Actor Choi Min-sik mentioned the conflict between the production company chief and director Park Chan-wook that arose during the making of the film "Oldboy."
On the 8th, the SBS documentary NEW OLD BOY Park Chan-wook featured Choi Min-sik, who explained the production process of the film "Oldboy."
That day Choi Min-sik recalled the first time he read the "Oldboy" script and said, "Is this possible? Who would invest money?" Director Park Chan-wook gave a clear answer. "Then what about Hamlet? Oedipus?" he said. "Is provocative material not O Dae-su's sexual preference?"
However, the incest theme that carries the main thread of "Oldboy" hindered production. When investors refused to commit, the production company chief ultimately called Park Chan-wook and lead actor Choi Min-sik in for a three-way confrontation.
What the production company chief demanded was that the sex scene between Oh Dae-su (played by Choi Min-sik) and Mi-do (played by Kang Hye-jung) be removed. The production company chief said, "It's too provocative and the investors are really uncomfortable," and director Park Chan-wook firmly refused, stressing, "If that scene isn't there, this drama won't work."
The production company chief, upset by Park Chan-wook's refusal, said, "You're being too much. Can't you grant that one request?" Watching this, Choi Min-sik said he felt awkward because he could understand both sides.
Choi Min-sik recalled, "If it was so hard to go borrow that money, would they go so far as to have this conversation? It was really unfortunate on a human level, but from Park Chan-wook's perspective, for the people making it, that was really necessary. I was dying in the middle."
Choi Min-sik said, "As I was going home, I received a text from the production company chief. 'Brother, from this time on I will never bring this up again,'" and added, "Saying this makes me a little emotional now. The chief said, 'I won't talk about money. Make a good work.' It was touching."
He added, "Actually, from the maker's point of view, there's something you just can't let go of. You have to have that kind of stubbornness. Whether you live or die, you have to have something you want to try to express," he said in agreement.
[Photo] Broadcast capture
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