“Squid Game” Directed by Hwang Don-hyuk, Star Lee Lee Jong-jae’s Long-Term Impact on the Show: “Great Stories Can Come From Anywhere”

After its debut in September, Netflix’s South Korean survival drama squid game It took the world by surprise. This is Streamer’s most-watched show to date, and its actors have received awards and critical acclaim for watching the Emmys.

It’s hard to understand that writer-director Hwang Don-Hook came up with the idea for the series 14 years ago, based on his own economic struggle and class inequality in South Korea, and was told it was “too unrealistic and too much”. . “Violent. But despite initial resistance and suspicion, the show debuted at a time when it reflected the reality before us: the economic chasm was deteriorating and people were looking for thought-provoking and entertaining content at home.

Hwang and star Lee Jung-je, who plays Guy Hoon in the TV series, chatted THRThrough a translator, on how the series ended on Netflix and why “Red Light, Green Light” was the hardest game to play.

Director Hwang, tell me how the idea came about and how it ended up on Netflix.

Hwang Dong Hyuk That was around 2008 or 2009. My movie just failed and I’m in financial trouble. I had a lot of time, so I read a lot of Japanese manga, for example, Cage, Lying game s fights of kings, All survival manga. I started to wonder, “What if a game like this was a big cash prize that I could participate in?” I had to think, “I’m not a genius. I don’t think I get very far in these games.” So I thought, “What could have been a game as simple as a kid’s game with a big cash prize? Maybe it works really well in something like this.” In 2009 I started writing a feature film script. At the time, there were a lot of responses that it was too unrealistic and violent and for those reasons it wouldn’t be commercially successful. I couldn’t get funding and I couldn’t cast the main actors. I had to to do that and I thought that maybe one day the weather would be different.

In 2018 I took the script back to my laptop and thought I had created a web or a cartoon. But while reviewing the scripts, I thought that instead of turning it into a web series, and reminding myself that Netflix had just started their business in Korea, this series would be more appropriate, so I pitched the idea to Netflix. They loved it and wanted to do it right away.

Jung-jae, how and why did you get involved?

Lee Jung Jae I heard that director Hwang wanted me to read the script. I always wanted to work with him. I knew he was a very fun person and a creator of important creative works. It was really intriguing and I knew it would be something that would do really well in Korea, but I didn’t expect it to be as big a global hit as it is today.

Why do you think it became a worldwide sensation?

Leeward As we look at the economic recession that continues to get worse across the world, I think a lot of people felt or thought that it was a very real and huge problem. And that’s why I think squid gameHis message was echoed by countless people around the world. The TV series is not only fun, but after watching it, it is something that evokes a lot of thought and conversation in its audience. I think all these phenomena together are very timely for the days we live in now.

Hwang In fact, he was more concerned about how they would make it. [by] Korean audience. There are many reasons for this, one of which is that I felt Korean audiences didn’t conform to genres they weren’t familiar with. I’ve seen many cases where retries and new genres have not been well received, especially the survival game genre. It was a little more popular abroad. I was hoping that maybe people overseas would like it better, but obviously I didn’t expect it to be on that scale.

As for the reasons why it was so successful, I agree with JJ. Also, what has and has transcended language, cultural and generational barriers – as I’ve heard many times that kids love shows and history in so many different countries – has to do with design. And visuals. It is very simple and really arouses curiosity how to use very simple signs like circle, square and triangle. These visual codes, so to speak, were able to arouse people’s curiosity to no avail. [spoken] Tongue, which meant there was no barrier. there was some intention [the design] So that you don’t need a specific language, it will be very intuitive and easy.

What were the most difficult scenes to reproduce?

Leeward The first game, “Red Light, Green Light”. It was quite stressful because it had to be convincing because it was the first game. There were some parts where I had to make sure the acting was a little over the top. Then there were some areas where I had to make it very realistic. This is something I paid a lot of attention to.

Hwang “Red light, green light” was the beginning of our production. This particular scene was something that had only existed in my mind for over ten years. I had to fight this thought: “When I take it to the live action stage, will it be absurd? Will it be convincing enough? I was worried [whether it would] Take a feeling of dread and do something horrible and fun. I just didn’t know if it would work. There was also pressure that this first game had to go well for the series to be successful.

JJ, how did you prepare for the role?

Leeward I actually had childhood memories of playing these games. I also spent a lot of time studying the script. Director Hwang tends to write his lines very simply, but he still has these hidden meanings. I had time to read his intentions.

What can program recognition say about what the viewer wants to see?

Leeward I look forward to Korean movies and TV shows and content that will reach a global audience. Personally, I really hope they send me even more interest as I plan for the future. I’ve always worked hard, but now I know more about the global audience, which makes things even more difficult.

Hwang That’s what many Hollywood experts and people in the industry have said. squid gameThe arrival [streamers] And what are the substitutes like for such a big game. I believe squid game This is the first proven case where a non-English speaking show could have found so many global audiences around the world and been so successful through the platform. squid game Shows that there is not [to have a] Hollywood’s big budget and Hollywood star actor. We’ve shown that when you have great creators working with great actors and great teams, great stories can succeed and they can come from anywhere. Important, we were able to send this message. [world]. squid game He presented a new opportunity, a new opportunity, a new confidence for the global entertainment industry.

The interview is edited for length and clarity.

The story first appeared in a separate June issue of The Gossipify. Click here to subscribe to the magazine.