episode_0054

Special Task Force 808 Main Filming Day. Early Dawn.

One of the members of the Lee Soo-ah group chat, Monkeying, was roaming the internet, having stayed up all night again.

Her hobby, with her dark circles, was web surfing.

Her daily life consisted of enjoying various topics on various communities, but today was a little different. No matter which community she visited, they were all burning with only one topic.

“…There really are all kinds of trashy bastards out there.”

All kinds of trash. That was, of course, Director Kim Jun-ki.

[Let’s Find Out What Punishments Kim Jun-ki Will Receive.]

This simple video had over a million views.

It was a complete uproar.

Monkeying thought it was only natural. Kim Jun-ki’s movies were quite famous in South Korea. Since Monkeying always just used the internet, she knew his name value even better.

[Kim Jun-ki, Did He Do This Too?]

[We’ll Tell You All About Kim Jun-ki’s Atrocities.]

[Kim Jun-ki Can’t Come Back, What’s the Level of Punishment?]

[The Ugly Truth About Kim Jun-ki]

The videos that were uploaded quickly had already surpassed 2 million views.

The reaction to Kim Jun-ki was still spreading like wildfire. That a successful person was falling endlessly, and even falling due to their great sin.

That was reason enough for people to go crazy and tear him apart.

The Yang Ha-rin Gallery, which Monkeying usually enjoyed, was the same.

[Yang Ha-rin Gallery]

[LOL He’s Falling Endlessly]

[This kind of bastard should just die]

[It seems that living would be a more painful life if he gets punished]

[I’m a fool for spending money on this bastard’s movies…]

[The actors involved must be so pitiful;]

Monkeying also posted a post.

[Trash bastard.]

And, remembering it, she also wrote one in the Lee Soo-ah Gallery.

[Lee Soo-ah, Explain What Your Relationship Is With Kim Jun-ki]

Well, as always, it was just a post she posted as a joke. It’s common for friends to jokingly ask each other to explain things whenever something happens.

So, really, sincerely.

She never dreamed that this post would become a holy site later.

◈◈◈◈◈

Kim Jun-ki being socially beheaded, and all netizens paying attention and expressing their outrage. The industry was no exception. The whole industry was talking about Kim Jun-ki.

But the direction of the Special Task Force 808 production team was slightly different.

The public simply viewed the incident with the thought that ‘Kim Jun-ki is a heinous criminal,’ but they had another element of interest. Of course, the focus was on Lee Soo-ah.

First, Mystic.

As Seo Yeon-ju was eating with sandwich sauce on the corner of her mouth, Kim Seon-il frowned and wiped the sauce off her mouth with a handkerchief.

Seo Yeon-ju was disgusted.

“Wow, I just got goosebumps. What are you doing right now?”

“I couldn’t stand it because I felt nauseous. Try to eat nicely.”

“You should do better yourself. Anyway, where was I?”

Seo Yeon-ju once again took a big bite of the sandwich. It was at the same time as she spoke with her cheeks puffed out like a squirrel.

“Soo-ah, I mean. No matter how I think about it, it’s weird. It’s too amazing to dismiss all the things that have happened so far as luck. Maybe she really received a divine calling?”

“Do you believe in spiritual beings? How pathetic.”

Seo Yeon-ju cleanly ignored Kim Seon-il’s reaction and turned her head to Kim I-seo.

Indeed, Kim I-seo was different from Kim Seon-il. She was rubbing her chin and seemed to be seriously considering Yeon-ju’s words.

“Hmm….”

“CEO. Right? It’s hard to refute, right? Strangely, good things happen when you’re next to Soo-ah, right? And it’s not even just once or twice?”

“I don’t believe in phenomena like divine calling either. But it’s also true that I can’t ignore Soo-ah’s gut feeling anymore. It seems like she has a different perspective than ordinary people.”

“That’s right. It feels like she sees something else that we can’t see.”

“Ah.”

Kim I-seo raised her head as if she had belatedly remembered something.

“Come to think of it, Soo-ah asked me to get her a script related to music. It’s just something I remembered without much thought. I was going to give it to her if I happened to find it someday….”

“What? No! No! We have to get it for her right now!”

Seo Yeon-ju, who had already finished the sandwich, said.

“From now on, let’s proceed with everything Soo-ah says, no matter what!”

.

.

.

And the group chat.

[Special Task Force 808 Group Chat]

But it wasn’t a chat room where all the production team members gathered.

