Competing on Netflix’s “Squid Game: The Challenge” is an intense experience.
Just ask Jesse Ogle, musician, co-founder and co-director of Durango’s iAM Music. And Player 058 on the show.
Ogle can be seen on season two of “Squid Game: The Challenge,” which started streaming Tuesday on Netflix.
“Squid Game: The Challenge,” is a reality show based on the South Korean show “Squid Game,” which first aired on Netflix in 2021, and now has three seasons. It was created, written and directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk. In the series, contestants compete for a massive cash prize by playing children’s games. The catch? Those who lose each challenge are killed, and the last contestant standing (or in this case, alive) wins the purse.
The reality version is pretty much the same, except, fortunately for Ogle and the 455 other contestants, instead of being taken off set in a coffin and immediately cremated like in the series, the reality show’s contestants are simply loaded into a van, taken back to their hotel and then to the airport, where they are sent home from the London location.
And the last contestant gets to go home with $4.56 million. Those who don’t win just get to go home. They don’t even get to keep their green track suits, he said.
Ogle said the application process itself was intense: After sending in a video and application, the ensuing process to actually get on set took about six months. Out of about 180,000 applications, 456 people were chosen for the show, he said.
“They want to really make sure everyone’s the right fit, you do psychological evaluations, all that stuff. You have to be able to speak to a camera very clearly,” he said. “I’m in the show, all over the show. I’m not a feature. They pick about 10 people that they’re going to focus all their energy on, because they have to build a star up, or a character. I’m involved in lots of scenes, I’m on screen, but I’m not the star character or anything like that.”
A love of games – and a unique biography – are what drew Ogle to apply for the game. He said he actually watched the reality show before the original series – which was probably a good idea, considering.
“I have a really unique story, and they want to pick people that stand out in some way, or have some story,” he said. “My thing is I grew up on a farm or a ranch in the middle of nowhere Arizona, and I grew up on an off the grid biodynamic farm. Then my house burned down when I was 4 years old. I ended up becoming a musician and starting up these music schools and touring all over, really I have toured all over the world with Hello Dollface. And so it was just a compelling story. We have this artist, we have this musician, we have this nonprofit person. He also comes from this unique childhood background of sustainability and things like that.”
The filming took about three weeks, beginning in late August and September 2024 in London. As soon as contestants land in London, they’re in the game.
“It’s just like the movie. You’re in these dorms, and you’re sleeping with everybody, and the music goes on, and they wake you up and it’s wild,” Ogle said.
He said the day-to-day routine is exactly like the series.
“You get woken up with the music, and then you brush your teeth, go to the bathroom. They bring out food, which is oatmeal, and that’s it. There’s no flavoring, nothing. It’s like, here you go, here’s oatmeal,” he said. “You can have it if you want it. Some people didn’t even eat it. There’s a lot of waiting around, and then the games begin. And then you’re walking the staircases, and then you’re in it.”
Because this is still a TV show, Ogle said there is room left for the crew – sometimes, contestants would have to walk up the long set of stairs multiple times in order for the crew to get the shot.
“And it’s massive: These sets are like, three stories high,” he said. “It’s a wild experience. These sets are huge, and the artwork is insane. ... You don’t know what time of day it is, and they really, really mess with you. You only get 10 minutes outside a day. You’re literally in prison.”
Because there are so many contestants living in such close quarters, he said it was natural to form friendships.
“You make friends. You get close with these people,” he said. “It’s crazy, because you’re just talking, you have a lot of time to get to know people. And everything is on camera; you’re on camera all the time. There’s not a second you’re not on camera.”
We won’t spoil what happens to Ogle in “Squid Game: The Challenge” – stream it on Netflix, or catch his viewing party at 7 p.m. Friday at iAM MUSIC, 1315 Main Ave., No. 207. RSVP to https://tinyurl.com/5hb45tph.
Now that he’s back stateside, one of the things Ogle would like to do is start a podcast about the experience just for fun.
“I’m going to interview all the players from the season, and that’ll go on YouTube, that’ll go on social media,” he said. “There’ll be some really fun stuff because of my relationship with a lot of players. I’ve already talked to one, and we’re going to do a meet up and do a podcast.”
And the big question: Knowing what he knows now, would Ogle go back for more?
“I would totally do it again. Absolutely,” he said. “You know, it’s not for everybody; you have to have a very strong constitution, and you cannot break under pressure. But the money is so good, right? It’s like, ‘Hey, would you want a chance to win $4.56 million and change your life forever, you know?’ Hell yeah, I’m in.”
katie@durangoherald.com
