Message #37589

[Freesia]

[PREVIEW] SBS TV series "City Hunter"



From left, Lee Min-ho, Park Min-young and Lee Jun-hyuk at the press conference for upcoming SBS TV series "City Hunter" held in Seoul, South Korea on May 17, 2011. [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]


The biggest rival to upcoming SBS TV series "City Hunter," premiering on May 25, is probably neither MBC's "The Greatest Love" nor KBS' "Romance Town" but its original comic. "City Hunter," released by Japanese cartoonist Tsukasa Hojo in 1985, was popular through Asia including Japan and Korea, with its story about a 'city hunter' named Ryo Saeba who was a lady-killer yet made sure of resolving cases that beautiful women requested of him. However, it is not easy to find traces of the original work in its upcoming drama adaptation. Ryo is cute and optimistic but has been replaced with Lee Yoon-sung (played by Lee Min-ho), a member of the presidential Blue House's national communications network control team who has a scar on his heart. And the story in general has been completely replaced with Lee Yoon-sung settling cases in order to get revenge for his father who was wrongfully killed due to the country's administration. The fact that the plot revolves around the heart of all power in Korea is another added element.

Discussions on the cast and planning to "City Hunter" actually started in 2007. So the drama is coming about after being met with complications for about four years but producers still remain burdened by how it may get compared to the original work with fans expressing their concern of the show ending up as something that is merely named "City Hunter." However, producer Jin Hyuk said, "Our drama is the prequel to the original comic and has been adapted to fit the situation in Korea. Many people have said it's too different from the original work but if you're one of those people who read the comic properly, you really won't feel much of a difference." Scenarist Hwang Eun-kyung remarked, "I thought I wouldn't be able to do this at first because I was thinking, 'We don't have guns in Korea and who murders by contract?' But then I started thinking that it would be nice to track down the villains that people holding the key to resolving issues in Korea feel resentment toward," to emphasize the upcoming show will be a Korean-style "City Hunter."

That is why unlike the original comic whose strength was in its sense of humor, the drama deals with a somewhat more serious topic. A video featuring the highlights to the drama at a press conference yesterday, hinted at focusing on a corrupt government as the target of revenge by showing anti-North spies by adopting the Rangoon bombing incident of 1983. This is the reason producer Jin Hyuk revealed that he wanted to "present a merciless fantasy about the stifling reality." In the end, the biggest task "City Hunter" will be faced with is how interesting of a job it will do in depicting on this not-so-easy-to-deal-with subject matter. Of course there are elements of romantic comedies in the drama as well, including how Yoon-sung and Nana (Park Min-young) fall in love amidst all their bickering. However, like Lee Min-ho said, it is difficult to define the show as being of a single genre and "it contains a lot of foreshadowing to the pains and conflicts." Hence "City Hunter" will undoubtedly differentiate itself from other romantic comedies in a certain way. The occasional action scenes in particular may draw in male viewers who do not know what to watch among the flood of sweet and funny romantic comedies. Will "City Hunter" be able to become a strong player in the already competitive Wednesday and Thursday primetime lineup?

Source: From left, Lee Min-ho, Park Min-young and Lee Jun-hyuk at the press conference for upcoming SBS TV series "City Hunter" held in Seoul, South Korea on May 17, 2011. [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]


The biggest rival to upcoming SBS TV series "City Hunter," premiering on May 25, is probably neither MBC's "The Greatest Love" nor KBS' "Romance Town" but its original comic. "City Hunter," released by Japanese cartoonist Tsukasa Hojo in 1985, was popular through Asia including Japan and Korea, with its story about a 'city hunter' named Ryo Saeba who was a lady-killer yet made sure of resolving cases that beautiful women requested of him. However, it is not easy to find traces of the original work in its upcoming drama adaptation. Ryo is cute and optimistic but has been replaced with Lee Yoon-sung (played by Lee Min-ho), a member of the presidential Blue House's national communications network control team who has a scar on his heart. And the story in general has been completely replaced with Lee Yoon-sung settling cases in order to get revenge for his father who was wrongfully killed due to the country's administration. The fact that the plot revolves around the heart of all power in Korea is another added element.

