Every production has numerous perspectives. Although the director and actors share the same space and time, their experiences may differ. 'B-Cut by Choi Song-hee' focuses on the vivid behind-the-scenes moments that go beyond the 'A-Cut' captured on screen. It reconstructs the intense moments of the 'B-Cut' through interviews with the director and actors. <Editor’s Note>
The drama 'Manager Kim' achieved a 23% viewership rating, largely due to its impactful action scenes. Viewers were captivated by the desperate moments when a father leaps into danger to save his daughter. However, behind the smooth action on screen was another struggle involving the production team and actors.
Director Lee Seung-young identified the source of this struggle not in individual talent but in the team's overall attitude.
"Our team's greatest strength is that each department listened to one another and continuously collaborated to generate great ideas. In any drama, one actor can carry the load, but the reason 'Manager Kim' achieved more than that lies in the unseen energy from the staff's efforts. The actors felt the same way," said Lee.
From the elevator scene to the sauna action, the intense action that defines 'Manager Kim' was made possible by the teamwork of the cast and crew. Lee credited the production team and actors for the success of the much-discussed elevator and sauna scenes.
"The elevator scene was directed by our co-director, who communicated with the actors to come up with fun ideas, resulting in an enjoyable scene. There’s also a sauna scene shot from the villain's perspective in one take. During the design process, our action director showed a demo video, and we had the idea of filming it from the villain's viewpoint. The design and filming of the action had to align. Good ideas emerged, and our team's approach of listening and encouraging each other is evident in that scene," Lee explained.
In the sauna scene, the camera itself became part of the action. Lee revealed that the crew's ideas led to more realistic angles and camera work.
"In that scene, our cinematographer played the role of the villain. Instead of using an action camera, he shot handheld while performing the actions, falling, lying down, and getting back up until the final kick. Using a handheld camera made the villain's perspective feel more authentic," Lee said.
The scenes were not completed in one take. The action team and So Ji-sub spent considerable time synchronizing their movements, even risking their bodies for memorable moments.
"The long take was challenging, and we didn’t get it right in one go; it took a long time to shoot. For the long take to work, various elements had to align with So Ji-sub, who played Manager Kim. This open-mindedness and attitude translated into actual results," Lee noted.
While the director and crew set the stage, it was the actors' responsibility to bring it to life. So Ji-sub, who portrayed Manager Kim, explained his approach to action, emphasizing the importance of conveying emotion.
"I’ve done a fair amount of action. While some action is necessary for the drama, I prefer it to be brief. I like action that shows emotion beforehand, as it clarifies the reason for the action. This drama had action that displayed emotion first, which I believe made it more satisfying for viewers. I don’t like action for action's sake," So Ji-sub said.
What proved most challenging for him was not the elaborate martial arts choreography but the uncontrollable weather and physical conditions.
"The most physically demanding scene was when I walked toward the tunnel after hearing that Min-ji was in the freezer. We shot in real cold and had many takes in the rain. It was tough because my body was so cold that I couldn’t control it. The truck scene was also difficult. Although we used wires for the scene where I hung from the truck, it was still risky, making it a significant challenge," So Ji-sub explained.
While So Ji-sub battled the cold and wires, Yoon Kyung-ho faced the challenge of fighting with a fellow actor in a cramped container. This scene relied on the trust between the actors, as they performed without professional stunt doubles.
"I had limited time to train, but I had some experience with boxing. Based on that training, I worked with the action director to prepare for the main action scenes. The container truck action, where I fought with Nam-sil, was designed to be more complex than typical one-on-many action scenes. I tried to perform as much as possible without a double, and there were many situations where I had to do it myself," Yoon Kyung-ho said.
"It’s hard to say I had it tougher than anyone else since everyone struggled. However, because it was action between actors rather than professional stunts, we had to be more careful. The action director was very attentive, and my co-actor trained hard. He’s very skilled, so we trusted each other," Yoon Kyung-ho added.
While the senior actors endured the physical limits and fears of impact, Seo Su-min experienced the same scenes from a different perspective.
"The action scenes weren’t difficult for me. I had discussions and practiced with the older actors beforehand. The scene in the warehouse where we got rained on was actually fun. I thought it was something I couldn’t do in real life, so I remember thinking, 'This is so much fun!' I want to try an action genre again. The action from my dad and uncle was so cool that it made me want to do it too," Seo Su-min said.
