The reality-based thriller 'Wall To Wall' is coming to viewers.
On the 14th, the production briefing for the Netflix film 'Wall To Wall' was held at the Ambassador Seoul Pullman Hotel in Seoul. Attending the event were actors Kang Ha-neul, Yeom Hye-ran, Seo Hyun-woo, and director Kim Tae-joon.
Woosung (Kang Ha-neul), who is a member of the Young-gle generation that successfully bought an APT. of 84 square meters, is plagued by an unknown noise from above, leading to an unpredictable thriller. Director Kim Tae-joon, who received acclaim for his previous Netflix film 'Just Dropped My Smartphone,' which depicted realistic fears and thrills related to 'smartphone hacking,' once again presents a thriller focusing on the sharp conflict between neighbors caused by the noise from above in an APT. that many people can relate to.
Director Kim Tae-joon explained, "In Korea, there are really a lot of APT.s, and the representative and most common APT.s, which are around 33 to 34 pyeong, have a net area of 84 square meters. I heard that the standard of the 국민평형 is only unique to our country in the world. I thought that the number 84 might represent Korea's unique APT. culture, so I decided on it," adding, "The film is about Woosung, who puts his life on the line to buy this 84 square meters, experiencing the noise from above, and it is a reality-based thriller film."
He continued, "Many people are experiencing noise from above, and that's unavoidable because 80 percent of dwellings are multi-family housing, and among them, APT.s account for more than 80 percent. If you think of it that way, more than 80 percent of Korean people are suffering from noise from above. I thought this would be a timely and highly relatable topic. I chose this subject because I thought it would be interesting to delve deeply into the inner stories within it."
Director Kim recalled, "In fact, I initially started planning the item during my previous work. The noise from above was severe. I was angry at the upstairs neighbors and thought, 'Are they trying to inspire me?' so I tried to transform it professionally into a project. The more I investigated, the more I realized there are many stories behind the simple issue of noise from the neighbors. Why does the noise come about? Why do I also like APT.s? The investigation expanded my initial personal anger, it seems."
Regarding directorial focus, he stated, "I focused deeply on directing the noise from above. I wanted to express it a bit realistically, capturing the realistic sounds and daily noise, but since noise is something unpleasant to hear, I was concerned that overly expressing it would interfere with viewing. I thought a lot about finding a balance that can be felt as cinematic sound rather than noise." He added, "As the title suggests, I wanted to realistically implement the space of the APT. Since an APT. is a uniform and narrow space, I struggled to express this cinematically. If I emphasized realism too much, the fun would drop, and if it was too cinematic, it would lose realism, so I pondered how to set the tone. I worked to create a sense of space that isn’t stagnant and changes through lighting and filming methods, to avoid being tedious."
He also shared his thoughts about the actors. Director Kim said, "I wanted Woosung to be a portrait of young people. I wanted to reflect the pain and desires of youths living in the modern era. However, since the environment and events Woosung faces are harsh, I worried that he might become too dark. So Kang Ha-neul had to play this character. I thought that if Kang Ha-neul's bright and positive image was applied to this character, he could transform into a sympathetic and encouraging figure. Fortunately, I think we are filling in Woosung's tragic aspects together."
He also mentioned the actors. Director Kim stated, "Yeom Hye-ran is an actress who I believe excels at conveying intense emotions. Eun-ah, on the other hand, is cold, calculating, and might even appear inhumane. I was curious about how Yeom Hye-ran would portray such a character. I had high expectations to see a new face. I believe Seo Hyun-woo is at a level of constantly switching roles, and the character Jin-ho possesses various faces that can appear suspicious yet trustworthy. I had faith that Seo Hyun-woo could express this character multifacetedly."
