Netflix Documentary: BLACKPINK: Light Up the Sky
Netflix's documentary “Light Up the Sky” may seem like a standard rise-to-fame story at first glance. However, the details hidden behind the camera reveal BLACKPINK's turning points not only on stage but also behind the scenes.
Most of the studio scenes in the documentary were filmed in Seoul shortly after the group's 2019 US debut. The scene featuring Rosé's long-awaited solo project actually symbolizes a period of serious creative disagreements within the company. YG's decision-making processes, especially when it comes to solo projects, are evident in these scenes.
Most of the archive footage used in the documentary has never been released before. Short videos from Lisa's childhood were obtained with special permission from her old dance studio in Thailand and selected by her family.
Jennie's struggles with self-confidence during her trainee period were shared directly by her for the first time in this documentary. The filming of those scenes concluded with an emotional conversation that continued long after the cameras had stopped rolling. Director Caroline Suh described Jennie's emotional outpouring that day as the “emotional center” of the documentary.
One of the most important clues about Jisoo's character was that she was the one who kept the group's spirits up when the cameras weren't around. These scenes, supported by the testimonies of the team members, show that Jisoo has leadership qualities that go far beyond her media image.
YouTube Special Series: 24/365 with BLACKPINK
“24/365 with BLACKPINK” was a YouTube series aimed at showcasing the group's lesser-known sides and directly engaging with fans. However, this series was not just an entertaining daily format but a strategically planned image management project.
The filming process for the program actually coincided with BLACKPINK's recording sessions for The Album. This means that some of the scenes where the members appear relaxed and energetic were actually filmed after intense studio marathons. In other words, the members often worked until 5 a.m. and then started filming for YouTube just a few hours later.
In one episode, the scene where Rosé tried to compose a song directly in front of the camera was one of the first times YG allowed the “creative process” to be revealed. Normally, song production processes are kept strictly confidential due to company policies.
The shopping scenes or spontaneous activities occasionally shown in the program's episodes were actually shaped around “perception themes” determined by YG's digital strategy team. Detailed meetings were held for each episode to decide on things like “which personality trait should be highlighted this week?”
During the series' broadcast, Jennie's visibility was more noticeable compared to the other members. This was due to a media strategy that coincided with the promotion of her solo brand, “Jentle Home.” In other words, the fun moments on camera were actually part of a large-scale commercial plan.
Reality Content: BLACKPINK HOUSE
“BLACKPINK HOUSE” was the group's first reality TV experience, coming shortly after their trainee period. However, despite appearing entirely genuine, the house built specifically for filming was not a real residence but a temporary set. While producers claimed it reflected the members' daily lives, the location was selected by YG and completely isolated. Even local signs were removed to prevent them from appearing on the exterior of the house.
The cooking and cleaning scenes shown on the program were mostly rehearsed beforehand. In some scenes, the members were even instructed by the producers to act as if they were trying something for the first time. Despite this, Jennie's scenes with her dog Kai and Lisa's obsessive attention to detail while organizing her belongings were completely natural. After noticing this trait of Lisa's, the production team decided to focus more on her in unscripted scenes.
Another detail that caught the attention of viewers was that some of the pictures hanging on Jisoo's wall were actually her own pencil drawings. After they were aired, these drawings were turned into collectibles that many fans digitally reproduced and sold.
Fashion Documentary Series and Special Content
BLACKPINK members have been the subject of digital content not only for their music but also for their visibility in the fashion world. However, while this content often appears to be superficial fashion promotion, it actually features key moments behind the scenes that shaped the members' branding process.
During Paris Fashion Week in 2021, Jennie's visit to the Chanel house was actually the final stage of a planned PR campaign. On that day, Jennie was not only a guest but also prepared to serve as the face of Chanel's transition from “Korean ambassador” to global brand representative. Although not visually highlighted in the videos, behind-the-scenes interviews revealed that Jennie did not merely promote products but also provided feedback on the design process.
