Okay, this I find really cute.

Apparently it’s been recently noted that drama PD Jang Tae-yoo, formerly director of SBS’s War of Money and now behind the lens for The Painter of Wind, looks eerily similar to Painter star Park Shin-yang. (He totally does, no?)

The series is already the source of a lot of attention, not least because of the fact that the Jang-Park combo helped lead War of Money to be a hit “national” drama with ratings that broke the 30% viewership mark. (And let’s not forget that other big-name star in her gender-bending debut, Moon Geun-young.) Let’s see if the like-faced duo can sustain their success a second time ’round.

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Tags: Park Shin-yang, The Painter of Wind

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It might just be me, but I find it hilarious that Park Shin-yang sports glasses in his new role in the sageuk drama The Painter of Wind. No doubt glasses were in existence back in the Joseon era, but still, did they fear that adoring fans wouldn’t recognize Park without his trademark look?

Anyway. We’ve already seen Moon Geun-young (Tale of Two Sisters, My Little Bride) dressing as a boy and heard of co-star Park Jin-woo (Bad Family, Dasepo Naughty Girls) playing the age-appropriate secondary love interest. Now we get a glimpse of ajumma-magnet Park Shin-yang’s (War of Money, Lovers in Paris) get-up as the artist mentor to Moon’s character in the upcoming SBS drama.

Park had some strong words in support of the drama directed by PD Jang Tae-woo (War of Money, Bad Housewife), which are particularly emphatic considering his long career starring in some very popular blockbusters: “I’ve never been in such a powerful drama or film before. It’s something that cannot be understood merely by looking at the novel [upon which the drama is based]. This is truly a dramatic story.”

He continued: “There hasn’t been a drama to mix love, mystery, and art in such a way. This is definitely going to be a fresh, unique project.”

We can only hope. The Painter of Wind is currently scheduled for a September premiere.

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• Park Jin-woo plays second fiddle
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Tags: Park Shin-yang, sageuk dramas, The Painter of Wind

Filed under: Drama Casting & News by javabeans - 10 Comments →

Remember the cute baseball-playing kid who played Moon Geun-young’s age-appropriate boyfriend (before she hooks up with Kim Rae-won) in the cute 2004 romantic comedy My Little Bride? Well, the two are pairing up again, because Park Jin-woo has just been cast in SBS’s upcoming high-profile sageuk drama The Painter of Wind.

The main loveline looks to be between Moon and Park Shin-yang — although I’m sure everyone’s wondering how that odd pairing is going to result in any sort of romantic chemistry (honestly, he could play her father). But Park Jin-woo is sure to add some conflict; he plays a royal painter in training, son of a powerful man who pushes himself to succeed on his own merits. He has a rivalry with Moon’s character, allowing jealousy to come between them (described as the Salieri to Moon’s Mozart).

While I don’t think Park Jin-woo has really proven himself yet, I think he has potential, and I’ve always enjoyed watching him. No, being a part of the Nonstop sitcom series is hardly a validation of acting prowess, but these days, what pretty boy or girl hasn’t had a stint on it? (After all, former Nonstop alums include Gu Hye-sun, Han Ye-seul, Hyun Bin, Jang Nara, and Jo In-sung.) He’s also got some pretty decent comic timing (see: Bad Family), although I’m guessing he probably won’t be needing it with Painter, which premieres in September.

Via Newsen

SONG OF THE DAY

Maya - “Story in Your Eyes” [ Download ]

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Tags: Moon Geun-young, Nonstop 5, Park Jin-woo, Park Shin-yang, sageuk dramas, The Painter of Wind

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Bad Love, Rivals

Perhaps as a corollary to this discussion of why ratings are important, for better or for worse (usually for worse), here’s an article that discusses one such ramification: actors who come attached with high price tags that the drama then is unable to recoup when a drama flops in the ratings.

(One thing to note: Despite the high numbers listed, Korean actors find most of their paychecks going to management companies, as actress Choi Jin-shil recently gained attention for mentioning. In the U.S., agents are only allowed to take 10% — though more fees get siphoned off to managers, publicists, lawyers, and the like — but that percentage is much higher for Korean celebs.)

