@ javabeans - no, you didn't bite. You offered some explanation and examples in reply to my comment. I appreciate that. Will get back to you on this "serious" thing, when I'm done with my other deadlines.

@ sandy of the 16.1.3 comment below - this is a personal blog about drama, a small part in Korean entertainment besides movie, musical, music, TV shows (game, reality, variety,...) etc And I wouldn't consider myself an idol fan, even though I do follow news and root for a certain group against injustice. I'm more interested in learning the whole picture by following blogs and on-going projects such as Mr. X's The Rise and Fall of Korean Drama, or The Korean's 50 Most Influential Kpop Artists. You might want to check them out, might have your view widened, and probably become less rude.

"The term refers to actors who (as kou rightly points out) are known for weightier, literary projects, who choose roles not based on commercial potential but on artistic merit."

Projects like Hotelier, Iris etc. all have artistic merit to them!
And Matt Damon is *not* yet a serious actor but Kim Seung Woo is!

So nice for the guy who's recently said by a New York Times movie critic to have had a "shining career" as an actor. My deepest condolences, Mr. Damon, you are not a serious actor.

You know, careless comments and unsatisfactory defense of those comments are harmful: It affects your creditability as commentators. I used to enjoy reading your posts (dramabean's), but some of the comments on your site recently - they're no longer witty nor insightful, they're just so-so and yet they are unnecessarily, even unjustifiably, offensive...

@ dominic of the comment 16.1.2.1.1

– “Chat place” refers to this space under the main entry where we’re leaving comments, titled as “RANT AND/OR RAVE” by dramabeans.com. I see it as a place where blog owners and readers exchange thoughts. The interactions resemble that of chatting (as opposed to lecturing), hence “chat place.” No other connotation was implied. Actually after re-reading my first comment, the only parts I would like to change are those in capital letters. Some might think I was shouting. I only wish the option of italics font for emphasis were available.

- Regarding other parts of your comment, dominic, sadly we’re not on the same page. I’m afraid I have nothing else to say to you. I want to avoid further lost in translation.

=====================

@ javabeans:

- “Serious actor” as a film lingo and term.

Since I do not know all of the terms, I chose to be careful. I searched around.

Google only returned “serious actor” as opposed to “comedic actor.” No sources define “serious actor” even slightly similar to your explanation, javabeans.

Unsure of the credibility and thoroughness of the Internet, I looked for “serious actor” in several dictionaries. It turns out, dictionaries don’t have such entry. Only the “Theatre Language: A Dictionary of Terms in English” had two entries that start with “serious.”

Here’s what in there, verbatim:

“Serious drama: A dramatic composition considered to be thoughtful, important, not mere entertainment or trivial pastime; also collectively. Hence serious stage, etc.

Serious role: An acting part which is serious, in contradistinction to a comic role. “

Note that while there are explanations for drama, role, and actor, there is no explanation for “serious actor.” It’s easier to define object matters. It’s not easy to define people. Even dictionary writers are cautious.

So, no, “serious actor” is not a film lingo. It is not a term. Words such as: serious actor, serious student, serious attempt,… convey evaluation/judgment.

A quick search on “serious” will tell you what it means. That’s exactly the reason for my initial comment.

- Matt Damon, Christian Bale

Hollywood uses several ways to categorize actors and film projects.

Actors are distinguished based on their acting range, bankability (the Ulmer scale - not without critics of course), and/or the types of role they play (lead actors, character actors, bit actors, extra, cameo, etc).

Projects are distinguished based on genre (western, gangster, musical, film noir, etc), class (documentary, experimental, animated, etc), censorship (the rating system),… There are also the commercial mainstream, and the independent/underground.

Matt Damon and Christian Bale are recognized actors, having participated in a variety of projects. Damon is more bankable than Bale. Bale has more awards than Damon. Bale is considered a “serious” actor because he plays serious roles, because of his style of line delivery and facial expression. Regardless of the differences, both are critically-acclaimed actors who have had devoted, textured, surprising performances. No known film critics would say one is a serious actor, and the other is not.

- Kim Seung-woo and Park Yoochun

Kim Seung-woo has earned 5 awards: 2 Excellence Awards (not Baeksang) as an actor: one for his role in Rosemary, another for his role in IRIS), 2 Popularity Awards, and 1 Best Couple Award.

Park Yoochun has got 3 awards: 1 Newcomer Actor Award, 1 Netizens’ Award, and 1 Best Couple Award.
This shows that both are recognized by professional entities for their devotion in acting.

javabeans, you emphasized “primarily” focus on the artistic value of the work, as opposed to a mix in commercial, bankable, popular projects. A quick check on Kim Seung-woo’s filmography reveals 2 phases in his 20-year career.

1. 1990-1995: all of his projects were movies.
2. 1996-2010: he participated in both movies and drama projects. Since 2010, he also works as MC in talk shows.

Since I haven’t watched his movies, I’ll assume all of them are artistic projects. I’ll also assume all of his roles are substantial/meaty/heavy, even though obviously he did not always play lead.

However, do note that, year after year since 1996, his projects have been a good mix of movies and dramas. For example: 1996 (2 movies, 2 dramas), 1997 (2-1), 1998 (2-1), 1999 (1-0), 2001 (0-1), etc. His dramas are popular with international fans; many of them can be argued as not having “artistic merits.”

Where does Kim Seung-woo stand in the Korean drama empire? If there were a scale in Korean Entertainment similar to Hollywood’s Ulmer scale, I doubt he would make it to the A-list.

Park Yoochun has only acted in one project, but he was a lead actor, played a substantial role, in a fusion period drama. In it, Park Yoochun’s movements, physique, facial features, and personality trait could earn favorable response from audience and critics.

Does all this comparison attempt to conclude that Kim Seung-woo and Park Yoochun are on the same level? No. Only an ignorant or a reckless would even imply that. Kim Seung-woo is a seasoned veteran actor. Kim is established. Park Yoochun, on the other hand, is still too young in his acting career. Park is unpredictable, and clearly not a genius.

Does it mean one can say Kim Seung-woo is a serious actor, Park Yoochun is decidedly not? No. Especially if what these two have done up till now are respectfully taken into consideration.

Sure, if both of these actors are confirmed in the rumored project, Park Yoochun will say something along this line: I’m honored to be acting with Kim Seung-woo. In reply to this (if he’s asked to respond, that is), as a true artist and a humble human being, Kim Seung-woo might very well say: The feeling is mutual. That’s one way to cover his back. Also, truth is there’s always something to learn from interactions.

Errr... that's harsh. Just because one of the fans misunderstood, it doesn't mean it's okay to attack the idol.

I'm Yoochun's fan (since I watched him in SKKS), and I totally understand what girlfriday meant by serious actors. Yoochun only has one acting project so far. He's still climbing his way to be truly acknowledged as an actor.

dun take the advantage to insulting people's idol. Yoochun did great in SKKS, he is ON HIS WAY to become a real actor.

I'm thinking a good number of us here don't even care Micky is an idol (myself being one of them)...SKKS anyone?? If anyone shows good acting potential, especially for a first project, they earn respect for the ACTING. No need to spaz.

Seriously? How do you know if he will become a real actor or not? Can you sense the future? and what does a real actor mean? Yoochun is already a actor and received awards for it. He may not be a "serious actor" but he is definitely a actor.

lol what is this?
butthurt much? if this is the type of the precious drama fan that I have to deal with in the drama fandom, i would gladly become 'an idol crazy fan'
think first before you comment.