Rookie but One-in-a-Million Actor - Chapter 46: The Best Death
"What do we do?"
Go Kyung-min grinned awkwardly in distress. Once spilled water couldn't be gathered back, and a sent message was much the same.
Moo-young pondered for a moment before turning off his screen.
"Nothing we can do. It's already sent."
"Hmm. Hold on. Let me think—"
"Moo-young!"
"Yes! Coming!"
The manager pressed his fingers to his temples, firing off imaginary energy blasts. Moo-young ignored him and headed out.
It was their first outdoor shoot after filming only in the warehouse.
"Haha. This is a total hit."
A vast abandoned factory sprawled across the open space, fitting the dystopian vibe perfectly. Graffiti plastered every wall, rusted metal scraps littered the ground, and yellowish sand whipped through the air on the wind.
"Oppa!"
"Yuna. This is insane."
"Totally cool, right?"
Just turning a corner in the makeshift dressing room opened up an entirely different world. This was one of the true charms of filmmaking.
Yuna, fresh off a round of shooting, looked utterly disheveled.
"Hello. I'm Ha Moo-young."
Unlike previous scenes, this one called for a massive crowd of extras. No wonder the assistant director had been so stressed. They'd shelled out the cash, and any delays would mean huge losses.
"Looking forward to working with you."
It was billed as a mob scene, but the scale dwarfed anything they'd shot so far. Director Jin Kyung-moon, sunglasses on, waved at Moo-young.
"Moo-young, thanks for coming."
"No problem. I had a free slot."
"Alright, scenes 77, 163, 3..."
"Gonna be running nonstop."
Scenes like sprinting toward the entrance before the area sealed off, or fleeing with a child amid chaos. Hot weather too—sweat was guaranteed.
"I'll check the path. Assistant director! You briefed the team leader?"
"Yes, all good!"
"Great. And since Moo-young's here today, let's wrap with scene 69. Hi-jun's here too, and the extras are ready."
Louis's final scene. Of course, death didn't mean the end of filming. Schedules were all jumbled anyway.
But Moo-young hadn't expected it this soon. He'd figured next week at least.
"You okay with that?"
"...Of course."
Mental prep and physical prep were different beasts. Moo-young shot back a confident look.
Jin Kyung-moon patted his shoulder, explaining camera paths and key points.
"Run from here to that truck over there. Careful not to trip with Yuna in your arms. We'll dolly three takes—front, back, side."
"Got it."
Three dolly takes alone, plus wide shots and potential NG retakes? That meant hours of nonstop sprinting.
Moo-young double-checked angles and paths with the camera director.
"Ah, yeah. Understood."
"Good. Let's roll."
"Team leader! Stand by!"
The extras moved only on the on-site team leader's orders, not the director or assistant. The man with the megaphone swung his arm wide.
"Okay! Everyone to positions!"
Moo-young spread his arms to Yuna. She came dashing in for a hug.
Not Janey, but Yuna. He'd held her on his lap before, but carrying her standing up? Heavier than expected.
"Oppa! Fighting!"
"Hold on tight."
Moo-young supported her legs with his left arm, cradling her head with his right. As the slate clapped, his heart pounded like a drum.
He was Louis now, one shot at glory ahead.
"Ready—!"
Here we go!
"Action!"
Louis bolted with everything he had. Extras swarmed behind like zombies, but he didn't care—pure madness!
Thud-thud! Thud!
"Raaagh!"
A guttural roar burst from his lips. Janey clung to his neck, body rigid. The tracking camera barely registered.
"Nooo—!"
Under the blazing sun, Louis's desperate flight for survival went on. Again and again, countless times.
"Urgh..."
Moo-young braced on hands and knees, dry-heaving. The outdoor shoot wrapped only after sunset.
He wasn't the only one suffering, but he was the only one running with a kid.
"You okay? Here, water."
Go Kyung-min fanned him with the script. Moo-young shook his head weakly, too drained to even hold the bottle.
"Sprinkle it on my neck."
"Aigoo. You killed it. Really. But knocking it out in one go means less pain ahead."
Thankfully, no accidents, and the footage looked solid. Too solid—the director kept adding angles to try.
"Feel better?"
"More... more. Feels like I'm dying."
"Kid looks pale as a ghost. That run hit hard. If your stomach's churning, just wet your lips."
His face was half its usual size after mere hours. Moo-young tugged at his soaked shirt, catching his breath.
Yuna squatted beside him, fanning with her hands.
"Oppa okay? I was heavy, huh?"
"Would've been tough without you. Distance-wise, that's Seoul and back."
"Liar~"
Their playful bickering screamed big-bro-little-sis. Yuna fanned harder, looking worried.
"But what now? Back in soon."
"Who? Me?"
"Scene 69's today, right?"
"Oh, yeah."
Moo-young flopped flat, staring at the sky. The sunset bled pink—gorgeous.
Exhaustion made even moving a chore.
