Athena accident puts broadcast at risk
by javabeans
An on-set accident for Athena: Goddess of War has sent its lead star, Jung Woo-sung, to the hospital and has producers worried that this week’s episode might not make it out on time.
The accident has been described as a “serious car wreck” that occurred on January 23 during an action shoot. The scene involved actor Jung Chan-woo (playing Athena agent Chul-kyu) being hit by a car while trying to shoot Jung-woo (Jung Woo-sung) in an underground parking lot.
However, the car slipped during the shoot, and both actors were injured while hustling to avoid being hit — Jung Chan-woo injured his head, and Jung Woo-sung his right knee. They were taken to the emergency room for treatment.
Although the situation is still being monitored, it’s being reported that it’s likely Jung Woo-sung will not be able to return to filming right away — or possibly at all — which puts the entire production into emergency mode. The drama was unable to complete its filming for this week’s broadcast of Episode 14, which means that Tuesday’s episode may be postponed while the actors heal. Beyond that is a question mark.
Missing a broadcast due to an accident isn’t exactly common, but it’s been known to happen in extreme circumstances. In 2008, Painter of the Wind delayed a broadcast when Moon Geun-young broke her nose while filming, and in 2009, Gu Hye-sun’s car accident delayed an episode of Boys Before Flowers. In both instances, the dramas whipped up a hasty “special” to broadcast instead.
Via Mk.co.kr, Hankook Ilbo
RELATED POSTS
Required fields are marked *
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
1 gwonuj4
January 23, 2011 at 4:36 PM
Crap hope he is ok. Athena is getting better
Required fields are marked *
vic
January 23, 2011 at 8:12 PM
Athena was getting worse last time i checked :D
Required fields are marked *
jaewookie
January 24, 2011 at 11:19 AM
i agree....the show isn't even as good as iris
Required fields are marked *
Cedric
January 28, 2011 at 11:38 AM
I agree, each episode is getting more laughable than the previous one. However, I still keep watching for some odd reason.
Required fields are marked *
2 A
January 23, 2011 at 4:44 PM
Tbh I think they can do without him at least for an episode. Just saying.
Required fields are marked *
3 ikaw@ako
January 23, 2011 at 4:57 PM
this happens now when Athena is getting interesting. get well Jung Woo
Required fields are marked *
4 jojo
January 23, 2011 at 5:00 PM
Hope they are both ok...had no idea they film an episode so close to the air date...thought that was just a dramatic plot like in an episode of TWTTLI and On Air.
Required fields are marked *
5 Jkim
January 23, 2011 at 5:01 PM
Omg.. Hopefully they're both okay.. Athena I just getting a lil exciting nd now this happens... Wat the heck..
Like seriously the production team should really be more careful with they actors nd actresses... Atleast try preventing thing from happening.. -__-
Required fields are marked *
Doraemon4ever
January 23, 2011 at 9:19 PM
Why didn't they use stunts?!
Required fields are marked *
6 runaway
January 23, 2011 at 5:08 PM
I don't understand Korean's obsession ( or rather the way the korean TV station work) with filming and airing episodes all at the same time (as in in one week they air ep1 and 2 and film for ep 3 and 4) Why can't they film most episodes before airing them on tv. Isn't that better, so when the actors/actresses get hurt, there would be less likely a awkward stop with "special" broadcast?
Required fields are marked *
JD
January 23, 2011 at 5:37 PM
I've questioned this before and I've been told that it's because the uncertainty of how popular it is with the audience puts them at budget risk. If ratings continue to be dead low, they can choose to drop the drama without having to lose a whole drama's worth of expense.
Required fields are marked *
hunneybunny
January 23, 2011 at 9:20 PM
they can also change the script according to viewer response.
Required fields are marked *
belleza
January 27, 2011 at 8:45 PM
"I don’t understand Korean’s obsession ( or rather the way the korean TV station work) with filming and airing episodes all at the same time (as in in one week they air ep1 and 2 and film for ep 3 and 4)"
It's just how Asian TV (and much of the world) works. Koreans dramas that are pre-shot usually do pretty poor (albeit quality is often a cut above), so a lot of THOSE dramas are now being sold to the cable TV market.
Required fields are marked *
7 Alvina
January 23, 2011 at 5:08 PM
How seriously is the knee injury. Bad enough that he cant shoot above the waist (lol, jk... kinda).
