Chapter 6 – Continuous Nightmare (5)

The hottest season of the year has passed. A season of chilly winds and ripe falling leaves. The rustling sound tickles my eardrums.

Isn’t autumn said to be the season for reading? Watching the falling leaves, I’m immersed in sentiment as I read a book…

Thud!

“Ah, I’m bored.”

I threw it. The book collided with the wall and free-fell onto the soft mattress. I threw myself on top of it.

“Ugh!”

Ouch! My back! The thick book collided with my already not-so-good spine. I rubbed my back and pushed the book aside. It was punishment for mishandling the book.

I’m bored. It’s tedious. Until now, I didn’t feel much tedium even when alone. Is it because I can go outside now? The boredom feels doubled.

Playing various games or watching dramas and movies doesn’t help. No, the boredom has intensified. I know the cause.

Acting. Not being able to act makes my body itch.

“When will they call me…”

I stared blankly at the ceiling, recalling the events from a few days ago. The quick reply that came after I sent a message.

[Is it true?]

It seemed like I could hear an excited voice. I replied that it was, and soon after, I received an electronic contract.

According to Korea’s top female singer who’s had songs on the Billboard charts, it was a top-level contract for a newcomer. Even Park Taehyuk, who was beside me, was shocked.

3 million won per episode. Since <Continuous Nightmare> has 16 episodes, I was promised 48 million won. Moreover, since I won’t be exploited by other agencies, I can keep most of it after taxes. One might say, what does money matter when I already have hundreds of billions?

“The appearance fee speaks to my value.”

Money doesn’t matter. If I cared about money or luxury, I wouldn’t be living in a small studio apartment. However, the sincerity behind it moved me.

But…

“When on earth are they going to call me!”

I’m dying of boredom. I wish they’d call me. Even if I say I’ll go, they refuse. Something about script revisions or whatever?

“Does adding one person really take this long to revise?”

I’ve watched dramas before, but I don’t know anything about the broadcasting industry, so it’s frustrating.

“I thought I’d be called soon after sending the message.”

It’s taking longer than I expected. I know there’s time until my filming, but it’s too boring. I thought I could endure it since I’m used to being cooped up at home, but.

“Was I actually an extrovert?”

I can’t stand it anymore.

“It’s boring.”

I got up abruptly and checked the clock. The short hand was pointing to 10.

The sky outside was clear and bright. Yeah, I can’t be lounging around on a day like this. I rinsed off quickly and put on a coat to go for a walk.

I grabbed my phone that I had charged last night. The battery was full. I opened KakaoTalk and sent a message to the director.

Just in case.

[Is the script revision finished?]

The reply came quickly.

[Are you coming to the filming set?]

He seemed to grasp my intention immediately, probably because I’ve sent so many messages.

[Actually, the script revision is done. We’re starting filming today.]

[Oh! Am I filming too?]

[Ah, no. We’re shooting a scene where the male and female leads meet at the police station, so you don’t need to come.]

Ah… I couldn’t hide my disappointment.

Still.

[Can I come and observe the filming? The two lead actors are filming. Couldn’t I learn by watching over their shoulders?]

The two lead actors who could be called the protagonists of the work! Veterans who have been acting for at least 6 years, unlike myself who hasn’t even been acting for a month. Watching the acting of these actors who confidently secured the lead roles in <Continuous Nightmare> would surely be helpful.

I couldn’t hide my excitement as I sent the KakaoTalk message with trembling hands. I waited anxiously for the reply. A new message appeared.

[It would be impolite to refuse when Actor Kang Junho shows such passion. Alright. But there’s a condition you must follow.]

[A condition?]

What kind of condition could it be?

[Please come with your face covered so your appearance isn’t revealed. Actor Kang Junho’s identity must not be disclosed.]

Hide my identity?

[Also, when you come to the back of the set we’re using for filming, a staff member will hand you a temporary pass. Wear that pass around your neck and observe inconspicuously.]

Hiding my identity and disguising myself to observe the filming set. It feels like I’m a top star secretly sneaking in to watch juniors. Ah, is this going too far?

Celebrity disease is scary.

I’m still just an ordinary person who hasn’t even signed a contract. To call myself a celebrity… I shook my head to clear away these thoughts.

Ding!

Another message came in. It contained the address of the set.

I called a taxi and rushed out of my studio apartment.

#

<Continuous Nightmare> filming set.

Director Cho Makdun’s voice echoed loudly.

“Cut!”

On the filming set, there is a god, and its name is the director. At the director’s authority, Choi Nahee and Nam Gungmin, who had been passionately acting as if the surroundings were on fire, caught their breath.

Go Eunchan and Ji Yeonwoo disappeared, and two top actors were standing there. As if by agreement, they both pulled nearby chairs to sit down.

“This isn’t WWE, why so serious?”

Just one of the scenes that would pass by. That’s what the extra actors heard. But.

“It’s no different from a war, just without swords, isn’t it?”

“That’s why extras like us are dying.”

“Uh, I don’t think we’re the only ones dying.”

