Director Bong Joon-ho's film 'Mikey 17' (written and directed by Bong Joon-ho, produced by Plan B Entertainment, distributed by Warner Brothers Korea LLC) is receiving rave reviews both domestically and internationally before its release, and has unveiled production behind-the-scenes that raises expectations.
'Mikey 17' depicts an unpredictable story as 'Mikey,' an expendable thrown into dangerous tasks, experiences his 17th death crisis, with 'Mikey 18' being printed while thinking he is dead. The first principle of the production of 'Mikey 17' starts with Director Bong Joon-ho's intention that the world in the work should be based on our reality. Director Bong wanted the audience watching the film not to feel disconnected from the work and reality. Although 'Mikey 17' is a science fiction film set in space, it focuses on the stories of people living in such environments rather than the glamorous space backdrop.
With films like 'Memories of Murder,' 'The Host,' 'Mother,' 'Snowpiercer,' 'Okja,' and 'Parasite,' Director Bong Joon-ho uniquely captures reality in each work, leaving a lasting impression, and through 'Mikey 17,' he unfolds yet another new worldview.
Director Bong Joon-ho introduced the work by saying, "'Mikey 17' is a story about someone who is powerless yet unexpectedly becomes a hero," raising expectations for the unpredictable story that will unfold through the expendable 'Mikey.'
Director Bong Joon-ho stated, "I wanted to address how absurd and foolish people can be, and how those aspects make people even more lovable," indicating that while it is science fiction, it will also incorporate comedy and human stories, breaking genre boundaries to deliver twists and emotions. To vividly realize diverse backgrounds, strong characters, alien life forms, and future technologies, Director Bong completed 'Mikey 17' in collaboration with production crews representing the world and Korea, based on disruptive imagination.
Art director Fiona Crombie, who showcased exquisite production design in 'The Favourite: The Queen's Woman' and 'Cruella,' created the interior of the spaceship in 'Mikey 17' and the stark, cold spaces of the ice planet. The human printing device, which is the core setting of the film, was designed to give the audience an intuitive understanding by taking inspiration from commonly seen computers and medical devices. The 'cycler' (incinerator), which completes the cycle of 'Mikey's' life and death, was crafted with a desire for an ordinary feel rather than a high-tech image; within the dark and eerie space, a round, gaping furnace was created, bubbling with high-temperature lava-like interior.
Furthermore, through stark contrasts to visually represent class structures, Director Bong Joon-ho, in collaboration with art director Fiona Crombie, designed the space of the dictator couple 'Marshall' with vibrant colors and props like pink, fur, and Persian rugs, while the space where 'Mikey' and 'Nasha' reside is designed as a dim, gray-toned, cramped area, reborn into a space that starkly contrasts the disparities and class differences, enhancing the immersion of the drama.
Darius Khondji, the cinematographer known for his work on masterpieces like 'Se7en' and the Academy Award-nominated 'Bardo, A False Chronicle of A Few Truths,' along with Katherine George, who designs with her unique perspective in 'Snowpiercer' and 'Okja,' has encapsulated the unique worldview of 'Mikey 17.'
Together with Director Bong Joon-ho, they created a color overlay system applied throughout sets and costumes to enhance visual immersion. This technique minimizes the colors of the costumes and sets while emphasizing lighting, making the surrounding environment and costumes appear similar; the cafeteria and hallways are layered in gray, while the space of the 'Marshall' couple is enveloped in pink and gold tones, creating a striking contrast that adds to the visual interest. Additionally, costume director Katherine George completed costumes that clearly reveal class and roles. The clothing of characters like 'Mikey' and 'Nasha' draws from the inspiration of spacesuits and factory workwear, displaying practical utility and unique textures with muted hues, grabbing the audience's attention.
Veteran production crews recognized in their fields have also participated in making 'Mikey 17' even more perfect, raising expectations. The film's editing is handled by Yang Jin-mo, who was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Film Editing for 'Parasite,' while music is by Jeong Jae-il, who created the globally resonating scores for 'Parasite' and 'Squid Game,' capturing the emotions and tensions of the characters. The visual effects (VFX) were completed by Dan Glass, known for 'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore' and 'Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw.' Additionally, the creature design for the alien planet's 'Creeper' was undertaken by designer Jang Hee-cheol, known for 'The Host' and 'Okja,' resulting in another uniquely original creature.
Having completed 'Mikey 17' with the imagination that transcends traditional genre constraints and Director Bong Joon-ho's distinctive details, the film will make its world premiere in South Korea on February 28.
[Photo] Warner Brothers Korea LLC
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