Discussions on the cast and planning to "City Hunter" actually started in 2007. So the drama is coming about after being met with complications for about four years but producers still remain burdened by how it may get compared to the original work with fans expressing their concern of the show ending up as something that is merely named "City Hunter." However, producer Jin Hyuk said, "Our drama is the prequel to the original comic and has been adapted to fit the situation in Korea. Many people have said it's too different from the original work but if you're one of those people who read the comic properly, you really won't feel much of a difference." Scenarist Hwang Eun-kyung remarked, "I thought I wouldn't be able to do this at first because I was thinking, 'We don't have guns in Korea and who murders by contract?' But then I started thinking that it would be nice to track down the villains that people holding the key to resolving issues in Korea feel resentment toward," to emphasize the upcoming show will be a Korean-style "City Hunter."

That is why unlike the original comic whose strength was in its sense of humor, the drama deals with a somewhat more serious topic. A video featuring the highlights to the drama at a press conference yesterday, hinted at focusing on a corrupt government as the target of revenge by showing anti-North spies by adopting the Rangoon bombing incident of 1983. This is the reason producer Jin Hyuk revealed that he wanted to "present a merciless fantasy about the stifling reality." In the end, the biggest task "City Hunter" will be faced with is how interesting of a job it will do in depicting on this not-so-easy-to-deal-with subject matter. Of course there are elements of romantic comedies in the drama as well, including how Yoon-sung and Nana (Park Min-young) fall in love amidst all their bickering. However, like Lee Min-ho said, it is difficult to define the show as being of a single genre and "it contains a lot of foreshadowing to the pains and conflicts." Hence "City Hunter" will undoubtedly differentiate itself from other romantic comedies in a certain way. The occasional action scenes in particular may draw in male viewers who do not know what to watch among the flood of sweet and funny romantic comedies. Will "City Hunter" be able to become a strong player in the already competitive Wednesday and Thursday primetime lineup?

Source >> Reporter : Hwang Hyo-jin seventeen@, Photographer : Lee Jin-hyuk eleven@, Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@ <ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>





This is the interview he had with Park Min Young for Ystar.
just translate mainly MH parts. Min Young's parts are in italics.

[news] park min young, lee min ho, interview ('시티헌터' 이민호, 박민영 밀착 인터뷰)


Q) 원작을 봤는지?
A) 아무래도 원작을 100% 가져오지 못하기 때문에 2011년대에 맞는 드라마로 재탄생돼야 해서 영향을 많이 받을까봐 많이 다 챙겨보지는 않았습니다.
Q) Did you read the original manga?
A) Since it will be a 2011 version and the original manga cannot be 100% brought over to the drama version, I was worried about being influenced by the manga, i didn't read much of it.

Q) 원작과 드라마 비교?
A) 같은 점은 내면에 아픔과 외로움을 가지고 있는 인물이라는 거 같고요. 그리고 원작에서 호색한 굉장히 여자를 좋아하고 능욕하고 하하하.그런 모습들은 아마 드라마 쪽으로 많이 표현이 힘들 것 같아서 다른 모습들로 조금은 바뀔 것 같아요.
Q) How would you compare the original manga to the drama?
A) The character I play bears similar pain and loneliness as that in the manga. In the manga, he's a lascivious man who really likes women.. hahaha. it might be hard to show that side of him in the drama so it seems like his personality will be altered slightly.

Q) 태국 촬영 에피소드?
A) 저는 25년 동안 코끼리 코에서 나오는 게 물인 줄 알았는데요, 다 침이더라고요. 코끼리를 타는 신이 있어 코끼리를 탔는데 저한테 침을 뱉더라고요. 그래서 볼 때가 아름답다는 걸 알았죠.
Q) Any particular happenings when filming in Thailand?
A) For the past 25 years, I mistakenly thought the stuff that comes out of an elephant's trunk is water. it's all saliva. There was a scene where I had to ride an elephant and it spit saliva on me. Therefore, when u see it (may be he's referring to the scene?), you would think it looks beautiful (??)

Q) 기대되는 장면?
A) 기대되는 장면이요? 1회부터 굉장히 저희 드라마가 스펙터클 합니다. 굉장히 드라마적인 요소도 강하고 볼거리도 스케일도 그렇고 볼거리가 많을 거예요. 그래서 그 부분을 보시면 재미있을 것 같고 그 다음에는 바로 로맨틱 코미디 느낌의 발랄한 느낌이 드니까요, 그런 변하는 포인트를 중점적으로 보시면 재미있을 것 같아요.
Q) a scene to anticipate?
A) a scene to anticipate? Our drama is dramatic starting from episode 1. It's very dramatic, containing strong elements, there are a lot of things to see, the scale is big, there will be a lot to see. Therefore, people may find those parts interesting. Following next, is the bubbly feeling you get from a romantic comedy. If you concentrate on those point changes, you should find it interesting.

