Chapter 27

Shooting (2)

It was a fleeting moment. Kim Ryu-jin realized he was about to trip and fall over the tough grass. His body naturally moved towards the ground. It was such a smooth and fluid motion, it was as if it were Kim Ryu-jin himself from 'Private Eye.'

But.

“Hm.”

It was Kang Woo-jin, not Kim Ryu-jin, who managed to regain his balance and let out a deep sigh. 'Damn, embarrassing.'

It was a mistake. Mistakes are fair to everyone and lurk everywhere. This time, the mistake clung to Kang Woo-jin in this critical situation. Damn it. Was it due to the pressure of the first shooting of his first leading role? The tension? Or because he was a novice in practical shooting? Or perhaps there was no reason at all.

Of course, even a veteran actor with 30 years of experience can make a mistake.

Whether it's a burst of laughter or a flubbed line, mistakes are very common for actors. However, a mistake is a process towards an OK, not the result. But Kang Woo-jin didn't fully understand this concept yet. To others, he might seem like a giant monster actor, but in essence, he was just a month-old novice.

Therefore.

'Is this a disaster?'

As Kang Woo-jin slowly straightened his bent knee, he became a bit serious. He also recalled the concept he had been maintaining. How did I get here? Is everything going to be ruined just because of some grass? That would be a bit unfair.

Woo-jin looked down at his knee indifferently, then raised his head to look at the villa.

His heart trembled slightly like a thief caught in the act, but he immediately put on a suitable look of tension. There were cameras right next to and behind him. It felt like being surrounded by CCTV in all directions.

'What do I do now? I fell so naturally, will the director give me a sign? Should I wait?'

Interestingly.

“...”

There was no shout from anywhere. It was just a calm silence. Only the unique, thick air of the shooting set swirled around. Huh? That's strange. Why is it so quiet? It was a movement not in the script. However, Director Shin Dong-chun didn't call out "NG." The two cameras also didn't stop filming Kang Woo-jin for some reason.

The reason was simple. Director Shin Dong-chun was currently.

'Kim Ryu-jin is looking at the villa, his eyes full of worry. He's expressing the part that was briefly glossed over in the script... so vividly.'

He was swallowing his saliva and showering the Kim Ryu-jin on the monitor with praise. Of course, Kang Woo-jin didn't know this. But he sensed it somehow. He had no idea why.

'Let's just keep going and see what happens.'

Is the training over? He wondered. So, Kang Woo-jin.

-Whoosh.

He momentarily lost the 'Kim Ryu-jin' and then pulled him back up. This process was now very familiar to Woo-jin.

The lines, which he had memorized thousands of times in the subspace, came to mind clearly. The emotions and sensations of Kim Ryu-jin spread through his veins. It must be the power of the subspace, but it was becoming easier and easier. The more he repeated the role's leading (experience), the more solid their world became, and the shorter the time it took to bring out everything about them.

The world of the role, given as a gift by the subspace, was becoming Kang Woo-jin's possession.

Kang Woo-jin suddenly became the implanted and ingrained Kim Ryu-jin. The ordinary villa in front of him soon appeared as a sinister ghost house. A cold chill spread throughout his body, a faint fear permeated, and fear mixed with his breath.

After seeing the body being carried out.

Kim Ryu-jin's quiet breathing had turned into a wheezing noise. The noise was like a piston movement. His breathing gradually sped up. Kim Ryu-jin felt his body becoming heavy, as if nailed to the grassy ground.

His body was rejecting it.

“Huff-”

A short deep breath. At this moment, the camera that had been filming Kim Ryu-jin's side moved to the front. The focus changed to a close-up of his chest. As a result, Kim Ryu-jin appeared closer on the monitors that Director Shin Dong-chun and Hong Hye-yeon were watching. His face was clearly filled with anguish.

His facial muscles were flat, but his rolling eyes were quick.

Hong Hye-yeon slowly covered her mouth with one hand as she watched Kim Ryu-jin on the monitor. It wasn't admiration or amazement. It was reverence.

'He's scared, but he can't turn back. His curiosity is strong, though clumsy. The realism of the fall after the scene added to the character's charm.'

He was supposed to realistically express fear. It was the direction the director had given. The current Kim Ryu-jin was.

At this moment.

-Squish.

The stopped Kim Ryu-jin took a step forward with difficulty. It was a decision. The reason he was in 'Private Eye' was to feel the thrill of seeing things for others. People surprisingly confide their secrets to strangers.

Especially, trust is amplified when there's a profession involved.

Kim Ryu-jin enjoyed seeing the hidden sides of others more than the money. But murder. This time it was murder. He didn't know the exact method, but how many times in life would he see such a scene and setting? This was the driving force that propelled Kim Ryu-jin forward.

Being a 'witness' is a surprisingly rare experience.

Before he knew it, Kim Ryu-jin's steps had quickened.

-Squish, squish.

He reached the front door of the villa in no time, and Kim Ryu-jin, lifting his hand slowly, muttered.

"Damn it, how can I stand this."

However.

-Creak.

The front door was locked. Damn. Soon, Kim Ryu-jin glanced at the camera next to him. Of course, he wasn't looking at the camera. He was checking the status of his wife, who had left in a car. Fortunately, it was quiet. Kim Ryu-jin instinctively checked the large windows.

And.

-Creak.

He found an open window. At the same time, the smell inside the villa was inhaled by Kim Ryu-jin's nose.

"Unnecessarily good and all that."

For a place where people had died, it smelled fragrant. It was as if the villa was saying it had nothing to do with it. Kim Ryu-jin clicked his tongue and stopped as he was about to climb through the window. The boundary of the window felt like the line between life and death. Kim Ryu-jin grimaced. His tongue felt dry.

