Actor Kim Jae-won, who has gradually built his filmography with roles in productions like 'Our Blues,' 'Eun-jung and Sang-yeon,' 'Lady Dua,' and 'Yumi's Cells 3,' is making his big-screen debut in the film 'Final Interview.'
In the film, six candidates gather for a final interview, only to find mysterious envelopes containing each other's secrets, leading to suspicion and chaos. Kim portrays Han Jin-woo, a character with an altruistic nature, skillfully navigating the complexities of doubt and desperation.
"I feel the happiest now that the movie is finally being released. I'm excited and nervous about how the audience will react. I'm really anxious because it's a project I put my all into," he said.
The primary reason Kim chose 'Final Interview' was the escalating tension within a confined space. He also felt a connection to Han Jin-woo, who must maintain his composure amidst the chaos.
"When I first received the script, I thought that if the tension in the interview room was well expressed, it could be a really interesting movie. During my first meeting with the director, he expressed a desire for me to play Han Jin-woo. After reading the script, I realized that Jin-woo's role was to keep his balance in the midst of confusion, which I felt I could do well," he explained.
Kim found several similarities between himself and Han Jin-woo. He noted that he often comes across as calm and mature among his peers, which helped him understand the character better.
"I didn't see much difference between my real personality and Jin-woo's. Even when I'm the youngest in a group, people don't usually see me as the youngest. I often hear that I seem a bit more mature, possibly because I've been socializing from a young age. Jin-woo has that same vibe, so I didn't feel he was a vastly different character," he said.
The dynamic of six characters revealing their secrets and exchanging emotions created a theatrical tension for Kim. He approached each scene with the mindset of creating a performance together rather than just maintaining individual rhythms.
"Personally, it felt like being seated together in a movie like 'Perfect Strangers.' I'm not sure if we can achieve that level of quality, but we all worked together with the mindset of performing a play," he said.
To create the tension in the interview room, Kim drew from his own experiences. The anxiety and urgency he felt while preparing for college entrance exams served as a direct memory to understand Han Jin-woo's mindset during the final interview.
"The most intense moment in my life was preparing for college entrance exams. I took the tension that Jin-woo feels in the interview room from my own experience during my college entrance interview. I tried to infuse that anxiety and urgency into my performance, and when things got tough, I would recall those moments to regain my emotions," he said.
His relationship with Jo Yi-hyun adds another layer of emotion to the film, filled with tension. On set, Jo's bright and lovely demeanor helped them bond naturally, which translated into their characters' relationship.
"I had many scenes with Yi-hyun. Although she is older than me, she felt like a cute younger sister on set. She has a unique charm and lightens the mood when the cast is physically exhausted. So, even though I am younger in real life, I had no trouble portraying an older character. I think I was able to naturally incorporate the cuteness I felt from her into the performance," he said.
However, it was crucial to balance their relationship to avoid it being perceived as overly romantic. They needed to build enough emotional depth to make Jin-woo and Hye-in's choices in the latter part of the film convincing without compromising the mystery's tension.
"The main concern for me, the director, and Yi-hyun was to ensure that the mystery genre did not come off as a romance. We discussed how far to take Jin-woo and Hye-in's romantic narrative. We wanted to avoid it being too obvious or lacking in credibility, so we talked a lot about the characters and consulted during breaks," he said.
The moment in the latter part of the film when Jin-woo casts his vote for Hye-in was the most challenging point for Kim to portray convincingly. He felt he would not have made the same decision in that situation, requiring him to deeply analyze the emotions and relationships of the character beyond the screen.
"If I were in Jin-woo's situation, I don't think I could do that. So, I thought from the beginning that this was the most challenging aspect to portray convincingly. I wondered, 'How great must love be for someone to do that?' To play this role, I had to first acknowledge that choice, so I did a lot of character analysis that wasn't shown on screen. I also felt a sense of empathy for Jin-woo as a good person beyond love. We are the same age and in the same situation, desperately wanting to be chosen. Jin-woo is someone who dislikes seeing friendships break in that chaotic environment. Hye-in was both a colleague and someone he had a crush on, the person he trusted the most. So, I believe that voting for someone he could trust was the best choice Jin-woo could make," he said.
His first experience on the big screen also provided him with a new perspective on acting. He learned that even small gestures are amplified on a larger screen, leading him to practice restraint and subtlety as filming progressed.
"Seeing it on the big screen, I realized that even small actions feel much larger. I started to practice restraint as I monitored the filming. I think there are clear differences between film and drama. Through this project, I found film to be incredibly enjoyable, and I hope to work on more film projects in the future," he said.
Another appealing aspect of the film set for him was the collaborative process of creating a scene with ample time for actors and staff. The lengthy rehearsals, adjustments to movements, and run-throughs left a strong impression of collective creation.
"Unlike in dramas, I enjoyed gathering together for meals and discussing the next scenes. In dramas, there are many scenes to shoot, making it hard to have long rehearsals, but in film, even if we shoot one or two scenes a day, we do so with depth. The lengthy rehearsals and the process of running through the entire piece like a play, adjusting movements if something feels off, were enjoyable. It felt very collaborative, and I think that closeness is one of the charms of film," he said.
As his filmography grows, Kim's criteria for choosing projects are evolving. Initially, he was grateful for any opportunity to be recognized and tried various roles, but now he is considering his responsibilities as an actor leading a project.
"In the early stages of my career, I was so grateful for any opportunities that I tried everything. I had many chances to work with veteran actors in good projects. But now, I feel it's a time when I have a responsibility to lead a project. So, while the quantity of work is important, I want to focus more on the quality and deliver a more profound performance," he said.
Kim identifies his strength as an actor as 'simplicity.' He believes that rather than having a strong, specific image, he can naturally blend into any role, which has allowed him to take on a variety of characters.
"I think I have a certain simplicity as an actor. I've often been told that I have a face that can blend well with any role without feeling awkward. I believe that has allowed me to take on a relatively diverse range of roles since my debut," he said.
Through his first screen debut, Kim has clear aspirations. He hopes for commercial success and aims to leave an impression that he has potential as an actor in film. He also wishes to showcase the strength of a fresh combination of young actors to the audience.
"Honestly, I hope the film does well. And I hope that through this movie, I can show that Kim Jae-won is an actor with potential in film. I want this to be a work that demonstrates that there are many young actors and fresh combinations in the film industry. I want to beat 'Chii Kawa.' Haha," he said.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.