- 6 minutes ago
Jazz Tangcay talks with the voices from KPop Demon Hunters about their monumental success, achievements, and accolades following the release of Netflix's groundbreaking animated feature.
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00:00K-pop Demon Hunters as a movie is about all the things that we share with people on the opposite
00:04side of the world
00:05And I think it's really beautiful and an honor to carry that with us for the rest of our lives
00:23Hi guys!
00:24Hi!
00:25Hello everyone!
00:27Amazing!
00:28Sup?
00:28And you're spending Lunar New Year with us tonight!
00:33How amazing is that?
00:34Happy Lunar New Year guys!
00:36Woooo!
00:39So when I said this was a historic night, today was really a very special day
00:44Because for the first time in Variety's 121 year history
00:49We featured 6 Korean American women on the cover
00:56And they are right here on the stage
00:58And they are right here on the stage
01:24I feel like the reason why I personally joined the film
01:27You know, our directors, Maggie King and Chris Applehans
01:31Like when they first...
01:32Shout out to the directors!
01:34Genius!
01:35But yeah, when they told me about the story and it being the first animated film based in Korea
01:40That just...
01:42I was like, yes!
01:43When?
01:44You know, any song you need please!
01:46You know, so I think that was just so important for me as a Korean American woman
01:50And being, you know, it's just such a historical thing to have
01:55You know, with these incredible women here
01:57And yeah, I just...
01:59I think growing up, I think a lot of us didn't experience
02:03I mean, not a lot of people knowing Korea or where it is or what it is
02:08So, to have it be so loved by so many people
02:11Like, we're just so grateful
02:13Thank you
02:18Audra, what about for you?
02:20Yeah, I mean, I feel like I became an actor because of lack of representation
02:24And it's been such a long journey
02:26But I feel like the success of the movie has shown that everyone who worked on this movie
02:32Everyone who touched this project
02:34Had, you know, something similar in their life or their journey
02:38And poured so much love into it
02:40And I feel like the success is a result of that
02:43And I feel like it's so incredible to celebrate here with you guys
02:47I mean, it's raining outside and a lot of you got wet
02:50Thank you so much for being here
02:52And...
02:53Yeah, I mean, we're making history
02:55Six Korean-American women on the cover of Variety
02:59And it couldn't have happened without everybody here
03:01So, thank you so much
03:04Rain was not gonna stop this crowd tonight, you could tell
03:08Audrey, what about for you?
03:17Hmm...
03:17Wow
03:18I think today I'm thinking a lot about our grandmas
03:23Our grandmas, our moms, our great grandmas
03:25And just every, you know, every person who has allowed for us to sit here today
03:33And, you know, sit on the cover of Variety magazine
03:38Yeah, I think about the sacrifices that they had to make
03:44The kind of, honestly, bullshit that they had to deal with
03:47In order for us to kind of live these lives of full expression
03:51And fully embrace all the parts of ourselves
03:54Which is what this genius film is so much about
03:57So, I just feel like, you know, it's not just seeing a project succeed
04:03I feel like this is the story of our lives
04:05And also just being on the end of a thread of history
04:09That goes back so, so, so, so long
04:11And here we are in this present moment
04:13And, honestly, I just feel so, so grateful
04:17And proud of each and every one of you guys
04:20And also just anyone that this film represents
04:23No matter where you come from, you know, I think I'm just really proud
04:33May?
04:34Yes, yeah, I mean, everything Audrey said
04:37I feel like as we go down the line
04:38We're just kind of, kind of just feel like, you know
04:41But, yeah, I've definitely been thinking about my family a lot today
04:47I mean, we did the shoot and I knew it was happening
04:50But then actually seeing it, you know, in our hands
04:53It's completely different
04:54And I just feel like we have now been blessed with this superpower
05:01Where we just get to make people happy, children happy
05:05That feels like a huge superpower
05:07It's insane
05:08I've never been more
05:09Yeah!
05:12I've never been more popular with children in my life
05:15But, yeah, I'm so thrilled
05:18I still am kind of like pinch me about it
05:21It'll probably land tomorrow
05:25Yeah
05:26And Ray?