Lisa's YouTube content with Celine, though it may appear to be just an idol's fashion show visit, was part of a special content series agreement with Celine's creative director, Hedi Slimane. Some of this content was filmed in vertical format specifically for release on YouTube or Instagram, meaning it was produced not for traditional media but to create a viral effect on social media.
In behind-the-scenes content released after Rosé's appearance on “The Tonight Show” and similar programs with Saint Laurent, Rosé worked with a styling team sent directly by the French fashion house instead of her own stylists before going on stage, which is seen as one of the first examples of her integration into global fashion protocol outside of K-pop.
Facts Not Included in Documentary Content
Some events that occurred during the filming process but were not included in the “Light Up the Sky” documentary reveal how the group's media representation was filtered. For example, during the hotel balcony scene filmed in New York, the BLACKPINK members were under extra security measures due to anti-fan attack threats at the time. However, these details were deliberately omitted from the documentary because YG wanted to keep the threat out of the media spotlight.
Additionally, some scenes of Lisa practicing in the studio were filmed the day after a serious disagreement within the group. The director attempted to soften the emotional weight of these scenes by focusing the editing on Lisa's performance. The piano Rosé is seen playing in the documentary was actually a custom-made model ordered specifically for her, and it had been brought to Seoul two weeks before the scene was filmed. The piano had become one of the most personal tools Rosé used to express herself outside of the stage, but the documentary did not mention this detail.
Little-Known Series and Collaborations on YouTube
Apart from BLACKPINK's official channel, there are some little-known collaborations with different content creators on YouTube that are rare examples of the group's different sides. Lisa's dance videos published on the Lilifilm Official channel were the first BLACKPINK-related content released without official approval from YG. This caused a brief crisis within the company because Lisa's solo dance productions had gone viral outside of the company's control.
Jisoo's short promotional film with Cartier was the brand's first Korean-language content produced exclusively for YouTube. The brand, which typically uses English subtitles, created a special global subtitle system for this content because Jisoo's Korean narration unexpectedly increased the brand's engagement rate outside of Asia.
In Rosé's “What's in My Bag” video with Vogue, a small microphone among the items in her bag was actually a portable recording device Rosé used for her own vocal recordings. After the video, fans searched for the microphone's brand, and the product sold out on social media in no time.
Jennie's vlog-style shoot with Harper's Bazaar Korea, though seemingly focused on fashion, included moments where Jennie showcased sketches from her own fashion line. The unpublished version featured more of these sketches, but they were ultimately cut from the final edit for aesthetic consistency.
Special Broadcast Projects and Behind-the-Scenes Strategies
Many of the content pieces that shaped BLACKPINK's global media presence, while seemingly entertainment-focused on the surface, were actually crafted with international marketing and target audience analysis in mind.
Although BLACKPINK – The Movie is presented as a compilation of concert footage, some scenes in the film were pre-shot footage. In particular, the members' individual confession scenes were filmed in a cinema studio in Seoul. The production team behind the camera recorded these scenes using special lenses positioned according to the group members' eye contact, aiming to create the feeling that the audience was being looked at directly.
The color palette of the concert footage used in the film underwent a Hollywood-level color grading process. Post-production was carried out by a team in Los Angeles, not in Korea. In particular, the Las Vegas scenes were reworked to create a cinematic effect by adding film grain instead of natural light.
The scene where Rosé delivers an emotional speech was actually filmed twice. After the first take, the director felt that the emotional intensity wasn't fully captured on camera and requested a reshoot. During the second take, Rosé chose to improvise her speech, which adds an authentic touch to the scene.
The scene where Jennie cries in front of the camera was filmed shortly after the group's concert in Dubai. At the time, Jennie was struggling to cope with intense criticism and was also physically exhausted. The director included this scene in the film to establish an emotional connection with the audience and to show the fragile side of the idols.
