Returnee's S-Rank Management Guide

First Filming (2)

'World of Superhumans', in which Shin Ah-yeon appeared as a supporting actress, had already started filming.

From the beginning, since Shin Ah-yeon was only a supporting character, she just needed to join in and film the scenes she appeared in.

Because of that, the atmosphere on set when she joined midway was rather chilly.

They had greeted each other once on the very first day of filming, but after that, this was practically the first time seeing her again.

"Hello, hunter Shin Ah-yeon-nim, it's an honor to meet you."

"We're looking forward to your wonderful acting."

As Shin Ah-yeon arrived on set, passing actors greeted her with simple nods, but that was all. None of the actors approached the seats where we sat.

Only strangely hostile gazes were directed our way.

'Surprisingly calm, huh?'

Even under such gazes, Shin Ah-yeon remained unexpectedly composed.

I thought for sure she would grumble, but this was unexpected.

"I want to go home and play games......."

'Guess not.'

Looking closely, her eyes were glazed over.

It seemed she was so nervous, her mind had gone blank.

When fighting Ji Yeon-hwa, that over-S-rank monster, she hadn't seemed this terrified, but now Shin Ah-yeon was trembling like a newborn fawn.

"Hey, hey, you prepared well, didn't you? There's no need to be that nervous."

"It's not you who has to do it......"

"Hunter Shin Ah-yeon-nim, could you come this way for a moment?"

"Oh! Yes, yes!"

Shin Ah-yeon said this as she was led by a staff member.

Since she arrived late, it seemed they were trying to help her quickly exchange greetings with the other actors.

If Shin Ah-yeon had been an ordinary rookie actress, she would have had to arrive on set first and carefully mind the senior actors.

But as a Hunter, Shin Ah-yeon clearly didn't know how to navigate the situation, and the other actors could only awkwardly accept her greetings, unsure of how to react.

"Ha, the world is truly coming to an end. Underestimating acting to this degree is just too much."

Still, there were those who openly displayed hostility.

Especially actress Lee Jeong-suk, a veteran in the acting world, and a few other actresses seemed distinctly unhappy with Shin Ah-yeon.

"I get that you're an impressive Hunter, but isn't that a Hunter thing? Jumping into acting out of nowhere......."

"I have no idea what the director is thinking."

Even when Cha Jae-seok, who heard Shin Ah-yeon had arrived, showed up, they whispered behind his back.

When Cha Jae-seok gave them a sharp glare, the actors looked away, but their displeased expressions remained.

"You're here, manager Park."

"Yes, hello, director Cha Jae-seok."

Ever since the meeting with the original author, we'd met intermittently, but Director Cha Jae-seok still found Shin Ah-yeon and me quite uncomfortable. Probably because of what happened during our first meeting, even though he tried to appear calm, it was obvious he was still wary.

"It's a bit awkward to say, but please just stick to the basics as much as possible."

His tone made it clear he did not have high expectations.

Well, fair enough.

After all, Shin Ah-yeon had only started acting a few months ago.

"You don't have to worry about that."

"...... I sincerely hope there aren't any problems, as you say."

With that, Cha Jae-seok moved to another spot to explain the scenes for today's shoot.

Among the staff bustling about, Shin Ah-yeon finished a brief round of greetings with the actors and returned with a pale face.

I hadn't seen an expression like that, not even during the dungeon exploration show, when so many lives were on the line.

"Did someone say something to you?"

"It's just, the aura here is so, like... should I say everyone's a celebrity? Or, seriously, social butterflies—everyone here is so different from me."

It was as if she were a mosquito trapped in a room full of mosquito coils.

For someone like her, surrounded by people whose energy and demeanor were so different, it was more than a little overwhelming.

"You've been on a bunch of shows, so what's the big deal?"

"I've only ever been on with other Hunters. The only celebrity I met was the MC. Actors have a whole different vibe......."

Sprawled out on a plastic chair, Shin Ah-yeon looked pretty funny.

'Really, even the other actors don't know how to handle her—it's about the same.'

Not everyone here was openly hostile to Shin Ah-yeon.

Just as the actors felt as if Shin Ah-yeon was from another world, she also felt like they were from another world.

Three years ago, Shin Ah-yeon had been one of just seven great mages in the world and South Korea's premier S-rank Hunter. Back then, her televised appearances showed her as the very epitome of a lofty great mage, and even after her glamorous return three years later, she was living up to her reputation.