Even if a drama flops, stars’ asking prices continue to soar. It’s not as though market theory applies, and those prices keep rising, defying logic. Even when a drama meets with crushing failure, hurting the production company behind it, a star’s fee still climbs.

This year saw many dramas that failed to draw in good results or produce high ratings, such as the dramas Single Papa in Love, Bad Love, Rivals, Three Dads, One Mom, Who Are You?, Spotlight, I Love You, Robbers, and many others. …

SONG OF THE DAY

Rivals OST - “지켜줄게” (I’ll protect you) by Lee Shin-sung [ Download ]

 
More disappointing dramas with highly paid actors >>

Tags: Bad Love, Bulhandang/Robbers, drama production, drama ratings, Park Shin-yang, War of Money

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Best Actress winners Yoon Eun Hye (drama), Kim Min Hee (film)

The 44th Baeksang Arts Awards were held in Seoul on April 24, handing out top honors to the films and television programs of the previous year.

Big winners included films The Chaser and Forever the Moment (aka The Best Moment In Our Lives); Yoon Eun Hye won for her trend-setting turn as Go Eun Chan in last year’s smash drama Coffee Prince, while War of Money took home Best Drama.

SONG OF THE DAY

MC Mong - “옛날 옛적에” (Once upon a time) from his recently released fourth album. [ Download ]

 
Full awards list for the 44th BAEKSANG AWARDS >>

Tags: awards, Coffee Prince, Go Ara, Han Hyo-joo, Hong Gil Dong, Hyun Young, Jang Geun-seok, Jung Il-woo, Jung Ryeo-won, Kang Ji-hwan, Kim Jung-eun, Kim Min-hee, Kwon Sang-woo, Lee Byung-heon, Lee Dong-wook, Lee Jia, Lee Seon-kyun, Lee Yeon-hee, Lee Yoon-jung, Legend, Park Shi-yeon, Park Shin-yang, Park Yong-ha, Sohn Ye-jin, Song Kang-ho, Sung Yuri, War of Money, Yoo Gun, Yoon Eun-hye

Filed under: Chungmuro/Film by javabeans - 72 Comments →

It looks like we’ve got a lot of upcoming dramas garnering some buzz from the high profiles of the actors and producers attached. (There’s Daemool with Go Hyun Jung, Kwon Sang Woo; Rivals with Chae Rim; Beethoven Virus with Kim Myung Min, Lee Jia and PD Lee Jae Kyu; Iljimae with Lee Junki; Iljimae with Lee Seung Gi; Choi Kang Chil Woo starring Eric; Boys Before Flowers by sheer virtue of its Hana Yori Dango connection; and so on.)

Add one more to the list: The Painter of Wind [바람의 화원], starring Korea’s Little Sister Moon Geun Young — taking her first role since entering university — and veteran actor Park Shin Yang.

Based on a bestselling book of the same name by writer Lee Jung Myung, the series is based in the late Joseon era and will be directed by Jang Tae Yoo (War of Money, Bad Housewife), airing on SBS as a Wednesday-Thursday drama. Originally planned to premiere in early September, it has a high chance of airing instead in October.

The story centers around two talented artists and their lives, artistic rivalries, and loves (Moon Geun Young’s character dresses as a man, while Park Shin Yang’s a senior artist and something of a mentor); the plot thickens with a mysterious murder.

I know you’re gonna say it, so I’ll say it first: Moon Geun Young paired with Park Shin Yang?? Nothing against the guy — he’s a fine actor — but lordy that’s a squicky age difference (she was born in 1987, he was born in 1968). I know, I know, there have been other big age gaps that don’t bother me; for instance, Seo Ji Hye (23) with Ahn Jae Wook (36) in the upcoming I Love You. Or, Ara (18) versus either Yoon Kye Sang or Jin Yi Han (both 29) in the currently airing Who Are You? But while Yoon Kye Sang and Jin Yi Han both have youthful and trendy images, Park Shin Yang has always been an ajumma-magnet.

Via Herald Biz

SONG OF THE DAY

Jeju Boy 재주소년 - “겨울의 첫날” (First day of winter) [ Download ]

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Tags: Moon Geun-young, Park Shin-yang, sageuk dramas, The Painter of Wind

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