Top Star By Luck [EN]: Chapter 33

33. The Filming Day

Time passed, and it was the day of filming for [Evergreen].

Amidst the early morning chill and the bustling studio, Lee Min-ki was busy observing his surroundings.

‘To think I’d actually be here.’

Evergreen.

He never imagined he would be on the set of such a movie.

Of course, he meant in a lead or supporting role.

He could probably appear as an extra.

Whether he could confidently call that his official career was another matter.

“We meet again after the last shoot?”

“Oh my, sunbae-nim [senior colleague], I should have greeted you first.”

“Well, it’s nice to see you again, Cha 배우-nim [Actor Cha]. Please take care of me.”

Some actors seemed to know each other well, exchanging greetings.

The lead actors and A-list supporting actors clearly had their own social circle.

They had an aura, one might say.

Familiar faces combined with an unyielding presence, as if the studio was their own backyard, created an intimidating atmosphere.

Even their conversations were telling.

“Is my face swollen? I shouldn’t have had that late-night snack yesterday.”

“It looks fine. Makeup can cover it up.”

“So you’re saying it can’t be hidden without makeup.”

“Come on, how old are you?”

At first glance, they seemed like ordinary conversations.

But in a place full of unusual people, an ordinary person becomes unusual in reverse.

In a set filled with tension, their ordinary chatter became a privilege.

“Ugh, but the director is so late. Did he drink last night or something?”

Among them, the middle-aged actor playing the lead, Kang Do-won, was exceptional.

He chuckled and said.

“That’s why I keep telling him to quit drinking.”

“Haha, that’s Director Yeom. He says he gets inspiration from alcohol, so it would be a disaster if he quit.”

Look at that playful banter.

How could unknown actors imitate such jokes?

A no-name actor would be lucky not to get scolded for complaining on set.

Those were the kinds of conversations you could have when your paycheck supported it.

‘Everywhere I look, I see familiar faces.’

Of course, they didn’t know who Lee Min-ki was.

Or, not quite.

“Excuse me, are you perhaps Lee Min-ki 배우-nim [Actor Lee Min-ki]?”

A woman approached him.

A small face with finely arranged features that were far from ordinary.

“Me? Yes?”

Lee Min-ki was startled, and she bowed diligently, saying.

“I saw you in Campus Story. And in that baseball video last time.”

“Ah……!”

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, it’s just personal.”

The baseball video had indeed helped improve his recognition.

It was embarrassing, but in retrospect, he even felt grateful.

Still, embarrassing was embarrassing.

As Lee Min-ki’s face started to flush slightly, she chuckled and said.

“I’m Joo Ha-na. This is my first role as a supporting actress.”

“I’m Lee Min-ki. This is my first… well, not my first, but my second role.”

Lee Min-ki slightly slurred his words, and Joo Ha-na smiled again.

A fresh smile like the first flower blooming in spring.

From the moment Lee Min-ki first saw her face, he was busy trying to calm his pounding heart for a different reason.

Not in a romantic sense, but for another reason.

‘Joo Ha-na, that’s the one.’

There was one person among the new actors who had emerged in the past few years who was particularly famous.

Not famous for her acting skills or career.

There was another scandal.

‘The one with the player scandal.’

What was it.

Joo Ha-na was someone who had been rumored to have flirted with several men on set.

It wasn’t a huge story, but he remembered seeing the article.

She didn’t seem to have a particularly bad personality or anything, but for actors, scandals were like natural disasters in terms of image.

‘There was even an actor whose advertising demand was cut in half because of one scandal.’

It was especially damaging to actresses.

Joo Ha-na herself had seen her stock plummet with one player scandal during her rookie days.

Once he remembered that fact, even her smiling face began to look frightening.

‘I should be careful for now.’

Who knows if Joo Ha-na might extend her reach to him.

Maybe he was just jumping to conclusions.

But it never hurt to be cautious.

“I really wanted to work with Min-ki 배우-nim [Actor Min-ki] after seeing your work, so this is great.”

“Haha… yeah.”

“You’re much more physically fit than I thought. Do you work out?”

“When I have time.”

As he was deflecting the conversation, he felt more and more attention being drawn to them.

Up close, you could tell that Lee Min-ki was unilaterally avoiding the conversation.

But from a distance, there were things you couldn’t see.

For example, the subtle accumulation of dislike.

‘It’s good for new actors to get along, but.’

‘Those kinds of kids don’t last long.’

‘Is the studio their matchmaking site?’

‘How cute.’

Thus, before the actual work even began, Lee Min-ki had made a different kind of impression.

And soon, Director Yeom Gwang-ho, who appeared on set in a disheveled state, said.

“Let’s start with the reading.”

* * *

Reading.

An act of gathering actors in one place to check their acting and script comprehension before 본격적으로 [genkyokujo] filming a project.

