An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 31

31. Episode 8: Overwhelming with Acting (3)

Though the sun had risen, it seemed no one had woken up yet, still feeling the effects of the alcohol consumed the previous night.

Everyone woke up late, and I, too, opened my eyes around the time the sunlight streamed into the room.

I washed up, dried my hair, and was getting ready when…

A sharp voice came from outside.

I ignored it and continued applying lotion, but the voice persisted.

It probably sounded louder because it was echoing in the mountains.

I stretched my neck, got up, and walked towards the door.

Judging by the volume, confronting them wouldn’t lead to anything good.

I opened the door as quietly as possible.

Then, I peeked my head out through the slightly opened door and looked towards the source of the sound.

It was Song Yoona and her manager, facing each other.

Song Yoona was shouting, her voice laced with annoyance.

“Oppa [an honorific term for older brother or male friend], how many times have I told you!”

“I’m sorry, I….”

“Haa.”

It seemed the manager had done something to upset Song Yoona.

He repeatedly apologized.

Song Yoona didn’t seem to be in the mood to accept his apologies.

What on earth had happened to make her yell like that?

Curious, I leaned against the door and watched them.

“I told you so many times to bring the rinse! Do you know I can’t do without rinse or what?”

“I know. Yoona, you need it because of static electricity.”

“Knowing that!”

Song Yoona crossed her arms and glared at her manager.

To think she was getting this worked up over ‘rinse’.

“Look. I’m wearing a fur jeogori [traditional Korean jacket] costume today.”

She pointed to her clothes.

It was indeed a furry outfit that was likely to generate a lot of static electricity.

Considering her role today, it was impossible to replace that outfit.

The script also mentioned the fur jeogori.

Crack!

“Ouch!”

Unfortunately, static electricity occurred the moment her hand touched her skirt.

“Look at this! What are you going to do? And this skirt, too.”

She constantly complained about the skirt as if it were a major inconvenience.

I opened the door and approached them.

“Excuse me….”

As I approached hesitantly, Song Yoona glared at me sideways.

“What is it?”

Her voice was full of irritation.

“I wanted to offer you this.”

“Yes?”

She looked at my outstretched hand with a frown.

“This is hair cream and body lotion.”

Song Yoona looked at my face instead of the items, her expression nonchalant.

So I showed her the products and said.

“If you apply the hair cream to your hair, it will reduce static electricity a bit.”

Then, I opened the body lotion and pretended to apply it.

“And if it sticks to your clothes, applying some lotion to your skin will reduce static electricity a little.”

Her manager nodded repeatedly, as if I were a savior.

However, Song Yoona still crossed her arms and didn’t respond, acting as if it were someone else’s problem.

Rather, it was her manager who thanked me.

He bowed his head and accepted the hair cream and body lotion, thanking me profusely.

As a last resort, he took out a key from his pocket and showed it to her.

“When grabbing metal objects like door handles that aren’t grounded, it’s good to touch them with a key like this first.”

Only then did she tilt her head, curious.

“This is my room key, but I don’t lock my room anyway. Use it and return it before you leave.”

Song Yoona unfolded her arms and asked me.

“Does it really prevent static electricity?”

Her eyes were full of doubt.

“Yes, ions move….”

“Ah, explanations are fine.”

Song Yoona snatched the key from my hand.

Then, she held up the key and said.

“So, does this really work or not?”

“You don’t have to believe it if you don’t want to.”

I raised the corners of my mouth slightly and turned to go back to my room.

Judging by the sound of her footsteps, she seemed to be walking to her room as well.

I glanced back at Song Yoona.

She stopped in front of her door and was touching the doorknob with the key I gave her.

She asked annoyedly if it worked, but she was clearly curious.

Soon, Song Yoona put the key in her pocket.

She tried to glance at me, so I quickly turned my head.

Thump.

Then, I heard the sound of the door closing, and I also entered my room.

Huh.

