Chapter 73

Villain Only Acting 073

The First to Be Crushed (1)

Jeong Se-hoon spent most of his four-day break watching dramas and movies.

In between, he met Yoo Jeong-a once with Kim Sang-hee, and they had a drink together.

Yoo Jeong-a was very curious about the atmosphere on the set of "Hageum." She also inquired about her co-stars, Han Se-hee and Lee Se-hyun.

"Have you already switched roles with them? Wow, that's fast... Some people took weeks."

She also showed a hint of disappointment.

"So, which of the ladies do you like more? The younger one? Or the older, more mature one?"

"Both have their own charms, so it's hard to say which one is better."

"But isn't Se-hyun unni too much older and taller, making you feel uncomfortable?"

Lee Se-hyun was 27, six years older than him, and 173 cm tall.

As a top actress, she had a physique that wouldn't be overshadowed anywhere, but Jeong Se-hoon was too young.

"She's cute. I've thought a few times that it would be nice to have a younger sister like Se-hyun hyung."

"If Se-hyun unni feels like a younger sister, then Han Se-hee must feel like a daughter?"

"I often felt she was more like a niece."

"Why are you so childish?"

While talking with Yoo Jeong-a, Jeong Se-hoon could feel Kim Sang-hee's pleased gaze.

It seemed Kim Sang-hee genuinely wanted him to form affectionate relationships with the actresses.

Lately, her impure intentions were becoming more apparent.

"When are you going to shoot the CF with Ji-hyun?"

"Another round of shooting is coming soon. The director said he would contact me."

"That's a shame. I could have done better in the coffee commercial."

While Yoo Jeong-a went to the bathroom, Jeong Se-hoon quietly asked Kim Sang-hee.

"Are you planning to have a drink with Chae Ji-hyun next time?"

"How did you know?"

"I've known the writer for quite a while now."

"Still, I won't invite Lee Se-hyun, so don't worry too much. She drinks too much. And Han Se-hee is too young, so I'll avoid her completely."

"But it seems like you're lacking some inspiration. What's the reason?"

"Se-hoon, you're a great villain actor, but you still lack some emotion as a bad guy. If you want to play the lead in a romance drama later, you need to interact with more women."

It's not about dating or anything, but there must be a reason why she chose the word "interact."

Kim Sang-hee is sensitive about such things.

"Writer, are you really preparing a romance?"

"If I were to prepare a romance for Se-hoon, what genre do you think it would be? What concept?"

Kim Sang-hee answered with a question.

"I have a feeling you might stab the heroine with a knife in the middle."

"That's what your fans who like my work would think. And what else?"

"I think you might be considering a new actress I haven't worked with yet, other than Yoo Jeong-a or Chae Ji-hyun."

"Hmm, you want a new face? Got it, I'll keep that in mind."

"That's not what I meant."

Before he could clarify, Kim Sang-hee cut in with a smile.

"Not a full romance, but I thought about adding a few teaspoons of love story to an 'Ilgeul' vibe. I think Se-hoon can handle it without ruining my script style."

"..."

"But not yet. We need more preparation, both you and I."

When Yoo Jeong-a returned, she noticed the slightly serious atmosphere and asked.

"Did you call Ji-hyun?"

***

After the holiday, the shooting for "Hageum" resumed intensely.

Jang Seung-won brought a shooting schedule that seemed to make up for the three-day break, making the scenes even more tightly connected than before.

The staff on set were almost emaciated from the tight, minute-by-minute schedule.

"The first episode airs on March 2nd, and that's a fixed date. We need to shoot as many episodes as possible before then."

"It's a weekly broadcast. Isn't the current schedule enough?"

"I know there will be unexpected issues once the show starts. We need to be prepared to shoot all episodes before the first broadcast."

"PD, that's impossible with the current schedule. How can we shoot 30 episodes in that time?"

"We need to have that mindset. We can't trust the broadcasting station. They might suddenly delay the start by 1-2 weeks."

