SF8 explained

Native Name:
Hangul:에스 에프 에잇
Genre:Science fiction
Creator:Min Kyu-dong
Starring:See list
Country:South Korea
Language:Korean
Num Episodes:8
List Episodes:
  1. Episodes
Executive Producer:Min Jin-soo
Producer:Various
Editor:Various
Cinematography:Various
Runtime:42–58 minutes
Company:Soo Film[1]
Channel:MBC TV

SF8 is a South Korean science fiction anthology television series. It is a movie-drama crossover project between MBC, the Directors Guild of Korea, the OTT platform and the production company Soo Film.[2] The director's cuts of all episodes were released on Wavve on July 10, 2020 while MBC TV aired one episode a week from August 14 to October 9, 2020.[3]

The series has been regarded as a Korean equivalent of the British series Black Mirror as they have the same format and similar themes, though Min Kyu-dong believes that SF8 is more diversified since eight different filmmakers were involved in the project.[4] SF8 was screened at the 24th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival.[5] [6]

Synopsis

SF8 revolves around people who dream of a perfect society. It tackles the themes of artificial intelligence, augmented reality, virtual reality, robots, games, fantasy, horror, superpowers and disasters.

Episodes

Short summaries adapted from BiFan.

Production

Development

Min Kyu-dong, creator of the series, said that "sci-fi movies were the driving force behind many movie directors' dreams. Unfortunately, due to the relatively high budget and narrow market limitations, various works were not able to be produced." He had been working on this project for two years before he partnered with and MBC.[7] He also took charge of casting the actors, which lasted for a year.[8]

During a press conference held at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul on July 8, 2020, Min Kyu-dong said that all the episodes were produced with an equal amount of budget and that the overall budget was lower than one of a small commercial film. Roh Deok, who co-wrote and directed the "Manxin" episode, mentioned that "while commercial film productions [...] inevitably limit the directors' freedom as a creator, [they] had more independence in production" and "although there were physical limits, [he] thinks [they] went through the process of discovering what [they] can do inside those boundaries."[9]

Filming

Eight directors from the Directors Guild of Korea (DGK) each directed an episode from the series.[10] Filming began on February 21, 2020 with Jang Cheol-soo's "White Crow" and ended on May 7 with Kim Ui-seok's "Empty Body".[11] Filming was completed within 10 filming sessions for each episode.[12]

Credits

Credits adapted from BiFan.[13]

TitleProducerCinematographerEditorSoundMusicProduction Design
"The Prayer"Park Joon-hoKang Gook-hyunJeung Ji-eunGong Tae-wonKim Joon-sung and Kim Ji-aeKim Geu-na
"Manxin"Kang Ga-miKim Hyun-seokKim Woo-hyunLee In-gyu and Sung Yoon-yongHong Dae-sungKim Ji-oh
"Joan's Galaxy"Jung Hye-youngYang Hyun-seokKim Ji-hyunGong Tae-wonPark In-youngJi Hyun-seo and Choi Yoo-re
"Blink"Na Hyun-joonLee Sung-eunChung Sang-hyukKim Jung-hwanKim Joon-seokKim Young-tak
"Baby It’s Over Outside"Lee Yong-sooPark Sung-hoonPark Min-sunMonoconHan Seo-jin and Lee Sung-kyungHong Joo-hee
"White Crow"Park Jin-sungKim Goo-youngTODA editSong Seo-deokKim Ji-aeChoi Yon-shik
"Love Virtually"Park Sun-hyeLee Sung-yongSon Yeon-jiGong Tae-wonLee Ji-sooChoi Im
"Empty Body"Ahn Soo-yoonBaek Sung-binKim Ui-seokLim Hyun-kyu and Song Seo-deokSunwoo Jung-aKim Do-eun

