[movie 2009] Sisters On The Road 지금, 이대로가 좋아요

[melusine]

Movieweek article part 1+part 2+part 3

http://blog.movieweek.co.kr/120

Shin Mina & Kong Hyo Jin's Interview

2009 May 9

by KPculture

Movieweek interviewed Shin Mina & Kong Hyo Jin who have been promoting their newly released film, Sisters on the Road (지금, 이대로가 좋아요; literal translation -- I Like It As It Is Now).

MovieWeek (MW): Things must feel new again since the movie is premiering in about two years.

Shin Mina (SM): It was introduced last year at the Pusan International Film Festival and was screened this year at the Seoul International Women's Film Festival, and the audience response was really [favourable]. It was a source of strength, although I was disappointed about the premiere being delayed.

Kong Hyo Jin (KHJ): Since we filmed in November of 2007, it's been a long time. I went home after shooting for about a month from the first day of filming. I packed my stuff when I left the house. (Laughs) I went back home after filming was complete.

MW: Moreover, having a female director and female actors... that kind of job site is uncommon.

SM: A feeling of doing some other work rather than filming a movie?

KHJ: We also said how it's as if we're filming some kind of documentary because we really didn't have separate sets and just shot in natural settings (nature).

MW: I heard it's a movie that has a lot of the director's [own] experiences incorporated in it.

KHJ: There are times when [she's] like Myeong Eun and times when [she's] like Myeong Joo. Ah, Director would get surprisingly sad if I didn't reply to a text message? (Laughs)

SM: Yeah, that's right, that's right. And when [Kong Hyo Jin and I] giggled amongst ourselves while watching the movie earlier, Director kept poking my side for us to stop laughing.

MW: Which scene did you laugh so much in?

SM: The scene where Hyo Jin unni is wearing a wig is completely hilarious. (Laughs)

KHJ: You can tell that [i'm] wearing a wig. I thought to myself, "Big trouble", when I first saw it. Ah, ugly, ugly. Did you see the expression when Myeong Joo (I) was crying because we got into a car accident? Just look at my face, it's completely ugly. (Laughs)

SM: No, I'm no joke either. My hair was completely tangled and disheveled. (Laughs) Each of us has a face we don't like.

KHJ: Ah, I also discovered something that ruins [Mina]. When crying, she keeps sniffling her nose. (Laughs) Besides that though, everything [about Mina] pretty.

MW: I actually thought to myself, who could have done Myeong Joo's role if not for Kong Hyo Jin?

KHJ: Actually, once you watch Crush and Blush, this is nothing. It's fate, it's fate [that I do such characters]. (Laughs) I'm not going to do it anymore. I think I have to take it easy on my body. Next time I'm going to act as a really refined, cool character.

KP's note: Kong played very labourous, unglamourous characters in both movies.

SM: Why, what's wrong with Myeong Joo?

KHJ: [You heard] at the press conference earlier -- someone said that they were surprised after seeing the poster. I flared up in anger and demanded, "Why, what's wrong with the poster?" (Laughs)

MW: In contrast to Myeong Joo, Myeong Eun is a character with a rough personality.

KHJ: Doesn't it suit [Mina] perfectly? (Laughs)

SM: I like that so much. Nice, virtuous characters aren't fun. Rather than just speaking uprightly, I think it's more fun and suitable to [do characters] like Myeong Eun. Plus, I don't suit very beautiful characters. When I was cast in Beauty and the Beast, there were [online] comments/replies such as "It's Beast and the beast". (Laughs) I like characters with distinct personalities. I liked how Myeong Eun was like that too.

MW: They say, Mina, [you] read the scenario and directly sought out the director.

SM: Then (and now) I had (have) a greed for clear characters. At that time, I read the scenario for Sisters on the Road and liked it so much that I went to meet the director. The casting was decided after a lot of discussion and right after that I thought of Hyo Jin unni. But the director was also thinking of Hyo Jin unni. There was concern over the age difference, but we figured it'd be okay because in reality we're four years apart and in the movie we're seven years apart.

MW: Isn't it the first time you acted together, although you've known each other for a long time?