Supporting actors and extras who were motivated by Soo-ah and gathered in advance to practice several times. Their group chat.

[Do-hee: Wow Director Kim Jun-ki]

[Do-hee: He’s causing so much trouble to the people around him;]

[Do-hee: (Video Link)]

The commonality of the videos that Park Do-hee uploaded was simple.

The repercussions caused by Kim Jun-ki were so enormous that now not only Kim Jun-ki but also the actors involved with him were being mentioned and impacted. The damage was also so great that it was a problem.

Male officials were being witch-hunted on suspicion of being accomplices, and female officials were being tormented on suspicion of being victims.

Either way, the damage to the image was bound to be great. Explanation posts were pouring out from all sorts of agencies now.

[Do-hee: This was really dangerous.]

[Do-hee: If Soo-ah had gone to Director Kim Jun-ki’s audition, Special Task Force 808 would have been criticized too. But thanks to her refusing, we’re avoiding this.]

[Myung-pil: Is this just a coincidence?]

[Myung-pil: Anyway, it’s a good thing.]

[Myung-pil: Let’s just work hard on our acting.]

[Soo-yeon: Fighting!]

[Dong-ho: I’ll work hard!]

For Special Task Force 808, it was just watching a fire in the neighborhood. Because they miraculously weren’t damaged at all.

.

.

.

And the editing room of the short film ‘Sword.’

Director Park Jun watched Kim Jun-ki’s fall in real time at the ‘Right Path’ meeting, and now he was trying his best even more because of it.

It was true that Kim Jun-ki was his teacher, but he didn’t want to experience the same end as his teacher. He wanted to burn this passion endlessly and prove himself by winning an award.

“Divide the monitor screen into three.”

“Yes.”

“Play version A, version B, and version C simultaneously.”

“Yep.”

Three versions of the edit were being played simultaneously, and what filled the screen in front of them was Lee Soo-ah’s face.

“Her acting is incredibly good.”

“That’s why we’re happy to work so hard like this. Other filming sites are suffering because the actors can’t act, but at least our actors are great. The problem is that editing is killing our brains.”

Currently, disposable coffee containers and energy drink cans were forming a great wall on their desks. They had been suffering from all-nighters for days, so they naturally ended up looking like this.

“Director, but I heard that this actress rejected Director Kim Jun-ki’s work? And she readily agreed to do ‘Sword’?”

“That’s right.”

“Wow, that’s surprising…. Since she’s a rookie, Director Kim Jun-ki’s work would have been a huge temptation…. She has a sense of loyalty as well as acting ability. This industry is an industry where love disappears if there’s money.”

“If you’ve understood that far, then try to edit properly. At this rate, we won’t be able to complete it. The submission deadline is not far away.”

Among the various powers that a director has, the most powerful power.

That is, of course, cutting.

If all sorts of scenes are piled up like ingredients through filming, it is purely the director’s ability to trim, cut, and arrange them.

That’s why the director can engrave their name in the end credits and, at the same time, claim the work as their own. Because their judgment has a decisive influence.

Yes, that’s what Park Jun knows, but….

“Ugh….”

Park Jun unknowingly grabbed his head. The others sitting side by side and drinking energy drinks were the same.

“Director, this is really too difficult….”

“That’s right. It doesn’t feel like it’s being cut in a way that fits perfectly….”

Around that time, Park Jun made a decision.

“Okay. We have no choice but to take a gamble.”

“Did you say a gamble?”

“Yeah. Let’s leave all of Soo-ah’s acting scenes as they are.”

“Yes?”

The editing team’s eyes widened.

“Are you saying that we should edit other scenes to match the running time? Or are you willing to accept a longer running time…?”

“We have to accept it. In my opinion, the taste is less alive the moment you touch even one thing. I think there’s a reason why Soo-ah acted like this, not just anyone else. Let’s believe it.”

“Hmm….”

Most actors are only faithful to the role they are given, but for some reason, it kept feeling like Soo-ah had the end result in mind when she was filming.

Especially recently, because of the Kim Jun-ki incident.

For Park Jun, Soo-ah had already become an unusual person, so it was even more so. Soo-ah was the one who took out ‘Sword’ from the trash and completed it.

It was around that time that the editing team agreed.

“…Well, yeah. The original seems to be the best.”

“There’s nothing better than the original among our edited versions.”

