• BLACKPINK's Rosé Shares Confidence in Teddy, "A Company to Achieve My Dreams"

    BLACKPINK's Rosé has opened up about her collaboration with Teddy, the leader of The Black Label.

    On June 19, Rosé expressed, "I'm sorry for keeping you waiting. I know you've been waiting to hear from me," and continued, "I didn't want to share anything until everything was set for my music release. I wanted to prepare properly."

    She added, "As many of you know, I don't like talking about things before I do them. Since last year, I've been in the studio almost every day, working on new music. It's been a year of finding my path and what I want to achieve. I've learned to be independent."

    Rosé emphasized, "I'm excited to officially partner with The Black Label. They will manage my career and help me reach my dreams. Stay tuned for more updates from me. Please look forward to my music. This is just the beginning."

    Previously, The Black Label announced on June 18, "We have signed an artist management contract with Rosé," and mentioned, "With a strong bond between producer and artist, Teddy and Rosé have been in sync for a long time."

    They added, "Currently, Rosé is preparing to connect with global fans through new music. The Black Label aims to bring out the best synergy by supporting Rosé's creative freedom with her unique musical style. As she holds dual citizenship in South Korea and New Zealand, Rosé will focus on her music activities. Recently, despite a six-month break, Rosé has been seen collaborating with overseas music producers."

    Notably, Rosé has interacted on social media with Canadian singer-songwriter Socrates, American music producer Rob Grimaldi, American singer-songwriter Drax Project, and Gian Stone. Last October, she also drew attention for dining with Columbia Records CEO Ron Perry.

    The Black Label, led by Teddy, manages artists like Taeyang, Jeon Somi, Zion.T, Park Bogum, Lee Jongwon, and Ella Gross. Originally based at YG Entertainment's headquarters, it recently moved to a new building in Hannam-dong.

    Meanwhile, aside from Rosé, BLACKPINK's Lisa, Jennie, and Jisoo are pursuing solo activities through their own labels. Lisa established LALISA, Jennie founded OA, and Jisoo set up BLISU, each operating independently.

    Source [1]

  • Is Jisoo’s Acting the Main Problem in "Newtopia"? - Here's Why Fans Are Worried About the New Zombie Series

    The new OTT series Newtopia has faced mixed reactions, with BLACKPINK’s Jisoo's acting and a slow storyline making viewers question if the show can survive.

    Released on the 7th, Newtopia on Coupang Play promised to offer something fresh in the K-zombie genre. The drama follows an unlikely couple, Lee Jae-yoon (played by Park Jung Min), a late-blooming soldier, and his girlfriend Kang Young-joo (Jisoo), as they fight to survive in a zombie-infested Seoul.

    The mix of zombies and romantic comedy sounded like an interesting twist, but the show hasn’t exactly hit the mark.

    Jisoo’s second lead role after Snowdrop in 2021 was highly anticipated. But many fans and critics have been concerned about her acting, especially after she received some backlash for her unclear pronunciation and awkward expressions in her previous project.

    Director Yoon Sung-hyun, aware of the concerns, said at the press preview, “Since Jisoo hadn’t acted for a long time after her last project, I was also initially worried, thinking, ‘Will she be okay?’ But Jisoo dedicated herself, doing script readings four days a week. She worked hard, and as a result, I had no doubts or difficulties. By episode 8, you'll feel that only Jisoo could have portrayed Young-joo. She did an amazing job.”

    Despite his words of praise, Jisoo’s performance still left fans worried. While she showed some improvement, her portrayal of Young-joo seemed inconsistent, lacking the calmness expected from the character. However, her "girl crush" image, with her background as a "campus goddess," did add some intrigue to her role.

    The main issue, however, wasn’t just Jisoo's acting. Newtopia also struggled with its pacing. While other recent hits like Trauma Center or Trigger grab attention right from the start, Newtopia spent too much time in the first episode on Jae-yoon’s military life and Young-joo’s personal struggles, making it feel like a waste of time. The show failed to showcase the humor and zombie elements it promised, leaving many viewers unimpressed.

    On top of that, some characters came off as annoying, like Jae-yoon’s colleague, Line Ho (Im Seong Jae), and the "unlikable" senior character Seojin-wook (played by Kang Young Seok). Even Park Jung-min didn’t do much to help the show move along, making the 57-minute episode feel even longer.

    Thankfully, the show picked up pace in episode 2, finally diving into the zombie chaos. But will that be enough to save Newtopia? With the first episode still fresh in fans’ minds, the jury’s still out on whether this K-zombie drama can find its footing and deliver the thrills viewers are hoping for.

    The remaining six episodes of Newtopia will air every Friday at 8 PM, with one episode released per week. Stay tuned to see if the series can bounce back!

    Source (1)