Chapter 69: Acting with Acting (2)
Chapter 69: Acting with Acting (2)
A few days after deciding to play the ghost for the school festival.
Seo-yeon was demonstrating her action acting at Cheonghong Action School.
"Now, listen. Cha Seo-ah isn't a martial artist. If you fight with such disciplined movements, it looks cool, but there’s a sense of dissonance. Dissonance!!"
Professor Kim Hong-baek was putting Seo-yeon through rigorous action training.
It was to the point where the other aspiring stuntmen, who had initially looked down on her, were now staring in awe.
However, Professor Kim Hong-baek was staring in awe for a different reason.
I’ve pushed her this hard, and I’ve yet to see her look even slightly exhausted.
Still, unlike at the beginning, Seo-yeon was now wiping away sweat.
Her breathing, however, remained calm.
Her chest rose and fell slightly, but that was it.
For someone who had been performing action sequences for several hours, she was remarkably energetic.
"Since it seems like you don't have a stunt double, I'll play the role of Detective Im Seung-cheol this time."
Professor Kim Hong-baek spoke as if he felt Cha Seo-ah’s action sequences were finally taking shape.
"Pardon?"
"Why the surprised look?"
"Oh, it's nothing."
Ah, right. Action acting requires coordinating with a partner.
Seo-yeon realized this anew.
Clenching and unclenching her fists, Seo-yeon hesitated.
It’ll be... okay, right?
This body, which had possessed the strength of an adult male since she was six, had now become practically a human weapon. The "super soldier" joke she used to make was now bordering on reality.
But this is exactly why I’m learning this.
Before coordinating with the actor Kim Dae-heon, it seemed wise to practice with a martial arts master like Professor Kim Hong-baek.
"Then, let's begin."
The scene they were about to practice was the final highlight of The Chaser.
The desperate brawl between Detective Im Seung-cheol and Cha Seo-ah.
Scene #115.
"First, try to act as much like Cha Seo-ah as possible."
"As much as possible?"
"I need to see movements infused with emotion."
"……Understood."
Seo-yeon nodded and calmly centered her emotions.
Then, she took a breath.
And another.
The moment she found the emotion and opened her eyes—
Thud!!
Professor Kim Hong-baek lunged at her.
Normally, there would be lines for Detective Im Seung-cheol, but there were none now.
However.
The slightly clumsy yet fast and light footsteps of Detective Im Seung-cheol caught her eye.
They were almost identical to Kim Dae-heon’s.
A stuntman.
And a body double.
Originally, Professor Kim Hong-baek was South Korea’s top body double and stuntman.
His movements, recreating Kim Dae-heon’s style, proved exactly that.
Naturally, the eyes of the trainees watching them converged all at once.
A chance to see Professor Kim Hong-baek’s action acting was rare.
At the same time, they were curious about what kind of action an actress with such iron-like stamina would display.
And then.
Cha Seo-ah is not a martial artist.
Recalling Professor Kim Hong-baek’s words, she moved her body.
Not techniques honed for combat, but the instinctive aggression of a human being.
As Cha Seo-ah, she displayed the movements of a human who felt no fear.
Whoosh!!
She lightly dodged Professor Kim Hong-baek’s hand.
It was a move they had already signaled.
And then, Seo-yeon’s fist followed.
Vrrrrooom!!
Cutting through the air, it grazed Professor Kim Hong-baek’s cheek.
"Wait."
"Yes?"
Professor Kim Hong-baek touched his cheek.
Even though they had coordinated the dodge, he had been cut.
"……."
Hmm.
Professor Kim Hong-baek spoke.
"Let's take it a bit easier."
"Oh, yes."
"You know we're coordinating, not actually trying to hit the opponent, right?"
"I-I did miss on purpose just now. ……Probably."
"Is that so?"
For a "miss," it had come straight for his face.
It seemed that because she was so immersed in Cha Seo-ah’s emotions, she hadn't been able to control her strength properly.
If Kim Dae-heon had taken that, he would’ve been out in one hit.
The thought suddenly occurred to him.
He felt incredibly relieved that they were practicing in advance.
"I heard the highlight scene is being filmed soon. It's a good thing we're doing this now."
"Pardon?"
Seo-yeon, who had been staring at her own fist, looked up at Professor Kim Hong-baek with wide eyes.
The highlight scene was being filmed soon?
It was definitely scheduled for much later.
