The era of 'communication failure'. The 'Mr. Project' is coming home.
On the 8th, an online production presentation for tvN's 'Mr. Project' was held. Hosted by Park Kyung-rim, the event featured director Shin Kyung-soo, actors Han Seok-kyu, Bae Hyun-sung, and Lee Rae.
The new tvN Monday-Tuesday drama 'Mr. Project' (written by Ban Gi-ri, directed by Shin Kyung-soo, planned by Studio Dragon, produced by Two Frame) will premiere on September 15 (Monday) at 8:50 p.m. The drama depicts a dispute resolution hero who, having a mysterious secret as a former legendary negotiator and current chicken shop owner, resolves incidents while oscillating between illegitimacy and legality.
On that day, director Shin Kyung-soo explained, "In the project proposal I received from the writer last year, it said, 'A drama necessary for us living in the era of communication failure and the age of regrets.' I chose this work with the intention of creating a drama that could provide warm comfort to viewers through conversation and understanding." He added, "I hoped it would flow as naturally as possible. Rather than showcasing direction, I wanted the story to be clearly conveyed and the actors to shine more. I aimed to create the drama as naturally as possible so that the chemistry could thrive."
He also shared his feelings about reuniting with Han Seok-kyu after 10 years. The director, who worked with him in 'Tree with Deep Roots', quipped, "It was great. However, I feel a bit embarrassed as in the previous work, I portrayed him as King Yeongjo, and now he's a chicken shop owner." He continued, "In those previous works, I worked with senior directors. As I was part of the B team directing, I think I was always in their shadow, so I felt that we would inevitably have to meet again someday."
He noted, "What was most enjoyable was that our perspectives and outlook on the story were fortunately very similar, so we communicated well. The greatest support I received as a director came from the many episode actors who came by. Each time, they would have thoughtful conversations and pay attention to various details, which greatly helped them deliver their best performances on set."
Han Seok-kyu takes on the role of 'Mr. Shin', a former negotiation expert and current chicken shop owner. He said, "My previous roles have often been in the National Intelligence Service, professional occupations, or police work. In this role, I play the very modest job of a chicken shop owner. The difference is vast. Mr. Shin is currently a chicken shop owner, but his past experience is more glamorous than anyone else's. I intend to portray what kind of story he carries through this drama. Being a shop owner, he is modest, eager to get involved, and resolves issues by conversing with neighbors."
However, in reality, Han Seok-kyu fails at negotiations. He lamented, "I'm a Korean food fanatic. In the past, I used to eat a lot. As the years go by, I tend to prefer Korean food. The set with my juniors is quite youthful. It's good, but when it's meal time, I insist on having Korean food while my friends prefer snacks. So I always fail at negotiations and secretly eat by myself."
He conveyed his teamwork on set. Han Seok-kyu said, "In my opinion, before shooting, it's essential to have many readings, analyze the characters assigned to each person, and discuss opinions about each other and the theme of the work. Often, we might not have that time, but for this project, all three of us made full schedules, and we agreed to meet at least twice a week for two months. We worked together for more than two months, and during that time, I only fed them Korean food, but it was memorable and enjoyable."
He also mentioned the pressure from the consecutive successes of his works. He noted, "It's very burdensome. I feel like I'm building many memories with the viewers every time, and I often think how lucky I am. Every time I meet the viewers while filming, I know that people from the same era, who welcome me, encourage me." He added, "In this piece, I want to convey a message about living in the present, communicating and sharing, prioritizing others rather than oneself, and embracing a certain sense of relaxation while accepting a little loss."
Bae Hyun-sung plays the role of 'Jo Philip', a new judge and chicken shop employee. He said, "Whenever I discuss law, I want to show a professional side, so I participated in trial observation classes and spoke with practicing lawyers to prepare. The boss has a somewhat flexible demeanor, and I wanted to display Philip's opposing character. I worked hard to show a professional image. Therefore, I constantly memorized and practiced tirelessly."
He also shared the warm atmosphere on set. He mentioned, "A few months before filming, we met twice a week for script readings, had meals together, and shared various discussions. Consequently, the awkwardness soon disappeared. As we started filming, even without lengthy conversations about what we wanted to say, I could feel when the team had bonded." He added, "Working with senior actor Han Seok-kyu was incredibly pleasant and fulfilling. I always wanted to work with him after watching his previous works, and I feel fortunate to finally get this opportunity."
When asked about 'Bae Hyun-sung's new side' in this work, he replied, "Philip may look like a model student with a smart image, but as he meets Mr. Shin and Shion, he becomes more flexible and shows a more human side. You will be able to see this. Philip empathizes well with the emotions of others but is a friend who appears rational on the outside. I think 'a hard shell with a soft interior' would be a fitting description for me."
Lee Rae takes on the role of 'Lee Shion', a delivery worker for Mr. Shin from the MZ generation. Lee Rae analyzed, "Both Shion and I started working a bit earlier than our peers, which helped us to grasp the professionalism required in our jobs. There's a moment when Shion assists Mr. Shin and focuses on being a spy, which resembles how I concentrate on work."
He also recounted his preparations for the character. "This year, I got my license for the first time and had never ridden a motorcycle, but the character was a professional delivery person, so I had to drive skillfully. Thus, I hurriedly went to an action school for practice, including learning how to start the engine."
He shared his chemistry with the actors. Lee Rae said, "When we first met, both Hyun-sung and I were quite shy, so we exchanged just a few words while the director and the seniors spoke mostly. As we filmed more, I felt a sense of family and support during our everyday conversations about food and how we were doing, which made me feel reassured."
Finally, regarding viewing points, Han Seok-kyu expressed, "Our current society seems to be more extreme and communication with others appears to be declining and lost, which is heartbreaking. This is precisely what I want to address in this work. I hope viewers will reflect on their emotions while watching this piece." He added, "I think this character has bright and comedic facets, but the story also reveals many dark and gloomy aspects. I believe it embodies a broad range of emotions and characters, influenced by all my past experiences with senior actors, and I hope viewers will recognize these aspects."
Director Shin remarked, "How the incidents and episodes are unraveled with wit and sincerity, sometimes seriously and sometimes playfully, seems to be a key point that makes the drama enjoyable to watch. It would be great to delve into why Mr. Shin runs a chicken shop."
[Photo] tvN
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