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After COVID-19, there is a
director who looks at society from the point of view
of
art and asks questions while
efforts in each field are continuing to survive in a different way than in the past
.
At the 93rd Academy Awards held in April, it was the only Asian film to be nominated in the short animation category, drawing global attention.
Erik Oh is the director of <Opera>.
Image source: Eric Oh's official website (erickoh.com)
After majoring in Western painting at Seoul National University College of Art and completing a master's degree in film at UCLA, director Eric Oh joined PIXAR animation studio in 2010, working as an animator at Pixar < He has participated in several famous works such as Finding Dory, Inside Out, and Monster University.
In October 2016, he left Pixar to expand his work world.
Since then, he has continued his activities as a young animation director that the world is paying attention to, building a world of work with high flexibility and creativity that is not confined to the existing framework.
During my tenure at Pixar,
I
also performed on stage at
SDF2015
under the
theme
of <Animation that expresses life>.
▶ Go to Eric Oh’s lecture
On the 31st of last month, SBS Future Team met director Eric Oh, who is working in California, USA, on video, and listened to the questions we need in this era from the perspective of art.
Q. Once again, congratulations on being nominated for the Academy Awards. You must have been busier after that. How are you doing?
Thank you. Fortunately, I'm busy and very frantic. I am working hard on new opportunities and new works that have come before and after the Oscars while continuing to work on the works that have been going on since before the Academy Awards. In the midst of this, I was able to announce a new work called <Tree> in New York, so I'm busy, but I'm working happily.
Q. What kind of work is the new <Tree>?
Like the movie <Minari>, it is a work that takes its Korean title exactly as it sounds. If <Opera> was a work where I focused on society and observed the world going on, <Tree> is a much more autobiographical work. My grandfather passed away about 10 years ago. At that time, there was a short story that I wrote while reflecting on my life and worrying about various things. It is a VR work that scans a person's life from birth to the moment they continue their final journey.
▶Go to the trailer for <Tree>
Q.
I
have a deep connection with SDF. How do you remember the SDF2015 stage?
Six years have already passed and I don't know how that time passed. Looking back at that time, I felt like a child. I remember going on stage very nervous. But it was very good. The debut stage is a bit grand, but it is an experience that has given me growth to the extent that it is not an exaggeration to say that it is an exaggeration. It was an opportunity to share my thoughts and ideas with you, but in the process of organizing and delivering them, and communicating with the speakers who were on stage with me, it was an opportunity to experience and learn so many things. The time six years ago was spent as a really good memory.
Q. I would like to share a story about the work of <Opera>. When I look at the work, I get the feeling that it is very different from the character or story-oriented animation we are familiar with. How did you come to plan and conceive? The title of <Opera> is also quite interesting.
When I went up on the SDF stage six years ago, I think I talked about the way I approached the work and the way I approached it. In the keyword of 'curiosity', I talked about what ideas and motives I get in my daily life, and it was the same with the beginning of the work <Opera>.
<Opera> took about 4 years to make. Four years ago, that is, 2017. It was then that I came up with the core idea for this work. There is no era when there were no problems, but I think there were many social and structural problems at that time. In the United States, there was a presidential election, and in Korea, the former president was impeached. At that time, I think that many people, including myself, were going through various negative emotions and chaotic processes, and I think that's where the inspiration came from. As an artist, when I recorded this situation and realized the story, I wanted to give a chance for so many people, including myself, to think and think about how we should move this society. I made it
The title of <Opera> came out after thinking about it with the team members I worked with. There were several candidates, but there are several major reasons why I chose <Opera>. First, the etymology of <Opera> itself is usually most naturally encountered in musicals or musicals, but if you follow the etymology of 'Opera', there is a social It contains the concepts of , labor, and social structure. So I felt that the title of 'Opera' was not enough to show this work.
Secondly, I think this piece is very musical. Actually, I put a lot of effort into the music. Because we are showing a very large narrative at the same time, the musical element plays a big role in moving it emotionally. I wanted to show a sound that describes life itself. If you listen to it casually, you can only hear a buzzing sound, but if you focus on one area, you will see, “Oh, this sound was coming from here.” So is society. There are always 'sounds', and depending on how you listen to them, you may or may not hear them, so I think I am always thinking about 'sounds'.
