Will You be my Perfect Girl?

     As web dramas take over our airwaves like "DramaWorld", (an English/Korean mashup) there are those who are creating a whole new way of looking at the KDrama phenomena!

     Christian Lee and Jason Chan from BANANAMANA Films develop English scripts for Asian Dramas! They are a Singapore based production company and have won more than 7 awards internationally!

     Just like "DramaWorld", BANANAMANA Films' "Perfect Girl" was picked up by VIKI! Christian and Jason took their multi episode series and converted it into a hour movie...!

The Girl...

     Jason Chan, along with being one of the creators of "Perfect Girl", also plays the leading man Stan.

     At the beginning of the film we come to find Stan alone and unloved. Not because he hasn't had a chance at happiness but he has been in love with Jenny (Khaleila Hisham) since their high school days.

Meet Cute

     It's been years since Stan has seen his crush Jenny and he still finds himself tongue tied and awkward in front of her...but he can't seem to forget (things that make you go mmm?).

Making a Plan?

     Social situations seem like a foreign language to Stan so he sets out to remedy his lackluster love life by doing what he's best at... calculating information to its best end result...

                                                                       ...Jenny.

Their Past...

     Yet, Jenny still remembers when Stan would write her love letters. A well spring of thoughts that sprung from Stan's heart in the hopes of winning Jenny's. 

     Love filled papers just for her... but as he stood in front of her...nothing. 

     Stan and Jenny's portrayals are funny, warm, and heartbreaking (like all good KDramas) and the series is well put together from alpha to omega and everything in between.

     BANANAMANA Films weaves an intimate tale of two lovers and what they face to be together... not just from the outside but from within!

     Christian and Jason still have many more stories to tell and recently they have been working on a pilot named "BangBang Club". 

     In 2016 it was nominated for Best Editing and Best Score at the Indie SeriesAwards and won a Remi award at the Worldfest - HoustonInternational Film Festival!

A New Spin on DramaWorld!

     As you follow my blog you'll start to notice certain similarities in a typical KDrama. 

     Poor girl meets rich boy, then she has unrealistic expectations that he'll love her forever, and there's always someone to mess with their relationship! (Monster-in-law, 2nd male lead, the Temptress). 

     "DramaWorld" starts EXACTLY like a typical KDrama...

                                                                                  ...then EVERYTHING changes!!

     Viki has broken all the KDrama rules and has given all KDrama fans an incredible treat! This web series crosses cultures, languages, reality, and worlds! Set in Los Angeles and Seoul, the first-ever American-Korean mashup (Omo!) 

     Claire Duncan (LIV HEWSON) is a 20 year old college student who works at her Father's cafe. She feels invisible and her only way of coping with her life (or lack thereof) is by living vicariously through the KDramas she watches. 

Addicted to KDramas!

     Chef Joon Park (SEAN DULAKE) is Claire's favorite actor and plays the male lead in "Taste of Love" the hottest KDrama at the moment! Claire has been following the KDrama religiously and knows something is wrong... 

Meet the Love Triangle...Maybe?

     Claire continues her lonely existence as she tries to figure out what's wrong with her series, "Taste of Love".

     She tries to explain that there is a problem with the KDrama to the many customer's at her Father's cafe but all she does is drive business away.

Claire explains...

       Episode 12 takes a nasty turn in "Taste of Love" as someone kills Chef Joon's Father forcing the story into a darker course. And the love triangle takes a turn for the worst.

The tale continues...

   As Claire re-watches episode 12, trying to catch anything she could have missed in the plot, her Father furiously takes her smartphone in an effort to make her wake up and start living life in reality.

I want to be in KDramas!

     Unable to let the KDrama go Claire watches the next episode as she cleans up. Unfortunately, a spilled mop bucket fuels Claire's desire to stop Chef Joon and the Temptress (KIM SA HEE) from kissing and transports Claire into "Taste of Love"!

Dream come true?

     Claire wreaks havoc on “Taste of Love”. Her only ally is Seth Ko (Justin Chon), a fellow "real" person who also landed in DramaWorld, and is a "facilitator". Seth keeps all the KDramas on track to their happy ending. 

     Seth insists Claire help him because her interference has created an off-balance which is causing other dramas to splice into the series !

     With as many Asian Dramas that have been produced the creation of DramaWorld was clearly anticipated and greatly welcomed by all KDrama fans (Me included!)

