The Korea Herald

Steven Spielberg shares storytelling secrets in Paris

FilmJan 11, 2012

PARIS (AFP) ― Steven Spielberg caught the filmmaking bug as a 12-year-old boy, and half a century on still goes “crazy” when he doesn’t have a story to tell, he admitted to fans packing a masterclass in Paris Monday night.Greeted with a standing ovation, the U.S. director ― whose works from “E.T.” to “Indiana Jones” are the focus of a retrospective at Paris’ Cinematheque film centre ― told the room in French, hand on his heart: “Je t’aime!”“I’m a storyteller,” the 65-year-old told the filmmaking
Film’s Mr. Serious turns to comedy

FilmJan 11, 2012

‘Dancing Queen’ star Hwang Jeong-min says he’s funny, laidback off-screenIt’s easy to mistake actor Hwang Jeong-min as serious.His past roles on the silver screen have a lot to do with it. His recent (and impressive) filmography includes the Blue Dragon Award-winning crime thriller “Unjust” and last year’s conspiracy flick “Moby Dick.” Yet sitting over his favorite chrysanthemum tea in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, Hwang does not resemble the passionate city desk reporter in “Moby Dick” nor the corrupt
Korean-initiated int‘l art fair to launch in Hong Kong in May

TheaterJan 11, 2012

HONG KONG (Yonhap) -- A South Korean-led international art fair will open in Hong Kong in May, in a bid to provide a platform where participants in the art industry can meet and exchange views, organizers said Wednesday.The Hong Kong Contemporary art fair, arranged by Moon Eun-myung, a South Korean art dealer operating in the special administrative region, will run from May 17 through 20.The event will take place alongside the city’s renowned Hong Kong International Art Fair and the Christie‘s A
Virtuoso pianist Weissenberg dies

MusicJan 10, 2012

PARIS (AFP) ― Bulgarian-born French concert pianist Alexis Weissenberg, considered one of the great classical music performers of the 20th century, has died aged 82.After suffering from Parkinson’s disease for 30 years, Weissenberg died on Sunday in Lugano, Switzerland, Paris Orchestra artistic director Didier de Cottignies said.“A virtuoso musician and a big-hearted man who spared no effort to cultivate new generations of piano players has left us,” Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov s
Picasso and Mondrian paintings stolen in Greece

TheaterJan 10, 2012

ATHENS (AP) ― Thieves carried out a well-organized, pre-dawn heist at Greece’s biggest state art museum on Monday, taking two oil paintings by 20th century masters Pablo Picasso and Piet Mondrian, police said.A police statement said the burglars who entered through a balcony door also took a pen and ink drawing of a religious scene by Italian 16th century painter Guglielmo Caccia. It said a fourth work by Mondrian also was removed from the National Art Gallery in one of the best-guarded areas of
K-drama fever impacts other industries

Jan 10, 2012

‘Winter Sonata’ boosts Nami Island tourism while interest in hansik grows through ‘Daejanggeum’This is third of a five-part series on hallyu. ― Ed.Buoyed by “hallyu,” or the Korean Wave, Korean dramas are stretching their influence beyond the small screen and affecting other industries, including tourism and food. KBS TV drama series “Winter Sonata,” for example, the drama which started the wave 10 years ago, brought an explosive growth in foreign tourists to South Korea.The number of visitors t
Arirang English FM to begin airing in U.S.

MusicJan 10, 2012

Korea’s English-language radio station Arirang Radio will this week begin airing its programs in all U.S. areas, the company said Tuesday.The English-language radio service will begin at midnight Thursday (U.S. eastern time) for listeners in all 50 U.S. states through SiriusXM Radio, America’s satellite radio company, said the Korea International Broadcasting Foundation, the operator of the Arirang radio station, in a statement.The radio’s seven regular programs on Korean culture and tourism wil
Jolie, Thornton to present new films at Berlin festival

FilmJan 10, 2012

BERLIN (AFP) ― Angelina Jolie’s directorial debut about the Bosnian war and a drama made by and starring her ex-husband Billy Bob Thornton will feature at the Berlin film festival next month, organisers said Monday.Jolie will present her harrowing drama “In the Land of Blood and Honey” out of competition after winning praise in Bosnia for its unflinching take on the brutal 1992-1995 conflict, filmed in local languages with a home-grown cast.It will screen on the opening weekend of the February 9
New award nods for French director, Allen, Scorsese

FilmJan 10, 2012

LOS ANGELES (AFP) ―French director Michel Hazanavicius won another nod for his silent movie “The Artist” Monday, joining Woody Allen and Martin Scorsese among nominees for Directors Guild of America (DGA) best film.“Social Network” director David Fincher earned his third DGA nomination ― seen as a key indicator for Oscars glory ― for “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” while Alexander Payne got his nod for “The Descendants.”Veteran U.S. filmmakers Allen and Scorsese ― both DGA Lifetime Achievemen
Chance for first look at art house movies

FilmJan 10, 2012

Eight highly-anticipated films get early showings in SeoulFor art house and indie movie fans, the year 2012 looks promising. Several award-winning films are being released this year, including the local non-fiction film “Planet of Snail,” which won the top prize at the world’s largest documentary film festival in the Netherlands, and Golden Globe nominated French romance “The Artist.”For those who would like to check out some of the most highly anticipated films to be released this year in advan
Song Hye-kyo funds MoMA Korean guidebook

TheaterJan 10, 2012

Actress Song Hye-kyo has fully funded the publication of a new Korean handbook for the Museum of Modern Art in New York, according to a Korea promotion expert.Actress Song Hye-kyo(right) and Korea PR expert Seo Kyoung-duk (Yonhap News)Song, one of the most popular Korean actresses who also starred i
Picasso stolen from Athens' National Gallery

TheaterJan 10, 2012

A Pablo Picasso painting gifted to Greece by the Spanish-born master was stolen from Athens' National Gallery early Monday with two other important artworks, prompting scorn from the Greek police minister. In this June 30, 2011 handout file photo provided by the Greek police shows a 1939 female
Clooney, Pitt kick off 2012 award season

FilmJan 9, 2012

PALM SPRINGS (AP) ― George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and other red-carpet veterans joined some Hollywood newcomers in the Southern California desert this weekend to kick off the two-month-long movie award season at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.“When you’re of age: drink,’’ Clooney noted to the newcomers at Saturday night’s gala awards ceremony. “That’s good advice to pretty much anybody.’’Among those relative newcomers were Clooney’s co-stars from the drama “The Descenda
Shadow behind the light: Celebrities fight panic disorder

TelevisionJan 9, 2012

Lee Kyung-kyu reveals panic attack experiencesBehind his boisterous, lively persona hides an anxious man with constant fears of death, sickness and depression; Korea’s top comedian Lee Kyung-kyu said during a Sunday variety show that he suffers from panic disorder.Lee, 52, is one of the most popular entertainers in the country, currently hosting KBS 2TV’s “Qualifications of a Man.” During Sunday’s show, Lee revealed he has been suffering from constant panic attacks for the past year and started
New York City Opera announces musician lockout

MusicJan 9, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) ― A bitter contract dispute has led to a lockout of musicians at the New York City Opera, a possible “death knell’’ for a company that’s nurtured such singers as Renee Fleming, Placido Domingo and Beverly Sills.On Sunday, hours after talks broke down, the cash-strapped company canceled Monday rehearsals for a Feb. 12 opening production of Verdi’s “La Traviata’’ in Brooklyn.“This is a very sad day for what once was a spectacular cultural icon and for the people who performed its mus