Actress Im Yoon-a aims for the title of comic queen in the summer theater market with 'Pretty Crazy,' following 'Confidential Assignment' and 'Exit.'
On the afternoon of the 6th, a press screening and a press conference for the film 'Pretty Crazy' (directed by Lee Sang-keun, distributed by CJ ENM, produced by Ouyun Naegang) took place at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall located in the Yongsan district of Seoul. Actors Im Yoon-a, Ahn Bo-hyun, and Joo Hyun-young attended, sharing their thoughts about the film with director Lee Sang-keun.
'Pretty Crazy' is a comedy film about a young man, Gyeol-gu (played by Ahn Bo-hyun), who gets caught up in an extraordinary part-time job that involves monitoring Seon-ji (played by Im Yoon-a), who awakens as a devil every dawn. This new work from director Lee Sang-keun, who captivated 9.42 million viewers in 2019 with 'Exit,' marks his second film, reuniting him with Im Yoon-a.
Im Yoon-a expressed her feelings, saying, "I saw the movie for the first time today. Memories from when we filmed came flooding back, and I watched it thinking about how the director brought it to life. I feel like I experienced the emotions even more than Seon-ji at that time, so my feelings are quite fresh. Watching the other actors perform, I think they did so well that the chemistry of 'Pretty Crazy' could stand out even more."
Ahn Bo-hyun also noted, "I watched the movie, and it was refreshing to think, 'So this is how a Lee Sang-keun film has been completed.' I saw Yoon-a quietly wiping tears next to me, and I almost cried too. Overall, I thought it was a touching and enjoyable film."
Joo Hyun-young, who plays Seon-ji's cousin, Ara, said, "I was amazed by how the director painted such a big picture. There were parts of the narrative between Seon-ji and Gyeol-gu that I didn't quite feel because I wasn't on set, but I was moved by those aspects while watching the film. And Gyeol-gu's signature expression of 'Woo' just sticks with me. The director continuously required it on set, and I remember that senior Bo-hyun did a great job mimicking that 'Woo,' which was really fun and good to witness."
Director Lee Sang-keun, who presents his new work after six years, stated, "A lot has happened globally since my debut in 2019, and the aftermath has continued. Inevitably, I had time amidst various situations. Back then, I was less nervous because I didn't know anything, but now I am much more nervous. I sincerely hope that my intentions are recognized, and I hope many people will come to see it."
After the protagonist Jo Jung-seok played a 'young unemployed man' in 'Exit,' Ahn Bo-hyun once again plays a 'young unemployed man' in this work. Director Lee Sang-keun explained, "It's comfortable for creators to tell stories that reflect themselves, and since I've led a life aspiring to be a film director without a job, I think I've been drawn to that aspect a lot. I've often talked about young people momentarily taking a break from working instead of being unemployed. Should the next opportunity arise, I would like to write about a new occupational group instead of an unemployed character."
Im Yoon-a, who reunited with director Lee Sang-keun, said, "Working with director Lee Sang-keun during 'Exit' often left me in awe. It was the same this time; one of the director's biggest charms is his ability to capture and express stories about 'people' immensely well. I think that aspect garnered a lot of love in 'Exit,' which contained family stories and emotions commonly witnessed. In this new film 'Pretty Crazy,' it feels like his storytelling, sensibilities, and comedy have been beautifully infused even more, and I continued to express my gratitude to the director."
She added, "It feels intriguing. I think the emotion is even more powerful than what I felt while reading the screenplay. Director Lee Sang-keun's ability to evoke such feelings from viewers feels extraordinary. I wonder where his imagination ends, but I think you'll feel that 'Pretty Crazy' is a film that contains even more of his charm."
Director Lee Sang-keun remarked, "Since 2022, I've been working on the film, and due to the editing process, I was always engaged with the movie, so I didn't realize that three years passed in the outside world. It was as if I entered a cave like a fable and came back to find that time had gone by. Being so devoted, time slipped away. It would be a lie to say I wasn't worried about what kind of project I would undertake after enjoying popularity with 'Exit.' I thought that as long as I could do what I love and cherish, I would be fine. However, even now, I feel a strong sense of vibration inside me. I'm curious about how the audience will respond." He continued, "I sincerely hope that the scores won't cause losses to investors or many producers and that the audience will truly wish to enjoy this film."
Casting Ahn Bo-hyun posed a challenge for him. Since Ahn Bo-hyun had shown a strong presence in previous works, performing comedy in 'Pretty Crazy' was a unique challenge. Director Lee Sang-keun noted, "Ahn Bo-hyun has a strong external appearance, but there is a soft inner side. I was initially overwhelmed, but there is a side of him that resembles me not just externally, but internally. Though I feel bad for saying so, I think he has a lot of commonalities with me since I'm also on that side. If he has shown a strong side until now, I think the audience will see a lot of new sides to him in this film."
Im Yoon-a challenges the comic queen title in the summer theater market through 'Pretty Crazy.' She elaborated on her dual role of a ghost and a person, explaining, "Outwardly, the differences between Day Seon-ji and Night Seon-ji can be clearly distinguished. During the day, I styled her with pure looks and a tone that can be described as introverted, resembling a friend with an I preference in MBTI. Night Seon-ji was styled elaborately from head to toe without leaving out any details, utilizing everything from nail art to colored contact lenses for a glamorous appearance. I also adjusted her tone and speech differently from Day Seon-ji. Above all, I focused on ensuring the genuine emotions of Seon-ji and the devil are conveyed to the viewers."
