Yo! Gianna!!

Jun Ji-hyun dismisses rumors about going solo

2010-05-08T00:00:00.000+08:00

A representative for Korean actress Jun Ji-hyun has denied recent rumors that she will be setting up her own agency after parting with her 13-year management company Sidus HQ in June.

Recent media reports said the 29-year-old actress will be going solo after her contract with Sidus expires, but an official at the agency dismissed the rumors, saying that such talks “always come up” around the time of her contract renewal.

“As you know, Ji-hyun has been with the agency for over ten years since her middle school days,” the official at Sidus explained. “It is up to her and we haven’t talked with her yet, but I think she will be staying with us.”

Last year, the actress was engulfed in an ugly scandal where her agency illegally duplicated her mobile phone and had tapped into her phone records. While many expected her to leave the agency, she surprised everyone by extending her contract with Sidus for an additional year.

Jun Ji-hyun, whose English name is Gianna Jun, is one of the most sought-after actresses in Korea. She became a household name after starring in the 2001 hit film “My Sassy Girl” which spawned a Hollywood remake.

Since making her international debut last year through film “Blood: The Last Vampire”, she has been filming “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan” with Hollywood actor Hugh Jackman and Chinese actress Li Bingbing.

Credit(s):

Reporter : Park So-yoen muse@
Editor : Lynn Kim lynn2878@
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Will Jeon Ji-hyun be Rain’s woman in drama comeback?

2010-05-07T23:23:00.000+08:00

Nothing’s confirmed yet, but news is being floated about the possibility of Jeon Ji-hyun (aka Gianna Jun) joining Rain’s drama comeback project, the KBS drama called Runaway (or Fugitive) written and directed by the Chuno pair, Chun Sung-il and PD Kwak Jung-hwan.

On May 6, a rep from KBS said, “After Rain’s casting was confirmed, we have considered a lot of actresses to play his co-lead. Currently Jeon Ji-hyun is the strongest candidate. Her side is looking into the project favorably, but will have to work with her schedule and that won’t be easy.” Another source from Jeon’s side said, “After hearing the news that director Kwak Jung-hwan, writer Chun Sung-il, and Rain had all joined the project, Jeon Ji-hyun is actively looking into it. As she is currently filming the movie Snow Flower and the Secret Fan in China and the U.S., care is being taken to work with her schedule.”

If Jeon were to sign on, this would be her first drama in 11 years, since 1999’s Happy Together. Runaway is described as a spy melodrama and is aiming for an October premiere. Producers are currently casting, and plan to begin filming in June after Rain wraps up his Asia tour.

source: dramabeans

Jun Ji Hyun to leave her entertainment company and start her own

2010-05-06T13:18:00.000+08:00

Actress Jun Ji Hyun has been with her entertainment company SidusHQ for about thirteen years but it’s now been reported that the two will be parting ways.

Her contract is expiring this year, and it’s been revealed that she has no intentions of renewing the deal. Jun Ji Hyun will not be going to another company and reportedly has plans to start up her own.
Jun Ji Hyun’s agent said, “Jun Ji Hyun is currently making the preparations to leave Sidus. We don’t know what exactly the future will hold in store for us but it looks like she will be creating her own entertainment company.”

Will Jun Ji Hyun be able to pull off what superstar Rain did back in 2007? It seems likely, after all she was once voted “the hottest woman in Korea,” beating out sexy queen Lee Hyori who placed 2nd.

credit: allkpop

New Pictures From The Face Shop

2010-05-06T13:13:00.000+08:00

credit: jjhlivejournal

Jeon Ji Hyun - The Face Shop - April 2010 CF

2010-05-06T12:52:00.001+08:00

Ji Hyun was spotted grabbing coffee while on a break from shooting Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

2010-04-21T21:32:00.001+08:00

source: as tagged

Snow Flower Updates [Ji Hyun and Li Bing Bing donned high/middle school uniforms]

2010-04-21T21:28:00.000+08:00

Ji Hyun and co-star Li Bing Bing donned high/middle school uniforms to portray their characters' younger selves. They shot the scenes in Shanghai's Huai Hai Road.

more photos on the cut

source: as tagged. via jjh livejournal

Snow Flower Updates [The cast of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan]

2010-04-21T21:05:00.000+08:00

Jeon Ji Hyun and the rest of the cast of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan attended the grand opening of the Shanghai Peninsula Hotel.

more photos on the cut

sources: as tagged. via jjh livejournal

Snow Flower Updates [Photo Behind the Scenes with Hugh Jackman]

2010-04-21T20:47:00.002+08:00

Here are some pictures of Jeon Ji Hyun on set of 'Snow Flower and the Secret Fan', filming a scene with Hugh Jackman.

more photos on the cut

credits: as tagged via jjh live journal

Jun Ji-hyun arrives in Shanghai for Secret Fan

2010-04-21T20:18:00.003+08:00

February 20, Saturday - Jeon Ji Hyun arrived in Shanghai to film the majority of the film. Jun Ji-hyun has arrived in Shanghai for the filming of the movie version of the novel Snow Flower and the Secret Fan.

more photos on the cut...

source: china.org.cn

Hugh Jackman on board 'Secret Fan' with Jeon Ji Hyun and Li Bing Bing

2010-04-21T19:55:00.001+08:00

Hugh Jackman, Li Bingbing and Jeon Ji-Hyun. The lineup for the film Snow Flower and the Secret Fan has been finalized after some small problems.

read more on the cut

The Forbidden Kingdom star Li Bingbing has been confirmed to replace Zhang Ziyi in Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, which will be directed by Chinese-American filmmaker Wayne Wang, the Shanghai-based Oriental Morning Post reported Tuesday.

Li has arrived in Hengdian, a large film studio near Shanghai where filming is slated to kick off Tuesday, the report says.

South Korean starlet Jeon Ji-Hyun, who was previously reported to have withdrawn along with Zhang Ziyi, still stays in the cast. She has also arrived on the set.

Australian heartthrob Hugh Jackman, the movie's male lead, will join the entourage in mid-February, the report says.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a film adaptation of novelist Lisa See's 2005 book of the same name, which is set in 19th century China and depicts a lifetime friendship between two women.

The English-language film was to be co-produced by Zhang Ziyi, Wendi Murdoch and Florence Sloan, before Zhang's surprising resignation as producer and lead actress in late January.

Wendi Murdoch and Florence Sloan will continue producing the film. China-born Wendi Murdoch is the wife of News Corporation chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch. Florence Sloan, a Malaysian-Chinese, is married to MGM chairman Harry Sloan.

Li Bingbing, who replaced Zhang Ziyi as lead actress, is well-known in China but didn't make her international debut until 2008, when she played a white-haired witch in the Jackie Chan-Jet Li film The Forbidden Kingdom.

source: http://www.china.org.cn/2010-02/02/content_19355937.htm via jjh livejournal

HAPPY B-DAY GIANNA JUN

2009-10-30T20:19:00.002+08:00

Happy Birthday...

Jeon leave before the advent of the goddess Force is secretly taking Ad Views explosion

2009-10-12T09:17:00.001+08:00

The actress Jeon Ji-Hyun released September 28th of the ‘God (神) love story with a’ mini-film, released two days after the explosion of more than 1 million hits to puke When time is recorded. This video Jeon Ji-Hyun tight security of the United States before leaving in the Face Shop captured one of the new ad content, functionality, new anti-wrinkle Serum total raw material of New World Sakae Peru ingki the local custom is derived.
Since the ancient Inca civilization, Sakae ingki comes down to the fruit of the mystery, stay young forever girlfriend had the best antioxidant known wonryoda ground. Jeon timeless as Sakae ingki gained immortality beauty of God (神), and sharing the love again with an attractive woman was hot. Netijeun images of faces, Jeon also called pyeonggada. “It seems the goddess gangrimhan”, “I fell in love with a beautiful gamjeongseon seemed delicate and well-lived”, “Hey, meet the beautiful fairy-tale love story,” said Jeon, Sakae ingki love story as well as the newly exposed to the hot reaction showing there is. The mini-film, The Face Shop website is already in the community through the beauty at the catalog and the public doemyeonseo current major portal sites, such as being ranked the best in online video is a hot desert. Thanks to the enthusiastic response netijeun deopeyiseusyapeun Sakae ingki experience events with major progress. The Face Shop website for more information (www.thefaceshop.com) can be found.

source: sidushq

Jeon - online pictorial open! Pure - the mystery concept 'snow'

2009-09-28T17:55:00.000+08:00

Jeon, Online Forum ... purely pictorial - mysterious eye''concept''

Starring Jeon Ji-young forever cherished the concept of pure and mysterious woman hwajeda disclose online catalog.

The Face Shop as a new ad seutilkeot Commercials,''pure, Radiance, vitality,''Hydration and making for a 4-element was composed. The look of love I learned from an attractive woman, nunuteum to tailor the appearance of his girlfriend, Jeon damgyeotda is steeped in a variety of attractions.
The online catalog, one official said, a special hidden secrets. Jeon Ji-face hovering above the mouse cursor, using the actual filming of The Face Shop foundation and makeup products have appeared disappear.Through the catalog industry's first deopeyiseusyapeun F / W season, beauty attempts to catalog and online content, the benefits of the unique advantage of the fun is giving his life.
Beauty Face Shop catalog bakyusa marketing team leader, "the leaflets commonly found in stores, rather than giving consumers a new type of fun to browse the catalog was planning," he "is extremely beautiful and produce pay Cosmetics Advertise with the actual star in what specific products will be able to tell, "he said the tenor of Planning.

Jeon Beauty Home catalog Face Shop (www.thefaceshop.com) to meet in, and receive a download for customers who presented the prizes are generous and the event is also in progress

source: sidushq

The Face Shop 2009 CF

2009-09-28T17:41:00.002+08:00

Jeon - Why are we one of her crazy? 'Unchanging beauty, amazing'

2009-09-26T08:09:00.001+08:00

Jeon, why our fascination with one of her? 'Unchanging beauty, amazing'

Starring Jeon to maintain a consistent beauty secrets are revealed.
Naturalism cosmetics brand plays as The Face Shop Women are the exclusive model in the Fall TV CF''Jeon ahreussaengtteu Echo - Super Therapy - New World Total Repair Serum - Youth of the Stars''to prevent wrinkles prehistoric side receive God's eternal youth says a secret. Jeon became the myth of a magical heroine genera in the air the TV CF dotboin Thai Erawan waterfall in the background of September 26th will chwalyoungdwae catching the wave.

