Thanks to our friends at
Encore Films, we are able to get to know more about F.T. Island's Lee Hong Gi as he shares his thoughts on his first movie role in
Rockin' On Heaven's Door. Also see how you can be among the first few to watch the movie after the jump!
In the film, Hong Gi plays the role of a troublemaker teen idol star, Chung-ui, who enjoys his high profile celebrity stardom. However, he has a hot temper and is a bomb waiting to explode. Eventually, he gets wrapped up in assault charges and ends up being ordered to social volunteer work at a hospice ward.
In a 30-sec message recorded specifically for Singapore audiences, Hong Gi describes the film as a "very warm and touching movie which will give emotional healing in many ways".
See the clip for yourself!
Q: What attracted you to agree to do this film?
- Lee Hong-Gi: We just live our lives with not knowing when it would be our last moments of life. After I had read the scenarios several times, I became fascinated by the story of a group of these people who are nearing and preparing for the end of life.
I want to have an opportunity to feel sympathy with them and to experience what it would be like.
Q: How has the movie inspired you? Has it set you thinking what you’d wish to do before leaving this world? If yes, what would you like to do?
- Lee Hong-Gi: I become more careful about people around me including my family. Rather setting up specials/particular goals before leaving this world, I just try to do my best every moment in order not to regret.
Q: What is one similarity and one difference between the role and the real you?
- Lee Hong-Gi: We both are "top idol star"? ^^ I don’t have trauma of death, and it seems different from ‘Chung-ui.’
Q: The film is quite a paradox. It's a comedy, yet it's set in a hospice, a place where patients are waiting to die. As an actor, how did manage the delicate balance between the two diverse emotions - happiness and sadness?
- Lee Hong-Gi: Although the hospice itself could be regarded as the collections of all kinds of sad stories, the real atmosphere of the hospice was always in convivial and expectant mood. So I always felt some ambivalent towards the patients in the field. I thinking being at the hospice itself gave me such ambivalent feelings. Sine this was an act of nature, I could unconsciously manage the balance between two – happiness and sadness.
Rockin' on Heaven's Door will be having its Singapore Premiere screening at FilmGarde Bugis+ on Friday, 16 August. Ticket holders will also receive a limited edition movie poster with every purchase!
Q: The most challenging scene in the movie is? The most satisfied scene is?
- Lee Hong-Gi: Extreme cold-weather. As you might have recognised the steam coming out of my mouth in the movie, the cold weather continued through the whole period of the shooting. That seems to have been the hardest not just to me but to everyone.
The ending scene (band’s performance at stage) was very exciting and impressive. All of the band members had been practicing hard on their individual part for a long time. The great ending scene could be made through all of our efforts. It was a matter of course that the music was so great!
Q: If you had to choose, would your rather be an actor or a singer? Explain your choice.
- Lee Hong-Gi: This is a challenging question. Both are really attractive to me. Although my priority is to be a part of ‘FT Island’, I’ve also fallen in love with movies. I’d like to continue/keep these two carriers as long as I can.
Q: As this is your first big screen debut, what kind of expectations do you have for the film?
- Lee Hong-Gi: “Do my best” ^^ I didn’t want to cause any inconvenience to the people.
Q: In the film, Chung-ui ended up helping the patients audition for a rock band competition. As a successful artiste, what advice would you give to aspiring musicians?
- Lee Hong-Gi: To be a man of iron will!! ‘Willingness’ is a key to achieve dreams. I strongly suggest that whatever you do, do have the strong will!
