Maggie Q (매기 큐)

Books Map Out Korean Film History

2008/04/25 | Source | Permalink |

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

Korea is increasingly becoming an important film market ― ranking sixth and seventh in the world in terms of audience size and ticket sales, respectively, according to the Korean Film Council.

Last week, the Asia junket for the anticipated blockbuster "Iron Man" took place in Seoul ― the second big Hollywood event to be held here the one for since last summer's "Transformers".

In international film festivals, more and more Korean filmmakers and actors are stealing the limelight, notably actress Jeon Do-yeon (2007 Cannes Best Actress) and directors Kim Ki-duk (2004 Best Director awards at both Venice and Berlin), Park Chan-wook (2004 Cannes Grand Prix) and Im Kwon-taek (2002 Cannes Best Director, 2007 Dubai Lifetime Achievement Award).

Local production companies and investors are now out to play in the big league. Last year, Shim Hyung-rae's "D-War" marked the first widely released Korean film in the United States, while domestic ...| More

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'Three Kingdoms' Premieres in Seoul

2008/03/25 | Source | Permalink |

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

The star-studded cast and crew of "Three Kingdoms: Resurrection Of The Dragon" saw the world premiere of the Korean film project Monday at CGV Yongsan Theater in central Seoul. Superstars Maggie Q and Andy Lau and directors Daniel Lee and Sammo Hung sent a buzz through the city as reporters and fans gathered for the exclusive event before its release across Asia.

Korea and China bring an ambitious war epic inspired by "Romance of the Three Kingdoms". The 600-year-old epic novel by Luo Guangzhong is one of the most important literary pieces in China and is also a classic read in Korea.

The film marks many firsts and challenges for the makers. Korea's Taewon Entertainment, which handled sales and post-production scripting, calls it a "global" project that goes beyond being a Korea-China collaboration. It is aimed for wide release outside of Asia.

"We spent a really long time", said director Lee, the martial arts maestro of films like "Dragon Sq...| More

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Chinese market represents a lifeline for struggling movie producers

2007/04/17 | Source | Permalink |

The Korean film industry is making rapid inroads into China. In the short term, it is a way to boost growth in the local film market. In the long term, it is part of a joint effort to branch out into the world market.
China's film market has been growing at 30 to 40 percent a year by revenue, and thus Korean filmmakers are anxious to find Chinese partners. In the last year there has been a big jump in the number of jointly produced films. Korean companies have also been opening multiplex theaters with Chinese partners.
The lives of Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, warlords of ancient China, and heroic tales of many other gallant warriors are chronicled in the "Three Kingdoms: Resurrection Of The Dragon", a classic Chinese literary masterpiece which is much loved in Korea and Japan, as well as China.
It's not surprising that film producers in the three countries should be eager to turn the books into motion pictures, and collaborative projects involving companies from Korea, Japan ...| More

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