The character stills of actors Kim Tae-ri and Hong Kyung in the Netflix film 'Required for This Star' have been captured.
On the 1st, the production team of the Netflix film 'Required for This Star' released character stills of Nan-young (Kim Tae-ri) and Jay (Hong Kyung).
'Required for This Star' is a romance movie about astronaut Nan-young, who dreams of exploring Mars in 2050 in Seoul, and Jay, who has put his musician dream aside, meeting and moving towards dreams and love. Among them, the character stills of Nan-young and Jay, which Kim Tae-ri and Hong Kyung participated in from character setup, live-action shooting, to voice acting, drew attention.
First, actor Kim Tae-ri, who has showcased an unlimited acting spectrum across eras and genres, lends her voice to Nan-young, who is on a direct path towards her dream of exploring Mars. Nan-young is an astronaut who researches state-of-the-art technology and carries the trauma of losing her mother, who died in the line of duty on Mars 25 years ago. Just before being suddenly excluded from the final selection of the fourth Mars exploration project, she returns to Seoul and begins to fall in love with Jay, whom she accidentally meets at a repair shop where she goes to fix her mother's turntable.
Director Han Ji-won, who suggested casting Kim Tae-ri because she felt the actress's image perfectly matched the character of Nan-young, who is a hardworking and strong professional while retaining her own individuality and purity, noted, 'Kim Tae-ri had many proactive opinions on how to interpret and develop the character. We exchanged opinions and established the core of the character together.' She shared her enthusiasm for the collaborative process in building the character, which was more than just voice acting.
The released stills depict Nan-young in a spacesuit performing missions and deeply immersed in research while looking at panels showcasing advanced technologies from the near future of 2050, revealing her earnest pursuit of her dream. It raises curiosity about what kind of romance will unfold between her and Jay, who approaches her like fate with passion for both work and love.
Versatile actor Hong Kyung, who shows a new face in each project, lends his voice to Jay, who has temporarily set aside his musician dream. Jay was once a guitarist in a notable band but has set aside his dream for now, and he currently works at a retro sound equipment repair shop. Set in the 2050s, where advanced technology takes precedence, he is a character who still possesses an analog sensibility, and thanks to Nan-young, who is the only one to recognize his music, he begins to nurture his dream of music once again.
Director Han Ji-won suggested casting Hong Kyung, believing his unique literary and hip image matched Jay well. She said, 'Even when he speaks a single line, the details contained within create richer layers, which I really appreciated. Thanks to that, Jay seems like a truly living character, someone who exists somewhere in the world.' She did not hold back her praise for Hong Kyung, who meticulously built the character.
The revealed stills of Jay show him playing the guitar and skillfully handling a music program, showcasing his charm as a musician. As the world continues to accelerate, the romance that unfolds between Jay, who retains his unique analog sensibility, and Nan-young, who is accustomed to advanced technology, is expected to captivate viewers worldwide with a heartfelt story alongside a universal love narrative.
'Required for This Star' is a work where both actors not only performed the voice acting but also actively participated in developing their characters. First, the two actors and director Han Ji-won exchanged interpretations and opinions about the characters through scene-by-scene readings, setting the initial tone for their respective character voices and filling in the details during the main recording.
In particular, director Han Ji-won conducted live-action filming to capture detailed expressions that arise from free movement, not constrained by storyboarded actions. She shared, 'During the readings, the actors expressed their emotions explosively, allowing for more dynamic scenes. During live-action filming, we followed the actors' improvisational performances with a handheld camera, dynamically adjusting the shots. There were also scenes inspired by the characters' development and the actors' movements, not just references for acting.'
Kim Tae-ri remarked, 'In the live-action filming, I memorized all the lines under the director's storyboard and acted freely like a long theatrical performance. Seeing how the day's movements and acting were reflected in the work, I found it very impressive to be part of the creative process in injecting emotions and breaths into the character.' Hong Kyung mentioned, 'I felt a freedom that one could experience when performing on stage. Before recording, I could get closer to the character by having an experience akin to the actual filming.'
In response, director Han Ji-won expressed satisfaction with the dynamic scenes that emerged as the actors freely expressed their emotions, stating, 'The process was lively and vibrant.' Thus,
Starring Kim Tae-ri and Hong Kyung, the first Korean animated film on Netflix, 'Required for This Star,' featuring the distinctive mood of director Han Ji-won, who is at the center of the new wave in Korean animation, and a sensory OST that elevates the film's emotion, will premiere on Netflix on the 30th, Friday.
[Photo] Provided by Netflix.
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