The Director and the Visuals
Park Ji-ha, the director, felt his head pounding.
If he could work with a top-tier actor whose box office was guaranteed, it would have been perfect.
But in situations like this, collaborating with that kind of person was nearly impossible.
He had chosen from among the rising actors who stood out lately, focusing on those skilled in visuals...
He had never imagined that would cause such a problem.
Since he had already signed the contract, he had no choice but to drag them along somehow.
“...Um, I’ll get some fresh air for a moment.”
Shin Hye-won, after checking the monitor, left the room with a chill in the air.
Deok-su also checked and saw that the two men and woman on the monitor looked like more than just lovers.
It felt like the kind of woman who stood beside an idol, perhaps a fan.
Director Park Ji-ha spoke up.
“It seems our Ji-ha, who’s as tough as stone, has gotten her feelings hurt.
Well, she’s also an actress...
“Let’s start with makeup for now.
We’ll make her brows a bit more defined...
“...Will that work?”
Director Park Ji-ha asked carefully.
He knew his actors always tried to stand out the most on screen.
Sometimes they even demanded contract conditions based on their candidates’ qualifications.
People who said an ugly-looking person like Deok-su was fine were rare.
“It’s for the work, after all.
It’s only natural.”
“...It’s only natural, huh.
I see.
Director Yang, please come look at Deok-su for a moment.”
Soon, Makeup Director Yang Se-hwa arrived and began examining Deok-su’s face closely.
“...I’ll make Deok-su’s features a bit fuzzier.
It should create a more ordinary effect.
The problem is Hye-won...
I don’t know how long it’ll take.”
Lighting Director Ju Young-dal added his thoughts.
“I’ll bring one more assistant.
Reflectors can be used to light things up.
Some later editing should make it work somehow.”
The conversation on the monitor continued into makeup, location, and was transferred directly onto the storyboard.
Deok-su worked hard, writing down the necessary items.
Someone gave him a slight nudge.
It was Director Park Ji-ha.
“...Go talk to Hye-won and come back.”
Deok-su felt awkward.
He had no acquaintance with Shin Hye-won.
But Director Park kept insisting, so he had no choice but to go.
Shin Hye-won was on the rooftop with her manager.
Her manager noticed Deok-su and gave him some space.
Shin Hye-won glanced at him coldly and said,
“There’s no need to worry about the camera test.”
But Deok-su immediately understood.
Shin Hye-won’s pride had taken a hit.
“Director Park must have expected visuals from Kim Deok-su.
Because he was too good, this happened.
I won’t let it bother me...
“Take this.”
Deok-su suddenly pulled out a single piece of chocolate.
When Shin Hye-won looked at him curiously and put the chocolate in her mouth, he stood beside her.
“Why did you agree to the casting, Hye-won?”
“Why ask about something like that suddenly?”
“Well...
Since it’s the director’s task to somehow get us to get along...
I’m not sure you’ll care, but for me, I liked the character Hyun-oh.”
“Why?”
“Because Hyun-oh can’t overcome the feeling of rejection.
As it gets worse, it leads to date violence...
“That’s right.
Suyeon had a deep lack of love, especially for her father...
“At first Shin Hye-won was very wary of Deok-su, but she became very proactive when talking about the acting project.
The two of them exchanged various opinions about the characters they each interpreted, and little by little their walls began to break down.
“Even if you’re subjected to date violence, you have to express that double meaning of not wanting to break up.
Wait a second?
It would be good to change the outfit a bit too.
“Hyun-oh needs to show the fear of rejection and the madness in his heart...
On the contrary, maybe it’s actually better if the visuals are very good in the beginning.
As the acting discussion continued, the visual issue no longer bothered them.
The conversation between the two stopped when, several hours later, Director Park Ji-ha personally came to pick them up.
“...I told you to just talk.
You ended up debating and falling asleep.
“Thank you for the fruitful discussion.”
Deok-su and Shin Hye-won looked at each other and puffed their chests with pride.
After that, the real reading began with the completed storyboard and script.