Naturally, there were a few actors who wanted to talk with her but hesitated, unsure how to approach her, especially as she lay sprawled out like a dried squid on a plastic chair.

"Hunter Shin Ah-yeon-nim, I think you need to get your makeup done—could you move over here?"

"Huh?"

Just before official filming began, a staff member approached Shin Ah-yeon.

As if she finally realized she was actually about to shoot a movie, her face turned even paler.

"You've prepared for this, right?"

"I did, but......."

Reluctantly, Shin Ah-yeon nodded.

The staff, on the other hand, looked puzzled, not understanding our conversation.

"...... I'll go."

With that, Shin Ah-yeon trudged off, following the staff's lead.

She really looked like a cow being led to the slaughterhouse.

***

Veteran actress Lee Jeong-suk felt extremely uncomfortable with the current situation.

After all, for this 'World of Superhumans' shoot, it was not even an actor but a Hunter joining them.

'It annoys me enough when idols try to jump into acting.'

At least idols belong to the entertainment industry, but Hunters aren't even part of that.

Sure, she was aware that variety shows and broadcasts featuring Hunters had become extremely popular lately.

But that was still within the realm of ordinary shows or variety programs.

Filming a movie was an entirely different matter.

"Do you have any idea how many actors can't even land a single decent role?"

"Exactly, sunbae. It's not like she doesn't know she's famous—what's the point of taking away someone else's livelihood?"

"I wonder if her being here is just going to attract more Hunters and ruin the field for the rest of us."

Lee Jeong-suk's sharp remark was quickly echoed by her manager, who joined in badmouthing Shin Ah-yeon.

"Hasn't she seen how other Hunters who tried never even got a proper part? I mean......."

"But those were all third-raters with no popularity—Shin Ah-yeon is a different story, and that's the problem."

The impact of S-rank Hunter Shin Ah-yeon was fundamentally different from when third-rate Hunters tried acting.

If she appeared in a movie and, even with lousy acting, the film still did well?

It was obvious how investors would respond in the future.

"They'll want to cast popular, good-looking Hunters like Shin Ah-yeon in movies and dramas."

No one knew how much money would be poured into this, but just the possibility was a problem.

If only Shin Ah-yeon showed outstanding acting skill, then at least it could be said that her success was due to her acting, not her Hunter fame......

"Oh."

That's when it happened.

Someone let out an exclamation of wonder.

Noticing the set was suddenly murmuring in excitement, Lee Jeong-suk turned her gaze.

And there stood Shin Ah-yeon, changed into the 'mage' costume for filming.

"Her looks, at least......"

Some of the actresses muttered in amazement.

They had seen countless beautiful faces, but Shin Ah-yeon's appearance was almost otherworldly by comparison.

If even the actresses reacted like that, the male actors were just as taken aback.

Even Cha Jae-seok, who'd gotten a taste of Shin Ah-yeon's wrath, couldn't help but be impressed by her appearance.

'I'd always thought her looks were exceptional, but...'

Although Shin Ah-yeon had appeared in many variety programs, those were always as a 'Hunter', so she hadn't bothered to dress up much.

'How does a Hunter look like this?'

But filming a movie was different.

Makeup that made her stand out more than anyone else truly made Shin Ah-yeon's stunning beauty bloom in full.

Even though she herself was stiff as a board, even that added to her elegant bearing.

The title 'great mage' wasn't just talk; even the fantasy costume she wore looked like it belonged to her naturally.

"Honestly, just looking at her, she's perfect for the role, director."

"Mm."

At the cinematographer's comment, Cha Jae-seok let out a low groan.

In terms of looks alone, she was the spitting image of a character pulled straight from the original 'World of Superhumans'.

No, she even had an impact that the art style of the original couldn't fully capture.

No wonder the original author supposedly based the character on Shin Ah-yeon.

"Certainly, her looks are impressive, but what really matters is her acting."

"Well, that's true enough."

As if warning not to be fooled by her appearance, Cha Jae-seok's words made the cinematographer nod. The visuals were shockingly good, but this was a movie shoot, not a photoshoot.

In the end, if the acting fell flat, it meant nothing.

Before filming, Cha Jae-seok explained the scenes they would shoot today.

"Okay, the first scene we'll film today is where the protagonist is driven into crisis, and Jin Se-yeon appears and saves him."

Those who had read the script nodded at his words.