"Oh, you haven't heard? Director Bae Jin-hwan said something came up. He asked for help starting with the highlight scene."
"Ah."
So that was why they were practicing this scene today instead of the chase sequence.
Seo-yeon finally understood.
Director Bae Jin-hwan probably assumed Professor Kim Hong-baek would tell her.
"So, let's do this properly."
"Yes, sir."
Seeing Seo-yeon burning with motivation, Professor Kim Hong-baek touched his cheek again.
"……Let me just put some ointment on first."
If he didn't stay sharp, it might end with more than just a simple cut.
Professor Kim Hong-baek was certain of it.
*
A few days later, the scheduled filming for The Chaser began.
The location was a convenience store.
"We're filming all the convenience store scenes today."
The filming of The Chaser was going smoothly overall.
At this rate, a release by the end of this year or early next year at the latest was almost certain.
They had even said that a PV was already in production using the footage captured so far.
"So we might finish a bit late today. We have three scenes to shoot. Three."
Director Bae Jin-hwan addressed the staff.
Originally, he had planned to split the convenience store scenes over several days.
After all, the convenience store was the setting for the film's highlight.
He had intended to film it toward the end to help maintain the emotional flow.
However.
"The convenience store owner said they have something coming up."
"Ah, well, then there's no helping it."
Since they were borrowing the location after asking for the owner's understanding, it was unavoidable.
Of course, they had paid a fair fee. In fact, they had paid a bit extra.
The area had a lot of foot traffic, and if bad rumors started spreading in a place like this, it would negatively impact the movie.
Bae Jin-hwan was someone who cared deeply about reputation and rumors.
Though the real disaster was elsewhere.
Seo-yeon thought as she stared at Director Bae Jin-hwan.
In the past, The Chaser had been a literal string of disasters.
The peak of which was Pyo Ji-woo’s club rampage and attempted murder.
The release was pushed back, the number of screens was reduced, and the film was buried under all sorts of infamy.
This time, since Seo-yeon had taken the role of Cha Seo-ah, that wouldn't happen, but the director was unlucky in many ways.
"Ah, Seo-yeon."
As she was staring at him, Bae Jin-hwan approached her with a smile.
"Are you okay with today's shoot? Since it's a scene from the latter half, won't it be difficult?"
"Yes. Probably."
He was likely referring to Seo-yeon’s method acting.
The highlight.
The scene that served as the literal highlight of the movie was this convenience store scene.
Naturally, it was the most burdensome part for Seo-yeon, who had to synchronize with the character.
At the same time, since it was out of sequence, it could interfere with her emotional immersion.
It could have been difficult for Seo-yeon in many ways, but...
I can't always film everything in order.
When she was a child, Director Gong Jeong-tae had been very considerate of her, making it possible.
But Seo-yeon was no longer a child.
She was an actress who would continue to film dramas and movies.
This was something she naturally had to adapt to now.
"Excellent."
Reading Seo-yeon’s thoughts, Bae Jin-hwan gave her a thumbs-up.
No matter when he saw her, Seo-yeon’s attitude toward acting was always serious.
I really can't believe she's a teenager.
She was polite in her greetings, and her approach to acting was superb.
Bae Jin-hwan was a middle-aged man himself.
He usually had various complaints about young actors these days, but Seo-yeon completely silenced those grievances.
Because of that, her reputation on set was excellent.
"Seo-yeon is really good at social life."
"Right? She's a total pro at handling people. I bet you're popular at school too, right?"
A passing staff member said to her with a smile.
Since she had heard this more than once or twice, Seo-yeon just gave an awkward laugh.
"Popular…… of course."
Seo-yeon spoke triumphantly.
After all, she had landed the role of the ghost for the festival; the rest would follow soon.
Once they started preparing for the festival together, there would be more chances to talk.
"I knew it!"
"If you have friends who want to come visit the set next time, bring them along."
"Oh, yes."
I don't have any friends that close yet, though.
Seo-yeon nodded for now.
Whether it was her agency or the staff on set, everyone seemed very interested in Seo-yeon’s friends.
"The first thing we're filming today is Scene Number 117."
It was the scene that served as the introduction to the convenience store sequence that would mark the highlight.
Cha Seo-ah engages in a fierce fight against Detective Seo Gwang-il, who has rushed into the location where Han Ye-hwa is being held.
Seo Gwang-il is a detective with exceptional athletic ability, having even competed in the National Sports Festival.