"Man, is the goddess?" Lasting beauty choking on

Jeon TV CF konsepteuin''to prevent wrinkling of the Stars''shooting for youth blessed with the parenteral Erawan waterfall in Thailand looked reputable. Emeraldeubit clear the mist of the waterfalls and steaming ahseurayi monghwanjeok mythical and mystical to directing a scene that was perfect. Jeon Ji falls in love with God and gain eternal youth, the role of a beautiful woman has digested a great job.

Grows in the Andean highlands of Peru, Sakae ingki (Sacha Inchi) This one is based on the myth of the fruit in CF Jeon God as a woman fall in love at first sight, while bunhaetda. God I love the beauty of a woman trying to protect the stars of the sky on the ground that simeotgo yeolmaein ate Sakae ingki the immortal beauty of Jeon and won Florida going.

Got along without a clear, transparent, Jeon Ji-wrinkle the skin, and her lean body into a tense time seems consistent geoseureun ppomnaetda hankkeot youth. The color of the white-clad figure with a long dress that was reminiscent of Venus, goddess of beauty. Officials "as a woman in love with God, you're mistaken, do not worry as the Goddess" said, "If God is actually attracted to looks good," he pyeonghaetda.

# Aeteuthan emotions and acting, "I really love this look like a man?"

Jeon deopeyiseusyapgwa spot TV CF in the first one with a rich and deep emotional expression, and proficient in the atmosphere around the smoke was overwhelming. Jeon, especially beloved of God, waiting for the smoke aeteuthan expression "you mean I really loved this happened" to have been a self-doubts about is the back door.

Despite more than anything Jeon topmodelimedo to get the best cuts are gone like a cool waterfall to enter into a professional model, as the passion was boyimyeo. Cameras caught conducting shooting coach, "Ms. Jeon products and advertising to 200% understand the concept did not require special instructions," he "fell in love with this woman delicately elegiac gamjeongseon is alive," she expressed admiration for the skill.

Jeon, "Sakae ingki fruit in Korea, but take it? I ate every one wants to live forever young and beautiful," he expressed interest. Jeon year, "The Face Shop model is TV CF after the first shooting as a woman in love with God just really feel like a goddess" said "deopeyiseusyapyi reintroduced with a new slogan, I've heard is preparing a new woman as a model drug a''brand that prides itself on friendly and refined naturalism''I want to express, "he said Testimonials.

source: sidushq

Jeon - CF Queen, too! "The Face Shop" model! Bae Yong-jun and the shoulders alongside

2009-09-26T07:59:00.002+08:00

Jeon, CF Queen, too! The Face Shop models, and the shoulders alongside Bae Yong-picked ...

This naturalistic actress Jeon Ji-cosmetics brand The Face Shop women were selected as a model.
Jeon Asian countries from next month in Korea as well as representatives from the face deopeyiseusyapui activities will be stripped. Jeon is a natural and elegant brand image deopeyiseusyapeun keonsepin 'luxury naturalistic' model, has signed a contract with the suits said. Jeon in Asia, Greater China, including the country's largest popular deopeyiseusyapui image in overseas markets was determined to express effectively.
30-40 women in their 20s as well as appealing for consumers through high-Jeon enhance communication with key target consumer, and also to expand its customer base is the strategy out. Future advertising strategies and products Jeon vary depending on the nature and resilient image and will meet customers.
The Face Shop songgiryong represent the "natural and pure image of his recent exclusive global star Jeon as a leading international cosmetics market with a new face deopeyiseusyapui is a suitable person," said, "We listen more actively to the needs of customers I laid out a strategy to communicate to do, "he said. The flagship product Jeon Fall TV CF deopeyiseusyapui debut next month in the debut TV and print media, the Internet and will be working as a deopeyiseusyapui female models. Bae Yong-jun to the male model currently deopeyiseusyapin is hwaldongjung.

source: sidushq

Jeon - "The Face Shop" Jeon women recruited as a model

2009-09-26T07:53:00.003+08:00

The Face Shop, women recruited as a model Jeon

The Face Shop (NYSE songgiryong) on October 5 and a new female actress Jeon was selected as a model.

Face Shop official "Jeon keonsepin brand image of the natural and elegant, luxurious naturalism 'and the models looked good late last month signed an agreement," said, "The Greater China region, including countries in Asia are gaining popularity as a global brand The jump in overseas markets to express deopeyiseusyapui images considered were effective, "he said.

Company 30-40 women in their 20s as well as appealing for consumers through high-Jeon enhance communication with key target consumer, and also to expand its customer base is the strategy out.

The Face Shop songgiryong represent the "natural and pure image of his recent exclusive global star Jeon as a leading international cosmetics market with a new face deopeyiseusyapui appropriate person" said "the future needs of customers by actively listening to the more I'm laid out a strategy to communicate, "he said.

Jeon Ji-focused products next month introduce deopeyiseusyapui Fall TV CF debut in TV and print media, Internet activity will be through.

source: sidushq

From "Boys Over Flower" To Another

2009-09-26T07:10:00.000+08:00

Ready for another manga remake?

After the unbelievable popularity of 2008’s “Boys Over Flowers” remake, rumor has it that South Korea will take on another classic Japanese manga with a cult following: “Absolute Boyfriend.“
Here the plot: Riiko, a lonely high school student (again?), ignorantly designs an “absolute boyfriend” on a website and orders him, thinking that everything is a silly game. When her order surprisingly arrives the next morning, she follows the instructions manual and kisses him in order to, well, turn him on. And to avoid paying a fortune for her absolute boyfriend, whom she names “Night,” she agrees to help the company conduct research on women’s attitudes towards men (to perfect future absolute boyfriend models). As the story progresses, Night begins to feel human emotion and care for Riiko. Unfortunately, a love triangle come into play with Riiko’s childhood friend Soshi. On top of all this, Night is a robot and Riiko is still in high school.

True, sounds childish. However, the quirky story may make for some funny comedy. According to the rumor mill, iconic bombshell Jun Ji-hyun is set to make her first drama comeback in 10 years as the stylish 30 year old version of Riiko for the new series. An insider for the production commented, “We understand that for a long while, Jun Ji-hyun has been carefully preparing to take a role in a Korean drama. We are working out the details of her casting, and hope for a positive result.” Nothing’s been set in stone as of yet, but do you want to see a Korean remake of “Absolute Boyfriend”?

17 Tea 2009 Wallpaper

2009-09-25T23:28:00.000+08:00

17 Tea 2009 Photos

2009-09-24T20:51:00.004+08:00

Jeon Ji Hyun for 'The Face Shop'

2009-09-24T06:47:00.002+08:00

Gianna Jun is the new face of THE FACE SHOP!!!

When stars bank on advertising only

2009-09-23T02:39:00.001+08:00

Despite numerous box office bombs and once-in-a-blue-moon TV soap appearances, some actors and actresses enjoy wild successes as commercial models, firmly establishing an aura of mystery even among celebrities. In Japan, even popular celebrities rarely appear in more commercials than dramas, while stars in U.S. rarely shoot commercials except for luxury goods. But in Korea, some celebrities star in commercials at least 10 times more than in dramas or movies.

◆ Commercials-only Stars
For the actress Kim Tae-hee, who returns to the screen for the first time in four years this September, her new drama role is a chance to shed her prolonged image as a TV spot star. She appeared in 26 commercials since 2005, an average of 5.2 per year. During the same period, she starred in only two films, “The Restless,” and “Venus and Mars.” Actors and actresses such as Jang Dong-gun, Jeon Ji-hyun, Han Ga-in, Han Ye-seul, or Shin Min-a also appeared more in commercials than in movies.
What makes this possible is their so-called marketing power. In a survey of the most popular actor and actress in Korea in 2009 by market researcher Leespiar in March, Jang Dong-gun and Kim Tae-hee took first place — a truly surprising result given that neither appeared in any movies or dramas since 2007. What were the standards measuring popularity? Leespiar says it simply asked respondents who might be considered popular and to list their personal preferences. That suggests many people actually voted for them because of their frequent appearance on TV, regardless of the context. Although great popularity may lead to appearances in commercials, this can also work the other way and make them more popular.

◆ Income
Fees of hundreds of million won are also a phenomenon unique to Korea. In the U.S., only professional models appear in commercials, which actors tend to avoid so as not to look like has-beens. This shows that acting alone can generate enough wealth in the U.S., whereas it rarely does in Korea. The tendency to cast top stars for commercials is also absent in Japan. “Japanese agencies don’t invest too much in fees because the products take precedence over celebrities in commercials,” says Jung Bo-hyun, an executive in a domestic ad agency. “Celebrities themselves also choose to appear constantly in a single commercial rather than to star in many for higher pay.” By contrast, a handful of actors and actresses dominate the film industry in Korea. “In a situation like this, many celebrities focus more on commercials than actual acting,” says Kim won-young, a copywriter.

◆ Popularity and Risks
The benefits of such strategies are dubious. According to data released by the researcher Brand 38, Kim Tae-hee’s commercial influence dropped from first place in early 2008 to fifth this year, Jeon Ji-hyun’s from third to sixth, and Zo In-sung’s from sixth to 11th place. The center explains that constant exposure to repeated images rapidly dulls the receptiveness of the public.
“Comparing popularity and the lack of it every year, the data show that celebrities who appear only in commercials tend to grow unpopular,” says the director of Brand 38. “While celebrities who established a mysterious image for themselves were at the top of the list for commercials up until three years ago, now celebrities who constantly honed their talents are beginning to dominate the advertising market.”

(Chosun Ilbo)

Jeon Ji-hyun considers Korean remake of Zettai Kareshi

2009-09-23T01:27:00.002+08:00

This is not finalized (so take with a grain of salt), but Jeon Ji-hyun’s potential drama comeback just may come in the Korean adaptation of Japanese manga Absolute Boyfriend, aka Zettai Kareshi. The kdrama will be directed by PD Kim Min-shik of Queen of Housewives and Before and After: Plastic Surgery.

Jeon Ji-hyun is currently busy surveying projects to finalize her decision, and the Zettai remake is reportedly a strong contender. (It had considered casting U-Know Yunho at one point, who moved on to Heading to the Ground instead.) A source with the production said, “We understand that for a long while, Jeon Ji-hyun has been carefully preparing to take a role in a Korean drama. We are working out the details of her casting, and hope for a positive result.”

In the original fantasy-romance manga, a girl accidentally gets a made-to-order boyfriend android from a website, only to find out that she has to pay an exorbitant amount to keep him — unless she helps the company conduct research to improve future models. She must then hide his non-human status from others, and he starts to develop human emotions.

