We are All Trying Here--a study with egotistical artists

"We Are All Trying Here" (2026) is a bit of a new experience for me or at least a new perspective.  We all have seen films with temperamental actors and directors and writers that make life trying for those who work with them.  In reality there are a lot of inadequacies artistic people share with the rest of us.

Hwang Dong Do is first introduced as a failure, as the only one of the group of 8 not to have debuted a film.  But he is not quiet about it.  He hysterically rants about the deficiencies of the others.  The others protest, mocking him and from time to time ostracizing him.

He comes across Byun Eun-a as she very precisely denigrates his script in front of a producer.  Afterwards they meet by happenstance, without taking back her criticism she concedes that he had some intriguing insights.  At a studio she is mostly very quiet, but valued because of her incisive analysis of scripts.  We learn a little later she has secrets from her past as does Dong Do.  They become closer over time and she encourages him to re-write his script.

Although the series focuses on the two of them the viewers are made aware of the dynamics of the Group of 8 as well as some personal issues.  Hwang Jin-man is Dong Do's brother who at one time wrote a highly regarded poem, but has descended to alcoholism and suicide attempts.  Go Hye-jin as a CEO of film studio, a member of the Group of 8 and married to another member who she feels has an inferiority feeling towards Dong Do despite his vociferous attacks.  Eun-a deals with depression and personal concerns.  

Park Hae Young has a history of writing social series with psychological insights.  Perhaps where he comes closest is with his own craft.  The rest of staff and cast have also dealt with psychological subtleties.  This is a very emotionally sensitive series deserving a delicate touch.  These are some of the people who delivered.

Chae Yeong-hoon was the director.   He has 11 director credits and 1 for assistant director including "When the Camellias Bloom" (2019) and "Welcome to Sandal-ri" (2023).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/06/welcome-to-sandal-ri.html

Park Hae Young was the writer.  He has 8 writing credits including "My Mister" (2018) and "My Liberation Diary" (2020).   See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/01/my-mister-is-slow-drama-with-emotional.html 

Koo Kyo-hwan played Hwang Dong Do.  He has acted in theatre and done music videos.  He once played a lead role as a transgender woman winning awards for it.  He has 23 acting credits, 3 for writing and 2 for directing including "A Werewolf Boy" (2012), "Escape from Mogadishu" (2021), "D.P." (2021-22) and "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" (2022).  See  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/04/escape-from-mogadishu-we-can-learn-to.html and http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/04/dp-stands-for-deserter-pursuit.html

Go Youn Jung played Byun Eun-a.  She has been a model in demand internationally.  Youn Jung has 112 acting credits including a favourite for this year "Can This Love Be Translated?" (2026).   See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2026/01/can-this-love-be-translated.html

Oh Jung Se played Park Geung-se, one of the successful members of the Group of Eight.  He has 100 acting credits including "Swing Kids" (2018), "When the Camellias Bloom" (2019), "It's Okay Not To Be Okay" (2020), "Little Women" (2022),  "When Life Gives you Tangerines" (2025) and "When the Stars Gossip" (2025).  See  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/03/its-okay-not-to-be-okay.html

and http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/04/when-life-gives-you-tangerines.html

Kang Mal-geum played Ko He-jin wife to Park Geung-se and the CEO of a film company.  Like other cast members she started in the theatre.  She has 28 acting credits including "Squid Game" (2021), "Thirty Nine" (2022), "Divorce Attorney Shin" (2023), "The Good Bad Mother" (2023) and "When Life Gives You Tangerines" (2025).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/04/divorce-attorney-shin.html  and http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/06/the-good-bad-mother.html

Park Hae-joon played Hwan Jin-mae brother to Hwang Dong Do.  He also started in the theatre.  Jin-mae has 36 acting credits including  "Misaeng" (2014), "My Mister" (2018), "Broker" (2022) and "When Life Gives You Tangerines" (2025).   See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/07/broker-japanese-korean-collaboration.html

Bae Jong Ok played Oh Jeong Hui, an older influential actress.  She has 48 acting credits including "Designated Survivor:  60 Days" (2019).   See   http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/10/designated-survivor-60-days-remake-of.html

Disproportionately film makers like to present themselves, as honestly that is what they know best.  "We Are All Trying Here" is one of the best examples of this genre.  It is available sub-titled on Netflix.  

As usual I have bolded the first mention of films I have seen.  If you are able to follow some of the links you will better appreciate why this team was so suitable for such a nuanced portrayal of their own business.