[TRANS] 161202 SHINee’s Choi Minho - Media Interview (2)
161202 - An Interview that can make you fall for ‘Two Men’’s actor Choi Minho
(T/N: Please note that there might be something lost / errors in the translation. Thank you and enjoy!)
I’m captivated by actor Choi Minho (25). He’s a rookie actor that is full of passion. I didn’t feel any impression of ‘pretense?’ ‘intention to look nice?’ at all from him. I’m not the type who’s into 1 question and 1 answer interview, but his will to wholly deliver the answers loaded the actor Choi Minho interview as it is. It might be not entertaining, but it might make us fall for Minho’s charm fully.
Q: The role of ’Two Men’ Jin-il shows a completely different side of Choi Minho. I’m curious with fans’ reactions.
“I think there are fans who are surprised. There are also fans who like the new side of me. There are also those who are sad that the movie is an R-19 movie. I actually didn’t know that it’s labeled as an R-19 movie.”
Q: Isn’t it good to lower the rating (T/N: of the movie) so that you can see more audience and more SHINee fans?
“Actually we also shot the adjusted version of strong scenes and dialogues, but we considered this version for the sake of the movie’s completion. So I prefer to go with the stronger contents.”
Q: But fans must’ve liked the soft Minho.
“I suppose it’s true? But I heard from the people who saw the movie that they were touched and feeling emphaty towards Jin-il who is protective of his girlfriend. They said, ‘I wish there could be a boyfriend like him’? (Laughs) I actually saw anger and sadness more than mellowness when I looked at the scenario before. It’s good that there were also mellow parts. I think each person will have different views about it.”
’Two Men’ was released on the 30th last month, which had 25000 audience watched the movie (T/N: on that day). It’s a story about two men who’s having poverty-stricken lives fighting desperately for their beloved ones. Ma Dong-seok plays the role of Hyung-seok, an illegal karaoke owner whose life went downward because of his private loan, Choi Minho plays the role of Jin-il, a loyal leader of teenage runaway group who lives together with his friends. In order to portray the role of teenage runaway, he learned how to smoke then quit.
Q: It seems that the score is a bit low.
“I think the rough feel that (Ma) Dongseok hyung-nim and I put on the poster wouldn’t appeal to people who aren’t into crime genre. A diverse genre may not receive love. It’s already the 2nd day since the movie’s premiere. Although it’s too bad, I wish for another thing. There are a lot of cases in which blockbuster (movies) have a good result and become an issue. I also like blockbusters, but I have an ambition that Korean movies with diverse genre can stay showing in theaters for a bit longer. It may be a great ambition, but I’d like to let people remember that this kind of movie also exists.”
Q: Being invited to Busan International Film Festival can be said as being acknowledged. There are a lot of people from film industry who saw Choi Minho’s acting again. Especially since it’s his first film in which he’s the main. It’s satisfying enough for that.
“First of all, I’m contented for receiving good reviews. I got surprised when I came to Busan. The dream I’ve had since I was young unexpectedly came true, so I thought ‘What is this feeling. It’s the first time I’m feeling it’. I’ve stood at red carpets many times, but the feeling was completely different. I could feel that my self development has increased by one level. Plus, it’s not that the movie has been taken down from theaters. I like the word ‘It’s not the end until it ends’. I always think it’s possible to make a turnover. I know that there’s a fight within ourselves when trying to decide which direction we’d like to take in life. Acting and coming onstage are also like that, and I also felt it when I play sports.”
Q: You have a unique love for movies. Were you this firm with your thoughts about acting since young?
“I’ve thought of acting a lot since I was young. I first started acting on dramas and already had few works, then I got curious of how it’d be like to be in a movie and wanted act in one. I started participating in a movie for the first time last year and I was a bit surprised at its difference from drama. I feel a movie as one assembly. I also feel that even if the acting is the same, the tone is very different. I thought, ‘Ah, I still have a long way to go’. It’s my first time having an interview for a movie, so there must be movie journalists who don’t know me. It made me feel that I should do my work more actively and diligently.“
Q: Do you take movie auditions a lot? Did you also participate in the audition for ‘Two Men’?
