Lead stars step as much as ‘Soundtrack #2’s’ thrilling new challenges

The stunning Keum Sae-rok and the dashing Steve Sang-hyun Noh could have already gained acclaim for his or her performing chops—she for “Youth of Might” and “The Fiery Priest,” he for “Pachinko” and “Curtain Name”—however they haven’t performed the principle leads of their respective tasks till the Ok drama collection, “Soundtrack #2,” got here alongside.

Within the six-part Disney+ present, which started streaming final Wednesday (with two new episodes each week), ex-sweethearts Do Hyeonseo (Sae-rok) and Ji Suho (Sang-hyun) are reconnected 4 years after they determined to finish their six-year relationship.

Upon his physician’s orders, the overworked Suho, now the CEO of his firm, should rent a piano tutor as a part of his month-long restoration. However Suho solely finally ends up revisiting the most important heartbreak of his life when he begins his remedy and surprisingly comes face-to-face with the piano trainer his pal unwittingly employed for him—the cash-strapped however constantly cussed Hyeonseo.

Finishing this story’s romantic roundelay is proficient musician Ok (Sohn Jeong-hyuk aka singer/songwriter Demian, in his performing debut), whose presence in Hyeonseo and Suho’s lives additional complicates the couple’s renewed “entanglement.”

“Viewers will discover Hyeonseo’s dilemma very relatable,” famous Sae-rok on the press con final Wednesday. “She’s all the time dreamed of turning into an expert pianist, however she’s struggling [financially], so she offers up her dream simply to make ends meet.

“She’s very grounded and sensible about her choices in life. Regardless of the challenges, she tries so exhausting to maintain herself afloat—and I wished to correctly convey her ideas about her goals and the way she offers with actuality.

“However the preparation to make Hyeonseo convincing was very tough as a result of it was my first time ever to truly play the piano. Fortunately, I had the perfect tutor [to help get me up to speed with what I was supposed to do]. I acquired an digital piano to observe at dwelling, and I attempted my hardest to drag it off regardless of my restricted time to organize.

“For piano enjoying, what’s actually necessary is your posture and the best way you place your fingers on the piano … as a result of it exhibits whether or not you possibly can actually play or not. However, director Kim is definitely an ideal piano participant, so she wouldn’t eat [during breaks] and play the piano as a substitute.

“So I’d all the time observe and watch her do it. And each time she would give me a praise me and say, ‘Your shoulders look extra relaxed immediately,’ I knew I used to be heading in the right direction. She may inform.”

The window to the soul

As for Sang-hyun, he stated that he used his eyes loads to do his delicate character justice.

He defined, “Suho feels a whole lot of totally different feelings, particularly when he all of a sudden finds himself reconnecting along with his ex-girlfriend. There are butterflies in his abdomen and he feels his coronary heart fluttering. I attempted to point out all of that via my gaze.

“This venture exhibits totally different sides and a brand new aspect of me as an actor. The roles in my previews works had been fairly totally different as a result of, regardless of what he needed to undergo, Suho is simply extra playful and enjoyable.

“He’s additionally a really jealous individual. As you possibly can see, he’s very expressive of his feelings—he can’t actually cover his emotions even when he wished to. And that makes him an endearing character much more.”

Didn’t he discover it formidable to play the lead character this time round?

“I did really feel a little bit of strain as a result of this can be a new problem for me, particularly with regards to bringing the character to life,” Sang-hyun said. “However we have now these fantastic administrators and a fantastic forged, so I knew that if I’d take it step-by-step and work very exhausting, I may pull it off. I used to be very excited to be a part of this present.”

Admittedly, Jeong-hyuck was very nervous on the prospect of diving deep into performing along with his extra seasoned and established costars. However music was a crutch that actually helped him even the enjoying area and join along with his function immediately.

“Music is one thing that I’m actually used to doing,” Jeong-hyuck stated with a nervous smile. “Earlier than becoming a member of ‘Soundtrack #2’ final yr, I used to be making ready for an album that I couldn’t launch. So I wasn’t having a positive relationship with music on the time (laughs). However engaged on this collection made me love music much more.”

“Ok may be very clear and simple as a result of he’s naive. So, he doesn’t overthink issues in any respect—and I believe that explains his attraction.”

Debut

However the actor identified, “That is my performing debut, so there have been many moments on set once I felt I wasn’t doing nice. However our administrators, Kim Hee-won (‘Little Ladies,’ “Vincenzo,’ ‘Soundtrack #1’) and Choi Jung-kyu (‘The Satan Decide’), would all the time reassure me that I used to be doing alright.

“And I’m eternally grateful to Sae-rok and Sang-hyun as a result of I’d see them cheer for me. They had been a lot busier than I used to be on the set, however they all the time tried to root for me. So thanks [for the vote of confidence].”

Requested to touch upon Sae-rok’s piano enjoying, Jeong-hyuck quipped, beaming, “She might be a session pianist in my concert events! Significantly, I’m not a guitar participant myself, and I additionally needed to be taught to play the guitar for this collection. So we didn’t actually have a lot time to evaluate one another’s enjoying abilities as a result of we had been each working actually exhausting to deal with the work at hand.

“For a few month, we actually labored exhausting to drag it off. And it sounded fantastic after we had been enjoying collectively. As they are saying, observe makes good.”

Jeong-hyuck’s presence made the worldwide press con extraspecial as a result of in between the presentation and Q&As, he was coaxed to sing and accompany himself on the piano to carry out “The Couple,” a dreamy ballad that he particularly wrote for the present!

Jeong-hyuck’s impromptu efficiency wasn’t the one “charming” shock on the press con. After a behind-the-scenes clip was proven, you would see the classically good-looking Sang-hyun wiping tears in his eyes, visibly moved by the feel-good reminiscences of the shoot that wrapped up simply six months in the past. “I don’t simply cry … ,” he intimated.

A brand new take

To deal with a query asking concerning the seemingly “been there, executed that” premise of her newest rom-com, director Kim stated, “You’ve most likely seen a whole lot of this sort of love triangle. However as a substitute of making an attempt to do one thing new, what I wished to work on, along with director Choi, was to return to the classics as a result of I wished to imbue our story with the essence of affection, captured superbly by these traditional romances.

“I wished to deal with [telling the story well] and, as you’ve additionally seen from the spotlight clip, our major theme revolves round music. We wished to be sure that the music and the story would complement one another and circulate nicely collectively.

“Sure, it’s a well-known story. However it’s boosted by good performances from an thrilling forged. So whereas it might appear acquainted, it’s nonetheless a brand new dish for everybody who likes a great story.”