Sung Dong-il Shares Intense Preparation for Disney+ Series 'Bloody Flower'

Actor Sung Dong-il revealed the intense preparation process on set, emphasizing the actors' perfect script delivery akin to a theatrical performance, showcasing confidence in the project.

On the 27th, a press conference for the Disney+ eight-part series 'Bloody Flower' was held at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul. Attendees included actors Sung Dong-il, Geum Sae-rok, Ryeoun, Shin Seung-hwan, Jung So-ri, and director Han Yoon-sun.

Disney+'s 'Bloody Flower' is a mystery thriller about people surrounding a serial killer with the ability to cure all incurable diseases.

Ryeoun plays Lee Woo-gyeom, a serial killer with genius medical skills capable of saving the world. Sung Dong-il portrays Park Han-jun, a lawyer who must defend the killer to save his sick daughter, while Geum Sae-rok plays prosecutor Cha I-yeon, who seeks to prove her existence through a death sentence.

Sung Dong-il commented on his role as lawyer Park Han-jun, saying, "I played a judge in 'Pro Bono,' and now, as an actor, I care for my family. The profession (lawyer) has changed, but it feels like I'm just Sung Dong-il." He added, "For the sake of family and children, only the job has changed, but the essence remains the same. Whether criticized or risking my life, I feel like the current Sung Dong-il."

Sung Dong-il interpreted his character's choices through the lens of paternal love, stating, "Justice is important, but as a human, being a father is more significant. Family comes first, and children are a priority. The desire to save a daughter is universal among fathers." He added, "Regardless of the profession, a father's heart is present. The evaluation of the lawyer profession is for others to make; I didn't care much."

He praised his junior actors, saying, "I learned a lot of passion from them during this project. Usually, actors gather on set, but this time, we created a table next to the set for script reading and analysis." He continued, "The juniors were very passionate, arriving early for readings and repeating them, which was impressive."

Geum Sae-rok also expressed gratitude to Sung Dong-il, noting, "The theatrical style of filming was impressive. It's rare in drama sets to listen and react to each other's lines in long takes, but we had scenes with 13-14 minutes of continuous dialogue."

She added, "Watching Sung Dong-il memorize and deliver long lines in one go made me wonder where else I could experience this. His preparation ensured no mistakes, allowing us to proceed smoothly."

Geum Sae-rok emphasized learning a lot from acting alongside Sung Dong-il, saying, "There were moments when he transitioned scenes in unexpected ways, and each time, I realized how much I was learning from working with him."

Ryeoun also praised his chemistry with Sung Dong-il, smiling as he said, "Throughout filming, Sung Dong-il worked hard, memorizing and mastering lines to ensure perfect performance, adjusting to match the co-actors."

He mentioned the on-set atmosphere, saying, "Even when there were many line mistakes, he never got angry, always encouraging us with 'It's okay, let's try again,' which was a great support."

Ryeoun added, "Thanks to his attitude, the set became more solid, and I learned a lot as an actor. His demeanor and responsibility led the entire project."

Sung Dong-il shared, "Even if filming ended at 1 AM, we left snacks for the crew and had simple drinks to review the day's shoot and discuss the next day's scenes."

He continued, "The juniors were very cooperative, and I joined in discussing the project. In the morning, we gathered for coffee time and read the entire script. The juniors were so dedicated that it felt like they were risking their lives."

Regarding the tone of the project, he stated, "There's no humor in this one. That's why memorizing lines perfectly was essential. Some might wonder why Sung Dong-il is so serious, but defending a serial killer to protect his daughter required it."

Sung Dong-il revealed he underwent a physical transformation for the role, losing over 10kg, saying, "I wanted to portray a desperate father." He added, "Defending a serial killer to protect his daughter was a crucial aspect of the character's relationship."

He also shared his thoughts on the film industry's situation, stating, "I mentioned this at the Seoul International Film Festival. Overall, films, dramas, and visual media are struggling." He continued, "With reduced budgets, the industry is pressured by money and time. Despite this, I sincerely thank all the film staff for their dedication. Although it's tough now, I believe better conditions will come if everyone holds their ground."

Sung Dong-il suggested, "Since it's hard to secure investments and episodes are reduced, I proposed we unite and approach it like a play, memorizing the entire script to create something great."

Finally, Shin Seung-hwan expressed confidence, saying, "Our project is like 'Dubai Chewy Cookies'; the dialogue exchanges are really chewy. It's a genre and drama unlike anything seen before."

'Bloody Flower' will premiere on Disney+ on February 4th.

Kim Se-ah, TenAsia Reporter haesmik@tenasia.co.kr