"Project Silence" Star Ju Ji Hoon Critiques: 'Dogs Receive Better Care Than Actors Nowadays'

Actor Ju Ji Hoon sat for an interview with local reporters for his soon-to-be-released K-movie, Project Silence, during which he talked about working with the late actor Lee Sun Kyun, the challenges he encountered while filming, and more. 

Project Silence tells the story of people stranded on the airport bridge, which is engulfed in dense fog and is on the verge of collapse. They struggle desperately to survive the unexpected dangers lurking around them. Apart from Ju Ji Hoon and Lee Sun Kyun, the K-movie also stars Kim Hee Won, Moon Sung Geun, Ye Soo Jung, and Park Ju Hyun, among others. 

Ju Ji Hoon plays the role of tow truck driver Joe Park, who rushes to the scene upon hearing news of the collision. Joe is a free-spirited man who is looking for a chance at life. 

Initially, he appears to be a materialistic person who is only concerned with his money, safety, and personal gain. Such qualities are expected, as he works a job that makes people look down on him. Despite this, he displays a deep sense of responsibility by cherishing his partner, a dog named Jody, as if it were his own child and family. But, when help is needed, he shows a hint of humanity by being brave. Moreover, he has a unique charm and a mischievous air that makes him hard to hate.

It is said that actor Ju Ji Hoon suggested the unique hairstyle for his character. His words: "When I read the script, I perceived Joe Park as a selfish person who puts himself first. He's also a character with survival skills." "[When I was picturing him,] the image of the guys who worked at gas stations back in the 90s came to mind. So, instead of thinking about [guys who] blend in, I thought of guys who live in their own world. I found similar references and showed them to the director. The director said, 'Isn't this too unconventional?' but I said, 'Let's do it.'"

Ju Ji Hoon's chemistry with dog Jody also stands out. He said, "The dog was really calm and well-behaved. More than anything, what I felt on set was that dogs are much better cared for than actors nowadays." "Their working hours are strictly set and very short. They also have a clear set of rest periods," adding, "In the film, Jody is usually in Joe Park's bag, but shooting with the dog in the bag could injure it or put it in danger. So, a large budget was used to make a doll that looks exactly like the dog."

He also said, "Most of the scenes with the dog were actually shot with the doll, and we used the real dog only when it was absolutely necessary."

It is also revealed that Ju Ji Hoon performed a dangerous scene where he breathed fire. Director Kim Tae Gon revealed that it was not CGI: "He blew out bigger a flame than the stunt performer on set, and everyone was surprised. (Lee) Sun Kyun, who watched from the side, was amazed." 

The actor recalled, "That scene wasn't easy. It was really scary, and everyone around me advised against doing it because it was dangerous," adding, "Of course, most scenes are edited when the movie is completed, [and that scene could have been done using CG] but as an actor, I wanted to maintain the continuity of emotions in the scene. It might be my greed, but I wanted to achieve realism. ... Since I am not a professional mime artist, I felt I couldn't portray the emotions without real fire."

Ju Ji Hoon continued, "The conditions on set are much better now than in the past. There was always an emergency team present, and I practiced and rehearsed the scene several times beforehand." "I was more nervous than I expected because I was a beginner." Despite the practice, the actor suffered aftereffects: "I guess I was scared when I sprayed the whiskey [out of my mouth]. My throat hurt a lot. When I went to the hospital, they said that whiskey had gone into my salivary glands from doing it too hard, causing inflammation. I had to take antibiotics for a week and suffered," he shared his post-shoot experience.

Being 188 cm (6' 1½") tall, Ju Ji Hoon also faced trouble when he had to act in a cramped car trunk. "It felt like my shoulders were breaking."

He elaborated, "I thought they would have cut the car, but I actually got into the real car trunk and acted with my face sticking out through the connected armrest. I wondered why, in a movie filled with CG, they did that." He recalled, "Getting this big body into the trunk itself was hard. On screen, it looks spacious, but I squeezed [myself] in. I had to act, but I kept getting cramps. Action scenes are hard, but this was painful. It hurt so much."

Project Silence was the first and last project where Ju Ji Hoon worked with Lee Sun Kyun. He spoke very thoughtfully about his late co-star, saying, "Lee Sun Kyun sunbae had the meticulousness necessary in filmmaking. He said what's correct. He had a long career and many works."

He continued, "As a person, he was a good senior, and it was fun to watch him because he was different from me." When asked how he was different, Ju Ji Hoon explained, "[When it comes to acting,] I have a more like 'let's try it and see' kind of attitude. Even if there are questions [or doubts], I'm like 'Let's give it a try' or 'Let's do it', whereas Lee Sun Kyun sunbae was meticulous in rehearsals and details, and if there were uncertainties, he engaged in extensive discussions." Continuing, he said, "Sun Kyun hyung is very detail-oriented compared to me. In situations where I might think, 'It's okay to allow some dramatic leeway through editing,' he was the type to say 'That doesn't make sense' and voice his opinion."

The actor also mentioned commonalities between them: "Sun Kyun hyung was cheerful. The same goes for his way of dealing with stress; he dealt with it in a cheerful and bright way. He seemed somewhat like me in that we both enjoyed small talk, laughing, and chatting." "We spent the time between full shots not in our own rooms but together."

Project Silence is Lee Sun Kyun's final work. When asked if he felt it was different in any way, Ju Ji Hoon said, "It's not particularly different. Every film is a time that doesn't come back, so I always cherish and do my best. That's how I feel. He was a good senior actor, so I have pleasant memories."

Project Silence will premiere on July 12. 

Sources (1)(2)(3)(4)