Im Kwon-Taek's 100th Film Risks Collapse

Chungmuro is changing a lot, and even a legend like Im Kwon-Taek is feeling the impact of those changes.

Im, who has been preparing his 100th film 천년학 (Thousand Year Crane) for months, is facing problems with the production company even before starting the shoot. Better yet, it seems the long collaboration between Im and Taeheung Pictures might come to an end. Im and producer Lee Tae-Won (who were part of one of the most influential trio in Chungmuro, along with DP Jung Il-Sung) started working in 1989 with 아제아제 바라아제 (Come, Come, Come Upward), and have collaborated on Im's following 11 projects, until 2004's 하류인생 (Raging Years). But Im recently announced to the crew that Taeheung took its hands off production. The film was supposed to start shooting this January, but because of this situation it's all been suspended.

The biggest problem seems to be the lack of major stars, which led to lack of investment, causing a delay in production. Lee said that, since they only cast new actors (or no stars), investment wouldn't come easily, and that without money they have no power, so they couldn't continue to work with the director; Im will have to find someone else who can fund his film, and since he worked so hard to find actors who would fit the characters, he should be confident in the film's chances of succeeding. Im commented that he prepared this film for a lot longer than his older works, and that even if nothing's been decided yet (regarding his ties with Taeheung), he'll probably have to find someone else, and plans to start shooting next Spring for sure.

The film was supposed to be funded by Cinema Service, which just changed management after Kang Woo-Suk opted out, but they dropped the project. Taeheung then signed a contract with Lotte Entertainment, but because they weren't able to find top stars, the contract was first modified from full to partial investment, and since no other investor was emerging, Lotte said they'd just fund the shooting itself, which lead to the crisis. Lee commented: "In the past, we could just start shooting and hope money would come in later, but now things are different, and it will be much more difficult to start without solid funding.'

Critic Kim So-Young commented: 'people keep saying Korea is one of the great powers in the film world. But, be it because of investment or lack of major stars, the mere fact someone like Im Kwon-Taek, known and respected all over the world, someone who is approaching his 100th film, is getting cold shoulders is really depressing. Majors in Chungmuro should feel responsible about the matter, and make sure 'Thousand Year Crane' can be made.'

Via Cine21