An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 60

60. #13 – People Don’t Change Easily (3)

“Hee-sung, you have a scene with Kang Chan-sung today, right?”

Manager Kim said, gripping the steering wheel and looking ahead.

I exhaled and nodded.

“Yeah, but this time, he’s in front of Choi Seo-bin, so he seems intimidated and just focuses on acting.”

I had been worried about acting with Kang Chan-sung.

If the relationship with the actor you have to work with isn’t good, even if it’s just a little bit, it will show.

Of course, you have to endure it and act.

But it does have some impact.

Contrary to my worries, I haven’t had any trouble with Kang Chan-sung yet.

We didn’t have many scenes together, and we didn’t even meet on set.

Kang Chan-sung would go straight to his car to rest after his scenes were done.

He didn’t communicate with other actors or staff.

He was like that during the previous drama shoot, but it’s even worse this time.

Is he uncomfortable dealing with Choi Seo-bin?

“I’m never going to go to Kang Chan-sung’s snack truck again.”

Manager Kim shuddered, recalling the past incident with Kang Chan-sung.

Then, he sprayed the car’s windshield washer fluid and said,

“I thought the windshield was foggy, but the weather is just weird today.”

“Is it? It is dark.”

I looked out the window, and the sky was gloomy.

“There was no mention of rain today, but the weather has been cloudy lately.”

“Yeah. I wish it would just rain and clear up.”

Hot weather and cloudy skies.

Large, dark clouds completely blocked the light.

For some reason, the dark clouds felt ominous today.

“The sky is like that, so I feel uneasy…”

I muttered to myself, looking out the window.

Manager Kim heard me and looked at me through the rearview mirror.

“Why, are you not feeling well?”

“No, it’s not that. You know, those days when everything bothers you.”

Manager Kim rolled his eyes and nodded.

“Right. That unsettling feeling… But I don’t think it’s going to rain?”

“That’s a relief.”

He paused for a moment, then opened his mouth.

“That’s right, all the scenes today are indoors, so it doesn’t matter if it rains.”

“Hmm… then it should be okay.”

I wasn’t really worried about the rain.

But because of the weather, I felt uneasy.

I shook my head and pulled down the sunshade on the window.

Then, I crossed my arms and closed my eyes tightly.

Right.

There’s no need to feel anxious by looking at it.

I took a deep breath and started muttering the lines I would say on set.

***

“Hello.”

As soon as I got out of the car, I went to the set and greeted everyone.

As always, the staff welcomed me with my bright greeting.

“Hee-sung, you’re here?”

“Yes, good morning to you too.”

After greeting the staff one by one, I went to change into my costume.

At that moment, a car entered the parking lot.

It was Choi Seo-bin’s car.

I looked at my watch, and there was still some time before the start of filming.

I approached Choi Seo-bin as he got out of the car.

“Senior, you’re here.”

“Oh, Hee-sung. You’re here early?”

He got out of the car with a bright smile.

“I just arrived too.”

Choi Seo-bin quickly went to the trunk and replied.

“I have a shoot right away, so I’m going to change first.”

“Ah, yes.”

It seems he arrived early because it was the first scene of the day.

I made eye contact with stylist Park Min-ji, who was getting out of the car after Choi Seo-bin.

She gave me a slight bow.

She always has a unique and vibrant style.

Her style of clothing always changes, so my eyes were drawn to her style today as well.

“You look so fresh today.”

Park Min-ji smiled brightly at my words and said,

“I knew you would notice it today, Hee-sung.”

Choi Seo-bin usually didn’t talk much with his stylist.

So, when I talked about her style, she would explain it like an excited child.

It was the same today.

“You’re totally rocking the ‘kkulleogi’ [a trendy, youthful style] look today, aren’t you?”

A white, flowy short-sleeved t-shirt.

And purple corduroy shorts.

Even the suspender detail matched.

She grinned and replied to me.

“That’s right. You have to try everything when you’re young.”

“You can wear it because you pull it off, Min-ji.”

Choi Seo-bin shook his head at our conversation and said,

“If you’re done chatting, can you give me my clothes, Min-ji?”

“Ah… right. Yes!”

Choi Seo-bin chuckled at her hurrying away.

“Hee-sung, I’ll see you on set later.”

“Yes, Senior.”

***

“Cut, okay!”

Director Jang looked at the set and continued.

“Let’s shoot the bust shot right away.”

“Yes.”

Park Min-joon, who was standing on set, immediately answered and straightened his expression.

And then it started to rain.

Pouring rain.

The sudden rain started pouring down without mercy.

Even with the doors closed, the sound of the rain leaked in.

I looked out the window at the rain.

Then, I turned my head back and fixed my gaze on Park Min-joon’s acting.

Whether I was on good terms with him or not.