SM: When I debuted as a model and went to the studio for the first time, there was a boyish model who was doing a [photo] shoot so beautifully. That was Hyo Jin unni. I thought it was so marvelous back then and it's amazing that as adults, we filmed a movie together and are doing interviews [together]. At the time [of modelling], I wondered, "How long will I be able to spend with that unni?"”

KHJ: I remember that time.[You had] short bobbed hair and were really dark. At the time, models in middle school were considered extremely young. Even though there were high school students, there were no middle school students.

SM: Even 'til about one to two years ago there was nobody younger than me, but nowadays they're all younger than me. It seems that I'm really aging. (Laughs)

MW: Since you filmed this movie as if you were on vacation, there must be a lot of memorable situations.

KHJ: Maybe because we filmed in new, unfamiliar places, but it really felt like a vacation. Dragging my slippers over to the next room to watch television, chat, and sleep together. Isn't the scene with Myeong Joo and Myeong Eun under the autumnal leaves really delightful? The scene wasn't originally there but we created it while discussing it with the director. No matter how much they quarrel and are awkward around each other, they're still sisters. We wanted to give the feeling that without even realizing it over time, [Myeong Joo and Myeong Eun] became conscious of the fact that [they] are sisters.

SM: I kept causing NGs while filming that scene because I couldn't control my laughter. (Laughs)

MW: Doesn't Myeong Eun smile slightly as she sprinkles the leaves? It gave off the thought that sisters are sisters after all.

KHJ: So we discussed that too. If [Myeong Joo and Myeong Eun] were to find a roll of film that hasn't been developed, and when they get it printed to find childhood pictures of them getting along well. No matter what, they're sisters -- we worried that their relations were too strained. But still, if [Myeong Eun's] unni (older sister) told her to do something, she would still do it because she was the dongseng (younger sibling). (Laughs)

SM: Even while angry, she goes to fetch cleansing cream from the bag for her sister.

KHJ: I thought it was so funny on the boat. If her insides are churning, why doesn't she just sleep rather than going around looking for her? When she's just going to show her temper anyways.

SM: To tell her about the promise that Myeong Joo must keep while travelling. That's how moments where we confront each other and fight are created. (Laughs)

KHJ: There are going to be many parts that the audience will connect with. I'll be happy if people think, "That's right, that's why you [two] are sisters. Resolve it quickly," or "I wonder what my unni/hyung is doing right now?"”

MW: There's something about family. How do I say it... there's a kind of affection that's difficult to express.

KHJ: There really is something about being family. To be honest, there's a lot of cases where family is worse than others. But you keep covering up (forgiving) [their wrongdoings]. There are all different kinds of families. When people say "a harmonious family is like this" or "a family should be like that", doesn't that take away hope from people whose families aren't like that? It makes them think, "Why is my family different?", and be scarred.

MW: Myeong Eun and Seung Ah are characters who were hurt because of such prejudice against them.

SM: That's right. Myeong Eun would have felt affection while looking at Seung Ah, who reminds [Myeong Eun] of herself when she was younger. With Myeong Eun's personality, she can't openly show her affection but asking "Have you eaten?" is her [way of caring].

KHJ: I think the purpose of our film is finding the friendship between sisters. The English title is exactly that -- Sisters on the Road. The plot is about finding the sisterly love that had been disregarded. People don't need to be so surprised or unwilling to let go of Myeong Joo and Myeong Eun's family secret. I wish people would watch with open hearts and recognize that there are so many different types of people in the world. Myeong Joo and Myeong Eun realized that while travelling.

MW: Travelling definitely matures a person. Can you recall a memorable travel [experience]?

SM: The year before last was my first time staying alone in New York for about a month and a half or two[...] I think it really helped to know that I did something on my own. I really enjoyed that I could see myself very objectively. Ah, I thought places such as clubs would be uncomfortable since [people would recognize me because] I debuted when I was young, but [when I went] in New York where nobody recognized me anyways, it wasn't fun and I was sleepy. (Laughs)

KHJ: You're supposed to go to clubs with close friends. I met Mina in New York at that time. I said, "Mina, Let's go somewhere nice" but she said, "Unni, I think I'm getting cold symptoms," and didn't come out. Of course, if you aren't sick, you wouldn't be Mina.

