Director Oh Chung-hwan and writer Lee Na-eun of the Netflix series
Released on Feb. 14 (Fri),
Director Oh Chung-hwan said, "I always feel nervous and anxious when the work comes out into the world. I am grateful that many people seem to resonate with the story of the work," and added, "
Writer Lee Na-eun also noted, "I remember the reactions of those who said they were consoled through the work. That's enough for me," and added, "After watching the last episode, I sent the characters off well, but this time I also feel a lingering emotion and my heart feels heavy. (For the characters) there will be great and small hardships in life ahead. I just want to convey that I will wholeheartedly support them."
Below is the Q&A session where Director Oh Chung-hwan and writer Lee Na-eun answered questions directly from viewers.
Q. What are your thoughts on
Director Oh Chung-hwan: It is always a nerve-wracking and tense experience when the work comes out into the world. I think it's a relief that many people seem to resonate with the story of the work.
Writer Lee Na-eun: Presenting stories to people is always a cautious and exciting feeling. I hope this small sincerity can reach viewers around the world.
Q. Do you have any memorable viewer reactions after the release of the work?
Director Oh Chung-hwan: Personally, I was both excited and worried about how viewers would perceive the character Ko Jun. Fortunately, there were many responses resonating with the work, which eased my concerns. I remember the reactions of those who did not only see this work as a romance but also empathized with the family story.
Writer Lee Na-eun: Fortunately, I have received messages from acquaintances and many people have reached out via social media. In particular, messages from those who shared their experiences and said they found comfort through the work remain in my memory. That is enough for me.
Q. If you had to pick a memorable scene or line from
Director Oh Chung-hwan: In episode 10, there is a scene where Movie realizes the presence of his mother, who has silently stayed by him amidst his hatred towards the father who lived only for the movie. It is a moment where he realizes that the time he thought was "alone" was actually "not alone but together." I think it would be good for you, as I did, to think about whether there is such a precious person around you.
Writer Lee Na-eun: The line "Will you still like me if I tell you my secret? Will you not leave?" is the first moment when 'Ko Kyum', who seems to be completely bright, comes into my heart with a 'poke.' At the end, Movie uses the same line, making it an important emotional line in the romantic relationship they share.
I like the line from 'Kim Movie', which answers the question of why I wanted to make a melodrama: "I just wanted to tell the kindest story. A story about a person loving another person." In fact, this is a question and answer I posed to myself. I think it's a line that can encapsulate all the stories I've told so far.
The line from 'Hong Si-joon', "I’m still trapped in that day you abandoned me," was a moment when his earnest feelings, which he had been hiding and acting like a child, spilled out, making me feel pity for him. His time, which had come to a halt in work and love, finally begins to flow again from this moment.
The line from 'Son Joo-a', "From now on, only believe in people who look you in the eye and talk. You are really wonderful," is like magic that makes Si-joon fall in love. I think if someone said that to me, I would never forget that person for the rest of my life, so it is a line I remember for a long time.
The line from 'Ko Jun', "My choice was you, Kyum," conveys that there can be such a life. I cried a lot when showing Jun's life. Expressing the weight of that feeling, which I have not yet felt, was very careful, but it feels like the line came out as if Jun was speaking, and it still makes me emotional.
Finally, I want to borrow the words of the video store owner, Sang-sik: "Do you know what the completion of love is? Love is already complete in itself. If you had an amazing love, that's enough to be satisfied." This work is a melodrama, but it contains many stories about loss and separation. I want to convey the message that losing love does not mean it is incomplete, but rather to be satisfied with the amazing love we've had and to faithfully live each moment going forward.
Q. What are the directing points that add depth to the emotion through the visuals and music?
Director Oh Chung-hwan:
Q. Regarding the episode titles that quote lines from the film?
Writer Lee Na-eun: I worked hard to find lines that matched the atmosphere and messages of each episode. There were episodes where I had the lines set from the beginning and others where I searched for lines after writing. The first episode easily found its line, keeping in mind the mood of
Q. Is there a message you want to convey to the characters of
Director Oh Chung-hwan: The characters in
Writer Lee Na-eun: After watching the last episode, I did send the characters off well, but this time I feel a bit different. I am left with a lingering emotion and feel heavy in my heart. The characters don't end with a simple 'I lived happily ever after,' but rather they continue to move forward despite everything, so I couldn't help but keep looking at their backs. For Kyum, the pain of loss may suddenly revisit, for Movie, the film may be a painful unrequited love, for Si-joon, he may not be ready to embrace love for a while, and for Joo-a, the pain of creation may continue. Great and small hardships will continue to exist in their lives. However, I want to convey that doing your best to move forward and being there for someone when they stumble is enough.
Q. Points to watch for those who have not yet seen
Director Oh Chung-hwan:
Writer Lee Na-eun: It would be nice to naturally follow the perspectives of the characters. Just as it takes enough time to understand someone in our lives, I hope viewers take a little time and approach the characters in the drama slowly. If so, you will ultimately gain some pretty good friends in the end. I hope it will be a time of comfort and support as you comfortably talk with friends who resonate with you.
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