nicolefilms - Tumblr blog

nicolefilms · 4 years

Text

[INTERVIEW] Dazed & Confused Korea Special Fall Edition 2019 (Part 1)

Q. Is IU the type of person who is affected by the seasons?

A. I think I am affected by Spring and Autumn. With the atmosphere changing, my heart is more relaxed. I feel exactly like that these days when summer is ending and fall is starting. Experiencing the change in seasons, I am in a daze sometimes and various thoughts come to mind.

Q. How was the photoshoot today? It happened to be a cool autumn weather with old-fashioned Gucci clothes. It somewhat reminds us of Jang Manwol from “Hotel Del Luna”.

A. Did you know? Where the photoshoot took place today was also one of the filming locations for “Hotel Del Luna”. When I came here last time it was really hot, but it's cool today. I felt the change of seasons.

Q. What kind of season was 2019 for IU?

A. I thought at beginning of the year that it will be a busy year because I have planned a lot since last year. But possibly because of the atmosphere of “Hotel Del Luna”, it was more of a relaxed season than expected. I guess I can say I am doing my job smoothly? I was very happy while filming “Hotel Del Luna”. All the people I met while filming were good people. It almost felt unreal. It's really a miracle. It was a fairytale-like 6 months.

Q. Everyone was able to feel the affection of IU towards Jang Manwol and “Hotel Del Luna”. Especially because you personally made an Instagram account for Jang Manwol and posted photos of the drama set.

A. It was a piece of work that felt like all the characters were alive and breathing. Including the actors, all the staff were all so precious. So, with the permission of the production crew, I made the SNS account for Jang Manwol and ran the account with affection. Everyone was having fun, and they were all very cooperative.

Q. The ending of “Hotel Del Luna” received various reactions. In a positive way. As the actor of Jang Man-wol, what do you think of the ending?

A. When I first read the ending, I thought it was a 'sad ending.' And then I thought perhaps it could have a 'happy ending'. I read the script 100 times, crying often while reading it. I worried about which emotions I should show and what feelings not to show. Jang Man-wol and the 'Hotel trio' who had to cross the Bridge to Afterlife are people who had waited for that moment for at least 100 years and up to 1300 years. They were able to experience a life-like life after meeting Goo Chansung (Yeo Jingoo) but they live in a different world from the one Chansung is living in. I thought if they didn't leave because of the happy memories of the few months with Chansung, it would still be a sad ending.

Q. The OST heard in the ending of the final episode was sung by you. Hearing that unreleased song, we were able to experience IU's feelings towards “Hotel Del Luna”. Just from the title alone, to call it 'Happy Ending’...

A. I wrote the lyrics to the song by myself. As a way of me saying 'I, Manwol, would like a happy ending,' when the script for episode 12 came out, I recommended the song to the director and writers to use it as the OST for the final scene. I actually try not to participate in the OST of the dramas I'm in. When they (audience) hear my voice, they think of my image as Singer IU and the emotional lines of the drama can be blurred. I have no plans to release the song. I want to leave it only at the last scene of “Hotel Del Luna”.

Q. The fantasy-like character of Jang Manwol was a logical character coming out of your career as Singer IU and Actor Lee Jieun. One critic said, "Jang Manwol is the crossing point of the Actress Lee Jieun that was quietly growing inside IU and the Singer IU," and Oh Choonghwan the producer of “Hotel Del Luna” said, "I thought if it wasn't IU, let's not produce this drama."

A. When I first got the casting call and went to the meeting with the production staff of “Hotel Del Luna”, the director told me that. He said, "We are going to make the set unique like a surreal space and it will blend in with the image of singer IU shown in music videos. And it has to be someone who can portray a colorful character who shows various hairstyles, makeups, and costumes in one episode; the only person who can do that is IU. Also, I want to project all the images IU has portrayed as an entertainer into the character of Jang Manwol like an assortment of gifts." I actually went to decline the casting, but on the contrary, it gave me confidence to accept the offer. Now I am very grateful that they casted me.

Q. IU itself has become an unique brand. The public will not find it odd when they see you singing a girlish song on a music show back to back with you singing a 1980's Sanwoolim song. Besides that, you have also established yourself as an actress. You are literally one of the few stars in Korea who can do anything and be successful. Do you think that right now is the peak of your career? Or is there more you have in store?

