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Romantic Leads Takanori Iwata and Song Kang Trade Acting Tips in First Cross-Border Chat Fishbowl Wives x Forecasting Love and Weather
Entertainment
21 February 2022
GlobalJapan
One plays the owner of a fish shop while the other portrays a newbie weather forecaster. In the newly released J-drama Fishbowl Wives and K-drama Forecasting Love and Weather, both Takanori Iwata and Song Kang play roles that end up starting a romance with older female partners with emotional baggage from previous relationships.
In Fishbowl Wives, Iwata plays Haruto, who shows kindness to Sakura, a housewife suffering emotional and physical abuse from her husband. In Forecasting Love and Weather, Song Kang plays Lee Si-woo, who meets a general weather forecaster at the Korea Meteorological Administration who had decided never to be in an office romance after a brutal break-up.
Still, their similarities extend beyond the screen. Iwata's nickname Gan-chan sounds like Song Kang's first name. They even have the same blood type and Zodiac sign.
To cap off this month of love, Netflix hosted a special cross-border chat between the two leading men where, despite different languages, the camaraderie was palpable as they talked about how they got into acting and shared diet tips.
Takanori Iwata: Hello Song Kang san. I saw your performance in Nevertheless, and it's very cool to meet you in person.
Song Kang: Thank you (laughs). Same for me. I am glad we could meet. You are really handsome and kind, and I think your smile is really charming.
Takanori Iwata: Thank you (laughs). I am a dancer and I started acting when I accepted an offer for a play. So I didn't think I would be an actor at first. What made you want to take up acting?
Song Kang: I was inspired by Leonardo DiCaprio when I watched Titanic. On that day, I told my parents that I wanted to become an actor. I used to give up easily, but the art of acting has continued to fascinate me to this day.
Takanori Iwata: Oh, I see! I love movies and was inspired by Cristian Bale among others. But it seemed like a different world to me, so I am really amazed that you were able to take action like that. You appear in a lot of love stories, like the Netflix series Nevertheless, and Forecasting Love and Weather. I also appear in Netflix's Fishbowl Wives. What do you pay attention to while acting in a romance title?
Song Kang: Generating synergies by matching tempo with my co-actor. I talk a lot with them about how we can make the scenes feel more emotional and I try my best to share how I feel while performing in them.
Takanori Iwata: I know what you mean! We are fighting the clock in a lot of productions, but I try to make time for those conversations. I really treasure communication on the set.
Song Kang: Can I ask you a question? Please tell me your acting tips for making someone's heart flutter! (laughs)
Takanori Iwata: Well, I study how I appear. For example, I objectively examine how I can appear sad or find the angles that I look most attractive. A single blink can change how I appear, so I pay close attention to my expressions and gestures.
Song Kang: When I act with emotion, I focus on those feelings while thinking about the situation and listening to music. How do you drive up that emotion?
Takanori Iwata: I have also tried that method of listening to music. When I started acting, I wasn't good at crying in scenes I tried to cry by reminding myself right up until the shoot that my character was sad. Now I am able to draw out my emotion and respond to the performance of my co-actors.
Song Kang: I think it's important to keep things raw. I used to really drill the script into my head before a shoot, but now I feel that it is 80% preparation and 20% responding to my co-actor on the set. Each time I do a take, I think about how I can express myself in a different way.
Takanori Iwata: I also prepare before filming, but if I see a different direction during rehearsal I will change my approach for the shoot. Even if I'd practiced dozens of times at home, it is different when the camera is rolling and you are acting with others. I constantly think that I want to explore various expressions.
On the other hand, while I value that live feeling, I also think it is important not to be flustered, no matter what happens during the shoot.
Song Kang: That's a good tip! In Forecasting Love and Weather, there was a lot of technical jargon, so it was difficult to memorize my lines. What do you do when you play a character who is different from yourself?
Takanori Iwata:That can be tough! I also struggle in detective or medical titles, so I make up a profile. Where was he born? Which elementary school did he attend? How did he spend his junior high school days? In this way, I envision the character. If I do that, I am able to play him without any uncertainty, because I know when he laughs and cries. I use profiles included in the script when they are given to me, but when they aren't, I make them up myself. I also take inspiration from the films I have seen.
Song Kang: By the way, do you have any dietary restrictions? I love to eat and can gain weight easily, so I try to exercise as much as I can. I go to the gym daily. Also, around two weeks before a shoot my diet is mainly chicken breast and broccoli.
Takanori Iwata: I also love to exercise and I go to the gym three or four times a week. I don't think I need many dietary restrictions since I am constantly moving around for concerts and rehearsals in addition to acting. On my days off, I do oil painting to recharge. What about you?
Song Kang: I think that small joys are important to rejuvenate yourself. I feel comforted by small things, like going shopping or cooking. I also read a lot.
Takanori Iwata: Nice!
Song Kang: This is my first time ta
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