In portraying his character in Emergency Declaration, Im Si Wan challenges a side of him as an actor that has never been seen before.
Taking part in Emergency Declaration, a masterpiece directed by Han Jae Rim, Im Si Wan transforms into a villain that has caught the attention of many even before the movie’s release.
Known for his performances in his past movies The Attorney and The Merciless, the actor’s talent has paved his way up to notable main roles.
Having worked with his senior Sol Kyung Gu in The Merciless, actor Im Si Wan has experienced the joy of reaching Cannes. Now in his new movie, he reunites with another talented senior of his, Song Kang Ho, with whom he acted in The Attorney.
In an interview, actor Im Si Wan reveals how he prepared for his character Ryu Jin-seok in his new movie, and humbly looks back at his career 10 years since his debut.
Preparations for the Role
Meeting his character, Ryu Jin-seok, for the first time, Im Si Wan shares that he read the script personally, focusing on his character. Although he has felt pressure in adding layers to his character, the actor still found it interesting to portray.
“There was pressure to express the character Jin-seok, but there was also expectation…It was interesting to do.“
As his character in the movie causes terrorism in the airplane during a flight, Im Si Wan tells that he prepared for his character, who had no narrative at all, by freely thinking about how his character developed such values.
“I always look for a justification when I act. If there is no justification or blur, the more cloudy it is, the harder it is to act…But I also thought, ‘It would be better to not have it than to have a vague justification.’ It seemed that I had the freedom to fill in completely blank papers according to the probability.”
When asked about portraying his character’s decisions in life, the actor admits that he imagined how his character’s false values were formed.
In that imagination, the actor has thought of his character as someone who has studied while traveling abroad, and met unpleasant experiences in an unfamiliar place. Feelings of resentment and inferiority are also likely to grow in his character who could have met bullies and an emotionally-absent mother.
“I guessed that it was because there was a paranoia that exceeded the victim’s consciousness. He is a character with no justification, but for the sake of acting, I questioned each and every one of them.”
Filming on an airplane set, the actor appreciates how it has helped him in acting on set.
“I heard that the airplane set made by ‘Emergency Declaration’ was the first set made. I heard that it was the first time that the whole thing was made to go around, but the interior was also the same as a regular plane…it was perfect to think that it was actually ‘inside the plane.’ At least I didn’t have to imagine the space, so it helped me a lot in acting.”
Contemplations on the Villain Image
Unable to talk about his character being a villain before the release, Im Si Wan recalls how he had a hard time thinking of what to share during interview schedules.
“I played the villain, but I couldn’t call him the villain. So, there were some interviews and schedules where I had to be in public, but I couldn’t say anything, so the pressure was a little greater than the frustration of ‘What should I talk about?’“
When asked about his worries about his villain image sticking, the actor says that there was no such thing, and jokingly tells that he would rest if he were to keep receiving offers for a villain role.
“I didn’t worry about ‘the villain’s image will solidify.’…if no other character is offered except the villain, shouldn’t we take a break from acting until another role comes in? (laughs) And I think they’ll look at other things.“
Necessary for his role, the actor feels that his character Ryu Jin-seok needed some imagination to be portrayed well. Considering that, he has felt unrestrained in playing the role.
“Although I am not vicariously satisfied, I think I felt a sense of freedom in acting. I’ve heard that the villain and the character itself are a blessing to the actor, and that’s understandable…But I think it’s okay to break away from the frame of ‘what to do.’ So when it came to acting, I felt a lot of freedom…“
Acknowledging the Varying Reactions
Given the opportunity to meet the audience during the movie’s release, Im Si Wan warmly accepts the reactions to his new movie.
“It was definitely different when I felt it offline than I felt some reactions online. Whether it’s a review or a compliment, it was really good because those things made me feel touched. It made me think, ‘I want to continue making films in the future’.“
Reviewing the movie, the actor confesses that he feels emotional from watching the passengers in the movie, noting actress Woo Mi Hwa, and the rest of the cast on the ground.
“I watched the Cannes version and the Korean version, and I remember the passengers’ acting every time. I get emotional whenever I see their performances. Personally, I remember all the passengers, and I remember the comments they told me about them.