Release

The director's cut was released on the OTT platform on July 10, 2020 and the original episodes were aired on MBC TV from August 14 to October 9.[14] [15]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hwang. So-young. "SF8" enters filming stage after casting completes. April 1, 2020. JTBC Plus. V Live. May 13, 2020.
  2. Web site: Lee. Jae-lim. 8 episodes, 8 directors, one brave and bold new concept. July 8, 2020. Korea JoongAng Daily. July 12, 2020. July 30, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230730060845/https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2020/07/08/entertainment/television/SF8-scifi-MBC/20200708192600399.html. live.
  3. Web site: From Moon So-ri to Hani, Drama and Movie Blending Project "SF8" is Gathering Its Troops. April 1, 2020. HanCinema. April 2, 2020. August 8, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230808140139/https://www.hancinema.net/from-moon-so-ri-to-hani-drama-and-movie-blending-project-sf8-is-gathering-its-troops-140122.html. live.
  4. Web site: Kwak. Yeon-soo. 'SF8' is Korean equivalent of Netflix Original 'Black Mirror'. July 10, 2020. The Korea Times. July 10, 2020. August 8, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230808140146/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2020/07/688_292646.html. live.
  5. Web site: Entertainment Team. 'SF8', 제24회 BIFAN 초청...다양한 미래 모습들 선보일 8개 에피소드. June 9, 2020. The Korea Economic Daily. ko. June 9, 2020. June 9, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200609082353/https://www.hankyung.com/entertainment/article/202006096602k. dead.
  6. Web site: Original Sci-Fi Anthology "SF8" Receives Official Invitation to the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival. June 9, 2020. HanCinema. June 18, 2020. August 8, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230808140140/https://www.hancinema.net/original-sci-fi-anthology-sf8-receives-official-invitation-to-the-bucheon-international-fantastic-film-festival-142169.html. live.
  7. Web site: MBC to Present Sci-Fi Anthology With Film Directors. February 13, 2020. HanCinema. April 3, 2020. August 8, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230808140643/https://www.hancinema.net/mbc-to-present-sci-fi-anthology-with-film-directors-138678.html. live.
  8. Web site: Choi. Ji-won. Film and drama crossover for sci-fi anthology series. April 2, 2020. The Korea Herald. April 3, 2020. August 8, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230808140717/http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20200402000539. live.
  9. Web site: Choi. Ji-won. Korean film directors venture for sci-fi anthology with 'SF8'. July 8, 2020. The Korea Herald. July 12, 2020. August 8, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230808140713/http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20200708000925. live.
  10. Web site: Cho. Yeon-gyeong. MBC, 영화감독조합 손잡고 영화X드라마 'SF8' 제작 편성[공식]]. February 13, 2020. JoongAng Ilbo. ko. April 2, 2020. June 27, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200627175822/https://news.joins.com/article/23705141. live.
  11. Web site: Nam. Jung-hyun. 영화·드라마 결합 프로젝트 'SF8', 촬영 종료…7월 공개. May 13, 2020. Newsis. The Chosun Ilbo. ko. May 13, 2020. August 8, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230808140649/https://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2020/05/13/2020051302166.html. live.
  12. Web site: Movie/drama Crossover "SF8" Stands up to Netflix "Black Mirror". July 8, 2020. HanCinema. July 12, 2020. August 8, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230808141709/https://www.hancinema.net/movie-drama-crossover-sf8-stands-up-to-netflix-black-mirror-143035.html. live.
  13. News: SF8 in BIFAN. BiFan. https://web.archive.org/web/20200618162429/https://www.bifan.kr/eng/program/program_list.asp?sc_category_seq=3010. June 18, 2020. July 2, 2020. live.
  14. Web site: Lee. Gyu-lee. SF to romance: diverse genre TV series to hit small screen. July 12, 2020. The Korea Times. July 12, 2020. August 8, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230808141711/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2020/07/688_292684.html. live.
  15. Web site: Yonhap. OTT-TV crossover project series 'SF8' to hit small screen this week. August 14, 2020. The Korea Times. August 14, 2020. August 8, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230808141715/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2020/08/688_294381.html. live.