Blood: The Last Vampire (Movie - 2009)

Taking a shot at Hollywood

Source | 2009/09/23 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Korean actors find their place amid the samurai and kung fu fighters

As you watch the latest crop of Hollywood action movie trailers, you may notice something unusual, something some said would never happen: more and more Korean faces in lead roles.

The year 2009 has been an especially fruitful one for Korean actors who have made it in American film, though no one knows how long their luck will last.

"My Sassy Girl" heroine Jeon Ji-hyeon starred in her first international action movie, "Blood: The Last Vampire", which was released in June in Korea. In the action flick, Jun plays the role of a human-vampire hybrid named Saya.

Korean wave stalwart Lee Byeong-heon also made his Hollywood debut in the big-budget "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra", which opened in August. In this theatrical and colorful action movie, Lee plays Storm Shadow, a Korean martial arts fighter and a member of the villainous organization of the title.

And even more big-budget Hollywood movies with Korean ...| More

Korean Actor Lee Byeong-heon's Takes on the World in GI Joe

Source | 2009/08/18 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Lee Byeong-heon's "GI Joe: Rise of the 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 ("Jeon Ji-hyeon") 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, staring 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.

David Oxenbridge (KOFIC)...| More

Actor Lee Byeong-heon's Hollywood Flick GI Joe: Rise of the Cobra Opens this Week

Source | 2009/08/06 | 0 comments | Permalink |

GI Joe: Rise of the Cobra starring Korean actor LEE Byeon-hyun is to open this Wednesday August the 7th. This is the latest international film to star a Korean actor in an English role. Just this year alone "Blood: the Last Vampire" starring Korean actor Gianna JUN (Jeon Ji-hyeon, "My Sassy Girl" 2001) was released as well as Wolverine with Daniel Henny. In addition, this is not Lee Byeong-heon's first English speaking role. He also played an English speaking Hong Kong gangster in Japanese film "I Come with The Rain" (2007) along side Takuya Kimura and Josh Hartnett.

LEE plays character Storm Shadow in the film directed by Stephen Sommers of The Mummy Returns (2001). The Brussels-based Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity (GI Joe) is a world-wide organization dedicated to fighting evil. The film focus on the battle between GI Joe and the rising criminal organization 'Cobra' run by arms dealer Destro. .

The release of the movie signals Hollywood's growing focus on Asia. ...| More

KOFIC's Quartely "Korea Cinema Today" just Published

Source | 2009/07/24 | 0 comments | Permalink |

The Pucheon International Fantastic Film Festival(PiFan) edition of KOFIC's quarterly Korean Cinema Today magazine, has just been published. With the title 'Expand the Market Expand the Views' this edition focuses on international co productions and international Korean film business.

The title article in particular looks at successful co production and cinematic international changes with the Asia region. In terms of investment, Ellen KIM details issues of co production financing in Investment and Production Environment of Korean Films. As a particular case study, in Working with New Zealand LEE Nam-jin revisits the current state of cinematic play between New Zealand/Korea and their barely 1 year old Film Co-production Treaty.

On the same international theme, the magazine also contains interviews with KWAK Jae-yong director of "Cyborg She" and Juno LEE producer of "Boat", both who shot their respective films in Japan. Foreign language speaking Korean actors are also given ...| More

Korean Stars Go Hollywood

Source | 2009/07/09 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Korean stars are moving into Hollywood.
Starting with Korean pop star Rain's screen debut in "Speed Racer" last year, a number of Korean stars are finally taking to Hollywood with highly anticipated films.
For the screen version of "G.I. Joe", Paramount Pictures brought together a star team of men who worked on "Transformers", "The Mummy", and "The Bourne Ultimatum".
Lee Byeong-heon is one of Korea's top actors.
His fans are looking forward to his Hollywood debut with much anticipation.
An elite military unit known as G.I. Joe is on a mission to protect world peace.
Watch this movie to see their spectacular adventures combatting the evil terrorist organization Cobra.
Korean wave star Jeon Ji-hyeon has also made it to Hollywood with an action packed feature.
She plays the 400-year-old halfling vampire Saya.
Saya works in a secret government organization to hunt and eliminate other vampires that feast freely on human blood.
Jeon Ji-hyeon has been treated well, starring in her v...| More