K-Content News
- July 21, 2021
To create a wonderful story that stays in people’s hearts for a long time
Written by Ra-hee KWON, Photo by Gill Pictures
Make your imagination a reality
Q. Ms. Min-yeop PARK, nice to see you. I want to congratulate you on winning two awards: the ‘Baeksang Arts Award’ for Best Picture and Platinum Award from the ‘WorldFest Houston International Film Festival’.
A. Thank you for saying that. I was very touched by the positive response because, actually, ‹Hot Stove League› is our company’s first drama, and it took a lot of work to produce it. Although it has already been about 20 years since I entered this field of work, I have been the CEO of a TV drama production company for only four years. I still have a lot to learn, so I consider these awards as messages of encouragement.
Early in the production of‹Hot Stove League›, I said to Director Dong-yoon CHUNG, “I don’t know whether this drama will have high ratings, but I’m sure it will be remembered as a good drama. My goal is to make a drama that will win the ‘Baeksang Arts Award’.” I’m really happy that what I told him has become a reality.
Q. What led you to plan and produce ‹Hot Stove League›?
A. “Only people who win get applause, but it’s not everything. Giving your best effort is meaningful and valuable in and of itself.” The theme touched my heart. I knew that the drama was about sports, but it also had a deep, intricate, and versatile story. So, I was determined to produce it.
Shin-hwa LEE, the screenwriter, and I have had a long-standing relationship since she was an assistant writer of ‹My Husband Got a Family›. I heard that her script had been selected by MBC’s screenplay competition, and I told her that I wanted to produce a TV drama with her script. Even though my production company was relatively young, she signed a contract with us. So, my staff did their best to live up to the trust she placed in us. I think drama production involves realizing what we want, and when production is underway, mutual trust and respect keep us all going.
Q. The audience reacted to the drama enthusiastically. What most impressed you about the show?
A. I was very delighted to hear that people were so excited about the drama that they wanted to watch it when it first aired, and not as a rerun. It was a priority for them. The drama was spotlighted as a self-development resource for company employees. In this regard, some of the lines spoken by Seung-su BAEK, the team's head, are considered the best quotes of the drama as they reflect what a lot of people experience in life. The way Baek talks is described as “Human Seung-su’s Style.” All of these reactions made me feel good and kept me excited about making the drama. I think we were able to complete ‹Hot Stove League› thanks to the love showed by viewers.
Q. What did ‹Hot Stove League› teach you?
A. It taught me a lot. It showed me that, in terms of directing a drama, I don't have to be obsessed with romance genre elements. It also made me understand that a drama needs a good story to succeed. This experience has broadened my perspective on dramas. And, in terms of the drama production business, I learned that I should consider and take action on any additional business as early as I can, that is, in the planning stage of drama production. If you plan additional business after calculating the profits that a drama will make, it'll be too late. I learned many things as a creative producer.
Creative producers are responsible for helping others
Q. What does a creative producer do?
A. A creative producer finds, examines, and develops a story that has the potential to be a good TV drama. They check various original content such as comics, literature, webtoons, web fiction, and foreign dramas. When they find something good, they make a planning document. They then try to find a good writer for the drama and create an environment that helps the writer finish the script. When the script is finished, they check and develop it. When producing a drama, it takes at least two years to finish planning, and it requires about a year for production. A creative producer is expected to stand by their writer throughout this entire process.
Q. Did you have a specific reason for choosing a creative producer?
A. From the perspective of drama production, my job as a producer combines the roles of creative producer and line producer. Now that drama production tasks have become more subdivided, I was able to choose the role of creative producer. I see myself as a good fit for the head of a drama production team.
Q. How did you start working in TV drama production, and how did you get to where you are today?
A. I got my start as a full-time producer in 2004 at Logos Film, the production company established by Director Jang-soo LEE, who created such great dramas as ‹Beef Soup›, ‹The Dream Racers›, and ‹Beautiful Lady›. I was a big fan of his work. So, I was very honored to work with him.
I was also an assistant director of ‹Save Your Last Dance For Me› and then worked as a planning, line, and marketing producer as well as an assistant director. I’m a jack-of-all-trades. Back in the day, our roles and tasks were not clearly divided, which allowed me to experience many roles in drama production. This experience has helped me understand the overall drama production process and given me the balance I have now.
Having worked in this field for the last 20 years, I’ve been through a lot. Like ‹My Husband Got a Family› or ‹My Love from the Star›, some of the dramas I have produced were incredibly popular. But others, such as ‹Summer Beach›, were cancelled. When a 16-episode drama is cancelled before all of the episodes are produced, everyone involved is hurt by it. This experience made me plan and direct dramas more responsibly and diligently. I always hope that my dramas are projects that everyone involved can be proud of and keep in their hearts for a long time.
Q. If you compare the early 2000s, when you started your career, and 2021, what has changed in the drama production environment?