I'm more concerned about the head injury though. Those are pretty bad, neh?
Required fields are marked *
8 violetish
January 23, 2011 at 5:48 PM
remember wolf? with eric, uhm tae woong and han ji min? still bitter about it's mere 6 episodes. okay, well not bitter because eric got seriously injured, but i feel like it would have been one of my drama favs.
Required fields are marked *
9 sleipnir
January 23, 2011 at 5:51 PM
Could production be delayed for a few months?
I mean it was a freakin' car... and serious enough to be directly brought to the ER.
do we have any news on how serious the injuries are?
Required fields are marked *
10 Ashley
January 23, 2011 at 6:22 PM
This drama was filming for months before it started airing. I'm surprised they're cutting it this close now.
I hope Jung Woo-sung gets better soon. Not so he can continue with the drama, but just for himself.
Required fields are marked *
more
January 26, 2011 at 8:42 PM
That is a good point they should be on episode 19 by now
Required fields are marked *
11 V V
January 23, 2011 at 6:33 PM
Hope they both get better soon!!!
Required fields are marked *
12 ar_arguably romantic
January 23, 2011 at 6:45 PM
the productions should try to keep a bigger buffer time between the shoot and the airing, especially when it's an action show like Athena. Setting up fight/chase scenes are much more complicated than having a couple bicker on the street. And getting hit by a car is like O_o I hope Jung Chan-woo's head injury isn't too serious.
the ratings have been dropping too and i feel like a break will really hurt the show. If the ratings were as good as BOF, I'm sure the drama could do a spin-off not involving the two actors for the next month and then come back to the story.
I really wish the sets had better safety precautions in Asian movies/dramas. Just a few months ago, the taiwanese singer/actress Selina was injured in an explosion accident on the movie set that gave half her body 3rd degree burns. I don't recall accidents like this happening with american shows/movies. I don't think Kiefer Sutherland (of 24) or Mark Valley (of Human Target) ever got into such a serious accident.
Required fields are marked *
13 jo
January 23, 2011 at 7:30 PM
Athena had plenty of time to film if it weren't for a fact that actors and crew were literally running around the globe to film for even very minor storylines. case in point: the whole italy thing turned out to be JWS's dream....0_0 I mean, c'mon now...what a WASTE of time!
but I seriously hope Jung Woo Sung will recover soon. Even though Athena is in flopville, I respect JWS's professionalism.
Required fields are marked *
littlefirefox
January 23, 2011 at 9:04 PM
They did go back to Italy for that whole President's daughter fiasco, didn't they? But they definitely could have done without the whole BoA storyline, that was a real waste of time.
Required fields are marked *
omo
January 23, 2011 at 9:11 PM
I totally agree. The whole Japan sequence was a waste too. Oh, and don't forget the Hawaiian shots too. I don't think I would have noticed it they stayed in Korea and pretended it was Hawaii.
I cannot imagine what might have happened if Giant (the drama before it) didn't extend for another 10 episodes. I'm just wondering if they are doing extra shoots to get the ratings up.
JWS and JCW, get well soon.
Required fields are marked *
14 Birdie
January 23, 2011 at 8:30 PM
Keeping a tight schedule will increase risk of accidents as you are always rushing.The actors union should try at least to fight for a minimum rest period after so many hours of shooting.When you hear of actors shooting for 2 or 3 days straight with no rest, it is worse than slave labour. The actors always look so tired towards the end of the drama.
Required fields are marked *
15 Pat
January 23, 2011 at 9:02 PM
Jackie Chan said Asia Producers dont care about actors safety when he was showing his injuries on Amer. TV. He said it for laughs ,but the fact is safety is not as much of a priority as budget, time constraints etc, lots of shows have an actor exhausted, hurt or in the ER for a drip after filming, not to mention all the car accidents and if its minor they still show up for work.
Required fields are marked *
16 Prayer
January 23, 2011 at 9:12 PM
I have prayed and will continue to pray for their healing.
Required fields are marked *
17 luraaa
January 23, 2011 at 9:18 PM
They should heal and rest first, before thinking about going to filming. I'm sure the fans would understand. I mean, it's the actors on the line, and if they really love their oppas or ahjusshis, then they would understand. I sure hope the production feels the same way too.