I thought it would be helpful for me to watch other people’s acting.

It was also important to read the emotional lines of the other actor.

The same scene was filmed again.

After standing in this spot for a long time, I left the set to loosen up my stiff body.

As I was walking towards the car to go to Manager Kim.

A young staff member caught my eye.

He was struggling alone to move luggage to the set.

Looking around, the rest of the staff were already deployed on set.

Since I was going back to the car to practice anyway, I quickly approached him.

And I picked up one of the bags next to him and said,

“Do you need to move this luggage over there?”

At my words, his eyes widened, and he waved his hands.

“No. I’ll get scolded if you do this with me.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he looked around, checking the staff’s reactions.

I smiled brightly and replied to him.

“I’m bored from sitting all the time. Besides, it’s raining outside, so you should move the luggage quickly.”

He hesitated, looking at the heavy rain falling outside.

Looking at the puddles of rainwater gathering at the end of the hallway.

He kept looking back and forth between the luggage.

Seeing his hesitation, I quickly lifted the luggage.

“Ah… it’s really okay.”

“Where should I move it to?”

I asked, sticking my head out from between the large objects.

He reached out his hand.

“Over there. Thank… you.”

Then, he picked up his luggage and followed me.

As I was moving the luggage several times, the staff cautiously asked me a question.

“Hee-sung, is it okay for you to help me?”

“Of course. Everyone else is deployed on set right now, so you’re doing it alone.”

He nodded.

With his youthful face, he looked like a student who had just graduated from college.

“How long have you been working?”

“I just started recently.”

At that moment.

“Hee-sung!”

Manager Kim’s voice calling me.

He seemed urgent, stretching his hand high into the air and waving.

“Yeah, I’ll be right there.”

I quickly answered and put down the luggage I was carrying.

“I think I can only help you up to here.”

“Yes, please go ahead. Thank you so much for your help.”

The staff bowed to me.

After quickly confirming the next shooting order with Manager Kim.

We started walking towards the set together.

“The next scene is with Park Min-joon and several minor actors.”

At Manager Kim’s words, I loosened my wrists and replied.

“Oh, the scene where we run in the hallway.”

He looked at my sneakers and said.

“Loosen your ankles when you arrive, and check your shoelaces.”

“Okay.”

“It might be slippery because of the rain, so run carefully.”

He kept checking my body as if he was worried about me like a child.

“And when you run, several people run at once, so don’t bump into each other…”

I stretched out my hand in the air and cut him off as if to stop him.

“Yes… Yes, I understand. Hyung [older brother/male friend], I’m twenty-six years old.”

Manager Kim burst out laughing at my words.

“Still, always be careful.”

“Okay.”

We arrived at the set.

Since we arrived early, the set was busy with preparations.

Manager Kim and I leaned against the wall to wait.

“Hee-sung, we have a lot of scenes to shoot tomorrow.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, the one we practiced the lines with last time…”

Thud.

Crash!

As Manager Kim was talking to me,

“Ah!”

A black object flashed before my eyes.

I screamed, clutching my foot.

It happened in an instant.

The brief impact made one of my feet tingle slightly.

The staff member was sprawled out on the floor.

Manager Kim approached faster than light and checked my foot.

“Hee-sung, are you okay?”

“…Uh.”

I quickly regained my senses and looked ahead, seeing a camera next to the fallen staff member.

The staff member, pushing up his glasses, was the young staff member I had seen earlier.

“I’m sorry. The floor was slippery, so I slipped…”

It seems he slipped because of the water on his shoes.

He got up and kept bowing to me.

I shook my head, rubbing the top of my foot.

“No, are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m okay…”

He nodded vigorously and picked up the camera he had dropped.

“Gasp!”

The connection part of the dropped Steadicam was broken.

“This is a Steadicam, right?”

“…Yes.”

This has become quite difficult.

The Steadicam is a high-end piece of camera equipment.

It’s a camera that is fixed to the body of the staff member filming, and it’s essential for minimizing shaking when shooting action scenes like running scenes.

He stared at the camera with a pale face.

“Jin Hee-sung, you blocked the path and tripped him. What are we going to do for the next scene?”

Park Min-joon approached me and spoke sarcastically.

“What?”

I wondered.

It had been quiet lately, but he finally started a fight with me.

“I saw you earlier, you were deliberately waiting here and sticking your foot out.”

My face gradually distorted at his continued provocation.

“Watch your mouth.”

The new staff member started picking up the equipment with a frightened look.

Park Min-joon shook his head and said.

“We have to start filming now, isn’t it going to be delayed ‘because of you’!”

I sighed and glared at him at his continued unreasonable behavior.

“Why because of me…”

“What’s going on here?”

At that moment, Kang Chan-sung approached and cut me off.

