Oli-View: RM: Right People, Wrong Place

First of all, RM is a genius.

Okay, now that we got that out of our system, let's talk about RM's new documentary out in theatre now, RM: Right People, Wrong Place. Of course, to get me in the mood, the RPWP album is playing in the background. It started with the RPWP song, which sounded like an intro to get you in the mood to experience the RM "High". Cos I gotta tell you, he's all over the place.

When I first got the album, I was so excited because I love indigo so much. It is my go-to album whenever I'm in my car. It was easy, it was chill, it was RM holding your hand while taking a road trip. So, naturally, I decided to go on a trip to Bekasi, just so I could play his album on repeat. And boy, was I wrong. As soon as I played the album, I got so overstimulated that my head started spinning and I had to pull over for a minute and breathe by the time Domodachi ended. I am not kidding. I was not ready for this RM to arrive. Who is this RM? It's like entering a room filled with smoke... it takes a while before your body adjusts, comprehends the situation and enjoys it. Now, my whole body is filled with RM. I can't get enough.

Pre-RPWP

It all started with Sexy Nukim. This is just my theory tho. So Supreme Boi, one of BTS producers, is a long-time friend of San Yawn from Balming Tiger. RM was introduced and Sexy Nukim was born on September 1st, 2022. This is a whole new side of shy RM, with him doing the MVs with his little bike, and doing the sexy choreo at the W's party... this is even before Indigo was released (Dec 22).

In perspective, RM started doing Indigo in 2019, and keep in mind that in 2020, COVID-19 happened, the BTS MOTS Tour was cancelled, and suddenly the members had all the time for their project. Meanwhile, RM and Balming Tiger started this collab in early 2022 (probably)... so just as he wrapped up Indigo. RM just unlocked his new mode, and he's ready to master it.

At the Mini Moni video (RM's convo with Jimin), he stated that initially, he wanted to enlist with Hobi (Jhope) in April of 2023. But in February, he met San Yawn, and San said, "He said, “Why don’t you stop being part of BTS for a while and leave a record of yourself after going through all these things? Instead of enlisting right now let’s work out your story together”. The rest is history, and Team RM was formed.

Right People, Wrong Place: the Documentary

We've all seen and watched BTS's members' solo documentary. It shares their process in making their Solo album. J-hope and his Jack in the Box; Suga's D-day; Jimin's Production Diary; JK's I am Still Documentary; Jhope then released his Hope on the Street dance documentary (RM didn't make a doc for Indigo, also V hasn't released any... Jin probably coming soon?). But, RM, being RM, is doing it differently. This is RM on crack. This is RM out of Hybe.

First of all, he didn't share the documentary on Disney+ or the theatre first. Instead, he hits the movie festival scene. RPWP was selected for the Open Cinema section of the 29th Busan International Film Festival and was premiered there. A bold move.

His album, RPWP, is named the Best K-Pop Album of 2024 by Billboard. This is super recent.

His Music Video, LOST! also received lots of accomplishments. It won the Cinematography Award at the 2024 Berlin Commercial Awards; multiple nominations at the CICLOPE Festival, in categories such as Direction, Cinematography, Production Design, and Color Grading; also nominations at the UK Music Video Awards (UKMVA) for Best Alternative International Video, Best Production Design, and Best Visual Effects; It won Best Alternative Video International and Best Production Design at the UK Music Video Awards.

The documentary occurred from February 8, 2023, to November 10, 2023. This 8-month journey shares an intimate view of Team RM while making the album, the MVs, the photoshoots, etc. We can even see a cup with Jimin's face at the recording studio, Suga's wifi password during the Dday concert, and JK's voice during Festa. That was the extent of BTS within this documentary. RM wants to highlight Team RM. Am a bit sad about it. But it's okay. It's a journey he has to take.

During the making of Indigo, RM handpicked the artist that he wanted to collaborate with. He sends them the track and they add their personal touch to it. Again, back then he had the time. But for RPWP, he handpicked the alternative artist he wanted to collaborate with, and they just lived, breathed, ate, travelled, and worked together to make the album. You can see all of this in the documentary.

Team RM:

San Yawn of Balming Tiger (head producer and creative director)

with other members of Balming Tiger also contributes to the productions of RPWP - bj wnjn and Unsinkable

JNKYRD - second producer and the soundtrack maker

Mokyo - songwriter and producer

Kim Hanjoo (Silica Gel) Jclef (the heavenly voice at the start of Around the World in a Day)

John Eun No Identity

Oh Hyukm Hyunjae and Lee Inwoo from the band Hyukoh

Kuo from Sunset Rollercoaster (not mentioned on Weverse but he played a part in the song)

Rosie Marks (Photographer) - the wedding scene

Takahiro Mizushima (Illustrator)

Wing Shya (Photographer) - the Wong Kar Ai style

Seok-jun Lee is the primary director. Subin Im contributing as a co-director.

