SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'The Winning Try' (hereafter "The Winning Try") received praise as the second 'Stove League' and ended on a high note. Director Jang Young-seok poured out his gratitude to the actors and viewers.
In a written interview with OSEN on the 10th, director Jang Young-seok left an emotional remark, saying, "I dare say it was the best combination, the best team. I think not only the actors Yoon Kye-sang, Im Se-mi, and Kim Yo-han but all the actors of "The Winning Try" played irreplaceable, excellent roles. Every moment together was precious and I am grateful."
He went on to answer a question asking, "Was the expression 'the second Stove League' burdensome?" saying, "As a fan of Stove League, I did not even think such a reaction would come during production," but added, "I came to feel that there were viewers who were very hungry for the 'sports genre' and 'coming-of-age narratives.'"
"The Winning Try" is a comic coming-of-age sports drama about eccentric, unpredictable coach Joo Ga-ram and the perennial last-place Hanyang Physical High School rugby team racing toward a national sports festival championship. It recorded a peak viewership rating of 7.9% and 6.6% in the Seoul metropolitan area, and left living rooms on the 30th of last month on a high note.
Director Jang Young-seok greeted viewers, saying, "I thank the many viewers who watched and loved the show. Although it is lacking, I hope it remains a good drama in many people's memories. Personally, I feel as if I graduated somewhere, just as 'Hanyang Physical High' graduated. I feel relieved and a little wistful. All the reactions remain in my memory, and I accept both criticism and encouragement gratefully."
Yoon Kye-sang transformed into the new coach Joo Ga-ram of the perennial last-place Hanyang Physical High rugby team, making viewers laugh and cry. From his sincerity toward rugby and the Hanyang students to the love-line narrative with ex-girlfriend Beige (played by Im Se-mi), he perfectly carried the role and reaffirmed his value as an actor. Supporting actors Kim Yo-han, Kim Dan, Park Jung-yeon, Lee Seong-uk, Im Se-mi and others also vividly brought their characters to life.
Director Jang Young-seok said, "The character Joo Ga-ram may seem inconsistent at first glance. It was the power of the actor Yoon Kye-sang that stitched those points together and made him three-dimensional," and added, "There were many directions given, and with the actor's ideas added, I think a result emerged that I am personally satisfied with."
Below is a Q&A with director Jang Young-seok.
Q.
First, I thank the many viewers who watched and cherished The Winning Try. Although it was lacking, I hope it remains a good drama in many people's memories. Personally, I feel as if I graduated somewhere, just as 'Hanyang Physical High' graduated. I feel relieved and a little wistful. All the reactions remain in my memory, and I accept both criticism and encouragement gratefully.
Q. What is the secret to The Winning Try's popularity?
The atmosphere on set was really good. The actors were close in real life, and that chemistry showed in the final product. I think many people liked that aspect.
Q. Was the expression 'the second Stove League' burdensome, and how would you evaluate it yourself?
As a fan of Stove League myself, I did not even think such a reaction would come during production. In fact, if Stove League is an office drama about a baseball team, I thought The Winning Try was a youth piece centered on a rugby team, so its genre orientation was a bit different. After the work was released and we saw the responses, I came to feel that there were viewers who were very hungry for the 'sports genre' and 'coming-of-age narratives.'
Q. What did you emphasize in directing The Winning Try?
Rugby and even shooting are all unfamiliar sports to viewers. To prevent unfamiliar subjects from becoming a barrier to viewers wanting to watch the show, we put a lot of thought into preparation and editing.
Q. How was it working with actors such as Yoon Kye-sang, Im Se-mi and Kim Yo-han?
I dare say it was the best combination, the best team. I think not only the three actors but all the actors of The Winning Try played irreplaceable, excellent roles. Every moment together was precious and I am grateful.
Q. Joo Ga-ram was essentially Yoon Kye-sang. What are you grateful to Yoon Kye-sang for?
The character Joo Ga-ram may seem inconsistent at first glance. It was the power of the actor Yoon Kye-sang that stitched those points together and made him three-dimensional. I talked most with the senior actor and the parts we worried about together were his relationship with Lee Ji and Joo Ga-ram's illness. Why did Joo Ga-ram hide that illness even from Lee Ji, and why did he take on the role of coach again while having that illness? There were many directions to persuade that point, and with the actor's ideas added, I think a result emerged that I am personally satisfied with.
Q. The chemistry between Joo Ga-ram and the kids was the best. How did the rookie actors grow during filming?
The atmosphere on set was nothing short of excellent. They were so close to each other that it was hard to single out one person as the mood maker. Rather than the actors growing especially during the shoot, I think we were lucky to meet actors who already had many abilities, and as their filming experience accumulated they were able to show more.
Q. If there are standout scenes and lines?
I would pick Ga-ram's narration at the end of the second match scene. It gave a clear answer to why we used rugby as the subject and why the title of this drama is The Winning Try. If that answer is ambiguous, the directing would inevitably wobble. Because that scene and that line were convincing, it provided the driving force to push myself toward the completion of the work.
Q. What message did you want to convey to viewers through The Winning Try?
The Winning Try is a story about people who dream what they 'must not dream.' Sometimes it feels like society or adults set the 'dreams that are allowed' and force them onto children. I wanted to say that any dream deserves support, and with that support added, you can finally create a 'miracle.'
[Photo] The Winning Try
[OSEN]