Jung looks to China beyond Hollywood

Korean heartthrob Jung Woo-sung, right, and Michelle Yeoh in a scene from John Woo's "Reign of the Assassins." Su Chao-bin co-directed the film, which is showing at the ongoing Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival, before opening in theaters nationwide on Oct. 14. /Courtesy of SBS Contents Hub

By Lee Hyo-won

As Asia’s leading cinema event, the Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival (PIFF), whose 15th edition opened Thursday, most appropriately showcases the latest trends, including most notably the ever-expanding influence of Sino-cinema.

Similarly, superstar Jung Woo-sung has looked to China for his much anticipated overseas debut: He stars opposite Michelle Yeoh in the John Woo-powered epic “Reign of Assassins,” which is featured in PIFF’s non-competitive section Window on Asian Cinema.

``Hollywood is not my final destination,’’ Jung told reporters Tuesday in Seoul after the press preview. While local actors such as Jun Ji-hyun (Gianna Jun), Rain or Jang Dong-gun have knocked on Hollywood’s door, So Ji-sub made his overseas debut in China with Zhang Ziyi.

``In Hollywood, Asian actors can assume lead roles continuously only if they master martial arts, like Jet Li or Jackie Chan… But I do have small hopes of becoming a noted actor in pan-Asian regions,’’ he said.

This isn’t his first project to be fully based in China. He played the lead in Hur Jin-hon’s ``A Good Rain Knows,’’ which is set in Chengdu and co-stars Chinese actress Gao Yuan-yuan.

``Reign of Assassins,’’ co-directed by Taiwanese writer-director Su Chao-pin (``Silk’’), premiered at the Venice Film Festival last month. ``Mr. & Mrs. Smith relocate to ancient China in the dazzling martial-arts epic,’’ according to the Hollywood Reporter, and indeed Yeoh and Jung play an ordinary married couple, each unaware the other is a world-class assassin. Guns, bombs and other modern spy gadgets are replaced by elaborate wire tricks and sword-swinging, while being peppered with dashes of comedy and romance.

The 37-year-old said it was a great pleasure working with Yeoh.

``When I first heard about the casting, it’s true I felt a little pressured but I didn’t mind the age difference,’’ he said about his co-star, who is 11 years older.

``Ms. Yeoh is a respectable veteran actress and world-class star but she is extremely humble. I thought she was a beautiful actress who is aging with grace. I was the only foreigner on the set and so she paid a lot of attention and care, to make sure I wasn’t uncomfortable.’’

Working in a foreign language, however, was a challenge. ``I was worried whether I would sound awkward to native Chinese speakers, but I’m glad to hear it sounds OK,’’ he said, when a reporter complimented his pronunciation. ``The romance is central to the film, and it was really important to deliver the lines with feelings of affection. I think I mastered the Chinese lines naturally while working with Ms. Yeoh.’’

Starring in a Chinese martial arts movie, moreover, proved to be a great adventure. ``I always carried around a sword,’’ he said. ``Hong Kong cinema has adopted Hollywood-style system, and so it’s much more advanced than domestic filmmaking. We filmed for 12 hours every day and took mandatory breaks once a week.’’

During PIFF, ``Reign of Assassins’’ will show Friday at 9:30 p.m. and Oct. 10 at 9:30 a.m. at Lotte Cinema Centum City. It will open in theaters nationwide on Oct. 14. Distributed by SBS Contents Hub.

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