After reviewing the character setup for Elder Yoon sent by Writer Min, I can’t help but burst out laughing.
Apparently, he’s a hidden bigwig in the Myeongdong loan shark industry and also an influential figure in the entertainment industry.
And to top it off, there’s the setting of him being in a romantic relationship with a middle-aged beautiful actress.
Come on, why would such detailed settings be necessary for a character who barely appears in a few scenes?
Does Writer Min look normal but happen to be a setting enthusiast?
At least the setting where he misses his estranged daughter who ran away after fighting with him and daily takes a walk in a small park that his daughter once loved most makes some sense.
It adds credibility to the first meeting between the protagonist and Elder Yoon.
The protagonist also came to that park after seeing her mother’s old photos.
Of course, it’s somewhat puzzling why she hated her father so much that she escaped overseas and never contacted him until he died, but that can be considered within the dramatic license.
Considering the sudden death in a traffic accident, it’s very plausible.
Since both Elder Yoon and the protagonist Yoon Seo-eun are pretty stubborn characters in this setup, it’s reasonable to assume that the mother of Yoon Seo-eun had a similar temperament and couldn’t reach out to the father she abandoned.
“Whatever, after all, it’s not an incident that will be depicted in the visuals. Things like Elder Yoon’s personal affairs.”
Considering the main backdrop of this drama is still an advertising company, and Elder Yoon is only the protagonist’s emotional healing point, the spotlight won’t shine on these details.
What I mean is that the detailed setup created by Writer Min for Elder Yoon probably won’t be highlighted much in the end.
However, even these minor settings can help flesh out the character quite a bit.
“Given such setups, it may be necessary to slightly revise the Mangu as well. In this case, going fully into the Yakseon mode might be good.”
The Mangu I prepared for the audition was a pretty benevolent looking old man.
But if this gentleman is a major figure in the loan shark industry, his impression needs to change a bit.
Following the Yakseon, the greatest flower old man of Martial Forest, will probably be the best choice here.
Though Yakseon Elder usually laughs heartily and seems gentle, he sometimes exudes a sharp momentum and makes people nervous.
Since Elder Yoon also occasionally releases a similar charisma, I think it’s a perfect choice.
“Still misses his daughter. Sees his daughter’s shadow in Yoon Seo-eun. Gradually begins to suspect if Yoon Seo-eun isn’t his flesh and blood. A distinguished adult socially, even a loan shark.”
After adding a few clues, the character shaping is complete.
Although the setup isn’t devoid of missing aspects, those can be filled with my imagination.
Despite having great abilities, the estrangement in his family prevents him from meeting his daughter and granddaughter, which is quite common in Martial Forest.
Most of the time, people like this lose their daughters and granddaughters because they only care about their egos and later regret it.
Considering these people, I think I can more easily act out this role.
While studying the characters with the script in hand.
The casting for “Genius Copywriter Yoon Seo-eun” was gradually taking shape.
I remember that this drama succeeded, and the actors who appeared did a great job, but I don’t remember who starred until now. Each revelation is jaw-droppingly amazing.
Lead role. The youngest member of the top-tier 4-year idol group Ashbloom, Seo-eun.
Male co-lead. The leader of idol group Nuclear, Lion, and also the second-generation handsome actor, Jo Yoo-shin, who debuted two years ago.
They were all confirmed blockbusters.
“Wow, this is Director Yoo.”
Just seeing the names of the actors gives a real sense of how amazing Director Yoo is.
Although it’s common to suspect the PD’s sanity when two idols are cast in leading roles, these two were different from ordinary idols.
Ashbloom’s Seo-eun is a veteran who debuted as an actor before being an idol, and has shown great acting in several works since then. Nuclear’s Lion is also recognized as a leading actor in mini-series.
Using idols with both recognition and acting skills definitely gives a huge boost in viewership ratings.
Another supporting actor, Jo Yoo-shin, is an excellent debutant who hit it big with his debut work. The large management company that lovingly nurtured him will likely push him with great momentum.
Maybe some investors came through him?
If Jo Yoo-shin, who carries the investors, came, Director Yoo has no reason to refuse such a proposal.
Although what he does seems a bit silly, Director Yoo appears competent in many ways.
“Ashbloom is a large idol group that I remember even the name of. How did you convince them? Their earnings from a world tour would be much higher.”
But the most impressive thing is undoubtedly Seo-eun for the role of Yoon Seo-eun.
Not only her, but how she convinced her company is also a mystery.
To be honest, for a group like Ashbloom, doing a world tour would yield much more profits than acting.
Thus, once a group reaches the top level, they seldom enter the acting world until their retirement.
However, just hearing the name, this role seems to have been designed with Ashbloom’s Seo-eun in mind from the beginning.
Perhaps Writer Min originally created the character to lure Seo-eun.
