Chapter 19: The Aquarium and the Sea (4)
Chapter 19: The Aquarium and the Sea (4)
Yoon Jong-hyuk, who played Grand Prince Jo Young—the primary antagonist of The Moon That Hides the Sun—stole a quick glance to his side. He was concerned about Jung Eun-seon, the actress playing Queen Dowager Eunhye.
Though Yoon Jong-hyuk was a veteran himself, with a long career in various dramas, his experience paled in comparison to Jung Eun-seon’s. Having worked with her on several projects over the years, he could tell just by looking at her that she was currently in a foul mood.
“I’ve never seen you so worked up before, Ma’am.”
He had intended to lighten the atmosphere, but he flinched when Jung Eun-seon shot him a razor-sharp glare.
“I mean, come on, let’s try to keep things civil this time. She’s just a child actor, for heaven’s sake… You have a way of making even the simplest words sound like a curse. In this day and age, talk like that will land you right on the evening news.”
“……I am aware.”
Aware, my foot. Yoon Jong-hyuk’s lips twitched as he considered pushing further, but he decided against it. She wasn't the type to listen anyway.
She’s not a bad person, but still.
In Yoon Jong-hyuk’s eyes, Jung Eun-seon was a dogmatic woman. When he had heard about the previous incident, he had practically slapped his own forehead in disbelief. He didn't need to have been there to know what the atmosphere on set must have been like.
As an experienced actor, he knew exactly how much weight a senior actor’s words carried on a set. To say such things to a six-year-old child in front of everyone…
Maybe she was truly that worried, or maybe she just felt like speaking her mind.
It was the stubbornness of the old guard. Such behavior had been common on film sets in the old days. Criticizing someone in front of others was a way to apply maximum pressure. He understood she might have been concerned, but her methods were undeniably harsh.
“She really needs to do something about that foul temper of hers, tsk.”
He muttered it under his breath, but Jung Eun-seon clearly heard him, as she glared at him with terrifying intensity. Yoon Jong-hyuk simply felt a wave of relief that his own wife didn't share her personality.
“Alright, we’ll be starting the shoot shortly!”
Gong Jeong-tae’s voice rang out.
The scene they were filming today was S#24. It depicted Grand Prince Jo Young instigating a coup, deposing the current King, and seizing the throne for himself. Following the coup, the deposed King would be sent into exile, and his daughter, Princess Yeonhwa, would be sent far away.
In this scene, Princess Yeonhwa visits Queen Dowager Eunhye to plead her father’s innocence and vent her fury at Grand Prince Jo Young’s treason. However, while she is speaking to the Queen Dowager, the Grand Prince storms into the chambers and drags the Princess out. Afterward, Princess Yeonhwa leaves the palace with a few remaining servants.
“The Queen Dowager’s chambers can be quite dark, so the placement of the reflectors is crucial. Move them a bit more!”
The sequence where Grand Prince Jo Young leads his troops toward the Queen Dowager’s quarters was to be filmed as a long take. As the main villain of The Moon That Hides the Sun, he needed to make a powerful impact. Furthermore, since he was bursting into the private chambers, the lighting had to be meticulously managed.
“Actor Yoon Jong-hyuk, as we discussed, you need to glare at Princess Yeonhwa as fiercely as possible.”
“I can certainly do that, but are you sure? With a face like mine, I might actually traumatize the kid.”
When Yoon Jong-hyuk made the sly remark, several staff members burst out laughing. It was true—Yoon Jong-hyuk had a naturally intimidating appearance. He had piercing eyes, deep-set wrinkles, and a sharp, angular jawline that gave him a ruggedly handsome but stern look.
However, once he began acting, his expressions, the intensity in his eyes, and the set of his mouth commanded an immense presence. Having played villains in countless dramas and movies, his acting was enough to make even seasoned actors feel pressured, let alone a child.
“It’s fine. In fact, I need you to give it your all. We have to clearly establish what kind of man Grand Prince Jo Young is in this episode. Otherwise…”
“Otherwise?”
