Latest still cuts of ‘Dream High 2′ show differences from the first season

KBS‘s ‘Dream High 2‘ has released new photos that show a dramatic transformation compared to its first season.

The first difference is the school. In season one, ‘Kirin Arts High School’ was known as one of the most luxurious, high-end schools for the industry.  The school takes a downward turn in the second season, looking run down and on the brink of collapse.

A famous entertainment company is threatening to purchase the school in Season 2, forcing the kids to step up their act for survival.

The format has also undergone a change. The first season primarily focused on individual competition, but this time, the focus is on the team. ‘Eden‘ and ‘HershE‘ will be at the center of the competition, with smaller rivalries between Kang Sora, Jinwoon, Jiyeon, and Hyorin.

There’s a bigger diversity in character backgrounds as well. From the talented Kang Sora to Jiyeon, who can’t act out a proper line, to vocalist Hyorin, and finally the rebellious Jinwoon, they all have interesting back stories to share that will help move the plot along.

‘Dream High 2′ airs on January 30th.

SOURCE: AKP

How much did it cost to dress up IU for “Dream High”?

The cost of IU’s transformation for her role in “Dream High” has been estimated to be around $60,000 USD.

Producers of “Dream High” revealed that in order to costume IU into her chubby character, $50,000 USD was spent on her fat suit, along with an extra $2,000 USD for makeup spent per episode.  Six episodes have cost the drama a total of $60,000 USD so far.

Her transformation also takes over five hours, and coming out of her outfit takes an additional two.

Thankfully, her efforts aren’t wasted, as she’s been dominating the charts lately with her song “Someday” for the drama’s OST.

The R&B song was sung by IU in her audition scene on the January 4th episode.  Written and produced by Park Jin Young, the song marks IU’s first hit of 2011, continuing her streak of success from last year.

Listen to it here!

Source + Photos: Sports Chosun via Daum, Everyday Economy via Daum

by ALLKPOP

Dream High Episode 1 Recap and Review by Dramabeans.com

An uneven beginning, but one that got progressively better as the hour advanced. (To be honest, I was feeling that dull sense of bored disappointment halfway through, but at the 45-minute mark things picked up, and the last five minutes had my curiosity stirred and hopes rising. Things take an interesting turn.)

I’m not ready to make a decision yet, because the plot pieces are just getting put into place, and the stuff that draws me to this drama — the school, young aspirants working toward their dream, the rivalries — has barely even gotten any screen time. And yes, I suspect that if you were to decide based on the first half-hour, a lot of people might check out, but that’s mostly necessary background maneuvering; it’s really when they move to the school that things pick up.

SPOILER ALERT!

Bae Yong Joon, Park Jin Young on “Dream High” visions and production

KBS 2TV’s upcoming drama, “Dream High,” held its production conference at the Ilsan KINTEX on December 27th, just a week before the drama’s premiere on January 3rd, 2011.

Co-producers Bae Yong Joon and Park Jin Young opened the conference by requesting the audience to give much love and attention to the drama, before revealing their thoughts about the project.

Bae Yong Joon commented, “On a personal level, I was able to experience a lot of things while working in the drama as a special guest, and not as a leading role. A lot of my juniors are starring in the drama, and I was able to feel their talent and dedication. Please anticipate many great things for the drama.”

Park Jin Young, director of music and dance, added, “It’s a nervous process for me, but through the help of Bae Yong Joon and my acting senior, Ok Taecyeon, I was able to give this challenge a try.  Once again, please give us your interest.”

Regarding further details on the drama’s production, Bae Yong Joon continued, “I’ve always had a lot of interest in childhood education, and wanted to create a school that helped train future entertainers. Amidst the process, I met Park Jin Young, who had similar views as I did, which led to us working together. Our drama is centered around children that dream of becoming the all-time best stars. We aim to show their dreams and hopes through this drama.”

Park Jin Young concluded, “Bae Yong Joon is substantially involved with guiding the drama. The music and choreography I’ll be showing in the drama are not just made-for-public pieces; they’re creations made to lead the industry. Please wait and anticipate seeing them when it airs.”