The delightful comic action 'Hi-Five' unveils itself.
On the 26th, at CGV Yongsan I-Park Mall in Seoul, a media screening and press conference for the film 'Hi-Five' (directed by Kang Hyoung-Cheol, distributed by NEW, produced by Annapurna Pictures) took place. The event was attended by director Kang Hyoung-Cheol, actors Lee Jae-In, Ahn Jae-Hong, Ra Mi-Ran, Kim Hee-Won, Oh Jung-Se, and Park Jin-Young.
The film 'Hi-Five', which is set to be released domestically on May 30 (Friday), is a comic action film that depicts the story of five individuals who accidentally acquire different superpowers through an organ transplant and their encounters with those who seek to exploit their abilities.
On this day, director Kang Hyoung-Cheol said, "I am delighted and honored to have my film displayed on the screen after a long time, and what I wanted to create with this film is to reflect the identity of an entertaining movie. I have had the luck to make several films, and I wondered what I would want to create this time. Planning involves creating when opportunities are given, and this chance arose. I had a conviction that this film should embody that identity, and I had my thoughts on how to create an interesting movie."
He continued, "While superpowers themselves are fantasy, I thought that what is more important in the film is the friends called 'Hi-Five' and that defeating the villains stems from the love of a father. I feel that the greatest force that makes us happiest in reality is the love of friends and family, which surpasses superpowers." He added, "As you can see, it's a film with a lot of VFX, so we prepared technically a lot. However, I also hoped to stay grounded in reality. I selected characters similar to neighbors and friends and tried to gather actors with such charm. We worked hard to approach this with a very realistic depiction."
He also shared his feelings about competing with the film 'Big Deal', which is releasing on the same day. Director Kang said, "First of all, I am so happy about the release. I watched the movie on screen, and it's been 7 years since I had a release following my previous work. Honestly, I think I had forgotten for a while how honorable it is to watch a film I made in theaters, especially since Korean cinema has become more challenging. I hope all Korean films releasing on the same day do well and wish success to all other Korean films as well."
He also talked about the idea of a series. He said, "When I first thought of the idea, there were many concepts like prequels and sequels, but honestly, I still have doubts about it. The future is uncertain. However, if there is a passionate response and support from the audience, then who knows what might happen in the future?"
There was also mention of Yoo Ah-In, who portrays the hipster unemployed 'Gi-Dong,' who can control all electronic devices with a finger snap. Yoo Ah-In was charged with violations of the Narcotics Control Act for using propofol 181 times from 2020 to 2022 and illegally receiving sleeping pills 44 times under another person's name from 2021 to 2022. He was subsequently sentenced to 1 year in prison, with a 2-year suspended sentence, a fine of 2 million won, and additional penalties, but was released after serving that time. The prosecution has submitted an appeal and is currently awaiting a Supreme Court ruling.
Regarding the decision to release the film in light of these risks, Director Kang stated, "Our work is not just one person's film. Many people have dedicated a significant portion of their lives and put in a lot of effort. As you have seen, I believe this film features brilliant actors who bring great effort and joy. I would like to boldly say that this is a film filled with sincere time and effort. It is a genuine film." He emphasized the fantastic performances of the shining actors and the joy of the film itself, adding, "If there are concerns about the Yoo Ah-In risk, I confidently believe this will be more than offset."
Actor Lee Jae-In took on the role of the taekwondo girl 'Wan-Seo,' who breaks the ceiling with a spinning kick. He shared, "Since we were a team of five shooting the film, there were a lot of individual scenes, but I learned what it means to perform in sync. It was particularly enjoyable to breathe together with my seniors and I learned a lot."
He continued, "Since I had many action scenes, I was probably the most involved with wires and green mats. At first, I was uncertain which direction to look, but later I adapted and imagined the CGI automatically as I acted." He added, "I thought action was a very important part of the film, and I needed to show fun through my dynamic action. To prepare for this, I practiced basic stamina a lot, and as a former taekwondo athlete, I made sure to focus on fundamentals. In reality, my opponents are much stronger than me, and I play a 17-year-old middle school student in the film. I also thought that it showcases superpowers interestingly."
