Kim Seong-su (김성수)

Jeong Woo-seong on Being 'Good'

2008/07/28 | Source | Permalink |

There he stood, oblivious to passers-by staring at him. One hand resting on the door, looking up with a faint smile, he looked ineffably cool -- rather than "good" in his new movie.

Released last week, "The Good, the Bad, the Weird" by Kim Ji-woon has topped 2 million in ticket sales, and the Good in the movie, Jeong Woo-seong, seems to have benefited the most from the film's success. Sporting a long brown coat and a scarf, he skillfully toys with a long-handled rifle and takes accurate shots in midair with his body dangling from a rope. The action stunts arouse oohs and aahs.

Jeong said the stunts were not over the top, which he likes, but many feel that it's his most stylish role since the 1997 film "Beat" by Kim Seong-su, which turned him into a youth icon. Jeong describes Kim Ji-woon as a "wise observer", who precisely extracts each actor's unique color and personality. By praising Kim, Jeong is in fact acknowledging his own elegant charm.

The title doesn't really describe...| More

Korean Films at the 12th PiFan

2008/07/18 | Source | Permalink |

The 12th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan) kicks off this July 18 – 27 with the biggest line-up of genre films in Asia. Best of all are the return of high-profile Korean films to the fest and a warmer interaction with the local film industry after setbacks in previous years. KOFIC will again host a Korean film night event, this time an outdoor barbeque reception for guests during the festival.

Two Korean films will vie along with 10 foreign films in PiFan's main competition section Puchon Choice for a variety of cash awards including best feature. First is the critically praised sleeper hit "The Chaser" by NA Hong-jin. The tale of an ex-cop-turned-pimp on the trail of a prostitute-killer, made stars of its two leads, HA Jeong-woo and KIM Yoon-seok.

Also in this section is the World Premiere of new Korean horror, "Death Bell", by debut director CHANG. The HD feature is set in a high school where the brightest 20 students are struggling to survive as cla...| More

iHQ-Nabi Pictures to Invest in Joint Asian Film

2007/10/01 | Source | Permalink |

Film officials of South Korea, China and Hong Kong are planning a jointly invested film production.

Leading Korean entertainment firm iHQ and the Beijing Polybona Film Distribution Co. will be the joint investor and distributor.

The film 'Yeonaehabsida' ("Let's Date") by a Chinese producer--with most of the cast members also Chinese--will initially be released in China. A favorable response will then lead to releases in other Asian countries.

Domestic film agency Nabi Pictures says the project is a new type of joint production in that a Korean firm recruited Chinese staff and cast to make a movie targeting the Chinese market.

Nabi Pictures President Kim Seong-su says "It's the first time that three Asian countries are collaborating from the initial brainstorming and planning stage in a film production"....| More

6th Mise-en-scene's Genre Film Festival

2007/06/26 | Source | Permalink |

Opening June 27th at Yongsan CGV in central Seoul, the 6th edition of the Mise-en-scene's Genre Film Festival (MGFF) will run until July 3rd, screening over 60 short films. This year's slogan is "Beyond the Barrier of Genres", the event will celebrate films that challenge conventional genres.

MGFF began six years ago when a group of young directors collaborated on a festival that would support emerging cinematic talent. This year 10 of Korea's top directors joined hands to curate and program the festival. Known both at home and internationally, they are KIM Seong-su ("Musa", "Please Teach Me English"), HEO Jin-ho ("Christmas in August"), KIM Ji-woon ("A Bittersweet Life"), OH Seung-wook (Kilimanjaro), Lee Jae-Yong ("Untold Scandal"), KIM Dae-seung ("Blood Rain"), BONG Joon-ho ("The Host"), JANG Joon-hwan ("Save the Green Planet"), RYOO Seung-wan ("The City of Violence"), and SONG Hae-seong ("Failan"). Directors LEE Hyeon-seung ("Il Mare") and PARK Chan-wook ("Vengeance" trilogy...| More

Short Films Think Tall

2007/06/24 | Source | Permalink |

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

Though running as briefly as six minutes, short films show that size is not a factor for capturing the limitless power of imagination. Andre Bazin, film critic and founding father of the French New Wave, called short films "the film of the future".

As the 6th Mise-en-scene's Genre Film Festival (MGFF) takes off in central Seoul June 27-July 3, more than 60 short films will shake the earth and paint the sky pink. The festival will celebrate unique works that go beyond national borders and "Beyond the Barrier of Genres", befitting its slogan.

First organized in 2002 by Director's CUT, a committee of young directors celebrated both in Korea and international circles, the festival aims to support rising new cinematic talent.

This year, 10 of Korea's greatest young directors teamed up to curate the festival and chose 60 innovative and stylish films for the national competition. Challenging conventional film genres, the works are roughly grouped as ...| More