Kim, who received praise for his previous work 'Just Dropped My Smartphone,' expressed, "I feel a lot of pressure while working on a project. It was the same at the first project, and this time I personally felt a lot of pressure thinking that I should create a better piece than the last. However, it seems that I shared some of that burden with the outstanding cast and crew." He added, "I personally enjoy thrillers, and I've always wanted to make thrillers. I also like stories of ordinary people. I prefer tales of common people we meet daily in typical situations. Therefore, I think it naturally leads to the reality thriller genre. I still want to continue making thrillers in the future, whether they be romantic thrillers or sci-fi thrillers. I want to express various colors in my works. While I haven't decided on the next one yet, it will definitely be a thriller, possibly paired with something else."
Kang Ha-neul took on the role of Woosung, an ordinary office worker and member of the Young-gle generation who successfully purchased his home. He shared his experience, saying, "It was fun, and the unique aspect was that many scenarios have a lot of writing meant to make readers understand. However, after reading the director's script, I felt it was more like a storyboard for directing. As a result, I could envision the director's style. Thus, I ended up reading the script all at once."
Regarding the character, he described, "Woosung is a young man who first elicits a sympathetic feeling and works hard to make a living. He is someone who exhausted his soul by purchasing an APT. using everything from home equity loans, severance pay, deposit money, to his mother's land. However, due to the inexplicable noise from above, he becomes increasingly stressed and weak," he joked, "I felt myself weakening while filming."
Kang Ha-neul, who had a lot of scenes across all episodes, said, "I focused on how to finish up quickly today," he laughed, adding, "When I first read the script, there were definitely many characters besides mine. But while filming, I jokingly told the director, 'Why am I the only one in every shoot?'"
However, he added, "The fact that I felt weak is just a way of speaking, I didn’t actually weaken. I had delicious meals and the set was enjoyable. I had to shoot the scenes of deterioration over six days in just one day, and while it was fun, considering we were working in a limited space, the angles the camera could express were limited. Therefore, I pondered how to depict these six days, breaking it down step by step. For example, on the first day, my hair was neat, and by the next day, it was messy, so I planned the sequence and expressed it step by step from the first to the sixth. Filming in such segments turned out to be very interesting," he recalled.
Kang Ha-neul also mentioned, "Recently, noise from above has been a significant issue, but personally, I haven't experienced much suffering from it. However, I have heard many people around me say, 'Don't even talk about noise from above.' Woosung becomes increasingly sensitive due to the noise from above. He’s not normally that kind of person. I wanted to show how a person can reach a peak of stress due to such noise, so I discussed that aspect extensively with the director."
Yeom Hye-ran, who plays Eun-hwa, the representative of the residents, shared, "The reality-based thriller aspect was something I felt in the director's previous work. It had a relatable aspect that was undeniably compelling. It felt like my story, which made me want to participate. The character also differs from what I've done so far, making me want to take on the challenge."
In particular, Yeom Hye-ran, who gained fame as a national mother for her performance as Jeon Gwang-rye in the Netflix series 'When Life Gives You Tangerines,' expressed her nerves about returning with a different image from her previous works, saying, "I feel very anxious and nervous before it's released." Regarding her character, she explained, "Eun-ah is a character one doesn't usually see. She is very much a power figure. In real life, she is not a person one encounters in the neighborhood. When you think about it, she's not someone you would consider a neighbor; she is a woman with power among the rich and a former prosecutor who knows how to evade the law. In discussions with the director, we talked about how the space of an APT. contains desires. I wanted to portray Eun-ah as someone who could help fulfill those desires. If handled well, she seems like a character from whom one could gain benefits."
Yeom Hye-ran also humorously recounted her experience with the filming environment, saying, "I really liked it. It felt just like my home, so I was very comfortable, but the art team seemed anxious. When I commented that a piece was pretty, they'd say, 'That's Hermes,' and if I tried to sit down to wait, they'd mention, 'That costs a million won.' There were many high-priced items, so the art team was quite tense." Kang Ha-neul interjected, "It was completely the opposite of my home. When I asked if I could move the props around, they said to feel free to do so," and Seo Hyun-woo added, "The advantage of the filming set was that I could just lay down while waiting. I could even lay on the sofa," generating laughter.
