How to Become a Monster Rookie (2)
Lee Tae-ryun frowned. An accident had occurred with only a few hours remaining until the live broadcast.
“How long will it take to clean this up starting now?”
No one dared answer Director Lee Tae-ryun’s question lightly.
“Ha…”
Director Lee Tae-ryun knew it as well. Restoring the set in the remaining time was impossible.
The idea of filming without a set.
“Let’s not even think about that.”
It was impossible. Even though Kim Doyun occasionally showed moments that were difficult to understand, performing a monologue on an empty stage was no easy task.
Without a set, it would be extremely difficult unless the camera work and lighting had been perfectly internalized in advance.
Movement paths, lighting angles, camera work.
There were simply too many variables to consider.
Unless his own directing became visible to the eye…
It’s impossible.
That was Director Lee Tae-ryun’s final conclusion.
Fucked.
Was there any better way to describe the current situation?
Yeah. We’re completely fucked.
Right before my eyes, the filming crew rookie Baek Hyeon-jin was on the verge of tears, apologizing with everything he had.
“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!”
Camera director Yoon Sung-woo frowned and let out a heavy sigh.
“It’s fine. I was the one who should have done the final movement check anyway.”
Director Yoon Sung-woo tilted his head, muttering to himself.
“It’s strange though. No matter what, a mistake like this shouldn’t have happened…”
Baek Hyeon-jin’s error had thrown off the camera path. The result was damage to part of the set.
And of all places, it had to be the meat restaurant set for my only solo scene.
Aaaaargh!
Why are you doing this to me, Director Baek Hyeon-jin? You were supposed to be a genius director. How could you make a mistake like this!
Oh, right. One of Baek Hyeon-jin’s favorite sayings was ‘Failure is the mother of success,’ wasn’t it?
I realized it then.
That’s it! You’re going to overcome this failure and rise up to become a successful director!
But why did it have to be this kind of mistake!
I slapped my forehead.
Haha. How the hell am I supposed to act without a set?
“Actor-nim, I’m sorry. I ruined your acting… huuuuuh.”
Baek Hyeon-jin grabbed my dazed self and burst into tears.
Sigh. What could I do about water already spilled? I had to clean it up.
I looked at Baek Hyeon-jin and patted his shoulder.
“It’s alright. I think I can handle it.”
“R-really? You’re forgiving me, actor-nim?”
I gripped Baek Hyeon-jin’s shoulders firmly and answered.
“Of course.”
“A-actor-nim…!”
I shouted loudly while forcing a twisted smile.
“Instead! When you, Baek Hyeon-jin, eventually become a director, you must cast me as the lead no matter what. Deal?”
“Of course! That’s exactly what I wanted to ask of you!”
Baek Hyeon-jin clasped his hands together like a man who had been saved, tears streaming down his face.
Baek Hyeon-jin.
You have no choice but to become my director from now on. Absolutely. You will take responsibility for what happened today!
Now the question is how to clean this mess up.
“For now, we should remove this scene…”
“No, how can we remove it? This scene is incredibly important.”
“Writer Yoon is right. This is a scene we cannot cut.”
“But how are we supposed to film without the set?”
Director Lee Tae-ryun frowned as if suffering from a headache.
“Is there a spare? Any spare sets?”
The prop team leader answered with a troubled expression.
“Where would we have a spare set, Director? There’s nothing we can substitute at this point.”
“Of all the scenes… Fine. Let’s cut it.”
At Director Lee Tae-ryun’s decision, Writer Yun Song-i immediately protested.
“Director! We can’t cut this! You promised not to touch the script!”
“Then what do you suggest? Will you find us a new set, Writer Yoon?”
Lee Tae-ryun let out a deep sigh.
“Let’s remove it for now. There’s no other option.”
It was only natural for that opinion to surface.
Even if an actor performed without a set, it would only feel alienating to both the performer and the audience.
But they want to cut my only solo scene?
Not a chance.
The staff members were moving about busily. I walked toward Director Lee Tae-ryun at the center of it all.
One of the staff members approached me with a difficult expression.
“Ah, Doyun. Perfect timing. We needed to talk to you.”
“I know. It’s about the stage, right?”
“Yes. The set has collapsed, so it looks like filming your solo scene will be difficult.”
At the staff member’s words, Writer Yun Song-i turned away with a guilty look.
“I’m sorry, Doyun. It was your only solo scene. You must have been looking forward to it.”
“It’s alright. It’s not your fault, Writer.”
Lee Tae-ryun spoke indifferently.
“Anyway, that’s how it is.”
I smiled as I looked at Lee Tae-ryun.
“I’ll perform it.”
“Did you not hear me? There is no set.”
Director Lee Tae-ryun probably didn’t want to lose this scene either.
“It’s fine even without the set. I’ll approach it as a performance that expresses Sang-cheol’s psychology.”
