#interview mbn startoday
(TRANS ) 161229 — interview with mbn startoday
translated byfy!wdh+originally frommbn startoday by jin hyuncheol
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His eyes were fierce at the first glace, as he walked over from a distance. Figures, since he played the role of Snapback - a killer and one of the devoted followers of President Jin. But when he smiles brightly, he is cute like a child. With a slightly deep voice, this actor is even full of sensitivity and emotions [usually attributed to girls]. He exudes [an aura of] a diverse range of faces. ‘He’ is rookie actor Woo Dohwan (24) who attracted attention in ‘Master’.
Woo Dohwan said happily that “the director liked me because I have both good and evil in my eyes”and“he said that he cast me because I’m bright when I laugh, but I have the eyes of a killer when I’m expressionless [straight-faced]”.
‘Master’ captures the cat-and-mouse chase between President Jin (Lee Byeonghun) a fraudulent financial scammer, Kim Jaemyeong the investigation team leader who gets involved in order to catch him, and computer expert Park Janggoon who is tight-roping between them while trying to find a way to stay alive. Woo Dohwan auditioned twice for the film. ‘Master’ was the first time he played a role that had a name. He, who finally snatched the role of Snapback after almost 60 [other] auditions, recalled “I actually thought I had gotten the role of someone on the crime investigation team, but [I] was given the role of someone on President Jin’s side” and that “there was a long period of about two months after auditions finished, so I worked hard in order to become a killer by attending action school, and strengthening my muscles etc.”
[Being a] Killer meant he basically had no lines. For the first screen debut of a raw newcomer, you [Woo Dohwan] were probably happy with just appearing on screen, but it would have been perfectly understandable for you to be a little greedy for [some] lines. Woo Dohwan shook his head. He recalled that “I wasn’t the least bit concerned about whether I had a lot or a few lines” and that “I only thought about ‘what can I do to be of help to this movie?’ I didn’t want to throw ashes into rice that was almost done [ruining a project on the verge of completion]. I learnt a lot by watching the seniors who showed off amazing acting [skills] on set. I was so nervous the night before filming that I couldn’t sleep, like the night before going on a picnic.”
In particular, he liked and received a lot of help in the scene with Jin Kyung who played the role of Mother Kim on President Jin’s side. “To be honest, I worried a lot about how I was supposed to express this character [Snapback] without talking, and how, and to what extent, I would be able to express them [his feelings] with what I have. It was definitely difficult since I had to make people understand with my actions alone. Because I had to show that something in the relationship between [Snapback and] Jin Kyung sunbae. To be honest, Jin Kyung sunbae was the one that set the mood of the atmosphere and tone of voice. It was to the point where I didn’t even need lines.”
If you think of it the other way, couldn’t it have been that you [Woo Dohwan] didn’t get any lines because of Jin Kyung? Woo Dohwan asked [in return] “On the contrary I was nothing but thankful. If she [Jin Kyung] didn’t do what she did, wouldn’t I have come off [in the scene] like I was bad at acting?”. You’re [Woo Dohwan] optimistic. “That’s right. I’m a positive person (laughs). Everyone really did look after me a lot on set. I’m telling you, I almost cried because I was so touched that they even looked after me, who was the youngest by a mile. I write in my journal everyday and everything [little thing] like that is written down.” Hearing that I [the reporter] said that he [Woo Dohwan] had a sensitive side [usually attributed to girls], he laughed widely saying “I feel kind of good hearing that?”, once again becoming a young man who was full of infinite optimism.
The boy who was normal during his school days began acting after the suggestion of his father, who was a former theater actor. He [Woo Dohwan] agreed to his father’s words during the time when he was worrying about his plans for university. His father said “thank you” to his son who was dreaming the dream that he himself [his father] could not achieve. “My father and mother got married after dating for 7 years. My father said that he was fine with himself starving, but that ‘I [his father] gave up acting because I couldn’t stand by and watch the person I love go hungry’. My mother kept watching as my father acted, so I think [that’s why] she understood the regret that he [his father] felt. That’s why they like that I’m acting and cheer me on. [In turn] Because I understand my parents feelings, I’m going to try not to forget where I came from [his original intention]. The faces of my parents always come to mind whenever I’m acting.”
Woo Dohwan who appeared not only in 'Master’, but also in the recently finished drama 'The Man Living in Our House’ said "unexpectedly [out of his expectation] a lot of people recognize me” and that “people like me but I’m actually [still] embarrassed. I’m already happy [just] with the fact that I was able to carry out my first acting role, and am thankful for everything. I even have a fan cafe now, and I’m touched [emotionally] by every [single] thing.”
“I’ve only just come to show off one part of who I am. There’s still a lot left for me to show. But I don’t want to come off saying that 'I have this certain side of me’. I just want show that I’m actor who was better than who I was yesterday, and acting skills that are [always] improving. I hope that I can become an actor who is [constantly] moving forward. The attention that I’ve been shown recently made me think that ‘this job is really something that can’t I can’t do by myself. I have to communicate [with fans]. I have to approach acting with a positive attitude and show that to them’. Please keep an eye on me. Hahaha.“