“Aah!”
“This insolent woman...! Who were you with last night?”
“Who...?
We were just... The report ended and I went straight to sleep...
Aah!”
Deok-su’s face twisted with madness, and his voice was severely distorted.
Shin Hye-won, also immersed in his changed voice, continued her performance with a terrified expression.
“...The voice is really good.
Right?”
“Their chemistry is really good.
It doesn’t seem like much work will be needed for the voice.”
Director Park Ji-ha and the sound director watched the two of them’s reading with satisfaction.
After the reading ended, it was already past midnight.
Director Park Ji-ha suggested a meal, and most of the staff participated.
The late-night meal had mellowed, and by the time the second round was winding down, most of the staff had gone home.
But Deok-su, Shin Hye-won, and Director Park Ji-ha were enjoying a third round, pouring soju at a grilled intestine house.
“Hey, our Deok-su.
You really know how to drink.”
In Director Park Ji-ha’s affectionate voice, there was already some affection mixed in.
“Actually, I was worried...
The ones I liked didn’t come...
The ones whose profiles I received...
I didn’t care at all...
Then out of nowhere, Kim Deok-su!
“I’m the grateful one...
“This is something you need to know.
You know how long it takes to get a movie screened in theaters?
You can even turn off the lights...
“Aigoo, but Director, your films usually get screened.
“It won’t do.
Absolutely...
Your voice is precious.
From now on, manage it like a voice actor.
Drink something lukewarm!”
“Yes, Director.
Thank you for your concern...
“Director, I’ll drive you home.
Hye-won...
“Let’s drink for just twenty more minutes.
It’s already 4:40 now.”
Shin Hye-won shook her glass and smiled gently.
“Whoa...
When I was reading earlier, I was really surprised.
I heard from rumors that your voice changes completely...
I didn’t think it would be to this extent.
What’s the secret?”
“It’s the result of practice.”
“This is like talent...
Actually, at first I was very worried because I knew my co-star would be Kim Deok-su...
But after reading, I realized my worries were silly.
But...
Shin Hye-won’s eyes became curious, and she rested her chin on her hand.
“Why was that back then?
Because you didn’t want to be a singer?”
“Well...
Maybe I just wanted to pull some aggro.”
Deok-su evasively answered as if talking about someone else’s story.
It was actually a story that had happened to someone else.
“From now on, let’s see each other often.”
After the meal, Deok-su drove Director Park Ji-ha home.
The next day, when he went to work in the afternoon, Director Park Ji-ha called him.
“...You drove me home, huh.
I owe you a huge favor for a first meeting.”
“What do you mean owe me?
It’s nothing special.”
“If you had just sent me home in a taxi...
I didn’t make any mistake, did I?”
There was no mistake.
Director Park Ji-ha was about to end the call, saying it was fortunate, but Deok-su changed the subject.
“Personally, I have a question.
What do you think is the difference between works that fail and those that succeed?”
“Such a sudden student-like question.
You’re not of school age anymore.”
“Because my acting teacher is really strict.”
Director Park Ji-ha knew Deok-su’s acting teacher was Kim Hyeok-jung.
Kim Hyeok-jung’s training was famous, after all.
After pausing for a moment, Director Park Ji-ha started.
“It differs for each person.
But I think successful works have a reason.
Failed works always have a cause.”
“A reason?”
“Right.
You know the most important thing is the script, right?”
“Yes.”
“When a good script is followed by a good director and actors are recruited...
Investors put in money after that.
This is the best script.
Normally, this is what people call a good work.
Failed works are when one of these factors goes wrong and causes a problem.
Even if you first met and it was good...
“...I see.”
“The difference between a good work and a failed work is ultimately this.
Whether these factors are well arranged or not.
After all, it’s something people do.”
Director Park Ji-ha’s answer made Deok-su think a lot.
Even if the conditions were met, problems could arise in the middle.
Or, after starting half-heartedly, strong synergy could emerge from pushing through.
Deok-su calmly organized the tasks Kim Hyeok-jung had given him.
