Milky Way Liberation Front - 은하해방전선

The Fruits of Korean Independent Film Support

Consistent support provided for independent films by the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) in order to diversify Korean films is bearing various significant results.

First of all, a new venue 'INDIE SPACE' will open in Myeong-dong's Spongehouse (3rd floor of the old Joongang Cinema building). This is the result of a project to develop and promote an independent film theater network to secure screens to show indie films and enliven distribution and production. Films to be shown at INDIE SPACE will focus on independent feature films produced domestically, promising at least 2 weeks of screening, and also on introducing outstanding foreign films. There are also plans for special projects showcasing diverse independent films.

As its first event, an Opening Film Festival is to be held from Nov. 8~21, promoting INDIE SPACE. Films chosen for the festival include "Life Track" by JIN Guang-Hao who received the New Currents award at PIFF, and director Yoon Seong-ho's "Milky Way Liberation Front", another film that gathered attention at many film festivals. The latter is slated to be the film that will have the premiere run at INDIE SPACE after the Opening Film Festival ends. During the preparation period in early November, several independent feature films will be shown, including "Who's That Knocking At My Door??" by director Yang Hae-hoon who was invited to this year's Cannes' Short Films competition section with "My Dear Rosetta".

KOFIC will provide its full support for the newly opening INDIE SPACE so that it will become a center for those who search for minor yet unique films, along with other ARTPLUS theaters such as CGV Movie Collage.

Secondly, independent film industry representatives from Korea and Japan will gather together to discuss and share ideas on the future of the two countries' independent films. This 'Korea-Japan low budget independent film forum', is to be held on November 2nd at Multiplex Cinus Isu, as part of the Pink Film Festival, which opens the 1st of next month. KO Young-jae, producer of the much talked-about independent movie of this year "Our School", will give a presentation with moderators on Korea's low budget independent films. From the Japanese side, Mr. Tomiyama, the head of Image Forum and Terawaki Ken, the former director of Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs are to present their ideas on trends on Japan's low budget films and methods to vitalize markets of the two countries. After the presentations, Korean and Japanese independent film makers are to compare and analyze the film producing environment of the two countries and search for ways to promote exchanges and provide support.

KOFIC will not be satisfied with success that is merely viable, and will continue to implement its policy of actively supporting Korean films to continuously ensure its vitality and variety.

전지현

Jeon Ji-hyeon comes back to domestic film scene

Jeon Ji-hyeon is swooping down on the domestic film market again after a brief hiatus involving her latest effort to expand her career outside Korea.

Jeon, who has built her Asia-wide fame with "My Sassy Girl" (2001), is playing opposite Hwang Jeong-min in a new film, "A Man Once a Superman", to be released early next year.

The 26-year-old fashion icon's return to the domestic cinema scene follows the completion of "Blood: The Last Vampire", a film that critics said marks her full-fledged debut in Hollywood. She joined the shooting of "Blood", directed by Ronny Yu, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The film, a remake of a Japanese animation with the same title, is also expected to be released in 2008.

Jeon is using "Gianna Jun" as her official English name to increase the familiarity for English-speaking audiences, following advice that her original Korean name is hard to pronounce.

In the new Korean film project, Jeon proved her star status. In July when the shooting for "A Man Once a Superman" began in southern Seoul, the streets were filled with people trying to get a glimpse of Jeon.

On Wednesday, a shooting session in Haeri, Geyonggi Province, was open to the local press, and Jeon held a press conference where she said the role was harder than she had originally imagined.

"I am feeling a lot of pressure since I'm coming back to the domestic film industry", she said. "In this film, I'm depicted as a person who does not put on any make-up, which is very different from my well-known image, but in fact that's closer to my real image".

In the film, Jeon plays a documentary producer who helps out a man (played by Hwang) who believes that he is a superman who used to have, well, super-power.

But there are still concerns about her chance to prove her box-office power. Except for the blockbuster hit "My Sassy Girl", which represents the advent of the Korean Wave throughout Asia, Jeon has not impressed the local audiences that much.

For instance, "The Uninvited" (2003) was not so inviting, after all, with tepid reaction from the local moviegoers. In 2004, "Windstruck" was released and the expectations were almost at a sky-high level because the film seemed to be perfected designed to maximize Jeon's charm as an innocent yet provocatively sexy girl. But the results were equally disappointing.

In 2006, Jeon tried her luck again with "Daisy", but despite the huge media attention toward her, the film did not make any strong impression on the local market, raising questions about her acting talent.

