welh11
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Posts posted by welh11
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Modern Korean fairy tales can come true. When HB announced his marriage, he sentimentally referenced the CLOY characters as continuing their journey in real life, to the delight of BinJin shippers. SYJ remarked just the day before that her first love was her current love. A first love is an idyllic emotional state where you find the first person you truly fall in love with; your own belief of what love is that was not there before. In her announcement, she was shy and inferred that destiny brought them together which was also a theme from CLOY.
“I want to become a more mature and amazing actress and person, but it’s not as easy as I want it to be. I’ll be able to get closer to my ideal version of myself one day, won’t I...? So, I’ll become a person that neither you nor I won’t be embarrassed of,” SYJ wrote in her post. As with the dating news, it appears she is overwhelmed by emotions of the moment and tentative about how others’ expectations and marriage will change her future. I never thought she had anything she has done or accomplished was anything to be embarrassed about but it may have to do with her gratitude from the unconditional love her fans have given her. It may also be about her immediate future. "Son Ye-jin has not decided on her next project ahead of her wedding with Hyun Bin. After her marriage, she is expected to focus on her newlywed life for the time being,” Naver reported stating that SYJ has no filming scheduled after March. It would be a shame if 39 is her last project before a long hiatus. For most Korean celebrity couples, the wife sacrifices part of her career for the family.
I wish the couple well as they now journey into deeper waters of the prying, public, celebrity fishbowl. But I think the couple will be very private. It would not surprise me if SYJ stops IG posts or have her account go private. HB never wants to share his private life with the public. I wonder if people will leave them alone or continue to gossip and rumor their expectations upon them.
SYJ is known to be a meticulous planner - - taking her roles very seriously. In her announcement post, you can sense her marriage commitment as well as an acknowledgement of a different path she will take in the future. Marriage in Korea, especially high profile ones, come with their own set of societal expectations and responsibilities. If they are going to start a family, the fertility window is very short. And there is still age and sexism in Korea entertainment industry (women over 40 are not romantic leads; wives and mothers should stay at home) so her traditional lead female roles in romance or melodramas will probably not be offered as usual - - especially with a new crop of early 30s actresses being promoted to lead roles. In her words there was a slight hint of melancholy or pensive foreshadowing of this major change in her life. She is at her career peak but is willing to sacrifice it to nurture her own happiness.
I do find it interesting that SYJ’s last three projects were very close to herself. In SITR, she played an immature mid-30s career professional navigating the rough waters of being single without a clear or happy ending. In CLOY, she played a rich business woman who gets caught up in a fantasy romance which also had an ambiguous ending. Next week, 39 debuts as she plays a 39 year old woman dealing with friendship and romance at the pivotal milestone age of 40. We shall see how it all plays out.
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@ElectricHearts At this year's Cannes festival, Niccol attempted to sell his project "They Are Us," based on a real NZ story about a mosque shooting. It must have been received enough support to start pre-preproduction and initial casting.
The Dongmyung University story is interesting because the undertone is what was discussed last year as a possible sticking point: project financing. The film set appears to be a part of a larger effort by the university to build a film and television department in Busan. The construction of a sound stage for productions gives students an opportunity to work with actual productions for real experience and internships. I assume this partnership was a means to lower overall film production costs. But I have not read any confirmation that The Cross has been green lit with full funding.
The irony of the delay in the Cross is that Korean film and drama is a hot international commodity with Netflix, Apple and Disney pouring tens of millions of dollars into "Korean" content. Whether filming a Hollywood project in Korea counts in that spending frenzy, time will tell.
It is pretty clear that SYj wants to do a Hollywood film with the challenge of an English production. It seems 39 will wrap filming in January or early February, 2002 as a prepackaged series. If The Cross starts in May, it would mean SYJ will spend the interval three months in English lessons and rehearsals. The movie filming would probably conclude at the end of 2022.
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The project with Yuh Youn Jung is very interesting as she is an excellent senior actress. I don't think SYJ has acted in a project with her.
