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agentX
Joined: 12 Oct 2007
Location: Jeolla province
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 Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 4:29 am Post subject: Korean Dramas get smacked down by English Donga |
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This came out Dec 31st, but heck, we were too busy to remember this,
unless someone discussed it earlier. Search wasn't working for me tonight.
Anyway, the op-ed discussed one of the reasons why Korean dramas have quality issues. Long story short; no timely delivery of scripts.
Get ready for a lot of laughs.
| Quote: |
Opinion �Page Scripts� Symbolize Darker Side of Korean Drama Industry
DECEMBER 31, 2007 05:29
The assault on producers of the SBS drama �King and I� by actor Yoo Dong-geun is a symbolic incident which shows the changes in dynamics in the entertainment business.
Although Yoo was reportedly drunk, the incident came as shocking news to the entertainment world, where producers have the authority over actors and actresses. By publicly apologizing to the producers and the victims, Yoo seems to have settled the issue for the time being. Nonetheless, the problem of giving scripts to actors and actresses on the day of shooting, the underlying cause for the assault, is still haunting the Korean drama kingdom.
No other countries broadcast more dramas than Korea. Perhaps because of Korea�s emotion-rich ethnicity, Korea offers all kinds of dramas, including morning, daily, weekend, Monday and Tuesday (Wednesday and Thursday), and special dramas. Despite the richness in quantity however, drama producers have to bear with substandard production conditions. A prime example is the so-called �page script� system that gives actors lines for the day�s shooting only. Sometimes actors and actresses do not receive scripts until after they finish their makeup. These �page scripts� arrive by fax or e-mail, page by page. Worse yet, they are sometimes transmitted by mobile text messages sentence by sentence. |
What? So the writer's in a Starbucks somewhere and the actors are on set, ready to go, and he or she's got a latte in one hand, and a cell phone in the other, texting in the script?
I've heard of "making it up as you go along" but that's only for emergencies, not for standard production.
| Quote: |
Since actors and actresses have to act their parts without knowing what will happen next, it is hard for them to identify with their characters. Furthermore, they cannot rehearse with their counterparts beforehand because everyone is busy memorizing their own lines. Acting by �page script� often means they have to stay up all night, sometimes pushing them to breakdowns. For the producers, they are kept in the dark about the shooting location until the �page script� is released. Since this allows no time to ask for cooperation at the locations beforehand, producers sometimes damage properties on location, such as cultural assets. The biggest problem with �page scripts� is deterioration in drama quality because the flow of the story may be interrupted at each page. |
Producer: Ok, the script says we have to film this scene in a temple on Dok Island tomorrow.
Actor: Yeah, Dokdo! Wait...what? Is that legal?
Producer: It's in the script so I guess it must be.
| Quote: |
An official in the broadcasting industry said, �Korean dramas love secrets of one�s birth, affairs, losing one�s memory, a good girl winning against a bad girl, Cinderella-like characters, incurable diseases, and conflicts between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law. Without these seven topics, they are left with nothing.� This is also why the plots of Korean dramas are disappointingly predictable, whereas U.S. dramas make viewers look forward to the next episode. Problems regarding �page script� can largely be blamed on the scriptwriters. Roh Hi-Kyeong, a scriptwriter famous for not writing �page scripts,� said, �Providing the script before shooting is an act of respect to the producers.� A scriptwriter should be able to tolerate the �hassle� of writing a script beforehand if he or she wants to show respect to viewers, let alone the producers.
Chung Sung-hee, Editorial Writer, [email protected] |
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?bicode=100000&biid=2007123113418
Hmm, I suppose we could turn this into a laugh fest.
But, we could also turn this into an opportunity. Somehow...  [/quote] |
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regicide
Joined: 01 Sep 2006
Location: United States
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| Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 5:24 am Post subject: Re: Korean Dramas get smacked down by English Donga |
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| agentX wrote: |
This came out Dec 31st, but heck, we were too busy to remember this,
unless someone discussed it earlier. Search wasn't working for me tonight.
Anyway, the op-ed discussed one of the reasons why Korean dramas have quality issues. Long story short; no timely delivery of scripts.
Get ready for a lot of laughs.
| Quote: |
Opinion �Page Scripts� Symbolize Darker Side of Korean Drama Industry
DECEMBER 31, 2007 05:29
The assault on producers of the SBS drama �King and I� by actor Yoo Dong-geun is a symbolic incident which shows the changes in dynamics in the entertainment business.
Although Yoo was reportedly drunk, the incident came as shocking news to the entertainment world, where producers have the authority over actors and actresses. By publicly apologizing to the producers and the victims, Yoo seems to have settled the issue for the time being. Nonetheless, the problem of giving scripts to actors and actresses on the day of shooting, the underlying cause for the assault, is still haunting the Korean drama kingdom.
