Miracle on 1st Street (Movie - 2006)

Summer Action Flicks Are Coming

Source | 2009/06/30 | Permalink |

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

Every summer, big budget Hollywood movies flow in, and many worry about the potential threat to homegrown films. Recent trends, however, suggest that competition is healthy.

"The fact that such a comparison (between national and international franchises) is even possible is unique; there aren't so many countries around the world where domestic films can compete with American ones", Han Seung-hee, researcher at the Korean Film Council, told The Korea Times.

After the turn of the new millennium, the Korean film industry enjoyed rapid growth, with blockbusters rewriting box office history each year. But the market plummeted for the first time last year, and investment and production hit an all time low. Moviegoers even criticized films that fared well at the box office as being formulaic.

So far, 2009 looks better. The success of "A Frozen Flower" and "Scandal Makers" ("Speedy Scandal") opened up a promising new year. Although February and March...| More

CJ Ent. Makes Waves at HK FILMART

Source | 2009/04/16 | Permalink |

The film sales arm of Korean major CJ Entertainment did brisk business at the Hong Kong FIILMART, closing deals on a slew of titles including pre-sales for its big-budget disaster film "Haeundae" going to Indonesia's VSG for rights over Malaysia, Singapore and home territory.

The Busan-set CGI driven film about a tsunami that hits the popular Korean beach resort of Haeundae, boasts a top cast of SEOL Kyeong-gu ("Oasis"), HA Ji-won ("Duelist"), PARK Joong-hoon ("Radio Star"), and UHM Jung-hwa ("Princess Aurora"). JK Youn (Yoon Je-kyoon - "Miracle on 1st Street") directs with Hollywood master Hans Ulrich (Star Wars 4 & 5, The Day After Tomorrow) supervising CGI.

"Haeundae" also sold to Indo Overseas along with KIM Ji-woon western "The Good, The Bad, The Weird" for India. CJ also sold KANG Woo-seok thriller "Public Enemy Returns" to Palisades Tartan for the US and UK, and JEON Yoon-soo's erotic period drama "Portrait of a Beauty" to UniArt for Japan. CJ also signed an agreemen...| More

KOFIC, Korea-China Interchange to Revitalize Two Industries

Source | 2008/11/12 | Permalink |

KOFIC (chairperson KANG Han-sup) is commencing two events in order to revitalize the film interchange between Korea and China.

First of the two events is '2008 Korea-China Business Campus' which will take place from Thursday, November 13 to Monday, November 17, over the course of 5 days. The event will mainly focus on the process of sharing films as well as co-production opportunities. This event first took place in 2006 in China, and then moved to Pusan International Film Festival in 2007 as a forum format, thus making this year's event second edition to be held in Korea. First annual event focused on the effect of Korean manpower and resources in Chinese film industry, while the current Business Campus will concentrate on not only the further advancements of above but how Korea and China can collaborate on projects that promote exchange of resources between the two countries. The event will hold pitching/mentoring sessions, seminars, business meetings for producers, production/po...| More

'Kang Cheol-jung' Seol Kyeong-gu, next work is 10 billion won project "Haeundae"

Source | 2008/06/12 | Permalink |

Seol Kyeong-gu has returned in seven years as detective Kang Chul-joong in "Public Enemy Returns" which premieres on the 19th. His next work will be the blockbuster "Haeundae".

The movie "Haeundae" will start test filming in August.

A representative of "Haeundae" said, "Seol Kyeong-gu's role has been confirmed. We will start filming in Haeundae in August, when people start gathering there".

"Haeundae" is a blockbuster prepared by Director Yoon Je-kyoon, who directed "Sex Is Zero" and "Miracle on 1st Street". It is about a tsunami that covers Pusan Haeundae. Ten billion won has been invested, and Ha Ji-won will be in it.

Seol Kyeong-gu plays a father with two children, and will act as a father once again following "Voice of Murderer" and "Public Enemy Returns".

Hans Uhlig, the computer graphic supervisor for "The Perfect Storm" and "The Day After Tomorrow", will help in "Haeundae". There is anticipation for a realistic portrayal....| More

Ha Ji-won comes back with 8 billion won (US$ 8 million) project

Source | 2008/05/01 | Permalink |

In the midst of sighs that there are no more females in leading roles, Ha Ji-won will challenge this.

Ha Ji-won will start filming "Seven Remedies" in New Zealand in June and will be coming back from a one-year hiatus.

After "Miracle on 1st Street" last February, she only appeared in cameos in "Last Present - 2007" and "Sex is Zero 2". Now, she will be spending the summer with "Seven Remedies".

"Seven Remedies" is about a monster that is transformed through viruses and a female character who tries to fight it.

It's drawing more attention because there are few movies with female lead roles, and those few fail to succeed. Most movies have male leads, but this one has put a female in the lead.

A representative of the production company said, "Ha Ji-won will be showing action like Angelina Jolie in 'Tomb Raider". Her fighting scene with the monster will be the highlight". He said that she received the lead role because of confidence in her.

After the filming of "Seven Rem...| More