Steven Yeun Failed To Cry During a Pivotal Scene in Netflix’s ‘Beef’ as It Didn’t Feel Authentic
In the Netflix hit series Beef, Steven Yeun delivers an intense and complex performance as the lead character Danny. But the actor drew a firm line when it came to manufacturing emotions that didn’t feel truthful to the character. Specifically, during the filming of a key church scene in Episode 3, director Jake Schreier hoped Yeun could produce tears on cue for Danny.
What Was the Context Around the Church Scene?
As Jake Schreier, one of the directors at the show told IndieWire,
“That is the thing about Steven… he will not give you a false moment. He wasn’t going to force it.”
The scene called for Danny to break down emotionally with no context given to the audience. But when cameras rolled, Steven Yeun simply could not summon the desired crying response.
Throughout Beef, Danny engages in an escalating feud with Ali Wong’s character Amy. Their neighborhood rivalry turns almost violently psychological. The church scene appears to show Danny emotionally struggling with his actions at a vulnerable religious service. Set to music, the moment seems pivotal in understanding the combat veteran.
However, Schreier and Yeun both felt manufacturing false tears in that instant would ring hollow and untruthful.
“He wasn’t going to force it,” Schreier explained, showing immense respect for Yeun’s artistic integrity.
Yeun echoed that producing fake emotions solely because the script called for it went against his whole characterization.
“That is the thing about Steven…he will not give you a false moment,” the actor said.
So with Yeun unable to fake the required tears, Schreier pivoted to rethink the scene.
What Adjustments Unlocked Steven Yeun’s Authentic Emotions?
After an off-camera conversation analyzing Danny’s motivations, Yeun and Schreier returned to film additional footage before retackling the pivotal church close-up. With context reframed to find “truth” in Danny’s emotional struggle, the tears finally flowed honestly when the music swelled.
“When everybody else started singing, then I just started sobbing. That’s what this moment is for Danny; it’s not a moment of isolation, it’s a moment of deep connection,” Yeun recalled.
His refusal to “force it” initially resulted in a failed scene. But ultimately, Yeun and Schreier found an authentic emotional breakthrough by rejecting falseness. And that may have elevated the final product.
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Yeun demonstrated a similar dedication to emotional realism in Episode 8 during Danny’s outburst. When the root cause of his anger is undermined, Danny angrily vents in an unexpected direction.
Yeun laughed that the reaction showcases Danny “still so prideful” that he redirects blame rather than take responsibility. Once again, he brought honesty to a complex moment.
So in multiple pivotal instances, Yeun added depth by rejecting artificial beats. And that commitment to emotional authenticity makes his Beef turn tragic, funny, and fully realized.
