Cast walks out of Great Seer shoots citing no pay
by javabeans
There’s more trouble afoot in dramaland, with SBS’s historical drama The Great Seer being forced to shut down production on Saturday, December 8, when its cast refused to continue shooting.
The chair of the Korea Broadcast Actors Union issued a statement explaining that the drama, which began airing in October, has failed to pay a penny to its actors in the two months that it has been running. Until the production rectifies the situation, it stated that the actors will not film. Currently the drama has broadcast through Episode 18 of its scheduled 36.
Most of the cast of the show belongs to the union, including Ji Sung, Ji Jin-hee, Lee Yoon-ji, and Song Chang-eui. The union stated that the producers have been beset with serious problems and have ignored the repeated requests for payment, being too preoccupied with keeping itself afloat. The issue had also been raised with SBS, and the union had stated their stance on walking out last month, and threatened to boycott all outside productions in the future, given the constant recurrence of these issues in drama after drama (Faith was another recent example).
A rep with SBS stated that the three parties — outside production company, SBS, and the union — are engaged in deep negotiations and that this issue won’t affect its broadcast schedule.
Of course, they would say that, since nobody wants to entertain the idea of having no material to broadcast when Wednesday night rolls around. It’s looking very tight for the production, since they will have to scramble to make their December 12 and 13 episodes.
A source with an actor’s management confirmed that the cast’s dissatisfaction had been growing in recent days, and that in the days prior to the walkout the management had started receiving calls from the union to confirm membership statuses. “It was bound to erupt, and it finally did,” he added.
In response to the first wave of news, the producers scrambled to put out a statement of their own, in which they stated that it wasn’t quite true that “not a penny” had been paid, although it did acknowledge that they would issue payments this week. They are naturally keen on resuming filming, since not making broadcast can only exacerbate their problems.
The drama department head of SBS, Kim Young-sub, reported to the media the following day that the producers promised to take responsibility and resolve the payment issue. As a result, the cast resumed work on December 9 under the expectation that they will be paid by the 11th.
Oy. You know, every time I watch King of Dramas I laugh at the absurdity… until I remember that everything depicted on that show is stuff that actually happens in real life. Only in real life it’s less funny.
…though it does prompt the question: What would Anthony do?
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Tags: drama production
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51 goldeng
December 9, 2012 at 9:04 PM
besides from watching the final product: dramas, Im no expert in the production of them but how can you try to shoot a drama when you cant even pay your actors on time?? And even seeig that your avtors are saying they wont shoot at alml, u still say there wont be problems with the broadcast of next episode?? Are u kidding me?? even companies get shut down when they spend more than they can pay so why no one controls productions cost?
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52 Quiet Thought
December 9, 2012 at 9:07 PM
. . . I was watching a BTS clip from 'The King 2 Hearts' the other day an noticed that strange studio look peculiar to the Seoul broadcast networks: Ha Ji Won was doing her Bo-Peep number, and there was LSG standing next to her in an orange parka. After a minute, I realized everyone on the set other than HJW and LSG were wearing overcoats, hats, and gloves. Two A-list stars, a major network production, and no one is willing to pony up a few thousand bucks to install a furnace in the building? Will they be doing a story about that in 'King of Dramas'? It is really idiotic for a beautifully photographed interior scene with first rate actors and expensive dressings and costumes to be disrupted by the frosty breath streaming out the actor's mouths because the building temperature is within ten degrees of freezing.
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Mar
December 10, 2012 at 11:00 AM
The entire season of Dream High=frosty breath.
It's insane.
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Qítko
December 15, 2012 at 11:48 PM
Not only in Dream High! Yes, I agree with you - it is insane.
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namcha
December 10, 2012 at 4:20 PM
I've seen frosty breaths in just about every drama, Wild Romance, Secret Garden just to name a few. When they are filming a scene inside a rich guy's lavish home, I don't want to see frosty breaths!
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Arhazivory
December 10, 2012 at 7:07 PM
Yes. I always feel bad for them. They're indoors but based on their breath, they're freezing.
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53 Viki
December 9, 2012 at 9:10 PM
Oh crap, King of Dramas have forever ruined drama-production process for me. I'm just wondering now "Ohh, did some big Japanese yakuza changed their mind of funding this drama?
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54 SuziQ
December 9, 2012 at 9:49 PM
Unbelievable..Did someone run off with the $$$$? Both series aren't doing that great in the ratings so are they going to pull the plug on them if they don't get funds? This is stranger than fiction.
Sounds like a plot from KOD..Anthony would dream of something fast to get the money.
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55 anvesha
December 9, 2012 at 10:09 PM
I also immediately thought about King of Dramas, like these things actually happen in real life. This is the first time I'm actually reading about shooting stopped because of pay. How can the actors not get paid? People usually check theses things before they start a drama...
