"I think I've made my decision now." The comedy film, enhanced to the maximum taste by Ha Jung-woo, has returned as 'Lobby.' As an actor and 'director,' we heard his proclamation.
Ha Jung-woo conducted an interview on the afternoon of Dec. 2 at the SHOWBOX office located in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. He met with domestic reporters there to talk about the film 'Lobby' released that day (director Ha Jung-woo, produced by Workhouse Company, Film Momentum, provided by Michigan Venture Capital, WYSIWYG STUDIOS, distributed by SHOWBOX).
'Lobby' is a film that depicts the story of startup CEO Chang-wook (Ha Jung-woo), who knows nothing but research, starting his first lobbying golf to win a 4 trillion won national project. This is Ha Jung-woo's third attempt at directing, following 'Roller Coaster' and 'Heo Sam-gwan,' where he plays the dual role of director and lead actor.
Despite preparing an ambitious schedule for the release, Ha Jung-woo underwent emergency surgery for acute appendicitis on the 25th. Consequently, he was unable to attend even the media preview held on the day of his surgery. Healthy and present for the interview, Ha Jung-woo remarked, "I'm recovering well." He further joked, "I had my appendix burst so I had to rest well."
While Ha Jung-woo remained unruffled, the schedule did not change. Ahead of the doctor's recommendations, he was discharged on the 28th, two days earlier than scheduled. He expressed, "I had to be present for the GV on that day, and I had ambitiously brought in Ms. Um Ji-yoon, so I couldn't miss it. I also had a hard time securing Ms. Lee Su-ji for the media preview dinner, which I regretted missing. The hospital advised me to stay until Sunday, but I was discharged two days early," revealing his passion for the project.
Regarding the reactions after the preview, he noted, "During the GV, many actor fans were there, so most viewed it positively. I had taken strong painkillers, so I was somewhat out of it and couldn't perceive well." Nevertheless, he added, "I felt good after seeing positive reviews and feedback on what I had read about the VIP preview."
It's understandable considering he is showcasing his third directorial work 'Lobby' after 10 years since 'Heo Sam-gwan' in 2015. Ha Jung-woo stated, "I had written 'Seoul Times,' and when I looked at the script, I couldn't 100% say if I was really capable of handling it well. I thought I should wait until I felt a definite sense of assurance, and that led me to 'Lobby.'"
Additionally, he mentioned, "This is a project I began to conceive in my heart gradually since 2021. So, the time it took may have been a bit longer. The theme of 'Lobby' strongly emerged as I started learning golf and experiencing it during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, where I thought it would be great to tie the background, environments, and the people involved together into a story. That's how I prepared and reached the release."
So, does Ha Jung-woo's experiences also find their way into 'Lobby'? He shared, "When I go out for a golf round, I notice there's a lot of pretentiousness. When gathering for breakfast at the golf course, the common line we hear is 'I'm not feeling well today' or 'I don't know if I'll hit the ball well.' Yet, once we start playing, everyone has their own way of playing. I've heard that someone with a good character in daily life can display contrasting traits on the golf course. Gentle people can become rough, while tough guys act like girls on the golf course. I've dealt with these contrasts and felt that the characters of my companions during rounds often inspired comedic moments. When someone makes a shot mistake, they pretend to be concerned but are secretly pleased or amused. While they shout 'Nice shot,' inside, they might wish for the ball to disappear or for them to fail. Those emotions often surface in comedy," he said.
He continued, "In daily life, when conducting business or working at a company, such thoughts remain well-hidden, but strangely, these feelings surface subtly on the golf course. Regardless of age, from people in their 20s to 70s, I found everyone is the same in this regard. If I had played golf since childhood, it wouldn't have shocked me, but encountering unique and intriguing moments when I entered the golf course at a certain age was quite fascinating. I felt inspired to create stories set within the golf course."