In the end, they began to arrange Soo-ah’s scenes without any editing, and Park Jun drank water and thought quietly.

‘Yeah, who else would I trust if not Soo-ah?’

.

.

.

The CF team for the unknown energy drink ‘Extreme.’

Vroom─!

They were currently on board a vehicle and rushing to the Jeonju Film Studio. The destination was the location where the filming of Special Task Force 808 would take place.

Even to meet with Mystic’s CEO, Kim I-seo.

The total number of people was 5.

While they were quietly going, one person suddenly opened their mouth.

“Isn’t this a scam, no matter how you look at it?”

“Honestly, I’m a little uneasy too. Suddenly Mystic is involved? And it’s not just any other drama, it’s Special Task Force 808? What reason would they have to consider us for PPL?”

It was a remark that degraded themselves as ‘us,’ but no one objected. Energy drink Extreme was unknown and sales were hitting rock bottom.

“….”

The team leader quietly scratched his head.

Even the team leader thought it was too sudden.

‘Why did it turn out like this?’

Extreme was a product that no one looked at. This CF filming was the last chance, and if they didn’t achieve any results, they were in danger of being discontinued altogether.

But they didn’t have the ability to cast famous celebrities with those circumstances. All they did was post a notice on the internet, and there were only about three interviewees, including Lee Soo-ah.

That was why he called Soo-ah again and complained. Extreme was currently so insignificant that they had to cling to each and every interviewee.

But suddenly Mystic?

But suddenly Special Task Force 808?

How should I express this, it feels like I was shaking my hand to grab at straws, but suddenly I grabbed a gold nugget?

The Extreme team leader shook his head.

“I have no idea what’s going on. But, even in this situation, one thing is very clear.”

Flames flickered in the team leader’s eyes.

“We have to seize this opportunity no matter what. There can’t be a better opportunity for our Extreme than this.”

“….”

Everyone nodded. It wasn’t wrong.

Soon, determined expressions appeared on the faces of the five people.

.

.

.

Meanwhile, the main character, Soo-ah, was moving busily from morning.

Today was the main filming day. Of course, she had to experience the script even once more. That way, it would be advantageous in filming.

Therefore, she was currently running around the hotel, which was a special zone.

[Short Film ‘Sword’]

▶ ‘Acting Commander’ Applied

[Special Task Force 808]

▶ ‘Acting Commander’ Applied

This wasn’t very surprising.

It wasn’t difficult for Soo-ah’s brain to understand either. If she does her best, the work will be positively impacted, right?

But.

“Huh?”

Soo-ah suddenly stopped walking.

Because there was a somewhat unfamiliar sight.

[Energy Drink CF]

▶▶ Reassessing Grade and Status ◀◀

‘…I’m seeing this for the first time?’

Soo-ah tilted her head.

◈◈◈◈◈

Finally, the afternoon. The filming location.

Soo-ah immediately received makeup work.

Currently, three stylists were attached to Soo-ah. They weren’t tired, and they were very focused on their work.

“It’s so strange, why is it fun to put makeup on Soo-ah?”

“I know. It doesn’t feel like work at all.”

It wasn’t a bad thing for Soo-ah either. If the people who work with her can do it willingly, there’s nothing better than that. However….

There was one problem.

‘I’m not having fun, though. It’s boring!’

Honestly, when she first put on makeup, she was curious and excited, so she didn’t know how time was passing, but after doing it a few times and getting used to it, there was nothing more boring than this.

Above all, it takes a long time.

Yes, it really takes too long!

So Soo-ah finally decided to just use her cell phone.

Of course, she didn’t forget to set the screen brightness to 1. There was a risk that people around her would see what Soo-ah was doing on her phone.

Soo-ah was secretly proud that she had such thoroughness.

What should I say, Soo-ah is thorough.

[Soo-ah: I’m bored]

[Soo-ah: I’m bored]

[Deer: Go out and do some work]

[Monkeying: Isn’t Deer also unemployed?]

[Deer: I’m working?]

[Monkeying: What kind of work? You’re always playing games]

[Deer: Anyway, there is, don’t be interested, shut up]

[Sengji: I’m the one who’s unemployed.]

[Sengji: I submitted my resignation along with a strange article]

The firepower in the chat room was excellent today.

It was a good thing for Soo-ah. She wouldn’t be bored all the time.

[Monkeying: Forget it, did you see the Kim Jun-ki article?]