In the kdrama version, the lead is not a teenager but a 30-year-old woman who is a stylist at a beauty salon without any clients. She is betrayed by her first love who becomes an overnight success as a movie star. Feeling the sting, she orders up her ideal man in robot form, aka her “absolute boyfriend.”

Absolute Boyfriend will be a 16-episode drama to air on MBC either at the end of this year or in early 2010. If she decides on the drama, it will be Jeon Ji-hyun’s first in ten years, since 1999’s Happy Together. After seeing such a lot of the same old kdramas airing one after another, this plot sounds like a refreshing change.

(Of course, the big question — aside from whether Jeon will sign on — is: Who plays the perfect manbot?? My wishlist: Kim Kang-woo or Gong Yoo!)

via dramabeans

Bazaar Magazine Photos

2009-09-23T01:20:00.003+08:00

Drama prospect on the horizon for Jeon Ji Hyun

2009-09-23T00:31:00.001+08:00

Jeon Ji-hyun is currently eyeing new projects, and may possibly be returning to television in a drama series. She has reportedly received an offer to star in a drama currently in its preparation stages, and is said to be considering it seriously. The plot centers around a woman who is dumped by her boyfriend, then goes out of her way to find a man “just like her old love.”

Jeon hasn’t acted in a drama in ten years; her last was the 1999 show Happy Together (with Lee Byung-heon, Song Seung-heon, Kim Haneul, and Cha Tae-hyun). Following that, she’s stuck to films like Il Mare, Windstruck, and her claim to fame, 2001’s My Sassy Girl. She has maintained her fame as a top star with a bevy of CFs, even though recent endeavors have fallen somewhat short of expectations, including her latest film, the vampire action movie Blood: The Last Vampire. Blood performed poorly at the box office and pulled in poor reviews (although Jeon did receive some praise for her role).

The drama series in question is expected to be announced on a broadcast schedule this week. Some reports say Jeon is in talks with production, while her management, Sidus HQ, has come out with the vague statement that they will consider any project if it’s good, but are not focused on one in particular. (Take with a grain of salt; sometimes production companies announce prematurely, but often the casting news proves accurate.)

via drama beans

Why Are All Korean Actors Ninjas?

2009-06-24T14:33:00.001+08:00

CF stalwart Jeon Ji Hyun has been reborn as film actor Jeon Ji Hyun with the release of “Blood”. Not only is her foreign debut, as vampire hunter “Saya”, she has English lines in the script as well as various action sequences. But already, the nationalist sections of the Korean public has been moaning about how she is being perceived as Japanese.
So what’s their problem? There’s been a recent wave of Korean actors being casted into foreign film projects: Rain’s doing “Ninja Assassin” in November, Lee Byung Hyun is in “G.I. JOE” in August and even Jang Dong Gun will be in “Laundry Warrior”.
What do they all have in common? They’re strong, silent character, eyes like daggers, they are Eastern warriors wielding gleaming blades. Koreans are being told by the film PR companies that they are “Asian Warrior” or “Oriental Fighter” but as we all know, they’re enacting the part of the Japanese ninja. Damn it, one of the movies is called “NINJA Assassin”.
Then again, “Eastern Warrior” isn’t entirely false. I guess Japan is part of the East. I guess the samurai and ninja are the most instantly recognisable fighters from the region. So even though nationalism is strong in Korea, our actors who want to make it in Hollywood find the need to just put their heads down and get on with it.
But now let’s ponder for a bit. Why are they all ninja? The reason is simple if somewhat brutal. Those parts were the only ones accessible for the actors branching out to the West.

In “Queen Seon Deok” we have a character called Hwarang. He trains young, talented fighters to achieve glory for the Shilla Kingdom. He is a strong and charismatic individual and yet clearly, a character like Hwoarang is unknown abroad except the dedicated K-Drama fans.
According to Tim Kang, from American series “The Mentalist”, Korean actors “face a huge hurdle when crossing over into Hollywood. It’s definitely not racism, there just are not enough opportunities for Koreans. It’s like back at home; there aren’t many roles for Americans in Korean films either.”
In other words, in the foreign market, there are obviously no roles that are exclusive to Koreans. In a place where there are no Korean roles (unless it’s David Park in Fast and Furious), asking Korean actors to be “patriotic” and choose Korean roles is pretty stupid. Like asking someone to swim in an empty pool. Now, nationalist Koreans, think straight for a while; instead of moaning about how our nationality is being obscured, help fill up that pool by supporting whatever they’re managing to snag for now.
Maybe then Shilla’s Hwoarang will become more iconic than the Japanese ninja in the movies. We’ve seen K-Dramas and K-Pop overtaking their Japanese counterparts and for films and actors to do the same, they’re going to need a LOT of support from the Korean public. I consider myself a patriot so I think fellow patriots should wise up and help them out, not be damned xenophobic about it.
credit: Soul Beat

Jun's 'Blood' fails to draw crowds

2009-06-22T15:02:00.003+08:00

Despite Korean actress Jun Ji-hyun's efforts to prove her acting ability, her latest film is proving a box-office flop.
"Blood: The Last Vampire," Jun's Hollywood debut film, which was released at local theaters on June 11, has drawn around 70,000 viewers through June 20, Korea Film Council said yesterday.
The figures are far behind its competitors, such as Korean flick "Running Turtle (Geobugi dalinda)," which has drawn more than 550,000 since opening on the same day.
With hotly anticipated movies such as "Haeundae" and "Transformers 2: The Revenge of the Fallen" on their way, the prospects for "Blood" look grim.
It is quite a tough situation for Jun, who has not had a real box-office hit since "My Sassy Girl (2001)" and faces criticism that her main job is modeling for TV commercials.
Critics cited Jun's failure to deliver the complicated emotions of her character, Saya, as one of the major reasons for the film's failure.
The loose plot which largely differed from the original Japanese animation that the film is based on and the poor computer graphics are also cited as reasons for the film's lack of appeal.
(youngaah@heraldm.com)
2009.06.22

credit: Korea Herald

Interview conducted with a translator on 21 May 2009 at Capella Hotel, Sentosa Singapore.

2009-06-18T16:43:00.005+08:00

Everyone's curious about your name change. Why Gianna?
Oh you see, my Korean name is Ji-hyun, and my friends and family back home calls me 'Ji-hyun-a'. So I decided to have my English name as Gianna because it sounds similar to the way my Korean name is pronounced. I didn't want to go for something very different. I'm planning to stick to it throughout the rest of my career, by the way.

Why action film as your Hollywood debut?
I believe the audience can associate me better in an action film as I'm not very fluent in my English. For this film, I had to learn English from scratch. So through this, I had to focus more on my action choreography to deliver the character Saya better.

Tell us about your character, Saya.
On the surface, Saya is a stunning 16-year-old. She has stop physical aging since she was 16. So, she roughly is about 400 years old. She has been a loner and an outsider ever since then. When I got the script, I fell in love with the character Saya and went to watch the original anime. Saya might look fragile on the outside, but she is strong inside together with the loneliness and darkness of her life buried within her. That is the reason why I came to choose this film.

Gianna with action director, Corey Yuen.

When and where was the movie filmed?
This movie started filming three years ago and was shot in Argentina and then China for three months.
Was this movie difficult to act in and what kind of training did you have to go through?
Of course, I had to go through very tough physical training to develop the physique that Saya has. They (the producers) made me train in Los Angeles for two months, and then in Hong Kong and China for another two months. I also had to go for martial arts classes and learn how to execute kung fu kicks properly. It started off with the basic physical training of doing repetitive kicks, and after a while, it got a bit boring. But when the filming started, things got interesting. There was never a point where I was ready for everything before filming as I had to practice the stunts and train throughout the whole production phase of the movie. It was really tough. Previously before filming, I could only run for about 10 minutes on the treadmill, but now I can run continuously for more than an hour! It has kept me very fit and I am keeping that routine now.

What was the challenge you face whilst acting out the stunts?
Since this is my first action movie, just being harness to a wire in the air is already difficult for me. I still have to do my sidekicks and all that action whilst being wired up. Even though Cory Yuen ("Transporter 3") did a good job choreographing the moves, everyday was still a challenge.

Was it harder to perform the action stunts or to speak in English?
In the beginning, both were very difficult. It was especially awkward for me to express myself in English, but either way I've learned a lot from start to finish as I had to repetitively practice my English and my action stunts. I can say that I've grown tremendously throughout this film.

n the anime, Saya is a very strong but silent character. But, in this movie you see her with a lot more emotions. How did u learn to portray that including the challenge of delivering it in another language?
It is just a natural flow. I believe in the character and put myself into the character. For having to do it in English, I just have to study more on the character and practice on my own. So there is no difficulty in expressing those emotions, it is just a natural process.

Did look up to any actor/actresses as reference before acting the role of Saya?
Cory Yuen did introduce Nikita to me, but Nikita is a different type of female action. Regardless of that, I've learnt a lot from watching her and the moves that she does, so Nikita is the only person I observed beforehand.

What is the main difference between Hollywood and Korean filmmaking that you have experienced so far?
The film sets of this movie is quite similar to the ones in Korea, but in Hollywood they have a system where it's like an allowance for myself, where I get to have days off so it is less strict. Now that's the part that I like. In Korean films, usually I would have to carry on and on with the filming.
Do you think there is a trend for Korean actors and actresses to venture to Hollywood?
I don't think it is a trend because if you look at it differently, it is because Hollywood needed Korean talents or Asian talents. This is a good chance to let them know that Korea has talent!

Gianna's favourite scene

What was your favourite action scene throughout the whole movie?
The scene where I was under the rain for 20 minutes fighting off all the demons is my favourite scene! And for those 20 minutes alone, it took us a month of filming where I had to be under the rain while doing my stunts. I prayed so hard for time to pass. Nobody should ever go through this! (laughs) Anyway, I didn't go through all that hardship for nothing, so that's my favourite scene and I'm quite happy with the outcome.

Do you see yourself doing another action movie in the future?
If given the opportunity, I would do it because I've experienced it and I am quite comfortable now if I wanted to do another action film. I would like to act in about six other genres if I could, that is if I find the script and character to be good. I won't stick to a certain kind of genre. As for me now, I'm in talks to prepare for a Korean movie.

credit: Cinema Online By Lei Swee Wei

Jeon Ji Hyun lost in Local Box Office ?

2009-06-18T16:23:00.002+08:00

Gianna Jun aka Jeon Ji Hyun reported fail to impress her own country’s Giant Screen Fans. Her recent release 50 billion won movie "Blood: The Last Vampire" reported to only hit the 7th ranking of the domestic box office.

