'Brave New World' Director: "Heo Nam-jun is like a large dog... Acting is instinctive" [Interview ②]

*This content was translated by AI.

'Brave New World' director Han Tae-seop expressed deep trust in actors Im Ji-yeon and Heo Nam-jun.

'Recently, director Han Tae-seop and writer Kang Hyun-ju of the recent SBS Friday-Saturday drama "Brave New World" shared various stories in a written interview with StarNews.

'Brave New World,' which concluded on the 20th, is a romance drama depicting a tense war between Shin Seo-ri (played by Im Ji-yeon), a nameless actress possessed by the soul of a notorious Joseon-era villainess and turned into a "villain," and Cha Se-gye (played by Heo Nam-jun), a villainous chaebol known as a monster of capitalism. The romantic comedy chemistry between Im Ji-yeon and Heo Nam-jun received high praise.

'In particular, the final episode, episode 14, recorded a national viewership rating of 11.8%, marking its highest rating to date, and secured first place in the same time slot for 10 consecutive episodes. Additionally, it ranked first in TV drama buzz for four consecutive weeks and topped the June drama brand reputation rankings, proving its intense popularity.

'At the production press conference, Director Han confidently stated, "Im Ji-yeon is competitiveness itself." Indeed, throughout the broadcast, Im Ji-yeon captivated viewers with her acting skills that seamlessly moved between action, comedy, and melodrama across various genres.

'When asked about Im Ji-yeon, Director Han mentioned the scene in episode 1 where Seo-ri is caught in the rain at Cheonggyecheon. "It is a scene where Seo-ri, abandoned by the king, drinks poison and falls into an unfamiliar world. Filming took place in the bitter cold of minus 5 degrees in the middle of winter. The situation was extreme, as the rain froze immediately after it started. Even while soaked to the bone, I was moved to tears watching Im Ji-yeon's breast shot, where she portrayed complex emotions beyond expectations," he revealed.

'He continued, "I cannot forget the moment Im Ji-yeon expressed, with raw acting, the instant when the feeling of pathetic despair right after experiencing death changed into the joy and ecstasy of life. Even after post-production, no matter how much we edited, adjusted the music, or revised the narration, it was very difficult for me to recreate the emotion I felt at that time. Her concentration, sense of responsibility, and pure imagination and passion for the scenes and the work were remarkable," praising Im Ji-yeon.

'Heo Nam-jun skyrocketed to stardom with "Brave New World." Despite his first foray into the romantic comedy genre, his excellent control of pacing thrilled viewers. In particular, viewers showed a strong reaction by consuming Cha Se-gye's lines in the drama as "memes."

'Regarding this, Director Han said, "The charm of Cha Se-gye lies in the task of how convincingly and attractively Heo Nam-jun dismantles the cynicism of 'Love is money,' a line that writer Kang built into an impregnable fortress." He added, "Heo Nam-jun skillfully accomplished this process with instinctive acting and a sincere approach to the work."

'He further recalled, "When filming the sly lines in episode 5, such as 'How is it? Isn't it glorious?' and the shabby scenes shown in the rooftop room, it felt as if the character and the scene were hitting the mark perfectly. I remember Im Ji-yeon praising Heo Nam-jun during the filming of that scene, saying, 'You're really good at being shabby.' Many people describe that line as 'cringey,' but Heo Nam-jun never thought or expressed that the line was cringey."

'Director Han also stated, "You can tell just by talking to Heo Nam-jun for five minutes. He is a person with immense consideration for others, like a large dog. I am confident that Heo Nam-jun's 'life character' will be updated in every future work. I believe this drama has not yet fully revealed Heo Nam-jun's charm," expressing confidence in Heo Nam-jun's continued success.

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*This content was translated by AI.