 |
| Actor Ji Chang-wook poses before the interview at a cafe in Seoul, Tuesday. / Yonhap |
By Park Jin-hai
"The K2," an action romance blockbuster on the local cable channel tvN, aired its final episode last week, garnering an impressive 5.5 percent viewership. A viewers rating of 3 percent or above is considered a success on a cable network.
Through the 16-episode drama, actor Ji Chang-wook in the main title role of a former solider called "K2" has been the center of attention. Along with highly skilled and eye-pleasing action scenes, Ji brought viewers into the beautiful romance with his love interest An-na played by singer-actress Yoona of Girls' Generation. Playing Je-ja, a hired bodyguard for presidential candidate's wife Yoo-jin, Ji maintains tight psychological tension with the presidential candidate's wife played by Song Yoon-ah who develops a selfish and possessive affection for him.
"Physically, I'm comfortable now since I am done with the script. But some regrets linger. I think what it would be like if the K2 had been made into 20-episdes, instead of 16," said Ji during a recent interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in central Seoul, Tuesday. "In terms of the storyline, I wished there had been more scenes to make it more relevant and closely-binding. I thought that if things like, how Je-ha has developed his love for An-na, his relationship with Yoo-jin and his previous life, had been included, it would have been better."
Shooting an action-packed drama was a great challenge he said.
"Making a full action blockbuster in 16 episodes wasn't easy. I was pressed for time and had to cut out some of the repetitive action scenes of the original script that might have appeared to be boring," said the 29-year-old actor. "I tried to show various moves but it was hard to do in the limited time and place."
Below is an excerpt of the interview.
Q: K2 initially publicized that it adopted a ‘Matrix' filming technique. But it seems it didn't stand out as intended.
A: It is called a 4DX technique and it took considerable time to prepare — more than we expected. It takes 120 cameras surrounding the shooting site and these to align with lighting accordingly. We shot one scene in that way, but personally I thought it wasn't that effective, considering the amount of time and preparation we poured into the scene.
Q: You are a rising hallyu star along with Kim Su-hyun and Song Jung-ki in China. The latest action drama "The Whirlwind Girl 2" has been very successful. Are there different criteria in choosing a local project or one for overseas?
A: I heard that the drama topped the viewership ratings while it was being broadcasted. The elements I consider in choosing the next project are three things; if it has a great script, attractive character or if it is in a field in which I can really excel. The criteria are no different if it is a local or an international project.
Q: The independent film you starred in was invited to a film festival and an entertainment agency picked you up. You started your acting career quite effortlessly, I think. Compared with your early days, the way you look at acting must have changed.
A: I entered the business easily and had moments when acting felt really difficult. Now I feel that I am beginning to know what acting is about — analyzing and finding ways to establish the character — acting is really fun and I am thrilled in seeking something new.
Q: Which project allowed you to first experience the joy of acting?
A: The one that made me really think about acting was the KBS drama "Smile Again." Although it did well with viewer ratings and was considered the project in which I gained some recognition, filming the drama was really difficult.
I was directed to correct my ways of acting and when I actually finished the scenes and monitored them at home, I was frustrated because the outcome wasn't quite what I had intended. I thought that I lacked talent at the time.
"Bachelor's Vegetable Store" was the opposite. Initially all the staff was really depressed since the drama was doing poorly in viewer ratings. As the actor in the title role, I gave deep thought about my responsibility and concluded that if the response from the viewers could not be reversed by one or two actors, the shooting process should at least be fun, so that I could recall it with fond memories.
Q: You haven't done many films yet, except for independent movies.
A: Since last summer I've been working on a crime action film "Fabricated City." I'm extremely excited since it will be the first commercial movie in which I play the title role. I heard that it will be released around February. Shooting the movie wasn't easy though because I think I believed that the way to act for a movie and for a drama are different. They are not.