On June 15, 2009 The Cinema Tickets Commission reported that after a 3 days screening in total of 307 giant screens, the movie only gathered a cumulative audience of 50,830 people. So, the total audience for this week which the movie gathered up until now, only 66.794 audiences which made the movie placed on the 7th position of domestic box office.
Last week, the movie was No.1 in Box office and succeed to gather 149,437 audiences. But, this week, it’s not even reach half of the last week’s.
Yet, the commission also said that this week’s result should not be used as the measurement and then claimed the movie as a Fail one.
Blood: The Last Vampire is Jeon Ji Hyun’s 1st foreign movie, and she was doing a heavy campaign for the movie in the domestic market, yet, she failed to impress the local fans with her 1st ever foreign movie.
source: word press via hallyuism

BTW --- The acting of Jeon Ji Hyun was more than okay in the movie. Jeon, who has never played an action heroine before, apparently put a great deal of effort into playing Saya, and speaks both English and Japanese fluently. Everyone, please show your support to Blood: The Last Vampire . It’s awesome... =)

Win Autographed Blood: The Last Vampire posters and notebook...

2009-06-16T20:00:00.001+08:00

Let the bloodbath begin!

16-year old Saya is not your average teen. Born to a human father and a vampire mother, she is a 400 year-old "halfling" who has been a loner for centuries, obsessed with using her samurai skills to hunt down vampires. When her latest mission takes her to an American military base in Tokyo, Saya senses that this may be her opportunity to finally destroy Onigen, the evil patriarch of all vampires. Will Saya succeed in her quest to rid the world of evil and be the last vampire standing?

CONTEST
Sink your fangs into this! Simply answer the following question correctly to win exclusive Blood: The Last Vampire autographed posters and Blood: The Last Vampire movie notebooks!

Closing date: June 21, 2009.

link: http://www.mtvasia.com/Funstuff/Contests/BloodTheLastVampire/

Jun Ji-hyun reveals a new side in 'Blood'

2009-06-16T19:56:00.001+08:00

If you really want to see Jun Ji-hyun slash one crudely crafted monster after another, "Blood: The Last Vampire" is not a bad choice. If you want some thing more, the much-awaited Japanese anime-based action flick will probably leave you nursing a headache from the almost endless CGI fight sequences.

Jun, who has adopted "Gianna" as a new "easy-to-pronounce" name for international audiences, seems to have made great efforts to play all the action scenes, some of which certainly demanded long hours of practice, but that's all there is to see. It is unfortunate for viewers who want something more from her debut on a bigger entertainment arena outside of Korea.

Jun plays Saya, a vampire hunter whose tracks down monsters in 1970s Japan. Saya's initial encounter with demons in disguise happens in a high school on a U.S. army base. Without any explanation, she puts on a high school uniform while other American students are clad in casual clothes. She also carries a long case, whose content seems obviously suspicious. But forget reality; after all, the film's key proposition is that it is what Saya does that matters, not why.

The plot, if there is such a thing in "Blood," is that Saya wants to hunt down a chief demon Onigen (played by Japanese actress Koyuki). But before she can stage a showdown with her adversary slash-and-kick sequences are thrown on the screen, as if nothing else will satisfy the curiosity of moviegoers.

Saya's gloomy face, strangely matched with her schoolgirl uniform, sets the tone for the entire film: no self-deprecating humor in a film that attempts to be deadly serious in each and every scene. The resultant effect is almost unreal. Saya's key fighting skill is to slash, run, kick and repeat the pattern, while venting a girlish cry intermittently. Despite these not-so-lethal attacks, all her cartoonish demons fall to the ground.

The real shocker is flying monsters swooping down on a truck driven by Saya's sidekick Alice (Allison Miller). It is as if they lifted some bad footage from the cutting floor of Shim Hyung-rae's "D-War."

The camera relies heavily on fast cuts, close-ups and slow motion in a bid to spice up the otherwise boring set-piece actions. Even a heavy downpour does not add to the dramatic tension, because hundreds of funny-face monsters turn the focus to the sorry absence of a real punch.

Instead, hand-slitting, head-cutting and eye-gouging abound, which will drain the blood out of some of the more squeamish viewers.

The only memorable scene involves Saya's guardian and trainer Kato (Yasuaki Kurata), who showcases the potential of perilous martial arts in his make-or-break confrontation with the monsters in a forest.

The secretive Council, which supposedly gives direction, as well as human blood in a bottle to Saya, is an interesting element. But the Council is dragged out of the story, again without any convincing reason.

What's convincing, though, is Jun's English. She delivers her lines flawlessly, reflecting her study in the past two years for her Hollywood debut. Her fluency comes in sharp contrast to her counterpart Koyuki, whose English sentences are unintelligible.

Jun's comeback on the silver screen, especially through a non-Korean project, has duly raised expectations about her much-needed step forward from "My Sassy Girl," a Korean movie that catapulted her to Asia-wide fame and also cemented her trademark image as a wacky girl with an intriguing drinking habit.

Jun's transformation in "Blood" may not be as satisfactory as many expected, but she seems to have moved one step forward as an actress capable of delivering English lines confidently and kicking some butt with her long legs. This will bloody likely boost her chances of grabbing a role in another Hollywood project.

Blood," directed by Chris Nahon and distributed in Korea by Sidus FNH, will hit local theaters on June 11.

(insight@heraldm.com)
By Yang Sung-jin

source: Korea Herald

Jun Ji-Hyun 'The last vampire'

2009-06-16T18:30:00.001+08:00

South Korean actress Jun Ji-Hyun promotes her new film "Blood: The Last Vampire" at its Hong Kong premiere on May 31, 2009. [Photo: yule.sohu.com]

South Korean actress Jun Ji-Hyun was in Hong Kong over the weekend to promote her new film "Blood: The Last Vampire".

In the action thriller, Jun plays the leading character named Saya, a vampire who hunts and destroys demons.

Jun is best known to Chinese audiences for her role as a bizarre girl in the 2001 romantic comedy "My Sassy Girl", as well as the tragic painter in the 2006 crime film "Daisy", directed by Hong Kong filmmaker Andrew Lau.

Yet Chinese media are apparently blown away by the action stunts shown by Jun in her new film, hailing her "a likely successor to Michelle Yeoh" of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" fame, who is also well-known for her roles in numerous other action films.

source: China Daily

No jackpot yet for Hollywood in Korean film remakes

2009-06-15T13:16:00.001+08:00

The Korean and Hollywood versions of "My Sassy Girl"

SEOUL, April 12 (Yonhap) -- Film adaptations of beloved books are famous for making fans cringe and sigh. But whether due to translation difficulties or unfaithfulness to the original, Hollywood remakes of foreign films are often lesser-known failures.

As tightening budgets sap American studios of their taste for the unique, directors are reaching overseas in search of tried-and-true material -- and South Korea has become a prime market. So far, the copyrights of 26 Korean films have been sold to Hollywood, including major box office hits "Old Boy" and "The Host."

But many of their American remakes have flopped, leaving audiences and critics wondering if they might not have been better off simply reading subtitles.

Such was the case for "My Sassy Girl." The 2001 hit became an instant classic in Korea and on a smaller scale internationally, while the U.S. adaptation barely registered a blip. Film critics gave it an embarrassing five out of 10 stars, according to the U.S. Internet Movie Database, saying it fell "far below the original."

"The case again proves that few remade movies manage to exceed the original," Korean movie critic Kang Dong-joon remarked on his blog. "The Hollywood version misses out on all the humor."

Roy Lee of Vertigo Entertainment, dubbed the "remake king" for pulling off a number of successes including an adaptation of Japanese horror flick "The Ring," said many filmmakers see huge potential in Korea as a market of ideas.

"Korean filmmakers appear willing to take risks that Hollywood studios cannot imagine," Lee said. "Hollywood could never have created 'Old Boy' or 'The Chaser.'"

Still, few of these cross-cultural experiments have panned out. Only four have actually made it to the silver screen (others went straight to video), earning tepid responses even from Korean fans.

"The Lake House," the Hollywood adaptation of Korea's "Il Mare" has drawn the largest audience among the reworks so far, profiting US$114 million worldwide and $52 million in the United States alone.

Casting mega-stars Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock, the unconventional romance pulled in a good number of female viewers. But critics were less pleased, rating it six out of 10.

"With each country having its unique sentiment and culture, it is difficult to please audiences from two different cultures with a same story," said Choi Jae-won, producer of "The Good, the Bad, the Weird," Korea's No. 1 local box office hit last year.

Vertigo Entertainment's Lee agreed.

Hollywood's "The Uninvited" and Korea's "A Tale of Two Sisters"

"Horror is the easiest reworking genre as fear can be triggered with similar tools all around the world," he said. "The different cultural nuances, however, makes drama and romance much more difficult to remake."

"The Uninvited," the Hollywood remake of "A Tale of Two Sisters," opened in Korea Friday amid high hopes. The original film, directed by award-winning Kim Ji-woon, drew 3.2 million viewers at home in 2003, the largest number ever for a local horror movie.

More a psychological thriller than ghost story, the original film won praise from critics who lauded its knotty, convincing plot and delicate cinematography.

"I think U.S. producers were drawn to the film for its attempt to delve deeper into psychological issues rather than focus on the contrast between the good and evil," movie producer Choi said. "Asian horror films have a unique style that appeals to Western audiences."

While the overall plot remains similar -- eerie happenings surrounding two sisters who return home from a mental hospital after the death of their mother -- the Hollywood version has been "westernized and simplified" to appeal to U.S. audiences, producers of "The Uninvited" said.

Gone are the subtle depictions of shifting emotions, replaced by stunning visual and sound effects that give viewers goose-bumps.

"With a lot of key elements from the original movie abbreviated, the Hollywood version might work better with viewers who aren't keen on head-scratching, complicated plots," movie critic Kang said.

"The key to a remake's success is the balance between what to keep and what to change," he added. "This movie proves Hollywood remakes have a chance of success both at home and abroad."

Despite the somewhat disappointing results thus far, major U.S. studios are continuing to scout Korean films to rework.

Blockbuster whiz Steven Spielberg and top actor Will Smith are set to work together on the Hollywood adaptation of "Old Boy," while Gregor Verbinski, creator of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series, will be producing the U.S. version of "The Host."

Recently, Barry Sonnenfeld, the creator of "Men in Black" joined in the remaking tide by announcing his plans to direct an adaptation of "Scandal Makers," a Korean comedy that sold over 8.2 million tickets here.

