[INTERVIEW] Kwon Sang-woo - Part 2

Published on 2010/06/25 | Source

10: I understand that you communicated with director John H. Lee in many ways too.
Kwon: I think it becomes difficult when the actor has to play a character which does not suit him and when he does not understand the movie. The reason I was able to have fun shooting this film although it was tough was because I suited me well. It seemed that the director judged that my idea of my character fit his idea of the character.

10: Were you not bored on set because it was all guys?
Kwon: No. It was actually more fun because it was just guys. There were many characters and my senior actors were a lot of fun too -- I had a lot of fun. And the city we were shooting in was small so eating and having a drink was our source of pleasure. With Cha Seung-won, we would look over what has been shot, tell each other what's good and also talk about things other than the movie. It's disappointing that we don't get to see each other much after returning to Seoul.

10: I think you'd feel different about wars after shooting a war movie.
Kwon: I took part in a war in simulation through a movie but it's something that shouldn't happen in real life. I went to the Hiroshima war museum in Japan and what I saw was horrendous. Wars these days are not like back in the days and like what happened during the Korean War. It moved my heart to see that such young people were sacrificed and I think young people these days would do the same if they were put in the same situation. I think patriotism is an emotion that everyone has in a corner of their heart. I think a lot of people will watch the movie because it'll stir that emotion.

10: You were told at the screening at Stanford University that you resemble James Dean when your character smokes.
Kwon: I actually can't smoke. And I told myself that I would never smoke again after having to in this film. (laugh) I don't smoke it in the first place for my health. But I'm grateful to hear that I look like James Dean. (laugh)

10: Actors refer to a lot of information to focus on their characters. Is there any information in particular that you looked into regarding student soldiers?
Kwon: I think such things don't help. It's important to have emotions and feeling. I think acting is a plan that you set up within yourself. And it has to work well. You're the one that has to work and it's important how you approach and focus on what's in the scenario.

10: You must be under a different determination with your son Rookie coming into the world.
Kwon: I really missed him when we were filming. But it was the thoughts about him that helped me to shoot the movie. It's an emotion that only people who have married and have had a child before can understand. The feeling that I'll be able to sacrifice for him if I'm in an extreme situation. I feel no different in how I engage but I do want to do a good job and show it to Rookie.

10: You must've gone through a lot of distress too because there was so much talk surrounding your marriage.
Kwon: It hasn't shaken me up enough to call it distressing. What did we do wrong? All we did was marry because we loved each other. We didn't commit a crime. I don't care about what's on the Internet either. My happiness comes from going home and spending time with my mom, wife and son Rookie. (laugh)

10: Is there a way in which you overcome slumps?
Kwon: I don't think there is a particular time that one experiences slumps but that it's rather dependent on the success or failure of a movie or drama role. A slump is something that you cannot shake off nor erase from your memory. We live in a cold-hearted world and I was in a slump these past few years because none of my productions did well. Actors can't help paying attention to such things. The movies or dramas that didn't do well, didn't do well for several reasons and I think I should be more careful in making selections now in order to avoid making the same mistake again. Things have not been going so great for me so this one has to do well. (laugh)

10: The audience are also looking forward to you playing a role again in a romantic comedy film like "My Tutor Friend".
Kwon: I think there's a timing for those. And I think they're not in these days but I do want to do one again if there's a good scenario. And I think I'd do well at it too. There are so many things that I still want to do. I want to also try doing a sad comedy and a sad love story.

10: What sort of actor do you want to be remembered as by people?
Kwon: I hope I'm remembered as an actor whose work the audience looks forward to rather than an actor who acts well. I think that's what I need to hear for now.

kwon Sang-woo [Chae Ki-won/10Asia]

Actor kwon Sang-woo, currently promoting film "71-Into the Fire", poses during an interview with 10Asia.