[Monkeying: He was a real trash bastard]

[Soo-ah: Agreed]

[Monkeying: Thank goodness he’s not involved with Yang Ha-rin]

[Soo-ah: I acknowledge that]

[Monkeying: ?]

[Deer: It’s just full of boring stories today]

[Deer: Some of you boring bastards]

[Deer: Kick some of them out, damn it]

-The chat room administrator has kicked out Deer-

Soon, Soo-ah received a message.

[Sender: Go Eun-bi]

▷ If you don’t unban me right now

▷ I might really beat you up

Soo-ah laughed without realizing it.

Even though they bickered together, the group chat was full of life, and Soo-ah liked this atmosphere. It had a noisy yet stable feel.

In a way, it was Soo-ah’s mental hometown.

But Soo-ah’s rest didn’t last long.

Click─!

A flash went off next to her.

When she turned to the side, Kim I-seo and Choi Hee-won PD, as well as the production team and filming team of Special Task Force 808, had gathered.

“…What is it?”

Soo-ah asked, blinking her eyes.

“We originally film the preparation process as well. Once viewers start to empathize with the actors, they become curious about what they look like outside of the filming set. This picture is good right now too.”

“Ah ah.”

Soo-ah nodded her head.

She understood what they were saying, but it was a bit of disappointing news.

‘Ughhh, then I can’t use my cell phone.’

She was having fun chatting for the first time in a while, but she didn’t want to be filmed using her cell phone. Kim I-seo continued to speak at the time when Soo-ah began to focus on managing her image.

“And one more thing. I just finished talking with Choi PD. They’ll probably come around tonight regarding the drink PPL.”

“Drink PPL?”

“Yes. It’s a bit strange because it’s such an unknown company with poor performance, but I think there must be a reason why Soo-ah chose it. Don’t feel too burdened. We’re thoroughly the ‘gaps’ here.”

Soo-ah remembered then.

That’s right. I also applied for a drink CF.

She didn’t know what was going on. Kim I-seo now managed Soo-ah’s minor schedules, and at the same time, Soo-ah thought that Kim I-seo would handle it appropriately.

‘When I look at it like this, something has changed dramatically.’

When she first applied for the drink CF, she was in the position of the ‘eul.’ But what is this, she just worked hard at what she had to do, and she became the ‘gap.’ It was an energizing thing.

And then.

“…?”

Soo-ah suddenly felt other presences gathering nearby.

She was used to people’s gazes, but today’s was a little different.

Some people were looking at Soo-ah, gathering both hands neatly and bowing their heads slightly, while others were suddenly making the sign of the cross.

‘…What? Are they crazy? Why are they doing that?’

Things were unfolding that Soo-ah couldn’t understand at all, and then Choi Hee-won PD burst out laughing.

“There’s a rather strange story going around among the cast these days. That you’re lucky if you have Soo-ah around.”

“Am I supposed to be some kind of mountain spirit….”

“Soo-ah and a mountain spirit don’t match. Well, a fox spirit who grants wishes. Wouldn’t it be closer to something like that?”

Fox spirit?

Arctic fox spirit? Anyway, as soon as she heard the word fox, Soo-ah’s brain immediately associated it with arctic foxes.

‘…I see. It’s because I look like an arctic fox.’

Soo-ah, who suddenly felt good, straightened her back even more and puffed out her chest, and some of the male actors unknowingly swallowed their breaths.

‘Ah.’

Around that time, Choi Hee-won PD remembered something.

‘Come to think of it, Director Go Tae-min is coming today….’

He wondered if it would be better to tell Soo-ah in advance, but he shook his head. Instead, he slightly raised the corners of his lips.

‘No, it’s much better to just watch. Anyway, Soo-ah wouldn’t be nervous, so there’s no reason to tell her in advance.’

◈◈◈◈◈

Meanwhile, Go Tae-min’s film studio.

Da-da-dan─

Director Go Tae-min was currently sitting in front of a grand piano, creating various melodies. His white hair and gaunt appearance made him look like a musician at first glance.

Then, at some point. He suddenly stopped his fingers.

“Did you come?”

“Yes. I’m sorry if I stopped your performance because of me.”

There was a visitor. The employee immediately bowed his head, but Go Tae-min lightly waved his hand as if not caring.

“No. I was just tapping while waiting anyway.”

“That’s a relief. Then first, please take a look at this….”