“With ’Two Men’, it was more like a meeting than an audition. Before, I took camera test and reading, but it became a failure at the end. I wondered if the director had prejudice about me being an idol. I felt if the acting I showed in dramas could get recognition, the director could be on my side despite the idol title. I felt burdened because the result wasn’t good. If you were asking whether I was upset, rather than being upset, I personally would think that it was a shame. I don’t feel resentful at all (Laughs). But that was good. I thought a lot from that process. When I felt shaken a lot by that time, I thought ‘Ah so they’re trying to make me become stronger’. I actually had a mental breakdown because I failed at the reading. I remember it was in 2013, I was thinking of appearing in a movie. I emptied out my schedules for 4-5 months, but I heard a ‘no’ so I wasn’t able to do anything. I had a lot of times, yet I didn’t want to travel, and I just stayed at home absent-mindedly. I also had no appetite to eat. I was able to naturally forget all that when I met people and I felt better as time passed by. I’m thankful for that. I would’ve continued walking down the path of celebrity easily if not for that time. I wouldn’t get a chance to make a drastic growth. I thought that I’ve walked down many paths, but I figured out that I actually haven’t.”
Q: There may be fans who are sad for not being able to see the handsome face completely?
“I probably appeared with that face only from the beginning for 10 minutes. However, I liked that better. That image was unfamiliar, but at some point I adapted to heavily bruised face. To the point I asked the makeup artist noona, ‘Can you draw it deeper here?’ (Laughs)”
Q: In the movie, you look completely different from the usual Choi Minho. It seems like a firm difference.
"I'm also shocked to see myself appeared on the big screen with different personalities. It makes me learn about new things, and I was able to perceive things which I wasn't sure of knowing. It's good to upgrade the image I've had before, but finding out about a new piece is like discovering a new world. Of course it's still a very weak piece, but coming out with thoughts on how to pull it off is good."
Q: Since it's your newfound image, the director must be thankful to know that?
"I actually told (T/N: the director) that I really wanted to do it when I first received the script. The first thing was my curiousity, 'How will I appear if I do this?', The second was my worry and anxiety, and the third one was my other curiousity, 'Why did the scenario come to me? Why did it come round and round to me? Does the director not know about my image?'. In fact, only bright and lively roles were coming to me. It was unexpected. When I met the director, he said that Jin-il's image was drawn after he saw the image I've had in one of my pictorials. He has drawn other characters, but he only couldn't draw Jin-il until he was inspired by the pictorial. I was pretty surprised. What people usually think when they saw me was just a youthful image, but this one seems different (Laughs). I heard it after I filmed the movie, that people said my atmosphere turned different when I had a photoshoot. They said my youthful side disappeared, 'I've never felt a *beautiful mess image from you, but now I feel it.' It's fascinating since I also think he same.”
Q: In other interview you said something that sounds like you're regretful with your acting in 'To The Beautiful You'
“At that time I thought I've done my best. There were a lot of critics so it was a shame. It's good to think that I have to accept those with modesty. I dwelled on my thoughts, 'How would I do if I didn't hear those words?'. I think I needed that past in order to make me become who I’m now. There are people who give critics, but I want to say 'Even if I've got criticized, it's not now'. Saying, 'I've done well, why can't people understand' is rather full of bluff, so I wouldn't want to say that. I have to be honest and embrace it humbly.”
“Actually I only became a main character when I started acting. The look from when I become a main character then go to a supporting character is different. The viewpoint itself is completely different. I’ve had to know that there’s viewpoint difference between a main cast looking at the supporting cast, anda supporting cast looking at the main cast. I get to know why people who go up gradually from the bottom are good at acting. I was aware that if we did well on our own, we could stand out by ourselves. I got lucky that I got a main role at the first time, but I got to learn later on as to why I got lucky. As the time passes, I've got to think and learn a lot about not making my acting look dull.”
