Min-sik Choi
From AsianMediaWiki
Contents |
[edit] Profile
- Name: Min-sik Choi
- Hangul: 최민식
- Birthdate: January 22, 1962
- Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea
- Height:
- Blood Type: B
[edit] Bio
Min-Sik Choi was born on January 22, 1962 and first achieved fame on the stage and on television. He started appearing in films in 1992 and soon began making his mark in such notable works as Ji-Wun Kim’s The Quiet Family (1998). Commercial success came his way in 1999, when he played a North Korean spy in Kang Je-Gyu’s blistering action film, Shiri, a huge box office smash. In 2002 he received international acclaim by starring in Chihwaseon, a film by Korea’s most revered director, Kwon-Taek Im. As the nineteenth-century painter Seung-Up Jang, Choi created a vivid portrait of a proudly vulgar artist who both upset aristocratic artistic norms and altered the shape of Korean painting.
CHOI has said that he created the character, OH Dae-su, in Oldnoy in a very different manner than Chihwaseon. Choi said he felt a responsibility to bring back to life the painter JANG Seung-Up in Chihwaseon, while in Oldboy OH Dae-su is the absolute product of his imagination.
At various points during 2006 Choi (and several other Korean filmmakers, though separately from Choi) demonstrated in Seoul and at the Cannes Film Festival against the Korean decision to reduce the Film Quota from 146 to 73 days. While not successful (the reduced quota stands), the market share of Korean films remains at the top of the box office, with 7 of the top 10 films this year remaining homegrown (the same rate as in 2005).
[edit] Chanwook Park on Min-Sik Choi
“CHOI Min-sik is an actor who has the classical virtue of old stars. I tried to emphasize the great resonance in his voice which is worthy of a Shakespearian play. I also tried to emphasize his very trustworthy eyes which never change no matter what he says or does, and his sharp facial features. In order to present his voice to the audience, I used narrations and several close-ups to put emphasis on his deep eyes to highlight the experience hidden in the wrinkles on his face.” Director PARK Chan-Wook
[edit] Interview
Interview taken for Kino Pictures in promotion of Chihwaseon Q: People are always curious about what role you'll take next. Why did you choose "Chihwa- seon: Painted Fire"?
A: First, it was my confidence in IM Kwon Taek. I was curious as to what it was like working with the most experienced veteran filmmaker in Korea. The other reason was the traditional Korean theme, a theme that only IM Kwon Taek could take on, and the life that the artist JANG Seung-ub led was something I could relate too. The road that he walked was something that I could ruminate over within my life as an actor.
Q: What did you find most difficult about portraying JANG Seung-ub?
A: I know it's an obvious answer, but the painting was the most difficult to convey. Because there's a big difference between actually drawing something and pretending to do so. It's one of the things that bother me the most. The other thing is portraying the intangible traits. How shall I put this? His smell, his weight It can't be expressed by raising one's voice. It's the scent of the artist. The scent of life on the skin. These are the things that are most difficult to communicate.
Q: Are there discrepancies between you and IM Kwon Taek's interpretation?
A: Basically no. Would it be the case, we'd have a big problem. For example, we'll agree to whether it'll be a portrait or a landscape, but when I proceed to paint wide strokes with a large brush, he'll direct me to stop at some point and switch to a thinner brush. When he says this, I feel like I'm not satisfied yet. It's agonizing since I can't do it my way. I know I have to leave myself behind and assume his ways. I know I have to get rid of my method and listen to Director Im by changing myself into JANG Seung-ub. But I keep finding myself moving to my own interpretations. But in the end, we both have the same goals.
Q: JANG Seung-ub is the last painter of the Joseon dynasty when it was at the peak of its collapse. How do you interpret painter JANG Seung-ub living during this time?
A: He would suffer hardships even during a time of peaceful reign. Even if he lived during a time of foreign intrusions and revolutions, they wouldn't really have a big influence on his life. Rather, while painting during that time, didn't he live well? He receives praise from his peers, eats well, and has sex when he wants to. He was a different person from Vincent Van Gogh.
Q: Do you mean he had no interest in the world?
A: I'm saying he didn't paint pictures that smelled like the sweat of real human beings.
Q: If JANG Seung-ub didn't have any agony, then why did he finally leave our world?
A: I think differently. So he was at odds with the world's filth and left? I'm an actor so I don't try to look at it conceptually. I look at it abstractly or not look at it as the theme. I want to approach him as a real person. The script hasn't been finalized yet, but I don't think of that as being important. If I imagine the outcome, I think he'll finally go back to his inner self. I'm definitely sure he had occasionally enjoyed people's praise and compliments. But also anguish. He has to make a living, but he wants to drink and get recognition for his talent. He also wants to enjoy life and act cocky I bet. Things like "I'm the best! Hey, don't screw with me." hen while doing so, he'll try to take his life to another level, but realize it was vain.
Q: As a last question, what kind of man do you think JANG Seung-ub was?
A: He was like a child without immunity. He laughed when he was happy, he roared when he was angry. He had no pretensions.
[edit] Filmography
- Himalaya: The Place Wind Blows (2008)
- Sympathy for Lady Vengeance Chinjeolhan geumjassi (2005) - Mr. Baek
- Crying Fist Jumeogi unda (2005) - Gang Tae-shik
- Springtime Ggotpineun bomi omyeon (2004) - Hyeon-woo
- Taegukgi Taegukgi hwinalrimyeo (2004) - North Korean commander
- Oldboy (2003) - Dae-su Oh
- Painted Fire Chihwaseon (2002) - Jang Seung-up
- Failan (2001) (as Min-shik Choi) - Kang-jae
- Happy End Haepi-endeu (1999) - Seo, Ki Min
- Shiri Swiri (1999) - Park, Mu-young
- The Quiet Family Choyonghan kajok (1998) - Chang-ku Kang (Uncle)
- No. 3 (1997) - Dong-Pal
- Malmijal | 말미잘 (1995)
- Sara Is Guilty Saraneun yujoi (1993)
- May Our Love Stay This Way | Uri Sarang Idyaero (1992)
- Our Twisted Hero Urideului ilgeuleojin yeongung (1992)
- All That Falls Has Wings | Churakhaneun geosheun nalgaega itda (1990)
- Kuro Arirang (1989)