International TV Shows and Hidden Details
BLACKPINK appeared on leading US talk shows such as Jimmy Fallon, James Corden, and Stephen Colbert. However, what happened behind the scenes of these shows was often not captured on camera. During the filming of The Late Late Show with James Corden, Jennie and Rosé suggested changes to their choreography during rehearsals. A portion of the dance did not align perfectly with the American studio's space, so adjustments were made on the spot. This intervention was described by the show's dance director as “professional insight.”
The stage design used during Lisa's performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon was prepared independently of YG, based on her team's suggestions. The program's visual director proposed adding traditional motifs to the stage inspired by Lisa's Thai heritage, but this idea was simplified at the last minute. The color transitions and lighting effects seen on stage were directly inspired by Lisa's desired aesthetic.
Jisoo's brief answers during her live appearance on Good Morning America were deemed too “formal” on social media. However, during a meeting with producers prior to the broadcast, it was recommended that Jisoo respond with only memorized phrases appropriate for her English level. This prevented spontaneous conversation, and Jisoo later described the experience as “one of the most stressful live broadcasts.”
Broadcast Secrets Revealed by Fans
In addition to BLACKPINK's published content, some moments archived and analyzed by fans revealed what went on behind the scenes of the official content. Some dancers featured in Lisa's LILI's FILM series revealed in later interviews that most of the filming began after 2 a.m., and Lisa had only slept for four hours before arriving on set. This information went viral among fans, highlighting Lisa's work ethic.
In the documentary-style promotional video released after Rosé's solo debut, one of the outfits she wore was not a planned PR product. The outfit belonged to an independent Korean designer recommended by Rosé's own stylist, and after the video was released, the brand experienced an international surge in orders.
In a vlog Jennie did with Vogue Korea, the music playlist visible in the background while she was preparing coffee in the kitchen was actually made up of Jennie's solo songs that were in the demo phase at the time. Fans tried to decipher the songs' BPM values by scanning the few seconds of footage with Shazam.
Planned Spontaneity in BLACKPINK Reality Content
Although the reality shows featuring BLACKPINK appear to be natural and unplanned on the surface, most of the scenes were directed based on pre-written scripts. However, behind this scripted naturalness lie interesting micro-details. During the BLACKPINK HOUSE shootings, members, especially Jisoo, were hesitant to improvise on certain topics. The production team therefore gave her special training to “speak without making eye contact with the camera,” as Jisoo appeared too serious when making eye contact, which clashed with the show's tone.
All the “gift shopping” scenes in the program were part of pre-arranged agreements with sponsor brands. The members were strategically planned to appear as if they were “randomly entering” the store, which would reflect positively in the brand's sales reports. The glasses Lisa wore in a specific episode sold 40,000 units that day alone.
The recipes used during the cooking segments were actually created by a content consultant hired by YG, not the group. However, Jisoo deviated from the plan in one episode and described a special Korean dish her mother made at home. This scene became one of the most-watched moments on YouTube due to her natural reaction and unexpected emotionality.
Although the first episodes were filmed outside Seoul, the members returned to their own homes every night. Producers filmed scenes in the early morning hours and edited them to be ready for broadcast late at night to create the illusion of genuine “living together.” Thus, the content created a sense of togetherness not physically but through editing.
Adaptation Processes for Foreign Broadcasting Platforms
In some foreign projects featuring BLACKPINK outside of Netflix, the content format was modified to suit the group's media habits. For special promotional content created for Apple Music and YouTube Music, formats that approached the group members in a question-and-answer style were rejected by YG. Instead, short story narratives using “pre-written but sincere-sounding” sentences were preferred. Lisa's fluency in English was deliberately highlighted in this format.
Content trials were conducted in 2022 for a BLACKPINK project planned for Disney+ but not yet released. Part of the filming took place in Bangkok for Lisa, and the other part in Los Angeles for Rosé.
However, the project was put on hold due to the group members appearing “extremely tired” in the content. Disney decided that the content was “too gray and serious” and requested a restructuring.
