1novels 72, An Invitation to the New World
72, An Invitation to the New World
The internal script reading session for "The Moon Embracing the Sun" has officially concluded.
Everyone simply read through the script and went over their lines, according to their respective roles, just to make the filming process easier.
The filming schedule for this production was very tight, leaving very little time for pre-production preparation. As a result, the entire reading session was efficient and did not drag on.
In just over an hour, the entire cast and crew had completed a thorough reading and rehearsals of the key scenes from the script. The rest, it was up to them on set.
Lee Kyung-sung's performance completely exceeded director Kim Do-hoon's expectations. He not only memorized all the lines perfectly, but also demonstrated an exceptional understanding of the Crown Prince's emotions. Furthermore, his chemistry with Han Ga-in was extremely high, even elevating her performance.
His brand-new script initially made Kim Do-hoon a little unsure, but fortunately, Lee Kyung-sung completely redeemed his image with his professional skills.
This also allowed Kim Do-hoon to completely set aside his concerns and give Lee Kyung-sung a positive label.
"Dohoon, I always said that Kyungsung has great potential." Screenwriter Chen Xiuwan walked slowly to his side and said with a smile.
"I hope the filming goes smoothly."
Kim Do-hoon nodded slightly. Lee Kyung-sung had already boosted the drama's ratings with his popularity, but the final quality would depend on how it was actually presented on screen.
After everyone quickly packed up, the crew officially set off for the filming location. MBC's Seoul headquarters is quite far from the filming location; the outdoor scenes were shot at Yongin Studios in Cheoin-gu, Yongin City, Gyeonggi Province.
The crew members traveled together by bus, while Lee Kyung-sung, Han Ga-in, director Kim Do-hoon, screenwriter Jin Soo-wan, and others departed separately in their own cars.
The journey was long, and everyone in the carriage was unusually quiet.
I was already tired from getting up early to rush through the schedule, attend readings and media events, and then there was the actual filming later, so I was taking advantage of the commute to rest as much as possible.
Li Jingcheng, however, with his enhanced physique, maintained an exceptionally high level of energy throughout the journey, even displaying an undisguised excitement.
He was genuinely interested in acting, and even took out his own script again, started flipping through it, and asked experienced people, "Did Yong-ho start filming from the first episode?"
Agent Luo Yonghao, meanwhile, had no time to rest. He kept his head down, staring at his phone, reviewing promotional plans for the character of Lee Kyung-sung in the core work group chat of the production crew, occasionally editing text and offering his own promotional suggestions.
He turned and smiled. "Of course not. Normally, we finish filming all the scenes for one scene first. Since your scenes haven't been written or confirmed yet, just follow the director's instructions."
"I see." Li Jingcheng nodded and continued reading the script.
"Oh right, Minister Kim sent a message." Luo Yonghao looked at the message on his phone, his face flushed with excitement.
Lee Kyung-sung's heart skipped a beat when he saw Na Yong-ho's expression. He hadn't done anything lately. Could it be that he was photographed shopping with Kim Ji-soo? Or was he caught eating barbecue with Lee Hyeri?
"Park Hoon-jung has already agreed to give you an audition opportunity," Na Yong-ho said with a smirk. "It's mainly because you're a newcomer. If it were earlier, this role would definitely be yours."
"The character?" Li Jingcheng tossed the script aside, somewhat curious. His company handled all the project management for him. "It's not going to be another gentle and devoted character, is it?"
"Completely the opposite." Luo Yonghao pushed up his glasses, his voice low but unable to hide his excitement. "This is a hardcore crime action movie, and he's the male lead."
It's your stepping stone to the Blue Dragon Film Awards, the Baeksang Arts Awards, and the Grand Bell Awards; it's also your excellent ticket to step into the core circle of Chungmuro. Lee Kyung-sung, a rising star in both Korean film and television in Chungmuro.
"A crime film?" Lee Kyung-sung wasn't surprised by Na Yong-ho's excitement. How big is South Korea? How large can its market be? If it weren't for Bae Joo-hyun and others...
He had already found a company in Dongda University to make money there; that's where the real goldmine is.
Liu Yifei, Peng Yuyan, Xie Tingfeng, the future Wu Qian, and a bunch of others are all overseas citizens making money in the Chinese entertainment industry. So can't he do the same? He can even speak fluent Mandarin, and his persona is already planned out.
Every time I film a movie, I take a certification exam on the side. I start by deliberately speaking with an accent, and then I switch to fluent, accent-free Mandarin. I get the "hard-working" persona without even worrying about it collapsing.
And they can earn more than them.
"Do you have a script? As long as it doesn't break away from the stereotypical lovestruck character, it'll be fine." Lee Kyung-sung didn't object to CJ choosing roles for him; the first role Min-joo found for him, "The Moon Embracing the Sun," proved that she had good taste.
"The film is titled 'New World,'" Na Yong-ho said, tapping the screen. "Filming is tentatively scheduled to begin this June. Once this MBC drama airs and generates buzz, you'll have more confidence for your auditions later. Remember, don't leak the script."
"Don't worry, Yonghao-ge, I'm not a child. I'm just generally popular and have a lot of personal matters to deal with, but I've never troubled you with anything else." Li Jingcheng smiled, looking at the document that had been sent, which seemed vaguely familiar.
"Hahaha," Wang Zilu chuckled softly.
Indeed, aside from being a bit of a womanizer, Li Jingcheng didn't cause him any trouble.
Luo Yonghao nodded in agreement, then laughed and scolded, "Wang Zilu, what are you laughing at? Did I tell Jingcheng that you took the day off to accompany that rich woman? Did I say anything?"
"Huh??? No, Professor Luo, you..."
Wang Zilu opened his mouth wide, and his small eyes widened to their maximum size.
Li Jingcheng looked away from the script and into Wang Zilu's eyes in the rearview mirror with some admiration. "Brother Zilu, you're really something. Among my friends, there's only one rich woman, and I haven't even managed to win her over yet."
Luo Yonghao's smile had vanished. He glanced at Li Jingcheng out of the corner of his eye. What money could a trainee possibly have? Even a low-profile idol couldn't possibly be rich.
That must be Im Yoon-a.
Li Jingcheng fell silent, his eyes now fixed on the script for the new world. Although not all of it had been released, the storyline involving Li Zicheng reminded him of it.
The most famous are the "Yanbian F4," the most reliable and "cost-effective" dirty work team. They wear dowdy cotton coats, take public transportation, and stay in cheap hotels. They are cheap, ruthless, tight-lipped, and effective.
You can even see them in some Hong Kong variety shows and novels.
"Who are my competitors in this drama?" Li Jingcheng put down his phone, his expression turning serious. Of course, he had heard Luo Yonghao say at the beginning that the role might not even be his.
"It seems you really like this role."
Na Yong-ho laughed, "Don't worry, the director and screenwriter of this movie wants Lee Jung-jae to play the role of Li Zicheng, but the contract hasn't been signed yet, so we have a great chance."
Doesn't that mean there are more roles that can be snatched away?
Hijacking a character is definitely a double-edged sword, with both advantages and disadvantages. However, the added system rewards make the disadvantages seem insignificant.
As long as it doesn't affect his ability to build a harem, that's fine.
The hour-long highway drive passed in the blink of an eye, and the vehicle arrived smoothly at Yongin Film Studio. He and Na Yong-ho got out of the car first, and were greeted by the spacious and retro-styled filming location for MBC period dramas—Dae Jang Geum Film Studio.