✏️How to Write a K-Drama: Chapter Twenty-One
The first day on set. 🎬
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He stood up and was about to leave, but he turned back to say one more thing.
“Things are going to be different now. I’m sorry.”
A week passed in the blink of an eye. Da Young was busy slamming away on her keyboard. She wanted to write as much as possible before filming officially started. She made good progress, but not as much as she’d liked. She didn’t want to admit it, but Jae Woon’s last words had built a home in her mind and moved in like a squatter.
What did he mean? she wondered. Yul Hee’s theory, from a quick hangout earlier this week, was that he had been talking about filming and how being on set would be very different for her, a writer who was used to working behind the scenes in the comfort of her home. Somehow, that didn’t feel right to Da Young. Her mind kept going to the table reading, the only event for the drama that had taken place so far.
Am I crazy or was he completely different then? Reserved, cold, and distant…avoiding me…she continued to mull.
Yul Hee had also ranted about how he had left her with a complete stranger rather than taking care of her himself. Da Young had admitted, “I guess it would be quite creepy to find yourself in the home of a single man overnight with no recollection of what had happened.”
Yul Hee had pursed her lips, unable to argue with that. Finally, she had conceded, “Okay, he’s a pretty decent guy.”
“What happened with you and Won Joo? Did you guys get home okay?”
“Let’s just say I’m not a decent gal.”
–
“I WANT RAMYUN!” shouted Yul Hee as the van pulled up in front of her apartment building. Jo Suk excused himself to pick up a call, leaving the van and ignoring her outburst. Won Joo stared at her. She turned to him and shouted, “I haven’t had ramyun in the longest time!”
“A-aren’t you on a diet?” he mumbled, turning red again.1
“That won’t stop me,” she whispered to herself. She grabbed Won Joo by the collar. “Give me ramyun!”
A few minutes later, the two found themselves outside of a 24/7 convenience store, Won Joo sitting next to her while she slurped up the spicy noodles from her bowl with all the glee of a seven-year-old on a sugar high. He had never felt this tired before in his life.
When she seemed to be almost done, he turned to her and said, “Satisfied? Are you good to go now?” which prompted her to throw up all over him.
–
Da Young typed that exact scene into her script, unable to suppress a smile as she did so. Poor Won Joo, she thought to herself. He’s like a puppy being terrorized by a cat with claws. It’ll be fun seeing them on set…Her mind automatically went back to the idea of being on set with Jae Woon, and then just being on set in general.
It did make her nervous. She hadn’t been on a set in the longest time. Yul Hee would be there. Come to think of it, the last time she had been on a set was with Yul Hee and Jae Woon—but it would all be very different now.
But that couldn’t be what he was talking about.
–
Even though she had felt a little apprehensive before, the level of nerves she was feeling now that she was actually on set was unprecedented. She wrung her fingers like she was about to get a bad diagnosis from the doctor.
The set was bustling, assistants running around with sets or clipboards, talking into earphones and barking out orders. She felt like she had wandered on like a clueless Alice in Wonderland. She looked around but didn’t see anyone she knew.
“Hey, it’s a bit crazy right?” a male voice said behind her.
She did a tiny jump and spun around to see a vaguely familiar face smiling down at her. She exhaled in some relief and said, “Assistant Director Jang Kyung Hwan, right?”
His smile brightened as he raised his eyebrows, impressed. “Oh, you remembered, Writer Eun Joo Ni. Did you memorize everyone’s name before coming here?”
Oh, he caught me, she thought. With a chuckle, she blurted, “How’d you know? I didn’t want to be a burden to anyone on set, so I tried preparing as much as possible…”
“Oh, you wouldn’t be a burden to anyone,” he assured her with mild surprise. He had a pleasant manner of speaking. He seemed calm and immovable like a rock, which helped assuage her frenzied nerves. “You’re our star writer. We’re happy you’re here. I know for one the director is especially excited. He’s very friendly, you know, so don’t worry. We’re all here to have fun.”
Da Young glanced with some doubt at the frazzled assistants who were shouting out orders and rushing around, their eyes almost manic. As if reading her thoughts, Kyung Hwan chuckled and said, “They wouldn’t be here if they weren’t enjoying themselves to some degree. They love it that much, just like how writing can have its challenges but you do it anyway.”
