The movie "Streaming" (directed and written by Jo Jang-ho, distributed by Lotte Entertainment, produced by Berry Good Studio Co., Ltd., and co-produced by T.H. Story) is gaining attention as a new style of thriller that captures trendy themes, the vividness of live broadcasting, and the thrilling process of tracking a serial killer.
The movie "Streaming" is a thriller that broadcasts in real-time the process of a top-subscriber-count crime channel streamer "Woo-sang" discovering clues to unsolved serial murder cases and tracking the perpetrator.
Director Jo Jang-ho, known for winning the grand prize at the Naver Books Mystery Contest with the work "Rapture 1992" and for the drama adaptation of his mystery novel "Justice", makes his first foray into film with "Streaming". With a solid structure, bold developments, and delicate psychological portrayals, Director Jo has created a compelling work while also delivering sharp messages about society. He has turned his attention to the "personal streaming broadcasts" that deeply resonate within our daily lives.
Director Jo Jang-ho noted, "When there are significant social issues or phenomena, I often think of them as material for crime and thriller films," adding, "When I first conceived this scenario, it was during a period of explosive growth in personal broadcasting, so it was a natural trigger to think of this material as a movie." Director Jo, who brought to light the shadows of cults with "Rapture 1992" and made audiences ponder the essence of law and justice with "Justice," is now raising curiosity about how he portrays the crime channel streamer "Woo-sang" (played by Kang Ha-neul), who is at the peak of desire, and the darker side of personal streaming platforms that flood the market with provocative content.
The unique aspect and greatest strength of "Streaming" is its distinctive structure that runs entirely as a live broadcast. Director Jo Jang-ho chose a one-take shooting method to vividly capture the essence of real-time live broadcasting. The filming and unique arrangement create an experience for the audience that feels like watching an actual live broadcast. Furthermore, the effort to properly capture the genre's nuances of thriller films is also evident. Realistic depictions of live broadcasting are coupled with vibrant lighting to highlight the thrilling elements. Here, the reliable actor Kang Ha-neul perfectly transforms into "Woo-sang" and delivers bold performances that enhance the immersion in the work. Using various elements to create an original piece, Director Jo expresses confidence in the work, saying, "When the audience leaves after being immersed in the screen, they will ponder the true nature of this world from the perspective of a subscriber to the channel they consume content from."
"Streaming", filled with tension that keeps viewers glued and freshness that sparks interest, will be released on March 21.