Ultimately, the action in 'Manager Kim' was not defined by flashy techniques but by trust and solid teamwork. The intense moments of the actors building emotions in the face of harsh cold and unfamiliar opponents, combined with the director's cohesive vision, resulted in memorable scenes that will linger in viewers' minds.
The drama 'Manager Kim' achieved a 23% viewership rating, largely due to its impactful action scenes. Viewers were captivated by the desperate moments when a father leaps into danger to save his daughter. However, behind the smooth action on screen was another struggle involving the production team and actors.
Director Lee Seung-young identified the source of this struggle not in individual talent but in the team's overall attitude.
"Our team's greatest strength is that each department listened to one another and continuously collaborated to generate great ideas. In any drama, one actor can carry the load, but the reason 'Manager Kim' achieved more than that lies in the unseen energy from the staff's efforts. The actors felt the same way," said Lee.
From the elevator scene to the sauna action, the intense action that defines 'Manager Kim' was made possible by the teamwork of the cast and crew. Lee credited the production team and actors for the success of the much-discussed elevator and sauna scenes.
"The elevator scene was directed by our co-director, who communicated with the actors to come up with fun ideas, resulting in an enjoyable scene. There’s also a sauna scene shot from the villain's perspective in one take. During the design process, our action director showed a demo video, and we had the idea of filming it from the villain's viewpoint. The design and filming of the action had to align. Good ideas emerged, and our team's approach of listening and encouraging each other is evident in that scene," Lee explained.
In the sauna scene, the camera itself became part of the action. Lee revealed that the crew's ideas led to more realistic angles and camera work.
"In that scene, our cinematographer played the role of the villain. Instead of using an action camera, he shot handheld while performing the actions, falling, lying down, and getting back up until the final kick. Using a handheld camera made the villain's perspective feel more authentic," Lee said.
The scenes were not completed in one take. The action team and So Ji-sub spent considerable time synchronizing their movements, even risking their bodies for memorable moments.
"The long take was challenging, and we didn’t get it right in one go; it took a long time to shoot. For the long take to work, various elements had to align with So Ji-sub, who played Manager Kim. This open-mindedness and attitude translated into actual results," Lee noted.
While the director and crew set the stage, it was the actors' responsibility to bring it to life. So Ji-sub, who portrayed Manager Kim, explained his approach to action, emphasizing the importance of conveying emotion.
"I’ve done a fair amount of action. While some action is necessary for the drama, I prefer it to be brief. I like action that shows emotion beforehand, as it clarifies the reason for the action. This drama had action that displayed emotion first, which I believe made it more satisfying for viewers. I don’t like action for action's sake," So Ji-sub said.
What proved most challenging for him was not the elaborate martial arts choreography but the uncontrollable weather and physical conditions.
"The most physically demanding scene was when I walked toward the tunnel after hearing that Min-ji was in the freezer. We shot in real cold and had many takes in the rain. It was tough because my body was so cold that I couldn’t control it. The truck scene was also difficult. Although we used wires for the scene where I hung from the truck, it was still risky, making it a significant challenge," So Ji-sub explained.
While So Ji-sub battled the cold and wires, Yoon Kyung-ho faced the challenge of fighting with a fellow actor in a cramped container. This scene relied on the trust between the actors, as they performed without professional stunt doubles.
"I had limited time to train, but I had some experience with boxing. Based on that training, I worked with the action director to prepare for the main action scenes. The container truck action, where I fought with Nam-sil, was designed to be more complex than typical one-on-many action scenes. I tried to perform as much as possible without a double, and there were many situations where I had to do it myself," Yoon Kyung-ho said.
"It’s hard to say I had it tougher than anyone else since everyone struggled. However, because it was action between actors rather than professional stunts, we had to be more careful. The action director was very attentive, and my co-actor trained hard. He’s very skilled, so we trusted each other," Yoon Kyung-ho added.
While the senior actors endured the physical limits and fears of impact, Seo Su-min experienced the same scenes from a different perspective.
"The action scenes weren’t difficult for me. I had discussions and practiced with the older actors beforehand. The scene in the warehouse where we got rained on was actually fun. I thought it was something I couldn’t do in real life, so I remember thinking, 'This is so much fun!' I want to try an action genre again. The action from my dad and uncle was so cool that it made me want to do it too," Seo Su-min said.
Ultimately, the action in 'Manager Kim' was not defined by flashy techniques but by trust and solid teamwork. The intense moments of the actors building emotions in the face of harsh cold and unfamiliar opponents, combined with the director's cohesive vision, resulted in memorable scenes that will linger in viewers' minds.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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