Required fields are marked *
18 crook
January 23, 2011 at 9:24 PM
and once again, we see the perils of insane shooting schedules. Honestly, I still don't understand why they always cut it so close. The actors and crews don't get adequate rest, the production and editing is always haphazard and poor, and oh yeah, people get seriously physically hurt.
No wonder why so many Kdramas start off promising but become worse and worse. The crazy production schedule is a large part of the reason why
Required fields are marked *
nell123
January 23, 2011 at 10:39 PM
True. And contrary to what people say I have never heard of an actual drama that benefited from any last minute changes to the script. I have never seen ratings rise because of that. Kdramas tend to get worse towards the end not better no matter how close to air time they film the episodes.
I know producers like to brag with the fact that stars and crew work 24/7 without sleep to please the viewers but such things make me uncomfortable rather than grateful because it's just inhumane and unnecessary.
Required fields are marked *
belleza
January 27, 2011 at 8:35 PM
Almost all the Asian countries do live shoot, except for historical dramas. This model also dominates soap operas and telenovelas. The lengthy production shoots that you see in American and European TV is actually the exception to the rule.
Required fields are marked *
19 MsRetta
January 23, 2011 at 10:37 PM
First CHASEUNGWON gets ill and now this. I hope both actors are alright. I also hope they will take the time needed to recover and heal properly.
Required fields are marked *
20 dany
January 24, 2011 at 5:21 AM
Get well soon.
Required fields are marked *
21 binggacious
January 24, 2011 at 5:26 AM
I hope & pray that Jung Woo Sung isn't seriously injured. He is the life of Athena! I wish him speedy recovery. May God bless him to heal ASAP... I just adore him! The total korean package - good looks & superb acting.
Required fields are marked *
22 elle loves kdrama
January 24, 2011 at 5:31 AM
Strangely enough, I remember an interview Jung Woo Sung gave a few weeks ago about the lack of safety and the extreme conditions actors work in. Like working for days without to produce 2 eps a week. Too bad they did not listen to him.
Get well soon!
Required fields are marked *
23 Cam
January 24, 2011 at 10:05 AM
Ouch, my gooodness. =/
I am sure that he will be all right from his injury and he will felt so better sooon. We will pray for him, of course.
Oooh, I think it should be good for stunt (underscript) will do that for actors nor actresses either, you know? It's a good thing to them who won't be hurt. ^_^ How tough this drama is, yups.
Required fields are marked *
24 leonardswench
January 24, 2011 at 11:50 AM
Don't care about the production, I hope both men will recover and that someone with COMMON SENSE will stop the insane schedules these productions keep. The drama needs to be in front of the camera, not behind the scenes, and clearly both of these men's lives were put at serious risk ...
Required fields are marked *
25 anotherfan
January 24, 2011 at 6:39 PM
How freaking scary. I hope both men just have a speedy recovery. It's just crazy - I think it is difficult to shoot a regular rom-com etc... but to shot an action drama with that kind of constraint - one is asking for trouble. It just makes me really sad to read about all these injuries - although truth is that it's really sad just how many work-related injuries there are in general across all professions. :( Hope all involved heal well.
Required fields are marked *
26 loveit
January 25, 2011 at 2:58 AM
hope they recover quickly. Just finish watching episode 13 and I think it is getting pretty awesome.
Required fields are marked *
27 Mathew
January 26, 2011 at 8:00 AM
My thoughts - I think the japanese work much much better with their dramas even with those action pack dramas
Required fields are marked *
28 Janerdelle
January 26, 2011 at 10:48 PM
if the injury of jung woo gets worse or can't recover for a few months, then the whole production team of ATHENA must decide to replace him with another actor..
If this drama keeps on delaying their Ep. 14 because of their lead star injury then there's a possibility that there viewers will get tired waiting and will stop watch their drama even if they finish their 14th episode..
Required fields are marked *
29 sohapilee
January 30, 2011 at 6:59 PM
I'm really sad to hear this. I adore and respect Jung Woo-Sung a lot, and to think that he may be permanently injured (God forbid) is just too much to take. This is his first drama EVEN!
Gawd. How could this kind of thing happen?
Required fields are marked *
30 Timothy
February 9, 2011 at 3:12 AM
This Series VERY NICE, REMEMBER this is NOT MOVIE CINEMA, Even just SERIES but they made every details very perfect and thats not easy to follow in other series, I really SALUTE and RESPECT with this ALL Management who presents this SERIES
ATHENA THE BEST, no 1 SERIES
Required fields are marked *