Even though Jeon is the most sought-after fashion icon who wins one lucrative television ad contract after another, her acting seems to have hit a plateau since "My Sassy Girl", and critics are keeping their eyes on whether she can show any improvement in "A Man Once a Superman".



Jeon Ji-hyeon, "If all actors were like Hwang Jeong-min"

"Thinking it would be nice if all actors were like Hwang Jeong-min, I am currently greatly enjoying filming this movie", says Jeon Ji-hyeon of 'The man who used to be Superman'.

At the press conference held on the 28th, Jeon Ji-hyeon also commented, "I feel a lot of burden as I haven't acted in a Korean film for a while, but I feel very good about the movie itself. Hwang Jeong-min is a nice person beyond being an actor and I am also learning a lot (about acting)".

Jeon Ji-hyeon recently finished filming 'Blood: The Last Vampire' in Hollywood making this is her first Korean piece since "Daisy" which opened early last year.

She changed her style for the movie, changing her trademark long straight hair into a perm and lower bangs. She says, "I am very good at surviving. I don't put on makeup and my wardrobe is careless, but I am not concerning myself with it".

Hwang Jeong-min added, "I think her look right now is sexier and nice. At times she can be silly, but she is a very good person overall. Our teamwork is wonderful on set".

In response to a question asking what type of super power she would like, Jeon answered, "I want a super power that lets me act well. Working with Director Jeong and Hwang Jeong-min, I am making that power a reality".

Director Jeong commented, "The Korean film industry is suffering right now, but I want to become a Super Director that can save it. This movie is about letting people know that anyone can become a super hero if they want to, and giving them power and hope".

Jeon Ji-hyeon commented on an episode during filming, "I had to smoke a cigarette for the first time but it was tough as I usually consider health to be the most important", to which Hwang Jeong-min quickly replied, "It was a prop cigarette made of sagebrush".

This movie is about human documentary producer Song Soo Jeong (played by Jeon Ji-hyeon), who is sick of filming hypocritical programs that touch on people's sympathy, who starts to change by meeting a man (Hwang Jeong-min) believing himself to be a superman who has lost powers but still tries to help everyone around. The movie is scheduled for release early next year.

Box Office Records

I thought it would be a good idea to post the box office records for Korea since we all like Korean movies and see how Korean movies do in their own country. Against American movies and thier polices like day and date release and the Korean film quota cut.

For the Weekend of 2007.11.23 ~ 2007.11.25

1 Seven Days (세븐 데이즈)
328,367 viewers over the weekend for a total of 867,311

2 Le Grand Chef (식객)
299,271 viewers over the weekend for a total of 2,402,987

3 Lust, Caution (色,戒)
227,084 viewers over the weekend for a total of 1,061,762

4 Beowulf
176,080 viewers over the weekend for a total of 810,119

5 Saw Ⅳ
with 124,946 viewers over the weekend for a total of 172,843

6 The Golden Age
with 84,420 viewers over the weekend and a total of 117,774

7 Scout (스카우트)
with 52,843 viewers over the weekend and a total of 269,093

8 La Môme (La Vie en Rose)
with 47,129 over the weekend and a total of 62,405

9 Bank Attack (마을금고연쇄습격사건)
with 15,977 over the weekend and a total of 109,054


10 Going by the Book (바르게 살자)
13,009 viewers over the weekend and a total of 2,149,073

INFO FROM SHEFFY

lots of news happend over the holiday, don't know if all of you heard most of it but here it is again if you didn't know.



Director Im Wins Prize from Dubai Fest



















The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) will honor Korean director Im Kwon-taek in recognition of his lifelong devotion to filmmaking.

The production company for Im's 100th movie "Beyond the Years" said Friday that the festival's organizing committee chair Simon Field sent a letter to notify the celebrated director that he'd won the prize.

The awards ceremony will be held December 15th in Dubai. The festival will also screen two of his movies.







Song Hye-kyo to debut in the U.S. through independent film




Song Hye-kyo will be heading to New York instead of Hollywood for her U.S. debut.

Song Hye-kyo will be appearing in the full-length independent film "Fetish" directed by Sohn Soo Beom. "Fetish" is a psychological thriller about a woman with psychic powers to be played by Song Hye-kyo alongside actor Arno Frisch of "Funny Games".

According to Sidus HQ, Song Hye-kyo's agency, the casting was made possible by casting director Susan Shopmaker who met Song Hye-kyo at the Pusan International Film Festival after watching the film "Hwangjin-y - Movie - 2007".