Never asking BLACKPINK members about “politics, religion, or social issues” on overseas talk shows was part of YG's official media guidelines. This rule was strictly adhered to in programs made after 2020. A producer wanted to add a “question about LGBT+ representation” to an interview prepared for The Late Late Show with James Corden, but the suggestion was rejected by the company with the note that it “crosses the brand line.”
Behind-the-Scenes Fan Interactions and Unseen Moments
Some events that did not appear in BLACKPINK's official content but took place in the event areas or backstage were later revealed through leaked videos or testimonies on social media. After the 2022 Coachella performance, Rosé stated that she wanted to be alone for about 15 minutes before going on stage. At that time, only the sound technician was permitted to be in the room. This was part of her pre-performance ritual but was not included in any content.
While serving as a mentor on the show Youth With You, Lisa kept personal notes off-camera. Most contestants never saw these notes, but Lisa's feedback was later archived by the production team under the title “Lisa's Journal.” Among these notes were morale-boosting letters for some contestants, but they were never made public.
After attending a Dior fashion show in Paris, Jisoo refused to speak to the media. Instead, she told the content team that she did not want to speak on camera and only participated in video shoots with facial expressions. However, this was portrayed by Dior as “Jisoo's cool attitude.” During a broadcast recording featuring Jennie for her SOLO promotional period, the shoot was cut short due to health issues. This incident did not make it to the press, but the fatigue on Jennie's face was noticed by attentive fans and went viral in content released online the same day.
Concert Documentaries and Visual Manipulations
BLACKPINK's concert-based content was not limited to stage shows; the planning, camera techniques, and aesthetic decisions behind these performances also greatly influenced the content's editing. The online concert broadcast BLACKPINK: The Show was not just an event brought to life under pandemic conditions. It was also a test of how the group's stage presence could be made to feel “physical” without being physical. The cameras used for this broadcast were positioned at lower angles than in normal concerts because the aim was to make the audience feel as if they were on stage.
The background videos used in the solo scenes of “The Show” were based on short scripts written specifically for each member. For example, the ruined city theme in Rosé's scene was created to convey her “ruins of love” feeling. This idea was suggested by a French visual director and was initially considered for Jennie but deemed more suitable for Rosé's scene.
Some of the moments featuring Jennie on stage were specially processed with a “light blur” filter before being aired. The reason was to conceal the traces of temporary skin irritation on Jennie's face that were barely noticeable to the naked eye. This was noted in the production notes as “aesthetic retouching that would not overshadow the performance.”
The adjustment of the laser effects used in Lisa's performance continued until 4 a.m. on the day of the performance. An AI-powered lighting control system was used to make the effects appear to “breathe in sync” with Lisa's dance. This system was used for the first time in K-pop performances for BLACKPINK.
Silent Messages and Subtext in Documentary Content
Some small details that appear in official content but are not given much attention actually provide valuable clues to understanding BLACKPINK's image policy and creative control processes. In the office scenes of the Light Up the Sky documentary, a page from Rosé's notebook on her desk read, “Let me breathe on my own.” Although the image lasted only two seconds, fans speculated that the note reflected Rosé's feelings of being trapped in the music industry.
Jennie's reactions while watching her own archive videos in the documentary were actually filmed by a second camera. Unlike the aired version, in that scene, Jennie said several times that she “couldn't stand hearing her own voice.” These confessions were cut from the final edit because the director aimed for “an empowering narrative rather than self-criticism.”
In the documentary, some emotional lines from a phone call with Lisa's mother were muted. The reason was that private details about her family's past in Thailand were inadvertently recorded. Lisa requested the scenes be edited before they were aired.
Although the decision not to use Jisoo's childhood footage in the documentary was explained as “no material available,” the real reason was different. Jisoo's family withdrew their permission for publication due to concerns that footage related to a tragic event from their past could be manipulated. As a result, scenes related to Jisoo's past were limited to verbal memories.