Unless the level of love call was that extreme, Ashbloom wouldn’t have graciously lent their maknae, who’s busy preparing for their world tour.
Anyway, they’re pretty talented people.
With the casting complete, official events are progressing swiftly.
Especially the script reading.
I actually thought I wouldn’t attend the script reading.
Since my appearance in episode 1 would only involve having a few lines of dialogue with Seo-eun.
I figured the production team would prevent me from attending as getting caught would be disastrous.
I am confident I won’t be caught, but other members of the production team might think differently.
But Director Yoo insisted on my mandatory attendance at the script reading.
Because the script reading session would be recorded; thus exposing my face.
What that means is, the script reading site is the place where I’ll deceive all the other actors.
It was yet another crazy idea from Director Yoo who’s famous for his eccentricities.
“But this ends up being pretty amusing.”
Thus, I followed Director Yoo’s request and attended the script reading site, pretending to be an actor playing a 70-year-old.
It wasn’t really awkward.
Deceiving others through acting is something I’ve always done.
Director Yoo set my character as a hidden master who honed his skills for thirty years at a small theater, and each actor reacted differently, making it fun.
First, the young actors all treated me like a veteran actor with utmost respect.
It seems at least some of them have good personalities.
After all, in this industry, young actors who bow their heads low before elder actors, regardless of leading roles, usually survive longer.
Meanwhile, the more experienced veteran actors were all skeptical.
In this small acting community, there’s no way a veteran actor with this level of acting skill suddenly appears.
Someone who can’t only not act well or look bad, but is completely unknown with 30 years of experience?
Frankly, it did seem odd to me too.
Moreover, he’s a peculiar figure with no ties like academic or professional connections or connections with other actors in the industry.
They were clearly lost on how to judge him.
At least if there’s information like who his classmates or who he worked with in other productions are, they could have a benchmark, but without any of that, the actors have no grasp.
Every time more veteran actors treated me awkwardly, Director Yoo would pinch his thigh and try to suppress his laughter.
He enjoyed imagining how these actors would react when the truth is revealed.
Director Yoo is surprisingly mean, but I too was looking forward to that moment.
“Wow, it’s perfect. It’s exactly as I imagined.”
“Is that so? I’m glad to hear that.”
Writer Min had a different reason for smiling.
It was because he liked the adjusted Mangu I made.
He liked the look I showed during the audition, but he seemed to like this even better now.
He mentioned that it was exactly his imagined Elder Yoon.
Considering the model I chose, the greatest flower old man of Martial Forest, Yakseon, this guy is surprisingly naïve.
Including a minor character who barely appears in a few scenes with someone of Yakseon’s caliber? Isn’t that excessive greed?
Anyway, since he liked it, I’m fine with just going with this.
Once the script reading was over, the filming began right away.
Since my appearance isn’t frequent, I wasn’t immediately sent to the set.
Director Yoo’s plan is to join in after the main actor and significant supporting characters have completed some of their scenes.
I’ll keep my schedule minimal to avoid arousing suspicion.
Surely, even the main actor wouldn’t manage their schedule this neatly?
Even my commuting is almost espionage-level.
Since I don’t have a car yet, the assistant director will be responsible for commuting through the assistant director.
The reason for using public transportation up to the site is to avoid my true identity being discovered.
Director Yoo really seems too serious about deceiving people.
“So now, it’s finally time to start work(?)”
A few more days passed, and finally, the first filming was scheduled.
“Wow, Hyun-su, you look tall today.”
“Haha, Assistant Director Choi looks especially neat today too.”
“Oh, neat? I’m exhausted.”
“To increase our work while you’re tired…”
“I’m actually fine with it. The field is more stifling.”
The assistant director who picked me up today, Choi Seok-hyun, has worked with Director Yoo for a long time and is famous in this circle as Director Yoo’s loyal subordinate.
He’s almost confirmed to make his debut through Director Yoo’s support soon.
He is one of the few people on site who know my true identity and will continue to pick me up. Fortunately, he seems to not have a difficult personality.
After all, this is also extra work for an assistant director. It’s something that could easily be annoying.
“Oh, Hyun-su, please be careful on the set. Director today is somewhat severe.”
“Why? Is there some problem?”
“Not a problem, but today a cameo actor is supposed to come.”
“This is Director being secretive again, right? Keeping it until shortly before the broadcast.”
“Exactly. Our Director is weird.”
The topic of cameos came up while chatting with Assistant Director Choi.
Cameo.
Judging by Director keeping it secret until close to broadcast, it seems to be a fairly famous actor.
But I won’t encounter that actor.
My filming time is too short.
Moreover, there aren’t many intersecting points with other actors, so the situation of meeting a cameo actor probably won’t arise.
A famous actor would certainly follow their schedule strictly, only participate in their own filming, and leave immediately afterward.
Thus, I lightly dismissed the cameo actor from my mind.
