Wrap-up: "You're my Pet" Ibaraki press conference

Aphrael77’s Note:
I would like this article, which gives quite a detailed account of the press conference, to be my last post wrapping up the entire event, so that I don’t continue to blog bits and pieces of news. Also, I added from many sources various video clips and also some pictures that Sukbar eels touched up themselves, so that these pics are of higher resolution than what the Japanese media released. In fact, some Sukbar eels are grumbling about why Japan, being reputed as the maker of cameras, are releasing media photographs which are not of high resolution (haha~).

Apologies in advance if I’m not able to give proper credits (they’re all from various eels in Sukbar) due to the length of the post and well, I get confused sometimes taking from various sources. Anyway, just to say that I’m very thankful to various sources for providing the information and the lovely pics. If I duplicate any pic or video, sorry. Am getting tired after a long day and my mind’s not focusing …

I do have some thoughts arising from the article, but let’s discuss them later, shall we? 🙂

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Credits: Tengxun Entertainment News shared by 粉色系yy @ Suk Baidu Bar

On 3 March, the Korean version “You’re my Pet” press conference was held at the South Park near Ibaraki Airport, with the main characters Jang Keun Suk, Kim Ha-neul and Choi Jong Hoon and the director Kim Byung Gon in attendance. This is the first time that a Korean movie press conference is held at an airport and at an outdoor location; even the media found it a refreshing experience. Like the audience, almost all of the media rushed there from Tokyo, and most took the chartered coaches provided by the organisers. Some reporters commented laughingly that “this interview feels like an outing”.

The press conference attracted nearly 16,000 fans to compete for the 3,000 admission tickets. Before the start of the event, many groups of fans waited along the road, with the majority of the fans carrying placards and props in support of Jang Keun Suk. Upon questioning, the reporter found out that these fans did not get the ticket and specially came to catch a glimpse of their idol. It was estimated that there were 4,000 fans waiting outside.

“You’re my Pet” is one of Yayoi Ogawa’s representative works, which won the Kodansha Manga Award 2003 and in the same year, it was adapted as a drama, with Jun Matsumoto and Koyuki as the male and female lead Momo and Sumire Iwaya. The plot describes a romantic budding love story when a talented and beautiful career woman lives together with a younger man whom she keeps as a “pet”. The novel “master and pet” angle of depicting a relationship between a man and a woman gained favour with many readers and has been called a modern woman’s fantasy. In the upcoming Korean movie adaptation, Kim Ha-neul takes on the role of Sumire whose strong exterior hides her uncertainty when it comes to matters of the heart. By chance, Sumire meets a classical ballet prodigy Goda Takeshi (acted by JKS), who moves in to stay with Sumire as a “pet” and accepts the perfectionistic and compulsion-disorder Sumire with a generous heart. Both gradually mature in the process of healing their hurt.

When making their stage entrance, JKS was busy waving to fans and he didn’t hear the crew calling his name several times. It happened that he was standing in Kim Ha-neul’s position, causing the actress to look at JKS for a few seconds. After a while, JKS heard the crew and made space for Kim Ha-neul.

Asked for the selling point of “You’re my Pet”, the director said that he hoped the Korean adaptation would expand on the original theme so that people in different countries would identify with the story. He had visited Ibaraki last year to inspect the outdoor filming sites but he would not reveal the filming locations now in case fans arrive in big batches and obstruct the progress of the filming. However, the director did mention that some filming would take place at parks, hot spring and other scenery spots which would definitely not disappoint the audience.

Kim Ha-neul praised JKS for having “pet” qualities

Kim Ha-neul, who is busy with her current movie “Blind”, came especially from Korea for the press conference. Wearing a light blue embroidered short dress that showed off her shoulder and long legs, she exuded an air of simplicity and elegance, but was the most sympathethic figure that day because the weather was a cold 10 degrees despite the sun. Kim Ha-neul shivered occasionally but continued to flash her smile despite almost becoming a frozen beauty.
When asked for her impression of JKS as this is their first collaboration, she said that she knew about JKS’ outstanding acting skill. “In fact, I’ve watched his dramas and arrived at the same conclusion. He has the qualities of a pet – very cute.”

Having watched the Japanese drama “You’re my Pet”, Kim Ha-neul felt that it was “very interesting and the female lead is full of charisma”. She is confident that she will be able to present a whole new character imbued with her own characteristics.

