Korean Weekly News - 11/13

Posted by X at 9:21am.

Posted in TV , Asia.

TOP NEWS

For someone like Kang Woo-Suk, who made history with his blockbuster 실미도 (Silmido), directing a similar film - at least in scale - shouldn’t have been that hard, but that’s not what the influential director is feeling at the moment. Starting its shoot last month, his latest film 한반도 (The Korean Peninsula) has become quite a draining experience for Kang. He revealed in a recent interview he sometimes even regrets his decision to start the film at all. One moment he gains confidence shooting a scene, but he later loses it working on different parts of the film. He’s spending each day on the set surrounded by the nightmare that, at the end of it all, he might regret it all, ending the day in a depressed mood.

The spectacular action drama is the latest challenge from a director who, along with Kang Je-Gyu, rewrote the history of popular Korean Cinema. He was always known for being a very pragmatic director, often ending shoots ahead of the planned schedule. But this film is different. Jo Jae-Hyun’s first day on location was spent doing the same scene over and over, culminating in 200 NG. And the rest of the shoot hasn’t gotten any better: not a day goes on without rewriting a scene, adapting it, working on the shoot for much longer than they planned. As a result of all this trouble, the planned January crank up has been postponed to March, which could delay the release of the film considerably (maybe to Chuseok).

But what’s the problem, really? The new technologies and special effects which will be introduced in this film for the first time in Chungmuro is what has become such a struggle. Dealing with such technicalities and unfamiliar new techniques for people used to their old ways is creating problems with staff, actors and director Kang himself. The 10 Billion Won blockbuster stars Jo Jae-Hyun, Cha In-Pyo, Moon Sung-Geun, Ahn Sung-Gi and more, and for the moment has a planned release for the second half of 2006.

OTHER FILM NEWS

There were big expectations for Kim Ha-Neul and Kwon Sang-Woo’s new comedy 청춘만화 (Youth Comic), but few expected this kind of figures. After the success of the comedy 동갑내기 과외하기 (My Tutor Friend) starring the two, Japanese companies were excited by the prospect of the two teaming again, especially in light of Kwon’s popularity in Japan after his TV Drama 천국의 계단 (Starway To Heaven). And they probably made Popcorn Film (producers) and Showbox (distributors) excited as well, after signing a US$ 5.2 Million contract for distribution rights at the AFM (American Film Market).

This is the second highest figure after the 7 Million of Hur Jin-Ho’s 외출 (April Snow), which led by the popularity of Bae Yong-Joon and Son Ye-Jin broke records in Japan. The film was acquired by SPO, the company which bought ‘My Tutor Friend’, 바람의 파이터 (Fighter in The Wind), 공공의 적 (Public Enemy) and more. ‘Youth Comic’ stars Kwon as Ji-Hwan, a young man who wishes to become a great action star like Bruce Lee, while Kim will play an actress with stage fright, and will tell the story of their 13 year long ups and downs in their friendship. Release is set for next Spring.

We talked already about Im Sang-Soo’s next project 오래된 정원 (The Old Garden), but back then it was hard to imagine the potential quality of the film without a look at the cast. Now we can, as Yeom Jung-Ah and Ji Jin-Hee have been cast as the leads, which makes the whole thing even more interesting. The film will start shooting at the end of the month, for a first half 2006 release.

Although this is hardly bad news, one of the big blockbusters which was supposed to fight off with the giants next December pulled out of the race. We’re talking about 야수 (Running Wild), the action noir starring Yoo Ji-Tae and Kwon Sang-Woo. The film planned to release on December 15, just like the other two big Korean blockbusters 태풍 (Typhoon) and 청연 (Blue Sparrow). But Kim Sung-Soo’s film has been postponed to January 12, because - production company Popcorn Film announced - of delays in post production, especially for what concerns the score and sound effects.

Since the music is really important in this genre, and when you’re dealing with a great composer like Kawai Kenji you WANT to wait, things will take a little longer to complete. The film, which cost 8 Billion Won, will now have a chance to have a fresh start, without the burden of competing with the other two blockbusters. And this is good news for the other two films as well, since there’s more screens to conquer for both, and the chance of failure decreases for both. So ‘Typhoon’ and ‘Blue Sparrow’ on December 15, ‘Running Wild’ a month later.

Kim Sang-Kyung and Park Yong-Woo have been cast in the mystery human drama 조용한 세상 (A Quiet World), directed by Jo Ui-Seok. Jo returns to the directing chair after his debut film, the comedy 일단뛰어 (Make It Big). Park will play a detective in the murders division, while Kim will play the photographer who helps him solve a serial killer case, by protecting a woman who looks to be the next victim. The film shows touches of 살인의 추억 (Memories of Murder), Bong Joon-Ho’s masterful drama which brought the talents of Kim Sang-Kyung to the attention of a larger audience. As for Park Yong-Woo, a longtime supporting actor, his role in 혈의 누 (Blood Rain) has become the catalyst in winning the young actor his first big leading role. The film is expected to start shooting early next year, for a late 2006 release.