05:28I mean, you guys have already really touched on every massive point
05:33I would say it just reminds me
05:36This entire process has reminded me time and time again
05:39To be proud of my heritage
05:42I think all of us, we grew up questioning or trying to hide parts of our culture
05:47Or heritage
05:47Things that, you know, other dishes that we love enjoying
05:50Or shows or music that we listen to
05:52I personally, you know, growing up would hide parts of that, you know
05:56But, just seeing how the world has embraced K-pop demon hunters to its entirety
06:01And all of us individually
06:02It's an incredible honor
06:04And it's so warming
06:05And it just, again, just reminds me that
06:09There's so much to be proud about
06:11About who I am as a Korean woman
06:14Yes, I am much more than that
06:16But, there's so much that goes into who I am
06:18And a lot of it is Korean
06:20So, just reminding myself
06:22Wow, you should be so proud
06:25Because you're so badass
06:26Look at your mom, look at your aunties, look at your grandma
06:29Look at what they raised you to be
06:31And look at what you're doing
06:32So, if anything, this should be a reminder to dream bigger
06:36Look at, the six of us came together via Mackie and Chris
06:40And we've changed the world
06:42So, I think dream bigger
06:44There is no ceiling
06:45If you think there is
06:47It's imaginary
06:48Go break it
06:52Great advice
06:54Great words, Ji Young
06:55I don't really want to follow that one
06:57But, I think a lot lately about the interconnectedness of the world
07:04And I think about how this movie is so specific and so culturally specific
07:10But I think that's what makes it so universal
07:12I think it's really magical that hundreds of people
07:16Across, at the very least, two continents
07:20Several time zones, multiple languages
07:22All came together to make this piece of art that's really transcendent
07:27And I think Kpop Demon Hunters as a movie is about all the things that we share
07:32With people on the opposite side of the world
07:34And I think it's really beautiful and an honor to carry that with us for the rest of our lives
07:39We love that
07:41We actually have some breaking news
07:45Golden has now officially become five times platinum
07:51Meaning it's achieved five million in sales or equivalent streams
07:56You had it here first
07:59Five times platinum
08:01Oh my bro
08:03What?
08:04She's like shocked
08:04We're just like looking at each other like
08:05Bro
08:07Oh my goodness guys
08:08I'm not gonna cry
08:09Wow
08:09Thank you for telling us that
08:10It's everybody here streaming
08:11Wow
08:12Thank you guys
08:15Thank you
08:16Oh my goodness
08:18Wow
08:19That's amazing
08:20Sorry, I'm just speechless right now
08:22Congratulations to you all
08:23I mean it's incredible
08:23I mean Golden is such a tune
08:25And I wanna go back to what Ray
08:27And you've all sort of touched on
08:29Is this
08:29The global diaspora of this film
08:32Like it is
08:32Not just touch people here
08:34It is across the world
08:36You know
08:37And then you're hearing like
08:38The five million streams
08:39Across the world
08:41Like
08:42When you hear that
08:43And you hear like
08:44That intro of like
08:45You know
08:46Winning
08:46The Golden Globe
08:48Winning the critics choice
08:49Being nominated for Oscars
08:50Like
08:51What does that all
08:52Mean to you
08:53As far as
08:54Yeah, I guess the impact
08:56Of it
08:57You know
08:59Me
08:59Go go
09:00Okay
09:00Oh gosh
09:04I think it means that
09:06You know
09:07What the movie was trying to say
09:09People were listening
09:10People are listening
09:11I think it's
09:13You know
09:14I think
09:15What the movie provided
09:17And the music
09:18Is
09:19Something I feel like
09:20The world needed
09:21Right now
09:22Whether it be about
09:23You know
09:24Love
09:26You know
09:27Loving all parts of yourself
09:28Leaning on your loved ones
09:31And also just unifying
09:33And culture
09:33You know
09:34I think
09:36Regardless of whether
09:37It's in Korea
09:38Or it being
09:38Or it being an animated film
09:40What makes it incredible
09:42Is that it's very human
09:43I think it's an emotion
09:46That everyone feels
09:48You know
09:49So
09:49Even the song Golden
09:50And it's a very
09:53It's a very
09:53You know
09:54It's a song
09:55It's a song about hope
09:57And
10:01Yes
10:03Ji I want to come down to you
10:05Ji Young
10:05Because when we talked about it
10:07Like you know
10:08What did it mean to get a script
10:10That really centers on Korean folklore
10:13At the heart of its narrative
10:15Like talk about getting
10:17That
10:18I think it's just
10:19Exciting
10:20I think
10:20There's so many avenues of storytelling
10:22We have yet to explore
10:24And this is just the beginning of it
10:26And it's been such a pleasure
10:29To see all the animators
10:30And Maggie and Chris
10:32And the screenwriters
10:33And everyone else who's behind the camera
10:35Talk about developing the story
10:37And the details that went into it
10:38Like
10:40I heard from the music team
10:41That there were like chords
10:42That people were resonating with
10:44For specific characters
10:45And
10:46All of the attention to detail
10:49Feeds into this larger
10:50Thing of historical importance
10:52And like
10:53The spiritual connectedness
10:56I feel with this movie
10:57And Sinners
10:58Of like
10:59The power
11:00Thank you
11:00The power of music
11:02Reaching through time and space
11:03And like the power of your ancestors
11:05To fight mythological creatures
11:07I think is
11:08Incredible
11:09And moving
11:09And striking
11:10When you watch it on screen
11:11It's so cinematic
11:13Oh I love that comparison
11:14Sinners is also
11:15We also feature
11:16Autumn
11:17Yes
11:18Shout out
11:19Shout out
11:20To Filipina DP
11:21Legend
11:22She's the first Asian American woman
11:24Nominated for an Oscar
11:25In that category
11:26That is correct
11:26Yep
11:27Wow
11:28Asians making history
11:30We love it
11:31So cool
11:32May talk about you
11:33What was it like for you
11:34To get the script
11:35To watch and see
11:35Korean folklore
11:37At the heart of this
11:41I just couldn't believe
11:42That it was going to exist
11:45I feel like we've seen
11:47Every iteration
11:48Of every other culture
11:50Sort of
11:50You know
11:51I mean
11:52Honestly as a kid
11:53Like Arden has said too
11:54It's like
11:55When we grew up watching
11:56Mulan
11:57And it's like
11:58That's kind of
11:59We're like grasping
12:00For that
12:01We're just like
12:02Oh we have Mulan
12:03Even if it's like
12:04Not my culture
12:05But it's close enough
12:06Or something
12:07It's like
12:08Constantly settling for that
12:10And then
12:12The fact that this can exist
12:13It really is so
12:16Retroactively healing
12:17And for all of us
12:19To be able to sort of like
12:21Hug our child selves right now
12:23And be like
12:24It's gonna be okay
12:25And like now
12:27Kids get to grow up with that
12:28And be proud of that
12:30It's
12:32Yeah
12:32It's still so surreal
12:34And I've probably seen it
12:36What?
