“Cut!” “Good Work!”
“Cut!”
“Good work!”
The first shoot wrapped up smoothly. And just as the applause rippling through the set hadn't quite died down—
“Excuse me, actor.”
“Yes?”
“If it's okay with you, could I get just one photo...”
Requests poured in for Woojin and Seong-cheol, the two leads. Not just from the minor and supporting actors, but even the staff seemed to prioritize snapping pics with them over cleaning up the site.
A long line had already formed in front of the Gangnyeongjeon courtyard, the final shooting location for the day.
“Heh heh heh.”
Ryu watched the scene with a pleased smile. Then—
“Director.”
A rookie actress who'd been watching the shoot with sparkling eyes the whole time approached cautiously.
“Yes, Da-hee? You haven't left yet? The dinner got canceled, you know.”
“I know. But I have something to say.”
“Go ahead. Make yourself comfortable.”
“There are about three weeks left until my scenes start, according to the cue sheet.”
Ryu nodded at her words.
“Right. The focus is all on Yeonsan and Im Sa-hong at first.”
“Even without shoots, I want to keep coming to set.”
Ryu's face lit up with surprise at the rookie's declaration. Da-hee continued politely.
“I'm still a newbie with no real schedule. I want to learn by watching on set.”
Was it the honesty and boldness only a rookie could have? Ryu was genuinely impressed by her passion. In a script he'd written himself, his final film carrying so much meaning, to have actors this eager—it filled him with pride as a director.
“And...”
He was already charmed by her spirit and cuteness.
“If you allow it, Director, I'd like to appear as an extra in scenes where my face won't show.”
Her follow-up floored him even more.
“An extra?”
“Yes. The storyline leading to Chaehongsasa needs a bunch of female actors.”
She had a point. Yeonsan, who indulged so wildly in booze and women that the phrase “Hwangcheongmangcheong” was born from it. He even granted the villainous advisor the title of Chaehongsasa, commanding beauties from across the nation—tens of thousands in total. Though the synopsis focused on the scheming Im Sa-hong manipulating the king rather than Yeonsan's debauchery, minimizing sensational scenes, it was true they needed hordes of female extras.
And now, the actress cast as the key character Jang Nok-su was making this request. To work as an extra until her own scenes, as long as her face stayed off-camera.
“Hahaha.”
Ryu burst out laughing and extended his hand to Da-hee. She took it with a puzzled look.
“Sounds good. What director would say no to an actor this passionate about the work?”
“Really?!”
Da-hee beamed.
“I'll tell the assistant director to assign you a dorm right away.”
“Yes!”
“Try extra work, and when there's nothing specific, help out with the directing team sometimes. Learn all you can.”
“Thank you, Director! I'll work hard!”
Da-hee bowed repeatedly in gratitude, then bolted toward Woojin and Seong-cheol.
“Suuunbaeee!”
Her excited shout echoed across the set.
'Feels like these rookies are gonna cause some major waves.'
As his final film, Ryu wanted to give every opportunity to the young actors who'd lead the industry next. That's why he'd cast rookies with solid skills for Yeonsan and Nok-su—a risky choice, perhaps. But now, it felt like the right call. They already had the passion and responsibility that mattered as much as talent.
“Think she'll be that thrilled?”
The assistant director remarked with a warm smile.
“Didn't see that coming.”
“Huh?”
“I blinked, and suddenly I'm seventy, getting treated like a grand senior everywhere I go...”
Ryu's gaze fixed on the two rookies, hands clasped, bouncing with excitement.
“Feeling like I can learn from these young folks right from crank-in? First time for everything.”
The assistant director followed his gaze.
“They're gonna be big stars soon, huh?”
He chuckled heartily and stepped away.
Outrageous Polling Station. A weekend variety show that's held the top ratings spot for years.
As the title suggests, it polls professionals in a field on topics viewers are curious about, revealing the results to satisfy that curiosity—a simple, addictive format.
One episode featured this question:
'Wondering what genre is the hardest for actors to shoot.'
The production team hit the streets polling famous actors, and the results were hilarious. Both male and female stars ranked sageuk—historical dramas—number one.
Reasons varied: the prep (voice training, action, etc.), uncomfortable costumes, brutal winter or summer outdoor shoots, and more. Modern dramas required far less setup for actors and crew alike.
But for female actors, there was an even bigger hurdle: sageuk were fundamentally male-centric. Roles for women were limited, leaving them surrounded by men on set. And with mid-career veterans outnumbering young talent...
For a rookie female actor? Nothing tougher than a sageuk set.