Above all, he noted the opportunity to perform comedy again after receiving praise for his comedic performances in 'Confidential Assignment' and 'Exit,' saying, "I think Seon-ji is one of the most energetic characters I have played. Because of that, I think I was able to act with the least restraint while filming. When I received the script, I thought about how the director would illustrate it since I had worked on 'Exit' with him. I hoped that the charm would come alive more while acting than while reading the script, and I wanted viewers to feel his charm. Honestly, I felt a bit shy about how to express it, but the director provided great direction, which let me film comfortably. As the character with the greatest energy, I was able to immerse myself and express freely."
Joo Hyun-young also shared, "After watching it, I felt a profound sense of familial love. Although it's about a devil, I think within it, we could deeply feel warmth towards family, love, and even towards those we care about like Gyeol-gu. I believe it's a film where viewers can feel warmth a little more comfortably. At the same time, there are many parts where you will chuckle, so overall, I think it's a family-friendly film. It might be very fitting for families to watch together."
After meeting audiences again on the screen following 'The Monster Express' last month, Joo Hyun-young said, "I received many messages congratulating me on the movie's release. Having a film showing in theaters again just a month later is such a touching and honorable experience because it's something I have never experienced."
He added, "Rather than thinking about how to differentiate from variety shows, the director told me to do whatever I wanted while playing Ara. When it seemed excessive, the director would comment that it felt overdone, and both Yoon-a and Bo-hyun also offered their advice." He continued, "In that process, I think I felt quite nervous. While Ara was a carefree friend, I, the actual Joo Hyun-young, also had the ambition to succeed. I feel like that desire emerged as tension, and whether the audience can sense that, I also wished I had a bit more fun in the role. However, at the same time, I believe I played a role that brings a breeze within the movie, so I want to feel proud of how well I did."
On the other hand, Ahn Bo-hyun acknowledged, "When I first encountered the character of Gyeol-gu in writing, I felt I researched and focused a lot, but it wasn't easy to bring it to life. This work features a character with a manly and energetic appearance, closer to an idealistic figure. Given that the character of Gyeol-gu reflects the director, I was always curious about why the director would suggest this tone, speak slowly, or recommend this signature expression. However, watching the movie resolved those questions. I felt like the director is a potential genius, and it felt like all my doubts were dismissed, allowing me to resonate with Gyeol-gu well." He added, "I hope many people find healing by watching this movie. Although there were moments of tenderness, I think it would be wonderful for families and couples to come and find healing together."
He also shared, "I have asked the director what genre it could be. After watching the film, I didn't feel that sense of resolution, but while we do not have any frightening scenes like a thriller, there are moments that surprise you through sound. I believe there were hints of a romance between Seon-ji and Gyeol-gu that emerged later, and that felt great. I think it could be described as an odd film since there are many intersections between various genres, and I would emphasize that feeling of being healed through a complex genre."
Furthermore, Director Lee Sang-keun remarked, "It's essential to categorize the film into either melodrama or thriller, which allows for guidelines. However, our movie features multiple genres, so I acknowledge there's a point where one might feel lost as to what kind of film it is. I understand it is not easy to pinpoint our film into a specific genre. I hope audiences can perceive different genres; someone may see it as love, others as drama, and perhaps some as mystery. I disclose it as comedy and mystery in press releases, but rather than being limited by genres, I hope viewers can simply experience the film fully."
Ahn Bo-hyun also commented, "Although Gyeol-gu is an introverted character, Yoon-a is naturally bright, easygoing, and energetic, and I think I received significant support from that. I believe, much like Yoon-a said, that the director has latent talent not just in directing but across all aspects of acting, which greatly aided me in portraying Gyeol-gu. All of his expressions and actions came from the director's mind. That's why I think everything was verified, and I just followed along. I'm also grateful for the opportunity to release this in summer, and I'd wanted to challenge myself with a character like this. Watching myself in the film, I think I succeeded, so I want to express my gratitude to all the actors and the director present here once again."
There were dramatic setups for comic performances as well. For Yoon-a, it involved a cute devil-like laughter, while for Ahn Bo-hyun, it featured a dumbfounded and silly expression. Yoon-a remarked, "The laughter was not easy. The director indicated the kind of vibe he desired, so there was a process of practicing. We often discussed how we wanted the devil's laughter to come across effortlessly. Both the laughter and expressions were based on what the director illustrated and what appeared in the storyboard, which helped tremendously. I thought that if I could express Seon-ji's essence and charm as it was, it would resonate well, so I focused on that."
Ahn Bo-hyun further mentioned, "The expression acting of Gyeol-gu reflected my process similarly to Yoon-a, where in the storyboard I saw a depiction of Gyeol-gu that suggested he should go, 'Oh.' I thought the director drew that for me, and he clarified that it should be done without glasses and with that expression, making it easy to understand. Although I practiced, I didn't want to see myself in the mirror; instead, I focused on the director as a mirror and after several expressions, the 'Oh' came out naturally. Watching the screen, I personally had a good laugh."
What was the chemistry between the two really like? Im Yoon-a said, "I only have pleasant memories of filming. I especially remember the scene where I fell into the Han River; it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. To make the most of that one chance, both Seon-ji and Gyeol-gu prepared a lot during that filming time, which has stuck with me."
Continuing, Ahn Bo-hyun explained, "It's not that there's no memorable episode, but rewatching the movie, I feel we shot as if we became children. Such experiences are crucial, but the atmosphere on set was immensely good. Rather than struggling, the memories have polished into good memories, making every scene enjoyable. Yoon-a's distinct portrayal of Day Seon-ji and Night Seon-ji made clear that Gyeol-gu is one person. He is characterized by insecurity and a lack of confidence, but I believe the point where he transforms because of Seon-ji has been well brought to light. I would say that our chemistry deserves the highest praises for that."
'Pretty Crazy' is set to be released in theaters nationwide on the 13th.
[Photo] OSEN reporter Park Jun-hyung.
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