Fingertips Feast
Two days after wrap.
The At Your Fingertips team gathered at a BBQ joint somewhere in Seoul for a celebratory feast.
Everyone's faces had that fresh, rested glow after two days of solid sleep. It was a nice sight.
No matter how relaxed our schedule had been, drama shoots are never easy.
Thankfully, with few night scenes and plenty of day shoots, they'd bounced back quick.
"Director, SSK footing the bill today?"
"Of course. Tell the managers not to play chicken over it."
"The rep's gonna love that."
"Won't our rep be a little sad about the expense?"
I bantered with the supporting actors smoking out front and headed inside.
The place was packed.
Like I said during Criminal Community, it's rare to get every actor in one spot.
After long shoots, personal schedules pile up.
But today was the exception.
Why?
We'd wrapped the drama a full three weeks early.
Even accounting for that one pulled call sheet midway, it was four and a half weeks ahead of the original plan.
So every actor could make it.
Not just actors, either.
On-set staff.
Actor managers.
SSK folks like Chae Seo-hee, Kwon Cheol, and No Jae-wook who'd been in and out constantly to back me up.
Everyone involved in making At Your Fingertips was here.
But my table was made up of people who'd never set foot on set.
Yeom Jae-mun, Gil Sang-hoon, Ko Young-tae.
And Yoon Hyun-sol, who'd been handling their care.
Truth be told, I'd messaged Yeom writer multiple times to come visit set.
Every reply: He wanted to savor the work he'd waited 15 years for, unspoiled.
I can't say I get it fully—not being a writer myself.
What's wrong with peeking at set?
But no reason not to respect it, so the writers stayed away.
"Shall we top off your glasses? Writers, you busted ass on those revisions. Yoon CE, you too."
"Nah, it was fun."
"Same. Criminal Community felt like work—this was play."
Ko Young-tae and Gil Sang-hoon brushed it off casually.
These two, who'd joined At Your Fingertips with pure hearts, stuck with us to the end.
They didn't know yet, but their names would hit the credits too.
Assistant writers usually don't, but they weren't just assistants.
Yeom writer suggested it first, by the way.
"How about you, Yeom writer?"
After a long silence, Yeom writer finally spoke.
"They say writers live up to their titles. So I figured I botched the title."
15 years.
An unimaginable stretch.
My no-name actor days—full of ups and downs—were just eight.
Probably wanted to quit dozens, hundreds of times.
What kept him going? Like he said, something just within reach.
"But waiting 15 years for this view... not so bad."
I glanced around.
Actors and staff filling the space with laughter.
Amid it all, satisfaction from the shoot and buzz for box-office success.
The top-dog seat that owns all that can feel heavy sometimes...
"Same here. Feels like payback for the last year."
But joyful too.
"Ugh, too much melodrama poisons the work."
"Do CE'll make it a smash anyway—more drinks?"
I burst out laughing at Gil Sang-hoon and Ko Young-tae, downing my shot.
"Yeom writer, next one's gotta be quicker than 15 years."
"Obviously. Can't eat on fumes anymore."
"Money worries sorted?"
"Yeah. Got some investments..."
"Ah, that explains the bold quit."
We chatted in that warm vibe.
Poor Yoon Hyun-sol, silently grilling meat next to us... or so I thought.
Wait, was he eating it all?
Pretending to check doneness, but the portions vanishing were insane.
Then someone plopped down at our table.
"Ahem. Drama turned out great, huh?"
Jung Hee-soo director, long time no see.
Not here on business—just tagging along with Ko Young-tae and Gil Sang-hoon writers.
He'd dropped by their office a few times, knew Yeom writer too.
"Still sulking?"
"Who says sulking."
"You were last time."
Claimed I snagged the whole Criminal Community directing crew except him.
Thought it was a joke at first, but he was legit salty, so we grabbed drinks.
That's when Jung director unloaded on me.
"What've you been up to, Director?"
"Helping a junior's indie, prepping my next."
"Drama?"
"Film. My home turf. But Do CE, no films?"
"Love watching 'em..."
Not sure.
Does the superpower trigger on movies?
Even if it does, issues abound.
Movies have parts producers can't touch easily.
Rarely goes well when they do—directors get full reins mostly.
Hence "film writer" sounds weirder than "drama writer."
Directors handle scripts too.
Plus, from a production standpoint, films are high-risk: huge highs, brutal lows.
Dramas stack profits on mid-hits; films barely scrape by post-budget on mids, fueling the next project's scraps.
"Dunno. SSK hasn't dipped into films yet."
"Think about it. You nailed Criminal Community—film's no sweat."
"Director."
"Yeah?"
"Flashback to script reading: you gearing up to chew me out, blocked by the writers."
"Right. If I weren't such a stand-up guy, no Criminal Community. What director watches a CE kill a reading?"
Wait, deal's not landing?
"Sudden praise? Eyeing film collabs?"
Nah, wasn't praise.
Min Jae-yul felt a strange sense of exclusion amid the feast.
