[ This I will... I will ... take you (take you). Forever!]
I hum happily in the car, the iconic of my first to-be drama.
Yuri-noona and I are currently making our way to the broadcasting studio where I have been called to meet.
I really can't believe that I am actually going to have a part in the making of Legacy Brilliant.
While it is definitely not the greatest drama ever made, It was definitely one of my favorites.
More importantly I'll get to meet, Han Hojoo 'the Smiling angel' and Moon Won, 'the Queen of Melodrama'
I am practically sweating in anticipation of today.
Originally I didn't watch much TV at all, life was too busy. I mean I had enough time to catch a short music show performance or a chapter of my favorite manga and anime.
The type of things I could consume quick.
But once I stumbled into the Hallyu rabbit hole, it was a point of no return.
One day while I was too sick to head into my partime job, I gave EYERIS a watch due to netizen reviews going crazy about Kim Tae.
Well long story short I ended up watching the entire series over a weekend with little to no sleep.
Kim Tae, is the prophet who enlightened me of my wrongdoings.
She is, if you will, the direct reason I wanted to be an actor.
Why Instead of aspiring to be a movie star, I wanted to appear on television.
Korean Television! I fell in love with its pureness. Its ability to drag you out of your world and for a period of 16 weeks become something everyone speaks about around the water cooler or eagerly anticipates.
K-dramas are ...generally.... simple, fun and reality defying.
It usually follows a skeleton more or less like this.
A male meets a female, misunderstandings ensue causing them to dislike one another.
THEN PLOT TWIST, they are forced to interact frequently, as a contract relationship or boss or co-worker.
Various encounters later and they begin to have feelings.
THEN PLOT twist, something comes in between them
Which can be wealth, sickness or ex's.
Some way or another this is resolved with about 5 episodes left
You then get one/two really sappy episodes, which are the best
THEN PLOT TWIST, one of the leads has an accident and loses his memory, someone tries to steal his company, he breaks up with her because his parents were ass h***** to her parents, they could be related. Anyway its a new problem
And in the last episode everything is magically resolved (well at least for the main couple)
Most of the dramas I watched, ended happily.
I try to avoid sad endings, I mean what's the point? If I want to cry, I can just look at your life.
That aside, Legacy Brilliant is all that wrapped in one, a love story, family wealth and overly dramatic plot twists.
...
As we enter the studio, I'm lead to large conference hall. Where scripts are laid out on the table and Camera's are being set up to capture teaser photos for the production.
It appears that I arrived early, as the only staff present are interns and junior production members.
No-one with a real-title.
Nonetheless, I offer my greetings to all those present.
Introduce myself to everyone, offering a few exchanges are pleasantries about the weather and life.
One never knows, these junior writers/directors could one day be head writers/directors and by then you'd have to kiss their ass to just land a role.
Being kind costs you nothing but the return is always abundant.
Before I take a seat on the chair with my name tag, I take off my coat and drape it over the backrest.
I pick up the Script and notice that it is personalized with my name written beautifully in the corner under the title of the drama.
Running my fingers over the hangul (korean alphabet), I feel a little pride well up inside and open the script to begin reviewing the familiar scenes.
As I look for the dialogue of my character, I come across my 'entrance' scene and I can't help but giggle out loud thinking how I will act this out.
This catches the attention of the room, who look over to see a graceful prince in his element exuding an aura of freshness.
The female eyes who were plastered on me , ever since I entered can't help but be curious about what scene is bringing me such joy.
For the purpose of context, allow to describe the first introduction I have with the female lead.
Basically it is the stereotypical cool guy entrance where the camera pans over to me, from out of the shot, with bright lighting and slow motion effects. I then take my sunglasses off and do a hair flick (firstly I'm already in doors why do I still have sunglasses on and secondly am I Justin Bieber? What does the script writer even mean by cool hair flick).
I then say my name for the audience like a James bond wannabe. 'My name is Joon-se. Park Joon-se' as I introduce myself to the female lead.
It reminds me of that CSI show where the guy takes his sunglasses whenever he makes a discovery and pouts at the camera.
I pretty much act morose for most of the first episode so putting on a bored act, given all the waiting I will probable have to do will come easy.
I am introduced as the best friend of the Female lead's current 'boyfriend'. I say boyfriend but he only cares for the wealth of the female lead and his character is forgotten about pretty quickly.
Since I'm playing the absolute cool guy! A role I'm especially suited for If you ask me.
I will make all the hearts of the Korean people tremble in excitement because of Park Joon-se.
I will act this role even better than Bae Bin did.
Joon-se as a character is the ideal man whom all women would like to marry or date. It will be quite easy to make all girls watching faint from love and addiction.
Even if my screen time may be low, I swear to make the entire country have 2nd Male Lead Syndrome!