Dream High 2...(Where's 1?)

     As I was re-watching (yes...I do that...frequently) Dream High 2 I knew that I wanted to tell this story because there is one character in this series that I identify with very much.

     This person has a lot of obstacles to overcome through the series and I can feel the (eternal?)struggle as this character tries (with varying degrees of success) to achieve their dreams... Can you guess which one it is?

     The series starts showing musical talent with a Girl Kpop group by the name of "HershE" (like the candy bar) and they are at the top of their game!  

     This group consists of SISTAR's Hyolyn and Ailee as well as T-Ara's Jiyeon as  "HershE" Members Nana, Ailee, and Rian. 

     Rian is struggling with becoming more than the "Face" of "HershE" and dumps fellow alum JB to focus more on her acting career...(Omo!)

   "HershE" and the duo "I:dn" (Eden) were both raised through OZ Entertainment.

    "I:dn" is made up of two artists JB (from GOT7) and Si Woo (Park Seo Joon  of "Kill Me, Heal Me").

     JB and Si Woo see their respective careers extremely differently. JB is the rule follower (and has a relationship with Rian) and Si Woo is the rebel always getting into trouble.

     So it is a shock when JB breaks the rules...and the consequences are felt by ALL!

     As JB's extreme fan (watch out JB!) Shin Hae-sung (Kang So-ra of "Warm and Cozy") goes greatly out of her way to make an impression.

     Unfortunately, it's not always the best impression...

     Hae-sung feels a connection to these artists that she's come to support and watch because she is training to become one herself!

     Hae-sung is studying at "The Kirin School of Arts" to become a world class singer and no one is going to stop her...

     On her way back from the concert Hae-sung meets up with Jin Yoo-jin (Jeong Jinwoon of 2AM and "Madame Antoine")...unintentionally...

     Yoo-jin is a child star and talented musician. You would think that would make him arrogant but it just keeps him rebellious! (HA!)

      Yoo-jin has very specific ideas of what he wants to do musically and refuses to let anyone have artistic control over him...

    Hae-sung gets caught sneaking in (but not  Yoo-jin!) and tries to dispel any bad karma with a spell...?

     When her room catches fire she forces her whole dormitory to evacuate including Teacher Yang Jin-man (Park Jin-young of JYP Entertainment) who just wants to be left alone until retirement...(LOL)

     Obviously, Hae-sung's luck won't change unless she tries to change it herself! And with that thought in mind she tries to create a song, by herself, to submit for a contest at school.

      Hae-sung asks Yoo-jin to help make her song better but after he listens to it Yoo-jin belittles her efforts! (Really?)

     Then he harshly compares her meager attempt to write a song with her favorite artist's, JB's, last published song stating that it had been plagiarized!

     After all the trouble that his artists were making and the new law for underage entertainers President Lee Kang-chul (Kim Jung-tae of "Oh My Venus") of OZ Entertainment came to "The Kirin School of Arts" to set some things straight.

     Principal Joo Jung-wan (Kwon Hae-hyo of "Lie to Me") was minding his own business when President Lee  popped into his office to drop a bomb...

    From this day forward "The Kirin School of Arts" belongs to OZ Entertainment and all their artists will be attending this school!

     Dream High 2 is a RomCom Musical that never gets old. Writers Heo Sung-Hye and Jang Eun-Mit tell timeless stories of each person's journey as they grow and reach for their dreams. And Directors Lee Eung-Bok and Mo Wan-Il showed us through great cinematography that the story is also found in its silent moments...   

Do You Know What's UP?

     Every major crossroad in my life has been influenced by the people who were making the same journey. 

     It is gravely important that we surround ourselves with those who make us want to be better and help us achieve our goals. 

     It is very easy to push each other to great heights or push each other off a cliff. 

     "What's Up" is the story of a group of musical theater students who must live, learn, and love as they reach for their dreams.

     As the story begins we find ourselves at the beginning of the semester as the students are called to audition for the Musical Theater Program for the University!

     Kim Byung Gun (Jo Jung Suk from "Oh My Ghostess") is an older student and trying a new career path.

     He doubts his self worth and his family has no idea of what he's up to...

     Will Byung Gun be able to find his voice? (I hope so!)

      The auditions begin! 

     While Byung Gun is having trouble breathing (at the thought of his upcoming audition) a fair breeze floats in as Eun Chae Young (Jang Hee Jin of "Big") tells Byung Gun that he's going to be ok.

     Byung Gun can relax now! He's found a friend in Chae Young!...right?

