ways to love him: acting coach
remember the book ways to love yonsama?
that's a book released last month on wuri yong joon. or more specifically, the book actually contains interviews with some 20 people who are somehow related to him or know him enough to give interviews on him. there're his acting coach cum close friend, his dentist, his former classmate, etc. these 20 people's accounts made up the 20 chapters in this book.
interestingly enough, there's a chapter in this book that was an interview of a supposedly-long-time korean fan. most of you would probably have heard of her name as well, since she's active online. incidentally, she had supposedly drawn the cover on the book as well.
and there's also a chapter that was about a supposedly ex-girlfriend.
now i'm not sure how accurate or true these accounts are. but i think some of them are indeed true, just don't ask me which ones. some japanese fans have bought the book and lapped up all the details, whilst some have questioned if BOF has 'authorised' the book. this latter group has refused to buy the book as they don't support merchandise that do not benefit wuri yong joon directly. some of these fans also thought it's sort of like an infringement of wuri yong joon's privacy. shrugs... to each his or her own.
our dear sweet sister has taken the time to translate this. or at least she might translate some of the chapters that she enjoyed reading and that she thinks we might enjoy reading as well. it's a time-consuming effort and i hope sweet sister won't feel pressured to hurry up and finish the project. i always believe that one should only translate if one is in the mood and enjoys the process. it should not become a burden or a chore.
okay, if you're one of those who prefer not to support this book, please feel free to stop reading at this point. no harm done. it's your personal choice. i'm not sure about the rest of the chapters, but this one's worth a read, i think. in fact, i love what mr kim has said and described of wuri yong joon. anyway, make your choice whether you want to continue reading or not, ya?
the first chapter is a contribution from kim jae yeop, the acting coach from stargate acting academy. in fact, josei jishin has already carried a condensed version of this story here.
original in japanese: Ways to Love Yonsama
translated into english: a sweet sister / bb's blog
pics added by: yours truly, me!!
Chapter 1 – Unconditional Love
from His Days as an Unknown
Kim Jae Yeop, Acting Instructor
Studying and Playing Together
in a Brother-Like Relationship
Because my role, from here on, will be to continue to be at YJ’s side and to support him, it is for this reason that I have continued to decline all interviews related to him. I hope to continue working together with YJ for many long years ahead.
But in 2005, when KBS broadcast the program Photo Documentary in November, featuring YJ, I received a request from the BOF management office saying, “Please agree to do the interview.”
That was the first time I spoke about YJ.
I met YJ in the spring of 1994, when a senior at school introduced us. Through all of his projects, we played together, studied the projects and roles he played in together, and I have acted as his semi-adviser through the years. We analyze the character role he will portray and practice the dialogue together. I also show up at filming sites for monitor checks.
Even during his private time, I often see him during the Chuseok and New Year holidays, and now and then, I also see his family. The relationship we have is that while he is my junior, at the same time, he is also my younger brother, and a friend. Because YJ only has a younger sister and no older brother, he thinks of me as his true older brother, and maybe that is why we became even more intimate.
When I was attending graduate school, he would come visit me in my room, where I would do the cooking, or when he was filming FL, we would go skiing together at Yong Pyong Ski Resort. After skiing, we would return to the hotel room to read the FL script and sometimes practice lines. We really studied together, played together, felt everything together, and lived like brothers up to now.
YJ has never once forgotten my birthday since we met. He has always sent me a gift and a card.
He is really a person that exerts himself treating me with sincerity and devotion.
Just When I Thought He was a Player….
At the time I met YJ, I was already a full-time instructor at the Stargate Academy located close to Dosan Park. BYJ was one of the approximate 30 students in the class. Among the students, there was also Kwon Oh Joong, (Damo), who debuted at the same time as BYJ and the two were close friends. They were originally friends from the start, but their management offices were different and each of them came to Stargate Academy to study, and just happened to run into each other.
As I was teaching the basics of acting, I became especially close to YJ. Because he was still an unknown, he probably attached himself to me with lighthearted feelings. You can see in him, a part of him that is also very friendly.
Around the time we met, we went water skiing and fishing together. Fishing was my hobby and BYJ said he wanted to try it also so it was decided that we would go fishing together. We went skiing in the winter also.
When we were together, we talked a lot. Outside of class, we went to see the ocean together, to Gangnam, Hanam in Shinsa Dong, and often along the riverbank under the big bridge. Drinking canned coffee from the vending machine, we would also talk to each other about complicated matters. We also talked about difficult, heavy subjects.
Of course, we talked about women but those conversations are a secret (laughs). This is so YJ can continue coming to me and talking to me freely. If I talk too much about various subjects, he will end up losing the space to visit openly.
When he was filming AS, there was a time that BYJ said this in the car. “Hyeong, it’s already been 13 years since I met you, hasn’t it? The months and years really fly by. Hyeong, when you met me, what was I like?”
I first met BYJ when he was still probably about 22 years old.
I thought, “This fellow is really handsome.” Then in the beginning, I had the strong impression that he was more interested in playing around rather than studying acting diligently. But I quickly discovered that was a misunderstanding.
YJ is really competitive, a fast learner, and the other students, who started the class together with him, could not keep up with him.
I teach classes using a Spartan-style. Even with my style of teaching, BYJ showed an almost shining strength of will and stood out among the other students. It almost looked as if he enjoyed the Spartan-style of teaching.
YJ also read many books.
For example, when he began fishing, he brought 10 books, dropped his line in the water, placed the book next to him, and studied the book while he fished.
When he took up photography, it was like he did the same thing. While flipping through the pages of a book on photography, he would tinker with the camera, and research. He really seems to love books.
Before YJ debuted, he worked part-time as a staff member at a movie company. When I see how famous he has become up to this point, there are some people that will say, “He was just lucky.”
But I do not think it is luck. His competitiveness and guts that went along with the strict guidance stood out conspicuously among the students I taught. It is due to that strength of will and guts that, I believe, created the BYJ we see today. And he was a person that closely examined his abilities, one by one. YJ had the elements to become the major star he is now.
Riding the Subway During FL
During the time of FL, YJ lived in Gongdeok Dong, Gangnam and there were times I would stay at his house.
At the time, YJ was under contract to the Actors Palace management office, and one day, after finishing work at the office, we decided to go to YJ’s house together.
Then, I offered, “Let’s not go in your car, but let’s ride the subway.” Since FL was a major national hit, BYJ was already very popular at the time.
So he must have hated the idea, and BYJ said this. “Do we really have to ride the subway?”
I persuaded him saying, “As an actor, you have to experience riding the subway at least once.” We then rode the subway together and headed off toward his house.
Not long after we got on the subway, several male high schoolers sitting nearby caught sight of YJ, “It’s BYJ! BYJ!” “You’re wrong. Why would BYJ be riding the subway?” as I heard them whispering among themselves.
When we got off at Gongdeok Station, this time a female student followed behind us. Later in talking to her, she said she sometimes came from Busan to visit her friend in Seoul. BYJ was wearing a baseball cap at that time, and just as he was in FL, because he was wearing baggy work type pants, she confirmed, “There’s no doubt, it’s BYJ!” and followed after him.
That female student called out after him, “BYJ-san….” YJ turned around and talked to the female student for a bit.
The female student opened her wallet to show the photo of YJ inside. She really was a fan of YJ. Maybe because she was such an enthusiastic fan, she was able to instantly recognize YJ.
Because I especially wanted YJ to experience directly this type of fan’s love at least once, riding the subway this one time was a great success.
The Hidden Tuition in My Wallet
and Charitable Contributions to the Poor
I have the most memories of YJ around the time of FL.
When YJ was appearing in FL (1996-1997), I was attending graduate school, but I ended up taking a leave of absence because I did not have tuition money. When YJ found out that I did not have tuition money, he said he would always put in just enough money in my wallet for me to pay the tuition. It was like he was always loaning me money.
But YJ was careful not to hurt my pride and could not bring himself to say, “Do you want me to loan you the tuition money?” so he was waiting for me to ask him, “Can you help me out?” so he said.
When he revealed this to me several years later, it was the first time I heard the truth… When YJ told me about this, I was moved by the warmth of his love and thoughtfulness. In the end, I was unable to come to a decision as to whether I should turn to him for help, and continued taking a leave of absence from school.
YJ is always taking care of everything around him and not just only me. I think it was around the time of AS, he saw fans watching the outdoor filming and he said this.
“It is cold outside, so please make arrangements for the fans to be indoors someplace. I am worried about them.”
Around the time of FL, he donated 20-30 million won to disadvantaged youths. At that time he said this. “Being able to do that, fills me with such good feelings.”
Then I told him, “One day, you’re going to do something even bigger.” The truth is YJ was already actively donating to charity from the time he was an unknown.
The reason he said he did it was because, “Doing good deeds really made me feel good.”
I thought that he was a man of high standards. He did not boast or publicize the fact that he made charitable contributions and did volunteer work.
Good deeds and charitable donations even if done only for show, are not easy to do. Because he has a benevolent spirit and a heart full of love, he is able to do these acts. From YJ, I learned to have such a heart and attitude.
Because we were able to learn from each other and been able to have come this far, I think of what a wonderful relationship YJ and I have, and I personally, am very proud of this.
What He Worried About in Winter Sonata
I think it was about the time that WS started filming, around December 2001, we went to Sydney Australia together. YJ had a CM filming to do in Sydney, and invited me saying, “Hyeong, let’s go together.”
In Sydney, there is the NIDA acting school (a famous acting school which counts among its graduates, Hollywood stars, Mel Gibson, Russell Crowe, and Nicole Kidman), which he thought I would surely want to visit. YJ asked me to go to Sydney together with him, and visit the school with his manager.
On the flight together to Sydney, we talked about various things. During the long 11-hour flight, we didn’t sleep a wink. Especially when we started talking about the WS synopsis, we couldn’t stop talking.
YJ’s biggest concern was in the beginning of WS when he had to portray Jun Sang as a high school student. Even if he wore a high school uniform, would he be able to convincingly portray a young, high school student? At that time, YJ was almost 30 years old. I tried to reassure him saying, “As long as you wear a uniform, you’ll be all right!” He was very worried.
When it comes to a role, YJ will seriously ponder it, and aim for perfection. He is overly perfectionist and will freeze up on the set, and there are times when he is unable to show his relaxed natural self.
Even during the filming of FL and HWRL, I accompanied YJ to the filming sites where he had frozen, and I advised him, “All you have to do is show them your natural self. Just relax. Give it your all and empathize with the character.” By my saying that, everything turned out well.
Was it because of me that things turned out well? Oh, no, that was not my intention as my purpose was to always advise and to point the direction; I believe that YJ found his acting voice while he himself was acting on the set.
Around the Time Preparations
for the Photo Album…..
You remember YJ underwent a body sculpting program for a photo album. Even during that time, I was amazed at the complete self-control he showed in aiming for perfection.
For example, even during acting practice, the time comes for dinner, right? It’s only natural that we all want to have dinner together. But YJ orders his manager to go out and buy me my dinner only and prepares my favorite menus to order from, as he does not eat dinner.
I would kid him a bit saying, “You want to try some of this?”
But he said, “No, I won’t eat it.” YJ in those days would not eat anything after 6 pm. He was adamant about this.
When it comes to dining, because YJ is wealthy, it may be thought that he is always having sumptuous meals which is not true.
YJ once said this. “If I can share a 10,000 won (about 1,300 yen) meal together with someone, that’s enough for me!”
YJ himself has not spoken much about this to the mass media, but because he experienced difficult periods over a long time, and if needed, he can go on living a normal lifestyle while being very grateful for what he has. This is the real BYJ.
Pronunciation Training Until Morning
for Untold Scandal
When he was practicing his lines for the movie, Untold Scandal, YJ was having difficulty with pronunciation and came to me asking for the “pronunciation chart”, which I made the acting students practice.
Then he said, “Today, I only want to practice pronunciation.”
YJ began at 7 am with a cork in his mouth and continued until 4 am, the next morning saying, “Hyeong, I’ve finished them all,” coming into the room where I was sleeping. That day we were studying together at YJ’s house in Cheongdam Dong but I fell asleep first.
I was surprised to hear YJ say, “I’m already finished.” This was because a regular student would take 1-2 months to master one page of that “pronunciation chart.” His concentration is amazing. Once he decides to “undertake” something, he always completes it.
During AS, he practiced in my room at the Stargate Academy. There were times he practiced 10 hours a day, and even times when he practiced until dawn. YJ really has guts.
I would also visit him on-set, and during AS, I visited Samcheok once a week to see YJ, and check the monitor.
YJ’s “Bad Acting”….
YJ says that his acting still has a long way to go. “Hyeong, acting is really difficult,” he said.
I think that it’s important that he thinks his acting still has a long way to go. The fact that he thinks such a thing is because the possibility exists for him to improve even more. Actors who end up satisfied with their performances, stop growing as actors. There are actual actors who think this way.
But YJ is different. He is persevering because there is still more to do. But as he continues his efforts, YJ’s psychology has changed without his knowledge and improved, with the result being, I believe, that even his acting has shown more depth.
