[News] Drama, Movies, Actors & Actresses

[shirley]

2005 ThePusan Film Critics Award

Best actor . JO Seung Woo for performance in movie Marathon ...he such a talented actor ~~~ and he say he is happy to receive this honour and to receive it together with Kang Hye-Jung ^^

Best actress Kang Hye-Jung ~~ for performance in movie Rules of Dating ~~ ..

Best supporting actress Na Moon-Hee for performance in You are my sunshine ..( she sam shik mother in MNKISS .) ^^

Best new actor !

Cheon Jung-Myung, Kim Gang-Woo - for performance in 'The Aggressives'

[rubie]

10-10-2005

From Metrosexual to Ubersexual

Classic Masculine Look Is Brought Back in Updated Form

By Han Eun-jung

Staff Reporter

Over a decade ago, British journalist Mark Simpson coined the term, ``metrosexual.’’ Since then, the word, which refers to urban males with a strong fashion sense who value a high quality lifestyle, has become common usage.

However, according to U.S. trend spotter Marian Salzman in the book ``The Future of Men,'' the age of exfoliating, preening, pretty boys is over, paving the way now for the ``ubersexual.''

Based on media and pop-cultural references, along with excerpts from 70 interviews conducted with ``real people,'' Ira Matathia and Ann O'Reilly, (co-authors of ``The Future of Men’’ with Salzman), identify the ubersexual as one of the four archetypes that constitute ``M-ness,'' a type of masculinity that results from embracing the positive aspects of both masculine and feminine styles.

And according to the trio, the ubersexual is a man who, while avoiding obnoxiousness, is ``supremely confident, masculine, stylishly committed to uncompromising quality in all areas of life.''

If David Beckham and Jude Law are the exponents of the metrosexual breed, think along the lines of Cary Grant, George Clooney and Russell Crowe _ icons of traditional, classic masculinity _ as examples of ubersexual.

Then what is it that differentiates the metrosexual from the ubersexual? The latter is an extension of the metrosexual, but without sexual ambiguity.

The writers, for example, note that while both like to shop, the ubersexual is more focused and only purchases items that ``enhance his collection.''

Kim Min-jun in the drama “Lovers in Prague”

The male roles featuring in today’s soap operas and movies makes Salzman’s theory seem to be all the more plausible, providing anecdotal evidence that the shift is indeed underway.

The male lead, a role for which just only a year was reserved for ``kkotminam (flower boys),’’ or the Korean version of the metrosexual, are now taking on characteristics closer to the ubersexual image.

No longer seen are sharply groomed charmers like the talkative, savvy Young-jae, played by singer Rain in last year’s ``Full House,’’ or Lee Dong-kun’s portrayal of the spoiled rich Su-hyuk dressed prim and pretty in tuxedo jackets and wide leg trousers in the show ``Lovers in Paris.’’

Kim Ju-hyuk in the drama "Lovers in Prague"

An example would be the No. 1 weekend drama, ``Lovers in Prague,’’ and its two lead males, played by Kim Ju-hyuk, in the role of Sang-hyon, and Kim Min-jun as Young-woo. The two, locked in a love triangle, both try to win the heart of Jeon Do-yeon’s character, Jae-hee.

At a glance, Sang-hyun, a plain-clothes detective, seems to be just a casual dresser, but in fact his neutral-toned jumpers and cargo pants show he sports a style all his own. And as the drama unfolds, the viewer, along with Jae-hee come to realize, underneath the tough-guy persona is a sensitive, thoughtful man who will do anything for the happiness of both an old flame and also his newfound love.

Young-woo as a public prosecutor dresses with more taste but not to the point that his sexual orientation comes into question as metrosexuals often may appear to do.

He chooses to wear simple suits for the workplace and throws on knit pullovers for after hours. He character is grave and his attitude and choice of words are reserved, yet he’s not afraid of expressing his emotions at the crucial moment, or stepping back a bit to give time and space to Jae-hee, confident that in time she will return to his side.

ejh09@koreatimes.co.kr

10-10-2005 19:20

Source: The Korea Times

http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/culture/20...19174011690.htm

[koalabear]

Dennis O'Neil - not Just Daniel Henney Mark II

"I'd like to be recognized as an actor and a model in my mother's homeland,” says the man who spins on the ground before approaching an unknown woman in the Sky cell phone commercials, and appears with well-known actress Kim Tae-hee as a newly-wed couple in Daewoo Klasse ad's. Known as "Daniel Henney Mark ll," Dennis O'Neil (24) wants it known that he is more than just a pretty face.

So before the curiosity aroused by the commercials wanes, MBC in a surprise move cast O'Neil in the lead role of its miniseries "Spy," which hits the airwaves on Nov, landing him in the focus of the entertainment world for the rest of the year. Born to a Korean mother and a former GI father, O'Neil has consolidated his top model status, appearing in 15 commercials across Asia, including Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore.

Slightly more Asian-looking than his fellow half-Korean star Daniel Henney, O’Neil would prefer it if the two were not lumped together. "Daniel Henney is an excellent model and actor, and I'm grateful to him for in effect opening the door for mixed-race actors in the Korean entertainment industry. But now I'd like to try to find my own image, one that is distinct from his," he says. O'Neil started modeling at the age of 16, but because of his studies was unable to devote all his energy to it. In college he majored in photography, a subject he remains attached to in his spare time. He is thinking about becoming a professional photographer when he retires from the entertainment industry.

