Lee Byung-hun Talks About His Movies, Love Life ChosunIlbo
"Gwanghae: the Man Who Became King," in which Lee Byung-hun plays a double role, will open on Sept. 19. The film revolves around Gwanghaegun, the 15th king of the Chosun Dynasty who was deposed in a coup. In the film, Lee plays the bizarre king, known for his mischievous behavior, as well as his double, a humble acrobat and bawdy joker who stands in for the monarch when the latter faces the threat of being poisoned.
Although the role hardly fits Lee's action-man image, he said he was keen to avoid being pigeonholed. "If I had other talents, like performing as a singer or hosting a show, I'd be able to show many different sides of myself," he said. "But I have to focus on playing to my skills, and doing what I can through my acting. As I don't want to be get stereotyped, I prefer to play more versatile roles."
Lee will leave the country in the middle of this month to shoot his new film, "Red 2," starring Bruce Willis and Helen Mirren.
He made his Hollywood debut in 2009 with the hugely successful action flick "G. I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra," a project he said was made more difficult by his nascent grasp of the language.
"At first, it took me an hour to read just three pages of the script. Even using a dictionary, there were still many lines and directions that I couldn’t figure out the meaning of," he said. "I'd previously focused on action movies, but the plot for 'G.I. Joe' was inspired by a comic book, with the character flying around, brandishing swords and wearing a mask. So initially I was going to turn the role down.
"But as I'm still a newcomer in Hollywood, where not that many people know my name, I need to bide my time and accept the roles I'm offered, at least until I get to that level where I can pick the movies I want to do."
Asked how hard it was to make it in Hollywood, he said, "Many people think I must have tried hard. But I didn’t plan it, actually. I'd never imagined these things would happen to me, so I think I was just lucky."
Asked about why he seldom appears in public, Lee said, "When I started acting, more experienced actors told me that an actor shouldn't show too much of his real self to the public. I think that's why [I shy away from the public eye]. I want people to be absorbed in the characters I play, rather than thinking about the real me, when they watch my movies."
Recently, his romantic relationship with actress Lee Min-jung has become the talk of the town.
"I think there is a huge gap between the image of myself as an actor and the real me, in terms of how I'm perceived. When I read stories about me and the comments people make, I feel like they're talking about someone else. I try not to let it get under my skin, but, to be honest, all the gossip about my relationship bothers me."
Lee Byung-heon will be collaborating once again with Bruce Willis and Helen Mirren in 'Red 2'.
Movie 'Red 2' is a movie about the battle of legendary agent and CIA, and the first movie, starring Bruce Willis and John Malkovich, was released in 2010.
Lee Byung-heon will be casting as the villain in the movie, and he commented, "Many troubles are unavoidable. But, I have to go through it alone somehow." He also told that he had a lot of trouble expressing detailed emotions in his lines, because it was in a different language.
He said, "When speaking in English, people sometimes misunderstand me, and there were many misunderstandings. You shouldn't pretend that you understood everything. If you are not sure, you should ask about it again and again."
He also said about working with such great Hollywood stars, "I couldn't believe it was happening to me. I was so thankful for such special experiences, and I was just over joyed. But, I tried hard to not get overly excited."
However, Lee Byung-heon told that something changed in him after leaving the handprints on the Hollywood's Walk of Fame last June. He said, "It was like making a new promise with the audience."
He continued, "I don't think I didn't become that much successful in Hollywood yet. However, I hope that someone in the future will be motivated by what I achieved, and grow up as a bigger star."
Actor Lee Byung Hun openly and honestly expressed his love for his girlfriend, actress Lee Min Jung.
The interview of the lead actors Lee Byung Hun and Ryu Seung Ryong of the movie ‘Gwanghae: The Man Who Became King’ was featured on the September 8th episode of KBS ‘Entertainment Relay’.
Lee Byung Hun drew the attention of the viewers on this day, openly discussing about his relationship and his girlfriend. Lee Byung Hun stated, “We’re seeing each other with serious intention. (It’s a Korean way of speaking. Celebrities will often speak like this to express that they are dating and that their relationship is serious). I appreciate all the attention, but because people speak of things that are too early at this stage, our relationship got a little awkward.”
Lee Byung Hun continued, “I thought we’d get to see each other more often once we go public, but because of my movie promotion my schedule is packed day and night. I feel sad.”
