The Haunted Monster Actor - Chapter 66



Only Krnovel

Episode 66

“We’ve arrived, brother.”

After arriving at the filming location and parking the Carnival, Go Gun spoke to Hyun Soo.

Even though the sun was high in the sky, Hyunsoo, who had pushed himself deep into the sofa, had no intention of opening his eyes.

Gogun muttered with a worried expression as he looked at the scene through the rearview mirror.

“You must be tired.”

I woke up early in the morning and went to several movie theaters to complete my stage greeting schedule.

I’m not just talking about today’s schedule.

As soon as the auditions are over, the film festival schedule is announced.

The movie was released right after I returned, and I continued to practice the script in the meantime.

‘For the time being, it would be best to refrain from any other schedules other than filming the drama.’

After the script reading was over, my brother’s mood was strangely unstable.

I thought of Woo Ji-yoon’s usual habit of saying to start the engine when the water comes in, but that’s only possible when the engine is intact.

Gogun turned off the Carnival engine and checked the time, muttering quietly.

“Because there’s still some time before filming… … .”

“It’s okay, let’s go in.”

“Oh, you’re awake?”

“Yeah. I wasn’t sleeping. I was memorizing the script.”

“But you’ve worked hard since morning, so why don’t you rest a bit and then go in… .”

“What about hardship? If anything, I would have received strength.”

It’s never an empty word.

Although he could only do the morning schedule, Hyunsoo received great strength from the audience that came to see the movie while going around greeting people on stage today.

The moment when he ‘communicated’ with the audience who cried and laughed at the character and world he played was a happier moment than when he received a standing ovation at Cannes.

Maybe that’s the real reason why he became an actor.

‘I hope this work can be like that too.’

With that in mind, Hyunsoo opened the doors to the carnival for the first filming of Nineties Dive.

As soon as he opens the car door, the first thing that catches Hyunsoo’s eye is the familiar sight of the entrance.

“Wow, I never thought this would be our first filming location.”

The neon sign is still dark because it is still broad daylight.

The colorful graffiti painted on the stairs leading to the basement catches the eye.

The first filming location for Nineties Dive was none other than Hongdae’s underground live club, ‘DRUG KITCHEN’.

“I was surprised when I heard about the filming location, too. Well, when I think about it, it was only natural.”

Hyunsoo nodded after hearing Gogun’s words.

The first and last remaining underground live club.

The filming location that best suits a drama that uses 90s rock sensibility as its underlying concept had to be this place.

In the first place, this place was also the actual motif of the stage where Rising Dive was mainly active.

“Since it doesn’t operate during the day, there’s no need to ask for cooperation from the citizens. What is this? There’s no separate set? Oh, I see that preparations are complete.”

After finishing preparing for filming, some staff members who were waiting at the entrance noticed Hyun-soo and greeted him.

“Hello, actor Kim Hyun-soo!”

“Actor Kim Hyun-soo has arrived!”

The joy was fleeting, and Hyun-soo’s face became serious as he went down the stairs to the basement, guided by the staff.

As the staff said, unlike last time when I came as an ordinary visitor, this time I came here as an actor.

Not the audience below the stage.

To become the ‘main character’ on stage.

* * *

As soon as I entered the venue, the first thing I noticed was not the audience packed in front of the stage… but the staff.

There were so many staff members in the underground club preparing to film that it was easy to mistake them for audience members.

“Oh, now that I think about it, there is one drawback.”

“… … ?”

“Isn’t this place a bit cramped?”

Hyunsoo nodded.

I’ve been here before, but the inside of the drug kitchen isn’t that spacious.

With all the filming equipment and on-site staff crammed into a small space, it was no surprise that it looked packed with spectators.

One thing that’s fortunate is that the air conditioning is running strong.

However, it did not cool down the unique heat felt at the scene.

“The staff must have had a hard time carrying heavy filming equipment up and down the stairs.”

“I’m glad you noticed.”

The person who discovered Hyun-soo and approached him was none other than PD Jeong Geun-ho.

“Hello, PD.”

“You said you had a stage greeting today, right? I’m sorry for calling you out earlier than scheduled. It took longer than expected to set up and take down the equipment, so I think I’ll have to standby a little early to make it on time… … .”

“No. It’s the actor’s job to adapt to the conditions on site. I ask for your help in the future.”

PD Jeong Geun-ho nodded, seeming to like Hyun-soo’s answer.

“Senior, are you here?”

The person who greeted Hyun-soo loudly while exchanging greetings with Jung Geun-ho was none other than rookie actor Jung Jin-wook, who played the role of Ji-yu-han, a 20-year-old girl.

“Mr. Jinwook, didn’t you just finish filming?”

Even while the film festival schedule was being worked on, the other actors, except for Hyun-soo, had already started filming the first episode of the drama.