Yet...
“Food truck's here, everyone!”
Da-hee's charisma was off the charts. How could a newbie pull this off? She outshone even the most seasoned vets with her energy. The undisputed number-one mood maker on set.
“You're one thing, but that girl's no ordinary rookie either.”
In the makeshift eatery by the food truck, Seong-cheol shook his head watching Da-hee dart around chatting with everyone.
Woojin chuckled as he ate. The best rice in Korea? Definitely set food trucks.
“They all call her 'Shinblly.'”
“What's that mean?”
“Shin Da-hee lovely. Hence 'Shinblly.'”
“Kids these days abbreviate everything.”
Shinblly. Her nickname, born just days ago, was already a proper noun.
“Speaking of, this guy's already a sunbae himself.”
“Pardon?”
“That's you from back in the day.”
“Was I like that?”
“Yeah, kid. Remember when you channeled Choi Kyu-bo and ran around like a maniac? No big surprise.”
Seong-cheol grinned.
“Kinda feels like you're right, Sunbaenim.”
“Huh?”
“Look over there.”
Seong-cheol turned at Woojin's words. Diagonally across sat a man staring intently at Da-hee.
“Who's that?”
Woojin burst out laughing at Seong-cheol's question.
“What? Why's it so funny to you?”
“That's our agency management team leader.”
The man who couldn't tear his eyes from Da-hee? Kim Tae-gon Team Leader.
Woojin continued to the puzzled Seong-cheol.
“We chatted about her on the phone the other day, and...”
“And?”
“He showed up today. Said he was curious.”
That hawk-like gaze from Wanted, back when Kim Tae-gon first sized up Woojin. The memory made him laugh nonstop. Felt like ages ago, though it was recent. Was he turning into a sunbae for real?
“But how's that connect to what we were saying?”
“During the drama, he watched me just like that.”
“Heh heh. He's hooked on Da-hee now. Nice agency you got.”
“Top in actor management.”
Flower Entertainment, Woojin's agency, stood alongside True Actors as the two giants in actor agencies. Word was they'd been in a fierce bidding war lately to claim industry number one.
“Snatching talent the second they show promise? That's the trend?”
“Same as how productions want great casts—agencies want great actors too.”
“Heh, talking yourself up as a great actor now?”
“You said it, Sunbaenim. That I'm a great actor...”
“Enough~ Eat up. Time to run lines.”
“Yes, Sunbaenim!”
As shoots progressed, Woojin's bond with Seong-cheol grew tighter. Same with Da-hee. With a great sunbae and a fun peer, heading to set every day was a joy.
Early days still, same faces around. But soon, new co-stars for ensemble scenes. What would that chemistry be like? Excitement built daily.
Breath with Jang Nok-su too.
And, Scene 96...
The moment with Lee Jae-soon's sharp guidance.
Time, hurry up!
“I entrust full authority of Chaehongsasa to Minister of Defense Im Sa-hong. Let beauties be gathered from every corner of the nation. They shall be called Unpyeong, and those entering the palace, Hwungcheong!”
“Cut! Good take.”
The film's early act was already wrapping up.
Red Petals spanned two years: from the 1504 Gapsa Purge to Yeonsan's deposition in the Jungjong Coup of 1506. Naturally, the attack point—the story's kickoff—was Yeonsan's descent into tyranny.
Crank-in's Scenes 1-3 covered that, with insert cuts of purge victims already shot and slotted in. The directing team, Ryu included, saw this as the intro.
If the opener focused on the Gapsa Purge, the mid-act pivot was “Chaehong's Wild Horses.”
From rage-filled Yeonsan to one drowning in pleasure and decadence.
“Next scene. Moving to Gangnyeongjeon.”
At the assistant's radio call, staff moved like clockwork. Gear breakdown and setup? Lightning-fast now, a testament to perfect sync.
“Whew.”
Woojin exhaled deeply after his last take. Habit now—every time the camera cut and he shed Yeonsan, out came the breath.
As he gathered himself—
“Woojin oppa!”
Da-hee stood before him, makeup done. Just a year apart, they'd clicked fast. Honorifics shifted to oppa-dongsaeng naturally.
“Hey.”
“I’m blown away every time.”
She flashed a thumbs-up and grin.
“What’s your role today?”
Faithfully extra-ing until Jang Nok-su's debut.
“Just a random woman.”
“Random woman?”
“Yeah. But like... woman number 34 or something.”
“Here it comes.”
Woojin murmured at her words.
That instant.
Da-hee caught it.
The subtle tension flickering across his face.