Hwang Jung-Min 황정민 [Upcoming Movies: “12.12: The Day”, “Mission Cross”, “Veteran 2”, “Hope”]

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Source: movieweek.co.kr

Dancing Queen 2011

Hwang Jung Min & Uhm Jung Hwa

February 20, 2011

Hwang Jeong-min runs for city mayor and Uhm Jung-hwa becomes dancing queen

Source: movie.daum.net via hancinema.net

Actor Hwang Jeong-min and actress Uhm Jung-hwa are reuniting for movie "Dancing Queen".

This movie is a fun story about a major candidate's wife secretly becomes a dancer singer.

Hwang Jeong-min is a poor lawyer turned true politician and city mayor candidate one day and Uhm Jung-hwa is a past dancing queen who forgets about her dreams and lives a normal housewife life but one day becomes and dance singer without her husband knowing.

They have acted together in 2005 movies "My Lovely Week" and 2009 "Five Senses of Eros".

This movie is directed by Yoon Je-kyoon and JK Films. Lee Seok-hoon from "See You After School" (2006) and "2 Faces of My Girlfriend" (2007) will be directing it. It is due to be released in the later half of the year.

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August 7, 2011

'Attack the Block' Takes Fantasia Audience Award

by Etan Vlessing hollywoodreporter.com

The Screen Gems teen horror film earlier won the 2011 SXSW Film Festival audience award.

TORONTO – The Fantasia International Film Festival wrapped Sunday, with British writer-director Joe Cornish’s London-set alien invasion movie Attack the Block taking the top audience award for best European or American feature.

The Screen Gems sci-fi horror film from Adventures of Tintin co-writer Cornish earlier won the 2011 SXSW Film Festival audience award.

Other Fantasia audience award winners in Montreal include a tie for the best Asian feature, shared by two Japanese films, Takashi Miike’s The 13 Assassins and Sion Sono’s Cold Fish. Both Japanese films screened at the 2010 Toronto and Venice film festivals.

And the Guru Prize for the most energetic feature went to the Thai film Bangkok Knockout, by director Panna Rittikrai, where friends that are part of an informal fight club band together when a member is kidnapped. And the Fantasia audiences voted Evan Kelly’s The Corridor, a sci-fi horror whodunit, as the best Canadian feature at the Canadian festival.

Elsewhere, the 2011 Fantasia festival jury, led by president and filmmaker Alexandre Franchi, gave the Cheval Noir Award for best film to the Danish comedy Clown, by Mikkel Nørgaard, a big screen adaptation of a long-running Danish TV comedy led by actors Frank Hvam and Casper Christensen. The festival jury also named Japan’s Yoshimasa Ishibashi as the best director at Fantasia for his film Milocrorze: A Love Story.

And the best screenplay trophy went to Korean director Park Hoon-jung for The Unjust, which also earned Hwang Jeong-min and Ryoo Seung-beom the best actor trophies in Montreal.

And the juried best actress crown went to Norie Yasui for her star-turn in Love & Loathing & Lulu & Ayano by Japanese director Hisayasu Sato.

In all, 130 films screened at Fantasia during its July 14 to August 7 run, which ended with the Canadian premiere of Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, directed by Troy Nixey and scripted by Guillermo del Toro.

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August 8, 2011

And the Fantasia Film Festival awards go to

BY T'CHA DUNLEVY, THE GAZETTE

More than 100,000 moviegoers checked out Montreal's 15th Fantasia International Film Festival, which began July 14 and ended Sunday with a last batch of screenings and an evening of awards.

The fest - which specializes in action, horror, leftfield comedy, Asian cinema, and genre films - welcomed 150 directors, actors and producers who presented their works to audiences, and 160 members of the media including over 40 journalists from abroad.

Mikkel Nørgaard's screwball comedy Clown won best feature film. Based on the hit Danish TV series, it tells the story of two morally questionable men who take a boy on a canoe trip while hoping to pick up chicks.

Best director went to Yoshimasa Ishibashi for his wild and stylish Milocrorze: A Love Story. Best screenplay was awarded to Park Hoon-Jung for his dark thriller The Unjust, whose two leads - Hwang Jeong-min and Ryoo Seung-boom - tied for best actor. Norie Yasui was named best actress for her role in Love & Loathing & Lulu & Ayano. A special mention went to Shunji Iwai's postmodern bloodsucker tale Vampire.

