Director Yoon Chang-ho's New Film Shoot
Just before cranking in on Director Yoon Chang-ho's new film, the hottest fandom among the actors' fans wasn't actually Lee Tae-gyu's.
Top star Seol A-yoon. In other words, her fans—who could fill massive arenas in major Asian cities for fan meetings, boasting tighter bonds than most K-pop idols—were showing some seriously unusual activity.
The trigger was, of course, Hoshi-jeol.
She'd earned the title of "30-million actress" as the nominal lead, but anyone with even a passing interest in the film knew Lee Tae-gyu had stolen the show.
They had every reason to be anxious. The actor who'd overshadowed Seol A-yoon despite being a supporting role in Hoshi-jeol was now stepping up as the male lead in this new project (working title: 108 Months Full Installment).
Actor Lee Tae-gyu. In the romance genre—already billed as a blatant acting showdown between leads—this guy, who was the talk of the town, was going head-to-head with their star? Dangerous.
So, they'd made up their minds.
To win over the director for Seol A-yoon or just flex their fandom's power, they'd decided on an aggressive push at the shoot.
In the same vein as idols' "tribute" culture, their affections arrived at the first shooting location on crank-in day.
——Screeech.
Late summer. As shooting gear was set up and shade created everywhere for the crew and waiting staff...
[Seol A-yoon Fires!]
[♥ Please take good care of our A-yoon~ ♥]
A massive coffee truck with those placards. Big enough for 200 people, billowing cool mist—"Seol A-yoon Fandom Tribute." Everyone was thrilled.
"Whoa, we'll drink up! As expected of A-yoon."
"Aw, come on."
Seol A-yoon greeted them bashfully but felt a quiet pride.
······Yeah. I'm Seol A-yoon.
Lately, she'd had plenty to feel slighted about. How often had the top actress, always topping buzz rankings, been this overshadowed? Hoshi-jeol's director had stolen the spotlight, and now this film's hype was snatched from the start, plus the intense vibes from veteran actors at script reading had worn her down.
"Ooh! This is refreshing."
"Try some."
"A-yoon's fans have great taste."
"Jealous, so jealous."
"Top stars are on another level."
As they gulped ice-filled cold brews and thumbs-upped her, her shoulders lifted a bit. First-shoot coffee trucks really boosted morale, as they say.
Click.
Posing for a selfie with the gathering crowd and truck behind her, she posted to SNS with a happy smile.
She knew. Coordinated in advance with the production, she'd been anticipating this love from her fans. The massive truck meant they'd scrimped pocket money for her sake—how much they cared.
Gotta work hard.
Determined to repay them, she had no idea what was coming.
Meanwhile.
A completely different "operation" from her fan cafe was descending on the set—something she hadn't anticipated.
"Stars sure are... what the hell is that?"
"······Huh? Another one?"
"······How many are those?"
"······We heard they were sending some... but... this much···"
Yeah.
——Screeech!
——Screeech!
——Screeech!
Seol A-yoon wasn't the only one with a major fandom here.
[Into the Leader's Embrace.]
['Daecheon Church Acting Gospel' sends their regards.]
Their tribute made her fans' coffee truck look cute by comparison.
——Thud!
——Clank, clank!
"Whoa, what's all this?!"
"Looks tasty···"
"What is this, a skewer joint?"
"Beef heart grill looks good."
"Ooh, lemonade too!"
"That smell is insane."
"Look at those fried goodies. Won't gain weight filming?"
As the crew swarmed the feast amid final setups...
"Hey hey! Shaved ice too! First-come-first-served!"
"·········What?!"
Seeing the youngest staffer ditch her modest truck's Americano and sprint over...
Twitch.
Seol A-yoon's eyebrow jerked.
Ha.
Three coffee/snack trucks from Lee Tae-gyu's fandom, each over 200 servings. Exactly over three times hers.
······Annoying as hell, seriously.
Her pride writhed—spotlight stolen again from the jump.
Jongno-gu, Ikseon-dong. Traditional hanok mixed with modern shops and culture like a web—this film's first location.
- Yeah, set's ready, so quick refresh and let's roll!
Director Yoon Chang-ho, megaphone dangling, steeled himself.
······Now's the real test.
Four trucks lined on the main road. Recalling the placard stars, he realized he might be a target for two massive fandoms.
Gulp.
He thought of Gu Jeong-hwan's state. Despite Hoshi-jeol's 10 million viewers, the director was in therapy. Critics' slams on his skills and experts' history distortion gripes played in, but he knew the real killer.
Should've played it safe···
Seol A-yoon and Cheon Yoo-seong's fandoms. They'd buried every article mentioning the director who'd screwed their faves with "criticism" disguised as hate. That firepower was key.
Hate for mistreating leads still flooded now.
Whew.
Hard for Yoon Chang-ho to ignore. Especially with Seol A-yoon's fans still fuming, hunting new victims.
He didn't want more ammo.
Time to change the title.
The working title was just to hook Tae-gyu anyway—now for the real one.
No nitpicks beyond the film. That was Yoon Chang-ho's stance.
No dumb shit from here on. Just make the movie killer.
His goal: Cannes Director's Award. Like Punch-Drunk Love, where an emotionally unstable guy falls for a divorcee—this film would get him there.
- Haha! A-yoon, Tae-gyu, cheers!
His voice, oddly less dignified, boomed via megaphone.
In Ikseon-dong's back alley, where stone and concrete paths tangled with big and small roads...
"······Kinda much."
"······Yeah."
Two actors grimaced, exhaling smoke at Director Yoon's distant voice.
Hwang Hyeong-tak and Seon U-hui. Theater vets from their early 20s, proud of solid stage creds.
"Feels like their turf."
"Totally."
"Saw the seniors' faces earlier?"
"Yeah, I was embarrassed just watching."
"Do they have any tact?"
"Right?"
Sets vary, but Yoon's had a rep for unique vibes—thanks to his frequent actors' long bonds.
[Yoon Chang-ho Crew]
The "crew" concept in film, like drama writers' cliques. Yoon's crew dominated his sets—hidden masters, theater legends, eccentrics. They did MTs pre/post-shoot, small gatherings, flash meets sharing hobbies. Tight-knit.
These two: Cha Jin-tak's left and right arms.
With creds and status, despite youth, only Yoon and Cha outranked them on set.
"Seol A-yoon's still okay-ish. But Lee Tae-gyu? Honestly hate him. Doesn't he see the truckload of seniors?"
"······Didn't like him at script reading either."
New to the crew, yet no early greetings to win hearts? Irked them.
Deeper: inferiority to this rising rookie getting special sched pulls despite same age.
"Kid's too stiff. Left early or what."
Whatever. Not everyone's pro. In this town, hating overnight stars? Normal.
"Seniors' vibes were off too."
"Yeah."
"Someone fix this. Or it'll ruin the set mood till end."
Main/juvenile leads dubbed "Yoon's next persona" after Cha—furious now.
Plus, the cocky newbie strutting arrogantly sans bows—want him deflated since roles fixed.
"Feel it?"
"Yeah."
"······Stick to the plan."
Today's tussle scene. Body contact? Their go-to for crushing rookies off-camera.
"Heard Lee Tae-gyu's method actor type."
"Can overdo a bit then."
"Don't flop too obviously."
"After all these years?"
They smirked, eyes locking.
"Alright."
"Let's go."
Toss.
They flicked cig butts toward the set.
Swish.
A stealthy figure emerged from hiding behind alley/car.
Hmm.
First set villain. Tae-gyu, who'd overheard Yoon crew plotting self-harm extortion.
Too much···
Quietly, he gazed at his dokkaebi fire from the nylon patients.
Whoosh!