12:36Eight times?
12:37And
12:39I wish
12:39I wasn't doing stuff
12:41Backstage
12:42So I could have
12:43Watched it with you guys
12:45Because I want to see it again
12:47It's so cool
12:49So I'm as much of a fan
12:51Of all of it
12:52And like
12:53Yeah just
12:54The historical
12:55Just all the folklore
12:57And all of that being woven
12:59Into this story
12:59And not necessarily explained
13:01It's just like
13:02This is just how it is
13:03I think that is
13:04The coolest part of it
13:06Is we're just showing
13:07And not explaining
13:08And I think just
13:09People absorb it
13:10And
13:11Accept it
13:12Yeah
13:14And Arden
13:15You've been in this industry
13:16A long time
13:16You've talked about it
13:18For you
13:18What was it like
13:19Getting this script
13:20And seeing
13:21Korean culture
13:22Be celebrated
13:23In this way
13:25Yeah I mean
13:25Just to piggyback off
13:26What May said
13:27You know as a kid
13:29We would
13:30Wear a hanbok
13:31For Halloween
13:32Because that was what we had
13:33And so many people
13:34Would be like
13:35What is that?
13:35They've never seen it before
13:36Now in K-pop demon hunters
13:38People are like
13:39Oh I know what that is
13:40And I feel like
13:41I can't believe
13:43I got to be a part of that
13:44But I think
13:45You know
13:46Seeing this script
13:47Yes it's culturally specific
13:50Yes it's Korean
13:50Yes it's all the things
13:51We love about Korean culture
13:53But it's also just
13:54A fantastic story
13:56It's a really incredible story
13:58The script is
13:59Just so moving
14:01I feel like Maggie and Chris
14:03Created this magical world
14:04And our artists
14:05And animators
14:06Just really nailed it
14:08And I think
14:10That is just
14:12Really something special
14:13That happens like
14:14Once in a lifetime
14:15And we get to be a part of it
14:17And I feel like
14:20There are
14:20You know
14:21Thousands of people
14:22That worked on this movie
14:24And I'm always amazed
14:26By what I see
14:27I feel like because of the success
14:28We get to see more and more
14:30Like the art book
14:31I love the art book
14:32I love hearing from the artists
14:34And more from
14:35You know Maggie and Chris
14:36Because half the time in press
14:37I'm like I don't know that answer
14:38I'm just an actor
14:40I'm like you've got to
14:41You've got to talk to Maggie and Chris
14:43And I feel like
14:44That's so fun
14:45You know
14:45Even getting to do something like this
14:47Is so special
14:48And to have the leads be
14:51Three Korean American girls
14:53That are all of it
14:55They're strong
14:55They're cool
14:56They're badass
14:56They're beautiful
14:57They're funny
14:58But they're also silly girls
15:00And I love that
15:01We love it
15:02We love silly girls
15:03We love being silly
15:04Because that's who we are
15:05Right?
15:06Ray, I've got to ask you
15:08You know
15:09We know about EJ
15:10You know
15:10Riding Golden
15:11What was it like singing?
15:14Or should I say
15:14You know
15:14Rapping
15:15The words
15:16Talk about your thoughts
15:17When you first heard
15:18And saw those lyrics
15:19For Golden specifically?
15:22Okay
15:23Well
15:26Initially
15:27That high note
15:28The A5
15:29That you hear
15:30EJ
15:31Hit
15:33I was supposed to sing that
15:35For the audition material
15:36But I was just like
15:37No
15:40Sorry
15:40Out of my range
15:41Can't do it
15:42And if I try
15:43It's probably going to hurt my chances
15:44Of getting this role
15:45So
15:46I just said
15:47Sorry can't do it
15:48But here's everything else
15:49And so
15:51Got the role
15:52Yay
15:52Now I had to actually sing it
15:54So I was like
15:54What in the world?