He specified his film's central theme concerning electric vehicle wireless charging systems, saying, "I have a friend who's a civil servant, and he always brings his golf bag labeled with his son's name. When I asked why he doesn't use his own name, he explained that because he is a civil servant, he is always careful to avoid misunderstandings in the eyes of others. To prevent potential suspicions of receiving golf benefits, he told various stories to avoid being scrutinized. I delved deeper to find out why he was being so cautious. He shared cases where significant decisions are made in departments where large sums are at stake. Recently, I've been closely observing the interesting developments surrounding the electric vehicle wireless charging smart parking lot, which many startups are interested in. Although it hasn't been initiated as a national project, I heard that a specific island in Sweden is already utilizing it commercially. I wondered if Korea might also adopt such systems in the near future. After hearing those stories, I incorporated that theme into the film," he explained.
Regarding the reality-based motif of the villain character, Deputy Minister Choi (Kim Eui-sung), Ha Jung-woo reflected, "I probably created this character while envisioning the worst people I've encountered. The issue lies in the fact that they often do not recognize the nature of their own actions, which makes them the worst so to speak. In the film, Deputy Minister Choi considers himself nice and sophisticated, believing he is a charming guy, but from another perspective, he is highly uncomfortable and someone people would rather avoid. In a way, I have referenced the 'The Man from Nowhere' types I've met throughout my life, where I aim to create a villain that isn't overtly villainous, even though I also fit that description. I wondered how I could make Jin Pro (Kang Hae-rim) uncomfortable in certain situations, so I added some fictional elements to create the character," he said with a laugh.
'Lobby' seamlessly integrates Ha Jung-woo's unique sense of humor throughout. Regarding his trademark humor, which is often referred to as 'malmat,' Ha Jung-woo described it as "timing and tempo." He commented, "For 'Roller Coaster,' I edited it together with Kim Woo-il. In a way, I used my tempo quite straightforwardly back then. However, looking back after some time, I felt it was a film only I could enjoy. While 'Heo Sam-gwan' does not involve such tempo, in 'Lobby,' I fully requested the editor Kim Sang-beom to adjust the tempo for me. I tend to closely watch the on-site edits when filming, but I think I unknowingly tend to hasten the pacing. To prevent that, I made sure to prepare edits on-site and refrained from making any comments in the editing room. I provided all the sources to the editing director and requested the edits to follow. The adjustment process took a very long time. Since there is no definitive answer, I spent time watching the edited versions and continually adjusted them by checking against the on-site cuts. The final results were the best adjustments I could make," he stated.
Are there specific 'stamps' unique to director Ha Jung-woo, he was asked. He replied, "I'm actually relatively expressionless. I don't have many expressions. However, people often appear fairly expressive in the content we consume, while in reality, I encounter many expressionless faces. I consider that to be the faces of life. Additionally, people tend to speak faster than we expect. That is the aspect that I find most interesting. If there can be storytelling around how individuals express their thoughts during conversations in videos, I could perceive their true feelings, desires, and wants that are concealed beneath the surface during both 'Roller Coaster' and 'Lobby.'"
Regarding the use of profanity for humor in the film, he commented, "Although it's not ideal, I see it as part of the rhythm and flow. It's not intended to have a negative impact on others. It's just a natural part of the dialogue. One character in our film, Park Hae-soo, swears considerably, as it makes sense for his character. I didn't impose much meaning on it. If you look at Quentin Tarantino's films, the word 'FXXK' is often used. I think it's also presented as a humorous element. Although, in the final cut, we significantly reduced the amount of profanity after the monitoring preview indicated it was too much," he chuckled.
Having collaborated with the greatest directors, did it have any influence on him? Ha Jung-woo responded, "Absolutely. Director Choi Dong-hoon loves actors. Other directors do, too, but Director Choi, in particular, has immense affection for actors cast in the characters he creates. He's very diligent about remembering and recording what actors convey, trying to incorporate that into the characters. Observing the affection with which he films, I felt I should carry a similar mindset. "
He added, "In 'Lobby,' there's quite a bit of action. We shot a chase scene across seven takes, including action scenes with Choi Si-won, but all of it was cut in the editing process. Director Ryoo Seung-wan has a method of shooting action scenes that's quite efficient. While other teams might take ten takes, Director Ryoo accomplishes it in three. While observing this during 'Berlin,' I thought I should adopt that approach. Instead of overburdening or pressuring the actors, he takes his martial arts team and films those scenes. They only capture scenes essential for the actors. This makes the proceedings swift, and the actors only have to perform what they need to. Safety is guaranteed, after all."
