Actress Park Bo-young (35) has returned with the romance film 'Melomovie'. This is her first encounter with writer Lee Na-eun from the SBS drama 'Our Beloved Summer' and co-star Choi Woo-shik.
Meeting Park Bo-young in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 18th, she said, "As soon as I saw the work, I told the director 'thank you,' and the actors also happily chatted, saying 'let's have a meal together.' I was that satisfied," she smiled brightly.
Released on the 15th, the Netflix series 'Melomovie' (written by Lee Na-eun and directed by Oh Chung-hwan) is a romantic drama that depicts ambiguous youth who want to love and achieve their dreams, discovering each other and becoming inspiration while overcoming their respective traumas.
In the drama, Park Bo-young plays 'Kim Movie,' a character who loves movies so much that she named her daughter 'Movie,' lacking her father's love, which leads her to hate movies but eventually become a director. The story revolves around her reunion with film critic 'Go Gyeom' (played by Choi Woo-shik), with whom she had a brief romantic connection five years ago.
Recalling the moment she was first offered the role, Park Bo-young said, "It was different from the lovely characters I've played so far, so I was eager for 'Movie.' I wondered if I would ever get the chance to play such a role, but thankfully, it came my way, and I tried to show a more mature and new side of myself."
She continued, "'Melomovie' is indeed a story of youth's growth. It's about overcoming wounds through each other and oneself," adding, "It doesn't just capture the bubbly, lovely, and sweet aspects but also contains each character's painful narratives, focusing on growth and shedding light on stories that aren't entirely bright, which I found delicate and mature."
Regarding the setting of 'repeated coincidences,' Park Bo-young said, "Since it's a drama, I think such aesthetics were necessary. You can see it as a dramatic fun," she laughed. "There's a saying, 'You don't realize your clothes are getting wet in a drizzle.' I think the love and relationship between Movie and Gyeom are like that. It's a heart that seeps in without you realizing it."
In the drama, Go Gyeom disappears while having a romantic connection with Movie. They feel an attraction during a fateful first meeting but end up missing each other. Then, they accidentally reunite and deepen their broken connection through various coincidences.
Park Bo-young expressed that it could happen in real life. She said, "If the memories of that person were really good, and if there were unavoidable circumstances or misunderstandings, then meeting again by chance would feel like 'destiny.' If there was a belief that they were a good person, I think one could accept that coincidence and destiny pleasantly."
"A breakup without reason is the worst, but a breakup with a reason is unavoidable. Everyone has untold stories..." (laughs)
What was her chemistry like with partner Choi Woo-shik? "Woo-shik is my laughter button," Park Bo-young began, describing him as "really bright, cute, and comfortable, a good person."
She mentioned, "He brought a lot of good energy to the set," adding, "In the kissing scenes, I had a bit more experience than Woo-shik, so I tried to find the most beautiful and suitable angles and lead us quickly to the next scene." She noted, "The teamwork was so good that the atmosphere on set was really nice. When taking on new challenges, there are many worries and tensions, but I think I received a lot of help from the comfortable air and energy."
Through 'Movie,' she said she could be a bit freer from the obsession of 'always having to be kind.' She remarked that it was a significant improvement compared to the vague anxiety she felt in her 20s.
Park Bo-young shared, "Since a certain moment, I've been working to break the obsession and narrow mindset that came from my role image. I've tried saying things like 'I'm not that nice' and 'I'm not that kind,' and I've gradually been able to express what I want to say. I've also become able to listen to someone's sincerity without distortion," adding, "Thankfully, I think I've taken a step forward in this regard through 'Movie.'
“When I meet a new character, I usually immerse myself in that role on set. This time, I think my tension as Movie was a bit more natural. I didn't try to force it like I usually do, and I was more comfortable. I had some concerns about this change in my behavior and felt a bit uncomfortable, but surprisingly, people didn't seem to care much. I thought, 'Oh, maybe I don't need to go that far on purpose,' and thankfully, Woo-shik filled that part well."
Park Bo-young reflected, "I feel like I'm gradually improving through various experiences, including this work," adding, "At one point, when asked about my ideal type, I would always say 'a person with a healthy mind.' While that's important, I think there were definitely reasons why I wasn't ready. Now, I feel like I've become someone with a relatively healthy mind. I think I'm naturally becoming stronger."
Finally, she expressed, "For Movie, movies are a love-hate relationship, but for me, they are unrequited love itself. They are simply an object of longing and love," adding, "In that sense, there were certainly difficulties in expressing Movie's feelings. I think this has also been a learning experience. The work 'Melomovie' and the role of 'Movie' have helped me grow in every aspect."
