Kang Dong Gained sat for an interview with native reporters at a café in Seoul, throughout which he shared his ideas on taking part in a slave for the primary time within the Netflix movie Rebellion, his visible transformation, how his character has modified through the years, and extra.
Launched worldwide on Netflix on October 11, Rebellion is ready within the chaotic period of the Japanese invasions of Korea. It tells the story of Jong Ryeo (Park Jeong Min), the son of Joseon’s strongest army household, and his servant Cheon Younger (Kang Dong Gained), who, after rising up collectively in the course of the chaotic instances of the Japanese invasions of Korea, meet once more as enemies.
Following its launch, the Okay-movie reached the third spot in Netflix’s world non-English movies class and continues to keep up a spot within the Prime 10 rankings.
Kang Dong Gained on taking part in a slave for the primary time
Kang Dong Gained, one of the vital distinguished Korean actors within the leisure trade, took everybody unexpectedly by taking part in a “slave” for the primary time with Rebellion.
On the interview, Kang Dong Gained expressed confidence in taking part in a slave position. He acknowledged, “I am not a wealthy child, nor am I a slave, however I grew up in an strange middle-class family. I feel I fall someplace between a yangin (frequent class) and a nobi (slave class). Possibly that is why I believed the slave position suited me a lot better. I feel the yangban (noble class) position would not match my character as effectively.”
He additionally shared, “There are rumors that my household is rich, however that is all nonsense,” including, “Once I was younger, I lived in an 18 pyeong (about 59 sq. meters) residence and used coal briquettes for heating.”
To completely remodel into his character Cheon Yeong, Kang Dong Gained unhesitatingly modified his look. He smiled when discussing the movie’s premise, the place he performs a slave and Park Jeong Min performs a nobleman, because it has turn into a subject of dialog on-line, even turning right into a meme. He remarked, “I really thought Jeong Min can be a superb match for the position of the noble (by way of look). I additionally consider that the slave position suits me effectively,” making everybody chortle.
Nevertheless, sharing his satisfaction along with his look within the movie, he stated, “Really, I believed I ought to have gone with an much more raveled and tough look at first,” and “I believed it might have been higher if the make-up had been dirtier. I personally do not like having my pores and skin seem patchy, so I talked with the make-up group about that. However placing filth [makeup] on face and making the pores and skin look patchy are various things, and I feel there was some miscommunication in the course of the discussions. I additionally felt a bit disenchanted as a result of I ended up trying too clear.”
Kang Dong Gained additionally talked about that he instructed the raveled coiffure to director Kim Sang Man. He recalled, “I believed it might be higher to make a powerful impression at my first look, so I advised the director, ‘Let’s go together with a messy look,’ and he appeared to love the concept.” He continued, “I keep in mind the director had related ideas however did not deliver it up as a result of he thought I may not prefer it. Once I proposed it first, he was actually happy and stated, ‘That’ll be nice. Are you able to actually try this?'”
Kang Dong gained additionally revealed What captivated him concerning the script for Rebellion: “I believed the script wasn’t very cinematic. It’s because there are such a lot of characters, and although Cheon Yeong had extra weight by way of character focus, the script additionally emphasizes the narratives of the opposite characters,” he stated. “I believed that may very well be each a bonus and a drawback, however I considered it positively. It meant that every one the characters have been alive within the script.”
Kang Dong Gained reveals in what methods he has modified in comparison with the previous
Speaking about about attending the opening ceremony of the twenty ninth Busan Worldwide Movie Competition for Rebellion, Kang stated, “I went there as soon as in 2009 as my movie was chosen because the opening movie. Again then, I used to be in my 20s, and I did not need to go to official occasions or the pink carpet; I solely do not forget that.“
He continued, “Now that Rebellion has been chosen because the opening movie, and I am in my 40s, I really feel actually honored.” He added, “I do not know why I used to be like that once I was younger. I feel I hated going to locations the place there have been a whole lot of individuals.”
He continued, “I might say that previously, I wasn’t very steady. I used to be very cautious with my phrases and anxious rather a lot about whether or not what I stated may be distorted [or misrepresented]. However now, I really feel like, ‘Ah, no matter.'” He added, “I feel I’ve come to understand issues greater than earlier than.”
“As I’ve come to know myself higher, I’ve realized that that is who I’m; I am not somebody who goes round speaking nonsense, and that has made me really feel extra comfy.”
When requested if appearing has turn into simpler, Kang Dong Gained replied, “It is not a lot that it is easy, however I’ve turn into extra comfy.” “Prior to now, I felt harassed on set, however now I do not really feel that approach.”
