The Lady Miz Diva Interviews Rain - Ninja Assassin

It’s Raining, y’all! With the advent of his first starring role in a major Hollywood feature, the Korean pop god known simply as Rain sat with us exclusively to talk up his martial arts manifesto, Ninja Assassin. We chatted about the film’s surprising violence, his future as a singer, his fans and his mom. Never let it be said that LMD was ever smart enough to come in out of the Rain.

Dig it.

The Lady Miz Diva: Ninja Assassin is a really violent, bloody film. Were you concerned that so much of your fan base, which consists of younger kids and people who might not usually go to this type of movie, wouldn’t be able to see your big Hollywood film?

Rain: Yeah, I know, but it’s gonna be huge. I believe they will like my movie. I am a little bit worried, but it’s something different from what I’ve done, so it’s interesting that way. And I believe more male fans will be interested in this movie.

The Lady Miz Diva: Raizo is a full of a lot of rage. What did you find inside yourself to create that constant anger he feels?

Rain: Well, before the shooting the Wachowskis and James McTeigue always told me that I have to show everything with my facial expression, so that’s what I worked on mostly.

The Lady Miz Diva: When you first read Raizo, how did you picture him?

Rain: As a real action hero.

The Lady Miz Diva: You play Raizo with a lot of sadness in your eyes. How did you motivate that in yourself?

Rain: Because he was hurt a lot since he was very young, so I had to have that sadness carried on within.

The Lady Miz Diva: I’m a little bothered by the Ninja Assassin poster. Have you seen it?

Rain: Yeah, I like that.

The Lady Miz Diva: Did you?

Rain: Yes, I like that!

The Lady Miz Diva: But why is half your face missing?

Rain: That is a good idea! I love my poster.

The Lady Miz Diva: Explain why it’s a good idea? Is it to keep you hidden like a ninja?

Rain: It’s a new style of a poster, a new style of a picture that’s never been done before. It’s quite unique. Normally, you’d see the whole face. It brings out curiosity of wanting to know who that is.

The Lady Miz Diva: How much physical training did you do for Ninja Assassin?

Rain: I trained for eight hours a day for eight months, five days a week. I ate just chicken breast and vegetables, no sugar, no salt, it was horrible. {Laughs} I learned a lot of martial arts; tae kwan do, tai chi, ninja techniques and karate.

The Lady Miz Diva: Besides your extensive training, was there any other research you did for this role?

Rain: I just saw a lot of Ninja films. A lot. I wanted to focus on the ninja training and then do it. This is how we do it.

The Lady Miz Diva: Were there any particular martial arts films that stood out in your mind?

Rain: Jet Li movies, Jackie Chan movie, Bruce Lee movies, yeah.

The Lady Miz Diva: You mentioned watching a lot of ninja films and in Ninja Assassin you star with Sho Kosugi, who is a veteran of his own series of ninja films. Can you talk about anything you learned from him?

Rain: Yeah, he’s a real master! Always I learned martial arts from him. He was always focused on the film, so I learned a lot. He’s a great person.

The Lady Miz Diva: Of course, every Rain fan needs to know if this move into Hollywood films means the end of Rain as a singer?

Rain: Oh, no. I love both singing and acting. I will concentrate on both and then I will release in the US market very soon. Next year?

The Lady Miz Diva: Will we see you perform again in New York?

Rain: Yeah, sure! I love New York! If people like my movie, you know?

The Lady Miz Diva: Besides your acting, singing and dancing, you’re also a clothing designer and the head of your own entertainment company. How do you balance all those roles?

Rain: I am not a businessman. I have a CEO, another CEO, and another CEO. I’m not a businessman, I’m an artist. I love singing and acting. I’m just an entertainer.

The Lady Miz Diva: It’s almost expected for a singer to act in Asia. In the US, a singer who acts is not taken seriously. Are you concerned you might have to choose between the two?

Rain: Because I’m starting in the US as an actor, maybe people will recognise me more as an actor.

The Lady Miz Diva: In Asia, you would never choose, would you?

Rain: No! {Laughs}

The Lady Miz Diva: I understand when you first began your career, it was very difficult for you to get started. You were turned away for many different reasons; such as you didn’t look right, or didn’t fit in somehow. What made you continue to go on?

Rain: It’s cos I was hungry! That is the reason. We were very poor when I was young.

The Lady Miz Diva: How did you find the strength to keep going forward?

Rain: It was because of my mother. My mother is like God for me. That is the reason. I always do my best. My mother is my strength.

LMD: What do you think audiences are going to take away from Ninja Assassin?

Rain: I would just like them to enjoy it.

The Lady Miz Diva: What is next for you after Ninja Assassin?

Rain: I wanna do a romantic comedy, like Love, Actually.

The Lady Miz Diva: In English?

Rain: Yes!

The Lady Miz Diva: Your English is so good now.

Rain: I’m working on it. It’s almost there {Laughs}

Also see Director James McTeigue interview from the original article

Source: The Diva Review