CGV produces a TV version of Bang-ja Chronicles
by javabeans
Cable movie channel CGV recently had a hit with their edgy and stylized Girl K, which I’ve been enjoying, and now they’re producing another “original TV movie,” which will likewise broadcast in multiple episodes like a mini-drama series. This one is Bang-ja Chronicles, which is also the name of the hit ero-sageuk film from last year that flipped the famous tale of Chun-hyang around to play with the idea of Chun-hyang falling in love with servant Bang-ja, rather than his master, Mong-ryong (as the original tale has it).
(Note: Delightful Girl Chun-hyang was the Hong sisters’ comic take on a modernized version of the story, while Story of Hyang-dan flipped the premise around the other way, with Mong-ryong falling in love with Chun-hyang’s servant instead. It’s a popular story, and thus inspires lots of reinterpretations, in the way that there’ll probably always be a Cinderella reimagining or twenty in anybody’s recent memory.)
The TV movie has cast Lee Sun-ho (Tamra the Island) as Bang-ja, who was played by Kim Joo-hyuk in last year’s film version. His character is described as a pure romantist with a rugged appeal, and this marks Lee’s first leading drama role.
Playing the part of his love interest Chun-hyang is Lee Eun-woo, a relatively new face whose credits include this year’s Romantic Heaven, for whom this will also be a first leading role. Lee Ah-hyun (Mary Stayed Out All Night, All That Glitters) plays Chun-hyang’s mother, the retired gisaeng Wolmae.
This TV Bang-ja Chronicles won’t be a direct adaptation of the film version, so we can expect a fairly different characterization. However, the projects are related, with the director of the film taking up the role of chief producer in this TV reworking. The production describes the TV version as emphasizing different narrative points than the film, which should (hopefully) provide enough of a freshness to a familiar story — we wouldn’t want the same thing, but on a smaller scale, would we?
On its own, I’m not sure that I’d be terribly keen on watching this, but after seeing what CGV could do with this TV movie format in Girl K, I’m a lot more interested. If this one rocks, I’d say the movie channel has just landed upon a winning innovation of the standard drama format, which means we’d hopefully be seeing more of these experiments in the future. And exploring what TV can do is always a good thing, in my book.
TV Bang-ja Chronicles will air in four episodes on CGV in October.
Lee Eun-woo
Lee Ah-hyun
Via W Star News
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Tags: cable programs, Lee Sun-ho
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1 sake
September 13, 2011 at 5:37 AM
I wonder if this is the start of the cable revolution? A change in format to the ones used in the US..? It'll be interesting to see other channels (And other dramas as a result) than just the big 3.
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Biscuit
September 13, 2011 at 4:43 PM
I actually don't mind most dramas from the Big3 or how they play it safe. I like Cable too, but I hope SBS/KBS/MBC don't change too much that turn K-drama into K-drama-turned-US styled dramas.
I'd be more happy if the networks had more seasons though. *Eyes City Hunter*
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otk
September 13, 2011 at 6:14 PM
I think the 3 networks would benefit international recognition by allowing more artistic freedom (such as sex and violence...because these things do have more purpose than just to turn you on or gross you out)
Hopefully Korea get's its own HBO soon. (with the completely high quality drama package)
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2 annie
September 13, 2011 at 5:40 AM
It's Yann! Dunno why, because his acting wasn't anything to write home about, but I really loved him in Tamra. Perhaps I'm just shallow?
Is that Kim Sam-soon's Unni in the bottom pic? Love her to bits. Though she seems young to have a grown up daughter.
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pohonphee
September 13, 2011 at 7:23 AM
So I'm shallow too :D
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myweithisway
September 13, 2011 at 8:53 AM
Definitely shallow, but that's okay...it's the main reason we suffer through some truly crappy kdramas^^
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danna
September 13, 2011 at 9:03 AM
It's Yann indeed!!! It took a bit digging around my memory to remember him from Tamna...I think I can see his appeal in the ero- sageuk genre but idk much abt his acting chops, then again I as pretty blinded by the awesomenss of Lim Ju Hwan in Tamna to take much notice of anyone else
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3 cv
September 13, 2011 at 6:41 AM
Hmm, I liked Girk K. If the writing and acting/cinemagraphic is as good as Girl K, I'll be waiting to watch this mini series.
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4 Cynthia
September 13, 2011 at 7:27 AM
On a purely shallow note, am loving the clothes he's in - especially those pants.
:)
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mihinikki
September 13, 2011 at 2:26 PM
If not for those cargo pockets he'd look so old school like Gregory Peck...except pretty.
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5 folieadeux
September 13, 2011 at 3:47 PM
Yan! You look better donning your crew cut look in Tamra!
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6 otk
September 13, 2011 at 6:01 PM
CGV & OCN are turning out to be like HBO & AMC. (<3)
TOTALLY AWESOME.
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7 MeeisLee
September 14, 2011 at 4:31 PM
Don't worry we are all shallow and the K-companies know it. Why do you think they always cast pretty people? Even when they're not such great actors. Though, mind you, I'm not directly saying this about the hot guy up top.
It's sounds interesting though.
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8 Rovi
November 19, 2011 at 6:52 AM
If Lee Ah-hyeon (who does vaguely resembles Yi-yeong in KSS) is indeed Wol-mae, she looks too much young to be retired kisaeng Wol-mae and mother to Chun-hyang.
Anyhoo, kisaeng do tend to be somewhat out of the scene by their 20's, and completely by their 50's.
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