Michael R. Roskam's Bullhead won best first feature; while a special mention went to William Eubank's existential space odyssey Love.

Carolyne Rheaume's La barricade was named best Québécois short film, while Alexandre Richard took best director for Bonne journée, and Caroline Renaud won best screenplay for Maternal.

Lawrence Côté-Collins's F---That won best Québécois DIY short film, and Emanuel St-Pierre Beaulieu was named best director for Un film avec Brigitte Bardot.

© Copyright © The Montreal Gazette

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August 8, 2011

Clown, Bullhead win at Fantasia; audience surpasses 100,000

By Ian Sandwell screendaily.com

The 15th edition of Montreal’s Fantasia International Film Festival hosted 19 world premieres including Final Destination 5 and The Wicker Tree.

Mikkel Nørgaard’s Clown(Klovn) [pictured] won the Cheval Noir Award for best film at the 15th edition of Fantasia, with the New Flesh Award for first feature film going to Michaël R. Roskam’s Bullhead. Clown is a Danish comedy about two immature men and one man’s nephew on a road trip. Belgium’s Bullhead is about shady men involved in the meat industry.

It was an Asian clean sweep for the festival’s other main awards with Korean crime thriller The Unjust picking up best actor awards for Hwang Jeong-min and Ryoo Seung-beom while Park Hoon-jung also scooped the best screenplay, Norie Yasui received the best actress award for her performance as an office worker who is approached by a man who promises to change her life in Love & Loathing & Lulu & Ayano and Yoshimasa Ishibashi was awarded best director for his comedy Milocrorze: A Love Story.

A special mention was given to Shunji Iwai’s first English-language film Vampire for its “original and contemplative take on suicide and our society’s fascination with the vampire myth” in the Cheval Noir competition. Sci-fi Love also received a special mention in the New Flesh category for its “resourcefulness and unwavering determination by a director to realize his unique vision”.

The L’Écran Fantastique prize, which awards the winner with a four-page magazine article and free publicity when the film comes out in France, went to Detention, Joseph Khan’s teen horror-comedy about a girl wants to die until a serial killer shows up who is willing to help.

James Gunn’s Super and documentary Superheroes shared the AQCC international prize, while epic Heaven’s Story won the AQCC Asian prize. 13 Assassins, Attack The Block, Redline and Bangkok Knockout were among the films receiving audience awards.

Talking to Screen, co-festival director Mitch Davis praised the audience that attended Fantasia, marking out the fact that the unknown micro-budget Absentia sold out before more well-known Attack The Block. In all, there were more than 100,000 attendees of this year’s festival (July 14-Aug 7).

“As programmers, it allows us to go out and take all kinds of risks supporting eccentric and atypical indie films that we fall in love with while we’re scouting, because more often than not, the audience is willing to take just as many risks as we are. It also allows us to program all kinds of films that are virtually unclassifiable within genre film definitions, but that still have a place at a festival like ours.”

Mitch also doesn’t believe that next year will see a change in format or duration as they aim to keep the festival an audience-driven event but hopes that they can expand the market section; so far this year, The FP and Hellacious Acres: The Case Of John Glass were picked up for US distibution.

“We’re regularly asked by industry members why we insist on staying a three-week event staged across only two screens when we could easily be a ten-day event across a ton of screens, the way most festivals work. It’s something that would make the festival much more workable for industry attendees and press, but we’re certain that it would hurt the films and make the festival much less fun for the audience. “If we had four screens going at once, I think it would be a massacre, with the big buzz films absolutely devouring the new discovery titles, just wiping them right off the face of the earth, and it would be terrible. So in 2012, we may be a day or two longer or shorter, but we don’t see it changing in any major way in either direction.”

Asked about personal highlights, Mitch said that the live conversation between Robin Hardy and Richard Stanley was “absolutely incredible” and the hour-long Q&A with John Landis, who picked up this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award, following the Canadian premiere of Burke And Hare was “certainly the most entertaining one we’ve had in the festival’s history of crazy Q&A sessions”.

Of the 134 films screened, 19 were world premieres and 14 were North American premieres, and 150 directors, actors and producers attended the festival, which ran July 14-Aug 7.