No other countries broadcast more dramas than Korea. Perhaps because of Korea�s emotion-rich ethnicity, Korea offers all kinds of dramas, including morning, daily, weekend, Monday and Tuesday (Wednesday and Thursday), and special dramas. Despite the richness in quantity however, drama producers have to bear with substandard production conditions. A prime example is the so-called �page script� system that gives actors lines for the day�s shooting only. Sometimes actors and actresses do not receive scripts until after they finish their makeup. These �page scripts� arrive by fax or e-mail, page by page. Worse yet, they are sometimes transmitted by mobile text messages sentence by sentence. |
What? So the writer's in a Starbucks somewhere and the actors are on set, ready to go, and he or she's got a latte in one hand, and a cell phone in the other, texting in the script?
I've heard of "making it up as you go along" but that's only for emergencies, not for standard production.
| Quote: |
Since actors and actresses have to act their parts without knowing what will happen next, it is hard for them to identify with their characters. Furthermore, they cannot rehearse with their counterparts beforehand because everyone is busy memorizing their own lines. Acting by �page script� often means they have to stay up all night, sometimes pushing them to breakdowns. For the producers, they are kept in the dark about the shooting location until the �page script� is released. Since this allows no time to ask for cooperation at the locations beforehand, producers sometimes damage properties on location, such as cultural assets. The biggest problem with �page scripts� is deterioration in drama quality because the flow of the story may be interrupted at each page. |
Producer: Ok, the script says we have to film this scene in a temple on Dok Island tomorrow.
Actor: Yeah, Dokdo! Wait...what? Is that legal?
Producer: It's in the script so I guess it must be.
| Quote: |
An official in the broadcasting industry said, �Korean dramas love secrets of one�s birth, affairs, losing one�s memory, a good girl winning against a bad girl, Cinderella-like characters, incurable diseases, and conflicts between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law. Without these seven topics, they are left with nothing.� This is also why the plots of Korean dramas are disappointingly predictable, whereas U.S. dramas make viewers look forward to the next episode. Problems regarding �page script� can largely be blamed on the scriptwriters. Roh Hi-Kyeong, a scriptwriter famous for not writing �page scripts,� said, �Providing the script before shooting is an act of respect to the producers.� A scriptwriter should be able to tolerate the �hassle� of writing a script beforehand if he or she wants to show respect to viewers, let alone the producers.
Chung Sung-hee, Editorial Writer, [email protected] |
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?bicode=100000&biid=2007123113418
Hmm, I suppose we could turn this into a laugh fest.
But, we could also turn this into an opportunity. Somehow... |
[/quote]
Good stuff. In the States; Soap Operas have been a morning --Monday to Friday thing. Sure there was " Soap" a few decades back but who can stand that stuff --unless you are home sick or just killing some time.
Here it is a national pastime--seven days a week. |
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Komichi
Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Location: Piano Street, Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 5:34 am Post subject: |
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| Wow! That explains a lot. Are the Korean viewers content? |
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regicide
Joined: 01 Sep 2006
Location: United States
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| Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 6:32 am Post subject: |
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| Komichi wrote: |
| Wow! That explains a lot. Are the Korean viewers content? |
Yep. That is what is scary. They seem very content. |
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yingwenlaoshi
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Location: ... location, location!
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| Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 6:44 am Post subject: |
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| Gee. I'm really surprised. Shocked, in fact. |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 5:14 pm Post subject: |
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Most Korean dramas either copy previous ones or those from Japan. I remember one drama "Tomato" got canceled fast after media reported its plot was similar to one in Japan. If you're a half-decent actor, you probably get sick of starring in formulaic production after formulaic production.
Korean men also say dramas are responsible for Korean women getting more materialistic and unreasonable with boyfriends. You see a guy doing something drastic to impress his woman, and female viewers think they should get the same.
Thank goodness my girlfriend hardly watches TV. |
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jdog2050
Joined: 17 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 6:12 pm Post subject: |
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| regicide wrote: |
| Komichi wrote: |
| Wow! That explains a lot. Are the Korean viewers content? |
Yep. That is what is scary. They seem very content. |
I'm getting an idea--an "Office" like "dramedy". A drama about making a korean drama. |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 6:23 pm Post subject: |
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the actors not getting scripts until the last minute, sometimes line by line via cell phone? producers not knowing of locations until the last minute, sometimes the day of shooting?
korean lack of planning reduced to absurdity!
