SHOOT THE SUN to release in theatres this September
The Co-production Biz-matching Support Program which initiated in 2013 will open in July for a month to collect the next set of submissions. The program which aims to support the Korean film industry by providing a platform for global film networking and financially provide with flights and scenario translations selects about 5 projects per half a year. The submissions in July will select projects for the second half of 2014.
The eligible are producers or directors who must be working on or have completed at least one feature project and have a registered film production company on board. The selected projects will receive a portion of the flight fare for meetings with possible international investors and assistance with setting up business matching for production development, and also the translation budget for the scenario. Submissions must come with a production plan, synopsis, character summary, email copy of international companies in conversation for partnership, and production company registration proof.
In the first half of 2013, KIM Tai-sik’s Shoot the Sun (W/T) was selected as part of the support program. Shoot the Sun which is aiming for a September release had the scenario translated and had business matching meetings in LA which developed into location shooting. The business meetings took place last year between late May and early June. The crew went from LA to Las Vegas and a few places in between including the Majave Desert for their location shoot in US. The producer of the film, KIM Hyo-jung mentioned that the support was very helpful in opening the door to the international film industry and although they weren’t able to secure a partnering production company, the business meetings came to fruition by allowing them to find freelance coordinators who helped on site during the shoots in US. She also said, “Any production comes with many variables. Even domestic productions face unforeseen difficulties, so it is no doubt we’ll run into problems during an overseas shooting. Despite the difficulties, the experience and help from KOFIC was still very helpful, not because of the amount of the fund, but because it opened the door for us to be connected with the international film industry. I believe that it’ll lead to more partnerships in the future.” When asked about how her experience was and if she would participate in the support program again she said, “Of course!” Other titles that have been supported by KOFIC through the said program are still in the works.
Shoot the Sun director KIM Tai-sik is a Seoul Institute of Arts graduate who is perhaps more familiar with co-productions than some Korean directors, as he has worked with Japan for Tokyo Taxi (2009). Rest of the filmography include Driving with My Wife’s Lover (2007) starring JUNG Bo-suck, A Good Night’s Sleep for the Bad (2010) starring KIM Heung-soo, and an omnibus film, Red Vacance Black Wedding (2011). In Shoot the Sun, a man, seeing no other solution, decides to take pills to bring his life to an end. However, instead of being able to pass on as he intended to, someone catches him in time before the damage is done. Life trickles on he tries to revisit his past memories of happier times with the woman whom he loved and had wished to keep. He wants nothing more than to be able to stay there with her but he knows that this isn’t possible. This is the story of a man who has an unforgettable memory and who wishes above all else to keep it in his heart. The film stars KANG Ji-hwan (Rough Cut, 2008, My Girlfriend is an Agent, 2009), YOON Jin-seo (A Day for an Affair, 2007, The Moonlight of Seoul, 2008) and PARK Jung-min (Bleak Night, 2011, Dancing Queen, 2012 and Mad Sad Bad, 2014). Produced by Film Line, this noir/melodrama cranked-up in November of 2013, and will open in domestic theatres in September, as the first releasing film that received this support from KOFIC.
The 2014 projects are also underway. In the first half of the year, three films were selected for the support. The writer of Joint Security Area/JSA (2000) KIM Hyun-seok will be picking up the megaphone for C’est Si Bon, a film featuring KIM Yun-seok and KIM Hee-ae as the music group Twin Folio based on a real story about the folk musicians who performed at the famous music café back in 50s and 60s. Second project to receive the support is the American remake of Hwayi: A Monster Boy (2013). The action thriller original starring the young YEO Jin-gu and veteran actor KIM Yun-seok received love calls internationally for the remake rights. The director for the remake has not been assigned yet. The last project to receive the support is Story of Lao, an animation hoping to co-produce with China.
In addition to the Co-production Biz-matching Support Program, KOFIC provides various programs in order to induce co-productions and make the process more accessible for filmmakers. The Co-production Planning and Development Support takes projects hoping to work with US and Japan for assistance with scenario translation, scenario doctoring, and biz-matching in order to help with the planning and development stage of the production and hopefully help find international investors. The Korean Film Business Center in Beijing operates to support industry personnel working on co-produced projects by providing office space and other amenities. It will also assist film projects in the development stage through mentoring programs, script translation, networking with local film experts and arranging business meetings. The business center provides short and long-term residency programs for a local, in-depth experience for the filmmakers. Lastly the KOFIC Location Incentive invites film projects from abroad to shoot in Korea by covering a part of the production fee.
