A group of KAIST students have gathered to make a parody of the film Les Misérable, a big hit during the 2012-2013 winter holiday season. Till now, there have been several parodies that were created in Korea, of which the one created by the Republic of Korea Air Force was the most popular. Called “Les Militaribles,” the YouTube video got over 4.5 million views. Motivated by this outcome, one student decided to make a KAIST version and posted an audition notice on the school online forum ARA for actors that would feature in the parody, which is to be titled “Les KAISTrouble.”

Project Director Choi Seung Hoon teamed up with nine students to direct the parody film. On April 4, the team held an audition for the roles of Jean Valjean, Javert, Cosette, and four supporting actors. Out of the 12 students applied, 7 students were picked by the interview team, consisting of the director, director of photography, and two assistant directors. The actors were evaluated on their singing and acting skills as well as suitability for the role.

The interesting part about “Les KAISTrouble” is that the project is managed by KAIST students only. The vocal training was done by a member of the KAIST choir Chorus, while the acting training was done by a member of the KAIST theater club Ibagutor. The director mentioned that both members were talented in their respective fields, having had many experiences.

As well as directing the film, the team had to create content that portrayed the life and essence of KAIST, a university specializing in the education of science and technology, to differentiate the parody from the other ones. Also, the team had to get funding for the project, including rental fees for filming equipment and a recording studio. Although the team contacted many organizations, the funding was insufficient and the team welcomed any donations from students.

When asked about the motive for making the parody film, the director said that he wanted to show the world the beauty of KAIST’s student culture. “Over the past few years, the student culture was diminished due to the competitive scholarship policy. However, KAIST students have an infinite amount of talent in various fields. The team wanted to fulfill the dreams of each student by bringing together students with a passion for acting, singing, and making films. The club members from Ibagutor, Chorus, and the music composition club Long Play (LP) are working hard to make these dreams come true.”

“Les KAISTrouble” will be released in May.