Director Jason Kim of Netflix’s unique Officer Black Belt shares his ideas on working with Kim Woo Bin, his considerations as a filmmaker, and extra.
Officer Black Belt tells the story of Lee Jung Do (Kim Woo Bin), a 3rd dan in Taekwondo, Kendo, and Judo, working with probation officer Kim Solar Min (Kim Sung Kyun) to observe digital anklet wearers 24/7 to stop crimes.
Working with Kim Woo Bin
Praising Kim Woo Bin, director Kim stated, “No matter Kim Woo Bin stated, I believed him. Irrespective of how he styled his hair or dressed, I may really feel that he had good emotions deep in his coronary heart and that they had been for the world. He had an aura and picture that did not require further persuasion, and that vastly influenced the character of Jeong Do.” He confessed that having Kim Woo Bin because the lead made the storytelling smoother from the beginning.
Director Kim’s Method to Filming Motion
Because the promotional materials promised, viewers had been handled to well-crafted motion scenes, the success of which the director attributes to Kim Woo Bin’s physique. “It is true that due to Kim Woo Bin’s wonderful physique, the vary of motion expanded. When taking pictures motion scenes, I are likely to give attention to bodily power. If there is a striker who can use each toes, I attempt to make full use of them. We arrange his character to be daring from the beginning. For the reason that idea was to mix three martial arts, I wished to evenly showcase Taekwondo, Kendo, and Judo. When an individual with lengthy legs does a kick, it appears like a windmill spinning, so I attempted to focus on that. In slender areas, as a substitute of Taekwondo, we used Kendo. I labored along with the martial arts director and Kim Woo Bin to search out the suitable course for the brand new settings and sophisticated areas.” He revealed that the motion was meticulously designed to focus on Kim Woo Bin’s bodily allure.
He continued, “Motion scenes require plenty of preparation. As a result of they’re harmful, I at all times really feel anxious whereas filming. The considered not getting anybody damage and creating good scenes is a heavy burden. At occasions like that, I usually surprise, ‘What number of extra occasions can I do that? What a few rom-com? Would a rom-com get funding?’ Motion is the style that turns into tougher the extra I work on it,” expressing how troublesome it’s to create motion sequences which might be contemporary, new, and charming with every mission.
On this movie, as a lot care was given to Kim Woo Bin’s emotional arc as to his motion scenes. The director stated, “An excellent story is one which makes you overlook it is fiction and settle for it as actual. To make it appear actual, the feelings needed to be real. In that sense, Kim Woo Bin’s crying scene was really outstanding. For the reason that actor cannot cry repeatedly, we gave plenty of thought to the angles. Once I noticed the tears flowing because the hospital lights mirrored off them, I bought goosebumps on my entire physique. … It was a scene that made me very emotional and but left me deeply happy.”
Officer Black Belt — The Newest Addition to Director Kim’s Buddy Motion Films
Director Kim has been constructing a portfolio of buddy motion productions. His touch upon this: “Midnight Runners revolved round friendship, and Bloodhounds portrayed a brotherly relationship. This time [with Officer Black Belt], it is a brotherhood with an excellent bigger age hole. After getting married, I developed new emotional views, and now I believe {that a} father-daughter buddy film, one thing I could not have imagined whereas making Midnight Runners, is also attainable. It may appear cliché and easy, however I really feel that in immediately’s world, what we’d like extra are the values of belief fashioned in relationships, and the friendship, loyalty, and familial love that come up from these relationships.” For this reason he continues to make buddy productions.
A Filmmaker’s Considerations About Competing Towards Brief-Kind Content material
When wanting on the movie world of director Kim, it is evident that whereas he continues to pursue buddy relationships, the quantity and tempo of motion in his movies have been rising. He shared, “What involved me whereas getting ready for this mission was, ‘How do I compete and win in opposition to YouTube Shorts?’ There’s this media with a contemporary climax, and I fear about how tightly I have to construction my movies so they do not really feel dragged out,” expressing considerations as a filmmaker concerning the rising reputation of short-form content material.
“I believe folks’s dopamine ranges are altering. In traditional storytelling, pressure would progressively construct up after which be relieved, however now that cycle has sped up. I believe shortening the timing of dopamine launch may be the important thing to interesting to viewers who’re accustomed to short-form content material. To cater to viewers’ quickly altering tastes, I really feel that the ‘grammar’ of media must maintain growing as properly. As a storyteller, I believe I have to be continuously fascinated by what viewers discover entertaining and the way I can lead them there.”
When requested whether or not a sequel to Officer Black Belt might occur, he responded, “If viewers present curiosity and the chance arises, we would wish to include a unique tone and discover new instructions.”