Lee Jung-Jae 이정재 [Movie “Hunt” | Upcoming: Star Wars series “The Acolyte” (Disney+)]

[Helena]

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20220729002800315
Two Korean films invited to Toronto film fest

 

 By Kim Boram (brk@yna.co.kr) | July 29, 2022

 

A poster of the Korean film "Hunt" by Megabox Plus M (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- Two directorial debut films of South Korean star actors Lee Jung-jae and Jung Woo-sung have been invited to this year's Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), the films' distributors here said Friday.

According to Megabox Plus M, the espionage film "Hunt," written and directed by "Squid Game" star Lee, will be presented at the Gala Presentations section at the 47th TIFF slated for Sept. 8-18.  Starring Lee and Jung, "Hunt" is a story about two rival intelligence agents in South Korea in the 1980s, who separately chase after a North Korean spy leaking top secret information that could jeopardize national security.  "Hunt" premiered at this year's Cannes Film Festival in May and will hit Korean screens on Aug. 10.

Jung's debut "A Man of Reason" will have a world premier in the Special Presentations category at this year's Toronto fest, Acemaker Movieworks said.  It revolves around a man who dreams of leading a normal life after being released from prison.

At TIFF's Special Presentations section, three more Korean films -- "Decision to Leave" by Park Chan-wook, "Broker" by Hirokazu Kore-eda and "Walk Up" by Hong Sang-soo -- will be also screened.  (END)

 

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https://k-odyssey.com/news/newsview.php?ncode=1065573384388294
S. Korean movies 'Hunt' directed by Lee Jung-jae and 'Guardian' by Jung Woo-sung get invited to 'Toronto International Film Festival'

YonhapNews / 2022-07-29 09:36:33
(This article is translated from Korean to English by Joonha Yoo.)

▲This photo, provided by Megabox, shows a scene from 'Hunt.' (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

▲This photo, provided by ACEMAKER, shows a scene from 'Guardian'. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- According to the distributors of both movies on July 29, “Hunt” will be screened at the “Toronto International Film Festival” under the segment of Gala Presentation and “Guardian” will be screened during the Special Presentation segment. 



South Korean movie “Hunt” which will premiere on August 10, is an action movie about two agents from Ministry of National Securities Park Pyong-ho acted by Lee Jung-jae and Kim Jung-do acted by Jung Woo-sung who suspect one another to be the mole. 



Whereas S. Korean movie “Guardian” is about protagonist Su Hyuk who recently got released from 10 years of prison sentence, wants to out run his past and live a normal life. Actors Jung Woo-sung, Kim Nam-gil, Park Sung-woong and more star in the movie and the premiere date has not been set. 



Moreover, director Park Chan-wook’s “Decision to Leave”, “Broker” by director Hirokazu Kore-eda, and director Hong Sang Soo’s “Walk up” were also invited to the special presentation segment of “Toronto International Film Festival.” (END)
 

(C) Yonhap News Agency. All Rights Reserved

[Helena]

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20220729000431
Lee Jung-jae’s 'Hunt' to screen at TIFF 2022

By Lee Si-jin (sj_lee@heraldcorp.com) | Jul 29, 2022

Lee Jung-jae (Artist Company)

Top actor Lee Jung-jae’s espionage action film “Hunt” will be screened at the 47th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, Lee’s agency Artist Company announced in a press release Friday.

As the world’s largest public film festival, TIFF presents over 100 films in different sections based on genre and format, including Contemporary World Cinema, TIFF Docs and Discovery, among 10 other categories.

“Hunt” has been selected for the Gala Presentation, a red-carpet premiere event for high-profile films with scheduled in-person appearances from filmmakers and movie stars.

Eighteen films including “Hunt” are set to screen in the Gala Presentation lineup.

The 125-minute action film centers around two elite agents at South Korea’s Agency of National Security Planning, Park Pyung-ho (played by Lee) and Kim Jung-do (played by Jung Woo-sung), who are chasing a North Korean spy leaking top secrets.

The story develops as the agents start to suspect and monitor each other to prove their loyalty to South Korea. 

After making its world premiere at the 75th Cannes Film Festival in May, “Hunt” is set to hit local theaters on Aug. 10 and have its North American premiere on Sept. 15 at TIFF 2022.

Meanwhile, Jung Woo-sung’s directorial debut “A Man of Reason” has been invited to screen at the Special Presentation section.

TIFF will showcase 11 days of international and Canadian cinema starting Sept. 8.

 

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https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2022/07/29/entertainment/movies/korea-tiff-toronto-international-film-festival/20220729131412939.html
Two Korean actors' directorial debuts invited to Toronto International Film Festival

BY SHIN MIN-HEE [shin.minhee@joongang.co.kr] | July 29, 2022

A scene from ″Hunt″ (2022), directed by Lee Jung-jae [MEGABOX PLUS M]

Two directorial debut films from two renowned Korean actors have been invited to this year’s Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

“Hunt” (2022), directed by Lee Jung-jae, and “A Man of Reason” (2022), directed by Jung Woo-sung, will be screened during the 47th edition of the festival, which will run from Sept. 8 to 18.

“Hunt” will be part of the Gala Presentations section and “A Man of Reason” will be in the Special Presentations section.

“Hunt,” an action thriller which premieres in theaters on Aug. 10, is set in the 1980s and stars both Lee and Jung. Lee plays an intelligence chief who plots to track down a mole within the agency.

A scene from ″A Man of Reason″ (2022), directed by Jung Woo-sung [ACEMAKER MOVIEWORKS]

“A Man of Reason” follows Su-hyeok, who gets released from jail after 10 years and tries to start a normal life. The film stars Jung, Kim Nam-gil and Park Sung-woong.   The date of its release has not been disclosed.

TIFF's Special Presentations section is also screening films “Decision to Leave” (2022) by Park Chan-wook, “Broker” (2022) by Hirokazu Kore-eda and “Walk Up” (2022) by Hong Sang-soo.

[Helena]

[2022-07-29] Movie ‘HUNT’ Conversation with Audience GV | Lotte Cinema World Tower 21

2022.07.29 [Fancam] Movie 'HUNT' Premiere GV Conversation with Audience
Attendance: Director/Actor Lee Jung-jae, Actor Jung Woo-sung
Host: Critic Lee Dong-jin
Venue: Lotte Cinema World Tower 21 

 

[Eng] Lee Jung-jae was flustered when he sat on the chair, Jung Woo-sung saved him | 'HUNT' GV 072922

 

Lee Jung-jae and Jung Woo-sung 's fantastic chemistry | 'HUNT' GV event 072922

 

Spoiler

[Eng] Jung Woo-sung gives a necklace that he was wearing to fan (feat. Lee Jung-jae) | HUNT GV 072922

 

 

 

Photos: Megabox PlusM, Artist Company

[Helena]

[ENG] Pixid | Find a 29-year-old veteran 'spy' actor among aspiring actors (feat. Jung Woo-sung) [7/29]

 

[ENG] MMTG EP.257 [7/29]

(ENG) "I want to shoot Jung Woosung the most" Lee Jungjae unceasing courtship, Jeon Hyejin finally bows her head / [MMTG EP.257]

“I didn't know it was this much.”
Jeon Hyejin was startled by the story of Cheongdam couple Lee Jungjae and Jung Woosung that they stay apart only when they're filming a movie
Let's get out of the way

