Busan Shows Midas Touch as Movie Location
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Busan is not only the home of a hugely successful film festival but now also a favored location for movie shoots. A string of recent hit movies -- “Typhoon”, “Old Boy”, “Sympathy for Lady Vengeance”, “Silmido” and “Marrying the Mafia 2” among them -- were shot there, and more are in the works.
Of the 70-odd feature films made in Korea last year, 30 used Busan as a location for all or part of the production. That was 10 more than in 2004 and twice as many as in 2000, the year that the Busan Film Commission (BFC) decided to provide support for movies to be shot in the southern port city.
From left: posters for “Typhoon”, “Old Boy”, “Sympathy for Lady Vengeance” and “Silmido”
The number of movies that were wholly filmed in the home of the Pusan International Film Festival doubled to six in 2005 from the year before. “Typhoon,” the blockbuster movie starring Jang Dong-gun released last month, was shot in Busan except for some parts filmed overseas. The number is likely to mushroom this year, with four movies already lined up, including “Bloody Tie” starring Hwang Jung-min and Ryu Seung-beom. That is all the more unusual since insiders say it is not easy to shoot films in locations other than Seoul, where almost all of the industry is concentrated.
Moreover, Japanese film producers have also started eyeing Busan. One Japanese movie was shot there last year, but four movies are lined up for the first half of this year alone, including a Korean-Japanese co-production about Lee Soo-hyun, a Korean who died saving a drunk Japanese man at a subway station in the island country.
So what makes the city so attractive? BFC official Kim Jeong-hyeon says Busan not only has all the natural environments from sea to mountains but is also “a multi-faceted city where both crumbling residential areas and splendid new bed towns coexist.” He said Busan City and the BFC “are doing their best to support those who want to shoot films here. As part of the effort, they provide a one-stop service that helps them scout locations and get the necessary permits.” A growing number of businesses including lighting rental and film development companies are opening local branches, and film-related government agencies such as the Korea Film Council and the Korea Media Rating Board will also transfer to Busan.
The source of news : english.chosun.com Jan.5,2006 19:11
