Screen

How do you feel after finishing the movie "chonsamong?
Did you see the pre-view film?
I am very happy, I did this movie without any difficulty, actually one of the most convenient movie for me. Because it's not finished yet, I just see a part of it, and I can say that this time has a very unique & new concept.

What is your first impression about this movie?
It's your first Korean movie, so you must have a little bit hesitated before making your mind?
The story of "Chonsamong" is about the people's dream like story under the highly developed society. I think there is no body to invest to this kind of movie in Hong Kong. It only could be done in Korea.
Yes, initially I hesitated for a while, but if I miss this opportunity, I don't have anymore chance in Hong Kong. The CEOs of H.K film producing companies are not interested in this kind of movie. (Laughing)
The field of SF movie is needs to study continuously, because we are not scientists, how we can develop without study? I respect them who made the SF movie in very risky condition without any guarantee of success.

Many scenes were done under the computer graphic condition, so there shouldn't be much risk occasions?
Yes, but we all four members should act with weapons, so there were highly probably of dangerous occasion. I use a sword with sharp edge, so if it was broken and flayed away, it could hurt somebody and actually it happened.

Even though I had a wide experience in action scene, but I tried to do my best through at least 30-min exercise a day.

There are 2 character, one is "ranger-commando force" as Sungjin at present time and the other one is "warrior of Dilmoon" as Dean.
What is the difference between 2 characters?
Almost same, SungJin is fixed character with a lot of limitation, but Dean has a variety of characters so I prefer later one.

You acted as a Korean, so you must have a hard time even though you have some Korean language ability.
It was very hardship to me.
The head of the state of China, Jiang Cemin can speak Russian very fluently, so whenever I listen to his Russian language, I think he is a great man.
I think I have no linguistic talent, so I try to put myself into a state of hypnosis "I can do it, I have that talent." I just try to study Korean language through the way children learn their own mother tongue. And just try to mimic the pronunciation also.

How do you think about the Hong Kong movie system?
There were many trial recently in H.K. motion picture industry and the situation of market and audience's attitude were also rapidly changed.
Even though the theme of the movie is not changed, but the environmental support system should be changed. It means there should be many trials to overcome the limitation of the racial prejudice and to try cultural exchange between Asian nations. And it should not just to be an H.K movie but to be an Asian movie.
For example, It must be very strange if Hollywood star (such as Arnold Swalzneger and Brad pit) speak Chinese or Korean language in the movie, but we, oriental people did it, there is no problem. I think language barrier between Asian nations could be overcome by effort.

You used to inspire the feeling of nostalgia through the melodrama Movie such as "Tienmimi" and "Glass of Castle" But you gave us a new concept through this movie "Chonsamong"
What is real character, do you think you are new generation?
Yes, actually I don't have a reactionary tendency, actually my image is made by latest fashion.

Leon showed us his new MTV, it's looks like Matrix and has an image of splendid future with Tech. music.
Different Leon was there.

Do you have any plan to go to Hollywood?
Why every famous celebrity of H.K should go to Hollywood? They could make money in that way. But I think there already filled with many celebrities of varied career.
Here in Asia, there are still so many things I have to do. What I should do here is do my best. I am very happy now, and I don't want to spend whole one year for one movie.

Recording the environmental scene with Cam-recorder is one of your favorites, don't you have any plan to be a director?
I used to do it, but I want to take a picture with a real film now. It just kidding. (Laughing)
It is beyond my ability.
Actually I directed some CFs (He showed us an another CF, we can see Leon and little boy who dressed up a cowboy style riding a horse, and we also can see Lee Na Young. Surprisingly there are "chonsamong "poster in the CF scene, Leon said he did it by himself for the promotion.)

Future plan?
I have to shoot 2 more movies until May, one is invested by Japan company through SONY and the other one is H.K movie, co-starring may be Cecilia Chang.

