This movie, “Code Number: 7,” features quite a few characters.
To start with, just in the main character’s group, Half Blood, there are a total of eight members including the main and supporting actors, and around four to five individuals from the National Taoist Union.
Add to that the villainous runaway yokai and monsters, and we already have over twenty characters with significant roles.
Naturally, various issues would arise from casting alone.
Right now, in our company’s meeting room, we’re seriously discussing who should be cast for each role.
Initially, a total of nine people were invited to participate in this meeting.
From our company, we have Representative Joo who came in as an investor consultant, Heavenly Yuah, myself as an actor representative, and Moon Suyeon, along with Nam Hyun-ho.
Lastly, Yang Yuli who assisted with the script revision makes it a total of six people.
Additionally, Director Nam Hyun-a, the representative of the production company ‘Blue Sky’ Park Mun-seok, and another scriptwriter, Writer Ok, are also present.
Among them, Writer Ok and Yang Yuli feel more like consulting personnel.
They only attended to offer their opinions on whether the actors proposed for the revised script fit well.
By the way, the production company ‘Blue Sky,’ as its name suggests, was separately created to produce Nam Hyun-a’s movies.
It is a company that simply employs staff to make one movie for Nam Hyun-a, so the people from this side move according to Nam Hyun-a’s wishes.
While some productions have directors, separate production companies, and even separate investors working independently, causing chaos, it seems that our production doesn’t have to worry about that.
We already have reliable investors who have confirmed the entire investment sum.
In my case, I actually don’t have much of an opinion on which actor should take which role, so I’ve mostly been listening quietly.
Moon Suyeon, sitting next to me, seems to share a similar mindset.
Amidst all of us, Nam Hyun-ho, who seems to know a lot, and Heavenly Yuah, who’s genuinely passionate about the production side, have been exchanging opinions and debating with Nam Hyun-a.
But that was until a certain opinion arose that awakened my instinct to fight.
“Regarding the role of the protagonist’s younger sister, how about giving it to Miss Baek Hayoung?”
That was a suggestion to have our company’s ‘little princess’ join our movie, and not just any minor role, but as the protagonist’s younger sister, a part with considerable weight.
Why not use her when there are plenty of good actors available?
“Is Miss Baek Hayoung… the Hayoung from Pentaring? Ah, she is Actor Baek’s younger sister, isn’t she?”
While Director Nam Hyun-a was pondering, I jumped in first to oppose it.
I figured there wasn’t any reason to voluntarily work harder than needed.
“Hayoung isn’t even an actor, so why take a gamble? She’s just an idol, right?”
Directors generally do not tolerate actors who can’t act, and there are quite a few who don’t like idols either.
That’s why I pointed this out, hoping to get Director Nam Hyun-a’s opposition, but the atmosphere was steadily turning strange.
“Pentaring? Isn’t that PMC? If she’s the real younger sister of Actor Baek, then there shouldn’t be any acting issues.”
“Yes?”
“PMC provides acting lessons during their trainee process. They are quite serious about this side. Also, they really are siblings, so the character’s synchronization should be good. Most importantly…”
“Yes.”
“I watched her music video. Isn’t that insane acting? She was able to laugh in front of Actor Baek like that. Even Nam Hyunho probably couldn’t do that, right?”
“Ahhh, that?”
Damn, if you put it that way, there’s nothing left to say.
“It’s also great for publicity. With Pentaring’s current momentum, it would be a pleasant addition as well.”
“Since the role isn’t particularly difficult either, we can adjust the weight according to the situation… Therefore, it seems like a good choice.”
So I was wrong.
Director Nam Hyun-a also didn’t seem inclined to reject this suggestion.
There was only one fact I didn’t know – that PMC, which launched Pentaring and Nuclear, was serious about teaching acting during the trainee training process.
It wasn’t a fluke that someone like Lion came out of nowhere.
Now I remember, wasn’t that guy who said he’d do better than me before going to Martial Forest?
Apparently, his words weren’t just a joke to tease me.
“Let’s tentatively submit this proposal. They might have other commitments.”
Since both parties approved, Baek Hayoung was placed at the top of the casting list.
If her acting is good, she would certainly be an asset from a marketing perspective as well.
In this regard, I had to admit that if her acting was good enough, she could significantly help the production.
“I hope PMC declines.”
All I could do was pray that our proposal would be rejected by PMC.
Since Pentaring was a thriving group, it seemed plausible that their schedule would be tight enough to make this wish come true.
“And Code Number Zero, the leader of Half Blood?”
“Yes, there are no objections to this one.”
“In that case, let’s decide on Actor Yang Miju.”
…Yang Miju? Our young one?
You want to assign this role to Miju (8 years old)?
Code Number Zero, the leader of Half Blood, was a charismatic figure who skillfully commanded the unruly half-bloods.
An added quirk was that he had the设定設定 of being the daughter of Uma Wang.