SM: I was really sick that day. And it was raining. (Laughs)

KHJ: Why must you get sick? I was going to play with you! (Laughs) I've gone on lots of vacations, but never alone. I'd like to go on the path through India or Chile like Santiago. People around me have said that if you go to India that a new world will be opened. I want to go when I can put down all of my baggage (metaphor). Not yet, but I'm going to go if I think that I've become too contaminated with things like money or fame.

MW: I'm curious as to whether things are good "now" and "as is" like in the [Korean movie] title.

SM: To be honest I'm someone who had a lot of grievances and dissatisfaction, but I think right now things are really good as is. I wish it could be like this for just three years.

KHJ: So you're living a satisfied (complacent) life. (Laughs)

SM: I think I'm hypnotizing myself. I used to be the type to question, "Why am I like this?", but I’m becoming more positive. Not any more and not any less, but just as it is. I think the satisfaction I feel now is just right. I hope it lasts for long. Whether my age is 30 or 40... well, if I look at Hyo Jin unni, Min Hee unni, or Soo Jung unni, 30 doesn't seem to be a big deal. (Laughs) I think people remain the same, it's just their age that changes.

KP's note: Born in 1980, Kong Hyo Jin and Lim Soo Jung have hit 30 in Korean age. Kim Min Hee is still a couple of years away.

KHJ: No. There are times when I feel that [i/they] have definitely changed. I think my late 20s was a point when I began thinking differently. I think there are more aspects that I have to be responsible for as an actor. I'd like to continue evolving until the day I quit this work (acting). And then if I come to a point where I'm chasing riches and fame, I want to travel far away.

Source: KPculture

Photoshoot - Mnet Wide News <Mnet | Youku>

Movieweek on the character videos

Movieweek preview

No hotlinking pls!

[melusine]

Cine21 feature

credit: 눈팅(nunting)@DC Gall + janejz@Popcornfor2

Screenshots by melusine via http://olv.moazine.com

Please credit me when reposting

No hotlinking pls!

[melusine]

So far I've only found 2 pics of the VIP screening held at Sponge House Apgujung on April 20:

credit: http://cafe.daum.net/malojazz/9LKS/188

credit: esportsi.com

The movie ‘I Like It As Is Now,’ in which Gong Hyojin and Shin Mina are sisters, will be released on the 23rd. The movie held an event at Sponge House in Apgujung, in which movie staff members, actors, and their families and friends got together to see the movie.

Actors such as Park Haeil, Jung Yoomi, Lee Mingi, Go Euna, Lim Soojung and writer Noh Heekyung took part in the event. After the movie was played people are said to be greatly impressed. Noh Heekyung, the writer of many popular dramas, said, “Nowadays, all movies seem to be all the same, but this movie is different. The actors are great, and I think it is a five star movie.”

Lim Soojung said, "I was very interested in the movie because I am close friends with the two starring actresses in the movie. I was jealous of the two after I heard about the plot. The movie turned out to be even better than I expected."

via SportsWorldi (English) + SportsWorldi (Korean) + esportsi.com + Asia Economy + Joy News

Note: Park HaeIl, Lee MinKi, Go EunAh and Jung YooMi are MinAh's "Billion" castmates, and JYM also costarred with HyoJin in "Family Ties." Acclaimed drama writer Noh HeeKyung ("Goodbye Solo," "More Beautiful Than a Flower," "Worlds Within") also wrote HyoJin's first drama "Wonderful Days." Aside from being friends with both girls, Im SooJung has worked with MinAh in "Sad Movie" and with HyoJin in "Happiness."

[rubie]

Wahh! It's so nice to see such a sweet & heartwarming an all-girl feature film.. a feel-good, wonderful movie by GHJ and SMA.. they're so cool with perfect chemistry. Indeed, it's great to note that movies like 'Sisters on the Road' is not lost.. amidst the tendency lately to film more sex-oriented movies.

I just love family-theme stories.. movies or dramas.. it can be intensely heartbreaking but conveyed passionately, always the best to remember forever. My words are jumbled and I'm no good is saying anything, obviously.. but well done, melusine.. excellent sharing!

One more day to go.. Sisters.. fighting!

