Chapter 63: The Angry Waves of the Desert

After that, the script reading ended with applause after going through the middle part of the content and matching the lines.

After filming a brief interview that followed, most of the supporting actors had left the conference room.

"Mr. Yeonwoo."

While exchanging greetings with the other actors who remained, Director Lee approached, calling out to Yeonwoo.

"Yes, Director."

"Our ending scene requires a lot of CG work, so we need to start as soon as possible. You need to ride a horse, right? If you can practice for about three weeks, we should be able to edit it to look good..."

Yeonwoo smiled, as if pleased with the director's words.

"I know how to ride a horse. I've tried horseback riding for a long time. We can start filming as soon as you're ready."

To work in conflict zones, knowing how to ride horses and camels is essential.

Not only Yeonwoo, but Han Haeun can also ride at a professional level.

Since Yeonwoo is a skilled rider, he considered this when choosing a historical drama for his next project.

Director Lee, delighted by Yeonwoo's response, opened his mouth wide.

"Oh, really? Wow, I'm relieved. I was having trouble finding a location..."

To film the final scene where the general of Yonara rides alone into the enemy camp, the only place in the country where filming is possible without going overseas is the Sinjuri coastal dunes.

The filming dates were limited to next month for environmental protection due to the sprouting of dune plants, so Director Lee was hoping Yeonwoo could quickly learn horseback riding.

If it didn't work out, he was considering giving up the close-up shots and only filming long shots with a drone, using a stuntman.

However, the fact that a young actor without a historical drama in his career can ride a horse made all of Director Lee's worries vanish.

"Then I'll try to set the shooting schedule as soon as possible. I heard the CG work for the general of Yonara will take a while."

"Yes, Director. I understand."

After Director Lee left, Seo Ji-eun approached, clasping her hands together.

"Your acting during the script reading was amazing. Mr. Yeonwoo, let's speak more casually."

Yeonwoo found it fun to deliver lines with Ji-eun, as their chemistry matched well.

It was a different kind of synergy compared to his scenes with Ma Seokdo.

Perhaps Son Jin-wook and Han Sohyun felt this way when they worked together in "Summer's Closet."

"Hmm, should we?"

"Hehe."

The more Yeonwoo looked at Seo Ji-eun, with her fair and delicate face, the more he thought she resembled a younger version of Han Sohyun.

"Getting along like close friends will bring synergy to the work, Ji-eun."

"I'm excited just thinking about the upcoming filming."

Yeonwoo nodded and extended his hand, and Ji-eun shook it with a smile.

Considering the age difference, it was awkward to speak casually with Son Jin-wook and Han Sohyun, who were over ten years older, but it seemed fine with Seo Ji-eun, who was only two years younger.

***

A few days after the script reading, Yeonwoo received a call that the shooting schedule was set.

Arriving at the Sinjuri coastal dunes in Taean in the morning in Minsoo's car,

"Wow, I didn't know such a place existed in Korea."

Kim Minsoo looked around as he got out of the parking lot.

The desertified coastal dunes stretch vast to the horizon.

The blowing sand gives a strong feeling of a real desert.

"That's right."

While responding to Minsoo, the sight of the desert reminded Yeonwoo of his operations in the Middle East.

Thinking of the Middle East operations, Han Haeun naturally came to mind.

'I wonder if the investigation is going well.'

A production staff member waiting in the parking lot approached and greeted them.

"Mr. Actor, please come this way."

Following the staff's guidance, Yeonwoo entered the trailer in the parking lot.

A special makeup artist attached a beard and created wrinkles on Yeonwoo.

Minsoo watched the makeup process with interest from the side.

In contrast, Yeonwoo remained calm while watching himself age in real-time.

In fact, Yeonwoo had quite a bit of experience with special makeup during his agent days.

He often used special makeup for operations that had a high chance of exposure to the media or cameras.

After a while, Director Lee and assistant writer Jung Ye-na entered the trailer where Yeonwoo was being made up.

"Oh, Mr. Yeonwoo."

"Ah, Director, you're here."

"Don't talk. Mr. Yeonwoo, your beard might fall off."

Director Lee, who came over and patted Yeonwoo's shoulder.

"I heard you have experience with horseback riding, but since we had to set the location quickly, I couldn't check your skills, which is a bit concerning. So, just in case, I've called a stunt double."

He was probably thinking about potential safety issues.

Yeonwoo smiled at the director, who was looking at him in the mirror with a worried expression.

"It's really fine. I'm familiar with horseback riding."

Yeonwoo felt a bit guilty saying something that would make his family raise their eyebrows if they heard it.

However, when he asked his sister Sohyun, she said the family had tried horseback riding in Jeju before, so if they ask, he could just say he learned during filming.

"This is my fault for not expecting the tight schedule for the coastal dunes filming. Let's go outside and see how it goes before making a decision."

"Understood."

Director Lee seemed somewhat relieved by Yeonwoo's words.

"Then I'll go to the site to coordinate things."

This is an important scene to wrap up the entire drama, and it was clear that he was putting a lot of effort into it.

Director Lee patted Yeonwoo's shoulder again and left the trailer.

Assistant writer Jung Ye-na, who had followed in, stayed and looked at Yeonwoo with bright eyes.

"Writer Kim Jin-ju is busy writing the script, so I came instead. I'm assistant writer Jung Ye-na."

