“In fact, even though they don't express it, all actors are afraid of their flaws being exposed. When I received the offer for ‘Murderer Report,’ I struggled with that fear, but I ultimately decided to take on the challenge thinking it was an opportunity to test myself.”
Jo Yeo-jeong, who is set to release the psychological thriller ‘Murderer Report’ following last year's adult-rated romance thriller ‘Hidden Face’ and this year's highest-grossing film ‘Zombie Daughter,’ humbly stated this.
The filming order was ‘Hidden Face,’ ‘Murderer Report,’ and then ‘Zombie Daughter.’ “Both ‘Hidden Face’ and ‘Murderer Report’ are challenging styles of work, but I had to manage them... Still, I’m grateful to have met a work like ‘Zombie Daughter’ that feels like a breath of fresh air, and here I am smiling. I’m just thankful. (laughs)”
‘Murderer Report’ tells the story of veteran journalist Seon-joo (Jo Yeo-jeong), who is thirsty for a scoop, as psychiatrist Young-hoon (Jung Sung-il) confesses to being a serial killer and requests an interview. As their one-on-one interview deepens, the boundaries between the questioner and the respondent blur, leading to unpredictable situations.
Jo Yeo-jeong explained, “The tension from being in a confined space is significant, but I didn’t actually feel the enclosed space while filming. It was a set that required intense focus, and it was a film that drained a lot of energy.” She then confidently stated, “It also throws a question to the audience to ‘think about it,’ and I believe the audience will be drawn in.”
“The audience can only see the faces of Jo Yeo-jeong and Jung Sung-il. They can’t see the full shot. There was literally no place to hide. It was a performance that required detailed acting, and I was very scared of being exposed. That’s why I struggled a lot. But when the moment came to face it head-on, I didn’t shy away.”
She mentioned that if she hadn’t even tried and had run away, she would definitely have regretted it. “Isn’t it better to take the first hit? I thought it would be better to show my true skills rather than have them overestimated and take the hit,” she said, adding, “Now that I’ve completed it, I feel proud that I had the courage to do it.”
Regarding her co-star Jung Sung-il, she said, “I met him again after a long time since the 2019 drama, and he hasn’t changed at all. We only talked about the work without any small talk, and I thought, ‘This is definitely a match.’ He has a power that gives emotional stability. He started calmly and led smoothly.”
“We had a lot of dialogue between the two of us... I had relatively less than him, which was comforting. (laughs) I usually don’t think I have a weak concentration, but this work required both concentration and stamina. I had to manage my condition well since I’m a bit weak in stamina. There were scenes where I thought, ‘What was I thinking while acting?’ when viewed soberly.”
When asked about the reactions around her, she simply smiled humbly and silently. However, she mentioned, “My colleagues tend to give warm compliments, but the ones who evaluate me realistically are my family,” adding, “There’s no flattery at all. Instead, they become the center that allows me to act healthily.”
“My family watches the movie and my acting without considering my emotions or efforts. So, I can’t get too excited. My older sister, younger sister, and younger brother all have that tendency. They evaluate me solely on my skills. That’s why I think I keep confronting my fears. Thanks to that energy... (laughs)”
‘Murderer Report’ will be released on September 5. Her next project will be Lee Chang-dong's new Netflix film ‘Possible Love.’
