Chapter 62: The Other Side (2)
Chapter 62: The Other Side (2)
“…….”
It was the first day of filming.
Seo-yeon stood frozen, staring at the large pig’s head sitting before her.
“Alright, Seo-yeon. It’s your turn.”
“Ah, yes.”
Seo-yeon joined several other actors in performing a deep bow toward the pig’s head.
It was common to hold a gosa—a traditional ritual—before the start of a movie or drama. It was a ceremony to pray for the project’s success. Since she hadn't experienced this during her time on The Moon that Hides the Sun, Seo-yeon found it quite novel.
A pig’s head…
Looking at the pig’s head, which seemed to be staring back at her with a grin, Seo-yeon felt an indescribable sensation. It reminded her of the creatures she had seen in Play Until the King.
Am I… a coward?
Seo-yeon had never once thought of herself as mentally weak, but the first taste of true terror she had recently experienced had been so shocking that it still lingered in her mind. She would recover with time, but for now, the feeling remained.
“Seo-yeon, you’re feeling okay, right?”
“Yes.”
Seo-yeon nodded at Manager Park Eun-ha’s question. To anyone else, Seo-yeon’s face was calm and expressionless. Even though the pig’s head had startled her, the only sign was a slight tremor in her pupils.
Certainly…
Park Eun-ha watched Seo-yeon intently. Actors really were a different breed—especially the special ones.
Hwang Min-hwa, whom she had managed before, was the same. She possessed an atmosphere different from Seo-yeon’s. A luxurious aura. A presence that overwhelmed others. Perhaps that was why it had been so difficult to speak up in front of her; one couldn't help but feel suppressed.
As for Seo-yeon…
“The shoot might run long, so please go rest in the van.”
Contrary to her cold appearance, she had a very kind personality. She was the exact opposite of Hwang Min-hwa. Or perhaps not the exact opposite. After all, Hwang Min-hwa didn't exactly have a "kind" image to begin with.
I thought Seo-yeon would be similar.
Park Eun-ha had frozen up when she first met Seo-yeon. A face with little expression, making it hard to read her emotions. She was like a doll. And just like Hwang Min-hwa… no, she had an aura that surpassed her.
As if proving that the title of "Genius Child Actor" was no exaggeration, Seo-yeon possessed a presence distinct from Min-hwa’s luxury. It was something overwhelming that commanded one's gaze. Perhaps that was the greatest quality an actor could possess.
Furthermore, her atmosphere shifted instantly the moment she began to act. Park Eun-ha had been amazed when she first saw Hwang Min-hwa up close, but Seo-yeon had something even more.
That’s why even Hwang Min-hwa couldn’t treat her lightly.
Like most actors who had reached the top, Hwang Min-hwa had a sharp eye. she could tell with supernatural accuracy who would make it and who wouldn't. In her eyes, Seo-yeon had clearly passed the test. That was why she had acted like a kind older sister, hiding her true self.
“It’s fine. I’ll stay here and watch. Where would a manager go?”
“Mmm, I think it would be okay if you did, though.”
“Just focus on your acting.”
Park Eun-ha smiled as she spoke. The Chaser was Seo-yeon’s first movie. And its release date overlapped with a movie starring Hwang Min-hwa: Utopia.
Just as the GH Group was sharpening its blades for The Chaser, Utopia was also a film backed by massive corporate capital. In terms of sheer budget, Utopia likely had the upper hand, as it involved foreign investment as well. While The Chaser had the advantage in terms of the director’s prestige, Utopia boasted a higher number of top-tier stars.
The Chaser was by no means a small production, but Utopia was a gargantuan blockbuster.
Even so…
Watching Seo-yeon warm up, Park Eun-ha prayed fervently. She wanted Seo-yeon to crush Hwang Min-hwa. She believed she could.
*
“Today’s shoot is the scene where Detective Im Seung-cheol chases Cha Seo-ah after accidentally spotting the killer fleeing.”
The scene was Scene #30. It took place at night during a patrol, following the initial encounter between Cha Seo-ah and the detectives at the bus stop. It was the first time the detective would come face-to-face with the killer, Cha Seo-ah.
He doesn’t film in chronological order.
Upon hearing it was Scene #30, Seo-yeon checked her physical condition. She hadn't expected to be doing a sprint on the very first day.
Every director had a different style. Director Gong Jeong-tae of The Moon that Hides the Sun preferred filming scenes in order. However, Bae Jin-hwan of The Chaser chose scenes based on the day’s conditions—or he preferred to get the most physically demanding scenes out of the way first. Today was likely the latter.
“Are you okay, Seo-yeon? Are you sure you don’t need a stunt double?”
“I’m fine.”
Generally, actresses used doubles for physically demanding scenes—not just for action, but to ensure the shot looked aesthetically pleasing. This was especially true for chase scenes where speed was crucial. Since Cha Seo-ah often wore outfits that hid her identity, like hoodies or raincoats, it was an easy environment to use a double.
“Mmm, alright. If it gets too hard, we’ll swap out at any time.”
“Yes.”
In truth, today’s running wasn't anything extraordinary. It was the aftermath of the fourth murder committed by Cha Seo-ah. Detective Im Seung-cheol, who had been pursuing the case, happens upon Cha Seo-ah just as she is leaving the scene.
“Boy, they’re filming something tough right from the start.”
“Isn’t it better to do the hard stuff first so it gets easier later?”
The voices of staff members, some speaking in dialects, could be heard.
