Actor Kang Ha-neul shared behind-the-scenes stories from the filming of the movie 'Streaming'.
On the 18th, an interview with actor Kang Ha-neul for the film 'Streaming' took place at a café in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
The film 'Streaming' (directed and written by Jo Jang-ho, provided and distributed by Lotte Entertainment, produced by Berry Good Studio, co-produced by TH Story) is a thriller that involves 'Woo-sang,' a crime channel streamer with the highest subscriber count, finding clues about an unsolved serial murder case and broadcasting the process of tracking down the perpetrator in real time.
Having started filming in March 2021 and completed it in May the following year, Kang Ha-neul noted, "It was the first time I properly watched the movie yesterday. It felt like a really long time. There was a period I had forgotten about. Maybe that's why I enjoyed watching it from an audience mode. I can't really remember what happened afterwards. I followed along while watching. I adhered closely to the director's intentions and direction. Personally, I found it very enjoyable," as he shared his impressions after watching the film.
Kang Ha-neul completely transformed into 'Woo-sang,' a crime channel streamer who dominates the subscriber count on the streaming platform 'Waegeu' where only the top-ranked individual takes all the donations, delivering a one-man show in his acting.
In this regard, Kang Ha-neul said, "I didn't think of myself as the top star at all. I just looked at the script, and the fact that I could try a theatrical tone in the medium of film after a long time felt fresh and fun. Usually, when reading a theatrical script, there aren't many lines, right? But film scripts typically aren't this lengthy. At most, you have five lines, but all the lines on a page were mine. Because of that, I had many thoughts that it would be fun to try." He also added, "While there are many references to 'Woo-sang' in the script, there are also many other characters. So I didn't feel like the top star. More than being the top star, I was more interested in the technique of a single take, which is a cinematic direction I really enjoy, so I had more thoughts like 'this would be fun.'"
He continued, "Since there was a lot of physical content, I found it fun to approach it with the mindset of doing a play. The breathing when filming is really short; the rhythm of acting is not long in dramas or films. However, in this work, once the camera starts rolling, you have to perform from start to finish, right? It made me think a lot about my performances, and oddly enough, it was enjoyable. There was so much dialogue that I was like, 'When do I memorize this?' but it was fun," recalling, "While shooting a single take, I was reminded of the last scene in 'The Heirs.' The reason I remember it is that it was also a single take, and it was fantastic. The long take sequence was nice, showing how these friends ended up like this. Later, during 'Pirates,' the action scenes were also a single take. Such instances are quite rare."
Kang Ha-neul, who successfully transformed his image by portraying a BJ engulfed in madness, stated, "I didn't think of acting as madness. I wanted to show a bit more of what this character desires and craves to people. Viewers, including my friends, said, 'He really seems crazy,' and that made me realize that I appeared that way. But I didn't think I should show madness," adding, "I don't have the capacity to strategically choose what my image in this work should be like next. I just want to read scripts that are enjoyable. However, the characters that come out of those scripts are merely that, and I wasn't thinking that 'Streaming' should show a different character trait."
He also shared the efforts he made for character acting, saying, "(During preparation) there were two people who influenced me the most. One is the YouTuber Kim Won, who deals with mystery cases, and the other is a person called Diva Jessica. Diva Jessica shows a photo one by one while talking about the cases. I borrowed that aspect and the atmosphere of operating a mystery channel that Kim Won has. I referenced both of them the most."
He also said, "Originally, 'Woo-sang' did not have this appearance. Just a black suit with a black tie. It was an outfit for a wedding. I initially did the test shoot that way, but when I read the script, I thought that since Woo-sang leads from start to finish, the character traits he possesses need to be strong so that people don't find it boring to watch. Doing it that way felt a bit cliché, like something you'd find anywhere. I thought to myself that the script would have to rely solely on its inherent power, so I took some time to ponder for about 3 to 4 days, and then I scheduled a meeting with the director to discuss. I wanted a feeling that was quite pretentious, someone who enjoys expressing themselves and might reveal themselves excessively. I considered having an extravagant suit, even a three-piece. I tried out something like tattoos or earrings, fully immersed in the feeling of 'I'm doing this well.' The director really liked it, and the head of the makeup and costume team also liked it, so we collaborated to create it," he elaborated, adding, "I wanted to be perceived as unlikable. Not just a good-looking impression, but a feeling that what I'm saying might be a lie or might be genuine."
He also recalled the moments shared with the staff on set. Kang Ha-neul reflected on his rapport with director Jo Jang-ho, stating, "Regardless of whether this project is excellent or not, the moments in which the work can be created itself were profound. The final version differs significantly from the original script. Originally, Woo-sang had a somewhat common character feel. The script wasn't written very aggressively either. I thought it needed to be aggressive to make it enjoyable to watch. When talking with the writer, if I proposed a scene saying, 'I thought Woo-sang would think this way,' they would respond with, 'I haven't thought of that, but it's fresh,'" he remarked, "(Additionally) we all discussed as we shot. While filming, I was reminded of 'Dong-ju.' During 'Dong-ju,' everyone gathered to consider how to approach each scene. It seems like 'Streaming' is the first experience of such camaraderie since 'Dong-ju.' So that moment felt precious. Although I recently finished filming for other projects, I've often talked about 'Streaming' on set. I believe that reflects the influence of the director."
Further discussions about Kang Ha-neul outside of his work surfaced. Relating to 'acting immersion,' he mentioned, "I believe there are two aspects to acting. In certain scenes, empathy is needed, whereas in others, understanding is crucial. I couldn't empathize with Woo-sang, but I could understand him. I consider these two lines every time I work on a project. If I can't empathize with the situation, I need to understand it. It must be crafted into a context that makes sense for me to act. "
Continuing his 'busy' trajectory since debut, Kang Ha-neul remarked, "I faced a dilemma when I was younger. I really disliked being in the center of attention and couldn't stand being in front of others. Yet what I do is acting. From that, I started to ponder 'Who am I?' and 'What am I doing?' However, as I've aged and gained experience, there seems to be one solution: creating a precise switch between Kim Ha-neul (real name) and Kang Ha-neul seems vital. When promoting or filming, I switch it on as 'Kang Ha-neul,' and when I relax at home, I switch it on as 'Kim Ha-neul.' When I get home, I don't even look at my phone. So, even if urgent messages come, I can't respond. I need to find complete happiness to be motivated. If I had kept cheering on, I would have fell off," he said, laughing, "Kang Ha-neul and Kim Ha-neul seem somewhat different. As Kang Ha-neul, since I engage with more people, I think I contemplate a lot more. In contrast, Kim Ha-neul hardly goes outside."
[Photo] Provided by Lotte Entertainment
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