Looming all shoot long, but the party made it crystal clear.
Am I...
An outsider?
At Your Fingertips revolved around Director Do Hyun-woo, no doubt.
Frontflips, backflips—same story.
Everyone had their rapport with him.
Kim Ra-un, Kang Min-sik, even Jeon So-ra.
Hell, same-agency Oh Ha-eun barely spoke but shared some history.
Me? Nada.
Just me!
No issues, though.
Director Do always respected him, praised his acting, smiled warmly.
Nothing but good vibes.
But...
No rapport.
Next project together? "Great to see you, Min Jae-yul. First time, right?" vibes.
Lost in that thought—
"Jae-yul, long time."
"Whoa, Director!"
Jung Hee-soo director, beer in hand, casual stroll, sat beside him.
"How long's it been?"
"Feels like ten years."
"Damn, that long? Makes sense—my debut feature. Doing well?"
"Hanging in. Hey, Director, drop the formalities."
Jung Hee-soo pondered, then nodded.
"Sure? Tough going casual with kid actors."
"Not a kid anymore. Twenty-six."
"Already?"
They chatted easy after that.
In Min Jae-yul's eyes, Jung Hee-soo had top-tier character.
Especially compared to directors since starting at 14.
Vibe stayed smooth.
"You and Director Do tight?"
"Tighter than with average directors. Why?"
"Post-wrap, feels like I'm the only one without that bond."
Intentional nudge.
Maybe Jung passes it along.
Response? Off-script.
"He low-key leaves folks out."
"Huh? Outcast?"
"Speaking of—At Your Fingertips too. Snagged the whole Criminal Community team bar me. Fair?"
Say unfair, and I'm slamming Im Woon-jae director?
Min Jae-yul swallowed the retort, smiled.
"That's director turf, I wouldn't..."
"Think: shot together, look back—me missing. Even sound and art directors..."
Awkward at first, but their plights mirrored.
"Actually, me too..."
Soon they were hunkered at a table, shots flowing.
Min Jae-yul built some rapport.
Headache hit; stepped out.
Not booze—management staff clinging like glue.
Networking's the point, but overkill.
Next projects? Staying at SSK? Unknown actor picks? Acting coaching gigs?...
Even knew about my Enflicks scout offer.
Thought it was pro schmoozing at first—too much.
"Something up?"
Muttered to self; reply flew back.
"Fun, right?"
Jeon So-ra.
Still rocking super-oversize windbreaker.
Man, wanna see her summer fit.
"Work? Too soon—could flop or smash. But Do Hyun-woo's fun."
"What kind?"
"Turns 15-year script E-sports, grabs Criminal Community writers as assists for youth vibe. Entry-level 2-year vet owns 10-billion value; short cash? Pulls strings. MV director's a gem. Nabbed me?"
She shrugged.
"Weird not to bond."
Odd talent.
Praise usually embarrasses; from her, it's script analysis.
"Huh, yeah."
"Industry rewards talent and fun— he's both."
Curiosity piqued.
"You're talented too, sunbae."
"Duh."
"Fun?"
Jeon So-ra smirked.
"Need next lead actress? Hit me."
Pretty fun, then...
"Tricky."
"Why?"
"Seo Jae-yeon might kill me."
Samo-yeon was impossible for Seo Jae-yeon.
Lee Min-seon's original: 45.
Jeon So-ra joined: down to 42, chaebol heir tweak: 40.
Korea-yeong's age shaved to 44 too.
Jeon So-ra too youthful for 40s—old-age makeup all shoot.
Seo Jae-yeon grabbing hair over not casting her? Endless.
Logic bounces off.
Cast Jeon for next lead?
Dead before production.
Nearly died recently: called her washed-up, she fired back I'd fade first.
"What's with you two? Beyond sunbae-hoobae."
"Hwanung and Ungnyeo."
"...?"
"I made her."
Jeon So-ra laughed in disbelief.
"So no me for real?"
"Honestly? Yeah. How not?"
20s script? Seo Jae-yeon first. 30s? Jeon So-ra.
"So what's the beef? First time seeing Jae-yeon guard someone."
"I outacted her. First in her life, she said."
"Ah."
Yeah.
Seo Jae-yeon acting genius, but their film? No contest.
Jeon was possessed.
"Next meet, she'll crush me—says I won and dipped."
"You know?"
"What?"
"Finale day, Jae-yeon sent food truck. Last win counts."
"Haha."
Jeon So-ra laughed, pointed to BBQ lot.
"That yours?"
"Huh?"
Checked: beverage truck.
Coffee, soda, hangover cures, even slushies.
Not everyday for parties, but not rare.
Hangover prevention's smart.
Issue...
Not from Seo Jae-yeon.
[Praying for the blockbuster of At Your Fingertips - Jang Gi-un]
A name I'd forgotten...
What's his angle?
"Whoa, beverage truck?"
"Director, safe to drink?"
Nodded to actors, grabbed a slushie.
Brain freeze hit hard...
But tasty.