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O Director had just barely managed to submit Sai-bi Church Maknae Son to the Arena Short Film Festival.
Since it was a short film with limited footage, and he'd edited it on the fly during shooting, he was able to finalize it right on the last day of filming today.
'Though today was just a few pick-up shots on the actors' backs.'
O Director rubbed his gaunt face. The dark circles under his hollow eyes seemed to tell the story of the emotional rollercoaster he'd been on these past few days.
'Honestly, I thought I was done for.'
That had been his mindset in the early stages of shooting.
Why... why is everyone so unnecessarily good at acting...?
Lee Tae-gyu, Han Joo-hyuk, Cheon Yoo-seong—of course. Even Yang Se-hee, who had to play the unexpected character hiding the twist, melted into her role with insane adaptability as time went on, turning the already burdensome mid-shoot into pure pressure.
Can I even direct these monsters...?
In the end, O Director had leaned hard into a technique to fill in what he'd been lacking back then.
Ad-libs... they really are the best move.
Ad-libs. Yang Se-hee and Cheon Yoo-seong were a bit lacking, sure.
But Lee Tae-gyu and Han Joo-hyuk, the main engines of the plot, had fused so completely with their roles that they could deliver elder cultist vibes no matter what lines they were given. Some scenes could even be filled entirely with 'ad-libs.'
'...Freaking maniacs.'
Even thinking back now, it was laughably insane ad-lib skill.
Especially Lee Tae-gyu. In the final shooting scene, he'd been the cult elder incarnate.
'He straight-up devoured my script and digested it completely.'
Honestly, it was a little creepy.
If anything, exaggerated a bit, the guy could wander around Seoul Station looking like that and start his own religion named after himself before the day was out.
'Whew.'
Recalling Tae-gyu, who had pulled off perfect ad-libs without a script, O Director suddenly thought:
'Thank God it's peacetime.'
If it had been an era of chaos—O Director shuddered at the thought of how that acting talent might have been wielded.
The next day.
A large studio buzzing with the Monster City production team, fans of the cast, and entertainment reporters for the press conference.
Kim Gija nodded slowly.
'Now the real show begins.'
The viral buzz he'd engineered with Do Yoon-seop would use this press conference as a springboard to swell one final time.
The last promo chance before airtime—this one was sucking it dry, full throttle.
Even in the still-chilly weather, the crowd's heat was scorching.
'SBC definitely sharpened their knives.'
Kim Gija thought it was pretty big-scale.
Just as the murmurs began to die down, the Monster City event kicked off proper.
"Alright, first up, the stars of Monster City!"
Photo time to start.
The actors stepped into the photo zone on stage one by one, facing fans and reporters with massive cameras.
"Photo time for actor Han Joo-hyuk!"
"Next, photo time for Namgoong Yong-su!"
"Now, photo time for O Dae-ho—"
After the leads and key supporting actors' sessions, tables, chairs, and lights quickly filled the stage.
"Hey, everyone! Great to see you!"
With the MC grabbing the mic, the main event began.
"It's March 3rd—thanks to everyone here for joining the production press conference for SBC's new weekend drama Monster City, airing its premiere this week. Let's get started!"
On stage, the Monster City stars sat behind a long table.
The MC turned to them and continued.
"This Monster City is one I'm personally super excited about. Han Joo-hyuk here, returning to the small screen after so long! With a top-tier actor like him on board so willingly—this drama is—"
Naturally introducing the leads and giving a quick rundown, the MC wrapped up, launching the full press conference.
Production thoughts... toughest shoots... similarities between roles and selves... cast chemistry...
Time flew as questions and answers bounced.
Usually, reporters use the photos and quotes from this for promo pieces and call it a day. But big-scale ones add one more thing.
"So, that'll wrap up today's production press conference... or not!"
The MC playfully trailed off.
"Some of you reporters might have burning questions I haven't scratched yet!"
This was pre-arranged.
"So, Q&A time! Ask away—no holding back. Our actors and PD will clear it all up nice and crisp!"
The reporters had questions, naturally.
Standard setup: 4 key cast members plus one PD sharing thoughts.
But...
