Chapter 5: The First Shoot (1)
Chapter 5: The First Shoot (1)
‘Hmm.’
I thought to myself, crossing my arms and closing my eyes tightly.
‘I’m nervous.’
Just because my gender had changed didn't mean I’d stopped being human.
Scary things were still scary, and tense situations still made me nervous.
‘I wasn't like this during the audition.’
To be honest, I had expected to fail the audition.
Maybe the mindset of "let's just do this for the experience" had actually worked in my favor.
“Oh my, Seo-yeon, are you nervous?”
“No, I’m not.”
“You totally are.”
“I said I’m not.”
At times like this, the ever-perceptive Sua would see right through me and point it out.
When I glared at her with a pout, Sua pulled me into a tight hug against her large chest.
Hmph, whatever. Fine.
“This must be the studio. Let’s go in.”
At the words of my father, Ju Young-bin, I nodded.
I couldn't quite gauge the size of the studio.
It was my first time in a place like this.
“Ah, you’re here.”
As we stepped inside, Jo Min-tae, the CF director, greeted us as if he’d been waiting.
While my mom and dad shared a brief conversation with him, I took the opportunity to look around the studio.
‘This is cool.’
Reflectors, cameras, and various props were scattered throughout the rectangular space.
The set was quite charming, likely decorated in advance by the staff.
It felt completely different from the audition hall, which had just been a somewhat large, empty room.
It felt much more... professional. That was the immediate impression.
“Hello.”
“Ah, so you’re the famous Ju Seo-yeon. I’m looking forward to your acting today.”
I trotted around, giving "belly-button bows" to the staff members.
A child’s belly-button bow is a powerful weapon.
In my past life, whenever my nieces or nephews did it to me, I’d find myself mindlessly opening my wallet.
Since a girl as cute as me was doing it, it was only natural for the staff’s expressions to soften.
‘Reputation management is important.’
Who knows? I might become a successful VTuber and end up on a broadcast later.
It was important to prepare for any eventuality.
“Oh my, how cute.”
“If only my daughter were even half as cute as her...”
Sure enough, sighs of adoration followed my bows.
‘Huh?’
As I was making my rounds, one woman caught my eye.
She was sitting on a white plastic chair, looking anxious and lost in thought.
‘Kim Jung-ha.’
The Kim Jung-ha I knew was a "ten-million-viewer" actress.
Seeing her "pre-success" face like this felt incredibly strange.
“Hello, Actress Kim Jung-ha.”
When I gave her a belly-button bow, I saw her eyes widen.
“Oh, are... are you the child actor for this CF?”
“Yes, that’s right. My name is Ju Seo-yeon.”
The term "child actor" felt strangely awkward, but I accepted it for now.
“Wow, really... some people are just born different.”
“Pardon?”
“...No, it’s nothing.”
Kim Jung-ha shriveled back into herself.
Huddled in her plastic chair as if she didn't want to speak anymore, she was a completely different person from what I had imagined.
‘This person filmed that CF?’
The Kim Jung-ha I knew always showed a bright and cheerful side on every broadcast.
But the Kim Jung-ha in front of me now was—it’s a bit much to say, but—a hikikomori who looked like she barely managed to step outside, the literal incarnation of Bocchi.
‘Will we be able to build any chemistry?’
I was already nervous enough, and now Kim Jung-ha was like this.
I figured it was best to give up on the idea of leaning on a senior’s expertise.
“Jung-ha! Seo-yeon!”
Another staff member beckoned us over.
“We’re about to start filming. You’ve both memorized the script, right?”
At the mention of the script, I remembered the one I’d left in the car.
The commercial script sent by mail after the audition results came out was very different from what I’d expected.
It wasn't a drama or movie script packed with lines. How should I put it?
It was more like a webtoon.
Drawings and dialogue were laid out together, illustrating the scene's concept and direction more directly.
‘So it’s different from regular acting.’
They say a CF director needs a keen aesthetic sense.
Direction.
They have to create images that resonate with people both visually and auditorily.
I didn't understand what that meant at first, but I realized it the moment I saw the script.
‘I should pick up some tips for when I become a VTuber later.’
A good aesthetic sense would be helpful in many ways.
Moreover, Jo Min-tae wouldn't just stay a CF director; he would later become a massive success as a film director.
If I was considering a guest appearance in the future, it was important to make a strong impression here.
“Alright, let’s start filming!”
At Jo Min-tae’s command, dozens of people sprang into action.
Even for a low-budget commercial that didn't cost much, it required this many people.
Flash!
The lights flickered on all at once, and the staff moved busily, adjusting the reflectors.
Light sources are incredibly important in a CF.
Both the props and the actors need to look radiant.
“Seo-yeon, you must have nerves of steel. You don't look nervous at all.”
Watching the commotion, Jo Min-tae spoke with a smile.
Unlike at the audition, he definitely felt like a "Director" now.
“O-of course.”
I tried to sound nonchalant, but I must have trembled a bit, as I heard my mom and dad laughing while they watched.
‘I’ll have to have a word with them later.’
Regardless, aside from that slight tremor in my voice, my invincible poker face remained intact.
I stood tall with my arms crossed, and Actress Kim Jung-ha stood beside me, slightly hunched.
“We’ll start with the first storyboard. Cue!”
The first storyboard.
It was the first scene from the script I’d seen.
“And... action!”
With Jo Min-tae’s shout, the filming began.
*
Kim Jung-ha had thought it from the moment she first saw Seo-yeon.
Ah, she’s a natural-born actress.
Someone the heavens destined to be an actress from birth.
She felt it instinctively.
And when the filming actually began, Jung-ha felt it even more clearly.
