Latest news with #ExtraordinaryAttorneyWoo
Mint
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Are films finally getting the depiction of neurodivergence right?
For far too long now, global cinema has depicted neurodiverse people either as tragic sufferers or as super talents. Take, for instance, The Good Doctor, in which Dr Shaun Murphy, a surgical resident with autism, is known for his near-photographic memory. Then there is Extraordinary Attorney Woo, an acclaimed Korean series, in which a young lawyer on the autism spectrum shines for her brilliant and creative problem-solving abilities. Mugdha Kalra, a mother to a neurodivergent child and co-founder, Not That Different—a platform that builds awareness and pushes for systemic change around autism, invisible disabilities and support systems for families—finds these portrayals problematic. 'These affect the way society or parents are looking at their children. They are either perceived as figures of pity, or parents start looking for super talents in their kids, which is a huge disservice to the child," she says. According to research by consultancy and auditing firm Deloitte, between 10-20% of the global population falls on the neurodivergent spectrum. A recent report by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Nimhans) states that 2 million Indians are neurodivergent. 'When you have lakhs of people on the spectrum, then there are lakhs of possible on-screen characters. No two trait sets are identical. There is great potential to create characters, which are nuanced, varied and layered, and to present them with dignity," adds Kalra. Why not look at real-life examples and make space for everyday realities such as time blindness, OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) loops or fidgety stims? A positive shift which has taken place in the last five years is that neurodivergent characters are being essayed by actors, who themselves are on the spectrum. They bring their lived reality to the roles, adding authenticity to the portrayals. Abuli Mamaji, who has Down Syndrome, played one of the leads in Nikhil Pherwani's Ahaan (2019), a film about a man with OCD finding a sense of camaraderie in a young man on the spectrum. In the UK, an experimental feature, The Stimming Pool (2024), has been co-created by a collective of autistic artists, the Neurocultures Collective, and filmmaker Steven Eastwood, 'who invite you into a neurodiverse world within the undulating logic of neurotypical environments". In an interview to The Guardian in March this year, Georgia Kumari Bradburn, one of the directors, said: 'It was never about us having a duty to explain who we are or what we are doing to other people. This is just the way we exist. It's a different way of existing." And now there is Sitaare Zameen Par, the official remake of the 2018 Spanish film, Champions, which stars 10 lead actors on the spectrum. Inclusion activists don't advocate for adding a protagonist on the spectrum just for tokenism. Rather, they would prefer if the neurodivergence was built into the script in a matterof-fact way, which normalises being on the spectrum. Imagine a hospital drama in which a nurse needs instructions in writing, or a junior lawyer in a courtroom series, who struggles with eye contact.'There are micro traits of neurodiversity, which can be shown as coexisting with neurotypicality. None of these need to be portrayed at a dramatic level. Their presence alone will tell the audience that neurodivergence can exist in all possible situations and not just in special issue episodes," elaborates Kalra. While the depiction of neurodivergence on screen is changing, people hope for a more layered and in-depth depiction of the caregivers as well. And that's where Anu Singh Choudhary's Selfie, Please, stands out. The 22-minute short film presents a vignette from the life of a family comprising a set of neurotypical and neurodivergent siblings—Anjali and Ananya, respectively. There is a particularly poignant scene where Anjali, an Odissi dancer, reminds her father that he owes her a prize for her exceptional performance. He hands her ₹500, while also giving the same amount to her elder sister, Ananya, who has Down Syndrome. As Anjali's face falls—this was to be her accomplishment alone—her mother reminds her of an earlier promise that everything would be split equally between the two sisters. Anjali storms off, and you can sense the seething discontent—she craves for her mother's attention and resents her sister for being the constant recipient of it. The scene also offers you an insight into the life of a mother, (played by Sarika Singh), who is torn between the two sisters day in and day out. In 22 minutes, Anu brings out the family dynamics to the fore, including the conflict between the parents about the manner of caregiving. According to Kalra, such stories are important as the diagnosis of a child being on the spectrum holds significance for the entire family. 'Selfie, Please already begins with a level of understanding—it doesn't explain Down Syndrome nor does it overtly dramatise the sibling rivalry. It just shows an episode from the life of this family," she says. For Anu, who wrote series such as Aarya and Mrs, this film stemmed from personal experiences. 'Ananya, who plays the sibling with Down Syndrome, is my first cousin. I have seen her mother feel conflicted about encouraging her to explore her social space while also being fiercely protective of her. Often that comes at the cost of your sanity and world view. And if you have another child, who is neurotypical, that plight increases," she says. The medium of short film allowed her to choose an ordinary day from someone's life. The moment of conflict shows the choices that families are making on a daily basis. 'Cinematic storytelling will always look for something extraordinary. But storytellers should not take away the mundanity of everyday life. They should strike a balance—something that Sitaare Zameen Par does well," elaborates Anu. Meanwhile, Selfie, Please has been winning awards at festivals such as the Dadasaheb Phalke Film Festival, Indian World Film Festival and Bangalore Short Films Festival. The filmmaker is keen that the screenings be followed by focused group discussions as well. For instance, just last week, Selfie, Please was screened at the Veda Kunba Auditorium, Mumbai, as part of the event, Neuro Unity: Lights Camera Inclusion, organised by Kalra. This included a discussion with Anu and Divy Nidhi Sharma, writer, Sitaare Zameen Par, about ways of authentically portraying neurodivergent characters in cinema and television. 'There is a need to create understanding not just about people on the spectrum but those around them as well. It is not just about a film but what you can take away from that to expand your worldview," adds Anu .
AsiaOne
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
Byeon Woo-seok, Park Eun-bin, Kiss of Life: A peek at their childhood photos on South Korea's Children's Day, Entertainment News
Every year on May 5, South Korea and Japan celebrate Children's Day and some celebrities commemorate the occasion by taking to social media and posting pictures of themselves from their childhood. Here's a look at some Korean stars from when they were cute little ones. Park Eun-bin Today (May 5), actress Park Eun-bin joined in on the fun and posted on Instagram an adorable picture of herself as a young tree-hugger. The 32-year-old is well-known for her versatility in acting, excelling in dramas like Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022) and most recently Hyper Knife. Next up, we will see her in drama series The Wonder Fools starring Cha Eun-woo. Kiss of Life K-pop girl group Kiss of Life shared photos of their younger selves yesterday. On their X page, a chalkboard collage edit was put up of the four girls — Julie, Belle, Natty and Haneul — with short text scribbled in the members' handwriting. In case you missed it, they had an exciting concert in Singapore just two weeks ago and announced that they have a new song coming up. Stay tuned! Byeon Woo-seok Last year, actor Byeon Woo-seok's agency posted on Instagram a scrapbook-style picture of their talents as children, and the Lovely Runner star can be seen dressed stylishly in a beige coat and scarf. Even from such a young age, his fashion sense was already so pronounced. The 33-year-old, who was recently in Singapore to attend an event by Cartier, is set to be the main lead in the upcoming K-drama The 21st Century Grand Prince's Wife starring IU later this year. Jackson Wang He's not Korean but he did make his showbiz debut in the K-pop boy band Got7. On his 31st birthday this year, Jackson Wang's mum posted a picture of him on Instagram and dedicated some sweet words to him. In her post, she wrote: "My dear son, time flies and it's your birthday again... Looking back on the past, you have overcome all obstacles and bravely pursued your dreams. Every step you took has witnessed your transformation and made you the outstanding person you are today. "Use your kindness and tenacity to write your own wonderful chapter, filling the eyes of all those who love you with proud stars. In the new year, I wish that you'll have a healthy body to embrace every morning and evening; I wish your life to be poetic and picturesque, filled with incomparable sunshine and laughter." In March, Jackson hopped on Super Junior Eunhyuk's podcast Hey, Come Here?, where he spoke candidly about quirky moments with Got7 throughout the years. The Hong Kong-born former national fencer even recounted that he once "threw instant rice" when asked to reveal their biggest fight. Twice To borrow the name of one of their hit songs, it's pretty 'Fancy' how the members of K-pop girl group Twice all understood the assignment and dressed the part to recreate their childhood photos. In 2022, the girls made a side-by-side comparison post of themselves on Instagram, donning fits inspired by their kid-selves and in the same poses too! View this post on Instagram A post shared by TWICE (@twicetagram) Just last month, they performed as special guests at Coldplay's Music of the Spheres World Tour concerts in Seoul. They will also embark on their sixth world tour this year. Keep your ears peeled for their tour stops! Ma Dong-seok Actor Ma Dong-seok, also known by his English name Don Lee, posted a video compilation on Instagram last May of himself through the years, from when he was four years old. The 54-year-old will be starring in Pig Village, the first large-scale English-language film to be produced almost entirely in South Korea. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Don Lee 마동석 (@donlee) [[nid:717521]] No part of this article can be reproduced without permission from AsiaOne.
The Star
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Park Eun-bin on becoming psychopath doctor in 'Hyper Knife'
The actress says bringing her character in 'Hyper Knife' to life was a complex challenge. Photo: Handout Park Eun-bin, widely recognised for her infectious smile and innocent roles – most notably as the endearing Woo Young-woo in Extraordinary Attorney Woo and the free-spirited Mok-ha in Castaway Diva – has taken on a strikingly dark transformation in her latest project. In a bold departure from her previous roles, the actor plays Se-ok in Hyper Knife (Disney+ Hotstar), a psychopathic doctor prone to bouts of rage and a penchant for illegal surgeries. In the eight-episode medical crime thriller series, Se-ok is a once-celebrated surgeon whose career is derailed after her mentor, Deok-hee (Sul Kyung-gu), revokes her medical license. Left with few options, Se-ok turns to performing illegal surgeries as a "shadow doctor". For Park, bringing Se-ok to life was a complex challenge. She explained that her approach to playing the character was akin to making a "new friend". 'Unless it's a historical figure, I create a new character in my own way rather than looking for reference works. "This time, Se-ok went through several revisions after the first proposal... and I patiently created her with the mindset of making a 'new friend',' Park shared in a recent interview. She acknowledged that balancing Se-ok's sense of self-righteousness with the need to convincingly embody a psychopath was a challenging feat. 'It wasn't easy because, along with Se-ok's unique sense of self-righteousness, I had to add elements to make myself convincing as Se-ok, while expressing the typical traits of a psychopath in a different way," she said. Park was adamant about avoiding the typical portrayal of a psychopath or sociopath. 'There's a stereotype that associates psychopaths with a lack of empathy. "When we think of psychopaths, we tend to imagine them as emotionless and without compassion, and I wanted to create a different image for an anti-social character,' she said. Researching antisocial personality disorder, Park saw certain traits in Se-ok that resonated with the condition. 'I can't deny it, but as I studied more, I think I became closer to Se-ok,' she confessed. Reflecting on her experience of playing Se-ok, Park shared: "There were experiences I had not had myself and many emotions that were far from common." She added: "Going through these turbulent emotions, I had the fresh experience of realising that there are people who can live with such feelings." Looking ahead, Park is set to star in the upcoming Netflix series The Wonder Fools, alongside Cha Eun-woo. Set in 1999 during a time when apocalyptic beliefs were on the rise, the action adventure comedy follows a group of neighbourhood heroes who gain superpowers after an unexpected event and must battle villains threatening their city's peace. 'I enjoy trying new things. (Working on Hyper Knife,) although it's a medical thriller, I got to experience a mix of genres. The drama I'm currently filming, The Wonder Fools, is a fun one,' Park said. – The Korea Herald/Asia News Network View this post on Instagram A post shared by 박은빈 (@eunbining0904)
Korea Herald
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Park Eun-bin talks becoming psychopath doctor in 'Hyper Knife'
"Extraordinary Attorney Woo" star discusses drastic change in character, next project with Korean heartthrob Cha Eun-woo Park Eun-bin, widely recognized for her infectious smile and innocent roles — most notably as the endearing Woo Young-woo in "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" and the free-spirited Mok-ha in "Castaway Diva" — has taken on a strikingly dark transformation in her latest project. In a bold departure from her previous roles, the actor plays Se-ok in "Hyper Knife," a psychopathic doctor prone to bouts of rage and a penchant for illegal surgeries. In the medical crime thriller series, Se-ok is a once-celebrated surgeon whose career is derailed after her mentor, Deok-hee (Sul Kyung-gu), revokes her medical license. Left with few options, Se-ok turns to performing illegal surgeries as a "shadow doctor." For Park, bringing Se-ok to life was a complex challenge. She explained that her approach to playing the character was akin to making a "new friend." 'Unless it's a historical figure, I create a new character in my own way rather than looking for reference works. This time, Se-ok went through several revisions after the first proposal … and I patiently created her with the mindset of making a 'new friend,'' Park shared during a group interview held Tuesday in Seoul. She acknowledged that balancing Se-ok's sense of self-righteousness with the need to convincingly embody a psychopath was a challenging feat. 'It wasn't easy because, along with Se-ok's unique sense of self-righteousness, I had to add elements to make myself convincing as Se-ok, while expressing the typical traits of a psychopath in a different way," she said. Park was adamant about avoiding the typical portrayal of a psychopath or sociopath. 'There's a stereotype that associates psychopaths with a lack of empathy. When we think of psychopaths, we tend to imagine them as emotionless and without compassion, and I wanted to create a different image for an anti-social character,' she said. Researching antisocial personality disorder, Park saw certain traits in Se-ok that resonated with the condition. 'I can't deny it, but as I studied more, I think I became closer to Se-ok,' she confessed. Reflecting on her experience of playing Se-ok, Park shared, "There were experiences I had not had myself and many emotions that were far from common." She added, "Going through these turbulent emotions, I had the fresh experience of realizing that there are people who can live with such feelings." Looking ahead, Park is set to star in the upcoming Netflix series "The Wonder Fools," alongside Cha Eun-woo. Set in 1999 during a time when apocalyptic beliefs were on the rise, the action adventure comedy follows a group of neighborhood heroes who gain superpowers after an unexpected event and must battle villains threatening their city's peace. 'I enjoy trying new things. (Working on 'Hyper Knife,') although it's a medical thriller, I got to experience a mix of genres. The drama I'm currently filming, 'The Wonder Fools,' is a fun one,' Park said.
Forbes
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Park Eun-Bin Delves Into The Dangerous Mindset Of A Killer Doctor
Park Eun-bin won the Grand Prize at the 59th Baeksang Arts Awards for her performance in the drama Extraordinary Attorney Woo. Her endearing portrayal of autistic attorney Woo Young-woo was celebrated for the insight it offered into the character's unique perspective. In the new Korean series Hyper Knife, Park portrays another complex and interesting character. Jeong Seok is a doctor, but she's also a killer. She's a brilliant brain surgeon, primarily because she's obsessed with perfecting her skills, but she has little regard for social norms or the rights of others. It's a surprisingly dark character for Park, who previously played a princess in disguise in The King's Affection and a singer stranded on a desert island in Castaway Diva. Seok decides who will live or die based on the level of threat they pose to her existence. Playing Seok required learning more about antisocial behavior and yet the character is more than a textbook example of a disorder. Park's portrayal lends her depth. Viewers are not likely to approve of Seok's behavior, but they may come to understand how she justifies it. 'As an actor, it's always fascinating to meet a new character and dive deep into understanding its life,' said Park. "When I first read the synopsis and script of Hyper Knife, I made the decision not to limit the character of Jeong Seok to just the concept of psychopathy. Instead, I focused on exploring her core emotions and the mindset that drives her actions from various perspectives. I also referenced traits of Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) to breathe life into the character. While it can be hard to wrap your mind around the idea of a doctor who is also a killer, there are a few recorded cases of serial killers with a medical license. Park did not base her character on any real-life figures 'Except when portraying actual historical figures, I generally don't approach characters by modeling them after a real person,' said Park. 'I believe that characters should be allowed to live freely within the context of the story, and prefer to focus on the character itself without the influence of external opinions. As such, there wasn't a specific real person I referenced when creating the character. Instead, I referred to DSM-5 and ICD criteria which are used to diagnose ASPD to use as a foundation to build my own interpretation of the character's traits.' Those character traits help explain why Seok feels it's right to take the lives of others 'Seok is a character with significant moral flaws,' said Park. 'She is immature and extremely selfish. She places her own desires above everything else. I saw her as someone who would be incapable of understanding the societal norm that murder cannot be justified. She is impulsive, reckless, and tends to disregard the consequences of her actions. She also only thinks about her needs, often blaming others or justifying actions that go against societal norms with seemingly logical rationalizations.' Although it is a darker role than anything Park has taken on before, she saw it as a challenge. 'Taking on a new role is always something that makes my heart race,' said Park. 'As an actor, I feel truly blessed to be able to explore such a wide range of characters. Every time I'm offered a role that even I could have never imagined before, it's very exciting and feels like people believe in my ability to take on anything. Moving forward, I plan to continue choosing roles that speak to me and what I feel drawn to.' Park began working as a model when she was only four. Two years later she debuted as an actress. Since then she's appeared in dozens of dramas, including Hot Stove League and Do You Like Brahms. As a child she once imagined becoming a doctor, but only briefly. 'However, I feel that I've achieved my dream by experiencing various professions as an actor,' she said with a smile. 'Regardless of which career I would have chosen, I believe that I would have adapted well and enjoyed my life.' When Park first saw the script for Hyper Knife, she was intrigued by her character but also the character's relationship with her mentor, neurosurgeon Choi Deok-hee, played by Sul Kyung-gu (A Normal Family, Kill Boksoon). Deok-hee recognizes her remarkable skill. Sill, he's wary of her impulsive selfish nature and ultimately bans her from working in his hospital. She can now only perform illegal surgeries. When he develops a medical problem that she may be the only surgeon talented enough to correct, he has no choice but to ask her for help. It's a hard sell. 'I was drawn to the hard-to-explain mentor-mentee relationship and the constant psychological tension between them,' said Park. "I was especially excited to present viewers with this never-before-seen dynamic relationship filled with fiery passion and no room for courtesy, particularly in Korean society. It was also interesting that the main character is a doctor, but not a character who embodies justice. It was refreshing to see the villain as the main character in a picaresque story, where you don't have to follow the usual poetic justice." Finding similarities with her character is a stretch. 'Although I don't share many similarities with Seok, my goal was to help viewers connect with the character, even the parts that might be hard to fully understand, and to make them curious to know more. I am truly grateful that viewers were able to understand Seok even more deeply than I expected. As the protagonist, I had to serve as the emotional core of the story, so I am relieved that I was able to make the character feel convincing." Park is pleased that international viewers can enjoy and talk about her dramas. 'It's amazing to live in a world where viewers from all around the world can watch the same content and have conversations about it,' she said. "I'm grateful for these experiences and I'll use it as a foundation to move forward to the next chapter in my life.' Hyper Knife, which also stars Yoon Chang-young (All Of Us Are Dead) and Park Byung-eun (Moving), airs on Disney+ internationally and on Hulu in the U.S.