“If you hold back just because she’s a child, I’m afraid the character of Grand Prince Jo Young might end up being overshadowed.”
At Director Gong Jeong-tae’s words, Yoon Jong-hyuk’s gaze shifted. His expression seemed to say, ‘Oh, really?’ Even if that wasn't his intent, his features naturally projected that kind of aura.
“Oh, come on, Director. No matter how good she is, Seo-yeon is only six years old…”
“She’s seven now, actually.”
“Ah, is that so?”
The surrounding staff members let out small groans at the Director’s comment. They thought he was being overly dramatic. If one were to translate the subtext of Gong Jeong-tae’s words, it was essentially:
‘If you don’t bring your A-game, she’s going to eat you alive.’
To have one’s presence eclipsed by a co-star was the ultimate humiliation for an actor. It was an admission that the other person’s acting was superior. And to suggest this could happen with a mere six-year-old?
Yoon Jong-hyuk figured the Director was just trying to provoke him to ensure he didn't hold back. After all, his opponent was a young child. Especially given the recent incident with Jung Eun-seon, the Director probably worried he might try to be ‘considerate.’
Furthermore…
Director Gong Jeong-tae isn't the type to make empty boasts.
Gong Jeong-tae was a young director, only in his mid-thirties. One could argue he was a bit young to be helming such a large-scale historical drama. However, The Moon That Hides the Sun was a fictional period piece aimed at a younger demographic, which likely explained his appointment.
Regardless, Gong Jeong-tae’s career proved his talent. He also had a great reputation among actors for being very attentive to those around him.
The kid must really be something special.
Yoon Jong-hyuk caught the drift. He briefly thought of Jung Eun-seon, but then shrugged it off.
“Well, alright then. But don’t blame me if the kid starts crying.”
An actor’s job was to speak through their performance.
*
Scene Number S#24.
This was the scene that would close out Episode 2, serving as the drama’s major turning point. In the past life Seo-yeon remembered, this scene had been moved to the beginning of Episode 2. Specifically, the child actor portion, which was originally three episodes long, had been cut down to two.
That was likely because Jo Seo-hee’s acting hadn't met Gong Jeong-tae’s expectations.
Which means I can’t rely on the performance from the ‘original’ version I know.
Jo Seo-hee’s acting was no longer a reference point. In truth, Seo-yeon hadn't considered S#24 to be a particularly vital scene. The version she saw in her past life at the start of Episode 2 was decent, but it hadn't left a lasting impact. Her only vivid memory was the intense impression Grand Prince Jo Young made during the long take.
Thus, she had viewed it as a minor scene—at least for Princess Yeonhwa.
But this is actually the moment that triggers the Princess’s transformation.
In Episode 1, Princess Yeonhwa was a free spirit. She was a girl who would sneak out of the palace to mingle with the commoners. But by Episode 2, she had to become a ‘Princess.’ Her father and her entire family were being destroyed by the coup. She had to properly convey that burgeoning hatred. She had to show a level of shock that would alter the course of a child’s life.
In a way, this scene was even more important than Episode 3, where the child actors’ roles would conclude.
“Seo-yeon.”
Before the cameras rolled, Sua took Seo-yeon’s hand firmly. Sua knew how hard Seo-yeon had been practicing. Out of the two scenes Seo-yeon had focused on, this was one of them.
“…Don’t push yourself too hard.”
“I won’t.”
Sua, who had been struggling to find the right words, simply pulled Seo-yeon into a tight hug. She was worried for many reasons, but this was what her daughter wanted. As a mother, all she could do was offer her support.
“Go get ’em!”
Sua patted her back, and Seo-yeon gave her a bright grin. Sua stared blankly for a moment at her daughter’s uncharacteristically confident smile before smiling back.
“I believe everyone knows how important this scene is.”
Gong Jeong-tae spoke as he stood by the camera, scanning the set. The faces of the staff members were more serious than usual.
