Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Young-Ae’s Vow (Book) English Translation

To hear the behind story of the Korean drama "Dae Jung Geum (大長今)", below is the summarized translation from a Japanese fan of the interviews of Lee Young-ae in her 2006 Japanese autobiography, "Young-Ae’s Vow" (ヨンエの誓い). I only corrected the obvious spelling and grammatical errors in order to keep the originality of the translation. The LYA official fansite is leeyoungae.net.

I added some Korean names in Hanja (漢字) for easy reading. For Chinese translation, go to the post at right.

[Young-Ae’s Vow - translated by Keiko]
PROLOGUE - COINCIDENCE AND INEVITABILITY

REQUEST OF APPEARANCE

The beginning was quite a coincidence, and then each surroundings around me became inevitable and it were tied like each piece of a puzzle got to fit one by one. It became the great work for me "Dae Jang Geum".

After the shooting of "One Fine Spring Day" (春逝), I took a long rest for around 2 years. I needed the rest. While the rest, I received a lot of offers for works. I got an offer for a heroine of "Winter Sonata". I don't think it was not only for me though, or I don't know whether it might be successful if I accept it.

I heard that the heroine should have lost her memories originally instead of Bae Yong Joon, and after the decision of the casting of BYJ, the story was changed accordingly.

I started to think about appearance for movies. People around me thought that I would choose a movie. Actually I was offered for some attractive works. But I feel the destiny, just like a man and a woman meet and love each other and get married, the fate of an actress (actor) and a work.

When I got the offer for DJG, I was puzzled and I had no confidence in acting in such a tough historical drama and I never thought that I would do it. In the mean time, I felt something attractive and recommendation by people around me helped to decide the appearance.

As for the title of the drama, "Dae Jang Geum" was a contemporary title and we have many other ideas. I liked and recommended "Dae Jang Geum" among other titles proposed.

It's still mysterious why I chose this drama. I had played historical dramas twice before. One of them was "West Palace" (西宮) and the other was "Chanpumdanja" (饌品單子). One of the reason why I hesitated and took 2 months to decide to accept the offer for DJG was because I knew well how hard historical drama would be by my experiences.

I heard it after shooting that there was a lot of anxiety for DJG among the drama by MBC. That's because Jang Geum (徐長今) is an unknown historical person. Besides DJG was the first long drama for the script writer Ms. Kim Yeong-Hyeon (金榮眩) and it was the first case that female script writer wrote the historical drama.

MY HUNCH OF A HIT

I had good timing for receiving the offer after a long rest, but it was not easy to accept such a long drama of 50 episodes or so.

But after I watched some of the works of the director Mr. Lee Byeong-Hun (李炳勳), "Ho Jeung" and "Sando" etc, I was sure that I would be able to believe him. I can guess what the director is like when I see his works. For example, I worked with the director Mr. Yoon Seok-Ho at the works "Invitation" and "Silverrein". I feel he is very genuine person like a boy, very sensitive..... I believe that the sense of humanity reflects their works. I felt that the director Mr. Lee Byeong-Hun expresses humanity exactly. When I actually meet him, my trust in him deepened. At the same time, a hunch of a hit of this drama budded in my mind.

The cast for the role of Lady Han (韓尚宮) was for the other actress than Ms. Yang Mi Kyung (梁美京). After we finished the rehearsal, the cast changed to her. I felt that the hunch which was beginning to bud budded more.

One day I chattered have some tea with Hong Ri-Na (洪莉娜) about the offering for DJG I received and she granted the director. After a while, I heard that she was also casted for the role of Choi Geum-Yeung (崔今英). I was very surprised and I felt things went well like each piece of the puzzle was placed and fit well.

FEAR

I felt fear that DJG might become a similar drama as "Ho Jeung". I talked with the director Mr. Lee and the script writer Ms. Kim Yeong-Hyeon again and again. When I read the synopsis and knew that the drama will begin with the story of cooking, I felt relieved and surprised.

The person "Dae Jang Geum" just appears in fragments in the "Annals of Joseon Dynasty".

I was so surprised that such a great drama was made by spreading wings of imagination. I felt worth doing and joy for my work as an actress to convey the existence of a historical person who has been never known by people by playing in the drama.

The other fear for me was how huge the scale of the drama was as 50 episodes (finally it became 54). I asked the director whether it can be made shorter. The reason why I didn't accept his offer soon and let him wait for 2 months was because I had no confident I can carry out the work. The director promised me that he would give me enough time for acting without feeling any stress, but actually I couldn't help it and at the first stage, I kept shooting for a month or two without any day off. Series of TV dramas are usually broadcasted twice a week in Korea. It makes the shootings very hard.

DRAMA LIKE KIMUCHI

The announcement of the production for "DJG" was very crowded with a lot of mass media. We had a kind of trouble. A wrong report was informed at that time. The drama "Damo" had been broadcasted before "DJG" and it had been very popular with a lot of enthusiastic fans. A report saying "DJG will win Damo" was carried on article against my intention, and a lot of comments of complaint by fans of Damo flooded into the internet, and we were thrown into confusion.

I know well how hard shooting of dramas are for actors or actress and I also know well Mr. Han Jeong of Damo is very hard worker, so I can't say that way. Such a misunderstanding made me feel sad.

What I wanted to say was that I hoped that "DJG" become an enjoyable drama like kimuchi which is loved by people regardless young or old, men or women.

I had a lot of time to think and chose this drama since I got to have confident, but there are some disputes by internet and media such as Lee Young-Ae will fit for Jeung Geum or not. However I tried to concentrate the drama without getting stressed out by such things. Although the shooting of DJG started with stormy like that way, fortunately it really became a drama like kimuchi.

And I decided to publish this book. It's because I hope this drama which is loved by everyone will remain in viewers’ memories forever.

CHAPTER 2 - SENSATION AS DAE JANG GEUM

PROCESS UNTIL THE SHOOTING

As DJG was attracted the attention of people, I thought I needed to prepare enough for it.

At first, to learn cooking, I was taught by Teacher Han Bongnyo of the Court Cooking Study College. I ate a lot of delicious foods and had a great time there.

Although I wanted to learn medical act from professors of Korean herb doctor, I couldn’t do it due to lack of time, so I read “Eastern Medicine Epitome” written by Ho Jeung at the age of Joseon dynasty, and read many other historical books.

Such processes to prepare for playing gives me power. Works thinking of the background, it’s my great pleasure as an actress.

Far another preparation, we have careful camera tests as the lightings, profile, hanbok etc. I tried on about 20 hanboks. The director told me that light color hanboks wouldn’t suit me because of my broad shoulders. I couldn’t wear hanbok which I’d like to wear although others wore hanboks with beautiful colors.

But I think the actresses wearing big wig might have a really hard time. I wore it only a short time when I got to be the chief of the loyal kitchen. I also had a tough time with heavy wig and I still have a scar on my head.

THE FIRST MEETING

We had the first meeting with co-stars.
I met Kyon Miri (甄美莉) as Lady Choi (崔尚宮) for the first time. I felt she was quite friendly and fanny. She’s frank, open-minded and cute. Her son was 6 years old at that time and he seemed my fan. He presented me some money with his tiny hand which he saved. I of course gave it back later though. His pretty act relaxed the atmosphere of the shooting.

I know well Hon Lina (洪莉娜) as Geumyeong (崔今英). She was worried about and also kind to me while shooting. In the winter shooting, we used pocket warmers together. She gave me a small portable heater and I got along with her than before.
Ji Jin-Hee (池珍熙) was co-star in a CF of LG card before. When I asked him what he was going to do in the future, he answered that he wanted to be an actor. I said to him that I hoped we could costar together in a good work. I’m very glad that it became true. I heard that he should have been originally casted in the drama “Invitation”.

Imm Hyeunsk (林玄植) as Gang Deokku (姜德九) who is familiar in the works of the Director Lee Beong-Hun, I met him after a long time. He is very nice and his humorous ad-lib is the best in the world. As the matter of fact, he resembles my own father in looks.

