Squid Game
Squid Game is a 10-second scene recreation from the hit Netflix series Squid Game: Season 1, Episode 6 titled “Gganbu” and a 5-minute behind-the-scenes documentary.
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The selected scene depicts an emotional conversation following their game of marbles between Sae-Byeok, Player 067, and Ji-Yeong, Player 240. The documentary dives into the pre-production process that explains our lighting techniques, equipment, breakdown, and considerations taken to recreate this scene as closely as possible.
Creative Problem
Many scene recreations from previous years selected classic Western films and scenes with English dialogue. Examples showed no scene recreations that engaged with foreign languages, especially Asian-originated content.
The Co-Producer and I decided to step outside our creative comfort zones and experiment with a different style of storytelling. Squid Game develops a unique appreciation for Asian media, stories, and filmmakers. Created entirely with a crew of Asian origin, it deepens the cultural connection by bringing authentic perspectives from the original narrative.
Producing, Directing & Editing
Squid Game was my first experience with lighting as I undertook grip and gaffer responsibilities. I assumed an executive and leadership role as the creative and logistical decision-maker for lighting direction, camera coverage, equipment, wardrobe, set design, scheduling, workflow, and documentary editing.
Tasks and responsibilities include:
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Delegating tasks and facilitating clear communication with crew for efficient workflow
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Directing and refining the scene’s lighting, camera, talent, and blocking to accurately reconstruct the scene
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Overseeing equipment rentals, studio booking, and acquiring props
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Operating a Sony AC90 Camera and setting up Fiilex LED lights
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Editing, structuring, and defining the creative vision for our behind-the-scenes documentary
Process & Development
In only a core team of two, pre-production spanned one month for both the scene recreation and documentary. The Co-Producer and I worked closely on planning and building documents, including the lighting plans, scene breakdowns, technical requisition, shooting schedules, and documentary script.
After drafting lighting plans, we also decided to rehearse and test our lighting setups with the camera angles. Minor changes were made to more accurately mimic the scene’s lighting direction, intensity, softness, and colour temperature. This ensured we were prepared for our production day and avoided unexpected challenges.
Application & Results
Squid Game can be viewed on several devices. Both videos are available to watch on YouTube and can be accessed on mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and computers.
