Free Web Novel“Director, I’m not quite sure what you were concerned about.”
Later that day, Director Son and Bae Geohyeong were talking in the meeting room after the reading.
Bae Geohyeong was a veteran actor in his mid-forties and a longtime student of Director Son. He had been greatly impressed by the performance of the rookie actor who would be playing the role of Lee Bang-won.
“During the reading, his focus and tension never wavered. I understand that acting on set is different, but what’s there to worry about when he has that level of concentration and skill?”
“You’re right. After seeing him today, I think I might have been overly cautious. It’s rare to find someone so suited to the role, and I guess I got a bit carried away since it’s my last film.”
“Are you really planning to retire after this project?”
“Haha, so you knew about my retirement and still accepted the role. Well, it’s time to step back and make room for the younger generation.”
“But Director, nobody makes films the way you do.”
Director Son laughed heartily at the response. Just then,
Knock knock
There was a gentle knock at the door.
“Come in,” Director Son called out.
The door opened, revealing the very actor they had been discussing.
“Rookie actor? You haven’t left yet? What can I do for you?”
“Director, I have a request.”
“What is it?”
“I heard I won’t have much filming during the first month. Is that right?”
“Yes, that’s right. During Jeong Mong-joo’s younger years, Lee Bang-won will be played by a child actor. The scenes where Jeong Mong-joo and Lee Bang-won share tea and have conversations are spread throughout the runtime, but most of them will be shot toward the end.”
“I know you said I should come to the set even on days when I’m not filming, but...”
“You don’t have to if you’re busy. After today’s reading, I think I might have been overly sensitive.”
“No, it’s not that. I was wondering if you could hire me as an extra in the meantime.”
“An extra?”
Both Director Son and the veteran actor were taken aback.
A lead actor working as an extra was an unusual request.
“I mean, not an extra whose face is recognizable, but more like a passerby in crowd scenes. Historical dramas often need a lot of extras, so I thought it might be okay.”
“Why would you want to do that?”
“I thought it might help me get a better feel for the nonverbal aspects of acting, like what you told me about.”
Director Son looked at him, amazed by his passion and unconventional approach to practice.
“Hmm... will being an extra really help you practice?”
“I’m not sure either, but I want to try practicing how to project my presence within limited reactions.”
“Hmm... that’s an interesting idea.” fгeewebnovёl.com
“But I’m worried that standing out as an extra might cause a disturbance...”
“Haha!”
Director Son burst into laughter.
“You’re not planning to do anything exaggerated, are you?”
“No, nothing like that. I just want to focus and follow along with the scenes.”
“If you manage to stand out in crowd scenes purely through your presence and without any exaggerated actions, then that’s not a nuisance. It’s something commendable.”
“That’s true.”
“Alright, let’s do it!”
Director Son couldn’t refuse the actor’s request when he was filled with such passion for acting. After Yoomyeong left, the veteran actor smiled.
“What an impressive guy. I wish my Hun Seong could learn a bit from him.”
His son had also recently debuted as an actor. He wished his somewhat lackadaisical son would take after Yoomyeong.
“It seems we have someone even more ambitious about acting than I was.”
Director Son smiled warmly.
“But Director, do you really think this method will work?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure. But as you know, Bae, if he doesn’t try what he wants to do, then he’ll always regret it.”
“Ah... I understand.”
“Plus, his unique approach might be the reason his acting skills are so impressive at such a young age. There’s no harm in trying. It’s not like there’s anything to lose, anyway.”
“That makes sense.”
The veteran actor nodded and looked at the door the young actor had exited through, anticipating his growth.
Although Yoomyeong had joined last and pre-production had already been underway for six months, the crank-in date was finally set for mid-April, two weeks later than originally planned.
“Please raise your arms. Spread them to the sides at a ninety-degree angle, like this.”
This was Yoomyeong’s first time being fitted for traditional Korean attire.
He wasn’t just getting one set of clothes, but several: official robes, envoy attire, everyday clothes, and mourning garments.
Hansung laughed at Yoomyeong as he awkwardly assumed the requested pose, a relieved smile on his face after finishing his own fitting.
Meanwhile, the art director and the head of the costume team were busily discussing things.
“For visual contrast on screen, shouldn’t we stick to the original plan of using blue and red? A cool blue tone for the rational Jeong Mong-joo and a bold red tone for the ambitious Lee Bang-won.”
“That’s what I thought at first too. But the director wants to portray them as similar characters. What if we use different shades of blue instead? A bright blue for Lee Bang-won, and a more sophisticated blue ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) with hints of purple for Jeong Mong-joo?”
“But wouldn’t that make the screen feel too blue?”
“That’s why we’re thinking of using red for the sets and props. A bloody red, like splattered blood.”
“Hmm...”
“A tense standoff between two shades of blue, surrounded by ominous red... doesn’t it sound nice?”
“It sounds good, but it won’t be easy to get the exact shades we’re imagining. Let’s discuss it with the director later.”
Yoomyeong listened intently to the staff’s enthusiastic discussion.
After getting measured for his costume, Yoomyeong moved to the archery center.
This was because there was a scene where Lee Bang-won and Jeong Mong-joo, both scholars and warriors, shot arrows at an archery range.
“The principles of archery posture are to be neither too stiff nor too relaxed, and to maintain an empty chest and full belly. Your feet should be positioned somewhere between straight and angled, with your chest relaxed and your abdomen tensed.”
While he didn’t need to excel at archery, his posture had to look natural, as though he had trained in martial arts his entire life.
