연합뉴스
| 2021-06-01 08:15:52
SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- Actor Jung Jae-kwang (31), has steadily built his acting career by starring in a variety of films and dramas over the years.
Recently, the actor won an award for "Best Actor" at the Jeonju International Film Festival for his memorable performance in "Not Out" as a 19-year-old baseball player, who faces the harsh reality when he isn't drafted by a professional baseball team.
For Jung Jae-kwang, who didn't know the rules of baseball, to play the role of an high school baseball player was due to director Lee Jung-gon, who is a baseball fan himself.
Director Lee, who had watched Jung Jae-kwang in "Blood and Bones," a short film which allowed the actor to take home the Independent Star Award at the 2016 Seoul Independent Film Festival, wrote the scenario with Jung in mind.
"Director Lee once told me, 'I'm currently writing a scenario for a baseball movie and while I don't know when it will be, after I get the investment, let's make a movie together,'" Jung recalled. Four years later, a scenario was sent over to Jung from Director Lee.
Not only did Jung have no idea of baseball, it was also his first leading role in a film where he appears in almost every scene.
"Originally there were 128 scenes, but it was really burdensome for me because I didn't have an entrance or a scene where I would exit. I wondered if I could do this, but at the same time, I thought that overcoming this task would help me expand my capabilities as an actor," Jung said.
After deciding to star in "Not Out," Jung attended high school baseball games and a baseball academy to prepare himself ahead of filming.
Jung mentioned, "While watching the high school baseball games, I found a friend who fit the image of Gwang-ho I had in mind. Unlike other students who laughed and talked to their teammates, there were players watching the other teams' games very closely. I could see the desperation and pressure in their eyes and I designed my character to the players I observed while watching the game."
From tanning his skin to replicate the rough and sunburned skin baseball players typically have, to eating salty food and beer, Jung was ready for his role. The actor gained 25 kg and said this process was necessary in order to build a larger figure that looks similar to a baseball player, but also to gain cheek fat to look younger.
As Jung lost 27 kilograms again by walking six hours a day after shooting the movie, there was no trace of Gwang-ho's rough image from the actor's face.
As the novel corona virus began to spread last spring, the filming process including, finding filming locations, were difficult.
The strict regulations that were set in order to prevent the virus led the staff and production team to be unmotivated. However, what made everybody work actively together again was when they shot the scene of Gwang-ho sobbing at his father's shabby restaurant after being completely deprived of his dream and falling from the Sports League Draft,
Not only did Jung Jae-kwang, who plays Gwang-ho, but the staff who were at the scene cried altogether.
"In this scene, Gwang-ho says, 'I really did my best,' and one staff member from the art team cried a lot, saying, 'It reminded me about the time when I was preparing for my art college entrance exam.' That was the moment when everyone sympathized with Gwang-ho and comforted him. The shooting itself was very difficult due to COVID-19 but everyone was able to cheer up and motivated to shoot with passion," explained Jung.
Jung Jae-kwang said he had a similar experience to Gwang-ho when he was in high school and preparing for the entrance examination to enroll in Chung-Ang University's theater and film department.
"I would watched movies like 'Titanic' on DVD when I was younger and felt like I should be inside the TV screens and acting as well. I also liked dancing back then, however, when I said I wanted to be an actor, everyone around me was opposed to the idea. They told me to just pursue dancing and that I couldn't get into Chung-Ang University anyways. I wanted to prove myself and the people around me that I was capable of achieve what I loved."
"The desperation and fear of failing I felt then, were the emotions I referred to while acting as Gwang-ho in 'Not Out,'" Jung added.
Jung Jae-kwang, who has appeared in numerous independent films, made his commercial film debut by starring with actress Chun Woo-hee in the movie "Vertigo," and was cast for the popular drama "It's Okay to Not Be Okay."
Jung said that while "Not Out" was a film that has helped him grow as an actor, he was still unsure about what kind of work and role he wanted to challenge in the future.
"I want find work that suits my capabilities and I want to play that role well," the actor said. "I want to be an actor who works hard like a cow."
Jung's next work is starring in the romance drama "Nevertheless," which also stars actress Han So-hee and actor Song Kang. Jung Jae-kwang plays Ahn Kyung-joon, who is a teacher's assistant and has a bright personality.
"My new character is different from Gwang-ho. He has a very cute and
lovely appearance so please look forward to my role in 'Nevertheless.'"
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