"Nice to meet you."

Yeonwoo tried to speak without moving his mouth much and extended his hand for a handshake.

Jung Ye-na's eyes shone like a predator's, and she held Yeonwoo's hand with both of hers.

"Ah, I'm crazy. I'm actually a fan."

Does an idol feel this way during a fan meeting? Jung Ye-na, holding Yeonwoo's hand and making eye contact.

Yeonwoo always found it amazing to meet his fan club, WOZ.

As an actor, he had only one publicly known work, "Summer's Closet," but fans loved him based on his short appearance in the 16 episodes.

"Thank you so much. Really."

Yeonwoo looked at Jung Ye-na with genuine gratitude and smiled.

"Ah!"

With a short scream, Ye-na clutched her heart.

It was partly a playful reaction, but the other half was genuine.

'Today, I really got to meet him... '

At that moment, the special makeup artist, who had finished the makeup, spoke.

"Alright, it's done. Now let's get you dressed."

The special makeup artist and Kim Minsoo, the manager, looked at Jung Ye-na.

"Um, as a writer, maybe I can help with the costume, or check something...?"

Minsoo shook his head quietly.

"No, I don't think so..."

Jung Ye-na's shoulders drooped as she quietly left the trailer.

"The costume is a bit complicated, and it's still quite hot outside, so you'll have to endure. It looks like you'll have a tough time."

Xu Xi, a Goryeo scholar, was recorded as being excellent in both civil and military affairs.

While not as elaborate as a general's armor, the costume for Xu Xi, as an envoy and the emperor's representative, was quite complex, with multiple layers of clothing.

Yeonwoo smiled.

"I'm good at enduring."

After putting on the complicated costume and hat, Yeonwoo came out of the trailer.

"Mr. Actor, are you hot?"

"I'm fine."

Leaving Minsoo's concern behind, Yeonwoo headed to the waiting area for filming.

"Oh, Mr. Yeonwoo, you're done."

Director Lee greeted him and entered the filming site together.

On one side of the filming site, a drone camera was being tested, and on the other side, a horse was being brought in.

"If you fall off, it could be a big problem, but would you like to try riding the horse?"

Although the shooting schedule was tight, Director Lee wanted to see Yeonwoo ride the horse with his own eyes since he had never seen him do it before.

"Yes, Director. I'll take a light ride around the filming site."

Yeonwoo, who had ridden horses and camels in various rugged terrains to avoid detection when infiltrating operation areas, thought it would be good to show his riding skills to ease any unnecessary worries.

Yeonwoo approached the horse and stroked its mane.

*Purr*.

Although a veteran horse that has participated in many shootings and is gentle, this interaction is beneficial in many ways.

"Do you have any sugar cubes?"

"Of course."

When Yeonwoo asked the groom, he took a square sugar cube from his front pocket.

While carrots are generally thought to be the favorite snack of horses, they actually prefer sugar cubes.

Yeonwoo stroked the horse's forehead, made eye contact, and fed it the sugar cube.

The horse blinked its large eyes, seemingly enjoying the attention.

"You handle horses well."

The groom smiled as he spoke to Yeonwoo.

"Is this horse afraid of drones or cameras?"

"It's used to filming."

"Can I take a ride around?"

The groom nodded and handed over the reins.

Yeonwoo took the reins and, despite the uncomfortable costume, mounted the horse with a skilled posture.

"Let's take a slow walk."

Yeonwoo skillfully held the reins and walked the horse around the sandy filming site.

"Wow, you really know how to ride."

Director Lee, watching this, nodded and pushed forward with the shooting preparations.

After a few minutes, with the cameras set up, Director Lee called Yeonwoo.

"Mr. Yeonwoo, we're ready to shoot."

"Yes, Director."

Yeonwoo led the horse to the starting point for the filming.

"Since the horse might get startled, I won't give a cue. Just ride straight forward when you're ready."

Yeonwoo nodded, understanding the director's instructions.

"Are you ready?"

Yeonwoo stroked the horse's mane and quietly communicated with it.

He then grabbed the reins and spurred the horse, which started to run at a fast pace.

Horses naturally enjoy running.

However, they are intelligent and easily frightened animals, so they instinctively adjust their speed based on the rider's skill.

The faster the skilled rider, the faster the horse runs.

Yeonwoo skillfully handled the reins, matching the horse's rhythm, and gradually increased the speed.

The drone camera, flying overhead, captured Yeonwoo galloping across the desertified plain.

Yeonwoo, imagining the general of Yonara's army ahead, rode with a solemn expression.

The scene depicted Xu Xi, carrying the fate of Goryeo on his back, charging into a storm.

The drone camera followed Yeonwoo at full speed, capturing the dynamic ride.

As the drone ascended to a higher altitude, it captured the scene before the filming.

Before Yeonwoo, there was nothing, but behind him, a sandstorm was created by the galloping horse.

The quiet plain ahead contrasted with the storm-like sand behind, creating a grand and dramatic scene.

Director Lee, watching the footage on the outdoor field monitor connected to the drone camera's control panel, was moved.

"Even without any processing, this scene is already something that will go down in the history of historical dramas."

The groom, who was checking the horse's condition, also marveled.

"That actor really knows how to ride. To achieve that speed, it usually takes a professional rider."

At that moment, Yeonwoo, in the footage, slowed down the horse's speed and turned to come back.