Interestingly, my first director's cut was an hour and forty-one minutes. Then, the studio actually wanted to add more to the story, so we went all the way up to an hour and forty-seven minutes. After that, I made some additional cuts and now we are where we are.

Kim Jee-woon

To go into more specifics regarding actors, whether they're from Korea or the U.S., all actors know if they are loved by the director. When they feel that love from the director, they respond by giving a great performance on camera. Also, everyone on set - the crew, the actors - they were aware of the film's message and its broad theme, so these big issues were never discussed on set.

Kim Jee-woon

korea issues giving

Initially, before I came to Hollywood, I thought that the language barrier would be the biggest challenge, but I realized that actors all around the world, regardless of language, are all the same.

Kim Jee-woon

around-the-world hollywood challenges

I'm someone who has a singular goal in making films; I want to tell a story. There are certain stories that I want to tell. Hollywood's never really been the ultimate goal for me.

Kim Jee-woon

hollywood goal stories

I'd like to give the audience what they've always wanted to see and also I want to give the audience what they've never seen. It's these two things I'm striving for.

Kim Jee-woon

want giving two

But when there were certain moments or scenes that required a very specific nuance or performance, I myself would act out the scene or the sequence and that would inspire the actors. Of course, I can't really express emotions on camera, but I was very active in showing a certain action or a blocking for an actor. I would also participate in certain stunts myself and because of that, I would get bruises or cuts on my knees and elbows.

Kim Jee-woon

block cutting inspire

To be honest, I would have to say that there was a certain burden in working with Arnold, a big action star. I am aware that Arnold is loved by the American audience, but rather than focusing on working with Arnold, what I focused on was expressing the character, Sheriff Owens, through Arnold the actor and knowing that Arnold and my idea about Sheriff Owens coincided and that it was about Owens protecting a certain value and justice, I focused more on that aspect that helped me to be more comfortable in working with Arnold.

Kim Jee-woon

stars character ideas

I prefer to work the old-fashioned way. I trie to do everything or most of his action sequences practically, because I feel that while added effects or the VFX process allows for flashier sequences, I feel that it lacks the energy we see in practical effects.

Kim Jee-woon

energy action way

Of course, 'The Last Stand' has a villain who is traveling to the border to fulfill his own desires, but it's more about the main character. The Sheriff putting a stop to this villain and defending his town. 'The Last Stand' is more about protecting something. About protecting a value.

Kim Jee-woon

value stop villain character

Obviously, I've made several films in Korea, so I'm very well accustomed and acclimated to Korean filmmaking.

Kim Jee-woon

well very filmmaking made

My background is in acting, so I enjoy being able to show what I'm looking for. With acting, it's very immediate when you show someone what you're looking for, and the feedback is instantaneous as well.

Kim Jee-woon

looking someone you enjoy

Korean films have always been distributed to international audiences as arthouse films.

Kim Jee-woon

been always korean international

I want to work with a wide range of genres because it gives each film a different cinematic energy.

Kim Jee-woon

different energy want work

A lot of people are very interested that a Korean director has made a western. But when I look at the reactions of the audience, I realise the points at which people laugh are the same for a Korean audience and an international audience.

Kim Jee-woon

laugh look audience people

I want to do science fiction with dark stories.

Kim Jee-woon

science-fiction dark want science

Whatever it is that I thirst for in my current project tends to turn up in my following project.

Kim Jee-woon

project turn whatever up

I've been thinking of doing a sci-fi thriller or a sci-fi noir, if that's possible.

Kim Jee-woon

possible doing been thinking

What can possibly be the common factor in a Kim Jee-woon film? I think what really ties a lot of my projects together is that there is always a character that believes his life is not exactly the way he wishes it to be.

Kim Jee-woon

think together character life

We all desire things that we believe we cannot have, and so my films reflect that again and again. The mystery must be solved, the goal attained.

Kim Jee-woon

things mystery desire believe

Overseas directors who want to work in Hollywood, the language barrier is not a problem. With the right talent, any director can be successful.

Kim Jee-woon

talent language problem work

In Korea, the director is on top, and the power flows down vertically. On the set, I love to come up with ideas on the spot. But in Hollywood, if I were to come up with a certain idea on set, the idea had to be taken to all these different people who had to agree.

Kim Jee-woon

power love people ideas