Interview with Park Gwang-Hyun, Director of 웰컴투 동막골 (Welcome To Dongmakgol)
He was a former CF Director, and the man behind the delighful 내 나이키 (My Nike) short - part of 묻지마 패밀리 (No Comment) - one of the best 'nostalgic comedies' of recent years. He's finally ready to unveil his debut film Welcome To Dongmakgol, which was presented recently to the press receiving some of the best reviews in years. Park Gwang-Hyun sat down with Yonhap News, to discuss his latest film. Only the juiciest spoiler-free parts for you.
Yonhap: The Popcorn Rain, that Boar chasing scene, and the last bombardment scene. Looks like you love dreamy, fantastic images.
Park: Keyword of the film is dream. When powerless people become heroes, viewers can vicariously feel that sense of payoff and catharsis. But just showing pretty images won't do. I don't like fantasy for fantasy's sake, but would rather show fantasy that makes you feel something.
Yonhap: What did you have in mind when shooting that boar chasing scene?
Park: I wanted to recreate a feeling similar to when we reached the Semifinals of the World Cup. So I paid special attention to each character's personality and asked the same from all the cast. Back then, people who didn't even like each other, facing together an unprecedented situation grew closer. I wanted something like that in the film, that people could have ruined everything but stuck together, everyone hoping for a united Korea.
Yonhap: Looks like you had many shoots this winter, running late into the night.
Park: The staff and cast just experienced hell (laughs). It was so cold, if you tried to have something to eat the rice would get frozen, and we'd need hot green tea for our lips. To tell you the truth, we had a hard time because of the cold, but also because it just wouldn't snow. Because of the last snow, we were just about to shoot that bombing scene on the plain field.
Yonhap: Have you decided about your next project?
Park: I did start something, but I think I'll just start from scratch. I want to take it slowly, so that I don't change my mind in the middle. I think it will be with 필름있수다 (Film It Suda, Jang Jin's Production company).
August 4 can't come soon enough. Get ready.
Via Yonhap News/Sport Today
