Be On Cloud - Blog Posts
Jeff and Barcode - Above and beyond. A Jeff Satur appreciation post
This is going to be one of the very few fangirly posts on this blog, this time about Jeff Satur and his relationship with Barcode. Relationship is ALWAYS used in a platonic way here, just to make that clear right away.
I decided to save this post for Jeff's birthday, which is today, because I don't think Jeff gets enough credit publicly for what he actually did when it comes to Barcode. Yet, Barcode does know what Jeff has done for him, which also explains his extreme reaction when it was announced Jeff was leaving BOC. Let's talke a closer look at Jeff and Barcode's story, because it shows what an amazing person Jeff actually is.
When Jeff and Barcode met, Barcode was still a minor and very shy. He had no previous experience in the entertainment industry, other than watching his sister.
Jeff had been in the industry for about eight years with more downs than ups and nearly gave up on it. Jeff was also cast by Filmania as Kim, alongside Gameplay who he had played other projects with.
I never found out how and why Gameplay left Kinnporsche the project when BOC took over, but the role of Porchay needed a new actor and that's how Barcode came in, mostly because of his resemblance to Apo and his disposition, which fit Porchay.
For Jeff that meant that he was suddenly saddled with a 16/17 year old rookie, with no experience in acting, who was very shy and also nearly ten years his minor, while he knew his previous partner Gameplay and had played a couple with him more than once before.
And yet, it doesn't seem like Jeff was unnerved or disinterested. He could have simply done his job and left Barcode to be looked after by the staff while he hung out with the cast more his age. He had no obligation to do any of the things I will list below, other than do the workshop with Barcode and play his role as Kim. And yet, Jeff went SO FAR beyond that and without any selfish intend.
Jeff: "We had only just met and had to spend 24 hours together and we slept in one room. So I showed him some games and we played some. Then I had to send him back to our room to drink some milk and sleep around 11pm. But the others were still playing, but I had to get him to bed first, so I took him back, right? I told him we could just play some more. So he took a shower, then I took a shower and when I was done he was still playing on his phone."
Jeff's story continues, but the point is that Jeff left his group of peers who hung out and had fun, to tuck in a 17 year old and make sure he was alright in their room, since he was so new to it all. Barcode could have easily gone to his room on his own, but Jeff cared and went with him.
Jeff saw the potential in Barcode, saw himself in him and decided to give him the mentoring and care he must have wished for when he entered the industry.
Jeff (6:32): A boy came out with long black hair, I didn't know if he was there to do castings but I thought he had an aura to him.
Jeff (8:26 Knight magazine interview): Actually it's like seeing myself when I was 18. Seeing Barcode takes me back, I also liked music and stuff, I was probably the same (as him) back then. But Barcode is better than me when I was 18. Really!
And it was Jeff who put in the work to bring Barcode closer to the cast.
Apo (24:43): Jeff had to play a role with him. Jeff really was his sun. Jeff gradually brought Barcode into the team.
Says the actor who plays Barcode's brother on the show and also has a couple of scenes with him, the most beside Jeff.
And still, it was Jeff who always looked out for Barcode and put his foot down, whenever the others became too rowdy or things in interviews went too far.
Jeff( 4:41): Hang on, he is 17, everyone. Like 9 years apart from us.
Jeff: (5:40): Don't tease him!
EP 105 SosatSeoulsay
Jeff scolding her when she talks to Barcode (20:09) You tease him!
Later (21:59) Jeff to Barcode: She has to do something, when you do everything for her. You can deny her.
Barcode: Ok, then no.
Jeff also helped him in interviews and showered him with praise all the time. He also took over whenever Barcode didn't know what to say.
Jeff (KP Behind the scenes EP5 4:40): Barcode is so good at remembering the melody, it only took him a few minutes, and he could sing it out right away, so good.
Barcode: You’re flattering me too much.
Jeff: No, I meant it for real. This is pretty incredible since it’s the song that you heard for the first time. The lyrics were written just before we filmed this scene, but you could remember them all and be able to sing it right away.You are incredible. You memorized it all, and it’s like you really got the sense of music, for real.
And judging by Barcode's own words, Jeff never became impatient.
Barcode (1:34): Jeff was always teaching me and he never scolded me. He will always be there to cheer me up.
It went as far as giving him free reign to change the whole dialogue of a scene, to take the pressure off Barcode, when it got too much. He was willing to improvise and take more on himself, so that Barcode felt less pressured to deliver the scene.
Jeff Behind the scenes EP 7, 1:55): It’s ok. You can do this however you want. I will be right here with you, Barcode. Chill out, man.
Pond: Right, just relax and chill.
Jeff: Don’t be afraid that you will do this wrong. If it’s wrong, then let it be.
Pond: The dialogue doesn’t have to be 100% accurate.
Jeff: Right, you don’t have to stick to the dialogue at all.
Jeff: As for me, I’m also relaxing as well.
Later:
Jeff (2:46): I think maybe he felt that the role was too tough for him,and then felt pressured, and when that happened, he became so tensed up. When he is tense, of course, he can’t act that out because this scene has to be so lively. Then, he tried to change the direction, making it more emotional or impressive, but in the end, his stress hindered his performance. So, we have to let Barcode calm down and relax himself. I used to be like him, so I understand that he needs some time privately to refocus and pull himself back to the role. If we insist on continuing rolling, it will be no use because his mind is not concentrated or at the right stage yet. So, just wait for him a little. He will be back and do this even better than before. This is not some truck ad, but it’s a promotional ad for Barcode.
Jeff doesn't even loose it when Barcode blurts out stuff that does not belong on camera.
Barcode (6:16) When I went for singing lessons, it was the first day for KinnPorsche, going for lessons. And I saw cats, there were so many of them, I was shocked. I was like "what's that smell?", there was a strong stench of the cat feces.
Jeff: Hey, my house!
Barcode: The place reeked, but I guess cat owners all love their cats too much. But P'Jeff has not met my cat yet
Instead, he buys him expensive birthday gifts because he thinks Barcode needs and deserves them.
Q (14:07 DeLing magazine interview): The most touching thing the other person has done for you?
Barcode: For me, it's when P'jeff bought me a guitar, I was very touched. So it was hard to press down on my guitar, and I kept complaining about it. One day out of the blue P'Jeff called and said "There's a guitar coming your way", unbelievable. I was so touched and after getting it I played it all day and night, I didn't sleep and I felt so thankful.
Jeff: I felt when I first saw Barcode audition with his guitar, I thought Barcode was more than that. I felt he should have an instrument that matched his voice, so I bought him one.
And Barcode is also very aware of how much Jeff has been looking after him, even compared to the rest of BOC.
Barcode (7:57): No, you take care of me, usually P'Jeff is the one taking care of me because at first, I didn't know anything. P'Jeff is weird too, but he's the closest to me and takes care of me more than other people. He has to help me get use to the environment we're in.
Jeff also always absolutely indulges him, no matter what Barcode is up to.
And these and many more are the reason why we got this:
And more recently this:
And today this: (Since Barcode is at military camp for the week and can't be there)
But also this from some of his other former colleagues:
