Close to You (Movie - 2005)

KIM Hye-soo transforms "Modern Boy" PARK Hae-il

Source | 2008/01/30 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Writer/director JEONG Ji-woo wrapped up filming one of the highly anticipated films of this year: "Modern Boy", set during the occupation of Korea by Japan. The titular character is played by PARK Hae-il, a superficial young man who only cares about enjoying the fruits of modernization. Things change when he meets the mysterious and multi-talented character played by KIM Hye-soo.

KIM was chosen for the female lead since the character needs to be a very strong woman who has a profound impact on the young man's life, according to director JEONG's motivation. KIM has been lavishly praised for her commanding role in "Tazza: The High Rollers" ("The War of Fower").

With filming finished, "Modern Boy" is in the final stages after a development process of three years, including a shooting period of almost seven months in numerous locations spread over the Korean peninsula.

Expectations are high, since "Modern Boy" promises strong characters, impressive visuals, an interesting recrea...| More

Fresh new start for Korean film industry! Veteran directors are coming back

Source | 2008/01/09 | 0 comments | Permalink |

8 o'clock news - Presenter

Upon the spirits of the New Year 2008, the Korean films are preparing a big counterblow against the Hollywood films. One after another, the talented veteran directors are coming back with a huge bag of New Year's surprises for the movie fans.

The reporter Nam Sang-seok will give you more information about their big comebacks.

Reporter

Director Lim Soon-rye had been capturing the dark side of our society with a warm gaze in her previous films such as "Three friends" and "Waikiki Brothers". Her latest film, "Forever the Moment" is the first female sport film ever made in the history of Korean films and is based on a true story of female handball team in the Athene Olympics, 2004.
[Director Lim Soon-rye: Many people are having difficult time these days and I wish the movie inspire them to have courage, hope and the strength to overcome their hardships.]

Director Jeong Yoon-chul of "Marathon" is coming back with "A man who was Superman" (starri...| More

A Fresh Look at Korean-American Issues

Source | 2007/11/09 | 0 comments | Permalink |

You may start to watch "West 32nd", a new film by Korean-American director Michael Kang, without much expectation, sitting comfortably in your chair. But at a certain point you will find yourself on the edge, realizing that this is not the sort of independent art movie where the ethnic Korean director tries to identify his roots as an eternal outsider.

Whether you call them "diaspora films" or simply Korean-American movies, these films usually appeal only to a minority of fans. These ethnic Koreans belong to the mainstream neither in Korea nor America. To break down that barrier, Michael Kang has decided to make a thriller.

Three gunshots ring out from a Korean bar on New York's West 32nd Street. A 14-year-old Korean-American boy is arrested on the spot for killing the manager of the bar, played by Jeong Joon-ho. The boy's sister Lila (Grace Park) tries to prove her brother's innocence, and second-generation Korean American lawyer John Kim (John Cho) takes the case as a way to ge...| More

John Cho Speaks About Being Asian in Hollywood

Source | 2007/10/14 | 0 comments | Permalink |

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

Korean-American actor John Cho, 35, has become a household name in the United States, especially for playing parts that don't have to be played by an Asian. Yet, there remains a challenging upward climb for Asian Americans in Hollywood, according to the star.

"First it's difficult being an artist, and it's difficult being an actor, period, and it's difficult being an Asian American actor. When I started acting… the community was largely Chinese American or Japanese American, so even then I felt like a minority in the minority", he told reporters during a private interview at a Busan hotel, Tuesday.

Cho was invited by organizers of the Asian Film Market, running in conjunction with the recently held 12th Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival, as one of the guests of the Star Summit Asia.

"It's crazy now there are so many Korean-American actors", he said, explaining how amazing it is that the children of first generation Korean immigrants ar...| More

MOON So-ri in Sports Film Based on Real Events

Source | 2007/04/11 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Leading actress MOON So-ri joined the cast of the upcoming film Woori Saengae Chwegoui Soongan, the title translates as: "the best moment of our life". The sports drama will be directed by LIM Soon-rye. The true story is based on the Korean women's handball team at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

The cast's strong line-up also includes the actresses KIM Jeong-eun, KIM Ji-young and JO Eun-ji. The drama will be complemented with humorous lighter moments. The portrayal of these women's greatest game will rely on the athletic abilities of the actresses to achieve realistic and dynamic action scenes; therefore, the actresses will undergo handball training during three months. The film is scheduled for a cinematic release in the second part of 2007.

MOON will tackle the role of the headstrong top player. The other protagonist is the leader of the Olympic team who fulfilled her dream by becoming a professional player; she captains a team in the Japanese pro-league until national and Olympic...| More