The rain near the food cart had ceased by now.
However, the silence enveloping the entire filming site lingered. Actors, staff, personnel… Despite the considerable number of people gathered, none dared to speak recklessly.
Such was the impact of the food cart scene’s filming.
How long had the silence stretched?
Though outwardly silent, their minds were spinning faster than ever. The commotion was almost insufficient to describe it – chaos had truly erupted.
The supporting actors began retracing the sights they had just witnessed. They had observed Sua’s acting up close.
“…Upon reflection, I didn’t feel a shred of awkwardness while acting. Gang boss? It fits like a glove. In fact, throughout the performance, there was undeniable charisma.”
The thoughts of the personnel weren’t far off.
“It’s certain she’s understood the role of Lim Soo-hee. With this, we might not have to worry, right?”
“Though it initially seemed like mere show, there was indeed a valid reason behind it. This is going to work without fail. It also makes sense to immediately film the climax now – we’re prepared.”
Like the flow of a river choosing its path, their thoughts followed a particular direction.
It was one of admiration and anticipation directed towards Sua.
Additionally, the question of whether Sua, being a woman, could convincingly play a gang boss had been entirely resolved. Not a single person experienced any sense of dissonance.
Hope blossomed in the minds of the personnel.
“Could ‘Lies, Lies, Lies’ actually achieve a climax on par with ‘Special Mobile Unit 808’? If so, just how big of a hit would it be?”
On the other hand,
“Wow…”
Unlike the personnel, the key actors of ‘Lies, Lies, Lies’ began to voice their thoughts, moved by the experience.
“Her emotional acting is incredible.”
Their admiration was bound to surpass that of the personnel or the staff, after all, they lived off their craft.
Because they had dedicated their lives to acting, they could keenly feel the difficulty in what she had achieved – something they themselves might not have managed after years of practice.
“Wasn’t the soju glass made by hardening sugar?”
“Yeah, obviously not real glass, right?”
“How on earth does she pull off such an act? Watching it hurt my jaw. Wow, and that look, suppressing fury with veins popping out…”
“Unbelievable. And she’s not even someone who had a contract from the start.”
Technically speaking, Sua was an unexpected addition – a “pebble that had rolled in.” The shock stemmed from her performance, which was impossible to believe as hastily prepared. It was even making them feel a renewed sense of competitive pressure.
“…If this makes it to the screen, I doubt the audience will remember any of our faces. That’s how it feels now. I can barely remember anything except for Sua.”
“Meanwhile, Yeon-joo’s chemistry with her was perfect too. They said they had good synergy since their short film days, and it wasn’t a lie. Unbelievable.”
Gradually, the set began to get lively again.
But Sua,
Still stared at Yeon-joo.
Though Yeon-joo’s finger trembling was brief, Sua couldn’t forget it. Reflecting now, she felt like Yeon-joo resembled Park Si-yeon.
“…She doesn’t look at ease at all.”
Seo Yeon-joo smiled with her eyes half-closed. She seemed beautiful and elegant.
In the past, Sua would’ve thought just that. Others wouldn’t have questioned Yeon-joo’s expression either. They would have seen only the good side.
But Sua was different now.
“It became clear after experiencing Lim Soo-hee. Yeon-joo is… laughing not because she has something to smile about, but because she must. What should I do?”
Now, she realized she was similar to the role of Lim Soo-hee.
She had closely watched Yeon-joo, so subtle differences were now apparent, yet she couldn’t figure a solution. It frustrated her to no end.
Like Lim Soo-hee, who only knew how to act violent with no real answers, Sua too knew nothing but to act. Thus, this situation was a vital challenge for her too – finding out how best to contribute to someone she valued.
Sua’s expression grew naturally serious.
Seeing this, the people around formed their own mistaken impressions. After all, her face did carry a story.
The assistant director stared blankly at Sua.
“Her name’s Yuseong, right? Definitely Yuseong! What a monster!”
He was the shooting director and had been one of the first to confirm Sua’s on-screen image. In that image, Sua perfectly embodied Lim Soo-hee.
“She didn’t even get much prep time, right? But it’s as if she’s lived 20 years in an organization. Her gaze, habits, mannerisms… Everything feels second nature. Does she have a gangster family or something? How is this possible?”
Sua’s acting ability had already been proven through the short film and “Special Mobile Unit 808,” yet the shooting director was still incredibly impressed by the attention to detail. She seemed genuinely like a gangster.
“Did the script provide a detailed description? I don’t think so. Only a vague description as a gangster was written. She managed to delve this deep into the character…”
Typically, rookie actors are constantly asking staff questions, checking if their role interpretations are correct.
Are there any specific habits for this character? How would they act in such a situation? Would they often have a particular expression?