A. Wouldn't it be a peak? (Laugh) These days I keep thinking about back when I was twenty. It was when I was promoting the song 'Every End of the Day,' and I remember the conversation I was having with lyricist Kim Eana then. She asked me "Jieun, what do you want to do in the future?" So I said, "Once this promotion ends, wouldn't it be the end of the idol-like shine?" I thought then that it would be the end of when I could be so popular. But I'm twenty-seven now and being asked by a reporter, "Is this your peak?", so from then I earned 7 years as a bonus. I am really having fun working these days.

cr: daeng516

Translated by dawn_afterglow for IUteamstarcandy

184 notes · View notes

nicolefilms · 4 years

Text

[INTERVIEW] Dazed & Confused Korea Special Fall Edition 2019 (Part 2)

Q. Do you separate your identity as musician IU from actress Lee Jieun?

A. Not exactly. Actually, I would like to be known as ‘actress IU’ too. But because IU is famous as a singer, I respect the opinion that I have to use the name ‘actress Lee Jieun’ for people to be more absorbed in my acting, which is why I am going by a different name. It seems I’ve reached a point that I have to sort this out properly though. I’m not very sure how to answer if someone asks me, ‘Are you going to be Lee Jieun or IU?’ I don’t mind either. I’m just me.

Q. You last released your single, ‘BBIBBI’ in October last year. When will we be able to listen to your next album?

A. I’m in the midst of preparing for my next album. The songs are almost complete. Perhaps because of the influence from ‘Hotel Del Luna’, there’s a song containing fantasy elements like the songs back when I was in my teens. Also, there are some lyrics I wrote recently that really entered my heart (Note: HDL reference). “It’s alright to not be happy for a day.” At some point, I realised that it was even more tiring to be obsessed about happiness. You end up feeling anxious too. It’s a song I wrote to express such emotions. The key word for my album this time is ‘love’. There will be a few songs here and there which are relaxing. And if you come and watch my concert after my album is released, you’ll feel like falling in love on your way back home.

Q. Is there anything else you want to try, beyond being a musician and an actress?

A. Producer. I don’t really have concrete plans yet, but I would like to produce an album for a musician who matches me in terms of musicality. I’m going to listen to all the music of the rookie musicians in our country from idol singers to underground artists. There’s someone I’ve had my eye on, but I won’t say who it is (laughs).

Q. You mentioned in an interview 4 years ago, “this is a great season right now”. What kind of season is it for you currently then?

A. The best season? (laughs) What I know for certain though, is that I seem to be happier as I grow older. When I was younger, there weren’t many moments of happiness, since there was lots that I had to do and to prove (to others). I had to shoulder a lot of responsibility and burden. I’m someone who won’t be happy if I’m not satisfied. With those high expectations, I seem to have overworked myself. But when I released my ‘Palette’ album at the age of 25, I had a change of mindset. I started to write songs with a more peaceful mind and put my mind at rest a bit more. Love is important to me these days. Not just romantic love, but the love you receive from someone, love for something that happened, love for a day in itself, love for something that has yet to happen and so on. I’m writing about various types of love in my songs. Whether it’s (love for) the album or (love for) the concert I’m currently preparing, (love for) my fans who support me and (love) towards myself too.

Q. Is ‘love’ the most important key word to you right now? You’ve been mentioning it throughout the interview and I’m sensing the warmth and affection from the look in your eyes or your tone when you talk about “Hotel Del Luna” or your new album.

A. From “I’m not someone like that”, or “I’m not that kind of kid”, and now I’ve become like this. When such thoughts come to mind, I feel like I’ve grown up. Anyway, it puts me in a good mood. I think it’s something worth congratulating myself for.

Q. Are there any other goals you would like to achieve?

A. I think it’s the first time I’m mentioning this, but I would like to leave my mark through my concert as a musician. This is probably the most ambitious statement that can come from my mouth. I’m not someone who easily says things like, ‘I want to be the top” or “I want to leave my mark”. (Laughs) At some point in time, the meaning of a concert to me as a singer became different. Also, I want to be someone that can be trusted. Sometimes you’ll meet people that, beyond their likes or dislikes, at least they don’t make empty promises. Personally, I’m also working hard to be someone that can be trusted, be it as a singer or actress.

Translated by IUteamstarcandy with love

cr: daeng516

159 notes · View notes

nicolefilms · 4 years

Text