Barefooted Youth - Part 1 of 2
bb: Please note once again, this is not a literal word-for-word translation. Yes, the entire posting is pretty much based on Close2yj’s posting, but I told the story in my own words. I also did not use her pictures, and I added more details in some sections.Original in Chinese: Close2yj / http://www.loveyongjoon.com/
Translated into English with additional info: happiebb
/ http://www.happiebb.blogspot.com/
Barefooted Youth Part 1 of 2:
He Learnt his Lesson about Keeping Healthy
You’ve been following this series? Thank you… We’ve completed the First Love leg and then some. Let’s move on to January 1998. After a blackout period of ten months, during which time countless fans were all missing him and pining for him, Yong Joon finally appeared in a 16-episode KBS2 mini-series, Barefooted Youth. Barefooted Youth could possibly be described as the Korean version of Romeo and Juliet. The drama was essentially a love story’s about a boy from a triad family background and a girl whose father’s a public prosecutor. Yong Joon’s character was Yusok, a young man trapped between love and family, right and wrong, and dreams and reality.
There’s a little story too about this. After a relatively long absence of ten months, Yong Joon once again found himself outside the entrance of the TV station.
The security guard called out to him as he attempted to enter. “Hey, young man! You can’t go in without a pass!”
“Ajussi, I’m the actor Bae Yong Joon from First Love.” Yong Joon scratched his head and thought to himself, maybe he had really disappeared from the goggle box way too long.
But actually, it’s not entirely surprising the security guard did not recognize him at first. In order to play the role of Yusuk well, Yong Joon had lost 8kg. From what people remembered as the stout tough guy Chan Woo in First Love, he’s become the fine-looking young man Yusuk. Lanky and so handsome he’s almost beautiful. He looked like a different person altogether.
Whenever he had to create a new role for a drama, he would always start ‘sculpting’ the character from the outward appearance. That’s the first step. Since he had just recovered from his leg injury, he could not embark on any vigorous exercise regime, so he had to rely on diet to lose weight. Each day, he would only eat half of his normal amount. And finally, whenever he ran into someone he knew, they would invariably say, “Oh, you’ve become so skinny!” A lot of work was also done on his hairstyle; it was quite a big change from his previous hairstyles. During the filming of Barefooted Youth, the styling of Yusuk’s hair took nearly two hours every day! Hee, but it’s nice!
Faced with the new work after taking a rather long break, Yong Joon felt pressure. In fact, he felt like he’s a rookie in the business all over again. Days before filming commenced, he was carrying the script with him wherever he went. He would sleep only four hours a day. In fact, his approach was to treat himself as a rookie and to treat the drama as though it’s his first, giving everything he had and a little bit more. In order to fully understand the story, he would often discuss things with the scriptwriter late into the night. Perhaps… only it’s done this way, only when he felt he had done all the necessary preparation in every aspect, then he would be able to overcome the unfamiliarity and fear when standing in front of the rolling camera.
The first day of filming for Barefooted Youth… It was inside a small cinema in Yeong Deung Po. That was a scene in which Yusuk would sit all alone in the empty cinema, smoking as he watched his late mother’s work on the big screen. And all the while, all sorts of thoughts from the past were flashing through his mind. In order to achieve the desired effects, they had wanted a foggy feel from the projector. So in that small, confined space of the cinema, the crew started lighting up cigarettes on the right side of the projector and were all blowing and puffing away in Yong Joon’s direction. Well, that scene was eventually wrapped up, but not before Yong Joon had inhaled more than half a carton of cigarette smoke.
Next, Yong Joon had to face the challenge of quite a few rather ‘vigorous’ action scenes, including fights, leaping from the second storey, chasing after the train and others. Now, don’t forget, Yong Joon had just recovered and was not supposed to strain himself. So, these were all pretty tough challenges for him. Although the director had said they could use stuntmen, Yong Joon insisted on doing them himself so that the scenes looked more real. Sighs…. Why am I not surprised?
