EXCLUSIVE | Popular BL K-drama director Hwang Da Seul gets candid about her work
(Written by Nandini Iyengar)
Hwang Da Seul is a director of popular BL (boy love) K-dramas like ‘Where Your Eyes Linger’ and ‘To My Star’. She is an alumnus of the Department of Film at the Korea National University of Art. Hwang is also known for her contribution as a scriptwriter for the web drama '300-Year-Old Class of 2020’ and ‘Love in Your Taste’ (2019). She has also directed the short films ‘Spring in Summer’ and ‘You Ghosted Me For A Week’. Meanwhile her drama ‘The Sweet Blood’ had gone viral for its take on the vampire-fantasy genre.
Hwang has also won the 5th Catholic Film Festival Excellence Prize for her 2018 short film 'Spring in Summer'. In this exclusive interview with MEAWW, Director Hwang Da Seul gets candid about her work and her inspiration to take up directing BL dramas. She also shares fascinating behind-the-scenes experiences from ‘Where Your Eyes Linger’ and the much-awaited ‘To My Star’ sequel.
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MEAWW: ‘To My Star’ sequel will be airing soon. Can you please give us a TMI about the series?
Hwang: ‘To My Star’ Season 2 will show the characters’ deep feelings through a lot of various stories. I tried to capture all sorts of human emotions. It also has very sweet things that you expect, so please look forward to it!
MEAWW: Which actor or actress would you like to work with next?
Hwang: Although it always differs depending on the characters, I love someone who has much love for the project and the character.
MEAWW: ‘Where Your Eyes Linger’ was a huge success amongst fans. The angst and the tension were thick between the characters. How was your experience in working on that series?
Hwang: I think that the "hopeless love" between TaeJoo and Gook is the key point in this work. So, I have tried to express that feeling, and also considered "eyes". I know that when a person is in love, their eyes always linger on someone who they love. As you know, ‘WYEL’ was my first project, so I got very nervous and I didn’t expect that many people watch it. But then, the unthinkable happened! To me, ‘WYEL’ is a gift. I was scared but also brave because it was my first time.
MEAWW: What is your process you direct a story?
Hwang: First, I consider the character’s emotions (how they feel and when their emotions change), and after that, I prioritize what to show and what not to show. At some points, I have to show the character's expression, and others need not be shown. After that, I think about the overall rhythm of the drama.
MEAWW: How do you select a story? Is there anything specific you look for?
Hwang: It varies from time to time, but usually I enjoy warm humanism. Even if it’s based on romance, various stories can come out of it, so I try to capture the story I want to tell even if it’s a small emotion.
MEAWW: How different is your work process working as a director and working as a scriptwriter?
Hwang: As a director, I care more about the "budget" and have to communicate with a variety of people, but as a writer, I have little to take care of, so I can just focus on the scenario.
MEAWW: Can you please tell us about your experience of working as a scriptwriter for ‘300 Years Old Class of 2020’?
Hwang: It was a short project, but also so exciting to use the historical drama tone and to solve a mystery. Although there was a mission to express the nine ‘Seowon, Korean Neo-Confucian Academies’, we found a plot that could solve this mission, and it turned out to be a great work.
MEAWW: What are your plans after wrapping up ‘To My Star 2’? Would you like to go on a vacation, and where would you like to go?
Hwang: I plan to take a break and look back at myself. After a project is done, I used to go to Jeju Island alone. But this time, I want to go further if possible. I'd like to go abroad, but I'd love to go anywhere with delicious coffee.
MEAWW: Do you have your next story in mind already?
Hwang: I have many things that haven’t been made yet. However, it has not been decided which one will be the next.
MEAWW: There is quite a taboo in the industry when it comes to showing LGBTQIA+ characters or stories on screen. How do you plan on dispelling that?
Hwang: If a taboo becomes mainstream, I think many problems will be resolved. It means it should gradually become more popular. It also means that we have to make great things and try to make stories that have meaningful messages.
MEAWW: Writing or directing same-sex stories is often frowned upon in society. How did you break free of that obstacle?
Hwang: I think these stories do have a large share of fans and audiences. Their support and interest make it going! And also, creators like me have to make dramas more beautiful so that more people are willing to see them.
MEAWW: Apart from BL stories, which other stories would you like to show on screen?
Hwang: I have always been interested in "humanism". Regardless of genre, I always put out the stories that I want to tell. ‘Blueming’ and ‘To My Star 2’ also have various stories, not just the boy love arc.
MEAWW: Your short films have been screened at film festivals and have won awards as well. Where can one watch your award-winning short films? Can you please tell us?
Hwang: There’s no way to see it right now, but I’ll try to show it online! Thank you for waiting for the shorts films!
MEAWW: Whom do you see as an inspiration or a role model?
Hwang: I really love the director Hirokazu Kore-eda. I love his films and his way of thinking and his view of the world.
MEAWW: What do you like to do in your free time?
Hwang: With a cup of coffee, I usually listen to music, read a book, watch movies, or just walk.
MEAWW: Whar would you like to tell people who want to venture into filmmaking, especially BL or GL stories?
Hwang: I think this genre is so beautiful and has many stories that people haven’t shown onscreen yet. It’s one of the many genres, so please make more beautiful and light-hearted stories! We (fans of this genre and me) are looking forward to seeing yours! :)
Director Hwang Da Seul’s latest work ‘Blueming’ is now streaming online. Watch the trailer for the drama below.