Director Lee Tae-ryun frowned at my words.
“Immediacy is what matters here.”
The scene where Sang-cheol, after his part-time shift at the meat restaurant, carved stone in his workshop.
This was one of Sang-cheol’s few solo scenes.
“If we follow your suggestion, it would be more natural to remove all props entirely. What you’re asking is essentially for me to entrust everything to you alone.”
The realism of the meat restaurant part-time job. The visual and auditory stimulation of carving stone.
Those elements couldn’t exist without props and a set. That was what he was saying.
But performing with more persuasive power than anyone else without any props or set.
Director’s Vision.
It was the one thing I was most confident in right now.
“I can do it. I can deliver a convincing performance even without a set.”
Director Lee Tae-ryun remained silent for a moment, seemingly deep in thought. Then he lightly struck the armrest of his chair.
“Then show me.”
It was a success.
Han So-yeon, the young president of Samryong Food, had brought Kim Doyun’s mother Yeong-sun with her. She elegantly stepped out of a striking yellow open-top car and politely opened the door for Yeong-sun.
Yeong-sun smiled brightly.
“Thanks to you, President Han, I get to ride in such a wonderful car.”
“Not at all, Mother.”
“Mother?”
“It feels friendlier this way.”
Han So-yeon naturally poured on the charm.
She slightly lowered her sunglasses, then looked around with sparkling eyes.
Her heart was racing. Becoming an idol and appearing on television had been her childhood dream.
Back then, with her exotic features, she had never fallen short in the looks department. Of course, that was still true now.
After losing her parents and inheriting Samryong Food Ingredients at a young age, she had long since buried that dream.
Once the company stabilized and they could live comfortably, the thought would occasionally resurface. She had believed it was a dream she had completely abandoned.
But then…
The pretty boy from her regular pojangmacha, Doyun, was appearing on a live broadcast.
I can at least go watch! Besides, it would be difficult for Mother to come alone, so I brought her with me. Yeah, that’s it.
With that excuse, her heart began pounding the moment she looked at the stage.
“Our Doyun is performing on a stage this big?”
Yeong-sun looked around with wide eyes. Even at a glance, the audience seats were packed.
Han So-yeon smiled.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg. It’s also broadcasting live.”
Han So-yeon’s excitement only grew as she took in the massive audience. But this time, the feeling was slightly different from her childhood dreams.
So this is how popular he is.
Perhaps because she had run her company for over ten years, Han So-yeon’s eyes now saw the future value in the entertainment industry—especially the profession of actor.
“I wonder when our Doyun will come out.”
“It should start soon, so he’ll appear shortly.”
At that moment, thunderous applause that shook the entire stage erupted.
“Next set!”
“Lighting on standby!”
Behind the stage, it was an unrelenting battlefield.
“This is crazy.”
The first act of the play was coming to an end.
I already knew Lee Se-rin’s skill was exceptional, but…
She’s on another level.
Her performance made it hard to believe she suffered from stage fright. That was the power of the future greatest actress of all time.
Still, having worked with her for three days, I could tell one thing.
She’s still a little nervous.
Even so, she seemed to be adapting to the stage bit by bit. There probably wouldn’t be any major issues.
That aside…
Kim Chan-uk.
His acting had completely blossomed. I had underestimated him.
The performance Kim Chan-uk was delivering on stage right now revealed glimpses of the future great actor he would become.
Why did I help him with that?
Not only the acting, but the overall quality of the stage was outstanding. The bursts of applause at the end of every scene proved it.
“Phew.”
Good. I had no intention of losing. I clenched my fist.
“Please watch over me from there, teachers of the Actor Gallery!”
The moment that thought crossed my mind, a blue window appeared before my eyes, reacting to the word “gallery.”
They really were watching.
What the hell is this?!
> Director's Vision Penalty In Progress
> Director's Vision Penalty In Progress
No matter how many times I tried to close it, the window refused to disappear.
…Right. During the actual broadcast, the gallery was apparently streaming it live as well.
My eyes drifted to the separate window next to the gallery.
Is this some new feature?
It seemed to be showing reactions from internet communities.
This feature is actually pretty interesting.
I was wondering if it could be useful when the stage suddenly went dark. All the sets had been cleared away, leaving the stage completely empty.
It was my turn.
A staff member’s voice rang in my ear.
“Actor Kim Doyun, please prepare!”
I closed the gallery and lightly slapped my cheeks.
“Alright.”
An empty stage with no set and no props. I had to capture the audience’s attention with nothing but my acting ability.
I could do this. Today, I would make the name Actor Kim Doyun known right here.
This is only the beginning.
They say a good beginning is half the battle.
I took a bold step toward the stage.
It might look small to others, but to me, it was the biggest step of all.
Let’s go. This is the first appearance of the monster rookie.