Chapter 106:


    Chapter 106


    Choi sunbae, do you think scene 37 that were filming today will pass the broadcastingmissions review?


    The broadcastingmission was something that always bothered her when she wrote drama scripts.


    They were the ones who could clip the wings of any soaring bird.


    And the story she was writing was about Yeonsan-gun, the most tyrannical ruler of Joseon.


    His atrocities were so numerous and diverse that they were impossible to list.


    Not to mention, his cruelty recorded in unofficial histories was beyond words.


    Well make sure the scenes are not too provocative or violent in terms of sexuality and violence, but the problem is the historical verification. Im sure not only the broadcastingmission but also the general historians will have something to say. After all, this drama is not based on Yeonsan-guns diary. But if we keep making historical dramas based on history, then what are they? Dramas or documentaries?


    If the historians hear what you just said, theyll probably tear your hair out.


    Let them. And we also need to make some changes to historical dramas. If we keep pushing for orthodox historical dramas, the materials will be limited.


    He was right.


    There were already quite a few historical dramas that used the famous kings of Joseon as their subjects. And.


    History is also the record of the victors. Of course, I also think that Yeonsan-gun was a madman in hister years, but I think history doesnt reveal the reason why he became a madman.


    Didnt he go mad because he found out how his mother, Queen Yun, died?


    Do you believe that?


    ording to unofficial histories, Yeonsan-gun learned the truth from Lim Sa-hong, who gave him a bloodstained silk cloth that belonged to Queen Yun, ten years after he ascended the throne. But Writer Choi Eun-sook had a different idea. Did Yeonsan-gun really not know this fact?


    He must have, since the official records described his childhood as extraordinary.


    And even after he became king, he helped the poor, repelled the invaders, strengthened the national defense, and was very interested in the lives of the people.


    As evidence, he was recorded as a king who carried out good governance until his tenth year of reign.


    Its too suspicious that he suddenly changed because of a whim. If he had a savage nature from a young age, wouldnt the ministers who deposed Queen Yun not made him crown prince instead of watching? They would have lost their headster anyway. But he was given the throne in a situation where none of the court officials opposed. That means there must be a story that we dont know, that is not recorded in the official records. I filled in that gap with my imagination as a writer.


    Orthodox historical dramas were a setting sun.


    They were undoubtedly a great cash cow for the Korean drama industry, but it was difficult to survive in the changing times.


    That was why Choi Eun-sook chose fusion historical drama.


    Of course, most of thements were negative.


    If historical dramas didnt follow historical verification, what kind of historical dramas were they?


    Some even said that Choi Eun-sook, who was called a ratings machine, had finally gone crazy. But did they know?


    Stop chatting and check the script you wrote in a hurry again. Eun-young, youll have toe to the studio on weekends if you keep this up. If the first draft is okay, Ill let you go home early today, so hurry up. Oh my, look at her face, shes ring at me with narrow eyes. The sun is high in the sky and youre going home, you should be grateful.


    Seriously, Choi sunbae, stop joking! I came to work yesterday morning and I havent left yet, you know? Theres not much left until the finale. Cant I take a break? Its been less than two weeks since the shoot started. Just look at my working hours. Ive only seen my boyfriend a few times in thest six months. How bad is it that he asked me if I enlisted? Its all because of you, the evil boss, Choi sunbae!


    Just break up. Being single is better.


    Youre just saying that because youre single, Choi sunbae.


    Do you think Im doing this for myself? The actors dont have to worry about the script, the production team has more time to edit, and we dont have to listen to the nagging to hurry up with the script. And why do you think I dont have a boyfriend? Im already in love with writing.


    Ugh! Theres no addiction like this addiction, a print addict!


    Would there be a betterpliment for a writer? But Writer Choi Eun-sook, who was smiling, didnt know.


    The fact that her fusion historical drama Yeonsan, the Kings Secret had caused a fusion historical drama phenomenon in the Korean broadcasting industry after it aired.


    ****


    Lets start with the eyes of the butcher and tilt down to the blood flowing from his fingers in one shot.


    Director Yoo, thats like ughtering. Even if its a fake cow, its still creepy to see how the Special Effects Team made it look so alive.


    We dont need to jump the screen in the ughtering scene because of the broadcastingmissions review. Ill take care of cutting out any unnecessary images, so lets be bold. This is nothingpared to the action scenes that willeter. Well make it dim by backlighting the light at the end, so dont worry. Kim sunbae, please tilt up and do a big close-up of Young-guks eyes and mouth in thest scene.


    I get it, youre some kind of expert. But I dont know if Young-guk can handle it. I never thought Id end up filming a cow ughter scene while doing a drama.


    PD Yoo Myung-han nodded briefly and headed to the waiting room.


    There, he saw Young-guk sitting with his hair so messy that it could be called a mophead. His clothes were no better than rags made of elephant skin. If he wore a pingliangzi (a type of hat worn by low-ss people in ancient China), anyone who saw him would think he was a beggar, lower than a ve amongst the eight outcasts.


    How do you feel about going from ying a king to bing a beggar?