#LeeJungJae #JungWooSung #JeonHyeJin #

 

[Megabox PlusM]

[Helena]

 

[2022-07-31] Entertainment Weekly Guerrilla Date (August 4)

[Megabox PlusM]

 

SBS ‘Master in the House’ (August 7)

Spoiler

[JWS’s instagram]

 

 

 

JTBC ‘Movie Room’ (August 11 & 18)

Spoiler

[JWS’s instagram]

 

JTBC ‘Movie Room Special Edition | 방구석 1열 특별판 - 작전명 <헌트>: 스포자들' (August)

MCs: Bong Tae-gyu, Yoo Se-yoon, director Byun Young-joo, reporter Joo Sung-cheol

https://news.jtbc.co.kr/html/694/NB12067694.html

 

 

 

[Helena]

https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2022/08/01/entertainment/movies/hunt-lee-jungjae-jung-woosung/20220801122055666.html
Action thriller film 'Hunt' pre-sold to 144 regions

BY HALEY YANG [yang.hyunjoo@joongang.co.kr] | August 1, 2022

A scene from ″Hunt″ (2022), directed by Lee Jung-jae [MEGABOX PLUS M]

Action thriller film "Hunt," the directorial debut of actor Lee Jung-jae, has been pre-sold to 144 regions around the world, said its distributor Megabox on Monday.

According to Megabox, the regions include Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Germany, France, Brazil and Mexico.

"Hunt," an action thriller which premieres in local theaters on Aug. 10, is set in the 1980s and centers around the National Security Planning Agency, Korea's intelligence agency at the time.

Squid Game" star Lee and actor Jung Woo-sung play agents who start suspecting each other of being undercover moles. Korea's military dictatorship was at its peak in the 1980s, and Lee plays elite agent Park Pyung-ho who comes to terms with the truth about his country while hunting down North Korean spies.

"Hunt" was invited to be screened during the 75th Cannes Film Festival in May and the upcoming 47th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, set to kick off in September.

[Sleepy Owl]

 Guess the drama - Sageuk version

 

 

Solve the blinds as become Soompi's Queen/King of Gossip! 

 

Your Event Organizers,

@Sleepy Owl @partyon @confusedheart  @agenth

[Helena]

[ENG] ESQUIRE Korea: Zip My Record

[ESQUIRE Korea] You can now watch his Zip My Record interview following the fashion film released last week. Legendary scenes continued during the review of his filmography. From the casting behind of the upcoming movie 'Hunt', to his deep story as a director. Check out from the video right now.

Spoiler

Fashion Film

 

 

 

[Eng] Jung Woo-sung and Lee Jung-jae's reaction, the question "Who's more handsome?" | HUNT GV 072922

Spoiler

[Eng] Lee Jung-jae, Jung Woo-sung made a movie about their quarrel, went to the Cannes Film Festival

 

[Eng] Lee Jung-jae & Jung Woo-sung are talk about "Heo Sung-tae's usual self, Jeon Hye-jin's acting"

 

[Eng] Lee Jung-jae is embarrassed to be called 'director': film 'HUNT' GV : edited fancam: 072722

 

 

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Stage Greetings (8/6-7 & 8/13-15)

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Helena]

[2022-08-02] #Hunt_Movie VIP premiere: Showcase & Red Carpet

 

Watch -> https://twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1OyJADWeBvnGb

Spoiler

 

 

 

Photos 

Spoiler

LeeJung-jae, Jung Woo-sung, Jeon Hye-jin, Heo Sung-tae, Go Youn-jung

 

Jin (BTS), Jung Ho-yeon, Kim Joo-ryung, Jo Yi-hyun

 

Lee Sun-kyun, Lee Jun-ho (2PM)

 

Lee Min-ho, Kim Soo-hyun, Lee Byung-hun, Go So-Young

 

Park Hae-soo, Joo Jong-hyuk, Soyou, Hwang Jung-min, Park Sung-woong, Jung Man-sik, Kim Jong-soo

 

Jo Se-ho, Nam Chang-hee, Yoo Jae-suk

 

Pictures: Megabox PlusM

[Helena]

http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/news/features.jsp?blbdComCd=601013&seq=594&mode=FEATURES_VIEW
The 47th Toronto International Film Festival in Canada Invited 5 Korean films

by Park Hyejin | Aug 02, 2022

A total of 5 Korean films, Hunt, Broker, Decision to Leave, A Man of Reason, and Walk Up

On July 28 (local time), the invitation lineup was announced for the 47th Toronto Film Festival in Canada. A total of 5 Korean films, Hunt, Broker, Decision to Leave, A Man of Reason, and Walk Up were included on the list. Especially, Hunt and A Man of Reason, the two directorial debut films from Actor Lee Jungjae and Actor Jung Woosung, have been invited side by side, making headlines.

Decision to Leave of Director Park Chanwook, who won the Best Director award at the 75th Cannes Film Festival, was invited to the North American Premiere of the 47th TIFF. Director Kore-eda Hirokazu’s Broker, a film in which actor Song Kangho won Best Actor at the 75th Cannes Film Festival, was invited to the Canadian Premiere of the 47th TIFF. Walk Up, directed by Hong Sangsoo, will be unveiled for the first time in the world at the 47th TIFF. Director Lee Jungjae's Hunt was invited to the North American premiere, and director Jung Woosung's A Man of Reason was invited to the Toronto Film Festival for the world premiere.

Actor Lee Jungjae, Actor Jung Woosung, Going to Toronto Side by Side as Their Directorial Debuts

Hunt was officially invited to the ‘Gala Presentation’ section and will be screened in the North American Premier on September 15. Hunt, written and directed by Lee Jungjae and starring Jung Woosung, depicts the story of Park Pyongho (Lee Jungjae) and Kim Jungdo (Jung Woosung), the KCIA agents who are suspicious of each other to find spies in the organization, facing a huge incident called ‘Korea's No. 1 assassination operation.’ In May, Hunt was officially invited to the Midnight Screenings at the 75th Festival de Cannes and received great acclaim. 

The Gala Presentation section is one of the most anticipated sections of the Toronto International Film Festival, and Korean films such as Director Kim Jeewoon's The Good, The Bad, The Weird (2008), Director Im Sangsoo's The Housemaid (2010), and Director Cho Uiseok's Cold Eyes (2013) have been invited so far. 

Actor Jung Woosung's directorial debut, A Man of Reason, will be unveiled for the first time in the world at the 47th TIFF Special Presentation section. A Man of Reason depicts the story of a man who gets released from jail after 10 years and tries to start a normal life escaping from his past, starring Jung Woosung, Kim Namgil, and Park Sungwoong. 

Hong Sangsoo’ new film Walk Up will be unveiled for the first time in the world at the 47th TIFF.

Hong Sangsoo’s new film Walk Up was invited to the Special Presentation section, along with Decision to Leave, the winner of the 75th Cannes and directed by Park Chanwook, Broker by Kore-eda Hirokazu.

The Toronto Film Festival expressed expectations by saying "Korean auteur Hong Sangsoo adds a new chapter to his impressive body of work, taking a gently delightful new perspective on themes dear to his poetics." as to the reason for the invitation of Walk Up. Walk Up has a running time of 97 minutes and stars actors Kwon Haehyo, Lee Hyeyoung, and Song Sunmi.

