Shooting Begins (2)
"Noona, you need to tone it down a bit. You're a senior in the industry. What if you end up hated? You have to think about your reputation."
"Do I really need to worry about that? As long as I have the skills, that's enough."
"Sigh. I don't know. Just don't ruin my work—make sure you film it well. If there's any problem, I'll switch directors next time."
"Fine, stop whining... cough!"
Director Choi Youngji was bickering with her younger sister when she belatedly noticed the eyes of everyone gathered in the reading room fixed on her. She cleared her throat awkwardly.
Quickly composing herself, she addressed the group. "Hello, everyone. I'm Director Choi Youngji. And this is Writer Choi Heemin."
"Hello, Director."
"Welcome, Writer!"
The actors and staff greeted the writer and director awkwardly. As everyone settled into their seats, the atmosphere quickly calmed.
"No one's absent, so shall we start the reading, Director?"
"Yeah? Looks like we're all here, no need to delay. Let's get right to it. It's touching to have everyone gathered like this. We'll dive straight into filming after the reading, so I need your full focus, actors. Let's concentrate. Time's precious—keep greetings short, and make the reading long and intense."
Clap clap clap!!
With Director Choi Youngji's brief opening remarks, the staff swiftly took over.
"Jin Haesol, playing Yoo Euntak. Nice to work with you."
"Kang Jun, playing Hwang Sangho."
"Kang Taeho here, playing Yoon Daehwa. I'll do my best despite my shortcomings. Nice to work with you."
"Han Minyeong, playing the female lead Kim Jihe. Looking forward to working with you on set too."
After the leads' introductions, the supporting roles went quickly too. Since the director wanted to move fast, they kept it to just memorizing faces. Being a web drama with few characters helped.
"Let's begin the script reading. Narration: Our school has a prince. A rumor of unknown origin spread through the school. Word was that the son of a chaebol family attended our school. From someone's sighting, someone's exaggerated lie, it snowballed uncontrollably. Soon, finding the chaebol son became a trend among the students."
After the staff read the narration, Han Minyeong—the only lead with formal acting training—began her performance.
The short promo clip of Friday's reading had gone up on YouTube. Han Minyeong checked her screen time and let out a small sigh, then scrolled the comments and sighed deeper.
'Not a single mention of me.'
She knew female actors got less attention than males. But her footage in the promo was so minimal, no one would guess she was the lead. It was blatantly focused on the male leads.
"I acted so well though..."
She'd ground her teeth practicing, putting in the work. Our School Has a Prince was told from her perspective, with the most lines. Nail this, and bigger opportunities awaited.
"Just watch. I'll take it all!"
"Bullshit," her roommate muttered, shaking her head at Han Minyeong's outburst. "Told you not to burn bridges with your attitude. Trying to outdo them here? Guess paying back that actor friend who got you fed up didn't last."
"Like they'd hang with me! And no way I'm signing autographs. I'm a lead too, got pride!"
"Why so sensitive? Did they act all high and mighty 'cause they're idols?"
"......"
Han Minyeong recalled the reading day at her roommate's question. Not their first meeting, but first time seeing them act for real—etched firmly in memory.
"Nah. Just not the vibe for chit-chat."
The idols were buried in attention; she couldn't dream of approaching. Despite her all-out performance, no one noticed.
"I was dying to ask but held back 'cause of the vibe. Can I now?"
"If Haesol and Jun act well?"
"Huh...? How'd you know?"
"My phone's blowing up with that. 'Do Haesol and Jun act good?' Or 'How'd they look irl?' Mostly."
"Damn, should've asked sooner! So, what'd you say?"
"Dunno. Didn't reply."
Han Minyeong hadn't answered anyone. Not her theater friends or classmates—pride wouldn't let her admit idols nailed acting.
'Idols killing acting? Cheating. Total cheat!!'
She'd heard they were total newbies. Yet Kang Jun and Jin Haesol exceeded expectations at reading. Writer Choi Heemin even joked about upping their lines!
'Not a joke. She said nothing to me. If she'd said I sucked, I wouldn't feel this snubbed.'
They say hate's opposite is indifference. Rage and injustice boiled. Why give them all the talent, leaving her scraps!
'If only I were prettier... would it be different?'
The woes of the plain-born. Han Minyeong spent another sleepless dawn searching plastic surgery, empty bank account be damned.
And the next day.
The first shoot day for web drama Our School Has a Prince dawned.
Murmurs—
"Hello!"
"Need to move that chair over there? Too many desks. Match the headcount."
"Student 13!! Costume change over there."
Han Minyeong arrived first among actors. But her greeting echoed into void.
Staff too busy to respond.
"Hello!"
Undeterred, she bowed persistently, getting reluctant "yeahs."
She pounced on one who replied. "Sorry, heard makeup's on-site? Where?"
"Uh... next classroom."
"Ah, thanks."
Pro makeup beat DIY, she thought, entering eagerly.
A staffer eyed her head to toe. "What role? Student number?"
"...Lead Kim Jihe."
"Lead? Oh, right. This way."
"Student number" meant extra. Hurt crashed like tsunami, but years in the trenches toughened her. She endured.
"Hey, Kim Jihe's uniform?"
"Getting it."
"Change into this. No makeup yet, right?"
"Yes."
She changed in the curtained corner "fitting room."
Meanwhile, outside buzzed.
Murmurs—
"What's going on out there?"
"Unnie!! Idols are here."
"OMG! Real? Haesol's irl killer, they say! Coming for makeup?"
"Probably did pro salon."
"Yeah, won't show face to just anyone. Tsk, jealous."
Han Minyeong emerged ignored.
"Excuse me. My makeup...!"
"Kyaa!! Irls insane!"
"Face glowing, unnie!"
"Excuse me."
"Autograph chance?"
"What to do!! So tall too? Kyaa! Kyak!!"
No-name actor woes surge unbidden.
"Hello!!"
"Nice to work with!"
Her resentment naturally targeted the cause.
Grind—
'I'm an actor too? Treat me right!!'
Shouted mentally dozens of times. Never aloud.
"Hey!!! Makeup please. How long do I wait?"
"Ah! Scared me. Why yell? Sit there, we'll do it."
Irritated glare. Obvious disdain.
They moved only after Jin Haesol and Kang Jun entered the next classroom—shoot site.
"Aw, too bad."
"Unnie, my eyes leveled up. Feeling like a blind monk?"
"Standards ruined. How to date now?"
Boiling inwardly at their chat, sarcasm escaped.
'With those faces, sure you'll date. Uglier and fatter than me.'
She rarely judged looks. Her own weren't brag-worthy. But twisted fury let her vent mentally. It eased the chest tightness.
"How for hair and makeup?"
"Did hair at salon."
"This was it?"
"......"
Staff finally working. As she entrusted her face to two for full makeup—
Knock knock—
"Excuse me. Told to get costume here."
"Oh my!"
"Kyak!"
"..."
Another intruder appeared.