Cha Seung Won: “Wearing tight clothes made me feel like Captain America.”

[imienazwisko.livejournal.com]

I found a couple of interviews of Cha Seung Won about his role in “High Heels”. They make the articles look long, but if you look only at the answers, they’re not that long.

“Some people enjoyed watching “High Heel”, some didn’t, but I feel that it was worthwile because it was a new challenge for me and I feel affection toward Ji Wook, the character I played. It was good because it was a unique noir movie. To be honest, where would there be the opportunity to play such character? (laugh) I thought a lot about how to play Ji Wook. From an actor’s point of view, he was a great character. At first, I didn’t want to shoot “High Heel”. I wondered how I was supposed to play a character like Ji Wook since I don’t have the same inclination, but I’ve managed to understand him. Of course, some actors would have felt repulsion for a role like this, but not me. What’s different is good, but the action aspect was something that required trust because it was clear that I would have to practice. The action scenes came out in the strong and original way I had imagined.”

The main point of the plot related to “High Heel” was to have the charismatic Cha Seung Won dress as a woman. It was a shocking transformation, but he was strangely able to pull it off. “When I was wearing women’s clothes, I told myself to bear with it. I have thick eyebrows, so I had to shave them for the shooting,” he revealed during the press conference. He also had to wear tight clothes and 12-cm high heels. Thanks to his efforts, Cha Seung Won shone dressed as a woman.

“When I monitored myself, I behaved in a certain way here and there to accentuate this feminity. Instead of thinking that I must act like a woman, I tried to bring out this sense of feminity in a natural way. Aren’t there posture that are masculine and others that are feminine? I kept that aspect in mind and I tried my best to refrain myself to show a 1-dimensional feminine behavior. I usually have a lot of energy, so I had to rule out this aspect and I purposely tried to maintain a look that made me seem vulnerable and listless. Even in the way I spoke, I had to speak slow and with the softest tone possible. I felt no pressure for my first scene in women’s clothes, but I felt it for my last scene. Still, the tight t-shirts strangled me. I felt like Captain America (laugh).”

Ji Wook is a strong detective who wants to become a woman. He doesn’t want the woman he feels he is inside to disappear. He wants to bring her out. He seems strong, but he’s more vulnerable and sad than anyone else. After putting on women’s clothes, he looks at his reflection in a mirror and cry, he’s also happy for the short time when he’s able to wear these clothes. Cha Seung Won wanted to show these different images.

“Ji Wook is very pitiful. He’s a character who finds a sense of fullfillment, inner desire through makeup. I think that’s the reason he looks beautiful when he wears women’s clothes. It’s not excessive, but I wanted people to realize that you can see he is a woman when you add up all these minor things. We live by confronting ourselves to the society’s opinion. “High Heel” isn’t a movie about sexual minorities. It’s about showing emotions such as a desire that can’t be expressed because of this wall called society.”

Cha Seung performed in the play “Bring Me My Chariot of Fire” in Japan and in Korea before. He built up friendships with other Japanese actors. “I had so much stress back then. I was very serious about understanding my character, so I would call director Jang Jin at dawn to ask his thoughts on the way to portray my character. I’m still thinking about the answer to this question. Instead of acting itself, it was the Japanese actors I worked with that got me thinking about it when I was performing this play in Japan. Most of Japanese characters rehearse in the morning and they have a part-time job in the evening. Although it might be hard because they have to work part-time, they’re committed to the rehearsals and they’re passionate. Looking at them, it made me think that I was very lazy. It was so great to see the hard-working attitude of these actors and showing so much passion on a set.”

Being in this play taught him many things, so his acting shows more depth and emotion which allows him to entertain people by bringing laughter and emotion. With “High Heels” in movie theaters and the drama “You’re All Surrounded” broadcast on SBS, he’s everywhere and is very busy.

“The biggest charm that differentiate movies and dramas is the possibility of character’s variation. For a movie, you must pull the character’s personality and bring it out, but you have time to find different approaches of your character for a drama. I keep working out, but I can’t really sleep a lot. To be honest, it’s more about your physical ability than your acting ability. You must have stamina to stay focused. Then you’ll be able to show good acting because you will be able to use your imaginative power. I feel how important stamina is important these days.”

Although his characters Ji Wook and Pan Suk are both policemen, they’re completely different. Although Cha Seung Won has already been acknowledged for his acting ability and charm through the diversity of his roles, he still hopes to be the best actor because he’s always eager to try new kind of roles.

“I’m an actor who does character play. When I’m a bit older, I want to play a character that crosses over and goes along with this era. Historical character or not, I want to play this kind of characters. I love comedies, so I don’t want to stick to one genre. How can you be pleasant to the audience? I want to be known as a popular actor (laugh). I want to melo movies that show detailed emotions. Love is the best emotion that one can feel. And I don’t know what else I can do. I might do another movie that would go even deeper in the noir genre. I don’t know.”

Original article: mbn
Translation: @onesunnylady

Comments

[iviih.livejournal.com]

“High Heel” isn’t a movie about sexual minorities. It’s about showing emotions such as a desire that can’t be expressed because of this wall called society.”

Well said. Good read, it was interesting OP! Thanks!

[imienazwisko.livejournal.com]

my pleasure ^^
i was worried no one will read this post :(

[iviih.livejournal.com]

I'm sure more people will read! ;)

[skybluecotton.livejournal.com]

probably won't be able to watch it since i can never find many properly subbed k-movies.
i wish he'd make more rom coms though.
just finished watching "Greatest Love" only a couple of days ago, and i can't help but find him absolutely endearing. <3
Thanks for posting OP.

[ceecile.livejournal.com]

Really interesting interview, thanks op!
I love Cha Seung Won although because the scandal with his son I can't help but side eye him a bit.

[letoutthewolf.livejournal.com]

Ah, this was a good read. Definitely going to watch the movie once I can get my hands on it. Thanks for posting OP! ♡

[turdferguson.livejournal.com]

ive been watching him on you're all surrounded so now i'm all ~attached~. seems like a thoughtful guy