[melusine]

^rubie Yeah, it's great when movies made by and made for women are greenlighted, especially this one on a topic as uniquely female as sisterhood. Despite NHK's (and Lee MyungSe's @ PIFF) stamp of approval, unfortunately I don't think it's gonna make much money. There just doesn't seem to be much buzz about it; the girls only did a few magazine photoshoots+interviews (and didn't even make the cover), and I can barely find clips/pics of its VIP screening... in stark contrast to the extensive press coverage the more commercial "Level 7 Civil Servant/My Girlfriend is an Agent" has been getting (it's opening on the same day, on 40x more screens). Not to mention the juggernaut that is "Thirst" is opening a week later, as well as "Insadong Scandal." And of course since it's an indie, it's only on a limited number of CGV/Sponge House screens anyway. I've said this before in the SMA thread: I'm hoping positive word of mouth will help it at least break even (since I assume it didn't cost that much to make in the first place), so that small films like these can continue to co-exist alongside the blockbusters.

But enough of my pessismism and dire predictions of doom and gloom. I think MinAh and HyoJin will have wonderful chemistry too, the two have been close friends for a very long time. And I'm so happy they've been getting raves for their performances. "Sisters on the Road," fighting!!

New making video: Crying, laughing scenes (울고웃는 열연의 현장) [via Arts News + MJKNews]

mms://vod.cine21.com/cine21.com/movie/making/2009/04/sisters_act.wmv

mms://media1.maxmovie.com/movieinfo/image/av/Maxsistersontheroad_act.wmv

[MegaUpload] [MediaFire] [SendSpace] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=km1fnJq4KJI]

[melusine]

Director Bu JiYoung and Shin MinAh will be at the ff screenings:

via http://cafe.naver.com/spongehouse/20801 + CNBNews

April 25 - Saturday

15:25 CGV Sangam

14:30 Sponge House Gwanghamun

16:00 CGV Daehangno

18:50 Sponge House JoongAng Cinema

April 26 - Sunday

13:25 CGV Gangbyeon

14:00 CGV Daehangno

16:30 Sponge House JoongAng Cinema

16:10 Sponge House Apgujung

18:30 CGV Apgujung

CGV | Interpark | MaxMovie | Yes24 | TicketLink | Nate | Sponge House

credit: http://cafe.naver.com/cinemasangsang/1605

[melusine]

@ Sponge House Gwanghamun, April 25

credit: http://blog.naver.com/boramses/20066283594

credit: http://cafe.naver.com/spongehouse/20892

credit: http://www.cyworld.com/korgans/3242430 <original size>

[Guest lot_lot]

thanks, melusine for sharing the pictures from today's theater visit. (Thank you also for posting MinAh's movieweek pictures on her thread.) Where is HyoJin? Do you know how they fared for their opening day? I truly hope they at least break even with production costs. I wonder how many weeks the movie will be in theaters?

[melusine]

^You're welcome.

Where is HyoJin?

No idea. Her schedule says she's supposed to be doing movie promos from April 20~26, so I dunno why she isn't with them (tsk tsk).

@ Sponge House (? branch), April 26

credit: http://dreamfrog.tossi.com/posting/20090427004932953429

EDITED

Apparently HyoJin missed the stage greetings because she went with her Crush and Blush director Lee KyungMi to Copenhagen, Denmark for the CPH:PIX film festival where their film screened and competed for the New Talent Grand Prix. <pics>

Do you know how they fared for their opening day?

Still looking for the exact figures, but I would say not that good since it didn't even make this week's Top 10 (sources: KOFIC, Seen in Jeonju).

EDITED

<credit: KOBIS + kdramafanusa@Box Office & TV Ratings thread>

[2009/04/23]

16. Sisters On The Road 지금 이대로가 좋아요 (South Korea)

Opening Date : 2009/04/23

Adm / Total Adm : 706 / 788

Gross / Total Gross (won) : 4,383,000 / 4,949,500

Screen : 10

Share : 0.4%

[2009/04/26]

16. Sisters On The Road 지금 이대로가 좋아요 (South Korea)

Opening Date : 2009/04/23

Adm / Total Adm : 3,949 / 4,737

Gross / Total Gross (won) : 28,051,500 / 33,001,000

Screen : 10

Share : 0.3%

It's only open on 10 screens?! No wonder it didn't make a killing. My bad.

I wonder how many weeks the movie will be in theaters?

Well, according to http://cafe.naver.com/spongehouse/20821 it will definitely be in Sponge House theaters till May 6. After that, who knows.