Manager Na Byung Joon of Sidus HQ comments, "While reviewing various Hollywood scripts, we selected this piece as it mystically tells the story of the East. We hope this will become a good first step for Song Hye-kyo to debut in the international movie market".

"Fetish" will be filmed in New York with Song Hye-kyo set to leave for filming on the 21st.






"The Show Must Go on" Wins Blue Dragon Award


















Director Han Jae-rim's "The Show Must Go on" has won the domestic award for best picture.

At the 28th Blue Dragon Film Awards Friday, the movie's lead actor Song Kang-ho also won best actor. Jeon Do-yeon won best actress for her performance in "Secret Sunshine". Earlier in May, the actress won the best actress award at the Cannes Film Festival for her role in the film.

The best director award went to Heo Jin-ho for "Happiness".

Kim Sang-ho was named best supporting actor for his role in "The Happy Life" and Nah Moon-hee best supporting actress for her role in "Cruel Winter Blues".

The awards are the nation's version of Hollywood's Oscars.







Hyeon Yeong to Debut in Japan



Versatile entertainer Hyeon Yeong is poised to debut in Japan by capitalizing on her shapely body.

Hyeon is to release a DVD of her body-shaping techniques in Japan in spring. But prior to that she will hold a news conference at the Hotel New Otani in Tokyo to announce her debut.

A Japanese PR firm that is organizing the news conference said the event will serve as an opportunity to publicize Hyeon's unique image that stands apart from other hallyu stars due to her unique voice and beautiful body. The firm added that more than 100 journalists from NHK, TBS and other broadcasters will attend the news conference.

Hyeon's agency says Hyun's debut in Japan will focus on her healthy image and body-shaping success, and that Hyeon will also hold promotional activities and appear on television in Japan.
("personally I can't stand her voice",sheffy)



MC Yoo to Voice Act in 'Bee Movie'



















Top comedian and MC Yoo Jae-seok will do voice dubbing for his first time for the animation 'Bee Movie'.

The film's domestic distributor CJ Entertainment says Yoo will play the main role, the honeybee 'Barry', in the Korean language version of the film.

The Dreamworks production will open in Korea Jan. 3. In the original film, Barry was voiced by Jerry Seinfeld.

CJ says Yoo's casting was reflective of netizen's opinions.

Yoo said, "It's such an honor to play a role played by Seinfeld, recognized as the world's top comedian. I will do my best to live up to his name".

Another remake on it's way

New Korean film 'Seven Days' already on Hollywood remake slate
The latest from Lost actress Kim Yun-jin and her return to Korean filmmaking Seven Days is already on track to be remade in Hollywood.

Seven Days, which just opened across Korea this week, follows the story of a successful defense attorney (played by Kim Yun-jin) whose daughter is kidnapped in a scheme to force her to defend the innocence of a supposed murderer.

The Won Shin-yeon directed orginial is already making waves in Korea to relatively positive reviews, however, no word on whether Hollywood plans to invite Kim Yun-jin along for the remake.

New Korean movie trailers

내사랑

Add to My Profile | More Videos

스카우트

Add to My Profile | More Videos

열한번째 엄마

Add to My Profile | More Videos

South Korea's movie industry heading for crisis, Samsung warns

SEOUL, Nov. 5 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's film industry is facing a serious crisis caused by the increasing proliferation of illegal internet downloads and a "lack of creativity", a private researcher warned Monday.

Over the first six months of this year, homegrown accounted for 41.6 percent of the market, marking the lowest figure in six years, according to data released by Samsung Economic Research Institute.


"Busan to Raise Awareness about Illegal Downloading" (oct 3)

The 12th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) will be the starting point of the Green Mind Campaign, an initiative to tackle illegal downloading by informing the public about the consequences of piracy of cultural contents. The campaign will stress the harmfulness of illegal downloading from the internet on the future of Asian cinema.

Green Mind enjoys broad support, including Korea’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and Ministry of Information and Communication. The film industry is represented by several directors, actors, and producers. The Korean Film Council(KOFIC) and Korea’s leading internet portal Naver are also onboard. Green Mind expects that more will join the cause and Korean intercollegiate organization Gaonnuri announced its support.

Green Mind will be launched on October 5 at the PIFF Village. The event will be attended by representatives of the supporting organization and international filmmakers. Korea’s popular animation character Taekwon will be the special guest.