An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 100

100. Episode 20 – In a Strange Place (3)

Australia, reached after flying for over 10 hours.

Despite the long journey, I stepped onto Australian soil with a light heart.

It was my first time flying in my life.

Of course, excluding domestic flights like to Jeju Island.

The reason I wasn’t tired even after such a long flight was because of anticipation.

Filled with excitement at the thought of acting overseas, I spent my time looking at the script.

Practicing the script and reviewing zombie movies, I soon arrived in Australia.

The specialness of the first-class seat must have also contributed.

Having never experienced business class, let alone economy, the first-class seat, several levels above, was beyond imagination.

But Song Yoona, standing next to me, was completely different.

Having enjoyed such luxurious experiences many times when going abroad, she was stretching her stiff body.

She looked utterly exhausted from the long flight.

Looking at her, I opened my mouth.

“Yoona, you look tired. Are you okay?”

I asked her with a worried face, and Song Yoona shrugged and said,

“No.”

Then, she glared at me and immediately got into the prepared car.

She clearly looks exhausted…

I followed her to the car.

Several large buses were waiting in front of the airport.

The actors and managers boarded the first bus.

And the staff and numerous equipment boarded the bus right behind them in order.

“It will take about an hour and a half to get to the hotel from here.”

A staff member shouted from the front of the bus.

“Yes!”

Some actors, including me, answered his words.

And the bus carrying us gradually moved away from the airport.

Buildings began to disappear one by one.

The outside was gradually darkening.

A quiet night with no traffic.

Nevertheless, it took a full hour and a half to get to the hotel.

There wasn’t even a small building around.

Screech-.

The hotel we had arrived at.

The buses parked in a row.

The first bus to arrive and stop.

We started getting off in order from the front.

“Wow….”

I exclaimed at the sight that appeared as soon as I got off the bus.

It was more of an expression of surprise than admiration.

“This is the hotel we’ll be staying at, and since we’ve rented the whole place, there will only be people related to us, so feel free to relax.”

At the staff’s words, I raised my head slightly and looked at the hotel.

This place, which should be written as a hotel… but called a pension [a Korean-style guesthouse].

It was almost like a Korean-style pension.

At least, I thought a hotel would have a flashy exterior and high floors.

In reality, this hotel was a spacious two-story building.

Han Dongmin, who was next to me, said with a disappointed face.

“Can this… even be called a hotel?”

The words I couldn’t bring myself to say.

I chuckled at his words.

Then, Han Sia, who was packing her luggage in front, said with an indifferent face.

“But a pension-like hotel like this is better.”

“Yes?”

I tilted my head at her words, and Han Sia immediately replied.

“It’s much better to rent a large pension like this than a shabby hotel nearby.”

“Ah….”

Han Sia’s words made sense.

She had played the lead role in many works and had a lot of experience filming overseas.

If it was her words, it was trustworthy enough.

“Besides, we’re not staying for a day or two, but a long-term schedule. So, above all, a good night’s sleep is the most important thing.”

“I guess so.”

When I answered her, Han Dongmin also agreed greatly and said.

“Oh, then this pension, no, the hotel is so good? This is the best.”

We laughed at Han Dongmin’s innocent tone and started packing our luggage.

Since the actors and managers were assigned to use one room,

Kim and I went into the room and unpacked our luggage.

“Hyung [older brother or male friend], the inside is cleaner and better than I thought?”

Kim also looked around the room at my words and opened his mouth.

“I know. It’s pretty good.”

As soon as I unpacked my luggage, I threw myself on the bed.

“Haa, the plane was good, but it’s definitely more comfortable lying on the bed.”

“Haha, you said the plane was so good?”

Kim laughed because I had been praising first class all along.

“I still want to ride the plane again, though.”

My eyes were already closing.

And I murmured with my eyes closed.

“I’m looking forward to filming tomorrow. It’s going to be so much fun.”

I raised the corners of my lips at the thought of the filming that would begin.

***

After a long break to accommodate the actors’ condition.

Filming started leisurely the next day.

In fact, I wanted to film sooner rather than rest.

Even if I couldn’t travel around, it was harder being trapped in a room.

Moreover, I was full of excitement and anticipation for filming overseas.

So, I spent my time practicing, except for sleeping.

As announced in advance in Korea, the filming location was a desert in Australia.

Filming began with Han Sia and Song Yoona’s first scene.

I watched their acting from behind without resting.

“Ready, action!”

Song Yoona instantly immersed herself and looked at Han Sia with a serious face.

“Are you sure this is the way to go?”

She walked forward with a backpack as big as her body.

Han Sia also dragged a large bag and a stick that could be used as a weapon forward.

“How would I know when you don’t know either.”

At the irresponsible tone, Song Yoona threw down her bag.

“Are you kidding me right now?”

And when she pushed Han Sia’s shoulder, Han Sia, pushed by Song Yoona’s strength, fell to the ground.