She witnessed a flower instantly blooming on the face of a child who had been so expressionless just moments ago.
The soy milk in the girl's hand looked as sweet as nectar, the drink of the gods.
But more importantly, it wasn't just the atmosphere.
「Unnie, is this milk? Or soy milk?」
The child speaking with a bright smile wasn't Seo-yeon.
It was as if the child from the script had leaped into reality.
‘Method acting.’
It seemed impossible, but Jung-ha instinctively thought of that term.
It was as if she had become a completely different person, not Seo-yeon.
If this wasn't method acting, what was?
Was it because of Seo-yeon’s performance?
Kim Jung-ha found herself desperately trying to keep up with the girl's lead.
“Hmm.”
Watching them, Jo Min-tae’s mouth twisted.
It was a sign of dissatisfaction.
“Cut, cut. Let’s do it again. Jung-ha, please be a bit more natural.”
“Yes, yes.”
Usually, in filming, the child actor’s performance is the problem.
But right now, she was the problem.
‘I’m not confident with static acting.’
An actress shouldn't be picky, but at least for the current Kim Jung-ha, that was the case.
‘Especially with a monster of a child like that.’
Her confidence plummeted further.
Was she really not cut out to be an actress?
“Cut! Again!”
They filmed the first storyboard several more times, but the situation didn't improve.
The atmosphere on set grew heavy, and Jo Min-tae’s brow furrowed deeper.
‘I feel bloated.’
Even the soy milk she’d been sipping felt like it was becoming too much.
No, the bloating probably wasn't just because of the soy milk.
“Um, Director.”
Then, Seo-yeon, who had been acting silently, raised her hand.
“I liked the second storyboard better.”
At Seo-yeon’s innocent remark, the surrounding staff burst into laughter.
Usually, an actor never speaks up like that first.
Yet, they laughed for one reason.
Because she was still a child.
And because Seo-yeon had shown such excellent acting so far, they were willing to let it slide with a laugh.
“Ah, the second storyboard?”
At Seo-yeon’s suggestion, Jo Min-tae looked over the second storyboard.
As someone who wanted to create a more domestic, quiet atmosphere, it was a storyboard he hadn't been particularly fond of.
‘The concept is too bubbly.’
He glanced at Jung-ha.
‘Would that be too difficult?’
Static acting has its challenges.
Bubbly acting has its own.
If static acting goes wrong, it becomes bland, like it was now.
If bubbly acting goes wrong, it becomes extremely childish.
If Kim Jung-ha couldn't even handle static acting, then bubbly acting...
“Well, let’s give it a try.”
It didn't seem like they’d make any progress continuing with the first storyboard anyway.
The biggest obstacle in food commercials is actually consuming the food.
At least with soy milk, they could pretend to drink, but both Jung-ha and Seo-yeon said it was easier to bring out the emotions if they actually drank it.
As filming began again...
“Oh?”
“This is actually good.”
Surprise filled the eyes of the staff.
Once the acting shifted to a more active style, Kim Jung-ha began to come alive in a startling way.
With the bubbly concept, the gloom that had hung over her acting vanished.
In fact, her energy soared as if it were hitting the ceiling.
‘And that kid is matching her perfectly.’
In this commercial, Jung-ha and Seo-yeon were an older and younger sister.
A hyperactive older sister and a cheerful younger sister.
Seo-yeon’s acting was brilliant here as well.
She was the very definition of a vivacious younger sister.
‘This is it.’
Unlike the staff, who were merely impressed, Jo Min-tae felt goosebumps.
Because the acting she was doing now was identical to the performance Seo-yeon had shown at the audition.
‘How can it be so exactly the same?’
Did that even make sense?
It wasn't like the script had been leaked.
Because he was dazed by the performance, he even forgot to call out "cut."
“Ah, sorry. Cut, cut, cut! That was great. This will work!”
As if to make up for all the previous struggle, they got an "OK" in a single take.
Kim Jung-ha, wiping the sweat from her forehead, couldn't believe it.
‘In one take? Really?’
She was confident in bubbly acting, so she had acted desperately to save the situation.
But she never expected an "OK" on the first try.
‘Did this kid... know this would happen?’
It was startling that Seo-yeon had been the one to suggest the second storyboard.
‘I-it must be a coincidence, right?’
If she had planned this, it was almost terrifying.
How long had she even known her?
“Alright, let’s check the footage. Jung-ha, Seo-yeon, come over here.”
Jung-ha walked over to the camera with Seo-yeon.
On the small rectangular screen, the video they had just filmed began to play.
「Unnie, look, soy milk!」
The video started with Seo-yeon’s cheerful shout.
Watching it, the staff gave short exclamations of praise, while Jung-ha blinked blankly.
‘Wow, it’s so clean.’
Was filming always this easy?
With that thought, Jung-ha stole a glance at Jo Min-tae’s face.
‘Huh?’
Jo Min-tae’s expression was somehow twisted into a frown.
And it wasn't just him.
Seo-yeon also looked lost in thought.
“Strange. This is definitely quite good, but...”
Jo Min-tae replayed the video several times, examining it.
Kim Jung-ha’s acting was flawless.
Seo-yeon’s acting was also very good.
Was it?
Was this actually okay?
“I think we should film it again.”
Before Jo Min-tae could speak, Seo-yeon opened her mouth first.
It was Seo-yeon’s first time filming a CF.
And it was her first time watching raw footage like this.
But as long as she had eyes, she could tell if something was off.
Especially if it was her own fault.
“I didn't do a good job.”
Jung-ha couldn't understand Seo-yeon’s words.
What could possibly have been wrong with that take...?
‘Ah.’
Only then did she realize.
The reason why Seo-yeon said they should film it again.