Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Action School
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I returned home in a daze.
The contract clutched in my hand only made the daze worse.
Article 6, Compensation. My pay was listed as 200 per episode.
It was a number incomparable to my days bouncing between bit parts and extras.
It was more than ten times what I'd scraped together daily, 100,000 to 200,000 won at best.
The shift from daily rate to per-episode pay felt refreshingly novel to me, too.
Leads sign lump-sum deals.
Whether it's 10 episodes, 20, or 30, if it's contracted for 300 million won, they get 300 million.
But supporting actors? That's tough.
Shoot days vary wildly by project. If you got 40 million upfront for 20 episodes last time, no one's handing you 40 million for just 10 next time.
That's how per-episode rates caught on.
Even for movies, they started paying like dramas, episode by episode.
Not for everyone, though.
Only for actors whose faces rang a vague bell, names you'd heard once or twice.
The film industry is ruthless like that.
Bit players and extras? No fuss—just hand over the daily wage and done.
It's practically a temp agency setup; the agency that brings them gets the lump sum, and they divvy it up.
What the higher-ups did with their cut—pocket it or whatever—was their business.
So, 200 per episode. The kind of pay semi-recognizable supporting actors might snag.
A contract guaranteeing per-episode fees.
How could I not be stunned?
After twelve years scraping by on bit parts and extras, I knew exactly how shocking this deal was.
And they were covering action school fees to boot?
CEO Kim Seulgi with her suspiciously deep pockets, and now a production with suspiciously lavish funding.
How the hell did a floundering director and a mad-genius screenwriter pull in this much investment?
'...Please don't tell me they'll skimp on cash later and cast rookies for all the leads.'
The auditions I'd seen were only for supporting and bit roles.
No clue who the leads were.
I'd forgotten to ask, and no one volunteered it.
Time to consult Mr. Green Screen.
Searched for the movie Nomen.
Pre-production, so not much info, but probably some articles on the cast lineup.
[Nomen Movie Shooting in Two Months: The Fierce Auditions.]
[Director Kim Chi-seung's 'Nomen' Casting Lineup?]
[<Nomen>—Retirement If It Flops: Director Kim Chi-seung and Screenwriter Bae Jongwook's Masterpiece.]
[Nomen: Kim Yoo-seong, No Yoo-chan, and Ha Yeon-hee.]
Way more articles than expected.
Not many pre-shoot films generate this much buzz.
Maybe if a big star joins a project.
Or insane budget headlines.
Or Squid Game-level hype.
Yet Nomen had real heat.
Or rather, Kim Chi-seung and Bae Jongwook did.
A director facing retirement if it bombs, teaming with an industry pariah no one touched.
Perfect fodder for a one-liner headline.
Hit? Their collab's a triumph—buzz. Flop? Doomed from the pairing—buzz.
They were issue magnets either way.
Anyway, Kim Yoo-seong, No Yoo-chan, Ha Yeon-hee.
Never heard of them.
What kind of actors were they?
Back in the day, I'd have just stared blankly at leads like that.
Now, I'd be acting alongside them on camera.
Just an offer so far, not locked in, so better ask Screenwriter Bae later.
Speak of the devil—mid-scroll, a text from Bae popped up.
[(Photo) This is Seoul Action School in Ilsan. I've passed the word along, so just register and come whenever. If you prefer somewhere else, send the name and contact.]
'Seoul' Action School... in Ilsan, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do.
Like eating 30-year-old Buyeo Sundae at the original Busan Pork Backbone Soup spot... in Daejeon.
Fine, location and name aside.
'...How the hell do I even get to Ilsan?'
Mr. Green Screen, the know-it-all, said about 46 minutes by car.
Taxi? Roughly 35,000 won.
Even for a sudden rich girl like me post-contract, taxis daily were a stretch.
Public transit: luckily, express buses ran.
Subway if timings missed.
Transport sorted. Issue was... did I have the basic fitness for action classes?
'Screw it... Roll till I drop, it'll work out.'
Pain that doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
Bring it, Action School.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next day.
Wrapped a quick accessory shoot at Atelier. (So many freebies before, this one was unpaid.)
Headed to 'Seoul' Action School in Ilsan, Gyeonggi-do.
Door opens, and bam—male musk wafting from afar.
Sweat, mats, tangy iron. Stirring my wild side.
Ahh, the scent of the wild after so long.
Mid-breath, the desk staff bolted out panting.
"Uh... how'd you get here?"
"Hello. I'm Jeong Gyeowol. Screenwriter Bae Jongwook said he'd contacted you..."
"Ah... um... one sec. Let me check."
Staff retreated to the desk, still sneaking glances.
They said actresses train here all the time, no stares, super chill... Total BS?
Bae, didn't peg you for this.
Maybe he had connections here.
Film world's riddled with school ties, regional bonds, family links.
Makes sense... Audition barely over, and boom—action school locked in.
Reason for the rush.
Still, seemed legit quality spot, as Bae swore.
While staff verified, I scoped the interior.
Training center-level machines everywhere.
Squat rack? This place was serious.
Wire action rigs one side, climbing wall other.
Worlds from my old 20-pyeong basement dump with ratty mats.
Facilities aren't everything, sure.
But good looks make the rice cake tastier.
Prime gear just fires your blood.
"All confirmed. You're enrolled for about two months till Nomen cranks. Head inside; guide'll meet you."
"Thank you."
Bowed and went in.
Shoes off, mats underfoot.
Home sweet home vibes.
Then, murmurs from somewhere.
"Whoa, what? Goddess in this dump...?"
"No way... Who's that? New face."
"First time seeing her. Anyone know?"
"Rookie? Insane. Whose class? I'm switching."
Ogling my figure outright, but I ignored.
Hoping not packed with types like this, followed the guide deeper.
Arrived at the director's office.
Action Director Bae Gi-young.
That name popping up in YouTube rabbit holes or Mr. Green Screen.
If past life had Ching Dou Hong, this one had Bae Gi-young. Kinda vibe.
Now that I thought, same surname as Bae the screenwriter.
...No way. Blood ties, strongest of school-regional-family nexus?
Flustered, but shook it off quick.
Blood, region, school—whatever.
Action legend. Worthy of respect.
Bent past my usual 90 degrees, more like 120.
"Hello. New actress Jeong Gyeowol."
"Ah, Jeong Gyeowol? Heard from Bae the screenwriter. Nice to meet you."
"Honored to meet a director I admire!"
"Haha, think local gym owner. No need to stiffen up or overdo the bows."
"Got it! Gym master!"
Was the director teaching me himself?
Bae, you sneaky saint...
Truly good guy.
That lasted a moment.
Suddenly wanted to elbow Bae's temple again.
"Hah... Hah..."
"Bae said your passion's off the charts, so teach my way, she'll handle it."
"...M-Me? Hnggh..."
"Choreographed all action a month ago... Turned out too brutal even for average guys. Toned down the women's scenes, but Bae said keep it raw."
"Hngggh..."
No breath for proper reply.
What was that about pain not killing making you stronger?
Pain that doesn't kill just hurts like hell.
"Hnnnggggh..."
One hour with Action Director Bae Gi-young.
Already drooling from the grind.
Students gawking at us. Their voices drifted over.
Not pitying my agony—no, the floor I was wrecking.
-...Industry...
-Precious... floor...
-I... train there...
Roughly: Filthy actress new to the biz.
Slobbering on our precious mats.
No way I'd train where she died.
That gist.
Can't they forgive with magnanimity after this thrashing?
Whole body quaking, limbs included.
Maybe mop after... before leaving.
'After... taxi...?'