The premise immediately reminds me of the great American movie, Hotel, from 1967, which has the rare 100% favorable rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Its story was about an old hotel owner who has nostalgic and sentimental remorse as he decides to close down his old but high class hotel.
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Earlier articles indicated that the 39 film shoot would take five (5) months, which about the length for a 16 episode series. 39 is scheduled to be 12 episodes. I thought the production company had built in several weeks against COVID shutdowns or restrictions. The series was originally announced to have a 2021 start date, but putting it back to 2022 makes me think this show will be fully pre-produced before airing.
South Korea just announced that it will allow 18+ adults to get vaccinated starting August 26, 2021. SK had stalled with the 55+ vaccinations with drug shortages. In July, it was supposed to open up to 50+ citizens, but the current wave of infections has pushed the government now to try to vax as many people as possible. Unless filming is pushed back, the cast and crew will probably not be fully vaccinated until late September with the two dose protocol.
I do wonder if 39 will be more like a companion piece to SITR; the exploration of career women at a cultural crossroad in their lives (i.e. pressure to marry, have kids and quit work).
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Yes, Son Ye Jin has a very good swing for a beginner. But professional lessons do help novices grasp the fundamentals of the game. As she said, she knows what she does wrong when she makes a bad shot. She likes the game because it has so many variables to be a compelling challenge. It fits well with her personality. Also, many of her friends have taken up the sport. Uhm Ji Won stated on her YT channel that she started golf last year. She showed herself taking indoor lessons in the middle of winter. Professional lessons are not inexpensive; students usually take them once or twice a week. Obsessed new golfers take even more.
Lim Jin Han was an accomplished Korean professional golfer. He won the KPGA Championship in 1983 and 1984.
His extroverted personality and clear explanations goes well for teaching amateurs about the game. SYJ credits him for improving her game skills. They said they played many rounds together. Normally, in the US, teaching pros use the practice range as the main method of instructing their students. But on-course teaching rounds do make some sense since it takes next shot strategy into the lessons. Lim called Ye Jin "a long hitter." She can drive the ball 200 yards which is pretty good from the ladies tees.
SYJ's visor said "South Cape." South Cape is an island luxury resort SE of Busan on Namhae Island. It is listed as the Best Course in South Korea. It has been compared to Pebble Creek in California for its scenic views and course layout. A round of golf at South Cape can cost more than $500 US per person. Golf Magazine sent a reporter to the course and he was blown away by the service and amenities. Generally, golf is not a cheap sport to play.
Golf has always been a major hobby in South Korea. It is so popular that the SBS Network has its own 24 hour golf channel. One of its popular programs is an unscripted show called "The Real Course" where a group of Korean LPGA pros are filmed having a friendly round of golf. No third party commentary, just like the viewer is riding along from a caddy perspective. It is a very relaxing show, like the many network camping shows that popped up during the pandemic.
What is also very trendy now is golf fashion in Korea. The spill over from celebrity popularity to golf fashion seems like a no-brainer endorsement opportunity.
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I wonder if SYJ's food post was inspired by Korean variety-celebrity cooking show FUN RESTAURANT. Her friends, Lee Jung Hyun and Oh Yoon Ah, have many times been featured guests on the show. It is a highly competitive and informational show. The last episodes featured participants making menus with dumplings.
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It is more improbable that "The Cross" movie will not be made. Variety has reported:
“They Are Us,” a new drama about the aftermath of the Christchurch attacks on New Zealand’s Muslim community is the next project that will be written and directed by Andrew Niccol. FilmNation Entertainment, the company behind “Late Night” and “Arrival,” will unveil the project to international buyers at the upcoming Cannes Virtual Market with CAA Media Finance submitting it to domestic and worldwide distributors. (It is unclear whether Niccol has financing or is looking for financial investors at Cannes. His agency, CAA, appears to being putting together the project from its talent base.)
