Cinematographer channels anger into masterpieces Cinematographer Jung Il-sung speaks during a press conference for this year's Korean Cinema Retrospective at the Busan International Film Festival in Haeundae-gu, Busan, Friday. Seven films of his work will be screened throughout the festival as part of the special program. YonhapBusan festival pays tribute to veteran cinematographer Jung Il-sung By Lee Gyu-leeBUSAN ― To honor the centennial of Korean cinema this year, the Busan International Film Festival has selected the pioneer and legendary cinematographer Jung Il-sung to feature in the Korean Cinema Retrospective to look back on his over 60 years of work.It's rare for the film festival to set aside a special section for a cinematographer, instead of directors and actors, to highlight their work. Jung, 90, met reporters, Friday, and shared his philosophy and story behind the cinematic masterpieces he took part in, during a media conference held in Haeundae-gu, Busan.The Japanese-born cinematographer made his debut in his late 20s with director Jo Keung-ha's “Farewell Sorrow” (1957). Since then, he has worked with 38 dOct 6, 2019By Lee Gyu-lee
Korean replacement for Joaquin Phoenix in 'Joker?' Joaquin Phoenix in "Joker."By Ko Dong-hwanWith the critically acclaimed film “Joker” already drawing millions of Korean theater-goers, some who have studied the film has come up with a unique question: which Korean actors could play the role of The Joker in a Korean version of the film?That virtual casting pivoted around Phoenix's impressive performance as the mentally unstable clown-for-hire Arthur Fleck in grim Gotham City whose psyche gradually self-demolishes and develops into that of the infamous Joker. The candidates, mostly referred to in online comments, were praised for their performances in films or TV shows in roles not dissimilar to the brazen, twisted DC Comics villain.(From Top) Shin Ha-kyun from "Pied Piper" and Ryu Seung-beom from "Tazza: One Eyed Jack"Shin Ha-kyun earned credit for his role in “Pied Piper” (2016) on tvN, playing an adviser to police emergency negotiation team. He was selected mostly thanks to a scene in which has a bloodied face and an untimely smirk. Another poor man's Joker was Ryu Seung-beom and his performance of One-Eyed Oct 6, 2019By Ko Dong-hwan
Thai cave film makes world premiere at Busan festival Visitors walk past cinema posters for the Busan International Film Festival at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center in Busan, Sunday. YonhapThe first movie centred around the cave rescue of 12 Thai schoolboy footballers and their coach made its world premiere on Saturday and there was one man in the audience for whom the experience proved as thrilling as it was nerve-shredding."You can't help but re-live the tension and the fear we were feeling, but also there was that sense of excitement and relief when it was all over," rescuer Jim Warny told AFP.The Ireland-based Belgian was among the crew of international cave rescue divers who plucked the "Wild Boars" and their coach from the Tham Luang Nang Non caves last year and he has travelled to the 24th Busan International Film Festival for the world premiere of the fittingly titled "The Cave".Warny plays himself in the film and said the experience ― his first in film ― had been therapeutic."For me it's not about making a profit it's been about inspiring other people to show that great things can be achieved, against the odds," saidOct 6, 2019
'Joker' sets October box-office record for Thursday showings An attendee dressed as the Joker poses during New York Comic Con at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019, in New York. AP``Joker'' is getting the first laugh on its debut weekend, scoring an October box-office record with $13.3 million earned in Thursday night showings. Warner Bros. released the figures Friday morning. ``Joker'' unseated ``Venom,'' which also holds the record for best October opening with $80.3 million, according to Comscore. The strong start comes after weeks of discussion about the R-rated film and whether it will inspire some to commit violence. The film stars Joaquin Phoenix as the man who becomes Batman's classic nemesis in the origin story film. Some victims of the Aurora, Colorado, theater massacre that occurred during a 2012 "Dark Knight Rises" showing have called on Warner Bros. to support gun control initiatives, which the studio says it already does. A theater in Huntington Beach, California, canceled two screenings Thursday night after receiving a threat, police said. Friday showings have resumed as scheduled. Both Phoenix and Oct 6, 2019
BIFF starts off with 'Horse Thieves' opening screen The 24th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) kicked off Thursday, with a red carpet event and the opening ceremony at the Busan Cinema Center. The festival will run through Oct. 12 and feature 303 films from 85 countries. Courtesy of BIFFBy Lee Gyu-leeBUSAN ― The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), the largest in Asia, kicked off its 10-day run Thursday with the opening film “The Horse Thieves. Roads of Time.” The film is a unique collaborative work between Japan and Kazakhstan, co-directed by Kazakhstan director Yerlan Nurmukhambetov ― 2015 BIFF New Currents Award winner ― and Japanese director Lisa Takeba.The two directors first met at the Cannes Film Festival where Nurmukhambetov discussed the story he was planning to work on. The plot drew Takeba's attention and led to the unlikely collaboration between the two. “Japan had a deep interest in co-producing with different countries in Central Asia and I also became interested, so I accepted the offer,” said Nurmukhambetov at a media conference held before the opening ceremony at the Busan Cinema CeOct 4, 2019By Lee Gyu-lee
