Is it a film or a play?

The audience watching “The Story of an Old Couple: Stage Movie” may find themselves tilting their heads in confusion when the film hits the local theaters on Wednesday.

Turns out, it’s a bit of each. The Seoul Arts Center (SAC) calls it a “stage movie” — a novel combination of a film and a play. The film is based on a theater classic, “The Story of an Old Couple” by director Wi Seong-sin, about two elderly people who fall in love and spend their remaining days together.

A majority of the film takes place on the stage, but the way it is filmed — with zoom-ins and other common camera work — is similar to a movie. Part of the film also takes place outdoors, with the passage of time implied through changing scenery, before returning to the stage when a character enters the house from the outside.

This new approach to cinema has its roots in a project by the Seoul Arts Center called “SAC On Screen," which started in 2013. The project films high-quality theatrical performances to allow online audiences to view the content. The videos were provided for residents who lack opportunities to experience performance culture, such as those living in rural regions, soldiers and underprivileged children.

After the press screening earlier this month, Seoul Arts Center CEO Yoo In-taek said that the project was launched to provide an additional means of revenue for the performing arts. The spread of the coronavirus has further driven demand for the ability to watch theatrical performances remotely.

The Korea JoongAng Daily interviewed the theatrical director Wi Seong-shin and the video director Shin Tae-yeon from the digital media and culture events department of SAC to hear all about how they envisioned the film and what possibilities they hope the film would create for the performing arts.

The following are edited excerpts.

BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]