Lee Byung Hun also shared, “Because I have so little free time Lee Min Jung packed lunch for me. It was a sandwich. Boy she’s such a good cook”, and he laughed out loud, looking like the happiest man in the world.
Lee Byung Hun wasn’t finished showing off his girlfriend’s cooking skills however. He stated, “As I was passing the sandwiches to the staff members I asked them ‘Do you know who made these?’, and they were all surprised”, and he laughed again satisfied and happy.
Image: KBS ‘Entertainment Relay’
Source: TV Daily via Nate
Lee Byung Hun Talks about Being a Global Star, ‘Masquerade’ and Lee Min Jung
CJ E&M enewsWorld Oh, MiJung Translation Credit: Erika Kim
Lee Byung Hun continued to be modest about his global star status.
“I feel awkward around the title of ‘world star,’” he said. Though he’s the best actor in Korea, he said he’s still a supporting actor in Hollywood and said, “I’ll work hard until the day comes when I can choose the scenarios I want to take.”
Lee Byung Hun talked honestly about himself and his career at the media day event held for Masquerade with the film’s director and his fellow cast members.
Lee Byung Hun didn’t look at all like the big star he really is, sipping drinks comfortably and spilling out his emotions.
To a question asking how he brought himself to ruin his image when he’s a global star, he answered, “It wasn’t the part where I ruined myself that felt awkward, but the title of ‘world star’. No one even recognizes me when I’m in America.”
He then added with a laugh, “Once there was someone who recognized me. They asked whether I was an actor, and when I told them yes, they said they had seen me in the film Hangover.”
Lee Byung Hun did not appear in Hangover. They had mistaken him for the Korean American actor Ken Jeong.
He then said about his own film, “There were actually many more entertaining scenes in the film, but most were edited out. There was a scene where I made a mistake when I tried to sheathe my sword, but it didn’t make it into the film."
"I know because I tried for G.I. Joe; it’s harder to sheathe a sword than to swing it around. Even experts find it hard to sheathe swords without looking. I tried to use that idea in the film, but I guess the director didn’t like it.”
The actor also touched on his recently revealed relationship with the actress Lee Min Jung.
When asked whether Lee Min Jung would attend the VIP preview scheduled for September 7, he said, “She said she had to shoot a commercial. I don’t think she’ll make it.”
Lee Byung Hun’s acting has garnered great praise from those who attended the screening on September 3.
Lee Byung Hun acted as both King Gwanghae and the lookalike low-class Ha Sun. Gwanghae hands Ha Sun his throne when he is threatened of being poisoned, and King Ha Sun learns what makes a true king while he acts as a fake one for 15 days. The film will premiere on September 19.
HALLYU star Lee Byung-hun’s first historical feature Masquerade will be released in his home country and North America this month.
The movie’s distribution company CJ Entertainment said Masquerade will open in domestic theatres on Sept 20, and in selected theatres in North America the following day.
Lee plays a clown, Ha-sun, who has to impersonate King Gwang-hae after the latter is being poisoned. Ha-sun must save the country from chaos.
This film is one of the most highly anticipated historical films of the year, as it is the first of its kind to portray the controversial King Gwang-hae.
Lee, who is famous for his skilful acting as well as his buff body, said that he cut his wavy locks to make himself look more like the king of the Joseon Dynasty.
“Before shooting of the film, the director told me that he didn’t want the king to have a six-pack. So, I lost my six-pack abs to perfectly portray the king. It was easy because what I had to do was just not to exercise and also not be on a diet,” Lee said.
However, the actor said there were some difficulties during the shoot and it was not easy to speak like a royalty.
While Lee plays dual roles, Ryu Seung-ryeong and Han Hyo-joo play a courtier and the queen, respectively. – Reuters
Actor Lee Byung Hun, currently a hot commodity in both Korea and abroad, recently talked about his experiences while filming for the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster film, ‘RED 2‘. The film is a sequel to the original “RED”, which was released in 2010 and featured a star studded cast including John Malkovich and Bruce Willis.
“In my first appearance in ‘RED 2′, I go through a full body check. They’re checking me for weapons, and I have to really strip down,” he said. “I was okay about stripping down, but in the screenplay, there was this one line describing a ‘perfect body’. So I figured that I would have to work very hard for about three months just for that one line.”