Standing 1.88 m tall, O’Neal takes pride in his trim, well-toned body ? a reward for the sporting life. “How did you like my tumbling in the cell phone commercial? I did it myself. I’m confident in my athletic abilities because I used to wrestle and play football and martial arts when I was a kid.” Even though he has an “everybody’s sweetheart” look, there is only one woman in his world: the girlfriend waiting for him back in Florida. He said the biggest let-down about working abroad is not being able to see her. She gets mad, he says, but he has no idea what to do about it.

It is fortuitous that O’Neil is making his acting debut in a Korean soap, since soaps were his spur into acting. “My mother always used to watch Korean movies and soap operas, so I would watch them with her. Since then I have been slowly drawing closer and closer to my dream of becoming an actor,” he says. He hopes the Korean public will continue to support him.

(englishnews@chosun.com )

source: english.chosun.com

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/new...0510100027.html

[rubie]

'Mafia' Sequel Is Nation's Top Comedy

“Married to the Mafia 2”

The gangster comedy ``Marrying the Mafia 2’’ has become the most successful comedy film ever, the film’s distributor announced Sunday.

The film, a sequel to the popular 2002 comedy, recorded some 5.28 million viewers on Oct. 8, breaking the record for a domestic comedy set by ``My Wife Is a Gangster,’’ which was seen by 5.25 million people in 2001.

Starring Shin Hyun-jun and Kim Won-hee, the film tells the story of a member of a powerful mafia family who falls in love with a star prosecutor who is out to rid the nation of gangsters.

The film opened on Sept. 7 and was helped by a healthy box office return during the Chusok holidays on Oct. 17-19. It also became the 10th domestic film to go over the 5-million-viewer mark ever.

The overall success of ``Marrying the Mafia 2’’ was seen as unexpected, as sequels to such popular comedies as ``My Wife Is a Gangster’’ and ``Hi, Dharma’’ have not fared well in recent years.

sohjoo@koreatimes.co.kr

10-10-2005 19:23

Source: The Korea Times

http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/culture/20...19203511720.htm

[rubie]

S. Korean actress in Paris

Oct. 11, SEOUL, Yonhap -- South Korea's actress Moon So-ri calls for the adoption of a conventon on the protection of diverse cultural contents during the 33th UNESCO General Conference in Paris on Oct. 10. She denounced U.S. pressure to open South Korea's film market wider to imports. (Yonhap)

Source: Yonhap News Photos

http://bbs.yonhapnews.co.kr/board/02180000...sp?boardid=1129

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Update : Oct 11, 2005 KST 19:03

Song Yun-ah to hold fan meeting in Japan

Actress Song Yun-ah will hold her first official fan meeting in Japan at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Tokyo on Oct. 17 at 7 p.m.

Organized by Eisei Gekijyo, a Japanese cable TV station, the event will be the largest in scale for a female hallyu star, with more than 2,000 guests in attendance.

Song's popularity skyrocketed in Japan since the series “Hotelier,” in which she plays a main character, aired in that country. At the request of her fans, the actress will wear her “Hotelier” character’s costume at the event. She will also share with fans her costumes and memorabilia from her TV dramas, movies and TV commercials.

All 2,000 tickets for the event have been sold out. Prior to the fan meeting, Song will also hold a press conference.

Previously in July, Song had modeled in an Osaka fashion show held by globally renowned Japanese designer Yumi Katsura. ”

Source: KBS Global

http://english.kbs.co.kr/mcontents/enterta...4469_11692.html

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Updated Oct.11,2005 18:17 KST

Korean Waves Stars Shine More Brightly in Japan

What do Bae Yong-joon, Ryu Si-won, Lee Byung-hun, Song Seung-heon and Park Yong-ha have in common? They are more popular in Japan than on their home turf in Korea. The box office record of Bae’s latest movie “April Snow” clearly shows the difference. In Japan, the movie drew 1 million viewers within 12 days, breaking the island country’s record for the fastest Korean film to reach that number, and is tipped to become the first Korean movie to lure more than 2 million. In Korea, by contrast, it was something of a flop, with only 806,700 people watching it in the three weeks between its release and Sept. 28.

From left: Bae Yong-joon, Lee Byung-hun, and Ryu Si-won

For a long time, Caucasian or Hispanic models and actors sated the thirst for the exotic in Japan. Now, it seems, Korean actors are doing the job. A Japanese columnist says Bae’s Western facial features, dazzling smile and soft voice and Choi Ji-woo’s fair skin and height make them seem as alien as if they are from Mars -- and that is what makes them attractive.

Korean viewers are a little more demanding of their own stars, looking for acting skill as well as a pretty face. A producer of TV soap operas with MBC said a handsome ham will be castigated for not being able to act in Korea, but in Japan, the dubbing process will supplement his shortcomings.

Middle-aged women are the main consumers of the Korean Wave in Japan, and they find the boy-meets-girl stories they enjoyed when they were young in the 1970s in “Winter Sonata,” the soap featuring Bae that started it all. Kim Young-deok, a researcher with the Korean Broadcasting Institute, says it is hard for Japanese women to find the kind of romantic male lead Bae represents among Japanese actors. Also, Korean soaps emphasize fantasy and wish-fulfillment, which are more appealing to the demographic than the grittier Japanese-made soaps.

