Project Y, full of intense characters, arrives in theaters.
On the 8th at Lotte Cinema World Tower Mall in Seoul, a press screening for the film "Project Y" was held. Attending the event were Han So-hee, Jeon Jong-seo, Kim Shin-rock, Jung Young-ju, Lee Jae Kyoon, YooA, Kim Sung-Cheol, and director Lee Hwan.
The film Project Y, which opens on Jan. 21, tells the story of Miseon and Dokyung, who dreamed of a different tomorrow while living in the middle of a flashy city, and who, at the edge of their lives, steal black money and gold bullion, setting off the events that follow. Project Y, which early on drew attention simply with the casting news of standout young stars Han So-hee and Jeon Jong-seo, additionally brings trusted actors Kim Shin-rock and Jung Young-ju, along with Kim Sung-Cheol and the charming scene stealer Lee Jae Kyoon, and YooA, promising a film that's a pleasure to watch.
Before the program began, the cast and director appeared in coordinated black dress code, drawing attention. They then held a moment of silent prayer to mourn Ahn Sung-ki, and everyone observed a moment of silence.
Director Lee Hwan said, "The starting point of 'Project Y' was curiosity about human desire. It began with desire, but I thought of it as a story structure in which a person opens their eyes to another desire and gradually grows. I wanted to create a series of varied character portraits, and it was a happy time to be able to see the great performances of many wonderful people."
He continued, "I think this is a kind of family film. I wanted to imply the relationship between a mother and daughter, with the mother Gayoung sacrificing for her daughters. Those were aspects also addressed in 'Park Hwayoung.' I thought about how to handle those parts—this is, in a way, a commercial film. I had a deep desire for more audiences and more people to meet and communicate with this film. We decided to start by dressing the story with genre fun and genre elements."
He added, "The fictional space called 'Hwajung Market' came from thinking about where desire boils most intensely; I imagined a dark night. I thought that in the world of night, and to the extent that two characters could exist, many human figures might swarm, so I placed characters in that space. Because I wanted to talk a lot about the human ensemble, many characters emerged while writing the script."
He also shared the casting behind Han So-hee and Jeon Jong-seo, who worked closely up front. The director said, "I thought it might be difficult to complete this film without those two actors. I even thought it might be hard to get started. So the two of us mustered a bit of courage and delivered the script to the two actors. When I first met them together and talked for a long time, I remember feeling good because they readily accepted on the spot." He added, "The reason it had to be those two actors is that I usually worked with characters with many deficiencies. This time, I thought the film might be realized through the emotions I express. To make that convincing to audiences, I desperately needed the persuasiveness that So-hee and Jong-seo possess."
Jung Young-ju, who left an impression playing the role of "Bull" in the film, recalled her chemistry with Kim Shin-rock: "We had to shoot in a confined space, and the first scene involved being hit with an ashtray. There was some blood too. We did a few rehearsals with little dialogue and then shot, and I felt that the energy poured into the long rehearsal was all released in front of the camera."
She continued, "To be honest, I didn't prepare that much. I decided to just be the Bull, and I fully committed to being the Bull. So it was a pleasant kind of violence. I wish I could have shown affection, but we shot without time for that. I really like Kim Shin-rock's eyes, and being able to act while making eye contact from the start felt like I was filming a scene of me falling in love."
Kim Shin-rock also responded, "I had two scenes with senior. I saw her with a shaved head for the first time and wondered what kind of charisma I should use to confront her. I urgently tried matching our energies, saying 'Give me ice!' and it was thrilling and great. The second scene was very difficult, but she threw herself into it so readily. We had to physically embrace each other, and she was really cool. Seeing her on set, I thought, 'She's really amazing. I want to be that kind of actor.'"
Kim Shin-rock described her character: "Although set as the mother of the two characters, it's not a typical mother-daughter relationship. The two characters, in relation to Gayoung, try to live better lives personally but through short encounters in deeper relationships aim to overturn the system. I focused on how to persuasively make that intense." She added, "During the acting process with the two actors, I watched the monitor when we shot other scenes, and the pleasure of seeing the two actors move within one frame was tremendous. Familiar structures feel very fresh because the two actors pull them off. I felt it came alive with a retro charm."
Han So-hee said, "Expressively I may appear strong, but when coeval actors meet and draw strength together, the film can proceed, and hearing more casting news made me feel it had to be done." She added with a laugh, "Actually, senior Shinrok and senior Young-ju and senior Sung-cheol—some people passed away and others were lying in hospital beds. Filming was very hard, but looking back I realize it wasn't so hard." She continued, "The scene I think of most now is the ending without a clear answer where two friends who tried to change their lives with immature thoughts wonder how they'll live. That ambiguous ending is what I remember most."
Jeon Jong-seo explained her choice of the project: "I was also most attracted to the fact that it's a buddy film. There are many hidden charms beyond what is written in the script, and I thought there would be points where I could find and express those." She added, "As an actress, constantly challenging myself in genres that are not easily made and uncommon things, participating in this film itself carries great meaning for me. I remember all the scenes I shot with actor So-hee who stood beside me. I also remember scenes with other seniors and colleagues, and there are many regrets. I feel ambitious about what I'd like to try. We shot during a really cold and difficult time for filming. Everyone filmed with earnest hearts, so the results remain memorable."
Kim Sung-Cheol described his character 'Boss To' saying, "I and the director discussed whether a backstory was necessary. Giving To-sa-ja a backstory might actually diminish the villain's charm. I agreed. I wanted To-sa-ja to be seen as a figure opposing the protagonists and to be expressed as a black object confronting black money. Rather than a simple character, I wanted to portray something like a devil."
He added, "Every scene felt like homework and was difficult. The director told me to 'propose with your gaze.' I'm not some kind of tiger, so I hurriedly bulked up, wore a suit with thickness, and felt I had to appear big. The process of creating To-sa-ja wasn't easy, so I approached each scene like tackling homework."
Lee Jae Kyoon recalled, "Senior Young-ju said she would react five and I would receive 95, and it came with great power. If she had gone even further, I might have really died. Although I occasionally worked with senior Young-ju on other projects, this time it was even more fun to act. It was my first time acting with Sung-cheol, and because I trusted him a lot, we acted more freely trusting each other. It was cold, and we were lying on that bare ground naked and red. Still, we were able to film enjoyably."
YooA, making her screen debut with this project, said, "When I read the script, there were shocking lines even on the page. I wondered how I would digest those parts and whether I could really do it, but the director told me that doing it stylishly makes you a stylish actor, so I perceived the swearing as a kind of song. Since I don't usually use such language, it was very difficult. So I learned the tones and feelings like a song and repeatedly said them to my partner. Through workshops we talked and threw around insults. Through that process I tried to become comfortable. It's a daring attempt, but I hope it becomes a positive step."
Finally Jung Young-ju said, "Movies in which audiences can fully see the power delivered by actresses on screen are few. I am personally very grateful to the film for showing the kind of images this gender can present." She added, "Recently many big stars have passed away, which felt chilling. But I believe films must continue. I would appreciate praise and criticism so this film can continue to be made," she urged the public to watch the film.
[Photo] OSEN DB
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