It’s a kind of rehearsal.

But this reading had two more effects.

The first was ice-breaking.

Breaking the stiff atmosphere of the first day like breaking ice, helping the subsequent filming to proceed smoothly.

And the second effect that followed was.

‘Let’s see how good they are.’

Skill verification.

It is said that you can see the real skills of an actor when you go to the actual filming, but you can roughly see the outline even in the reading.

This is especially true for rookies.

Therefore, there were some established actors who said that they enjoyed this reading time the most.

There were also frequent cases of people deliberately being mean as a 신고식 [shingo-shik, a welcoming ceremony or initiation].

Among them, the main characters of today were two people.

Lee Min-ki and Joo Ha-na.

‘Lee Min-ki, was it?’

‘Both of them have good faces, but there are so many kids who only have good faces.’

‘I don’t think Director Yeom would have picked just anyone, hmm.’

‘Oh my, he looks so nervous. How cute.’

‘Joo Ha-na, was it? She seems to be smiling even in this situation.’

Only two rookies appeared in [Evergreen] as supporting actors or higher.

Originally, the entry barrier for rookies was high, but that was because Director Yeom was very strict about acting.

‘What kind of acting will they show?’

That being said, there were many people in this place who doubted Lee Min-ki’s acting skills.

No, it would be more accurate to say that they didn’t know at all.

Lee Min-ki debuted in [Campus Story], but most active actors don’t have enough time to watch even 종편 [jongpyeon, comprehensive programming channel] dramas.

In the midst of much back and forth between doubt and anticipation.

“Scene number 9, let’s begin.”

Finally, it was Lee Min-ki’s turn.

‘Scene 9, the scene where the story inside the police station begins in earnest.’

Scenes 1 through 8 focused entirely on the story of the killer protagonist.

But scene 9 is different.

The second protagonist chasing the protagonist, the corrupt detective [Oh Man-sik], appears in earnest, and his subordinate [Gu Hak-jin] also joins him.

In other words, it was the same as saying that Lee Min-ki’s acting would begin.

“Wow, this guy is quite the character.”

The first to start reading was the famous actor playing the corrupt detective, ‘Kang Do-won.’

A middle-aged actor with a unique atmosphere created by wrinkled face, sharp eyes, and dignified beard.

He is so good at acting in Korea that he is often called 선생님 [seonsaengnim, teacher or respected senior] rather than 배우님 [baeunim, actor].

Kang Do-won burst into a hearty laugh and said.

“His skills are not amateur.”

At the same time as his thick voice, the scene instantly changed to the heart of the police station’s violent crimes unit.

“Anyone can kill a person. Even an elementary school student can do it if you give them a knife, but the important thing is the aftermath. This guy is a pro. He escaped as skillfully as if he had a perfect grasp of the detectives’ investigation process. Without a trace.”

Although he is a corrupt detective, his career has not gone anywhere, so he is at least guessing that the culprit is an insider.

It was like a foreshadowing of the future.

But now, the story is secondary, and the most important thing is how Lee Min-ki will respond.

‘Do-won 선생님 [Teacher Do-won] is so good at acting.’

‘Wow, if I were asked to match that kind of acting, I wouldn’t do it.’

‘If he’s not careful, he’ll just get buried.’

At Kang Do-won 배우’s [Actor Kang Do-won’s] few words of acting, sympathy filled the reading room, as if the attention on Lee Min-ki had gone somewhere.

Why is Kang Do-won famous?

Do you need another reason? There is no doubt that he is good at acting.

He also had a bad reputation.

That is.

[Reading Killer].

It was a nickname that became famous for almost killing the reading partner.

‘The key is how much you die in front of Kang Do-won 배우 [Actor Kang Do-won], you’re going to die no matter what.’

Director Yeom, who was sitting in the middle of the reading room like a judge, laughed inwardly.

‘Field acting can be saved somehow with reshoots and editing. But that doesn’t work in the reading room.’

An area where you compete purely with the script and acting skills, that’s reading.

There is no room for tricks.

In a way, the reading room was a purer space than the audition room.

‘Even established actors would be throwing up if Kang Do-won was their partner, so rookies would be even more shaken.’

Director Yeom looked at Lee Min-ki with pitiful eyes.

Was Director Yeom the only one?

This was the same for other actors.

‘Wow, look at his face turning white.’

‘선배님 [Sunbae-nim, senior colleague], please don’t be too serious. He’s going to go home and cry tonight.’

Killer adds 1 win.

Lee Min-ki makes a 100% mistake.

He may stutter or gag.

It was the moment when everyone in the reading room guessed the same result without exception.

“선배님 [Sunbae-nim].”

A very calm word flowed from Lee Min-ki’s mouth.

“Then, are you saying that the same detective is really the culprit?”