15:55So actually
15:56First day of recording
15:57I walked in
15:58And EJ was hitting that A5
15:59In the studio
16:00And that's how we met her
16:02And no
16:02Raw live vocals
16:03I thought it was
16:04They were tuning it
16:05They were fixing it
16:05Nope
16:06That was just her live
16:06I was so shocked
16:08So like
16:09It was
16:09I was extremely intimidated
16:10Because
16:11I like saw it
16:13In like the flesh
16:13Of how it's supposed to sound
16:16So I was like
16:17Okay
16:18No pressure
16:20This one line
16:21I have to sing
16:22It requires me to be like
16:24Vulnerable kind of ish
16:25Like why did I have the colors
16:26Inside my head?
16:27I don't know
16:28So
16:29But that was my job
16:30I had to figure it out
16:31So I had to like dig deep
16:32And be like
16:33Why did you cover it up?
16:35Why?
16:35And I was like
16:36Oh that's why
16:37And so then
16:38You know
16:38Ian Eisendrath
16:39Our music
16:40Executive music producer
16:42He was phenomenal
16:43Working with him
16:44Back and forth
16:45Really
16:46Channeling the emotion
16:47And
16:47With voice
16:48Singing and acting
16:50It's a lot different
16:50Because
16:51You are just the voice
16:52The storyline's already there
16:53The lines
16:53The music is already there
16:55Emphasizing certain notes
16:57Emphasizing certain lines
16:58Or words
16:59And cutting it off
17:00Matching the timing
17:01Of the girls
17:02Of Audrey and EJ also
17:04That was difficult
17:05It was very technical
17:05Very tedious
17:07Very emotional
17:08I like often
17:10Found myself crying
17:11In and out
17:12Like during my breaks
17:13Just cause
17:13It pushed me a lot
17:15And also forced me
17:16To reflect internally
17:17About like
17:18Childhood drama
17:25Real shit
17:27And she killed it
17:28So
17:30Killed it
17:31Audrey what about you?
17:33For Golden specifically right?
17:36As we all know
17:37That is a very hard song
17:38To sing
17:39Even if you're doing
17:40The alto harmonies
17:41Which is what I'm doing
17:42And
17:44What I will say
17:45About this song
17:46Is that I think
17:46It's defied
17:47So many expectations
17:50Even for myself
17:51You know
17:52Hopping on this project
17:53And
17:54Thinking
17:55Oh I've never sung
17:56K-pop
17:57Or even a lot of
17:58You know
17:58Pop to be honest
18:00I'm coming from
18:01A very alternative background
18:02And
18:03You know
18:04I like a lot of
18:05Just
18:06You know
18:07Different
18:07It was different for me
18:08And I was like
18:09Wow
18:09I'm gonna try this thing
18:10And I'm excited
18:12And
18:13I was so humbled
18:15By this project
18:16In so many ways
18:18Because
18:18I learned
18:19So much
18:20I kind of thought
18:21Like I'm gonna step in
18:22And do this thing
18:22I've never done before
18:23And then I'm gonna walk away
18:25You know
18:25But
18:26This song really changed
18:28My perspective
18:30On
18:31A lot of things
18:32But
18:32Even from a music standpoint
18:35I think that
18:36At the time
18:37Especially when I recorded
18:38A lot of the music
18:40That I was listening to
18:41Just coming out
18:42All the time
18:43I felt very disconnected
18:44To it
18:45And I didn't really understand why
18:46And I think
18:47Looking back
18:48I'm like
18:48I think there's such a
18:51Glorification of
18:53Nonchalance
18:53Sometimes
18:54Especially in the era
18:55That we're in right now
18:56We're all cool
18:58Everything's cool
18:59Everything's aesthetic
19:00You know
19:02Whatever that means
19:04To each person
19:05And I think
19:06Golden is a song
19:07That you
19:07You are putting yourself
19:09Out there
19:10If you're singing that song
19:12If you are jamming
19:14To that song
19:15If you love that song
19:16You're connecting
19:16To a part of yourself
19:17That is so
19:18In a way vulnerable
19:20And in a way so pure
19:22And I think it really
19:24Just brought back
19:25This like naivete
19:26That sometimes being
19:27In the music industry
19:28For a long time
19:29Takes away from you
19:30Which is like
19:31Wow
19:31We can actually
19:33Really yearn for something
19:34Hope for something
19:36Really actually
19:38You know
19:39Bust ass
19:40Trying to get the note right
19:41And do the take
19:4370 times
19:44If you need to do it
19:44Because maybe
19:45You're just not good enough
19:46Yet to do it
19:47But you should keep trying
19:48I think that that energy
19:50Really mobilized my life
19:52In ways that
19:53I only understand now
19:55And just completely
19:56Changed my perspective
19:57On the point
19:59Of music
20:00Honestly
20:01And the point of
20:02Making things
20:03That connects with people
20:04In a way that's not
20:05Too cool
20:06To you know
20:08To really connect
20:09So thank you EJ
20:10For that
20:11On me
20:13You're the boss
20:15You are a boss
20:16Thank you everyone
20:16Everyone who worked on it
20:17Well EJ
20:19I mean talk about writing
20:20You know
20:21Golden
20:21Because I think
20:22When you were writing it
20:23At the time
20:24You didn't think
20:25You'd be singing
20:25That A5 note
20:27No
20:28At that time I did know
20:31What's wrong with me
20:33Right?
