K-pop idols are now making their film debuts via independent cinema. The likes of Suho, Park Jin-young, Hoya, Da-som, and Park Gyu-ri have recently topbilled low budget films, despite their high profiles and earning power.
These crop of stars have followed former MBLAQ member Lee Joon, who started his now-thriving acting career in 2013's "Rough Play," written by Kim Ki-duk.
Suho is a member of "EXO," one of the best-selling K-pop boy bands that made almost $18.17 million in 2015 through music sales alone. His debut film is titled "One Way Trip", a low-budgeted film which only cost an estimated $272,500.
Park Jin-young, on the other hand, is a member of a multinational boy band "GOT7," which is enjoying huge pan-Asian popularity. He stars in the film "A Stray Goat" which was financed through crowdfunding and the Jeonju Intl. Film Festival.
A member of one of the top K-pop boy bands, "Infinite", Hoya acted in "Hiya," which was made with less than $545,000. Park Gyu-ri, a former member of major K-pop act "Kara" had his film debut in "Two Rooms, Two Nights", an independent title made with some $363,300.
Da-som of "Sistar" played the lead in Shin Yeon-shik's micro-budget omnibus, "Like a French Film". Shin Yeon-shik, in an interview with Variety, said that one of the strengths of these K-pop idols is being used to stiff competition in the industry, having been through the very intense training system of K-pop agencies since a young age.
"Compared to actor aspirants in similar age groups, idols are less scared of trying and proving themselves", he added.
On the other hand, a casting director who wanted to remain anonymous, expressed his thoughts on how the industry had capitalized on its talents. "Until a few years ago, K-pop idols were mostly regarded as singers," says the casting director.
"Now, they are singers, dancers, actors, and show hosts, impacting almost every aspect of the entertainment industry in Asia. Talent agencies have come to realize that they can diversify the sources of profits by including acting aspirants in their idol groups."
But box-office results for these independent films are varies. "One Way Trip" earned $1.35 million per Box Office Mojo, becoming the biggest independent Korean film of 2016. In one side, "Hiya" earned a meager $157,897.
Danny Lee, director of international sales at Contents Panda, the company that handled international sales for "French Film", said that having K-pop idols may help when pitching to buyers, but that rarely raises the price being offered for the title.
"If they are top bands like EXO or Big Bang, buyers may add a small amount of money, after calculating the exact market share that those stars account for in their countries. Still, the titles' overall quality and commercial potential is considered more important than the idol cast."