I always tried to be and have meals with them while shooting.

The drama made a big sensation from the beginning. Calls and e-mails flooded into MBC and the media made a fuss. I kept in mind firmly to try to stay calm and play as usual.

Up to the 5th episode, Cho Jeoung Wong (趙廷恩) acted as the child’s part of JG.

When I met her for the first time, I felt that she was very clever girl. Her nice performance led to the best start, but at the same time, it put pressure on me.
Luckily the ratings increased after JG grown up.

THE FLOOD OF THE LINES

We started lines rehearsal once in a week and I was drawn into a violent whirl of DJG for several months.

At first I was overwhelmed by a lot of lines of JG with a lot of specialized terms.
We have not enough time and I sometimes received the script on the right day of the shooting. I had nothing but to memorize them in a few hours. There was no knack to memorize them.

In my case, it seems that I spring a mysterious power when I’m forced to be put in an extreme situation.

Anyway it was pretty tough works even just to memorize lines. It might be the fate of drama which is pursued by shooting schedule.

Even in such a hard schedule, I discussed thoroughly with the director. It was the big talk in Korea that there was a kiss scene with Ji Jin-Hee as Ming Jong Ho (閔政浩)
originally.

I wondered whether the expression by kissing was proper way or not, and I asked the director. He agreed with me but the rumor of the kiss scene had been taken on a life of its own and many reporters came over the shooting. I think it’s also important work for actors to think well and correct it accordingly when we think it’s something wrong.

FROM THE SITE OF THE SHOOTING

We had a lot of locations in local areas and we went throughout the country, to Jeju Island, Busan etc….. I was asked for shaking hands by local people and was requested to touch their children. Some of them believed that my touching their children led to recover the children’s illness. I felt there were such a lot of genuine people in local areas. I like to go to temples although I was not Buddhist. I sometimes went to old temples and prayed there.

There is MBC’s stage set for historical dramas in the north suburbs of Seoul which is called “DJG Theme Park”. We rested and enjoyed chatting sitting on the grass. We often utilized a near inn. We once had a lot of snow and couldn’t go anywhere. We often did all-night work. Although many dishes were treated, I was the role of serving them, only the king could eat them. Some actresses ate the dishes in front of them secretly.

When Park Chonsk (朴貞叔) ssi as the empress and I were at the same scene, the director forced me to finish once or twice as I was a professional, on the other hand, she could take it again and again for the reason of she’s not. As she was MC and the director might feel responsibility as he casted her. Not only her but many young actresses played there and I felt sometimes jealousy when the director was absorbed in an actress. A woman is jealous by nature.….. It’s a joke. We actually got along well with them.

KOREAN DRAMA SITUATION

Compared with Japan, Korean drama is rarely made beforehand, and it causes us to have very hard schedule. It has an advantage that we can reflect it to the drama seeing viewer’s reaction, that is, it could be changed synopsis accordingly.

For example, Lady Han should have died in the episode 7, but she was a very favorite by viewers and her appearance became much longer.

Korean way has shortcomings. The extension of the first half affected the second half. The love triangle among JG, Min Jung-Ho, and the King became much shorter. I was persuaded to make the episodes longer by the director, but I sobbed that I couldn’t do anymore, and we agreed to add 4 more episodes.

ABOUT THE HISTORY ETC.

This drama has many difficult words and lines, I was deeply moved when I heard that some of the special words such as Surakkan (the royal kitchen in the court), Chego-Sangun (chief of the royal kitchen, 最高尚宮) etc. became familiar in Japan.

I was at a loss when I played JG in this drama, for I was regarded that I was good at cooking or I know a lot about the history.

As to the history, I learned it in school but I was not so excellent especially.
To understand the historical background is important when we play the historical drama, and I was more and more interested in the history through DJG.

ACCIDENT

When I played with handling kitchen knife, I cut my finger with it, and I had an operation. It’s the ring finger and I still have a sore when I touch it.

As the bleeding wouldn’t stop, the director suggested going see a doctor and I went to the near plastic surgery. I was sewn up the wound immediately. How painful it was…. I was crying during the operation thinking about hard works since then. More over even a thought occurred that what I should do if it would leave a scar on my ring finger which I would be going to wear a marriage ring on.

I returned to the shooting right after the operation. Although I would do all the cooking scenes, the director never let me do after the accident. Since then the rather plump hands appeared.

CHAPTER 3 - LIKE OXYGEN

AFTER FAILURE AND SUCCESS

“Dong Gigan”(Same Period) for an attached drama for me although it was not successful unfortunately, and there are many other dramas which made my grow than DJG. I believe that piles of experiences of my life before I became an actress reflect my present performance.

MEMORIES

I have two elder brothers and we often played pro-wrestling. I was a child with full of curiosity and had a strong sense of justice just like as Jang Guem.

What I wanted to try when university were backpack travel, part-time job, and get-together meeting. I joined into get-together several times but I didn’t get a favorite of boys at all.

CF AS A PART TIME JOB / FROM CF MODEL TO ACTRESS

I did part time job as a model for “Orion chocolate” CF with Andy Lau, and also did CF of cosmetics “Mamond”. The catch phrase for me “Oxygen Lady” was born in this CF.

CF is called “15 minute-art”, on the other hand it also needs momentary concentration especially at the ending of the drama. I feel techniques of the CF are very useful for the drama too.

It was 1995 that I decided to be an actress seriously, and I’ve also overcome many hardships like as Jang Geum.

CHAPTER 4 - PART OF COOK MAID IN THE PALACE CAUSED DISTURBANCE – p.77

BACKSTAGE OF COOKING OF JG

Gorgeous loyal dishes and quick cooking scene by cook maids were big topics in the first half.

I like cooking. I tried and enjoyed various cooking during 2 year off after the movie “OFSD”.

I was taught by my mother how to preserve kimuchi preparing for winter. I searched the receipt and tried Jah-zhang noodle (black noodle).

Diet was one of another preparation. I usually don’t go on a diet, but self-control should be essential as long as I appear on the screen as an actress. Since about a month before the shooting I started to go on a diet. The way of my diet is not to eat after 6 pm, and to walk fast with strength of abdominals.

HAND PERFORMANCE

I was trying to act thinking about what we served to the viewers should be the sincerity of the cook maids and the beauty of the dishes instead of the real dishes. We had many dish matches. I like “buckwheat crust roll” especially among them.

DJG tells us Korean dishes are not only good for the taste but also good for our health.

I often think the common and different point between JG and me.

I don’t have such a firm belief as JG. I think it’s important to listen to my surroundings and carry out what I think it’s right. JG met a lot of hardships, but I like more calm and ordinary life. However in actual I met a lot of hardships and felt sense of failures. I was very depressed when I was spread groundless rumor but I’m not type of search for sources or excusing to the media. I have been patient alone. I don’t know whether it’s right or not though….

FEELING FOR JG

JG lost her sense of taste. I think it’s the biggest crisis in the first half and it was the big task as an actress how to get over the trials and how to act. JG panicked and tried to confirm her sense of taste. She tried to take hot water in her mouth. It was really hot and was surprised at it.

JG was always saved by someone and she never died and things worked out somehow because she’s the heroine. I sometimes didn’t like what she was.

I like an animation “Tom and Jerry”. I prefer Tom than Jerry. A cat Tom is bigger and plays tricks on Jerry, but after all he was defeated by a small mouse Jerry. I felt a good girl JG was just like Jerry. I sometimes even sympathized with Lady Choi and Geumyeong. I myself prefer the type of Lady Min, the most common and ordinary person. It’s the best way to live your life calmly for many years rather than full of ups and downs like JG.

CHAPTER 5 - GREAT CO-STARS <PART OF COOK MAID IN THE PALACE> - p.91

TEACHER OF MY LIFE, LADY HAN (韓尚宮)

Yang Migeon (梁美京) ssi and I, both of us have AB-type blood and we have common characters. We can understand each other without words. We prefer to be on our own.