Naturally, even Cha Seo-ah couldn't kill him easily, and she barely manages to knock him unconscious by hitting him over the head with a nearby soju bottle.
In the meantime, the kidnapped Han Ye-hwa escapes.
Cha Seo-ah leaves the unconscious Seo Gwang-il behind and hurries after the escaped Han Ye-hwa.
However, finding Han Ye-hwa, who has already fled, is a daunting task.
Cha Seo-ah stops running and enters a convenience store.
To find a tool to kill the detective she left unconscious at home.
"……Hey, is this okay? I mean, won't actress Shin Seong-mi get some hate for this?"
"Oh, it's fine. In fact, it's better to leave such a strong impression at the end."
When Kim Dae-heon, who played Detective Im Seung-cheol, said that, Shin Seong-mi, who played the convenience store clerk, laughed heartily.
She had felt the same way when she first read the script.
In a way, one could say the probability was a bit…… off.
But it's certainly provocative.
She felt it might be a scene that would be talked about for a long time.
"For this scene not to look awkward, Seo-yeon has to do well."
"Yes."
"You have to show it properly. Everything about Cha Seo-ah."
The scene after this was the final fight with Detective Im Seung-cheol.
Scene #115.
To immerse the audience in the highlight, the prelude was important.
Scene #114 was that prelude.
It had to present Cha Seo-ah as the perfect villain, delivering a tension that would make the audience's palms sweat.
"……Good."
Bae Jin-hwan let out a long breath.
Though they were filming the highlight sooner than expected, it was a scene they would have had to shoot eventually.
This scene.
This very scene, which he had been thinking about ever since he first took on this movie, flickered before his eyes.
He watched Seo-yeon as she calmly finished her preparations.
Not the raincoat she usually wore during her murders, but everyday clothes.
A hoodie and jeans, the kind of thing Cha Seo-ah would typically wear to a convenience store.
Quietly.
In the middle of the noisy set, Seo-yeon stood alone, in silence.
He could see her eyes closed peacefully to center her emotions.
The 'Hong Jeong-hee' he had seen on the theater stage.
She had to show acting here that surpassed even that intense performance.
Bae Jin-hwan believed.
He was sure that if it was Seo-yeon, she could do it.
Slowly.
Seo-yeon’s eyes opened.
Even under the bright lights, her red eyes shone clearly, and at that moment—
Filming for Scene #114 began.
As the camera captured Cha Seo-ah walking toward the convenience store.
Just like that.
Thud.
A heavy footstep was taken.
「……Whew.」
Exhaling a ragged breath, Cha Seo-ah moved her feet slowly.
She was late because of the detective who had somehow found her house and broken in.
If there had been one more detective, it might have been dangerous.
「……」
Without a word, Cha Seo-ah looked at the pedestrians on the street who were staring at her injured self.
Eyes that looked at her strangely.
Something she was now used to.
Cha Seo-ah thought.
First, Han Ye-hwa had escaped.
If so, she had to deal with the detective she had left unconscious at home first.
She had no desire to be caught just yet.
As long as the person who saw her kidnap Han Ye-hwa disappeared, even if she were caught, she could be released due to insufficient evidence.
Tinkle.
With those thoughts, she entered the now-familiar convenience store.
The convenience store where Cha Seo-ah herself worked part-time.
As she walked inside, the convenience store clerk gasped in surprise.
She was the owner of this store and a very familiar figure to Cha Seo-ah.
「Oh my goodness, Seo-ah! Why are you so hurt!」
At her words, Cha Seo-ah smiled.
A practiced, artificial smile she was now accustomed to.
But the dull woman didn't find anything strange about that layered smile.
「I'm okay. More importantly, I'm going to borrow some tools.」
「Tools?」
In the convenience store, there was a toolbox that Cha Seo-ah had brought in before.
And just as her hand gripped the duct tape she would use to dispose of the body.
「What a day this is. This is already the second time.」
The convenience store clerk muttered to herself as she spoke to Cha Seo-ah.
At that moment, Cha Seo-ah’s hand, holding the duct tape and a thick utility knife, stopped.
「The second time?」
「Yes! Oh, this is a secret. There's a young lady in the warehouse right now! Don't be startled, she said she's being chased by a killer. Oh dear, it's just terrifying.」
At those words, Cha Seo-ah’s eyes turned toward the convenience store clerk.
The emotion reflected in Cha Seo-ah’s eyes at that moment was perhaps the clearest emotion she had ever felt in her life.