In addition, the image of the members of society with numerous roles in action in this work was like watching an orchestra, and I felt that the title of <Opera> was perfect because it showed the feeling of watching an opera.
Q. Were the political events between the two countries the starting point of <Opera>? You must have thought a lot about politics and leaders.
The first motif was like that, but I think it's really the motif. It just inspired me. I wanted to create a work that transcends time. Wars occur, evolve, and societies collapse, and many conflicts arise within them. I think I wanted to create a work that encompasses everything that was and is still in the last century. 'This is the answer' by expressing a certain idea, ideology, or political opinion. That was never said. Right, left, right, and wrong. In fact, when we look at each other, the wrong answer is the right answer, right? It shows the very structure of the world we live in. How did society lead to catastrophe due to certain mistakes or wrong choices made by the leader, and struggle to improve it in society, and new leaders were elected and climbed up, but the same things were repeated over and over again, and I tried to draw such a structure itself. same.
<Opera> contains so many stories. It is divided into 24 districts in total. However, it is not just 24 stories, and countless stories are contained in the work as the stories are tied together and a new story is derived, so I think it is really up to the audience to decide which one to take. This work does not end in a didactic way, saying, 'This is what hope is!', but within it, 'Yes, if this is our life and the situation we are in, how can we break this vicious cycle and make tomorrow better than today? ? What kind of world and society should we create for future generations?' I made this work with the hope of finding a message of hope on my own.
Q. You mentioned earlier that you get inspiration from everyday life. I'm curious about what's the hottest topic lately.
This is the part that I became more interested in while making <Opera>. These days, two really break my heart, and one has to talk about racial aspects. In particular, last year, the black human rights movement called 'Black Lives Matter' (Black Lives Matter) took place very vigorously, and this year, Asian hate crimes are still ongoing. The oppression of Asians and related issues are being highlighted as a major social issue in the United States, so I just remembered what I felt and experienced about it. The scary thing about this is that saying, 'This is racism,' doesn't mean it's racism. There are things that I have become accustomed to without knowing, things I did because I was shy, and things that come to mind when I think about it, 'I had no reason to do that! In our subconscious mind, there are so many things that just remain. The same goes for the Oscars, but Hollywood is increasingly trying to give opportunities to Asian and colored artist directors, and it's getting a lot of attention from the culture as well. Now, the opportunity has just come, and I feel a bit of responsibility that I have a role to play as an Asian in terms of how to make use of it.
At the Oscars, he was the only Asian nominated for animation. The process of becoming an Oscar nominee is very intense. Of the many works that have appeared in this world, at first (nominations) about 90 are selected. And there are processes like the Olympics and World Cup where 90 to 10 and 10 to 5 are selected, and since 10 of them are selected, <Opera> is the only Asian work. Leaving Korean. So when I actually went to the Oscars, there weren't too many Asians. This is a really fun episode, and there was only one Asian who was about the same age as me, actor Steven Yeun. So at the beginning, some scripter asked me if I was Steven Yeun. I didn't take it badly, because I was covering my mouth a bit and there weren't too many Asians, so I thought, 'It could be.' I wanted to I also took it as a little compliment. haha. But when I asked my American friends, it was a joke, but they couldn't even laugh. That's a terrific excuse. Anyway, in a situation where there were no Asians like that, I think I had more of a desire to work hard even back then.
The second topic I am interested in seems to be nature issues. I'm so afraid of nature being destroyed, so these days, when I think about it a little bit and look around, it's so depressing. 'Are we really this good?' It makes me think like this. So I'm thinking a lot about that.
Q. I heard that you are planning an exhibition of <Opera> in Korea. When can we see you?
I am preparing hard right now.
Actually, I had the idea of exhibiting <Opera> before the Oscars.
In the meantime, Oscar received good news, like Danbi, and received strength, and now is the time to prepare.
By all means, I hope it will be within this year too, but I think people in Korea will be able to see the work <Opera> in a rather cool way.
I think I can say it like this for now.
Director Eric Oh expressed his impressions that a new chapter has been opened with this Oscar as the starting point.
In addition, “I cannot define the role of art, but I think that art can play a role as many industries in the world, including science and technology, are moving to make the world a better place.” I try to do it,” he said.
What worries and attempts are you making these days for a better future?
(Writing: Choi Ye-jin sdf@sbs.co.kr)
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