Korean language

Soyoung Jeon

Jeon So-young was born in Seoul in 1989 and studied urban design at her university. After graduating, she continued working on two-dimensional works such as photographs and paintings documenting performing arts and exhibition records, and started video work in 2017. Recently, her experimental short film <High Tide> was screened at the Seoul Art Space Seogyo.

The artist has worked on the subjects taken from the urban environment or formative characteristics within the city rather than the person; however, as the work proceeds, the artist is now more focused on various issues she has explored so far, that individuals inevitably get to face regardless of their will in the urban environment.

Also, with critical eyes on the media culture consumed within the artist’s generation (late 80s, early 90s), the artist seeks to continuously ask questions through work and research.

<Suyeon's Room>

Suyeon, a woman in her late twenties, resides and works in Seoul. She's been exploring various places in Seoul with the goal of gaining independence and finding her own home. While she listed all the fantasies she had about having her own place and imagined the space after gaining independence, the reality proved to be less accommodating.
1. Cast and CrewCast: Sang-eun Yoon, Jihyo Woo, Yoonji ChaDirector: Soyoung JeonAssistant Director: Hyojin LimScreenplay: Hyojin Lim, Soyoung JeonCinematography: Soyoung JeonSound: Hyojin Lim, Miyeon Choi, Yoonji ChaMusic: Jiyoung Jeon, Hoseon JeonIllustrations: Soyoung Jeon
2. Production Timeline1) Pre-production: June 2017 - August 2017 1-1) Casting and Crew Meetings 1-2) Script Completion2) Production: September 2017 - October 2017 2-1) Filming (2 Pre-shoots, 2 Main Shoots, 1 Re-shoot) 2-2) Staff Meetings3) Post-production: October 2017 - December 2017 3-1) Editing 3-2) Music Recording
3. Filming Locations: Jongno-gu, Seodaemun-gu, Eunpyeong-gu, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Production Process

1. Casting 1) Initial plan: In the treatment, the protagonist was described as a "woman in her late twenties residing in Seoul," and we initially aimed to cast an actress with experience in acting and filming.
2) Reasons for change and process: During the development of the script and character with writer Hyojin Lim, we decided to change the lead character to a publishing editor and made adjustments to the schedule. As a result, we cast Sang-eun Yoon, a choreographer with extensive experience in stage arts, despite her lack of experience in film acting.
3) Outcome: We wanted to cast an actress who diverged from the stereotypical image of a female lead in independent and budget films. Sang-eun Yoon's background as a choreographer aligned well with this vision. Furthermore, during pre-production, we decided to edit the film's overall image and music to better match the actress's dynamic and vibrant persona.
2. Incorporating images into the film 1) Initial plan: Originally, we intended to create and edit scenes depicting the protagonist exploring various places in Seoul in her search for a home. We didn't consider additional effects during scene transitions. 2) Reasons for change and process: As we finalized the script, we faced challenges in determining how to transition between scenes effectively given certain limitations in technology and resources. Also, due to limitations in shooting locations and other constraints, we couldn't recreate every aspect we had envisioned regarding the script and the film's theme. To overcome these limitations, we brainstormed some possible effects. During this process, we decided to include a scene where the protagonist writes notes while on a bus, and we planned to incorporate scanned images of these notes into several scene transitions. These notes would encompass practical issues the protagonist faces while striving for independence and her dreams of independence that she has cherished until now. 3) Outcome: Prior to filming, we envisioned the scanned notes to be sketched with minimal decorative elements, depicted in black lines only. However, as we progressed with the shooting and considered the character's attire and the image she was portraying, we found that this style did not complement the character. Instead, we opted for a different style, incorporating high-saturation colors as the key palette for the notes, along with a more diverse and decorated environment that suited the character better.
3. Sound Design and Film Music 1) Initial plan: We originally planned to insert music only at the end of the film during the credits, featuring a simple melody played on a keyboard with humming. 2) Reasons for change and process: After the casting change, we realized that different music was needed to match the character's image. We also recognized that conveying the protagonist's emotional fluctuations on screen was not straightforward. Additionally, we needed to design sound for the part where the protagonist's notes were inserted into the film. 3) Outcome: We recorded drum snare sounds separately for transitions between images and recorded several songs to align with moments when the character, Suyeon, wears headphones and navigates through emotional fluctuations. These included jazz covers, bossa nova, and samba music. In the film's closing credits, we incorporated Chopin's Études as a reflection of Suyeon's incomplete journey toward independence, adding depth to the storyline.

Soyoung Jeon, Suyeon's Room

single channel video 20min 2017

Soyoung Jeon, Suyeon's Room
single channel video 20min 2017

Epilogue

Most of the work I've done so far has been individual projects, and even when collaborating, roles were clearly defined, leaving little room for active exchange of opinions. However, as I embarked on this project, I took the initiative to assemble a team of staff members and sought input not only on their assigned roles but also on the project as a whole. While I began with a firm plan, encompassing the overall message, visual and auditory elements, I adapted and made changes as we progressed based on various opinions. Personally, I found this experience to be unique and valuable.

The topic of "independence and housing issues for women in their late twenties" is vast, and we needed to narrow down the specific themes and scope we wanted to address within the film. There are various methods to depict this, such as using statistics, social issues, charts, or graphics, or having the protagonist directly express these issues through dialogue. However, I felt that these approaches didn't align with my vision for the project. I chose to reveal the theme in a somewhat ambiguous manner. Additionally, since the thoughts and experiences of the protagonist cannot be generalized to an entire generation, I believed it was inappropriate to make sweeping statements. While one can always add more, I aimed to create a work that captured the essence of the issue within the realistic boundaries of expression and that had "nothing to remove."

Regarding this project, we have entrusted the sound editing for the latter part of the film to a professional, and we plan to submit the film to film festivals. Furthermore, related to the film's theme, Suyeon, the protagonist, and I, along with Hyojin Lim (screenplay, co-direction) and Sang-eun Yoon (lead actress), have engaged in further discussions and documented them in text form to create additional content. While the film allows viewers to glimpse Suyeon's experiences from a distance, the text work will break through the constraints of the medium and delve deeper into the topic of "independence and housing issues for women in their twenties."

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