That day… They were filming at railway tracks at Gangreung-si at Gangwon-do. Yusuk was being chased by some baddies and was supposed to jump onboard a moving train when he was fleeing from them. Yong Joon ran to and fro many times as they tried to perfect the scene. By the time they wrapped up shooting for that day, his legs and feet hurt so much he could not stand straight. When his doctor saw that scene from the television, he sounded both worried and angry as he said to Yong Joon, “I will not be responsible for whatever happens to that leg of yours!” That particular scene really took a toll on him. The condition of that hurt leg worsened and it resulted in yet another ten-month’s rest after Yong Joon completed Barefooted Youth.
Later sometime during the middle of the drama, Have We Really Loved, Yong Joon said this when he was being interviewed:
“Thinking back about it now, I regret terribly about disregarding what the doctor had advised, and doing things my own way. Of course, it’s so that the scenes could be better and more realistic, but partly also because of my own strong sense of pride and confidence when it came to those action scenes. Recently, I’ve begun to understand the importance of good health. What’s there to talk about putting in a good performance without a healthy body?”
Other than the action scenes, there's another challenge facing Yong Joon in Barefooted Youth - playing the electric guitar. In the drama, Yong Joon needed to play the popular tune ‘Somebody Save Me’ by the American heavy metal band Cinderella. That's the first time Yong Joon came into contact with the guitar. A friend who’s good at playing the electric guitar gave him special training. Yong Joon practiced the techniques with much passion and enthusiasm. Even when the crew on the Barefooted Youth set were all off to have their meals, he would still remain on the set, practising on his electric guitar like crazy. Yea, I know... that's yet another reason for you to catch Barefooted Youth, ya? To see our Yong Joon playing the electric guitar like a rock star, haha! Once again, I'm not at all surprised at all he gave his all to learn how to play the electric guitar convincingly. Here's one man who's proven time and time again he's got a mind of steel. When he sets his heart on doing something, you can be darned sure he's gonna do it right.
Part 2 will still be on Barefooted Youth, and I'll be talking about image of Yusuk, arguably the most beautiful of all the characters Yong Joon's played, purely in terms of physical attributes of course. And Part 2 will see more behind-the-camera stories, as well as his first on-screen kiss.
posted by bb @ 1/13/2006 02:07:00 AM
13 Comments:
Hi bb, thanks so much for your post, I learn a lot from you.
You're right, he is really really handsome and I love love his hairstyle.
I hope this drama will have enghlish subtitle one day because I prefer watch teh drama than pictures.
halo
always, always love the behind the scenes stories -thanks again. I am about to back down and go watch the dubbed version!
You know, I like perfectionists, but sometimes he can be so headstrong & stubbornly determined. Hmmmm...was just thinking - if we got into a fight, would I win? heehee
hi,
Thanks for the intro to Barefooted Youth. I love his look and his hairstyle. His determination bordering on stubborness is really evident even before so I'm not at all surprised when I hear him encountering problems in preparing for his new role as Great King.
Now I have to look for another english sub work of his just to see him play the electric guitar.
Hi bb, thank you very much for sharing.
adelyn
hi camille,
me too, love his short hairstyle in barefooted youth... tho i don't understand why it would need two hours to get the hair done to this style... surely it ain't that hard?
mishio, mine's also the dubbed version.... which takes away, like, half the joy of watching it. i love yong joon's voice, and his laughter.
hi hi marissa,
i remember i was quite surprised he played the guitar in there... i didn't know he only just picked it up before acting in barefooted youth :)
hi hi adelyn,
ha, so you do still drop by sometimes :)
happy belated new year!
hi bb, again thank you so much. looking forward for part 2:)
OH BB
now I have to really search for this series too. And I told myself I have to stop playing and go back to work. Sigh...but I really want to see it, it's your fault, you are a super salesgirl. I must make you my Sales Director when I own a big company...hehehe
hi hi again, deodhors!
you're back here. thanks for dropping by again.
joyce ah... piece of advice from me to you... being a bae-fan takes a lot of patience, as this man is the slow and steady kind. he doesn't do too many works at one go. so do phase yourself, don't have to finish watching all his works in too much of a hurry. you can do so at a leisurely pace while he's busy shooting whatever. no hurry... :p
and... slow down on your reading here. i can't write fast enough for you to read, ya?
Hi BB,
Thanks for the good advise. And it is not true that you can't write fast enough, I think you are too fast for me to catch up...hehe ;)
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