| Quote: |
| �Providing the script before shooting is an act of respect to the producers.� A scriptwriter should be able to tolerate the �hassle� of writing a script beforehand if he or she wants to show respect to viewers, let alone the producers. |
ah ha! so it is a lack of respect when we don't get imformed of class schedule changes until the last minute, not just a cultural difference, koreans themselves are seeing the practice as an issue of respect |
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anyway
Joined: 22 Oct 2005
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| Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 7:51 pm Post subject: |
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| VanIslander wrote: |
the actors not getting scripts until the last minute, sometimes line by line via cell phone? producers not knowing of locations until the last minute, sometimes the day of shooting?
korean lack of planning reduced to absurdity!
| Quote: |
| �Providing the script before shooting is an act of respect to the producers.� A scriptwriter should be able to tolerate the �hassle� of writing a script beforehand if he or she wants to show respect to viewers, let alone the producers. |
ah ha! so it is a lack of respect when we don't get imformed of class schedule changes until the last minute, not just a cultural difference, koreans themselves are seeing the practice as an issue of respect |
Or an issue of quality...and only one of two of the more 'uppity' Koreans... |
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agentX
Joined: 12 Oct 2007
Location: Jeolla province
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| Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 10:14 pm Post subject: |
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I know soap operas and daily dramas are a little different than movies or weekly dramas, but how in the hell do you have a show without a script in place?
This gives me an idea. If we can gather up 50 people, get 4 cameras, and a decent film location, we could produce a hit drama in 1 day of filming. All we have to do is not do what the other dramas do. |
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The Perfect Cup of Coffee
Joined: 17 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 11:34 pm Post subject: |
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| jdog2050 wrote: |
| I'm getting an idea--an "Office" like "dramedy". A drama about making a korean drama. |
Hey, that's pretty good. You oughta pitch it to the networks. It might actually be good timing as dramas have become so formulaic, Koreans might be ready for something new like that. |
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MissSeoul
Joined: 25 Oct 2006
Location: Somewhere in America
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| Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 2:22 am Post subject: |
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| regicide wrote: |
| Komichi wrote: |
| Wow! That explains a lot. Are the Korean viewers content? |
Yep. That is what is scary. They seem very content. |
No, only boring korean watch korean dramas.
When korean drama start, a wife and her husband are having trouble because he is unfaithful and a year later you watch that drama it's still same story. Soooooo slow
Have you ever watch " All my children " in America ?
Within 2 days a wife and her husband already got divorce and wife got new guy and husband got new girl and not only that their new relationship already getting funny, so they are looking someone else. Soooooo fast |
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Gwangjuboy
Joined: 08 Jul 2003
Location: England
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| Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 6:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Yaya wrote: |
Korean men also say dramas are responsible for Korean women getting more materialistic and unreasonable with boyfriends. You see a guy doing something drastic to impress his woman, and female viewers think they should get the same.
Thank goodness my girlfriend hardly watches TV. |
I agree with this. They even adopt their mannerisms and facial expressions too. Really shallow and cring inducing. |
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asylum seeker
Joined: 22 Jul 2007
Location: On your computer screen.
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| Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 5:23 am Post subject: |
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Finally a subject everyone can agree on! 
But seriously, I saw a rerun of a korean drama called '아줌마' with subtitles on arirang and I actually found it reasonably entertaining. It was about an honest woman trying to divorce her husband and get a decent amount of money from his family (to start a restaurant) because her jackass, pretentious professor husband gets caught having an affair. I thought it was good because through the husband character it dealt with a few social isssues pretty well including corruption (he got his professor job through bribery rather than merit) and the pretensions of the Korean elite (he and his mistress's relentless pursuit of status over family) as well as the women's lower status in Korea. It was very satisfying to see the professor get his comeuppance in the end. Perhaps this was one of the exceptions. |
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yingwenlaoshi
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Location: ... location, location!
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| Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 7:16 am Post subject: |
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| asylum seeker wrote: |
Finally a subject everyone can agree on!
But seriously, I saw a rerun of a korean drama called '아줌마' with subtitles on arirang and I actually found it reasonably entertaining. It was about an honest woman trying to divorce her husband and get a decent amount of money from his family (to start a restaurant) because her jackass, pretentious professor husband gets caught having an affair. I thought it was good because through the husband character it dealt with a few social isssues pretty well including corruption (he got his professor job through bribery rather than merit) and the pretensions of the Korean elite (he and his mistress's relentless pursuit of status over family) as well as the women's lower status in Korea. It was very satisfying to see the professor get his comeuppance in the end. Perhaps this was one of the exceptions. |
But that's just a TV show. In real life, she's stashing his money away in a hole and playing along like the good wife. But behind closed doors he doesn't get any skin, so he goes elsewhere for it. Then she sticks a knife in his back when the gettin' is good. The good ole Korean way. |
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