Rain Cast in Hollywood Film

Korean singer-actor Rain will take part in "Speed Racer," a new film by Andy and Larry Wachowski of "The Matrix" fame. Rain will play a talented rookie car racer who struggles to save his family business. He will join the filming in Berlin for two months after he finishes his world tour in June.

Rain's agent said that Rain personally visited Berlin in April to meet with the Wachowski brothers. At the meeting, the directors of the Matrix series showed Rain some materials for the film and Rain was reportedly very impressed with its ingenuity and techniques.

"Speed Racer" is based on a popular Japanese animation titled "Mach Go Go." The animation has been aired in the U.S. as well.

The May 31st press briefing of the film is expected to be attended by more than 100 media outlets worldwide, as well as Joel Silver, the producer of the Matrix series, and a number of big Hollywood celebrities.

Rain said that he considers himself a novice actor since this is his debut film in Hollywood, and that he will take one step at a time.

Source: KBS Global

What if Rain Parts Ways With JYP

Perhaps Korea’s most internationally recognized entertainer, the singer and actor Rain came to the end of his exclusive contract with management firm JYP on Thursday. Rain will decide where to go after his world tour ends in June. There are rumors he will move to another firm or set up an independent company, but it cannot be ruled out that he will stay with JYP. "Nothing has been confirmed. No matter what decision Rain makes, Rain and JYP chief Park Jin-young will remain close friends,” an insider with the agency said.

Park Jin-young's strategy has played a critical role in making Rain a global star since his debut in April 2002. The ChosunIlbo asked experts what the gains and losses will be if Rain leaves JYP.

◆ Gains

Rain stands to make a lot more money if he says goodbye to JYP. The listed management firms that are jostling to attract Rain have more capital power than JYP. Ahn Suk-jun, a vice president with Warner Music Korea, said, "Except listed enterprises which can invest large amounts, other management firm won’t be able to break even given the big money it would take to lure Rain." If he leaves JYP, Rain will have decisive power in business and music, and he would emerge fully from under Park's wing.

Pop music critic Kim Jak-ga said, "Rain hasn’t had many big hits domestically, compared with his success overseas.” Leaving NYP, he could “team up with different songwriters and make more popular songs." Woo Hyun-jung, a representative director of MusicWell, said leaving would be “a bid for musical independence. Regardless of success, that attempt is worth making."

◆ Losses

One source in the music industry said Rain still has ambitions to be a world star. “Without Park's JYP, there is no company that could meet Rain's desire to be a worldwide star. If Rain quits working with JYP, he might lose all the contacts and know-how in the U.S. music and movie industry that Park has developed."

Some say Rain can make up for that if he picks a major Japanese management firm with close ties with the U.S. entertainment industry. Kim Jak-ga said, "There is a high chance that Rain will see success as an actor in the U.S. It will help if he works with a Japanese firm that has strong bonds with Hollywood." Rain has been offered a part in the new movie by the Wachowski bothers of “Matrix” fame.

Music critic Lim Jin-mo said if he changers his management agency, Rain faces some confusion. “But in any case, I hope he’ll do his best to keep the Korean Wave alive," he added.

Source: englishnews@chosun.com
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/new...0705110012.html

Personally I would like to see Rain continuing his alliance with JYP especially for his more in the US. Park Jin Young already invested a lot to make him known and I would like to see those start bear fruit. Plus the fact that it's hard to enter the US market without a trusted person to guide you.

As for his career in Korea, I hope he will make a wise decision. I'm not keen on him signing with Star M because they did not handle his World Tour and his album promo well. I'd rather see him be independent or tie-up with a company with a good reputation in the music industry.