20:34But you kept it in though
20:35Well that one specifically
20:37Maggie King
20:38Our director
20:39She wanted the high note
20:41That was all like
20:42You know
20:43In the guideline
20:44Of what we needed
20:45To write in that scene
20:46So the directors
20:47Would like
20:47Be like
20:48Oh this scene needs
20:49To introduce the characters
20:50There are problems
20:51And it's the I want song
20:53So what do each characters want
20:55And also
20:56They asked for a melodic hook
20:58Going up
20:59And here
21:00Hitting superhuman notes
21:02That I have to say
21:04Yay
21:06So yeah
21:07And so
21:08It was actually very convenient
21:10Though that I was a singer
21:11And knowing that
21:12Because I would have to test out
21:13Certain words
21:14Because in singing
21:15What words you use
21:16Makes a whole difference
21:18In how you can sing it
21:20But
21:21Yeah
21:22Sorry the question was like
21:23Sorry
21:24It was just like
21:24You know
21:25You kept that note in
21:26But how did you actually crack golden
21:28Oh well
21:29You know
21:29It was truly teamwork
21:31It was again
21:32Usually as a songwriter
21:34You're in the room
21:35With you know
21:36The writers
21:36And the artists
21:37But with this
21:38It was
21:38With the directors
21:39With the producers
21:41With you know
21:41Our incredible
21:43Executive music producer
21:44Ian Eisendrath
21:45He really
21:46Was super important
21:47In gluing everything together
21:49My co-writer
21:50Mark Sonnenblick
21:51And like
21:52Obviously the track
21:53Shout out
21:54Mark Sonnenblick
21:55He's great
21:55And the track
21:56Was produced by
21:57You know
21:57Black Label
21:58IDEO
21:5924 and Teddy
21:59So
22:00It was just
22:02It was the last song we wrote
22:03And I just remember
22:05I think we all
22:06We had dinner the other day
22:07And we all like
22:08Set it together
22:08It was just
22:09Something in the air
22:11The synergy was like
22:12Perfect
22:14You know
22:15I remember
22:16When
22:17You know
22:18I heard the track
22:19The track was just
22:20So good
22:21I think Maggie told me
22:22That she cried
22:23The moment she heard the track
22:24It was like
22:24That's the one
22:25When I heard it
22:26I was like
22:27This is the one
22:28Like I think
22:29Out of all the tracks
22:30I received
22:30I was like
22:31It was my favorite
22:32And that's why
22:33The melody came out so fast
22:34It came out in a taxi
22:35You know
22:36On the way to the dead
22:38And like
22:39I just had to put it down
22:40So like
22:40The voice memo and all
22:42And I was very excited
22:43To finish it with
22:44My co-writer
22:45Mark Sonnenblick
22:46And I remember just like
22:48Finishing the song
22:50And just looking at each other
22:51On Zoom
22:52And just like
22:52Yo
22:54It was a smash
22:55Like
22:56To us
22:57And I remember after that
22:58I had a session
23:00To sing Free
23:01And you know
23:02The directors and everyone
23:03Was in Korea at that time
23:04And I remember going to the studio
23:06And I was like
23:07Maggie, Chris
23:07I think you're gonna like this song
23:10And I was like
23:10Hyping it up
23:12And yeah
23:13They responded
23:14And apparently
23:15It was a great response
23:16And everyone loved it
23:17So
23:17It was different
23:18It was definitely different
23:20When we finished Golden
23:22What a tune
23:23And we're so grateful for it
23:26So
23:26From what I understand
23:27None of you were in the recording booths together
23:30When you were recording
23:31The voices
23:32Or the singing
23:33You met for the first time at the premiere
23:36This
23:37This is
23:37Well
23:38Talk about that
23:38Kind of
23:39I mean
23:40So I had met Arden and May
23:41Before we started working on the film
23:43Just kind of separately
23:44The Asian American
23:45Entertainment community is very small
23:47But then
23:48The
23:48I didn't meet the three singers
23:50Until actually long after the movie came out
23:52We were all at the premiere
23:53And actually just like
23:54Never ended up meeting each other there
23:56So I met
23:57We met
23:58At a separate movie
23:59At a different movie
24:00After the premiere
24:02About a month or two later
24:02After our premiere
24:03And then I think
24:04I finally actually got to like
24:06Meet you
24:07EJ
24:07And Audrey
24:08I think in like December
24:09Yeah
24:10For our press
24:11What?
24:12Similar
24:13Cause I met EJ
24:14For a photo
24:15At the premiere
24:16It was like
24:17Literally two seconds
24:18And then we were taken apart for press
24:20And then I feel like
24:21I met like
24:22Ray and Audrey
24:23Through DM
24:24We're like
24:25Wait you were there too?
24:26We were there too?
24:27We were there too?
24:28And it was just like
24:29Yeah
24:30Oh yeah
24:31Yeah
24:31I was too scared to approach Chiang
24:33I didn't
24:34No one told me
24:35The singers were at the premiere
24:36So I thought
24:37Oh really?