Seo Hyun-woo took on the role of Jin-ho, the man living above Woosung, who is investigating the source of the noise. He shared, "When I received the script, I was personally experiencing noise from above. I empathized with it a lot, as this problem not only affects those suffering from noise but also those who inadvertently create it, which can be very difficult. I found the script appealing because it resonated deeply in various aspects, and the character drew me in as it was a vibrant role that I had not played before. Although he appears oppressive on the surface, he is a character who feels deeply sympathetic to Woosung and is passionate about his situation."
He added, "There were many external difficulties. The director had a special request. I needed to embody a not-too-fashionable but muscular form, one that seemed to have faced many challenges, almost like a real-life fighter's physique. I practiced a lot, doing striking actions and judo techniques, but I also approached it differently from what I had done before to give a physical presence."
The chemistry between the actors was also apparent. Kang Ha-neul remarked, "As you may feel on set now, it was incredibly comfortable. Since I am much younger than the two of you, it could have been hard for me to approach them first, but they were very approachable. Since I don't get to see Hye-ran sunbae often, since she's the representative, I've had several meetings with Hyun-woo hyung, and collaboration is really smooth thanks to that. I met Hye-ran sunbae during 'Camellia Blooms,' but saying that is an understatement. She's really amazing and the best."
Yeom Hye-ran also noted, "One reason I chose this project was because of the two actors. I felt they were very sincere actors, and they both had faces that embodied both good and evil, which made me really want to join. However, seeing them on set, I realized they truly are very dedicated, making the environment so comfortable and providing so many learning opportunities. The thriller's content may not seem like much fun, but the atmosphere on set was great. The director also had fun conversing with us and worked hard, so the experience was delightful." Seo Hyun-woo remarked, "I filmed almost all episodes with Kang Ha-neul. So when I arrived at the set, it felt like there was a ghost present. It had that kind of lingering feeling like wallpaper; it was dark and digging into a thriller, yet everyone shared good energy, which made me very happy. I hope to work together again in the future; I was fortunate to be paired with the kind-hearted and talented Hye-ran sunbae. Generally, she's very gentle; but when the camera's rolling, her gaze changes. I've been secretly observing her while sitting next to her, and it’s fascinating and enjoyable."
The actors also shared their thoughts on the meaning of 'space.' Kang Ha-neul stated, "Not just a house, but in my view, any space should provide inspiration. The moment being here today is inspiring, and even being in a waiting room should inspire me. I try to fill every space with inspiration." On the subject of space, Yeom Hye-ran reflected, "The deepest thought I've had about space is when I left my home. When I first lived in Seoul, I realized there was no place for me to rest in this city. That's when I newly recognized my need for space. Thus, I deeply felt Woosung's story. I can imagine how much he must have longed for space after moving so many times. In some respects, even a small space feels different depending on where it is. It’s okay to be in a narrow hotel room while traveling. But in Seoul, that small space becomes difficult. Hence, I believe space represents an individual's condition and history. I think our work conveys that message as well."
Seo Hyun-woo conveyed, "I haven't thought much about space, but seeing it in this project, I believe space should carry responsibility. I don’t think there is a space of personal possession that lasts forever. There seems to be a personal sense of responsibility accompanying a specific place and atmosphere." Director Kim Tae-joon added, "One of the stories I wanted to convey in this film is particularly relevant to recent news, concerning homes transforming from simple living spaces into the largest asset and investment for our country. I’ve felt the difficulties and challenges the youth face in this context. I cautiously think some of that needs to change. ‘Home’ should remain a comforting haven, at least, I believe so."
Finally, Kang Ha-neul said, "I can indeed guarantee that this is a reality-based thriller. Please check how seemingly trivial matters in real life can turn into thrills." Seo Hyun-woo added, "It might be tough to watch at double speed. If you watch it at regular speed, you'll really enjoy it. The ensemble of actors, their performances, and direction have all been finely crafted, so please embrace it with affection." Director Kim drew attention by stating, "We've prepared performances that go beyond an acting showcase; so please look forward to it."
Meanwhile, 'Wall To Wall' will be released on Netflix on July 18 (Friday).
[Photo] OSEN DB
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