完成電影「天士夢」之後的感覺如何?
看過試片嗎?
我很開心，拍這部電影沒遇上困難, 實際上這是我最輕鬆的電影之一. 由於它仍未完成, 所以我只看了一部份, 我可以說這是很獨特和有新意念的.

你對這部電影的第一個印象是什麼?
這是你首部韓國電影, 你在決定接拍前必定有所猶豫吧?
「天士夢」的故事就像高速發展社會內人們的夢境故事. 我認為在香港不會有人投資這類電影. 這只可以在韓國拍到.
對，起初我猶豫了一會, 不過假如我失了這次機會, 我不會再在香港得到同樣的機會. 香港電影公司的總栽們不會對這類題材有興趣. (笑)
科幻電影需要不斷的研究, 既然我們不是科學家, 沒有研究之下又如何發展? 我尊敬那些在沒有成功保障之下仍冒險投資科幻電影的人.

很多電影場面由電腦動畫製成, 因此你們沒有危險動作?
對, 不過我們四位演員要拿著武器拍攝, 因此亦有很高危險性. 我用一把鋒利的劍, 假如它拆斷飛開, 就會傷到人而且這情況也的確出現過.

雖然我對於動作場面富有經驗, 不過我想做到最好所以我每天堅持做30分鐘運動.

戲中有兩個角色, 一個是今世在游擊隊中的 Sungjin 而另一個是 "Dilmoon"武士Dean.
兩個角色有何不同?
大概一樣, SungJin 有很多限制不易發揮, 不過 Dean 有多重性格所以我喜歡後者.

你扮演韓國人, 雖然你有一些韓語能力也必定會感到吃力.
對我來說是很艱難.
中國國家主席江澤民可以說一口流利俄語, 當我聽到他說俄語時, 我覺得他很了不起.
我覺得自己沒有語言天份, 所以我嘗試催眠自己 "我做得到, 我有天份." 我嘗試用小孩子學母語的方法走學韓文. 試著模仿那些發音.

你對香港電影制度有什麼看法?
香港動畫工業最近有很多嘗試同時市場和觀眾態度亦在急速轉變.
雖然電影主題沒有改變, 不過周圍的配套制度應該轉變. 那是說應該嘗試克服種族偏見的限制和嘗試在亞洲國家中作出文化交流. 不應只是一部香港電影而應該是一部亞洲電影.
舉個例子, 如果荷李活明星 (例如阿諾舒華辛力加和畢比特) 在電影中說中文或韓文會感到怪誕,可是我們東方人來演就就有問題. 我認為亞洲國家的語言障礙可以用努力來克服的.

你在「甜蜜蜜」和「玻璃之城」內透出 懷鄉者的情懷. 可是你在這部「天士夢」就給我們一個新意念
哪個具真實性格, 你認為你是新一代嗎?
對, 事實上我沒有反動傾向, 我的形象是由最新潮流造成的.
Leon 給我們看他的新, 像「廿一世紀殺人網絡」以未來形像配電子音樂.
那是個不同的Leon.

有計劃進軍荷李活嗎?
為什麼每個香港明星都要去荷李活? 他們可以賺到錢. 不過我認為那處已滿是巨星.
在亞洲, 我仍有很多事情要做. 我要在這裡最到做好. 我現在很快樂, 而且我不想花一年時間去拍一部電影.

用手提攝錄機拍攝周圍環境是你的愛好之一, 不如計劃做導演?
我以前常做的, 不過現在想用真實菲林去拍吧. 這只是說說笑. (笑)
這超乎我的能力.
事實上我導演過很多廣告片 (他給我們看另一個廣告片, 片中Leon和一個小男孩穿著牛仔裝騎著馬, 同時也看到李娜英. 很驚訝在廣告片中竟出現了「天士夢」的海報, Leon 說是他的主意去幫助宣傳.)

未來計劃?
我在五月底會多拍兩部電影, 一部是日本公司透過SONY投資的而另一部是港產電影, 合演的可能是張柏芝