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# Chapter 4 – Camera Sickness (4)
At Song Yuna's words, Director Kim sharply furrowed his brow and asked,
“What do you mean by that?”
At the exchange between Director Kim Chan-gi and Song Yuna, all the staff and actors began murmuring.
They appeared to be busy with their own work, but they were clearly listening closely and sneaking glances in my
direction.
Song Yuna….
It wasn't enough that she had snapped at me like that on the movie set. Now she was being this rude to me again on the
set of a new drama.
Of course, I had stumbled over my lines several times back then, but was she trying to make sure I could never set foot
on another filming set again?
Still, I couldn't say that what she was saying was a lie.
The acting I had shown that day had genuinely been terrible.
Song Yuna raised and lowered her shoulders before speaking.
“You know the movie I'm filming right now.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“He was an extra there. But this guy is terrible at acting. He was shaking all over and got all his lines wrong. He
couldn't even properly deliver a single line, so he caused several NGs. It's obvious he'll do the same thing again, so
just replace him from the start.”
With her arms crossed, Song Yuna openly looked me up and down before snapping irritably.
Director Kim answered her with an awkward expression.
“But how can we change him now…?”
“He's just a passing extra, isn't he? Can't you replace him with anyone? If we get several NGs because of this guy,
aren't you and I the ones who'll suffer?”
She added in a fierce voice,
“Replace him. I can't act with someone like this.”
She was demanding that the actor be replaced when all the preparations for filming had already been completed.
Director Kim looked quite flustered by Song Yuna's words.
Then he immediately turned toward me and glared.
“Is that really what happened?”
I quickly waved my hands and answered.
“Uh… no. It's not like that….”
Before I could finish, Song Yuna spoke with fire in her eyes.
“What do you mean, it's not? It's true! Are you saying I'm lying now?”
“Whoa, whoa.”
Someone approached while waving his hands in the air and speaking in a loud voice.
It was the casting director.
The person who had been impressed by my acting during the audition and cast me.
At his voice and gestures, everyone turned their heads toward him.
“Whoa, whoa, Yuna, calm down. I personally watched this guy act during the audition, and he's good.”
“What's so good about him? I told you, he caused NGs on set and made a whole mess of things! He even seemed to have
camera sickness and kept stuttering, so….”
Looking at the agitated Song Yuna, the casting director maintained his smile as he answered.
“Well, from what I saw, he was quite good at acting.”
“There must have been dozens, no, hundreds of people who came to audition for the extra roles! Are you sure you actually
watched him properly?”
As their conversation became increasingly heated, Director Kim, who had been quietly listening, spoke up.
“Alright, Yuna. Let's have him try once. If he's no good, we'll replace him. If he causes even one NG, we'll immediately
switch to another actor.”
Director Kim turned around and looked at me, furrowing his brow.
“Uh….”
It wasn't a frown of anger. It seemed like he was about to call me by my name.
But there was no way he would know the name of an insignificant minor actor.
I quickly answered him.
“Jin Hee-sung.”
“Ah, right. Do you agree with what I said?”
I answered briefly and firmly, with a confident expression and tone.
“Yes. I agree.”
Perhaps he read my expression, because Director Kim nodded once before looking back at Song Yuna.
Song Yuna, still with her arms crossed, spoke in a tone that sounded as though she had no choice but to accept.
“Then just once. If there is even one NG, replace him immediately.”
“Okay! Alright, let's give it a try right away!”
Suppressing a sigh, Director Kim walked past the main camera and sat down in the chair placed in front of the monitor
beside it.
At his movement, the chaotic atmosphere settled back into place as though nothing had happened.
“Alright! Let's get on standby. Song Yuna!”
While Song Yuna went to check her makeup and clothes one last time, the staff member's loud call drew everyone's
attention toward the filming area.
The gazes of everyone, including Director Kim and the staff, as well as the extras, turned toward me.
Perhaps because of the noisy conversation moments earlier, even the extra actors who hadn't been visible before seemed
to have come over to watch.
I suddenly began trembling even more intensely.
Can I really do this?
No, I have to do it.
If I made another mistake this time, I might never get another chance to stand on a filming set.
