“He got me curious with that” — Right Place, Wrong Person director opens how Team RM asked him to dedicate a year of his life to the project

On December 16, 2024, Weverse Magazine published an exclusive interview with director Lee Seokjun, who shared several insights from Namjoon aka RM's documentary, RM: Right People, Wrong Place.

Director Lee Seokjun was approached by SAN YAWN to become a part of the project. SAN YAWN from the Korean Indie group Balming Tiger, known for being one of Namjoon’s close creative confidants, approached Lee and asked him to dedicate an entire year to capturing the essence of Namjoon's story.

Reflecting on SAN YAWN's intriguing proposition director Lee Seokjun spent over a year filming RM as he worked on Right People, Wrong Place. He shared,

"It all started when San Yawn, who was leading the whole project, reached out to me, asking, “I’m not sure if it would even come out or not, but would you be willing to dedicate a year to this film?” He got me curious with that, so we met with Namjoon."

The project was not just a snapshot of RM’s artistry but a meditation on identity, change, and the loneliness that often accompanies life’s crossroads. Filming took place in various serene locations, including the remote town of Bisugumi in Hwacheon County, Seoul, London, and Tokyo.

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BTS' RM's intimate journey as an artist as seen through the lens of director Lee Seokjun

Lee Seokjun also revealed how the team chose to focus on the most impactful lines and memorable conversations collected during their time filming. Instead of forcing a rigid narrative, they stitched these moments together like a collage, allowing the film to organically flow between scenes.

"You can see how a lot of documentaries look for the beauty in the still moments, but there’s an awful lot of talking going on in this one. So I thought, rather than that, why not take the most impactful lines and memorable conversations from all that and stitch them all together into a collage, and build a story out of that?" he said.

Lee Seokjun further emphasized that the heart of the project lay in its interviews, which featured close friends and collaborators who had been deeply involved in Right People, Wrong Place. Finding the right tone for these conversations was crucial.

"The interviews needed to be there to take a step back and give it something that could provide foreshadowing. I had to find the right tone for the interviews because they were all deeply involved with the RPWP project and had strong feelings about it. I remember trying to do a ton of different interviews."

Complementing the film, Namjoon announced the release of his second solo album in May 2024, Right People, Wrong Place. The album was an extension of the documentary’s themes, blending music and storytelling to showcase Namjoon’s struggles, musings, and growth.

Lee Seokjun praised RM's commitment to staying true to himself as an artist, even after over a decade in the spotlight.

"The reason for that is that the documentary isn’t focused solely on the making of the album but on the emotional journey Namjoon underwent throughout that period. It starts without diving especially deeply into his character, so it was absolutely critical that we show who he is when he’s performing as a member of BTS."

Right People, Wrong Place premiered at the prestigious 29th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) on October 7, 2024. The film was released in theaters worldwide by BIGHIT MUSIC (now HYBE) in December 2024, offering fans and viewers a deeply personal glimpse into RM’s world. It is being screened in over 90 countries and regions worldwide.

Fans can find tickets and showtimes on the CGV app and its official website along with the documentary film's official website (www.rmrpwp.com).

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In other news, Right People, Wrong Place was ranked No. 1 on Rolling Stone's "100 Best Albums of 2024" list.