Bae’s costars -- and their costars in turn -- have benefited from the man’s popularity. Both Park Yong-ha and Choi Ji-woo were part of the cast of “Winter Sonata,” and the popularity of Lee Byung-hun in Japan started to soar after he starred in “Everybody Has Secrets” with Choi. Bae’s films and TV dramas thus serve as a veritable gateway to Japanese fame. Chae Ji-young from the Korea Culture and Tourism Policy Institute says as some Hollywood stars found a niche in Asia that extended their career span, Korean actors are finding a niche in Japan.

(englishnews@chosun.com )

Source: Digital Chosunilbo

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/new...0510110003.html

[Guest chibikko]

'Taejanggum' Animation to Debut

By Bae Keun-min

Staff Reporter

A promotional still for the animated ‘Taejanggum’ series

An animated version of the hit TV drama ``Jewel in the Palace (Taejanggum)’’ will air at the end of this month.

According to broadcasting company MBC, the animation took two years to produce and will run 26 episodes later this month. It is the first domestic animated series based on a television drama.

Along with Hee Won Entertainment and toymaker Sonokong, MBC invested some 3 billion won to produce the animation.

Sonokong plans to release dolls of the main characters of the animation around Christmas.

Hee Won Entertainment said it is in the last stage of negotiations to export the animation to China and Japan even before the moving picture is aired.

MBC also plans to stage a musical version of the TV series at the end of next year. The broadcaster will produce the musical in commemoration of its 45th anniversary, it said.

Source: Korea Times

http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/culture/20...19122811710.htm

[rubie]

Octorber 12, 2005 KST 16:04 (GMT+9)

Film festival celebrates ten years in Pusan with glamour and big plans

October 12, 2005 ㅡ BUSAN

Flags fluttered in the ocean breeze as the Pusan International Film Festival's 10th-year anniversary celebration kicked off with suitable pomp at the Yachting Center near Haeundae beach last Thursday.

Like a fast-growing child, the 10-year-old event has begun to rapidly mature, defining itself and laying ambitious plans for its future. This year's festival also has been better organized than in the past. The birthday bash started with much improved security and an orderly protocol for the opening ceremony hosted by veteran actors Han Seok-gyu and Kang Soo-yeon.

At the entrance to the opening ceremony, there were no embarrassing wrestling matches between screaming fans, angry bodyguards and reporters rolling around on the red carpet. And for the first time, camera-shy Korean stars were instructed to stand still for a few minutes for a photo session, even if photographers later complained that the celebrities didn't know how to pose like real stars.

But when Kim Min-jeong, the star of the television drama "Fashion 70s," walked down the red carpet in her stunning white hanbok-inspired evening gown, Korean Internet users plastered her photo across the Web.

This year was also more glamorous, with the onscreen team of Hong Kong star Jackie Chan and Korean sweetheart Kim Hee-sun, the stars of "The Myth." Their presence in the first row proved that the Busan festival was no longer a regional gig suffering from a canceled guest list but a true international event with cinematic glamour and recognition.

For the wow factor, festival director Kim Dong-ho brought in a gigantic tilting screen from Switzerland, which worked its magic displaying the singer BoA's slim waistline, the spectacular fireworks that embroidered the Busan's night sky and the highly artistic film "Three Times" by Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao Hsien.

Much like an ambitious adolescent, the festival mimicked its older and richer mentor, Cannes, by bringing in a ferry boat for a party that tried to capture the feel of the French Riviera.

While Nampo-dong drew thousands of movie fans for a hand printing ceremony and signing events, the sandy beach in Haeundae was the center for most of the outdoor events, exhibitions and night parties that turned into morning parties.

However, most of the parties are off-limits to the public, and a certain cockiness at some venues had movie fans like Sung Kyu-ri, 26, feeling left out. "My friend and I went to Haeundae beach to check out the festival booths that we saw in the program, only to find out that the guards in black suits won't allow in anyone without a special pass," she said.

The silence over the young age of the Pusan International Film Festival was broken last weekend when Jean-Jacques Arnaud, the French director of highly-acclaimed films such as "The Lover" (1992) and "The Bear" (1984), warmly embraced the emergence of the Korean film industry, which is quite young compared to Europe's 100-plus years of filmmaking. He pointed out that European creators today look for new subjects that can be seen through different perspectives; on the other hand, Asian directors ― Koreans in particular ― have made films with modern themes and often foreign influences, while maintaining distinctively Asian elements.

Already impressed with Chinese and Japanese films before he discovered Korean films, Mr. Arnaud said he was hopeful for the future of Korean films. But he stressed that piracy, one of the biggest current concerns in the American and European film industries, must be rooted out for local talent to be properly nurtured. He said that his own works have been copied and distributed across southeast Asia.

"Honestly speaking, I feel relieved that my work can be viewed by people who cannot afford to go to a theater," he said, speaking in English. "But, it is not [the industries in] France nor in the United States that will ultimately be in jeopardy because of piracy. Piracy will kill the industry in its entirety where it's cultivated. If Cambodians make pirate DVDs off their own director, Rithy Panh, for example, how can he afford to make films?"

Jackie Chan was one of the first Asian stars to bring up the war against piracy during the festival. At a press conference for "The Myth," the Hong Kong actor attributed the phenomenal success of Korean films to the enviable enthusiasm of Korean movie fans, whose support for domestic films has translated into box office hits.

