Breaking Down: Novoland: Pearl Eclipse BTS “Season of Love” Special Edition
Please take note that I have not read the novel so I don’t know what happens on the novel and this is just my take on what I see. If you have read the novel and already know what's going to happen and if I say something that is wrong, you can just laugh it off or we can talk about this in private (I don’t mind being spoiled of the ending as long as the ending that you are going to share with me is Hai Shi and Fang Jian Ming as end game LOL if not then.............*sigh*)
Before everything else I just need to let it out that this drama is now one of my favorites when it comes to production, set to costume aesthetics out of more than 80+ Chinese Dramas that I have watched.
This special edition BTS video features cast from Yang Mi (Fang Hai Shi), William Chan (Fang Jian Ming) , Xu Kai Cheng (Emperor Chu Zhong Xu), Chen Xiao Yun (Consort Shurong) to Wang Sen (Fang Zhouying), and the drama’s Executive Producer Gao Chen 高琛 , Costume Designer Fang Si Zhe, and Art Director Shang Chang Yong.
STORY
It has a unique worldview. This TV work is sad but beautiful love story that resonates more with female viewers. The love in this series is actually tormenting. We often use the word “tormenting”, tormenting love.
Gao Chen
Fun Fact: Gao Chen is the Executive Producer for Novoland: Pearl Eclipse as well as more of Yang Mi’s dramas like Storm Eye, Eternal Love and Eternal Love of Dream, to Les Interprestes back in 2016. He is a Producer for some of Jay Walk Studio dramas including Dilireba’s The Flames Daughter back in 2018.
This part is where I got confused, worried yet hopeful all at same time. The love story between Hai Shi and her Master Fang Jian Ming is really something that I look forward on the show. Then there were clips of Hai Shi and Fang Jian Ming meeting again, with her now sporting a woman’s outfit and seemingly avoiding or arguing with him? and from the teasers, OST and other snippets that I have seen, this couple will definitely have a fall out and I just hope that it won’t last too long.
“Tormenting” was repeatedly mentioned in the video and it was also the tittle for the other trailer for the show Tormenting Love Between Yang Mi & William Chan so I’m already preparing my heart for it but during Yang Mi’s interview she mentions
Its tormenting throughout the story but if you stick to the end, you’ll find sweet love. Don’t give up. That’s life
Yang Mi
So is it wrong for me to hope that they do have a happy ending when the Main Lead herself kind of insinuates that if you stick to the end, you’ll find sweet love? like does that not sound as a happy ending?
but this is where I kind of worried cause sweet love can mean different things and that it was not mention on which love? ‘cause there have been scenes of Hai Shi being involved with the Emperor and it seems like she will start something something with him and the synopsis on WeTV does not help at all
Hai Shi then becomes the personal guard of the emperor and she starts to be interested in him, and some misunderstandings rise between them. When the emperor finds out that Hai Shi is a girl, he starts having feelings for her. Hai Shi will have to face her own feelings towards Fang Zhu and the emperor.
WeTV
But then again promotions were of three couples, Hai Shi-Fang Jian Ming, the Emperor and his Consort Shurong and Zhou Ying and Zhe Liu.
COSTUME
The artistic style of this series is slightly nouveau. All the costumes are typically of Art Deco Style.
Fang Si Zhe
Fun Facts: Art Deco is known for appealing lines of nature, such as oriental cultural patterns and geometrics. It uses bright colors with strong contrast
We established effective communication with the designers since the beginning. So we follow the styles of the scenes.
Fang Si Zhe
The costumes were definitely really good on this drama and I have a huge trust on Fang Si Zhe’s taste and designs ever since I feel in love with Lu Yi in his absolutely gorgeous Jin Yi Wei uniforms on Under the Power (2019) who was played by Ren Jia Lun
Fun Facts: Fang Si Zhe is the costume designer for dramas like Scarlet Heart (2011), General and I (2017), Under the Power (2019), and the wonderful drama Love and Redemption (2020). His upcoming dramas are also to look forward too from Yang Zi and Cheng Yi’s Immortal Samsara (2022) and Zhang Ling He and Zhai Xiao We’s currently filming drama adaptation of Heaven’s Official’s Blessing (2022).
Every costume has its distinguished character.
Chen Xiao Yun
Every character definitely have their own styles and color schemes. and definitely one of my favorites are Hai Shi’s wardrobe.
