[Interview] Jo Jin-woong "Tearing Up on the Red Carpet... Missed the Audience" [26th BIFF]

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Busan=Asia Economy Reporter Lee Iseul] "I even dreamed of interviewing with reporters ahead of the movie release. I missed it. It feels so good to meet like this in Busan..."

Actor Jo Jin-woong said in an interview held on the afternoon of the 8th at BIFF Hill in the Busan Cinema Center, Haeundae-gu, Busan, "The emotion I felt meeting the audience at the 26th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has not faded."

Jo Jin-woong, who attended the opening ceremony of the Busan International Film Festival held on the 6th and walked the red carpet as a juror, recalled, "Recently, there have been many non-face-to-face events, so I didn't know if there were any audiences. I was surprised to see people sitting while social distancing." He attracted attention with a playful pose. He repeatedly said, "I missed it so much."

Jo Jin-woong, who is from Yeongdo, Busan, nurtured his dream as an actor at Kyungsung University’s Department of Theater and Film. "Busan is where the nourishment for my acting comes from. It is the reason I live. At the opening ceremony, I felt a sudden surge of emotion thinking, 'This is why I lived. I lived to meet the audience.' Walking the red carpet made me realize my essence again."

He said he cannot forget the moment he visited the Busan Film Festival for the first time in his life. Jo Jin-woong said the moment he stepped onto the red carpet is still vivid: "When I got out of the car, I heard people saying 'Who is that?' rather than feeling disappointed, I was happy that it became an opportunity to introduce myself. When I attended the 69th Cannes International Film Festival, Busan was celebrating its 20th anniversary. It is a good time for young people, a stepping stone to adulthood. As a member of the film industry, I hope it becomes an opportunity for cooperation and development. It is a global festival we create."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Jo Jin-woong, appointed as a juror for this year’s Busan International Film Festival, was in charge of judging the 'Actor of the Year' category. This category is awarded to the male and female actors who show the most impressive performances among Korean feature independent films submitted to the New Currents and Korean Cinema Today-Vision sections of the Busan International Film Festival.

When asked about the judging criteria, Jo Jin-woong said, "I want to deliberate carefully so as not to disgrace the footsteps of my seniors. I watch the works at the theater from 6 p.m., and I feel the weight of it. I will watch the films with objectivity while enjoying them as an audience." He added, "The important thing is sincerity. It must naturally resonate with my heart. Surely, there will be actors who stand out, but I also worry about what to do if such actors appear in every work. That part will be the most difficult." He also said, "As an actor, I also value 'sincerity' the most when acting."

Jo Jin-woong debuted with the film "Maundy Thursday" (2004) and gained attention with "A Hard Day" (2014). He then starred in blockbuster films such as "The Admiral: Roaring Currents" (2014) and "Assassination" (2015), followed by "Black Money" (2019) and "Time to Hunt" (2020). He is preparing for the release of "Confidential Assignment 2" and "Bloodhounds."

Beyond acting, he has also taken on the title of director. Jo Jin-woong’s first short film directorial work, "Ryeoksa: Trailer," was officially invited to the international short film sections of the 25th Fantasia International Film Festival and the 20th New York Asian Film Festival, garnering high expectations.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He said, "It was my first time directing a film, and it was fun. There was a good story, but I thought no one would make it, so I took two sequences and made a short film about 13 to 15 minutes long. Based on this, I wanted to introduce it to potential investors, so I made it," sharing the story behind his challenge in directing. He added, "I learned a lot while directing. I was always in front of the camera, but I saw the staff’s movements behind the scenes for the first time. I cried every night at the accommodation." He then joked, "Yesterday, I had a drink with director Yoon Jong-bin who came to Busan and asked him, 'How do you make films so well?'"

He noted that there have been many changes on film sets since COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019). Jo Jin-woong sighed, "I worked like a beast of burden, but I took a break for the past year and a half without working." He continued, "It’s not because there were no projects, but the production environment has become difficult after the pandemic. I will start shooting a film to be released on an Over-The-Top (OTT) platform from December 1. I am also planning to produce an OTT drama. I expect that higher quality works will come out as much as we receive investment during these times. Previously, storyboards were worked on up to the 4th draft, but nowadays, they go up to the 7th or 8th draft. The production team’s concerns are deep. Many people give up because of frustration and hardship," he said, adding, "Still, we feel that we have a duty to fulfill."

Busan=Reporter Lee Iseul