"Hyung. Is dying like this?"
"Probably hurts so bad you bawl."
"Too wrecked for tears, maybe."
Thinking of it as Louis's last sky made his nose tingle. Damn, it was too pretty.
"Moo-young. You good?"
"Yeah. Catch my breath, and I'm set."
"Fix makeup, then in. Sync with action director and stunt guys. Lights out at dark."
"Sky's killer today. Moo-young, gotta film this for art. Quick before it fades."
"Got it~!"
Prodded by the assistant and camera directors, Moo-young sprang up. Time was money here.
Golden-hour moments vanished fast, and this glowing backdrop was one-of-a-kind. Tomorrow's sunset wouldn't be today's.
"Moo-young. Close your eyes."
Not simple makeup this time—special effects. Blood trickled from his mouth, nose smeared like he'd wiped it hastily.
"Sunbae, gotta hurry?"
"More paint here."
The makeup team buzzed around him. Action director and stuntmen gathered to demo the choreography.
"Protect your head. Mostly kicks, but yeah."
"Grab my ankle mid-beat like resisting."
One-sided beating—just how to take hits. A makeup artist eyed his face, arms crossed.
Dirt and dust from earlier, washed off by sweat and water.
"Redo this?"
"Sun's setting anyway. Skip it?"
"Yeah, he'll roll on the ground."
"Okay. Done here."
"Moo-young's ready!"
Staff whirled around him. Come to think of it, a solo oner was rare. Always Yuna or others in frame.
"Ready?"
"Yeah. Feels perfect—body's total jelly."
"After the beating, eye light during death throes. No flinching. Flow it. Oh, slant angle. Tilt left."
"Got it."
"Stand by!"
Moo-young prone on the ground, stuntmen circling. Director's cue dropped—fierce kicks and stomps, all show.
Action school pros: perfect form and impact, zero damage.
"Fuck!"
"Die! Die, you bastard!"
Vulgar shouts flew. Louis shielded his head.
But strength ebbed; his body slackened.
"Good. Cut!"
Now close-up on Louis dying.
But—
"Huh?"
Moo-young didn't move. Stuntmen backed off, but he lay limp.
Go Kyung-min started forward in alarm; Yuna grabbed him.
"Wait."
The mood froze instantly. Everyone sensed it.
That wasn't acting. It was Louis's true death.
Witnessing death was profound, terrifying, heartbreaking. They watched in silence.
"...He's still in it, right?"
Snapping to, Jin Kyung-moon waved his arm sharply. Like cracking ice, motion rippled through the crew.
"Slate! Next take!"
"Director! Lights ready!"
The sky burned red, on the brink of night. The final blaze drew awed gasps.
"Ready—! Action!"
Louis lay still, head tilting up. Viewfinder colors were surreal: pale skin, crimson blood, sweat-matted brown hair.
Whoa, wow.
All held breath, watching Louis die. Beauty begged exclamation.
Per Jin Kyung-moon's cue, Lee Taek-kyeong raised the eye light.
Click—Louis's eyes gazed afar. What did he see in the empty world?
Louis touched the bandage scrape on his wrist, eyes closing. A tear traced his cheek, plop.
Open your eyes, Moo-young.
Damn, it'll kill the mood!
Flick—Louis's eyes snapped open. Taek-kyeong nailed the left pupil. Wet iris sparkled, capturing sunset glow.
Then, death.
"...Oh—"
Lightless eyes told it all. Gaze sealed in darkness, like burnt-out sunset.
Jin Kyung-moon's neck stiffened. Goosebumps like never before.
"Okay. Cut."
"Cut!"
Cue dropped, but no one budged. Only Taek-kyeong, killing the light, turned to the director.
"Director."
"Y-yeah."
They traded empty laughs. Perfect. Nailed it! One thought looped in their heads.
"Haha! Hey! This!"
"It's good. Damn good."
No one knew box office fate or release snags.
But one thing certain—
"The best. Best death I've ever shot."
"Eye light popped perfectly."
Jin Kyung-moon had filmed countless deaths, would again. None matched Louis's perfection.
Acting and nature's light fused seamlessly.
"Moo-young! Hey!"
He hugged Taek-kyeong lightly, calling Moo-young. Not Louis.
Arms over eyes, Moo-young lay still, tears streaming.
"Moo-young?"
"Ah, sorry. Give me a sec."
First taste of death's feel. First farewell to a character.
Not truly over, yet it felt final. Emotions overwhelmed.
Jin Kyung-moon signaled staff to leave him be.
Immersion hits like that sometimes. Normal. After that performance, can't just snap out.
Moo-young stayed covered, prone. Staff tidied busily.
Quietly watching, Yuna flopped onto his chest.
"Oppa. Okay?"
"Yeah. Fine."
"Super sad?"
"...Leaving Janey behind hurts."
Her big eyes welled up too. They lay entwined, sharing warmth, silhouettes rising in the dark—purely Janey and Louis.