JKS’ “pet declaration” excites fans

It is not exaggerating to say that the fans present composed of 99% eels (a name for JKS fans), and thus JKS could almost be considered the host. Acting as Ibaraki’s “image promotion ambassador”, when JKS learnt that the local specialty product is fermented soybean, he reminded the audience to “buy the soybeans before going back”. His cute declaration “I want to become everyone’s pet” also generated a lot of screams from fans. Despite his humorous antics on stage, when talking about his impression of Kim Ha-neul, he suddenly became quite serious. “As an actor, she is my senior. I’ve seen many of her works. She is most suitable for the female lead role in “You’re my Pet”. I think I can learn a lot from her, and I’m happy to be her ‘pet’.” Despite the two-month countdown to the start of filming, JKS seemed to have immersed himself in his character already, showing an ambiguous liking and respect for Kim Ha-neul.

As his character is a ballet dancer, JKS had started related dance practice from last year, but he has not practised much in the last 3 months. The translator had just said “I [JKS] cannot do those moves, such as leg-splitting, that I could do previously” when JKS who is conversant in Japanese immediately rebutted, “Not that I cannot, just that I cannot do it as beautifully”. He also made fun of his situation, “The director is the one who should be the most worried about my situation now (referring to unfamiliarity with dance)”, and everyone laughed at his comments.

Choi Jong Hoon: Clueless about 1st acting experience

For Choi Jong Hoon of F.T.. Island, it is his first time acting, and he said that acting in “You’re my Pet” is a good training opportunity. Standing beside him, JKS could not refrain from adding, “After Choi knew that he was included in the movie, he called me many times, asking ‘What do I do? When is the press conference? How do I act? How do I practise from the script? Quick, help me!’ ”

JKS continued, “I told him that if he wanted my help, he has to reward me with wine.”

The emcee asked Choi whether he would feel pressurized pitting his acting skills against two seniors Kim Ha-neul and JKS. Choi replied, “With both of them in this movie, it is enough for everyone else to feel confident about it?” JKS quipped, “Maybe it’s not enough. Oh, right. As a singer, you are my senior. In return, you must help me.” (referring to his musical debut on 23 March.

At the end, Choi said that he would do his best in acting and said “Fighting” in English, and JKS corrected him and said that wasn’t the way it was said in Japanese. The frequent joking and quipping between the two revealed their congenial friendship.

JKS “angry” with Ibaraki official – cute expression sets cameras flashing

Blowing kisses, covering his eyes, pouting, breaking into laughter, modest, extroverted, reserved …. seeing JKS definitely is a cause for cameras to keep flashing. At the press conference, JKS was still the one who was best at creating the atmosphere. During the event, an Ibaraki offical said that through “You’re my Pet”, he hoped more people will get to know about Ibaraki, which is a prospering agricultural area just second to Hokkaido, just as he had watched “IRIS” (filmed in Akita, Japan) which had increased the popularity of Akita….. The official had not finished saying when JKS put on an “angry” expression and pretended to act jealous (why didn’t the official watch the dramas of the actors here on stage?). Fans in the audience immediately got JKS’ meaning, and the official apologised hurriedly, “Sorry, I said something inappropriate” and everyone broke out into laughter. Another incident showing JKS’ frankness is, when the director said “I felt that this casting is the best”, JKS added, “I also think so”.

During the hand-moulding procedure, JKS pulled off his ring and commented that the mould felt like mochi. After he pressed his hand hard into the mould, he retreated to the back and was enjoying the moment with a “I’m so handsome” expression on his face when the emcee said, “JKS-san, you have left your ring here.” JKS took back his ring in a mock angry expression which had the audience laughing.

Despite JKS’ humorous antics, he can be quite philosophical when answering questions seriously. He said, “This year, I’m going to become a singer officially and hold my Asia Tour, but compared to these, to perform in front of the camera as an actor is still the happiest thing for me. I will work hard in my acting.”

In consideration of the audience sitting at the back, the organisers had come up with the idea of the 3 actors going around the audience in a convertible. JKS and Choi were sitting at the back of the convertible and kept waving to the audience. The convertible drove at a slow speed, and reporters had to follow the car and take photos. The car stopped for a minute, and a reporter took the chance to call out JKS’ name. JKS responded and posed for the reporter, and even said to him, “It’s cold, right? Everyone is turning into ice”. The reporter didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

After the press conference, the actors would meet up with the local government officials and accept media interviews on 4 March. Kim Ha-neul would then return to Korea on 4 March to continue her filming, and JKS is scheduled to return to Korea on 6 March for commercial promotional event before flying off to Europe on 8 March to shoot his photo-book.

Of note is that the Korean “You’re my Pet” shoulders the important responsibility of promoting Ibaraki to tourists, so major Japanese television stations sent their teams to the press conference to cover the event, and Japanese TV station NHK also gave a timely report on the press conference in the evening. When JKS participated in the movie “One Missed Call” many years ago, he didn’t like preserved soybeans and dried plums, but now he is already a Japanese cuisine gourmet.