I took a deep breath and steadied my breathing, but my trembling heart refused to calm down.
Countless staff members and actors.
Beyond that, the countless cameras were making my heart pound violently.
Don't tremble.
If I don't tremble, I can do this.
Nothing more, nothing less. Just exactly as much as I practiced….
---
“Ah, this is seriously pissing me off. Does it make any sense that I have to be in a scene with someone who can't act
like that?”
Song Yuna spoke with a sigh.
Her stylist adjusted Song Yuna's clothes and answered,
“Unni, just a moment. I'll fix your sleeve.”
“Hah, what the hell is that guy doing as my royal guard? This is seriously annoying.”
“Unni, stop getting angry with that pretty face. We're about to start shooting. Okay?”
The manager, who had been watching them with a frown, was approached hurriedly by the FD.
“You're Song Yuna's manager, right?”
“Yes, that's right.”
“Could you please have Song Yuna get on standby?”
He nodded before speaking to her, who was visibly furious.
“Yuna, let's go filming.”
Then a voice came from far away.
“Alright, let's get on standby. Song Yuna!”
“Yes, I'm coming.”
Song Yuna's stylist called out loudly before letting go of her sleeve.
“Unni, do well!”
“Of course. When have you ever seen me make a mistake?”
It wasn't long before filming began.
“We'll start with the first take.”
The atmosphere was suffocating.
That's right. Maybe he'll learn his lesson after getting kicked out of the role because of an NG. Let's see what he can
do.
Jin Hee-sung seemed to be standing in front of her with his eyes closed, calming his nerves.
Song Yuna briefly looked him over before immediately immersing herself in her role.
“Ready, action!”
At the cue, Jin Hee-sung's eyes changed.
His expression also clearly conveyed how desperate he was toward Song Yuna.
“The enemies targeting the princess are increasing.”
Jin Hee-sung looked at her with a solemn gaze, as though he would protect her even if he had to risk his own life, and
delivered his line.
“Are you certain?”
As though she had never been angry with Jin Hee-sung, Song Yuna responded with an elegant tone befitting a top actress.
“Yes. We don't know how much longer this place will remain safe either. You must move to another residence at once.”
“No. You know why I must remain here. If I say I am going to stay here… If I choose to do so, what will happen?”
“But….”
The tremble in Jin Hee-sung's voice conveyed all the royal guard's anguish and concern for the princess.
His eye movements were perfect as well.
He wasn't conscious of the camera. He was clearly looking at Song Yuna while still staying within the camera's angle,
just like a professional who had filmed dramas countless times.
…What? He's actually good.
A faint look of surprise appeared between Song Yuna's brows as she had previously dismissed him as nothing more than an
extra.
Why was he like that last time?
Questions began to arise in her mind, but since the camera was already rolling, she focused on her acting again.
“I will remain here. Anyone who wishes to leave may do so.”
“I… No, we will protect Your Highness. Without fail…! We will.”
Jin Hee-sung delivered his final line in a fearless tone.
He drew his sword and acted as though he were bravely protecting Song Yuna's side. The staff watching nearby couldn't
help but admire his performance in silence.
Jin Hee-sung's smooth, effortless acting caused Song Yuna to become immersed in her own role without even realizing it.
Because of that, she didn't have to force herself to make an emotional expression. Her expressions naturally changed
according to the situation.
This is the feeling we should go with.
“Cut! Okay! Good! Let's go straight into a bust shot.”
The director's booming voice rang out with an enthusiastic “Okay!”
Everyone looked at Jin Hee-sung with surprised expressions.
“Thank you!”
At those words, Director Kim looked toward Song Yuna.
Song Yuna lightly bit her lip and looked away.
The director and Song Yuna weren't the only ones surprised by Jin Hee-sung's acting.
The minor actors watching let out sighs of relief as though they themselves had been recognized.
It couldn't be helped.
They couldn't help empathizing with Jin Hee-sung, who was in the same position as them.
It was also true that they had sincerely hoped he would perform well more than anyone.
Clap clap clap.
The minor actor who had spoken to Jin Hee-sung earlier applauded, but—
Glare.
