After a certain degree of prior consultation with the company, I was able to meet Director Jeong Cheol-ju briefly.
Looking at the atmosphere here, it’s sort of like, “This… might actually work?” kind of feeling, isn’t it?
They say the feeling was spot-on, so an offer to invite me was sent, though they didn’t expect much.
“There’s no real reason anymore to go and make indie films like this, right, actor?”
“That’s why. So why’s this working?”
“Plus, they’re even investing in the production budget.”
“Could it possibly be a hidden camera gag?”
Judging from the banter going back and forth between the director of photography who came along, he remains as cheerful as ever.
Wasn’t this director of photography a college classmate of his?
I remember Director Jeong being the reckless type, but at least the director of photography, who appeared relatively normal, would step in to reel him in.
Recalling how the director of photography had been the first to oppose the recruitment of (former) White Siu, it’s clear that person is indeed the sane one.
Upon reconsideration, this role would have been quite a stretch for the (former) White Siu.
“The most crucial part is going to be the multiple personality acting. It’s a role that requires some serious acting skills, but with actor White Siu, I’m not worried. Let’s do our best together.”
“I look forward to working with you, actor.”
This time, even the director of photography was grateful, making it quite a proud day.
“He’s better than expected.”
“Really?”
“Yes, they’ve agreed to invest 5 billion. They originally didn’t want to accept it, but when we mentioned the staff’s living expenses, they eventually did.”
“Well, they were being a bit….”
Initially, Director Jeong had refused when the entire production budget was going to be handled by Cheon Financial.
Saying that with movies like this, it’s impossible to recover the investment, he didn’t want to recklessly invest.
What did Director Jeong say back then?
Oh, right.
If it goes on OTT, we’ll somehow recover the production costs, but he insists on theatrical release.
But doing that means there’s absolutely no way to recover the production costs.
Ultimately, it’s my greed not allowing the production budget to be recovered, so it’s my responsibility.
And thus, Director Jeong eventually accepted the production budget for the sake of the staff.
Even though he acts like he’s making art, the staff isn’t like that.
Receiving the production budget will make shooting easier and help the staff maintain their livelihood, so in the end, he couldn’t refuse.
Compared to directors who only indulge their own greed with others’ money, his honest attitude seems to have more appeal to Heavenly Yuah.
Originally, that’s the nature of New Religion followers.
People are all generally the same, but their distaste for cracking pumpkin seeds is particularly distinctive of New Religion members.
“Disappointed.”
“Why?”
“Well, why didn’t you even give a thought to the work I proposed, but went to such indie films? When I heard you were going into drama, it made sense, but for movies, that’s different.”
“Your proposal? When?”
“The script was sent over, didn’t you notice? I even kindly starred it three times for you.”
“With three stars… could it be a work by Director Sun Juhong?”
After meeting with Director Jeong alongside Heavenly Yuah, I was promptly confronted by an oddly somber Moon Suyeon.
It was basically a complaint, given that if we were making a movie, why hadn’t she considered the proposal I had sent.
And that proposal was, embarrassingly enough, a work by Director Sun Juhong.
This woman still hasn’t let go of her attachment, I assume.
Even Heavenly Yuah has moved on from the work, yet she’s quite persistent.
“No, it’s a different script. Don’t you think it’s something we should confirm?”
“Ah, yes, that’s my mistake.”
“Here.”
“Did you bring this?”
“I found it tucked under the lounge table.”
“…Why would you look there?”
I hid it carefully precisely to avoid complications if I just discarded it, so how on earth did she find it?
Thinking how utterly reckless she is, I opened the script.
Given how enthusiastically Moon Suyeon recommended it, I thought it might meet some acceptable standards.
Well, Sun Juhong is human too and has thoughts, right?
“…No, he’s not human.”
“Lewd Sun Juhong presents his latest work “Beast.”
The cat therianthrope female lead who lost her husband requests a private detective dog therianthrope male lead to catch the husband’s murderer…
“Isn’t this just a therianthrope version of “Dark Cicada”?“
“…No way.”
“No, you shouldn’t avoid my eyes like that.”
Clearly, it’s something that makes her uneasy.
She looks weak.
That said, she did seem to have something to say.
“Hrm… Director Sun Juhong is simply…”
“Simply?”
“Lately, beast-themed fantasies have been selling surprisingly well. So…”
“Going with the trend, huh?”
“For larger audiences if possible.”
Despite what she said, it was a completely meaningless excuse.
Joining that trend is already too late since we’ve already cashed in.
But she had her last remaining weapon.
“Then I’ll put in a request as well.”
“You want me to consider this?”
She tried to use the favor card I had mentioned before.
But, well, I had no reason to accept such a favor.
It’s not just any request.
As compensation for the favor, I’ll give her a nice slap instead.
“Ouch.”
“That’s to bring you back to your senses. How can you possibly ask me for that?”
“Tsk…”
With that, I slapped Moon Suyeon and finally marked the end of the long and tiresome dark cicada controversy.