Noting one of the comments he received about his eyes, Im Si Wan takes it lightly as a compliment.
“As for me, I remember the comment about my eyes. I took it as a compliment.”
As the work is receiving both positive and negative reactions, especially with his character Ryu Jin-seok, the actor tells how he was in a hurry to digest his role given its distinct character. In that, he admits he solely focused on learning about his character.
“I think that’s so natural when you’re watching a piece…I couldn’t afford to see the overall context, and I didn’t see this work as macroscopic. I read it narrowly because solving Ryu Jin-seok was my homework…I think I’ve only focused on Ryu Jin-seok from the beginning and been looking at him until now.“
Laughingly responding about his eyes that were turned too strong, the actor reveals that such was a result of his expression of emotions while also thinking about how to naturally present an unusual person, outside the mind of being normal.
“It just came out as if it was a matter of lighting. In fact, the facial expression was not prepared to do something separately. I think it was just expressed with some emotions…I thought there was a contradiction when I approached a person who was not normal, a category of people who were not normal, saying, ‘I will express it not normal!’…“
Deciding how to present his character, the actor shares his thought processes in decoding Ryu Jin-seok’s motivations.
“I started with ‘What justification did an unusual person have for this big thing?’ and ‘what noble experimental spirit was there other than himself?’ I judged that the pleasure that I felt when the progress was smooth one by one with my own experimental spirit, and that the pleasure could give the viewers a very abnormal and cool feeling.“
Working with an Amazing Set
Talking about his chemistry with director Han Jae Rim, Im Si Wan commends the director for his talent in evaluating acting.
“He seems to have a great sense of judging good and bad acting. He also has a unique insight into works. Even if we talked for a while, I felt that I was digging deep at the same time while watching a lot of works…”
Moreover, the actor shares how he was able to maintain his professionalism under Han Jae Rim’s direction.
“Even if I took another cut, I didn’t spend anything in a calm and serious way. I was surprised every time because I wanted to be ‘professional’ about that part.“
Working with senior actors who represent Korea, Im Si Wan shares how vividly he remembers his first day of the shoot, thinking how a great honor it is to work with outstanding seniors who are recognized globally.
“I think it would be an opportunity that any actor would imagine, but I always thought it was great to have that opportunity, and it seemed like a dream that was a little far from reality. It would have been better if I could have worked with all the seniors, but I was sad that I couldn’t. Still, on the first day I met Lee Byung Hun, I felt strange, “How can I work with such great people while acting?'”
As his senior Song Kang Ho levels him with Son Seok Gu in The Outlaws 2 recently, Im Si Wan looks up to Son Seok Gu, and thanks his seniors for supporting him while filming.
“I just understood that Song Kang-ho would have said it with the intention of praise. Of course, I texted and contacted him saying ‘thank you’…Unlike ‘The Attorney,’ there was no scene where I ran into a senior in this work. But when I had a shoot, they came to the site to cheer me on. They complimented me a lot at that time. Those compliments gave me a lot of strength. I’m so thankful.“
In their rehearsals, the actor reveals how he has heard in their premiere that the director appreciated him most when he was acting not tense.
“At that time, I was asked by the director to wear proper clothes during rehearsals and act as much as possible…I rehearsed as if I was actually filming. However, there is a solution to the tension given by the word rehearsal. You don’t have to do well, and you get less nervous because you have a real chance next time…I think the director liked me who was light and not nervous.”
Recalling his first scene with Lee Byung Hun, the actor mentions the scene where he asked ‘Where are you going’ at Incheon International Airport. Laughing while recalling that time, the actor shares how starstruck he was.
“What should I say? I felt like I was talking to a celebrity I wanted in person. I think it was similar to that feeling. We only see each other on TV, but we meet in person and talk. I said my line and the senior said my line, but it felt strange to talk to each other.”
Apologetic to Lee Byung Hun for asking a lot of questions, the actor confesses how he had a lot of questions in mind, which he poured out to his senior.
“…Perhaps I think that Byung Hun-sunbaenim was ‘a person who has some kind of answer in your professional life’. So, I was curious about a lot of things…I want to apologize once again for making you feel uncomfortable with a lot of questions. (Laughs)”
Asked about why his seniors Song Kang Ho, Seol Kyung Gu, and Lee Byung Hun praise each other when they work together, Im Si Wan states how he does not know the answer, but he just also feels comfortable working with them too.
