Chapter 140: Understanding (2)
Chapter 140: Understanding (2)
If an actor cannot immerse themselves in a role, what should they do?
Acting is a holistic endeavor.
A good performance emerges only when a balance is struck between the external and the internal, layered with the actor’s technical skill. In truth, as is often the case with art, no single element is enough to achieve proper expression.
Therefore, the inability to understand a character was a fatal flaw. However...
"It’s our first day of filming, right? Everyone, don't be nervous. Let’s keep things moving smoothly!"
Director Kim Il-su spoke casually, but he was inwardly uneasy. He, too, had heard the rumors regarding the restructuring of the Drama Department.
If we lose ground here, things won't look good.
It could become a setback for Sky Garden, or it could create problems for Kim Il-su’s own career. Thus, he was determined. He had to produce the highest quality drama possible. After all, KMB wasn't the only broadcasting station out there, was it?
"Today’s scene involves Lee Yu-ju’s arrival at 'Sky Garden.' In other words, our young actors need to step up."
The story begins from the perspective of the adults. An explanation of the character Lee Yu-ju. What they need to get from her. The ulterior motives of the adults targeting her, and the children caught in the crossfire.
"Lee Yu-ju is the protagonist, but the rest of the kids need to play their parts as well."
In a way, it was similar to Dream Future, in that every single role carried the weight of a lead. Of course, they weren't quite as central as the leads in Dream Future. If they were, the focus might become scattered. Instead, the spotlight was primarily on three individuals.
Among the students, it was Lee Yu-ju and Lee Min-hyuk, the eldest son of Lee Hyuk-soo’s family. Among the adults, it was Gil Su-jin, the matriarch of the Lee Hyuk-soo household.
The flow of the story centered largely around these three.
Today’s shoot was for Episode 1. Naturally, the narrative had to unfold around them to ensure the audience could immerse themselves in their journey.
Okay. I can do this.
Kim Hyun-seok, playing the role of the eldest son, Lee Min-hyuk, tried to calm his racing heart. He was confident in his acting, but he couldn't help the nerves. Taking a deep breath, he scanned the other actors.
There were particularly many young actors on set today. It was only natural. The place where Lee Yu-ju first appears is a school, so a large number of student actors was a necessity.
I heard she doesn't get nervous easily, but...
Kim Hyun-seok glanced at Seo-yeon. Her aura was strangely different from usual. Unlike the other young actors who were visibly tense, her face was exceptionally composed.
That bothered him, yet he couldn't bring himself to say anything. The coin still tucked in Kim Hyun-seok’s pocket felt heavy, its presence a vivid reminder of their previous encounter.
"Alright, then. Let’s begin filming."
The sound of cameras moving echoed from all sides. As everyone synchronized for the "OK" signals, the atmosphere on set grew charged with anticipation.
Watching this, Min Se-hee clasped her hands tightly. To a casual observer, it might have looked like she was praying. In reality, she was that desperate.
Please, let it turn out the way I envisioned.
There were times when the feel of the actual drama differed from the script. That wasn't the actors' fault; it was entirely on the writer. It was her own failing for not considering how the written word would translate into a visual scene.
Everyone had praised the script, calling it brilliant. Even Director Kim Il-su had expressed confidence in bringing it to life, but...
I’m still anxious.
You have to stay strong. That was something Park Jung-woo often told her. Even though the script wasn't fully finished yet, she found herself wavering from the very first episode. The broadcast would begin once the first four episodes were filmed.
"Alright, then. Action!!"
With the director’s shout and the snap of the slate, filming officially began.
*
"Sky Garden," an enclave for the upper class.
With faces as perfect as a painting and families that seemed leisurely and harmonious, they met regularly to exchange information and foster friendships. However, that was merely the surface. In truth, they watched each other more closely than anyone, harboring a fierce sense of rivalry.
As they displayed their amicable fronts, the key figures of "Sky Garden" were introduced through the eyes of Gil Su-jin, the mistress of the Lee Hyuk-soo household.
Eventually, when the friendly facade dropped...
In the quiet of their private space, Gil Su-jin spoke in a calm voice.
"I’ve picked up some information."
At those words, her husband Lee Hyuk-soo’s gaze shifted. His eyes were silent and still.
"Lee Yu-ju."
"Who is that?"
"The younger sister of the student who topped the Baek-yeon Medical School entrance exams last year."
"You’re terrifying. How did you find out her name?"
"Her father is an entrance exam coordinator. He was bragging about it quite loudly."
Entrance exam coordinator.
The moment he heard that title, Lee Hyuk-soo’s eyes narrowed. Something had come to his mind as well.
"Ah, that man. I remember now. Was it at that event you attended recently?"
