Chapter 56
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Uncle's New Role
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Is it over now?
I asked Moon Heesung as he came back into the shop after hearing Cut!
Moon Heesung even had a brief solo scene outside the shop.
Just need to hear the final Okay and were good.
Mm-hmm. Got it.
How was your first shoot? Didnt get bored repeating the same scene over and over?
Id heard about it beforehand, but they ended up filming the same scene way more times than Id expected.
Angles focusing on Moon Heesung.
Angles focusing on me.
Then wide shots including the overall movement and blocking.
We had to repeat the same lines multiple times to cover everything.
The camera kept changing positions too, so I could see what Moon Heesung meant when he said its like performing for a single audience member who wont stop moving.
Bored?
Not at all.
Even repeating the same thing over and over, I was still acting.
I shook my head right away at his question.
It was all new to me.
Haha, really? You look bright despite how tiring it mustve been. Born actor, through and through.
My eyes sparkled as I said it, and he praised me, saying I did great.
Being in this young body really was a booneveryone showered me with affection.
I grinned and nodded, then whispered in his ear.
But... I wish the waiting wasnt quite so long.
Totally. Thats the tough part of drama shoots.
He nodded in agreement at my complaint about the endless downtime.
Looks like I wasnt the only one who felt that way.
Those two are really close.
Its like the friendship in our script is real life too.
Cha Il-nam watched the pair chatting casually after wrapping, eyes full of wonder.
Just then, the assistant director checking the monitor called out to him excitedly.
Man, this is looking solid as is, right, PD Cha?
Thats what Im saying. How much time did we shave off?
At least an hour. Everyone braced for tons of NGs since Sius a kid and its his first drama. But this wrapped up anticlimactically.
The production team huddled around the main monitor.
Led by Cha Il-nam, the assistant director and staff couldnt stop marveling at the footage theyd just shot.
That kids a natural. I knew it from the RUN show.
So were good to go with this?
Okay!
Cha Il-nams booming call echoed, followed by shouts to pack up from all over.
Declaring the shoot over to the staff, he replayed todays footage.
The highly anticipated final scene.
No lines, just expressionbut Han Sius face said it all.
Gazing at the stranger whod offered a warm touch, Han Siu looked utterly enchanted, soul stolen away.
Eyes misty, barely there.
A sparrow-like mouth, slightly agape.
The screen filled with the kids astonishing expression.
Could any line capture that first ray of light in a childs life better?
The assistant director next to him kept shaking his head.
The other staff, with less discerning eyes, might just think not bad for a kid.
But not him.
No matter how he sliced it, Han Siu was way beyond that.
PD Cha, no matter how I look at it, Sius no ordinary kid.
No kidding. Who else in Korea can hold their own against Moon Heesung without flinching, matching his energy blow for blow?
And if that actors only six?
Han Siu was probably one of a kind.
No matter how considerate Moon Heesung was on set, he couldnt hide his innate elegance.
Thats the kind of actor he was.
Shining even in rags.
And in front of him, Han Siu didnt shrinkinstead, he forged perfect chemistry.
Im feeling it. Feeling it big time.
Cha Il-nam had that gut punch the moment he saw the first footage today. Call it instinct, vibefeel, in English.
Yeah. The feel hit hard.
In this biz, those moments come.
When you just know its gonna work.
This was it.
You feel it too. These two will carry this drama.
Yeah. Once it blows up, we can drop that theyre actually buddies in real life.
Oh? Thats gold.
Exactly, PD Cha. Ive been around the block.
A friendship spanning thirty years.
That beautiful image was a key hook between the characters.
It shaped the whole dramas vibe.
Keep this chemistry going, and itd peak hard.
Feeling good.
Cha Il-nam grinned and yelled at Han Siu emerging from the shop.
Shoots wrapped for today! Good work!
Were home
Mom, Uncle, and I dragged our tired selves back home.
Pretty late, but Dad wasnt there.
Dad? Working late again?
I trailed after Mom, asking.
She smiled and said shed give him a call.
Meanwhile, Uncle and I went to the bathroom, washed up thoroughly, and came out.
Then we got serious about debating what to order for dinner.
Dads gonna be late again. Lets eat without him.
Mm-hmm!
Mom had been tagging along to my shoots, so we hadnt hit the chicken shop much latelyand Dads closing shifts stretched longer.
When I went to the theater, Uncle was there, it was close to home, and Mom didnt need to comeso Dad helped out at the shop a lot.
Alba crew short-staffed today?
