obligatory update post
i don't like these updates so i'll keep it short.
for an update entry, there are some pre-requisites.
1. under the influence of a flu. check
2. written before break of dawn. check
3. melo-out music. check, sigur ros' Hljómalind
4. multitask. check, burning buncha tv shows dvds
5. a cup of coffee. check, about to get some water for instant coffee
i can't believe i still remember the lj cut tag...
---
near the end of 2009 i started working as an assistant director for a korean director named RYOO Seung-wan (류승완), who is famous for his films CRYING FIST, CITY OF VIOLENCE, among many. he's often called the 'action kid' because his films thus far have been action-oriented and he debuted at a very young age. last september, i worked on his short film for motorola as a script supervisor and he liked working with me enough to bring me back for the feature. so from nov.2009 through august.2010 it was all about THE UNJUST (부당거래) starring some big shots like HWANG Jung-min (황정민) and the director's lil bro RYOO Seung-bum (류승범)
the film was released at the end of october to a surprisingly good fanfare. in a month since release, it has garnered just over 2.5 million admissions, which by current korean standards, is considered a moderate hit. i didn't think the film would receive such mainstream support, i thought 1.5 million admissions at best. checking the twitter comments, ppl are really digging the bleak and grounded-in-reality storyline, which is about a crooked cop with gangster sponsor forcing a a suspect of a serial killer case to confess to the crime, and an equally crooked prosecutor to go against the cop.
my role in the feature was (in the beginning) co-first assistant director and script supervisor. but just before start of the shoot, i requested to be demoted, because i could not bare the big responsibility of a production when this is my first feature film. i just couldn't rise to the occasion. at first i wanted out but the director asked to stay onboard and finish the film no matter what. there was a lot of drama during pre-production... but in the end, i survived and lived to tell the tale.
here are some pics from the set.
the AD team with the director after wrapping the film.
a shootout scene on top of busan sewage plant, in charge of the gun and standing in for the actor while the camera was being set up.
set of climax scene. we spent 3 days there, shooting the last action sequence. what a brutal day... it's a day that i look back in gloom.
again, standing in for the actor.
a block party!
and a shot with the main actor HWANG Jung-min after the wrap.
more photos on my facebook page.
so for almost a year this film was all there was. during the production period (april-july.2010) it was a complete outside world blockage. the 60-or so of the crew were in a bubble of our own world. we almost did not hear any news from the outside world, and if the war broke out, we would have heard of it after the wrap. maybe i'll write about the experience in a later time.
also during the production i was dating some of the staff. since i was a script supervisor during pre-production i got to know the storyboard artist quite well. we naturally spent alot of time together with the director during storyboarding period and just after that we started dating. it only lasted 4 months or so but we had some fun but deemed too different.
i went back home to toronto in september as a long-deserved vacation but somehow ended up working for THE HOUSEMAID (하녀) team when they were at toronto int'l film fest as a local coordinator.
so now, back in korea, i'm doing a lot of translation freelancing work, all film-related and standing by for a film that's going into production in january, which will be legend---wait for it---dary. it's for the most important director working in korean industry right now and i had to pass several good projects so that i could stand in line for this one. i'm so psyched! but until i ink the deal, it can go anywhere.
for an update entry, there are some pre-requisites.
1. under the influence of a flu. check
2. written before break of dawn. check
3. melo-out music. check, sigur ros' Hljómalind
4. multitask. check, burning buncha tv shows dvds
5. a cup of coffee. check, about to get some water for instant coffee
i can't believe i still remember the lj cut tag...
---
near the end of 2009 i started working as an assistant director for a korean director named RYOO Seung-wan (류승완), who is famous for his films CRYING FIST, CITY OF VIOLENCE, among many. he's often called the 'action kid' because his films thus far have been action-oriented and he debuted at a very young age. last september, i worked on his short film for motorola as a script supervisor and he liked working with me enough to bring me back for the feature. so from nov.2009 through august.2010 it was all about THE UNJUST (부당거래) starring some big shots like HWANG Jung-min (황정민) and the director's lil bro RYOO Seung-bum (류승범)
the film was released at the end of october to a surprisingly good fanfare. in a month since release, it has garnered just over 2.5 million admissions, which by current korean standards, is considered a moderate hit. i didn't think the film would receive such mainstream support, i thought 1.5 million admissions at best. checking the twitter comments, ppl are really digging the bleak and grounded-in-reality storyline, which is about a crooked cop with gangster sponsor forcing a a suspect of a serial killer case to confess to the crime, and an equally crooked prosecutor to go against the cop.
my role in the feature was (in the beginning) co-first assistant director and script supervisor. but just before start of the shoot, i requested to be demoted, because i could not bare the big responsibility of a production when this is my first feature film. i just couldn't rise to the occasion. at first i wanted out but the director asked to stay onboard and finish the film no matter what. there was a lot of drama during pre-production... but in the end, i survived and lived to tell the tale.
here are some pics from the set.
the AD team with the director after wrapping the film.
a shootout scene on top of busan sewage plant, in charge of the gun and standing in for the actor while the camera was being set up.
set of climax scene. we spent 3 days there, shooting the last action sequence. what a brutal day... it's a day that i look back in gloom.
again, standing in for the actor.
a block party!
and a shot with the main actor HWANG Jung-min after the wrap.
more photos on my facebook page.
so for almost a year this film was all there was. during the production period (april-july.2010) it was a complete outside world blockage. the 60-or so of the crew were in a bubble of our own world. we almost did not hear any news from the outside world, and if the war broke out, we would have heard of it after the wrap. maybe i'll write about the experience in a later time.
also during the production i was dating some of the staff. since i was a script supervisor during pre-production i got to know the storyboard artist quite well. we naturally spent alot of time together with the director during storyboarding period and just after that we started dating. it only lasted 4 months or so but we had some fun but deemed too different.
i went back home to toronto in september as a long-deserved vacation but somehow ended up working for THE HOUSEMAID (하녀) team when they were at toronto int'l film fest as a local coordinator.
so now, back in korea, i'm doing a lot of translation freelancing work, all film-related and standing by for a film that's going into production in january, which will be legend---wait for it---dary. it's for the most important director working in korean industry right now and i had to pass several good projects so that i could stand in line for this one. i'm so psyched! but until i ink the deal, it can go anywhere.