Rookie but One-in-a-Million Actor - Chapter 92: Outdoor Filming
"Whoa. It's freezing."
Ha Moo-young blew on his hands and stomped his feet. The street was completely empty. It was winter break, a weekday morning, and above all, they'd rented out the entire road and alley for filming cooperation.
"Hello!"
"Moo-young's here. Ha Moo-young's arrived!"
"Come on in. Makeup done?"
"They said it'd be a hassle outdoors today, so we did it at the shop. Need a hand with anything?"
Moo-young slipped through the frantic staff and asked. Since they'd rented the location, there was a strict time limit—about three hours. They had to shoot everything possible here in that window.
"Nah, we're good. Go sit down."
"Sitting still makes me colder. I can carry this, right?"
"Where's your manager?"
"Couldn't park up front, so he went off to find a spot way over there. Haha."
Plus, being outdoors instead of a studio meant gear was scattered everywhere, chaotic and bulky. Moo-young pitched in thriftily, helping out while waiting for the other actors to arrive.
"Thanks. You checked today's scenes, right?"
"Of course! This is Ha Moo-young~"
He playfully shot back at the staff's concern. Today's main shoot was Merrill Kellin's first street performance. Like Do-ha, it was Moo-young's first time busking too.
"I'm so nervous. Haha."
"It's just extras in front—no big deal."
It was that classic youth cliché: At first, no one pays attention, but they sing for themselves with pure enjoyment, and suddenly the crowd swells.
Moo-young glanced around and asked, Main and supporting cast aside, where are the extras?
"Where'd everyone go? They're usually the quickest to stand by."
"Yeah, uh, there's a shoot in Busan too, some movie. They sent all the crowd scene folks there. They said they'd make it on time, so any minute now."
"Whoa, really? Must be huge scale."
"Tell me about it. They pulled from our company and even partner agencies. China or something."
He was referencing China's infamous human wave tactics in directing. Moo-young just shrugged with a laugh.
As they prepped, the members trickled in one by one.
"Good morning! Nice day!"
"Ro-min! Over here!"
"Song-a and Pyo Rai are here too!"
"Seo Jeong-mun's in the bathroom."
"Ugh, it's brutal out today."
"Hey, I met MC Doo-seok on Great Challenge, right? Awesome."
The moment he saw his friends, Moo-young flipped the brag switch. He proudly flashed the signed photo and pic with Doo-seok.
"Check this out. Whoa, legit. Bro, congrats."
"He's so gentlemanly and cool. Helped me tons on variety."
They huddled close, sharing warmth, waiting for standby. Time that would've flown by normally dragged like minutes per second in the biting wind.
Finally, Pyo Rai sniffled and piped up, unable to take it.
"Assistant director. Aren't we shooting yet?"
And were their outfits too thin? Bundled in long parkas and blankets, but wind whistled right through.
"Hold on. Team lead's call?"
"On it now!"
"Damn it."
Something was off. The clustered team members exchanged uneasy glances. Atmosphere's weird, right? Yeah. Something's up. Ugh, and it's cold...
"What? What'd you say?"
Then came the assistant director's shout, putting the nail in the coffin. Yeah, something blew up. Moo-young nodded in resignation.
"What the fuck? You messing with me right now?"
Whoa. First time seeing the assistant director this pissed. Moo-young and the members held their breath, ears perked.
"Then what the hell are we supposed to do? Goddamn it. Fine, we'll reshoot in different order... Get here in under an hour, or it gets messy for everyone. Yeah, got it."
He hung up roughly and reported to PD Lee Yu-jin.
"We've got a problem."
"Yeah, saw you on the phone. What happened?"
"They went to Busan for that movie. Too many people, so the film company rented a big bus. But it wasn't just Dong-gran extras—partners too... and it broke down."
Dong-gran was S Network's contracted extra agency.
"What?"
"Stranded on the highway, can't move. Rushed a van from Seoul, but traffic's jammed..."
Oh. My. God. PD Lee Yu-jin gaped wordlessly in horror. What the hell? She shook it off and barked orders.
"Check company for other extras, pull as many as possible. Reshuffle—solo scenes first."
"Got it."
They'd envisioned a packed crowd shot, needing tons of people. Planned to devote most of the three hours to nailing that perfect visual...
"Haa. Shit."
Yeah, too smooth. Real life's gotta throw curveballs. She rubbed her numb fingertips, eyeing the actors—five little chicks huddled like baby birds.
"Sorry, kids. Solos first. Song-a, Rai."
"Ah, sure!"
"Standby! Jumping to scene 17! Stylist, touch-ups!"
Filming had to start somehow—they'd already rented the road. At the PD's call, the two shed their parkas with tense sighs.
