"I don't know what a lovely girl is, but I think Wednesday is truly lovely." Jenna Ortega, who plays the title role in Tim Burton's series "Wednesday," has shattered the archetype of a "lovely girl."
Netflix held a press conference for the original series "Wednesday" Season 2 on the morning of the 11th at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, located in Dongju-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. In attendance were director Tim Burton and the two leading actors, Jenna Ortega and Emma Myers, who shared insights about the work with domestic reporters.
"Wednesday" is a Netflix original series featuring the intelligent and sarcastic Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) as she navigates her experiences at Nevermore Academy. The first season, released as an 8-episode series on Nov. 23, 2022, accumulated 1.7 billion hours of viewing time, topping the Netflix Global TOP10 TV (English) institutional sector and causing a global phenomenon.
With this success, "Wednesday 2" tells the story of Wednesday Addams returning to Nevermore Academy at the start of a new semester, facing even more chilling and bizarre mysteries surrounding her, while seeking the hidden truths behind them. The first part was released on the 6th, with part two set to be released on Sept. 3.
In particular, the "Wednesday" series is directed by Tim Burton, who has received overwhelming support from movie fans worldwide for his fairy-tale-like yet dark worldviews and styles seen in films such as "Corpse Bride," "Big Fish," "Edward Scissorhands," "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," and "Alice in Wonderland." Alongside Tim Burton, Jenna Ortega and Emma Myers, who have received love from fans for their roles as Wednesday and Enid, also visited Korea to share their experiences about the work.
To celebrate this, cellist Mayu Kyung performed an opening act that evoked the cello scene from "Wednesday." Following her, director Tim Burton expressed, "I've been to Korea several times, but this feels even more special," appreciating the moment. Having interacted with fans a day prior, Burton noted, "Every time I come, I think of Korea as a creative country," adding, "I'm glad to be able to show the passionate work of 'Wednesday.'"
Jenna said, "It's my first time in Korea, and I'm glad to experience and see Korean culture. We worked really hard on this project. I was worried if people would like it, but I'm happy to meet our lovely Korean audiences. I want to personally meet them and sign autographs as those moments are incredibly precious to me."
Emma, who has prior experience visiting Korea, added, "I last came two years ago and I'm glad to be back. I'm happy to meet passionate audiences with the director."
Will there be any changes ahead of part two? Tim Burton joked, "Wednesday is Wednesday," asserting, "It will be a story true to Wednesday, especially focusing on the narrative of a mother-daughter, three-generation family." Furthermore, he highlighted the directing points, saying, "This is my first serious TV series project, and I worked on it as I would on a film, utilizing the dynamics and creativity of films. Our actors are so wonderful, and it was enjoyable to work with new actors as well."
He added, "Since this is a school for misfits, I thought it was natural for a misfit or eccentric family to come. I believe schools are schools, but 'Wednesday' is the most eccentric among schools filled with misfits. She doesn't like school and can't help but think that way."
As a producer in the project, Jenna stated, "It was incredibly good. I believe our collaborative relationship has evolved and progressed further. Even during Season 1, we had many discussions, allowing for high-level discussions about the narrative, which has enabled me to be a bit more deeply involved rather than just participating as an actor. It helped to know more about the project before filming began. Personally, it felt like a fun experience, as if a secret door opened and a new world unfolded."
He also described, "There isn't any change in Wednesday. She knows exactly who she is. Therefore, others have to adapt to her. The only change is that she used to really dislike hugs, but that's changed. Also, as she slightly loses her spiritual abilities, she has begun to rely on others."
Regarding Wednesday's changes, Jenna reflected, "Wednesday is not someone who expresses emotions. I want to give a profound answer, but I'm just someone who acts hard. While interacting with various people during filming, I believe the changes will feel natural as both Emma and the grandmother character make new appearances."
Meanwhile, Emma noted, "Enid in Season 2 is a bit different from Season 1. In Season 1, she properly becomes a werewolf, returns to Nevermore, and begins to mingle confidently with the wolf pack. She is having a very fun time doing so."
He further explained, "Enid is a little confused in Season 2. This is because in Season 1, there was a wall unique to Wednesday, and upon seeing a vision, Wednesday tries to push Enid away, leading to misunderstandings about why she is being pushed away. But that's just how relationships work. It happens naturally and is a healing part."
