Back Kooyoung defeated Nain to take the main director seat of "Street World Fighter: Directors War."
On the 8th, Mnet's "Street World Fighter: Directors War" (hereafter "SDWF") aired its fourth episode, revealing the final results of the second mission, the "title sequence film mission." After fierce competition, Back Kooyoung was selected as the main director, and the contours of the worst candidates who will proceed directly to the 24-hour survival showdown "Street World Fighter: Directors War - Last Stage: 24H" (hereafter "Last Stage: 24H"), which will decide the first elimination, also emerged.
The broadcast that day ranked first in its time slot for four consecutive weeks among cable and general programming combined in the 2049 male and female ratings (AGB Nielsen, metropolitan area overall). The 1539 target also ranked first in its time slot for three consecutive weeks. In particular, it topped all channels including terrestrial broadcasters in the female 20s and 30s and male teens and 40s ratings, proving broad popularity. When the final director result between Back Kooyoung and Nain was announced, household peak ratings rose more than 2%, reflecting intense interest.
The "title sequence film mission" is a mission in which 10 choreographers present their concept videos to the official title track "Royalty (Prod. By !llmind)," and a main director is selected to oversee the title sequence that will become the face of the program.
First, the lowest-ranked concept was determined through choreographer voting, and a harsh rule was applied in which any choreographer receiving two or more votes was immediately excluded from main director contention. As a result, Kasper, Renan and Minjun Jeong were eliminated from contention in sequence, tasting defeat in the race for the throne.
The final showdown featured Nain and Back Kooyoung. Born in 2003 and the youngest choreographer and breakout prodigy, Nain faced Back Kooyoung, a first-generation veteran director with 24 years of experience, creating an intergenerational big match.
Among the eight choreographers who participated in the mission as dancers rather than as directors, fortunes also diverged. Because the main director is granted the powerful authority to decide elimination candidates, a tense battle of tactics and fierce appeals to avoid being the worst continued. Back Kooyoung and Nain even elicited laughs by sharing the unusual reaction, "job satisfaction goes up."
The directing approaches of the two candidates were distinctly different. Back Kooyoung focused on "diversity" as his keyword, concentrating on maximizing each choreographer's individuality and charm. On the day of filming he not only led the dancers but also communicated directly with the camera director and commanded the entire set. He demonstrated his own directing capabilities with the ease and polish that come from long experience.
From the day before filming, Nain meticulously planned costumes, camera movement per part and shot composition, demonstrating flawless preparation. On set she continued fast and precise directing and drew reactions calling her "AI-like in execution." However, as filming was repeated to complete detailed shots, the dancers' fatigue increased and time pressure intensified. Ultimately showing tears, Nain left a deep impression as she struggled to shoulder the heavy responsibility of being a main director despite her young age.
With special MC AIKI present, the final vote to decide the fate of the main director proceeded. Earlier, the worst candidates each pointed to by Back Kooyoung and Nain were also revealed. Back Kooyoung picked Baby Zoo, who had experienced difficulties in a particular choreography multiple times, as his worst candidate, and Nain chose Renan, who repeatedly missed timing in the chair part, as her worst candidate.
The coveted main director throne went to Back Kooyoung. In the earlier public judge vote, Nain won and took the first vote, but in the choreographers' internal vote involving eight participants, Back Kooyoung led 5-4 and achieved a dramatic comeback.
After being selected as the main director, Back Kooyoung said with overwhelming emotion, "I had a brain freeze. I'll put my body and soul into making a great film." Nain, who once again missed the director credit right after the first mission, expressed deep regret, saying, "It feels like it was a hair's breadth difference; I'm so disappointed."
Back Kooyoung, who claimed the throne, was immediately given powerful authority to complete the work. He entrusted the production of the title sequence outro choreography to Bada, Ingyoo and Baby Zoo, and even created a separate "director's cut" creative competition.
Selected choreography would not only be reflected in the actual work but would also have the opportunity to be credited in the choreography credits. Accordingly, the participants split into three teams—▲Nain·Bada·Simeez ▲Baby Zoo·Ingyoo·Minjun Jeong ▲Renan·Kasper·Hash—and completed concept videos with different colors. The choreographers put their heads together as co-creators rather than competitors to win Back Kooyoung's selection, producing another form of chemistry.
Finally, the main title sequence film of "SDWF" overseen by Back Kooyoung was unveiled. With the three special judges Sean Lu, Kyoka and Honey J evaluating the completed work, praise followed saying, "I want to give it a perfect 10," recognizing its high level of completion.
Bada's choreography was ultimately chosen for the outro choreography, and in the "director's cut," the choreography by the Baby Zoo·Ingyoo·Minjun Jeong team, which emphasized the directorial appeal of contemporary, was selected.
However, the worst candidates who will go up to the "Last Stage: 24H," where the first elimination occurs simultaneously with the work's completion, were also revealed. In the all-time survival gate where only one of three can survive, Renan, who had been criticized for timing due to a dancer-killing "off-beat" mistake, was the first to be named. Next, Minjun Jeong, who was also the creator of the "director's cut," was named as a worst candidate, delivering a shock.
The identity of the final elimination candidate among Baby Zoo, Kasper and Hash has not been revealed. Attention is focused on who will be the last choreographer to go up to the "Last Stage: 24H," and who will survive 24 hours of competition to return as the protagonist to the "SDWF" stage.
[Photo] broadcast capture
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