The gazes of Song Yuna and the staff turned toward him.
Did I go too far?
Embarrassed, he put his hands behind his back and turned his head away.
“Ah, there's a mosquito….”
---
“Cut, okay!”
My fists clenched tightly.
Not only had I received an immediate okay for the entire scene, but I had also gotten an okay for the bust shot right
afterward.
“Good work!”
“Hey, Hee-sung, good job. We'll move straight on to the next scene.”
Filming continued, but my role ended there.
Still, it was enough to celebrate.
It was exhilarating.
I had never felt anything like this on a set before, which made the sensation even stranger and more mysterious.
The feeling I had while acting was similar to what I had experienced during the audition last week.
As though I had been possessed by something.
As though the royal guard had completely entered my body and then left again.
I let out a hollow laugh at my own ridiculous imagination.
Possessed? What nonsense.
I was probably just finally beginning to show what I was capable of as an actor.
Had my camera sickness disappeared now?
If I could continue acting like this from now on, I would truly be happy….
---
The bus returning to Seoul.
More than half of the seats were already occupied.
It was unusual for minor actors to bring their own vehicles.
Most of the time, when filming required them to travel even to the provinces, the minor actors and staff would travel
together by bus.
But the disadvantage of this bus was that it couldn't leave until filming was completely finished.
Except for famous actors who had managers and private vehicles, everyone else would board this bus after finishing their
short scenes and wait endlessly for filming to be completely over.
After finishing my one scene, this bus was the only place I had to go as well.
As I looked around the seats, wondering where I should sit, someone reached out and called me.
“Jin Hee-sung!”
It was the minor actor who had talked to me about Song Yuna before filming.
I smiled and walked toward him.
“Sit here. I was bored anyway, so this worked out. Haha.”
“How do you know my name…?”
“You said you were Jin Hee-sung earlier. When everyone on set was focused, I heard your name. How could I forget it?”
“Ah….”
He gave me a thumbs-up, shaking his head as he spoke.
“Wow! You were really good at acting earlier. I watched you perform.”
“Thank you.”
“But….”
He cautiously poked his head out between the bus seats, looked around, and lowered his voice as much as possible.
“Song Yuna really does have a terrible personality.”
“Haha, it can't be helped. I really did make mistakes on the movie set last time.”
“You've got a good personality, Hee-sung.”
“Not at all.”
---
After some time had passed.
Suddenly, sounds from outside the bus reached my ears.
“Cut! Okay! Good work!”
“Everyone, you worked hard!”
“Let's wrap things up and leave quickly.”
It seemed filming had ended earlier than expected today.
“We're finally getting off work.”
“Yeah. At this time, I'd say we finished pretty early.”
“Hee-sung, where do you live….”
“Jin Hee-sung? Is he here?”
At that moment, a voice searching for me came from the stairs at the front of the bus.
The person standing with his body leaning against the bus stairs was the casting director.
“Yes, I'm right here!”
I immediately jumped to my feet.
“Can you come over for a moment?”
“Yes!”
I gave the actor sitting beside me a nod before hurriedly heading outside the bus toward him.
“Yes, is something wrong?”
“Oh, it's nothing. Director Kim wants to see you, Hee-sung.”
“Me?”
He raised his eyebrows and nodded at my words.
What was this?
Had I done something wrong?
I had thought it was strange that everything had been approved so quickly earlier….
Had they hurriedly finished my scenes and decided to replace me with another actor?
That feeling of anxiety returned.
And then I saw Director Kim in the distance.
They say it's better to get hit quickly than wait for it, so I almost ran toward him.
“Director, did you call for me?”
“Uh, you said you're Hee-sung, right?”
“Yes, I'm Jin Hee-sung.”
He looked at me with a benevolent smile.
…What?
They say you can't spit in a smiling face, but was he already smiling at me?
“Are you free tomorrow as well?”
I tilted my head and asked in surprise at his unexpected words.
“Excuse me?”
“We have another schedule tomorrow. There are several more scenes with the royal guard, and I thought you'd be good at
them, Hee-sung.”
Director Kim looked at me with a deep gaze of trust and added,
“How about it? Want to do it?”