Sometimes, we have difficulty in delivering simple message such as ‘Thank you, mom.’ or ‘I’m sorry’. This is because ‘expression’ is difficult even though it looks easy to deliver. However, some people can deliver this beautifully in film. This is a director who was awarded the 27th best new director prize from the Korea Film Critic Association, the 8th new director prize from the Busan Film Critic Association and the 10th best new director prize from director’s cut awards. This person can really show all of their emotions, even being scared, which is seen in <Epitaph>, and <The Horror Story-the sun and the moon>. This is Jung Bum-sik who CAH met.
CAH met him at a comic cartoon-café in Sang-do dong. “People think I’m a serious person at first because of my appearance and voice. However I like comics, and jokes too. When my cinema audiences screamed in surprise and fear, I went as far as to giggle.” He was more kind than we would have thought for a ‘fear movie director’. Like the words in <A Streetcar Named Desire> played by Vivian Mary Hartley and Marlon Brando, he said we should have a kindness and practiced it himself. Unfortunately, however, people who met him don’t see him as a kind person at first. “I don’t reveal myself. I think there is a reason. I don’t want to live only as a screen actor. I want to be part of the audience as well.” These days, people use social networking services such as ‘Tweeter’, ‘Facebook’, or ‘Blog’ to share their thoughts. But he doesn’t do it. He prefers that people don’t know about his personal life, though he likes people to know about his movies. This is why he doesn’t go public himself.
However, he loves expressing through movie. “Since I was young, I had a talent at music. I liked movie once I got into middle school. So I agonized between music and movies when I was a high school student. Meanwhile I thought I will be able to combine music with movie director. So in the end, I chose movies.” Actually he often thinks if he majored in music, what kind of movie director he would be. Although he didn’t major in music, however, his musical talent shows in his movies. <Epitaph>, his debut film, has a scene which is a hero’s illusion fantasy and four seasons change in that scene. Director Jung made background music personally by collecting 150 units sound such as percussion and string instrument for this one scene. He showed his music in <The Horror Story-the sun and the moon>, too. He composed background music in a scene where children meet a ghost and a children’s song ‘Sun and the moon’ which children sing on their way home. In the ending of this movie, he added a slow sadder version of ‘Sun and the moon’. Through this music, the audience can understand ‘sadness’ of ending, well. That is the why he is called as ‘the maestro of emo-fear’. “That is a good title for me. Audience might know that I tried to express a story, beauty between people and people and sad sentiment as well as horror. Therefore people call me ‘the maestro of fear’, I think.”
How did his school help him to get here? He graduated from the graduate school of Chung-Ang University and majored in the drama and cinema at first. He looks back on the past as the days spinning a web in his mouth. “It doesn’t mean ‘starving’ but I don’t talk to anyone. Because I was only a student in the production major at the drama and cinema, I don’t have friends.” He had unusual school days; for example, one to one class with professors because he was the only student. In addition he commuted alone every day to Anseong campus where the graduate school of art was. He felt lonely in shuttle bus during 6 hours from his house in Jamsil to Anseong. Because the inside of a car is uncomfortable, he couldn’t get to a sleep or read a book. Nevertheless he has a funny episode about commuting to school. “At first, I don’t know when the bus arrives at school and where to get off. But when the bus almost got to school, female students would wake up and do their makeup, so I knew I needed to get off. That was an unusual scene.”
“Since I was young, I am very sad about farewells. Maybe the reason is an anxiety and sadness about the finiteness of human life. Therefore every moment is beautiful and precious. My movies may have this sensibility, I think.” All of his movies have different colors and themes. Brother and sister who have different gender but same parents and behaviors, however, his movies may have same message, too. That is the sadness and beauty. In his movie <Epitaph> and <The Horror Story-the sun and the moon>, this sensitivity is described delicately, though this two movies have different themes. He worked hard to put his emotion into movie. He was able to this work because he loves movies so much.
“Making every my movies steadily and enthusiastically until I die. Watching as many good movies as possible. Becoming the director whose entire filmography is exciting. These are my goal as a movie director.” In addition, his goal of whole life is composed by movie. “Seniors said to me. Something subordinate such as money, prize and honor would follow me if I love and make movies constantly.” He swept three rookie of the year awards which all directors want to win. But he didn’t let that go to his head.
“I don’t know a lot of things, yet. So I don’t know what to say to juniors who major in drama and cinema at CAU. However, I want to say a word. Train yourself to be honest although that training is muffed. I will do my best, of course.” He said the most important thing is ‘honesty’. He asserts ‘honesty’ and ‘sincerity’. Furthermore, he hopes his honesty will be seen by his audience and that his movies will have a positive impact on the world.
Recently, Korean film council picked out Korean top ten horror movies. Overall, <Epitaph> ranked first among the list, and <The Horror Story> came in sixth. Audiences still applaud to the director who placed all of his films on the list. He will always be appreciated for that. Words of praises toward him never end since he will not stop going on his way to make films. CAH is really looking forward to his next project.
Kim Min-ji
alswl1278@hanmail.net