Not long after, Kim Hyeok-jung arrived, and Deok-su showed him the tasks he had completed.
“How is it?
Did you feel anything?”
“It was difficult.
The difference between a good work and a failed work...
“Hahaha.
Exactly.
The ability to look at works isn’t something anyone can achieve.
I still don’t know.
“Kim Hyeok-jung flipped through the pages and suddenly laughed loudly.
“Khhahaha!
Wait a second.
What is this?!
I just have to be good?”
“No matter what you are recruited for, you just need to show something that captures people.
Whether it’s visuals or acting ability...
“Look at this guy?
Hahahaha!”
Kim Hyeok-jung’s laughter showed no sign of stopping.
So far, many students had been given these tasks, but there had been only one person who gave an answer like Kim Deok-su.
But that answer was enough to captivate Kim Hyeok-jung’s heart.
“A.”
“That’s a pity.
I thought you could get an A+...
“The remaining pluses will be given later.
Let’s see how much you’ve improved first.”
The following lesson continued until late at night.
One week later, Deok-su headed to a university in Chungju.
“It’s definitely more comfortable than driving my car, isn’t it?”
Lee Hui-yeong drove a sedan in the mid-size range and pressed the accelerator with a much more relaxed posture.
Deok-su turned on the air conditioner and slid the seat back.
His legs were much more comfortable than when he drove a small car.
The previous small car had been difficult to extend his legs fully.
“It’s not bad.
By the way, what’s the matter with Director Lee Gwang-yong?
He even gave us a car...
“He doesn’t seem like a bad person.
He’s a bit prickly, but he teaches the work well too.”
“Hmm...
Does Director Lee like Hui-yeong?”
“Pfft!”
It was a light joke, but Lee Hui-yeong’s eyes teared up.
“N-no, no, no never...!
Director Lee is a married man.”
“Even married people wander looking for love, you know.”
“Ah, oppa!”
As they chatted, they arrived at a university campus in Chungju.
With vacation almost over, the campus was quiet.
Entering the main building, the staff were busily preparing for the shoot.
“Oh, you’re here?
Go see Yang Director.”
Director Park Ji-ha pointed to a nearby lecture hall.
Entering the lecture hall, Shin Hye-won was receiving makeup.
“I’ll be done soon.
Wait a little.”
Deok-su sat down beside her at a one-piece desk.
“...My boyfriend was really wary of you when he heard you’re doing acting together.
He said if L’Vyu tries to pull anything, he’ll say something right away.
Like he’s ready to fight.”
“You didn’t say I was coming to play today.
I could have shown him a wall of steel.”
“Maybe I’ll show you that I’ll break down all that wall of steel.”
“Sorry...
You’re not my type...
I reject that confession.”
“Ah, what are you saying.”
Deok-su and Shin Hye-won chattered while receiving makeup.
Since the alcohol party, Deok-su and Shin Hye-won had become much closer, sometimes exchanging messages.
While Deok-su was getting makeup, Shin Hye-won sitting next to him muttered.
“...I also shot with Sunhwa Sunbae.
That unnie has an obsession with skin, doesn’t she?”
“She asked me how to manage skin.
Do you know well?”
“We go to the same shop.
Whenever we meet, we talk about skin all the time.
Oh, right.
Where do you go for your shop?”
Until now, he had been going to the shop contracted with the company.
But it wasn’t satisfying enough, and Lee Hui-yeong was looking for another shop.
Deok-su looked attentively at Shin Hye-won’s hair.
“Your hairstyle looks good today.
It’s sophisticated.”
“It’ll get messy anyway...
If it weren’t for Director Park, I wouldn’t have needed to go to the shop.
But since you said it, it seems like you’re teasing.”
“No way.”
“Ah, right.
If you’re looking for a shop, come try mine.
My director is not young, but her skill is good.”
When Deok-su showed curiosity, a knock sounded, and Lighting Director Min Do-seok entered.
“It’s time to start.
Please get ready.”
The two of them stood up and headed to the filming location.