Sua didn’t do any of that.
She silently reached her conclusions without seeking anyone’s opinion, impressively enough to convince everyone. Each aspect left something to marvel at.
Why, even this serious expression now was a case in point.
“Everyone else is praising her like it’s a celebration, yet she’s the only one who looks serious. Like this is nothing special to her. She’s already visualizing the perfect climax in her mind.”
Fear crept in. What exactly are we going to see?
Meanwhile, Sua’s head felt like it would explode.
“What can I do for the work’s rating? What can I do for Yeon-joo’s sake? I need a way to achieve both. Otherwise…”
Crack! Crack!
Just as her brain was nearing overload,
“Alright! That’s a cut for the food cart scene! It can’t get any better than that!”
Director Park Mu-ryong shouted the cut, kicking off his chair. With nearly running strides, his target was right in front of Sua.
“Sua! Sua!”
Soon, Director Park Mu-ryong shouted as he arrived directly in front of Sua. Already overwhelmed, Sua was startled. It felt like an octopus was talking to her!
“…!”
Sua shook her head violently to clear her thoughts.
Phew, her brain was finally cooling off. The person in front of her wasn’t a monster octopus but Director Park Mu-ryong. She needed to be careful about overloading. Seeing hallucinations now, that wasn’t good.
Director Park Mu-ryong shouted in excitement.
“Sua, when did you research the role of Lim Soo-hee to such an extent? Your understanding is extraordinary! There wasn’t much detailed explanation in the script, right?”
I had an experience! Sua the Bold!
Though outwardly bold, this wasn’t the case inside. Hmm. It wasn’t easy to be open about it. She brushed it off.
“I only gave my best.”
“All actors give their best! But what sets Sua’s ‘best’ apart is truly wonderful! I really like it!”
Sua could feel Director Park Mu-ryong’s wild excitement through her entire body. The previously pale octopus was now red and puffing.
Park Mu-ryong’s heart brimmed with anticipation.
“If she demonstrated such an understanding with this ‘food cart scene,’ what wonders will she show in the climax scene? ‘Special Mobile Unit 808’ is no longer someone else’s story. I can achieve such a climax too!”
He struggled to keep the rising impressions in check, eager to blurt them out.
“She said she only participates in projects she loves, but it’s because she’s invested in my work. It’s because she has studied so deeply in a short time… How incredibly moving.”
Director Park Mu-ryong happily spoke up.
“If Sua is ready, let’s move on to the next scene immediately. This time, it’s a scene between Lim Soo-hee and the gang members.”
“Yes. Of course possible.”
Sua nodded and thought.
“If I slack off, it’ll break Yeon-joo’s spirit further. I should do my best.”
And another thought.
“…My head has been prickling since before. If I keep on acting as Lim Soo-hee a little longer, I can catch a glimpse of the answer.”
In this situation, even Sua’s body was buzzing.
She immediately needed to portray Lim Soo-hee. Only then could she avoid losing the inspiration that was flickering in her mind. She needed to take at least one step forward to solve the current situation.
Sua urged the director.
“Director, hurry.”
“Ah, of course! Everyone, prepare!”
Neither Director Park Mu-ryong nor the staff knew Sua’s situation, so they were deeply moved. Morale skyrocketed. Sua appeared to be so passionate about the work.
Meanwhile, the co-actors who were shocked were a different matter.
“Eh? Going to the next scene right away? We haven’t rested enough!”
“Ah, I’m not fully relaxed yet…”
“It’s probably better to comply silently. Sua said it after filming the food cart scene. We at least got a short reprieve, so we’re in better shape than her.”
“Man, she’s not human. She’s monster…monster…”
The actors stuck out their tongues as they returned to their positions. Sua quickly regained her focus. The next filming location was a crushed car junkyard.
Director Park Mu-ryong shouted loudly.
“Ready! Action!”
.
.
.
.
.
That early morning,
Having now filmed all the previous scenes and leaving only the climax scene, Director Park Mu-ryong wasn’t alone.
Sitting opposite was Seo Yeon-joo.
“I have something to say.”
Seo Yeon-joo spoke up first.
Director Park Mu-ryong sensed some ominous energy. This wasn’t due to his sharp instincts. It was simply because Seo Yeon-joo’s face clearly revealed the answer.
Seo Yeon-joo’s expression wasn’t good.
“…It doesn’t seem like good news.”
“Yes, it’s not. I came to apologize.”
“Why don’t we skip such apologies?”
“No.”
Seo Yeon-joo shook her head slowly.
“Because this is the least apologetic moment right now. With every passing minute, every second, it’ll get harder to apologize. So, I’ll tell you now.”
After a brief silence, she continued.
“…I, frankly, can’t act in this scene.”