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56 nakai
December 9, 2012 at 10:18 PM
Loving all the, ''What would Anthony?'' comments. Hilarious. :))))
On the subject, I'm not watching this show but I love the cast. I hope everything works out for them.
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57 Nia
December 9, 2012 at 11:17 PM
just pay them...damn! i want my dose of ji jin-hee!
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58 Chickletta
December 10, 2012 at 1:22 AM
My first thought was: "Wow! this makes KOD even more acute."
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59 yoonah
December 10, 2012 at 1:41 AM
This shameful situation is just the tip of the iceberg. According to the article below on the Korean Broadcast Actor's Union strike, some actors haven't even gotten paid for 2009-2010 dramas, that's 2-3 years ago!
http://vaultofdoom.wordpress.com/2012/11/23/the-yeouido-observer-006-show-me-the-money/
And what's worse is 70% of those unpaid actors are supporting actors, veterans, extras. Those ajusshis and ajummas we see in the background endure the same live-shoot conditions for a measly 50 to 100,000 won a day AND THEN DON'T EVEN GET PAID THAT.
Most big stars get paid upfront or at least have CFs to offset financial snafus like these. But it's the little people that are the real victims.
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yoonah
December 11, 2012 at 2:03 AM
Another article:
http://nwww.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20121121000725
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60 emm
December 10, 2012 at 2:13 AM
the root of e problem is e live shoot system.no where else in e world films like these.some time ago,rain n his costars never got full payment for their work in e Runaway too.n i dont even knw whether it was resolve!!
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Mar
December 11, 2012 at 6:45 PM
that live shoot thing is just weird and detrimental to quality shows. and people not getting paid is jackassery.
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61 Ingrid
December 10, 2012 at 3:09 AM
Oy. You know, every time I watch King of Dramas I laugh at the absurdity… until I remember that everything depicted on that show is stuff that actually happens in real life. Only in real life it’s less funny.
…though it does prompt the question: What would Anthony do?
Let Anthony solve the problem. I always believe his capabality! Oh my God, King of Dramas really mirrors the real world of showbiz. Hehehe, I always laugh when I see Siwon's face. Really. He's so freaking hilarious! I love him! Love you Siwon. Mwah!
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62 KoD
December 10, 2012 at 3:58 AM
Drama is MONEY ! MONEY ! MONEY !! Anthony would make sure there are PPLs all over the drama.. even if it's a historical drama.. becos he is Anthony ! :D really love KoD. . Pls go up KoD ratings .. Hwaiting !!!
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63 rama
December 10, 2012 at 7:02 AM
oh no ad i am on ep 6 already. i plan to give up anyway since. i notice that the story is geting ridiculous.
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64 MJP
December 10, 2012 at 8:20 AM
Gotta be crazy for the people behind the scenes too. It's tough for everyone involved during situations like this. I hope the issues are able to get resolved.
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65 belleza
December 10, 2012 at 3:37 PM
This is a real, real big shame! :(
Great Seer has its flaws (Kim So Yeon's Hae In character, convenient time jumps), but this is one fun, fun show. It's got blood, laughs, and Ji Jin Hee reaching epic levels of macho brooding like he's Conan the Librarian.
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66 Kiki
December 10, 2012 at 3:53 PM
Good for them! Channel your inner Norma Rae and walk!
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67 Lilian
December 11, 2012 at 8:02 AM
Wah...so much drama. That is why I like the King of dramas for giving us that perspective. But hope they resume filming soon. And the cast get paid!
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68 Liza
December 11, 2012 at 8:58 PM
What would Anthony do?
First, he would offer the blood of his yet unborn child to the actors if they would only finish the next episode,
Secondly, he would put up his kidneys, liver, bladder and heart for sale on Craig's List, EBAY and tell the actors to please finish the next three episodes, he will certainly pay when he sell his brains.
IF the above was a dud, he will sell both hands to the Japanese Mob, tell the cast that he is the only person that can sign the payroll checks. If the next 4 spisodes are not completed, the worrying will prevent the blood flow to his arms, the wounds will take longer to heal, ergo,longer for him to be fitted with the bionics hands and longer to issue the checks.
If the above did not work, he will check out his faithful little black book and see if he knows of anyone that can set up a blackmail scheme to blackmail the entire cast so they will do the next 5 epidode.
Before the cast realizes what happenned the last episode would be airing and Anthony will have a meeting to tell them that they will get pay just as soon as the American rights are sold to Viki, but while they are waiting for Viki to sign the contract, there is that idea he has for a new drama and this cast is the only people good enough for his new drama that sure to be a run way success. How about it, please say yes, ou can trust me.
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69 Madeleine
December 12, 2012 at 10:37 AM
Anthony would have lost his hand by now.
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