He further remarked, "In terms of pre-production, I've learned a lot from directors like Na Hong-jin about how to utilize that time and how meticulously they prepare storyboards. Likewise, with Park Chan-wook, I've learned valuable techniques. I've experienced various works with director Yoon Jong-bin since I have watched him since childhood, learning from how he approaches scriptwriting and filming. I believe that director Yoon Jong-bin has influenced me the most as I work on films; his direction has provided me with significant guidance and insight. I acquired practical directing tactics by observing how director Kim Yong-hwa leads on-site and guides the actors. Instead of being taught how to direct while sitting at a desk, it feels like I learned from over his shoulder in a casual, hands-on manner," he shared lightheartedly.
As a result, although 'Lobby' is his third directorial work released after 10 years, the timing of its release isn't easy. Ha Jung-woo reflected, "People around me have asked, 'Are you nervous?' and said, 'With the current situation, what will happen if it opens now?' Nevertheless, I consider it aligned with the natural flow of life and the will of the heavens. It wasn't just my decision; that's how it turned out. Thankfully, I gained investment for it to happen, and SHOWBOX scheduled the distribution date, and even before the release, I received a proposal to direct 'The People Upstairs,' which I've been working on. In the past, I thought I achieved everything through my own skill, but some works fared well even when they perhaps shouldn't have, while others that seemed poised for success didn't. Looking from a distance as my career has unfolded, I realized that each work requires daily effort, and seeing the larger landscape, I cannot solely direct its course," he spoke soberly.
"There has never been a movie marketed as vigorously as this one," he said. "I'll try my best to garner the best outcome. If the comedy is viewed as excessive or lacking, I'll take that into account for next time. One silver lining is that I've become a bit cooler as I've aged," he added with a smile.
He reflected, "I've met various directors, but since I also work as an actor, I have questions about my own objectivity. In music, in art, and whatever different parts I consult the opinions of the directors. I think a lot about these, and then I make the final decisions. For the poster, I consult with the distribution company, the publicity agency, and the investors, who are far more knowledgeable than I am to get their insights."
With reliable performances from actors like Kang Mal-geum, praised for 'When Life Gives You Tangerines,' and Cha Ju-young, recognized for 'The Queen Who Crowns,' alongside Kim Eui-sung, who perfectly understood what would look more 'dirty', Ha Jung-woo remains steadfast as a director. Through this, he has considered how he wants to leave a mark with 'Lobby.'
Ha Jung-woo emphasized, "'Roller Coaster' and 'Heo Sam-gwan' are immensely different works. While 'Lobby' is a black comedy, it holds meaning in establishing my direction. I feel that I've clarified my path depending on whether I head in 'Roller Coaster's' tone or 'Heo Sam-gwan's."
He further mentioned, "The film 'The People Upstairs,' which will premiere in the latter half of the year, seems to carry a similar tone as well. While shooting, I thought it was essential to adhere closely to this style. I prepared it with the thought that it might serve as a clarion signal for me, denoting the precise direction I want to pursue as a director."
In conclusion, Ha Jung-woo noted, "I hope it turns out to be an interesting piece. I'd like the audience to come and leave with smiles. It may feel unfamiliar, but the existence of 'Roller Coaster' has made explaining it easier. If it resonates with your code, I hope you watch it and have fun. While every film holds significant and precious value for directors and producers, for the audience and viewers, it's just a consumption experience. I'd be immensely grateful if people watch it, find it enjoyable, and remember it."
'Lobby' was released today (Dec. 2) in theaters nationwide.
[Photo] Provided by SHOWBOX.
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