Legendary film composer Ennio Morricone dies aged 91 Ennio Morricone, the Oscar-winning Italian composer whose haunting scores to Spaghetti Westerns like "A Fistful of Dollars" and "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" helped define a cinematic era, died on Monday. He was 91. ReutersEnnio Morricone, the Oscar-winning Italian composer whose haunting scores to Spaghetti Westerns like "A Fistful of Dollars" and "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" helped define a cinematic era, died on Monday. He was 91.Morricone broke his femur 10 days ago and died at dawn in a clinic in Rome, his lawyer Giorgio Assumma told Reuters. Outside the clinic, Assumma handed reporters a death notice written by the composer himself, beginning "I, Ennio Morricone, am dead.”In a moving one-page text, Morricone thanked his close friends and family for their companionship, naming his children and grandchildren and saying "I hope they understand how much I loved them.”He dedicated "the most painful goodbye" to his wife Maria Travia, whom he married in 1956, saying "to her I renew the extraordinary love that bound us together and that I am sorry to abandon." He saiJul 6, 2020
Young Koreans boycott Disney movie 'Mulan' Young Korean activists hold #Boycott Mulan banner during a press conference to boycott Disney's upcoming film “Mulan.” Joining the movement initiated by Hong Kong citizens, they protested in front of Disney Korea in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukStudents accuse 'Mulan' cast of siding with state-sponsored violence' on Hong Kong democracy protestors By Park Ji-wonAbout a dozen university students and others gathered in front of the headquarters of Disney Korea in southern Seoul to announce their joining of the #BoycottMulan movement protest. The Disney film “Mulan” starring Chinese American actress Crystal Liu Yifei, who came under fire for defending the repressive police who are cracking down on Hong Kong pro-democracy protestors, is scheduled to hit local theaters in August.The organization consisting of 12 civic and student groups chanted, “We don't consume violence. We oppose the release of Mulan. Stop the violence” and “We denounce the Hong Kong national security law as it is a violation of human rights.&rdJul 6, 2020By Park Ji-won
Son Ye-jin and Lee Sun-kyun in final talks to join Hollywood film Lee Sun-kyun, left, and Son Ye-jin have been offered roles in director Andrew Niccol's film “The Cross.” Korea Times fileBy Lee Gyu-leeActors Son Ye-jin and Lee Sun-kyun are in talks to join the cast of the upcoming Hollywood film “The Cross.” Son's agency MSteam Entertainment told multiple news outlets that she is positively considering taking the role she was offered. “If all goes well, Son will begin filming sometime in the first half of next year,” it said.Hodu and U Entertainment, Lee's agency, also confirmed the actor had been offered a role and was considering it. Screenwriter and filmmaker Andrew Niccol, whose work includes “The Truman Show” and “In Time,” will direct the film. His newest project revolves around a fictional divided region with a bipolar economy of rich and poor. Son has been offered the role of a widow, battling to survive poverty. Lee has been offered the role of head of border patrol.Jul 6, 2020By Lee Gyu-lee
Fans gather for final showings at Thailand's much-loved La Scala theater Movie fans gather to bid farewell to the last stand-alone movie theatre "La Scala" amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Bangkok, Thailand July 4, 2020. REUTERSDonning masks and observing social-distancing practices, movie and theatre fans on Saturday bid a final farewell to Thailand's La Scala theatre in Bangkok, which is set to close its doors in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.The 50-year-old theatre, built in the late modernism architectural style with an Art-Deco interior, has been struggling for the last decade to stay profitable amid competition from new media and increases in its land lease costs.The pandemic and restrictions on movement to curb its spread dealt the final blow to the theatre in the heart of the capital. The Thai economy as a whole is forecast to shrink this year more than any other in Southeast Asia."I'm so sad I have no words. It is heartbreaking," said Nanta Tansasha, whose family runs the theatre, which was built by her father. "When we look toward the future, I don't know if it (business) will pick up... so I decided to stop the buJul 5, 2020
VIDEO Film 'Peninsula' unveils special interactive trailer A scene from the upcoming zombie blockbuster “Peninsula” / Courtesy of NEWBy Lee Gyu-leeZombie blockbuster “Peninsula,” the sequel to 2016 hit “Train to Busan,” has unveiled a special interactive trailer.The film's distributor NEW uploaded the trailer on its YouTube channel, Friday, giving a peek into the big-budget production. The trailer follows the lead character Jung-seok ― played by Gang Dong-won ― who gets entangled on a zombie-hit area. Along with the video, viewers are given a series of choices with two options about which action he should take. The horror action film, directed by Yeon Sang-ho, picks up four years after the original movie. Former soldier Jung-seok goes on a mission to the isolated zombie-filled peninsula, where he teams up with another survivor Min-jung ― played by Lee Jung-hyun ― to escape. The premiere has been garnering global fans' attention, as the previous production was a major hit in 2016. It has been sold to 185 nations and territories, including France, Thailand, Taiwan, and Italy. “Peninsula” is set tJul 3, 2020By Lee Gyu-lee
