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| ▲ This photo, provided by Filmmaker R&K, shows Kang Hye-jun, head of the company. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- Korean films have saved the movies from crisis amid the COVID-19 pandemic this summer.
Produced by production company Filmmaker R&K “Escape from Mogadishu” directed by Ryu Seung-wan and “Hostage” starring veteran actor Hwang Jung-min hit the theaters in July and August with 3 weeks in between.
Although the films have been a success attracting 3 million and 1 million audiences respectively, the company had a lot of worries until their releases.
“It is too unfortunate to call this a hit,” said Kang Hye-jung who has lead the company with her husband, director Ryu Seung-wan for 17 years. The head producer exclaimed her mix of happiness and regret on an online interview Tuesday.
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| ▲ This photo, provided by Filmmaker R&K, shows (from the left) "Escape from Mogadishu" and "Hostage." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
“Mogadishu” beat Marvel production “Black Widow” and recorded this year’s most views. “Hostage” also showed a brilliant score ranking No. 8 on this year’s Box Office.
But the high scores seem humble compared to that of before the COVID-19 when there were a million audiences watching a film in a day and when there hit movies attracting 10 million audiences.
“Most production companies will be planning to release their productions when the pandemic settles down, regardless of the films’ scales,” said Kang.
“Neither have I thought that the two films would have to struggle against the coronavirus.”
“There was the time we waited for the release after finishing all production process. Also, the distributions companies were confident of the films and wanted to drop them in the summer season. We put our heads together about whether it would be more effective to put off the release dates before final decision. Fortunately the two productions’ genres didn’t clash so we dropped them consecutively,” explained the head of Filmmaker R&K.
The films’ break-even points are 3.5 million audiences for “Mogadishu” and 1.7~1.8 million audiences for “Hostage”. If the streak continues throughout the Chuseok holidays, they would be able avoid loss.
“Mogadishu” which used about 20 billion won for production, has been promised half of the cost by Korean Theater Organization (translated).
Kang shook her head saying that the movies these days is an ‘unimaginable market.’ She, at the same time, expressed her touched heart thanks to the theater visitors also adding her proudness for Korean movies’ unique talent of comforting the Korean watchers.
“I really feel so moved when thinking of the audiences who came to see the two films. They overcame their fear-hurdles (about the risk of infection) to visit the movies. Personally, it is such a heart-touching moment. I think I am emotionally compensated for the physical sadness over the popularity. I feel sincere happiness having communicated with the audiences regardless of the score.”
She also bragged about the two films’ attractiveness. “Mogadishu” features the most dramatic event of all Korean history and they have put their ever-most effort into the movie. Kang explained that “Hostage,” is a perfect thriller that fully actor Hwang’s charms.
As the film was designed for the theaters from the beginning, the company had no intentions of releasing the productions on OTT platforms. That is because the sense of immersion in the theaters with a big screen and sound effects differ from that in an ordinary house. In particular, as “Hostage” was the debut production of director Pil Gam-seong, she wanted to let him hit the theaters first.
Although, her company started mainly with director Ryu’s productions, they are putting effort into discovering new-faces as well. Also their genres diversified from action to comedy “Dachimawa Lee,” horror “Savaha,” disaster comedy “Exit” and romance “On Your Wedding Day.”
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| ▲ This photo, provided by Filmmaker R&K, shows Kang Hye-jung, head of Filmmaker R&K. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
“We went through all kinds of hardships. We think that what really matters is the story we want to portray not the scale,” said Kang.
“We have grown from our difficult times. The hardships became a turning point for the company’s system, which was dependent on director Ryu, to expand our producers and search for new directors.”
Kang said she wanted to give the audiences ‘the faith that the film is worth watching.’ She said that she and her crews endlessly think to create films not shameful when launched to the market.
“Our lives have changed a lot due to the COVID-19 infection. We must come up with a big picture of how culture will be consumed. But as a film producer I stay the same; raise the hurdle, the level of my productions. I believe we can produce movies that can survive if we can give the faith, ‘That movie is definitely worth watching in the theater.’
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