The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio
The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio |
| Posted: 28 Aug 2011 12:29 AM PDT A major crisis behind the scenes of a South Korean drama highlighted the poor working conditions of actors. SOMETIMES the drama behind the scenes can be more interesting than the drama itself. Last week, fans of South Korean drama Spy MyeongWol (currently showing on KBS World (Astro Ch 391)were glued to their computer screens for updates of the "drama within the drama". Because for the first time in South Korean entertainment history, the lead actress abandoned the show in the middle of production. The drama, which is about a North Korean spy sent to abduct a South Korean film star, had been troubled by rumours of disputes between the producer-director Hwang In Hyuk and the lead actress Han Ye Seul. Things worsened to the point where Han demanded that Hwang be replaced. According to Korean celebrity gossip website Allkpop, Han had been demanding better working hours, but was ignored. Trouble began when Han appeared late for work on Aug 12 and 13. When she didn't show up on Aug 14, the cast and crew began to really worry because that week's episode, which was supposed to air on Aug 15, was only halfway done. (Many Korean dramas shoot their episodes "live", just days before they air, so that they can make last minute changes to the script in order to boost ratings.) The situation then became critical when Han, who is Korean-American, left for Los Angeles on Aug 14. As a result, a special had to be aired in place of the new episode. Her management company, Sidus HQ, Spy MyeongWol's production company, Lee Kim Productions, and KBS quickly held crisis meetings to discuss the next step. There was talk of replacing Han with another actress or even killing her character off. But since the drama was named after Han's character, few could see how the story could be resolved logically without her. The parties began to play hardball. They threatened to sue Han in the realm of billions of won and released statements that criticised Han for her behaviour. Lee Kim productions, for one, said in a press statement that Han "made a decision that's unfitting for a public figure." Perhaps it is the threat of legal action, or perhaps it was her mother – who was rumoured to have flown in from Los Angeles to talk to KBS and the producers – who managed to convince Han to return. Two days after she left South Korea, Han flew back, wearing the same clothes she wore the day she left. This drama behind the drama has highlighted the crazy working conditions in South Korea's entertainment industry. The live shoot system forces the actors and crew to work long hours. So much so that it is not unusual for actors to get very little or no sleep at all during the shooting period. (The cast of the drama You're Beautiful had only an hour or two of sleep a day during the drama's last few weeks.) Stories of stars collapsing or getting into accidents because of exhaustion is common. Hyun Bin, star of the hit romantic comedy Secret Garden, was hooked up to IV drips to "energise" himself during the drama's hectic shooting schedule. And someone who claims to be Han's hairstylist said that the reason why the actress was late for filming was because she was so sleep deprived that she couldn't wake up on time. Fans – both inside and outside South Korea, where Korean dramas have a huge following – are divided over Han's actions. Some think that she was irresponsible and unprofessional – other actors have fulfilled their obligations despite working in the same conditions, why couldn't she? Others, however, sympathised with her and even admired her for making a stand. Some South Korean actors, including her co-star Eric Mun, have spoken out in support of Han. The Korean Actors Association released a statement on Aug 19: "To see a drama immediately miss an episode because the lead actress left for a couple days is a reflection of how poorly Korean TV shows are bring produced. Han Ye Seul was screaming for survival through this boycott. "According to Korean labour laws, normal workers are allowed to work only 12 hours per week overtime, in addition to the regular eight-hour working days. Broadcasters, however, never felt guilty even when actors worked 100 hours overtime, reasoning they are not under legal protection of standard labour law." When interviewed by the media, Han said she was sorry for her actions and that she wished she could "start all over again." However, she did not regret what she did even if her actions meant that her career was over. "I just wanted the people in Korea to understand the poor working conditions ... I didn't want to see another victim like me, but I do think it was my fault to cause so much trouble to the entire cast and staff members," said Han. "I realised nothing would improve unless I took the action I did, so I would like to believe I did the right thing," she added. Han has since resumed filming, and while the public seems more sympathetic to her plight now, it is uncertain how her career will be affected when the drama wraps up. The industry is generally unforgiving of those who dare to rock the boat in any way. In the past, stars who took legal action against the companies in the industry were often barred from the entertainment scene for a few years. It is also doubtful that the South Korean entertainment industry will change the way things are done overnight. But if anything, Han's actions would make them less secure about the live shoot system and would prompt them to take steps to ensure that such a thing never happens again. ■ Elizabeth Tai hopes for a better working conditions for South Korean celebrities – they are human, too. |