A. As roles and responsibilities have become increasingly subdivided and specialized in TV drama production today, the industry has become filled with specialists rather than jacks-of-all-trades. Also, during filming, staff now follow the 52-hour work week regulation. An advanced production system has also been introduced, greatly improving the working environment and boosting wages. Back in my day, we had to sleep on a bus and worked all night without breaks until the episode’s broadcasting day.
With the many OTT platforms we have now, we can produce more dramas than before. Also, we can plan more flexibly and create dramas more freely. As someone running a production company, these changes are exciting for me.
Better Together!!
Q. What led you to establish your drama production company, Gill Pictures? Who makes up your team?
A. I was encouraged by something my husband told me. One day, when I was doubting whether to continue working in this field, he said, “If you want to keep doing this work, I want you to set up your own production company. If you do, I think you will be able to produce dramas exactly the way you want.” So, I established my company just to continue doing what I want to do, not to realize a great dream. I also have people working with me, which gives me great energy.
Gill Pictures has four workers: Da-woon KIM, a board director responsible for planning; Sun-hwa CHOI, another board director responsible for directing; Yu-ri KIM, a director responsible for finance; and myself, who does a little bit of everything. We also have the screenwriters: Jae-beom PARK, Yun-kyo CHOI, Hye-yeong NOH, Yoon KIM, Min-suk KIM, Seung-jin LEE, Ju-young EUN, Hee KIM, Seung-hyun NAM, and Jin-sun IM.
Q. Your company has posted a job opening for a creative producer. What skills and qualities do you consider important for that role?
A. I welcome anyone who has a deep love for TV dramas. When you do a job you love, you always have the energy to do the job well. Every person has their own talents, but I think a positive mindset and strong sense of responsibility are more important than any particular talents. But if an applicant is fluent in English, it would be really helpful when we do international projects in the future.
Q. What is most important for you when it comes to running a drama production company?
A. The idea of “better together” is really important for Gill Pictures. The success of a drama production depends on the people involved. When we pursue our shared goal as one, it can be hard sometimes, but it's meaningful and rewarding. For me, the staff and writers of Gill Pictures is the most valuable treasure. I’ll run my company, bearing it in mind that I shouldn’t make the staff want to leave the company and go together.
Enjoy planning good dramas as much as I can!
Q. You’ve been working on your next drama, ‹Juvenile Justice›. Why did you choose this one?
A. When I plan a drama, I have two thoughts: “Is this a story that has already been addressed?” and “Does this story have a different perspective?” When Min-seok KIM, a writer for my company, suggested a drama that features a juvenile court judge, I found it really interesting. Actually, there is public opinion that the current juvenile law system should be abolished to allow more lenient punishment for young people. It is a current social issue that I want to address publicly.
When I planned this drama, I asked experts in the field for opinions, which made me aware of many issues in juvenile law and the work of judges. I believe that adolescents are the future of our society, and we thus need to examine this issue and find solutions. The show will be streamed in 190 countries on the same day, and I’m looking forward to seeing the reactions to it in those countries.
Q. Do you have any advice for producers who want to work with OTT?
A. When you work with broadcasting companies, you have to abide by the regulations of the Korea Communication Commission and the fixed broadcasting running time. On the other hand, working with OTT guarantees you the freedom to choose your drama’s story and format, which I think is a big advantage for creators. If you want to show your drama through an OTT platform, it would be better to break away from the existing format. Above all, if you clearly explain what you want to say through the drama, the tone and manner, and the drama’s story to the people involved in OTT, it will help you have your drama listed on the platform.
Q. Could you tell us what your next goal is or the next dramas you want to make?
A. I believe a drama has the power to change the world and move people’s hearts, so I’d like to plan a truly wonderful drama that will stay in viewers’ hearts for a long time. Another goal is to simply enjoy planning good dramas with the writers of Gill Pictures as much as I can. Also, I’d like to produce dramas of various genres, such as seasonal sitcoms, 3D animations, and documentaries. I’m looking forward to seeing Gill Pictures grow as we produce more and more dramas.
Min-yeop PARK
Min-yeop PARK is the president of Gill Pictures and producer of the SBS drama ‹Hot Stove League›, KBS drama ‹Meow›, ‹The Secret Boy›, and JTBC drama ‹Was It Love?› ‹Hot Stove League› was awarded the ‘Baeksang Arts Award’ for Best Picture, ‘Seoul Drama Award’ for Best Korean Drama, ‘Media Award’ for Best Drama, and Platinum Award from the ‘WorldFest Houston International Film Festival’. Since 2004, Park has participated in the production of many dramas, including the MBC drama ‹Queen of Housewives›, KBS Drama ‹My Husband Got a Family›;, SBS Drama ‹My Love from the Star›, as a creative and directing producer. She’s now working on the SBS drama ‹One the Woman› and Netflix Original Series ‹Juvenile Justice›.
Set of SBS Friday-Saturday Drama ‹Hot Stove League›
Poster for SBS Weekend Drama ‹Save Your Last Dance For Me›
Poster for JTBC Wednesday-Thursday Drama ‹Was It Love›
Poster for KBS Wednesday-Thursday Drama ‹Meow, the Secret Boy›
