1novels 70. Photographs taken before the reading session.
70. Photographs taken before the reading session.
The MBC production center building was brightly lit in the early morning, serving as the venue for the script reading and pre-broadcast promotion of "The Moon Embracing the Sun," generating the first wave of buzz for the upcoming adult male-led drama before its premiere.
As a key figure in MBC's highly anticipated historical drama and a male actor heavily promoted by CJ, he had already arranged for his own television station's reporters to be waiting in the lobby for filming and interviews.
But Li Jingcheng didn't care about any of that. He carefully considered his words, leaned closer with a hint of anticipation, and asked, "Brother Yonghao, how's the Huang Zhongze character plan we mentioned before going? Have you made any preliminary plans?"
Luo Yonghao sighed slightly and slowly shook his head. "Although we are in charge of your project, the final decision rests with Director Li. I can only make suggestions on your behalf."
"Does Director Li know? Did she say anything?" Li Jingcheng asked with a hint of hope. He really didn't want to be stuck with the image of an innocent, pure-hearted man; he'd seen too many celebrities ruin their carefully constructed personas in his past life.
"How could I possibly report to Director Lee personally? But I did mention it to Team Leader Kim," Luo Yonghao said, his eyes looking a little strange, as if he was thinking of his harem. "They will tailor a plan to your specific situation, so you don't need to worry about these issues."
Seeing that Lee Kyung-sung still looked utterly hopeless, Luo Yonghao could understand, but this was outside his authority, so he changed the subject, "The costumes for Lee Hwon and Seo Yeon-woo that you asked me to order have arrived, and they are exactly according to the height and weight you provided."
"What's the use? I'm starting filming again soon, and you've already booked the hotel for me. I can't exactly have her come to the hotel to find me." His eyes lit up briefly, but then, thinking about his increasingly busy schedule, Li Jingcheng's spirits lifted.
"Of course you can't be that arrogant," Luo Yonghao was almost scared to death. He could only try to appease him, "You're not going to be filming on set every day. Just perform well for a few days. If you can't stand it anymore, I'll ask the director for leave for you, but the premise is that it can't affect filming."
"Brother Yong-ho, don't worry!"
Lee Kyung-sung was completely moved. No wonder artists want to maintain a good relationship with their managers; a good relationship is incredibly helpful.
Finally, he managed to appease him, and Luo Yonghao breathed a sigh of relief. He decided to find some time to ask Jin Minzhu about it. He also felt that Li Jingcheng would eventually explode, and given his personality, he wouldn't willingly break up with his girlfriends. If he could really adopt Huang Zongze's persona, it would indeed avoid many problems.
"I thought the reading party was filming at a movie studio, but it doesn't look like one, and it's not MBC either." Lee Kyung-sung, who had also decided to ask Kim Min-joo, stopped worrying about it and looked out the car window curiously, asking...
Sitting next to Lee Kyung-sung in the car, Na Yong-ho patiently answered his questions, "That's right, today's script reading for everyone will be held in the conference room of the MBC Production Center. We'll head to the MBC Studios for filming later, where all your palace exterior scenes will be shot."
He glanced at Lee Kyung-sung's condition, his eyes filled with satisfaction, and whispered, "Today's reading is an official public event. There will be filming before the reading and a group interview with the media afterward. MBC and CJ will do their best to boost the public's anticipation before your appearance on the show."
When asked about the details of the on-site interviews, Na Yong-ho didn't seem to care much. Most of the interviews were conducted by himself or by reporters from MBC. However, he did offer a reminder: "Most of those invited are official media outlets under MBC and CJ, but there are also some entertainment sections from newspapers and entertainment media. Since you're very popular, many entertainment reporters from KBS and SBS will definitely come in looking for opportunities."
"But you probably won't get a chance to ask questions. Don't be nervous. If anything unexpected happens, I'll signal you immediately and help you take control of the situation."
Li Jingcheng nodded slightly, not caring much. If they wouldn't reply, he'd just read it and reply randomly. This was indeed one of his specialties from his previous life; he just needed to follow their procedures smoothly.
The vehicle came to a smooth stop at the main entrance of the MBC production center. The lobby on the first floor was already bustling with activity and orderly, with representatives from MBC, CJ Entertainment, and other mainstream media all present.
Cameras and audio equipment were neatly arranged, with countless lenses all aimed at the designated entrance.
Most media outlets came with the mission of generating buzz and boosting the popularity of the male lead, Li Jingcheng, and the new drama. However, many more media outlets were actually interested in Li Jingcheng himself.
Li Jingcheng stepped out of the car, dressed in a style that was more in line with the character of Li Xuan. The theme was mature, and his simple and neat formal attire made him look tall and handsome. He had both the clean and clear temperament of a young man and the composure of a mature man. He instantly captured the attention of all the cameras as soon as he appeared.
The flashes of cameras went off gently and orderly, and the rapid clicking of shutters filled the air as all the media outlets did their best to capture every moment of him, making him a truly impressive figure.
Along the way, all the MBC directors, crew members, and stagehands bowed and greeted him with utmost respect. A dedicated publicity staff member immediately stepped forward to lead the way, quietly explaining the details of the process, and guided Lee Kyung-sung along the exclusive VIP passage to the second-floor reading room.