Q: This time you've shown good acting, so I think you may only get this kind of role.
“It seems like a homework to break the stereotype, but I will think it's good at first if it looks like that. That means they acknowledge me and can rely on me. I'll be glad and would really like it to make a step one by one. Fortunately, I participated in the drama 'Hwarang' and my character is pure, lively, and silly. He’s a character who does actions without thinking. The pre-production drama filming has ended. I think you'll be able to see my new look again.“
Q: You've been consistently acting. You must be busy with singing and dancing practices for SHINee activities. What's your tips for being able to consistently act?
“It’s true that there’s a time limit. Unlike the people who only focus on acting, I have to do two things simultaneously. As a result, it pushes me to be more concentrated. I’m the kind who has strong stamina. It’s actually an advantage. Eventhough I have strong stamina, I’d like to say it’s about a willpower difference. I know how much should I focus on certain situations. I’ve got pull out a great focus on site and on tight situations. I have the strength that makes me work hard and stay focused even if I can’t sleep. People would say ‘But then you’ll die’, but I think it’s nice. It’s because of the tension that makes it possible.”
Q: I’m also curious with your chemistry with actor Ma Dong Seok.
“I have met hyung at private occasions and became close. I felt scared when I met him for the first time, but he’s actually warm and nice. You can say there’s a twist. Hahaha. He is very thoughtful, he’s considerate of juniors, and he is very open-minded. They’re (T/N: the traits) broader than hyung’s body. I’ve learned a lot from him at the filming site this time. Hyung is a veteran in action scenes and he knows all of the flows. He has many acting experiences in a lot of productions. He was able to explain those in words. It felt like I received a gift that I couldn’t buy somewhere. You wanted me to explain it in details? Hm, I’m not going to tell anyone (Laughs).”
Q: These days, 1st generation idols such as Sechs Kies, H.O.T, etc are making TV appearances again. What do you think about the comeback of best idols in the past as a present idol?
“I think it’s very wonderful and great. The seniors are wonderful but I think the fans are wonderful as well. They’re loyal. Our fans are also the people who give us strength and make us stand on the stage. Fans’ support create strength that didn’t exist before. The seniors must be tired and exhausted, but they are touched for the fans who have waited. Seeing them being active makes me want to be active for a long time as well. As the time goes and the future comes, I want our team to be remembered for a long time. I’m confident that we can do that too. I want to make the close distance with fans become closer. And I don’t want to break that.”
Q: You originally dreamed of being a soccer player. Have you ever regretted debuting as an idol?
“I had a lot of regrets for two years after debut. ’Should I quit now?’ I thought of that everyday. I’m the kind of person who’s confident, but I debuted without having any talent. Because of that situation I had no confidence in singing nor dancing. Yet those are what I had to show when I stood on stage, I couldn’t say anything during interviews, and I felt daunted. I had regrets at that time, but there were fans who cheered for me at that time. Actually there are many times when I leaned on the members, but the times which I appeared on variety shows alone erased those feelings and thoughts. All of those were lifted by holding onto determination of doing well and working hard. I prepared and put an effort, so I gained confidence. Now I think my early debut days were the most precious and valuable experience to me. Perhaps if I went back to that time and had someone asked me, ’Do you want to debut?’, I would answer ‘Of course. I will do it sooner’.”
Choi Minho isn’t haughty. It’s very remarkable of him for not emphasizing himself as neither an actor nor a singer. After the interview, he responded to the reporter who said to him “I received positive energy” by saying, “As a celebrity, there’s nothing better than giving positive, hopeful, and bright energy to other people.” His mind and thoughts are all positive. He doesn’t get into any scandal. He’s very thorough and upright, “I’m just not different from any other son who gets scolded for waking up late at home, and gets scolded for not eating.” I want to meet him in his next project as an actor soon.
*(T/N: A term ‘beautiful mess’ / 퇴폐미 is someone who is morally and ethically damaged, yet still manages to look attractive)
English Translation: @sagyehan
source: 매일경제
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