The Final Crank-Up
After a breathless four months, Red Petals was down to its very last scene. But the crank-up declaration wouldn't happen at Mun Kyung-sae Open Set—it would be at Yangpyeong's Daibusan.
Hauling set pieces all the way to the mountaintop was no easy feat, yet not a single soul complained. If anything, everyone's faces were filled with regret.
"Ready, action!"
A line that no one on the Red Petals set—or in the rest of their lives—would ever shout again. Director Ryu's voice cracked with emotion, nearly cutting him off before he could finish. He covered his mouth, staring at the monitor, as the assistant director silently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"After the rain, the meadow blooms lush with green grass, and butterflies dance merrily on the apricot branches..."
Yeonsan sat limply on the sagging porch of a rundown thatched house, surrounded by tall fences. He looked up, but even the sky wasn't the vast blue heavens.
"Enveloped in black thunderclouds, without a single ray of light—truly cruel."
Thud.
Yeonsan collapsed onto the wooden floor.
At the same moment—
Whoosh.
Countless raindrops poured mercilessly down on him. They soaked his body in an instant. Yet...
"No matter how much you drench me, can you wash away the scent of blood pulsing through this body...?"
Yeonsan's dead eyes stared at the sky, unblinking against the falling drops. Liquid—rain or tears, indistinguishable—trickled down his cheeks.
"......"
Only then did his bloodshot eyes slowly close.
The camera, close on Yeonsan's face, slowly panned downward. It lingered on his limp fingers, then froze on the jade ring he wore.
"Cut."
The word signaling the end of the shoot. All eyes turned to Director Ryu. Overwhelmed by regret, he paced silently for a moment.
"Whew."
With a deep sigh, he broke into a bright smile.
"Crank-up!"
The long-awaited declaration of the shoot's completion.
—Waaaaah!
—Clap clap clap clap clap!
Cheers and applause echoed from the mountaintop, shaking heaven and earth.
It's really over now...
Director Ryu Chang-min had lived through the evolution of Korea's film industry since jumping in during the early '70s. From the analog era of the "film movie industry" to the cutting-edge "digital movie industry"—forty long years. Through it all, he'd never once stepped down from the top. Now, at last, he was laying down his crown.
"Thank you for your hard work, Director."
As the cast representative, Woojin handed him a bouquet—a token of respect for the master who'd endured the pains of creation through endless shoots and script revisions.
Director Ryu bowed ninety degrees in gratitude.
"Thank you all. I can say without a doubt that the time I spent with you was the happiest in my forty years in film. My deepest thanks to everyone who helped me end on a high note."
He couldn't lift his head after speaking. His shoulders shook.
"Come on, everyone—applause! Louder!"
At the assistant director's call, the cast's clapping grew even louder—a collective effort to drown out the tears of a master who'd never shed them before.
The relief of it being over was overshadowed by the sorrow of the end. But as they say, every meeting brings a parting, and every parting brings another meeting.
They'd poured everything into this final work. No regrets.
"My actors—you all worked so hard."
He embraced the performers he'd chosen for his last stand as an active director. Oh Seong-cheol, the senior who'd led and encouraged the juniors so masterfully. Shin Da-hee, the mood-maker who'd overcome debut challenges, historical drama, and being the sole female lead to deliver top-tier acting. And...
Among the hundreds of actors he'd met or worked with, the one and only who'd made him think "genius." The young actor who'd electrified him with passion, skill, attitude, responsibility, and effort in every way—Baek Woojin.
Because he'd shared this finale with them, Director Ryu could now set down his megaphone with peace of mind.
"Wrap the set and head straight to the afterparty!"
At the assistant director's announcement, people began dispersing. Director Ryu scanned the site one last time, a satisfied smile on his lips, before taking his final steps away.
Moments later.
The now-silent peak of Daibusan. The filling quiet seemed to whisper:
2011—the player swap that rocked Korean cinema.
OUT: Ryu Chang-min ↔ IN: Baek Woojin & Shin Da-hee
The crank-up of Red Petals marked the turning point.
* * *
Parting from comrades who'd shared highs and lows for four months was no easy task. When a project ends, people often say it's "bittersweet"—and no phrase fits better.
Four months of shooting. Five months of prep. Woojin had battled for nine months straight to reach Prince Yeonsan. Letting go of that torment felt refreshingly clean, but sending off the man who'd lived inside him for those nine months? Heart-wrenchingly sad.
