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¡°Seven Days,¡± starring ¡°Lost¡± star Kim Yun-jin is getting an explosive response. With a fast-paced storyline and a complicated plot, the movie released on Nov. 14 appeals especially to movie fans in their 20s. Overseas markets have also shown interest: at the American Film Market recently, U.S. production firm Summit Entertainment, the maker of popular movies such as ¡°Mr. & Mrs. Smith¡± (2005) and ¡°Vanilla Sky¡± (2001) snapped up the right to a remake for US$1 million. It plans to spend $30 million on the Hollywood version.
Kim Yun-jin recalls the moment when she was offered the lead during shooting of ¡°Lost¡± in Hawaii. At first, she says, she didn¡¯t think she could take the offer due to the tight shooting schedule for the drama series. ¡°I printed out the screenplay, just to give it a shot. But once I started reading, I couldn¡¯t put it down. I finished reading the last page standing beside the printer and decided to take the offer immediately.¡±
In the movie, Kim plays a top lawyer who has to fight against a kidnapper to rescue her daughter. She has seven days to swap her daughter for a convicted murderer. ¡°The leading character is unusually strong for a Korean movie; that¡¯s why she¡¯s so attractive,¡± Kim says. The heroine pushes ahead with her impossible mission to release a murderer on death row rather in the style of Hollywood warriors like Jodie Foster and Sigourney Weaver. Kim¡¯s charismatic performance and explosive presence are instantly riveting. ¡°Once the camera is on, I never lose my concentration for a moment,¡± she says.
To maximize the speed, director Won Shin-yeon shot a large amount of scenes with three cameras. That did not allow Kim to consider reactions from her co-stars and required her to perform impeccably at all times. The fast pace of shooting was exhausting. ¡°I got completely worn out while shooting a running scene in mid-summer. But I didn¡¯t feel it was too much, because we all believed that Won will make a great movie,¡± Kim recalls.
Kim Yun-jin, winner of the best actress award at the 2002 Cheongryong (Blue Dragon) Film Awards for her role in ¡°Deep Loves,¡± suddenly upped sticks and went to the U.S. in 2003, and there she made the rounds of Hollywood agencies with her portfolio by herself.
She says she can cool-headedly give up anything when she comes to the conclusion that it doesn¡¯t work. But if she decides to do something, she puts it into action without fail. Despite the worries of her acquaintances, she did not quit in her efforts to become a star in the U.S. and eventually she established a worldwide name for herself in ¡°Lost.¡± But Kim says she has not forgotten her Korean fans or that her starting point was Chungmuro, Korea¡¯s Hollywood. Asked whether she has achieved her dream, Kim says she is just getting ready for another leap forward.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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