[Interview] 'Jeneoman Romance' Director Jo Eunji: "My Heart Goes to Bittersweet Comedy"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Iseul] "Wearing makeup or not. Isn't that the main difference?"

When asked about the difference between an actor and a director, Jo Eunji answered like this. It was a simple but meaningful statement that replaced her debut impressions. Behind the camera, she reflected, "I grew together while making films about human relationships."

Director Jo Eunji said in an interview on the 16th for the film 'Genre Only Romance', "I was afraid before the press screening," and "I couldn't stop crying after it ended."

'Genre Only Romance', which opens on the 17th, is a film depicting the variety-filled private life of a bestselling author whose work and life get tangled as he meets people involved in an unusual romance.

Jo Eunji, a 21-year veteran actress who debuted in the 2000 film 'Tears', is gaining attention as a director with her first feature film following the short film '2 Nights 3 Days', which won the Jury Special Prize at the 16th Mise-en-sc?ne Short Film Festival.

On that day, Director Jo said, "I feel scared, excited, nervous, and hopeful to present my first commercial feature film," adding, "I was so nervous that I couldn't sleep the night before the screening, but I'm grateful that the reservation rate is currently number one. It feels like living in a dream."

After receiving the script for 'Genre Only Romance', Jo Eunji initially thought it was an offer to act, but soon realized it was a directing offer and confessed that she pondered for a long time. Taking the helm of a commercial feature film was not easy.

"When I received the directing proposal, I thought more with my head than my heart. I suggested, 'I'll try adapting the work, and if the tone fits, I'll seriously consider it.' After about a month of adaptation, I showed it to the production company CEO, who said it was a good fit. After 2-3 days of consideration, I vaguely felt I could do well, so I decided to take it on."

She added, "Following your heart leads to fewer regrets. Even if your head easily forgets, your heart remembers."

The film was originally shot under the title 'No Lips Allowed', but before release, it was renamed 'Genre Only Romance'. Regarding this, she explained, "At the time of filming, the locals heard the title and thought it was an erotic film. Although I have a deep affection for the original title, I wanted the audience to approach it more easily, so we changed it."

The film centers on Ryu Seung-ryong, who transforms into the bestselling author Hyun, with Oh Na-ra, Kim Hee-won, Lee Yoo-young, Sung Yoo-bin, and Moo Jin-sung entangled in unusual relationships, exuding unique charm.

Regarding the focus during the directing process, Director Jo Eunji said, "I told a story about relationships and growth. I wanted to expand each character to evoke empathy." She added, "After finishing filming, I also grew myself," giving it special meaning.

"Since it was my first directing experience, I started without fully understanding the filming process. I wonder if that made the people working with me uncomfortable. Throughout filming, I constantly doubted myself. In some ways, I gained confidence, but I also had doubts. So, I had no room to fight with myself on set. I regret not communicating more calmly."

She nodded, saying, "Looking back, even the difficult moments all feel meaningful."

Actor Ryu Seung-ryong plays the bestselling author Hyun, firmly anchoring the center of 'Genre Only Romance'. After the blockbuster 'Extreme Job' (2019), he was contemplating his next project and did not hesitate to take the hand of junior actor and rookie director Jo Eunji.

The director said, "I learned a lot working on this project. As a junior actor, I learned how to quickly grasp the filming site. As a director, I found many traces of the actor's concerns during editing. I also realized he thought a lot about the emotional changes the character goes through. The sense of being on set and his concerns harmonized well and helped me."

She added, "As a senior in life, Ryu Seung-ryong is very considerate. He filled in many of my clumsy parts on set. He lifted the atmosphere and skillfully created the mood for each emotion to suit the co-actors. I feel very reassured and grateful."

Regarding Kim Hee-won, who fulfilled his role with realistic acting, she said, "Despite his tough image in the work, I heard he is very sensitive. Later, I happened to share a cup of coffee with him, and it was really true. His slow speech and delicate observations about objects and situations were impressive," explaining the casting background.

Actor Moo Jin-sung, who overcame a 200:1 competition rate in the audition, plays Yoo-jin, a rookie who stimulates the crisis awareness of bestselling author Hyun (Ryu Seung-ryong), who has been in a slump for seven years, bringing fun to the film.

When asked why she chose him, Director Jo Eunji recalled, "I was surprised by his fearless acting at the audition. I felt a 'Will Hunting' (Matt Damon) vibe from the movie 'Good Will Hunting' (1997), so I stopped the actor on his way home. When I met him again, I thought, 'He must be Yoo-jin, he is Yoo-jin.'"

Can we expect to see more of Director Jo Eunji's stories on screen? She revealed, "I've been writing since my twenties, and it became a breakthrough to relieve something." She continued, "One day, I wrote a story about a breakup, and acquaintances who read it said it would be fun to make it into a film. That became the short film '2 Nights 3 Days'," explaining how she started directing. She cautiously added, "If I have stories I want to tell, I want to keep directing."

When asked what kind of stories attract her heart, she said, "I want to tell a story about married couples. Couples who know each other very well and are confident that they 'know' each other, but because of that, end up not knowing each other more."

Director Jo Eunji said, "I hope comedy is always with me. I think audiences will empathize more with comedies that are funny, sad, and reflect reality. I want to unfold the stories I want to tell within such genres."

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