from The Korean Times:
(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)Child Actor Keeps Job Fun
By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter
Almost immediately after the interview started, 10-year-old actor Park Ji-bin seemed to have a problem sitting still. He began to giggle and tried to play jokes on the reporter. And in pauses between conversations, he quickly took out his newest toy, a PlayStation Portable.
Of course, Park’s behavior is what you would expect from a boy around his age, playful and mischievous. But his playfulness was just what was needed in the upcoming film ``Hello & Goodbye My Brother (Annyong Hyonga),’’ as his performance successfully prevents a tragic story from becoming a typical tearjerker.
``My character is exactly like me,’’ Park said smiling during an interview with The Korea Times on Friday. ``I also tease my sister often (as my character does to his brother), and I end up getting hit by her.’’
In the movie, Park plays Chang Han-i, a self-centered boy who has to come to grips with his older brother becoming terminally ill.
After his brother is diagnosed with a brain tumor, the whole family struggles to keep things from falling apart. But young Han-i doesn’t quite understand the seriousness of the situation. And his youthful incomprehension makes the film different from medical reality shows on television although it is based on the real story.
``I really enjoyed starring in the film. It’s like camping for me. The hardest part was only that I couldn’t sleep very much while filming it, though,’’ Park recalled. However, the playful boy looked serious when he talked about when he met people who were hospitalized for cancer.
``While I played the role, I met children who suffered from cancer, and I realized how lucky and happy I am so I thanked God and my mother for me being healthy. Actually all my friends at school don’t think seriously about getting sick as I didn’t before shooting the film.’’
Park made his debut in the entertainment business with the 2001 musical ``Tommy,’’ and thanks to his performance in the successful 2003 popular soap opera ``A Perfect Love (Wanjonhan Sarang)’’ in which he plays a son whose mother dies of cancer, he has showed up in several TV dramas and movies.
``When I was much younger, I wanted to become president of my country. But now I just want to be a successful actor. I think acting is good since I can experience many things that I couldn’t experience if I were not an actor,’’ Park said.
``I usually read a script first, and then prepare for the scene that we will shoot. If the scene requires me to cry since my mother and brother are very sick, I simply imagine as if my real mom or sister were sick. But if it doesn’t work, I just talk with the director,’’ Park said.
As a big fan of movies, Park spends time watching popular films. The most impressive film that he has seen recently is the horror film ``Hide and Seek,’’ starring child actress Dakota Fanning.
``I think she is the greatest child actor in the world,’’ Park said. ``I got really curious about how she was able to make those horror movie expressions. Next time, I really want to star in a horror film. I want to know what it is like.’’
e3dward@koreatimes.co.kr
05-23-2005 19:21
Pages: 1
Little Brother (Read 5,774 times)
