episode_0040
by adminThree days later, in the cypress forest of Wanju, North Jeolla Province.
Originally, the plan was to film here for a week, but the wrap-up came much earlier than expected. A major reason for this was one of the leads completing every scene without a single NG (no-go).
Lee Soo-ah.
Thanks to her, the staff was currently busy only with packing up the equipment.
Filming wasn’t completely finished, but the remaining scenes could be adequately filmed indoors. In other words, there was no longer any reason to stay near the forest.
The deadline for submitting to the short film festival was rapidly approaching. Time was literally money, so everyone moved quickly and efficiently.
In the midst of all this.
Thunk!
Seo Yeon-ju and Kim Sun-il boarded the jet-black van side by side. As if something had been exhausting, they both leaned their entire backs against the seats, closed their eyelids, and let out deep sighs.
The driver, sensing the mood of the two, spoke.
“You’ve worked hard. Shall we depart right away?”
The two simply nodded silently.
They didn’t make any noise. However, the way they tapped the armrest with their fingertips suggested they were preoccupied with something.
Come to think of it, it was strange. Unlike most of the ‘Sword’ production team, who still had indoor filming schedules, Seo Yeon-ju and Kim Sun-il had no more schedules now.
This was thanks to the fact that the scenes of the two actors had been filmed together first. The production team had taken this into consideration because the two had busy schedules. Since the two were high-profile actors anyway, this level of treatment was only natural.
Right, so now they just had to leave with a light heart.
“….”
Still, the two were lost in thought.
It wasn’t because the filming had been tiring. There weren’t even any difficult scenes for them. What’s more, as if heaven was helping them, the weather was perfect for all three days.
There was a separate reason.
It was the scene they filmed with Lee Soo-ah.
Seo Yeon-ju’s last filming was a scene with Soo-ah, and neither of them could forget it. That was the reason.
“Give me the script.”
“Give me the script.”
They spoke the same words at the same time, then nodded as if they knew what each other was thinking. If that was the case, there was no reason to hesitate. The two sat side by side and examined the script.
S#42 Center of the Forest / Day
Realizing that the master-disciple relationship has finally ended
Ha-ryeong looks at her teacher with resentment
Wi Ji-hye accepts her gaze, but ignores her feelings
Eventually, Ha-ryeong leaves the forest with a heavy heart
Even looking at it again, it wasn’t a difficult scene. Seo Yeon-ju only had to express her disappointment towards her teacher, Wi Ji-hye.
However.
“…It’s strange.”
The emotions Seo Yeon-ju felt when she stood in front of the camera were truly complex. She revisited those feelings one by one.
“Hey, Sun-il. Didn’t you feel something different when I was acting with Soo-ah? Should I say I put in more effort than usual? It wasn’t nervousness, but…”
“There were no mistakes. Rather, you did better than usual.”
“Yeah, that’s what I mean.”
Seo Yeon-ju said as if she couldn’t understand.
A showdown between Lee Soo-ah and Seo Yeon-ju.
Did they both do well, so it was a tie? Really?
…No, at least Seo Yeon-ju didn’t feel that way. The fact that there was a tie against a rookie actress was itself a very big contradiction.
“What’s the reason? Why did I do better than usual? I just acted like I usually do. It’s not like I practiced that scene more than others.”
But even as she muttered that, Seo Yeon-ju had a hunch. Kim Sun-il’s words gave her confirmation.
“Soo-ah must be the reason.”
Seo Yeon-ju nodded. Yes, after all, the only reason she could guess was Soo-ah.
‘It was like…. Soo-ah has her own area.’
When she was acting with Soo-ah, Seo Yeon-ju felt like she was stepping into a certain space. She felt a sense of encouragement and a surge of excitement at the same time.
It was a very strange thing. She was supposed to be leading a nameless rookie, but she felt like she was being encouraged instead?
‘The chemistry is strangely good, and I get inspiration when I’m with her. It wasn’t like that during other filming. It was only like that when I was with Soo-ah.’
This difference was especially noticeable when filming other scenes. Seo Yeon-ju was confident that she put in the same effort in every scene, but the scene she did with Soo-ah was exceptionally good.
It wasn’t like the other scenes were lacking. Director Park Jun and the staff gave her lavish praise. This was cross-verified by Kim Sun-il, who was an adversary of hers.
However.
“Acting that is excellent on its own, acting that gives the other person an uplifting effect while you are excellent… That’s an unbelievable difference.”
She said it herself and realized it once again. It didn’t make sense.
‘How did she do it? She doesn’t give compliments or advice. She just dyes the space with the world in the script all by herself… Is this a talent that came from heaven?’
She had a mind to test Soo-ah, but Seo Yeon-ju had jumped in to understand her even a little bit more. But after being together, didn’t she only end up with great questions and tasks?
It was then that Kim Sun-il added a word.
“The thing that surprised me the most is that she can handle Wi Ji-hye while doing Special Task Force 808. You know, right? Kim Yu-han and Wi Ji-hye have completely opposite personalities.”
“I know. What is her real identity? Actors usually desperately avoid working on multiple projects. It would be a disaster if the emotions of the two roles mixed.”
“It’s like her personality is split… She’s a monster.”
Monster-like skills, and even inspiration if you keep her around…
Seo Yeon-ju quickly came to a conclusion.
“Hey, Kim Sun-il. You’re not going to stop here, are you?”
“Of course not.”
“Right, we’re going to have to conquer overseas one day, aren’t we? But I think it’s possible if we keep Soo-ah by our side. We can grow a lot more together, can’t we?”
Just as Taoists seeking power seek spiritual medicine, people obsessed with acting seek inspiration. And Seo Yeon-ju and Kim Sun-il had never seen spiritual medicine as effective as Soo-ah seemed.
One conclusion, they immediately called CEO Kim Yi-seo.
“Yes, CEO. Please be sure to keep Soo-ah. It’ll be a big problem if we miss out on this. Don’t ever let her go. You know the conditions we calculated before, it looks like we’ll have to increase them by at least twice.”
◈◈◈◈◈
After completely finishing their preparations to leave, the ‘Sword’ production team gathered together to eat. This was going to be their last meal eaten outdoors.
Was it because they unexpectedly earned a few days, or because every scene they filmed was better than expected? It was probably both. Everyone picked up their spoons with faces that showed no worry at all.
Of course, Soo-ah was alone in the corner.
‘…I’m alone again.’
But Soo-ah didn’t feel depressed, thinking of herself as an outcast like before. Rather, the emotion she felt now was closer to joy. Yes, she was the one who was outcasting the world.
Eating alone, lost in the atmosphere, that’s pretty cool, right?
It was then that Soo-ah, who was thinking of a solitary lion eating, heard someone.
“Oh, this is the only seat left….”
“Really? I guess we have no choice but to eat here.”
“I guess we have no choice.”
Extras began to take their seats near Soo-ah one by one. Every time they made eye contact with Soo-ah, they avoided her gaze as if it was hard to look at her, but they didn’t leave the seat once they sat down.
Soo-ah said calmly.
“…There are many seats around, though?”
The ‘Sword’ production team was eating outdoors, so anywhere could be a seat if you could just sit down. Soo-ah couldn’t understand why they were sitting so close to her.
One of the extras cleared his throat then.
“Let me be honest. The people sitting here are all people who want to eat with Soo-ah. We want to get to know you, and we thought it would be nice if we could have all sorts of conversations.”
Want to get to know her? How long had it been since she heard those words?
“…Do as you please.”
Soo-ah nodded briefly. She pursed her lips tightly, hoping that her mouth wouldn’t reach her ears. Even while doing that, the extras continued to gather around Soo-ah.
She was practically a human magnet.
“Everyone was gathered here? Ah, you were with the mainmast? Then that makes sense. I’ll eat here too.”
“Oh my, do you have to sit here? It’s so cramped.”
“Let’s just bear with it. When will another opportunity like this come….”
Even though it was noisy, Soo-ah didn’t dislike this atmosphere.
