Behind the scenes with City Hunter

by javabeans

Now that City Hunter has sunk its claws into me (in the best way, I mean), it’s time to take a look at all its news-related tidbits till the next episode comes out. (I need my Lee Min-ho fix! Seriously, how can a person be that beautifully charismatic? It’s mesmerizing.)

First off, we have new stills teasing the romantic developments to unfold in the upcoming episode, wherein Yoon-sung (Lee Min-ho) applies a Band-Aid to Nana’s (Park Min-young) face. You’ll know why if you’ve seen Episode 4, when a shadowy figure (presumably Yoon-sung) saves Nana from being picked off sniper-style by his own Daddy Dearest.

I just love this brewing conflict, and particularly since Nana doesn’t look terribly pleased to receive his care, which suggests that he’s gotta keep his heroics under cover. So here she is, thinking he’s some inconsiderate, careless playboy who calls her at his every whim to drive him around, completely unaware that he’s totally smitten with her, and just saved her life. Ahhh, this stuff KILLS ME. I love it.

This scene was filmed on May 23 and will broadcast in June 8’s Episode 5, which is a bit of a relief since that means they’re not yet in a live-shoot scenario, filming more than two weeks ahead of airdate. That’s not a whole LOT of room, but it’s better than being so tight that you’re filming the day you air, with mere hours for editing and post-production. (Or filming after your star has been drafted into the army, using body doubles, as in the case of one time-strapped drama.)

I’ve been impressed with the quality of City Hunter so far — the assured pacing, the strong ambiance, the music — and no doubt that that kind of work takes time. Hopefully the production manages to keep itself ahead of the game for most of its run.

City Hunter was also featured on today’s (June 6) broadcast of SBS’s Good Morning program, which took a trip to the drama’s set. In the segment, Lee Min-ho shared a behind-the-scenes story of his “spoon fight” in Episode 3, wherein he takes down his burly enemy with naught but a tiny spoon, wielded like a deadly weapon.

Lee said, “Originally, the fight was written in the script without the spoon, but it got added in. The martial arts that I’ve been learning teaches that anything can be used as a weapon, so I used what was around me.”

Unfortunately, Lee has reportedly been dealing with injuries to his shoulder and wrist after being hit with some shrapnel. This is his first time in the action genre and he admitted, “It looks very cool, but actually it’s really difficult. I injured my wrist while training for the drama, which I started three months before filming began, and it’s gotten worse the more I’ve used it. But it’s at a level that I can manage.”

Let’s hope that’s true, because I’m enjoying the heck out of the drama and am desperately hoping it doesn’t nosedive later on, as so many series are wont to do. *crosses fingers and wishes*

Via Mk.co.kr, Newsen

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