I roughly knew Song Yoona’s personality, but it seems even more difficult than expected.

I feel sorry for her manager.

I shook my head and continued getting ready.

***

“Did you arrive, CEO?”

Chief Kang bowed to HS Entertainment CEO, Im Jongjoo.

“Yes, sit down.”

“Yes.”

The two men sat in the conference room.

Chief Kang handed CEO Im the report documents and said.

“This is the Citizen data you mentioned.”

CEO Im nodded, looking through the documents.

“Quite a few places have signed drama supply contracts with this Citizen platform.”

Chief Kang explained to CEO Im, turning over the documents one by one.

“If you look at the back page, we have organized a list of places that have contracted with the platform this time.”

CEO Im calmly scanned the list.

While looking at the documents, CEO Im placed his hand on one spot.

“There are quite a few new companies that have joined this time?”

“Yes, it seems Citizen will rise significantly.”

CEO Im was satisfied with the platform he invested in and continued to look through the documents.

“gen studio, I think this is the first time I’ve heard of it?”

At his words, Chief Kang opened his mouth.

“gen studio is where a large number of directors recently moved to.”

“Really?”

“Yes, recently there’s Director Park Seunghyun, the one famous for drama specials, isn’t he?”

CEO Im nodded as if he knew him.

“Director Park recently moved there right after filming the ‘I Don’t See Stars’ short drama.”

“I think I’ve heard of that?”

As he tilted his head, Chief Kang opened his mouth.

“Yes, Jin Heeseong, one of our actors, starred in that work as the lead.”

“Ah… that short drama.”

CEO Im stroked his chin at his words.

After scanning the entire list, he said to Chief Kang.

“Since we’ve invested a lot in Citizen this time, they’ll have no choice but to be mindful of us here as well.”

“Yes, dramas and movies are doing well, so I think we have a good chance of succeeding even if we go to the OTT [Over-The-Top] platform.”

“Okay, let’s push it forward.”

He raised the corners of his mouth and handed the documents to Chief Kang.

***

The last day of filming in Haenam.

I woke up early in the morning and started preparing.

My part to film today is just one scene.

That scene involves a total of four people, including me.

It was an important scene where Choi Seobin, Song Yoona, and even Park Minjoon all appeared.

I woke up early and reviewed the script again.

I must not make any mistakes.

I tend to prepare especially carefully when filming with Park Minjoon.

Because I don’t want to see the mocking expression he makes when I cause an NG [No Good – a filming term for a failed take].

I always had a strong desire to show that I was better than Park Minjoon.

Especially in acting.

“We will prepare for the next scene!”

At the assistant director’s signal, I approached the filming site.

Since it was a scene where four people had to work together, we decided to briefly rehearse the lines before the camera started rolling.

Today’s scene is a scene where they have a quarrel in front of the dancer, Song Yoona.

The first part starts with skinship [physical contact] between me and Song Yoona.

Even if it’s just skinship, it’s just the extent to which the backs of each other’s hands touch.

However, if the signals don’t match, it won’t be shown beautifully on the screen, so prior practice is essential.

The assistant director looked at me and Song Yoona and said.

“Heeseong and Yoona will pass by this front, touch hands, and turn around to face each other.”

“Yes.”

She and I decided to look at each other and coordinate the movements.

“I’ll walk this way.”

I looked at Song Yoona and pointed in the direction with my finger.

Then she raised her eyebrows.

“Okay.”

Although it was practice, I immersed myself in the role as if it were the real thing.

Walking with hurried steps, I brushed hands with Song Yoona as I passed by.

However, the one thing that was different from the actual scene was the skinship part.

Knowing that Song Yoona is usually very irritable, I didn’t bother touching her hand during practice.

Even at the company dinner a few days ago, I grabbed her when she was about to fall.

Instead of thanking me, she got annoyed at me just for grabbing her arm.

That’s why I only took the motion of brushing the back of my hand during practice now.