"Yes. I thought he was a has-been, but it seems he was preparing quite a surprise."
The top student of Baek-yeon Medical School. The son of a long-forgotten coordinator had made it there. Was there any better marketing tool? Especially considering the man’s meager earnings, which meant he couldn't have provided proper support.
"Every parent there was targeting him. They wanted to know what method he used. So, he happily went on and on, bragging about his children."
He mentioned that his daughter would be enrolling in Taeyang High School this year. He claimed to have taught her all his methods. His words carried the absolute certainty that she would follow in her brother’s footsteps.
"It means she’s a child who has perfectly mastered the portfolio of a Baek-yeon Medical School top student."
"Is that even possible?"
"Her brother did it, didn't he? And perfectly at that."
He was said to be a textbook model student. From his GPA to every possible extra credit, he missed nothing. From volunteer work to serving as student council president—the result was his top placement at Baek-yeon Medical School.
"I told Min-seo. Since they’re both girls, she needs to get as close to her as possible."
The twins. For their daughter, who was somewhat lacking, this was an absolute necessity.
"If the daughter is lacking, the parents have to design her life for her, don't they?"
They had to secure that girl, no matter what. It didn't matter if her family was beneath them. Her own children were what mattered most.
And so, the scene transitioned to the school.
"Lee Yu-ju, is it?"
A male student muttered to himself. It was Lee Min-hyuk, the eldest son of the Lee Hyuk-soo family and Lee Min-seo’s older brother. Along with his sister, he scanned the crowd attending the entrance ceremony.
Which of them was Lee Yu-ju?
"How are we supposed to find her without even a photo?"
His twin sister, Min-seo, grumbled. Unlike Min-hyuk, she was the one who had been told to become friends with her. But how was she supposed to do that without knowing her face? What if they were in different classes? Was she supposed to go looking for her?
"They said we’d recognize her instantly."
"Does that even make sense? Why do we have to care about a girl like that anyway? Her parents are just failed entrance exam coordinators, right?"
"They’re not failed anymore. Not since their son got into Baek-yeon Medical School as the top student."
"Well, that’s true, but... Hmph, I’m not even that interested in medical school— Ow, okay, I get it."
Min-seo flinched under Min-hyuk’s cold gaze. Unlike the academically gifted Min-hyuk, Min-seo had many shortcomings. That was why Gil Su-jin doted on her more.
"Do you want to be a failure? Are you a child?"
"I am a child, so what?"
Min-seo grumbled, peeking at his reaction. To Min-hyuk, his twin sister just seemed immature.
What I want to do.
He had never even considered such a thing. When a successful life was waiting for him, why bother taking a different path? It was a luxury to worry about such things. What was so hard about walking the path his parents had paved for him?
"You just need to get close to her. Since she’s from a poor family, she’ll probably spill everything if you act nice."
"Are they really that poor?"
"I heard a rumor they even put their house up for sale."
"R-really? Then how did she get into Taeyang High?"
"With her grades."
It was at that moment, as the two were talking. Another group of high school students entered the auditorium where the entrance ceremony was being held. As the students began to fill the empty rows, a small stir was felt.
"What is it?"
They could feel people’s gazes shifting strangely. Naturally, the siblings' eyes followed. They looked toward the source of the commotion.
"!!"
There stood a girl clad in black. Yes, pitch black. It wasn't just a comment on her appearance. It was her presence. As if she were swallowing the light, a human being imbued with a silent darkness stood there.
They had been told they would know her at a glance. And just as said, they had no choice but to recognize her instantly.
A girl who looked ordinary—middle class, or perhaps even less. Yet, there was an extraordinary aura that radiated from her with every step she took.
Ah.
Lee Min-hyuk—no, the actor playing Lee Min-hyuk, Kim Hyun-seok—momentarily lost his words. He knew he had a line, but it wouldn't come out. It was likely the same for the actress playing Min-seo beside him. Min-seo, who was supposed to speak with exaggerated fuss, couldn't utter a single word.
The stir in the room wasn't just acting. Even though she was surrounded by many students and actors, she possessed a presence that shone through. Anyone watching this scene on screen would be forced to realize: That is the protagonist.
Then, her eyes met Lee Yu-ju’s. It was then that Yu-ju’s serene expression changed. Her eyes curved, and a twisted smile played on her lips.
A sneer.
The loathing in those eyes flew like an arrow, piercing through Kim Hyun-seok.
"Aren't you going to say your line?"
"Ah."
At her sarcastic remark, Kim Hyun-seok gave a stupid response. He had to say his line, but he couldn't remember it at all.
"Cut, cut, cut! Let’s do it again. Again!"