I first found it strange that SYJ named her new puppy Kitty. Unless she was making a humorous play on words; naming her dog after a cat name. But then I realized that Kitty was a very popular nickname in the 1920s-1950s for Katherine. I have noticed that many Korean celebrities name their pets with English names. If I recall correctly, SYJ had a dog named Benji.
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The article stated Son Ye-jin drew attention by commenting on Song Yoon-ah's post which contained expectations for tomorrow while looking at the setting sun, saying, "I am already sitting next to my sister." I may be missing something in the translation meaning or her response. Is it a proverb? A good wish?
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@SeriyaWhen an article includes a comment from the agency that they are "positively reviewing", does it mean that an acceptance is likely?
It is a polite way for an artist's agency to say "we have received an offer for a project." It does not mean the artist will likely accept it. Even if an artist likes the premise or initial script (a summary or 1-2 draft episodes if there is no pre-existing work like a novel), there are so many other factors involved before acceptance: film schedules, schedule conflicts, shooting locations, budget, salary, other actors/casting, required promotion, etc.
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Production companies often leak script offers so that there is publicity about their project to get investors and advertisers. I realized that the description of SYJ's character in 39 is directed toward her type of script/story but also toward her current CF endorsements: a rich woman (brand name clothes) and dermatologist (skin care products and cosmetics).
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On April 15, Son Ye Jin’s agency MSTeam Entertainment confirmed the actress received a casting offer, but nothing has been decided as of yet. 'Thirty-Nine' tells the story about 2 friends who are almost turning 40 years old. It's described as a realistic, slice-of-life drama that will follow the friends as they experience life and romance. If cast, Son Ye Jin will play Cha Mi Jo, who's from a wealthy household and is now the director of a skincare clinic in Gangnam.
This project would be an interesting premise for SYJ. When she took the role in SITR, she wanted to realistically play a woman in her mid-30s facing cultural and family pressures on her career and marriage. She kept true to her belief in her character's immaturity in decision making in the end which left some viewers disappointed in the second half of the series.
Thirty-Nine would explore another cultural milestone of women turning 40. Her character could have a more mature approach to social issues facing Korean women when they reach 40 (such as ageism and sexism). I would look forward to her take on this subject matter.
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SYJ has leveraged her post CLOY popularity to model three clothing lines, CL, BAU and Valentino, which is rare since most brands lock up models as exclusive for the contract time period. In cosmetics and health care, it is more product specific exclusivity. Since CLOY, it appears she has focused on CFs and her dating news did not drop off international interest in her. It seems she spent 2020 enhancing her model status. In fact, the Valentino endorsement takes her out of Asia to now a top model for a global, premier brand.
The Valentino endorsement may bring her more international interest than the Actor 200 project. In recent articles writers have used the term "struggle" for her to find her next acting project (which is an odd term but I checked it twice). We know she is constantly sent scripts but she has not been linked to any project since August 2020 (the ill-fated Moon-River drama) and the stalled Cross project. She has said she wants new challenges and an English/Hollywood movie would be one. Because of her record number of CFs, she can wait for a special film project. But she has not had a drama/film shoot in more than a year. There is an old casting movie saying "out of sight, out of mind." Then again, there are shippers who believe that her current work project is tending her HB relationship.
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The GLASS cover photograph is her best portrait in the past year. Nice profile.
My preference would have been having the art director make a tight, spring flower crown
instead of a messy look.
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@ElectricHearts The concept is noble, its execution is clumsy. I also think it was rushed to completion just a few weeks ago.
The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) is a state-supported, self-administered organization under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST)
It aims to promote and support Korean films both in Korea and abroad. Its primary objective is to promote and support the production of Korean films through funding, research, education and training. It also strives to further develop international markets for Korean films and to promote inter-cultural understanding through film-based cultural exchanges.It also seems this new project is different than its past role as it focuses on individual actors and not Korean films or its film making capacity for foreign production companies. In recent years, major studio/agencies have made connections with new content distributors like Netflix and Apple to globally sell Korean films and dramas. Netflix announced it is going to spend hundreds of millions of US Dollars in 2021 on original Korean content for its platform. I really don't think cold calling industry executives with a "yearbook" of 200 Korean actors is going to make a huge impact in directly getting them foreign film works. -
At this point, is this still wishful thinking or repeating the media rumors?
