Superstar Mr. Gam (Movie - 2004)

Jo An: 'I Did My Best to Get Rid of My Pretty Face'

Source | 2009/06/19 | Permalink |

In a news conference on June 15 after the premiere of the movie "Bronze Medalist", actress Jo An said she tried her best to get rid of her pretty looks. Jo plays a heavyweight lifter in the movie who competes for the gold medal in the Olympics against all odds. She said, "After being on TV for a long time, I've acquired a habit of looking pretty. But I tried to appear the opposite way for the movie".

Jo gained 7 kg for the movie to better portray her role. She said, "When I showed the photos of me looking big, Park Yong-woo said I didn't look ugly enough. So I did my best to look as ugly as possible". "Bronze Medalist" is a movie about heavyweight lifting coach Lee Ji-bong (played by Lee Beom-soo), who was once an Olympic bronze medal winner but had to work as a bar waiter because of an injury, and later took a job as a coach at a junior high school for girls. It is based on a real-life story about students from a rural area who won gold medals at a national competition.

Lee Beom...| More

Flutes, film and farming for a cheery Chuseok

Source | 2008/09/10 | Permalink |

The economy, the demonstrations and the weather have left Korea feeling a little bleak as of late.

But, no matter, a full moon will rise this weekend and, unless it's cloudy, illuminate the nightscape.

Chuseok, Korean Thanksgiving day, is coming up and there are a heap of activities to choose from in the capital.
The National Folk Museum of Korea in Jongno, central Seoul, offers lessons on making hanji (Korean paper), danso (a short bamboo flute), tal (a mask), handkerchiefs and folding fans. Materials for these classes cost less than 6,000 won ($5.44) per session.

Another option there is to study a shamanistic ritual dance performed by Kim Moon-ae, a professor of dance at Ewha Womans University.
The National Folk Museum has been inviting foreigners every year at Chuseok since 2000 and teaching them about Korea's traditional full-moon holiday.

"We invited 40 migrant workers from Ansan Immigrant Center [in Gyeonggi] to celebrate Chuseok with us this year", said Jang Jung...| More

Cast for Animated Version of 'Winter Sonata' Finalized

Source | 2008/08/22 | Permalink |

The animated version of "Winter Sonata", which will feature the voices of Bae Yong-joon and Choi Ji-woo, will go into production with an airing date tentatively scheduled for early next year.

The production company said the cast and crew of the series have recently been confirmed. They include the actual actors who starred in the drama series "Winter Sonata" and director Seong Baek-yeob, who created the animated series "Oseam". The company said the animated series will be broadcast in Korea and Japan and that it is also considering producing a film version as well.

Other crew members include writer Kim Hyeong-hwan, who wrote "Superstar Mr. Gam", and producer Lim Jeon-hyeong, who took part in the making of the history drama series "The Legend".

The animated version of "Winter Sonata" will be a joint production between Korea and Japan and is already receiving significant media attention in both countries....| More

High school is horror

Source | 2008/07/23 | Permalink |

Somewhat late and on its own, but August 7 will finally welcome a Korean horror film to the summer entertainment circuit. The title "Death Bell" ("Gosa") stands for midterms in Korean. The horror title will turn the figurative blood, sweat, and tears of exams into palpable blood, sweat, and tears on cinema screens.

Summer horror films are traditionally the playground for new talent, and "Death Bell" ("Gosa")will mark the feature film debut of Director Chang. He filmed television actress YOON Jeong-hee and female singer NAM Gyoo-ri alongside veteran actor LEE Beom-soo (Superstar Mr. Gam/Superstar Gamsayong), and young actor KIM Beom of the popular television drama "Coffee Prince".

Korean horror films are this summer mostly replaced with ambitious big budget projects. "Death Bell" ("Gosa") is the only Korean horror title lined-up in the running year's summer.

Directing brother's JEONG Beom-sik, and JEONG Sik made their name internationally last year with festival favourite "Ep...| More

"Only for reality…" Imitation surgery and training

Source | 2008/05/01 | Permalink |

'Acting tutors' for actors who have professional roles

'Professional dramas' that show the world of professionals, such as reporters, entertainers, doctors, athletes, and music, are becoming a popular genre.

Last year's "Surgeon Bong Dal-hee" and "White Tower" and this year's "New Heart" and "On Air" are drawing popularity. "Spotlight" and "Beethoven Virus", which will show the daily life of a classical musician, is in production or awaiting broadcast.

Professional dramas easily attain high ratings even without great artistic elements, for it shows a world that viewers don't experience.

So it's picked as the best 'success chord'. But there is the pressure of training hat actors must go through to become like these professionals. How do actors acquire the skills to act like a true professional?

For "Spotlight", Ji Jin-hee had drinks with reporters all night and received 'tutoring' from them. To increase the reality of it, a producer who had been a reporter helped Ji Jin-h...| More