"The movie is funny, intelligent, and full of heart and values. It is also a movie with universal themes. I am honored to have the opportunity," Sonnenfeld was quoted as saying by Korean distributor Toilet Pictures.

According to M Line, which handles the movie's overseas sales and distribution, remake offers are coming from a number of major studios, including Universal, Sony, Disney and Paramount.

"Korean filmmakers should continue making films the way they believe in," Lee said. "Although it remains a difficult task to turn the uniqueness into something local for Hollywood, it is that uniqueness that draws it to Korean cinema works."

source: Yonhap News

Jun Ji Hyun was recently top on a list entitled “The 9 hottest Korean Women”

2009-06-14T15:54:00.001+08:00

Jun Ji Hyun was recently top on a list entitled “The “The 9 hottest Korean Women” on the popular social-trend website Complex.com.

We consider ourselves somewhat of experts on Korea over here, so it was only a matter of time before we hit up the ol’ Hanguk for an edition of Worldwide Wednesday. With Kim Jong-Il testing nukes and kidnapping journalists, we figured the time was right for a little Korean love. South Korean, that is. Hey, close enough, right?
Given that plastic surgery is like a national pastime in Korea, we were sure to include at least some women who are (at least we think) all-natural. Whatever the case, we’re quite sure we’ve put together an unassailable list of the the 9 hottest women of (South) Korea. Daehan Minguk!

The 9 Hottest Korean Women

#9. (TIE) KIM HYE-SOO (top) and KIM SHI-HYANG
CLAIMS TO FAME: Hye-Soo is an acting O.G. and Shi-Hyang is a former racing model, but both women prove that “two-rrific Korean” is not an oxymoron.

#8. KIM YOO-BIN
CLAIM TO FAME: Believe it or not, the Wonder Girls’ rapper qualifies as “thick” by Korean standards. We’re not sure if that’s sad or funny, but we do know that Yoo-Bin won our hottest Wonder Girls poll. That has to count for something.

#7. HAN CHAE-YOUNG
CLAIM TO FAME: The 27-year-old model/actress is rumored to have had breast implant surgery. We’re rumored not to give a fuck.

#6. KWON YU-RI
CLAIM TO FAME: We got love for Sooyoung, Tiffany, and the other girls of SNSD, but when it comes to “hot,” there’s no contest. Check the perfect form in the backshot above, which proves what you should already know: waist-to-ass ratio trumps all.

#5. SON DAMBI
CLAIM TO FAME: She’s currently the hottest female pop star in Korea but with her face and figure, she could probably make it anywhere as a model. Holla at us, Son!

#4. (TIE) KIM TAE-HEE (top) and HAN GA-IN
CLAIMS TO FAME: These two actresses represent ideal versions of natural, innocent Korean beauty—so much so that we couldn’t find sexy shots of them to include in this. You’ll have to settle for a popsicle pic.

#3. SONG HYE-KYO
CLAIM TO FAME: The star of countless hit dramas has been a favorite since she first burst on the scene in the mid-’90s. Will she ever fall off? No.

#2. LEE HYORI
CLAIM TO FAME: No “hottest Korean women” discussion is complete without bringing up this ex-Fin.K.L. member. So there—consider her brought up.

#1. JEON JI-HYUN
CLAIM TO FAME: The newly christened Gianna Jun is trying to make it overseas (as we previously discussed), but she still takes the cake as our #1 Korean woman. Can we eat it, too?

credit: Worlwide Wendesday: The 9 Hottest Women of Complex.com

Sassy girl kicks butt...

2009-06-13T15:29:00.001+08:00

SO, WILL she make it, or won’t she?

All eyes are on Korean actress Jun Ji Hyun, who is making her Hollywood debut in Blood: The Last Vampire, which will open in the United States next month. The movie opened here last Thursday and has since made a respectable $353,000 so far.

Better known as the star of comedy blockbuster My Sassy Girl (2001), 27-year-old Jun is the latest Asian star to venture West, after Chinese actresses Zhang Ziyi and Gong Li.

She plays a half-vampire who uses her samurai sword to kill vampires in this movie directed by French director Chris Nahon, which is based on a Japanese anime, released in 2000.

Already, Jun’s movie has the Western media excited.

CNN listed it as the No. 3 film on its “15 Movies for Geeks in 2009” list in January. It came in behind Fanboys, which was No. 1, but beat movies like Star Trek, which was No. 7.

But Jun – who has adopted the name “Gianna” in anticipation of her breakthrough – was not prepared for her first action role in Blood, she told my paper while in Singapore last month.

“If I had known that the action scenes would be so difficult, I’d have had second thoughts about doing the movie,” she said through a translator.

She went through three months of martial-arts training in Los Angeles and China under Hong Kong director and choreographer Corey Yuen.

“Sometimes, I wanted to give up,” she recalled. But asked if she would take on action roles again, she replied in the affirmative. “I’ve learnt that nothing is impossible,” she said.

source: divaasia

(Movie Review) Jeon's Hollywood debut 'Blood' falls short of anticipation

2009-06-13T15:11:00.003+08:00

By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, June 5 (Yonhap) -- If you find yourself roaring with laughter while heads and limbs are being atrociously slashed off in this movie, don't doubt your sanity but blame the film's creator.

혻혻 While botching nearly every effect it aims for, "Blood: The Last Vampire," a supposedly brutal slasher, martial arts movie hybrid, does manage to make audiences laugh at the film's silliness and coarseness. As a Hollywood debut piece for top South Korean actress Jeon Ji-hyun, going by the stage name of Gianna Jun in this international film, local movie fans had high expectations since the film's crank-up some three years ago.

혻혻 It is nice to watch the beautiful heroine flying gracefully about the screens wielding a katana but alas, that's about it, with the negatives outweighing the positives by far.

혻혻 Based on a Japanese animation of the same title, "Blood" features half-vampire, half-human Saya (played by Jeon), who is inserted into a high school at a U.S. base located in post-World War II Japan as part of her secret mission to hunt demons in disguise.

혻혻 While the anime film, directed by Oshii Mamoru in 2000, was widely popular in Japan and elsewhere, spawning a fifty-episode anime series, a video game and a manga sequel, the live-action film adaptation appears to fall way short with tacky computer-generated imagery and awkward acting both contributing to the sense of disappointment. Jeon, who has never played an action heroine before, apparently put a great deal of effort into playing Saya, who cuts through demons with a blade like hot knife through butter, and speaks both English and Japanese fluently.

혻혻 But it would only be fair to say Jeon's effort has gone to waste.

혻 혻 With no villain really a match for the powerful Saya besides chief demon Onigen (played by Japanese actress Koyuki), most of the chase-and-fight scenes are a yawner.

혻혻 And while Jeon manages to speak English fluently, Koyuki's English diction makes the audiences strain their ears to try and make out what she is saying. As a result, the climax showdown between Onigen and Saya triggers laughter, rather than tension.

혻혻 An outcome of over-reliance on badly delivered computer graphics, several chase scenes and the coarse appearance of bat-like monsters draw ironic laughter from audiences.

혻혻 Swift and stylish, the scene of a ninja attack set in a leafy Japanese forest was considerably well-shot -- a rare case in this very choppy film -- but it still manages to amuse very few viewers, provoking a sense of deja vu for fans of recently released Chinese martial arts movies.
To round things up, the only impressive aspect in "Blood" is the apparent effort actress Jeon made, showing a potential in her future Hollywood career.

혻혻 "I could not imagine shooting a sequel with an actress rather than Gianna," Bill Kong, producer of the movie, said in a press conference after the film's Seoul preview Thursday. "I was highly satisfied with her acting, especially considering the fact she has no experience in action movies."

혻혻 Kong is dubbed the "Midas of Hong Kong" as the producer of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Hero," which were internationally well-received.

혻혻 Smiling broadly at the compliment, Jeon asked viewers to enjoy the film as an "animation fantasy."

혻 혻 Directed by Chris Nahon, the creator of "Kiss of Dragon (2001)," "Blood" opened in Japan on May 26, the first release among more than 10 countries that will be screening the film including Singapore, France, Britain, the United States and Taiwan.

혻혻 The Hollywood film, jointly produced by Hong Kong and France, will hit the local theaters beginning June 11.

Jun Ji-hyun Shines but 'Blood' Disappoints

2009-06-10T14:46:00.003+08:00

After blockbuster vampire movies like ``Twilight" and ``Thirst," here comes another movie about those bloodsuckers. This time, hallyu star Jun Ji-hyun, also known as Gianna Jun, plays a half-vampire, half-human demon hunter in her first English-speaking role in the film ``Blood: The Last Vampire."

Based on a popular Japanese anime film, series and manga, ``Blood" follows Saya (played by Jun) as she tracks down and brutally kills those nasty demons in human disguise throughout Tokyo in 1970. Saya does the dirty work for a group of mysterious men in black suits, but she is on a personal mission to hunt down the ``oldest and vilest of all demons" Onigen, who she blames for the death of her father.

The youthful but age-less Saya goes undercover at high school at a U.S. military base in Japan, even though one of the characters pointed out ``she's older than all of us combined." She soon rescues Alice, an American student, from two mean girls who turn out to be actual demons.

Directed by Chris Nahon (``Kiss of the Dragon"), ``Blood" suffers from a convoluted plot (especially for someone who has not watched the original anime), cheesy special effects and overacting from the supporting cast.

Some of the stunts are impressive but reminiscent of other Chinese martial arts films, which is probably not surprising since the film's producer is Bill Kong, who also produced ``Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and ``Hero."

The title ``Blood" should be a clue for how much blood and gore is in the film, but much of the violence seems gratuitous. Do viewers really need to see a close-up of a man gruesomely slashed in half? How many scenes of demons being killed does the viewer really need to see to get that Saya is a fierce fighter? It probably would not have been as bad if the computer-generated effects were better.

Kong defended the violent scenes, saying the film needed stronger, edgier action scenes since it is competing with other action-packed TV series and movies around the world.

The film bombards viewers with non-stop action and violence, but the much-anticipated showdown between Saya and Onigen (played by Japanese actress Koyuki) lacks any real excitement.

Jun is probably the only bright spot in this film. Clad in a Japanese schoolgirl uniform for most of the film, Saya doesn't speak much, preferring to hide her pain behind a tough, almost emotion-less facade.

Jun delivers her lines in fluent English, although at times stiffly, while in comparison, Koyuki's thick accent makes it difficult to understand her lines.

