Hollywood star Milla Jovovich shone at the 30th Busan International Film Festival with Protector, a collaboration with Korean production staff.
On the afternoon of the 19th, a stage greeting for the film Protector was held on the outdoor stage at Busan Cinema Center during the 30th Busan International Film Festival. Director Adrian Grunberg, actress Milla Jovovich, producer Paul W.S. Anderson, producer Park Ho-seong, and screenwriter Moon Bong-seop attended and discussed the film.
Protector is a film about Nikki Halstead (Milla Jovovich), a former U.S. special forces operative who must find her daughter Chloe, who was kidnapped by a criminal group, within 72 hours, depicting a breathless and merciless chase action. Milla Jovovich, a Ukrainian-born Hollywood star beloved for the Resident Evil series, stars in the film.
In particular, Protector has drawn attention not just for Milla Jovovich's appearance and visit but as a collaboration between Korean production staff and the Hollywood system. Screenwriter Moon Bong-seop said, "I created an opportunity to work on a Hollywood project in Korea. Please give it a lot of love."
Producer Park Ho-seong said, "I grew up in the United States. When making this film, Milla was my top choice for casting. Also producer Paul wanted to work together since the Resident Evil series," adding, "Seoul does not actually appear in the film. But because the writer is Korean, many Korean emotions and stories come through. You will be able to feel the essential Korean sensibility," he said confidently.
Combining systems from culturally different Korea and Hollywood took about seven years of production. CEO Ju Bang-wook said, "We started the script seven years ago. Writer Moon Bong-seop has dreamed of entering Hollywood for 20 years. Early last year Milla joined, and it seems this will be the first work where Hollywood staff and director all collaborated together. Even before release, to put the film's features simply: it offers great action and Korean-style storytelling. Please enjoy it
Milla said, "What drew me to the film was the script. The daughter in the story is actually the same age as one of my own daughters," emphasizing Protector's emotional line that crosses countries and cultures.
Above all, she introduced the role by saying, "In the film I play a former soldier. When her only daughter is kidnapped by abductors and handed over to human traffickers, she struggles to save her daughter," then added, "In a way, it could be every parent's worst nightmare: a child being kidnapped. Many people probably wondered how to get revenge. So it was mentally and physically tough. The emotions are unfamiliar. You will be able to feel a lot," she said confidently.
Protector is scheduled to be released later this year.
[Photo] OSEN reporter Lee Seok-woo.
[OSEN]