He continued, “I am not saying I am doing effectively, somewhat, I’ve turn into extra pure and comfy. It is completely different from really being good at it. Whereas I act, I feel, ‘I am doing this a lot,’ however once I look again, I all the time really feel it is missing. I felt that it is necessary to cut back the hole between what I feel and what comes out on display.”
He additionally added, “I do not like exaggerated appearing; I desire a minimalistic fashion. This time, I believed I ought to strive being exaggerated, however I felt like I used to be missing in some locations.”
Kang Dong Gained reveals how he prepares for motion productions
Kang Dong Gained carried out greater than 90% of the motion scenes himself with out utilizing a stunt double.
“You possibly can’t evaluate the quantity of coaching I did with different actors. That is one factor I can confidently say. I should have swung the sword tens of 1000’s of instances.”
Kang Dong Gained stated he developed the foundational abilities for motion appearing whereas engaged on Duelist. He defined, “For Duelist, I skilled intensely — assembly after breakfast and working towards till dinner. We did that for 5 months, and even after filming began, we skilled for an additional three months. In whole, we skilled for eight months. We’d observe from 9 a.m. to midday, then after lunch from 1 p.m. to five or 6 p.m., 5 days every week. We met within the morning or the afternoon and did that day-after-day. The coaching depth was such that I believed, ‘Did I actually practice this difficult?’ The essential exercise began with 1,000 sit-ups, and I might do twists as effectively. Doing full sit-ups is not good for the again, so I began by doing 1000. I discovered fashionable dance, and that was a part of their primary coaching. That grew to become my basis.”
He continued, “Since then, having that stage of coaching as a basis has all the time helped me when getting ready for characters. Even throughout KUNDO: Age of the Rampant, I did primary coaching [exercises] 1,000 instances every. I began coaching by doing ‘begi‘ (a sword approach) 1,000 instances. I did that for five months throughout KUNDO: Age of the Rampant.” He added, “This time, it was completely different. If I hadn’t been capable of cease when swinging the sword, I must do it. Nevertheless, I used to be doing different exercises, and once I went for my first coaching session and swung the sword for the primary time in a very long time, it stopped straight away. I believed to myself, ‘I haven’t got to do that 1,000 instances.'”
“Whereas filming this time, I did really feel that my jumps weren’t as excessive as earlier than. I used to leap actually excessive (laughs). Except it is one thing extraordinarily harmful, I attempt to deal with the motion scenes myself with out a stunt double. I do not prefer it when my [character’s] actions and emotional expressions are completely different. It is simpler for me to do it myself than to ask the stunt actor to place extra emotion into it.”
After present process such intense motion coaching, “Now, once I meet individuals, they typically ask, ‘You’ve got been working towards kendo because you have been a baby, proper?’ although I’ve by no means finished it.” He continued, “I actually did use swords rather a lot. I skilled onerous Earlier than Rebellion, I had really been getting ready for sword-fighting motion. I had concepts: one was swinging a sword whereas sporting a swimsuit, and the opposite was a fantasy historic drama. However then Rebellion got here alongside, and I did that. I do not suppose the opposite two concepts shall be shelved away; they’re in progress.”
Thanks to those efforts, Kang’s co-star Kim Shin Rok praised him as “the gem of the Korean movie trade.” Kang humbly stated, “I am considerably assured with sword work, however calling me a gem is sort of a stretch.”
Kang Dong Gained talks concerning the challenges he faces when sporting costume make-up for historic productions
He additionally expressed the challenges of starring in historic productions, stating, “It is really actually powerful. To start with, placing on the make-up is not straightforward. Making use of the pretend beard is troublesome, and placing on the wig is tough too. I actually do not just like the beard. Simply take into consideration how unhealthy it’s for my pores and skin to be making use of glue all day lengthy. It is actually uncomfortable, and I’ve to endure that sticky feeling all day. Particularly in the summertime, it drives me loopy. The clothes is at the least three layers. I’m going loopy in the summertime.”
He continued, “The make-up is uncomfortable, nevertheless it’s good. There is a sure appeal to it. It is disagreeable while you put it on, however seems to be good while you see it after you set it on. Even in motion, it is not nearly combating; there’s a whole lot of appeal to it. I feel sword-fighting motion additionally has a whole lot of appeal. The appeal of the costumes appears important as effectively. It seems to be sort of cool to put on conventional Korean apparel like hanbok. Plus, in winter, taking part in a nobleman is sort of good. In summer time, I desire the position of a slave,” he joked.
When requested what sort of productions he prefers engaged on, Kang stated, “An important issue I give attention to when selecting a undertaking is its structural completeness and originality,” including, “So long as the story is sweet, I’ll do it no matter whether or not it’s an artwork movie or a business movie.”