The strength behind many of the emerging films can be attributed to the Pusan Promotion Plan (PPP), a market event for film producers and screenwriters that played a critical role in the promotion and distribution of Asian films to the world market. Some of the hottest Asian directors, including Fruit Chan and Kim Ki-duk, are two examples of PPP beneficiaries.

This year, over 23 Asian production companies applied for inclusion in the event. Of the 150 or so entry submissions, 27 projects were selected for the official line-up in this year's PPP project. The number of participating countries has increased to 19 from 15 countries this year, with a number of co-production projects underway between Asia and America or Europe.

Pierre Rissient, a French film critic and one of the senior advisors to international festivals including the Cannes, Berlin and Pusan, is among the long-time supporters of "great films that happen to be Korean in the world."

His advice to the young film industry was that Korea should continue to support small films and that Korean actors not work with agents.

During Korean Film Night on Sunday, which was organized mainly to stress the importance of the screen quota system, a law that forces local theaters to screen Korean films for 146 days a year, Korean actor Ahn Sung-ki and Mr. Rissient gave speeches saying the system should be maintained to protect cultural diversity. The quota was originally introduced to prevent Hollywood films from dominating the local market, but it has been disputed in recent years because of free trade negotiations.

"It's a system against a cultural war," said Shohreh Golparian, an Iranian producer, speaking about the quota. "[Movies are] the only political weapon in the hands of the global superpowers."

The southern port city seems ready to host another decade of festivals. The director, Kim Dong-ho, said he believes that the Asian Film Academy, newly established to educate young filmmakers, will help support both emerging filmmakers and the industry in the future.

Mr. Kim said that by the time the festival turns 13, it will have a brand new film center called "Dureraum" ("The center of entertainment for all"). The center will house six theaters, a museum and exhibition halls and related offices, and is due to open in 2008.

Design proposals have been submitted by seven renowned international architects and groups, including Bernard Tschumi from Switzerland, Erick van Egeraat from the Netherlands and TEN Arquitectos from Mexico; the designs are currently on display at the PIFF Pavilion Zone set up on Haeundae beach.

The winning design will be announced at the closing ceremony this Friday.

by Ines Cho <inescho@joongang.co.kr>

Additional reporting by Park Soo-mee

Source: INSIDE JoongAng Daily

For full article:

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200510/11/2...0091009101.html

[Guest CindyW88]

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10/12/05 – The production team of the cable TV program “Cinema AZN (시네마 에이즌)” broadcasted nationwide in USA via Comcast (컴캐스트) cable TV is actively interviewing Korean Wave stars in The 10th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF, 10회 부산국제영화제). Comcast cable TV has more than 14 million viewers in the States.

Stars being interviewed include Jang Dong Gun, Jung Woo Sung, Lee Byung Hun, Jun Ji Hyun, Kim Hee Sun, Choi Min Shik, and Lee Jung Jae (장동건, 정우성, 이병헌, 전지현, 김희선, 최민식, 이정재) as well as directors Park Chan Wook, Kim Ki Duk, and Ryu Seueng Wan (박찬욱, 김기덕, 류승완). The program will be aired every Monday starting from November.

http://sports.hankooki.com/lpage/cinet/200...06573958470.htm

Box office Top 10 (10/3/05 – 10/9/05)

1. All for Love (Lim Chang Jung, Uhm Jung Hwa)

2. You are My Sunshine (Jun Do Yun, Hwang Jung Min)

3. Marrying the Mafia 2 (Shin Hyun Joon, Kim Won Hee)

4. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter)

5. Never to Lose (Kim Min Joon, Huh Joon Ho)

6. Fever Pitch (Drew Barrymore, Jimmy Fallon)

7. Mister Housewife (Han Suk Gyoo, Shin Eun Kyung)

8. Seven Swords (Leon Lai, Charlie Young)

9. Welcome to Dongmakgol (Shin Ha Kyun, Jung Jae Young)

10. Blossom Again (Kim Jung Eun, Lee Tae Sung)

http://www.krmdb.com/office/krbo-2005102.b5.shtml

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[rubie]

Thursday, October 13, 2005

Star-studded 'Sad Movie' not so sad

When a reporter bluntly said "Sad Movie" was "not sad enough," many eyebrows were raised at the news conference following a press preview Tuesday. Director Kwon Jong-gwan and top actors seemed embarrassed. Sadly enough, however, it's a hard-to-counter argument: the omnibus-style melodrama is not so sad.

But it's too early to entirely discount "Sad Movie," a second film of director Kwon who garnered positive reviews with his debut feature "S Diary." After all, the film has pulled off a feat of putting together seven of the country's top-rated actors. This is remarkable, not least considering that the continuing boom of the Korean movie industry has made it hard for directors to recruit even one or two heavyweight actors for their projects.

Just think about a movie in which Jung Woo-sung, one of Korea's heartthrobs with a winning smile, Cha Tae-hyun, the very guy who sparked the Korea Wave with "My Sassy Girl," and rising female stars like Im Su-jeong and Shin Min-ah are working together. Even veteran actress Yeom Jeong-ah pitches in. Truly, it's a star-studded cast that will likely make other directors envious.

"Sad Movie" pieces together four loosely connected

love stories that feature Korea`s top actors.