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August 12, 2011

Korean movies won at Fantasia International Film Festival in Canada

by KOFIC staff / KOFIC

<The Unjust> and <Night Fishing> won at this year's Fantasia International Film Festival in Canada which was held from July 14 to August 7.

The festival announced that Ryoo Seung-wan's hardboiled action film <The Unjust> was awarded both best screenplay prize and best actor prize, and then Cannes winner, Park Chan-wook's short film <Night Fishing> won the silver prize for best short film.

During this festival there were several other Korean films screened including <Battlefield Heroes>, <Bleak Night>, <Foxy Fesival>, <Haunters>, <Hello Ghost>, <Invasion of Alien Bikini> and <Petty Romance>.

In 1996. The first Fantasia International Film Festival launched in Montreal to grasp the trend of the various cutting-edge genre cinema from all over the world.

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August 26, 2011

Kwon Sang Woo talks about his acting for ‘Vogue’

by VITALSIGN allkpop/com

Actor Kwon Sang Woo recently participated in a dark photoshoot with ‘Vogue‘ magazine along with an interview discussing the past 10 years of his career.

The “keyword” for the photoshoot was ‘indifference’ in the face of fear or pain, which was expressed in the dark, dreary atmosphere of the scenery. In his interview, Kwon Sang Woo delved in the topic of his lifestyle as an actor and human being, as well as his future plans.

On his acting, he commented, “Actors like Hwang Jung Min and Lee Byung Hun are all fantastic actors. I acknowledge that my acting is somewhat lacking compared to them, but I think it’s because I have my own charms that I’ve been met with my own fair share of success.”

On his family and three year old son, he said, “I like working hard for my family. I enjoy the prospect of having to take care of someone.”

Source + Photos: TV Daily via Nate

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Official Website:

vladivostokfilmfestival.ru

September 1, 2011

Several Korean movies invited to international film fest in Russia

Source: 10Asia

Several Korean movies will be screened at the Vladivostok International Film Festival in Moscow this month.

On Thursday, the official website of the fest revealed that Korean feature films "Come Rain, Come Shine," "Blue" and short "Night Fishing" have been selected for main competition at the 9th annual Vladivostok International Film Festival - Pacific Meridian to be held from September 10 to 16.

In the meantime, Director Kim Ki-duk's controversial pic "Arirang," the third installment of the town series “Dance Town” by auteur Jeon Kyu-hwan and Kim Myung-min starrer "Detective K: Secret of Virtuous Widow" will be screened under the Panorama category.

Also, Korean thrillers "The Yellow Sea," "I Saw the Devil," "Moss," "The Unjust" and "The Man from Nowhere" will be shown under the special segment of In focus.

In focus. Suspense, Korean style

5 feature films of "suspense" genre (films with intense action) by leading Korean directors.

The Yellow Sea

Moss

I Saw the Devil

The Unjust

The Man from Nowhere

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Official Website: hiff.org

September 2, 2011

8 Korean pictures invited to international film fest in Hawaii

Source: 10Asia

Eight Korean pictures will be screened at this year's Hawai'i International Film Festival (HIFF) next month.

On Friday, HIFF's official website revealed that "Cyrano Agency," "Detective K: Secret of Virtuous Widow," "The Recipe," "The Unjust," "The Journals of Musan," "Unstoppable Family," "Hello Ghost" and "Arirang" were invited to the 31st annual Hawai'i International Film Festival set to take place for 11 days starting October 13.

The website also showed that the final list of programs for this year's HIFF will be announced in mid-September. At previous editions of the HIFF, Korean movies "Our Twisted Hero" (1992), "A Hot Roof" (1996), "Spring in my Hometown" (1998) and "Chunhyang" (2000) won the prize for best feature while war flick "71 Into the Fire" was last year's closing film.

Established in 1981, the Hawai'i International Film Festival is a non-profit organization which is dedicated in bringing cultural exchange and media awareness in the Pacific Rim.

HIFF's programming has two particular mandates: to be a festival of record for emerging films from Asia and the Pacific, and to present the top festival films from around the world, annually screening films from over 45 countries.