The actors’ gazes turned to the side. The expressions of the veteran actors weren’t much different from the extras and bit players. They looked like they might faint too.

Only Choi Nahee and Nam Gungmin were burning with fighting spirit. Though they received gazes of incomprehension, the two paid no attention. Rather, they were just rehearsing their acting in their heads.

“I expected it, but they’re really on fire.”

Only Director Cho Makdun, who knew the reason, smiled with satisfaction.

Choi Nahee and Nam Gungmin. These two actors, who have built filmographies comparable to top actors at a young age, have enormous egos. They’ve spent their entire lives acting, and will continue to do so. As such, their pride in acting is sky-high.

Their skills are even more outstanding than their pride. That’s why they often act without putting in much effort unless it’s a scene that requires it. Usually, they would just let it slide.

But not now.

They can’t overcome that monster by just getting by. The tyrant who dominated the filming set despite never having learned acting. These two can’t stop the tyrant who made everyone hold their breath with just one glance. That’s why he took a special measure.

I only sent the filming footage to Nam Gungmin in advance.

There was no need to send it to Choi Nahee. She had already come to the set that day and seen the tyrant’s acting. Her eyes as she left were like those of a challenger aiming for the champion.

So he only sent it to Nam Gungmin. You don’t show precious treasures to just anyone. Nam Gungmin, who appreciated that treasure, showed the expected reaction.

No, was it beyond expectations?

“Director. I think the acting was lacking. Can we reshoot?”

Nam Gungmin, who had approached without notice, sent a fiery gaze. It was so hot that if meat were placed on it, it would turn to ashes in an instant.

“Ah, it’s too burdensome.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s nothing. So you want to reshoot?”

At those words, the faces of the surrounding actors turned pale. The staff’s expressions were no different. But among them, only one person had the same look in their eyes as Nam Gungmin.

“Me too. I want to reshoot. If we reshoot, I can do much better than now.”

The small giant of dramas. The Midas touch, said to have never had a drama drop below 10% viewership ratings since starting as a child actor. The guaranteed box office success who starts with a base of 150 million won per episode, Choi Nahee, requested a reshoot.

At the request of the two top actors, the reshoot eventually began. Though people’s faces had turned pale, they couldn’t object. These two had never lied.

The quality rose exponentially with each take. Fatigue set in, but people regained their strength and continued filming, driven by the highly immersive acting that blew away that fatigue. The reshoot ended 30 minutes later.

“That’s good. This is satisfactory.”

“I never thought I’d say the same thing as Mr. Nam Gungmin, but I’m satisfied too. It would be hard to top that performance.”

At that moment.

Ding!

Director Cho Makdun’s phone rang.

“Let’s take a short break.”

The director got up after seeing the name of the sender. Only after Director Cho Makdun disappeared could people finally take a rest.

“Ah, I feel like I’m going to die.”

“Why is the filming so intense? It wasn’t like this on other days.”

“When I get home, I won’t just be exhausted, I’ll be melted. Kuk kuk kuk.”

Though they were complaining, they couldn’t hide the satisfaction within. Leaving behind their mixed laughter of complaints and satisfaction, Director Cho Makdun checked the KakaoTalk message.

“Actor Kang Junho sent it?”

How did he know that the first filming started today? A smile naturally formed at the passion contained in it. It felt like seeing himself when he was deeply into theater.

[Is the script revision finished?]

Is he trying to come here?

[Are you coming to the filming set?]

[Actually, the script revision is done. We’re starting filming today.]

As soon as he sent the reply, another message came at a frightening speed.

[Oh! Am I filming too?]

[Ah, no. We’re shooting a scene where the male and female leads meet at the police station, so you don’t need to come.]

But he’ll probably want to come. Just like he did.

His prediction was spot on.

[Can I come and observe the filming? The two lead actors are filming. Couldn’t I learn by watching over their shoulders?]

Learn by watching over their shoulders? I chuckled at that message.

How could someone who freely manipulates characters learn from anyone? Unless it’s Charlie Chaplin, it’s impossible at that level.

However, the words were earnestly sincere. I can’t stop someone who passionately wants to learn acting. Someone who will spread their wings brilliantly in the future.

I allowed entry with conditions. By the way, since Nam Gungmin and Choi Nahee know his face, he mustn’t be discovered. If those two discover him.

“He might have his acting exploited.”

Chills!

For a moment, an ominous feeling came over me. Director Cho Makdun shook his head, trying to shake off the stray thought.

“Ah, I haven’t made a mistake, have I?”

Suppressing his anxiety, he returned to the filming set.

Footnotes:

1. 3 million won: Approximately 2,300 USD.
2. Studio apartment: In Korea, these are often called “one-room” apartments, typically small living spaces popular among young singles or students.
3. KakaoTalk: The most popular messaging app in South Korea.
4. Celebrity disease: A Korean term referring to the negative personality changes or attitudes that can develop in celebrities due to their fame.
5. Midas touch: A reference to the Greek myth of King Midas, used to describe someone who seems to succeed in every endeavor.