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| Rapper-turned-actress Kim Eun-young (aka Cheetah) in a scene from "Jazzy Misfits" / Courtesy of Triple Pictures |
By Kwak Yeon-soo
Rapper Cheetah is making her big screen debut under her real name Kim Eun-young in "Jazzy Misfits," in which she stars alongside actress Cho Min-soo.
Kim plays aspiring singer Sun-deok, who looks for her missing sister Yu-ri with her mother, to whom she has not spoken in years. The mother and daughter search Itaewon, Seoul's most diverse and foreigner-friendly (in the film) district, to find Yu-ri, who ran off with their money.
The two run into individuals who are vulnerable to prejudice ― a homosexual, a black-Korean and a drag queen ― in Itaewon. However, the setting and the story are about overcoming such prejudice and embracing difference.
Kim said it was an honor to work alongside Cho, the award-winning actress of Kim Ki-duk's "Pieta."
"Like the image I have as rapper Cheetah, there was a strong and powerful image of Cho Min-soo in my mind," Kim said during a press conference for "Jazzy Misfits" in Seoul, Monday. "At first, I was afraid of approaching her because of her aura. But Cho naturally guided me and gave me great advice."
Kim also thanked director Nam Yeon-woo, with whom she is in romantic relationship, for encouraging her throughout the project.
"There was a scene where I had to climb up thousands of stairs," she said. "It was hard to breathe because I not only had to climb the stairs, but had to shoot the same scene from different angles. Nam walked up the stairs with me and gave good direction."
The couple met and began dating while filming "Jazzy Misfits."
The rapper-turned-actress recalled that the most memorable scene was when Sun-deok confesses how hurt and angry she feels toward her estranged mother.
"There's a scene shot at a police station when Sun-deok and her mother blame each other for not looking after Yu-ri," she said. "While arguing, Sun-deok expresses strong resentment toward her mother for being careless about her daughters' lives. I prepared a lot for that scene, and thankfully it turned out satisfactorily."
Kim also revealed that she wrote and composed the entire soundtrack for "Jazzy Misfits."
"I recorded about five songs for the film. They will be available on May 25," she said.
After rising to fame by winning the first season of Mnet's "Unpretty Rap Star" in 2015, Cheetah has not only been active on the music scene but also on TV, where she most prominently appeared as a celebrity trainer in Mnet's "Produce" series.
"Jazzy Misfits" will hit local theaters, May 27.
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