[Interview] Jeon Jong-seo of 'Project Y' ② "Director Lee Hwan's strong preferences? I have always been a 'yes' from the start"

※ 〈Project Y〉 actor Jeon Jong-seo's interview continues from part 1.

In the film 〈Call〉, you worked with director Lee Chung-hyun, and with director Jung Ga-young in 〈Romance Without Love〉 (2021). Actor Jeon Jong-seo tends to work a lot with rookie directors. Director Lee Hwan directed his first commercial film with 〈Project Y〉 after directing independent films like 〈Adults Don't Know〉 (2021) and 〈Park Hwa-young〉 (2018). Is there a particular reason you prefer working with rookie directors?

All the directors you mentioned write the scripts and also direct. They are all very good at scriptwriting. Director Lee Hwan is no exception, and I have seen all of his previous works. I thought that his cinematic style had a particularly strong preference, and I was very fond of it. I felt that there was a message that permeated through his films, and I felt that his style was present even when I received the script for 〈Project Y〉. So, I thought it would be interesting if the colors of director Lee Hwan were reflected a lot in the film through the characters Do-kyung and Mi-sun.

I'm curious about the set with director Lee Hwan. He is also an actor who appeared in films like 〈The Spy〉 (2016), 〈Assassination〉 (2014), and 〈The Toilet〉 (2009). Collaborating with a director who is also an actor must have been a unique experience.

Since he is an actor, I think he observed the actors and gave direction differently for each actor. Also, what I felt differently was that he gave very acting-oriented direction, which felt like he was talking to the actors. It was a directing style I had never heard before, but it felt very comfortable to me. For example, he would say something like, "Do-kyung would feel this way at this moment."

〈Project Y〉 left a strong impression as a stylish, funky, and sophisticated crime entertainment film. I assume you made efforts to maintain the film's stylishness.

I paid a lot of attention to the costumes. I consulted a lot with the costume team and the director beforehand, brought in personal outfits, and came up with many ideas. Since it involves chasing and being chased, I thought there shouldn't be too many costumes, so I minimized them. I also decided on a signature color to create an iconic image, and I chose red. I wanted Do-kyung to have a rough and boyish feel, along with a bit of femininity. Actress So-hee also contributed many ideas, aiming for a costume feel that would remind viewers of Do-kyung and Mi-sun when they leave the theater.

It has been 8 years since actor Jeon Jong-seo debuted with 〈Burning〉. How is the Jeon Jong-seo of then different from now?

I feel like I am learning things I didn't know before. Until 〈Burning〉, everyone had seen a lot of films. But after that, with the activation of the OTT market and the outbreak of COVID-19, the situation changed a lot, so I can't help but consider that when choosing projects. I feel like I am learning a lot about acting that I didn't know before. During 〈Burning〉, it was my first time filming, so I didn't even know when and where to act. I didn't know where the camera was coming from, where I should stand, or how far I could move. I learned all of that on set. In fact, it was a very large set for that. But now, I have a little more room to think about how I can show my own style, to try expanding and contracting, and to show my acting more attractively.

I heard that you used to be very nervous on set. How is it now?

I was told by a director that when I had the mic on, my heartbeat was so loud that the director could hear it. I don't think that's the case now, but sometimes when I have to shoot a high-tension scene suddenly or need to raise my breath a lot, it happens occasionally.

So, what scene in 〈Project Y〉 made you nervous?

I always felt cold. (haha)

At the 〈Project Y〉 press conference, you mentioned that you saw some regrets after watching the film. When you watch your own work, do you usually notice the regrets first?

No, I tend to finish my work without regrets. What I regretted was wondering how it would have been if we had filmed a little more leisurely. Because it was always too cold, and we were pressed for time while shooting. Also, I wonder what it would have been like if we had filmed 〈Project Y〉 in the summer. If the seasonal feel had been all summer, it would have had a different vibe. It's more of an imagination than a regret.

What is Jeon Jong-seo like outside of her work? She seems to enjoy expensive and luxurious hobbies, but she also shows a surprising side by collecting 'Dibudibuseal'. She has shared everything from products she uses to trivial stories with fans through Instagram's 'Ask Me Anything'.

That was really expensive. (haha) My personality is very introverted, so I don't think I communicated much with the public. But as I go on like this, I hear that I won't be able to speak anywhere. (haha) So now, I think I need to start communicating with the public and fans little by little. (Doing 'Ask Me Anything' on Instagram) makes me think that there are many people who like me somewhere, and I receive a lot of gifts from fans, so I feel like I need to step out into this world (of my phone) a little bit.