TVING / Its New Story / W STORY
By this time, for many BL fans, the name Hwang DaSeul could be synonymous with words like "amazing", "great" or phrases like "another hit project" or "I am definitely watching" as many BL fans have come to attribute her name to a list of successful and impactful BL dramas that have been produced from Korea in the last 3 years.
In the year 2020, the release of the hit BL series "Where Your Eyes Linger" served as the quenching gulp of water that didn't just satiate the global thirst for the genre, but also made us want more. Regarded as the first Korean BL Drama, this drama didn't just project the amazing potential the genre had to global fans but also gave rise to more BL production from Korea as its well-received response showed a great interest in the public for more of the themed drama series.
And at the helm of what many would rightly tag as a groundbreaking success or project is Hwang DaSeul, the amazing director and screenwriter of the drama, who continues to display her boundless creativity and passion for her craft through her works.
Its New Story / W STORY / TVING
From "Where Your Eyes Linger" (starring Han GiChan and Jang EuiSoo) to "To My Star", "To My Star 2: Our Untold Stories" (starring Kim KangMin and Son WooHyeon), and "Blueming" (starring Kang EunBin and Cho HyukJun), Hwang DaSeul clearly has a knack for telling and producing beautiful and impactful stories that always resonate well with viewers and makes us draw life lessons from them.
Her most recent BL drama "Blueming" which also joins the long list of amazing works produced by KENAZ productions, is one that many fans of the genre vividly rank as an all-time favorite thanks to its brilliant production and storyline.
We had an opportunity to interview the amazing Director and Screenwriter, picking her brain on her interest in the genre, her experiences so far, her thought process in creating a character or project, and what we can expect from her in the future.
First of all, thank you for speaking with Kpopmap today, Hwang DaSeul Director. Please can you introduce yourself to our global readers?
Hello! I’m Hwang DaSeul, the director of BL series “Where Your Eyes Linger”, “Blueming”, and “To My Star”. It’s an honor to be interviewed!
For many who may not know, you are at the helm of the production of successful BL dramas like “Where Your Eyes Linger”, “To My Star”, and more recently “Blueming”. Can you tell us why you are interested in the BL genre and your experience working in this themed drama so far?
At first, I started with the urging of the production company, but as I took on more projects, I became even more captivated by this genre. I thought BL was walking a line between reality and fantasy, as it could portray difficult real-life issues in a softer way, and make unfamiliar aspects of fantasy more realistic, which I find very attractive.
The process of creating BL works is similar to making dramas or movies in any other genre, but the unique aspect of BL is that, in the beginning, the unfamiliar genre had to be explained. However, as time passed and the genre became more widespread, the need for understanding the genre disappeared.
TVING
As a director, we believe there is a thought process that goes into picking your scripts or project. Can you tell us the deciding factors you consider when choosing a project?
I think the most important factor is whether the emotions I want to convey or the themes I want to express can be contained in the work. Regardless of the material or genre, creators place the greatest emphasis on having something to impart to the audience - whether it contains something they want to express, whether it's different from what they've done before and whether it can have a positive impact on the audience when it is conveyed.
Many readers may not know that you are not just a director but also a screenwriter as well. How do you find a balance in both positions, especially with projects where you are both the director and screenwriter?
When writing the script, I tend to leave the picture open to interpretation a bit more. During the production stage, there are many variables that can occur, so I tend to focus more on the emotional line and character expression rather than the picture. When directing, I think more about the detailed picture. Therefore, if I were to divide the two tasks, I think it's better not to think too specifically about the detailed movements and pictures when writing the script, as it can be interpreted in various ways when creating the work later.
As a screenwriter and director, how do you draw inspiration while creating a project or directing a scene? And how do you bring your vision for a character or a particular moment to life in a drama?
When I take on a project, I create a space in my head and heart where I put in characters and stories, and I try to constantly get inspiration from them while going about my daily life. Especially during the pre-production stage, I make an effort to see, hear, and read a lot of things. It's not about copying something, but when I receive various stimuli, even if it's just doodling, I can come up with completely different ideas, and things I thought were vague become clearer.
Usually, creators hold a few keywords in their minds and continue to generate sub-ideas based on those keywords. Specific scenes or desired scenes always come to mind suddenly, and there are moments when there is no doubt that "This is it!"
Oftentimes, viewers are not afforded the opportunity to get more details about the production process of a series or movie. As a screenwriter and director, you have key inputs and are part of the major production process of a series, from its casting to scripting and even post-production. Can you recall for our readers your experience working on “Blueming”?