At Director Kim Il-su’s shout, the actors finally snapped out of it. He could feel everyone exhaling the breath they had been holding.
Is she really a high school student?
I heard she had a great personality, though.
Is she actually a delinquent?
Everyone looked at Seo-yeon with such thoughts. Her face was twisted with immense dissatisfaction. The sneer on her lips had yet to fade. Whenever those chillingly curved eyes turned toward them, they instinctively looked down.
The atmosphere was completely different from the script reading.
What’s with her? Why is she like that?
Is that what they call method acting or whatever?
They grumbled to themselves, but no one spoke aloud. Having been completely overwhelmed by the scene, they had no choice but to shrink back in silence.
"..."
Seo-yeon read the thoughts of the other actors. She almost let her focus slip for a moment, but she forced herself to stop.
I have to keep hold of the emotion for now.
Lee Yu-ju. To become accustomed to a character so different from herself, Seo-yeon recalled what Gil Da-hyeon, the class president she had studied with, had told her.
"If understanding is difficult, just memorize the solution process as it is."
Da-hyeon had smiled as she said that.
"You have a good memory, Seo-yeon. If you perfectly memorize the formula, you’ll be able to do it naturally without even thinking about it."
Memorization. Yes, it was just as she said. In fact, Seo-yeon had done something similar once before.
When she first decided to return to acting and participated in the play as the stalker 'Hong Jeong-hee.' She had tried to understand the character's emotions but couldn't fully grasp them, so she mimicked Pyo Ji-woo instead. By adding her own acting to that, she had created her own version of Hong Jeong-hee. In a sense, she had followed the exact same method Pyo Ji-woo used to solve the problem.
This time is the same.
There was no need to overthink it. It was just that it wasn't coming as easily as before. Seo-yeon had watched movies and dramas she could reference and etched them into her mind. Then, holding onto those emotions, she had come to the set.
Perfectly memorizing the character of Lee Yu-ju.
The sharp gaze. The twisted mouth. The atmosphere of loathing for everything around her made the other actors lose their nerve.
Watching this, Kim Hyun-seok bit his lip. It was obvious how the scene must have looked.
I probably wasn't even visible.
He felt relieved that he wasn't even in the same shot. That was how bad it was. The actors who were caught in the same shot as Seo-yeon—how many people would even remember their faces when they saw it on TV? They wouldn't even know they were there. Everyone would be focused entirely on the character of Lee Yu-ju.
It was a truly shocking debut scene.
And I even caused an NG.
Kim Hyun-seok gnawed on his lower lip. He felt like the coin in his pocket. A completely bent, useless coin. Seo-yeon’s gaze seemed to mock his very existence. No, she was mocking him.
It felt as if she were saying, You talked so much, and that’s all you’ve got?
Perhaps because of that, filming didn't wrap up until several hours later. Kim Hyun-seok had caused several NGs.
And so, that evening.
"..."
After returning from the shoot, Seo-yeon lay on her bed and thought.
I went too far.
Staying in character from the moment she left home had severe side effects. She recalled herself scattering sneers and contempt in every direction.
"..."
The acting was as satisfying as she had hoped, but... how should she put it? She felt embarrassed. That feeling was especially strong when she thought about Kim Hyun-seok. Recalling him trembling miserably after several NGs made Seo-yeon cringe. Because she remembered herself sneering at him every single time.
This is... a bit too much.
Seo-yeon kicked her blankets repeatedly. And then...
"Oh my, sweetie. Where did the blanket go?"
"It... it burst."
"Oh dear, it burst?"
"Yes... yes."
Seo-yeon began to gather the cotton stuffing from the burst blanket, her face flushed bright red with embarrassment.
*
Anyway, while in the middle of filming Episode 1 of Sky Garden...
There was a short gap before the next shoot for Hyper Action. It was a rare break in Seo-yeon’s schedule.
"An interview?"
—Yes, is your schedule okay?
The call was from Cha Na-hee. It was regarding Dream Future.
—Dream Future is being exported to Japan this time. So, it seems they want to conduct some interviews along with it.
It wasn't that she would be interviewed by Japanese reporters specifically. It was a domestic interview.
—They say it’ll be conducted with a 'communicating with fans' kind of vibe.
"I’m fine with that."
—Really? Oh, and by the way.
Is there something else besides the interview? Seo-yeon listened intently.
—One of the PDs I know is interested in you, Seo-yeon. A variety show PD.
Variety! Seo-yeon was very interested. One way or another, she enjoyed filming variety shows. Most of them involved active tasks, and she got to learn all sorts of things.
—By any chance, do you like observational variety shows?
At those words, Seo-yeon couldn't help but freeze.