Charmed by Moon Geun-Young in 댄서의 순정 (Innocent Steps), musical actor Park Geon-Hyung has quickly chosen his next project. He will star in the romantic comedy 生, 날선생 (Young Teacher) as a lazy teacher who ends up meeting his match, played by Kim Hyo-Jin. The film is directed by Kim Dong-Wook, who worked as assistant director in Song Neung-Han’s 세기말 (Fin De Siecle) and 넘버 3 (No. 3), making his feature debut here. The comedy will start shooting at the end of the month, for a March 2006 release.

International Sales companies are doing quite well at the latest American Film Market. It’s pretty clear distribution sales overseas will go up significantly this year. Here’s some of the deals which took part at AFM: Kim Yong-Gyun’s horror film 분홍신 (The Red Shoes) was sold to Tartan Film. The company plans to release the film next spring; Park Gwang-Hyun’s superhit 웰컴 투 동막골 (Welcome To Dongmakgol) was sold to Japan’s Nikkatsu for US$ 2 Million, and it’s expected it will sign an US distribution deal pretty soon.

TV DRAMA NEWS

After the incredible flop of her latest Drama 가을 소나기 (Autumn Shower), which recorded an average rating of around 4%, even going as low as 2%, Jung Ryeo-Won will try to rebound back to the limelight, after being cast in the upcoming MBC Drama 늑대 (Wolf). The show has already a pretty talented cast with Eric Moon and Eom Tae-Woong. This is the third consecutive Drama on MBC for Jung, who starred in 내 이름은 김삼순 (My Lovely Sam-Soon), ‘Autumn Shower’ and ‘Wolf’ in a six month time span.

TV DRAMA WRAPUP

Once upon a time, MBC was the ‘Kingdom of TV Dramas’ in Korea. If you look at the top 10 most popular dramas of all time, Munhwa Broadcasting company accounts for most of those slots. Although KBS’ 첫사랑 (First Love) is still on top, MBC Dramas like 사랑이 뭐길래 (What Is Love), 허준 (Hur Joon), 그대 그리고 나 (You and I) and 아들과 딸 (Sons and Daughters) all hit more than 60% ratings. The station has written many of the most important pages in TV Drama history, leading trends, creating new standards, and employing some of the most talented writers and producers in Korea. But since this Summer, for a variety of reason - including the ‘nude stage’ issue - MBC has lost most of its flair. Even big stars - at least those who still aren’t under contract with the station - are refusing to participate in MBC Dramas, for the public seems to drive away more and more from what was once their most loved channel.

But things might change in the near future. 달콤한 스파이 (Sweet Spy) is certainly not setting Korea on fire, but it has been holding its place against the much touted KBS Drama 이 죽일놈이 사랑 (A Love To Kill), recording ratings around the low tens, and getting positive reviews for its breezy and lightweight atmosphere (including Nam Sang-Mi’s acting). But one producer who is responsible for a lot of MBC’s greatest successes is finally coming back to the small screen. Lee Jae-Gab, the man behind classics like ‘You and I’, 장미와 콩나물 (Roses & Beansprouts) and the superb Historical Drama 홍국영 (Hong Guk-Young) will shortly debut with his latest drama, 영재의 전성시대 (Young-Jae’s Heydays). The title is a playword on one of the landmark commercial films of the 70s, 영자의 전성시대 (Young-Ja’s Heydays), and will star Kim Min-Sun as a lighting designer who dreams of becoming the best in her profession. The show, which will air it first episode on November 16 after the end of the disastrous 가을소나기 (Autumn Shower), was introduced by PD Lee as the Drama which will bring MBC back to its past glory. He commented that all the current failures of the channel are starting to become a big weight on his and the staff’s shoulders, but he’ll try his best to overcome those obstacles.

The show still used the story of a 노처녀 (a woman past marriage age), but Lee promises this won’t be your usual story of a beautiful woman who apparently can’t find a suitable bachelor. This in response to people who accused MBC of retreating to their last success, 내 이름은 김삼순 (My Lovely Sam-Soon), which told the story of an ‘old’ woman trying to find her way through Korean society. Lee says love and work aren’t the only thing a woman of that age cares about, and we’ll be able to see that in his show. Some people also accused Lee of following the basic outline of a popular Japanese TV Drama - Fuji TV’s 2002 Drama 恋ノチカラ (The Power of Love), but he announced he talked with Fuji TV already, and there were no problems with them either, because the two dramas go in different directions after their start. The Drama, which also stars Yoo Joon-Sang of 나의 결혼원전기 (Wedding Campaign) fame, Jo Dong-Hyk and Lee Yoo-Ri as Young-Jae’s sister Eun-Jae, is Lee’s return after quite a while.

