NOVEL WEB Episode 43 - NG
“Yeon-woo! Your accent was just spot-on with Pierre Choi. The moment I heard it, I thought, ‘This must be how Pierre talks,’ as I imagined from the script.”
“Really? Thank you. So, after the break, I’ll make my entrance, right, our deer noona?”
In response to Yeon-woo, Han So-hyeon grinned and gestured with a V sign.
“Anticipate it! I love this role so much, and I prepared really hard. I’ll show you the seductive temptation of Jennifer the deer.”
“Hahaha. I’m looking forward to it.”
After the break, the script reading continued. Han So-hyeon, unlike her usual lively and bouncy image, portrayed her character with a calm and slow tone, delivering seductive lines.
Yeon-woo was taken aback by this different side of Han So-hyeon and looked at her with wide eyes. The script reading progressed smoothly, and the actors began to grasp each other’s acting styles and the chemistry between their lines as they went through the mid-to-late scenes.
One month passed after the script reading, and the actual filming began. Yeon-woo was so busy with filming that he didn’t even attend the university entrance ceremony. He had submitted a deferment request for the first semester of his freshman year and focused on filming. By now, they had completed most of the early scenes in the movie.
Yeon-woo and Ma Seok-do sat in front of a monitor, watching as Han So-hyeon performed.
“Oh, is it supposed to be like this?”
The golf ball arced shallowly and fell weakly. Jennifer, with her long hair swaying, was playfully practicing her swing with a seductive touch at the golf range.
Park Kang-woo, who was interested in Jennifer, approached her.
The ‘deer’ Jennifer intentionally approached Park Kang-woo as part of the plan to switch his smartphone’s SIM card.
“Miss, would you like me to show you a thing or two?”
Park Kang-woo handed over his golf club to his henchman standing behind him, offering assistance while sporting a sly grin.
“Oh, I’d love that. I thought I learned, but I’m not doing well.”
She seductively licked her lips and leaned her golf club on the ground while subtly showcasing her curvaceous body.
With a smirk, Park Kang-woo walked over to Jennifer’s tee and playfully teased her about her posture correction.
According to the information gathered by ‘Junk Dealer’, the specialist responsible for data collection among the experts recruited by Pierre Choi, there were three things Park Kang-woo couldn’t resist: golf, poker, and women.
Jennifer’s role in Pierre Choi’s operation was to naturally approach Park Kang-woo, switch the hacked SIM card with the one provided by Gwak Ji-cheol, and turn on the phone.
“Oops, sir, you left your phone here.”
Jennifer placed the phone on the water cooler and called Park Kang-woo.
“Well, get yourself together, boss. Hahaha. You lost your concentration because the lady is so beautiful.”
With a sensual pronunciation, Park Kang-woo approached Jennifer again, commenting on her beauty.
Despite the face he made, Jennifer smiled sweetly and playfully.
The entire process was being monitored through the monitor, with Pierre Choi and Gwak Ji-cheol watching it from a small room.
“Cut. Let’s take a short break and do it again.”
The dry remark from Director Park Chan-hong echoed in the air.
Ryu Yeon-woo sighed, and as he got up and stretched, Ma Seok-do patted his shoulder. The staff members were generally fond of Yeon-woo because of his approachable and friendly demeanor. However, he was feeling a bit tired today, given the slow progress.
Even the seasoned cinematographer Kang-in Chan, who had established a good working relationship with Yeon-woo since their previous project, approached him, giving him a silent pat on the back to encourage him.
Today, under these circumstances, Yeon-woo was feeling a bit mentally shaky.
‘What should I do? Is there something more creative I can try?’
This scene had been re-shot throughout the morning. The reason for the reshoots was Yeon-woo’s consecutive NGs.
Yeon-woo, who had rarely experienced any NGs, even in commercials from “Summer Promise” to “Spring Lovers,” was struggling. However, it wasn’t entirely his fault, the problem lay with the script.
Director Park Chan-hong valued the spontaneity and improvisation of actors on set, as he had emphasized during the script reading. In this scene, Jennifer and Park Kang-woo watched a video they had pre-recorded, and it had to be played as if they were hacking a CCTV feed in real time. The script simply mentioned, “Pierre Choi and Gwak Ji-cheol have a conversation while watching the CCTV.”
Director Park wanted actors to deliver freely improvised lines that suited their characters. For Yeon-woo, who was diligent and analyzed the script thoroughly, this was a big challenge.
‘Ah, I lack creativity.’
As the director’s “Okay” sign continued to elude him, Yeon-woo started reproaching himself for diligently living through past lives and the present one.
“Let’s have lunch, everyone!”
The assistant director’s announcement signaled a break for lunch.
While walking to have lunch, Yeon-woo kept pondering.
“It’s okay, Yeon-woo. Keep your chin up. Meeting the director’s expectations is not easy.”
“Yeah, in our previous project, how many days was it without an NG record for actor Baek Seong-woon? Four?”
“It was five. Five days in that car scene.”