"You said the March 2nd premiere was a fixed date."

"The scheduling department can easily change even that."

"They're not trustworthy at all."

Han Se-hee's acting improved, and the harmony among the actors also showed a steep upward trend.

There were almost no NGs, and the scenes that satisfied the PD were captured on camera.

The drama had already completed 100% shooting for the first three episodes, and the shooting for the fourth episode and beyond was steadily progressing.

"Se-hoon, the editing for episodes 1 and 2 is done. Would you like to watch them together? Not a distributor's screening, but a preview for the audience."

"You mean it's ready for immediate broadcast?"

"Yes."

"Of course, I'd love to. It's an honor."

"Honor? You're the lead and part of the production team, so it's your right. Haha."

Jang Seung-won, who had burst into laughter, whispered softly.

"Please say good things about Professor Lee Se-jong later."

"Of course."

"But does he have any intention of starting a production company?"

"Production company?"

"Yeah, well. He invested 300 billion. If the drama is successful, it could return 400 billion, 500 billion, or even more. If that happens, he might be interested in starting a production company..."

"I'll feel him out and bring it up."

"Great. I'd be grateful if you could do that. We need to aim for at least a 30% rating first."

Jang Seung-won led Jeong Se-hoon to the screening room with a beaming smile.

"Episodes 1 and 2 turned out great. I wish we could broadcast them this week. I'm eager to show them to the audience."

Jang Seung-won's first impression was sharp, unlike Song Jeong-woo.

But the longer they worked together, the more similar they seemed.

'Maybe PDs become more lenient when things go smoothly.'

"I also want to show my performance as the prince to the audience as soon as possible."

Actually, he wasn't that desperate.

Jeong Se-hoon's acting desire is mostly satisfied in front of the camera.

Even when he stood in front of the camera to satisfy his longing for the battlefield, it was the same.

Even now, being serious about acting, it wasn't much different.

The audience's appreciation of the work after shooting is a small but necessary reward.

"I think we can aim for a 30% mid-range rating. I hope so."

"Maybe not the mid-range, but I think we can exceed 30%. 'Ilgeul' missed 30% by 0.1%. It's possible."

"But I heard that many people don't like historical dramas."

"That's why Se-hoon and Se-hee's roles are important. We need to attract those viewers first."

Jang Seung-won prepared snacks and got ready for the screening.

"I'd like a beer, but since this is a broadcasting station, we can't. Let's have a drink instead. How about cola?"

"Yes, please."

"Let's start."

The drama began.

A calm OST played as Jeong Se-hoon, dressed as the prince, and Han Se-hee appeared first.

Next, Jeong Se-hoon in old makeup and Lee Se-hyun appeared, followed by the king, young king, and other characters, showcasing the lineup.

"The intro scene is grand, but the background music is calm."

"I didn't want to make the music too intense, or it might feel too traditional. If young viewers feel distant and don't watch, what can we do?"

"I see."

Episode 1 started.

It showed the young prince's battle with illness and, at the end, the young prince's dissolute life as a playboy.

Han Se-hee's visual presence on screen was so captivating that it would make viewers want to see the next episode.

Even her die-hard fans would be surprised by her appearance in the show.

'This is how I looked to the PD.'

This is a common feeling when seeing the finished work for the first time.

You can see what the director focused on, what they excluded, and what they emphasized in your performance.

Directing is the director's message in response to the actor's performance.

Through the medium of broadcasting (screening), the actor and director communicate in a wordless dialogue.

Before he knew it, Episode 2 had ended.

"How was it? Was it good?"

Jang Seung-won asked with a strangely passionate look.

He, who usually evaluated and guided the actors, was now expecting feedback.

"How can I dare to evaluate PD's work? It was good."

"But you're my first viewer now. Give me an honest evaluation. Anything is fine."

"Then, a few points..."

Overall, there was nothing to criticize.

Jeong Se-hoon pointed out minor issues like shadows the PD missed, extras' gazes, and composition errors in scene transitions.

Jang Seung-w