HIFF also presents content and panels in the fields of film and music, and mobile entertainment and gaming

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Just a simple gist for now -- anything amiss please highlight to be edited

September 7, 2011

Special Documentary: The Power Film Makers

Source: Nate 1 l 2 simple gist by EverythingLBH.com

Cable Channel CGV will be broadcasting a 4-part documentary film "The Power of Movies: the story of home theater" for its 10th anniversary. The broadcast will be for 4 weeks from September 10 onwards which the documentary featuring various interviews with the story and humor, on how to create an actor, director, screenwriter, Technology around the film to tell the tale.

Part 1

Featuring actors Song Kang Ho, Lee Byung Hun, Jeon Do Yeon, Hwang Jung Min, Ha Jung Woo and other well-known thespians to share their thoughts on acting, the characters they play and the relations with the production as well as conflict solutions.

Part II

Featuring top directors Lee Myung Se, Bong Joon Ho, Kim Ji Woon, Kwak Kyung Taek, Kang Hyung Chul and many more about the domestic film industry - the joy and loneliness, as well as anxiety and suffering in film-making.

Part III

Featuring the screenwriters for screenplays in movies 'Unfair Trade', 'I Saw the Devil' etc - the tangled plot of the storyteller expanding the scenario in engaging films.

Part IV

Featuring the technology, and exposing the intrigues of behind the scenes situation in film technology - to be opened to the public.

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September 4, 2011

DVD Releases: Sept. 4-10

Source: Seen in Jeonju

MOBY DIC: Directed by Park In-je, starring Hwang Jeong-min and Kim Min-hee. Number of discs: 2/ Subtitles: English and Korean/ Rating: ages 15+/ Format: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1/ Running time: 112 min + 63 minutes of extras on disc 2/ Suggest retail price: 23,100 KRW/ Available from September 7.

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August 29, 2011

Interview articles at Nate 1 l 2

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Our thanks to the highlight at Forever Lee Byung Hun fan-blog, captures and clips from PlanetBH0712 and CINE21

September 11, 2011

'The Power of Movie' 4-part documentary feature by ChCGV

Trailer 'The Power of Movie' by ChCGV Youtube l Sendspace

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April 18, 2011

Korean Mystery Movies

by T. Cousin screenjunkies.com

This article will list some top Korean mystery movies and the actors that help make them such. Mystery movies always tackle subjects that are not easily explained, and are usually thrillers or horrors. Check the list below for some Korean mystery movies that you should see.

"

Private Eye

" (2009). This is the story of a private detective, Hong gin-ho (Hwang Jeong-min), who's goal is to one day travel to America to work. It is a period film, set in 1910 Seoul Korea. Hong is hired by a medical student (Ryoo Deok-hwan), who after discovering and practicing on a corpse, is accused of murder; it turns out the body is the son of Seoul's most powerful man. When another body turns up, with a piece of cloth in its hand, it is the first and only clue Hong has to track down the killer. If you like Sherlock Holmes mysteries, you'll love this movie.

"Living Death" (2009). This is a missing persons movie, its alternate title is "Possessed." The story follows a family who's fourteen year old daughter So-jin (Sim Eun Kyeong) goes missing. The mother, a very religious woman resorts to prayer, and the older sister Heui-jin (Nam Sang-mi) returns home from college. Rumors of So-jin being possessed by the devil circulates the neighborhood and soon after, Heui-jin starts having mysterious dreams about a recently dead neighbor who left everything to her sister in their will.

"Best Seller" (2010). This is a mystery about a best selling author, who falls into depression after being accused of plagiarism. With the help of her close friend, Hee-soo (Uhm Jung-hwa) is determined to make a comeback after two years of suffering. She takes up residence in a small town and soon starts talking to a mysterious figure for inspriration, Hee's next book is a best seller, until she is accused of the same crime; her new book was published by another author ten years prior. Now Hee must prove her innocence of both crimes.

"Detective K" (2010). This comedy/mystery Korean film stars Kim Myeong-min as Detective K, who is very busy investigating a series of murders in his country. K and his sidekick Han Gaek ju (Han ji-min) will stop at no end to uncover clues, clues that eventually lead to a massive conspiracy against the Korean nation of Joseon.

"No Doubt" (2010). This mystery revolves around prejudices and group violence. The story follows a family who's daughter, Mi-rim goes missing after they move to a new village. When her father visits the police station he discovers a criminal, Sejin (Lee Jeon-jin) who recently left town has family still living there. The father rallies the villagers to put pressure on the family to the point of violence, because he is certain of Sejin's guilt.

