The film Boss (director Ra Hee-chan, produced by HYBE Media Corp., distributed by HYBE Media Corp. and Mindmark Co.), which will deliver a supercharged burst of laughter to theaters on Oct. 3, concluded its official event at the 30th Busan International Film Festival ahead of its release.
Boss is a comic action film that depicts the desperate showdown of organization members who fiercely "cede" the boss position to each other for the sake of their own dreams as the selection of the next boss, which determines the organization's future, approaches. The film Boss, which was officially invited to the Special Premiere section of Korean Cinema Today at the 30th Busan International Film Festival, generated explosive buzz last week with open talks and GVs held alongside the festival's opening. The film's main cast, from director Ra Hee-chan to actors Jo Woo-jin, Park Ji-hwan, Lee Kyu-hyung and Hwang Woo-seul-hye, attended the official event and lit up the occasion.
At open talks and a GV held at the Busan Cinema Center and Lotte Cinema Centum City respectively on Thursday, Sept. 18, they engaged in candid and cheerful conversations with audiences who had long awaited Boss, raising anticipation for the film and heating up the venue. Director Ra Hee-chan, who directed the film, revealed some of the behind-the-scenes production, saying, "The film Boss was built up as the actors and staff kept coming up with good ideas." Jo Woo-jin, who plays Sun-tae, a Chinese restaurant chef who wants to conquer the nation with his cooking rather than be the organization's boss, added, "Watching a film often brings back memories. I hoped it would be a movie where audiences could emotionally reminisce and recall certain lines once more. We shot with the intention of maximizing Boss's retro sensibility," adding to the film's lingering impression.
Regarding the scene in which Pan-ho, the only one in the film who wants to become boss, unleashes his desires, Park Ji-hwan recounted the immersive filming experience, saying, "Actually, there originally wasn't a dancing scene. But when analyzing the character, that moment was when Pan-ho internally becomes the boss, so I felt instinctively that a celebratory, ceremony-like scene that exploded that desire was needed, and I moved my body improvisationally."
At the GV held the next day, Hwang Woo-seul-hye, who plays Ji-young, Sun-tae's wife and the power behind the Chinese restaurant Mimiru, said, "I trusted the director and the actors on set, we breathed together and enjoyed the shoot. I sincerely thank everyone who took the time to come see the film," expressing gratitude to the GV audience. Lee Kyu-hyung, who plays Tae-gyu, an undercover police officer who infiltrates the organization aiming for its complete takedown, said, "I focused on the point that comedy becomes funnier when actors play things straight, so I tried to depict Tae-gyu's situations more soberly," and recreated Tae-gyu's signature pose, turning the venue into a sea of laughter. Jo Woo-jin added, "Since each character had a subpersona, props like gas canisters and work gloves carried symbolism. We thought it would be good to use more diverse props, so we used books in the latter action scenes, which added a fresh kind of fun," raising expectations for a film full of varied sights with character-specific action styles. In addition, the actors and director shared precious memories with the audience who came to the venue by handing out character business cards and offering personal thanks.
Boss, which delivered a direct hit of laughter at the 30th Busan International Film Festival through open talks and GVs and raised expectations, will be released on Oct. 3 (Fri).
[OSEN]