The submissions for the Co-production Biz-matching Support open on July 1st until the 22nd on the KoBiz website at
www.kobiz.or.kr.
By June KIM
The Co-production Biz-matching Support Program which initiated in 2013 will open in July for a month to collect the next set of submissions. The program which aims to support the Korean film industry by providing a platform for global film networking and financially provide with flights and scenario translations selects about 5 projects per half a year. The submissions in July will select projects for the second half of 2014.The eligible are producers or directors who must be working on or have completed at least one feature project and have a registered film production company on board. The selected projects will receive a portion of the flight fare for meetings with possible international investors and assistance with setting up business matching for production development, and also the translation budget for the scenario. Submissions must come with a production plan, synopsis, character summary, email copy of international companies in conversation for partnership, and production company registration proof.
In the first half of 2013, KIM Tai-sik’s Shoot the Sun (W/T) was selected as part of the support program. Shoot the Sun which is aiming for a September release had the scenario translated and had business matching meetings in LA which developed into location shooting. The business meetings took place last year between late May and early June. The crew went from LA to Las Vegas and a few places in between including the Majave Desert for their location shoot in US. The producer of the film, KIM Hyo-jung mentioned that the support was very helpful in opening the door to the international film industry and although they weren’t able to secure a partnering production company, the business meetings came to fruition by allowing them to find freelance coordinators who helped on site during the shoots in US. She also said, “Any production comes with many variables. Even domestic productions face unforeseen difficulties, so it is no doubt we’ll run into problems during an overseas shooting. Despite the difficulties, the experience and help from KOFIC was still very helpful, not because of the amount of the fund, but because it opened the door for us to be connected with the international film industry. I believe that it’ll lead to more partnerships in the future.” When asked about how her experience was and if she would participate in the support program again she said, “Of course!” Other titles that have been supported by KOFIC through the said program are still in the works.Shoot the Sun director KIM Tai-sik is a Seoul Institute of Arts graduate who is perhaps more familiar with co-productions than some Korean directors, as he has worked with Japan for Tokyo Taxi (2009). Rest of the filmography include Driving with My Wife’s Lover (2007) starring JUNG Bo-suck, A Good Night’s Sleep for the Bad (2010) starring KIM Heung-soo, and an omnibus film, Red Vacance Black Wedding (2011). In Shoot the Sun, a man, seeing no other solution, decides to take pills to bring his life to an end. However, instead of being able to pass on as he intended to, someone catches him in time before the damage is done. Life trickles on he tries to revisit his past memories of happier times with the woman whom he loved and had wished to keep. He wants nothing more than to be able to stay there with her but he knows that this isn’t possible. This is the story of a man who has an unforgettable memory and who wishes above all else to keep it in his heart. The film stars KANG Ji-hwan (Rough Cut, 2008, My Girlfriend is an Agent, 2009), YOON Jin-seo (A Day for an Affair, 2007, The Moonlight of Seoul, 2008) and PARK Jung-min (Bleak Night, 2011, Dancing Queen, 2012 and Mad Sad Bad, 2014). Produced by Film Line, this noir/melodrama cranked-up in November of 2013, and will open in domestic theatres in September, as the first releasing film that received this support from KOFIC.
The 2014 projects are also underway. In the first half of the year, three films were selected for the support. The writer of Joint Security Area/JSA (2000) KIM Hyun-seok will be picking up the megaphone for C’est Si Bon, a film featuring KIM Yun-seok and KIM Hee-ae as the music group Twin Folio based on a real story about the folk musicians who performed at the famous music café back in 50s and 60s. Second project to receive the support is the American remake of Hwayi: A Monster Boy (2013). The action thriller original starring the young YEO Jin-gu and veteran actor KIM Yun-seok received love calls internationally for the remake rights. The director for the remake has not been assigned yet. The last project to receive the support is Story of Lao, an animation hoping to co-produce with China.
