For many South Korean actors with out connections or know-how, Hollywood continues 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 often put out an open name on my Instagram,” she stated.
However for actors with out main company backing, the correct contacts are exhausting to search out. The American and Korean industries function in another way, and US casting info hardly ever 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 digicam 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 other 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 photographs, 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 essential character – I used to be only a ‘soldier’ – individuals who noticed even that temporary look began leaving feedback on my Instagram,” Shin stated. “The influence of that present was actually unparalleled.”
