MOVIE
Joo Won Shares Intense Behind-the-Scenes Experience of Filming 'Firefighter'
On the 28th, Joo Won, the star of the movie 'Firefighter', was interviewed at a café in Sogyeok-dong, Seoul.
'Firefighter' depicts the story of firefighters who were dispatched with the sole mission of extinguishing a fire and rescuing everyone during the 2001 Hongje-dong fire disaster, despite the harsh conditions. Joo Won plays the role of Cheol-woong, a rookie firefighter at the Seobu Fire Station.
Through the fire scenes in the film, viewers can indirectly experience the challenges firefighters face in real-life fire situations. The scenes are filled with intense flames and thick black smoke, making it impossible to see ahead. Firefighters navigate by feeling the hot floors and walls to find survivors.
Joo Won explained, "If the fire in the completed movie is 100%, we started filming with over 85% real fire. Some CGI was used." He recalled, "When I first entered the fire scene, I wondered if it was safe. They applied something to make it less hot, but it was still very hot. Seeing the big fire in front of me left me stunned, feeling like it could engulf me at any moment." He added, "I acted in a state of high tension, which might have been the director's intention. My portrayal of a rookie firefighter entering a fire scene came out naturally." He further stated, "No matter how great CGI is, it can't be as real as the actual thing. Since we are making a film based on a true story, using unreal fire wouldn't make sense. That's why the director chose to use real fire."
Joo Won also shared, "We wore the same equipment used at that time, carrying over 20kg of gear during filming." He continued, "My body felt sluggish. The clothes were stiff and heavy, and so was the equipment. It made me think, 'They went into fire scenes like this. It must have been tough,' which deepened my respect for firefighters." He added, "At first, when the director lit the fire and filled the scene with smoke, I couldn't see anything. Even with the lights on, I could only see right in front of me. I moved by feeling the walls and floors. The cinematographer said, 'The actors aren't visible; the screen is just white and black.' A consulting firefighter confirmed, 'That's how it is in reality. You can't see, so you feel your way around.' Experiencing that indirectly, I filmed with the mindset of remembering those situations."
Despite the physical challenges of heavy equipment, there were also psychological difficulties. Joo Won confessed, "The hardest part was the fear and worry that the fire might spread or catch somewhere, no matter how safely we tried to film." He added, "Filming with such tension kept my nerves on edge, which was quite overwhelming."
Known for his cautious nature as a "safety-first person," Joo Won shared, "After 'Firefighter', I bought fire extinguishers for my home and car. For some reason, related videos started appearing on my social media." He explained, "I bought a car fire extinguisher after watching a video. A van caught fire, and passersby used extinguishers from their cars to put it out. I thought, 'My car could catch fire, or I might come across a burning car and need to help,' so I bought one. That was a change."
'Firefighter' is set to be released on December 4th.
By Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr
