Hoshi-jeol Begins – Yi Bang-won's Days with the Min Clan
From Yi Bang-won's words about spending his teenage and twenties—over a decade—in the home of his wife's Min clan, the film Hoshi-jeol begins.
[I grew up with Lady Min from a young age and received so much love.]
Taejong Yi Bang-won and Queen Won-gyeong Min. Married in their teens, they leaned on each other as political allies amid the bloody whirlpool of late Goryeo and early Joseon from their twenties onward, their dynamic emotions shifting right up to their tragic end. From their sweet first meeting to becoming intimate confidants who revealed their weaknesses and relied on one another. From jealousy and hatred to the sudden realization that they had become objects of love-hate. Of course, turning points in such a relationship demanded conflict.
And in Hoshi-jeol, Yi Bang-gwa emerges as the conflict that changes the dynamic between them.
"Cut! Let's take a break!"
This was already the 13th NG in a row, filming the scene where Yi Bang-gwa first appears in the drama.
Yi Bang-gwa's debut. The moment when Yi Bang-won, confiding his weakness only to his wife Lady Min in secret, recalls pleading with his older brother—who had been charging through battlefields alongside their father Yi Seong-gye since age twenty—to take him to war.
"Action!"
Here, Yi Bang-won had to express his admiration and fear toward his ten-years-older brother, Yi Bang-gwa, who was both his senior and his father's comrade-in-arms.
[S#04]
Yi Bang-won: "Brother!" (Yi Bang-won charges out sword in hand, blocking the path of Yi Bang-gwa on horseback.)
Yi Bang-won: "My swordsmanship is pretty decent!"
Yi Bang-gwa: "Ha!"
Yi Bang-won: "Let's make a bet—who between you and me cuts down more pirate heads—"
Yi Bang-gwa: (eyes bulging) "You insolent brat—!" (Yi Bang-gwa draws his waist sword in one fluid motion, pointing the tip at Yi Bang-won.)
Yi Bang-gwa: "What do you think a battlefield is, where men live and die! This blade has already claimed over a thousand vengeful spirits! Even I can't speak of it lightly—a battlefield like that, aren't you truly afraid?!"
Yi Bang-won: (calmly) "I'm not afraid."
Yi Bang-gwa: "Good, then." (Yi Bang-gwa's eyes flash fiercely as he raises his sword.)
Yi Bang-won: (dodging beyond the camera) "Ha, for real."
"Cut!"
Cheon Yoo-seong, hands on hips, took a massive breath after calling the 13th NG.
"Phew, short break."
The director's sigh echoed through the speaker, staff gazes heavy with silence pressing down on him.
What the fuck is that.
Cheon Yoo-seong was dying of frustration.
That insane glint in his eyes just now. A deranged gaze and voice that blanked his mind the instant he saw it—he'd been missing his lines because of it since earlier.
I'm going crazy, seriously.
Still, this was holding up well. Up to the third NG, he'd collapsed pathetically on his ass.
What the hell is that?
It took two cigarettes just to calm his trembling legs like aspen leaves and his chattering jaw.
Of course, he didn't even realize that ending at this level was an 'achievement' possible only because he was high-level among his peers.
"You okay? Should I ask the director for more break time—"
"Ah, just leave me be."
Cheon Yoo-seong snapped at his manager. Bluntly, he felt like puking.
Terror. Even knowing it was acting, that damn massive emotion hit him every retake.
This guy was capable of this level?
Then what was that just now.
He stared at Lee Tae-gyu, who was chugging water his manager handed him like it was nothing.
Genuine killing intent. Cheon Yoo-seong was sure he'd felt it, slowly steadying his breath while cursing inwardly.
Crazy bastard pulling ad-libs like it's nothing.
Half-right. Cheon Yoo-seong had ad-libbed first to disrupt Lee Tae-gyu's intense emotion from the opening line.
"Alright, let's get back to it. Wonder if we can wrap this today."
Something surged in him. He called his manager.
"Noona, we got calm pills in the car, right?"
"Now?"
"Bring everything. Hurry!"
Ten minutes after shoving calm pills in his mouth, Cheon Yoo-seong felt sturdier.
"Standby."
He even slapped his cheeks for spirit.
Cheon Yoo-seong was a star with name value too.
Get it together, Cheon Yoo-seong. You're Cheon Yoo-seong. No more national younger brother act?
After all the rice he'd eaten on set floors, lose to some no-name? No way.
Something about this momentum felt pretty good.
"Action!"
Thanks to the pills and pep, his acting this time smoothly reached a point he'd never hit before.
Yi Bang-won: "Stop, brother!" (Yi Bang-won charges out sword in hand, blocking Yi Bang-gwa on horseback.)
Yi Bang-won: "Take me with you! My sword's pretty decent too!"
Yi Bang-gwa: "You serious?"
Yi Bang-won: "I bet I can rack up bigger feats than you, brother!"
Yi Bang-gwa: (eyes bulging) "You insolent brat—!" (Yi Bang-gwa draws his waist sword in one motion, tip at Yi Bang-won.)
Yi Bang-gwa: "You young fool underrate the battlefield! Dozens of my men have lost their heads there! Aren't you truly afraid of your death?!"
Yi Bang-won: (calmly) "I'm not afraid."
Yi Bang-gwa: "Good, then." (Yi Bang-gwa's eyes flash as he raises his sword.)
Yi Bang-won: "What are you doing, brother?!"
Yi Bang-gwa: "Take this blade. If you can parry my sword even once, I'll tell Father to make you my adjutant."
Yi Bang-won: (gulping) "A-alright. I'll parry my brother's sword!" (Yi Bang-won raises his trembling sword; Yi Bang-gwa suddenly eases his intensity.)
Clang. (Yi Bang-gwa sighs, tosses his sword, approaches Yi Bang-won still aiming at him.)
Yi Bang-gwa: "Do you truly not understand what I'm saying, Bang-won? What use is mere sword skill? You have bold ambition and sharp wits I lack." (Yi Bang-gwa gently lowers Yi Bang-won's sword, strokes his head pityingly.)
Yi Bang-won: (flinching away in surprise) "Eek!"
·······Shit.
Cheon Yoo-seong wanted to die. He'd flinched. Fear accumulated over takes? At his line cue, he'd instinctively dodged the hand heading for his head.
······We were almost there!
His mind reeled. Face those monster eyes again? Insane.
A tear welled from sheer injustice.
"Cut!"
A subtly satisfied cut sign rang out.
"Great, perfect!"
"Ah, scene came out great. Good work!"
Clap clap clap! Director Gu Jeong-hwan applauded.
His method of pressuring for better work wasn't limited to rookies.
13th retake. Prolong one-on-one with that monster rookie, build tension by the 10th NG, and he'd get the scene he wanted. As predicted.
"You really going with that, Director?"
Seol A-yoon asked Gu.
"Why."
"It's Yi Bang-won."
Her face, smirking triumphantly moments ago, now wore worry.
"Doesn't match the historical record?"
"Historical record? Come on, how many Korean sageuk actually stick to it?"
"Still, isn't it a bit much?"
Fair point. Yi Bang-won flinching at his brother's hand like a scared kid. Even young, he was future Taejong—did they need that in the film?
"That's what makes your character pop more."
"Well, yeah."
"A wounded Yi Bang-won who opens up only to Queen Won-gyeong Min. More wounds he has, more your comforting charm shines. That's our selling point."
Gu pushed forward. Fans of the historical Yi Bang-won might riot, but whatever.
Confident in earning the '20-million director' title with this film, he eyed the rookie wiping sweat post-take.
·······Lee Tae-gyu.
His eye for talent was spot-on. Tiger-like presence. Just standing there pressured Cheon Yoo-seong into that reaction.
Monster.
That crazy ad-lib. Maintaining the core and nuance, he countered Cheon Yoo-seong's every evasion with fresh lines on the fly.
······Completely immersed, understanding the role fully.
Gu stuck out his tongue in admiration. Turning, he saw Cheon Yoo-seong sprawled exhausted.
Well, you worked hard too.
Cheon Yoo-seong was half-dead from exhaustion. A guy who'd never thrown a punch faced that chilling emotion head-on—agony. And with OK, tension crashed.
"Noona, phone."
"Here."
"Hyung, water."
"OK, one sec."
In his dazed fog, Cheon Yoo-seong took his phone from his manager.
"······What, what is this. Noona. You uploaded this earlier?"
"Yeah, you said post right away."
"Uwaaak!"
Cheon Yoo-seong bolted up. The post with comments was photos and videos from earlier with that monster guy.
Trembling fingers tapped news. Entertainment articles based on his SNS already up.
[Cheon Yoo-seong Shares Cozy Shot with Rookie Actor on SNS]
[Cheon Yoo-seong's SNS: 'This Is Acting!' Senior Vibes Overflow on Set]
Face burning unbearably. Senior vibes my ass— Cheon Yoo-seong flushed hot.
Bragging shallow tips to rookies about acting to the guy who'd just crushed him? Mortifying.
"Huuu."
Sighing to cool off, then—
"Senior."
"Whoa!"
The 'guy' poked his face in. Lee Tae-gyu bowed politely to startled Cheon Yoo-seong.
"Good work."
Cheon Yoo-seong gaped.
This bastard······toying with me again?
Too blatant, confusing. Sly fucker. Acted rookie-like before shoot to hide that monster skill?
But.
······He's leagues above.
That front-back switch, sneakier than his quick wits.
"Yeah. Good work."
"Senior, I—"
"Ugh, why's my stomach hurt. Sorry, gotta hit the bathroom."
Mentally unrecovered. Fearing what might come, he bolted somewhere on set.
Set mood follows the director. Hoshi-jeol's, thrilled with the take, buzzed cheerfully.
"Director's coffee truck here! Everyone grab one!"
Coffee rounds to staff, actors, extras loosened faces.
"Whew, breathing room."
"Director looks thrilled."
"Hey, I'll take that one."
Tae-gyu nodded solemnly alone.
"Hm."
Reviewing the take's lessons.
"Good experience···"
Today's set taught tons, he muttered unwittingly.
"Pros are different."
He thought of Cheon Yoo-seong. First senior to advise him, beyond just channeling dokkaebi fire emotions.
His practical tips helped today.
Whoosh!Whoosh!
Two emotions used: [Wild Tiger's Rage Meeting Foe] and [Wild Tiger's Frustration Scolding Cub]. Mid-switch needed.
He'd learned seamless handless swap burning one emotion pocket, but sudden flips worried naturalness.
Then he recalled Cheon Yoo-seong's advice.
When changing emotions in acting, speed matters. Too fast looks weird, like no real person. Too slow drags. Hit midpoint, focus elsewhere. Toe or finger.
Toes?
You know how simple tasks go natural on autopilot? That.
Ah······Thanks, senior.
No thanks needed, haha.
Spot on. Switching from rage to cub-frustration via dokkaebi fire—
LA ribs.
Boiling emotion shifted, face twitching; conscious distraction made it look natural-speed to others.
Cheon Yoo-seong shared more tips too.
Definitely.
······Acting techniques apply to dokkaebi fire.
Boosts usage. Now max two real-time, but someday juggling dozens—with better skills···
"What're you thinking so hard about?"
"Ah."
Turning, Seol A-yoon held coffee.
"Coffee'll get cold. Drink up—Director's treat."
"Thanks." Naturally, Tae-gyu didn't know she'd sought him alone to talk.
"Sorry."
"·········Huh?"
"No, that day. Didn't know your situation."
"Hm?"
What's this. Seol A-yoon smiled embarrassed, changed topic watching Tae-gyu think.
"Anyway, your acting's amazing? Honestly, today felt way better than first sight."
"First time?"
"At our Monster City set. I saw you act."
"Ah."
"But today's different vibe? Role helps, but more natural? Not saying before was unnatural—just subtly—"
"Thanks to that senior."
"Hm?"
Her eyes followed Tae-gyu's gaze.
"Him? Yoo-seong?"
"Yeah. Learned a ton earlier."
"Hey! Cheon Yoo-seong!"
Seol A-yoon yelled oddly, drawing eyes from nearby coffee-chatting folks.
"Yes, senior?"
Cheon Yoo-seong looked uneasy.
"Where you going? Here. Let's chat."
"Uh······"
"To him?"
"Yes."
Her grinning stare spread unease on his face.
"Earlier, Senior Cheon gave me acting tips."
"·········!"
His unease became reality.
"Didn't you see?"
"Ah, right. I dipped 'cause it looked serious."
"Exactly. Super important advice."
Cheon Yoo-seong gritted teeth. Everyone hearing, mortifying.
"Senior taught know-how for my Jeongjong role."
"Ahh, I see."
"Huge help."
Like UFC champ at Gwanghwamun yelling 'He taught me fighting basics!'—Cheon Yoo-seong reddened.
This guy's high-level······
"Senior, coffee done? Take mine. Thanks for the lesson too."
"Oh ho."
Stop·········please stop·········
"Ah, right! Senior!"
My bad·········
"Uh, uh, eh?"
Tae-gyu approached seriously; flustered Cheon Yoo-seong.
"Forgot to say earlier."
"Wha—what—"
"Thank you."
Tae-gyu bowed 90 degrees; Cheon Yoo-seong blanked, nearby folks turned curious.
"N-no, what."
"Forgot to thank you for the acting lesson."
"Ha, haha."
"Truly grateful."
"No, too polite. No need for—"
"Huh?"
Flailing Cheon Yoo-seong tried fumbling excuses to defuse···
"Earlier you said respect industry seniors like this—"
"Aaa—s-sorry, hyungnim!"
······Clean fail.