In 'Lost in Starlight,' Kim Tae-ri and Hong Kyung reunite as lovers in animation after two years.
On the afternoon of the 27th, a press screening for Netflix's film 'Lost in Starlight' was held at Lotte Cinema in Kondae, Seoul. Attendees included voice actors Kim Tae-ri, Hong Kyung, and director Han Ji-won.
'Lost in Starlight,' Netflix's first Korean animation film, depicts the romance of astronauts Nanyang (voiced by Kim Tae-ri), who dreams of exploring Mars in 2050 Seoul, and Jay (voiced by Hong Kyung), who has set aside his dream of becoming a musician. This work is by director Han Ji-won, who won the 'Indie Star' award at the Seoul Indie Animation Festival for his debut film 'Kopiruwak' and has since risen as a central figure in the new wave of Korean animation, invited to numerous prestigious film festivals including Sundance and Palm Springs. With Kim Tae-ri and Hong Kyung voicing the male and female leads, excitement is building.
Kim Tae-ri noted, "At first, I felt burdened by voice acting. However, after meeting the director and discussing it, he explained why he wanted to work with actors this time, and I was so convinced by that and had a strong desire to take on the challenge. I also really enjoyed reading the script, and I liked the message the director wanted to convey. I was curious about what kind of visuals would be created when it became a film, which made the script intriguing," she revealed her reason for participating.
Hong Kyung also said, "The writing by the director was attractive in itself. When it's set in 2050, it's something I think you can only imagine aimlessly, but when the director said that the visuals would be drawn in a certain way, I found it interesting and wanted to do it without hesitation."
Kim Tae-ri and Hong Kyung collaborated in 2023 on the SBS drama 'The Uncanny Counter,' where they met as the protagonist who hears spirits and a detective tracking the truth. They reunited in this animated film after two years.
In response, Kim Tae-ri said, "I met Hong Kyung again after 'The Uncanny Counter,' and personally, I like him and think he is a great actor, so I happily worked together," while praising him. Hong Kyung expressed, "I really like her as an actor, so there was a lot to learn while filming. Even then and now, it's not just acting; we're both deeply engaging in the work and putting off an energy that we are all trying to cultivate together. I also tried hard to keep up," showing his gratitude.
The two sang the OST together for the film, and Kim Tae-ri recalled, "With Hong Kyung, we had the same vocal coach for singing and interactions. We exchanged scenarios that characters might say, almost like a mission, a homework between the three of us with the director. It felt so embarrassing, like passing a diary back and forth."
Hong Kyung shared, "At first, I was so embarrassed and worried about how this would turn out, but as the sister said, working on the OST was an honor. It was a great experience and was fun."
Kim Tae-ri mentioned she had insecurities about her voice, stating, "I felt conscious about my voice while doing works like 'The Handmaiden' and 'Mr. Sunshine.' The first thing I am cautious about when taking on a project is hoping that it does not remind people of my previous works. This project is mainly focused on voice acting rather than expressions or movements, so I really thought about what I was doing while acting to sync with the director on that. There were enjoyable parts to such work."
Finally, Kim Tae-ri said, "It seems that audiences around the world love Korea. Many places and aspects that you all enjoy are featured in it, and I believe that the waves of imagination that can only be seen in animation will accompany you. You will not regret it," while Hong Kyung added, "Above all, there aren't many opportunities to see the future of Seoul, but the visuals painted by the director seem beautifully rendered. It would be nice if you enjoy it well."
Meanwhile, 'Lost in Starlight' will be released worldwide in over 190 countries via Netflix on the 30th.
[Photo] Park Jun-hyung, reporter
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