"Last" Is The Latest Drama That Plans To Shoot Advance Footage

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last
Yoon Kye Sang
Lee Bum Soo

The drama's title may be "Last" but a recent article in the Korean media outlet Korea Herald suggests it won't be the last drama to shoot a portion of its content in advance.

Most k-dramas film episodes shortly before they are aired. And while this makes for a very interactive experience, with drama plots and length often dictated by audience reaction, it is often stressful for the actors involved.

K-drama scripts are often written days before the actors must rehearse them. Dramas may shoot through the night to reach an airing deadline, leaving actors exhausted due to lack of sleep. Most actors accept the system for what it is but recently hardworking veteran actors such as Jung Woong In on "Yong Pal" and Kim Sun Ah on "Masked Prosecutor" have complained about punitive shooting schedules. Ha Ji Won, known for acing demanding drama scenes, answered criticism about a less-than-convincing kiss in "The Time I Didn't Love You" by saying she was exhausted from her filming schedule.

The actors in "Last" are happy with their pre-planned shooting schedule. Yoon Kye Sang told the Korea Herald that the environment was "superb."

"The scripts are out early, so the actors have enough time to delve into their characters."

"We weren't rushing through shoots and sacrificing quality, as happens in most drama projects," said his co-star Lee Bum Soo.

The story of "Last" is adapted from a webcomic by Kang Hyung Ku. Yoon Kye Sang stars as a homeless man who was once a stockbroker. He becomes involved in a secret organization of Seoul's homeless and fights for leadership. Lee Bum Soo plays the man he would outrank.

The weekend drama, which began on July 24, also stars Park Ye Jin.

The 16-episode drama is being produced by jTBC, which was launched in 2011. The cable channel produces only a small number of dramas. But it is not only cable dramas that are pre-shooting scenes.

"The Scholar Who Walks the Night" also shot some scenes in advance. That came in handy when the two leading actors were injured in an on-set accident. Lee Jun Ki missed only a few days of filming but Lee Yoo Bi was out for almost a week due to a back injury. However the show's airdate was not delayed because the drama's producers already had footage.

Two upcoming dramas have also decided to shoot footage in advance. The dramas are 'Cheese in The Trap," starring Park Hae Jin and Kim Go Eun, and "Saimdang: The Herstory," starring Lee Young Ae and Song Seung Hoon.

Is this a trend that will result in better dramas? Tune in and find out.

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