Actor Jeon Jong-seo revealed how she became close friends with Han So-hee.
On the afternoon of the 9th at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, an interview with actor Jeon Jong-seo about the film "Project Y" (provided by Plus M Entertainment, Pencher Invest Co., Ltd., distributed by Plus M Entertainment, planned by WOWPOINT, Climax Studio, produced by Climax Studio and WOWPOINT | co-produced by Plus M Entertainment) took place.
The film "Project Y" tells the story of Miseon and Dogyoung, who dreamed of a different tomorrow while living in the midst of a glamorous city, and who, at the edge of their lives, steal black money and gold bullion, and it opens on Jan. 21.
With interest already high simply because of the meeting of Jeon Jong-seo and Han So-hee, when asked whether she felt that, Jeon recalled the initial offer, saying, "Somehow I received the script offer at a time when it felt like people weren't coming to theaters and it felt paralyzed, and I thought that if we tried this, if So-hee and I did it, maybe we could create something with intense emotion."
How was the chemistry with Han So-hee? Jeon said, "So-hee is an actor friend who suddenly reached out, so I got to know her out of the blue. I didn't know we'd end up working together. Surprisingly, she's easygoing, professional, and what I felt while acting together was that it was physically really demanding." She added, "We had to do it that way, and we filmed under harsh conditions with little time and reversed day and night. She was a partner who suffered alongside me and like a decalcomania counterpart, so I felt she was quietly there, and because we endured it together I felt it wasn't just me, and that naturally became a source of strength."
Earlier it was reported that Jeon Jong-seo and Han So-hee were both born in 1994, but recently it emerged that Han So-hee was born in 1993, drawing attention. They turned out to be sisters with a one-year age difference, not just friends. When asked about this, she laughed in surprise, saying, "I just learned that now. She was born in '93?"
When asked how the two became close, Jeon said, "The first time I got to know So-hee was when I received a DM on Instagram. So we started talking. I vaguely remember calling her name," adding, "I used to get DMs from female actors and entertainers often. I think I was the first to reply to So-hee. Conversation continued naturally. We met at my house. We met privately at home."
In particular, Jeon said, "Working and acting in this field, when you have friends with ordinary jobs you often have to explain a lot, but with another actor there are things you don't have to explain. In that regard, there was an understanding without saying anything, so I think there was a common ground."
Jeon, who said there were no mismatches between them in the work, said, "I don't think I felt any mismatched parts. I think we're both the cautious type, and even if there were things, I think we're both the kind to talk about them. If something was uncomfortable on set or in those parts, we'd apologize. Expressing it like this, 'uh? X uh? X,' and since we're both easygoing, that's how we filmed."
When asked whether director Lee Chung-hyun, who is publicly dating one of them, was jealous of their relationship, Jeon laughed and said, "Director Lee Chung-hyun seems to support all my personal relationships well."
Meanwhile, Jeon's action acting in this film drew particular attention, and Jeon recalled, "Really, So-hee and I both handle heat well and are weak to cold, so fighting the cold was tough. But we had to do it. I think all the parts we filmed are included."
Jeon also explained about the costumes in the film, saying, "We had our costume team, and because So-hee and I both have strong stylistic identities, many of the things we advocated were accepted. When people see Dogyoung and Miseon I wanted these things to appear iconic. So we took on signature colors and kept things minimal like a man with one suit."
She continued, "They wanted only a few outfits that would be memorable, so I mainly brought red clothes, and So-hee brought clothes in her style. So we layered clothes rather than focusing on warmth; we gave up some things but tried to maintain the style."
As the digging continued to find the black money hidden by Mr. To, Jeon confessed, "We dug all night, and that scene was the turning point that ignited the filming. That scene is my favorite; people asked if it took just a little time. It was done for the whole film. I think it's a very impactful part and it's the point where they find the gold, so we call it the 'Exhuma scene.'"
"Project Y" has already gained global attention with official invitations to the Toronto International Film Festival and the Busan International Film Festival and winning best film at the London Asian Film Festival. When asked whether, having been invited to Cannes before with "Burning," she was familiar with overseas festivals, Jeon said, "Debuting with 'Burning' was a very strong impact. So people assume Jeon Jong-seo will be cinematic, that she won't be moved by those festivals, that she'll be a bit at ease," adding, "That's not the case at all. I have very mainstream tastes in films and drama, and I went to the Toronto Film Festival trembling. Looking back, I think I knew nothing. Casting at that moment felt like a miracle, and I'm an ordinary person."
Jeon Jong-seo is currently filming the Hollywood movie "Highlander" as her next project. When asked about her recent status, she said, "I'm currently filming 'Highlander.' We're shooting in the U.K., so I'm going back and forth," adding that with famous actors such as Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery and Clancy Brown appearing in large numbers, she had met the cast at the full reading and on set felt like the youngest. "The director likes me so I'm working hard, and the action rehearsals are well systemized, and the director who did 'John Wick' had the crew undergo grueling training. The set atmosphere is good," she said.
Asked about joining a Hollywood project, she said, "There have been programs that created different audition tables in Hollywood for several nights and days. I had meetings up to that point and met directors and wondered, 'Why didn't it work?' for a moment, but then I met this project. I felt this project was meant for me. I felt the things that didn't work were because I wasn't supposed to do them. I thought, 'Do I have a connection overseas?'"
Meanwhile, "Project Y," in which Jeon Jong-seo appears, opens on Jan. 21.
[Photo] Provided by Andmark, Plus M Entertainment
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