Although Lee Byung Hun is already well-known for his chiseled body, he doesn’t always take care of his muscles, he said. “I only exercise hard when my character requires a muscular body,” he said. “It’s actually a very tiring and exhausting part. Not only do I have to work out, but I have to check my eating habits as well. I’m not even a professional athlete, so I don’t only focus on working out.”
“Once you build muscles once, it’s not hard to build them up again,” he advised. “They say that the muscles remember. But now, it’s getting harder because of my age. Once you get past a certain number, it’s medically much harder to form muscles in the first place,” he laughed.
‘RED 2′ is scheduled for release in August of 2013.
Lee Byung-hun greets reporters and fans during the V.I.P screening of his new film "Masquerade" held at the CGV movie theater in Yeoido, Seoul on September 7, 2012. [CJ E&M]
Korean top actor Lee Byung-hun’s latest film “Masquerade” will have its world premiere at one of the biggest art museums in the United States.
The pic’s distributor CJ E&M said in a press release Thursday that the costume drama is to be screened for the Film Independent program at the Los Angeles County Museum Of Art [LACMA] on Friday.
After the screening ends at the Big Theater in the evening, Lee will join the audience for Q&A session with famed American film critic Elvis Mitchell.
Proving the heightened expectation for the movie, the officials added that all 600 seats for the event have sold out.
“The film fits our goal [to spotlight the Asian culture] and our audiences’ who expect to meet the Korean history through beautiful mise-en-Scene,” an official from the LACMA was quoted as saying.
Film Independent is a non-profit art organization which has supported indie filmmakers and artists since it was founded in 1981 under the LACMA, the biggest art museum in the western America.
The King’s story, scheduled to open in selected American theaters on September 21, scored a massive opening of approximately one million U.S. dollars at the Korean box office on September 13.
Masquerade, a film spearding news about Lee Byung-hun’s double role, is going to be the first Korean film to have a red carpet premiere at Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) on September 14th (GMT-8) as it was invited to Film Independent. Lee the leading actor of Masquerade, who is already been known in Hollywood with G. I. Joe series and Red 2, is expected to receive spot light on the red carpet.
Soon after LACMA posted news about the premiere on their official web site on September 6th, 600 tickets have been all sold. This was an exceptional case showing how high expectations in Lee and Korean historical drama have gone up.
Starting with a red carpet event with the attendance of Hollywood’s renowned filmmakers and other people working in the film industry as well as Lee, the premiere is going to have a Q&A section with Elvis Mitchell, a film critic from the ‘New York Times’.
LACMA’s Film Independent, where Masquerade was invited to, is a nonprofit artistic organization established in 1981 in order to support independent film makers and artists. Films recently invited to them include The Descendants starring George Clooney and Moneyball starring Brad Pitt. A representative of LACMA stated, “Masquerade well matched the concepts of LACMA because it deals with the history of Korea. That was a good enough reason that Film Independent was interested in the film and invited it.”
Singer PSY's 'Gangnam Style' and director Kim Ki Duk's 'Pietà' are currently influencing both Korea and the world.
Singer Psy's "Gangnam Style" and director Kim Ki Duk's 'Pietà' are currently influencing both Korea and the world.
The original Hallyu movement, which was led by Super Junior, Girls Generation, Wonder Girls and other idol groups, has been augmented to include even more Korean dramas and now it seems to be reaching yet another high point.
Ultimately it was Psy, an older and more experienced singer, who was able to break into the world markets and a director known to be an outsider even in the Korean film industry, Kim Ki Duk, who won the highest honor at the Venice Film Festival, an internationally famous and respected film festival. They are not the players that are the most representative of Korean culture but this means that representativeness isn't the issue at hand.
The ways to publicize and market pop culture is changing every day and at this point, the stage for K-Pop and Korean culture to grow is getting bigger. Hallyu isn't a movement because its representative of Korea but it will simply become a trend that will be spreading worldwide.
Even amidst a turbulent relationship with Japan, Jang Keun Suk's popularity is continuing and actresses like Bae Doo Na and Kim Yunjin are being recognized worldwide and in Hollywood. Ultimately this means that if the content is right and the skills are there, it's possible to seize the opportunities that launch Korea and Korean culture in to the world spotlight.
In this vein, that's why the 'Korean Invasion' is just beginning.