“I know Director Sun Juhong is impressive. If you want to appear in her work, just remove all the strange erotic scenes and bring it as a pure thriller. I’ll work on it with you then.”
I think that should cover it.
But Lewd Sun Juhong won’t abandon her lewd identity.
So I hope we can just let things like dark cicadas fade into distant memory.
With the production now confirmed, “The Shadow Stream,” we still have some time before entering the filming phase.
Even if this is clearly a lead-heavy story, it can’t start shooting immediately after casting.
The leading role hasn’t even been solidified yet, and there’s no preparation done, so it’ll take some time, I believe.
“And I… hmm. Ultimately, I chose the adventure.”
Just as the movie preparations were underway, the Pentaring fan signing event was held, and I also decided to attend.
As Heavenly Yuah suggested, it would’ve been better to avoid it, but I simply couldn’t resist.
How can I possibly pass up on an enormous chance to publicly rib a moe-loving individual?
That’s really not acceptable.
“Disguise… this should do.”
Just before attending the fan signing event, I checked my outfit.
I decided not to wear the mask, just applying some light makeup along with a medical mask, and finished off with a beanie.
Trying to deceive a perceptive moe-loving person in this condition would require incredible acting, but since it’s me, it’s worth trying.
“Wearing a mask wouldn’t make any sense.”
Actually, if I wore the mask, I’d be absolutely unrecognizable.
How could anyone recognize someone wearing a mask when they’re clearly a different person?
But doing that would strip the meaning of teasing.
True teasing lies in barely deceiving them and revealing your identity at the very last second to turn their world upside down.
My plan is to successfully get all the autographs, then right in front of the moe-loving person who’s feeling dubious, tear off the mask with a fiendish smile and escape.
“Surely the humiliation will be captured on video permanently as you’re shooting simultaneously.”
I believe in my glorious victory without any doubt.
“Ha-young, Ha-young~ It’s time to enter.”
“High five, high five~”
“Yeah, let’s go.”
The fan signing event for the rookie idol group Pentaring.
Even though there have been multiple fan signing events so far, today’s event held special significance.
That’s because all fans who won various events up until now are gathered for today’s signing.
Fan messages, making great cheering lights events, and even the music chat voting event.
Meeting such passionate fans was a heart-poundingly exciting event for them, making it an especially light-hearted day.
“There are people who want to confirm identities, you know.”
“Ah, that person? They’re really coming?”
“How did you know?”
“The limited edition merch was promised to event-winning participants. It seems the number of merch was limited, so they verified the attendance separately.”
“Ah. Then they really must be coming.”
An idol group so crazy as to use the name “Penthrall.”
Whether out of spite for us, or just as a joke, their motives are unclear, but it’s said they will attend the fan signing event.
Because of this, Ha-young, who was so fired up to confront the absurd person, had three times the usual intensity.
If they immediately became apologetic upon meeting, Ha-young would perhaps return to her usual cheerful and honest self, but if the other side was more shameless, then…
“Well, I’ll have to pay them back. No way I’ll let it slide.”
“Ah, you shouldn’t do that.”
“Still, if today they’re here, they must be our fans, right?”
“Maybe the joke was posted lightly, but they might be embarrassed by the unexpected response.”
“Yeah, that’s true.”
Unlike Ha-young who was grinding her teeth, the other members were smiling innocently, making her think to compose herself.
After all, protecting members who were too naïve fell to her, as the leader.
This was especially so with someone who made such reckless suggestions like Penthrall for their group name.
Even though Ha-young wouldn’t admit it, her personality was quite similar to White Siu’s.
“Yes, thank you. Please continue supporting us.”
“Ah, what about this? How do you find it? Is it cute?”
“Ooh~ Rabbit ear headband. That’s super cute~”
Having directly communicated with fans and signed autographs for an hour,
It was now the time for the special fans who had won event prizes.
And leading them was the person who won the group name event from before debut.
“…Hm?”
This person is approaching us now.
Approximately 180cm tall, wearing a mask, a man with an extremely gloomy vibe.
As if he’d just been through a breakup, or some other trouble.
Perhaps that too? Maybe he posted “Penthrall” on a whim and got unexpectedly chosen.
“Alright, cheer up.”
“Fighting!”
Noticing the others felt this, the members carefully handed over their signatures with words of encouragement.
This man also bowed his head as it was proper to acknowledge their encouragement.
From just bowing without saying anything, it appeared he wasn’t an entirely bad person.
“…Something seems off. Feels like something’s wrong, and yet vaguely familiar… What is this feeling?”
Something was a little off.
Could it be…?
Ah, not possible. But really?
As this man approached Ha-young, who was the last one,
The instant Ha-young quietly muttered something that only he might hear,
“Dad says to contact him. He’s wondering why you haven’t been getting in touch.”
“…Shit, I talked to him yesterday.”
The momentary stillness froze the movements of the two people.
“You… you!!! I’ve got you now!!!”
And with that, the standing Ha-young grabbed the collar of the man.
An unprecedented event unfolded right there at the fan signing — the girl group leader grabbed the collar of a fan at the event.
*