But the virtue of the film ends just there. As the simple yet symbolic title suggests, the movie is chiefly intended to make viewers cry. During the autumn season, Korean cinema is usually awash with such outright tear-jerking melodramas. "Sad Movie," however, has too many characters, too many disparate stories and not enough dramatic elements that could strike a chord with the sentimental audiences who are more than willing to cry out loud.

In the film, four loosely connected episodes trudge along simultaneously. Firefighter Jin-woo (Jung Woo-sung) is dating a sign-language interpreter Su-jeong (Im Su-jeong), whose younger sister Su-eun (Shin Min-ah) cannot speak. But Su-eun is cheerful, and has a crush on a street portrait painter Sang-gyu (Lee Ki-woo). Ha-seok (Cha Tae-hyun) wants to be a real boxer but has yet to win any game; his girlfriend Suk-hyeon (Son Tae-young), a discount store cashier, thinks Ha-seok's obscure future is hopeless. Ju-young (Yeom Jeong-ah) is a working mother, but she's too busy to take care of her lonely son Hui-chan (Yeo Jin-gu).

The key dots that connect the four different stories are the family relations that put together the two sisters, and Cha's newfound telegram job of telling people that their loved ones want to break up for various reasons. But even a generous viewer might wonder why the four stories should be squeezed into a single film. Why not just focus on one?

Of course, the underlying assumption is that relationships take many forms, and each unique story also has a universal element that inevitably reflects the multifarious nature of human behavior.

The boxer-cashier story, for instance, is unique in its own right. Ha-seok does not have much hope to become a successful boxer but he's internet-savvy and resourceful. He starts a new business when his girlfriend complains about their abysmal situation: during the three years of their relationship, she says, nothing has changed and they remain at the lower end of the social hierarchy, with little money to spend.

Ha-seok's job is to receive requests from people on the internet and personally deliver the break-up message to their erstwhile partners. In the process, he gets beaten up and screamed at. But he believes it's alright since making money for his girlfriend is much more important than the harsh act of notifying the devastating messages to people.

While Ha-seok's episode looks too imaginative, Yeom Jung-ah's Ju-young represents a growing number of Korean working mothers who have to bear too many burdens at the same time. More and more women get full-time jobs, but they are also required to clean the house and bring up children, while men's role does not change. And the busy schedule of such mothers means more kids have to play by themselves.

The firefighter story is a typical melodrama. Rescuing people from fires is always risky. No wonder Su-jeong is nervous all the time, even when she interprets the television news program, which is full of such accidents on a daily basis. A tragic turn is so widely expected that when the moment actually comes, the impact is strangely weak and twisted.

The episode involving mute Su-eun is cartoonish, seemingly targeting female audiences who read such romantic comic books avidly. Su-eun works at a theme park, dressed up as Snow White, putting on a huge mask and costume, and wants to date with a good-looking painter, who is cute and shy. To help realize the pure-hearted girl's dream, the Seven Dwarves take steps to offer a help. This setting is indeed romantic, but the very fairy-tale nature makes it hard to buy it as a plausible story.

All the stories come to a sad ending, but the pace seems too slow to bear for the audiences who want to cry fast and get it over quickly. Dreamy camera shots dominate the film, fuzzy and creamy colors decorating the scenes - too often and too much.

A positive fact is that two female actors - Im Su-jeong and Shin Min-ah - have proved their potential and are likely to get a number of requests to star in other films. Im, in particular, exhibit temptingly sad eyes and delicate features that are expected to draw in mainly male moviegoers.

In recent days, Korea's major music videos adopt similar formulas. Fuzzy yet beautiful backgrounds add to dramatic effects, while a beautiful girl (or boy) is briefly in love before facing a tragic ending. It works for the music video genre, but when four of them are artificially pieced together in a melodrama film, it doesn't.

(insight@heraldm.com)

By Yang Sung-jin

2005.10.13

Source: The Korea Herald

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/htm...00510130022.asp

[rubie]

10-13-2005

Memories of PIFF 2005

equivalents@daum.net

in13month@naver.com

10-13-2005 21:46

Source: The Korea Times

http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/culture/20...21442911730.htm

[Guest nep13tune]

Box Office in Seoul (Oct. 7 ~ Oct. 13, 2005)

October 14, 2005

1. My Lovely Week

2. You’re My Sunshine

3. Marrying the Mafia 2

4. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

5. Never to Lose

6. Fever Pitch

7. Mr. Housewife

8. Seven Swords

9. Welcome to Dongmakgol

10. Cinderella Man

Source: english.chosun.com / cinema chosun @ http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/new...0510140003.html

[rubie]

2005/10/14 21:08 KST

10th Pusan International Film Festival closes

BUSAN, Oct. 14 (Yonhap) -- The curtain went down on the 10th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) on Friday with the premiere of the South Korean film "Wedding Campaign."

The closing ceremony was held at the Haeundae Yachting Center Outdoor Theater on the eastern side of this port city with Busan citizens and movie fans braving the cool autumn air.

Chinese director Zhang Lu won the festival's "New Currents" award for his "Grain in Ear."

New Currents is the only featured competition section at PIFF and the award serves to promote emerging film talent in Asia.

"The Unforgiven," by South Korean director Yoon Jong-bin, won the PSB Audience Award for the most popular film chosen by festival audiences from the New Currents section.

The Sunjae Award for the best Korean documentary from Wide Angle section went to the "Tae & Poison" by Joung Yong-ju and "A Bowl of Tea" by Kim Young-nam.

