Shin Hye-sun plays first lead role in 'Innocence' Shin Hye-sun in film “Innocence” / Courtesy of KIDARI ENTBy Kwak Yeon-sooActress Shin Hye-sun, who has dazzled audiences with her performances in both film and TV shows, is all set to take her first leading role on the silver screen.In the upcoming film “Innocence,” Shin will be playing lawyer Jeong-in working to prove her mother Hwa-ja's innocence in a murder case.Hwa-ja (played by Bae Jong-ok), a woman suffering from dementia, is accused of mixing agricultural pesticide in makgeolli (rice wine) at her husband's funeral, which led to one death and three severe injuries. The motif of the film was born of a real-life story.On taking the lead role, Shin said she has worked hard to live up to growing expectations of her.“As I play bigger roles in drama series or films, the responsibility grows larger. I spend more time thinking about my acting and try not to compromise on the quality of my work,” Shin said during a press conference held at CGV Apgujeong, Seoul, Thursday.The actress shared that she chose to appear in the film partly because her father Feb 11, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
'Parasite' filming locations trending after Oscars win Filming spots of "Parasite" / YonhapFilming locations that appeared in director Bong Joon-ho's masterpiece "Parasite" are trending as fans visit the venues in celebration of the film's historic Oscars win.On Tuesday, fans were busy taking selfies in front of Sky Pizza, a family-run pizzeria that appears as Pizza Age in the black comedy. A placard with Bong's autograph was on display at the pizzeria in the Dongjak Ward in southern Seoul."I've always admired director Bong Joon-ho. I'm visiting all the main places that appeared in the film after it won awards at the Oscars," 29-year-old film fan Park Byung-ryul told Yonhap News Agency.Doijissal Supermarket, which means "pig rice supermarket" in Korean and appeared as the Woori Supermarket in the film, is also in the spotlight.Kim Kyeong-soon, 73, and Lee Jeong-sik, 77, who run the mom-and-pop grocery in Mapo Ward in western Seoul said they were "elated" with the film's victories."We were so elated by the awards that we couldn't sleep," the elderly couple said."Some people who claim to be film buffs came here, and a lot of foreign tourisFeb 11, 2020
Bong Joon-ho's interpreter plans to make film about 'awards season' Sharon Choi (left). Captured from Jon M. Chu's TwitterBy Park Si-soo Has Bong Joon-ho woken the dormant cinematic aspirations of his film-major interpreter? Sharon Choi, a Korean-American who stunned numerous moviegoers with her eloquent interpretation, said following the Academy Awards that she wants to make a movie about “awards season.” Journalist Steve Pond of the Wrap revealed this after a backstage talk with Bong and Choi. “Bong Joon-ho's translator, Sharon Choi, is a director. When awards season ends (i.e., tomorrow), she says she wants to start making a movie … about awards season,” he wrote on Twitter. Video footage released by American entertainment magazine Variety shows Choi appearing sheepish and laughing when asked about her plan to make a film of her own. With her embarrassment visible, Bong cut in to save her, saying “you already know she is a filmmaker.” He went on, “Actually she is writing some feature-length scripts. I'm curious about it.”Choi, who joined the “Parasite” team at the Cannes Film FestiFeb 11, 2020
Oscar-winning 'Parasite' gets biggest-scale British screen release for Asian title In this file photo taken on Feb. 10, 2020, "Parasite" director Bong Joon-ho pose in the press room with his Oscars during the 92nd Oscars at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, Calif. AFPThe Oscar-winning Korean film "Parasite" is getting the widest-ever theatrical release for an Asian title in Britain. The black comedy was officially released last Friday and is now showing on 1,554 screens in some 100 theaters across Britain.Tickets for several showings of "Parasite" sold out in the opening weekend, and the news of the film's victories at the Oscar is further boosting the film's appeal to British audiences. "Parasite" picked up four awards at the 92nd Academy Awards held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday (U.S. local time), including best picture, the event's highest prize.The Korean film made Oscar history by winning both best international feature film and best picture for the first time in the more than 90-year history of the award event. It also bagged the Oscars for best director and best original screenplay.Prior to his Oscar victories, "Parasite" director Bong Joon-ho Feb 11, 2020
Like father like son: Bong Joon-ho's son is up-and-coming filmmaker Bong Joon-ho and his son Hyo-min. By Park Si-sooThe Oscars have made film director Bong Joon-ho the talk of the town and thrust his family into the limelight, whether they like it or not. Most attention falls on his wife and son. In an acceptance speech for the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, Bong extended his gratitude to his wife, saying she is “always being an inspiration to me.” His wife is Jung Sun-young. In an interview, Bong said he met her at a cinema club and she is “always the first reader of his new script.” “The most anxious moment is when I finish writing a script and show it to my wife,” said Bong, who won Oscars for Best Original Screenplay, Best Picture, Best Director and Best International Feature Film on Monday (KST). Jung is a screenwriter and they married in 1995 Their son, Hyo-min, is also a filmmaker. He directed the web movie “Wedding Ceremony” in 2017 with the support of YG K Plus, an affiliate of K-pop label YG Entertainment.Bong's father is Bong Sang-gyun, one of the country's first-generation graphic Feb 11, 2020