Yeah, one guys out... Cant be helped. No shoot tomorrow, so Ill help close.
Brother-in-laws got it rough. More orders just means more hassle.
Dad used to hand off to the part-timers and come home for dinner.
Lately, too slammed for even that.
Lets get jokbal! Leftoversll be there for Dad.
Sure, Ill order.
Id been on a pork kick lately, so I suggested it to Mom and Uncle.
Sky dark now, so delivery for dinner.
Mom happily ordered jokbal from our usual spot.
Jokbals boiled pig trottersway tastier than youd think.
Chewy skin, juicy meat.
Different from crispy, chewy pork belly, so I craved it sometimes.
We tore into the jokbal excitedly while waiting for Dad, but by the time we cleared the table, he still wasnt home.
Still swamped with orderssays hell be late. Looks like youll have to sleep without seeing Dad, Siu.
Mm. Ill wait up and sleep then. No shoot tomorrow.
Wanna watch a bit of TV and wait with Mom?
Uncle, whod been listening to me and Mom, hemmed and hawed, then spoke up.
Ahem, so... Ive been thinking about this for a few days.
Hm? What about?
What if I were your manager, Siu?
Manager?
Moon Heesungs manager popped into my head.
The guy greeting staff warmly, passing out drinks, checking on Heesungs condition.
He played with me too, but calls always cut our fun short.
Heesung seemed freer during the long waits.
Thats busy work.
Uncle burst out laughing at my dead-serious tone.
Haha, thats cause you saw Moon Heesungs manager. Big stars like him get flooded with inquiries.
Hm?
Ads, shows, gigsoffers for work.
Oho!
Manager really meant manager, huh.
Handles the actor.
Oliver flashed in my mind for a sec, stinging, but I shook it off.
In Korea, Kim Sangcheol had pulled double duty as my manager amid his theater owner chaos.
But his real jobs running the troupe.
These days, actors work everywhere, not just one theater.
Even tied to Emergency Iron 777, Id branch outand he couldnt tag along everywhere.
Uncle mustve realized that too.
Watching Heesungs manager, I thought you needed one too, Siu. Look at youless than a year in, cast in a huge show, now leading golden-hour drama. Youll blow up more. Cant do it without a manager.
Ill tag along. What about what you wanna do?
Mom panicked at Uncles sudden pitch, trying to talk her brother down.
But he shook his head, resolute.
No, sis. Better meyounger, friendlierthan you.
What?
And kid actor moms meddling everywhere? Directors and staff hate it. You hate those looks too, right?
True, but... Ill just do it right.
Even during RUN, some moms hounded Jessica with demands.
Mom hated mingling with themI hadnt realized why.
Child actor culture was alien to me; fascinating stuff.
I know you wouldnt, sis, but people have biases about kid actor moms. Im more site-savvy than you.
Still...
I eyed back and forth as Uncle and Mom talked.
Mom fretted over sending me out with just him.
No matter how much I reassured her, to her I was still a six-year-old kid.
But Dads shop worried her too.
Her conflicted face showed it all.
I secretly rooted for Uncle.
Staff loved his easygoing vibe today; he fit right in.
I didnt want Mom tied to sets forever because of me.
I got bored just waitinghow must non-acting Mom feel?
Cmon, trust me once. Ive done tons of extra work chasing acting, love set life. Felt it on the Emergency Iron 777 stageIm not stage material. Way more rewarding seeing you get praise, Siu.
Yeah, I like being with Uncle. Commuting together to the troupe was fun.
Right?
Yep!
I piled on Uncles push.
Moms eyes wavered under our pincer attack.
Just her and me at the troupeno issues so far, probably clicked.
I like being with you too, Siu. My nephews too smart, huh? No tantrums, more grown-up than me.
Phew, I like Uncle too.
...Why the sigh?
FairUncles still in his twenties.
Prime age for boozing with buddies, yet after late troupe nights, hed skip detours, piggyback exhausted weak me home.
Mom had to appreciate that.
Argh, fine, you two win. Got it.
Really?
Yay!
I hugged Uncle tight and hopped around.
Now Dad could get home early too.
Get a used car, Siu?
Used car?
Gotta drive you to shoots.
Mom eyed Uncles excited future-planning worriedly.
But... you sure youre okay with it?
Well... yeah. Lingering regrets? Ill chase acting later.
I stopped bouncing, staring blankly at Uncle.
Hed decided to shelve his own acting dream.
Smiling about nailing manager duty, but that bitterness seeped through.
Hard to speak up, so today I zipped it, cheering him silently in my heart.