'Pietà' and its win is an amazing feat for a Korean artist but its influence on Korean mainstream film is unknown. Kim Ki Duk was never known for his commerciality or financial success but by winning this award, he drew over 100,000 audiences to his movie, which was unheard of for him. Until now, an award at a foreign film festival didn't mean much but now it's moving the masses.
Some people believe that this will allow more directors to aspire to be like Kim Ki Duk and make art-house movies that may win awards internationally. Though he was almost exclusively loved in Europe, his Golden Lion award may earn him the possibility to be considered for the Foreign Film category for the Academy Awards, where a Korean film has never set foot. This is an incredibly fresh take and an exciting possibility for Korean film and its future.
On the other hand, Psy's "Gangnam Style" has reached over 140 million views since its release 60 days ago on YouTube. His success was never imagined or even expected. However, he has recently signed with Scooter Braun, appeared at the MTV VMAs and was invited to the LA Dodgers to show his dance. He has recently made appearances on many primetime talk shows, indicating his amazing rise in popularity in the US.
Though most experts believe that Psy will simply be a one-hit-wonder, he has already made Korean pop culture history and testifies to the fact that it's really the content that appeals to world audiences. It proves that an artist no longer has to depend on a large management label to be globally successful. Like Kim Ki Duk and Psy was never the epitome of mainstream Korean pop culture. In a music industry now dominated by idol groups, Psy's music style and performance style have always been unique and entertaining.
Despite the big management companies' efforts to propel its idol groups like Super Junior and the Wonder Girls into stardom worldwide, it was never as successful as Psy's. Though he is managed by YG Entertainment, the fact that he was managed by them did not contribute to his success. This was purely content-based success and whether he will be a one-time deal or a continuing artist is a question yet to be answered.
If Psy and Kim Ki Duk became overnight stars, Jang Keun Suk has emerged as the best Hallyu star in Asia for the best two years. In Japan, his popularity is now beyond Bae Yong Joon and his fame has spread to China and other parts of Southeast Asia. With his 2010 drama, "You're Beautiful," he was aiming for international markets with his acting, his singing and dancing.
He hasn't had a hit project since that drama but he has continually been holding concerts and events in foreign countries and has huge amounts of fans everywhere. In China, Jang Keun Suk's Weibo account now reaches 5,000,000 followers and this is the highest number of followers for a non-Chinese celebrity. His management company says, "International fans know that he is Korean but whether there are diplomatic problems between the countries, it doesn't seem to bother them that he is Korean. His fan appeal is incredibly unique and also stable."
Meanwhile in Hollywood, Kim Yunjin, Lee Byung Hun and Bae Doo Na are waving the Korean flag.
Kim Yunjin was touted for being a member of a hit drama series called "Lost" and now is in the process of filming a new ABC drama called "Mistresses." For "Mistresses" her name is second on the credits.
Lee Byung Hun is currently filming "RED 2" after his success in the "G.I. Joe" series and seems to continue appearing in blockbusters.
Bae Doo Na was recently seen in the trailer for the Wachowski Siblings' sci-fi blockbuster "Cloud Atlas" as one of the lead roles and she was spotted on the red carpet for the Toronto International Film Festival, promoting the event. "Cloud Atlas" includes Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Susan Sarandon and other A-list stars. Even among them, Bae Doo Na received raving reviews from critics in Toronto.
Experts say that many Korean actors who have potential to be entertainers and step beyond the language boundaries, may have more possibilities in the international markets in the future.
Described as “the Brad Pitt of Korea,” Byung-Hun Lee made his American debut as Storm Shadow in Stephen Sommers’ G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. But the actor says that he felt more comfortable on the forthcoming sequel for more reasons than just the fact that he was no longer a newcomer to working in English. Specifically, he enjoyed a great collaboration with G.I. Joe: Retaliation director Jon M. Chu.
“When I first shot G.I. Joe, I was so uncomfortable,” Lee tells Celebuzz, who is in Los Angeles promoting the Korean film Masquerade. “It was my first experience in Hollywood and I had to work in English. So I was kind of shy and embarrassed, so I didn’t talk a lot, to the director especially. He was always busy. But Jon Chu’s different. He always wants to talk a lot – discuss the scene and the characters. So I was really comfortable with that.”
“He’s brilliant,” Lee says. “His character is really comfortable like a [kid] so we could talk a lot.”