Teachable Moments

In a way, the documentary reminds you of Suga and Jimin's documentary. They had their team build the album. It's just most of them are Hybe's team. But with RM, in RPWP, it is his team. It is people he wants to learn from. That is why, you can see lots of self-reflections, and introductions moments both from RM and from San... they are learning to get to know each other to make the album. And as this camera follows team RM closely for months, we got to see a side of RM we've never seen before.

"There were so many things I couldn't be honest about, So, at the very least, I thought, What if I try being honest about myself, just as I am?" - Namjoon

And did he? Being honest? Heck yeah.

The moment that strikes me out first was when an interviewer asked him, "What are you thinking?" Of which he replied, "I'm nobody." This hits me hard, cos sometimes me and my arogance is all over the place. I made this. I write this. I did this. And people reward me for this. They said, you did great; your blog is great; etc. But eversince my parents passed away, I dont want anything in life anymore. Nothing intrigues me. I have no ambition. I just want to pass the day, and it's okay if there's no tomorrow. That is why, finding my passion, or what I want to do next is proving quite hard.

What humbles me, throughout this documentary is how RM never assumes he'll be good at something. Like songwriting, like singing, like talking... he just tried his best but he gets super nervous about them too. This reminds me of when he went to rehearse before the Suga Dday concert, and his hands were shaking cos he havent rehearsed in a long time.

There's also a scene where he just rant... and I love every moment of it.

I'm moody as fuck...

One hour, I'm fuckin happy.

One hour, I'm fuckin sad and bad.

One hour, saranghae (I love you)

But! I hate you.

But! Bogoshipo (I miss you)

Nevertheless! Get out of my sight.

You know, there's a lot of shit going on in my life, you know

Like privacy wise, fucking work wise, elistment wise

There's a lot of shit going on in my fuckin life, bro

And I think I hate and love it at the same time.

That's why I feel like I'm experiencing ups and downs.

Indeed, I am a symbol of someone who either moves very fast or suddenly stops.

And the touching moments is when San said, and i'm rephrasing here, through all of his up and downs, he's just gonna stay by his side. He wont event direct him. If he took the wrong turn, then let's just go back. It's the same touching moments when during Mini Moni videos Jimin said,

Mini: For me, when Jin started his military service and you released Indigo (Dec 22), I dont know why but you looked anxious - like you were having a hard time.

Moni: Because you know me so well.

MiniL That's what I felt. Since we've known each other for so long, I knew what you were going through. But I couldnt ask you to open up about it.

Moni: but back then I didnt know what I was feeling

Mini: I expected as much, so that's why I couldnt say anything.

I think, the whole reason why hearing RPWP is heavy for my heart is because it previewed with this Mini Moni video. And that was honest, and I'm not ready for it. Like when Jimin asked, (Right People, Wrong Place) What is it about? and RM answered, "It's me." Seeing Jimin's face just breaks my heart cos you immediately think, is he talking about him and BTS? Does he felt that he was in the wrong place? And later on in the convoersation, Jimin also thinks that way. He knows the difficult path that Namjoon has to take as BTS leader... but he cant elp but think, Is he bored with us? But what can we do about it? Let's just let him explore as his heart desire.

That's why I vilianize San Yawn, cos he started this whole thing. And in some part of the documentary he also said, how he seen RM's struggle and ask him to go on this journey with him to find himself. I thought to myself, Who TF are you to "lead" and direct RM. To tell him that he is lacking, and that he needed to change. I was sooooo mad cos my heart honestly breaks for the members. And as I remember the 2022 Fiesta, the image of RM crying because he needed that second chapter to start, where the members all have their own individual projects. This is the moment I became an ARMY. So it hurt me to think back of this moment again. And my heart breaks for RM too.

This documentary is an eye opener for me. It unlocks the potential of what might happened after the military service is over. I no longer hate San Yawn. I think he's a good person. I hope RM finds the relief he couldn'f find after indigo, with RPWP.

I still have so many things on my mind about the album, about RM, about the documentary... but I have been writing this for 4 days now, and I need to get it out.

He ends it by saying "This is just a record of 2023." And with this I found my relief. Because as he enters a new "house" for RPWP, he's not closing his old ones. It's just a new lesson that he has to learn... about the world, about music and about his true self.