Actor and director Jung Woo / Courtesy of BH Entertainment
For actor Jung Woo, returning to the character of Jjanggu after 16 years was not just a career move, but a deeply personal journey. In his directorial debut, “Audition 109,” the actor explores the struggling years of an aspiring actor, a narrative that serves as a spiritual successor to his 2009 breakout film “Wish.”
Jung said the project began with a few episodes he had written years ago.
“I wrote the original draft for ‘Wish,’ and I often wondered what happened to Jjanggu after that story ended,” Jung told The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Monday.
“I kept those notes in storage until the production finally got under way. We went through six or seven rounds of revisions to turn those memories into a screenplay.”
“Wish” gained a massive cult following, particularly among male audiences who found deep resonance in its raw and nostalgic depiction of high school brotherhood and growing pains.
Due to these high expectations, Jung initially turned down the offer to direct “Audition 109.” However, he eventually realized that he was already performing the duties of a director in his head, as the characters and their stories were so deeply rooted in his own experiences.
“I realized that I already knew the specific personalities of the characters, the locations and the exact atmosphere of each scene because I had written them,” he explained. “As an actor, I also knew how to express each role. Since these are all parts of directing, I decided to take on the challenge.”
The film is a collaborative effort, particularly with his wife and actor Kim Yoo-mi, who is credited as a creator on the project. He said her support was the starting point for the film.
“I would act out the scenes I wrote, and she found them so entertaining,” he recalled. “She is more than just a planner. Because she studied acting more systematically than I did, she wasn’t afraid to point out when I was heading in the wrong direction on set.”
Source: Korea Times News
