“THE WITCH/Witches Proliferate” Special conversation between Shin Xia and Yugo Sakamoto Directors are also encouraged to shoot their works in Korea! [Director's Interview Vol.316]

The importance of synchronizing your actions with your opponent

Q: A seemingly ordinary girl is incredibly strong. This setting is similar to ``THE WITCH'' and ``Baby Warukyure,'' but how do they create the acting and direction that shows their ``overwhelming strength''?

Sakamoto: The main character in my movie was a stunt performer, so the way she built up her muscles and the way she looked had changed because she was doing things like hitting mitts every day. It feels like a ``mystery of the human body,'' but it's different from its appearance. The part where the action director was teaching how to stand in martial arts was also very important.

Shin Xia: Then I need to hit the mitts too (lol).

Sakamoto: In ``THE WITCH'', the other characters have fixed lines or have frightening movements, but this girl is always on her feet. Did you put any direction into that appearance?

(From left) Shin Xia, who plays the main character in “THE WITCH”, Yugo Sakamoto, director of “Baby Warukyure” series

Xin Xia: I think the director had a picture in his head of the girl standing there stunned. There was no particular direction for me, but he said, ``I want you to feel the aura.''

Sakamoto: How did you respond when the director told you that?

Xin Xia: I did some image training before filming. I put down my camera and took pictures of myself, observing the girl's expressions, posture, and appearance, studying the girl's movements and expressions. Also, on set, I tried to make it as realistic as possible. What I realized while doing the action was the importance of being in sync with the person you are fighting with. In order to show the girl's overwhelming power, when I throw someone, that person needs to be blown away. I think all the other actors had a hard time. There were many people working hard behind the scenes.

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Sakamoto: In the scene where the girl crushes the yakuza boss's leg, her performance as the boss was interesting, but did they work together in that scene as well?

Xin Xia: The actor who plays the boss is a senior with quite a career, so I was hesitant to step on his feet, but he said to me, ``You can do whatever you want.'' He matched it with me. Thanks to those words, I was able to relax and perform the role.

Korean movies and violence