Then Song Yoona turned back and said.

“Let’s do it again.”

“Yes.”

Does she hate even this much brushing of the back of her hand?

I tilted my head and went back to my seat.

And I immediately resumed practice, keeping the back of my hand further away than before.

Then Song Yoona frowned.

“No, just put the back of your hand there.”

My eyes widened at her unexpected reaction.

She grabbed my hand and put it on the back of her hand.

“Here, like this!”

“…Yes.”

“Okay?”

She looked at our hands that met, and immediately turned her head towards the assistant director.

“We’re ready.”

“Good. Director, let’s start shooting!”

Is it because it’s the last filming day in Haenam? Song Yoona didn’t seem as irritable as usual.

I was puzzled by her attitude, but it was a welcome change.

Director Bae got up from his seat and picked up the megaphone.

“Okay, let’s go in one take.”

He glanced at us and shouted.

“Ready, action!”

The beginning was a line that started with the confrontation between me and Park Minjoon.

Since it was no different from our usual relationship, I was able to immerse myself in it quickly.

After taking a short breath and immersing myself in the role, I glared at Park Minjoon with my eyes wide open.

Park Minjoon also glared at me with fierce eyes, not wanting to lose to my gaze.

“You would be like that.”

At his words, I closed my eyes tightly and let out a rough breath.

“I’m a fool for expecting it, a fool.”

Park Minjoon crossed his arms and sighed deeply.

At this, I bit my lip.

The moment I opened my mouth to say my line.

“So….”

Park Minjoon opened his mouth again.

I stopped my line for a moment at the shape of his mouth.

But Park Minjoon closed his mouth without saying anything.

And soon, Director Bae’s voice was heard.

“NG!”

I swallowed a sigh at Director Bae’s sign.

“Heeseong, why did you stop talking?”

I immediately looked at Park Minjoon, and he tilted his head as if nothing had happened.

It was clear that he was trying to make me cause an NG on purpose.

But there was nothing to be gained from asking Park Minjoon why he did that here.

“I’m sorry. I’ll try again.”

“Okay, let’s go again right away.”

I took a deep breath in and out.

“Ready, action!”

Park Minjoon raised the corners of his mouth and then threw his lines with a firm expression.

“You would be like that.”

The anger from before was 그대로 녹여냈다 [perfectly captured/expressed].

When I glared at Park Minjoon, he suddenly made a mocking face and said his lines.

“I’m a fool for expecting it, a fool.”

He should have had a very angry face there….

No, Park Minjoon looked at me with an ‘oops’ expression as if he had made a mistake.

I made eye contact with him, and thinking that an NG would occur, I didn’t say the next line.

A moment of silence passed.

The silence was broken by Director Bae’s voice.

“NG!”

Another NG occurred.

Director Bae shouted, holding the megaphone.

“Heeseong, why are you suddenly like this today?”

Damn it.

Park Minjoon’s ridiculous lines and expressions.

Because of that, it seemed like my mistake, and several NGs occurred.

To think that NGs would occur like this in an important scene with Choi Seobin and Song Yoona.

I swallowed a sigh and shouted to Director Bae and the staff.

“I’m sorry. I’ll go again.”

Director Bae nodded.

“Heeseong, let’s look at the script again before going in. So that another NG doesn’t occur.”

“…Yes.”

Director Bae put down the megaphone.

Park Minjoon looked at me and raised one corner of his mouth.

That bastard….

He’s doing it to mess with me.

There was no need to look at the script again.

It wasn’t that I had forgotten the lines at all.

I turned around and took a slow, deep breath to calm the rising anger.

At that time, Choi Seobin quietly walked next to me.

“Devour him.”

I was surprised by his voice and looked to the side.

“…Yes?”

“I’m saying, devour him with your acting.”

Choi Seobin returned to his seat as if nothing had happened after saying those words.

Choi Seobin’s words lingered in my ears.

I had a sense of what to do in my head.

I think I know now.