The Class is Pain 101, Your Instructor is Rain, the NINJA ASSASSIN

In the action thriller Ninja Assassin, Raizo (Rain) is one of the deadliest assassins in the world. Taken from the streets as a child, he was transformed into a trained killer by the Ozunu Clan, a secret society whose very existence is considered a myth. But, haunted by the execution of his friend by the Clan, Raizo breaks free from them and then vanishes, preparing to exact his revenge.

When Europol agent Mika Coretti (Naomie Harris) stumbles upon a money trail linking several political murders to an underground network of untraceable assassins from the Far East, she digs into top secret agency files to learn the truth. Her investigation quickly makes her a target, and the Ozunu Clan sends a team of killers to silence her forever. Raizo saves Mika from her attackers, but knows that they will not stop until they are both eliminated, so the two must trust one another, if they hope to finally bring the elusive Ozunu Clan down.

At the film’s press day, top Korean R&B/pop singer Rain talked about making his transition to the big screen in Hollywood.

Q: How was it playing one of the world’s deadliest assassins?

Rain: When I was young, I wanted to be a big action hero. I’m pretty sure this is gonna be huge. The movie is amazing. I’m so excited.

Q: Growing up, did you have a hero that you looked up to, like Jackie Chan or Bruce Lee?

Rain: Yeah. When I was young, I saw a lot of martial arts films with Jet Li, Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee. I loved them. They are my heroes. But, I’m so powerful and I’m so much faster. I’m so young and so handsome, like a model. I really loved them. They are my role models. I have another model. Al Pacino. He’s my hero. My favorite film of his is Scarface. I loved it.

Q: Did your work on stage as a pop star and dancer help you when you went into learning martial arts, especially for this film?

Rain: Yeah, it helped. I think singing, dancing and acting are very similar.

Q: What did you do to train for this film?

Rain: I had to make my body fit, like Bruce Lee. I trained for eight months, five days a week, eight hours a day. It was horrible, but I learned a lot of martial arts, such as Taekwando, Tai Chi, Kung Fu, Karate, kick boxing with a sword and double swords and Shuriken (throwing stars). The chain was my favorite. I learned a lot. I had so many coaches. But, when I finished Ninja Assassin, I said, “No more work outs, no more vegetables, no more chicken breast, no more salmon, no more egg whites.” I wanted chocolate, hamburgers, pizza, McDonald’s, Burger King and KFC. I can eat everything now. It’s all in my body.

Q: How did you learn to work with the chain? Was that hard? Did you hurt yourself?

Rain: Yeah, it was hard. When I was doing stunts, I had lots of cuts on my body because of the chain. Even though everybody took care of me, I still got hurt. I cut myself.

Q: What was the biggest accident you had with the chain?

Rain: My nose, face and body were cut.

Q: Were they worried about covering it with make-up?

Rain: Yes. But, I didn’t need make-up. It was real.

Q: What was the hardest stunt you had to do?

Rain: The hardest were the bathroom sequence and the rooftop sequence. Those were amazing, but hard.

Q: What was James McTeigue like, as a director?

Rain: He’s the best. He is always humble to everybody. He’s always friendly. I love his directing style. I love him, and the Wachowskis, too.

Q: Was he very specific with you?

Rain: Yeah. I learned a lot from him.

Q: Your character has to hold his emotions inside and hide them, but you are a very outgoing guy. Was that hard for you to portray?

Rain: It’s good acting, right? Before this film, I had a Ninja expression coach, so I learned a lot of my inside acting and expressions from him. I had an acting coach, an English coach and so many martial arts coaches.

Q: Did you have time to do anything in Berlin, while you were filming there?

Rain: I love Berlin, but I’m not interested in partying. I wanted to focus on Ninja Assassin because this is a big opportunity for me, so I did my best.

Q: What did you think when they told you that you were going to be the star of this big action movie?

Rain: Oh, yeah! It’s gonna be huge! I’m gonna be a big star! So, I’m ready. It’s hard walking in the streets in Asia and here I hope to do the same, if people like this movie.

Q: You really hope it’s the same and that you can’t walk the streets here because people will be chasing you like they do in Asia?

Rain: Yeah! Why not? I’m ready for the paparazzi! I’m kidding.

Q: Would you like to do a sequel to Ninja Assassin?

Rain: Do a franchise? Yeah! I don’t know yet, if that will happen.

Q: Would you like to have a romantic love interest next time?

Rain: Yeah.

Q: Who is your dream actress, that you would love to have as your leading lady?

Rain: I love Megan Fox! She’s lovely.

Q: Have you had any really crazy fan encounters?

Rain: I went to China a few years ago and this one fan claimed that she had my baby. It was crazy and so scary. She was at the airport saying, “I’ve got your baby! I’ve got your baby!” It was horrible.

Q: Are you mobbed, if you go out when you are home?

Rain: I love my home, so I just stay home and play games and sleep. No matter where you go, nothing is better than sleeping. I love sleeping!

Q: Could you take on Jackie Chan or Jet Li, in one of these movies?

Rain: Yeah. I want to work with them. They are my heroes.

Q: Did it ever concern you that you might get typecast as the hot new action guy, doing films like this?

Rain: The Asians have our own unique culture. That’s why many Asian actors have been cast that way. But, movies are changing the way people view Asians. We can show you other sides as well, like romance and comedy.

Q: Are you on a music tour now?

Rain: Yeah, I’m doing a tour. I have a concert in Las Vegas on Christmas Day, in Hong Kong this month on the 27th and 28th, and in Jakarta, Shanghai and Beijing. I’m preparing my new album. I want to focus on Ninja Assassin for now, but after this film, I will release the album in the U.S. market.

Q: How demanding is it to go on tour for your music? Is it as demanding as filmmaking for you?

Rain: Filmmaking is very similar, so I just enjoy them both. It’s my job.

Q: Would you want to move to Los Angeles?

Rain: Not yet. But, I want to go to the beach. There are so many girls!

Q: Do you have a girlfriend?

Rain: I don’t have a girlfriend, but I will very soon.

Q: What would you like to do next?

Rain: I have three scripts. One is a big action film, one is a romance and one is comedy/action. I haven’t decided yet, which one I’m going to do.

Q: Are they all in America?

Rain: Yes, they’re Hollywood films. I would definitely like to continue my career in Hollywood. I want to work hard and do my best.

NINJA ASSASSIN opens on November 25th

By: Christina Radish @iesb.netE