Migeon ssi is quiet and hard to approach at a glance, but actually she’s very warm person. The role of Lady Han fit her very much.

We sometimes exchange e-mails and sometimes talk by phone. She’s been always cheering me up and supporting me.

COMPASSION FOR GEUMYEONG (崔今英)

A person, Hon Rina (洪莉娜) is quite different from Geumyeong. Rina ssi is very bright and cheerful.

She was pretty disappointment with the development of lost love with Min Jungho. She often joked with laughing “How come?” “Oh no, I can’t believe it!”

EYES OF LADY CHOI (崔尚宮)

Thinking of Kyon Miri (甄美莉) ssi, I remember that act of eyes. Her eyes gave the drama vivid impression and were outstanding.

Her concentration was excellent in shooting; on the other hand, she kept a good atmosphere in breaks. She is quite different from Lady Choi. She has a sense of humor, and she likes to make others laugh.

LOVE BY MIN JUNGHO (閔政浩)

Min Jungho’s love was always watching JG from the behind. I like the way.

As I can’t say “I love you.” even if there is a man who I love, I also prefer kind of assertive man, though…. Recently women are more active, and tend to tell their love to men.

It’s a bit regret that I did not have so many love stories with Min Jungho.

CHAPTER 6 - UPS AND DOWNS LADY DOCTOR PART (P.127)

SHOOTING ON LOCATION IN JEJU ISLAND

The heavy pressure was on my shoulder after half. I had to liven it up after Lady Han's dead.

The shooting in Jeju Island started from January and I was forced to have shuttle flights between Seoul and Jeju twice a week for almost 2 months. Since I saw the 9.11 terrorism case on TV, I got a fear of flight.

Another hardship was the weather. We were often suffering from sudden change in the weather peculiar to island.

Foods of Jeju were really delicious. I liked mackerels very much especially. I enjoyed the sights of undersea by submarine when I had time. I thought that I wish I live there when I get old.

SHOOTING IN THE EXTREME COLD WEATHER

I couldn't bear the cold weather in winter among many hardships. Pocket warmers were necessities. I once used 20 pocket warmers all over my body.

My fan club members gave us rice cakes with messages wishing to have over 40 percent ratings.

I had many hardships then but in the same time I spend a very happy and full life everyday.

JG AS A LADY DOCTOR

In the latter half of the drama, I tried to express how JG was getting mature.
Lady Choi's end falling down from the cliff trying to catch a red ribbon hanging on the tree, it was in disappointment, but it's one of the most my favorite scene. I felt the deep love for Lady Choi by the script writer Ms.Kim Yeong-Hyeon.

MIN JUNGHO RIDING HORSE

Min Jungho rode a horse and came to save JG locked up in the shed, the scene was very cool but I know how many efforts he had to ride a horse.

I like the scene after that very much which JG stared at him with tears.

There is a good hot spring at the place of the shooting of this scene. I decided to go there with two female stylists. I thought it's not easy to recognize me with thick lenses, but a woman looked at me and cried "Aigo, Jang Geumma!" ......The rumor that JG came to the hot spring spread rapidly all over the small town. By the way, the quality of the hot spring was really excellent! I wish I had such a good hot spring near my house.

BEYOND LOVE TRIANGLE

I remember the scene the most, the King and Min Jungho shot arrows from bows. They were very cool and I was very happy as an actress as a woman even in the drama. I missed the romance with them. I wish we extend 10 more episodes so that I could faced the love more if I still had enough energy.

LAST SCENE WITH TEARS

I was surprised at the ending of C-section and at the same time I think it should be welcomed a lot. I think it's important to try to do a new challenge at that age instead of C-section itself.

The last shooting was done twice. We took it for the media again. The salute was fired and all staffs appreciated the efforts after the director's last cut. My eyes were filled with tears.

I had been sick in bed for over a week after the shooting. After I recovered, I posted the last message on the drama's homepage and my eyes were filled with tears again.


CHAPTER 7 - THE GREAT CO-STARS (LADY DOCTOR PART) (P.157)

GRATITUDE FOR THE DIRECTOR AND THE SCRIPT WRITER

Director, Mr. Lee Byeong-Hun and the script writer Ms.Kim Yeong-Hyeon, who produced DJG in the modern age spreading the wings of imagination from a slight source of the fact.

I'm very glad about his words for me. He said that I might be a plane white canvas, and an actress whom he could draw in any way whatever he liked as a director.

Ms.Kim Yeong-Hyeon wrote many excellent lines. Unforgettable one is Lady Jung's lines when she was died. It made me think of lines when cook maids in the palace.
I could talk with her a lot while we all staffs went to trip to Singapore and Indonesia after the shooting. I would like to work with her again.

LAST CHAPTER - LEE YOUNG AE'S VOW

MIND OF PERFORMANCE

I expressed various emotion such as crying, laughing, getting angry, hating... as Jang Guem in DJG. I've been recently asked some questions if I have some techniques or drawers in acting. Of course I managed to get my own technique in acting for almost 10 year experience of actress. Actor and actress who have enough experience have their own way in acting. But it would be difficult to convey the true meaning of tears in viewer's heart if they indulge in acting without heart. Feeling from bottom of my heart than technique, I'd like never to loose it even when I get old.

I always had kept treasuring the feeling while I challenged to this drama. I can't say I can act perfectly. I tried my best and it was worth doing, but I still regret that I should have to do this way or that way. If it's allowed to excuse, one thing, I didn't have enough time in a tight shooting schedule and it leads to luck of time to sleep.

I was saved by an e-mail from Ms. Kim Yong Hyeon, script writer. I received it to my cell phone after a while the shooting had been over mentioning that "I now realized it very well how you'd been working hard." It was the most admirable word for finishing the shooting without ay trouble even in hard condition and never missing the drama, regardless to say about my acting. It was larger present than a hundreds of admires. However, it's my frank feeling that I still have regret for acting in DJG.

But I have tried my best so I feel my way of acting as an actress is not waste of time. I'm sure I showed an identity or color as of Lee Young Ae that others never do.

It broke my heart to know the column on a newspaper that DJG was succeeded because of the good director and the good script writer, not because LYA. I cried and was shocked when I read such a heartless word without knowing or denying how hard work I had.

I tried to make various efforts to supplement my weak points such as weakness of pronunciation, lack of lasting concentration, lack of empathizing of feeling.

I seem to be calm, but actually I'm rather short-tempered. So I always try to act staying calm with in state of meditation. I'm embarrassed when I see my acting in old drama such as "Invitation" or "fireworks" because I feel the tone of my voices were strangely high, although it was the best at that time.

What I'm usually doing for acting, it's looking at me in the mirror. Some people call me "mirror princess" but it's no shame at all. I'm sometimes surprised by seldom seeing my face and change of my face. Mirror shows previous myself and future myself, and it's also a tool to see outer myself and inner myself.

LONELINESS AMONG THE GOOD RATINGS

The ratings of DJG had been very good from the beginning. However it made me alone. I had a fear that I'll lose the important thing if I also romp about as people do. So I tried to keep distance and keep reflecting on myself.

I think I have to be modest and strict with myself even when everything is going well.

I got nervous and rarely enjoyed talking at the beginning, but I feel I changed myself little by little and I finally can enjoy talking and eating with co-stars and staffs in the latter half of shooting. It's thanks to the director.

When I have hard time, my family always gives me emotional support. Family ties must be an immortal truth which should not be changed for thousands or millions years.

During recharging my batteries for two years between "OFSD" and DJG, I often went to trip with my 2 brothers, and nephews and nieces who are 6 in all. I leaned that warm love by our family makes relationship with others better.

It's often said that a real art won't be create if artists on top of actors and actresses are so good model of life, but I think that even if they act good, they won't express exactly unless the basis of their way to live is properly.

What is the happiest thing I get in the drama DJG, it's to meet people at various places and I felt the human feelings. The shooting of local areas were really harsh and it made me feel warm human feelings there.