"Blueming" was the project that took the longest time for me in terms of script writing and pre-production among all the works I've done. Although the number of shooting episodes was not long due to the 13-episode format, the period of writing and preparing the script was longer than other works, even longer than "To My Star 2: Our Untold Stories." Thanks to this, I was able to have various and long conversations with many staff members and actors, and I had more time to think deeply. It was not an easy task due to weather and other circumstances, but as it was a project with a staff I worked with for the first time, I had a lot to learn from it as well.
One of the beautiful attractions of “Blueming” was the settings and how each set or location had a link to the characters and the story. While drawing the storyboard or shooting a scene, what factors do you consider in choosing the setting for that particular scene and how it ties to the story?
I firmly believe in the power of repetition- for example, using the same location where a character was before, then later with two people, and then later when the two people are in love, and so on, to create a narrative through repeating the same place. When a location is repeated during the character's growth, the narrative naturally emerges from that place as well. Usually, when selecting a specific background, I convey the rough concept I drew while writing the script and visit locations and choose the best possible condition for filming with the producer, art director, and cinematographer.
Its New Story
As viewers of the series, there were so many scenes that were a favorite for various reasons. Which scenes were your favorite to shoot? And were there any that you’d say was considerably difficult and why?
My favorite scene among the ones we filmed is the montage from the scene where Cha SiWon and Hyung DaWoon play on the beach, the pillow fight as they spend the night together, to the screening of SiWon's film at the premiere. The visuals turned out exactly as I had envisioned, and I believe that scene was responsible for creating the signature "mood" of "Blueming".
One of the most difficult scenes to shoot was the location that was supposed to be “Anyangcheon.” When we were shooting the scene of riding a bicycle, the camera had to be on the opposite side, but it took a long time to move back and forth across the river. Also, I remember that time when we planned a one-day shoot but we had to wait for about two hours because the weather was not good. Personally, I am disappointed, but I remember being delighted when the sun miraculously rose during the scene where 20-year-old SiWon and DaWoon ride their bikes as they get away from SiWon’s father.
W STORY
In comparison to other BL dramas, your works have received great acclaim from viewers for projecting an emotional depth and relatable storyline, especially with its characters. As a screenwriter and director, is this a key factor you seek to emphasize with your characters and why?
I always strive to depict characters as multi-dimensional. While I believe that all humans are inherently good, I also think that it is up to each person to make their own choices. I hope that all the characters I draw are human-like and good people, so I wish for them to make the right choices in the end and receive support, even though they have struggles and maybe selfish at the time. However, I think that when the dilemmas that the characters face in the story fall into the same category as the dilemmas that the audience has always carried, it is easier for the audience to empathize with the characters.
With Korea gaining more popularity in the BL genre, there is now a call by global fans, for more GL dramas to be made as well. Although it is relatively new, is a GL drama amongst the list of genres you love to write or direct?
If there is a work with an emotional storyline and message that I want to convey, I welcome it anytime! It's also a genre that I really want to direct and feel confident about.
With your experience so far working in the BL genre and film industry in general, are there any misconceptions you think fans may have about the genre? Either surrounding its actors, storylines of the characters, or the purpose of the genre.
I think fans know more about this industry than many creators, including myself, who are currently creating the BL genre. Therefore, rather than misunderstanding from fans, I think the stigma that comes with the BL genre still exists. Invariably, when any problem arises, the fact that it is a minority in itself can act as a reason or cause.
You have a filmography with works in both BL and non-BL dramas. Is there a vivid difference between shooting and directing a BL drama and a non-BL drama?
Although not a significant hurdle, as I mentioned earlier, there are times when we need to explain the genre to our staff and actors, or when we need to obtain permits for shooting in certain locations that require a better understanding of the genre.
As a director and screenwriter who has worked in various genres, is there a particular genre you’d love to incorporate into the BL genre?
I heard that many genres are expected to be combined with BL, and I'm very excited about it! If the mystery thriller genre isn't combined even after some time, I would like to give it a try!
Thank you so much for your time. Please share a note or some words with our global readers who will be looking forward to more work from you.
Hello! This is Hwang DaSeul.
Although it has not yet been decided when I will meet you again through another project, it is always a great strength to know that there are people waiting for my next work as a creator and director. I will strive to create works that can bring greater happiness than the comfort and love I have received! I sincerely hope to meet you again in the next project, with even more developed skills! Always take care of your body and mind.
Truly, thank you always.
Hwang DaSeul
Thank you once again to Hwang DaSeul for taking out time for this interview. Alongside global fans of the genre, we duly appreciate your works and look forward to your future projects as well.
Press unlimited hearts and cheer for the artist!
Press unlimited hearts and cheer for the artist!
Press unlimited hearts and cheer for the artist!
Press unlimited hearts and cheer for the artist!
Press unlimited hearts and cheer for the artist!
Comments