The employee pushed the tablet screen, which contained neatly organized data, in front of Go Tae-min. It was about Kim Jun-ki.

“Director Kim Jun-ki is completely finished.”

“That’s right. He was doing things behind my back that I didn’t even suspect.”

Go Tae-min’s expression wasn’t good either.

Kim Jun-ki was also a passionate director at one time, and he was also a member of ‘Right Path.’ The fact that a friend who had been working on filming together for a long time had turned into an ugly criminal was quite bitter.

But this is a crime. It’s something I can’t condone.

“It’s natural for those who have committed crimes to pay for their crimes. I’m more worried about other things than that. There are more than a few people who are causing trouble.”

“That’s right. To think that he’s holding you back now when Director Go is about to start a new work. I have many worries in many ways.”

“Is there anything I can do? Just do my best in the work I’m assigned to. Let’s end the story of Director Kim Jun-ki here, what about the audition videos?”

“Yes. I brought them. There are many. About ten people.”

Director Go Tae-min looked at the interviewees in the video that the employee was showing him. There was one role he was looking for.

A role who has autism but also has a natural talent for piano. A role whose eyes change in front of music.

But after a while. After looking at all the videos.

“Haa.”

Director Go Tae-min shook his head and sighed.

Even if he said it was autistic acting, there wasn’t a single interviewee who he thought was worthy of being a piano genius. What Go Tae-min wants is a feeling that they can’t live without music.

“Director, these days, instruments are often post-processed. Sometimes they subtly mix CG. The higher the level of the actors, the less time they have to practice instruments separately….”

“It can take a long time. It’s better than making a bad movie.”

“I dare to advise you that you may be asking for too much.”

“I know I’m asking for a lot. But I guess there’s at least one actor like that in the world. I just want to say that finding that person is my job. A director should do that.”

Go Tae-min said that and turned the tablet over.

“First, it’s time. Let’s go see Park Do-hee’s acting.”

“You look tired, do you really have to go in person? In fact, it’s enough for me to go alone. I’ll record it in high quality and upload it.”

Go Tae-min shook his head.

“I have to see it in person. As a director.”

◈◈◈◈◈

Night.

Special Task Force 808 filming location.

Soo-ah stared blankly around.

‘Woooow….’

The 808 team headquarters were firmly in place, and the lights were on as if it were an actual working building, so it was a spectacle. In addition, there were police cars with siren lights on all sides.

Her heart began to beat. It finally felt real.

From now on, she would be engaged in main filming.

Soo-ah stood blankly for a while. It was a fresh feeling.

It looked like she was blankly standing still at a crosswalk, but the people around the quiet Soo-ah were moving like crazy. They were all holding something in their hands.

“Did you check the lighting? It’s important because it’s a night shoot.”

“There’s no problem with the lighting. I think the sound team said they needed to meet with the PD earlier?”

“Check carefully to make sure you haven’t dropped anything on the floor! This is the main filming! We can’t leave even one flaw!”

Yellow tapes were placed in various places to limit traffic, and signs saying ‘Special Task Force 808’ were also attached in various places.

Because the lives of detectives are busier and more intense at night, their main filming begins now, with a full moon shining brightly.

In the midst of this, Choi Hee-won PD had one more thing to do.

That was to welcome a valuable visitor and show respect.

Director Go Tae-min, who had arrived on site, smiled brightly.

“Choi PD. Long time no see.”

“Oh, Director Go, you’ve arrived? I’m so busy starting filming right away that I can’t treat you well. Let’s definitely have a cup of coffee after filming.”

“It’s okay. Watching is a good treatment in itself.”

Choi Hee-won PD rushed back to the site, and Director Go Tae-min began to carefully examine the surroundings from the edge. A filming site is always a source of inspiration.

Then, at some point.

Go Tae-min’s gaze stopped on one person.

A person with their hair dyed white.

Even though he only saw the side of her face, her eyes and nose were incredibly sharp, and her expression and movements were stiff and still.

It was probably because he was very nervous. It’s common for actors to be nervous, but Go Tae-min felt a subtle feeling in other ways. Especially in the subtle atmosphere that the other person possessed.

Whenever the sirens flashed red and blue, his white hair was dyed accordingly, and every time that happened, the person himself looked different.

The material of a drawing paper whose impression changes as you paint on it.

“Is that person also an actor?”

Question and answer. He nodded his head.

“Yes. I wish they were an actor.”