Recent dramas and movies tend to be too stimulating. I performed the movie "SFLV" (親切的金子) which has a motif of revenge, but this movie tells the true permission as an original message, and relief of human being. On the other hand, so many movies and dramas which have a lot of scenes of violence and killing people without any reason. It breaks my heart as a human being. Those works pretend to the art have a big effect to people. One of those movies triggered an actual accident, and another movie was made by using the topic of an accident which happened actually.

Among such an age, it's my pleasure that the drama DJG which young and old, men and women, all family enjoy got a good review. I said that I'd like to make this drama like kimuchi before the drama began. I'm very glad that it actually became so.

I believe this drama has worth watching many times, and it should be kept watching and be delivered to more people.

HOW IS MY PRESENT LIFE...

I've been spending relax time slowly traveling with family, watching movies, doing pilates... I feel like I gained a little weight. During this time I'd like to find a good knocking-off point in what I have been done. I'd like to think about the way I should go to with care.

Of course, I'm thinking about little by little what kind of work I will perform next. Although I didn't decide yet, I feel like to perform a film such as a love story investigating for its reality, at the same time being wrapped by something like cotton candy.

I have no courage any more to fly to very far foreign countries these days; one of the reasons is that I dislike flight as I said before. I strongly wanted to get something by going to awful places to find myself in my 20s, but now I feel like it's the most comfortable for me to be in Korea. Even if I go overseas, it would be near countries like China. I'd like to visit silk road because I'm interested in history. After I told such a story and some of Chinese fans gave me a lot of books about silk road.

I'd also like to visit hot springs of local areas in Japan. I told that I hardly can go to hot springs even when I go to Japan due to lack of time, then Japanese fan sent to me 6 books guiding about various hot springs in Japan.

An actor said to me that "if you're asked "what do you like?" then you can answer "I like money." then you will get money. I couldn't stop laughing.

Oh, one more thing I like, it's Japanese Umeboshi. Many Korean people are not good at it but I like it.

LIVE LIKE MYSELF

The opportunity made me go into show business was CF of "to you chocolate", co-actor was Andy Lau. I also did MC at a morning TV program, and I performed in dramas.

My mother objected to be an actress and I had no confidence at that time. But when I was thinking of seriously what to do after graduation of university, I realized that I'm strongly interested in acting. It was 1995. I went to graduate school to learn theory of acting, and I wanted to be an actress who have responsibility of my name, and I challenged to perform a various kinds of roles. I think there must be no present "LYA" without the decision in 1995, or if I satisfied with "CF star LYA". At the time when I decided to be an actress, my target was settled clearly.

The feeling at that time has not changed still now, but I think I got a bit broad-minded and became to be calm enough in 30s. I'm also satisfied myself. In the mean time, as well as an actress LYA, I feel that it seems to be a big homework, to know the life which general people do as a woman, as an actress LYA. I'd like to grope the way of life which is suitable for my ages, 30s, 40s....

I like the word "like" because it's may be the word which accepts what it is naturally. Woman is like woman, actress is like actress, 30s is like 30s, I hope I behave it naturally.

I'm going to lead my life like LYA all the time forever.

Below pictures were posted by a Japanese fan, Toshiko.

Monday, January 29, 2007

英愛的誓言 (Book) 中文 Chinese Translation

To hear the behind story of the Korean drama "Dae Jung Geum (大長今)", below is the partial translation from a Chinese fan of the interviews of Lee Young-ae in her 2006 Japanese autobiography, "Young-Ae’s Vow 英愛的誓言" (ヨンエの誓い). The China fansite is withyoungae.com (李英愛中文網-時越之愛). For English translation, go to the post at right.

[英愛的誓言-雲巻雲舒翻譯2008-8-25]
[序]偶然與必然

◆出演邀請

一開始,完全是偶然。很快,就像拼圖一小片一小片拼合起來,圍繞著我的一切都變為必然,並聯繫在一起了(這就是)對我來說,成為了一部“巨作“的”大長今“。

2001年拍完電影“春逝”,因為作宣傳,去了趟日本,這之後,一直到2003年幾乎 2年間,我從工作中脫離出來,享用只屬於我自己的時間,從真正決定步入演員之路的1995年起,一天都沒有休息過,對於不停奔忙的我來說,休息是必須的,可這一休竟會那麼久,是我自己也沒有想到的,不過 2年一晃就過去了,這期間收到的出演邀請,即使是好作品,也逃掉了,因為當時無論如何就是想休息,這個念頭很強烈,因為這個不可思議的理由,即使回絕(劇本),心也沒有怎麼動搖。

我想,這應該並不是僅僅只對我一個人發出的邀請。----(出演)“冬日戀歌”的女主角的話頭也有過,如果我來演的話,能否演好我也不知道,因為每一部作品都有適合它的主人(演員)。

本來那部作品(冬日戀歌),好像並不是裴勇俊(出演的角色)失去記憶,而是演對手戲的女主角失去記憶,後來聽說,定下裴勇俊出演後,劇本作了些改動。
充電期結束後,我開始考慮接拍電影,劇本雖然不是很多,但因為在銀屏上有一定程度的積累,周圍的人好像也認為應該選擇電影。實際上,很有魅力的作品也有來過,可是,這就是命運吧,好像男人和女人,從相識,到相愛,到最後成為夫妻一樣,演員與作品的機緣也是如此。

“大長今”的出演邀請剛來的時候,我有些猶豫,“我能演好這樣的一部古裝戲麼?”自己還沒有考慮去演,(劇本好像)有什麼地方吸引了我,還有周圍人的勸說,也對我決定出演有所幫助。

李炳勳導演等我的出演回复等了兩個月之久,後來聽說,助理導演感覺我會回絕,倒不如以比較輕鬆的心境先來問問我,“要試試看麼”,我則說我接受了,好像所有的職員都相當的意外。

“不來出演KBS的”張禧嬪“嗎”這樣的話頭也有過。以朝鮮王朝中期為舞台,描寫從家族的沒落開始往上爬,得到皇帝的寵愛,之後又跌落下去的宮女的波瀾起伏的人生,----張禧嬪的故事,可以說是古裝戲的定型版。如果接受的話,對一個女演員來說,肯定會非常有利。可是,為何我會被一部沒有先例的別樣風格的古裝戲“大長今”吸引了呢?與作品的“相識”,畢竟是命運,是緣份吧。

“大長今”這個名字,實際上是臨時的,“醫女長今”,還有不包含“長今”名字的候選劇名也有,我自己很中意“大長今”這個名字,所以就極力推薦。與“醫女長今”相比,感覺“大長今”這個名字會比較“順”吧。出演的話,想以我的角色名字做為劇名,這種想法也有。“這是我的電視劇 "----可能也是想感受一下這滋味吧。

即使這樣,現在想想,還是覺得不可思議。原本對古裝戲不是很關心的我,為什麼會選這部作品呢?出演古裝戲,是在1995年,金在弦(就是後來拍“女人天下”)導演的“西宮”,那是第一次,那是朝鮮王朝第十五代皇帝光海君時期(的故事),我扮演他的後妻,一位做到最高尚宮的不多見的女性。

接著,又出演了很有局限性的特別古裝劇“饌品單子”。饌品單子是“燒廚房”,也就是宮廷的廚房在準備宮廷儀式時所使用的菜單。圍繞宮廷料理的電視劇,就是從那個時候開始體驗的。

出演古裝戲,做為演員,是一種極好的學習,在“西宮”裡我扮演的是一個負面角色,我深感古裝戲對一個演員來說,是必須要過的一關,想迴避它是行不通的,而且也很辛苦,對“大長今”的出演決定拖了兩個月之久,理由之一,就是我親身體驗過,深知拍攝古裝戲的辛苦。