The Toronto International Film Festival is the largest film festival in North America, which introduces a wide range of films of various genres and styles from all over the world. The 47th Toronto International Film Festival this year will be held in Toronto, Canada, for a total of 11 days from September 8 to 18.

[Helena]

https://k-odyssey.com/news/newsview.php?ncode=1065580637761301
Second round of summer blockbusters ‘Emergency Declaration’ and ‘Hunt’

YonhapNews / 2022-08-03 11:37:38
(This article is translated from Korean to English by Jiwon Woo.)

▲These photos, provided by Show Box and Megabox Plus M, show movies "Emergency Declaration" and "Hunt." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, August 3 (Yonhap) -- S.Korean movies “Emergency Declaration” and “Hunt” are joining a four-way race while first series of “Alienoid” and “Hansan: Rising dragon” are currently screening.


“Emergency Declaration” and “Hunt,” released August 3 and August 10 respectively, are both Invitational works of Cannes Film Festival. “Emergency Declaration” was invited to out-of-competition category of the Cannes Film Festival last year, while “Hunt” was invited to the Midnight Screening section at the Cannes Film Festival this year.



Two movies, second round of summer blockbusters, are not only competition between works that spent several tens of billion won for production, but it is also a confrontation between pro director Han Jae-Rim, who has cumulative viewers of 17 million people, and “new director” Lee Jung-jae.

▲These photos, provided by Show Box and Megabox Plus M, show movies "Emergency Declaration" and "Hunt." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)



◇ 30 billion won and 23.3 billion won blockbusters.. huge aircraft set and diverse action scenes



“Emergency Declaration” and “Hunt” spent huge amounts for production like the previously released movies “Alienoid” and “Hansan”.



Production budget of “Emergency Declaration” was 30 billion won, and break-even point is cumulative viewers of 5 million. Castings are also impressive, starring Song Kang-Ho, Lee Byung-hun, Jeon Do-yeon, Kim Nam-gil, Lim Siwan, and Kim So-jin.



Set with real aircraft is a must-see. The set was built over two months with an old Boeing 777 aircraft. The scene of the plane shaking or overturning was filmed by rotating 360 degrees a set of 7 m in width and 12 m in length with a gimbal. It is a new attempt, not even seen in Hollywood.



Production budget for “Hunt” was 23.3 billion won, while break-even point is 4.2 million cumulative viewers. Like Lead actors Lee Jung-jae and Jung Woo-sung, special guests are strong. Park Sung-woong, Yoo Jae-myung, Lee Sung-min and more will add the fun.



It also displays splendid action scenes with the backgrounds of Washington, Seoul, Tokyo, Bangkok and more. Various scenes such as shooting battles where the characters run and roll, bombing scenes, and car chases will catch audiences’ eyes.

▲These photos, provided by Show Box and Megabox Plus M, show movies "Emergency Declaration" and "Hunt." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)



◇ Opposite story lines... different character depiction and story development



Two movies boast huge production costs and scale, but there are differences in composition.


“Emergency Declaration” is a fictional story of terrorizing aircraft with chemical and biological weapons, but it also reminds us of the pandemic that the world has experienced over the past three years. The conflict between passengers as they are divided into infected and non-infected, contact and non-contact, is similar to the COVID-19 crisis; Conflicts that happen between countries and the issue of collectivism before the landing of aircraft are also similar.


“Hunt” is a story based on major events in Korean modern history, such as the Aung San bombing terror, the MiG defection case, and the Gwangju Democratization Movement. It reflected the social atmosphere of the 1980s, such as Agency for National Security Planning, which under the name of “This is for the benefit of the country,” imprisoning and torturing innocent people to force them to turn lies into truth.



The nature of the two works is different. Although “Emergency Declaration” is about national aircraft and passengers, people all over the world who went through the pandemic can relate to it. But “Hunt” is not easy to comprehend if you do not know the S.Korean history, even though the story unfolds in various countries such as the United States, Japan, and Thailand. It is the reason why foreign press commented “The story is too much to follow” during the Cannes Film Festival.


Story development is also different. “Emergency Declaration” focused on depicting people who faced emergency after specifying the terrorist. But “Hunt” lets the audiences to infer who the spy is until the end of the movie.


Film critic Jeon Chan-il said, "The target audience for the two films is not so different," but also said, "'Emergency Declaration' is noted as disaster film and blockbuster, while 'Hunt' gives the audience a lot to think about based on modern Korean history.” (END)
 

(C) Yonhap News Agency. All Rights Reserved

[Helena]

https://zapzee.net/2022/08/03/lee-jung-jae-talks-about-releasing-hunt-and-gives-updates-on-squid-game-2/
Lee Jung Jae Talks About Releasing ‘Hunt’ and Gives Updates on ‘Squid Game 2’

By KRISHKIM

Credit: Megabox JoongAng Plus M

Lee Jung Jae will present his directorial debut film Hunt.

Hunt is a spy action movie that follows NIS agents Park Pyung Ho (Lee Jung Jae) and Kim Jung Do (Jung Woo Sung), who doubt each other as the mole in the agency, as they face a huge incident called “Korea’s No. 1 Assassination Op.” In an interview with the media ahead of its release on August 10th, Lee Jung Jae introduced Hunt, set in a period of political upheaval in the 1980s, saying, “You need to have an understanding of Korean society to enjoy the movie.”

Hunt also deals with real events, such as the Rangoon bombing in Myanmar. “It was a burden to add real history into a spy movie,” Lee Jung Jae commented. “It was even terrifying. At first, I tried to make a modern spy movie. Hunt was a movie that all directors said they couldn’t make, so I even thought that I was being stubborn. But I thought it was a project worth trying at least once for people my age.”

It’s been reported that Jung Woo Sung has turned down Lee Jung Jae’s offer to star in the movie three times, making headlines. “Woo Sung and I are so close, so whenever the script changed, I showed it to him,” Lee Jung Jae explained. “I worked on seven projects while writing the Hunt script. So I didn’t have enough time to solely focus on the script. I made major changes in the script once a year, and each time, I showed it to Woo Sung.”

Wasn’t he upset every time he got rejected? Lee Jung Jae answered, “Not at all. This is work, personal choice.” Then what did Jung Woo Sung say when he finally agreed to join the production? He answered with a smile, “I don’t remember. I was so hammered.”

Credit: Megabox JoongAng Plus M

He was invited to the Cannes Film Festival with his directorial debut film Hunt. Saying that a lot of people recognized him in France, he added, “The cheers that the cast and I received were almost 100 times bigger thanks to Squid Game.” “I’m old, not a K-pop idol; I’m just an actor. The fact that people recognize me a lot on the streets abroad and that I got complimentary in restaurants was just amazing. It’s a personal pleasure and joy.”

Lee Jung Jae also gave updates on Squid Game 2 that everyone’s been curious about. “Director Hwang Dong Hyuk came to the after party after the Hunt VIP premiere. The first impression that I get from the script is very important in the way I act. So I don’t ask for information here and there, just in case I lose my inspiration. But the director gave a spoiler through his interviews.” The actor then commented, “I heard he’s finished writing detailed treatment and will soon turn it into scripts.”