This year's event that began on Oct. 6 with the motto "audience-friendly film festival" established many new records at the end of its first decade, according to the PIFF Organizing Committee.

Its rich line-up of 307 films from 73 countries brought in a record number of 192,970 audience to Busan's 31 theaters, the venues of the actual festival. Of them, 117 films screened at packed theatres.

The event was also host to a total 7,647 accredited guests and reporters from 55 countries.

The Asian Film Academy opened successfully as a school to cultivate talented Asian film directors, while an announcement by festival organizers that they will officially launch the Busan Film Market (BFM) next year drew high media attention at home and abroad.

sshim@yna.co.kr

(END)

Source: Yonhap News

http://english.yna.co.kr/Engnews/20051014/...14210857E3.html

[Guest lee ji woo]

PIFF Ends on High Note

'Grain in Ear' Wins Top Prize at Pusan Festival

By Kim Tae-jong

Staff Reporter

A scene from “Grain in Ear”

PUSAN _ Director Zhang Zu's ``Grain in Ear,'' a film dealing with the Korean-Chinese experience, received Friday the New Currents award, the top prize in the sole competition section at the 10th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF).

Zu, a mainlander of a Sino-Korean descent, tells the story of a single mother of Korean ethnicity making her living by selling kimchi on the streets of a small town in Northern China. The film was previously screened at the Cannes Film Festival in the Semaine de la Critique, and won wide respect from international critics.

Along with Zhang, another happy director was South Korean Yoon Jong-bin, who received four different awards for his directorial debut film, ``The Unforgiven.’’

The film about two friends from middle school who meet again while serving in the military received special mention by the New Currents jury, along with ``Silent Holy Stone’’ by Wanma Caidan of China. Yoon also received the FIPRESCI prize, given out by an organization of international film critics; the NETPAC (Network for Promotion of Asian Cinema) award; and PSB Audience Award, voted on by visitors.

``I’d like to thank all the people for showing a great interest in my film,’’ Yoon said. ``I’ll work hard to make another good film and return to Pusan with it.’’

Sunje Award, which gives cash awards of 20 million won for Korean documentary filmmakers in the Wide Angle section, went to Joung Yong-ju and Kim Young-nam, who made ``Tea & Poison’’ and ``A Bowl of Tea,’’ respectively.

The New Currents Award and some other awards were presented at the closing ceremony of PIFF, which took place last night along with the screening of the closing film ``Wedding Campaign.’’

Overall, the festival’s nine-day run was judged to have gone over well. This year’s festival was full of events celebrating its 10th anniversary as well as projects launched to prepare for the next 10 years.

``We find the festival really successful,'' Kim Dong-ho, festival director of PIFF, said yesterday. ``This year's event was especially meaningful as it aimed to deliver our gratitude toward audiences who have supported us in the past 10 years and prepare for take-off in the next 10 years.''

Screening a total of 306 films from 73 countries, its most ever, the festival sold 192,970 seats, a record for the event and an increase of about 30,000 from last year. A total of 6,088 accredited guests from home and broad visited the festival as well as 1,559 journalists, including 415 from abroad.

Marking its 10th anniversary, the festival has launched ambitious projects this year, which are expected to brighten its future.

The projects include the Asian Film Academy (AFA), educational program to help promising Asian filmmakers; the selection of constructing site for PIFF Center to serve as the festival venues in 2008; and Busan Film Market, to be launched next year, which is expected to boost the local and Asian film industry.

The PIFF Center model was scheduled to be selected among proposed structures by seven renowned international architects and announced at the closing ceremony, but the selection has been postponed to the end of this year.

Thanks to the success of the Pusan Promotion Plan (PPP), which completed on Oct. 12, where film projects are helped to meet investors, Kim forecast the Busan Film Market will be also successful.

In PPP, eight projects won awards to receive investments, including the two winners of the Busan Award; ``Fairy Tale of a Picture Tree'' by Korean Lee Kwang-mo and ``Heartbreak Pavilion'' by Thai Thunska Pansittivorakul and Sompot Chidgasornpongse. The two projects will each receive $20,000 from the Pusan local government.

e3dward@koreatimes.co.kr

10-14-2005 20:23

http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/culture/20...20205811690.htm

[rubie]

Copied from LBH thread, thanks to chula.

Asian stars to attend Louis Vuitton reopening in Hawaii

Sexy chinese actress Bai Ling, Korean actor Byung-hun Lee and film critic Roger Ebert will attend the reopening of the renovated, now two-story Louis Vuitton store at Ala Moana Friday. They are here for the Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival Oct. 20-30. The store is inviting guests to a cocktail reception in the new store and then will transport them to an undisclosed location for dinner ... Kate Hudson and "Lost" stars Evangeline Lilly, Jorge Garcia and Dominic Monaghan were seen at Tuesday's Lakers-Warriors game at Stan Sheriff Center ...

source: http://starbulletin.com/2005/10/15/features/wood.html

[Guest friendly_me]

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Box office Top 10 (9/26/05 – 10/2/05)

1. You are My Sunshine (Jun Do Yun, Hwang Jung Min)

2. Marrying the Mafia 2 (Shin Hyun Joon, Kim Won Hee)

3. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter)

4. Mister Housewife (Han Suk Gyoo, Shin Eun Kyung)

5. Never to Lose (Kim Min Joon, Huh Joon Ho)

6. Seven Swords (Leon Lai, Charlie Young)

7. Close to You (Shin Ha Gyoon, Jung Jae Young)

8. Welcome to Dongmakgol (Shin Ha Kyun, Jung Jae Young)

9. Cinderella Man (Russell Crowe, Renee Zellweger)

10. Hollywood Ending (Woody Allen, Tea Leoni)

http://www.krmdb.com/office/krbo-2005101.b5.shtml

------------

I think this should read as 7. Close to You (Kim Jung Eun and Lee Tae Sung)

[Guest amyliaz]

Yoon Do-hyun and MC Mong introduced at Tokyo Asia Music Market

Popular Korean artists, including Yoon Do-hyun and MC Mong, will be introduced to music experts from the Asian region at the 2nd Tokyo Asia Music Market (TAM).

