‘Alienoid’ Part 2 Interview with Director Choi Dong-hoon
Released on the 10th
“52nd edit, 150th play” Director Choi Dong-hoon finally makes ‘Alienoid’ after 6 years [TEN Interview]
Director Choi Dong-hoon, with his gray hair, was sincere when it came to making movies. He devoted a long time to Part 2 of 'Alienoid', which was completed over 6 years. The 52nd edited version came out, and I rewatched the movie 150 times, tricking my brain every day. That's how Part 2 of 'Alienoid' was born.

Director Choi Dong-hoon met with Ten Asia at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 5th and spoke about the movie in an interview related to the second part of the movie 'Alienoid' (Director Choi Dong-hoon).

When asked about his thoughts ahead of the release, Director Choi said, "I've seen the movie more than 150 times. It still doesn't feel real. Still, my heart races at the thought of showing it to the audience."

Director Choi, who appeared to be in tears at the press conference held on the 3rd, laughed it off when asked about his feelings at the time, saying, "I think it's probably because of acute sinusitis," but deep down in his heart, the audience knows the sincerity he put into 'Alienoid' It seemed like there was a desire to give it to him.

"The post-production work on 'Tazza' took 3 weeks. But the second part of 'Alienoid' took 1 year and 6 months. I don't want to say that I worked this year, but I feel like I worked almost every day and harvested like a farmer. A farmer who threshes rice after harvesting it. "I think I have a bit of a heart."

The focus on Part 2 of 'Alienoid' may have been a reaction to the poor performance of Part 1, which was released in 2022. The feeling of not wanting to fail again. That thought may have been Director Choi's will not to have any regrets not only about the box office success, but also about the movie itself.

"If part 1 was about immersion, what I paid most attention to in part 2 was immersion. There's a reason why I watched this movie for a long time. After editing, I came home, rested, turned off the lights, and watched the movie again. It was like watching it for the first time. Just like a human being. If I stumbled upon something while watching it, I went back to fix it. At the time, I tricked my brain into thinking, 'I'm an audience member, and I'm seeing this movie for the first time.' I watched it over and over again."

“52nd edit, 150th play” Director Choi Dong-hoon finally makes ‘Alienoid’ after 6 years [TEN Interview]
Director Choi, who likes plots that rearrange time, decided that the reason for the failure of the first part was “because it was too unconventional.” He said, "Part 1 was a movie in which the context of the past and present was gradually being established. It was not a movie that captured that from the beginning. It was meant to be fun as the secret was revealed in the last sequence, but 'Was it too unconventional?' “I thought about it,” he said, laughing, adding, “Anyway, I thought about all sorts of things.”

"I wanted to try something new. So I chose 'Alienoid'. I think it was an interesting work regardless of whether it was a box office hit or not. However, in Part 2, the work that goes back and forth between the present and the past will be divided into two parts. “I did that because I found it more immersive to start with the past rather than the present. I tried to think from the audience’s perspective.”

Director Choi, whose films have never failed at the box office, had a bitter taste with the first part of 'Alienoid'. Through that experience of failure, he rediscovered his destiny and original intention as a director. “Actually, a movie may be a hit or a failure, but I felt that this was my destiny as a movie director. In fact, when I look back at movies that have been successful at the box office so far, I sometimes think, ‘I want to film that scene again.’ "I can't say that every movie is perfect or just good to me."

While working on Part 2 in a situation where there was no guarantee that Part 2 would turn out well, Director Choi Dong-hoon regained his original intention and essence. He said, "But strangely, as I continued to revise and revise the movie during post-production, the thought occurred to me again, 'The reason I make movies is because I think it's fun and I like it.' In that sense, 'Alienoid' “I think it’s the movie that saved me,” he said.

“52nd edit, 150th play” Director Choi Dong-hoon finally makes ‘Alienoid’ after 6 years [TEN Interview]
"It's been 20 years since I made a movie. Among the movies I've made so far, there are some cool and wonderful friends, but 'Alienoid' has a lot of twists and turns and is difficult, so I think it's the most beloved movie to me. And this movie is my favorite movie. I filmed it with actors I love. I really wanted to do the most Korean-style science fiction. What I hope for with this movie is that when people watch it 10 years later, it will not be childish and will be evaluated as 'It was a good attempt.' If that happens, it will be edited 52 times. “Isn’t this worth it?”

'Alienoid' Part 2 is a film that tells the story of humans and gurus trying to save everyone by returning to the future while hidden secrets are revealed in the fierce battle for the new sword. Part 2 is receiving positive reviews for the fact that all of the spoils thrown away in Part 1 are recovered and the show rushes quickly to the end. Opening on the 10th.

Choi Ji-ye, Ten Asia Reporter wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr
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