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source (1)

[Helena]

https://k-odyssey.com/news/newsview.php?ncode=179570412706295
Lee Jung-jae reedits his directorial debut 'Hunt' for global audience

By Kim Boram (brk@yna.co.kr) | August 03, 2022

▲ This photo provided by Megabox Plus M shows actor-director Lee Jung-jae. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- Lee Jung-jae, the star of Netflix's global sensation "Squid Game," said Wednesday that he revised some key lines and cuts in his directorial debut "Hunt" after its premier at Cannes to give the global audience an additional explanation of the historical background of South Korean politics in the 1980s.

"Hunt" is a spy thriller about two rival intelligence agents in South Korea, Park Pyong-ho (Lee) and Lee Jung-do (Jung Woo-sung), who separately chase after a North Korean spy leaking top secret information that could jeopardize national security. The two end up discovering a plot to assassinate the South Korean president.

The film is set in the early 1980s when South Korea was under a repressive military regime that took control of the country through a coup, with the North Korean provocations playing a decisive role in domestic politics.

It premiered as part of the non-competition Midnight Screening section at this year's Cannes Film Festival held in May.

"When writing the script of 'Hunt,' I set younger generations in South Korea who learn about the era from history textbooks as the target audience. I thought foreign viewers would be the same," Lee said in a media interview.

"But at Cannes, about 30 percent of foreign media reviews complained that it was hard for them to keep up with the story as they didn't know about Korean politics in the 1980s. That was beyond my expectations."

He said he should have done more to narrate the political and social pressure that dominated the country at that time, stemming from the geopolitical tensions with North Korea and the military dictatorship, for foreigners.

"On my way back home from France, I changed some parts of lines. And then, I reedited the movie clip and asked actors to re-record the dialogues," he said. "Thanks to reactions at Cannes, I was able to make the revisions to help more viewers get a better understanding."

 

▲ This photo provided by Megabox Plus M shows Lee Jung-jae directing the film "Hunt." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

"Hunt" is Lee's first film where he worked behind the camera in his 30-year acting career, during which he has starred in about 40 films and TV series. He also wrote the script of his maiden film.

It has been under global media spotlight as it was his first project following "Squid Game," which brought him a number of major acting prizes in the United States, including best lead actor at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. He also became the first South Korean to get a nomination for best drama series actor at the Emmy Awards.

Since its press screening in Korea last week, the film has received rave reviews from local media for its well-rounded plot that weaves the rivalry between the two protagonists with Korean political incidents at that time and effective use of action sequences for an espionage movie.

Lee admitted he had been under extreme pressure before deciding to take the helm of the long-awaited project, which had been shelved for years, as it could have undermined his decent career as an actor.

"I kept asking myself, 'Do I really have to do this? I'm doing well as an actor,'" he said. "I was scared of ruining my acting career of 30 years just because of this project."

After experiencing all the hard work as a director to visualize the screenplay under time constraints through controlling every aspect of a project and guiding the filming crew and cast, Lee said making another film would be the last thing he would do.

"I learned that being a director will be the last thing that I want to do. The work wore me out," he said. "But if there is an interesting story and it stimulates my storytelling taste, I might be moved."

 

"Hunt" will hit Korean screens next Wednesday. It will have its North American premier at the Toronto International Festival next month. (END)

[Helena]

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2022/08/689_333892.html
[INTERVIEW] Lee Jung-jae had sleepless nights writing, directing, acting in 'Hunt'

By Kwak Yeon-soo | 2022-08-04

Actor Lee Jung-jae / Courtesy of Megabox Plus M

Lee Jung-jae, who rose to global stardom after appearing in Netflix's most-watched series, "Squid Game," said he suffered sleepless nights while writing, directing and acting his directorial debut feature, "The Hunt." 

Set in the turbulent 1980s, the action-packed film centers on two rival agents, Park Pyong-ho (Lee) and Kim Jung-do (Jung Woo-sung), who are tasked with uncovering a North Korean spy inside the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA). They investigate each other in the process of discovering a larger plot to assassinate the president. 

The 50-year-old found acting and directing at the same time daunting and he barely managed to keep up his energy levels to complete the project. 

"From writing a screen adaptation to directing and acting, I was sleep-deprived. Some people think transitioning to directing can be risky for an actor, so I felt a greater sense of responsibility," he said. "I was also terrified that I might ruin my 30-year acting career because of this one project."

Wanting to produce "Hunt," Lee had reached out to a string of directors to direct the film. However, they all eventually declined the offer. "I literally contacted the top 20 filmmakers in Korea. They thought the project was too difficult, so that left me with no other choice but to direct it myself," he said. 

The first thing he did was rewrite the original script. "The early draft of the film focused on a single protagonist, but I changed it to center on two unit chiefs in the KCIA. The overall message of the film and relationship between the characters changed over time," he said. 

Actor Lee Jung-jae in a scene from the film, "Hunt" / Courtesy of Megabox Plus M

"Hunt" had its world premiere in the non-competition Midnight Screening section of the 75th Cannes Film Festival. There he received feedback that the film was "too local" and global audiences cannot keep up with the story because they aren't familiar with Korean politics in the 1980s.

"That was totally understandable. On my flight back home, I started revising some parts of the lines to be able to explain political and social life in Korea during the 1980s. Then, I reedited the entire film and asked the actors to re-record the dialogue," he said. 

Lee said he wants the film to capture the attention of global audiences. "Hunt" has been invited to the Gala Presentations section of the 47th Toronto International Film Festival, scheduled for Sept. 8 to 18.

"The film has been sold to 140 countries. Thanks to the global popularity of Korean content, Korean films are also attracting more international buyers at global film markets," he said. 

Lee said he still spends sleepless nights promoting "Hunt" during the daytime and being on video calls late into the night as part of his campaign for the Emmy Award. 

Lee was nominated for an Emmy Award for his role as Seong Gi-hun in "Squid Game." His nomination, for best lead actor in a drama, was one of 14 the series picked up.

"I realized that Emmy nominees must campaign aggressively in order to lead to successful results. I cannot be in the U.S., so I've been participating in a group of meetings via Zoom late at night, like 2 a.m.," he said. "It's a whole new experience for me. After I got nominated, the organizers even sent me a nomination certificate so I can hang it on my wall, and a couple of gifts, like wine and soap."

 

—

 

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2022/08/689_333933.html
[INTERVIEW] Jung Woo-sung was initially hesitant to take on role in 'Hunt'

By Kwak Yeon-soo | 2022-08-05

Actor Jung Woo-sung / Courtesy of Megabox Plus M

Korea's A-list actors Jung Woo-sung and Lee Jung-jae have been best friends for decades, but the duo had only starred in one film together, "City of the Rising Sun" (1999), until teaming up again for the spy drama film, "Hunt."

"We've been longing to work together on a film, but time was the big issue for us. We were always busy filming with other directors. So we founded a company together and we have been working on a lot of projects together," Jung said in an interview with The Korea Times, Wednesday.

"Whatever decision I make about acting, directing or producing a film or a series, I talk to him [Lee Jung-jae] about it and vice versa. So, I knew from the beginning how desperate he was to bring the 'Hunt' screenplay to life." 