Jun, who gained fame for her role in ``My Sassy Girl," also does well with the action stunts. In a press conference after the film's preview at CGV Yongsan, Thursday, Jun admitted having a hard time preparing for the action scenes, but is pleased with how the movie turned out.

Kong praised Jun for her commitment to the film, and even leaves open the possibility for a sequel.

``When we embarked on this movie, I asked Gianna whether she is willing to commit to doing a movie in English because this is very important. … The second most difficult thing was if she's willing to commit to the time to train to become the biggest action star in the world. It takes a lot of time and devotion and commitment. Looking at the film, I think she did more than we asked for. If there is any sequel to this movie, there's nobody else in the world that can fill the role better," he said.

``Blood," jointly produced by Hong Kong and France, hits theaters in Korea on June 11.

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

source: koreatimes

Jun hypes vampire movie

2009-06-10T14:08:00.001+08:00

Jun Ji-hyun held a press conference in Seoul on Wednesday to promote her latest movie “Blood: The Last Vampire.”

The Korean actress met with reporters at the Millennium Seoul Hilton hotel in the central part of the city to outline the movie’s plot and describe its characters.

Jun plays the role of Saya, a 16-year-old vampire hunter out for revenge.

The film is a collaboration between production companies in Japan, Hong Kong and France. For her international debut, the 28-year-old star adopted the name Gianna Jun and spoke lines in English for the project.

Blood marks the first action movie for Jun, who is most famous for her 2001 hit “My Sassy Girl.”

“Learning English was more difficult than doing action scenes,” the actress said Wednesday. “I had to practice a hundred times for one line.”

The movie opened late last month in Japan and was released yesterday in Hong Kong and Singapore. It is slated to open at theaters across Korea next Thursday.

credit: joongangdaily.joins.com

Jun tackles English, action in new vampire film

2009-06-10T13:42:00.001+08:00

HONG KONG: South Korean actress Gianna Jun of "My Sassy Girl" fame says tackling English and action was a tough challenge when she filmed her first international production "Blood: The Last Vampire."
The 27-year-old Jun, who rose to fame by playing a bossy girl in the 2001 romantic comedy "My Sassy Girl," told reporters in Hong Kong through a translator Sunday: "English created mental stress. The action put pressure on my body. Both things were rather difficult for me."
Jun plays a half-human, half-vampire vampire killer in "Blood."
The film, based on a Japanese animated movie by the same name, was released in Japan on May 29 and opens in Hong Kong on Thursday.
"My Sassy Girl" was remade as a Hollywood production starring Jesse Bradford and Elisha Cuthbert. - AP
source:the star online

Gianna Jun in Singapore

2009-06-10T11:42:00.002+08:00

Press Conference at Capella Hotel, Sentosa Singapore.

27 May - Korean star Jun Ji-hyun, famous for her 2008 romantic flick "My Sassy Girl," has undergone a name change to Gianna Jun for her Hollywood action film debut "Blood: The Last Vampire." The producers were afraid that the international audiences might not be able to pronounce her Korean name. Gianna who plans to keep the name for the rest of her career explains, "My Korean name is Ji-hyun and my friends and family back home calls me Ji-hyun-a. So I decided to have my English name as Gianna because it sounds similar." In the movie, Gianna plays Saya, a 400-year-old half human, half vampire who goes around slaying vampires and the evil patriarch of them all, Onigen. The film is directed by Chris Nahon ("Kiss Of The Dragon") with action choreography by Corey Yuen ("Transporter 2," "X-Men").

The 28-year-old actress-model appeared in Singapore on 21 May 2009 as part of her promotional tour and sparked interest with the press regarding her toned figure. Gianna, together with the help of her translator, described how she spent her training in China and Argentina preparing for the film's many action sequences. "I started off with the basic physical training of doing repetitive kicks, and after a while, it got a bit boring. But when the filming started, things got interesting. There was never a point where I was ready before filming as I had to practice the stunts and train throughout the whole movie." Gianna, who previously could only run 10 minutes on the threadmil, now proudly says that she can run for over an hour due to her intense training.

For her many dangerous stunts, she praised Corey Yuen for his professionalism in choreographing the action scenes. "His training was precise, gentle and well choreographed that I didn't really sustain any major injuries. Everyday was a challenge because it was not easy to perform the stunts while being strapped up on wires."

However, the stunts weren't the only challenge for her as she confessed difficulties in expressing her emotions in English, which she had to learn from scratch. "It was very awkward for me to express myself in English, but I've learnt a lot from the beginning to the end as I repetitively practice the language." She also explained why she was interested in an action film as her Hollywood debut as it required more physical action than conversing.
Not wanting only to commit to Hollywood films, she said, "What's most important for me is the script and the character. As long as I can feel for the story and the character, it doesn't matter if it's a Korean movie or Hollywood movie." It has been revealed that she is currently in talks of starring in a Korean film as her next project.

credit: www.cinema.com

Blood: The Last Vampire

2009-06-10T11:28:00.006+08:00

China

All hyped up in China.

She floats like a butterfly.

Gianna plays Saya, a vampire slayer.

Argh! Whose head is
that?!

This is Gianna's favorite action scene!

Yikes!

Monsters go green.

She fights better than Buffy the Vampire Slayer, no?

Monsters go green.

Don't forget to check me out in "Blood: The Last Vampire" in cinemas 11 June 2009!

Argentina

"My Sassy Girl" (2008) star Gianna Jun.

Cast and crew.

Gianna & French director Chris Nahon.

Chris: "Yeap, that's the look I was going for."

Gianna: "Are you sure? Because that's not what the paper said."

Party with vampires

2009-06-10T11:25:00.001+08:00

Gianna plays Saya, a vampire slayer.

Gianna Jun in at a press conference in Singapore.

4 Jun – It will be a night filled with blood suckers gathering at Cathay Cineplex Damansara on 10 June 2009 (Wednesday), in conjunction with the live anime adaptation of "Blood: The Last Vampire," due in cinemas 11 June. Hosted by Outpost Events and Columbia Tristar, "Blood: The Last Vampire" will take place from 7.30pm to 11.00pm and promises an evening of gory merriments such as the undead costume mascarade, blood thirst feast, the bloody truth and also the premiere screening of the movie!
Partygoers are urged to follow the dress code which is to wear vampire inspired costume or other spooky attire. Great prizes will be presented to the top three winners in the fastest blood drinking competition and best dressed category, while plenty more freebies will be given away during the bloody truth session (Q&A). There is even a "Blood: The Last Vampire" t-shirt personally autographed by the star of the film, Gianna Jun herself! So come in your best vampire costume and stand an opportunity to take home this grand prize!

In regards to this bloody affair, Cinema Online would like to extend its invitation to the public as there are 20 invitations up for grabs! Whoever would like to join the party, just complete this simple tiebreaker, "I want to be a part of the 'Blood: The Last Vampire' party because..." in not more than 20 words. Then, submit your entry together with your name, IC number and contact number via email at contest@cinema.com.my before 7 June. Winners will be announced via email on 8 June.

So, dress up and have a bloody good time!

credit:www.cinema.com

My Sassy Vampire Slayer

2009-06-10T11:13:00.002+08:00

Jun Ji-hyun a.k.a Gianna Jun

Gianna's translator, Gianna Jun and Singapore Radio DJ Shan during the press conference at Capella Hotel, Sentosa Singapore.

Gianna's appearance at Bugis Junction Mall, Singapore.

Gianna meets her fans

Pictures taken on 21 May 2008 at Capella Hotel and Bugis Junction Mall, Singapore

credit: www.cinema.com

Taiwan Blood The Last Vampire

2009-06-10T10:57:00.002+08:00

South Korean actress Gianna Jun poses for media during a press conference promoting her new film "Blood: The Last Vampire," directed by famed French director Chris Nahon, in Taipei, Taiwan, Monday, June 8, 2009. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)/2009-06-08 16:21:32/

source: naver

Gianna Jun at Blood: The Last Vampire press conference

2009-06-04T21:44:00.003+08:00

Gianna Jun Ji-hyun attended the premiere and press conference of her fantasy action movie Blood: The Last Vampire (directed by Chris Nahon) in Seoul. The press conference was on June 4 at 2pm and Gianna looked radiant in a white off-shoulder dress.source: k-popped!more...Gianna was also in Hong Kong on May 31 to promote her movie. After greeting "Good morning everybody, I'm Jun Ji-hyun" in Cantonese, the audience showed their appreciation by giving a warm applause.The Chinese press proceeded to ask Jun if she has a boyfriend. Jun replied that she hopes to find love and her other half soon. Jun's ideal man would have the same interests as her and he would be easy to talk to.Blood: The Last Vampire opens in South Korea and Malaysia on 11 June, Ireland and Taiwan on 12 June, 17 June in France, 19 June in the United Kingdom. The movie will be released in mid-July in the U.S.

credit: k-popped!

Jun Ji Hyun Shows off English Skills...

2009-06-04T21:41:00.001+08:00

A POPSEOULer had sent us a tip that Jun Ji-hyun was showing off her English skills. So naturally, we expected the whole interivew with Channel News Asia would be in English. However, the only thing she said was “actually….my friends call me “Gianna” and then the rest of the interview was in Korean.
Why bother speaking in a language that you are not comfortable in?
Obviously she wanted to everyone to remember he new English-friendly name, “Gianna”
Gianna Jun will be kicking ass in her new film, “Blood the Last Vampire” on June 11th in Korea.
Check out the interview with Channel News Asia

credit: popseoul

ArirangTV Jun ji hyun interview 전지현 아리랑TV 인터뷰

2009-06-01T19:57:00.002+08:00

credit: arirangworld of youtube

Gianna Jun Ji-hyun전지현s Blood: The Last Vampire Press conference

2009-06-01T19:55:00.002+08:00

credit: overider of youtube

Gianna Jun declares interest in Takuya Kimura at promotion for 'Last Blood'

2009-05-29T17:45:00.001+08:00

TOKYO (Thursday 28th May, 02:00 PM JST)—

Korean actress Gianna Jun, 27, attended a special preview this week with co-star Koyuki, 32, in Shibuya for the Japan premiere of “Blood: The Last Vampire.” Jun, better known as Ji-hyun Jun, changed her name for the release of the movie which was filmed in English.
Based on the Japanese animated film released in 2000, Jun plays a katana-wielding half-human/half-vampire who hunts full-blooded vampires, both to rid the world of them and due to the fact they are her only source of food.
At the premiere, Jun chose SMAP’s Takuya Kimura as a man she would like to star with, saying he is a great actor. Kimura happened to be promoting the release of his own upcoming movie “I Come With The Rain” in Roppongi on Wednesday night, and Koyuki made a sly remark thanking everyone for coming to see their movie and not his.
“Blood: The Last Vampire” (billed as “Last Blood” in Japan) opens in cinemas on Friday.
source: japantoday

No blood, No glory

2009-05-28T17:37:00.002+08:00

FROM the romantic Il Mare to the cute My Sassy Girl to the sexy A Man Who Was Superman, leggy Korean actress Gianna Jun has been giving it her all on the big screen.