The role Shin Ah-yeon played, according to the original author, was based on herself—the character 'Jin Se-yeon.'

For a first shot, it was a scene that required a lot of attention.

As Jin Se-yeon was rescuing the main character, it involved both action and serious acting.

"Um, wasn't the protagonist's first meeting with Jin Se-yeon in a different scene...?"

At Cha Jae-seok's words, Shin Ah-yeon timidly raised her hand and asked in a small voice.

Some of the other actors frowned slightly at her question, as if to say, "Don't you even know that?"

A nearby actress quickly explained on Cha Jae-seok's behalf.

"Usually, we film all the scenes that can be shot in one location at the same time. We don't shoot in chronological order."

"Oh, Ah... yes."

Shin Ah-yeon, flustered, ducked her head in thanks.

Other actors, watching her, thought this shoot was not going to be easy for her.

'How many NGs will she rack up already...'

'And she wants to act, huh?'

Once the situation was explained, Cha Jae-seok nodded.

"Alright, let's begin filming."

Today's location was a mountain.

In this scene, the protagonist is chased through the mountains by monsters summoned by his enemies, when Jin Se-yeon appears and saves him.

"Action!!"

At Cha Jae-seok's shout, the male actor playing the protagonist, Kim Do-yung's part, Yeon Kyung-ho, started running through the mountains.

His acting was so realistic it truly seemed as if he were being chased by monsters.

"Damn it! There's no point in running anymore...!"

Reciting his lines, the actor drew a prop sword and turned around, ready to fight rather than keep fleeing.

Of course, Yeon Kyung-ho was alone in the woods, but he acted as though a real monster stood before him.

Then, just as Jin Se-yeon was supposed to appear and rescue Kim Do-yung—

KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-BOOM!!!

Sometimes, when people are truly shocked, they can't even react properly.

That's what happened to Yeon Kyung-ho.

A red lightning bolt suddenly flashed from the sky, incinerating everything in its path, setting the surrounding trees ablaze, toppling them, and erupting the scene.

The explosion, as if a landslide had occurred, had power enough to fill the air with dirt and dust, but a gust of wind immediately swept all of it away.

Almost as if to clear the view for the cameras despite the dust.

"What are you doing risking your life like that?!"

From the sky, Shin Ah-yeon dropped down and grabbed Yeon Kyung-ho by his collar, shouting at him.

Her expression and voice were so real it was hard to believe she was acting.

Her face genuinely looked as though she was about to cry out of concern for Kim Do-yung.

As Shin Ah-yeon continued her lines, Yeon Kyung-ho belatedly came to his senses.

"Well, I thought you'd show up anyway."

At least he managed to get through without an NG in this moment, and he silently congratulated himself.

"Cut, cut!!"

Despite the shocking scene, the cut was clean and immediate.

But everyone on set was so stunned, no one dared approach Shin Ah-yeon or Yeon Kyung-ho.

Who could have predicted that a real lightning bolt would come crashing down from the sky?

"Uh, Ah-yeon-ssi. Just now, that... Was that you, Ah-yeon-ssi?"

In the end, it was Director Cha Jae-seok who first found his voice.

Amid the awkwardly tense air, Shin Ah-yeon slowly nodded her head.

"Yes. Well, it says in the script that I make an appearance by dropping lightning from the sky......"

"No, usually that's done with CG. It's normally CG, you know. Didn't your manager tell you? And where's the wire harness?"

No, he didn't tell her.

In fact, Jung-woo even said this would be a better way.

He claimed that after awakeners appeared, there were new filming techniques like this.

But from Cha Jae-seok's reaction, it was obvious that was a lie.

'Ugh, really! How could I fall for that, even with my intelligence taking a hit these days!'

Shin Ah-yeon clutched her head in both hands, berating herself.

Yet, it wasn't just the lightning that shocked Cha Jae-seok.

"And... Ah-yeon-ssi. That acting—what was that?"

"Yes?"

"You said you only started learning to act recently, right? That was nothing like a beginner's performance."

At Cha Jae-seok's genuinely astonished words, Shin Ah-yeon avoided his gaze.

In truth, what she'd just done was fundamentally different from what he thought of as 'acting'.

'It was an illusion spell.......'

It was Jung-woo's idea, proposed when Shin Ah-yeon said she wasn't confident about her acting.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
New acting method = just shoot lightning and cast illusion.
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】