In Lee's spy thriller, Jung portrays Kim Jung-do, a soldier-turned-espionage agent who faces a moral dilemma under the military regime in the 1980s. Although Kim is against the military junta's violent repression of human rights, he takes part in operations to quell a pro-democracy uprising and kills civilians. 

"Kim Jung-do has many regrets in his life. He wanted to be an upright soldier, but he was nothing but an aggressor who committed acts of violence against civilians. So I tried to understand Kim's pain, confusion and motivation for being part of the coup d'etat," he explained. 

Jung got involved in the project after turning down Lee's proposal three times.

"It was not a matter of whether the script was good or bad. There were complex subplots that needed to be removed. Also, it was part of my big plan. If I hadn't declined the offer three times, Lee wouldn't have starred in 'Squid Game,'" he laughed.

The public seems to always compare the celebrity pair because they are always seen together at ceremonies and parties. Like Lee, Jung is set to make his feature directorial debut this year with "A Man of Reason."

The film, about a man who dreams of leading a normal life after being released from prison, will have its world premiere in the Special Presentations category at the 47th Toronto International Film Festival, slated for Sept. 8 to 18.

"I'm not jealous of Lee making his feature directorial debut and getting positive reviews. We don't compare ourselves to each other. The comparison has been in the mind of the public. I'm truly happy for him because I know how hard he has worked for this," he said.

"I'm really happy with how it turned out. It was so important to me that we are not just having fun and celebrating our on-screen reunion, but trying really hard to make a good film."

"Hunt" will hit local theaters, Aug. 10.

[Helena]

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20220804000609
[Herald Interview] ‘Squid Game’ star Lee Jung-jae ready to ‘hunt’ global audience

By Song Seung-hyun (ssh@heraldcorp.com) | Aug 4, 2022 

Lee Jung-jae (Megabox Plus M)

Korean moviegoers seeking out Lee Jung-jae’s “Hunt” will see a different version of the film to the one shown at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.

The actor said he reworked his directorial debut feature after it premiered at the festival, as some foreign viewers told him that the movie was difficult to follow without knowledge of 1980s Korean politics.

“When writing the script, I aimed to target audiences in their teens and 20s. Since my goal was to target them, the story had to be easy to follow,” Lee said during an interview with a group of local reporters at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, central Seoul, on Wednesday. 

He reasoned that, if the film was difficult to follow for foreign viewers, it must also be challenging for young Korean viewers, who did not live through the era.

“I heard that 30 percent of foreign viewers had said the movie was difficult, so I thought ‘my effort was not enough.’ On the flight back home, I rewrote the film,” Lee said. 

At the end of May, Lee said, he went over the post-production process again. 

“I changed some of the lines and also asked the actors to go through the dubbing process again. This was done to improve the audiences’ understanding of the film,” he said. “I hope that many people can relate to it and have fun watching the film.”

With these changes, Lee’s 125-minute film is set to meet local and global audiences. The film has been sold to 144 countries including France, Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, Russia and Brazil.

Lee also appears in the movie as Park Pyung-ho, an elite South Korean agent at the Agency for National Security Planning on the trail of a North Korean spy. During his chase, he becomes increasingly aware of his own country’s dark truths. Meanwhile, another elite agent named Kim Jung-do (played by Jung Woo-sung) starts to suspect that Park is a North Korean spy.

Lee’s hard work seems to have paid off with many local news outlets declaring Lee’s directorial debut a success even before the theatrical release in South Korea.

“I was surprised by great reviews,” Lee said.

But the actor-director said he is hesitant to direct films in the future.

“I am telling people these days that I do not have plans to direct any movies again. It was physically exhausting and my brain is full of bad memories of having a tough time,” Lee explained.

He added that unless he comes across an appealing story that triggers him to direct again, he will focus on acting.

Lee Jung-jae stars in “Hunt” (Megabox Plus M)

“I have 30 years of solid acting career and had fears of ruining it when writing the script. That fear probably is beyond what anyone can imagine,” he said. “People usually think that being an actor-turned-director is risky, so I really wanted to make this work. Because of this responsibility, I had to work hard and it was tough.”

Lee’s new film “Hunt” will hit local theaters on Wednesday.

 

—

 

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20220804000596
[Herald Interview] Jung Woo-sung says working with best friend Lee Jung-jae was not easy

By Song Seung-hyun (ssh@heraldcorp.com) | Aug 4, 2022

Jung Woo-sung (Megabox Plus M)

Top star Jung Woo-sung said he felt more pressure working with Lee Jung-jae since he really wanted his best friend’s directorial debut feature “Hunt” to be a success.

The top actors became close friends while working together in the movie “City of the Rising Sun,” directed by Kim Sung-soo in 1999. Their fans have taken to calling the two the “Cheongdam couple,” as they are often spotted hanging out together at bars and restaurants in the Cheongdam-dong neighborhood in Seoul.

“We kept on reminding ourselves that this project should not be something that is meaningful only to us. We did not want people to say ‘they had their fun’ when the film was released,” Jung said during an interview with a group of local reporters at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, central Seoul, on Wednesday. “It was almost like our mission.”

In “Hunt,” which is set in the 1980s, Jung played an elite South Korean agent with the Agency for National Security Planning named Kim Jung-do. The agent starts to suspect that his colleague, Park Pyung-ho (played by Lee), is a North Korean spy. But Kim is not the only who is distrustful; Park is also suspicious of Kim.

Although Jung is a 28-year veteran actor, he was nevertheless anxious about the audience’s response.

Asked about what he thought about the good reviews from the local media since the press screening on July 27, Jung started his answer with a shy laugh.

 

Spoiler

Actor Jung Woo-sung stars in “Hunt.” (Megabox Plus M)

“I couldn’t just focus on my character Kim Jung-do for this movie. I had to consider the role that my character plays throughout the film and that was important for this movie,” he said. 

He further explained that he thought the tension and chemistry between his and Lee’s characters to be the most important.

“I guess these efforts that I have put in are perceived positively by the audience,” he said, fidgeting with a napkin in his hands.

Jung’s own directorial debut film, “A Man of Reason,” and Lee’s “Hunt” were both invited to this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, which will run from Sept. 8 to 18. 

“‘A Man of Reason’ has not been released yet. I am glad that we are going to Toronto together,” he said.

Jung, who finished filming his movie in 2020, said he was never jealous of Lee for having his directorial debut film released before his.

“I am a friend and colleague who was there right beside him throughout the process. I do not feel jealous at all because I was part of the process,” he said in response to the reporter’s question. 

Jung also added that he tried to be there for Lee during the filming, which wrapped up last year. 

“I thought the right thing to do was to stand by him and be there for him so that he could lean on me when he was having a hard time.”

During the interview, Jung also joked about why he declined the role three times before accepting it on the fourth time. 

“Let’s just say that it was my plan to make him (Lee) take the role for ‘Squid Game.’ If I had accepted on the third offer, he would not have played Seong Gi-hun in ‘Squid Game,’” he said jokingly.

“Hunt” will hit local theaters next Wednesday.

