Life, Once Again!

After Story 243

“Hyung, you come to this spot.”

Maru walked in the direction Yoonseok was walking. The path circled around the round table in the middle of the store to the bookshelves and then to the displays near the glass wall.

“Hyung-nim. I want to follow Maru-hyung with a high angle, but it would be hard to do so here, right?” Yoonseok asked Jung Namsoo, the camera director.

“Not looking down from a fixed position, but actually following from behind?”

“Yes, like that.”

“That’s gonna be hard. We don’t have the equipment. If someone can give me a ride on their shoulders and walk perfectly straight, then it would work. The ceiling is low here and we can’t install rails either, so that’s gonna be the best option.”

Maru had the same opinion.

They weren’t using an open-style set, but a real shop with all four walls and a ceiling. They had trouble setting up the lights because of the low ceiling, so something heavy like a camera was out of the question.

“I’m sorry. I should’ve thought about this beforehand.” Yoonseok tugged on his hair.

Maru could understand that. No matter how good the storyboard was, its insufficiency was bound to be revealed during the shoot.

Maru called director Jung and Yoonseok.

“Namsoo-hyung. Should we bring a shopping cart from a nearby supermarket and shoot it that way? I think it’d be okay if we can deal with the sound of the wheels,” Maru said.

“I thought about that too. I even tried it last time. But we won’t have any space because of the placement of the furniture. This table, that drawer, and that shelf need to be gone. The bigger problem is that if we want to shoot according to the path director Lee wants, we’ll have to remove the table when the camera goes past and put it back in there when turning around, so I don’t think we can do that in a cramped space like this.”

With the camera director describing the difficulties, it was time for the producer to collect the opinions and make a decision.

Maru looked at Yoonseok.

“I think this cut will be very important. If we can get a cut of Daejoo from behind on the ceiling, it will feel really stifled. I want to mix some music and the actor’s monologue afterward as well.”

“I see what you’re trying to do.”

Director Jung scratched his hair and looked around, seemingly looking for another method.

“What is it?”

Yoon Hojin, the lighting director, came over after finishing his work.

“Hey, give us some ideas, can you?”

He explained the situation and asked for advice from director Yoon, who had a lot of experience with shoots.

“Namsoo’s right. Namsoo, how much do you weigh?”

“Me? About 65 kilos.”

“I think that should be light enough? Hey, Bangjoo!”

Director Yoon called for Bangjoo, who was leaving with a bunch of light fixtures. Maru clicked his fingers as he looked at Bangjoo who came over after replying.

“Why didn’t I think of Bangjoo?”

“He’s pretty quiet, so people don’t know that he exists until he starts acting. Bangjoo, do you think you can give Namsoo a ride on your shoulders?”

Hearing director Yoon’s question, Bangjoo stood in front of director Jung.

“I can, but he’ll have to balance himself up there. It’d be better if someone could help him from the side.”

Bangjoo bent down. Director Jung cautiously got on Bangjoo’s shoulders. Bangjoo stood up without much difficulty.

“What were we going to do without you?” Maru said as he looked at Bangjoo.

Bangjoo smiled timidly.

“Try giving me the camera. Mr. Bangjoo here is reassuring. I think this is going to be easier than I expected.”

Namsoo received the camera and put it on his shoulder.

“This, I don’t think I can change the focus like this. Director Lee, this is a continuous shot without any change in distance, right?”

“Yes. There shouldn’t be a need to change the focus at all.”

“Then instead of changing the focus… Mr. Daejung, please hold my waist. I might start shaking the camera once we start moving.”

The focus puller grabbed director Jung’s waist. Bangjoo, who was holding on below, waited without batting an eyelid.

“Are you okay?” Maru asked Bangjoo.

“I’m okay. It turns out all that working out is useful, huh.”

“You’re a godsend. I know we called you here as an actor, but you’re doing all sorts of things aside from that too.”

“It’s something I like doing. Also, I get along with director Yoon Hojin quite well. I’m learning quite a lot of things.”

Director Yoon, who was listening, laughed loudly. As a man with a rowdy personality, director Yoon seemed to have taken a liking to the manly and quiet Bangjoo and taught him various things starting on the first day.

“Director Yoon, Bangjoo is a junior I care a lot for, so please look out for him.”

“Even if you didn’t tell me that, I look out for him a lot. Do you know how hard it is to come across smart youngsters like him these days? So Bangjoo, quit being an actor and learn lighting from me. You’ll start earning money in no time.”

“No, I’m going to be an actor.”

“What an upright lad. I’m always open, so come to me whenever you change your mind.”

Director Yoon tried poaching Bangjoo every single day, and Bangjoo refused every single time. The two of them got along pretty well.

“We’re starting the shoot,” Jiseon shouted.

She was working also as the scripter and came over to Maru to check for double-action scenes.

“Maru-oppa, you were holding a book in your left hand.”

“Thanks. Were my clothes like this?”

“Undo the top one.”

Maru undid one button. The stylist came over to touch up his hair and fix his makeup.

“You sweat quite a lot,” said the stylist as she rubbed the powder with her thumb.

“That’s why I’m getting a lot of help from you.”

Maru shook his wrist to collect his mind into one place.

“I’m going to stop here for about five seconds and then turn around to start.”

He listened to Yoonseok’s explanation and drew out the movements in his head.

