Korea movies embrace foreign talent

• Published Mar 21, 2018 4:55 PM KST
• Updated Mar 21, 2018 4:55 PM KST

By John Redmond

Seeking work in Korea is a mixed bag. With the introduction of more short-term work-related visas, the choices of occupation are no longer limited to teaching English teaching or working for large international companies.

One local area where there has been a jump in foreign participation is entertainment, especially in the film and TV industry.

There has been a surge in international film production here due to high production standards and a diversity in locations.

With the growth of the foreign population, local TV dramas and mystery shows are also reflecting this through sub-plots in storylines.

Companies such as Samsung and LG constantly shoot commercials and brochures, and foreign models and actors are in very high demand.

Whether it is a TV drama, commercial or film shoot, the hours are long, often with a lot of dead time between takes.

These delays are due to several factors including, camera setups, wardrobe and make up. And in the case of extras, everybody is taken by bus to the studio or location together, irrespective of when a person's scene is scheduled.

“Acting is the one job where you get paid just to hang around and do nothing,” said Markus Rianni on the set of a Korean blockbuster.

“I will probably get some sleep.”

Seasoned actors have trained themselves to sleep anywhere at the drop of a hat, because a shoot can last up to 20 hours.

Wardrobe and make-up are also time-consuming.

When casting, agencies call for specific types in terms of age, race, height and weight, actors will also be asked for waist, chest and shoe size, and in some cases, hat size (such as for a military uniform).

For contemporary urban shoots, an extra will often be asked to bring, for example, two suits (one business and one casual) with shirts, belts, ties and shoes to match plus some neat casual clothes if the scene also requires standing in line at a bank or an airport.

In movie shoots, all actors get changed at the same time and then proceed to the make-up room to be made up and fitted with wigs and beards, etc.

This process takes time and is very much a “hurry up and wait” experience.

It is also a time for networking, because no talking is allowed on set.

Conversations range from asking each other's nationalities (most foreign actors hail from Europe, Africa and Australasia) to queries about hourly rates and reliable agencies.

As with all workplaces, scheduled break times are adhered to strictly, especially on film locations, because caterers have to provide hot meals to a cast and crew that can easily exceed 100 people at one sitting.

The one drawback in shooting on location or in a studio is the weather _ it is not unusual to shoot a summer scene in November.

Night time exterior shoots in winter are particularly cold.

“One time we were on the deck of a ship, supposed to be drinking rum, and my glass fell over and I heard a thud sound _ my drink had turned to ice,” said Christina Anya.

Wearing a police uniform in a hot studio in June is also an uncomfortable experience.

“I sweat very easily, so the make-up people are constantly wiping beads of sweat off my face,” laughed Nick Stone. “They thought I was having a heart attack.”

Neither heating nor air-conditioning units are used on sets because of the noise.

Working on a film set is also the perfect place to kick-start your Korean language skills because all directions are given in Korean, even though most Korean directors and big-name actors are fluent in English.

The pace for most shoots depend on the director, and for the most part, the work is good, but the hours are long.

For more information, visit the Modeling and Acting Jobs in Korea or the Crystal Inspires Entertainment pages on Facebook.