Korea Times 04-23-2009 18:07

Now Showing

This road movie depicts the relationship between two half sisters. After her mother's sudden death, Myung-eun (Synn Min-a) returns home and meets the elder Myung-ju (Kong Hyo-jin). Never having met her father, Myung-eun suggests to Myung-ju that they search for him together. During the travel, they find other things, the meaning of their relationship and their lives. 15 and over. 96 minutes. No English subtitles.

CGV Gangbyeon (1544-1122) near exit 1 of Gangbyeon Station on subway line 2

Joongang Cinema (02-776-8866) connected to Euljiro 3-ga Station on subway lines 2 and 3

CGV Apgujeong (1544-1122) near exit 3 of Apgujeong Station on subway line 3

CGV Sangam 10 (1544-1122) near exit 2 of World Cup Stadium Station on subway line 6

[melusine]

Movieweek article: Spring 2009, Fragile Yet Strong Female Characters

Kang HyeJung of Why Did You Come to My House?

Jung RyeoWon of Castaway on the Moon

uri Sisters

Kim HaNeul of Level 7 Civil Servant/My Girlfriend is an Agent

Uhm JungHwa of Insadong Scandal

[melusine]

PIFF posters

[Guest lot_lot]

Still looking for the exact figures, but I would say not that good since it didn't even make this week's Top 10 (KOBIS).

EDITED

<credit: KOBIS + kdramafanusa@Box Office & TV Ratings thread>

[Thursday 2009/04/23]

16. Sisters On The Road 지금 이대로가 좋아요 (South Korea)

Opening Date : 2009/04/23

Adm / Total Adm : 706 / 788

Gross / Total Gross (won) : 4,383,000 / 4,949,500

Screen : 10

Share : 0.4%

[as of Sunday 2009/04/26]

16. Sisters On The Road 지금 이대로가 좋아요 (South Korea)

Opening Date : 2009/04/23

Adm / Total Adm : 3,949 / 4,737

Gross / Total Gross (won) : 28,051,500 / 33,001,000

Screen : 10

Share : 0.3%

It's only open on 10 screens?! No wonder it didn't make a killing. My bad.

hey melusine, thanks for the figures. The figures do not look too bad, considering it's an indie movie. To me, showing in 10 screens is fairly good, considering it's only in Seoul (I'm assuming). Where I am from, most indie films that do not have much buzz, will be shown in limited theaters in a few major cities across the country, and usually only in one screen for that theater. So almost 5,000 ppl have seen the movie in the past 5 days. I wonder if it will be shown on Korean airlines (I have seen tons of great Korean movies there)? I hope they can recover with DVD sales, because I will definitely buy a DVD copy At least, I hope there will be a DVD release of the movie.

I just have to add, I only was able to predict one of the ladies' celeb friends who attended the premiere, hehehe. I was actually going to put some of MinAh's castmates from Billion, but I was in doubt.

^ You were able to find a picture from the April 26 premiere, great. Here are a few more.

credit: 헤헤 on dcinside/mina

[melusine]

I just have to add, I only was able to predict one of the ladies' celeb friends who attended the premiere, hehehe.

Bless Im SooJung's heart, huh?

Thanks for sharing the April 26 stage greeting pics, lot_lot.^^ Yep, now that I know SotR's on such few screens, the figures don't look too bad (and unfortunately are typical for an indie, "Old Partner" being the $$$ exception). I share your hope that DVD sales will help in recouping their investment.

[Guest lot_lot]

hey melusine, thanks for the updates ^^

here are some pictures I saw on popcornfor2, posted by janejz

April 26, 2009 theater tour

[Guest lot_lot]

Good news: Sisters audience exceed 15,000 people after two weeks

here is the article. I had difficulty getting the translation for the article, but I think the movie will also be shown in Jeju island (but I'm not certain).

'지금 이대로가 좋아요' 관객 1만 5천명 돌파

[세계일보] 2009년 05월 06일(수) 오후 10:45 가 가| 이메일| 프린트

[세계닷컴]

영화 '지금, 이대로가 좋아요'가 개봉 2주만에 관객 15,190명을 동원하며 '작은 영화'의 힘을 보여주고 있다.

