Lee Chang-dong (이창동)

Still room for movie theaters in a high-tech world

Source | 2009/07/03 | Permalink |

Trekking out to a movie theater might seem a bit quaint in today's high-tech world, where it's often easier and cheaper to watch films over the Internet or on DVD players and portable video devices.

But there's a distinct - and rather important - difference between viewing films from your couch and catching a new release in a packed theater, according to internationally acclaimed Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu.

"It is like the difference between listening to Rolling Stones songs by yourself in your house and going to their live concert. The contact with the people is what really generates emotion", Inarritu said June 26 during a press conference to promote the opening of a cinema program at the Prada Transformer at Gyeonghui Palace in downtown Seoul. "I think that cinema is a communal experience. The energy of the room and the feeling that people in the room are connected are not something you can get watching a film on a TV or DVD in your house".

Inarritu and U....| More

HONG Sang-soo casts MOON So-ri

Source | 2009/06/12 | Permalink |

2002 Venice Film Festival's Best actress winner MOON So-ri will challenge herself this time with a leading role in director HONG Sang-soo's next project. Details about HONG's film are sparse. The celebrated indie director is known for improvisation, writing and rewriting while filming.
 
KIM Sang-kyeong has been cast in the male leading role. It will be KIM's third film with HONG after "On the Occasion of Remembering the Turning Gate" in 2002, and "Tale of Cinema" in 2005. KIM also worked with directors like BONG Joon-ho ("Memories of Murder") and KIM Ji-hoon ("May 18").
 
HONG's latest feature film "Like You Know it All" was invited by Festival de Cannes. HONG's films are conveted by film festivals around the world. He garnered acclaim from his first films "The Day a Pig Fell into a Well" and "The Power of Kangwon Province" on.
 
MOON So-ri is well known for her acting skills which attracted LIM Soon-rye ("Forever the Moment") and KIM Tae-yong ("Family Ties" - "The Birth of a Fa...| More

The 270-day production camp with Lee Hyeon-se and Lee Chang-dong!

Source | 2009/06/11 | Permalink |

'Participatory Program of Cultural Content Project Camp' kicks off with the aim of producing talented human resources readily adaptable to the field by providing participants with experts' knowhow for creation by area

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister: Yu In-chon) and Korea Creative Content Agency (President & CEO: Lee Jae-woong) recruit trainees for 'Participatory Program of Cultural Content Project Camp' until 19th, June.

To promote cultural industry, the program is designed to help competent students majoring in content related courses to work with renowned producers, directors, and writers of each genre and area, thereby assisting them to learn knowhow for creation. Under this program, all educational expenses are free and field education is also provided.
In consideration of excellence of each project, achievements made by concerned camps (enterprises and studios), general conditions, ability of project leaders, and possibilities to participate in educa...| More

'Thirst' Wins Jury Prize

Source | 2009/05/25 | Permalink |

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

The dark vampire thriller "Thirst", directed by Park Chan-wook, won the Jury Prize at the prestigious Cannes International Film Festival in France, Sunday.

Park shared the festival's third place award with British director Andrea Arnold's teen drama "Fish Tank". The festival's top prize Palme d'Or was given to "The White Ribbon", a film about brutality in a 20th-century German town by Austrian director Michael Haneke.

"I think I still have a long way to go before I become a true artist. I must admit I have yet to experience the pangs of creation. All I have experienced is the joy of creation. When my first two films bombed at the box office, it was a long time before I could make this third feature. So this is an immense pleasure for me, from the conception of the film to its release ― except for the interviews. It's the last step for a film to be screened at the Cannes Festival", Park said after receiving his award.

The win was...| More

Korean Movies Draw Attentions at Cannes Film Festival

Source | 2009/05/15 | Permalink |

Korean films have never been this prolific at the world-renowned French film festival in Cannes before. At this year's 62nd Cannes Film Festival (May 13 to 24) a total of 10 Korean films will be screened.

One of the most attention-grabbing films from Korea is director Park Chan-wook's "Thirst" about a priest-turned-vampire. This film once again, highlights Park's unique storytelling and sensational imagery. The movie premieres on Friday (May 15). It will be competing for the Palme d'Or, the highest honor at Cannes along with 19 other candidates and the winner will be announced on May 24.

Park already won the Grand Prix with his movie "Old Boy" in 2004. "Thirst" was sold to foreign buyers from Brazil, Spain and Turkey upon its second day at the festival. The film was sold to 10 nations including France and Greece prior to its release at home, where it attracted nearly 2 million viewers.

Director Bong Joon-ho will also take part in the festival with his new film "Mother - 2009" ...| More