This setup, allowing public/private questions about hot topic Lee Tae-gyu, showed how exploded public curiosity about him was—enough for the Monster City team to milk it.
"Ask whatever you want!"
The MC, knowing this, had breezed past any real comments on Tae-gyu.
Setting the stage.
But the second the MC finished...
Silence blanketed the hall.
"...Reporters? Just ask your questions."
Handing reins to the entertainment press flipped the vibe instantly; even the MC looked a tad flustered.
'As expected.'
Kim Gija knew why.
They had tons of doubts about Monster City itself—and especially the scorching rookie Lee Tae-gyu—but right now, they were just eyeing each other.
First off, most here weren't planning to run press conference articles 'immediately.'
Why? Because that morning, most had gotten one of two texts from Go Seon-hyeong.
The first for those who'd attended Italian Romance's presser days ago; the second for the rest.
Slight personal tweaks per text, but the gist was one: You're with us, right?
That's how this industry rolls.
Stars—writers, actors, directors—routinely remember every reporter who's ever dropped even a whiff of bad nuance on them as rookies.
Super sensitive to grudges.
Especially Go Seon-hyeong, infamous for holding them. Writing about Monster City now—now that she'd 'noticed' it—meant getting etched in her memory.
'...If they write at all, it'll be post-premiere.'
Kim Gija shook his head.
Even more so right before premiere.
When even malicious articles could promo the drama, most reporters here were hesitating to write anything on this Monster City presser she'd 'noticed.'
'They'll drag feet with excuses.'
Power balance was clear.
Hot-shot Go Seon-hyeong, Ji Kyung-ho, Joo Min-hee-led Italian Romance vs. has-been writer and PD Monster City.
Obvious winner, right?
'Still, eyeing each other for the first question is a bit much.'
Hence the stare-down over who breaks ice.
"........."
"........."
"........."
Honestly, no need to drag it this far.
Once the dam breaks at a presser this size, questions flood. Even Go Seon-hyeong couldn't stop that.
But.
'Yeah, she could clock who asked first.'
That's it. No point risking her blacklist.
Reporters cleared throats, peeking glances.
"........."
"........."
"........."
Then.
Wooong—!
A mic feedback whine suddenly rumbled through the speakers.
And Han Joo-hyuk, at the long table, casually passed his mic to the rookie at the end.
Perfectly natural.
The lead—highest 'rank' here by far—handing off to a newbie, and the newbie taking it without batting an eye.
"?"
"?"
"?"
Question marks etched on reporters' faces.
The vibe shifted.
The rookie slowly pushed back his chair and stood.
And something weird happened: eyes that had been glancing sideways locked straight on him.
Not just reporters—everyone.
Like a magnifying glass focused the whole room's attention on him.
Aura.
His sudden blazing presence drew every eye to his every move.
Hard to pin why.
His stance, gaze, the way he gripped the mic.
Mystery? Awe? That 'something' in each pulled unbearable curiosity from every reporter: What will he say?
This was just the start.
They say in this biz, voice is the power of the soul.
"Questions."
The rookie's oddly solemn voice boomed through the mic across the hall.
"......Accepted."
The reporters' frozen hearts thawed, unbidden.
They cleared throats, hands rising tentatively, one by one.
Battle day.
MBS's ace drama Italian Romance finally hit Korean living rooms.
But.
'...What the hell.'
Go Seon-hyeong's brow furrowed at the entertainment news feed.
It's always like that.
Trivial foes tripping you up irks more than big shots.
'These punks...'
Her mood soured.
Grind.
Go Seon-hyeong etched the names of these last-minute backstabbers into her chest.
Suddenly popular, thinking they'd chase clicks.
'Short-sighted idiots.'
She smirked.
One day—that's all. Center of buzz would swing back to Italian Romance.
This time around, she'd weed out losers doubting her wins more strictly.
And.
'Lee Tae-gyu? You're blacklisted from my works forever.'
Just some flash-in-the-pan rookie daring to irk her—she'd remember that unlucky name.
"Writer-nim! Come on, set's ready!"
"...Yeah."
And so.
Italian Romance vs. Monster City premiere day.
War... commenced—!