"I was amazed by Han Suk-kyu's acting airing this week." (Director Song Yeon-hwa)
Director Song Yeon-hwa shared behind-the-scenes stories of directing MBC-TV's 'Such an Intimate Traitor' (hereafter referred to as 'Intimate Traitor') and points to watch for the remaining episodes on the 31st.
'Intimate Traitor' is Director Song's first full-length drama. The drama has received praise for its compelling script, meticulous direction, and the flawless performances of the actors.
Particularly, the mise-en-scène that gives meaning to each scene is creating "obsessed viewers" ('Intimate Traitor' superfans). It's sparked a trend of viewers watching it multiple times.
The production team's efforts are significant. They have created high-quality scenes in each episode. Props, lighting, art, music, and camera angles have come together perfectly.
The intense performances by Han Suk-kyu and Chae Won-bin are also a factor in the drama's popularity. The two added realism to a unique subject and shocking storyline.
Director Song praised, "Han Suk-kyu, with his perfect image, played Jang Tae-soo in a way everyone can relate to," adding, "He amplified the emotions."
She especially asked the audience to look forward to Han Suk-kyu's performances in episodes 6 and 7. "I was really surprised while filming. It's in episodes 6 and 7 airing this week," she said.
Regarding casting Chae Won-bin as Ha-bin, she recalled, "I felt she was calmer compared to her peers, and that aspect felt similar to Ha-bin."
The main challenge was expressing the tension within the father-daughter relationship. Director Song said, "The home is filled with silence and tension."
She continued, "We focused on various aspects so the relationship between Tae-soo and Ha-bin could be conveyed visually. We created a structure that would allow for immersion."
'Intimate Traitor' has reached its midpoint. Now, the second act unfolds. She urged anticipation, saying, "The truth about the father-daughter relationship changes and the murder case rise to the surface."
Meanwhile, episode 6 of 'Intimate Traitor' will air at 9:50 PM on the 1st of next month.
<The following is Director Song Yeon-hwa's Q&A>
Q. 'Such an Intimate Traitor' is the winning script of the 2021 MBC Drama Screenplay Contest. What was your first impression of the script?
A. When I first read the script, the tense atmosphere in the father-daughter dialogue was striking. I liked that it explored the themes of trust and doubt within the close context of a family. Personally, the very universal theme of 'a father and a teenage daughter whose feelings are hard to understand' being intertwined with the unique setup of a profiler who needs to read a criminal's mind and a daughter with antisocial tendencies made this work more attractive to me.
Q. What synergy was created by having Han Suk-kyu play the role of Tae-soo?
A. To me, Han Suk-kyu has an image of someone unwavering and complete. In contrast, Tae-soo constantly reacts to what's happening to him, feeling anxious and crumbling. The fact that even a seemingly sturdy person could fall apart over family issues amplifies the emotions conveyed to viewers, thanks to Han Suk-kyu. I believe that with Han Suk-kyu portraying Tae-soo, the story became something everyone can understand and relate to.
Q. There is a lot of feedback that Han Suk-kyu's detailed acting doubled the drama's charm. Was there any aspect of his acting that surprised you as a director?
A. What stays in my memory is filming the scene in the latter part of episode five where Tae-soo collapses after listening to a recording in his wife Ji-soo's room. It's a scene where various emotions like regret for his life and guilt towards Ji-soo are intertwined, and Han Suk-kyu's way of expressing that was remarkable. There are indeed scenes in episodes 6 and 7 that genuinely surprised me during filming, and I'm eager for viewers to see them soon.
Q. Why did you decide to cast rising actress Chae Won-bin in the role of Ha-bin?
A. I was captivated by Chae Won-bin's eyes. I thought her cold and mysterious eyes suited Ha-bin very well. Although she's lively and adorable when you get to know her, my first impression was that she seemed more mature and calm than her peers. I felt these traits were similar to Ha-bin, who has to restrain her emotions, and immediately thought about working with her.
Q. Oh-jin's (played by Han Ye-ri) and Dae-hong's (played by No Jae-won) stances towards Tae-soo differ, and they see the events differently. What did you want to show through these characters?
A. Oh-jin and Dae-hong are characters underlined by the theme of growth. We wanted to show that these two very different people could meet, conflict, influence each other, and even grow together. Sometimes the person who can understand you is not someone similar to you but someone different, and that's a theme we wanted to explore. Please look forward to the stories surrounding Oh-jin and Dae-hong.
Q. As you directed the drama, what aspect did you focus on the most?
A. I focused a lot on expressing the tension within the father-daughter relationship. The space that should feel most cozy, the home, is filled with silence and tension, and the supposedly close father-daughter relationship feels distant. I concentrated on various aspects like filming and art so that the relationship between Tae-soo and Ha-bin could be well conveyed visually. We explored various methods to construct a framework where emotions could be well transmitted and viewers could gradually immerse themselves in the characters.
Q. It's your debut full-length drama, and it's receiving a hot response from drama fans. What audience feedback stands out to you?
A. I cherish the positive feedback regarding the actors' performances. It feels particularly meaningful that stories revolving around the passionate performances of the many actors who willingly participated in this project are being shared. Through this work, I'm pleased to introduce new faces that weren't familiar to viewers and see that the actors who prepared diligently are receiving positive evaluations.
Q. You must be fond of every scene, but was there a particular scene where you paid extra attention while directing?
A. I spent a lot of time thinking through the father-daughter dialogue scenes. In particular, the first conversation scene on Ha-bin's birthday in episode one aimed to convey their relationship clearly. I wanted to create a feeling that, despite engaging in the basic and intimate act of eating together, they seemed to be in separate spaces and not having a proper dialogue. It was a scene crafted with the staff, with much thought given to aspects like lighting, art, and filming, so I'm very attached to it.
Q. Please share the points of interest for the second act of 'Such an Intimate Traitor.'
A. By episode 5, after Tae-soo learns many things about Ha-bin, we reach a turning point. As the father-daughter relationship begins to change, there are still unresolved elements that maintain the tension. Additionally, the truths about the two murders that have been left as mysteries will gradually come to the surface. I believe you'll encounter stories and characters that are slowly approaching the truth.
<Photo Source: MBC>