Staff members walked past Yeon-woo, offering words of encouragement, reminding him that they had faced even tougher situations in the past.
Yeon-woo’s shoulders were slumped, and Ma Seok-do, who had received his meal tray from the catering truck, sat down beside him.
“Kid, it’s okay. I was bad at ad-lib when I was a rookie too. Besides, the ad-lib in this scene is excessively long.”
“Exactly. Seok-do hyung, it’s so tough. Whew.”
Yeon-woo had to ad-lib for almost 20 seconds while watching the screen.
Due to the nature of his role, Pierre Choi had to take the lead in the conversation.
“Yeon-woo, try to think of it more lightly. If you were late during school days and had to come up with excuses to your teacher on the spot, those were ad-libs too, weren’t they?”
In fact, whether he was an orphan, an agent, or even in his reincarnated life, Yeon-woo had never told a lie to a teacher. Seok-do’s advice didn’t resonate much with him, but he reluctantly nodded.
Yeon-woo had always relied heavily on the script and had acted perfectly through meticulous analysis and thorough practice since he began acting. It was his unwavering dedication that was now hindering him.
Yeon-woo went to a quiet corner of the set to contemplate without eating lunch, then made a phone call. The phone connected after a brief ring.
[Uh, yes, Yeon-woo.]
The voice on the other end of the line sounded like someone muttering something.
“Are you busy, sir?”
[No, uh, I was just having jjampong with Mr. Kim.]
At this moment, Jung Cheol-min was the one who provided the most strength to Yeon-woo. Yeon-woo explained the current situation in detail to him.
After listening to the explanation, Cheol-min paused, deep in thought, seemingly oblivious to the hot steam rising from his jjampong.
Yeon-woo waited in silence, and eventually, Cheol-min spoke up.
[Yeon-woo.]
“Yes, sir.”
[Do you remember the day you first came to me with your father? Oh, the day I tested you for acting?]
“Are you talking about the day when I went for an acting test by myself?”
[Yes, that day. The acting you did when I asked you to try various things back then, though it wasn’t as polished as it is now, was raw and without a script.]
Yeon-woo listened silently to Cheol-min’s words.
[Back then, I had you play the role of a spoiled chaebol heir when I mentioned it, and then a limping retired soldier when I mentioned that…]
“Yeah, that’s right.”
Cheol-min’s voice came through the phone.
[Back then, I was convinced you were a genius. It’s like you were behaving as if you had embodied that kind of person. It was… a kind of desperation, I guess.]
When Yeon-woo heard Cheol-min’s last words, he shuddered as if he had been struck by something.
Life as the familiar Ryu Yeon-woo had become.
Family members he had come to truly regard as family.
Worries about whether his adaptation to school was going well.
Actors and staff members who had genuinely become close friends.
Manager Min-soo, stylist Yeeun, and the many people surrounding Yeon-woo.
The identity of Jeon Su-hwan, which had gradually become more distant, and the memories from his past life.
Yeon-woo was content with his current life, but the life of Jeon Su-hwan and his past memories remained important elements shaping who he was.
He had been trained as an intelligence agent, ready to infiltrate any place.
He had been trained as an operational agent, ready to handle any situation.
“Teacher, definitely, it can’t be without you. You’re the best.”
[Uh, um? Hahaha. I guess I was of some help. Thankfully, Yeon-woo.]
“When I go to Daejeon, I’ll come to see you right away.”
Yeon-woo exchanged greetings with Cheol-min and ended the call. He then made a determined expression and hurried over to Manager Min-soo.
“Minsoo hyung, please, listen to my request. It’s important.”
After finishing their lunch, the staff members returned to their positions, checking the shooting equipment and preparing for the afternoon shoot.
Minsoo came rushing in, drenched in sweat, at the studio entrance.
“Pant, pant. I found it.”
Breathing heavily, Minsoo had rushed there with all his might. Yeon-woo put what Minsoo had found into his pocket and tightly held Minsoo’s hand with both of his.
” Minsoo hyung, thank you so much. You’re the best manager!”
Upon hearing those words, Minsoo, who seemed like he was about to pass out from exhaustion, couldn’t help but smile.
Minsoo raised his thumb without saying a word, and Yeon-woo followed suit, raising his thumb as well, and looked around the studio.
Then, with enthusiasm, he walked to the center of the set and shouted loudly.
“For the afternoon shoot, I’ll do even better! Please count on me!”
The sudden outburst from Yeon-woo made the staff members, who were checking the equipment, stop and look at him. Soon, they all responded with smiles.
“Go, our lead actor! Fighting!”
“Pierre Choi, let’s go!”
With that, the chaotic atmosphere that followed lunch was organized, and the shooting resumed.
“Scene number 34. Ready, action.”
With the director’s words, the shooting began again. Yeon-woo watched the monitor screen, focusing on his cues.
“I am Pierre Choi. A person who shows the duality between a con artist and a giant, Condorf and Ronagan.”
With a changed gaze, Yeon-woo looked at Ma Seok-do, who was sitting next to him, watching the screen.