Kang Chan-sung naturally approached Park Min-joon.

Park Min-joon also pulled Kang Chan-sung’s arm towards him and stuck to him like a magnet.

“Senior, the Steadicam needed for the next scene is because of Jin Hee-sung…”

Park Min-joon was babbling like a child tattling.

“Ha, if the Steadicam is broken, isn’t that scene going to be delayed?”

Kang Chan-sung shouted, glaring at me.

“Hee-sung, why are you ruining the set?”

I let out a hollow laugh at his words.

Since when have these two been so well-matched?

Kang Chan-sung and Park Min-joon stuck close to each other and started scolding me as if to drive me out.

Manager Kim had already run to the staff and was explaining the situation.

I was left alone, sighing as I looked at them.

And then the staff and assistant director quickly came.

Park Min-joon put on a pitiful expression towards the staff and opened his mouth.

“Director, what should we do? Hee-sung was sticking her foot out…”

Before he could finish speaking, Kang Chan-sung said as if adding to it.

“Isn’t the Steadicam supposed to be used in the next shoot right away?”

The camera director sighed deeply and replied.

“It’s a running scene, so I think we’ll have to postpone this scene.”

The assistant director’s face gradually hardened at those words.

“We only rented this place for today. If it’s delayed, we have to rent it again… Ha.”

Park Min-joon looked at me and raised the corners of his lips in a smirk.

Then, he lowered his raised lips.

“Hee-sung, you should have been a little more careful.”

At his words, Kang Chan-sung nodded and said to me.

“Yeah. We’re shooting with the other actors today, Hee-sung should have been a little more careful. What should we do.”

As soon as they finished speaking, the camera director sighed deeply and shouted at the new staff member.

“You, I asked you to be careful about that one thing. Ha… never mind.”

The new staff member was next to the camera director, bowing his head as if he was crying.

I didn’t want to bother arguing about who was at fault here.

It wouldn’t change the situation anyway.

I thought it was important to find a solution quickly.

As the assistant director said, we couldn’t postpone the shooting of many actors’ scenes by re-renting the set.

Then, I snapped my fingers at the thought that suddenly came to mind.

“Ah, suspenders!”

The camera director next to me looked at me at my shout.

“What did you say?”

“Director, what if we tie the clothes strap, that is, this connection part, with suspenders and shoot it?”

He frowned at my words.

It wasn’t an angry face, but an expression that seemed to be thinking seriously.

I gestured, raising the camera in front of my stomach, and continued to speak.

“If it’s suspenders, it will also act as a shock absorber, so it can cover it to some extent.”

He stroked his chin and rolled his eyes.

Then, he slowly nodded.

“That’s not bad?”

He looked at me with expectant eyes and asked.

“But where do we find suspenders?”

“I think I can get them!”

Park Min-ji.

Choi Seo-bin’s stylist came to mind, and I replied with a confident face.

“Okay. Let’s replace it with that and shoot quickly.”

At the camera director’s okay sign, Park Min-joon sighed.

Then, he muttered to himself and left the spot.

Following him, Kang Chan-sung also coughed dryly and quickly disappeared from the set.

The camera director started making a Steadicam replacement mount with the suspenders from Choi Seo-bin’s stylist that I had obtained.

And the actors were each practicing and waiting.

Because the shooting would start as soon as the camera director gave the okay sign.

As I loosened my body and turned my gaze, Director Jang came into view.

Next to Director Jang, the new staff member was standing with his head bowed.

My gaze naturally fixed on their serious appearance.

And I made eye contact with the new staff member.

Suddenly, he started approaching me.

What is it?

The new staff member, hesitating, slowly approached me.

“I… I’m sorry.”

He bowed his head and cautiously opened his mouth.

“Yes?”

“I was too flustered earlier, so I couldn’t even say it was my fault.”

The young new staff member apologized.

His voice trembled slightly.

Was this what he was talking about seriously with Director Jang earlier?

I replied in a soft voice to calm him down, who was trembling so much.

“No. Did you talk to Director Jang?”

He slowly nodded at my words.

“Yes, I told him that the situation earlier was my fault, and he told me to apologize to Hee-sung.”

He dropped his head without even making eye contact with me.

I smiled and replied to him.

“I’m okay.”

Only then did the new staff member slowly lift his head and look at my face.

His expression changed at my smiling face.

His eyes, which had been gloomy all along, became sparkling.

Only then did he let out a sigh of relief and smile brightly.

He bowed repeatedly, expressing not an apology, but gratitude.

“Thank you so much, Hee-sung.”

“Oh my, you don’t have to do this.”

I raised him, who had bowed.

He returned to his bright face in his early twenties.

“Thank you.”

After answering with a shy face and making eye contact with me.

He quickly ran towards the camera director.