Coupang Play’s entertainment show ‘Shooting Star’ premieres on the 22nd
Retired soccer players’ ‘unscripted drama’
Producer Hyojin Cho “I want to keep the feel of a boy’s cartoon”
Similarity to ‘Best Baseball’? “‘Shooting Star’ has unique characteristics”
An unscripted drama about players who made Korean soccer shine will be revealed on the 22nd.
At the media conference for Coupang Play’s new entertainment show ‘Shooting Star’ held at the Stanford Hotel Korea in Mapo-gu, Seoul on the 14th, PD Cho Hyo-jin, Park Ji-sung, Choi Yong-soo, Seol Ki-hyeon and Kim Young-kwang attended and introduced the program.
‘Shooting Star’ is a soccer entertainment show in which retired soccer players, along with general manager Park Ji-sung and coach Choi Yong-soo, come together as a team and challenge themselves to play in the K-League once again. Korean soccer legends Park Ji-sung, Choi Yong-soo, and Seol Ki-hyun will serve as the head coach of the new club ’FC Shooting Star’, while Kim Young-kwang, Yeom Gi-hwan, Dejan, and Hyun Young-min will play as players.
Producer Cho Hyo-jin, who directed ‘Shooting Star’, said, “I have been doing programs with humor, but I wanted to create a program where people can do everything with sincerity, excluding laughter.” He added, “If it helps our country’s soccer, that is meaningful.” “You will be surprised to see how passionate the players are,” he said.
PD Cho said, “The value of the name is important, but I saw how sincerely these players can play.” He added, “He had to be someone who had to win the game. “We selected players who can play the game sincerely and without major physical problems,” he explained.
He said, “K4 does not play soccer easily and there are difficult situations, so I wanted to highlight the opposing team while highlighting the team’s emotions and the feeling of a boy’s cartoon. If you pay attention to those aspects and watch it, I think you will fall in love with the charm of soccer even if you don’t like soccer in the first place.”
Ji-Sung Park, Yong-Soo Choi, Ki-Hyeon Seol, and captain Young-Gwang Kim, who were the coaches of ‘FC Shooting Star’, revealed their reasons for joining the program.
General Manager Park Ji-sung said, “As I work with my seniors and juniors, the World Cup launch ceremony comes to mind,” adding, “When I was offered the program, I was very worried about whether retired players would be able to play soccer again, but the results exceeded my expectations.”
He continued, “I also really enjoyed being able to observe from the side how the coach communicates and how he controls the players if I take on the position of general manager. I have expectations that many aspects will be helpful to me.” .
Captain Kim Young-kwang said, “I was feeling like I was dying a day, a month, or three months after I retired,” and added, “When the program offer came, I felt like it was bringing me back to life. “I thought it would make me feel alive again.”
Seol Ki-hyeon, who coached the team, said, “I was disappointed when I received the offer to be the head coach. “I had thoughts about becoming a director, but I was worried because I worked under director Choi Yong-soo,” he joked, adding, “They say (‘Shooting Star’) is far from entertainment, but director Choi Yong-soo was the director of ‘Shooting Star’ and there was no one to replace him among the leaders.” .
‘Shooting Star’ predicted a vivid production using drone cameras and body cameras. PD Cho explained, “I was in charge of capturing the realism created by the players. There was nothing special to process, I wanted to give it a lively feel, and I wore a body camera with the consent of the players and the opposing team.”
Kim Young-kwang also said, “It is amazing that a third party can feel the same way. I was surprised to be able to express my feelings.” “There are many scenes in the sport of soccer, but ‘Shooting Star’ felt like 4D that could be experienced in 360 degrees,” he said.
However, it was pointed out that the program planning intention was similar to JTBC’s baseball entertainment show ’Strongest Baseball’. Regarding this, PD Cho said, “I think ‘Strongest Baseball’ is a good entertainment show,” and added, “‘Strongest Baseball’ has not been the only sports entertainment show so far. “There were also retired baseball and soccer players,” he explained.