Ahn Jae-Hong played 'Ji-Seong,' a writer-in-training who is hypothesizing about the existence of another superpowered individual. He expressed, "The script itself had a great rhythm, and I believe that created a natural sense of fun with our back-and-forth exchanges."
Furthermore, Ahn Jae-Hong reflected on his experience of reuniting with Ra Mi-Ran after their roles in 'Reply 1988'. He stated, "I believe the chemistry with Mi-Ran was top-notch. I was so happy to feel the energy that only senior Ra Mi-Ran has, and it was a dreamlike time. During every scene with her, I felt incredibly supported just by being with her."
In response, Ra Mi-Ran said, "As time has passed, my son has been through various mothers, and I have gone through many sons as well. My time has flowed backward, so in this work, I am 'Miss.' I would appreciate it if you could call me a fresh manager instead of a yogurt lady. Now that my son has grown up, I feel rejuvenated and would appreciate if you see us as siblings. I hope to show you a new side of us that is different from our previous works in this movie."
Ra Mi-Ran portrayed 'Seon-Nyeo,' a trendy manager who tries various attempts to discover her superpower (?). She remarked, "I filmed yogurt chasing in many episodes, but when I looked at what was put together, it disappeared quickly, which I found disappointing. The memories of the heated filming set came to mind." When asked about difficulties during shooting, she humorously noted, "I only had to expose a little, so it was fine."
Kim Hee-Won played 'Yak-Seon,' a work leader who heals injured persons with just a touch. He expressed, "I thought I could simply touch and heal, thinking, 'This is easy peasy,' but when I touched, it actually aged me. I had to do makeup for three hours after touching just once. Removing the makeup afterward was truly difficult." He recounted, "I was actually performing as someone 'in pain.' When I placed my hands on someone, I felt pain in my back, and I mimicked that expression. I was really reflecting someone else's suffering."
There were difficulties as well. Kim Hee-Won reported, "I drank a lot of water. I normally don't drink much because it leads to many trips to the bathroom. So, I went a lot. There's a scene where I drink water directly from the water cooler, and if I drink too much, bubbles form, you know? I tried my best to make that happen while drinking, but that was very hard." He continued, "I believe I struggle with comedy and delivering laughter to others. Even if I have an idea while going back and forth, I wonder if the audience will laugh or not. It led me to rely more on other actors. I think I depended a lot on the director's ability to manage that."
Oh Jung-Se portrayed 'Jong-Min,' a father who would go to any lengths for his daughter 'Wan-Seo'. He shared, "I have fun memories of watching the four of you performing action scenes on set." He added, "While Jong-Min lacks superpowers, I believe every father possesses superpowers. The final action of Jong-Min may not involve technical moves, but I think it represents the superpowers of a father in a cinematic way."
Park Jin-Young appears as the villain 'Young-Chun', who seeks the abilities of the team 'Hi-Five' that gained superpowers through organ transplants. He expressed, "I felt disappointed that, unlike my other seniors, I couldn't have many scenes with them, but while watching the film, I realized the difference." He also discussed the action. "There were many fighting scenes, and while I thought they could be difficult, the director provided precise direction each time. Trusting the director, I think perfect CGI emerged."
Portraying a character that sheds his shirt, he recalled, "I remember the script described my body as 'beast-like.' Instead of just building a great physique, I thought about what kind of body a character would have if they suddenly gained strength. Therefore, rather than bulking up, I aimed to make the muscles visible and worked on my diet. Particularly, Park Jin-Young, who had to handle 'two roles' with Shin-Koo, mentioned, "I am immensely grateful that director asked Shin-Koo to read my lines. He allowed me to record it as well. After practicing continuously and meeting with the director for checks along the way, I adapted to the tone and voice over time, trying to find a midway point between Shin-Koo's identity and my own."
Finally, director Kang said, "I am truly grateful for the opportunity to be in theaters and I hope for much love for it," and Lee Jae-In added, "Seeing the credits roll made me feel scared and nervous. I realized I had an important role to play, and since this movie was filmed through our collective superpowers during this hot summer, I hope many people come to watch it."
[Photo] OSEN DB
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