| Posted: 27 Aug 2011 06:06 PM PDT OTHER than a guest-starring role in a British TV series when she was studying at Drama Centre in London and then a small role in a TV movie after graduation, Emilia Clarke hasn't done much else professionally as a actress. But both David Benioff and D.B. Weiss – writers and executive producers of Game Of Thrones – were immediately convinced that Clarke should be the one to play the pivotal role of the exiled Princess Daenerys Targaryen in their show. What's even more incredible is they first saw her audition in a thumbnail-sized video on their laptops! In an interview earlier this year, Benioff recalls: "There was something incredibly compelling about her and it's a really tricky role. Daenerys is one of my favourite characters in the book. She starts out as a very meek, timid girl who's damaged and ready to break down at any point. In the first book, and in the first season, she becomes the queen. So we had to find an actress who is very young who could play both the meek and the queenly, regal and powerful woman. Not that many young actresses can pull that off." The 23-year-old showcases a cheerful personality at this interview, laughing quite freely and being amazingly frank about herself. She describes the opportunity to act in a show like Game Of Thrones as "kind of a fairy tale really". According to her, she is one of those people who've always wanted to be an actress. "My dad works as a sound engineer in the theatre, and when I was three I went to see a musical called Show Boat. I sat in the front row quietly for two hours – sort of mesmerised by the whole thing – and just fell in love with it then. As I was growing up that's the only thing I ever said I wanted to do. Ever. So, luckily I've ended up doing it." Her level of commitment is pretty obvious as she is in a state of undress quite a bit in the beginning of the series, as her character experiences a sexual awakening after being married off to a fierce warrior and leader of the Dathraki tribe by her brother in a bid to raise an army that would help him reclaim the Iron Throne (the throne of the Seven Kingdoms, upon which the king rules in this medieval fantasy story). "Well, it's HBO, so it's incredibly tasteful," Clarke says of the sexy scenes. "A lot of shots are set up like a painting so it's less about the sex side of things but just what's necessary for the story ... although my dad's not watching, so we're good," she adds with a distinctive laugh. Perhaps what is most striking about this unassuming young star is not that she is such a contrast to her character – who is deadly serious and most of the time just sad – but that she has dark hair, which renders her almost unrecognisable. "The hair was amazing; I hate my own hair now. Maybe I should just dye my hair silver now," she says, with that wonderful laugh again. "The joy of being an actor is you can be silver-haired one day and this colour hair, the next," she says, pointing to her own brown locks. "The wig was just so beautiful. And it was a huge process to get it right, because silver is quite a difficult colour to pull off. There was a lot of tweaking involved to get it perfect." While she's based in London, she often goes back home to Buckinghamshire – "to get fed". Since the series has taken off, those trips will most probably be less frequent. Especially since she wants her career to be filled with brilliant parts. Clarke says: "To be given an opportunity to work with more incredible people and more opportunities to play brilliant girls, women, all of it." Related Stories: |
| Posted: 27 Aug 2011 06:06 PM PDT PETER Dinklage is the only American actor in a largely British cast in HBO's Game Of Thrones. Since George R.R. Martin – the author of A Song Of Ice And Fire, the series of books the show is based on – imagined his characters to be speaking in British accents, Dinklage adapted a posh and royal-like accent for his character, Tyrion Lannister. "I am sure I am going to be under the microscope for that. You know American ears are a little bit deaf to all the different accents in England – there are just so many – and there are different accents in the show itself," Dinklage tells journalists gathered in a room at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles, in January this year. At this meeting, Dinklage's naturally brown hair is blonde, as production for Game Of Thrones has only just just finished. (One of the features of the Lannister family is their golden hair.) According to the actor, the trick to sporting a believable accent is in being consistent with pronunciation. This, however, doesn't mean he is one of those people who feel the need to keep it up even when not filming. "That's a bit pretentious, isn't it? Come back home with 'Hello luv!' Nah. That wouldn't go over with my guy friends in New York, they'd make a quick work of that one," he shares. But he needn't worry about being scrutinised because his character has become one of the favourite characters with both critics and fans. The Oscar-nominated actor is the only one to receive an Emmy nomination in the acting category out of the 13 nominations Game Of Thrones has garnered. His character, Tyrion, comes from a family of great wealth and privilege. This affords him the option that helps him out of trouble especially since he is of short stature, which is something that is not looked favourably upon by any member of his family; many others also tend to dismiss him because of this. But, as he is described in the show, what he lacks in height, he makes up for with wit and intelligence. "Physically he's not very skilled, so he uses his mind to help him out in situations. I really love the character. He likes to drink and he likes women," says Dinklage, smiling. "Do I share any traits with him? I sure do. Too many to mention," he says. "That's probably why I was attracted to the character – not that I am attracted to myself, that sounded wrong. There was stuff – I won't say what, I won't say which – you watch the show and you can figure out which scenes I am enjoying more than others." Born and raised in New Jersey, the 42-year-old admits to enjoying his time in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where the bulk of the show was filmed. Since the show has already been picked up for Season Two, he is looking forward to going back there for however long he is needed. "In the last few years I have been working more outside the United States. It's just that the projects I have been interested in happen to shoot mainly in Britain." This is not the first time Dinklage has entered the fantasy realm when it comes to acting choices. In the 2008 film The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian, he plays Trumpkin. Although he says he doesn't gravitate towards the fantasy section in a bookstore, he is a fan of fantasy films like Star Wars and The Lord Of The Rings. And, of course, this series. "(Game Of Thrones) is not black and white. There are no heroes and villains. There are just good people who act ugly and do villainous things and vice versa. And that is what's very attractive about these characters." Related Stories: |
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