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- You’ve won 4 awards including Best Korean Project and the SJM Cultural Foundation Fund. Could you give us words on such accomplishments?
There are so many people suffering from social tragedies such as the Yongsan tragedy and the Sewol Ferry disaster. Their pains are deepening because such social tragedies are fading in the minds of the public. The same goes for the Yongsan tragedy. To the victims’ families, and those who were arrested on scene, spent time in prison and were released, Yongsan is still in an on-going issue in present time, but to others it is just another forgotten case. After Two Doors is an attempt-in-progress to remember and never forget what happened at Yongsan in 2009. It is a project that we want to do our best for all those involved in this tragedy. And it is my wish that Docs Port Incheon which gave me the honor of winning several awards will continue its quest to find its place as a healthy partner to Korean independent documentary filmmakers.

 

- How much did you manage to financially secure from the 4 awards your project received, and how much will it contribute to production costs and how will you find the remaining budget?
Around KRW 120 million was secured from the awards which is a little over half of the overall production costs including personnel expenses. If it weren’t for Docs Port Incheon, we would have been forced to rely on donations from friends. We’re planning to find the remaining production costs through fund-raising campaigns. And if we still fall short, we’ll just have to adjust our finances to meet a feasible budget.

 

- The Docs Port Incheon pitching program also provides advice and comments. Was there any advice that you found helpful for your production?
There are quite a number of people who are not aware of the Yongsan Tragedy, and the most frequent comment I received was how to deliver this information through our film. We also spent considerable time and energy on this issue, and through these comments during the pitching session, we reconfirmed its significance.

 

- How far are you into production?
We’ve just started. 

 

- The main character in the sequel will be LEE Choong-yeon, the representative of the Resident Emergency Committee from Yongsan’s 4th district who lost his father during the Yongsan Tragedy. It will be a great challenge to depict the inner psychology of someone who has experienced trauma. Can you explain what the shooting environment will be like?
Shooting will have to be delicate. To look inside someone’s inner world and bring it out to show to others is a task that requires time and patience. This is a key point in our approach.

 

- How will After Two Doors be different from its predecessor?
We chose to question the role of the State through public power, through the police force in the first film. After Two Doors will question what the State means through the inner psychology of an individual. And perhaps that will be the most different aspect of the sequel. In addition, the visual style will be quite distinctive as well.

 

- When will we be able to see the completed film?
We are aiming to submit this film at next year’s DMZ International Documentary Film Festival. But I cannot guarantee if this will be possible. (laughs)