The TAM, which is slated for Oct. 19-21 at the Unit & Unice concert hall in Tokyo, Japan, is a large-scale music festival in the Asian region. It is being organized by the Japanese Foundation for Promotion of Music Industry and Culture in a joint effort with the International Multimedia Content Association of Japan, the Korea Culture & Content Agency and the Chinese Music Association.

Aimed at promoting the development of the Asian music industry and cooperation among Asian musicians, the event consists of two parts: a live concert featuring Asian artists who have not yet signed contracts to sell their albums in Japan, and an international conference on music trends in each Asian country.

Yoon Do-hyun, MC Mong, the music band Rumble Fish and other popular Korean artists will be introduced to Asian music experts in the second part of the conference, hosted by “Pop Asia” editor Sekiya Motoko. Their music videos and video clips featuring their activities will be shown in the section discussing the latest music market trends. The artists’ agencies have already provided the organizers of the event with all necessary materials.

A person from the Recording Industry Association of Japan, which is sponsoring the event, said the TAM will introduce only artists who will likely receive the Best New Artist of the Year award as well as those who have sold the most copies of their albums or drawn the spotlight for their outstanding musical skills.

Source:KBS Global

[Guest CindyW88]

---------

10/15/05 – Three blockbuster movies are scheduled to be debuted on 12/15 and they are “Typhoon (태풍)” starring Jang Dong Gun and Lee Jung Jae, “Running Wild (야수)” starring Kwon Sang Woo and Yoo Ji Tae, and “The Blue Swallow (청연)” starring Jang Jin Young and Kim Joo Hyuk. The production cost of each movie is around 10 billion Won. Promotions of these movies have been underway in “The 10th Pusan International Film Festival”.

In the meantime, “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (해리포터와 불의 잔)” will be debuted on 12/1. The debute of “King Kong (킹콩)” directed by Peter Jackson will be on 12/15. Thus, there will be hot competitions of “Korea vs. Korea” movies and “Korea vs. Hollywood” movies. Originally, Jang Dong Gun’s Chinese movie “The Promise (무극)” and “Typhoon” are scheduled to be debuted at the same time. The distribution companies agree to reschedule “The Promise” to a later debut date.

http://sports.hankooki.com/lpage/cinet/200...07482958470.htm

10/14/05 – KBS2 Wednesday-Thursday drama “Rosy Life” scored TV rating 47% on 10/12 (Wednesday) and 42.5% on 10/13 (Thursday). In episode 15 aired on 10/12, Maeng Soon (맹순, played by Choi Jin Shil)’s husband Sung Moon (성문, played by Son Hyun Joo) struggled with guilty feelings after he learned his wife’s illness. In episode 16 broadcasted on 10/13, Maeng Soon accidentally heard the conversation between Maeng Young (맹영, played by Lee Tae Ran) and Sung Moon regarding the fact that she’s likely to die of gastric cancer. Especially, the acting skill of Jang Yong (장용), who plays Maeng Soon’s father, brought tears to viewers’ eyes. The other two dramas aired at the same time had TV ratings 8.6% (“Miracle-Needed Love” - SBS) and 3.3% (“Autumn Shower”- MBC) on 10/13.

http://news.goodday.co.kr/2005/10/14/20051...022212112.shtml

http://news.goodday.co.kr/2005/10/13/20051...040042112.shtml

10/13/05 – Go Hyun Jung will collaborate with PD Pyo Min Soo (표민수) and the script writer In Jung Wook (인정옥) in a Wednesday-Thursday drama scheduled to be aired by MBC in January of 2006. The drama is produced by “Kim Jong Hak Production (김종학프로덕션)” which produced the drama “Spring Day”. This mellow drama portrays the criss-cross loves experienced by four men and women. The production team is currently selecting other cast. Pyo Min Soo’s previous dramas include “Full House” and “Loneliness”, and In Jung Wook’s works were “Ireland” and “Ruler of Your Own World”.

http://www.chosun.com/se/news/200510/200510130283.html

http://news.goodday.co.kr/2005/10/13/20051...701022100.shtml

http://news.stoo.com/news/html/000/414/364.html

10/13/05 – On 11/1, Yun Jung Hoon will start his military service at “Kyunggido 306 Recruitment Center (경기도 306 보충대)” where he will spend 5 weeks to receive basic military training. Then he will be arranged to serve in a division around the neighborhood of his newly-wed house. Before he joins the military, he has about a half month to promote his new music album “올 포 유 (All For You)”. He once participated in the recording of OSTs of his drama “Sad Sonata”. The theme song of his new album is “All For You” written by the composer Lee Sang Joon (이상준) dedicated to all lovers in the world.