I think that of all of YJ’s projects up to now, WS displayed his strengths the best.
This is followed by FL. Untold Scandal also broadened YJ’s inner world, and was a project that was successful in changing his image.
There are people that say that YJ should appear in more projects, but he makes the effort to put much preparation into each and every project. When you try to put in a lot of preparation, it is natural that you can’t appear in many projects. That is why I think the current pace he keeps is fine the way it is. The way he thoroughly prepares before embarking on a project is, I believe, the natural way for an actor to proceed.
When an actor takes on a project, he identifies with the character he will portray. If he can’t identify with the character, he cannot play the role.
So if he were to portray two or three roles at the same time, he would not be able to develop into each of the characters. It is not as if he is acting with a flick of the wrist, so by acting in several projects at the same time, or appearing in projects non-stop, the character would appear different everyday, because I think, changing one’s personality is not a simple thing to do.
It is my hope that YJ will continue to appear in excellent projects. There are still many strengths and great qualities he possesses that he has yet to reveal and to find a project that will make full use of his strengths, it is my hope that we will continue to strive together.
For example, I think that YJ should try appearing in action films and dramas also. He is born with a natural athletic skill which he could show in action performances.
If the need came up for him to perform an action or sports that he has never tried before, there is nothing to be concerned about as he is a quick learner. In the new drama TWSSG, he will be able to show us his actions, but the best project for him would probably be a melodrama with action scenes.
Because YJ has both a strong will and guts, I think that his career as an actor will continue smoothly.
Contents of BYJ’s Acting Course
The course I teach is divided into four levels.
In the very beginning, we start with emotions training. I teach the ways of getting into a character’s emotions by awakening the senses that are asleep in each student.
This is followed by pronunciation, voice delivery, and breathing techniques.
The third level is the art of narration and dialogue training. I make two people act in a play.
Then the final level is the actual exercise. Using an actual camera that is set up as if filming a movie or drama, students are required to act in front of the camera.
The basics are taught five days a week, attendance is required daily, and after 3-4 years, various subjects are assigned.
Spiritual coaching is also offered. Earlier I described the story of how I made YJ ride the subway when he became famous, this is an example of spiritual coaching.
I am also strict about tardiness. If anyone is late, I will send that student home. A professional is punctual about time.
I also inflict corporal punishment. I will hit students on their bottoms. I make incoming students sign a pledge that states, “I will accept corporal punishment” and sometimes I will show them photos of students who are receiving corporal punishment.
I tell these students, “If you are prepared to say you will accept corporal punishment, then I will teach you.”
Those students who say, “I refuse,” I have them leave at once. We do not have to accept every student unlike compulsory education, since they came knocking on our door out of their choice. It is hard to show results if students aren’t prepared to accept corporal punishment because they want to learn.
In this connection, YJ was never given corporal punishment. YJ once said, “Hyeong, because I’m a good student, maybe I was never hit?” (laughs).
The Secret to How BYJ Became a Star
In addition to YJ, I have taught about 150 students up to now. There is Son Ye Jin, Ji Sung, Han Hae Jin, (1% Miracle), (Be Strong, Geum Soon), (Jumong), Soh Yi Hyeon, (April Kiss), (Resurrection), Yoon Sae Ah (Lovers in Prague), Nam Sohn Mee (Love Letter), and so many more. Even when Ji Sung was in the army, he called me when he was on leave and we had a drink.
The new stars in BOF are also studying here. I have not publicized the fact that, “I taught BYJ, it was I that created BYJ.”
Everyone, including BYJ, seems to think I am the emergency number in the entertainment world, the SOS signal to turn to for guidance. I am able to quickly perceive an actor’s individuality and strengths to create a suitable image for them and in return, they support me.
Other actor schools only seem to teach techniques. But actors cannot become stars by acting technique alone. Image is important. Actors who have studied at other acting schools may have mastered acting techniques but then end up taking time to create their own image. There appear to be actors agonizing over this.
I, of course, teach acting techniques, in addition to improvisation, and to quickly make the transition from newcomer to star, we work together on creating an image with the students.
Is this student the sexy type? The innocent type? Or the career woman type? Would they be suited for TV or films? If it’s films, would it be horror or action films that they’re suited for? By matching that actor’s characteristics, I help create his image. “Because you have these strengths, you should develop these areas more” is what I advise them.
Then I publicize their image in the mass media by concentrating on a “color” in their image to quickly increase their popularity and to guide them to stardom.
