'You Quiz' prize money was used for a company dinner and filmed in a warm, convivial atmosphere, and Four Hands will fill weekend living rooms with classical music.
On the 25th, tvN's new Saturday-Sunday drama Four Hands (writer Shin Iwon, director Park Hyunseok, produced by Studio Dragon, Studio N, Namooactors Entertainment) held its production presentation online. Director Park Hyunseok and actors Song Kang, Lee Junyoung and Jang Gyuri attended the event.
Four Hands is a drama depicting the friendship, love, rivalry and growth of youths who meet at an arts high school made up only of musical geniuses. Actors Song Kang, Lee Junyoung and Jang Gyuri will present the intertwined stories of youths through music, and director Park Hyunseok, who directed Lovers of the Red Sky, Stranger 2 and Hometown, and writer Shin Iwon of Green Mothers' Club have teamed up.
Director Park Hyunseok said the distinguishing feature of Four Hands among works that use music as a subject is, "the participation of young actors, and although there have been music dramas, there did not seem to be a work that encompassed classical music, youth and growth. I think the parts we tried for the first time with the actors are the difference." He explained, "Four Hands means two people playing on one piano, which related to the theme. Since it is a drama about the journey two friends take together, we chose the title."
Director Park Hyunseok especially said, "I once did a sports dance coming-of-age story, and I think people saw that. The actors are good at emotion and acting, so following that was exciting, but classical music was unfamiliar so it was quite a difficult task. The actors worked hard and many people helped, so good music was placed throughout. It was a hard but fun job."
About the casting, Director Park Hyunseok said, "The actors' sync was very good. The three together were very good on set beyond specific scenes. The actors were very close, and they talked deeply about the work and honestly about everyday things, and when I think of the set everyone was smiling, which makes me pleased. I expect it will be revealed a lot within the drama."
Song Kang meets viewers as piano prodigy Kang Bio. He is a perfectionist with an aristocratic appearance who does not lose first place in both grades and piano skills. In addition to innate talent, his diligence in not neglecting practice led him to be seen as a future contender sweeping the world's three major competitions, but he faces a rival who shakes Kang Bio's musical life at once.
Appearing in his first work after military discharge, Song Kang said about acting details, "I basically took the required piano lessons starting months before filming. In between, because I could not keep taking lessons continuously, I referenced videos of the teachers to catch actions. The main focus was whether I could delicately express Kang Bio's emotions, and I communicated a lot with the director. We continued filming while rehearsing on set and talking about the emotions."
Song Kang said, "I play Bio at 17 and 27, and the biggest difference is before and after meeting Jeongyo. Seventeen-year-old Bio was a character who knew only himself and the piano, but after meeting Jeongyo he faces new competition and breaks the frame he thought he was good in. He feels many limits and walls and his emotions change a lot. If that is late 17, the 27-year-old Bio is more understanding and has deeper emotions."
As the eldest, Song Kang said, "Rather than the situations I took care of, I was actually more grateful for how much they helped me. Lee Junyoung was so nervous at the first table read after a long time that his hands trembled, but as soon as he delivered his first line he received everything well no matter what I did. From then I felt stability and was very comfortable throughout filming. Jang Gyuri also led well during rehearsals. I was happy filming with help from the two of them."
The piano genius Choi Jeongyo is played by Lee Junyoung. Choi Jeongyo is a character who, due to an unfortunate upbringing, has lived ignoring his own talent. Suddenly appearing at Korea Arts High School, where only geniuses gather, Choi Jeongyo unexpectedly encounters the piano prodigy who once made his heart beat and becomes immersed in a strange emotion.
Choosing Four Hands as his last work before enlisting, Lee Junyoung said, "I could not practice the piano as much as Song Kang. I tried to practice whenever I had time and worked hard. Even on days off I listened to a lot of classical music. I did not know much about classical music, but I learned through this work. Four Hands gave me various good inspirations and influences. In the work there is a point where I transform, and I hope you watch for that."
He added, "I am grateful for the opportunity to graduate from wearing a school uniform. The emotions at 17 and 27 change a lot. I used the emotions built up in writing and thought that I only needed to focus and do well."
Lee Junyoung said, "I want to show that Lee Junyoung can handle things like this. I am often remembered for intense impressions, but if I compare to food, I am like naengmyeon. The emotions are more varied than the roles I have taken so far, so I am looking forward to it. I don't know if I did well, but I did my best. I can boast that I put everything on the line."
Song Kang joked about his chemistry with Lee Junyoung, "Every moment was good. Lee Junyoung went on 'You Quiz' and got the correct answer because of me, but there was no sharing," then laughed and added, "We have to sit together and play, but Lee Junyoung is big so I remember it being a bit uncomfortable." Lee Junyoung said, "Song Kang works out a lot, and when we filmed those scenes he always made sure to do upper body workouts. Those situations were fun, and because there were many scenes of rapport we could become close faster." He also explained that he paid for the company dinner with the 'You Quiz' prize money.
Jang Gyuri transforms into viola major Hong Jaein, who has a sensitive sense of hearing. Hong Jaein, who has an outstanding musical sense that can catch a beautiful melody at once, is looking for music that satisfies her ear but is in a difficult situation. Therefore, she becomes a close friend who supports and cherishes Kang Bio's music that has satisfied her hearing since childhood.
Jang Gyuri said, "Hong Jaein has a pure love for music and bright, spirited energy, so viewers will naturally smile. And she is a friend who is sincere and follows through with what she opens her heart to and loves, so as an actor and as a person I wanted to resemble her. Bio, Jeongyo and Jaein are close friends during school days but each has a different meaning. Bio is a character who wants to stay by the side to protect and support dreams, and Jeongyo is someone who wants to discover possibilities for dreams, and we worked with that in mind."
Especially, Jang Gyuri said, "One reason I took the role was that I could portray multiple ages of a character, but it was very difficult. In the teens she felt more honest and straightforward than in her twenties. Expressions of feelings for someone she likes or passion for music were shown as they were, but in her twenties, after ten years have passed she has felt and experienced various emotions, so I wanted to show a slightly more complex inner self."
The director and actors also shared reasons to definitely watch Four Hands. Jang Gyuri urged, "All the characters have their own deficiencies and wounds, so I hope you watch supporting how they overcome and grow. Pay attention to which music flows in which scenes." Lee Junyoung said, "I feel comfortable when I listen to classical music, and Four Hands has a similar texture. I hope you watch it with the thought of savoring one piece. And Song Kang's handsomeness, Director Park Hyunseok's cool and delicate direction, and Jang Gyuri's lively and dazzling performance are the points."
Song Kang said, "Not only the three actors but all the characters in the drama have emotional lines, so please watch for that. There are many instruments such as piano and viola, so those points will also be fun to watch." Director Park Hyunseok raised expectations, saying, "It will be a drama like reading a picture book."
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