uncomfortable guest Avergers

The most famous movie in last year, Avengers’ sequel filmed in Seoul. About two weeks from March 30, around the key spots of Seoul including Han river bridge and Gangnam main street was filmed in. It was the first time Hollywood's blockbuster movie shooting in Korea, and many citizens and movie fans were looking forward to Hollywood stars’ first visiting. 

This special event was planned in November last year, the Seoul Film Commission started it. Among 2 or 3 final candidates, the Avengers became the final bid winner. For the just 15 filming days, several months of progress was started. The Hollywood film team will receive enormous perks. Korea movie council decided to refund 30% of film production costs in South Korea, about 30 billion won. The main shooting location was banned to enter up to 12 hours. It was only for them. It is because that Seoul city and Government expected the movie will bring a rosy effect. 

Korea Ministry of Culture foresee 2 trillion won worth of national brands will rise including 4 billion in tourism promotion. About 20 minutes of the movie will describe Seoul as state-of-the-art technology in the future. In addition, choice of film professionals’ prove Seoul won its strong competitor, Tokyo, and more and more film men will knock the door of this city.

However, the government’s sign of hospitality was excessive. First of all, they did not consider the convenience of the citizens of Seoul. Mapo Bridge which is controlled longest is one of the busiest traffic spot. Although the pre- bypass was promoted, but it was out of idea to me that why the citizen of metropolitan have to bear the congestion. It felt like let the biggest bed room to the guest.

Are they in same line?

Also, the national brand of 2 trillion won increase in value is questionable. Avengers is known as well with its exciting action scenes created by computer graphics. Like most of people do not curious about the crumbling city behind the robots, actually New York, no one wonder where this movie has gotten this great high-technologic city view. They just want to see how the buildings collapse down cooler.

You can just compare with other movies which have particular backgrounds. Hangover2 starts from a strange room in Bangkok.  After the bachelor party in Las Vegas, things do not go as planned, resulting in bad hangover with no memories of the previous night. When they wander in complicated city, audiences can enjoy the unique scene of Thailand with spider webbed cables and thousands of motorcycles. The places they’ve wandered were to be a tourism package. 

There’s another Hollywood movie – Tom Cruise starred Mission Impossible 3. Jumping out rely on one line along skyscraper in Shanghai and running through Venice of China, Shitang left a deep impression on the audiences. But I can’t assure Iron man and Captain America’s new power can make people remember Seoul.

Last year, 200 million people in Korea visited cinema. Now Korea can join the ranks of not only the economic advanced but also cultural advanced country. So we can proud of love calls from Hollywood film makers. But, ourselves also have to take care our own movie business. Seoul city didn’t allow the independent movie director to film in subway during the Avengers shooting period. There cannot be this kind of discrimination after all if this city really like and love cultural business.

Also, filming council should not over issue perks. If not, some of the cherry pickers will flock into here rather than capture the beauty of Seoul.

Link:

'Avengers 2' expected to bring big benefits to Korean movie industry