This year, she brings us the Hollywood blockbuster Blood: The Last Vampire in a bid to change her 'sassy' image and take the world's box offices by storm.

In April, a US magazine judged a total of six Korean celebrities, and 28-year-old Gianna scored four out of five points, coming out tops.

The magazine said you had a model-esque figure and looks, and also felt you did exceptionally well in Blood: The Last Vampire. How do you feel about its flattering critique of you?

I would like to thank the media for their kind judgment but whether I will become the celebrity that they already deem me to be remains to be seen.

How do you cope with speaking a foreign language?

Using English to act out an emotional scene is tough. The pronunciation of the English language is a real challenge for me. The production company engaged an English teacher for me and I practised diligently, there really is no other way.

When did you find out that you were going to the US to further your career? Did you have any concerns then?

I had no worries in particular. As an actress, the chance to act in foreign films was an opportunity too good to pass up. Furthermore, this was an action film and the thought that there would be less dialogue made me decide to accept the offer.

In this movie you execute lethal moves. What were the worst injuries you sustained? We also heard that you had to train with Japanese swords, so were you injured as a result? What preparation did you do for those scenes?

Getting injured in an action film is really unavoidable. There was one scene when I was hit in the face by a crane and I started bleeding . I also had to undergo three months of rigorous training with a Hong Kong wushu trainer. I couldn't have completed this movie without the training.

Tell us about acting in the US as opposed to acting in Korea. Any differences?

In Korea, the director will discuss the scene in detail with me before we actually shoot the scene but there's very little of that in America. This is the main difference. But in America, they are very disciplined when it comes to working hours. We will never fail to have one off day a week, unlike in Korea where we can work for days on end.

Introduce your movie to Singaporean viewers.

Please don't be put off by the ominous title of the movie. I believe the audience will thoroughly enjoy the film.

This article was first published in The New Paper

source: Diva Asia
credit: ellewoods

Live-Action Blood the Last Vampire’s 1st 5 Minutes Posted

2009-05-27T15:15:00.002+08:00

The Yahoo! Japan website’s Movies section is streaming the first five minutes and 27 seconds from Chris Nahon’s live-action film adaptation of the Blood: The Last Vampire anime film. Director Hiroyuki Kitakubo (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Roujin Z) and Production I.G animated the original film. In the new film, South Korea’s Jeon Ji-hyun (under her English name, Gianna Jun) plays Saya, a sword-wielding girl hunting down supernatural creatures. Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell films, Mobile Police Patlabor) conceived the original anime’s story with screenwriter Kenji Kamiyama (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Eden of The East). Chris Chow adapted the story for East Wing Holdings Corp. and SAJ’s live-action version.

Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group acquired all North American rights to the new film, and Samuel Goldwyn Films will release the film in American theaters this summer. The live-action film will open in Japan on Friday (under the title Last Blood), in the United Kingdom on June 12, and then in France on June 17. It will also open in Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea and other countries in June.

Manga Entertainment released the original Blood: The Last Vampire anime film in North America, while Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is releasing the Blood+ television anime series. Viz Media published the graphic novel sequel to the first movie, and Dark Horse Comics is publishing the different Blood+ manga and text novel.

watch here…

Anime News Network

Jun Ji Hyun @ Bugis Singapore

2009-05-26T22:03:00.003+08:00

credit:berylin@youtube

Jun Ji Hyun: More pictures @ Bugis Singapore

2009-05-26T21:56:00.002+08:00

Jun Ji Hyun May 2009 17tea Commercial Film

2009-05-26T17:28:00.003+08:00

credit: sushiboiii of youtube

Jun Ji Hyun spotted filming 17 tea cf

2009-05-26T17:19:00.002+08:00

It’s Jun Ji-hyun! The CF queen/actress was recently spotted filming the next installment of the“17 Tea” on the streets of Seoul.

Jun Ji-hyun’s Hollywood vehicle, “Blood, the Last Vampire” will open in theaters in Korea on June 11th.

credited: popseoul

Blood: The Last Vampire Press Conference

2009-05-24T14:32:00.004+08:00

21 May 2009 | 1300 HRS Capella Singapore Sentosa

Don’t be fooled by her stunning looks- Gianna Jun (better known as Jun Ji-hyun) is one tough cookie, as she aptly demonstrates in her first action movie, Blood: The Last Vampire playing a demon hunter. So formidable was she that we suspect the press had to be protected from coming too close to her- something her minders diligently enforced at the press conference.

Better known as Jeon Ji-hyun from the hit Korean movies “My Sassy Girl” and “Windstruck”, Gianna stars as Saya, a 400 year old half-human, half-vampire that goes around slaying vampires, her ultimate goal the evil patriarch of them all, Onigen. This film also marks Gianna’s first Hollywood movie.

Thanks to the intense preparation that she went through to ready herself for the stunts in the movie, she can now spend more than an hour on the treadmill every day- that’s up from just ten minutes before she began training. In fact, she’s so happy with her new found fitness that she has made it her regular daily physical routine.

Swinging into town as part of her promotional tour, Gianna described how she spent 2 months of physical training in Los Angeles and then another one and a half months in China preparing for the film’s many action sequences.

“I started from basic physical training, like repetitive kicks, and after a while it got a bit boring because I was doing the same thing over and over again. But when filming started, everything was choreographed by the martial arts people so that was much more interesting for me,” she said. “Still, I was never really ready when filming started so I actually spent pretty much the entire time when we were shooting the movie practicing and learning the stunts too.

She is full of praise for renowned action director Cory Yuen who choreographed the action in the movie. Indeed, she said that it was because of his professionalism on the set that she was able to execute the many dangerous stunts without sustaining any major injuries. Nevertheless, that didn’t mean that filming what is easily her most physically demanding role to date was a breeze.

“Every day was a challenge for me because it was not easy performing the stunts while strapped up on a wire,” she said. One particularly challenging sequence was a 15-minute fight in the movie between Saya and a horde of vampires in the rain. Filming that alone took one month of being drenched from head to toe continuously- a month that she described as something that no one should have to go through.

But the stunts were not the only challenge she faced filming this live-action adaptation of a popular anime. Since most of the dialogue in the movie was in English, she also picked up the language from scratch. In fact, she changed her name to Gianna (Gianna is short form in Italian for “Giovanni”, which means “God’s grace”) because the producers were afraid that international audiences might not be able to pronounce her Korean name.

“It was particularly difficult was trying to express my character’s emotions while speaking in English,” she said. “The only way to accomplish that is to study the character more intently so that the emotions can just flow naturally.” What she liked most about her character Saya was her humanity expressed through her sympathy for even the vampires she kills- something that she tried her best to portray.

Gianna also joins a recent list of Korean stars who have made their forays into Hollywood, including Daniel Henney in this summer’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Rain, soon to be seen in the Wachoswki Brothers’-produced Ninja Assassin. But for the moment, she has no plans to commit to a Hollywood career.

“I think what’s most important for me is the script and the character- as long as I can feel for the story and the character, it doesn’t matter whether it’s a Korean movie or Hollywood movie,” she said. And for her Korean fans out there, you’ll be glad to know that her next movie that she is in talks to star will be in Korean. ”

credit: http://moviexclusive.com/article/bloodthelastvampire/bloodthelastvampire.html

Korean "Sassy girl" in Singapore to promote first Hollywood film

2009-05-23T15:57:00.002+08:00

Jun Ji Hyun in Singapore

In the movie adapted from a popular Japanese anime, the Korean actress took on the role as Saya Otonashi, a human-vampire hybrid immortalized at 16 years old. As a demon-slayer herself, the ironic part about Saya is that she also depends on human blood for survival.

The most challenging parts for her in the movie, Jun said during a press conference in Singapore, are the action scenes. For them, she went through three months of physical training. On top of that, this is also the first time she is acting in English.

Blood: The Last Vampire will be in local theatres in June.

Source: Yahoo! News

Jun Ji-hyun bets on her new identity

2009-05-22T15:40:00.002+08:00

"My Sassy Girl" star Jun Ji-hyun is coming back to the silver screen again, this time not only for local moviegoers but for international audiences.
"Blood: The Last Vampire," starring Jun as the title character, will hit theaters in Japan on May 29, followed by releases in Hong Kong, Singapore and other Asian markets in June. The Korean release is slated for June 11 and it will open in the United States in July.
"I felt a lot of pressure about whatever I did in Korea because the media here tended to overrate my performance, but when I was on the shooting set for 'Blood,' nobody paid particular attention to me," Jun said in an interview with The Herald Business.
"It would be very difficult for me to take up a vampire role in the Korean film market, and even if I got the role, I might be unable to shake off my old image, but I discovered my new identity thanks to the project abroad.”

Jun is an A-list actress in Korea and her profile stands out throughout Asia thanks to the enormous success of “My Sassy Girl,” a romantic comedy that helped fuel the Korean Wave.

However, in the handful of films she has starred in since “My Sassy Girl” were less successful, despite her continued popularity as a model for TV commercials.

Now, 12 years since her modeling debut, she aims to reconfigure her image through “Blood,” a remake of a Japanese animation of the same title that marks her arrival in Hollywood.

In Hollywood she is using “Gianna Jun” as her official English name, following advice that her Korean name is hard to pronounce.

Jun's decision to join the shooting of the Hollywood action film is not only for broadening her career outside Korea but also going beyond the limits of a language barrier. “Blood” centers around action sequences, helping Jun reach a broader range of viewers in English-speaking countries. But this came with a downside: The action scenes turned out to be fairly demanding.

"It was so hard that I thought I would never take a role in an action film again, but in retrospect I believe it was a good decision because the film helped reveal something new in me,” Jun said.

Inthe movie, she plays Saya, a human-vampire hybrid who hunts vampires for food. Jun went through new experiences such as wire action and martial arts sequences – a departure from her “Sassy Girl” image as an attractive woman who never hesitates to smash her boyfriend to hide her tender side.

Jun also brushed aside the mobile phone duplication incident involving her management agency, adding that she felt sorry for her agency’s staff members who had to endure negative media coverage.