“You’re my Pet” is scheduled to start filming in May and go on screen in Korea in November 2011.

I know an eel promised a pic of JKS’ parents, but I haven’t seen it yet. So here’s a view of their back to satisfy your curiosity…

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Credits: ediepig @ Youku
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Credits: mihodog @ Youku
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Credits: mihodog @ Youku

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Credits: mihodog @ Youku

3月3日，韩版《宠物情人》的制作发布会在日本茨城机场附近的南侧公园举行，男女主演张根硕、金荷娜、崔钟勋和导演金炳坤等主创悉数出席。这也是韩国电影第一次在机场，而且是在户外召开发布会，所以连媒体也觉得新奇不已。和观众一样，记者们几乎都是从东京赶来，大部分人都乘坐主办方的巴士，因此有人笑言“这次采访感觉是去郊外春游一般”。

据主办方介绍，这场发布会吸引了近16000名粉丝参与3000张门票的竞争。活动开始前，机场沿路聚集了长长的队伍，大多人举着张根硕的应援道具，记者走上前去，才得知这些粉丝都是没能买到门票，为了一睹偶像的芳颜，而特地赶来。据记者粗略的计算，现场至少来了4000名粉丝。
登场会场后方的舞台时，张根硕一直忙着和台下的粉丝招手，工作人员连喊了几次他的名字他都听不见（他站在原本安排给金荷娜的位置），身边的金荷娜一脸无辜的表情看着他数秒钟，张根硕才好不容易听到工作人员的叫声将位置纠正过来。

导演在被问到新版《宠物情人》的看点是什么时，他表示希望韩版能扩大原著主体的外延，“令不同国家的人都能对这个故事有共鸣”。据了解，他从去年就来到电影的外景地——茨城考察，“但现在不能公布具体的拍摄地，否则会有大批的粉丝杀到，电影肯定拍不成了”。尽管导演卖了关子，不过就透露会到茨城的公园、温泉等风景胜地取景，绝对不会让观众失望。

金荷娜夸张根硕天生具有“宠物”气质

《宠物情人》是小川弥生的代表作品之一，2003年曾获得讲谈社的漫画赏，同年被改编成同名电视剧，由岚的松本润和小雪饰演男女主人公MOMO、严谷澄丽。描写才貌兼备的女白领与突然变成宠物的年下男生由同居生活而引发的浪漫恋爱的《宠物情人》因其刻画男女交往方式——“主人与宠物”的新鲜视角而博得众多读者的喜爱，被誉为是现代女生的fantasy。韩版的《宠物情人》中，金荷娜扮演拥有美貌和才能，众人艳羡的职业女性智恩，坚强的外表下隐藏着不擅长谈恋爱的一面。在偶然的机会下邂逅芭蕾舞界的未来之星仁浩（张根硕饰）。后者变成宠物入住智恩的家，面对坚守完美主义过度得患上强迫症的智恩，始终是带着包容的心。两人在彼此疗伤的过程中，渐渐成长起来……在忙于拍摄电影《blind》的金荷娜特地从韩国赶来，当天穿着一身淡蓝色绣花迷你裙的她透出清雅气质，露出半边的香肩和修长的双腿。十分养眼，但也成为全场最令人心疼的人——当天尽管阳光明媚，可气温只10度左右。敬业的荷娜尽管偶尔会忍不住打哆嗦但就一直笑面迎人，俨然是快冻僵的冰美人。
谈到对第一次合作的张根硕的印象时，她表示知道对方演技出色“实际上看了他的作品后也的确是如此。他的气质与宠物吻合，很可爱”。金荷娜言看过日版的《宠物情人》“觉得非常有趣。女主角很有魅力”，有信心在韩版中诠释出一个全新“具有金荷娜”特质的女主角。