[Helena]

https://variety.com/2022/film/asia/squid-game-lee-jung-jae-hunt-toronto-1235332288/
‘Squid Game’ Star Lee Jung-jae Re-Edits Directorial Debut ‘Hunt’ Ahead of TIFF

By Patrick Frater | Aug 3, 2022 6:52am PT

 

Courtesy of Cannes Film Festival

 

Lee Jung-jae, the Korean actor who has received an Emmy nomination for his role in Netflix hit series “Squid Game,” has re-edited “Hunt,” the film that marked his feature directorial debut. The new version will play at the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival.

“Hunt,” a 1980s-set espionage thriller about rival agents from North and South Korea, had its debut at the Cannes Film Festival in May. It played as an out-of-competition title in a Midnight Screening slot.

Lee said Wednesday that, since returning home, he had changed some key lines and created some new exposition in order to help overseas audiences understand the plot and the insight into the turbulent politics of the era. This involved some cuts and having the actors re-record some dialogue. Lee also stars in the film, opposite Jung Woo-sung.

“When writing the script of ‘Hunt,’ I set younger generations in South Korea who learn about the era from history textbooks as the target audience. I thought foreign viewers would be the same,” Lee said, according to the Yonhap news agency. “But at Cannes, about 30% of foreign media reviews complained that it was hard for them to keep up with the story, as they didn’t know about Korean politics in the 1980s.”

Variety film critic Peter Debruge called “Hunt” “a twisty, action-packed political thriller — one that keeps you guessing even as it spirals into ever-crazier realms.”

The film’s international sales agent Megabox Plus M told Variety by email that the new international version will be used for the film’s North American premiere in Toronto. Previously, Megabox Plus M reported that it had licensed the film for distribution in over 200 overseas territories.

Korean audiences have greater awareness and understanding of the period politics. The original or director’s cut will be used for release in South Korea from Wednesday next week.

Yonhap reports, “since its press screening in Korea last week, the film has received rave reviews from local media for its well-rounded plot that weaves the rivalry between the two protagonists with Korean political incidents at that time and effective use of action sequences for an espionage movie.”

Lee’s involvement in in “Hunt” goes further than directing and starring. He acquired the rights to the project and set about trying to develop it. But, after failing to obtain a screenplay to his satisfaction, Lee took on the role of co-screenwriter. He endured similar pushback getting a greenlight and became its producer.

“When I was younger, I was curious about other trades, I wanted to see other parts of the world, try things out,” Lee told Variety back in September. “Just because I’m doing the director’s job on this film doesn’t mean I’m going to be giving up acting. I still like acting the best and intend to focus on that.”

[Helena]

Cine21 No.1368 (2022-08-09~2022-08-16)

 

Cover | Lee Jung-jae 이정재 . Jung Woo-sung 정우성 . Jeon Hye-jin 전혜진 .  Heo Sung-tae 허성태 .  Go Youn-jung 고윤정

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http://www.cine21.com/news/view/?idx=0&mag_id=100702

 

 

 

[Helena]

http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/news/features.jsp?blbdComCd=601013&seq=589&mode=FEATURES_VIEW
Summer in 2022, The Hottest Big 4 Have Appeared!

by Hellen Park | Jul 19, 2022

In 2022, the Korean theater district filled with audiences again is hotter than ever after enduring the COVID-19 Pandemic.

It is no exaggeration to say that Korean BIG 4 films this summer are the best lineup ever in terms of size and issue. Let’s focus on analyzing the power of Korean BIG 4 films, which burn up the summer of 2022 with their distinct charms as weapons.

 
BIG 1_Alienoid 
Director Choi Donghoon, the Master of Two ’10-million-viewer Movies,’ Has Opened a New World of Fusion SF that Transcends Time and Space

Director Choi Donghoon, the representative ‘Box Office Hit Master’ in Korea, will release his new film, Alienoid, in 7 years. It can be a new world that has compiled Choi Donghoon's genre experience. Alienoid conveys fantastic imaginations of the past, modernity, fantasy, science fiction, Taoist wizards, and robots in the movie. The 1st part of Alienoid, which will be released on July 20, deals with the adventures that take place at the end of the Goryeo Dynasty when the Taoist wizards trying to take the legendary sword and the figures chasing alien prisoners imprisoned in the human bodies in 2022 are connected through ‘the Door of Time.’ Director Choi Donghoon said, "I wanted to talk about an alien story that I have loved since childhood. Here, I wanted the world of ‘Korean wizardry or sorcery’ that I love to meet the SF world where spaceships and aliens appear. I think the audience will enjoy a new pleasure that arises when the two disparate worlds combine,” revealing his ambition. 

5 years ago, Director Choi Donghoon planned a series of the 1st and the 2nd part to complete the scale of this huge storyline. From sorcerous actions to spacecraft, aliens, and robots flying in downtown Seoul, it took 387 days of the longest production period in Korean cinema history to complete the visuals. In addition, as the secrets of many characters that seem to have no contact at all are revealed one by one, the detailed storytelling, which eventually gathers into one story, is also the strength of the Alienoid series. 

The lineup of the actors who participated in this huge world is also interesting. Ryu Junyeol, a Taoist wizard and troublemaker, Kim Taeri, a woman who shoots a ‘pistol’ in the Goryeo Dynasty, Kim Woobin, an alien manager in the future world, So Jisub, a detective chasing aliens, Yum Jungah and Jo Woojin, the best Taoist witch and wizard in Goryeo, Kim Euisung, a man with a mysterious mask, Lee Hanee, a future tracker, Shin Junggeun and Lee Sihoon, the mysterious cat duo, etc., a variety of actors transcending generations have been cast. Also, the production staff members are spectacular. Production Designer Ryu Seonghee, who won the Cannes’ Vulcan Award, Production Designer Lee Hajun, who won the SAG for PARASITE, and Dexter Studio, which participated in the Along with the Gods series and Space Sweepers, are in charge of the visuals of the SF and fantasy of Alienoid. A new world we have never seen before will be opened in Korean theaters in 2022. 

BIG 2_HANSAN: RISING DRAGON 
The Prequel of The Admiral: ROARING CURRENTS, Korean Box Office's Unprecedented Box Office Hit with 17 Million Viewers, Put the Turtle Ship for a More Powerful Naval Battle

In 2014, Director Kim Hanmin's The Admiral: Roaring Currents became a legend when it broke all the box office records of Korean cinema upon its release. The record of 17.61 million spectators set by The Admiral: Roaring Currents is a milestone that will not be easily broken, but Director Kim Hanmin challenges the record with another ‘victorious war at sea.’ In HANSAN: RISING DRAGON, which will be released on July 29, the main character is Admiral Yi Sunsin in his 40s, who goes to the battlefield only to protect the people in the early days of the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592. 

From the time he made The Admiral: Roaring Currents, Director Kim Hanmin planned a trilogy project about Admiral Yi Sunsin: the Battle of Hansan in 1592, Myeongnyang in 1597, and Noryang in 1598. Through these three naval battles, Director Kim Hanmin began the challenge of portraying different ‘Yi Sunsin’ and finished filming both HANSAN: RISING DRAGON and NORYANG: THE SEA OF DEATH (working title) even under the COVID-19 situation. Director Kim said, "The three naval battles show the different images of Admiral Yi Sunsin. If he is a brave general in The Admiral: Roaring Currents, a wise one in HANSAN: RISING DRAGON, and a prudent one in NORYANG: THE SEA OF DEATH. The Battle of Hansan was the most overwhelming victory during the 7-year war of the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592. I wanted to show that victory.” 

