Singles (Movie - 2003)

[YEAR-END REVIEW (3) PERFORMANCE] Bucking recession with safe-play shows

Source | 2008/12/23 | Permalink |

The local performing arts industry this year was seriously affected by the economic meltdown with supply largely exceeding demand.

There were some bright spots, like the relative success of musicals. But they did not always turn out to meet fan or expert expectations, as production companies tended to depend on stopgap measures like using idol stars for short-term gains instead of pursuing perfection or novelty.

However, some production companies found ways to buck the recession, such as venture theater company Yeongeukyeoljeon2, which attracted nearly 200,000 patrons this year despite an overall slump in Seoul's theater mecca, Daehangno.

Classical music, meanwhile, enjoyed a steady year. This was in big part thanks to the success of classical music-themed television drama "Beethoven Virus". According to Auction, sales of classical performances has more than doubled year-to-year since September when the drama began airing.

In the dance circle, fans were blessed with a serie...| More

JEON Ji-hyeon and SEOL Kyeong-gu portrayed greatest characters

Source | 2008/12/19 | Permalink |

Major Korean film magazine Movieweek polled to find out who Koreans regard as the ten greatest screen personas. JEON Ji-hyeon's role in "My Sassy Girl" claimed the top spot for greatest female character with 21% of the votes. 25% votes for SEOL Kyeong-gu's character in the "Public Enemy" trilogy secured SEOL the greatest male character title.

In close pursuit of SEOL is CHOI Min-sik's "Old Boy" character (20%). SONG Kang-ho's "Memories of Murder" character came in third (11%).

The top three for women is completed by second placed IM Soo-jeong (19%) for her role in "I'm a Cyborg, but That's Ok", and third seed LEE Young-ae. LEE's performance in "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance" earned her 13% of the votes.

Movieweek compiled another Korea's greatest characters list by itself. This unranked list consists of: SIN Ha-gyoon ("Save the Green Planet"), IM Won-hee ("Dachimawa Lee"), KIM Jeong-eun ("Marrying the Mafia"), KONG Hyo-jin ("Crush and Blush"), MOON So-ri ("A Good Lawyer's Wife...| More

[ChanMi's movie news] Portrait of a Beauty made into a musical

Source | 2008/11/29 | Permalink |

Beauty and passion is what the genius artist Sin Yoon-bok has in the movie "Portrait of a Beauty".

For its popularity and traditional arts being portrayed in the film, many performing arts companies have asked to make it into a musical.

The new musical will be a high budget scale which also...| More

Uhm Jung-hwa to Play Evil Role in New Movie

Source | 2008/10/02 | Permalink |

Singer and actress Uhm Jung-hwa takes on the role of the antagonist in director Park Hee-gon's new movie with the working title "Insadong Scandal".

According to the Ssamzie I-Vision production company, Uhm will play "Bae Tae-jin", a cold-hearted mogul of the fine arts industry who stops at nothing to accumulate wealth.

Filming for "Insadong Scandal" is set to begin next month. The story is about the restoration of a Joseon dynasty masterpiece and its secrets. Conflicts arise between "Bae Tae-jin" and the art restoration expert she hires, "Lee Kang-jun", played by actor Kim Rae-won.

Uhm has starred in numerous silver screen features, such as "Marriage Is a Crazy Thing", "For Horowitz" ("My Piano") and "Singles". Currently, she is promoting the music from her latest album....| More

Actress Jang Jin-yeong Diagnosed with Cancer

Source | 2008/09/29 | Permalink |

Actress Jang Jin-yeong (34) has been admitted to a hospital after being diagnosed with stomach cancer.

"Jang Jing-yeong has been admitted to a hospital in Seoul for further examination", said her agent from Yedang Entertainment. "We are not sure of what stage she's in, but we heard that her cancer should be curable", they explained.

Jang has starred in movies such as "The Scent of Love" (2003), "Singles" (2003), "Blue Swallow" (2005) and "Between Love and Hate (2006)" ("The Unbearable Lightness of Dating"). She has been in numerous commercials as well, and last October she was the star of the SBS TV drama "Lobbyist"....| More