Interview with Director Yoonji Kim

We sat down with Yoonji Kim, a rising Korean film director, to talk about her film New Normal V, now featured on Terafty. From shooting on a smartphone to crafting clever, engaging stories, she shared with us her creative journey, the challenges she’s faced, and the insights she’s gained along the way. As her film takes its place on our platform, she’s definitely a filmmaker to keep an eye on.

What led you to direct New Normal V?

I made it for submission to a smartphone film festival that took place in 2021. In other words, this film was shot using a smartphone (iPhone 12 Pro). The idea for the story came from a scene I witnessed on a late-night bus years ago. There were very few people on the bus, and a man in a suit sitting diagonally in front of me dozed off and dropped his phone. He quickly woke up, picked it up, and got off at the next stop.

But what if he had left the phone behind? What if someone picked it up and then received a call? What if the caller mistook the person who picked up for the phone’s owner? What if the person receiving the call didn’t mind the misunderstanding? The story started from these “what if” questions.

What message did you want to convey to the audience through this film?

In the New Normal era, where common sense and standards have changed, I wanted to show the possibility of coexistence between the predator and the prey while also offering the fun of unexpected twists. I aimed to portray not a one-sided relationship where one devours the other, but rather a witty coexistence. At the same time, I wanted to express the tragedy of a being that must consume others to survive.

What did you focus on the most when casting the lead actors?

For Jinho, I was looking for someone who could be muscular, sly, yet likable. For Saeah, I wanted someone who seemed innocent but had multi-layered charm. Considering the chemistry between the two, we ended up casting Kang Minwoo as Jinho and Park Yoohyun as Saeah.

Were there any directorial elements that you paid particular attention to?

Since we filmed with a smartphone, the limited lenses made it difficult to achieve a good depth of field, which was a bit disappointing. However, I was very satisfied with the vertical shot of Saeah walking down the street at dawn. The sky’s color and her expression blended well to create a unique atmosphere. The background music was also fitting. Given the mixed genre of comedy, romance, and thriller, I made sure that the editing brought out each element effectively.

Do you have any memorable or funny episodes from the filming process?

There were a few retakes during the motel scene because a mayfly kept flying around. The mayfly against the white sheets and white clothes was an unexpected challenge.

What made you decide to become a film director?

In university, I took a cinematography course as part of the Department of Multimedia and Visual Studies. However, at that time, I never imagined I would become a filmmaker. I only aspired to be a screenwriter. After graduation, I worked for a marketing research company, doing script monitoring, blind screenings, and film marketing FGDs, which gave me some exposure to the film industry. Then, in July 2019, I quit my job and went on a trip around the world.

Originally, I planned to travel for about two years, but due to COVID-19, I returned in February 2020. I had an opportunity to return to my job, but I decided to pursue what I truly wanted to do. For five months, I attended a media academy as part of a vocational training program, where I learned planning, composition, cinematography, and editing. I had been working on writing screenplays before that, and when I got to know the Smartphone Film Festival, I decided to shoot New Normal V with the help of friends. It was fun, so I made my second film A Medea’s Daughter last year.

What kind of films would you like to make in the future?

I enjoy fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, and horror genres. I’m currently experimenting with using generative AI in film production, and I think it could potentially replace expensive VFX if used well. If possible, I want to make a short fantasy film I’ve been conceptualizing, titled Juhui Sai Jigu. However, since I’d like to get funding or investment for my next film, it’s uncertain when the production will start. But I’ll keep challenging myself. I want to connect with many people through entertaining and meaningful stories.