EXO member D.O is starring in his first movie (distributed within Japan), ‘Pure Love’ (Directed by Lee Eun-hee). Ahead the film’s nationwide release on 11th June, D.O has sat down with us for an interview!!
D.O from the popular Korean group EXO will be starring in his first movie, ‘Pure Love’, set to be released on 11th June, nationwide (Note: ‘Pure Love’ is his first film that premiered in Japan.).
D.O has also had roles in projects such as, ‘It’s Okay, It’s Love’, ‘Cart’, and ‘I Remember You’, which gained him recognition as not only as an artist, but also as a young up-and-coming actor. He is set to make his Japanese big-screen début with his starring role in ‘Pure Love’.
The movie focuses on the bittersweet and innocent love story between a young boy and girl. Bumsil, played by D.O, supports the heroine Soo-ok (Kim Sohyun) in her struggle to walk. The earnestness and purity of the character shines through D.O. The pure mood of the film is highlighted with a kiss scene though an umbrella, which viewers shouldn’t miss.
Please look forward to the film. D.O has offered to speak to us a bit about the film ahead of its release.
— Do you recall what the first day of filming was like?
D.O: ‘I remember it. On the first day we filmed the scene where Soo-ok and Bumsil sit in the courtyard and talking about wanting to enter a singing contest. Because it was the beginning of filming, Sohyun was still quite nervous.
The director told Sohyun to hold my hand and not let go, so I didn’t let go of her hand for for the entirety of filming.
That seemed to work (hehe).
That scene wasn’t particularly lighthearted and cheerful, but rather, one where we were both embarrassed. By holding hands we were able to support each other.”
— What are the similarities with you and Bum-Sil and what are the differences?
D.O: “If you compare us side-by-side, (unlike myself) Bumsil is a very irritable person. If you’re looking at similarities between us, we’re both very masculine. On the other hand, Bumsil is very shy and awkward, which I don’t think is very much like me.”
— What is your favourite scene in the film?
D.O: “My favourite scene is one where the strong bonds between friends are suddenly broken due to an event. I’m not one of the key actors in that scene, but when the scene was shot the people playing the roles of friends made it look very realistic and ever since then that scene has stuck in my mind. The scene is very beautiful, it left the biggest impression on me.” — Which line left the biggest impression?
D.O: “The line from the trailer, ‘I will protect you forever’. It left the biggest impression on me. I think saying ‘I will protect you forever’ to a girl is very difficult. Also, I think this line really resonates with the main message of the film, thus leaving the biggest impression.” — In your opinion, what’s first love?
D.O: “When I think of first love… I still don’t fully understand it. But I think it’s the happiest and warmest type of feeling, that’s the type of feeling I associate with first love.” — Is there anything you remember about your first love?
D.O: “I believe my first love was when I was in my 3rd year of senior high school. At that time I remember it being a very warm and happy feeling. Of course I’ve had a lot of times where I have felt happy, but when I think about the happiness of being with a girl I think back to that time.” — Please talk about your first impression of Kim So-hyun and how that compares to your current thoughts about her.
D.O: “So-hyun has been working as an actress since she was very young, and even though she is 6 years younger than me, I still felt like she was very young.
But, as we talked more during filming, I thought her manner and maturity seemed beyond that of most people of her age. Because of that, I think our compatibility and the atmosphere during the filming were very good.”
— To get closer to Kim So-hyun, we heard you held her hand every day?
D.O: “Yes. It was a little awkward to hold her hand throughout filming on the first day. From when we first met, we held hands.
Before filming we would join hands and we wouldn’t let go until the director said ‘Action’, which is when we’d let go until the scene was over and then rejoin our hands again when it was done. We were always close and it felt really awkward, so even when it was cold I’d sweat.
But, I think it worked really well to get us over the first-day awkwardness. It helped create the needed awkwardness and innocence needed for the scene.”
— It’s said that the director used ’whispering into your ear’ as a special form of directing.
D.O: “It’s the same as how other directors work. The director whispers into your ear so the other actors don’t hear it. I think it drew out more realistic performances from the actors as well as showed more individual consideration from the director. It felt very warm and comfortable when the director did that.”
— It must have been stressful. Can you talk about a particular time that you found difficult?
D.O: “The hardest thing was the heat. We filmed between June and September and it was really hot. The staff as very kind and considerate, and it is because of them that everyone felt like family throughout the filming.”
— Please talk about how you think you’ve grown through this film as an actor.
D.O: “After each finished filming, I feel like I’ve grown a little. Even if I don’t notice it, I learn a lot from the other actors.
In this film, I think the most important thing I learned was the etiquette on set.”
— Is there a particular actor you admire?
D.O: “There are a lot of actors I admire and like. Jo Insung, Lee Byunhun…. There are also lots of foreign actors. It’s impossible to name them all, but I want to work hard to become a wonderful actor like the seniors I admire.”
— Please talk about what other type of characters you’d like to play.
D.O: “If I get the chance, I’d like to play a variety of characters, I’d like to challenge myself. Now, there are characters I haven’t played, such as a villains. I would really like to try to play a bad person.”
— Soon the film ‘Pure Love’ will be released in Japan; how do you feel about that?
D.O: “Ahh, it’ll be released in Japan soon…. I’m really happy about that. It’s a Korean-made film being released in Japan, so Japanese people and fans will be able to watch it, and that makes me really happy.
Please take some time to watch the film, and if it leaves you with a warm feeling, then I’m really happy.”
— D.O’s first first leading role in the film ‘Pure Love’ will be released in a nationwide roadshow starting from TOHO Cinemas Shinjuku in Tokyo.
“For my first love I miss—”
A bittersweet innocent and pure love story, which begins when a letter is delivered from 23 years in the past.
Film ‘Pure Love’
Plot: In 2014, Radio DJ Bum-Sil (D.O (EXO)) receives a letter. It’s from his first love. As the song ‘Dust in the Wind’ by Kansas plays in the background, a piece of his heart awakens to resurrect memories of his first love from 23 years ago.
The scene takes place in the summer of 1992.
During summer break, Soo-Ok (Kim Su-hyun) waits for Bum-Sil at their hometown island. Bum-Sil holds a secret love for Soo-Ok ever since he spend his childhood days happily by her side and held her close in order to ease her legs.
One day, Soo-ok falls in love with Youngil (Kim Kwon), who is a physician, which angers Bumsil when he finds out. It’s a misunderstanding, but ends up breaking up the friendship of not just the two, but the friends around them. Because of that, Soo-ok struggles to accept the new reality, which leads to her having to make a decision.
Director: Lee Eunhee
Screenplay: Han Chang-hoon
Starring: D.O (EXO), Kim Sohyun, Yon Joonseok, Lee David, Chu Daeyeon and others.
Distribution: Avex Pictures
Korea / 2016 / 113min + D.O (EXO) exclusive interview
Official Website: http://junjo-movie.jp
Official Twitter: @Junjo_movie
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