WOODZ has expanded his musical universe into cinema.
Ahead of his first full-length album OO-LI ARCHIVE.1, the singer unveiled Slide Strum Mute, a mystery short film that visualizes the 17-track narrative of the album through a 59-minute cinematic project. Moving beyond a traditional music video, WOODZ transforms his world-building into a full immersive film experience.
From Album to Parallel World
OO-LI ARCHIVE.1 is an album WOODZ began contemplating deeply during his military service. Determined to elevate both music and visuals, he personally crafted the storyline and took on the lead role.
The film follows Jung Woojin (played by WOODZ), who covets a mysterious guitar left behind by an unknown man and becomes entangled in strange events. The story mirrors the thematic core of the upcoming album.
WOODZ revealed that the screenplay originated from a 10-page autobiographical essay he wrote about a year ago and shared with director Park Se-young. The key word connecting the album and the film is "rebellion."
"I believe I have a positive sense of rebellion," he said. "I wanted to express that competitive spirit — the feeling of 'Why can't I try this?' — through this project."
Success, Obsession, and Fictional Extremes
In the film, Woojin rises to stardom after obtaining the guitar, showcasing his talents across various genres. As his ambition intensifies, the character descends into darker choices, even committing theft and murder in pursuit of musical perfection.
WOODZ clarified that Woojin's personality is entirely different from his real self. "It's filled with bold imaginations I would never experience in reality," he explained. "You can think of him as another WOODZ living in a parallel world."
The project marks WOODZ's first acting role. He credited director Park for guiding him through the process, noting that they exchanged detailed discussions about emotional transitions — from innocence to obsession — to shape Woojin's arc.
Director Park praised WOODZ's immersion in the role, highlighting his spontaneous emotional delivery and the textured performance it created.
Looking Ahead
WOODZ expressed his desire to remain a "question mark artist" — someone intriguing and unpredictable to the public.
Describing Slide Strum Mute as a film offering strong auditory pleasure, he added that fans who have connected with his life story would find particular resonance in the narrative.
Slide Strum Mute premieres on February 26.