24:38She was taking her carpet photos
24:39And I was like
24:40I literally said
24:41Oh no after two
24:42I said what?
24:42Why didn't we all get to meet?
24:44Audrey and I
24:44We met
24:45We met at the premiere
24:47Wait of course you two met
24:49We like locked eyes across the room
24:50We were like
24:51The mirror connection is strong
24:52Exactly
24:53It was too powerful
24:54It was magnetic
24:55That does seem very appropriate
24:58Yeah
24:58Yeah but when we recorded the voices too
25:01I didn't hear the music
25:02And I didn't get to hear EJ's voice
25:04Till
25:04I think the movie was like
25:0780 or 90 percent completion
25:09Right?
25:10So it was like
25:10Just trusting Maggie and Chris
25:12And trusting their vision
25:15And
25:15Yeah
25:16Now I understand why
25:18When we'd record
25:19They'd always have me pitch my voice a little lower
25:22Oh
25:22And I wonder if it's because of
25:24Probably
25:24To match your singing voice
25:25Probably
25:26Well I think they always wanted Rumi's character to have a lower voice
25:29I remember Maggie mentioned that so
25:31But yeah it was really cool
25:33Because I saw all the actors at the premiere
25:35But I remember
25:36I would meet Audrey and Ray separately though
25:38At the studio
25:39We would cross paths
25:40If our sessions were next to each other
25:42And I was like
25:43I have to say
25:44They're exactly like their characters
25:49I got it
25:49I mean Audrey and I knew each other since when she was like 15
25:53And I remember the first session you had in Korea
25:55With your pink backpack
25:57It was really cute
25:58She always talks about this pink backpack
25:59I love it
26:00Yo that was the best first impression
26:01Yeah
26:02And we wrote a gospel song guys
26:04Yeah
26:05It's crazy
26:06It's crazy when you like meet people
26:08And I've known Ray too for a long time
26:10It is crazy
26:11The community of you know
26:13I think Asian American people
26:15And Korean Americans especially
26:16Doing it is really small
26:18And it's very supportive honestly
26:20I would say like
26:22Everyone is looking out for each other
26:25And I think with EJ
26:27It's like
26:28It's weird when you meet someone
26:29And then you don't know
26:30How big of a part of your life
26:33They're gonna be in the future
26:34Yeah
26:34Like life is so weird like that
26:36Like at the premiere
26:38Yeah
26:38We're like okay well
26:39Hope to see you sometime
26:42Yeah we all laugh
26:43We're like this was really nice
26:44Hopefully we'll cross paths in the future
26:47And then one month later
26:48We're thrown into the abyss
26:51Yeah it was great
26:52Chaos
26:52The whole point of that
26:54Is just to be like
26:55It's such a great testament
26:56To the animators
26:58To Maggie and Chris
26:59And the incredible work that they did
27:01Because nobody knew that you weren't together
27:04You know recording this
27:06So shout out to Maggie and Chris
27:08Shout out to Maggie and Chris
27:08Maggie and Chris
27:09Are pretty good voice actors themselves
27:11Yeah
27:11They're great
27:12Because I remember
27:13In the earlier sessions
27:15They would do Mira and Zoe
27:17And it would sort of help build the vibes you know
27:20Because voice acting can be kind of awkward and embarrassing
27:24When you're just doing your lines by yourself
27:26In a very big studio with everybody staring at you in the corner
27:30Writing notes
27:31Oh I don't like that one
27:35So yeah
27:36I remember that though
27:37When I watched like some of the screenings
27:39It was Maggie's voice
27:40And she would do Zoe's voice
27:42And Zoe's voice
27:42It was always like
27:44And the Mira's
27:46Like she would do all of that
27:47Maggie does a great Zoe
27:48She really does
27:49Yeah she's great
27:50Maggie can do a very good Zoe
27:51And Chris can do a very good Mira
27:53A Mira
27:54Yeah
27:55But I do think
27:56It is pretty incredible
27:57Like I don't know how it was for the singers
27:59But as actors
28:00You're always entering these projects midstream
28:02And so especially in animation
28:04These things are developed for years and years and years
28:06So you're getting to see all their concept art
28:09And the storyboarding
28:09And the scratch dialogue
28:11That we're all talking about
28:12Where Chris and Maggie recorded everybody's dialogue
28:15To help the animators time the sequencing of all the shots
28:19And you get to take all these ingredients and pieces
28:23From all these hundreds of people
28:24Who have known and lived with your character longer than you have
28:29And understand the character as well if not better than you do
28:32And then you produce all these performance options
28:34For them to go back in and create this whole piece out of
28:37And it feels even more collaborative that two people played each role
28:41Because there's all these different versions and takes on Zoe
28:45That end up coming together to this fully realized human
28:48And on an animated screen
28:49It's amazing
28:51We love that
28:52Speaking of voice acting
28:54Arden is actually nominated for an Annie Award for her voice work
28:59Thank you
29:00That's this weekend right?