Upon arriving at the conference room door, Li Jingcheng immediately spotted the female lead, Han Jiaren, who was already waiting there.
Today, Han Ga-in sheds her usual gentle and casual demeanor, sporting an elegant and appropriate business suit. With her short hair revealing her refined and sharp shoulder and neck lines, her makeup is clean, sophisticated, and elegant, while also exuding the composure of a veteran actress.
Thirty-year-old Han Ga-in still looks stunning even without filters when facing the camera.
When she saw Li Jingcheng approaching, a gentle smile appeared in her eyes. She took the initiative to greet him, "Jingcheng, it has to be you. You got the crew to read out the filming plan in advance. I'm really looking forward to working with the crew again."
"My dear lady, I look forward to your guidance in the future." Li Jingcheng nodded slightly and smiled politely. They hadn't exchanged a single word since exchanging contact information.
"Jingcheng! We've finally got you on set! I'm really looking forward to your performance!" Screenwriter Chen Xiuwan also came over, smiling and waving.
"Good morning, Noona. I'm also looking forward to playing Lee Hwon and seeing if there's anything I can improve."
Director Kim Do-hoon also greeted them politely. As a director with many years of experience, seeing so many media reporters present...
He certainly knew the main reason wasn't MBC, but CJ. It seemed Lee Kyung-sung held a more significant position at CJ than expected.
Many unfamiliar actors also came over to say hello, without putting on airs or making Li Jingcheng the one to greet them.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, though each person exchanged only a couple of polite words at most, Li Jingcheng suddenly realized that managing his facial expressions wasn't so easy after all.
Watching from the sidelines, Luo Yonghao observed the harmonious atmosphere of their first meeting, nodded slightly, then his gaze lingered on Han Jiaren for a few seconds before returning to Li Jingcheng.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Han Jiaren led Lee Kyung-sung to the main visual center position. Lee Kyung-sung, without much hesitation, nodded slightly to Han Jiaren in gratitude.
Everyone cooperated with the official media to conduct the official announcement filming.
Dozens of cameras were on site simultaneously, and the flashes made it difficult for him to see clearly. Fortunately, he had received training from CJ, so apart from feeling his eyes were a bit dry and blurry, it was still barely tolerable.
Lee Kyung-sung is handsome and refined, while Han Ga-in is gentle and elegant. The two have perfectly matched auras, and their on-screen chemistry is so strong that the media present secretly praised them.
The production team completed the individual announcement photos of the main actors, the group photo of the male and female leads, and the group photo of the entire cast and crew, as well as the shooting of other materials.
After the entire filming process was completed, the event smoothly moved into a simple group interview session.
The reporter, identified by the MBC official logo, raised their hand first and asked a question in a friendly and gentle tone: "Lee Kyung-sung, this is your first major historical drama as the male lead since returning to Korea. What prompted you to join 'The Moon Embracing the Sun'? What is your understanding of the role of the crown prince and your performance plan?"
As expected of Yonghao's standard answer, Li Jingcheng responded clearly and appropriately: "What attracts me most is the core story and character settings of the script. The narrative of the whole drama is delicate and full, and the atmosphere of the era is very strong. The character of the Crown Prince is forbearing and determined, and he grows continuously in the midst of fate and power struggles. The character has a rich sense of layering and a lot of room for performance."
During this period, I have been working diligently on the script and refining the character's emotions, hoping to fully portray the character's integrity and growth, and live up to the expectations of the production team and the audience.
Immediately following, an entertainment reporter from tvN, whose microphone was labeled CJ, asked, "How was the experience working with Han Ga-in on set for the first time in a historical drama?"
"Senior Jiaren is very professional, gentle, and approachable. I even asked her about her understanding of the character. She patiently discussed the performance details with me and helped me quickly get into character. We worked together very smoothly."
The camera then turned to Han Ga-in, and the reporter asked with a smile, "Han Ga-in-ssi, after two years, why did you choose 'The Moon Embracing the Sun' as your return to the television screen? And what was your first impression of the rising star Lee Kyung-sung?"
Han Jiaren, with gentle eyes and a sincere smile, generously praised, "The script for this drama is of very high quality, with delicate emotions. It's a rare and excellent period drama. Moreover, Jing Cheng's acting skills and performance completely exceeded my expectations."
Her delivery of lines is solid, her emotional expression is nuanced, and her presence perfectly matches the character. She is very talented, and I'm really looking forward to our future scenes together. I believe this drama will not disappoint.
The Q&A session was positive and harmonious throughout. The various media outlets' presentations were less about promoting the drama itself and more about promoting Lee Kyung-sung. However, everyone knew that Lee Kyung-sung was the core male lead, heavily promoted by both MBC and CJ, and the drama's main draw in terms of both viewership and acting talent.
The entire public reading and media interview process went smoothly and successfully.
Lee Kyung-sung was exasperated. Aside from Han Ga-in, Kim Do-hoon, and Jin Soo-wan each having only one question, all the other questions were directed at him. He wasn't afraid of being the center of attention; it was just that these questions were all the same and felt rather pointless.