     In the audition we find out that Chae Young is actually a well known actress! (Omo!) 

     The audition committee question her reasons for coming to their department...mmm...I wonder too!

     As Chae Young's audition continues there are people who still haven't even found the audition building!


     Jang Jae Hun (Im Ju Hwan of "Oh My Ghostess") desperately tries to find the acting department but no such luck! (it doesn't help that his friend signed him up for Musical Theater! HA!) 

     On the other hand Park Tae Yi (Kim Ji Won of "Heirs") who's been to the school many times...is just as lost! (Oh no!)

     Tae Yi finally finds the audition room (with help from the University Security Officer) and finds a kindred spirit in Ha Do Sung (Kang Dae Sung of BigBang)! 

     Tae Yi and Do Sung had barely started their conversation when Jae Hun interrupts them to ask a very simple question...

...really...???

     I know that every Mother wants the best for her child but Oh Doo Ri's (Im Joo Eun of "Heirs") Mother is undoubtedly overbearing! (she makes you want to rebel!)

     Doo Ri needs this audition to help remove her from her Mother's grasp and allow her a moment to breathe...

     "What's Up" has a great ensemble cast of young actors who reminded me of my younger days and how I tried my best to see through my darkest times with empathy, humor, and sarcasm. (and I still do!)

     Director Song Ji-Won and Writer Song Ji-Na created a campus where the "teachers" taught each of the "kids" lessons about life, human nature, and strength of will! And how together they could figure out "What's Up"!

Sometimes All a Fine Instrument Needs is a Heartstring!

     Old-school versus New in this fast-paced musical romantic comedy. The two main characters, Lee Shin (Jung Yong Hwa) and Lee Kyu Won (Park Shin Hye), unwittingly have a meet cute while traveling on a bus in Jeju Island.

Meet Cute

     Lee Shin is a popular lead vocal/guitarist for a college band called the Stupid. (which fits since he is actually the leader of the popular rock band called CNBlue). 

     Lee Shin is arrogant and tired of "little girls" confessing to him their unending love.(...rolling eyes...)

Stupid

     Lee Kyu Won is training in traditional Korean Folk Music. Her Grandfather, Lee Dong-Jin (Shin Goo), is a world renowned Korean Folk Music Legend. He is most uncompromising in her studies and she is frustrated by him in many ways...but she still loves and respects him.

     Lee Kyu Won is well liked by most of the other students and is in the midst of raising funds, with her band WindFlower, to help pay for a professor's hospital bills.

WindFlower

     Lee Kyu Won is convinced, by the rest of her band, that if Stupid is added to the fundraising event they can sell tickets faster and raise more money to pay for the professor's bills. 

     Against her better judgment Lee Kyu Won asks Lee Shin to perform at her fundraising event. 

     The night of the event is upon both bands but Lee Shin is nowhere to be found. He is missing and no one is able to get a hold of him or get an explanation as to where he is. (oh no!)

     Lee Kyu Won and the expecting audience is angry and disappointed. Because Lee Shin never showed up for his performance Lee Kyu Won has to take responsibility and perform with his band mates.

Lee Kyu Won sings with Stupid

     Even though Lee Kyu Won's performance was unexpectedly good (that it even impressed a new professor greatly) she still had to apologize to the ticket holders for the inconvenience and lack of professionalism on the part of the Stupid's leader, Lee Shin.

     The next day Lee Shin is trying to give Lee Kyu Won the refunded money (maybe he's not such a bad guy?) so that she can pay the professors bills. 

     Lee Shin does feel bad that he wasn't able to make the performance and is trying to make amends somewhat. Lee Kyu Won is having none of it! (you go girl!) She is angry and hurt. 

     Unbeknownst to Lee Shin when Lee Kyu Won tried to go to the hospital last night to turn in the money she found out that her professor had passed. 

     Lee Kyu Won had no more need for Lee Shin's refunded money or room in her heart for any forgiveness. If she hadn't been cleaning up the mess he created by not showing up maybe she would have made it to the hospital in time to say goodbye. 

The Rivalry is Born

     Lee Kyu Won and Lee Shin are very well matched characters and it is great fun to see them bicker and get under each other's skins. They experience a lot together and have many growing pains. 

     Writer Lee Myung-Sook in collaboration with Directors Pyo Min-Soo and Lee Min-Cheol created a story that was funny, creative, and captivating. If Heartstrings is the result of these three great artists working in concert then I look forward to many more stories.