But the real challenge is whether Jun can pull off a commercial success this time around with “Blood.” In recent years she has struggled on the big screen, despite her status as the most sought-after fashion icon who has won a slew of lucrative TV advertisement deals.

Last year, she played opposite award-winning actor Hwang Jung-min in “A Man Once a Superman” amid renewed attention for her film career, but the movie was not well-received.

Similarly, Jun’s other films such as “Daisy” (2006), “Windstruck” (2004) and “The Uninvited” (2003) received tepid reactions from moviegoers.

By:Yang Sung-jin
(insight@heraldm.com)

Jeon Ji-hyun Attempts Major Transformation in Action Movie

2009-05-22T15:38:00.003+08:00

Actress Jeon Ji-hyun has made a foray into action movies by playing a leading role in the movie “Blood,” which opens June 11 worldwide. In “Blood,” which marks Jeon’s Hollywood debut, she appears wearing a school uniform and flying in the sky on wires. Her new role stands apart from her previous roles of sexy and sassy gals.

In an interview on May 12, Jeon said her role in “Blood” proved to be more challenging than she thought, but that she was lucky to try it with the help of foreign filmmakers who didn’t know her well and thus gain new experience.

“Blood” is based on the same-titled Japanese animation by famous cartoonist Mamoru Oshii. It is a multinational project overseen by producer Bill Kong, who produced “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” and “Hero”; director Chris Nahon, who produced “Kiss Of The Dragon”; and director Corey Yuen Kwai of “Transporter.”

Jeon plays a 16-year-old half-human-half-vampire girl who is ordered by a government agency to destroy vampires. The actress said that, although it was difficult to act in an action movie, it was a very fascinating experience in hindsight. “Now I understand why so many actors keep returning to action movies though they promise to never do it again while filming,” added Jeon.

Jeon said, "Many people know me as sexy and innocent-looking, but that’s frustrating to me. That is of course my fault as well, because I’ve failed to show off a more versatile side of me as an actress. Though I don’t attach prior importance to creating a certain image of myself when choosing a role, I would like to appear in an action movie again if I have a chance.”

“Blood” drew particular attention because it is Jeon’s first role in a Hollywood production. The actress says it was enormous pressure for her because she wanted to meet her fans’ expectations but that she was proud to be part of a multinational project as a Korean and Asian. She appears strongly determined to expand her presence overseas by appealing to foreign audiences through acting.

Jeon said, "I have been dreaming of debuting overseas and I hope everything turns out well. I want to show that Korean actors and Korean culture in no way lag behind. To actresses like me, who face a language barrier, an action movie is an ideal genre for debuting abroad. It was risky, because I had never tried it before, but I believe I can handle it well and it’s worth the try."

The filming of “Blood” had already been finished in Argentina and China even before the filming of the movie “A Man Who Was Superman,” which opened last year, began in those countries. But it will open no earlier than next month because of all the finishing touches that need to be made.

Jeon says she was embarrassed to play a 16-year-old wearing a school uniform but adds jokingly that she looked good. She said, “I don’t mind wearing a school uniform. It looks fresh and viewers will like it.”

Jeon said, "As I become more mature, I can easily become engrossed in my roles even without any special training. Aging is a beautiful process for an actress. I don’t need to rush things in terms of my career.”.

Jeon Ji-hyun Looks to Confound Critics in Vampire Film

2009-05-22T15:30:00.002+08:00

Actress Jeon Ji-hyun is on a tour of several countries to promote her latest film "Blood: The Last Vampire" scheduled for release on June 11.

The film is the story of a vampire who is battling to end 400 years of warfare between humans and vampires. Based on Japanese animation "Ghost in the Shell" by Mamoru Oshii, it cost US$35 million as a co-production by Japan, France and Hong Kong.

"I'm more excited and nervous because it's not a Korean project, but a multinational one," Jeon said. "I'm very nervous because I'm presenting myself as an actress in a new genre."

"I get a lot of feedback saying that I’m a commercial model rather than an actress, and that I'm trapped in the images in advertisements. I also hear comments questioning my ability to act. Because I'm a human being, I was anxious and impatient about having to show another side of me to the public," she said. "But I also thought that because I'm an actress, I don't have to get carried away. I know that I will do well and I will look good, so there was no need to hurry."

"I'm sorry that I wasn't able to show various aspects of myself in dramas or films throughout my 11-year career," she said. There are many misperceptions and prejudices about the image I've portrayed so far, but I think the best answer to such criticisms would be to do well in new films. I have ambition and desire to act until the day I die."

Jeon said the film tried to be as true to the original animation as possible. "The director and all other crew said I fit the character very well."

credits @ Chosun Ilbo

Can Gianna Jun succeed overseas?

2009-05-22T15:19:00.001+08:00

"My Sassy Girl" heroine Gianna Jun (her Korean name is Jun Ji-hyun) comes back on screen with her first international action movie "Blood," which will be released on June 11 in Korea. In the movie, Jun plays the role of "Saya," a human-vampire hybrid who hunts vampires for food. Playing "Saya" is ground breaking for Jun as an actress for the fact that she has never performed in an action movie. Wielding katana and hanging from a wire were new experiences for her.

Speaking at a news conference on May 12 in Seoul, she explained that she chose a hardcore action movie as her international movie debut in an apparent desire to analyze herself as an actress.
She said, "I valued the new venture to debut as an action star in overseas markets and I thought that I must challenge myself."
Working with foreign staff was not an easy task because the language barrier was a new challenge. "I remember the first shooting very vividly. I could only perform two lines of the script, and I couldn't understand what the producers wanted from me," Jun said.
While Jun took the first step into the overseas movie market, there were mixed reactions to her chances of becoming a Hollywood movie star through "Blood."
Caroline, 23, who works in the fashion industry in New York City, doubts Jun's chances of success in the tough U.S. film industry. "My first question is can she speak English properly?”
"The reason that the Korean actress in 'Lost' (Kim Yoon-jin) was successful is because she can speak English very fluently. Unless Gianna could speak English like that, I don't think she will be successful," she told The Korea Herald.
Experts in Seoul say language is one of the main factors that decide the success for Korean entertainers who go overseas, especially to the United States.

Han Su-jung from entertainment management company JYP's PR department emphasized the importance of English-speaking ability. She exemplified pop singer Park Jun-hyung's case and said "He filmed two Hollywood movies already: "Speed Racer" and "Dragon Ball Z." Han also said in an interview with the paper that "Park's fluent English helped him a lot, since he speaks the language he is playing the main character in 'Dragon Ball Z."' “The language came handy when the actor communicates with producers and other cast members and I think it applies to any Korean actor or actress filming in a foreign language."
Along with language, "looks" are not a negligible factor for evaluating Jun as a world star. Caroline said "American audience love to see the 'exotic' looks of Asians, but I don't think she has that … (she) has a forgettable face."
But other Americans raised the possibility that Jun could appeal to the U.S. entertainment industry. Jim Mahan, a banker in North Carolina, who said he is a movie fan, told The Korea Herald in an e-mail interview that Jun reminded him of the young actress in "Hero" and "Kill Bill."
"She has an attractive look, but also, and I know this may sound strange, she looks believable," Mahan said.
Whether playing a saint or an evil character, Mahan said, she has a face that looks genuine. "That's extremely important in film," he said.
For the movie "Blood," Jun worked with well-known producer Bill Kong, who produced "Crouching Tiger," "Hero," and "House of Flying Dragon."
The movie will be on show from July in the United States.
By Hwang Aesol (csa919@gmail.com)

souce: Korea Herald

Jeon Ji-hyun criticized for “Hollywood debut” exaggerations

2009-05-22T15:15:00.001+08:00

Jeon Ji-hyun’s Hollywood debut has been buzzed about for practically two years, and although previews have finally come out for Blood: The Last Vampire, there has still been no official U.S. release announced (July has been mentioned as a tentative possibility). It seems that Korean fans and netizens are growing weary of the hype without an actual product, and have started to voice their suspicions, dissatisfied with the exaggeration of her role and accusing her of false advertising.

The movie has been touted all along as a “Hollywood film,” by Jeon herself as well as the promotional machine. Sidus HQ, Jeon’s management, explained: “When Jeon Ji-hyun spoke of it as her Hollywood debut film, she didn’t mean that it was made in Hollywood but that it would be released in America. The point is that it is the first step in the Hollywood system.”

The source article points out that even though the film wasn’t made by Hollywood, this wouldn’t be an issue if it had received investments from American film companies. However, the production budget was not furnished by Hollywood, financed instead by companies in four other countries, making it a co-production between Japan, Hong Kong, France, and Argentina. The film has a French director, Chris Nahon, and is based on a Japanese manga.

I think this is rather harsh on Jeon (and really, Blood kinda looks awesome, much better than the other so-called Hallyu-to-Hollywood debuts), but it has a very valid point, which is to take the press and management companies to task for being too eager to label any and everything a “Hollywood debut.” For instance, the media was quick to blare the trumpets for Han Chae-young’s “Hollywood debut” in the horror film Soul Mate, which was a Korea-New Zealand production that had no traction in Hollywood. Han Go-eun’s supposed Hollywood project was a Korea-Canada co-production.

On the other hand, there are projects that can be legitimately called Hollywood debuts, such as Daniel Henney’s recently released X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Lee Byung-heon’s upcoming G.I. Joe (which releases in August), Rain’s upcoming Ninja Assassin (November), and Jang Dong-gun’s The Warrior’s Way (which was previously called Laundry Warrior).

Via My Daily

Gianna Jun is a “girl less ordinary” in Elle

2009-05-22T15:02:00.003+08:00

Not only artists who can be magazine’s cover! In this modern era, even a vampire can be one.
A vampire named ‘Saya‘ is greeting the fashion magazine’s reader of ELLE Hongkong.
‘Saya’ the vampire alias is Gianna Jun aka Jeon Jihyun. She is more than ready to suck ur so called blood starting this June 2009. But, that’s only in the giant screen ^^
Korean top actress Jeon Jihyun shares her latest image as being the cover model for May edition of ELLE Hongkong.
She was also doin’ photoshoots for the magazine and gave her shouts via the magazine interview.
Her latest movie “Blood : The Last Vampire (Director : Chris Nahon)” was telling about a vampire named ‘Saya’,who is part of covert government agency that hunts and destroys demons in a post-WWII Japan, is inserted in a military school to discover which one of her classmates is a demon is disguise (via imdb)
Blood : The Last Vampire sets to greet its giant screen viewers in Asia & Europe starting June 11,2009.
Photo spreads are credit to ELLE HONGKONG via NATE

credits : hallyuism if taken out