Is there anything scarier than making a living? The Netflix series 'Sweet Part-Time Job' intertwines the harsh realities of work with bizarre Neapolitan horror tales, creating a nightmarish narrative. At the center of this quirky series are executive producer Han Jun-hee and emerging director Kim Da-min. Known for their unique sensibilities in 'Makkoli Will Tell You' and 'The Killer's Dilemma,' Kim and Han, who led productions like 'Chinatown' and 'D.P.,' have collaborated to merge 'livelihood' with 'horror,' opening a new genre category for OTT series. Their clever partnership has already made waves, achieving a spot in the top 10 in 51 countries just three days after its release.
"I thought there would be a lot of mixed opinions from the start. We all came together to create this, and even up to the release, we were concerned about how people would receive this genre. But it seems like they are accepting it more easily than expected, and I’m very grateful for that," said director Kim Da-min.
"Since this is a type of genre and story we haven't really done before, we tried many different production methods. I was worried about how it would be received, but it seems like people enjoyed it a lot in the first week, which I appreciate," added Han Jun-hee.
The inception of 'Sweet Part-Time Job' began with a script from writers Kyung Min-sun and Lee Shin-ji, which was handed to production company Shortcake. Han felt a mix of excitement and concern about whether it could be effectively translated to screen. Finding a director to bring this unfamiliar world to life became the first challenge.
"Kyung Min-sun and Lee Shin-ji gave us the script. They found it very interesting, but they were unsure if it could be made. They thought that with Shortcake, it might be possible, which gave me a strange sense of responsibility. I found it very entertaining, but I also wondered if we could actually make it. It seemed like it would require a lot of money and would be difficult to produce without Netflix," Han explained.
Han Jun-hee recalled thinking of Kim Da-min, the director of 'Makkoli Will Tell You.' He believed that if Kim could showcase her unique style on a larger scale, they could create a distinctive world for 'Sweet Part-Time Job.'
"The most important thing was finding the right director. After watching Kim Da-min's previous work, 'Makkoli Will Tell You,' I thought it would be great if she could present her uniqueness to a wider audience through this project, so I suggested it to her," Han said.
The series incorporates various urban legends, including Neapolitan horror tales. However, it was crucial that the show remained accessible to viewers unfamiliar with the genre. Balancing the enjoyment for enthusiasts while ensuring newcomers could follow along was a key consideration.
"I thought we needed to cater to both those familiar with Neapolitan horror tales and those who have never heard of them. If you dig deep, it could get complicated, requiring several notebooks. We spent a lot of time figuring out the optimal level for adaptation to video, aiming for a pace that would keep even those unfamiliar with the genre engaged," Kim noted.
Han was particularly cautious about ensuring that his experience did not overshadow Kim's individuality. While there were moments when he needed to provide input, he strongly believed that the series should reflect the director's vision.
"I tried not to micromanage. While I have responsibilities as a creator, I felt it was essential for the director's color to shine through in this work. It's important for Shortcake to help the director brand themselves and move on to their next project. So, I always thought, 'This should be a work where the director is visible,'" Han explained.
Conversely, for Kim, who was taking on her first full-length series, Han served as a realistic sounding board for major decisions. From budget allocation to unfamiliar action direction, she frequently sought his advice during the early stages of production.
"Since this was my first large production, I asked for a lot of advice when making significant decisions during pre-production. I often wondered how to allocate money and resources for each episode, whether it was okay to spend this much, or if we needed to cut back on the story. In the beginning, I was also unsure about action scenes, so I frequently asked, 'How should we approach this?'" Kim shared.
One scene that exemplifies this collaborative process is the 'rolling' action in the milk delivery episode. The team created a sense of realism by having the actor physically interact with the set, conducting multiple simulations to balance safety and authenticity.
"We practiced a lot and conducted many simulations. I even got involved, and the cinematographer did too, rolling around to test things out. It was a scene that combined the need for realism with managing risks. If actor Lee Jae-wook hadn't been so committed, we would never have been able to achieve that scene in one take," Kim explained.
Each episode features guest actors who are not merely passing characters but are seen as co-protagonists who interact with the main character, Hyuk-jun. The production team made an effort to showcase faces that viewers might not typically see in their previous works.
"We viewed the new actors in each episode as co-protagonists of that stage. Therefore, we put a lot of effort into developing their characters, and thankfully, all the actors were open to trying new things with costumes and makeup," Kim said.
With the blend of exaggerated theatrical performances and realistic tones, achieving a consistent overall tone was challenging. Initially, there were concerns about the level of expression, but as the actors firmly established their characters, the fun of contrasting energies emerged.
"As we did readings, our concerns gradually diminished. At first, even senior actor Kyung-ho was worried about whether it was too much or too intense. But once he delivered those lines, energetic scenes emerged. The actors did such a great job that we didn't need to worry about tone adjustments; we could complete it together. That was quite remarkable," Kim noted.
Creating a rhythm that allows viewers to engage with the mix of horror, gore, and comedy throughout the episodes was a task that extended into the editing phase. Instead of continuously escalating the intensity, they aimed to find a balance that would keep viewers engaged until the end.
"We reviewed many versions in the editing room. From the beginning to the end, we aimed for a piece that many people could watch all the way through. If it was just gore and horror, it would be hard for viewers to finish and could limit its reach. So, we adjusted the intensity throughout the entire piece," Kim explained.
The casting of lead actors also focused on discovering faces that differed from their usual images. In particular, Lee Jae-wook, who received the script first, was encouraged to step away from his glamorous persona and embrace the more rugged Hyuk-jun.
"I told Lee Jae-wook that he would be appearing almost without makeup this time, and he readily agreed to try it. When we first met, he said, 'If you tell me to run, I will run; if you tell me to roll, I will roll,' and that’s exactly how we filmed it," Han said.
As the series presents a new part-time job and horror tale each episode, questions about a potential season two naturally arise. The cast and crew's enthusiasm is already aligned.
"Surprisingly, the writer, director, and lead actors all have the desire to continue. I think the next step depends on the viewers and Netflix. If many people enjoy it, I believe there will be an opportunity," Han concluded.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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