Han Sia, who immediately got up, brushing off the sand on her body, glared at Song Yoona and replied.

“…Does it look like I’m kidding?”

Han Sia picked up the emergency rations that had spilled out of her fallen bag and murmured.

“If you want to live, you have to evacuate before sunset.”

Song Yoona glared at Han Sia, panting.

Han Sia shouted at her.

“If you want to die, die here alone. Don’t make me die too.”

At that time, a strong sandstorm blew.

“Still, you…!”

Sand covered Song Yoona’s face as she opened her mouth to say her line.

“Ah!”

Song Yoona blocked her face with her arms.

Kang, the director, shouted immediately at the unexpected sandstorm.

“Cut!”

Due to the nature of the desert, sandstorms continued to occur in the middle of filming.

Every time, the filming was cut off.

That was the first scene that took longer than usual.

I finally got the okay sign.

I still watched the filming without leaving my seat.

It was filming that was no different from Korea.

But everything was special and amazing to me.

After a few hours, my turn finally came.

It was my first acting in Australia.

It was a scene where I had to run away from the zombies as much as possible in this barren land where there was nowhere to escape.

It was a scene that required a lot of energy from the first filming.

I stretched my wrists and ankles in turn in preparation for any injuries.

Soon, filming began.

“Ready, action!”

At Director Kang’s sign, the camera began to capture my face.

The hot sun.

The sandstorm that kept blowing.

And numerous zombies running quickly, dripping blood.

I quickly immersed myself in this situation.

And I started running forward in a hurry.

Da-da-da- [sound of running].

“Kuaaaa.”

The zombies were making strange noises and running to bite me.

I ran as hard as I could, looking back from time to time.

Eyes filled with extreme fear.

I had to keep panting and finding a space to prepare to avoid the zombies.

Thud.

The zombies couldn’t control their speed and fell one by one.

It wasn’t a calculated fall.

The desert floor made of sand.

Because the floor was soft, they kept falling because they couldn’t overcome the speed.

Such a sight unintentionally brought out the realism well.

How long had I been running?

A small house visible in front of me.

The door was slightly open, and a person was sticking their head out slightly.

It was Han Sia.

“Come here quickly!”

She reached out her hand and shouted at me.

“A… Are you a person?”

I started running while checking her condition.

“Then, I’m talking because I’m a person. If you don’t want to die, run faster!”

Da-da-da-.

How many hours, no, how many days, how many months?

I, who hadn’t seen people for a long time, shed tears when I heard Han Sia’s voice.

Hot tears wet my face.

Nevertheless, I couldn’t stop running.

Because that voice shouldn’t be the last human voice I hear.

“Cut, NG [no good]!”

At that time, Director Kang’s voice rang out.

I stopped running.

“Hee-sung, your acting was good, but there….”

Director Kang, who got up from his seat, came to me and sent new instructions.

I was panting and listening to his words.

I was catching my breath while drinking the water Kim gave me.

Certainly, the air was different and the climate was different.

Just running itself was hard.

But I have to act there.

The audience watching beyond the screen was somehow assimilated and became like the only survivor.

I had to do that realistic acting, and so everything was difficult.

Director Kang also knew that acting in this desert, where it was hard to breathe, was a very difficult task.

He instructed the actors as calmly and gently as possible.

“Is it hard?”

“Ah, no.”

“Overseas filming is originally difficult. The environment is so different from Korea.”

I nodded at his words.

And I looked into his eyes and said.

“But I have to overcome it as soon as possible and act. That’s why I came.”

Then, Director Kang raised the corners of his lips.

“I like that you think that way. Good, Hee-sung. Let’s go one more time. I’ll film it quickly.”

“Yes, Director. I’ll do my best.”

He patted me on the shoulder and walked out of the angle.

Director Kang, who arrived at his seat, shouted more vigorously than before.

“Let’s film quickly and rest. Ready, action!”

His voice came out through the megaphone.

As much as that loud voice, I was immersed in the role.

The heat of the sand added to the high temperature.

The beads of sweat that formed soon ran down my face.

Wiping the sweat with my collar, I started running towards the house where Han Sia was.

“Haa, haa. I have to live.”

Letting this hot liquid, whether sweat or tears, flow in the wind, I moved forward.

“Because I have a clear reason to live….”

Da-da-da-.

Han Sia waved her hand.

Just as I was about to reach her.

“Eueueueuaaaa!”

The zombies got closer to me.

The freely bent arms and body were so grotesque that I frowned.

Pot!

Finally, I grabbed Han Sia’s hand.

“Quickly!”

She pulled my hand.

Eventually, I threw myself into the house, led by her hand.

“Cut, okay!”

The okay sign finally burst.

Director Kang got up from his seat and clapped his hands.

At Director Kang’s voice, I stretched my body out and took a breath I had been holding back.

“Haa, haa.”

Director Kang, who had come to me, opened his mouth.

“Hee-sung, your acting was so good!”

I started to overcome overseas filming one by one like this.