Koreans explode with joy over 'Parasite' Oscar wins Film club members celebrate as they watch a TV live broadcasting of Korean director Bong Joon-ho's "Parasite" receiving the award for best picture at the Oscars, at the Yeonsei University in Seoul, Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. APSouth Koreans reacted with rare collective joy Monday after director Bong Joon Ho's ``Parasite'' won the Oscar for best picture and three other awards, good news that came as their country struggles to guard against a new virus and counter North Korea's nuclear threat.The movie's wins made history in both the Hollywood and South Korean film industries. The class satire is the first non-English-language film to win best picture in the 92-year history of the Academy Awards, and is the first South Korean movie to ever win an Oscar.``Can you believe that `Parasite' won the Academy best picture?'' South Korea's biggest newspaper, Chosun Ilbo, said in a headline. ``It rewrote the Academy's 92-year-old history.''South Korean social media were overwhelmed with congratulatory messages. Bong, ``Parasite'' and other Oscar-related news also dominated search terms throughout MoFeb 11, 2020
Hollywood barriers fall in milestone Oscars for 'Parasite' In this handout photo provided by A.M.P.A.S. Best Picture Award winners for "Parasite" pose onstage during the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre on Feb. 9, 2020, in Hollywood, Calif. AFPBefore Bong Joon Ho's ``Parasite'' made history as the first non-English best picture winner in Academy Awards history, he made a modest plea to American moviegoers: Don't be afraid of subtitles. Accepting the award for best foreign-language film at the Golden Globes last month, the South Korean filmmaker, who has worked in both Seoul and Hollywood, said: ``Once you overcome the 1-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.'' Reflecting on those words backstage at Sunday's Oscars while he clutched several of his statuettes, Bong wondered whether those boundaries were already breaking. He had good reason to. In a thrilling and raucously applauded upset, the revolutionary win for ``Parasite'' ended a more than nine-decade English-language monopoly on cinema's top prize. ``People were already overcoming these barriers through streaming services, YouFeb 11, 2020
PHOTOS Oscars 2020: Behind the scenes photos “Parasite” director Bong Joon-ho, right, hugs main actor Song Kang-ho at the Oscars held at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday (local time.) Bong's black comedy won four awards ― Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best International Feature Film and Best Directing. Reuters-YonhapBong accepts the award for Best Director at the Oscars. AFP-YonhapBong accepts the award for Best International Feature Film at the Oscars. AFP-YonhapIn this handout photo provided by A.M.P.A.S. Best Picture Award winners for "Parasite" pose onstage during the Oscars. AFP PHOTO / AMPAS/ Matt PetitThe cast and crew of “Parasite” after winning the Best Picture of the Year for "Parasite" during the Oscars. AFP-YonhapBong and interpreter Sharon Choi pose on the red carpet during the Oscars. Reuters-YonhapPresident Moon Jae-in gives a round of applause to the cast and crew of “Parasite” ahead of his weekly meeting with senior aides, Monday. YonhapFeb 10, 2020
'It feels very surreal,' says Bong with four Oscars under his belt Best Picture Award winners for "Parasite" onstage during the 92nd Academy Awards at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, Monday (KST). Courtesy of A.M.P.A.S.By Lee Gyu-leeDirector Bong Joon-ho has created history with his satirical thriller “Parasite,” becoming the first Korean director to win four Oscars ― Best Director, Best Picture, Best Foreign Language Film and Best Original Screenplay ― in the 92-year span of the Academy Awards. “It still feels very surreal,” Bong said during a backstage interview after the Oscars ceremony on Monday (KST). “I feel like something will hit me and I will wake up from this dream.“I'm a strange person. So I did what I've always done with producer Kwak Sin-ae, co-writer Han Jin-won and with all my actors.”Mentioning his Golden Globe recipient speech in January about the one-inch subtitle barrier, he expressed high hopes that his latest win will open up more opportunities for foreign films in Hollywood. “In the environment we live in, we are all connected,” Bong said. “So I think naturally we willFeb 10, 2020By Lee Gyu-lee
'Parasite' overcomes 'one-inch subtitle barrier' The cast of "Parasite" poses on the red carpet during the Oscars arrivals at the 92nd Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 9, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Blake"Once you overcome the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films."This remark by South Korean director Bong Joon-ho at this year's Golden Globes Awards after winning best foreign language film has resonated in the U.S., where few non-English films have won major awards at the Oscars and movie fans hardly watch subtitled films.At this year's Oscars, Bong's black comedy thriller "Parasite" crashed through the barrier by winning four Oscar titles: best picture, best director, best original screenplay and best international feature film."Parasite" made history as the first foreign-language film to win the coveted top best picture Oscar in the event's 92-year history.And "Parasite" is the first Asian-made movie to hoist multiple Oscar trophies.It is also the second subtitled movie to capture the best directing and best international feature film prizes at the sameFeb 10, 2020