In short, today was the day of baton passing with Jin-wook, who played the role of Ji-yu Han in his twenties.

“Yes, senior. We finished filming last week and decided to stand by whenever a scene is needed.”

“Then today… … ?”

“I came out today to see you and say thank you, senior, because today is your first day of filming!”

“Huh? A thank you? Since when have you two been so close? Isn’t this the first time you’ve seen each other since the script reading?”

Writer Choi Ui-jeong, who had come up to me without me noticing, tilted his head and asked.

I heard that he frequently appears on set, but I never thought he would show up from the first shoot.

“Hello, author.”

“Oh, author. It’s true that it’s our first time meeting. But I’ve been getting some help from you over the phone.”

“help?”

Jin-wook had been keeping in touch with Hyun-soo from time to time and exchanged opinions about the role of Ji-yu-han.

They didn’t just exchange words, they also exchanged videos of each other’s acting and gave feedback.

Jin-wook wanted to reach out to Ji-yu-han, whom he had seen at the script reading, even just a little bit.

Likewise, it was important for Hyun-soo to figure out what kind of tone the child actor would have as he played Ji-yu-han in the future.

“Somehow, my acting improved a lot compared to when I was reading. So there was a reason for this?”

“I also received help. I’m sorry, Jinwook. I should have met you in person earlier.”

“Oh, no, senior! I know you’ve been busy. But I’m more excited about seeing ‘Jiyuhan’ today.”

Jin-wook’s eyes were filled with anticipation as he spoke.

Having exchanged acting videos with Hyun-soo, he knew more about Hyun-soo’s secrets than anyone else in the room.

It was a thank you, but more than that, I came here to see Hyunsoo act in a proper environment and learn from him.

PD Jeong Geun-ho and writer Choi Ui-jeong smiled inwardly as they looked at the two actors shining their eyes at each other.

‘Both of them are heavenly actors.’

Hyunsoo patted Jinwook’s shoulder as he looked up at him with bright eyes and looked around.

Because before we started filming, there was one more person to greet.

“Are you looking for President Joanna?”

“Yes, sir. How did you know?”

“He said he had to sleep during the day, so he just gave me the key and left.”

“……yes?”

Even so, with so many people moving around in your store, you just gave them the keys and left?

‘… … Certainly, this is Anna-like behavior.’

“I heard you’re close with CEO Cho?”

“Yes, I found out while preparing for this work.”

“Phew, thanks to you I survived.”

“yes?”

“Actually, I had a really hard time because I couldn’t secure a location for a while. I contacted him one last time just in case, and he asked if Hyunsoo was in a project, and then immediately said this… … .”

What writer Choi Ui-jeong was holding and shaking in his hand was none other than the store key to Drug Kitchen.

Just by looking at her expression, you could tell she was very happy to be filming here.

“Has that ever happened?”

“Yes, thank you very much, Actor Kim. Anyway, since it was a place we had a hard time securing, we have to make sure to create a great scene, right?”

Everyone around nodded their heads at the spirited words of author Choi Ui-jeong.

Soon, the main staff gathered around Hyun-soo and everyone started a full-scale briefing before filming.

* * *

PD Jeong Geun-ho opened his mouth while looking at Hyun-soo’s blistered hands.

“You must have practiced a lot.”

“I tried my best.”

“Just don’t be too clumsy. The band sound can be touched up later anyway. Don’t forget that what you’re doing now is acting, not playing.”

“Yes, I will keep that in mind. But, uh, by any chance… … .”

“Tell me.”

“May I use the guitar I brought?”

What Hyun-soo was holding as he spoke was a practice guitar he had received from Im Jin-han.

“That thing looks a bit old. Is there a story behind it? It feels a lot better than what we prepared.”

Hyunsoo answered Choi Uijeong’s words by lightly plucking the strings of his guitar.

“There’s no particular reason for it, but I’ve been practicing with this guitar for a long time and I just got used to it.”

“Not bad. Well, the guitar model isn’t important, so Actor Kim can do whatever he wants.”

“thank you.”

“So, back to the main point. As you know, the scene we’re filming today is the last highlight scene from the drama’s main trailer.”

Hyunsoo nodded after hearing Choi Uijeong’s words.

As I said before, Nineties Dive’s filming schedule is almost like a live show.

Therefore, the early footage of Hyun-soo is mainly comprised of scenes that will be used in the drama’s teaser and main trailer.

“Of course, this scene will be included in the main drama, but wouldn’t it be better to show it on screen with more impact in mind in the trailer?”

It is exactly as Choi Ui-jeong said.

There is no need to explain its importance as it is a scene that leaves a first impression of Ji Yu-han on the viewers.