Different from bidding farewell to Kyubo hyung from Wanted. They'd met countless times in the virtual world, in varied ways, forging a brotherly bond. That made it easy to let go coolly. But...
This virtual encounter had been just once—and brief. No further advice, no more meetings. He'd stood alone, honing the character through sheer blood, sweat, and personal grit. Red Petals' Prince Yeonsan was born of that. So the goodbye hit harder than Kyubo's.
The afterparty was at a hanwoo beef spot in Yangpyeong, the final shoot location.
"Oppa! Great work!"
"You too~ I'm dying from the regret."
Woojin shook off stray thoughts and enjoyed the seats with Seong-cheol sunbaenim and Da-hee amid the lively chatter.
The boisterous drinking session. Stories from the past four months burst forth like bursting dams.
"Let's have a drink!"
Director Ryu's rounds, clinking glasses table to table, ended at the leads' spot.
Clink!
Delicious food, great people. With Red Petals' teamwork ending that night, they poured their bittersweet feelings into shots of liquor. Those shots would settle as beautiful memories somewhere deep inside.
"Director, any thoughts on release date?"
"Talking mid-July to early August. The production and distribution companies are pushing for holiday season."
The one wall the master hadn't breached in Korean cinema: ten million viewers. For a true grand finale, they were timing it perfectly.
"Do the three of you have next projects in mind?"
Da-hee shook her head first at Director Ryu's question. Her priority was signing with an agency—and she was in talks with Flower Entertainment, Woojin's label, she added cautiously.
...As expected of Team Leader Kim Tae-gon.
Once he spots talent, he doesn't let go.
Woojin smiled at her words, grabbing some side dish. Da-hee glanced slyly at him, but he didn't notice the expression hinting at deeper reasons for eyeing Flower first.
"Seong-cheol?"
"Straight into drama for me."
Seong-cheol sunbaenim was jumping right into another drama—no break. After Wanted and Red Petals, a third in a row without rest. Incredible passion.
"Cable drama, set in the Japanese occupation—righteous army as protagonists. Sadly, villain again this time too."
One of the Eulsa Five Traitors...
Seong-cheol sunbaenim accepted his "villain specialist" title with calm dignity. After all, it meant no one in Korea played villains better.
Having a standout acting niche was a huge strength.
"Honestly, when I got cast as Im Sa-hong, I hated another villain role. But this project taught me something."
His voice low, Seong-cheol continued.
"Villains have real charm... They're an indispensable element you can't skip."
Director Ryu laughed heartily.
"Hitting growth pains hard at an age pushing fifty."
"Thanks to you, Director, and these two juniors—I grew a level. My gratitude."
Patting Seong-cheol's shoulder, Director Ryu turned to Woojin with the same question.
"Me..."
He spoke slowly.
"No next project set yet. Been so focused on shooting, agency hasn't mentioned anything."
"Really? Hey, Jaepil!"
At Woojin's words, Director Ryu bellowed to the assistant director at a nearby table.
"Time to write that debut script quick?"
"Pardon?"
"Woojin hasn't locked his next gig—better hurry or you'll miss the shot?"
The table erupted in laughter at the director's tease.
"Planning to rest a bit and look slowly. Back-to-back projects and all."
"Good call. Work hard, rest hard."
"Come on, a drink! Cheers!"
"Clink!"
The afterparty mood peaked, stretching into the dawn.
* * *
After the all-nighter, Woojin returned to his Mangwon-dong one-room.
The shabby, empty five-pyeong space felt nostalgic. Four months vacant, yet spotless—not a speck of dust. Mom must've popped in regularly to clean.
"Mom, really..."
Muttering to himself, Woojin stripped off his all-day clothes.
Oh, right—this...
His eye caught the jade ring on his finger. What to do with it? Diary still silent. Like Kyubo hyung's scalpel memento, just a parting gift from Yeonsan?
Whatever.
Woojin slipped off the ring and placed it beside the scalpel. Exhausted from the final shoot and binge drinking, sleep was priority—thoughts later.
—Whoosh.
Post-shower, changed into comfy clothes. He drew the curtains, plunging the room into pitch black. Phone on silent, he crashed onto the mattress.
"......"
Sleep rushed in.
As consciousness blurred into deep slumber—
After so long, for the first time—
Bzzz.
The long-silent "it" finally stirred.
...!
The open diary hovered in midair, beaming light straight at Woojin.