不管現代戲還是古裝戲,在韓國,以女性為主的電視劇和電影並不是很多。就說古裝戲吧,有前面我提到的“張禧嬪”​​,因為多次被拍成電視劇,所以風險好像比較小一點,也有描寫朝鮮王朝第二十六代皇帝高宗的皇后----明成皇后生涯的“明成皇后”,還有描寫朝鮮時代既是名妓又是詩人的非常有名的“黃真伊“據我所知,在電視劇上,(以女性題材為主的)並沒有引起多麼大的話題。

連“大長今”也是,在MBC內部也不乏“懸念之聲”,這是我後來聽說的。

對於劇作家金榮鉉來說,以完全不為所知的歷史人物為基礎,“大長今”是第一部正式著手寫作的長篇連續劇,因為女性劇作家寫古裝戲,在過去是沒有先例的。可是,所有這些“懸念”,最終都沒有成為現實。

◆會“火”的預感

(出演邀請的)話是有了,在經過充分休息,正準備復出時,雖說是很有利的,但僅憑於此,對一部預計 50集的長劇,當初也不是能輕易接受的。

描寫曾經著寫“東醫寶鑑”的韓國名醫生涯的“醫道”,還有通過商人的活動來表現經商之趣的“商道"----看過李炳勳導演的作品,我堅信,只要是他,就可以信賴。看作品,就可以知道是怎樣的一位導演。比如尹錫湖導演,跟他合作過“只愛陌生人”,以及之前的“隱秘嶺”,他是個很純粹的人,如少年一般,感覺敏銳而細膩。。。。。。這種性格會滲透到作品中。李炳勳導演懂得如何很好的去表現人性。實際跟他見面之後,更加深了對導演的信任,同時也萌生了這部劇可能會大受歡迎的預感。

再說一點內情,粱美京出演並獲得好評的韓尚宮,原本並不是粱美京(出演),而是選定了別的演員,而且那個演員也排練了,但是後來有了變化,最終由粱美京來出演。萌生的預感好像越發強烈,我與粱美京在“你家老公如何”及“火花”中都有一起出演過,哪部都是不錯的作品,在這兩部劇中,我們都是扮演媳婦與小姑,總覺得她在身邊給我很多關照。

跟著名演員金喜愛一起去喝茶的時候,意外的遇到了洪莉娜,那個時候,我還沒有決定(是否出演),於是跟她們說,接到這樣一個劇本,導演是李炳勳 ... ...她們兩個都說,李炳勳導演是個非常不錯的人,之後,崔今英這個角色由洪莉娜來演,在吃驚的同時,就像拼圖一點一點的在拼合,感覺一切都進行的很順利。

◆不安

長今最終成為了醫女,“醫道”也是講醫者的故事,最初我有些擔心 ----該不會成為雷同的連續劇吧。媒體中也有這樣的報導:會不會效仿“醫道”,以同樣的故事情節來展開呢?我也不安的在猜想,李導演與劇作家金榮鉉也做了多次面談,第一次看過劇情梗概之後,知道了是從料理開始的,算是鬆了一口氣,也感到很意外。

“大長今”的故事,只是在“朝鮮王朝實錄”中有隻字片語的出現,以此展開想像的翅膀,果真能達到拍成電視劇那樣的程度嗎。。。。。。可一讀劇本,就越來越被長今所吸引。憑藉不為我們所知的,幾百年前真實存在的女性的僅有的一點痕跡,(劇作家)運用虛構與非虛構的巧妙結合,進行著創作。把不為人知的歷史人物拍成電視劇來傳播,作為演員,感覺很有意義也很高興。每次去博物館,看到那些瓷器及遺留物,就感覺好像乘坐時空穿梭機,被吸入(到歷史中),對塵封於歷史中的人物投入情感,讓他復活,制做這樣的電視劇,在那一瞬間也有領悟的喜悅。

還有一點不安的,是全部50集(最後成為 54集)的大規模,我也跟導演談過,可不可以稍短一點 ----之所以當初沒有馬上答應,而讓等了兩個月的理由,也是對自己在體力上,精神上能否堅持到最後有所擔心。李炳勳導演說不要有壓力,會給你充分的時間來演好,這樣約定了之後,我就投入了拍攝。可到底還是沒能像約定的那樣,一開始的時候,根本沒有休息,一,兩個月連續的拍攝,我什至邊哭邊跟導演說,請給我一,兩天的時間吧,在韓國,連續劇是一周播出兩次,所以拍撮計劃非常的嚴格。

◆如泡菜般的連續劇

“大長今”的製作發布,因為是“李英愛”久違復出的電視劇,所以很多媒體都來了,也出現了一點麻煩,就是錯誤報導被傳播的那個時候,在“大長今”之前播放的“茶母”,是一部擁有著“茶母嬖人”這樣狂熱 FANS的連續劇。顫倒我的意思,說:“”大長今“會勝過”茶母“”(有這樣)內容的報導竟出現了,於是在網上,來自於“茶母”FANS的抗議貼子蜂擁而至,鬧得很兇。

我深知演員是如何一邊辛苦一邊拍戲的,也知道“茶母”的河智苑是位非常努力的人,所以我是不可能說那樣的話的。。可受到了這樣的誤解,在當時是很難過的。

我真的很想說,“大長今”能夠像泡菜一樣,成為不論男女老少,任何人都能夠欣賞的一部電視劇。

我是經過充分的考慮,對長今這個角色有了自信之後,才選了這部戲,可在網上及媒體,出演長今的李英愛究竟“適合,不適合”的爭論也發生了。我想不為這些事情背負壓力,集中精神努力拍戲。

這樣,飽含波折的“大長今”的拍撮開始了,幸運的是,也真的成了像泡菜一般(受歡迎)的連續劇。

而且出版這本隨筆,也是我想把被人們所喜愛的“大長今”(日本題名“宮廷女官チャングムの誓い”)這部劇,不論何時都能夠留在大家的記憶裡。
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******"序“的部分到這裡就結束了,下次更新會進入第一章----長今旋風 *****


第一章長今旋風

◆拍攝前的準備過程

“大長今”是我復出後的第一部電視劇,因為受關注程度很高,所以不論如何,做好充分的準備是必須的,又因為是涉及料理及醫術的劇,我認為事先的學習也是不可欠缺的。

首先,為了學習料理,由宮廷料理研究院的韓福麗先生從上午10點到下午5點,給我集中授課。正規課程我都好好的學過,連結業證書都拿到了呢。
我也拜訪了韓福麗先生的母親 ----宮廷料理領域的重要無形文化財產保有人黃慧性先生,她教給我很多關於尚宮的事情。也品嚐到很多美味,渡過了一段非常開心的時光,如果有機會,還想多次前去,跟他們請教很多東西。

我也曾想跟東國大學的韓方醫院教授請教醫術,因為時間的原因,沒能實現,只好買了“東醫寶鑑”熟讀了一下,那是韓鮮王韓時代,許浚寫的一本醫學書。古老的醫學用語頻出,發音很難的詞語也有,我想能夠很好的說台詞而讀了這本書,還有,關於針炙的書也瀏覽了一下。

這之外也讀了一些歷史書,首先比較有趣的,是朝鮮王朝的女人們她們背後的故事。王室的人系關係,形形色色展開的事件,尚宮們走過的坎坷人生,等等,(對我來說)是一種很好的學習,這些教科書裡所沒有的,宮中情形的生動描述,我覺得很新鮮。

(謝謝​​一期一會惡作劇的幫忙,韓文名字已經改成中文)

就這樣,為演出而做準備的過程,對於我,則成為最大的能量,不應該是僅僅記住台詞去演出----長今生活的那個時代的背景,那個時代的宮中是怎樣的,那時常糾纏著尚宮們的孤獨,是因為怎樣的“恨”招致而來的,為何會有長今母親這樣的犧牲者,為何會有長今這樣的人物出現。對於背景的暇想,做為演員來說,也是一種樂趣。