Now, the idea was to have young Miju (age 8) take on this role.
It made my head spin contemplating this.
“This role was truly designed for Actor Yang Miju. Attach small horns to her head, and a fluffy fox tail to her bottom. Have her perch atop a chair in a Gothic Lolita outfit, looking down arrogantly at her operatives… This kind of moe gap doesn’t even exist.”
When I tilted my head wondering how this became the case, Writer Ok, who had kept silent until then, began passionately arguing.
Yang Yuli was also wildly nodding her head from the side,
From the atmosphere, it seemed like Yang Miju had been pre-selected as Code Number Zero right from the scriptwriting phase through the combined efforts of Writer Ok and Yang Yuli.
World, a horned and tailed gothic Lolita toddler?
Initially, I wondered what this was, but upon careful reflection, it was actually a quite potent character.
There was a concern about the numerous challenging acting skills involved for a young actor, but remembering Miju’s performance in Mother’s Song, I thought she could handle this well.
If she could act appropriately, this could become a legendary wildly popular character.
Is this the form of Writer Ok + Yang Yuli (brains)?
It was surprising how Writer Ok and Yang Yuli together could come up with something like this, making me exclaim in admiration.
Afterward, various roles found their owners.
Number 6 (Duexi), one of the important characters in Half Blood, was given to Senior Actor Kang Du-cheon, a specialist in playing menacing villains.
Number 4, the butler character supporting Number Zero, had Senior Actor Seo Jin-seob as the top casting target.
Incidentally, Senior Actor Seo Jin-seob was a senior who had been slated for the role of Elder Yoon in ‘Genius Copywriter Yoon Seo-eun,’ but didn’t take the role due to my interference.
Back when I first started acting, I used to refer a lot to his performances.
Being a fine actor, I hoped he could appear in the same production this time.
*
The casting for top candidates decided in the first meeting is currently underway.
First, it seems that our proposal was accepted by both seniors, Kang Du-cheon and Mr. Seo Jin-seob, which was a happy announcement for me as well.
“Ah, I hear PMC accepted the offer?”
“Yes, apparently, the timing perfectly syncs with the rest period for Pentaring. It’s all just a matter of good fortune, isn’t it?”
“That’s right. Good… fortune.”
“According to the company, they’ve planned to cultivate Hayoung as both an actor and an idol, saying her looks and acting skills shouldn’t be wasted on idol activities alone.”
“…That’s so?”
And coincidentally, PMC decided to allow Baek Hayoung to participate in the movie.
Since Pentaring is entering a rest period, they said it’s even better.
Seeing as Lion has already created a clear impact, it seems they plan to properly develop this girl.
They apparently judged that starting acting in our project, where Heavenly Yuah is involved, was a good move.
Even more, they seem to be under the impression that since I’m on board as well, I would somehow take good care of their girl.
– You know, how does that happen? It’s so good. We will get to see a movie with both our son and daughter later, won’t we?
“…Yes, you could see it that way. You and Mother could come watch together.”
– Exactly. Who would’ve thought this would happen? Living long pays off, doesn’t it? Ah, but our son is quite the actor’s senior, right? Please take good care of our daughter.
“…Okay, I will.”
After things turned out this way, Father was extremely pleased.
He said he couldn’t even remember the last time he went to the cinema and was determined to come watch our movie in the theater.
And while requesting that I take care of their daughter, he seemed so gleeful that I just said sure without much comment.
“Even as an actor senior, I intended to show her the bitter taste of the field.”
I’m still pretty far down in the hierarchy, and there’s not much that I could do for her, but with Father’s enthusiasm, it seems I’d have to save her punishments for another time.
If he hadn’t said anything, things might have played out differently, but I simply cannot contradict what he directly expresses.
It looks like the lifespan of this “princess” back home will be extended a bit.
Though there was some mental distress upon confirming that the “princess” would actually join us, but the casting process, overall, was proceeding rather smoothly.
Most of the actors we prioritized will be joining us.
Not to mention the already secure investment, so there won’t be much trouble on the filming side.
The previous shoot was filled with various issues, but this time it seems to be a lot smoother.
…But as I thought that,
“Ah, there’s a problem…”
“Yes, we can’t use the Dream Meta Studio for filming. This could get problematic.”
So, it turns out we can’t use the Dream Meta Studio we had planned to use.
Dream Meta Studio, where the early part of “Gold Rush, Joseon” was filmed, is Korea’s largest specialized CG filming studio, where most giant CG productions are shot.
Given our film’s focus on half-breeds, yokai, and Taoists, which are somewhat unrealistic elements, we heavily relied on CG shooting, so we decided to use this studio.
When discussing beforehand, it was quite promising that we would be able to use the set.
But recently, the tone has drastically changed, and the possibility that we will not be able to use the set has significantly increased.
“Well, everything is fine until the issues arrive.”
Of course, it seems like nothing proceeds without any issues.