작지만 좋은 영화 '지금, 이대로가 좋아요'의 소리 없는 흥행에는 영화를 먼저 본 관객들의 입소문이 주효했다. '지금, 이대로가 좋아요'는 독특한 스토리라인이 선사하는 재미와 감동, 그리고 공효진, 신민아 등 최고 인기의 충무로 기대주들의 성숙한 연기력을 확인하는 특별한 기회로서 더욱 주목받는다.

또 공효진과 신민아를 아버지가 다른 친 자매로 설정, 특별한 가족의 이야기를 통해 '가족의 의미'를 묻고 있기에 '지금, 이대로가 좋아요'는 가족의 달 5월에 함께 하기에 더욱 손색 없는 영화라는 평가와 함께 스폰지하우스 중앙, 압구정, 광화문에서는 자매가 함께 '지금, 이대로가 좋아요'를 관람할 경우 한 사람은 무료로 입장하는 '자매 이벤트'를 실시해 이미 150명이 넘는 '자매'들이 관람했다.

한편 '지금, 이대로가 좋아요'는 3주차에는 개봉관을 늘려 총 11개 극장에서 관객들과 만난다. 특히 이번에 추가된 상영관 중에서는 영화의 많은 분량이 촬영된 제주도 지역의 극장이 포함되어 있더 눈길을 끈다.

유명준 기자 neocross@segye.com 팀블로그 http://comm.blog.segye.com

ⓒ 세계일보＆세계닷컴(www.segye.com), 저작자표시+비영리+변경금지

[☞공짜로 연극ㆍ뮤지컬보기] [☞세계일보 지면보기]

<세계닷컴은 한국온라인신문협회(www.kona.or.kr)의 디지털뉴스이용규칙에 따른 저작권을 행사합니다.>

[Guest riehae]

Looking forward to this.

Seems a nice movie.

I hope this won't be licensed over at CB.

And better if there would be soft engsubs, but if non then it's still fine with me.

[melusine]

Good news: Sisters audience exceed 15,000 people after two weeks

Nice! Thanks for sharing, lot_lot (and for the MinAh pics too).

EDITED

Box Office <credit: KOBIS>

[2009/05/10]

17. Sisters On The Road 지금 이대로가 좋아요 (South Korea)

Opening Date : 2009/04/23

Adm / Total Adm : 1,486 / 16,884

Gross / Total Gross (won) : 10,619,000 / 115,918,500

Screen : 13

[2009/05/15~17]

19. Sisters On The Road 지금 이대로가 좋아요 (South Korea)

Opening Date : 2009/04/23

Adm / Total Adm : 1,191 / 18,997

Gross / Total Gross (won) : 7,891,500 / 129,799,000

Screen : 11

The movie is still showing in Sponge House theaters [skeds: May 12~17, May 19~24, May 22~27]

and in KT&G's Sangsangmadang cinema from May 7 onwards [via http://www.sangsangmadang.com/]

Btw, I've edited post#41 (scroll up) with the transcript of HyoJin and MinAh's Movieweek interview as translated by the lovely, lovely folks at KPculture. GHJ and SMA fans, please do drop by their blog and post comments on the entry so they'll know how much we appreciate their efforts (yay~ finally, an interview in English).

Flyer credit: http://kr.blog.yahoo.com/asiafont6112/21928.html

[melusine]

Another round of stage greetings by SMA and BJY on May 9 [via http://cafe.naver.com/spongehouse/20892]

14:00 Sponge House Gwanghwamun

15:15 CGV Apgujung

16:30 CGV Daehangno

@ Sponge House Gwanghamun

credit: http://seamilk.egloos.com/4135643

@ CGV Apgujung

credit: http://blog.naver.com/ssong_da/150047694048

credit: janejz@Popcornfor2

[melusine]

A special screening on May 18, 7pm at Sponge House Gwanghamun will be attended by Kim DongYoung, author of Go on a Journey, Get to Know Me: A Diary of 230 Days in America, followed by a dialogue about the movie and his book. The Sponge House gallery will also be hosting an exhibition of his photos. [via CNBNews + Union Press + esportsi.com + IT News + http://cafe.naver.com/spongehouse/20878]

credit: http://blog.naver.com/lovebeads_/140068112187

credit: http://cafe.naver.com/mhdn/4441

[Guest cutiepie]

20090519 Good Morning Show - NGs

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