She smiled at that. He was right. And quite wise. She felt even more at ease now, knowing Director Lee had a good and sensible right hand man to assist him. She recalled that Kyung Hwan would be more in charge than normal assistant directors, as Director Lee liked to cultivate new talent and help them up the ladder.
Why’s she smiling so much? wondered Jae Woon from a distance. He had caught sight of them while coming onto set after hair and makeup and stood there watching for a minute or two, mostly out of concern for the writer, whom he assumed might be nervous. She had seemed reluctant about being so actively involved in the actual production of her drama. But she looks perfectly fine, he noted drily.
“Whatcha narrowing your eyes at?” a sly voice broke through his thoughts. He turned to see Yul Hee, leaning in towards him from the side with a grin.
“I wasn’t,” he answered.
“Uh huh.”
“The sun is blinding.” Their first shoot was outdoors. They were filming the scene he had practiced with the writer before, her pulling him through the crowd in a busy outdoor area.
“Then call me the sun because I’m blinding, too!” she said proudly, holding out her arms in a Take a look at me now! manner. He laughed at that. She indeed looked very pretty in her frilly blouse tucked into high-rise jeans that flared at the bottom to reveal brown mules. A stylish, light trench coat completed the look, her bob slightly waved to gently frame her youthful face touched up with natural blush on the apples of her cheeks.
Looks like everyone’s trying to brighten up everyone’s mood, Jae Woon noted as Yul Hee did a twirl for him. What a nice set atmosphere…
Meanwhile, it was Da Young and Kyung Hwan’s turn to observe the other couple. Looks like he’s in a good mood, Da Young noted drily. When he said things would be different, I guess this is what he meant because it took him a long time to smile at me like that.
“They look good together,” Kyung Hwan said with a decisive nod. “I think we’ll have a good shoot.” He accepted a clipboard from a production assistant, looked over it, and with another nod, he said to Da Young, “Please take a seat and get comfortable if you want to watch the scene. There’s an area set up over there”—he gestured at an area of foldable tables and chairs—“for your writing if you need.”
He walked off hurriedly. She saw there was a seat set up next to the director’s seat by the camera for her if she wanted to watch the shoot and talk to Director Lee.
–
From a distance, Jae Woon’s manager, Jo Suk, murmured to Ms. So, Da Young’s agent, “They seem to be doing okay.”
“I’m glad she’s more naive than she seems,” Ms. So murmured back. “There’s no real reason the writer has to be on set all the time.” The production company had loved the idea of the writer and actor working closely together to make the best drama and thought the more time they spent together on set the more they could create a good story.
“The reasoning makes sense,” joined in a third voice, and Ms. So and Jo Suk turned their heads unanimously to see President Ha, who was busy shoving popcorn into his mouth.
“There’s no real reason you have to be on set, either,” Jo Suk flatly pointed out.
“Got to check in on my star actor!”
“He’s not your top actor anymore.”
“More reason to check up on him!”
“What’s the popcorn for?”
“It’s my lunchtime.”
Ms. So and Jo Suk without a word leaned in to grab some popcorn and all three turned back to the live show. By this point, Jae Woon and Yul Hee were holding hands, waiting for the slate so they could start their run.
Da Young watched as Kyung Hwan shouted, “Action!” and the two stars giggled as they ran. Of course they weren’t actually running in slow motion. That would look ridiculous, and the editing and special effects would take care of that later. However, it sure looked like the two stars were running in slow motion, all eyes on them as they sparkled with their perfectly styled hair, clean makeup, bright smiles, and innate confidence.
Da Young continued to watch, her frown deepening and eyes narrowing, as she suddenly realized how out of place she felt—how out of place she likely was. She turned away and headed back to her desk setup.
Maybe that was what Jae Woon had meant from the start.
Next week on 🌟How to Write a K-Drama🌟
She opened her mouth when she saw him glance at a text on his phone before quickly shoving it back down his pocket, tensing up. She closed her mouth, frowning. This gesture, this tension…she remembered it. Something felt very familiar about it.
“having ramyun” is a South Korean euphemism for an adult sleepover, which is also technically a euphemism, but you get that much, right?