Now that the big sensation of this Fall 장밋빛 인생 (Life in Pink) is over, Lee’s Drama will compete in the Wednesday/Thursday night slot with KBS2’s promising new show 황금사과 (Golden Apple) written by the famous Kim Woon-Kyung - who wrote the amazing 서울의 달 (The Moon of Seoul), yes, the one starring Choi Min-Shik and Han Suk-Gyu - and SBS’ 사랑은 기적이 필요해 (Love Needs a Miracle) which is doing pretty badly. And judging by the quality of his past work, the kind of realism and panache he instills in his Dramas, the way he supports the writer’s - which is this case is the great Kim Jin-Seok from 전원일기 (Lifetime in The Country), another good sign - dialogue with his great vision as a producer could make ‘Young-Jae’s Heydays’ the first sign of recovery for the struggling MBC. And I’m sure the industry would be better off if that happens.

The other ‘war’ on TV right now is the ‘love triangle’ between the three stations’ Monday-Tuesday slot. MBC’s new police comedy 달콤한 스파이 (Sweet Spy), SBS’ Historical Drama 서동요 (The Ballad of Seo Dong) and KBS’ Miniseries 이 죽일 놈의 사랑 (A Love To Kill) are all fighting each other, with similar results. All three are in the low tens, but MBC and KBS’ shows just started, and have more potential to grow.

‘The Ballad of Seo Dong’ is Lee Byung-Hoon’s first project after the monster success of 대장금 (Dae Jang Geum: Jewel in the Palace), starring Lee Bo-Young, Jo Hyun-Jae and Ryu Jin. Working again with writer Kim Young-Hyun, the show has been praised for showing aspects of the period, but the acting of the leads has been full of up and downs. Most definitely this doesn’t hold up to the quality of ‘Dae Jang Geum’, but after the show got off to a rocky start, things are settling down, and even the awkward acting of Ryu Jin and Jo Hyun-Jae is improving a little. It might not be a great show, but it’s still the only successful Historical Drama on TV right now, although MBC’s 신돈 (Shin Don) is finally starting to improve its rating a little, despite being the best show of the genre on TV right now.

‘A Love To Kill’ pairs writer Lee Kyung-Hee of 미안하다 사랑한다 (I’m Sorry, I Love You) and singer Rain, after they worked together in the miniseries 상두야, 학교가자 (Sang-Doo, Let’s Go To School). Although it’s still early to tell, the show seems to be receiving good ratings. Despite always operating in the field of trendy dramas, which can be a dangerous place to be if you want quality, Lee Kyung-Hee has always been able to raise above the mediocrity the genre seems to almost command. She’s a good writer, balancing the tropes the genre demands with intelligent characters, and much more realism than you’d expect. Ratings are not great right now, but given the popularity of Rain overseas, this was clearly a Drama targeted to Korean Wave audiences from the beginning. The storyline seems like an elephant walking a razor thin line which could break any moment, but acting is quite good, and it’s a pretty entertaining series. We’ll see.

Finally, ‘Sweet Spy’ is the ‘writing couple’ Kim Gi-Ho and Lee Seon-Mi’s return after 신입사원 (Super Rookie). Even though the theme might not seem the lightest on paper, it seems the show is quite interesting, the acting beyond expectations, and the characters unique. Older men continue to favor the Historical Drama over the others, while ‘A Love To Kill’ appeals to the younger crowd between their tens and twenties. But ‘Sweet Spy’’s ratings are incredibly balanced amongst all age groups, which could improve their score in the coming weeks if that ‘elephant’ falls, or the Historical Drama loses impact.

TV DRAMA RATINGS
11/6~11/13

01. 41.5% 장밋빛 인생 (Life in Pink) - Wed/Thu Drama - KBS2
02. 31.4% 슬픔이여 안녕 (Goodbye To Sadness) - Weekend Drama - KBS2
03. 28.8% 프라하의 연인 (Lovers in Prague) - Special Project - SBS
04. 28.6% 별난여자 별난남자 (Weird Woman, Weird Man) - Daily Drama - KBS1
05. 20.5% 하늘이시여 (Dear Heaven) - Weekend Drama - SBS
06. 16.8% 서동요 (The Ballad of Seo Dong) - Historical Drama - SBS
07. 16.0% 이 죽일놈의 사랑 (A Love To Kill) - Miniseries - KBS2
08. 15.5% 들꽃 (Wild Flower) - Daily Morning Drama - SBS
09. 14.9% 다이아몬드의 눈물 (Tears of Diamond) - Friday Drama - SBS
10. 14.3% 고향역 (Hometown Station) - TV Novel - KBS1