做為其他準備,也有非常周密的撮影彩排。照明要怎樣來做,側面要怎樣來拍等等,都與導演確認過,韓服也試了有二十套,哪套最適合自己,等等,事先能做的全都做了。

韓服的色彩非常美,顏色也很多,可因為我肩部比較寬,導演說淺色的不適合我,所以只能穿深色的,自己真正中意的顏色卻穿不了,別的演員和前輩們都穿著漂亮顏色的韓服,只有我穿著素顏色的,轉來轉去。

可我覺得帶著假髮的前輩們也很不容易。我成為最高尚宮,只是很短時間戴了假髮,卻總是感覺好像還戴在頭上,是個很重很吃力的玩意。那些前輩們頭髮都掉了,好像真是有相當大的壓力,因為戴假髮太吃力,所以為此避開古裝戲,這樣的女演員也有,如果我也一直戴著,可能也會受不了吧。一戴上假髮,哪怕只是被誰碰一下身體,也會煩燥起來。性格不好的女演員是不能出演古裝戲的,這樣可笑的說法也有。

◆見面

很快,就有了與共演的各位的見面,第一次見面,人非常多,而且也有很多老前輩,所以我很緊張。

第一次見到了崔尚宮的扮演者----甄美麗,因為我是屬於比較認生的那類,所以一開始,只是很客氣的在遠處望著,後來索性上前去搭話,才意外的發現她是一個很率直而且很風趣的人。率直坦誠的性格,這是非常讓人喜歡的。她的兒子也是我的FAN,所以她也有帶他來過拍撮現場,當時他只有六歲,一千還是兩千韓元吧,把他很寶貝的存款,用那小小的手送給我做禮物,當然事後我還給他了,但他那可愛的行為讓我感覺現場一下子溫暖起來。

出演今英的洪莉娜是我以前就認識的,知道她來演,對這部劇會火的預感就越發強烈了。有人說,因為劇情設定的影響,我們的關係不會變壞吧 - ---這完全是杞人憂天,她跟劇中的角色正好相反,在拍攝中也是,很多事情都想到我,很熱心的關照我,在冬季拍攝時,因為必須忍耐極其寒冷的環境,我們相互用暖暖貼,洪莉娜還送了便攜式的小暖爐給我。我們的關係比以前更好了。

明知是錯,卻不得不向那條路邁進 ----我對崔尚宮和今英感到某種的憐憫與同情。對此有著完美演繹的“今英之曲”也棒極了,因為,以一個觀眾(的角度)來看,總是好孩子的長今,偶爾也有讓人不喜歡的地方。

池珍熙是我以前出演的LG卡廣告的共演者。那時我曾經問他,以後想做什麼?他說,做演員,“有好作品我們能一起工作的話最好了。”這話我還記得,現在實現了,真是讓人高興的事情。

其實在那之後,尹錫湖導演的“只愛陌生人”這部劇,原本池珍熙好像也有被邀請過,聽說後來換了別的演員(這樣說來)我們理應可能會更早一些一起演出呢。

李炳勳導演的作品中,大家所熟悉的,扮演姜德久的林玄植,是時隔好久才再次見面的。他人很好,而且讓他做即興幽默表演的話,堪稱天下第一,實際上從外表來看,他跟我父親很像。我父親個子比較矮,屬於矮矮胖胖的體形,好像父親也有被周圍人說,李英愛一點也不像你,這個先不說,在我看來,林玄植真的如父親一般,有種近似於父女情的感覺。

在拍攝現場,由於劇情需要,個人拍攝場景比較多,所以不太有演出人員一起開心聊天的氣氛,但電視劇(的拍攝),“團結與協作”是第一重要的,不論前輩還是後輩,大家都盡量為了能聚在一起而努力,用餐也盡量在一起。

“大長今”是與我迄今為止演過的電視劇和電影,完全不同的角色,完全不同的電視劇,必須要有一個與“醫道”那樣“聖人”般的角色所不同的表演方式(長今)並非完美無缺的人,她有粗心大意的地方,也很調皮而有趣,我想要表現一個如同鄰家妹妹一般親切的人,所以與導演也多次商談溝通,雖說是古裝劇,但在台詞上,動作上,盡量想讓它跟以前的古裝劇稍稍有所不同。

這部劇從第一集起,就引起了極大反響。MBC收到大量的電話和信件,在媒體的大炒特炒中,我並不為之所動,我很冷靜,並決心一定要演好。

到第5集為止,是由扮演兒時長今的趙貞恩來出演,因為“大長今”的拍攝外景地比較多,集中精神在做準備的我,很難去達現場,所以(長今)少年時期的戲,是在電視裡看的,第一次見到趙貞恩,是在拍撮宣傳照的時候,能夠很流利的背記台詞,聽說哭戲也很不錯,是個極聰明的女孩子。

由於她的表現非常出色,有些人說,換成李英愛之後,收視率會如何呢?由於趙貞恩的努力,該劇有了一個很高的起點,這種“叫座”對我來說,也成了一種壓力,可幸運的是,伴隨著長今的成長,收視率也在上升。

謝謝趙貞恩。
不論哪個角色,都是時間越久,越能集中和投入,所以一開始,“入戲”並不是很快,主要是很久沒有演戲,而且是我不太習慣的古裝戲,要與她的聲調吻合,要在她的表演的延續上,與自己想要演繹的長今重合,這些都是需要時間的,所以到第5集為止,我認為是自己對劇中人物“入戲”的一段助跑期。

◆台詞的洪水

很快,一周一次的對台詞開始了,被捲入長今猛烈旋渦的幾個月也隨之而來了。

首先被壓倒的,是長今的台詞量之多,有時僅一個場景,A4紙就有2頁,而且專用術語也毫不留情的穿插其中。

對“大長今”劇本的完成之期待,比起做為“長今”,我更是做為一名觀眾而在急切的等待著,可做為演員,不是僅僅這樣就可以的,在拍攝時間上,基本沒有空閒,而且一些SET場景的拍攝,是當天才拿到台詞,必須要在2到4小時之內全部記下來並且演出,這種情況也有。

有人說我背記台詞很快,這其實沒有什麼決竅,就是無論怎樣都要記住,很難背記的台詞如果不全部記往,會連續出現 NG,就可能要依賴“小紙條”了,這樣的演員也有,可我是女主角,不可以這樣做,不過這樣反而使我對演出能夠更加集中了。

我好像只要一被逼到極限,就能迸發出一種不可思議的力量(對台詞)反复多次的讀,上下文意思理解的話,就意外的容易記住了。長今的台詞,比如一說起綠茶:綠茶有何效能,對身體何處有益,。有很多相關的知識,這樣專業性的解釋起來,就不是上下文或別的什麼,吃飯也好工作也好,都是手不離台詞本,用心去記,僅此而已。關於專用術語穿插其中的台詞,也不能說完全都可以消化。很流利的說出有關食材和料理的專用術語以及醫學用語,正如熟練掌握它們一樣,是件很困難的事情。

總之,僅僅背記台詞,也是一件不容易的工作,我想,這就是被拍撮日程所追趕的連續劇的命運吧。

在首爾汝矣島的MBC攝影地時,從早上8點到第二天下午2點都在拍攝,幾乎一點不睡,不停的拍。

給大家講一個小插曲----我跟某演員的一場戲,拍撮先是從對方開始。對面的我,即使不在鏡頭裡,也要站在那裡出演傾聽的角色,可是,周圍的人都在偷偷的笑----(原來)我看起來好像睡著了一般。都困到了這種地步,對這種嚴格的拍撮日程多少可以想像到一些吧。

只是,無論怎樣的日程,自己如果在表演上,對那場戲不能夠理解,就無法投入感情,不能夠理解時,即使沒有時間,最後也會與導演相談,這在韓國也是一個話題啦----就是,原本跟出演閔政浩的池珍熙有一場吻戲,無論多麼現代風格的古裝戲,KISS這種表現方式到底適合不適合,我首先跟導演提出來,李導演也有同感,覺得最好不要吻。可是“有KISS戲”這個傳言還是不徑而走,也不管是外景地什麼的,眾多記者蜂擁而至,一片混亂。他們特地來到全羅道,“逼迫”導演,希望能拍到一些相關的場面。一直到最後,導演都因為要不要“親親”而煩惱,最終,(那場戲)以(導致)藝能新聞的“為何沒有 KISS?”的結果做了播放。