“A scene where he plays the guitar instead of explaining to his friends who can’t believe his reappearance. In a word, this god… … .”

“It proves his existence through the stage. It’s a scene that immediately shows what kind of person Ji Yu-han is.”

Choi Ui-jeong smiled and nodded at Hyun-soo’s answer.

“That’s right. Okay, then I’ll tell you a few points that aren’t in the text. I’ll keep saying it during rehearsal, but Ji Yoo-han on stage… … .”

Hyunsoo listened to Choi Ui-jeong’s explanation and received a guitar connected to an amplifier from the staff.

And, Hyunsoo’s eyes, standing on stage with his guitar in hand, had suddenly changed from usual.

“In fact, Ji-yu himself doesn’t understand why he’s standing on stage again. But when he stands on stage… … .”

“There’s no need for a reason.”

“Right… … right?”

And now, Choi Ui-jeong, who was continuing his explanation to Hyun-soo, also realized that his atmosphere had changed from before.

‘Those eyes… … are the eyes I saw at the audition.’

Even before the lights were turned on, stars were pouring out from Hyun-soo’s eyes as he looked down at the stage.

PD Jeong Geun-ho, who was looking at the master monitor, also felt the change in the air.

Before I knew it, he was quietly raising his hand and giving a signal to the camera.

Hyunsoo, holding a guitar in his hand… … no, Jiyuhan spoke to the audience.

“I think we can go right away without rehearsal?”

Hyun-soo’s voice was full of confidence as he spoke, and Choi Ui-jeong nodded without realizing it.

The splendid aura of the ‘musician’ that has begun to fill the stage.

As Hyun-soo placed his hands on the six strings, PD Jeong Geun-ho’s hand went up.

“Ready… … .”

one.

two.

high-!

“cue!!”

With the PD’s cue, Ji Yu-han’s first stage began.

* * *

The final scene of the official teaser trailer for Nineties Dive.

#New Number 1, Underground Live Club

The stage has started again.

On a quiet stage where not a single light had been turned on, Hyunsoo closed his eyes and placed his hands on the six strings.

Actors touch the hearts of viewers through their acting, but musicians touch the ‘soul’ of the audience through their music.

And of course, Hyunsoo is an actor, not a singer.

As Im Jin-han said, there is no actor in the world who can steal the soul of the audience with a clumsy performance that he has only learned for about two months.

Therefore, there is no way for actor Hyunsoo to touch the souls of the audience with ‘music’ on stage…

‘Strictly speaking, you didn’t come here to learn how to play. You came here to act out a performance. I have no intention of teaching someone like that how to play.’

I learned to ‘play’ with a musician’s attitude for two months.

One paradox is that now that the cameras are rolling, what Hyun-soo has to do is ultimately to ‘act’ as an actor.

So, what is the role you should play from now on?

‘We have to make Kim Hyun-soo’s clumsy performance… …look like Ji Yu-han’s ‘real performance.’

And it’s not just the music that makes a musician’s performance real.

‘Another performance that truly makes a musician.’

That is, ‘communication’ with the audience.

‘Rising Dive’ cannot be completed with just Jiyuhan loving music.

You need to have colleagues by your side who can work in harmony with you.

And, there must be an ‘audience’ who listens to the love of Jiyu Han and his colleagues.

Only then… … .

The ‘stage’ can be completed.

Soon, a single beam of light falls onto the stage.

Hyunsoo locked eyes with each of his colleagues watching him from below the stage.

He shouted at the audience who were looking at the stage with expectant eyes.

“Rising Dive! The stage is starting now—!”

Jiiiiiing—!

Ding, ding—Jagajang!

Jiyuhan’s eyes, Yeonju’s performance, were speaking to everyone under the stage.

You who are with me.

There are people who look at us.

Everyone’s life can shine so dynamically!

[Rising Dive – The Uproar of Youth]

Along with Jiyuhan’s strokes, an incredible loud noise comes out of the amplifier.

“Let’s do this again… …! Let’s do a band―!!!”

The electronic sounds of the guitar and Jiyuhan’s explosive screams mix together, and cracks begin to appear again in everyone’s hearts that had been motionless.

As the sound changes brilliantly, the surrounding air becomes more noisy and tumultuous.

It didn’t take long for the crack to burst with the commotion and ‘something’ to burst out.

That ‘something’ is actually something we all have had from the beginning.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa—!

Exactly, more than anything else, it is a burning passion.

One of the staff members who was watching Hyun-soo’s performance with a blank expression from below the stage muttered without realizing it.

“Didn’t you just hear something like… shouting from somewhere?”

Hyunsoo started to ‘tell’ the musician’s music through acting.

Before we knew it, the staff members below the stage had become the actual audience watching Ji Yu-han’s performance.

Continued in the next episode