"Sorry, guys. Bear with it."
"No worries. Ice, please."
To hide breath fog, actors mouthed ice cubes. Shivering inside and out, real shoot kicked off with them.
"What? Senior said that?"
"Yeah. No one but you for vocals—nailed it. What're you two?"
"What d'you mean, what?!"
Faces frozen puffy, they still delivered natural acting. Holding breaths to conceal fog, they poured into the performance.
"Okay! Cut!"
"Thanks!"
"Next! Hurry it up!"
PD Lee Yu-jin checked her watch nonstop, urging them on. Moo-young, Ro-min, and Seo Jeong-mun jumped in next, patching the ballooned schedule.
"Okay! Cut!"
Whether sensing actors' plight or their passion, OKs came crisp and clean. But they'd shot everything needed...
"Still not? Where at?"
"Past Suwon. Sent fifteen from Seoul by taxi."
"No way..."
Done for. Wasted the day. PD Lee Yu-jin mentally juggled shoots and edits. Time aside, syncing those five again? When?
"Hey, PD."
"Yeah?"
Moo-young, fiddling with hand warmers, spoke up.
"If no extras 'cause of that, why not ask them?"
His gaze hit the onlookers—passersby peeking curiously. Most breezed by in the cold, though.
"No music, gotta jump onstage. Will they cheer right? Plus, you're idols—real names caught on audio means instant NG. Risky."
Needed playful crowd energy. Extras were pros, but randos? Awkward beats unusable.
"Just play the track and dub it."
Audio director chimed in from nearby. Club scenes often danced silent—cleaner overdub.
"Overlay sound just on crowd shots. Kids sing anyway."
"Hm..."
She pondered silently. One option, endless headaches. Ro-min blew on his hands, backing Moo-young.
"I think that'll work. Tell 'em it's filming, ask nicely—should be fine."
"One issue: Pausing mid-crowd for angles gets tough."
No time for retakes. Actors' stamina too.
Camera director pulled a handy cam. "Shoot from the crowd like us."
"Straight cam vibe?"
"Edit'll fix it."
"Ah... Okay, got it. Fuck it—make it dinner or poison, table's set, let's eat!"
PD Lee Yu-jin bellowed, rallying staff. She rapidly delegated.
"No names on audio—warn 'em. Tell 'em TV possible, okay then front-row. Camera ready?"
"Yeah. Kids'll grab some too. Fix one center just in case."
"Prep, guys. Long take, edit later—nail the acting. Got it?"
"Yes!"
Concept locked, they swiftly cleared gear aside. Mics and instruments on the pavement. Members stood awkwardly, chuckling.
"What now?"
"Dunno. How?"
"S Network's You Are a Star, I Am a Star filming! Come watch up front if you want—might catch camera!"
Pyo Rai and Seo Jeong-mun stared blankly at frantic staff. Everyone puzzled on kickoff.
Then Moo-young strummed guitar softly. Diiiing! Heads snapped—attention grab.
Members turned to their leader. Moo-young fumbled into the OST title track.
Twang. Dee-deeing! Ding!
"Nah, piano first."
"Not like that."
Seo Jeong-mun and Pyo Rai teased his chords, laughing. Do-ha arched a brow.
"Joking? You do it."
"...!"
Do-ha's tone, voice, gaze, gesture—Pyo Rai caught it, grinning as he grabbed sticks.
"Think I can't?"
"Mi-ran. I'll keep beat. One, two!"
Thump! Thump-thump! Thump!
Music swelled gradually. Distant onlookers paused, drawn near. Song-a's clear voice pierced the chaos.
"It was beautiful sunlight~!"
"Director! Camera!"
"You can't escape my charm~!"
"Who's that?"
"Huh? Song-a and Ro-min..."
"Filming now!"
"Where? Whoa, real!"
Barriers down, crowds surged phones-out to Merrill Kellin. Bodies swayed naturally to upbeat rhythm.
"Whoa~"
"Crazy."
Gawking lightly at celebs, the five's earnest play silenced them—music over name-calls.
"You can't escape my charm~!"
"You can't escape my charm~!"
Do-ha and Mi-ran's shouts had everyone bouncing! Busking vibe for real. Do-ha amped cheers with slick moves.
Huh? She's got skills, members thought.
"Yo, at Hongdae now—whoa! This place rocks!"
"Kyaaah!"
"Wooo! Look here! Here!"
Do-ha circled guitar-strapped, light high-fives with fans! PD Lee Yu-jin clutched her head watching.
"PD okay?"
"Footage'll look natural... but editing's gonna grind my bones."
Onlookers' phones captured Merrill Kellin's raw performance. Feeds exploded with shares that night—You Are a Star, I Am a Star topping searches.