Thinking back to when she had a free acting scene with Seo Yeon-ju, that was the case. At that time, there were only expressions of suspicion towards Soo-ah, but now everyone’s eyes were sparkling like baby birds.
Soo-ah, who was diligently maintaining a face that was angry and indifferent with her 4-Second Soo-ah Rage, asked a question after a word caught her ear.
“…Come to think of it, what does the word ‘mainmast’ mean?”
“Haha! Of course, it’s a word for Soo-ah! ‘Sword’ was a ship on the verge of capsizing, but now, thanks to Soo-ah playing the role of the mainmast, it’s moving forward well, isn’t it?”
Soo-ah pursed her lips. Embarrassingly so.
The extras stopped eating and added a word each.
“Soo-ah, how can you blend into a role?”
“That’s right. Please tell us about your acting practice routine. You’re both rookies, but there’s such a big difference that I feel like there’s a wall….”
“Did you think of that ad-lib in advance?”
Soo-ah quietly raised one hand.
“…Stop, stop.”
Then everyone stopped praising her with an expression as if they had made a mistake. Soo-ah was like, oh shoot. Why did they really stop?
“Hahaha…. We, we got too excited, didn’t we? We got so lucky at a film set that we came to without any expectations.”
“That’s right. There were so many unexpected things.”
That’s when it happened.
“But…. That person isn’t here, is he?”
“Who?”
When Soo-ah asked, the extra said as if it was obvious.
“I’m talking about the person who played Yu-heon. He was always looking at Soo-ah every time there was a break or when other scenes were being filmed.”
“That’s right. I saw him doing that too.”
Soo-ah was simply curious. Why was he looking at me?
“He’s quiet even though he caused trouble. He stopped acting in the middle, right? That scene would have been a definite NG if it wasn’t for Soo-ah.”
“Could he be hovering around to apologize? Maybe he wants to say something, but he’s too aware of Soo-ah to approach her.”
“But Soo-ah’s acting at that time was amazing, the more I think about it.”
Well, Soo-ah soon stopped thinking about it. It was true that she was embarrassed at the time, but didn’t it ultimately lead to a situation that was advantageous to Soo-ah? Like now, when she was surrounded by everyone.
Therefore.
“I don’t really care.”
Soo-ah answered that sincerely. And one more thing.
There was something that Soo-ah was much more worried about right now. To the point that her hands kept itching even as she ate.
◈◈◈◈◈
After the meal. The barracks that were built as a waiting room.
Whoosh─!
Soo-ah immediately swung the prop sword. There was something she had been wanting to verify since she ate her meal.
Extremely light movements, but when she looked in the mirror, her movements were very disciplined. Of course, she couldn’t actually cut something like a straw bale because her strength hadn’t increased, but…. How should she put it….
‘Choreography?’
Yes, choreography. Movement.
At least, movements that could be seen as very excellent swordsmanship to other people’s eyes were completely mastered. When she looked at it with her cell phone camera or in the mirror, she really thought she was the best in the world.
“Oh…?”
Soo-ah got a little bit of goosebumps. Why am I so cool?
‘Come to think of it, it was the same when I first got the perk….’
Her first experience was in a racing movie called ‘Speed Violation’.
Soo-ah recalled the feeling that remained in her body. The knowledge about driving a car, the feeling of turning the steering wheel and stepping on the accelerator and brakes were still vivid as if she had learned it in real life.
It felt like she could drive right now. Probably definitely.
…Could it be that the experience even corrects her body?
‘Really? Really? Then there’s no genre that I can’t do?’
It was an exhilarating hypothesis just to imagine it. Ah, of course, adult movies that include bed scenes were excluded since she couldn’t even experience them.
Swoosh─! Swoosh─!
Soo-ah started swinging her sword even more excitedly.
It was only a moment before she fell into reverie.
A desolate battlefield, Soo-ah faces enemy soldiers approaching from all directions alone. She holds a baby rabbit in her arms.
All sorts of powerful enemies aim for Soo-ah and the rabbit from all directions, but Soo-ah silently draws a sword path that is close to perfection. One day, two days, three days…. She fights hard for as many as three days and finally wins.
When she finally brings the baby rabbit to the rabbit kingdom, the rabbit king and queen kneel down while shedding tears. They bow their heads at Soo-ah’s feet.
─Soo-ah-nim! Please take charge of the rabbit kingdom!
─We can’t do it without Soo-ah-nim!
Of course, Soo-ah refuses.
“I am the wind. I cannot stay in one place.”
─No. We will become extinct without Soo-ah-ssi.
─Please, for the future of the rabbit kingdom…!
─We’ll give you all the carrots we have!
Haa, then she would sigh and reluctantly accept it.
“Then I guess I have no choice, just for a little while….”
That’s when it happened.
“Lee Soo-ah.”
“…!”
Soo-ah was startled. As she screamed ‘eek’ in her mind, she swung her sword without even realizing it. It was a flash for her to twist her waist and draw a semi-circular sword path.
Whack─!
An extremely short moment. When she came to her senses, Soo-ah was already aiming the blade of her sword at the other person’s neck. The other person was surprised two beats later.
“Wh, whoa!”
Someone familiar to Soo-ah. Son Ji-ah, who played Yu-heon.
She hurriedly raised both hands.
“It’s, it’s me! Son Ji-ah! I didn’t come to do anything weird!”
“…How long have you been here?”
“Since you were performing Wi Ji-hye’s sword dance. I was watching, mesmerized.”
Actually, it wasn’t Wi Ji-hye, but the guardian of the rabbit kingdom that she was swinging it for, but Soo-ah barely calmed her face that was about to turn red.
In the meantime, Son Ji-ah continued to speak.
“Hey, you. Are you interested in acting on stage? Like musicals or plays. I think you’d be really good at it? In my opinion, your gestures aren’t ordinary.”
“Just tell me your business.”
Because she was embarrassed, her voice was very rough.
“Oh, oh, okay, sorry.”
Then, Son Ji-ah collected her breath as if she had something important to say. At the same time, her expression became very serious.
“First of all, I want to say I’m sorry.”
“Sorry?”
“Yeah. You had to fill in the scene by yourself because I stopped acting in the middle. I was very surprised by your skills, but anyway, it’s true that I did wrong. I’m apologizing belatedly.”
Ah, Soo-ah finally understood.
Son Ji-ah suddenly did nothing, so Soo-ah had to fill in the situation alone. Everything from the movements to the lines.
…Was it on purpose? She didn’t forget her lines?
Well, but should she not get angry?
Thanks to it, it became a good situation for Soo-ah too. She has to become a big shot actor, so she needs image management too.
So, 0-Second Soo-ah Modesty.
“Don’t worry about it. I did it because you looked lacking.”
What could be more heartwarming than someone who is well-off helping someone who is lacking? She didn’t know why Son Ji-ah’s face hardened noticeably.
Son Ji-ah scratched her head.
“…Lacking, no, no. It’s not a wrong statement.”
Son Ji-ah nodded.
“Anyway, thank you for accepting my apology, and I came to give my thanks. I remembered my original intentions thanks to the advice you gave me. I’m going to try my best from now on without ever forgetting it.”
“What advice?”
“You knew everything, right? My circumstances, my mindset. But how do you do that? Giving me advice using Wi Ji-hye’s mouth. That’s what real free acting is.”
“…?”
First of all, 1-Second Soo-ah Understanding.
“…Um, you remember it well.”
“I haven’t gotten this kind of motivation in a long time. My heart is racing. I decided not to renew my contract with CT Entertainment, and from now on, I’m going to try my best at acting without resorting to other methods.”
1-Second Soo-ah Understanding.
“Yeah. Okay.”
“Um, so that’s what I wanted to say.”
Son Ji-ah paused for a moment.
She hesitated for a long time as if it was difficult to say the next words, then Son Ji-ah suddenly bent her waist ninety degrees. It was the most polite attitude of request in the world.
“I want to start over from scratch and one day perform like you! Please! Please be my acting teacher!”
“…Why me?”
0 Comments