What obstacle made reshoots on ‘G.I. Joe 2’ tough for him to tackle?
Storm Shadow is one of the most beloved characters in G.I. Joe history, but the actor said that when he initially signed on to play the role, he did very little research into his animated predecessor.
“I didn’t watch the cartoon,” Lee reveals. “I just needed basic information because when I first asked Stephen Sommers if he rather I studied more or watched previous G.I. Joe stuff, cartoons, he said no, I want you to create something else.”
“Then he gave me the basic information about Storm Shadow,” he explains. “He gave me some of his characteristics, and then I created some other characteristics with that [role].”
Six weeks before Retaliation was scheduled to arrive in theaters, Paramount Pictures pulled it from the studio’s summer 2012 lineup and announced that the film would be converted into 3D. Additionally, the cast was recalled to shoot additional scenes, which Lee says was an especially big challenge since he was working on another film at the time.
“That was when I was filming [Masquerade],” he explains. “I’m in 90 percent of the movie, so my schedule was crazy. And then all of a sudden they called me and said you have to come here because we have to shoot one more day, so I told my director that I had to go to the States.”
“Even though it was only one day [of shooting], it took five days because you’re going back and forth so they hardly allowed me to go,” he reveals. “But my flight was so long and I was used to doing a period movie, that it was really hard to act in English.
“I made no good takes in 23, and that was my record,” he admits. “Thank God it was just one day.”
Masquerade opens in Los Angeles Friday, September 21. G.I. Joe: Retaliation opens nationwide March 29, 2013.
Judging by the screaming fans and a frenzied rush for the cordoned-off area at the Bing Theatre last night, unsuspecting passersby may have speculated that Justin Bieber was striding down the red carpet.
In fact, the object of their passion and desire was Southern Korean Movie Star - Lee Byung-hun - who first sprang onto the International scene playing an ultra-sexy border guard in the box-office hit "Joint Security Area".
Lee (remarkably low-key in an elegant understated charcoal-grey suit teamed with a crisp white dress shirt) did not disappoint when he strolled out at the special event – a premiere of his new movie “Masquerade” - sponsored by the New York Times and Film Independent at LACMA.
Whenever he posed for a publicity still at a handful of perches along the runway, a swarm of giggling girls immediately rushed the handsome actor impromptu, anxious to get an up-close glimpse of every bodily nuance, grin, raise of an eyebrow, or glance in their direction.
“Masquerade” is a lush historical drama set in the opulent Palace of Korea’s ancient Joseon Dynasty which traces the political intrigues that ensue when King Gwanghae hires a body double to prevent a rumored assassination attempt.
Of course, both parts – that of a lowly working-class village performer and the King – are played admirably by Lee Byung-hun.
At the Q & A after the screening, Lee – a down-to-earth approachable superstar if ever there was one – fessed up that he preferred tackling the role of the underdog (or, as he put it, the fake King)
Please read the rest of the encounter at The Tattler ^^
One of the more successful K-drama stars to have crossed over to Hollywood, Lee Byung-hun, has just released his new Korean film “Masquerade.”
Lee has starred in international hits “A Bittersweet Life”; “The Good, the Bad, the Weird”; “I Saw the Devil”; and the American-made “GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra” and the upcoming sequel “Retaliation.” The actor was last in Honolulu in 2005 when “Bittersweet Life” was shown at the Hawaii International Film Festival, and says he wants to come back for a visit.
Originally titled “Gwanghae: The Man Who Became King” in South Korea, the historical film stars Lee in dual roles as the bizarre titular king and the acrobat Ha-sun, who stands in for the monarch when the king becomes poisoned. Ha-sun is groomed by the king’s counselor, Heo Kyun, to look and act every bit like the king.
While assuming the role of the king at his first official appearance, Ha-sun begins to ponder the intricacies of the problems debated in the king’s court. Being fundamentally more humanitarian than Gwang-hae, Ha-sun’s affection and appreciation of even the most minor servants slowly changes morale in the castle for the better.
Over time, Ha-sun finds his voice and takes control of governing the country with real insight and fair judgments. Even Heo Kyun is moved by Ha-sun’s genuine concern for the people, and realizes he is an infinitely better ruler than Gwang-hae. But then the king’s chief opposition, Park Chung-seo, notices the sudden shift in the king’s behavior and starts to ask questions.