“Lighting is key. Move immediately upon my signal.”
He gave instructions for the upcoming sequence.
“Camera director, rather than wide shots, please adjust the framing to capture the emotions as clearly as possible depending on the situation.”
“Understood.”
Gong Jeong-tae then turned his gaze toward the actors.
“Actress Jung Eun-seon, your complex state of mind needs to be evident. Your feelings toward your son, Grand Prince Jo Young, and your granddaughter, Princess Yeonhwa.”
“I know.”
“And… no, never mind. I trust you’ll do a great job, Ma’am.”
“……?”
She gave him a questioning look, but Gong Jeong-tae didn't elaborate. Despite the previous friction with Jung Eun-seon, she was an actress—a character actress, at that. Once she saw it for herself, she would never repeat the things she said last time.
“Alright, cueing up.”
The sound of the camera moving filled the air. Everyone’s eyes shifted between Yoon Jong-hyuk and Seo-yeon. They were the two most important figures in this scene. Neither had been given specific acting directions. This meant they had already discussed everything beforehand.
“And… Action!!”
At Director Gong Jeong-tae’s shout, the performance began.
*
==
Late at night.
The palace, which should have been silent, was in an uproar.
Flames erupted. Men carrying torches roamed the grounds, shouting boisterously. The harsh sound of footsteps and the unsheathing of swords echoed through the air.
Screams rang out. It was impossible to tell if they belonged to court ladies or someone else.
Princess Yeonhwa, Lee Hye-wol, ran to avoid their eyes. If she were caught now, she would surely be dragged away. She would be cast out from the palace, her only home.
She sought the one person who could stop this. There was only one person the young Hye-wol could think of. Moving her small feet as fast as she could, she finally reached her destination.
「Your Majesty!!」
Hye-wol’s scream-like cry drew the attention of Queen Dowager Eunhye, who had been sitting quietly by the light of a small lamp. Her eyes were filled with a complex swirl of emotions. She was the mother of the current King, and the mother of Grand Prince Jo Young, the man leading the coup.
「Please, you must stop the Grand Prince!」
It was a desperate, reckless plea. The Queen Dowager held no real power. Her only leverage was the fact that she was the Grand Prince’s mother. And by the time she had learned of the plot, it was already too late. In this irreversible situation, all she could do was stand by and watch.
「This is treason! They are rebels! How… how dare they! How can one who has received my Father’s grace do such a thing!!」
As the Princess screamed in anguish, the Queen Dowager simply looked at her in silence. Lee Hye-wol had always been the granddaughter who acted affectionately, calling her ‘Grandmother.’
「Something is wrong. Please, answer me, Your Majesty!!」
But now, she was Princess Yeonhwa. Anger and hatred radiated tangibly from her small frame. Unable to bear the sight of Hye-wol, the Queen Dowager closed her eyes.
==
The entire set watched the scene with bated breath.
The camera panned and the reflectors shifted, ensuring that the faces of the Queen Dowager and Hye-wol were not lost to the shadows. The camera pulled back slightly to capture both of them, allowing their emotions to be viewed simultaneously.
Something is…
As the staff watched them, they began to feel a shift in the air.
Something is different from usual…
Seo-yeon, playing the young Hye-wol, had always possessed a quality that drew people in. But this was different. There was a palpable tension. An explosive emotion seemed to be spreading through the air.
The Queen Dowager’s eyes remained tightly shut. In response, Hye-wol’s eyes also squeezed shut. She realized it then. The Queen Dowager had no intention of stopping the coup—or rather, she couldn't.
And then.
SLAM!!
The doors burst open with enough force to break them, and a man entered the Queen Dowager’s chambers, leading a squad of soldiers.
With hawk-like eyes and a set mouth, he stood there. The madness swirling in his dark pupils made everyone momentarily stop breathing. The corner of his mouth twitched upward into a distorted smirk.
It was the entrance of Grand Prince Jo Young.