Yoomyeong consistently took archery lessons two to three times a week, and the soreness in his arms from pulling the heavy bowstring became part of his daily life.
The day he first learned horseback riding, even his instructor was surprised.
“Are you the son of a wealthy family?”
“What? Why do you ask?”
“I was told to teach you because you’re a rookie actor who had never acted in a historical drama before... so how do you already know how to ride a horse?”
I did a few extra roles in historical dramas when I was in graduate school before, Yoomyeong thought to himself with an awkward smile.
Despite his busy schedule, he consistently practiced the script with Hansung whenever he had spare time.
Time flew by quickly.
News quickly spread that the rookie actor who had risen to stardom through his role as Yoon Bohyung in Showbiz Studies had joined Director Son Chi-wook’s film.
Successfully completing the full script reading was an experience in itself, as was seeing the bright-eyed six- and twelve-year-olds who would play the younger versions of his character.
As photos from the reading day were released as promotional material, congratulatory and encouraging messages poured in.
Finally, in mid-April, the day of the crank-in arrived.
“I hope this becomes a huge hit. Let’s aim for ten million viewers!”
“Does anyone have cash? Ah, I forgot to bring money.”
The first filming location was the Mungyeongsaejae Open Set.
Built in Mungyeong in 2000, this set represented the Goryeo Dynasty and was the largest historical drama set in Korea, featuring two royal palaces, forty-two tiled houses, forty straw-roofed houses, and thirteen additional buildings.
The filming of <The Late Goryeo Dynasty & the Early Joseon Dynasty> would take place mostly in Mungyeong, with additional shoots at beautiful traditional houses and gardens around the country.
“Wow, this is something new...”
Yoomyeong, who had grown used to unfamiliar landscapes after his return—places where highways that once existed had vanished, or where giant landmarks had yet to be built—found the scenery of the set strikingly fresh and unfamiliar.
In 2008, the Mungyeongsaejae Open Set had been demolished and rebuilt as a Joseon Dynasty set, which was the only version Yoomyeong had ever seen.
The landscape, transformed within his familiar geographical memory, gave him a strangely eerie feeling. It made the incredible power Miho wielded—the power to turn back time—feel even more real.
{Ah, kyung~ It was changed into a Joseon Dynasty set. I was thinking about that.}
“Yeah... I understand how significant your accomplishment was.”
Miho narrowed her eyes with a smug smile, then playfully tugged at the extra’s costume Yoomyeong was wearing.
{But are you really going to do this? It seems like a pointless struggle.}
“There are people who recognize my lack of presence. Now that I’m aware of it, I have to at least try to overcome it.”
{Hmm... But remember, there’s an easier way called making a deal with me. Struggling like this won’t necessarily increase your presence.}
“I know. But I want to practice projecting the presence I already have.”
{Projecting, kyung?}
“Yes, it’s something I constantly did in my previous life.”
Back when he felt overshadowed by others, and when even moving his limbs while acting had felt heavy, he had always thought about projecting the limited energy he possessed at the time.
Back then, he had hoped to project his current energy more firmly in order to assert his existence.
This was the direction of practice Yoomyeong had in mind.
{Hmm. Will it work, though? If it doesn’t, just remember there’s another way, kyung~}
Miho habitually suggested an alternative before blurring and disappearing.
The first scene to be filmed was set at Sungkyunkwan Academy in 1367, when Jeong Mong-joo was a renowned professor there.
That year, the year Lee Bang-won was born, Jeong Mong-joo was already renowned as the country’s leading Confucian scholar. Yoomyeong’s role was that of a student listening to Jeong Mong-joo’s lecture, positioned so that only his back would be captured by the front and side cameras.
Sitting there, Yoomyeong visualized his character.
I am currently a passionate young Confucian scholar around twenty years old, and someone who greatly admires Jeong Mong-joo.
Yoomyeong sat upright in his seat and gazed intently at the ancient scripture written in an unfamiliar script, doing his best to project a strong presence.
{Hoo...}
Miho, watching the waves of presence and energy rippling around Yoomyeong, was genuinely impressed.
Though it wasn’t comparable to his actual acting, his presence was far more noticeable than before.
How much of his energy can he really control? It’s an interesting attempt for a human.
Miho chuckled as she pulled out popcorn and watched with amusement.
Thanks to the impeccable performances of the cast, filming progressed smoothly under Director Son’s meticulous direction.
And Yoomyeong gained experience portraying a wide variety of roles within a short period:
A member of the group of officials prostrating themselves in the palace.
One of the young Confucian scholars submitting a proposal for diplomatic relations with Ming.
An onlooker standing in line when Jeong Mong-joo visited Ming.
One of the monks who requested a poem from Jeong Mong-joo in Japan.
The energy within the crowd scenes was intense.
Being surrounded by densely packed people brought back memories of his past life, when his movements had felt heavy under the oppressive energy of others.
During scenes involving large, powerful groups, Yoomyeong practiced projecting his presence by pushing against the dense energy surrounding him.
After focusing intensely and finishing his acting, he would often end up drenched in sweat.
“Yoomyeong, come here.”
Even amid all this, his one-on-one sessions with Director Son continued every day.
During breaks, the director would call Yoomyeong over for passionate acting guidance.
While Director Son was generally satisfied with his acting, he often urged him to be more intense in shots where Lee Bang-won appeared at the edge of the frame.
A month passed like that.
Miho watched the growing ripples of Yoomyeong’s presence with some astonishment.
Of course, the spirit fox’s astonishment was closer to the amusement of watching an entertaining trick.
That was, until that day arrived.
