Behind the Scenes
Article: Adela Cho, Sarah Cho, Eugenie Seok, Joyce Kim
Editor: Yoon Lim
Designer: Sarah Cho
Editor: Yoon Lim
Designer: Sarah Cho
Many Koreans seem to enjoy watching soap operas to bawl over a breakup scene or get thrilled over a romantic date of the two main characters. Viewers of any Korean TV shows can often question how programs are made. For answers, we made a visit to the headquarter institution of Seoul Broadcasting System.
The program director has a difficult and multifaceted job ensuring the many different tasks are completed before the show can be aired and enjoyed by thousands viewers. In the U.S., there are two separate jobs for directing and producing. Producers cast writers, actors, ask for funds to create a program, and book a specific time to broadcast the program. Directors are responsible for the overall program, for example, monitoring overall program and editing. However, in Korea, one person takes both jobs of a producer and a director. She or he makes sure everything goes right until the very last minute. |
|
Elaborating on exactly how the process starts, the producer writes a proposal along with the details about how the program is going to be run. When the proposal gets accepted by the studio executive, the producer meets with writers and other side-directors in order to start casting entertainers that will be featured. Soon the producer and writers get their heads together on how to shoot the most entertaining and enjoyable TV show episode. The writers gathering information can differ based on the type of program. For instance, if the program deals with the issues upon parenting, interviews are directed on family conflicts. Once a suffice amount of information is gathered, an episode is filmed. The filming takes about eight hours and once the shooting marks an end, the program director edits the filmed episode.
“Nobody can make a TV show by him or herself,” a writer at SBS says. Editing is the most time-consuming work, for it takes about two to three days of work time. Editors put together subtitles and sound effects to make the scene more entertaining. It has been reckoned that an episode of a TV show flashing on your screen comes from hours of tedious work from editors, producers, directors, writers, and actors. Maybe it is time to start being aware of the effort and time it takes to make a program, or even one episode. |