I have more than one armor of all kinds of styles such as light ones, soft ones, and heavy ones. Anyway, I'm an "Armored Warrior" . Armor Warrior Fang Hai Shi
Yang Mi
I love the different shades and tones of blue that Hai Shi wears throughout the drama. From the almost black deep blue outfit that she wears working for the Jifeng Pavilion, her disguise when she was on the streets of the capital on episode 10, the blue-green outfit when she was caught on the rain on episode 11, the light blue inner clothing on her armor before she left for her first assignment, to her official uniform as the Staff Officer on Huangquan Pass.
PRODUCTION
Every little detail has been attended to. Hai Shi's sword is rather special. Her weapon adopts characters of her birthplace, and her background or geographical elements. That's how the sword is made. Its handle is inlaid with seashells to connect with her birthplace.
Shao Chang Yong
Fun Facts: Shao Chang Yong is the Art Director for a lot of really famous dramas. From Cheng Yi and Zhang Yu Xi’s historical drama Stand By Me (2021), Xu Kai’s Ancient Love Poetry (2021), Seven Tan and Wallace Chung’s The Sword and the Brocade (2021), another Cheng Yi Drama The Promise of Chang’An (2020), one my favorite Yang Mi dramas Legend of Fu Yao (2018), Nirvana on Fire 1 and 2 to Wallace Huo’s Love Me if You Dare back on 2015. Definitely a veteran Art Director who has a quite a knack for Historical dramas.
I really love the white sheath as well as the minor details on of Hai Shi sword. and then looking closely to her bow, (she is a gifted archer after all) the metal part of the bow are made of some kind of wave patterns (am I reaching? LOL)
We have built in all 200 or more scenes.
8 indoor Studios that cover 50,000 sqm. Over 200 scenes, most built for location shooting
Shao Chang Yong
Jifeng Pavilion is my favorite. A lot of wood elements are incorporated. Its simple but from the simple style, you can find elegance.
illiam Chan
Oh my! Same, my favorite location on the drama is the Jifeng Pavilion not only because this was the most used set on the early parts of the drama but because of how therapeutic it makes me feel when watching it.
There are all kinds of circulars, a bridge and a pond, trees and sand in the manor
Yang Mi
I think that I have seen a very similar set and correct me if I’m wrong but is this the same set for One and Only? Zhou Sheng Chen’s manor where Shi Yi lived most of her teen life? Cause it looks absolutely similar, although minor details are of course different but the layout is quite the same.
Fabric Office is built in our original design.
Gao Chen
It rose from the ground and its built as a real building. It has two stories, the ground floor is for weaving and embroidering desks. the second floor is for demonstration. the construction took two or three months.
Shao Chang Yong
CHOREOGRAPHY
There are a lot of action scenes
Yang Mi
During the shooting, it gave me a feeling that Fang Zhu is like a fairy. the visual effect is perfect. Most are long takes. I guess its because of the costume. because its fluttering when were fighting. the action part is quite different in the series.
William Chen
The most challenging part for me is to wear armors, to fight for real.
Yang Mi
Before each action scene, I was like "oh, Were gonna do action scenes today. So tired." but when it began, I couldn't have enough.
Xu Kai Cheng
I did my best to make each move perfect
Wang Sen
MESSAGE FROM THE PRODUCER
In every one's lifetime, as life unfolds, you change at certain stages. Every single role in this series has made the right choices, I think , or has done more than responsibilities require them to do. so its a leap. I hope the audience will love the series and every single role in it. Hope you can find from the series whatever you expect or whatever you like.
‘Novoland: Pearl Eclipse’ promo posters starring Yang Mi, William Chan, Xu Kaicheng, Chen Xiaoyun, Wang Sen, Yuan Yuxuan, Huang Junjie, Ye Qing
A novel adaptation by Xiao Ruse, set in Zhang dynasty of the fantasy world Novoland. It revolves around a young girl of the merfolk tribe, Hai Shi (Yang Mi) who survives a massacre and pulled into the power struggles of the imperial court with the powerful official of Dazheng and the emperor. Fang Zhu (William Chan), a minister of Dazheng heard her pleas for help while passing by and make her his apprentice and have her disguised as a man so she could stay by his side. The young and unpredictable emperor Di Xu (Xu Kaicheng) lost all motivation to rule while Dazheng is in a state of chaos, however he been silently watching from the sidelines.