International Distribution and Censorship Facts
BLACKPINK documentaries and reality content were not presented in the same way in every country where they were released. Some content was quietly censored or re-edited by distributors in accordance with local regulations and platform policies. In the Chinese version of the documentary Light Up the Sky, the scene of Lisa with the Thai flag was cut. This scene was removed due to regional sensitivities, and the version released in that country was 4 minutes shorter.
In the Indian version of Netflix, Jennie's meditation scene before her first appearance was blurred. This was because her upper body was briefly visible during the scene, which conflicted with the platform's local family viewing standards. In some Middle Eastern countries, the background visuals in Rosé's scene were altered to a more “neutral” design. The “burning angel statue” visual from the original video was removed before distribution as it was interpreted as a reference to religious symbols.
Some episodes of the 24/365 series on YouTube were aired with muted music in European Union countries due to copyright restrictions. YG claimed it was unaware of the situation and filed an appeal with YouTube, but the changes were not reversed.
Production Team Interventions and Crisis Moments in BLACKPINK Broadcasts
Content featuring BLACKPINK did not always proceed smoothly. Technical issues, members' physical or emotional limits, and the company's control over content led to significant interventions behind the scenes. During the filming of BLACKPINK HOUSE, Lisa did not appear in several scenes due to stomach discomfort she experienced before the shoot. However, this absence was glossed over by the producers with a subtitle like “Lisa is currently shopping.” Such interventions allowed the program to continue without giving viewers any sense of disruption.
A scene where Rosé played the guitar in a 24/365 episode was not originally planned for that day. Rosé began playing instinctively during camera setup, and the scene was added to the shooting schedule afterward. However, the version aired included an edited audio track because Rosé's guitar strings were partially out of tune that day.
The choreography Jennie used in her performance of “The Show” was changed at the last minute on the day of the broadcast. Due to back pain she experienced during rehearsals, some parts of the dance were simplified. However, this simplification was visually concealed through camera angles and lighting. As a result, viewers were presented with a more refined version of the original scene.
Jisoo began crying when she hugged Rosé during a reality show scene, but this scene was not aired. This was because Jisoo's state of mind at that moment was related to a loss she had experienced in her personal life. The producers decided that the emotion did not fit with the overall tone of the program and quietly removed this part. However, the behind-the-scenes crew noted this moment as “one of the most emotional moments for the team.”
Fan-Interactive Broadcast Formats and Manipulation Techniques
Although BLACKPINK's YouTube content gives the impression of being shaped directly by fan reactions, a significant portion of this interaction is guided by data analysis. Decisions on the order in which the 24/365 episodes would be released were made by YG's digital media team based on social media data. Each week, the member who was most talked about on Instagram and Twitter was placed at the center of the next episode. This system was managed not by a content calendar but by interaction analytics.
The most attention-grabbing words and emoji groups in the comments were secretly incorporated into the scripts of subsequent episodes. For example, the emojis 🐱 and 💃, frequently used for Lisa, were included in the video titles or graphic effects of the next episode. This was a micro-strategy implemented to reinforce the perception of “fan-driven content.” During videos aired on YouTube's Premiere feature, YG's digital marketing team occasionally intervened in the live chat section using fake users. These users were tasked with writing positive comments about the content to “boost” the chat flow and suppress any potential negative reactions.
During one of Jennie's YouTube VLive sessions, when a viewer asked, “Will BLACKPINK disband soon?” the broadcast froze for a few seconds. This technical glitch was later revealed to be caused by an automatic keyword filter system integrated into YG's live streams. This filter triggers a broadcast interruption when certain keywords are detected.
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Artificial Behavior Optimized for the YouTube Algorithm
Much of BLACKPINK's digital content was deliberately structured to get more exposure on the YouTube algorithm. Some scenes that appear natural were designed to increase watch time and return rates. Members laughing or physically interacting with each other in the first 15 seconds of each episode were identified by content experts as “high-engagement trigger behaviors.” These behaviors encouraged viewers to continue watching without pausing the content.