“I don’t think I know the secret. I don’t know. But I feel comfortable when I work with my seniors.“
Strengths as an Actor
When asked about his strengths, the actor humbly responds that he does not precisely fit the ideal image for actors.
“Rather than thinking that I have strengths, in general, I don’t think I’m exactly a person who meets that standard in the image of any actor or celebrity…”
In that sense, when working with various directors, the actor sees how things unforeseen bring good results for him.
“…This is a personal complex, but if I don’t exercise, I lose more weight…So, if I combine my complex with a character that’s opposite to my image, it’s a bit strange? I thought such things could happen. Many well-informed directors seem to make good use of that point, and there seems to be an unexpectedness. I think that such unexpectedness works positively for me.“
Walking in Cannes twice for The Merciless and Emergency Declaration, the actor shares how shocked he was about the culture the first time, and consequently pleased with the warm reactions.
“First of all, I remember the unfamiliar expressions looking at me. But after watching the movie and acting I took with me, I was able to have a very special experience that I can’t forget when I saw those expressions change into a standing ovation and a complimentary look...”
Receiving impressive reactions, the actor tells how he has found a new goal at that time and feels grateful for having the opportunity to come back the second time for his new movie.
“I made a new resolution saying, ‘This is my goal,’ and I thought, ‘I really want to come again, someday.’ But I was amazed and happy to have another chance to go unexpectedly. Even when I went last year, I went with the mind of ‘I should bring everything without missing anything in my eyes.’“
In talks about the awards ceremony, the actor recalls how he enjoyed joking with his best friend Park Hyung Sik who was a presenter of the awards recently.
“If close people look at the small nuances, don’t they see things like mistakes, tension, discomfort, and awkwardness that are invisible to the eye? I can see them all. ‘Is Hyungsik more tense than usual? And he sent me a small complaint…“
Looking Back at his Career Since Debut
Comparing his present situation to 10 years ago when he filmed Moon Embracing the Sun, the actor remembers how he was eager to continue acting.
“At that time, there was a big wish, ‘Oh, I really want to continue acting. I hope this work goes well so that I can get one of the next works. And I hope that another work will come in through that work’.”
Maintaining that motivation, Im Si Wan also adds how Korean content is growing globally, which makes him feel inspired to build confidence in acting.
“Even now, I still want to continue acting steadily…I am confident that Korean movies, dramas, and actors’ performances in Korea are all comparable to the global market. So, even when an unspecified number of people in not only Korea but also in any country see it, I am thinking more about ‘I have to act without shame’. I think that’s the point where that part has changed a little and greed has grown.”
Like in the past, the actor still maintains a proper distance between his life as an actor and his personal life. However, he has found a new hobby of reviewing past works like his fellow actors and actresses.
“If you say you’re too far away, you might lose affection for your job. I think the appropriate distance is the most ideal. The desire to maintain a proper distance remains unchanged… It seems to be fun beyond just watching. Since it is a hobby related to a job, it seems to give more fun professionally.”
As ten years have passed since his debut, Im Si Wan humbly reflects on his basic skills as an actor.
“Ten years is a huge burden. If you say ’10 years’ to someone, it can feel very long. There are still so many things to do and so many things I don’t know. It is said that if you do one thing for 10 years, you become an expert, but if you ask me…’What is acting?’ I haven’t even answered myself.”
Rather than relying on the duration of his acting career, the actor believes there is more to learn and admits that he only feels surprised hearing how long he has been in the industry.
“So personally, I don’t want to count the number of years. I want to turn a blind eye. Compared to the skills I’ve gained over 10 years, I think it’s only a long time...”
For his message to the viewers of Emergency Declaration, Im Si Wan expresses his relief at the reactions to the movie, and encourages viewers to view it as it is.
“It’s a work with people at the peak of their acting. Even before the release, there were many things that I was worried about, but I’m glad that many people seem to think it’s okay. I hope you will look at it as it is.”
Source: JTBC news
Photos: Showbox Co., Ltd.