“Masquerade” will open Friday at the Consolidated Pearlridge multiplex as part of the ongoing “Spotlight Asia” series.
'Masquerade' Screened in L.A. with 'Film Independent'
CJ E&M enewsWorld Oh, MiJung Translation Credit: Erika Kim
Masquerade has made its way into Hollywood.
The film was screened on September 14 at the Film Independent, hosted by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), in a red carpet premiere.
LACMA′s director Michael Govan, Eva Chow, Hollywood officials, critics, members of LACMA Film and the New York Times Club and more than 600 L.A. citizens were present at the event.
As soon as Lee Byung Hun arrived on the red carpet, many local reporters and fans flashed their cameras at the star. For 20 minutes the actor remained on the red carpet, signing autographs and posing for photos.
The screening of Masquerade then followed. The audience laughed aloud at the film′s story and at times sniffled in tears. A loud applause burst out when the ending credits started rolling.
Elvis Mitchell, an esteemed film critic, said after an interview with Lee Byung Hun, "I′ve kept an eye on him ever since Joint Security Area. In I Saw the Devil he was heavy and serious, but in Masquerade he successfully pulled off two roles at once. Lee Byung Hun is a great actor."
Other officials also stated, "It′s a well-made film that goes beyond national borders. We laughed and cried along with not only Lee Byung Hun, but the other members of the cast. We couldn′t take our eyes off of the Hanbok and traditional Korean architecture because they were so beautiful."
Director Kim Ji Woon, who attended due to his ties with Lee Byung Hun, said, "Masquerade is a film by Lee Byung Hun, for Lee Byung Hun, of Lee Byung Hun. Director Choo Chang Min′s sensitive directing, the actors′ skills and the strong story helped not only Koreans, but also Americans relate to the film."
Lee Byung Hun said after the screening, "Korean pop culture, including films and K-Pop, has been stretching out to America and Europe. Thanks to that I was able to come here. I′m proud that we can make something [from Korea] more known. That′s why it′s more meaningful."
Masquerade will continue to screen in New York, Seattle, Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Honolulu in America, and Vancouver and Toronto in Canada.
Film Independent is a non-commercial art group that first came into being in 1981 with the aim of supporting independent production companies and artists. It screens all kinds of films from classics to more modern pieces. It also holds international showcases or brings in special guests, and at times invites artists, curators and rookie directors to talk with their audiences. George Clooney′s The Descendents and Brad Pitt′s Money Ball have all been introduced through this program.
Actress Oh Yeon Seo chose the senior Lee Byung Hun as her role model, and she sent a message of thanks to Kang Min Hyuk, who she worked with.
Oh Yeon Seo, who gained popularity to through the KBS 2TV weekend drama 'My Husband Got a Family,' has received love and hate from the viewers. She recently had an interview and stated, "whenever I look at senior Lee Byung Hun, I become a fan," and laughed.
Oh Yeon Seo added, "I chose my role model as senior Lee Byung Hun, and I think he is a great actor. I wonder how he is so good at acting, and I am envious of the female actors that act with him."
Oh Yeon Seo must have thought of Lee Byung Hun's girlfriend, Lee Min Jung and stated, "of course, not as a guy. Recently, I met him as a model for an outdoor brand. Because he was like a 'hero' to me, I couldn't even ask him for his phone number," and laughed brightly.
Oh Yeon Seo then stated, "I had fun and was thankful that I was able to act as a couple with someone who is 4 years younger than me. Thanks to that, my friends were all jealous."
Oh Yeon Seo also talked about appearing on the MBC program 'We Got Married 3,' and stated, "it was good, and it was fun filming with Lee Joon. In 'We Got Married 3,' I won't show my image as an actress, but Oh Yeon Seo, as a girl."
Actor Lee Byung Hun recently talked about his acting career at the premiere of his latest movie ‘Masquerade‘ (Korean title: ‘Gwang Hae: The Man Who Became King‘) in Los Angeles.
On September 14th, Lee Byung Hun walked the red carpet for Film Independent at LACMA‘s ‘Masquerade’ film screening which was hosted at the Los Angeles County Museum of the Arts (LACMA). Following the premiere, Lee Byung Hun sat down with American film critic Elvis Mitchell for a Q & A session with the audience in which he showed off his fluency in English.