My Dream of Creating an Actors School with BYJ
Building on my previous years of experience, I am now planning to create a full-scale actors school within the next several years. At the earliest, the school would start in 2008 and the latest date would be in 2010.
We are already in the concrete planning stage. YJ is also interested in the education of the next generation and has said that he would like to lend a helping hand. I also think how nice it would be to operate the school together with him.
In offering an explanation of the type of school it would be, like a special military unit, a Spartan-style school where students would learn language, horse riding, dance, and such over 2-3 years while living on campus. The school would be located in Gyeonggi Dong. The reason it will not be located in Seoul is that if the school is not in a somewhat isolated environment, students will not be able to concentrate.
Like the actors school NIDA that we visited, we would like to make our school an international school. We would like to match the curriculum to the working needs of each actor’s native country, offering specific, long-term useful lessons.
As for instructors, we plan to contract with specialists in every field necessary for the education of actors. In addition to acting instructors, there will be plastic surgeons, dentists, and specialists in the beauty and cosmetics field…. We also plan to offer spiritual training.
We plan to educate about 40 new students a year; these select students will be thoroughly educated. Just as the NIDA graduates are proud of their background, I want to establish a wonderful school that students can be proud of, one that they can say with pride, that’s my alma mater.
It is fun work teaching students. I am always grateful at being able to do this work. I believe that educating actors will play a very important part in the future of hallyu. As time goes on, we would like to develop numerous programs which will support hallyu and be the force to lead the way.
posted by bb @ 8/22/2007 01:08:00 AM
11 Comments:
hi bb~onni thanks! i really enjoyed this and 1000000x thanks to sweet sister!!! 8i hope we can chat to yousoon :p)
but i dont like the hit on the bottom part :p :p :p
bb onni. do you know where can i download the 'photo documentary!?
i read the link you gave and it sounds really interesting and ive never 'heard' about it. pls reply when you r not busy and take care...
oh another long one from our dear sweet sister. thank you so much for sharing such treasured article.
bb, love all the photos that you posted in this article.
take care and have a good rest.
hi bb thanks for sharing and sweet sister
for beautiful translation.It surely sounds
interesting and true.I could understand
how trustful relationship they have nurtured
over the years.
Dear sweet sister take your time !
As bb said ,there was a controversy
questioning its reliability in some chapters.
In fact,a fan famous for her excellent threads
left JOB just cos she refered to some excerpts
from it and being bashed on other site.I feel
like having lost kind of an asset for him.Such books
and the like are hard to know whether they are
entirely true or not .Writers incline to exaggeration
for ?? you know.
Thake care !
moichan
bb, thank you again. YJ's case is exceptional that nobody has his extra ordinary handsome look.
all those skills and talents wouldn't be any good without YJ's handsome look. He looks so heavenly.
byjglobal
hey mymy, not sure where you can watch the photodocumentary. yea, it's quite interesting, but mostly just still pictures and interviews of people who know him. if i rem correctly, that program didn't have any actual interviews with him...
guess you can try searching online for it. am busy, otherwise, will try searching for you.
hi hi liezle!
yea, i've told sweet sister how you'll repost her translation to soompi so that more sisters will get to read the articles... thanks much much for furthering her work of love :)
harlow harlow moichan!
yea... i feel the same way... i guess some chapters could be true and factual, and maybe some chapters half-truths... so long as the readers read all with a pinch of salt, i don't see much harm, coz generally speaking, this book doesn't say really negative things about wuri yong joon.
after all, our man is known for being quite the recluse and hard to secure an interview with... and we're all hungering for news and more news about him. i guess even though i too have some reservations about the book, i've gotta admit i'm still a wee bit curious about the contents.
but of course... everything in moderation. i draw the line at people trying to profit from his popularity by spreading unfounded rumours or creating controversial untruths...
anyway, thanks for sharing your thoughts :)
hi hi byjglobal...
you really do love him alot huh? :)
anyway, take good care of yourself... and hope you'll get a chance to see him [again!!] when you return to korea next.
Hey I enjoy reading that at work,
yeah it is a most for me,
when things turn a bit to much to turn to the page and read a bit it takes my mind off everything and makes me happy in minutes.
As long is all good stuff about him, and does not invade his privacy, I'm fine with it and will enjoy reading it.
Thank you so much for the posting.
Moontime
er nope no reservations about reading abt this heartstoppingly gorgeous (even at end of long day facing the PC) man.
How does he do it and where can I find adjectives to describe him thats not been used to death ..
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