[Sportschosun Ahn So-yoon] Actress Im Soo-jung is preparing to meet audiences through the film 'Shadow Child,' taking on the roles of both lead actress and producer.
The press and distribution screening for 'Shadow Child' took place on the 25th at CGV Yongsan I-Park Mall in Ichon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Actors Park So-yi and Yuna, along with director Yoo Eun-jung, attended the event.
Set to open on July 1, 'Shadow Child' is a strange tale about Suan, who wakes from a coma after three years and becomes drawn into the mystery of a 'shadow fairy tale' when she meets Jae-in, a girl with the face of her changed mother Geum-ok and her deceased older sister Suryeon. The film was directed by Yoo Eun-jung.
Asked what inspired her to direct the film, Yoo said, "In my previous film, 'The Door of the Night Opens,' I connected isolation and ghosts. In this film, I connected the fear of loss with meeting someone who resembles me. The starting point was, 'If I were to lose someone I love, how could I live while carrying that loss?' I wondered whether meeting someone who looks like the person I lost might fill that emptiness, and I thought it was a different kind of grief. It somehow felt like there was a selfish side to trying to fill the loss left by someone who had gone by meeting a lookalike. I also thought of it as a split between the original and the copy. So I wanted to twist that story."
'Shadow Child' also drew attention because Im Soo-jung not only starred in the film but also participated as a producer, pouring her affection into the project over a long period of time. Yoo said, "We first cast Soo-jung as Geum-ok. But during the process of seeking investment for the film, the head of the production company asked whether she could also join as a producer, and she gladly agreed. She seemed interested in supporting good films and backing them, just like overseas actors such as Margot Robbie. She said we should make this film well together and bring it out into the world. We also discussed the direction the film should take as producers. She handled practical matters, but she also helped manage the atmosphere on set, which the director might not always see. She wanted to make sure no one had a hard time on set and that the environment would not hurt anyone. Above all, she often said she hoped the child actors would leave the set with good memories."
Park So-yi, who plays Suan, the younger sister who lost her older sister, said, "From the moment I first received the script, I wanted to be part of it. It was also a genre I had not yet challenged myself with, and I was drawn to the dreamy story of a shadow fairy tale."
When asked whether acting with CGI presented any difficulties, she replied, "It was my first time acting without any props at all, and I had no idea how I should do it. I talked a lot with the director about Suan's emotions and situation, and I also practiced a lot on my own."
Yuna took on three roles, playing Suan's older sister Suryeon, the mysterious girl Jae-in who has the exact same face as Suryeon, and Yoon-seo. She said, "As soon as I read the script for the first time, I became incredibly curious about it. I usually visualize scenes in my head when I read a script, and this one was especially vivid. Jae-in also came across as a very attractive character."
On what she focused on in her performance, she said, "When playing the three characters, I did not try to force differences. Instead, I tried to focus on each person's environment and life. As a result, the differences between them came out naturally. During preparation, I also had many conversations with the director and asked fundamental questions like, 'Why did this character do that?' Each time, the director answered carefully, and that helped me immerse myself in the role."
At the end, the two actors also expressed their gratitude while sharing their thoughts on acting as mother and daughters alongside Im Soo-jung. Park So-yi said, "She stayed on set much longer than I did, so she was able to notice my shortcomings well and create a more comfortable atmosphere. She really felt like a mother, so I was able to stay focused on set." Yuna also smiled as she said, "She created an environment where we could focus only on acting and was very considerate about the shooting order. Even when I asked for acting advice, she gave me sincere guidance, and that was a huge source of strength for me."
Ahn So-yoon, antahn22@sportschosun.com
