Please Teach Me English (Movie - 2003)

Actor Kim Soo-ro as English Teacher on Big Screen

Source | 2008/08/20 | Permalink |

By Le e Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

The zeal for English education in South Korea needs no introduction, except that it has inspired hit comedies like "My Tutor Friend" and "Please Teach Me English" (2003).

Funnyman Kim Soo-ro comes back to the big screen as E.T. ― no, not an extraterrestrial, but an English teacher ― or more specifically an unconventional, "alien-like" one in the upcoming film "Our School E.T" (working title).

The 38-year-old actor ("A Cruel Attendance ", 2006) plays the role of a quirky high school physical education teacher. But the school's new policy to boost English education puts his position at stake, and he decides that teaching English is his only hope. Thus begins the simpleton's rigorous training to exercise his brain "muscles" to master English.

Kim's anxious "survival" seems to extend off screen. "I made the film thinking it would be my last. If this doesn't fare well in the box office, then I won't be getting any more offers, so I pou...| More

JANG Hyeok enters the world stage impressively

Source | 2008/04/24 | Permalink |

Korean star JANG Hyeok's English language debut film Dance of the Dragon's premiere is imminent. Building up to the release of the big budget film, its director John Radel compared JANG to James Dean.

Radel also praised the versatility JANG displayed, including martial arts and dance skills while maintaining a high level of acting during his first English language role. Radel predicted a bright international career for JANG after people all over the world will see him in Dance of the Dragon.

Dance of the Dragon is a co-production between South Korea, Singapore and the U.S., starring JANG, Fann Wong (Singapore), and Jason Scott Lee (U.S.). JANG and Lee's characters are rivals for the love of Fann. The love story mixes ballroom dancing with action.

The world premiere party will take place on May 1 in Singapore. JANG arrived in Singapore prior to the premiere for promotional activities and interviews.

JANG already entered international markets through the success of his Ko...| More

Jang Hyeok started filming Dance of the Dragon

Source | 2007/07/30 | Permalink |

Jang Hyeok is next in line to expand his horizon into foreign markets. He has been cast in the Korean-US-Singapore project Dance of the Dragon. He will act alongside Singapore actress Fann Wong and the Hollywood actor Jason Scott Lee in this English language film.

The film will be a combination of a love story, action and dance. JANG will portray a ballroom dancer who tries to win over the character played by Wong, which means taking her away from Lee's character; Lee will play a martial artist. Australian director Max Mannix is directing.

JANG is a familiar name in foreign countries thanks to the international interest in his films. He made his name with the high school martial arts film "Volcano High" (2001). MTV picked up the film and broadcasted it in the US and Europe. He also played the love-interest of JEON Ji-hyeon in "Windstruck" (2004), a highly anticipated film in Asia. His trademark in these films has been his boyish rebellious grin, which he also flashed in "Please...| More

6th Mise-en-scene's Genre Film Festival

Source | 2007/06/26 | Permalink |

Opening June 27th at Yongsan CGV in central Seoul, the 6th edition of the Mise-en-scene's Genre Film Festival (MGFF) will run until July 3rd, screening over 60 short films. This year's slogan is "Beyond the Barrier of Genres", the event will celebrate films that challenge conventional genres.

MGFF began six years ago when a group of young directors collaborated on a festival that would support emerging cinematic talent. This year 10 of Korea's top directors joined hands to curate and program the festival. Known both at home and internationally, they are KIM Seong-su ("Musa", "Please Teach Me English"), HEO Jin-ho ("Christmas in August"), KIM Ji-woon ("A Bittersweet Life"), OH Seung-wook (Kilimanjaro), Lee Jae-Yong ("Untold Scandal"), KIM Dae-seung ("Blood Rain"), BONG Joon-ho ("The Host"), JANG Joon-hwan ("Save the Green Planet"), RYOO Seung-wan ("The City of Violence"), and SONG Hae-seong ("Failan"). Directors LEE Hyeon-seung ("Il Mare") and PARK Chan-wook ("Vengeance" trilogy...| More

Short Films Think Tall

Source | 2007/06/24 | Permalink |

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

Though running as briefly as six minutes, short films show that size is not a factor for capturing the limitless power of imagination. Andre Bazin, film critic and founding father of the French New Wave, called short films "the film of the future".

As the 6th Mise-en-scene's Genre Film Festival (MGFF) takes off in central Seoul June 27-July 3, more than 60 short films will shake the earth and paint the sky pink. The festival will celebrate unique works that go beyond national borders and "Beyond the Barrier of Genres", befitting its slogan.

First organized in 2002 by Director's CUT, a committee of young directors celebrated both in Korea and international circles, the festival aims to support rising new cinematic talent.

This year, 10 of Korea's greatest young directors teamed up to curate the festival and chose 60 innovative and stylish films for the national competition. Challenging conventional film genres, the works are roughly grouped as ...| More