     This wonderful series was written by Josh Billig and Chris Martin.  Chris also directed the show and he's been in the industry for about 10 year! I had fun watching it, laughing at all the KDrama rules, crying with all the heartwarming scenes and seeing how much fun Josh and Chris had with the series...

     Many fans are clamoring for a season 2 and I clearly anticipate the possibilities!

I Don't Care WHO You are...You're Beautiful

     This KDrama pushes the possibilities of reality to the its very limits (I love it!). In true Cinderella-esque fashion a nun-in-training meets three hot guys in a rock band when she pretends to be her own twin brother!(Oh No!)

     Park Shin Hye (from Heartstrings) plays the part of Go Mi Nyu-the pure hearted (but always making trouble) soon to be nun. She reminds me a lot of the character Maria from "The Sound of Music"!

I'm not late...Your just All Early...?

     Meanwhile, Hwang Tae Kyung (Jang Geun Suk from Mary Stayed Out All Night) the Leader of the band A.N.Jell is an arrogant yet highly talented musician, composer, and lyricist! 

     Unfortunately, Tae Kyung's personality leaves a lot to be desired and he makes life hard and miserable for all those around him including his band mates Kang Shin Woo (Jung Yong Hwa of CNBLUE) and Jeremy (Lee Hong Ki of FT Island).  

Rockin' in Out!

     These two vastly different worlds collide when Ma Hoon Yi (Kim In Kwon) who is Mi Nam's manager locates Go Mi Nyu at the Nunnery to plead for her help.

     Hoon Yi tells Mi Nyu that Go Mi Nam is in the hospital getting work done and will not be out in time to sign the papers to join the boy band A.N.Jell-which is Mi Nam's biggest dream!

     After much fighting Mi Nyu gives in to Hoon Yi's demands and pressure to help her brother...just this once (yeah...right).

Begging on My Knees!

     As "Go Mi Nam" was signing the papers for the contract to join A.N.Jell Tae Kyung barges in and demands that "Mi Nam" show him and the rest of the band his singing talents! (Omo!)

I Don't Want You in MY Band!

     "Mi Nam" was accepted by the band members! Just one problem...the REAL Go Mi Nam won't be able to join the band for some time YET!

     Hoon Yi begs Mi Nyu to play the part of her brother so that he doesn't lose this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in his musical career. 

     Mi Nyu is having none of it! She is on her way to Rome to become a nun. Pretending to be something and someone she's not is against everything that she stands for!

What is HIS will?

     In true KDrama form Mi Nyu bumps into Tae Kyung at the airport and drops her airplane ticket in the process (Yikes!). 

     As he tries desperately to find her and give her back her ticket she equally and desperately tries to avoid him! Mi Nyu fears that Tae Kyung will recognize her and she will be in trouble.    

     Tae Kyung cannot wait forever and departs on his flight with Mi Nyu's ticket! Now she cannot go to Rome and continue her studies. 

     Mi Nyu reflects back on her conversation with Mother Superior about following God's will and decides that helping out her brother must be part of His plan.

Family comes First...

     Park Shin Hye as Go Mi Nam and Go Mi Nyu gives this KDrama a new twist on the Gender Bending trend in You're Beautiful. 

     There were many moments that I loved during this series. One of my favorite scenes is when Jeremy confesses to Mi Nyu on the bus. He completely broke my heart. I have watched this show time and time again and I still rarely watch this scene. 

     Director Hong Sung-Chang and Assistant Director Park Yong-Soon collaborated with Writers Hong Jung-Eun and Hong Mi-Ran to make this RomCom into a delightful, heartfelt, and very funny story. 

Bromance to Romance in 19 Episodes or Less...?

     What happens when the culture you are born into has rules and regulations that can shape your life to an almost alternate state? That's exactly what happened to Pi Ya Nuo (MeganLai)! 

     When she was born her parents, who are truly trusting and loving, went to a fortune teller to get advice on their newborn child (feels very fairy-tale like...). 

     They were told of great misfortune for Ya Nuo in the future if they did not take steps to change her fate! (oh no!) 

Tricking Fate?

     On a parallel storyline Du Zhi Feng (BaronChen) also had a rough start in life and was rescued from being an orphan by a generous mafia family! (ok...I know how it sounds but they're nice!)

     Zhi Feng is facing challenges, on his own, since his Father disappeared 7 years ago...does tragedy follow this duo throughout the drama?

Love Thy Father

     As Ya Nuo continues to hide who she is (for almost 26 years) she has lived her life as full as she could. Her best friend, Liao Guang Chao (YangMing Wei), helps to create laughter and a sense of stability in her life.     