Son Yejin’s next film is Cross, her first Hollywood film. It is an SF film directed by Andrew Niccol and tells the story of people on the border between poor and rich countries in the background of a virtual multi-ethnic future divided country. Son Yejin will keep in step with Sam Washington in the film. It is clear that she will defend her throne in the next 10 years. And her realm keeps expanding.
From SYJ's profile from The Faces of Today's Korean Cinema: Korean Actors 200 Campaign based on their box office power, awards earned, level of contribution to independent cinema, and their participation in int'l projects over the last decade.
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I did not mean that she confirmed to gain popularity. She confirmed because she is honest even though they wanted to keep the news secret. But I don't think anyone imagined the avalanche of fan speculation, wild rumors, and privacy violations directed towards them. She has been a very private person. As she said, she has been at times overwhelmed by attention.
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I feel sorry for SYJ. There has been so much attention, rumor and gossip since the January 1st dating confirmation I think the madness will hurt their relationship. They cannot do anything without wild speculation and attention to their private lives. When know SYJ is active and reads posts about her. SYJ was overwhelmed by the support after the news and the massive amount of gifts given to her on her birthday, some with messages of getting married and having children with HB. Since her Japanese fan meeting, rumors of her being pregnant since fans have not seen a new photo full body photo of her. The fact that she has not announced a new project is twisted to mean that she is focused on marriage and starting a family. Her new Chinese SNS picture was dissected to be the same as an old HB photo: which meant they were doing couple clothing match to that they were living together as she was wearing his sweater. Now, HB's new home purchase drives speculation of them being married or going to get married shortly, even though his agency denied it was purchased for a pending marital home. What is shocking is that HB has no privacy since fans now know where he will live. Any person with a camera is a paparazzi. Any person can post their imaginary projections on the couple. It has become a shark feeding frenzy.
I can see the cumulative effect of such attention and invasions of privacy to be a huge burden on a celebrity couple because this attention is not directed at their public persona (their work, their CFs, their charity events, etc.) but directly at their private lives. Stars do wish to maintain their popularity because it gives them a better opportunity for future projects, but the immense public expectation on matters which would affect the rest of their private life is daunting and unfair. No wonder so many other outed celebrity couples fold under the pressure.
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I do wonder why after 6 1/2 years SYJ established a new Chinese social media account.
Yes, she is very appreciative of her fan support and gifts that she has received in the last year. Most of her new popularity is international, but I thought most of it came from Japan, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
Second, she is a savvy businesswoman. Could she be re-introducing herself to the Chinese market? Or more specifically, Hong Kong which is English speaking (hence the English caption)? She could be considering a new China-Hong Kong (co)production project. She did one before, Bad Guys Always Die (2016), but that movie did not do well at the box office.
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Is the xiaohongshu account picture an old one updated with a caption?
I ask because she looks much younger in the picture than her current award photographs.
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@Seriya As I recall, the SYJ hospital trip was during location shooting in winter (January). It could have been fatigue, flu or dehydration as she was treated and returned to the set. You can tell all of the cast looked ill (redness around their eyes) from long outdoor scenes. She often reports that after her projects that they were physically hard and draining on her. Again, when you don't eat well, diet for the role, etc. there is a large energy drain filming long hours each day. That is why she said half her life is devoted to travel as her way to re-energize herself for her next performance.
I think she has received many offers since CLOY but seemed content to do CFs and her fan meeting than committing to a non-challenging role. I do think she did set aside the first half of 2021 for The Cross and was only recently told of the delay. I think she has been studying English to do a foreign language film. I think many Korean actors now see American productions as a huge career move because they pay better and expose them to new markets. For example, a Netflix original production could double an actor's Korean pay rate.
