On November 25th (Sat) from 13:10 at NTT CRED Hall No.2, a teach-in session with director KIM Jong-kwan took place. Taking over the lively atmosphere following the screening of “Shades of the Heart” in the morning, a lecture session was held, with the interviewer KIMURA Michita, a freelance personality.

The session began with the stories from his childhood, such as what drove him to become a filmmaker. As a child who doesn’t really stand out, and likes to read books and watch movies, he enjoyed imagining and transforming anxious feelings into the world of imagination, naturally transitioning into the world of films.

Director KIM worked as a truck driver and a underwear salesperson for about two years in his mid-20s, before starting his studies at film school. Unsatisfied with his　situation at the time not having opportunities for making movies, he thought it would be better to endure hardships doing what he loved rather than doing something he didn't want to. This was how he mustered up the courage to jump into the film industry, and it has been about 20 years since then. Despite the stress and numerous challenges, he has never thought of quitting. He thinks of film-making as his life’s work, so he focuses on reflecting on how to improve, despite so many setbacks and failures.

Before he became a director, KIM was once asked by a friend from film school to act in a film just once. In the story, he played the role of a boyfriend who dies and wears bloody white pants and a tank top. Standing alone beside a building with the camera shooting from a distance, he found it embarrassing. Reflecting on this experience, he said, “Although it was enjoyable, he realized that he had no talent as an actor.” With laughter, he continued, “I prefer to work behind the camera, making films rather than playing a role in one.”

When asked by KIMURA about where he gets ideas for making films, Kim responded, "I live with a feeling of tension for creativity, constantly thinking about how to express emotions in daily life in a fictional story. When I was a child, I used to escape into the world of imagination, but now, I'm interested in looking at myself and utilizing the reflection into creative activity, even if it’s a challenging experience. Instead of looking for episodes in the film, looking at the reason why I am struggling leads to creativity." Furthermore, asked about what he values in the film-making process, the director expressed, "Loneliness is alleviated when people find similarities between themselves and the characters in movies or books. I would be happy if someone's loneliness is eased by watching my works. To achieve that, I believe I need to be honest when creating a film."

Regarding Japanese films, "I like TAKAMINE Hideko the best," an audience member of the same generation in the venue responded with an excited "Wow!!" He also noted that both Japanese and Korean films often delve deeply into human nature.

Director KIM took time to answer questions from various perspectives during the latter part of the Q&A session. He mentioned, "Before pursuing this career, I felt dissatisfaction and loneliness. To live a hopeful life, I chose to dive into the film industry and challenge myself in every way. As a result, I don't consider myself a massive success yet, but I believe I've become a creative individual with plenty of room for growth."

When asked about the differences between TV drama creation and filmmaking, "The production processes for movies and dramas are distinct. Now there's less investment in films, leading more directors to shift into making TV dramas. As a director, I believe it's essential to learn various methods of creating works and to challenge myself. To survive as an artist, I must continuously study. While I desire to live honestly with myself, I sometimes struggle with the anxiety of maintaining my originality as a creator. I would even consider quitting if I couldn't live true to myself,” Director KIM replied thoughtfully.

One of the audience asked about lighting in the movie "Shades of the Heart". The Director responded, "Despite the low budget, this film gave me an opportunity to pour my creativity into trying what I would like to do. Even in darkness, if you watch patiently, various things come into sight. This is true not only about the lighting, but also about the story of this film."

The filming locations are often close to where Director KIM resides, as he shoots most of his films in the neighborhood where he lives. He revealed that among the production team, he is the only member who can commute to the set on foot.

"I can feel something special when creating a film in a familiar neighborhood. I find it interesting," he mentioned. Then, expressing his desire to create a film in Hiroshima someday, he added, "First of all, I need some information about good bars in Hiroshima, to make a film in this town!" This led to laughter from the audience.

When asked about the most important thing he wants to prioritize in future filmmaking, the director responded, 'What's important evolves over time. As I change, so do my works. I think my world will expand with affection for others. Though I sometimes find inner conflicts between my introverted nature and the desire for interaction with people, just as when I decided to become a film director in the past, I would like to encourage myself again and take steps forward."

Dir. KIM also shared his thoughts about the Hiroshima International Film Festival (HIFF). HIFF is where he can have active interaction with actors, creators, and film fans. In Particular, he submitted a short film to the HIFF competition six years ago. "There's quite a high chance of winning an award, because the competition of HIFF has two or three awards among the six films, but six years ago, I didn't win any award. Still, it's important that this connection has continued," he replied with a playful tone.

"This is my third participation here, and I'm happy to be part of this festival that feels like not only a friendly gathering, but also a place that provides me with a powerful stimulus. I'd be happy if an audience member enjoyed my work." As he concluded this event, the hall was filled with warm applause.