He said, “‘Best Baseball’ is a program that did well because it was sincere. “The good thing is that we have to learn it too,” he said. “We have characteristics such as physical contact and physical exhaustion, which are the basics of soccer. “It is important to express reality within our characteristics,” he explained.
“If you ask whether the genre is documentary or entertainment, I think it’s mixed,” he said. “These days, the trend in programming as a whole has made it meaningless to distinguish between them.” “What we want to do is a sports reality that mixes emotion and laughter well,” he emphasized.
First broadcast at 8 PM on the 22nd.
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What themes can viewers expect to see in ‘Shooting Star’ that differentiate it from traditional sports shows?
Interview Between Time.news Editor and PD Hyojin Cho on Coupang Play’s ‘Shooting Star’
Time.news Editor: Welcome, Hyojin Cho! It’s great to have you here. ‘Shooting Star’ sounds like an exciting new addition to the world of sports entertainment. Can you tell us what inspired you to create a show that combines both soccer and unscripted drama?
Hyojin Cho: Thank you for having me! My biggest inspiration was the desire to highlight the sincere passion and dedication that retired soccer players have for the game. While I have produced humorous programs in the past, I wanted ‘Shooting Star’ to capture the intense emotions and genuine love for soccer that these players possess. It was essential for me to create a space where their stories and experiences could shine.
Time.news Editor: That’s fascinating! So we have renowned retired players like Park Ji-sung and Choi Yong-soo on board. How did you select them for this project?
Hyojin Cho: Selection was crucial. We wanted participants who could genuinely engage in the game without facing significant physical issues. It was about finding former players who not only excelled in their time but also remained passionate about soccer post-retirement. We aimed to showcase a blend of nostalgia and competitiveness, and I think the players we have embody that spirit beautifully.
Time.news Editor: You mentioned keeping the feel of a “boy’s cartoon.” How does that translate into the production style and overall feel of ‘Shooting Star’?
Hyojin Cho: Great question! The concept of a “boy’s cartoon” relates to capturing a sense of adventure and friendship among the players. We wanted to showcase their camaraderie and the fun aspects of getting back on the field. This season, we are using innovative techniques such as drone cameras and body cameras to immerse viewers in the action and evoke those joyous emotions tied to soccer. It’s about experiencing the sport through their eyes and feeling a sense of joy, even if you’re not initially a soccer fan.
Time.news Editor: With the rise of unscripted dramas, how do you differentiate ‘Shooting Star’ from other sports entertainment shows, like ‘Best Baseball’?
Hyojin Cho: While ‘Best Baseball’ has its unique charm, I believe ‘Shooting Star’ centers more on the personal journeys of these retired players. This show dives into their struggles, their emotional connections to soccer, and the challenge of re-entering a competitive environment. It’s a heartfelt exploration rather than just a sports competition. Each player’s story adds depth, making it relatable to everyone, regardless of their knowledge of soccer.
Time.news Editor: You mentioned that players felt brought back to life through this show. Can you delve deeper into that?
Hyojin Cho: Absolutely. Many of our players expressed feelings of stagnation after retirement, a sense of loss for not being in the thick of the game. Working on ‘Shooting Star’ has reignited their passion and allowed them to reconnect with their love for soccer and each other. For example, Kim Young-gwang described feeling revitalized when he accepted the offer. That kind of sentiment is powerful and indicative of the show’s impact not just on them, but on our viewers as well.
Time.news Editor: That’s incredibly meaningful. As the show premieres on the 22nd, what do you hope audiences take away from watching ‘Shooting Star’?
Hyojin Cho: I hope viewers walk away with a renewed appreciation for soccer and the heartfelt stories that accompany it. I want them to see the dedication and emotions that these athletes bring, which extend beyond the game itself. My ultimate dream is that even those who weren’t initially soccer fans find themselves captivated by the players’ journeys and the spirit of the sport.
Time.news Editor: Thank you so much for your insights, Hyojin! We’re all eagerly anticipating the premiere of ‘Shooting Star’ on the 22nd. It seems set to be a fantastic journey into the heart of soccer and what it means to those who love it.
Hyojin Cho: Thank you! I’m excited for everyone to see it!