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Many thanks to orbiter84 at the K-Entertainment General Discussion 'Which Actor has the Best Voice' thread

Bonus: This man actually started off as a musical singer but he's more well known as an actor. I never knew he had that voice behind that goofy face. WHOA.

Hwang Jung Min

빗속에서 In the rain

붉은노을

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September 30, 2011

Ⓒ Source = Uhm Twitter / Nate

September 29, 2011

Hwang Jeong-min's "Hanbando" fail to see again this year

Source:

Nate

via

hancinema.net

Postponed to next January.

Actor Hwang Jeong-min's general service channel TV Chosun drama "Hanbando - Drama" couldn't get the go sign.

It was initially planned to be aired on the 1st of December in time for TV Chosun's opening event. However, the delays in production pushed the organization to next year. An official of the drama said, "We know it to be out next year. Right now preparations are going well so there shouldn't be a problem".

"Hanbando - Drama" is known to be having difficulties gathering funds. This drama requires an investment of 10 billion won. It is being anticipated as one of the greatest dramas of all time with writer Yoon Seon-joo and Hwang Jeong-min but when the profitability of the drama isn't very clear, investors are very careful of their actions.

An outsource production said, "Rumor has it that they have covered most of the estimated investments. They are only slightly short and the time is taking longer than thought so it would be difficult to broadcast the drama within this year".

However, writer Yoon Seon-joo who was sued by the drama productions was charged not guilty by the prosecutors and there seem to be no more problems with the drama.

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October 1, 2011

HanCinema's Film Review

Moby Dik: It's a Long Way Down From the Shoulders' of Giants

By C.J. Wheeler (chriscjw@gmai.com) via hancinema.net

Park In-je's conspiracy flick "MobyDik" had little to say at the box office when it was released early June. Its promise of thrilling action and a gripping plot seem to have been confined to the film's enticing trailer and promotional posturing. With an undecided visual aesthetic and damp directorial story telling, your "MobyDik" experience should be limited to its theatrical trailer or Herman Melville's classic novel.

A surveillance camera shows the fictional bridge of Balam on the outskirts of Seoul. Traffic is flowing along side it like it would on any other day, but not for long. A lone van can be seen crossing the bridge and, when it reaches halfway, an explosion engulfs the bridge, leaving nothing but smoke, unanswered questions, and a conspiracy that transcends governments and all other accountable seats of power. This opening scene starts things off well enough but, as the story progresses, you can't be faulted for thinking that Park In-je might have had more success if he left the story telling to static street cameras.

Veteran print media journalist Lee Bang-woo (Hwang Jeong-min) is on the case with the support of his newly appointed, and extremely polite, college Son Jin-gi (Kim Sang-ho); a computer savvy co-worker named Seong Hyo-gwan (Kim Min-hee); and his old friend, and now fugitive, Yoon Hyeok (Jin Goo). Together they take up the challenge to clear the cloud, or rather mist, of unanswered questions shrouding the Balam bridge bombing.

The story outreaches itself as characters become stale and the plot never really thickens. As the film stumbles towards its impotent climax I was left feeling frustrated and unimpressed. Maybe it was the liberties Park took with some of film's hinges, or the unrealized visual consistency that he struggled to find synergy with, but the overall tone of film was flaccid and almost pointless. Harsh, indeed, but the uninspired plot never managed to take flight and all remained was the shell of what might have once been a decent idea.

October 15, 2011

CJ strikes Netflix deal

By

Patrick Frater

filmbiz.asia

Korean movies will be made available to US home entertainment audiences following a deal between CJ E&M and Netflix.

CJ is initially licensing a package of 20 titles that includes The Moss, Silmido, The Servant and I'm A Cyborg But That's Okay. They will be available on TVs, tablets, gaming consoles, computers and mobile phones.

"Netflix has been a revolutionary force in entertainment. This deal brings movie lovers iconic films from Asia's top entertainment company," said Joon Choi, CEO of CJ E&M America in a prepared statement.

"This is part of our ongoing commitment to expand our members' access to exceptional and high-quality content from around the globe," said Lisa Nishimura, VP, independent content acquisition for Netflix.

