Director Lee Jeong-cheol of the film 'The Last Assignment,' which is set to be released on Sept. 3 (Director: Lee Jeong-cheol | Grants: Um Tae-woong, Park Sang-myeon, Jeon Soo-kyung, Yoon Hyun-sook, Choi In-a, Lee Seong-jong (special appearance) | Provided/Co-distributed: Studio Killer Whale Co., Ltd., SW Contents Co., Ltd. | Produced by: Studio Killer Whale Co., Ltd. | Co-produced by: Elephant Entertainment Co., Ltd., SW Contents Co., Ltd. | Distributed by: Inol Media Co., Ltd.), revealed the reasons for selecting Um Tae-woong as the lead and behind-the-scenes production details.
'The Last Assignment' tells the story of a temporary teacher and the children who embark on their last assignment, each with their unique flair. The warm sensitivity peculiar to director Lee Jeong-cheol, who directed 'My Heart 2' and 'Family,' heightens expectations, while revealing the behind-the-scenes production processes from the writing of the script to casting and filming draws attention.
Director Lee Jeong-cheol first introduced the work by stating, "'The Last Assignment' is a self-reflection of adults written through teacher Kim Young-nam. It is a movie that resonates with audiences through the reflections of Kim Young-nam, who has past mistakes, and the reconciliation process of the children." He added, "The previous work, 'Family,' started with the relationship between a sister and a father, while 'My Heart 2' was a piece that reminisced about a dog I raised. This time, 'The Last Assignment' captures the emotions I felt while raising my daughter and son," suggesting that the director will continue to reflect on the meaning of various forms of family and 'happiness.'
The reason for casting actor Um Tae-woong in the role of 'Kim Young-nam,' who appears as a temporary homeroom teacher at a private elementary school in Gangnam, was shared: "Just as I thought of Soo-ae while writing the script for 'Family,' the actor that came to mind while adapting this script was Um Tae-woong. I have had a bond with him since his days of obscurity," revealing deep trust. Um Tae-woong makes his return to the screen after about nine years with this project.
He noted, "Actor Park Sang-myeon's 'Bureok' character stands in stark contrast to the stature and character of Kim Young-nam. I confidently cast actress Jeon Soo-kyung in the role of the calm principal, who guides the emotional line of the narrative. As for actress Yoon Hyun-sook, who plays the role of the head of the parents' association, I was personally a fan of hers," sparking curiosity regarding the impressive performances of the cast. In particular, he expressed gratitude to actor Lee Seong-jong, a special guest from the group Infinite, stating, "Despite his brief appearance, he put in so much passion on set, and I really appreciate it."
Meanwhile, reflecting on the unpredictable filming experiences with the twenty child actors of Class 3-4, who appeared in this film 'The Last Assignment,' thanks to his previous experiences working with dog actors in 'My Heart 2' and the child actor Park Ji-bin in 'Family,' he shared, "The twenty children were in completely different situations. There was only one method: 'Get close before filming.'" He added, "On the first day of shooting, I was overwhelmed by the noise of the children, and I was surprised by the recent child actors. When the 'shoot' call came, they became professionals," hinting at the shining performances of young actors like Hong Jeong-min, Lee Jae-jun, and Jo Jae-young that had everyone on set amazed.
[Photo] Film still, poster
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