For Yi Sunsin’s rising, Actor Park Haeil starts the beginning. Director Kim Hanmin expressed his confidence in him, saying, "The wise image from Park Haeil’s eyes is exactly the image of Admiral Yi Sunsin that I wanted to depict." Along with Park Haeil, who plays wise Yi Sunsin, the powerful box office point of ‘HANSAN’ is the appearance of the Turtle Ship. It is said that it was like a legendary monster in the sea, and the dignity of the Turtle Ship that scared the Japanese navy during the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592, will finally be revealed in HANSAN: RISING DRAGON. To convey the catharsis of the victory as much as possible, ‘HANSAN’ vividly embodies the images of the Turtle Ship and the Hakikjin formation (a crane wing formation) on the screen, which have been piled up in the veil. Since there are few historical materials left, it is expected what kinds of spectacular scenes will be made by the Turtle Ship, which has been completed with cinematic imagination, and the Hakikjin tactics, which was called the ‘Castle on the Sea.’ 

BIG 3_EMERGENCY DECLARATION 
There Has Never Been More Spectacular Casting. Korea's First Aviation Disaster Blockbuster with the Star-studded Cast Will Fly.

Director Han Jaerim's Emergency Declaration has attracted great attention in two ways since it was invited to the out-of-competition section at the 2021 Festival de Cannes. One is the star-studded cast among Korean actors, which could not be more spectacular than this. First of all, Actor Song Kangho is the backbone of the film, who won the Best Actor for Broker at the 75th Festival de Cannes, and who starred in PARASITE, the winner of the Oscar and the Palme d'Or. He plays a detective trying to save everyone from the unprecedented disaster. Global star Lee Byunghun plays the father who boards the plane for his daughter, and Jeon Doyeon, the ‘Queen of Cannes,’ who won the Cannes Best Actress for Secret Sunshine, plays the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport. From Kim Namgil, the co-pilot who has to land the plane safely, Kim Sojin, a veteran flight attendant, and Park Haejoon from the Blue House, to Im Siwan, a mysterious young man at the center of the disaster, the film boasts a super-luxury casting. The fact that the two actors, the winners of the Best Actor and the Best Actress at Cannes, appear in one movie is an amazing attraction.

Another charming point is that it is the first 'aviation disaster blockbuster' in Korea. The mission of Emergency Declaration is to show the most realistic aviation disaster. Due to the nature of the ‘aviation disaster’ occurring on the plane, the key is to show the situation in a tense manner that numerous figures are connected on the ground and in the sky. Director Han Jaerim challenged the entire set to rotate 360 degrees using the actual body and parts of a plane for the most realistic spectacular ‘aviation disaster.’ Thanks to the challenge, the actors confidently said, "I was able to express the situation for real as if I were in an actual aviation disaster."

Director Han Jaerim said, "I was proposed to direct a movie about an airplane terror case 10 years ago. 10 years have passed since then, and we also have experienced small and big disasters for real. In the process, the COVID-19 Pandemic hit us, too. I was sure what to depict through the movie. I hope this movie will be a comfort and hope for all of us who have proudly endured the pandemic disaster for more than 2 years.” 
Emergency Declaration will be released on August 3.

BIG 4_HUNT 
The world's Hottest Actor, Lee Jungjae's Directorial Debut 
He Has Returned as a Box Office Hunter Following Cannes’ Favorable Reviews

HUNT is Actor Lee Jungjae's directorial debut and has been in the spotlight from the production stage. And after the huge success of the Netflix series Squid Game in 2021, he is receiving even greater expectations. Since his debut as an actor in 1993, Actor Lee Jungjae has been a representative Korean actor for 30 years, crossing TV series and movies and is standing as a global star through the Netflix series Squid Game. Following Hollywood's Golden Globe Awards, the Screen Actors Guild Awards, and the Critics’ Choice Awards, he has been nominated for the Emmy Awards, now called the Academy of TV Series. As such, the global film industry is paying keen attention to Director Lee Jungjae's debut film, HUNT. 

Director Lee Jungjae wants to convey both the pleasure of a commercial film and the message to the audience through his first directing film. He said, “I thought about the reason the audience should watch HUNT. We focused on the pleasure of the spy action blockbuster in the genre, but we also wanted to talk about the 'wrong beliefs' that make us constantly confront and conflict by reflecting on the times of the 1980s," revealing the purpose of his direction. 

As he intended, the director succeeds in capturing both the exhilaration of spy action and the tense psychological warfare of the two men who are confronted by false beliefs. HUNT shows the high-level psychological warfare between two spies, who have to find spies hiding in organizations in the 1980s. For each reason, the two, who were swept away by the huge incident of ‘Korea's No. 1 assassination operation,’ are in an urgent situation where they die as prey if they fail to become hunters. For this tension, Actors Lee Jungjae and Jung Woosung reunited for the first time since City of the Rising Sun, creating an amazing sense of immersion. The film also didn’t miss the excitement of the spy action blockbuster. From restoring the vibe of the 1980s as it was vividly, car chasing scenes running through the center of the city, the scene of a large-scale bombing, to Lee Jungjae and Jung Woosung’s hand-to-hand fight without sparing their bodies, the film is like an assorted gift set. HUNT, the successful debut film of Director Lee Jungjae, who did not miss the message and genre pleasure, will be released in Korea on August 10.

[Helena]

On 7/31/2022 at 1:55 AM, Helena said:

Entertainment Weekly Guerrilla Date (August 4)

 

[Guerrilla Date] Jung Woo-sung X Lee Jung-jae | KBS 220804

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"Do you only know me from Squid Game?" Lee Jung-jae reviews his career | ODG 8/4

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Jung Woo-sung & Lee Jung-jae - LG Twins pitch

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BTS of LeeJungjae & JungWoosung’s 1st pitch [Twins REC]

 

 

Pics: LG Twins + megabox_plusm 

 

[Helena]

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/awards/story/2022-08-02/squid-game-season-2-hwang-dong-hyuk-and-lee-jung-jae
Nobody wanted to make ‘Squid Game.’ Now it’s making history


BY MICHAEL ORDOÑA | STAFF WRITER 
Photography by ANGELLA CHOE
AUG. 2, 2022 6 AM PT

“This is miraculous. I thought it was impossible to make the show and now we have 14 nominations. It feels strange and surreal,” says “Squid Game” creator Hwang Dong-hyuk, here with actor Lee Jung-jae at left.(Angella Choe / For The Times)

For a very long time, no one wanted to make “Squid Game.” No one, that is, but creator-writer-director Hwang Dong-hyuk. Then one of Korea’s biggest stars, suave box-office champion Lee Jung-jae, signed on to play the show’s grubby, compromised hero, and the deeply symbolic, meticulously designed, bare-knuckle commentary on the chasm between Haves and Have-nots took off, becoming Netflix’s most popular series to date.

Now it has 14 Emmy nominations, including for Hwang’s writing and directing, Lee’s acting and for drama series. It’s the first foreign-language series to receive nods in any of those categories, as well as in many others.

“The Oscars are more global; the Emmys are very American. I’m very thankful for them opening the doors to non-English content for the first time,” says Hwang by Zoom.

