Fasten Your Seatbelt (film)

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Fasten Your Seatbelt
Hangul
롤러코스터
Revised RomanizationRolleo Koseuteo
Directed byHa Jung-woo
Written byHa Jung-woo
Produced byKim Han-gil
StarringJung Kyung-ho
CinematographySo Jung-oh
Edited byKim Woo-il
Music byKim Jung-bum
Production
company
Distributed byCJ Entertainment
Release dates
Running time
94 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean
BudgetUS$590,000
Box officeUS$1,755,894[1]

Fasten Your Seatbelt (Korean롤러코스터; RRRolleo Koseuteo; lit. "Rollercoaster") is a 2013 South Korean comedy film written and directed by actor Ha Jung-woo, in his directorial debut.[2][3] The film made its world premiere at the 18th Busan International Film Festival,[4] and was released in theaters on October 17, 2013.[5][6][7]

Plot[edit]

A plane headed from Tokyo's Haneda Airport to Seoul's Gimpo Airport with a Hallyu star on board runs into an unexpected storm and is in danger of crashing. A plane full of absurd characters―both crew members and passengers such as a businessman, a monk and a paparazzo—go through a series of comical shenanigans.

Cast[edit]

Production[edit]

Ha Jung-woo said he'd always had the desire to study about film more, so he seized the opportunity to approach this movie not as an actor but as a director.[8][9] "Having pondered what kind of film I should make, I came to the conclusion that I would only be satisfied if the audience could enjoy it and get some laughs. This naturally led me to write a comedy," Ha said.[10]

Ha reportedly wrote the script based on his friend and fellow actor Ryoo Seung-bum's real-life experience. The flight from Seoul to Tokyo normally only takes about two hours, but Ryoo once experienced plane turbulence that went on for almost seven hours, during which he genuinely thought he was going to die.[11]

Ha cast Jung Kyung-ho in the leading role as an arrogant and paranoid Hallyu star. Ha and Jung belong to the same agency Fantagio, and were both theater majors at Chung-Ang University.[12][13] This was Jung's first acting job after his discharge from mandatory military service, and his character's appearance and wardrobe was inspired by K-pop star G-Dragon.[14] Most of the actors in the cast have also worked with Ha before—even the music director, a colleague he first met while working on My Dear Enemy in 2008.[15]

The film was shot in 20 days, and producer Kwon Nam-jin described Ha as a director who makes "quick and rational decisions" while making the atmosphere on the set bright and funny. In order to build a strong ensemble, one of Ha's casting conditions was to read the screenplay every day with the entire cast for two months, conducting intensive rehearsals as if they were preparing for a stage play.[2][16][17]

Box office[edit]

Though ultimately not a big hit, due to its low budget Fasten Your Seatbelt broke even in just four days, attracting 200,000 viewers in the first six days of its release.[18]

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Award Category Recipients Result Ref.
2014
9th Osaka Asian Film Festival Grand Prix Award Ha Jung-woo Nominated [19]
Most Promising Talent Won
50th Baeksang Arts Awards Best New Director Nominated
34th Golden Cinema Festival Best New Actor Jung Kyung-ho Won

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Rol-lu-ko-seu-tu (Fasten Your Seatbelt)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2014-04-13.
  2. ^ a b Kim, Hyun-min (8 February 2013). "ROLLERCOASTER Mixes Panic with Humor". Korean Film Council. Retrieved 2013-09-16.
  3. ^ Lee, Hwa-jung (29 September 2013). "Korean Film Guide to BIFF 2013: Star HA Jung-woo Jack of All Trades". Korean Cinema Today. Retrieved 2014-10-09.
  4. ^ "Ha Jung-woo's Directorial Debut to Premier at BIFF". The Chosun Ilbo. 11 September 2013. Retrieved 2013-09-16.
  5. ^ Lee, Sun-min (23 August 2013). "Ha Jung-woo tries directing". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2013-09-16.
  6. ^ "Ha Jung-woo's Directorial Debut Out in October". The Chosun Ilbo. 24 August 2013. Retrieved 2013-09-16.
  7. ^ Tae, Sang-joon (28 August 2013). "HA Jung-woo's Directorial Debut Set for October Release". Korean Film Council. Retrieved 2013-09-16.
  8. ^ Ho, Stewart (25 October 2012). "Ha Jung Woo to Make Directorial Debut With Self-Written Movie". enewsWorld. Retrieved 2013-09-16.
  9. ^ "Ha Jung-woo Prepares to Direct Comedy". The Chosun Ilbo. 26 October 2012. Retrieved 2013-09-16.
  10. ^ "Top Stars Discuss Switch Over to Directing at BIFF". The Chosun Ilbo. 7 October 2013. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  11. ^ Lee, Claire (2 October 2013). "Actors make directorial debuts at BIFF". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  12. ^ Sunwoo, Carla (2 November 2012). "Jung Kyoung-ho to return in comedy". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2013-09-16.
  13. ^ Lee, Tae-ho (1 November 2012). "Jung Kyoung-ho to Star in Ha Jung-woo's Directorial Debut Movie". TenAsia. Retrieved 2013-09-16.
  14. ^ Ho, Stewart (20 December 2012). "Jung Kyung Ho's New Movie Character Based on Big Bang's G-Dragon". enewsWorld. Retrieved 2013-09-16.
  15. ^ Back, Hee-youn (11 October 2013). "Ha Jung-woo impresses with funny directorial debut, Fasten Your Seatbelt". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  16. ^ Lee, Claire (13 October 2013). "Directing debuts, Tarantino and a typhoon: BIFF closes 18th edition". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  17. ^ Lee, Sun-min (25 October 2013). "Ha Jung-woo promises an overseas trip to all staff members". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  18. ^ "Ha Jung-woo's Directorial Debut a Runaway Success". The Chosun Ilbo. 23 October 2013. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  19. ^ Conran, Pierce (18 March 2014). "HA Jung-woo Most Promising Talent in Osaka". Korean Film Council. Retrieved 2014-03-18.

External links[edit]