One potential concern is that SYJ is still attached to melodramas and romantic comedy genres. Would she take such a role in 2021 (and how would shippers react with her love scenes with a different leading man?)
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ElectricHearts, last fall I had the feeling that the project would stall and not go forward. The recent western actors attached to the project all had two or three other projects that they had committed to for 2021. The only new "news" was the claimed $30 million US budget. The pandemic has also pushed back investors from committing to projects. In reality, SYJ wants to do the project to block off 6 months for location shooting but has not totally committed to it after their second meeting and the delay. I think she wants to do an English speaking role if the "right opportunity" presents itself. Despite her huge popularity in Asia, I don't think it gave the producers much traction in casting or financing.
I think after CLOY ended, even though she had a dozen or more CF shoots, she felt strange not working on a series or film for 10 months. She has been a workaholic. I think she needs to be on stage performing and interacting with set crews to produce art. The fact that Korea's social distancing and harsher virus restrictions has curbed her meeting her girlfriends does not help the situation as many of them continued to work during the pandemic.
I think if she takes another project in the spring, the Cross project will not happen for her.
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The Soompi article translation:
It was previously revealed that Son Ye Jin was confirmed to be in talks to star in the Hollywood film “Cross.” She spoke about deciding to take on the challenge. “To be honest, I didn’t really have a desire to try something out like this,” she admitted. “I’m already overwhelmed with Korean projects, so I was afraid whether or not I could act well speaking a foreign language.”
She continued, “However, I started thinking about when I would ever be able to try something like this again. If I receive a good opportunity, I’ll happily work hard at it. I get the sense that I’ll get a lot out of it as I take it on.”
>>>>> This is the clearest statement from her on the Hollywood project. She is overwhelmed with Korean projects (offers and +/- 12 CFs). She was not looking to do an English language film, but upon reflection she would consider it a good challenge if a "good opportunity" would come to her. I read this as a polite way of saying The Cross is not quite the opportunity for her given her current professional situation. The Cross is expected to last a long five months of location shooting (which she admits in the past can be exhausting for her) and now there are concerns whether it can actually be fully shot and completed in South Korea (with the increase in Covid cases and stricter lock down orders)
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South Korea was the #4 market for movie theater releases.
In 2019, 909 movie releases grossed $11.36 billion (US).
In 2020, 382 movie releases grossed $1.9 billion (US).
South Korea is on pace to have less than 45 percent of normal number of movie releases
and less than 20 percent of normal box office sales due to the pandemic.
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By my unofficial count, in 2020 SYJ has had 12 CFs (endorsements). It is an extremely high number of deals which shows how popular she has become in the marketing industry. It also means that her income has surged this year which makes it less likely that she needs to quickly decide on her next film/TV project. I recall that Song Hye-Kyo took off about three years because she had so many endorsements (especially in China). My prediction is that SYJ will wait until the pandemic is under control before committing to her next project.
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Son Ye-Jin 손예진 [Drama “Thirty-Nine” (JTBC/NETFLIX)]
in actors & actresses
Posted
@Helena
Things will get worse.
The more privacy the more the press, clickbait vloggers and parasocial fans demand more personal information from the couple. Because CLOY was the pandemic lockdown fantasy show for many viewers, some feel "invested" in the story to make the fantasy real. To them, BinJin is not just a brand but their own reality show where they want a front row seat to live vicariously through their personal life. Every person with a smart phone is a paparazzi. Even though we really know nothing about our celebrities, our digital culture makes anyone a publisher of misinformation, speculation and outright lies about celebrities. It is this pressure under a public microscope that can adversely affect any couple, especially one in the spotlight for the past three years.
I think it will get worse after the wedding when SYJ takes an expected, long hiatus to be a newlywed when she is at the peak of her career. People will want to know about her married life, her activities, etc. with couple and family pictures posted on IG. They will be disappointed if this does not happen. Disappointment can lead to resentment which is odd considering no one has a right to a stranger's personal life moments.