Filming set
"So… should we try a quick take?"
"Oh, absolutely."
Well, since I'm here, might as well give it a shot.
"But… won't the staff have to go through unnecessary trouble because of me?"
It's not like filming is just holding up a camera and pressing record. Wouldn't I be bothering them too much? But the toad director just waved it off.
"No, it's fine. In fact, I can shoot this myself right now."
"Oh, really?"
"Of course. I've got the equipment, and remember—I started as crew before becoming a director. I can handle it better than most of the active guys."
"Trust the director. He's great at this."
"Well… sure."
Not like I had a choice anyway.
And honestly, would I even be able to tell the difference between "good" and "bad" filming? They're all pros here.
"In the meantime, why don't you try memorizing the script? If it's too hard, you can even hold it in your hand while acting. It's just a test, after all. Haha!"
He handed me a script with a broad smile.
When did they prepare this? A young staffer had been running around earlier—was that him printing this off?
I felt like I was inconveniencing everyone again, but… oh well. It's not like I asked for this. Might as well just go with the flow.
"Is this all I need to memorize?"
To be honest, calling it a "script" felt generous—it was only a few sheets of paper.
Most of it was just context. What I actually had to memorize didn't even fill a page.
"Yes, take your time."
"Alright then."
One page? That was nothing.
I may not look it, but I'm good at memorizing.
While Chang-sik and the director busied themselves with setup, I quickly committed the lines to memory.
Yeah, nothing major. Just plaster on some confidence and toss out a few lines.
As I was staring at the script, Chang-sik came over.
"Already memorized?"
"Yes, all done."
"Wow, quick learner. That's a good trait."
Well, yeah. Not like being quick at memorizing is a bad thing. Weird thing to praise though.
"Shall we try it, then? Nervous?"
"How do I look?"
"Honestly, not nervous at all."
"Exactly. It doesn't feel real, so I'm not overthinking it."
It was so sudden that I couldn't even feel nervous.
And maybe intentionally, both the director and Chang-sik were keeping the atmosphere light, which made it less intimidating.
If that was their plan… well, guess I'll just play along.
"Alright, stand here. Just project your voice, and otherwise act natural."
"Got it."
Voice projection? I've been praised for that since my early streaming days. That part, I could handle.
So I stepped into the set with Chang-sik and went over the lines once more.
First, inside the recording booth, pretending to sing.
I didn't actually have to sing, right? But then Chang-sik spoke up.
"Could you at least pretend? Maybe hum a bit? You're good at singing, after all."
"Ah, okay."
Oh, so even for a test, I had to add that detail.
What should I sing?
My mind was flooded with Japanese songs, but I shoved them aside.
I settled on a ballad. As I sang lightly, the toad director stared at me in surprise.
Whoa, that look in his eyes was intense. Practically gleaming with hunger.
Anyway, I finished and stepped out of the booth, moving into the scene with Chang-sik.
"How is it?"
…Ugh. Thinking of it as "acting" made me cringe.
Still—
"Hmm, not bad."
I looked at him. The polite man from earlier was gone, replaced by someone entirely different.
His expression was languid, lethargic.
Whatever it was, it felt like real acting.
No way I could half-ass it now. Not that I had the ability to "half-ass act" anyway.
"Not bad? You really think so?"
I recited my memorized lines and sat down on the prepared sofa.
Funny, for a minor role, I was doing quite a bit.
It might've been only a page of script, but still—it was more than I expected.
I continued following along with the script, line by line.
…Wait, is this really supposed to be me?
The lines felt cocky. Or no—confident, maybe.
"Excellent work!"
As I stepped off set, the director beamed at me.
"How did it feel, giving it a try?"
"Uh… honestly, I don't know."
"Well then, let's take a look."
He pointed to a laptop set up nearby.
"You can monitor the footage right here."
"Oh…"
Monitoring. That sounded so professional. Made me feel like a real actress.
On the screen, the take we'd just shot was already playing.
Wow. Seeing my own face through the camera was a strange experience.
Maybe because I'd dressed up today… but I looked like I could slap a couple of established actresses out of the water.
And it wasn't just me thinking that—the director spoke up, impressed.