Other titles include: Arahan; Fish Story; Castaway on the Moon; Going by the Book; Good Morning President; Harmony; Killer Virgin Road; King and the Clown; Love in Between; Murder, Take One; No Mercy; Rikidozan; Sayonara Itsuka; Secret; Sophie's Revenge; and

The Unjust

.

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October 8, 2011

Stars moving to general service channels, celebrity casting success

Source: Nate via hancinema.net

Founded ahead of the year's end, general service channels have been announcing star-studded casts one after another. Recruiting stars is the first stage of attracting attention to newly founded channels, which is a prerequisite for success. Because of this, expending resources to establish star-recruitment power is a natural move.

First target: star broadcast TV producer

General service channels' first targets were broadcast television entertainment producers. Given the enormous amount of know-how required to create a drama, this meant battling with broadcasters over a short period of time and securing the production talent that would give them the best chance for a successful launch.

For quite a while new general service channels have been a pain for the nation's three main broadcasting companies. MBC's Yeo Mun-hyeok, Lim Jeong-ah, and Seong Chi-gyeong, as well as KBS's Lee Myeong-han, Kim Seok-yoon, Kim Shi-kyu, and Jo Seung-wook transferred to broadcast TV. There was also hearsay that "Infinite Challenge" producer Kim Tae-ho had received an offer to move to a general service station. People in the business have said, "Quite a few producers have received offer to move to general service channels".

Establish powerful dramas

General service channels, laying out an enormous amount of capital, have cast star writers and top actors in order to debut with powerful dramas. Before the year's end, the plans of top general service channels center on founding new dramas and announcing their story outlines, showing a variety of projects.

It has been reported that Kim Su-hyun began writing a featured drama for Chonsun Ilbo's CSTV. CSTV has secured Hwang Jeong-min and Kim Jeong-eun for the drama, called "Hanbando - Drama", about world powers fighting over Korea's natural resources.

jTBC's "Padam Padam... The Sound of His and Her Heartbeats", mutually created by writer Noh Hee-kyeong and producer Kim Kyoo-tae, has already started shooting, and a few production stills have been published, causing a stir. "Padam Padam... The Sound of His and Her Heartbeats" has a star-studded cast featuring Jeong Woo-seong, Han Ji-min, Kim Beom and more.

Chae Si-ra will also make a comeback on the television screen after 2 years away, starring as the female lead in jTBC's upcoming "Queen Insoo". Also, Song Il-gook and Park Jin-hee have signed up for jTBC's new featured drama "Fermented Family". A new work by director Park Chan-hong and writer Kim Jee-woo, who both started a craze with the popular dramas "Revenge" and "Devil", expectations are rising for "Fermented Family". Additionally, Kim Hee-ae has decided to join jTBC's "A Wife's Credentials", planned for February next year, and Park Yong-woo has also signed up.

Dong-A Ilbo's "Channel A" is preparing "Park Chung-hee, The Man" (working title), shedding light on the former president's life story, and "Timeslip Doctor Jin", based on a Japanese comic. It will also air the featured dramas "Color of Women" and "Heaven's Garden". "Heaven's Garden" has cast Choi Bool-am, Yoo Ho-jeong, Kim Sae-ron and others.

Stars rush to all-purpose channels

The sitcom line-up is also impressive. Sin Dong-yup and actress Kim Soo-mi will appear as a couple on MBN's "Vampire Idol". With this, "Vampire Idol" is a strong candidate to cast more idol-status stars. Kim Hye-jin will face her first sitcom acting challenge in jTBC's "Living in Cheongdam".

Sin Dong-yup, Lee Soo-geun, Lee Yeong-ja, Kim Sung-ju and others lead Channel A's entertainment program. Lee Soo-geun is preparing his own "Transfer to Lee Soo-geun" and Sin Dong-yup's story-oriented fantasty magic show "Storytelling Magic Show" is in development. Lee Yeong-ja's military search program "Army Singing Contest" is also scheduled to appear.

jTBC is also working on a morning talk show hosted by Park Kyeong-rim, "The Laughter and Applause of Park Kyeong-rim and Jang Seong-gyu" (working title), a ranking show called "Bang Bang Show! Your Best", and "Story Hunter", a talent development show.

