I foresee this may start getting repetitive, but here’s another red carpet from the Pusan International Film Festival (we saw opening night’s red carpet yesterday).

This time, the event was the Asian Pacific Actors Network (APAN) Star Road. It seemed some of the stars who were at opening night were noticeably absent at this event, most likely because they traveled back to Seoul to pay their respects to Choi Jin-shil.

Pics beyond the jump.

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Tags: Choi Jung-yoon, Daniel Henney, fashion, film festivals, Jung Ryeo-won, Kang Hye-jung, Kim Ji-soo, Kim So-yeon, Lee Jung-jin, Lee Min-ki, Lee Wan, Oh Man-seok, Park Jin-hee, Song Chang-eui, Yeh Ji-won

Filed under: Chungmuro/Film by javabeans - 13 Comments →

August 28 saw the VIP preview of the comedy Our School E.T., which opens in wide release on September 11.

The title’s “E.T.” is both a cheeky reference to Spielberg’s extraterrestrial and to the lead character played by funnyman Kim Su-ro, who takes on the role of a not-so-bright physical education teacher. As a result of the growing pressure for students to stress an English-language education, he needs to switch to teaching English (becoming the “E.T.,” or English Teacher). Alas, his limited talents aren’t quite up to the task. But he tries — and what he lacks in brainpower, he makes up in determination.

The cast also features a crop of young actors — Baek Sung-hyun (pictured above, with lead actor Kim Su-ro), Park Bo-young, Lee Min-ho, and Moon Chae-won — as well as veteran comedic actor Lee Han-wee.

There were a slew of familiar faces at the VIP screening, including those of actors Kim Rae-won, Lee Seon-kyun, and Oh Man-seok, as well as recent Olympic gold-medalist swimmer Park Tae-hwan. More beyond the cut.

Here’s the preview, which is in Korean, but worth watching just for the last two lines (preceding them, starting at the 1:57 mark, Lee Han-wee’s character tells Kim Su-ro’s to speak only in English):

More cast and VIPs at the OUR SCHOOL E.T. screening >>

Tags: Kim Rae-won, Kim Su-ro, Lee Chun-hee, Lee Seon-kyun, Oh Man-seok, Park Tae-hwan, press conferences

Filed under: Chungmuro/Film by javabeans - 9 Comments →

Star or Serious Actor? Go So Young and Song Kang Ho

 
Just as a sidebar, this article is horribly written but interesting in content if not execution. I tried to preserve the wording (which often smacks of juvenile rhetoric) but I did gloss over some redundant word repetition, and such as, for readability’s sake.

Also, on a more relevant note, the word “actor” used throughout the article doesn’t just refer to the general profession — it’s used in the context of serious acting, acting as an art form. Kind of like what we’d call a “character actor” in Western cinema terms.

Stars dreaming of being actors vs. Actors dreaming of being stars

Kim Tae Hee, Jeon Ji Hyun, Go So Young… They’re the top stars enjoying the most popularity these days. They have nothing to envy in terms of looks or wealth. They’re Korea’s top stars, but it’s not quite easy to call them actors. And that’s because of their fatal weakness: acting ability. And they aren’t the only ones, either. Most of the young top stars these days succeed based on their looks, but have been unable so far to receive recognition for their acting. …

SONG OF THE DAY

Lucid Fall - “날개” (Wings) [ zShare download ]

Actors and stars, what’s the difference? >>

Tags: Han Chae-young, Jang Dong-gun, Lee Junki, Oh Man-seok, Seol Kyung-gu, Song Kang-ho, theater

Filed under: Chungmuro/Film by javabeans - 17 Comments →

I’ve been meaning to write this post for a while but it coincides with recent topics, so here goes.

I think there’s a prevalent (mistaken) perception — particularly if kdramas are a primary source of information — that Koreans are puritanical about sex. In my opinion, they really aren’t. There are traditional elements in the culture, of course (just thinking about discussing sex with family is a horrifying concept) — but it’s like that common misconception that every generation thinks it invented sex. What’s most conservative about Korea, perhaps, is the representation of sex in the media, but I think it would be short-sighted to assume the culture as a whole is some Victorian, pearl-clutching, bless-my-heart, faint-at-any-hint-of-indecency society.

To wit, I present exhibits A, B, and C: the kdramas (because it always comes back to dramas!) Coffee Prince, Hyena, and Romance Hunter. Yes, I know dramas aren’t a complete or accurate representation of society, but I think it’s worth pointing out that there’s a spectrum here, too.

(Random) SONG OF THE DAY

Roller Coaster - “Love Virus” [ Download ]

“The Sex and the City Effect” >>

Tags: cable dramas, Choi Jung-yoon, Coffee Prince, Hyena, Oh Man-seok, Romance Hunter

Filed under: Drama Casting & News by javabeans - 49 Comments →