[인터뷰: 박민영]
Q) 드라마 '시티헌터' 눈여겨 볼 부분?
A) 저희가 새로 처음 도입된 카메라를 써요. 찍기가 힘든 만큼 화면이 예뻐요 색감도 예쁘고. 그래서 아마 내용도 내용이지만 화면 자체도 이 계절에 너무 잘 어울리는 화면이 될 것 같아요. 그래서 그것도 예쁘게 봐주는 요소가 되지 않을까 생각해요.
Q) Part to watch out for in drama 'City Hunter'?
A) we introduced a new camera. Although filming is hard the picture comes out pretty and the colors are also beautiful. Therefore, although the content is important, the picture quality suits the current season very much. Therefore, I think that might contribute as an element that beautifies the drama.

Q) 드라마를 위해 준비한 것?
A) 실탄 사격장에 가서 사격도 해봤고요. 한 3개월 정도 액션신 준비를 하느라고 꾸준히 액션스쿨 가서 수업했습니다. 일주일에 3~4일 정도는 꾸준히 나갔어요.
Q) how did you prepare for the drama?
A) I went for target practice. I prepared for action scenes for around 3 months by constantly attending classes at an action school. I went around 3-4 times a week.

[인터뷰: 박민영]
Q) 상대 이민호와의 호흡은?
A) 민호 씨는 제가 데뷔 후 2달 만에 처음 찍은 CF가 있는데 같이 파트너였어요. 그래서 6년 째 알고 지내는 사이고 작품에서도 한 번 만나고 했고 편한 상태라 오히려 그게 걱정이었어요. 같이 멜로도 해야 하고 하는데 걱정을 많이 했는데 막상 촬영 들어가고 나서 많이 이 친구가 새로운 모습도 보여주고 되게 편하게 연기할 수 있고 예를 들면 업어치기 할 때 준혁 오빠는 살짝 어려웠거든요. 처음에 안 친해서 근데 민호는 그냥 업어치기 하고 민호가 키가 크잖아요. 186~7cm 저보다 이만큼 크니까 촬영하다 보면 앵글이 안 나와요. 그래서 ‘나나판’이라고 촬영장에 새로운 ‘나나판’을 만들어주셨어요. 저 할 때마다 굴욕 잡히는 거 알죠? 애플박스처럼 판을 만들어주셨는데 그거 하다가도 가끔 안 나올 때가 있으면 “다리 벌려 다리 벌려!” 편하니까 할 수 있는 촬영장에서의 소소한 배려들이 생겨서 저는 아주 만족스럽고 잘 나올 것 같아요.
Q) How do u work in harmony with LMH?
A) 2 months after I debuted, i worked on my first CF and LMH was my partner in the CF. So we've known each other for 6 years. we've also met in a project once, we are comfortable which is why I was worried all the more. We have to create a melo together, so i worried a lot. Once filming started, he showed a new side of him, i can film very comfortably, for e.g. when i have to throw someone over my shoulder, it's a bit hard with jun hyeok oppa since we weren't close initially. But I just throw MH over. MH's tall, he's 186-7cm, far taller than me such that when i check after filming, the angle doesn't come out right. So, a new 'Na Na - board' was given to me (so she can stand on it). I feel humiliated every time I use it. It is like an apple box(?) but when that too doesn't work, I can comfortably say "open your legs open your legs!"(to shorten the difference in height). .....?????..... I'm very satisfied, i think it will turn out well.

Q) 박민영과 친한 것 같은데?
A) 네. 때리고요 맞고요 막말도 하고요. 굉장히 편합니다. 아무래도 민영 씨가 웃음이 많아가지고요. 지금도 계속 웃고 있죠. 웃음이 많아서 NG가 가장 많지 않나.
Q) seems like you're close to Park Min Young?
A) yes, i hit, slap and say things bluntly. i feel very comfortable. Min Young-sshi smiles/laughs a lot. she's also laughing now. Becoz she laughs a lot, she doesn't get a lot of NGs. (<--this sounds weird).

source: mediainnews.com
Translation by : webby@soompi