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October 14, 2011

Hwang Jung Min-Kim Jung Eun Confirmed for 'Hanbando'

Source: Nate 1 l 2 l 3 l 4 l 5 l 6 l 7 l 8 l 9 l 10 l 11 l 12 l 13 l 14 l 15 l 16

Upcoming drama 'Hanbando' is a blockbuster drama with the unified country peninsula as the background and actor Hwang Jeong-min has confirmed to star in it. It is currently in preparation with the beginning of 2012 as target date.

October 3, 2011

Kim Jeong-eun returns as the first lady

Source:

Nate

via

hancinema.net

Actress Kim Jeong-eun stars in the drama as the first lady who lives a passionate generation.

She takes on the role of Lim Jin-jae in "Hanbando - Drama" which is based on a future Korea that has come together North and South. She will be acting along with

Hwang Jeong-min

. They act out the political games and love in prior to unification. They then become the president and the first lady in the future after they have fallen in love.

"Hanbando - Drama" was be aired at the end of this year on SBS. But the casting took a long time and the production was pushed back all together, moving to a general service channel. The exact date of release hasn't been opened yet but if possible, it should be out in December.

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October 15, 2011

Hwang Jung-min and Kim Eun-jung to star in Peninsula

Via Sports Chosun by girlfriday dramabeans.com

Well it looks like this project is finally getting off the ground, after more than a year of stalled casting rumors. With everyone from Jang Dong-gun and Ha Ji-won to Park Shin-yang and Han Ga-in attached to the project at one time or another, upcoming cable blockbuster drama Korean Peninsula is back on, with leads Hwang Jung-min (Accidental Couple / That Fool) and Kim Jung-eun (I Am Legend) set to star.

And while I love both actors, it’s the story that really excites me — it’s a re-imagining of contemporary Korean history, where North and South are reunited in the present day. A massive struggle for limited natural resources turns the country upside-down, and in the midst of that, two people fall in love.

Both Hwang and Kim start out as scientists (she comes from the North), and then eventually Hwang’s character becomes the president of Korea — the unified one. I think I’d rather they stay scientists, but there’s a lot of interesting political ideology to get through, so I can see why they’d want to explore the presidency too. I just like my post-apocalyptic sci-fi to be down and dirty, street-level stuff.

Hwang said, “I read the script and was shocked by the well-woven plot. I have to portray such a range from a scientist to a president, but I think it’ll be fun. I want to express it as a character with depth.” Kim added, “Just being able to work with Hwang Jung-min sunbae alone is reason enough to do this drama. This role covers the spectrum, but I want to portray this character who deviates from the norm.”

It’s been a highly anticipated drama for a number of reasons, not just the stars attached. The budget is reportedly sky-high, making it one of the biggest inaugural programs to launch a cable network. It’ll be airing on the soon-to-be-launched TV Joseon (previously called CSTV in some reports, though it hasn’t come on the air yet, so who knows). And it’ll be helmed by PD Lee Hyung-min, who directed I’m Sorry I Love You, Snow Queen, and Bad Guy (which explains why Han Ga-in was once rumored to star) and writer Yoon Sun-joo of Hwang Jini and The Great King Sae-jong.

Korean Peninsula premieres in December on cable network TV Joseon. Wow, December seems to be D-Day for all the newbie networks. 2012′s going to be one interesting year for dramas, and the business of tv.

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October 18, 2011

Korean films top Sitges festival

By Lee Sun-min koreajoongangdaily.com l Nate

Korean movies captured top awards at the 44th Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, Spain.

Director Na Hong-jin was named best director for his action-thriller “The Yellow Sea” in the official competition section and the team of brothers Park Chan-wook and Park Chan-kyong was awarded best motion picture for their fantasy-horror film “Night Fishing” in the Noves Visions category. The film, which was shot entirely on an iPhone, also won the Golden Bear for best short at the 61st Berlin International Film Festival.

Director Ryoo Seung-wan’s “The Unjust” won the best motion picture award in a category recognizing movies produced in Asia and director Oh Sung-yoon’s animated film “Leafie” received an award for best Sitgest family film in the Gertie Award category for animation.

The annual festival, one of the most recognized festivals focusing on fantasy and horror films, takes place every October in the Catalonian coastal town of Sitges, located southwest of Barcelona. To get the full awards list, go to http://sitgesfilmfestival.com.