Expanding the tide of Korean sci-fi and gangster pictures, Korean major Cinema Service has added a trio of big-budget pictures to its forthcoming slate.

It is finishing Volcano High School a futuristic action comedy due for delivery in December 'It is a stylish picture with excellent production values situated between Crouching Tiger and The Matrix,' said Jenny Chung, international business manager at Cinema Service. 'The budget is $7m which gives up lots of post-production value. We will have a full promo available in Mifed.'

Cinema Service is also readying The Gate Of Tesala is to be directed by Chang Youn-hyun (Tell Me Something) and will get under way in late 2001 or early 2002.

Also on the sci-fi front is the digitally animated feature Elysium: The Last Ark, in which an 18 year-old boy is recruited into a strange society intent on saving the earth from destruction. The picture is produced by Big Film Co.

Leading the gangster stable is company founder Kang Woo-suk's with the working title of Public Enemy. The film is an action comedy in the vein of van Dammer Nowhere To Hide. Director Jang Jin is finishing off Guns & Talks, a film with four contract killers, for an August delivery. Also in post now is Kick The Moon, from the producing and directing team of Fun & Happiness Film and Kim Sang-jin behind hit Attack The Gas Station.