"Wednesday" achieved the number one spot on Netflix in countries outside Korea when the first season was released. There has also been mention of the Korean series "Squid Game" as a competitor to "Wednesday."
However, regarding this, Jenna remarked, "I think it's not good to see movies or dramas as a competition. We are very grateful to be able to have such a show, and it makes me happy that Korean fans are also watching. We came from California, and it's delightful that people worldwide are watching a show made by people who grew up in California. I believe that the most important thing is that we can touch people's hearts and resonate with them beyond the numbers." She added, "In part two, starting from episode 6, Enid takes on a central role and Emma loves Korean culture very much. I think you will enjoy it when you see it."
Director Tim Burton also stated, "It was enjoyable that Season 1 was successful. I have experienced both failure and success. It makes me happy that people worldwide are watching the work we put so much effort into. This isn't competition; I'm just happy that people worldwide are watching."
"Wednesday" series captivated global viewers with the charm of quirky girls that break the mold of lovely, doll-like female protagonists. What kind of girls do the characters in "Wednesday" represent to Jenna Ortega and Emma Myers?
Emma shared, "To me, Enid is really precious. She is more lovable because she is quirky. Although she behaves outlandishly without caring about other people's perceptions, I hope that this attitude conveys the individuality and uniqueness of these characters and that we don't have to fit into the world's molds."
Jenna remarked, "I tried to think about what a typical lovely girl is. It's a bit hard. Sometimes, there are girls who stay true to an image that is completely contrary to what people think of as typical, making character building challenging. It's easy to fall into an archetype, but I believe that girls who can boldly voice their thoughts without being swayed by social media are the most lovely girls."
He firmly stated, "I believe that these strange kids truly deserve to be loved. Everyone has flaws, they desire to be loved, and I think each and every one of us deserves to be loved."
Regarding the 'Girl In Black' theme, Tim Burton remarked, "For example, Lydia from 'Beetlejuice' and Catwoman were like that, and 'Wednesday' is no exception. I've always tried to showcase strong women and personality traits, which I believe is a part I am passionate about, and my philosophy is well expressed in these characters."
What essence does Tim Burton want to infuse into this series, featuring assertive girls? He expressed, "The most enjoyable part of the work is that during Season 1, I did zoom auditions online. I didn't meet both of them in person and cast in an unusual way, but while working, I wanted to do more series. Each time I went to the set, I wanted to come back more. It feels like family. I think the creativity and joy from wanting to work hard every day come from the actors, making it even more enjoyable for me."
Above all, he has dealt with misfits as protagonists in works for over 40 years. How has he maintained the balance while showcasing lovable oddballs?
Tim Burton stated, "Ordinary is an extremely strange word. I don't even know what that word means. Watching the Addams Family, it's just a family, but I think there's no family that isn't strange. Thus, defining ordinary is difficult. Ordinary people tend to be scarier. In contrast, misfits feel more comfortable. Many people may feel that way. Everyone must have experienced feeling strange or unique in society, at school, or within their families. So, I believe that being a bit weird feels ordinary. When you watch monster movies, monsters are usually the most captivating characters, right? It's humans that are rather scary. For me, the characters that resonate the most with me are those misfits."
Of course, he also laughed while saying, "Balancing is not easy." He continued, "I don't know. I just follow my heart. In my case, I feel that there is a lovable part among such characters while watching the actors and Wednesday. I think there are aspects that everyone can relate to."
Most importantly, Emma Myers and Jenna Ortega were as assertive as their characters in the series. Emma Myers said, "I try not to let external factors influence me. I want to feel from within," while Jenna added, "When I work, I sometimes write notes about when I'm working and when I'm not. There are too many thoughts. In fact, what I have to do in my job is to listen and feel. Depending on how I listen and feel, there could be changes, but I also don't like rehearsing too much. It feels like being trapped. There could be something completely different from what I've done before."
Above all, Jenna Ortega emphasized, "That's why I started as a child actor, where it was important to listen to what others said and do what they told me. It's about realizing that I can do what I want and voice my thoughts."
[Photo] OSEN reporter Choi Gyu-han, provided by Netflix.
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