Working Man

     As the story unfolds Zhi Feng is keeping his Theme Park running and waiting for his Father to come home...but rivalries won't leave him alone! All he really needs is a friend to have his back...(mmm...wonder who that could be?)

Gentleman in Distress?

     Zhi Feng and Ya Nuo hit it off but Ya Nuo doesn't want any rewards for helping Zhi Feng. 

     But when Ya Nuo rescues Du Zi Han (Elleya Tao),  Zhi Feng's  sister ...things get really complicated! 

(...and funny!)

Sworn Brothers!

     Bromance is a hilarious view on the gender bender theme (when a character dresses/acts like the opposite gender) that many Asian Dramas have.

     I find this Taiwanese twist delightful because Ya Nuo has been living this lifestyle for almost 26 years and has become adept to the role! She truly is a boy through and through. 

     She fights, has swag, and drinks just like all the male characters! ...sometimes better! 

     Watching this drama was addictive most especially since Ya Nuo got to rescue her "Prince" on more than one occasion and I loved to watch her kick butt!

A Gentleman's Dignity is Sometimes the Last thing he has Left...

     Loyalty and friendship go hand in hand in this 2012 bromance romantic comedy. Kim Do Jin (Jang Dong Gun), Im Tae San (Kim Soo Ro), Choi Yoon (Kim Min Jong), and Lee Jung Rok (Lee Jong Hyuk) have known each other since high school. 

     They consider each other family and go to great lengths to help and cover for each other (the good, bad, and sometimes very ugly! HA!). They have been there for each other through heartbreak, military training, and death. 

4F (just older?)

     Kim Do Jin has two chance encounters with Seo Yi Soo (Kim Ha Neul)... but they keep missing each other... Is this destiny or just not meant to be? 

He Missed his Chance

Meet Cute (well...not for her...)

     Seo Yi Soo is the Ethics Teacher at an all boy's school and a group of her boys has an altercation with Kim Do Jin. She needs to talk with him to try and talk him out of suing her students but he refuses to speak to her (or even listen!).

Their Punishment!

     They finally meet because Seo Yi Soo's the umpire at their baseball games! He tries to get her to notice him because he recognized Seo Yi Soo as the woman that he couldn't catch and has been on his mind...
 

Homr Run?

     Kim Do Jin FINALLY figures out that the pretty (ippuda) umpire is the same teacher, of the delinquents who were harrassing Kim Do Jin and Choi Yoon! (Oh No!) Kim Do Jin is kicking himself for not giving in to her sooner...

Who is She Again?!? 

     To add more complications a boy, Colin (Lee Jong Hyun), appears out of nowhere claiming that one of the four is his biological father...?  

 Colin (Lee Jung Hyun)

     This KDrama called to me because, even though it had a lot of sweet romantic moments, it definitely had a lot of adult themes that are not seen commonly in popular KDramas. 

     Writer Kim Eun-Sook and Directors Shin Woo-Cheol and Kwon Hyuk-Chan captured great moments in these character's life and reminded us that its never to late to have fun with life and have A Gentleman's Dignity.

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.

We can All Become...Monstars!

        Growing up has enough baggage to literally last a lifetime. The kids at this prosperous school fight to learn about themselves and their lives through music, laughter, and a few heartaches. 

     Yoon Sul Chan (Yong Joon Hyung) is trying to be the perfect son. Obviously not everything is falling into place and his temper always seems to get the better of him. 

     Yoon Sul Chan's production company compels him to go back to school after an...incident. Maybe school is where he'll find what he's been missing...? 

The Star - Yoon Sul Chan

     Min Sae Yi (Ha Yeon Soo) is mourning her Father's death and trying to get away from her Mother. As a compromise Min Sae Yi is sent to her Aunt Dok Ko-Soon (Lee Hee Jin) who teaches at a special music arts school.  

The New Girl - Min Sae Yi

     New to the school, shy, and told (by her Aunt Dok Ko-Soon) not to reveal that they have a relationship Min Sae Yi quietly walks into her classroom....what happens next shocks her into action...

The Introduction (KimMin Young as Sim Eun Ha)

Radio Suffers (KangUi Sik as Park Gyu Dong)

Radio rebels

They fight back - Together

  

The Challenge (Kang Ha Neul as Jung Sun Woo)

     Writer Kim Tae Hee and Director Kim Won-Suk showcase each of these characters as they strive to be themselves, even when confronted by their greatest fears and failures, watch as they become Monstars!