充分思考,感覺哪裡有不適合,就與導演相談並且作以修正,我覺得這也是演員的工作,這樣的例子有很多。

劇作家金榮鉉是把長今與我自身相結合來寫的,她事前寫的一些人物與演員並不是十分吻合,我想是後來她為了(使劇中人物)更加符合演員自身的特點,進行了創作。

◆拍撮現場

“大長今”除了SET拍攝場之外,還有許多外景地,像濟州島,釜山,等等,全國各地都轉到了,一去外景地,當地的人們都聚集過來,跟我握手。還有很多人讓我撫摸他們的孩子,覺得我的撫摸好像可以驅病一樣。

在濟州島,駝背的老人哄著孫兒,淋著雨跟我聊天,我是不值得這樣(來對待)的,是因為他們把我當成了長今吧。通過與全國很多人的見面,我感覺到了他們的樸素與單純。

很喜歡去外景地拍攝,因為我個人不太有機會做旅行,我也並非信仰佛教,卻很喜歡去寺院,偶爾會去古老的寺院,做一點小小的祈禱。

首爾以北的郊外,在距離議政府很近的京畿道的揚州,有MBC的古裝劇拍撮場,宮中戲的很多場面都是在那裡拍撮的,現在作為“大長今主題公園” ,對外開放,很有人氣。那裡氣氛安靜,坐在草地上休息,大家一起聊天,很開心的。附近有住宿的地方,我經常去,不過有時下大雪,哪裡也去不了。

在SET拍撮場的多次通宵達旦,仍然留在記憶裡,有時,必須要拍白天的場面,被拖到了夜裡,搭上帳篷強光照明​​,弄成白天的樣子進行拍撮。

這是一部有很多料理出場的電視劇,所以有人以為可以想吃什麼就能吃到什麼,可我只是扮演呈獻料理給皇上的角色,吃的人,專是扮演皇上的任豪。

拍戲到半夜,肚子一餓,就有女演員開始偷吃眼前的料理了,像年糕等,拍像機拍到的只是表面,裡面的應該是可以吃的。好多年糕的裡面,都呈現“洞窟狀“,這個好像連導演也不知道呢。

每到扮演文定皇后的樸貞淑和我的對手戲時,導演總是“李英愛是專業演員”,一般2回就給確定,可對於樸貞淑,讓她10回甚至20回重來,為了能有更加入戲的表演,我也想多點重來,可是導演總說,已經足夠好了。

可能司會出身的樸貞淑是第一次出演電視劇,另外導演對角色也有他自己的要求,所以更有一份責任感在裡面吧。

不止是樸貞淑,在年輕女演員眾多的拍攝現場,導演熱心的專門為某個人說戲的時候,我會嫉妒,女人生來愛嫉妒,我也是女人。。。。。。當然這是玩笑話啦,我跟導演之間從來沒有過不愉快,我們合作的非常好。

因為女演員太多了,導演一個一個去對應,真的不容易,不過,與拍撮男演員多的劇集相比,他一定是相當開心的。

◆韓劇情況

跟日本有所不同,因為韓國的連續劇大多不是事先全部拍好,所以在時間上相當嚴格,要隨時看觀眾的反響,並把這些在以後的劇集中體現出來,這是好的一面,也就是說,之前拿到的劇本大綱,理所應當會有更改。

比如,“韓尚宮”原本是在第七集裡死去,但是(她)在觀眾中人氣太旺,在網上,“不要讓韓尚死”的呼聲四起,甚至還發起了“拯救韓尚宮運動”,所以(她的)出演延長了幾十集,活躍了很長一段時間。

就是這樣,劇作家要看觀眾當時的反響,來一點點的修改劇情。

因為是拍撮這樣隨機應變的電視劇,演員可以敏銳的感覺到觀眾的反應,對於之後的劇情如何發展,也是一邊忐忑不安,一邊期待劇本的完成。

只是,這種韓國式(的拍攝方式)也有缺點,由於前半部延長的影響,最初的故事大綱中,長今與閔政浩以及皇上之間的三角關係的戲,就比預期的縮短了許多。

因為這部劇博得了相當好的人氣,“再延長拍攝三十集​​”,甚至“李英愛不演的話,換別的演員”,這樣的假消息也流傳開來。這些都不是事實。李導演已經在說服我,要延長拍攝,可是,這部戲實在太辛苦了,我是一邊流淚一邊跟導演說,(延長),我做不到。

商談的最終結果,以“二週,追加四集”達成協議。

在日本,這種情況我想沒有那麼多,但是在韓國,人氣一上來劇集就要延長,相反,如果不火,那就要比預期早早收場。這樣很不好,應該予以阻止。對這種慣行(劇集延長或縮短)我在想,應該從我這裡開始,跟它劃一條線,我自己是身心疲憊,幾近極限了。

可惜,三角關係的愛情戲沒能夠充分的寫出來,到現在我也是覺得遺憾。雖然是戲,但是刺激而有趣。被兩個男人所愛,即使是演戲,也是很幸福的事情。

這部戲裡面出現了相當多難懂的用語和台詞,有人說,像“水刺間”,“退膳間”,“尚宮”,“提調尚宮”,“氣味尚宮”,“訓育尚宮“這樣的詞語,在日本也變得耳熟能詳了,聽了這話,讓我不勝感慨。

作為演員,古裝戲是不可迴避的一個領域,不僅是情感的表達,也是發音的學習。與現代戲有所不同,(古裝戲)有一些特殊用語。單詞也好,發音也好,都有些難度,需要用到“腹式呼吸”,親身體驗了半年左右的古裝戲之後,現代戲的發音就變得容易很多。

在韓國,是口中含一支筆做發音練習,拍攝之前,我也口中含一支筆,用很大的聲音來朗讀“東醫寶鑑”,這樣做非常有助於正確發音,同時也能記住一些醫學用語,可謂“一舉兩得”發音法。

說起發音,我以前朗讀報紙的社論來做練習,這是高中時期國語老師的影響,他教給我們:記事可以跳過不看,只要盡量看社論,這樣就可以對社會有個普遍了解。現在也是,不論多忙,我也要盡量瀏覽一下社論。

大聲朗讀社論,不僅僅對演員,對播​​音員,MC(司儀)等等這些需要口齒清晰的人來說,是一種十分有益的方法。

這部戲扮演長今的難處在於:不太擅長料理,而且,對歷史不夠熟知。說到有關歷史,被廢的王妃尹氏被賜死,中宗反正(廢燕山君),與明朝的關係等等,這段基本的歷史在學校裡雖然有學習過,但是也不比普通人知道的多到哪裡去。

可是,韓國有著多災多難的複雜歷史,所以我想,在韓國完全不關心歷史的人幾乎沒有。正是這歷經巨變,有著錯綜複雜歷史的國家,才能拍出像“Shiri”(쉬리,中文名:魚,生死諜變注),“JSA”這樣的影片吧。

了解歷史背景,對古裝戲在表演上非常重要,通過“大長今”,對於歷史的關心也變得更加深厚了。

舉止,動作,表情,步伐,等等,根據某個時代某個角色而各有不同。“大長今”不是傳統的古裝戲,在某些方面它是一部現代手法的作品,觀眾是懷抱親近感來觀看的,我想是這樣吧。

傳統的古裝戲,聲音強硬,聲調粗重,抑揚頓挫,已經習慣了快節奏電視劇的當今觀眾,很難接受這種風格了。

對於說台詞比較慢的演員,李導演總是說:“再這樣慢,觀眾就換台了!”要求他們把台詞說得盡量快些,對那些表演上慢慢悠悠的演員,多次給出 NG。

導演信任我的理由之一,好像就是因為我能夠把台詞說的快些。把觀眾也不熟知的那些難記的專用語,很快的說出來,這也是長今聰慧之處的一種表現吧。

動作也一樣,古人走路時動作緩慢,一到這時,導演便說:“觀眾要換台了!”... ...