'Joker' tops million ticket sales in three days Movie “Joker” has sold over 1 million tickets in Korea as of Friday. Courtesy of Warner Bros. KoreaBy Dong Sun-hwa“Joker,” DC Comics' character-based psycho thriller movie, has sold more than one million tickets in Korea as of Friday, only two days after opening here. The movie ― which opened on Wednesday ― reached the milestone on Friday morning, according to distributor Warner Bros. Korea citing Korean Film Council data. The movie also topped real-time reservations on Friday. Of all movie tickets reserved, “Joker” accounted for more than 53 percent. The distributor said audience reaction was mostly positive. In particular, the jaw-dropping acting talent of American actor Joaquin Phoenix, who plays the title character, has grabbed public attention. The movie is about a villain recreated from the character of the same name in “Batman.” Unlike most other DC productions zeroing in on superheroes, “Joker” tells the story of a comedian hopeful of the 1980s who later turns to evil course for a reason. "Todd (director Todd PhillipOct 4, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa
Head of studio producing 'Parasite' wins French cinema award Kwak Shin-ae, the CEO of Barunson E&A. Courtesy of CJ ENMThe chief of the company that produced the Cannes-winning "Parasite" will be given a French cinema award in recognition of her role in promoting South Korea-French collaboration in cinema, the French Embassy here said Friday.Kwak Shin-ae, the CEO of Barunson E&A, which produced the film by director Bong Joon-ho, and Korean actress Bae Doo-na have been selected as this year's winners of the Etoile Du Cinema award, the embassy said.The embassy award annually recognizes actors and people from the film industry for their roles in promoting cinematic ties between South Korea and France.French Ambassador to Seoul Philippe Lefort is scheduled to present the trophy to Kwak during a "French Night" event in Busan Saturday evening on the sidelines of the ongoing Busan International Film Festival (BIFF).Bae will separately pick up the trophy on Saturday ahead of the premiere of her new film, "#iamhere," at BIFF.The film by French director Eric Lartigau is one of the biggest movies jointly produced by South Korea and France. Filmed Oct 4, 2019
'Battle of Jangsari' picks up top spot on local box office This combined photo shows posters for "Battle of Jangsari," left, and “Quantum Physics: A Nightlife Venture.” Courtesy of Warner Bros. Korea, MerrychristmasBy Lee Gyu-leeWarner Bros. Korea's "Battle of Jangsari" is dominating the local box office since it kicked off on top of the chart on its opening day, Sept. 25. It has accumulated 823,803 ticket sales worth 6.5 billion won ($5.4 million).The war action film, directed by Kwak Kyung-taek and Kim Tae-hoon, brings unsung heroes of the 1950-53 Korean War into the limelight. It focuses on a group of 772 South Korea student soldiers on a secret mission to fight North Korean forces in Jangsari a day before the Battle of Incheon in 1950.The film starring Megan Fox as a war correspondent and SHINee's Choi Min-ho as a student soldier is set to be released in North America Oct. 4.Another film premiering the same day, “Quantum Physics: A Nightlife Venture,” started off at third on the chart for its opening week but soon bumped up to second this week, accumulating 484,565 ticket sales.The movie revolves around nightclub Oct 3, 2019By Lee Gyu-lee
Busan film festival set to kick off 24th edition The Busan film festival's 24th edition runs for 10 days. YonhapThe Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) will open its 24th edition in the southern port city of Busan on Thursday, filled with more than 300 movies and various intriguing programs.Starting with the opening ceremony at the Busan Cinema Center in the city, 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul, the festival will kick off its 10-day run. The ceremony will be co-hosted by South Korean actor Jung Woo-sung and actress Lee Hanee."The Horse Thieves. Roads of Time," a Kazakh horse opera co-directed by Yerlan Nurmukhambetov from Kazakhstan and Lisa Takeba from Japan, will be the first film to be screened at this year's BIFF.Nurmukhambetov was awarded the New Currents prize, given to rising Asian directors, at BIFF for his feature "Walnut Tree" in 2015.Along with the opener, 303 films from 85 countries will jazz up the festivity and cinematic vibe in Busan during the festival that runs until Oct. 12.The festival will close with "Moonlight Winter," a melodrama by South Korean director Lim Dae-hyung, the 2016 winner of BIFF's New CurOct 3, 2019
'Dream': Park Seo-joon trains homeless footballers in new movie Actor Park Seo-joon will star in filmmaker Lee Byung-hun's movie about a football team of homeless people. Korea Times fileBy Dong Sun-hwaActor Park Seo-joon will star in a film by Lee Byung-hun, who directed Korea's second-highest grossing film “Extreme Job” (2019). Park will play Yoon Hong-dae, a football player-turned-coach, in the movie tentatively titled “Dream.” Yoon “accidently” takes the helm of the national football team of 11 homeless people, which wishes to become a champion in the “Homeless World Cup,” according to the movie's distributor Megabox Plus M. The Homeless World Cup is a real annual international football tournament launched by the Homeless World Cup Foundation in 2001 to help homeless people stand on their own feet through the sport. The film will begin shooting next year. Park debuted in 2011 through a music video of Bang Yong-guk, a member of K-pop boy band B.A.P. He has featured in many hit dramas and movies including “Dream High 2” (2012), “She Was Pretty” (2015) and “What's WronOct 3, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa
