[In-depth Report] Making a documentary only a few years after debut? The real reason why the industry is rushing to produce idol documentaries on OTT.
Whether it's dramas or films, everyone has their own different preferences. However, to invoke the resonance and attention of the majority, besides being entertaining, it's equally important to possess mass appeal. However, when it comes to the entertainment industry, the speed of Kpop's global spread is quite fast, not only sweeping across Asia, but also gradually expanding to the European and American markets. However, compared to the global music market, it still cannot be called popular or mainstream. In other words, Kpop relies more on a solid fan base than casual listeners to maintain a large volume of listens in a short period of time. Given the certain limitations of Kpop and idol-themed content, why have OTT platforms continued to produce idol-themed documentaries over the past two or three years? And besides fans, do people actually watch these documentaries? Unlike typical TV and film productions that have clear scripts and character settings, documentaries express events and experiences from a narrative perspective. Therefore, they mostly attract an audience interested in the event, field, or specific subject matter. Even though the audience for documentaries is quite limited, it's not hard to notice that many OTT platforms have been rushing to produce idol documentaries in recent years.According to the report by Korean media 'Spotvnews', the continuous production of idol documentaries is not only to showcase the glamorous side of idols on stage, but also to reveal the reality behind the scenes. A producer from a certain planning company in the industry said, "From the standpoint of a content creator or from the public's perspective, idol group members are very interesting characters." To elaborate further, "As an artist, one needs to present a world view or performance that aligns with a specific group's direction set by the company. However, they also need to demonstrate perfection and casual charm on stage, indirectly showcasing the dual burdens that idols carry, unable to fully express themselves". How to select shooting groups and talents? Industry insiders revealed that due to the competition of more diverse content, from the perspective of the industry, the number of groups that have recently received strong attention has increased. Under the circumstance where the public's preferences are increasingly subdivided, even if only focusing on one team or one member, it can fully arouse meaningful attention. However, it's not to say that only top idols are eligible for documentary films. As mentioned earlier, due to the certain limitations of the documentary audience, if groups with more topicality or popularity start first, it would be easier to attract the audience. In 2020, Netflix produced "BLACKPINK: Light Up the Sky" with the girl group Blackpink, and Disney+ actively planned documentaries centered around Korean idols.Like the BTS documentary 'BTS Monuments: Beyond the Star', and the individual documentary of member J-Hope, 'j-hope IN THE BOX'. In addition, there are the behind-the-scenes stories of Super Junior, who have been in the industry for 18 years, in "Super Junior: The Last Man Standing". The younger group, NCT 127, has produced "NCT 127: The Lost Boys" based on their world tour process. Also, "TOMORROW X TOGETHER: OUR LOST SUMMER" is set to be released this month. In fact, promoting or marketing idol artists through documentaries is an alternative way to reach new audiences. Although most of the content in the film is likely to resonate with fans, it is also through a narrative mode that allows idol artists to show a different side than what the public usually sees, compared to on stage or in a dynamic mode.
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