张根硕发“宠物宣言”粉丝心跳尖叫
说当天到场的观众99%是鳗鱼（张根硕粉丝的昵称）一点也不为过，从这个意义上言，张根硕和半个“东道主”没差，充当了茨城的“形象宣传大使”——细心的他得知当地的特产是纳豆时，不忘嘱咐观众在回家前“别忘了买纳豆回去”。更撒起娇来，称“我想成为大家的宠物”，惹得粉丝尖叫分贝倍增。别看在台上搞怪动作多多，在谈及对金荷娜的印象时，张根硕表情突然变得认真起来：“作为演员，她是我的前辈。以前看了她的很多作品。《宠物情人》的女主角她演再适合不过。我想这次能从她身上学到很多，很高兴能成为她的‘宠物’”。尽管离影片开机还有约两个月的时间，但张根硕似乎已经提前进入角色，对荷娜带着暧昧的敬意。
因为片中扮演的是芭蕾舞者，张根硕从去年就开始了相关的舞蹈训练，最近三个月没怎么练“原来可以做的动作（劈叉）都不能做了”翻译的话刚出口，日语灵光的张根硕连忙反驳道：“不是不能，是做得没那么漂亮了”，还不忘自嘲“我现在这样的情况（对舞蹈生疏），最担心的应该是导演吧”，台下顿时爆笑起来。
崔钟勋：首次演戏“六神无主” 与张根硕老友鬼鬼
F.T Island的崔钟勋是第一次演戏，他表示能够出演《宠物情人》是锻炼的一次好机会。旁边的张根硕忍不住曝料：“他知道自己出演后就打了很多次电话给我，问‘到底该怎么办？制作发布会什么时候举行？我应该怎么演？应该怎么预习剧本？快点帮我！’”，“我还说（你想得到我建议的话）要带酒来（慰劳我）”。“

这次和金荷娜、张根硕两位前辈飙戏，你感觉如何？会有压力，会紧张吗？”ＭＣ问，“这部片子有他们两位出演，就已经足以让大家信赖了吧？”崔钟勋回答。“也许不行呢”张根硕再次插嘴道。“哦，对了。作为歌手，你是我的前辈呢，（这次轮到你）一定要帮我啊”鬼马的张根硕（本月２３日，张根硕将在日本发行首支单曲，正式进军歌坛）不忘吐嘈道。最后崔钟勋表示自己会努力演好时，说到英文的“ｆｉｇｈｔｉｎｇ”，张根硕也及时纠正其尾音“日语不是这么说的”。几次不经意的玩笑，透露出两人不错的交情。

花絮：张根硕当众“迁怒”茨城官员 鬼马表情萌翻镜头

飞吻、捂眼睛、噘嘴、爆笑、谦虚、张扬、内敛……每次见到张根硕，就肯定会“萌杀”记者的菲林。当天发布会他依然是最会带动气氛的一个。在活动，茨城的官员表示希望通过《宠物情人》的拍摄能促使有更多的人认识茨城，了解这个在日本农业发展水平仅次于北海道的新兴地区“我看了《ＩＲＩＳ》（李秉宪、金泰熙主演，因在日本秋田取景，大大增加了当地的知名度）……”，他话还没说完，这边的张根硕就露出“生气”的眼神，假装“吃醋”——怎么没有看我们在座这些演员的韩剧。台下的粉丝马上会到意，该官员连忙致歉：“哦，对不起，我说了不合适的话”，大家马上爆笑起来。张根硕的直率还不止于此，导演在说“我觉得这样的卡司是最棒的”，他也忍不住插话：“我也觉得如此”。

在按手印仪式时，张根硕摘下戒指，煞有介事地说：“嗯，手感很像糍粑”，在用力按下去展示自己的杰作后，退到台后露出一副“我很帅吧”的表情自我陶醉时，没想到被ＭＣ揭穿：“张根硕桑，你把戒指落在台上了”。张根硕瞬间露出“不高兴”的样子，即刻戴上戒指。观众自然又是一阵爆笑。
别看张根硕搞笑多多，认真起来的时候说的话也是“哲学味”十足：“今年我将正式成为歌手，亚洲巡演也将举行，不过比起这些，能够在镜头前表演（演员的身份）始终是最幸福的事情，对我而言。我会努力的演好的”。

主办方考虑到座位靠后的观众，于是想出三名演员坐着汽车绕场一周的环节。张根硕和崔钟勋坐在后座，不断地和观众招手致意。因为汽车缓慢行驶，所以记者们也只能是边走边拍。席间有近一分钟停车的时间，笔者连忙乘乱喊他的名字，没想到张根硕也是贴心地配合——做出各种表情给记者拍，末了还不忘“幸灾乐祸”地吐嘈“冷吧，大家都快成雪条的样子了”，令笔者是哭笑不得。

张根硕、金荷娜一行人在发布会结束后与当地政府的官员见面，3月4日接受日本媒体的专访。之后，金荷娜会在4日返回韩国继续拍戏。而张根硕也预定在6日回国，进行广告的宣传活动后于8日飞赴欧洲拍摄写真集。

值得一提的是，韩版《宠物情人》肩负着“向观光客推广茨城县”的重任，当天日本各大电视台都前来采访发布会的盛况，NHK电视台更是在傍晚的节目中对发布会的情况进行了及时的报道。多年前与黑木明纱合作电影《鬼来电》时，对纳豆和梅干“苦手”（不爱吃）的张根硕现在已成为名副其实的日本料理美食家。

《宠物情人》计划在5月正式开机，11月在韩国上映。