"I never want to play myself again."
Actor Lee Dong-hwi showcases true 'method acting' in the film 'Method Acting' (directed by Lee Ki-hyuk), where he plays a character bearing his own name, blending the actor's real-life struggles with comedic yet poignant storytelling.
On the 13th, a press screening for 'Method Acting' was held at Megabox COEX in Gangnam, Seoul, attended by actors Lee Dong-hwi, Yoon Kyung-ho, Kang Chan-hee, and director Lee Ki-hyuk.
'Method Acting' is a film about Lee Dong-hwi, a 'funny actor' who rose to fame through comedy but seeks recognition for his sincere acting by immersing himself deeply into his roles. The film is an expanded feature project based on a short film of the same name, with director Lee Ki-hyuk and Lee Dong-hwi collaborating once again to create this immersive meta-comedy.
In the film, Lee Dong-hwi plays a character named 'Lee Dong-hwi,' offering a unique blend of reality and fiction with a witty narrative that twists reality.
During the event, Lee Dong-hwi stated, "From the planning and development stage, I didn't want the story to only reflect the struggles and concerns of an actor." He added, "I participated in the scriptwriting with the hope that many people would see this film and relate it to their own dilemmas between 'what they want to do' and 'what they have to do.'"
He continued, "I did feel some confusion while doing comedy acting, but I was more grateful than anything else," expressing his gratitude for the opportunities he has received. "While the character Lee Dong-hwi has his own struggles, as a person, I felt grateful for those challenges," he added.
Yoon Kyung-ho joined the project due to his connection with director Lee Ki-hyuk. He shared, "I worked with the director during his acting days on the drama 'Confession,' and he reached out to me because of that connection." He was surprised and pleased to hear that the director was preparing a feature film.
He added, "I was told that Lee Dong-hwi is the protagonist and I would play his brother 'Dong-tae.' Hearing the name made me wonder how far this film would go," he laughed. "After reading the script, I found the story to be fresh and interesting," he said.
Regarding his chemistry with Lee Dong-hwi, Yoon Kyung-ho remarked, "Even though Lee Dong-hwi hasn't done much comedy, he left a strong comedic impression." He described Lee as "a serious yet creative and passionate person" during their collaboration.
He noted, "Many ad-libs and comedic points in various scenes came from Dong-hwi's ideas," adding, "Playing oneself requires great courage, and he was both cautious and bold in the process, listening attentively to the stories of those around him."
He also expressed his admiration, saying, "Even though he's younger, I learned a lot from him. Especially the final scene was a new discovery of actor Lee Dong-hwi," and added, "Looking back, he became a younger brother I miss and a colleague I want to work with again."
In the film, Kang Chan-hee plays top star Jung Tae-min, who sweeps three awards at the year-end ceremony. He prepared for the villain character, which contrasts with his previous roles, by discussing with the director and senior actors. "I've played many model student and good-natured characters, but while preparing for Tae-min, I had many conversations with the director and senior actors," he said.
He continued, "Since Tae-min can come across as annoying, I focused on ensuring he didn't appear solely annoying," explaining his approach to the role.
Given the nature of 'method acting,' one might wonder if playing himself was burdensome. Lee Dong-hwi explained, "When planning, I started from myself as an individual rather than setting a fictional character or specific profession, aiming to unleash creativity from there."
He admitted, "It turned out to be a very challenging task," and shared, "I struggled with how much of myself to show and what to leave out while playing myself. It made me think I never want to play myself again. This might be the last time I play myself."
He also discussed the character creation process, saying, "Initially, I thought it would be easy, but I ended up deeply immersed in the character 'Lee Dong-hwi.' Thanks to the influence and help of director Lee and senior actor Yoon Kyung-ho, it became a created character."
Finally, Lee Dong-hwi expressed his desire to work with Yoon Kyung-ho again, saying, "I really wanted to act with senior Yoon Kyung-ho," and added, "After our previous work, I wanted to act together in many scenes again, and he's an actor I want to meet passionately in another project."
Director Lee Ki-hyuk concluded, "Everyone has duality as a human, and I wanted to show that," adding, "'Method Acting' includes various genres like SF, comedy, historical drama, and musical. You can enjoy multiple genres in one film, making it a fun experience to watch in theaters."
The film 'Method Acting' is set to release on the 18th.
Kim Se-ah, Ten Asia Reporter haesmik@tenasia.co.kr