“I think the show resonated with the global audience because we have a lot of visual aspects besides the language — we have symbols, the design, the set, the wardrobe — I think that’s what drew the attention of the global audience that doesn’t know Korean. And also the theme, the gap between the rich and the poor and the competition, the conflict in our society, is very universal,” the director adds.

The auteur with several successful features under his belt says he was on an island with the producers, writing Season 2, when the Emmy announcement broke; he immediately called “JJ” (Lee) and other nominated performers such as Park Hae-soo and HoYeon Jung. Next, he joins Lee for a chat with The Envelope.

Like Hwang, Lee beams over the video call’s camera, delighted by the many nominations spread among those who worked on the series: “I watched the announcement live and was so excited to share this happiness with the cast and crew. I was also excited to visit L.A. again and have those joyful moments with [them]. I think this is the finale of us celebrating Season 1 of ‘Squid Game.’ ”

Lee Jung-Jae plays the main character “Gi-hun”(Angella Choe / For The Times)

The likable antihero

Part of that celebration of the series’ first season took place at Netflix’s FYSee space on L.A.'s Melrose Avenue a few weeks before the nominations.

Those who know Lee only as his Gi-hun character would barely recognize the dapper sophisticate sitting with excellent posture in a small greenroom. Although having recently just flown into America and back yet again on the eternally spinning hamster wheel of promotion for his series, he is gracious and put together. He looks like the guest of honor at a yacht club function in a vaguely naval blazer. Next to him (with an interpreter behind them), Hwang says with a bit of fatigue showing that “Squid Game” took about seven months to shoot and they’d been promoting it for nine months now.

Not that they’re complaining. Despite the long road, both are still enjoying the success of the show Hwang conceived more than a decade ago and couldn’t get made for years. And now, Season 2 is in the works.

“When I first sent the script to Jung-jae, rather than having questions for him, I was just excited to hear he was interested because back in 2009, so many actors had said ‘No,’” says Hwang with a laugh. “So I was just happy to hear what he had to say, and was focused on listening to him and his concerns.”

Gi-hun in an arcade in episode 1.(Noh Juhan / Netflix)

Among those concerns was down-on-his-luck protagonist Gi-hun’s sometimes ugly status as “an anti-hero. Jung-jae was concerned whether Gi-hun would be able to resonate with the audience. So there were different adjustments I made, such as a scene where Gi-hun shares his fish with a stray cat. No matter how broken, how flawed he is, he still has that goodwill at heart.”

Hwang cites another moment that convinced him the character would work. “There’s an early scene where you see Gi-hun when he has lost his money and he doesn’t have very much left to buy a gift for his daughter, so he goes to that place where you can pick the dolls in the machines,” the director said. “You see him being incredibly happy, holding and hugging the boy who does that for him. The minute I saw Jung-jae play that scene, I was completely convinced that people were, for sure, going to fall in love with this character. To see that pure, childlike joy in this middle-aged man, I could imagine Gi-hun being himself after joining the game as well. No matter how flawed he was — he would go on to steal his mother’s money — people would see that purity and beauty that he holds within himself.”

For all the show’s rugged exterior — hundreds slaughtered, life-or-death decisions, betrayals and humiliations — the protagonist’s humanity anchors “Squid Game.” Lee says he sought Hwang’s guidance in fine-tuning the balance of Gi-hun’s dire circumstances and his optimism.

In low, quiet tones, Lee says, “I had to ask a lot of questions about his emotional state and what degree, in terms of his emotional spectrum, I needed to portray. Do I portray things in a serious manner or light, just brush them off? For instance, after literally seeing people die in front of him, Gi-hun has to come back to the sleeping quarters and enjoy the food. ‘To what extent can he really enjoy the food? What kind of character is he in that sense?’ ”

The answers were what most actors would hope for: Messy.

“If Gi-hun were only good, he would have been one-dimensional and shallow,” says Hwang. “In the game of marbles, he wanted to survive so badly he was willing to trick [elderly contestant] Il-nam and take advantage of his dementia. I feel like that could be any one of us.

“What really differentiates him is that he regrets. He learns from it. I wanted the audience to see him in Episode 1 and Episode 9 and think they are completely different people because he had learned something.”

Although Hwang has outlined the show’s harsh critique of a socioeconomic system that sets up such ballyhooed winners and devastated losers, Lee sees the peeling away of some of the characters’ layers to the essential goodness within as the show’s true message.

 

Spoiler

Director Hwang examines a prop for one of “Squid Game’s” challenges as actor Lee Jung-jae as player No. 456 looks on.(Noh Juhan / Netflix)

“While at times it’s violent, while at times it requires them to win over, literally, the bodies of others, in the most dire of situations there’s still something, as humans, we must not lose sight of,” says the actor. “Director Hwang did such a good job writing that so intricately into the script.”

While Lee is now inextricably woven into the “Squid Game” tapestry (both acknowledge Gi-hun will be back in Season 2), his casting was an even bigger longshot than one might assume from Hwang’s account that “so many actors” had turned the show down. Lee isn’t just some actor in Korea; he is a superstar who has starred in many of the country’s highest-grossing films. That’s like no one in Hollywood signing on to your brutal, capitalism-scorching TV show, then having Tom Cruise jumping on your couch at the thought of being in it.

Hwang says Lee “and I are about the same age, and ever since I was about 20, he was really the biggest, the hottest star Korea had ever seen. Many times, I’d think,” he says, sighing, “‘What must it be like to be born like him?’ For about three decades, while he shined onscreen in charismatic roles, there was something I saw in him when he played these flawed characters that really stood out, that I thought was extraordinary. That sense of humor. I thought it would be the perfect mix to bring Gi-hun to life.”

 

Spoiler

Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk(Angella Choe / For The Times)

 

A surreal delight

So where does Gi-hun go from here? “That is the biggest challenge in Season 2,” Hwang says. “He begins where we left him at the end of the first season. So, the fact that I can’t carry that level of character arc is a huge challenge. Without giving away any spoilers, there is that line that Gi-hun says in the last episode: ‘I’m not a horse and I’m curious to know who did this to us.’ It’s going to be about that journey and Gi-hun proving we are, indeed, not horses; we are all human. And the fact that we all hold goodness, the essence of humanity, at heart.”

Following the flood of Emmy laurels, Lee is characteristically sunny about the prospect of returning to Los Angeles for the ceremony with his fellow nominees — including one of his direct competitors.

By Zoom, he says, “Of course I watched a lot of the shows; I love them,” making specific mention of “Ozark” and “Succession.” “Especially Jeremy Strong — I’ve seen him, actually, at many awards. Not long ago, I visited Cannes, the film festival, and also saw him there. We were so happy to see each other again, we were handshaking. I think his performance is amazing. So grounded. You can really tell he pours his heart and soul into the work he does.”

Hwang, meanwhile, still finds it hard to connect the awful struggles he had getting the show made to its standing now.

“Looking back at 2009, when nobody wanted to make the show, I did not expect this at all,” he says. “This is miraculous. I thought it was impossible to make the show and now we have 14 nominations. It feels strange and surreal. I think the journey of making ‘Squid Game’ is more dramatic than the show itself.”

 

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The 2022 Emmys BuzzMeter: And the winners will be
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/awards/story/2022-05-12/the-2022-emmys-buzzmeter-here-comes-the-buzz