29:03Yeah
29:03I think it's this Saturday
29:06You know we're talking about demons
29:08And you know the impact of this film
29:12How has the success of this film, of the song
29:17Like given you confidence in who you are today?
29:21Gia I'm gonna start, Gia I'm gonna start with you
29:24I actually was thinking about this
29:27I said it at the premiere
29:28But I think a lot of the time the bravest thing you can do is be yourself
29:35And I'm always, whenever I watch the movie
29:38I'm very struck by how the animators paid so much attention to Zoe
29:42And she's, her eyes are kind of flitting back and forth between Rumi and Mira
29:46She's always trying to figure out the exact level of herself
29:50That's gonna be acceptable for the world around her
29:54And I think the beautiful part of her journey is that
29:57Although she's thought that she's maybe
30:01Too American for Korea, too Korean for America
30:04Too much, not enough, that line
30:08It's her coming from both backgrounds
30:10And her being a product of diaspora that makes her beautiful
30:13And that makes her so special
30:14And I also would argue that it's what makes this movie so special
30:18So I think the journey of this movie about your vulnerabilities
30:23Making you who you are and making you strong and making you special
30:27Has been really healing for everybody
30:30Because we've always, at some point in our lives
30:32We all have experienced being told to be ashamed of parts of ourselves
30:38How do I follow that? Okay
30:39Yeah
30:41Well, Zoe squared
30:43So, to piggyback on what you said, Cheung
30:47I wholeheartedly agree
30:49I think, one, there's nothing braver than being yourself
30:52I think, often times, when we tell ourselves to minimize ourselves
30:56And shrink ourselves, it's out of shame
30:59And it's in a way to kind of hide and protect ourselves
31:02And not be seen for who we are
31:05Because sometimes being seen for who you are is really scary
31:08And so I think, with Zoe, oh my god, my brain is rambling
31:13So many thoughts
31:14You're doing great
31:16You're doing great
31:17I think, sometimes, when we do, however
31:19When we are vulnerable, it does kind of shed a light on ourselves
31:23And it's often times the light that the world needs
31:27It's scary, but being that light
31:29Which I personally did not want the responsibility of providing that light
31:33But sometimes you, on accident, become that light
31:37And that source of inspiration and motivation for a lot of people
31:40Which makes you feel a lot less alone in this world
31:42It makes your flaws seem a little less rare
31:45Or like, I don't know
31:47Like, oh, it's only you, it's only you
31:49That's, you know
31:51It just makes you feel more human
31:52I think this entire process has made me embrace my human side
31:56All the flaws, all the strengths, all the scaries
31:57All the happiness, all the craziness
32:00But that's what makes life so special and unique
32:04And so you
32:04And that's what makes it your life, your story
32:07So yeah, embrace it, be proud of it
32:09You never know
32:09Your story's not done
32:10Natasha Benny said
32:11It is unwritten
32:14Remember that
32:17So stay writing
32:18Don't put the pen down
32:28I have had long moments of kind of
32:35Or, I don't know
32:37I would say generally
32:39As I get older this has changed a little bit
32:41But I would say
32:43I don't know
32:44When I was younger
32:44I think I was more cynical than I am now
32:50and I feel like actually when I first like signed with an agent they were like
32:57what kind of projects do you want to be in like what kind of the things do you
33:01want to work on and it's just like all of those things all of the things that I
33:06could think of that I liked were so not for me and could never be for me and
33:12we're never gonna be for anyone that looks like us and so it felt like some
33:19kind of like a tease or like a like a shitty game of like do you wish you were
33:25in something that no one would cast you for and I feel like after like this
33:31project has kind of like opened me up and like cracked me open where it's like
33:35yeah like daring to dream and daring to think about things that I could be a
33:39part of in the future because if this can be this successful I don't know it's
33:48like there's hope for all of us it really is like this is the most meta movie of
33:52all time for the music to reach the levels that it does in the mood like it's
33:58like literally Maggie and Chris wrote the future and it's scary we should ask them
34:06for advice for like other stuff yeah it's definitely cracked me open and I feel
34:13like it's yeah it's it's kind of given me a lot of I don't know just general
34:19positivity yeah yeah wow okay I'm gonna also do a mirror squared piggyback moment
34:33right here because I fully like resonate with everything that you said and I just
34:37feel like it feels good to be number one
34:43you know it does I'm not gonna sit here and lie to you it feels good and every person on
34:52this stage I think we've all experienced what it's like to feel like what is my place in this
35:00industry in this world in this project and you know I think a lot of times we really did
35:06I think we were programmed to really set ourselves up for
35:10the spaces that we can fit into and I think that this movie just freaking
35:15obliterating the roof off of literally every record that you didn't even know
35:20existed you know and all of a sudden we find ourselves you know in some way shape
35:26and form at the center of culture this year honestly in in in a way of
35:32representation and alongside so many other amazing projects you know but I do think
35:36this was such a this was such a shift it felt like and I think that goes for us
35:43also understanding that yes we are main characters you know and anyone who comes
35:49from any background can be a main character and we don't have to settle for
35:54this um what is it the supporting role number three in the in the one scene
36:00on the 75th you know whatever take of the movie well you know you know what I mean
36:05like I think we don't have to settle that's it's kind of the message here and