Q & A with Lee Byung Hun
<Regarding ‘Masquerade’>
Q: Many of your overseas fans will be watching ‘Masquerade’. What kind of message do you wish for them to receive from the film?
A: This movie is about the historical figure King Gwang Hae with an added element of fantasy. It questions what type of leader people really want. While it is a serious topic, the movie has a comic touch that makes the film very enjoyable. As for the overseas fans, I think it is a great opportunity for them to see and experience some of Korea’s old customs and traditions.
Q: ‘Masquerade’ was your first historical film. Were you offered other historical film roles before?
A: There were a few dramas and movies but I didn’t like the stories so I rejected them.
Q: What was the first thing you thought when you read the script for ‘Masquerade’?
A: As you saw, it has a serious subject but it goes with a lot of humor and comic scenes. I thought that was really smart. That’s why I chose this role.
Q: What did you think of ‘Masquerade’ when you first saw it?
A: Actually I was worried about the comic scenes. I like the comic scenes but I worried because they could be risky. There are a lot of slapsticks. I wanted to make the movie a little more sophisticated but if there are too many of those kinds of scenes, it’s risky. When I first saw it I thought… it was okay [laughs].
Q: You’ve never played two characters within a film before. Did you feel like it was a challenge playing two different characters? Which was more fun to play?
A: It was a challenge but the real historical king had two different reputations. Some people said he was a really bad king and others said that he did a great job following the queen and had great command. So I decided to divide his two characters into two different people, the real king and the fake king. Of course, I liked playing the fake king.
Q: Tell me about what movie you saw as a child that made you want to be in the movies?
A: When I was a child I watched ‘Cinema Paradiso‘ and it influenced me a lot. When I watched it, I thought that I really wanted to be a part of the film industry. But I didn’t think about being an actor.
Q: But you decided to be an actor anyways. What made you want to go into acting?
A: My mom’s friend pushed me to be an actor. That’s why I became an actor. I started not thinking that it would be my real job. I thought it would just be an experience. As time went by, I realized that this was a very attractive job.
Q: When you did your first TV show, you said you got some interesting advice. What were you told?
A: When I was 21 years old, I had my first TV drama and the director told me to retire after the show. He wanted me to announce that and I did, everyday. But I couldn’t retire. Later I met him accidentally and he asked me, “Are you still doing this?“.
<Previous Works>
Q: I first saw you in ‘Joint Security Area’ and it was a very confident performance, you seemed at home in that movie. Tells us about what you were doing when you received the script.
A: I received the script while I was in the army. I read it so well and I decided to do it while I was in the army. I started shooting right after coming out of the army. So it was easy for me to do.
Q: One of my favorite characters of yours is your character in ‘The Good, the Bad, the Weird’. Your character is really happy and takes advantage of everybody. How did you figure out how to play the role?
A: I had to make the character with my director Kim Ji Woon. The first time I read the script, I didn’t understand the character so I needed to discuss about the character and develop him little by little. That was the funnest part.
Q: You look like you’re having a lot of fun on camera. You like playing roles that have a bad side huh?
A: Yea it’s really fun. That was my first time trying to be a bad guy. After that I only played bad guys like in ‘G.I. Joe‘.
Q: You’ve worked with director Kim Ji Woon three times. What was it like when you first met him for ‘A Bittersweet Life’?
A: When I first met him, he hadn’t written the script yet and he just talked about the story for two hours. And I just decided to take the role before the script was written. He wrote it in four days.
Q: That character doesn’t talk a lot. But the character reacts when things happen and I wondered if you liked that character for that reason. He doesn’t speak a lot but he moves very fast. In ‘Masquerade’ the king doesn’t speak a lot but the fake king does.
A: Yes.
Q: In your last collaboration with director Kim Ji Woon, ‘I Saw the Devil’. Was that a hard character to play?
A: It’s a really dark movie so I needed to be in that mood from the beginning to the end. So it was hard mentally.
Q: How did you get to start working with director Kim Ji Woon on ‘I Saw the Devil’?
A: At the time, he gave me the script and I really liked it. But I didn’t expect the movie to come out so dark. I liked the script but I was shocked about the film. I regret it a little bit.
Q: What were the reactions to the film in Korea?
A: Some people really liked it and some people really hated it. Actually, it was rejected twice due to censors. It was too cruel and violent. It was almost x-rated.
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