She’s in for a rough time.
A staff member who knew Director Bae Jin-hwan’s style well clicked his tongue while looking at Seo-yeon. The director was a notorious perfectionist. He had a specific vision for every scene, and the footage had to match it perfectly. Because of this, even actors who initially insisted on doing their own stunts often gave up halfway through.
If physical acting is clumsy, the scene is better off without it. A killer who can’t even run properly? There was no way Bae Jin-hwan would accept that. To make matters worse, it was a late-night shoot. While the timing was convenient for Seo-yeon because of school, it was exhausting for the rest of the crew.
If we’re not careful, we’ll be here all night.
This wasn't a matter of acting talent. They felt it would be better to just leave it to a professional stunt double. But since the actress wanted to do it herself, what could they do?
“Get the slate ready.”
The youngest member of the production crew held the slate used to mark the movie scenes. It was a sign that filming was about to begin. The assistant director called for everyone to stand by.
Sound, camera. Each department signaled they were ready.
Director Bae Jin-hwan scanned the alleyway that served as the set. There were two actors in this scene: Ju Seo-yeon as Cha Seo-ah, and Kim Dae-heon as Detective Im Seung-cheol.
Finally.
Director Bae Jin-hwan swallowed hard as he looked at the two actors. Even directors got nervous. Especially since the GH Group had given him absolute authority over this project. He had been allowed to cast the actors he wanted—not just those with the best careers or the highest price tags.
Kim Dae-heon was a talented actor, but he didn't have much experience in lead roles. He was mostly known for playing villains or generals in historical dramas. But Bae Jin-hwan believed his acting range was much broader than that. He was an actor with immense potential. It was the director's job to bring that out.
And then, there’s Ju Seo-yeon.
Her career consisted entirely of child acting. To be honest, there had been some pushback from the production team when he was given free rein. They questioned if it was wise to give such a heavy role to an actress with only two credits to her name. No matter how much her talent was recognized, the higher-ups spoke in numbers. She had only appeared in three episodes of a hit drama. Her play had been a massive success, but the executives only scoffed at that.
Revenue. How much money she could bring in—that was all they cared about. Ridiculously enough, they only let it slide because of the impact Looking at the Past and Memories had made. Ultimately, to those who cared about mainstream broadcast and CFs, Seo-yeon was nothing more than an unscratched lottery ticket.
Yes, a lottery ticket.
It sounded nice, but lottery tickets rarely hit the jackpot. It’s great if you win, but the probability of it being a dud is much higher.
But I trust my eyes.
He trusted the acting he saw from Hong Jeong-hee in Close Your Eyes. He trusted the acting Seo-yeon showed during the script reading. That flash of brilliance.
“Action!!”
S# 30.
The first chase scene.
The Chaser.
The scene that would define that title more intensely than anything else. Filming began under the moonlight of the deep night.
Clatter!!
The sound of a pile of trash collapsing next to a telephone pole rang out. Detective Im Seung-cheol, who had been chasing the recent string of murders, spun around urgently.
「Where is it? Where the hell is it?」
He looked down at his old cell phone. He checked the time the report had come in. It had been a call to the police station late at night. A terrified voice saying someone seemed to have entered the house. A scream had erupted before the caller could even finish the address.
Without even a moment to wake his sleeping colleagues, Im Seung-cheol had bolted out alone. The dark alleyway. The address the victim had given over the phone was definitely in this vicinity. Mangwon-ro 49-beon-gil. Im Seung-cheol ran blindly through the endless rows of houses.
It had already been ten minutes since the report. He might be too late. He shook his head to drive the thought away.
And then, as he turned a corner for what felt like the hundredth time…
「……」
He came face-to-face with someone in a yellow raincoat. Someone wearing a raincoat even though it wasn't raining. A small frame. It was hard to tell the gender. A presence that seemed to swallow the darkness itself.
Im Seung-cheol’s eyes widened. He could see red blood soaking the yellow raincoat. Whose blood it was went without saying.
「You… you bastard!!」
With a roar that echoed through the alley, Im Seung-cheol charged at the culprit. As he lunged forward, leaping over the trash scattered on the ground, the culprit turned to run. Having already disposed of the weapon and seeing the obvious size difference, the culprit chose flight over a fight.
And then.
“……?”
They vanished in an instant.
Detective Im Seung-cheol—no, Kim Dae-heon—stopped in his tracks.
Wait, how is she that fast?
Ah, so that’s why they haven’t caught her yet. The thought actually crossed his mind because of how fast she ran.
“Cut! Cut, cut, cut!!”
Director Bae Jin-hwan shouted hastily. He called out to Seo-yeon, who had already zipped out of the alley.
“Seo-yeon!”
“Yes?”
“Um… please run a little slower.”
It was right for a killer to flee quickly. But there were limits.
“Seo-yeon, were you a track athlete?”
“Ah, no.”
Seo-yeon denied it, but she was fast enough to make people wonder. The staff all thought the same thing: There’s a reason she didn’t want a double.
“Alright, let’s coordinate the timing this time!”
Bae Jin-hwan shouted loudly, clapping his hands.
The retake began. Everyone was tense after witnessing that shocking sprint.
“Wow, that’s a great shot.”
“This is it. The timing is perfect.”
S# 30.
The filming concluded amidst praise from everyone. Instead of pulling an all-nighter, it was over in a flash.
The first chase scene, the symbol of The Chaser. A smile played on Bae Jin-hwan’s lips at the successful start.