JEONJU Project

Animation, Fiction ㅣ JEONJU Cinema Project: Next Edition

SLAP BANG BANG

KO Bongsoo, NOH Kyunggeun

Korea 90min FHD Color Animation, Fiction

Production StatusPost-Production

Goal of ParticipationFinancing, World Sales, Film Festival Screening

Production budget100,000,000 KRW

Budget Required81,750,000 KRW

Secured budget

Self-funding[-] : 18,250,000 KRW

LOGLINE

Jian, a bounty hunter suspected of being a weak-willed gunman, finally pulls out a gun to protect Hyeri, a wanted criminal who was loved at first sight.

SYNOPSIS

A near future Korea where criminals' faces and bounty information are shared with all security officers, and so-called bounty hunters, through new technology. Security officers live on bounties (coins). Although the usage of guns is permitted, for some reason Jian is not able to shoot. Seoktae slights Jian for being too soft and considers it unfair that boss Kang covers for Jian nevertheless. Jian has no interest in big bounties and only goes after petty offenders, whereas Seoktae is eager to collect coins quickly. Jian is captivated by Hyeri, when they encounter each other while on a hunt. At this time, boss Kang and the other packs chase Hyeri, who has a huge bounty on her. At last, Jian pulls out a gun in order to protect Hyeri.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

The future in SLAP BANG BANG is a world that is heading towards destruction through war, famine, riots, and extortion. In a world where people constantly doubt and are wary of each other, Jian's blind and unconditional love indicates that love is the greatest in the end, even while the world is headed towards its end. Love may be the driving force that moves Jian and at the same time has the power to move the hearts of the audience.

It is not an easy task to articulate a genre film with a limited budget of an independent film. This film is a love story that wears a skin of science fiction and Western. Animating live action through the rotoscoping technique is an intelligent solution to overcome the limitations of the film.

INTERVIEW

What inspired you to start this project?

SLAP BANG BANG was written eight years ago with writer Lim Hyein. It was buried for a long time because it was a sci-fi genre based on Korea in the near future. It had to have a lot of investment. Also, it is a commercial film, and you can’t make it unless you get financial resources. Eight years later, I met Noh Kyunggeun, a director working with computer graphics and animation, who introduced me to the Rotoscoping animation practice. I was convinced that this would allow me to produce a film without a big budget, so we teamed up and started the project.
The genre of this film is sci-fi Western. When I thought about what would be the most cinematic, Westerns were the first genre that came to mind. I think it’s the most appropriate genre for a time when retrospect is a trend. The recent explosive popularity of Slam Dunk is a good indicator of the public’s nostalgia for retro. This project began as an idea to create a work that is full of nostalgia with innovative advanced technology.

Is there any scene or emotion you want the audience to remember after watching this movie?

SLAP BANG BANG borrows from the Spaghetti Western genre that influenced me the most as a kid, and within that genre, there are a number of cliches. Films that use these conventions to spark comedy include Stephen Chow’s works and The Naked Gun. But sadly, it’s a type of comedy film that’s hard to find anymore. SLAP BANG BANG is that kind of comedy. It is in line with the films that gave us great laughs and healing in the past.
It may sound grandiose, but it’s also about restoring humanity through a novel and pure love story. I hope that the elements of sci-fi, comedy, and Westerns will keep you entertained and warmed up instead of being bored.

DIRECTOR

KO Bongsoo

Born in 1976, Seoul, Korea. He directed eight feature films, including his debut, Delta Boys (2016). Delta Boys won the Grand Prize in the Korean Competition and the CGV ARTHOUSE Award of the 17th JEONJU IFF .

Delta Boys (2016), Loser’s Adventure (2017), The Rain Comes Soon (2021)

NOH Kyunggeun

Born in 1975, Incheon, Korea. Starting with directing the animated music video for Romantic Cat, he directed the Korea Tourism Organization’s Fantasy Korea animation series in 2006.

PRODUCER

CHOI Yi-seul

Majored in film and global business at university, and majored in producing at KAFA. She is currently studying for a master's degree in image policy and planning at Chung-Ang University's Graduate School of Advanced Imaging Science, Multimedia and Film and has been planning and working on various projects, starting with the distribution and marketing of Toddler Bike (2021) as a representative producer of Film Choice.

Delta Boys (2016), Hysteria (2018)

CONTACTfilm_choice@naver.com