Tving, channel tvN collaborate on 'O'PENing' short drama series

Domestic streaming service Tving and channel tvN are collaborating on a series of short dramas, collectively titled “O’PENing.” Comprising seven short dramas, each less than two hours long, “O’PENing” aims to introduce new faces to the market by...

From left, actors Choi Won-young, Lee Soon-jae, Sunwoo Yong-nyeo, Park So-yi and Jung Yi-Seo pose for a photo during an online press conference for ″O'PENing″ Wednesday. [CJ ENM]

Domestic streaming service Tving and channel tvN are collaborating on a series of short dramas, collectively titled “O’PENing.”

Comprising seven short dramas, each less than two hours long, “O’PENing” aims to introduce new faces to the market by finding and nurturing directors and writers who have not yet had the opportunity to develop their portfolios.

“Short dramas are a great chance for new directors and writers to show their potential,” veteran actor Lee Soon-jae said during an online press conference for “O’PENing” Wednesday. Lee stars in “A Walk,” one of the seven short dramas.

“The industry should encourage the production of more short dramas because short dramas allow for creativity and artistic expression," he added.

“A Walk” is about an old man, played by Lee, who finds himself alone after a lifetime of caring for his wife and children. His wife has passed away and his children are leading their own lives. He meets a dog on one of his daily walks, and he grows closer to a neighbor, revitalizing his mundane everyday life.

Main poster for ″O'PENing″ [CJ ENM]

Director Jeong Da-hyung, who directed another short drama in the “O’PENing” series titled “Bruised Like a Peach,” agreed with Lee on the importance of short dramas.

“I think short dramas are just like life itself,” said Jeong. “I am honored to have been given a chance to direct a short drama with ‘O’PENing’ and hope more short dramas will be made in the future.”

“Bruised Like a Peach” is about a young woman, played by Jung Yi-seo, who takes over a small vendor shop that her mother used to run after her mother dies. Jung plays the dual roles of the daughter and mother as the drama interchanges between the present and past.

“Playing two characters at once was a real challenge for me,” Jung said. “Instead of trying to focus on the technical bits such as differentiating the voices of the characters, I tried to put more attention on each of the characters’ situations and emotions to highlight their individuality and uniqueness.”

Another short drama titled “Summer, Love Machine, Blues” in the series stars Arin from girl group Oh My Girl. It tells the story of a student who goes on a road trip with a tutor who has failed a big exam multiple times. The drama is about “ordinary people who fail,” according to director Yoon Hye-ryum.

“Perfect Shot” and “The Reason for Our Break Up” close the lineup for the “O’PENing” series and are about a professional shooter who rigged tournament results in the past and is now looking for a comeback, and a woman and man who are both divorced who meet by chance and get into a candid conversation, respectively.

“O’PENing” will start broadcasting its short dramas on July 16, and continue for seven weeks each Sunday.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]