But he entered.

As the line between his life and death became blurred, one camera followed Kim Ryu-jin, and the other remained outside the window. Close-up and full shot. Kim Ryu-jin quietly scanned the living room of the villa. It was a normal atmosphere except for the leftover dishes.

Watching this on the monitor, Director Shin Dong-chun decided and.

'Originally, I should have cut it here, but going on like this will be several times more vivid. Let's try a long take.'

Inside the villa, Kim Ryu-jin discovered a basement. There was another body there. Or was it alive? At this moment, a sound came from upstairs. To be precise, there was no sound, but it was clear to Kim Ryu-jin's ears.

Actually, the audio is added later.

So, Kim Ryu-jin had to act based on imagination and delusion. Moreover, 'Private Eye' itself was a drama where sound played a major role. The fear of sound. Even if the form is not visible, the sound constrains Kim Ryu-jin, and the key is the confined performance that results from this.

Soon, Kim Ryu-jin hid between broken pieces of furniture.

At the same time, the door to the basement opened again. The sound of a woman and a man talking followed. Or rather, there was no one in the basement, but only Kim Ryu-jin could hear it.

"What are we going to do with this one?"

"Why is he still alive?"

"He's a witness, so we can't let him live."

The man's voice was like scraping metal. It included the word 'witness.' There was another witness in this basement.

The camera focused on the face of that witness, and Kim Ryu-jin, crouched, tried to suppress his trembling breath. His fingers, pressing the ground, tensed. The muscles in his calves and thighs, supporting his body, twitched slightly. His whole body continued to shiver. It felt like his body was mocking him.

No matter how much he commanded, his body shook on its own. He looked as if he was extremely cold.

Stop, please just stop. If any sound came out, it would be bad. Even the slightest movement was problematic. The sudden silence was terrifying. Kim Ryu-jin's eyes darted around. The dull gray floor had nothing to see, but his eyes moved frantically.

Damn, damn, damn. Just go away.

All he could do was move his eyes. Kim Ryu-jin thought he might wet himself. If he relaxed his lower abdomen, he would let it all out. Hold it, even breathing had to be suppressed. Kim Ryu-jin's facial muscles twitched subtly. It was the process of stiffening.

He focused only on the sound. Only on listening to the sound.

This entire process was vividly captured by the camera. The actors watching Kim Ryu-jin on the monitor opened their mouths slightly.

“...”

“...”

But no one could speak. It was beyond their level to evaluate. Just watching and understanding with their eyes and minds was enough. Or, some actors couldn't even understand.

They were all unknowns, right?

But what is this unbelievable gap? Amidst this, Director Shin Dong-chun, who was watching the monitor with a mad-like smile, spoke softly.

"It might not be a dream. No, it has to be. It has to be."

Hong Hye-yeon, who was standing behind him, whispered.

"The 'Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival' will be overturned. If he wins another award, it will be a waste of money."

She laughed, looking at the actors who had turned into mannequins.

"Will we do well?"

At the same time, in Park Eun-mi's studio.

A few minutes earlier, screenwriter Park Eun-mi and PD Song Man-woo had finished a script meeting and were sitting side by side on a sofa. Both were watching a large TV in front of them. The TV was showing the script reading scene from a few days ago.

At this moment.

“Hmm-”

Park Eun-mi, who had her arms crossed, took off her headband and clicked her tongue.

“Even on set, it was clear. This makes it even more obvious. Mr. Tae-san, you need to say something. He's the one lagging behind the most.”

PD Song Man-woo, stroking his goatee, kept his eyes on the TV and replied.

“I already called him. He said he's entered a closed training session.”

“Closed training?”

“Yes. He’s cutting out unnecessary schedules and training intensively. Even Manager Kim was surprised. He said it’s been a long time since he’s seen such enthusiasm.”

“Hmph, you have to see it to feel it. Mr. Tae-san has good energy, but he’s a bit lacking in detail.”

At this moment.

“Oh.”

Park Dae-ri appeared on the TV. That is, Kang Woo-jin. Among the two, Park Eun-mi, who had been momentarily appreciating his acting, leaned forward slightly and muttered.

“What I felt during the script reading. That guy. His voice is good. His diction, which is like chewing and spitting, is excellent. I usually only look at the overall acting balance, but I dissected him that day, and it was really...”

“Is that just a crush?”

“Did you not feel it, PD? Look at him! The way he controls his expression intensity! The pacing!”

“I saw something different.”

“What?”

In response, PD Song Man-woo leaned back into the sofa and crossed his legs.

“That he’s still developing even at this moment.”

“Oh.”

“The Park Dae-ri I saw at first and the Park Dae-ri from that day were clearly different. He’s gradually stripping away the excess. I don’t know, but he must be practicing and repeating intensely. That’s why he also looks a bit dangerous.”

“Oh.”

“With no one around, he’s still self-taught... PD, you should watch closely. Directing isn’t just about taking pictures.”

“Let’s just see for now. He’s a determined person, so interfering might do more harm.”

PD Song Man-woo, letting out a small sigh, changed the subject.

“Anyway, all the actors are on fire because of Woo-jin. I checked, and they all seem to be trying to improve their acting like Mr. Tae-san.”

“The public’s eyes are very accurate. If you stand next to Woo-jin, any sloppy acting will be immediately noticeable.”

“What a funny situation. Not the main or supporting actors like Ryu Jeong-min and Hong Hye-yeon, but the unknowns are becoming the backbone of the work.”

“What’s funny about it? A tree