    I feel so grateful. I never realized how much of a blessing it was to sitfortably in the waiting room. I used to frown so much from the stress of the audition. But now that I can rx my head, my blood cirction is much better and I feel so good.


    This was a scene from the filming of Yi-yungs twin brother, Yi-gyeols childhood life.


    To the outside world, it was a fall from grace, from a king to a beggar, as PD Yoo Myung-han said. But thefort Young-guk felt on the set was indescribable.


    Living in the pce, wearing borate costumes every day, was like walking on thin ice.


    If he wrinkled his clothes or a strand of hair peeked out from under his hat, he had to go back to the makeup and costume teams for another touch-up. Compared to that, ying a beggar role was less stressful.


    By the way, arent you nervous?


    "What do I have to be nervous about? Thanks to the person you hired, I''m feeling much better. Where did you find such a teacher? He said he woulde to the set today and watch me ughter someone."


    "Majang-dong."


    PD Yoo Myung-han was a director who pursued realism.


    He had prepared a tform for Yi-gyeol, who yed the role of a beggar, to perform his role.


    Young-guk spent a good two weeks wandering around Majang-dong for this reason.


    He had to learn about drama filming and find an expert on the ughterhouse business. What was it? Wisdom is in Gamcheon. He ended up finding a Majang-dong butcher who used to be a drama extra.


    PD-nim, can I ask you something?


    You can ask me ten things.


    Ive been reading and thinking about the script. Yi-yung knew that Yi-gyeol existed from the beginning, right? And he knew that he was living as amoner. Why didnt he kill him then? He could have be a threat to his threr. I tried toe up with my own conclusion, but I wonder if you, the PD, agree with me.


    Thats something that Choi, the writer, should exin. So what do you think, Young-guk?


    Because he was lonely.


    Yi-yung knew that his twin brother Yi-gyeol was alive.


    And he knew where he was and what he was doing. Yi-yung in the script was a cold and ruthless person.


    He hid his true feelings while sharpening his sword in the court surrounded by enemies.


    Why did such a being abandon his twin brother?


    In the end, all he had left was loneliness.


    ording to the script, he would sometimes sneak out in disguise to inspect the people and look at his brother who had be a prince.


    How do you feel about appearing as a young prince for the first time today, instead of a dragon?


    Im excited and I think it will be fun. Hes apletely different character from Yi-yung.


    Hes amazing.


    He had to act as a character with a totally different personality.


    If Prince Yeonsan Yi-yung was as cold as ice, Yi-gyeol was a person with a fiery temper like a zing furnace.


    Even in that gap, the young actor Jang Young-guk was able to pull it off as if he had two personalities.


    That was why PD Yoo Myung-han was looking forward to it.


    What kind of Yi-gyeol would he show today?


    How much time had passed?


    It was only after PD Yoo had given a long list of instructions about the filming that I heard the voice of the assistant director.


    Ready to go!


    His booming voice echoed in the waiting room. At that, Young-guk with a buzz cut got up from his seat, grabbing his prop sword.


    Scene number 37, Gil-sam of Gyeolsan-gol!


    ording to the records, nine out of ten of the most heinous criminals in the eight provinces of Joseon were baekjeong and jaein.


    They were treated worse than the eight thousandmoners.


    Even when they were flogged, they had to lie on the dirt floor instead of the wooden tform.


    How miserable they must have been. Gyeolsan-gol was a small vige where such baekjeong lived.


    The reason why Yi-gyeol, the twin of King Yeonsan Yi-yung, became Gil-sam was simple.


    A baekjeong named Gil-seok from Gyeolsan-gol went up the mountain to chop some wood and found a newborn baby under a sacred tree called Sam-juk.


    He adopted him as his son.


    He had made up his mind. His eyes were fierce, not showing any hesitation. He was going to perform the ughter that he had learned from histe grandfather.


    The banner was lowered at the ughterhouse door, and he sprinkled holy water on the cow that was tied to a pir, as if he was sowing seeds.


    Therge cows eyes were filled with tears, as if it had resigned to its fate.


    He put a ghost mask on it, hoping to ease its pain for a moment. Then he recited a prayer, wishing it a rebirth in paradise.


    Even though you are a mute beast, your pain is no different from ours. May your suffering give birth topassion, and may you be reborn as a human in your next life


    It was a fake cow made by the Special Effects Team, but it looked as real as a live one.


    The cinematographer Kim Deuk-yoong was sweating profusely on his forehead, as he alternated between filming the fake cow with the ghost mask and the scenery of Young-guk.


    It was not a real ughter, but the atmosphere was solemn. And even more so.


    How ruthless.


    The eyes of Gil-sam, who was performing the ughter, were not joking.


    He swiftly stabbed the cows vital point with a short knife, ending its life. Then he chopped off its head with arge axe, called a candlestick.


    His movements were so natural that a butcher from Majang-dong, who was watching the scene from a corner of the set, secretly admired him.


    As the fake blood sttered everywhere, the staffs faces turned pale. But Gil-sam, who was standing in the center of the set, did not flinch at all.