'Steel Rain 2' intended to dramatize geopolitics on Korean Peninsula, says director The upcoming action drama "Steel Rain 2: Summit" is intended to give a clear window into geopolitics on the Korean Peninsula through the fictional setting of tripartite summit talks in a closed space, the film's director said Thursday."Since the end of the Cold War, the Korean Peninsula has been in danger for about 30 years," director Yang Woo-seok said in a press conference streamed online. "The setting of this film will show us that the two Koreas can neither end this state of war nor build a peace regime by themselves.""Steel Rain 2" features a fictional kidnapping of leaders of South Korea, North Korea and the United States in a North Korean nuclear-powered submarine after a coup by a North Korean general (Kwan Do-won). Star actor Jung Woo-sung plays the South Korean president, and Yoo Yeon-seok takes the role of the North Korean leader, while Scottish actor Angus Macfadyen portrays the U.S. president.It is a sequel to Yang's 2017 political action thriller "Steel Rain," about a North Korean spy agent who defects to the South after becoming a target of an attack from opposing forcJul 3, 2020
'Gwangju Video' retraces 1980 democratic uprising A scene from the film “Gwangju Video: The Missing” / Courtesy of FEEL&PLANBy Kwak Yeon-soo“Gwangju Video: The Missing” is an archival film that retraces the Gwangju Democratization Movement in 1980, and the brutal government response, through national and international video footage and interviews of foreign correspondents and domestic witnesses.This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Gwangju Uprising, during which hundreds of unarmed civilians in Gwangju, at the time the provincial capital of South Jeolla Province, were killed in a deadly military crackdown. While the first half of the film focuses on events leading up to the Gwangju Uprising, the latter part follows what happened in front of the Provincial Hall of South Jeolla Province on May 21, the fifth day of the protest, when soldiers opened fire on citizens, leaving hundreds injured or dead. The military force then faced massive resistance from the protesters. There are no documents, photos, videos or audio recordings providing evidence of the mass shooting that took place between 1 p.m. and 5 Jul 2, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
Filmmakers encounter post-production dilemma Reaching millions of viewers isn't realistic for the majority of independent filmmakers. / gettyimagesbankUnable to hire distributors, many documentary filmmakers desperate to secure screensBy Kang Hyun-kyungWhat is it like being a filmmaker whose movie storms into the top spot at the box office after it opens? Many art and independent filmmakers have imagined the thrilling moment while filming.For blockbuster films featuring big stars, it's relatively easy to attract millions of viewers and have a strong showing in local theaters because their financially capable studios have knowhow and expertise in marketing, distribution and other post-production issues.But the story for independent filmmakers is very different. Their budget is tight and many of them, particularly first-time directors, are strangers to the post-production process. Reaching millions of viewers isn't realistic for the majority of independent filmmakers. Without a division of labor in many cases because they cannot hire distributors or marketing experts for financial reason, they are grappling with heavy workloads bJul 1, 2020By Kang Hyun-kyung
'Parasite' interpreter Sharon Choi wins prestigious diplomacy award Director Bong Joon-ho, right, and Sharon ChoiChoi Sung-jae, known for her eloquent interpretation for director Bong Joon-ho of the Oscar-winning film "Parasite," was set to receive an annual diplomacy award in Seoul on Wednesday for her role in enhancing South Korea's national image, foreign ministry officials said. Choi, better known as Sharon Choi, has been selected as a winner of this year's YoungSan Diplomat Award that the nonprofit Seoul Forum for International Affairs gives to a public official and a civilian each year for their contribution to improving Korea's image and diplomatic interests.Before Bong's black comedy "Parasite" won four Oscar awards, including the best picture, in February, Choi played a pivotal role in translating the director's messages for the world audience and media, which were replete with pithy punchlines.Among Bong's sound bites that Choi translated to resonate with many moviegoers was "Once you overcome the one-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films."Known as a young filmmaker without professional interprJul 1, 2020
'Parasite' cast, crew invited to join academy The cast and lead crew of director Bong Joon-ho's Oscar-winning "Parasite" were invited to join the U.S. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, according to the Hollywood film trade organization on Tuesday (local time). Courtesy of CJ EntertainmentThe cast and lead crew of director Bong Joon-ho's Oscar-winning "Parasite" were invited to join the U.S. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, according to the Hollywood film trade organization on Tuesday (local time).The academy announced on its website that it extended invitations to 819 artists and executives "who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures." Choi Woo-shik, Jang Hye-jin, Jo Yeo-jeong, Lee Jung-eun and Park So-dam from the film were included in the list of new actor invitees.Non-acting staff of the film ― costume designer Choi Se-yeon, editor Yang Jin-mo, composer Jung Jae-il, producer Kwak Sin-ae, production designer Lee Ha-jun, sound designer Choi Tae-young and co-writer Han Jin-won ― were also extended invitations."Parasite" director Bong and lead actor Song Kang-ho jJul 1, 2020