It was ordinary.

It was endlessly ordinary.

It was a voice like a rookie [Detective Gu Hak-jin] burning with a sense of justice, although still immature.

It was neat, but that was it.

It would be okay for a normal reading, but it was clearly a disappointing reading for an actor like Kang Do-won.

Lee Min-ki’s reading skills were only that good.

But as I said before.

Being ordinary in a moment that cannot be ordinary is a huge reversal.

“Hey, do you only understand what I say? Lower your voice.”

At Kang Do-won’s scolding, Lee Min-ki frowned and retorted.

“It’s strange. It’s too perfect. The fact that the victim, that is, the culprit, was released was not properly reported in the media. How did he know that from the outside and immediately take action?”

He had something to say.

He was not intimidated by the pressure of an actor like Kang Do-won.

He calmly continued to say what he had to say without missing a single word in the script. Already, surprise that could not be hidden filled the faces of the actors.

‘Look at this guy.’

Even Kang Do-won was secretly surprised.

Was there another rookie actor who was so confident in front of him?

Even established actors often step down if their skills are lacking, but he was going to respond head-on.

‘Let’s see, can he handle this too?’

An unexpected rookie’s struggle.

Kang Do-won even felt a sense of enjoyment and read the next line.

“Hey, Gu Hak-jin, do you hear my words as X?”

A voice as hard as concrete.

Lee Min-ki’s head spun with a pressure that made his heart sink.

‘It’s heavy.’

His voice was heavy.

It was so heavy that it took his breath away even when he saw it on the screen, but when he faced it directly as an acting partner, it felt like his lungs were cramping.

That’s right.

Just because it was Lee Min-ki didn’t mean that the position of Kang Do-won’s partner was easy.

The fact that he was able to endure even a little was purely the result of his efforts.

‘I’m glad I prepared.’

Because he had gone through image training dozens, no, hundreds of times before the reading.

He already knew the contents of the movie anyway.

So he kept rehearsing and rehearsing what kind of 합 [hap, harmony or teamwork] would be made.

Just as 격투기 선수 [gyeoktugiseonsu, martial arts athletes] endure by preparing to be hit by a punch, Lee Min-ki also prepared for Kang Do-won’s pressure.

‘Get a hold of yourself, it’s the first reading. You can’t make a mistake here.’

Not much left.

Lee Min-ki bit his lip and regained his composure and continued his lines.

“…선배님 [Sunbae-nim] also know. That I didn’t say that with that intention.”

Like that for a while.

Only after the lines were completely out of his mouth did he realize.

‘Ah, it’s a failure.’

Perhaps because he had already been pressed once, he could not maintain a flat performance.

He could not completely let go of Kang Do-won’s pressure.

Just as ripples occur when a drop of water falls on a wave, a slight tremor was 묻어났다 [mudeonatda, was revealed] in Lee Min-ki’s voice.

His spirit was broken.

But.

One variable appeared here.

That is, Lee Min-ki’s reading partner is Kang Do-won.

A trembling voice is not strange in the face of overwhelming pressure.

No, it’s normal to shake.

‘Details here?’

Naturalness came to life in Lee Min-ki’s [Detective Gu Hak-jin]’s acting.

The actors were 감탄했다 [gamtanhaetda, were impressed] at the detailed acting.

‘Ha, he’s showing off his skills in front of Kang Do-won 선배님 [Sunbae-nim] on his first reading. He’s very relaxed.’

‘I thought he was just a 연놈 [yeolnom, a derogatory term for a young person].’

‘He’s not just looking at the script, he’s also taking care of the situation? This is a funny guy.’

The previous reading was not a coincidence.

Re-evaluation continued like a wave while Lee Min-ki didn’t know.

‘I almost got 속을 뻔했네 [sogeul ppeonhaenne, almost got fooled].’

Even Kang Do-won admired it and continued acting.

“Hey, how many people in 조선 팔도 [Joseon Paldo, the Eight Provinces of Korea] would have a grudge against someone with 11 convictions? There are many people who are going to sit on the street anyway, so they’re going to 찍고 [jjikko, stab] go with a 돌멩이 [dolmeng-i, stone].”

“But if the method is too sophisticated…….”

“I guess he’s used to being caught a lot.”

“선배님 [Sunbae-nim]!”

“I have a meeting, so talk to me later. Organize the documents while I’m gone.”

That’s how scene 9 ended.

But no one could open their mouths and was still just looking around.

Lee Min-ki, who showed a smooth reading against Kang Do-won’s pressure. He could not bring himself to express his evaluation of him.

Too surprised, or.

Because the afterglow has not disappeared yet.

There is only one person who can honestly express his impressions in this taciturn place.

Only those who are not 밀리지 [milliji, pushed back] by Kang Do-won’s spirit.

“Wow.”