皇上也好,皇后也罷,本來是必須帶著王者之尊,緩步而行,可是在“大長今”裡,都是刷刷的走得飛快,挺有趣的。

◆意外
一邊使用菜刀一邊演戲,切到了手指而在醫院做手術的事情也有發生過,是左手的無名指,傷口到現在觸一下還隱隱作痛。受傷當時並不知道,一半的指甲連同手指,被切到了好幾毫米。

造成如此深的傷口的原因,是為了要跟歷史考證相符,沒有使用普通的菜刀,而是使用黃銅鑄制的菜刀。古時候的技術已經可以造出那種黃銅菜刀了。稍稍劃傷一點,也會造成很大的傷口。

被切到的瞬間,“啊”了一聲,但是大家沒有那麼緊張。大概以為不是重傷。可是血開始滴答滴答的往下流,我說,就簡單的包紮一下,繼續拍吧。“這樣可不行” ,導演不顧押下那麼多未拍完的戲,讓我去醫院,於是趕緊去了附近的整形外科。

這樣,馬上就上了手術台。手指麻醉,縫合傷口。有多痛呢?... ...指甲與指尖之間的縫合,當然很痛的,手術的時候,不斷想起這些日子的種種辛苦,淚水便湧了出來。

我頭腦裡甚至冒出了這樣的想法:總有一天要戴上結婚戒指的手指,就這樣留下了疤痕,該如何是好。現在覺得很好笑,但當時真的是又難過又後悔,淚水都止不住。

那天,剩下的戲如果不能夠拍完,電視台的播放就要開天窗了。所以手術之後我又返回了現場,李導演說讓我休息,可那種情況實在不可以休息,於是繼續拍攝。

最初打算料理的場面全部由我自己來演,可受傷之後,導演就絕對不許我再“動刀”,我也只好服從。所以這之後,“動刀”的戲裡,出現了一雙胖胖的手。

起用了“手”的替身之後,因為該劇人氣高漲,對“手”主人的關心也多起來,好像也“露臉”接受了採訪。因為(手主人)總覺得只能“露手”有些遺憾,現在能這樣我覺得真是太好了,這也是受傷的功勞吧。

[英愛的誓言一期一會翻譯2006-12-27]

後記

大家好。
自2001年我的散文體自傳“最特別的愛”(編輯部注:日語版由二見書房出版社於 2002年發行出版。現在已絕版)之後,通過這本書我是第二次與大家交談了。從上次出書的經歷來看,寫書是一件非常不容易的事。怎麼也沒想到此次會再次出書。
說起來,那是2006年5月的事了。自從 2001年因電影“春逝”參加東京國際電影節以來,我就工作目的很久沒有到訪日本了。那次是應播放“大長今” (日本播放名為“宮女長今的誓言”)的NHK廣播中心之邀,前來參與“你好,來自攝影棚公園的問候”的直播節目。
然而反響遠遠超出了我的想像和事先的期待。儘管是平時的工作日,而來自日本全國各地的影迷,只是為了和長今見面,不遠千里趕來參加這個節目。NHK大廳的三層座無虛席。我穿著韓服,盡量用目光迎合每個人,傳達我的感謝之意。大家一邊用期待的目光注視我,一邊傾聽著我的話語,笑意盈盈,友好和善,那種感動,至今依然留在我的胸中,難以忘懷。
會場氣氛融和,越談越熱烈 ... ...。快樂的時光轉眼即逝,為了不留下遺憾,我笑著玩笑地說到:“今天我沒來得及說的話,要不把它寫成書吧?”因此,從日本回到韓國後,我率先提出出書這件事,但是因為這句話我很困擾,真的非常苦惱。可能有人會說這樣自尋煩惱是否有必要,但是知道我慎重認真的性格,就不會這樣簡單地得出結論了。
以下是我敞開心扉認真考慮決定出書的原因。
第一,我做演員已經有十多年了,我並不感到遺憾那些曾經自己全身心投入的作品漸漸被人們所遺忘。因為就像一首好歌,即使過去很多年,依然深入人心。我希望“大長今”也是一部始終能激勵大家,給人們帶來鼓舞和勇氣的作品。
第二,借由這本書的出版,對我自己也是一次回顧 16年前我由模特踏入演藝圈,然後我決定要成為一個不辱名譽的演員,無休止地不斷向前奮進著。一邊這麼想著,這個期間,我再次決定,我要撣落沉積的灰塵,重新開始。
還有,大家把我當作長今,給予我無盡的支持和愛。我從大家身上體會到了一種難以言表,特別的愛,現在我把大家給我的愛每份均等地合在一起,就是這本“英愛的誓言。
正是因為這些願望和曾經許下的誓言,我決定出版這本書,8月初的一段日子,我在能夠俯瞰漢江的W飯店接受了為出版此書而進行的訪問,每天從中午到下午5點,不間斷地回答了NHK出版社提出的300多個問題。
雖然有時我會到附近的朋友家聊聊天,拍拍照,但是長時間的採訪,我的嘴很痛,超乎想像的難受,但是,非常感謝工作人員們,他們擔心暑假中哪裡也不能去的我會無聊,在同樣的房間中變換著不同的氣氛和概念,每天我都很期待,今天會是怎樣的房間呢?對我來說,回憶中那幾天是特別的一個暑假吧。
採訪結束 2週後我收到了翻成韓語的書的原稿,在次之前的過程至關重要。首先,要將日語的提問翻譯成韓語,翻譯用韓語問我,當然我也是用韓語回答,在此基礎上再翻譯成日語製成書的原稿。這次送到我手上,全部翻譯成韓語的內容,讓我最終進行檢查核實。
說到照片拍攝的話,我只是塗了防曬霜,再上了些粉。採訪非常愉快,照片拍攝同樣如此。攝影師從手,腳,吃飯的姿勢,還有後面的姿勢,都是很“親切地“為我進行拍攝。起先我想如果能給我更多的指導就更好了。但是最終不加修飾的姿勢更能給人親近感,我覺得攝影師非常的高明,出色。
沒有什麼比大家讀了這本書浮現明朗笑顏來得更幸福了。如果這本書的內容還有什麼不到之處,請大家大人大量,睜一眼閉一眼吧。
最後,我衷心地向編集,製作的韓日兩國工作人員,以及閱讀此書的各位表示感謝。
祝大家幸福
謝謝(韓語)
謝謝(日語)
李英愛
二〇〇六年晩夏

在自傳“最特別的愛”中我有提到過,20幾歲時的埃塞俄比亞,尼泊爾,印度,西藏諸國之旅。最近也常常會被問到,如果有長假,不再進行背包之旅嗎之類的問題。之前我說過不喜歡坐飛機,要去很遠的海外已經沒那個精力了20多歲的時候,是想要尋求自我,或是想要獲得什麼吧,我會特意去一些艱險的地方,然而現在在韓國國內旅行我想是最舒適愜意不過的。全羅道,南海,統営,閒麗水道附近悠然自得,即使去國外,最多也是韓國附近的一些國家,因為我喜歡歷史人文,所以一定要去中國的絲綢之路旅行一次。之前也曾提到過這些,因此中國影迷也有送給我關於絲綢之路的書。

還有就是想去日本的溫泉旅行。以往即使到了日本,每每總是因為沒有時間而無法成行,因此影迷知道後送了我6本關於溫泉的書,上面記載了日本所有的溫泉勝地,所以無論想去哪裡,書裡都有著詳細的介紹。就拿這書作參考吧。
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節選自“ヨンエの誓い”2006年8月

*原來簡體中文, wy woo 翻譯成繁體中文*

Below pictures were posted by a Japanese fan, Toshiko.