty"), topped the Korean weekend boxoffice, beating CJ Entertainment's blockbuster "Haeundae" for the first time since that film's July 29 opening.
"Take Off," handled by Showbox, attracted 3.96 million admissions on 677 nationwide screens, according to the Korean Film Council.
Yoon Je-kyoon's tsunami thriller "Haeundae," which tallied 9.06 million total viewers, and "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra," starring Korean superstar Lee Byung-hun, followed with 1.8 million.
Three films opening on August 12 chased after the top spot.
"Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" has had 435,442 viewings on 462 screens; "Public Enemies," starring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale followed by attracting 291,466 admissions, while "Faith," a Korean horror film about religious fanaticism, came in sixth with 164,304 admissions.
Source: hollywoodreporter.com |
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August 18, 2009
New Drama to Bring Modern Princess With Edge
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
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From left, Yoon Sang-hyun, Yun Eun-hye and Jung Il-woo.
The trio will appear in the new drama "My Fair Lady'' that starts
airing tonight at 10 p.m. on KBS. / Courtesy of KBS
Following the success of "Boys Over Flowers'' early this year, KBS is bringing yet another stylish drama to television fans with leading stars Yun Eun-hye, Yoon Sang-hyun and Jung Il-woo.
According to the producer Ji Yung-soo, the drama "will offer humor and laughs, perfect for the summer season.''
The storyline is simple: A former playboy, played by Yoon, gets himself a job as a servant of one of the richest and pickiest girls in town, and struggles to win both her money and heart. His plan takes a turn as a talented and rich lawyer, played by Jung, steps between the two characters.
The three actors showcased their new styles and personalities at a press conference last week in southern Seoul, and fans can expect an interesting transformation from the trio.
The Fierce Heir
Yun Eun-hye (the heroine of "Coffee Prince'') will play Kang Hae-na, the 24-year-old chaebol heir who lives the life of a modern-day princess. Living in her mansion called "Lady Castle,'' the red-haired Kang lives the glamorous life but fails to make any close friends, let alone find a boyfriend, due to her bossy and picky personality.
Donning a black and turquoise dress with fluffy shoulders, Yun appeared with bright red hair yanked up in a pony tail that made her eyes sharper, a characteristic that fits her character. The role represents a big change for the 25-year-old actress, as she has portrayed warm-hearted and naive characters in past dramas like "Coffee Prince'' (MBC, 2007) and "Princess Hours'' (MBC, 2006). The drama is her first appearance in two years.
"The producer worried that people would hate my character,'' she said.
"She has a strong personality, but I'll mix it with my own and make the audience connect with her and laugh along the way.''
Playing tomboyish personalities in the past didn't require fancy clothes, and now the actress admits having a hard time getting used to the glamour.
"The clothes are so nice and pretty, but it's hard to move!'' she said laughing.
A Butler With a Purpose
The actor who once played a romantic CEO in the popular drama ``My Wife Is a Superwoman'' (MBC, 2009) will appear as the handsome yet silly playboy-turned-butler Seo Dong-chan. In order to support his sick mother, Seo jumps into the working world as a playboy, only to find himself in debt. To make the real money he needs, he moves into Lady Castle to work as a butler and Kang's personal assistant.
"When I played Tae-bong in `Superwoman,' all I did was walk around and answer phones, but now I have to carry heavy things, run errands and clean the house! I really am going through a great transition in status,'' Yoon said.
"Like Jim Carrey, I enjoy acting comical characters, so viewers will get to see me exaggerating a lot.''
Rich Yet Modest
Jung, who walked on rooftops and fought with swords in the drama "Moon River'' (MBC, 2009), will appear as the poised and modest Lee Tae-yoon.
Although born into a rich family, the thoughtful Lee refuses to use his fame and money for success, and opens a small law firm with his friend to help the poor and powerless. For Lee, Kang is just another rich and stubborn girl, but when he finds out about her tragic past, he starts to open up.
"I used to always be flying around forests using wires, but now I get to ride nice cars! It's nice and very comfortable indeed,'' he said smiling.
But the life on an heir comes with complications, and the actor added that the fancy clothes did limit his movement.
"The suits are so fitted to look fashionable, but I can barely breathe!''
Along with showcasing the three characters, the new KBS drama will portray the essence of royalty, from horseback riding, flashy cars and beautiful mansions to Yun's dressy wardrobe and accessories.
"My Fair Lady'' will start airing tonight at 10 p.m. on KBS.
Credits: sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr |
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