Actor Cho commits to Friday ‘Columbus’ premiere

Leading man John Cho has been added to the guest list for Friday’s premiere of the “Columbus” film at YES Cinema.

Cho and female lead Haley Lu Richardson will appear opening night in Columbus with movie director Kogonada at a newly added 6:30 p.m. red-carpet gathering that will last 30 to 45 minutes, organizers said.

That event will include some interaction with the public. If forecasts for rain materialize, the gathering will be moved inside the cinema at 325 Jackson St.

The trio also will appear at question-and-answer sessions after the 5:30 and 8:01 p.m. showings of the 100-minute film. They have done a few of these since the movie was first shown in January at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

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The movie focuses on Casey, a 19-year-old Columbus resident (played by Richardson) trying to decide whether to leave home and pursue her dreams as she cares for her mother (Michelle Forbes), a recovering addict. She strikes up a friendship with Jin, a 29-year-old man (Cho) visiting the city from Korea to be with his dying architect father — a man who came to town on a getaway to study the city’s noted buildings.

The two characters find respite in each other and in the Modernist architecture surrounding them, according to the movie’s promotional material, and examine the impact of life choices.

“Waited my whole life to be in a film like this,” Cho tweeted just before the film’s Aug. 4 debut in New York and California.

Erin Hawkins, director of marketing for the Columbus Area Visitors Center, said several visitors have mentioned in recent days that they came to Columbus to see structures such as the Miller House after seeing the film elsewhere in the country. One man from New York City was among people who took in Miller House champagne tours Saturday.

“It’s exciting to think that we’re already seeing some of those (film viewer) visitors now,” Hawkins said.

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Tickets are available for three of Friday’s eight opening-day screenings of “Columbus” at YES Cinema.

The movie is being shown on both screens of the downtown cinema, with one theater having 177 seats and the other 146.

Depending on show times, tickets cost either $4 or $6, plus $1 fee when ordered online.

Information: 812-378-4YES or yescinema.org.

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