36:08I just think what going back to another piggyback circle back of the thing you
36:14said about your inner child feeling hugged it's like we also grew up whether it
36:18was in school or wherever it was feeling that way too I think very secondary
36:22sometimes and um and yeah it just really does feel like the world went from like
36:29black and white to color in that regard um and I think about all the kids who also
36:34see this film and don't have to feel the way that we felt it's like that is the
36:39biggest honor and the thing that brings the most joy for all of us I would say
36:49oh man can I also be mirror squared you're a cube let's go okay we're a cube no I feel
36:56I feel like I relate so much to all of that and you know I came into this project at
37:02a
37:02point in my career where I was very exhausted and this movie hit number one
37:07on August 26 exactly three years after my last show where I was a one was
37:14canceled and you know like Audrey said so often we don't feel like we can be the
37:20main character or that we can be the lead and like mirror like mirror like may
37:24said you know I think I always wanted to be these characters that yeah probably not
37:31gonna get casted for and then as I was getting older you know I've been in this
37:35business 20 plus years I'm like way older than I'm like almost 20 years than Audrey
37:39I think I am you don't look it you don't look it but you know you start being kind of
37:44mean to
37:44yourself and like almost stopping yourself being like I never thought that I could be
37:50roomie I was so happy to audition for Celine and I was happy with just that I would have been
37:56actually I probably would have been happy just to be a part of a movie like this because I'm
38:01love animation and you know I would have dreamed of a movie like this when I was a kid but
38:06then to
38:07see where we've come I mean this is very meta and I feel like this movie is so beyond all
38:13of us and
38:14it's like just to be able to be a part of it I feel like I've sort of kind of
38:20gotten this like
38:21resurge of energy and hope and I'm like a dreamer now and I also feel like I'm like 15 years
38:27younger
38:29I'm like I feel like this movie has made me have hope in this business again and reminded me
38:35why I love movies and how this all makes me feel and again I love that our movie makes people
38:42feel
38:42good regardless of your age or your gender or where you're from or your story I feel like everyone
38:48finds something that they relate to and you know it's like this movie and even us just talking about
38:55and hearing all of you ladies share like everything makes me just want to cry because I'm like it's
39:00all so beautiful and it's like it reminds me of the scene when all the girls are in the hot
39:04tub and
39:05they're just like yeah and it's like I feel like that's just been us constantly right I mean you're
39:13sharing new highs even today in this moment and I just feel like what an incredible opportunity
39:21and just so forever grateful
39:31hello
39:33oh wow this is so cool to hear everyone's story and how it changed them it's very inspiring to be
39:40honest
39:40because like yeah I just think the reason why this movie resonated with so many people is because
39:47every single person I think who was part of this film was pouring their true hearts into it and you
39:55know it's it's really cool like how this movie is truly has layers the concept of having two sides
40:04whether it be k-pop demon hunters or your demons are your good side or you know the song golden
40:11being
40:11non-diegetic and diegetic like sorry but like that's just a thing that's um cool um but also just like
40:18you know being Korean and American and I think this movie for me you know I worked on it uh
40:25four or five
40:26years ago I truly grew as a songwriter as a person as a Korean Korean woman while writing this and
40:36being a part of this film uh it challenged me a lot um in writing in singing um and just
40:44like
40:44really had to make me dig deep in my Korean side um so yeah I think you know it's really
40:52weird because
40:53this film not only just watching it but in the creation of it was a very very healing journey for
40:59me you know I was dropped as a k-pop trainee as a kid and you know heard a lot
41:07of things about my
41:09singing voice you know to be honest uh you know saying that it was uh too low or kind of
41:15ugly so
41:17while writing the songs um you know I was very ashamed of me being dropped as a k-pop trainee
41:26and
41:26you know I'm sorry I keep saying you know um and I this movie kind of allowed me to
41:36embrace that side actually um it was actually a superpower that hurt that I had and the pain that
41:43I went through kind of helped me write the songs you know my experiences in k-pop training training
41:51helped in writing some of the concept of songs like Your Idol or even with Golden like when we wrote
41:59it like
41:59it really helped me accept my voice and um challenged me to sing and to be confident and to be
42:09able to sing
42:10those high notes so you know I just think this movie saved me to be honest um and sorry
42:21oh thank you
42:28thank you um yeah and so even the you know I was very ashamed of my singing voice and I
42:39was very
42:39nervous at the premiere to hear it and big speakers for the first time and to see so many people
42:45loving the music and our voices and our singing voices and our acting voices too and it's just so
42:53beautiful and I feel so accepted so thank you to the fans so much incredible incredible well we want
43:04to give you all a warm hug and your younger selves a warm hug and be like you're number one
43:09today
43:09you are here you've made history you're continuing to make history thank you so much for that incredible
43:17conversation thank you to everybody for coming out tonight thanks for coming everyone
43:22congratulations on all things k-pop demon hunters and of course golden and thank you again thank you guys
43:29thank you so much everyone we love you
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