Lisa's frequent use of short English sentences on camera was not only to showcase her language proficiency but also to increase the “understandable content” score in YouTube's US-centric algorithm. As a result, Lisa was tasked with “summarizing the topic with short English sentences to tie the episode together” during filming.
Rosé's monologues, in which she often criticized herself but used a humble tone, were among the behaviors that generated high click rates in terms of connecting with the audience. This structure was consciously intensified because it yielded positive results in YouTube's “Empathy Reaction” analysis.
Conscious Management of Dynamics Between Members in BLACKPINK Content
In BLACKPINK's documentary and reality content, the relationships between members are mostly portrayed as sincere and supportive. However, in some episodes, these relationships are consciously emphasized or downplayed depending on the content flow. In the 24/365 series, scenes featuring Jennie and Jisoo were planned more extensively at the beginning of the production process. However, after the first two episodes, the producers noticed that Lisa and Rosé's interactions were generating more interest based on social media reactions. As a result, scene durations were rebalanced in subsequent episodes, and “duo” moments were adjusted.
In one episode, the laughter during Jennie and Rosé's cooking scene was portrayed as a natural moment for the audience. However, the scene was reshot several times due to a minor disagreement before the camera rolled. While the laughter was genuine in the final take, it was preceded by a stressful reshoot process.
Jisoo's energetic scenes with Lisa in the BLACKPINK HOUSE episodes were intentionally highlighted to convey a sense of “equal sisterhood” despite the age difference between the members. Moments where Jisoo appeared more serious were edited out during post-production. These interventions, aimed at maintaining a light-hearted tone, were particularly requested by global marketing executives.
Rosé's statements about feeling lonely in the documentary were placed in scenes that did not overlap with any of the other members. This choice was made to frame her internal struggles individually and support her image as someone “ready for a solo journey.” In other words, the editing was designed to support individual brand building without questioning the group's unity.
Edits Made Based on Social Media Reactions
In BLACKPINK's content, social media reactions from fans directly affected not only promotional campaigns but also the structure of the content itself. After Jennie's dance performance was criticized following The Show concert broadcast, the camera angles were changed in the official stage version uploaded to YouTube. The close-ups that were prominent in the original live broadcast were replaced with more general shots in the official upload. This was done to minimize negative interactions directed at Jennie.
After fans commented that the camera angle used in one of Lisa's YouTube dance videos made her look “aesthetically weak,” wide-angle vlog lenses were used instead of cinema cameras in subsequent shoots for LILI's Film. This change was made to make the content appear more “close and intimate.”
In an episode of 24/365, Jennie appeared overly quiet, leading to comments that she seemed “unmotivated.” However, behind-the-scenes footage revealed that Jennie was actually high-energy on the day of filming. The quiet scenes were chosen because Rosé was the focus of that episode. Following the backlash, the broadcast was edited to give Jennie more screen time.
After the documentary's release, Jisoo was criticized for not appearing enough, so a version that was two minutes longer than the one shown on Netflix was released in some countries. This version included a short narration about Jisoo's creative process behind the camera.
Distribution Rights and Secret Negotiations for Broadcast Content
The broadcast of BLACKPINK content on international platforms has not always been the result of direct agreements. Behind the scenes, lengthy licensing negotiations took place for some content to be broadcast, and these processes affected the fate of the content. The documentary Light Up the Sky was actually first proposed to Amazon Prime Video, not Netflix. However, Amazon requested more “dramatic breaks” in the content, so YG withdrew the project. Netflix was preferred because it offered a simpler and more aesthetic approach.
Although The Show live concert broadcast appeared to be on the YouTube Music platform, it was actually the result of a special agreement with YouTube Premium. According to the terms of the agreement, the concert was to be available for viewing only on YouTube for one year. For this reason, the content could not be transferred to other platforms.
There was a short bidding process in 2021 for the BLACKPINK HOUSE series to be broadcast on Disney+. However, the bid was rejected because the content was considered “too local” and not in line with global Disney policies. Disney wanted BLACKPINK's content to have more of a “Marvel-style narrative aesthetic.”