http://sports.hankooki.com/lpage/entv/2005...07252658390.htm

10/13/05 – Jang Suh Hee’s fan meeting is held at “Raemian Culture Center (래미안 문화관)” of Seoul on 10/13. Her CF is previewed in this meeting. Model Dennis O (데니스 오, aka Dennis Joseph O'neil, 24) is invited to attend the event. Dennis will act in the upcoming Monday-Tuesday drama “Spy (스파이)” scheduled to be aired by MBC following the final episode of “Secret Man and Woman”. He is called “The second Daniel Henney” and is 188cm tall.

http://news.goodday.co.kr/2005/10/13/20051...230002100.shtml

http://news.goodday.co.kr/2005/10/10/20051...351162100.shtml

TV Rating (10/10/05 – 10/16/05)

1. Rosy Life (KBS2) -- 44.8%

2. International Soccer: Korea vs. Iran (KBS2) -- 38.2%

3. Goodbye to Sadness (KBS2) -- 30.0%

4. Lover in Prague (SBS) -- 28.2%

5. Peculiar Man, Eccentric Woman (KBS1) -- 20.9%

6. GAG Concert (KBS2) -- 20.3%

7. Happy Together-Friends (KBS2) -- 20.2%

8. Good Sunday Show (SBS) -- 20.1%

9. The Ballad of Suh Dong (SBS) -- 19.8%

10. The Sky (SBS) -- 18.7%

http://www.tnsmk.co.kr/rating/main.asp?menu=Gi_Weekly

---------

[Guest yeohweping]

---------

10/13/05 – Go Hyun Jung will collaborate with PD Pyo Min Soo (표민수) and the script writer In Jung Wook (인정옥) in a Wednesday-Thursday drama scheduled to be aired by SBS in January of 2006. The drama is produced by “Kim Jong Hak Production (김종학프로덕션)” which produced the drama “Spring Day”. This mellow drama portrays the criss-cross loves experienced by four men and women. The production team is currently selecting other cast. Pyo Min Soo’s previous dramas include “Full House” and “Loneliness”, and In Jung Wook’s works were “Ireland” and “Ruler of Your Own World”.

---------

But I thought this drama has already been confirmed to air in MBC instead of SBS

[creidesca]

But I thought this drama has already been confirmed to air in MBC instead of SBS

that's what I thought I read too in an article yesterday or today.

[rubie]

Posted on: Sunday, October 16, 2005 (thanks to dramalover for highlighting & sharing the update)

Korean megastar to attend U.S. premiere of film

By Jeff Chung

It has been confirmed that Lee Byung Hun will attend the 25th annual Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival. His movie "A Bittersweet Life" is making its U.S. premiere in Honolulu at 9 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Hawai'i Theatre.

It's not often that Hawai'i attracts a Korean drama and film megastar for an official visit. You know Lee from the 2003 hit drama series "All In," co-starring Song Hae Gyo, and 2001's "Beautiful Days," with Ryu Shi Won and Choi Joo Woo.

He was also in the hit movies "Everybody Has Secrets," which was shown at HIFF in 2004, and "Bungee Jumping of Their Own." He was also in "JSA," which was released in 2000 and went on to become one of the top 10 Korean films of all time.

Lee will be at the Hawai'i Theatre on Oct. 24 for a question-and-answer session after the movie.

Tickets, which sell out quickly, are at www.hiff.org or available through the HIFF box office at Dole Cannery.

"A Bittersweet Life" was released in Korea this past year. The 120-minute film was directed by Kim Jee-woon, who will be on hand to introduce the movie. "A Bittersweet Life" also has a cameo appearance from Eric Moon, who played the male lead in the KBFD Korean drama series "Super Rookie."

"A Bittersweet Life" was shown at the Cannes Film Festival this past year. Lee plays Sun-woo, an intelligent, cool-headed perfectionist who does not believe in love. Sun-woo's loyalty to his boss, Mr. Kang, coupled with ice-like management skills, helps him climb to the top position of the upscale lounge and restaurant. Mr. Kang asks Sun-woo to keep an eye on his girlfriend, Hee-soo, while away on a business trip. Hee-soo is played by Shin Min-a, who was also in "Beautiful Days" portraying Lee's younger sister. Mr. Kang suspects Hee-soo might be seeing another man and trusts Sun-woo to take care of all matters.

Lee, 35, is one of the few Korean entertainers who have had success in both TV and film. He's not only popular in Korea but also reaches deeply into the hearts of Japanese, Filipino and Chinese audiences.

He majored in French literature at Hanyang University and did his theater graduate studies at Choongang University.

Another rising star from Korea will be attending HIFF this year: Lee Ki-woo, making his first official visit to Hawai'i for the opening-night world premiere of "Sad Movie." More about Lee Ki-woo later.

Another note: A production crew from KBS, Korea's largest network, will be in Hawai'i during HIFF. The network has a weekly entertainment program, "Yeon Eh Ga Joong Gae (Entertainer's Show)," that will do a story on the film festival. KBFD airs "Entertainer's Show" at 6:50 p.m. Wednesdays.

Jeff Chung is general manager of KBFD TV, which televises all the Korean dramas with English subtitles. Questions or comments can be sent to KBFD at 521-8066.

Source: HonoluluAdvertiser.com

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbc...60329/1192/LIFE