For many South Korean actors with out connections or know-how, Hollywood remains to be uncharted territory.
Kim, who sometimes casts high-profile stars and works with native casting administrators for co-productions, additionally finds actors through social media. “I normally put out an open name on my Instagram,” she stated.
However for actors with out main company backing, the appropriate contacts are onerous to seek out. The American and Korean industries function in another way, and US casting info not often reaches these exterior established networks.
Kim stated South Korean expertise faces a steep studying curve. “I might get questions – ought to I modify my Korean identify to a Western identify? Do I pay to get an agent? Can I look into the digital camera after I’m doing an audition?” she stated. Even identify consistency is a matter: Kim recalled a Okay-pop artist turned actor whose identify appeared 5 alternative ways on-line.
Technical requirements additionally differ. Actor Misun Youm famous American audition tapes require clear white backgrounds, whereas “in Korea, it doesn’t matter.”
Headshots diverge too: South Korean profiles function modellike photos, whereas American headshots match character varieties.
“In Korea, you shoot profile images like a style journal mannequin,” stated veteran actor Shin Ju-hwan, who goes by Julian Shin. He performed a masked soldier in second and third seasons of Squid Sport, and stars in Taxi Driver Season 3.
Shin discovered Upstage by likelihood – his spouse, a producer, found them on LinkedIn.
His Hollywood dream was partly motivated by colleagues at his former company – Han Yeri in Minari and Jung Ho-yeon in Squid Sport.
“Regardless that I wasn’t a principal character – I used to be only a ‘soldier’ – individuals who noticed even that transient look began leaving feedback on my Instagram,” Shin stated. “The impression of that present was actually unparalleled.”
