On The Debut: The Dream Academy, 20 trainees were selected out of thousands of hopefuls and underwent training using K-pop’s rigorous methods. This show, which incorporates K-pop’s format and creative ideology, reflects the industry’s growing influence on Western pop culture. To sustain this growth and strengthen their presence in the US and Latin America, South Korea’s major entertainment agencies have partnered with US record labels. HYBE’s collaboration with UMG/Geffen Records resulted in the opening of auditions for a global girl group trained in K-pop methodology. Over 120,000 applicants from various countries were narrowed down to 20 trainees who competed for a debut spot on a show called The Debut: Dream Academy.
The Debut: Dream Academy is an ambitious project that aims to bring diversity to mainstream pop, but it faces challenges. The show’s unique survival show format, based on performance-based missions and vlogs, has divided viewers. Other non-K-pop groups, such as JYP Entertainment’s VCHA, have also adopted K-pop’s training and marketing methods to create a western-focused band. However, HYBE, known for managing BTS and NewJeans, along with UMG/Geffen’s expertise in fostering megastars like Olivia Rodrigo, are determined to reshape the K-pop model into a more globally inclusive form.
The 20 finalists of The Debut: Dream Academy were chosen by a distinguished panel, including Son Sung-deuk, HYBE’s performance director and now HxG Executive Creator, and Humberto Leon, former co-creative director of Kenzo and co-founder of Opening Ceremony, now HxG Creative Director. The show also features Charlie Christie, VP of Geffen Records, and other notable contributors like stylist/designer Shirley Kurata and director Andrew Thomas Huang. The show’s finale will be live-streamed on November 17, with a Netflix docuseries to follow in 2024.
In an interview with Dazed, Humberto Leon, Andrew Thomas Huang, Son Sung-deuk, and Charlie Christie discuss the format and creative vision of The Debut: Dream Academy. The decision to create a global group instead of a US-centric one was driven by the desire to bridge gaps and break molds. The removal of the ‘K’ in K-pop is seen as a way to achieve mainstream success and expand the genre’s reach. The show’s non-episodic format focusing on missions, TikTok videos, and YouTube vlogs puts the talent front and center and aims to avoid overshadowing individual personalities. The trainees, hailing from diverse backgrounds, have a common story of pursuing their dreams with the support of their parents. The creatives behind the show hope to showcase this journey and create an “it-factor” for the girl group that rivals the success of iconic acts like Little Mix, Spice Girls, Blackpink, or Destiny’s Child.
Humberto Leon’s involvement in The Debut: Dream Academy stemmed from his passion for globalness and storytelling. Andrew Thomas Huang directed the project’s Art Film, which blurs reality and the dream state, showcasing the trainees’ inner hopes and talents. The central idea of the film, conceived by Humberto, revolves around a game of hide and seek in an office building, ending with a scene on a giant bed. Andrew aimed to seamlessly showcase the trainees’ talent while incorporating his signature style, including elements of surrealism and unexpected angles. The camera winds through the building, creating suspense and emphasizing a K-pop sense of beauty reminiscent of classic Hollywood treatments of faces.
Overall, The Debut: Dream Academy seeks to push the boundaries of mainstream pop with its global approach and incorporation of K-pop’s methods, while also highlighting the individuality and talents of its trainees.