“I know you’re very good at acting with your back, so I’ll leave that to you.”

“Leave the flattery for later. I feel like you’re going to do the shoot again.”

“I’m not an again-man, saying again all the time. I keep things to one shot when it’s good. I just thinking that you could show me more and that I could shoot more of you when I shoot again. Anyway, please do a great job, actor Han.”

Yoonseok made a circle with his fingers before going over to the monitor.

Maru winked at Bangjoo, who was carrying the camera director on his shoulders, and then turned around. He calmed his breathing. When he was about done with his internal check, he could hear a voice.

“Camera.”

“8 dash 2 dash 1.”

The clap of the slate dissipated. Maru waited for the director’s voice that would push his back.

“Action.”

He was given the instruction, so it was time to move. He put thought into each of his steps and walked around the store.

This cut did not require a subjective interpretation on the actor’s part at all. It was entirely the director’s message that had to be conveyed.

He moved his feet according to the path that he had learned during the rehearsal. He moved his gaze from right to left and turned his head slightly as well.

While his expression would not be caught on camera, the body was interconnected. If he missed the trivial things, it was bound to show on everything else.

He picked up the book that the director pointed out before and turned the hardcover. He heavily flipped over the rather weighty-feeling book cover and expressed the stifling and pressuring feeling as much as possible.

A glance outside the glass wall and then a glance at the bookshelf. He acted out the movements that were predetermined for him without making a mistake.

He knew perfectly where he had to go and what he had to do, so his body couldn’t respond to any stimulation. It had to look natural. He had to convey the feeling that his heavy heart was leading his actions.

He put his left hand on the table and let out a deep sigh, imbuing a lump of his feelings of forfeit inside it.

He felt a sense of resistance every time he took a step as though his lower body was submerged in water.

Emotions ruled his body. This was a good signal. It should look pretty decent on the camera.

“If I get chased out of here…”

He became the Yoo Daejoo from the film and looked at the ceiling with empty eyes while being careful not to look at the camera lens that was right next to him. He slowly raised his hands to rub his face.

Ring~

The glass door opened. It was just the right time.

“Uhm, I’m here to look at some books,” said the actress who came in through the door with a look of confusion.

That actress had decent skills. She couldn’t show her skills properly during the rehearsal due to nervousness, but it seemed that she had gotten herself together while waiting for the shoot.

“Ah, okay. Come in and take a look around,” he said with a smile.

Even the stifling reality was an afterthought in the face of a customer. When the actress playing the customer came inside the store, a ‘cut’ sound hit his ears.

Maru shook his head once and spun his shoulders around until it made a cracking sound. After focusing on walking in a stiff posture all this time, he was feeling sore all over his body.

“What did I tell you? Didn’t I tell you it’ll end in one go?”

Yoonseok created a heart with his two hands. Maru walked over to the monitor to have a look at the scene they just shot. Not to mention the camera director, even Bangjoo stood next to him.

“The slight glimpse of your side right here perfectly matches what I had in mind. No, it’s even better. Also, Miss Yaeun! You were much better than during the rehearsal. You aren’t pretending to be bad to tease me, right?”

“No way.”

Calling out the minor actress’ name, Yoonseok tried to liven up the atmosphere.

On the first day of the shoot, he was very timid in front of the staff and the actors, but now, he seemed to have enough leisure to look around him more. It was a positive change.

“Hello, I’m here.”

Moon Seokjin said hello and came in. Maru said as he looked at Seokjin, “You’re here.”

“I’m not late, am I?”

“You’re early every time.”

Yoonseok also welcomed Seokjin. Seokjin had an easygoing personality and smiled a lot, so he got along with the staff members as well. From what he saw, Seokjin would buy some coffee and talk to anyone who seemed to be having a hard time. In many ways, he was like lubricating oil.

Thanks to that, Maru was able to focus on being the character. A film was truly an art created by multiple people.

“Hello!”

“Haeun’s here.”

Following that, Ahn Haeun came in. Although not as much as how she acted during the rehearsal, she was a cheerful person by nature, so many people burst into laughter on the days Haeun came for the shoot.

He said hello to Haeun before looking at Seokjin.

Seokjin looked at Haeun for a moment before nodding as a greeting. Haeun also nodded back without saying anything.

“Shall we take a small break?” Maru said after looking at the two.

Yoonseok also coughed slightly and said that they should rest for a bit.

“Bangjoo, about this thing you told me last time.”

Seokjin called Bangjoo and left the store. Seokjin met Haeun on his way out, and the two of them avoided each other excessively.

“Oh my lord,” Yoonseok despaired quietly.

“Looks like those two will stay like that. This is going to be uncomfortable.”

“Why don’t you try meditating if you’re not good with it?”

He said to Yoonseok, “I talked to them about it and both of them are willing to keep going as things are now. They’re more comfortable acting like they don’t know each other. They’re bright people, but they’re so frosty towards each other. I feel like there’s a tundra being made whenever those two meet.”

Maru looked at Haeun, who was talking to another actor, and Seokjin, who was outside. There was only one problem in this shoot that didn’t seem to have any problems. If equipment broke, they could fix it or replace it, but handling human relationships was delicate.

“Hyung, any good ideas?”

“What am I to you? An almighty tool?”

“You aren’t?”

Maru tapped on Yoonseok’s arm.

“I’m not.”

He leaned against the wall with the script.