"Incredible. You look fantastic on camera. Honestly, you're wasted on just a minor role."
Well… I hadn't decided to take it yet.
But at least I realized: filming itself wasn't bad at all.
It was a good experience, honestly.
Maybe it'd even create a bit of buzz—though probably nothing long-lasting. Just a short sparkle.
Still, why was I hesitating? My thoughts were tilting toward accepting.
"What do you think, Soo-hyun? Looks good to you too, right?"
"Uh… yes."
"It's rare to look this good on camera from the very first take. Normally we call it 'camera massage'—stylists, makeup artists, and lighting all work together to make an actor look good. But you? You don't even need that."
…Bit much, isn't it? Could it really be that good?
Well, okay. I did look decent.
"He's not exaggerating. I thought it came out really well too."
And of course, Chang-sik chimed in, backing him up.
Not only that, he was standing right there next to the director, pretending not to be involved, tossing in casual comments.
Ugh. Still—when both the director and the lead actor go this far to hype you up over one test take…
Well… what reason is there not to?
"It really does look good on camera…"
"So then…?"
It's not like opportunities to appear in a movie come around often.
Someday, if I ever had kids, I could even brag about it.
The reasons to do it outweighed the reasons not to. Wasn't it stranger to refuse?
"…Alright. Should we look over the contract first?"
There was no way around it.
I was just… making the rational choice.
"Excellent decision! Now then, your agency…"
Agency? I sort of had one, but not really…
"Uh, I don't have one."
The Six was Miro's agency, not Kim Soo-hyun's.
The manager had made that very clear last time: Soo-hyun and Miro were separate.
So, practically speaking, this contract was mine alone to handle.
"You don't have an agency?"
Moon Chang-sik, who'd overheard enough of my earlier talks with the composer, looked a little surprised. But even if I did have one, I couldn't exactly rely on them for help.
"Yeah, so I can just sign it myself."
"No, that's not what I meant. Should I introduce you to mine?"
"Huh?"
Wait… could I even sign with two agencies at once?
I'd have to ask my manager about that.
But no, thinking it through—it's just a one-off shoot. Why would I need an agency for that?
"I don't think that'll be necessary."
"Really? Alright then."
Thankfully, Chang-sik didn't press the matter further, and I signed the contract.
It didn't say much—just the usual day-rate stuff.
And of course, the test footage we'd shot earlier wasn't going to be used.
They'd contact me later when it was time to shoot, and maybe the script would change a little. But film shoots are never perfectly smooth, so I just said I understood.
After signing, I stuck around to watch the real filming.
After all, where was I? On an actual movie set, with a top-tier actor like Moon Chang-sik right there.
I had to see him act properly before I left.
The other staff and actors gave me plenty of side-eyes—Who's she?—but it was tolerable.
And then—
"Wow."
Moon Chang-sik really was incredible.
I'd felt it during my test, but now… was that really the same man I'd been chatting with earlier?
Same face, but a completely different person.
So that's what it meant to be a professional actor.
Could I ever do that if I practiced?
Not that I wanted to practice—but still, I kind of wanted to be like that.
I stayed until the afternoon, watching them film, then grabbed a taxi home.
"What's this?"
"A famous director's autograph. Give it to Dad when he gets home."
Back home, I handed the autograph I'd gotten from the toad director to Ms. Jang, who was watching TV in the living room, and went straight to my room.
Well, that was that. Schedule over. Might as well stream a bit before dinner.
I went straight into the sound booth and started up my stream.
[Again today?]
My viewers really ought to treat me better.
Where else would they find a streamer who goes live this reliably?
hey hey
not this again
please stop
god damn it
another oshi hen, bye
Yep, that's the spirit.
Grinning at the fiery start in chat, I launched Beat Saber.
"You guys didn't love this game?"
bitch if you eat curry 3 days straight you get sick of it too
stop it already warning you now
i like it, screw the whiners
no, play League
just do café watch instead
"Alright, today let's clear this song."
Actor, singer, whatever—at the end of the day, streaming felt the most natural to me.
That must mean this is where I really belong.
I played Beat Saber for about thirty minutes straight, then shut it off once I got too exhausted.
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