I Will Live As An Actor - Chapter 111:

Translator: MarcTempest

Chapter 111

The filming period for historical dramas usually exceeded a year.

That was why, from the perspective of the broadcasting stations, historical dramas become more and more burdensome as time went by.

At a time when mini-series were gaining more popularity, just as people’s tastes changed, the viewers also preferred shorter episodes and tenser storylines.

In that sense, the fusion historical drama called ‘Yeonsan, The King’s Secret’ was not an exaggeration to say that it accurately captured the viewers’ needs.

“Yoo sunbae, I’ll send the Team B’s tape right away by quick delivery. And Team C has just left for Yongin Folk Village. The scene where he recovers his upper position that we inserted, I asked the VFX team to make it more lively along the Gonryongpo Ridge as the director suggested. But what are you worrying about so much?”

The editing room was filled with a stuffy air.

It was no wonder that they said the editing room was always full of all-nighters.

Basically, they had to splice together the jump cuts and the montages of the scenes they filmed beforehand, not to mention the correction and the cutting of the unnecessary images, there were countless tasks waiting for them that were hard to mention verbally.

Of course, the editing room staff, including the editing team leader, did the professional skills, but it was only natural that the director who held the megaphone also had to sit next to them.

“Scene 47, I originally wanted to switch it with a swish pan, but no matter how I look at it, it’s too wasteful to just swipe it.”

“Are you talking about the scene where Young-guk takes off his top and does push-ups?”

“Yeah, the editing room Team Leader Kim also said that. It’s too wasteful to only capture it in a full shot. At that time, I had no choice but to film it according to the storyboard because the costume team burned his clothes. But after that, I regretted it. When I checked the edited video today, I felt even more so.”

Scene 47 appeared on the screen of the editing room device.

The crown prince, Yi-yung, was doing push-ups in the East Palace. Then, AD Kim Young-min could also see the video properly.

At the time of filming, he had to prepare for the next scene, so he was busy discussing the coordination matters with the supporting actor team leader, and he didn’t even see the filming in the east palace.

There was a rumor that the female staff on the set were so amazed that they had to cover their mouths.

“Wow, Mi-jeong noona was right.”

“Mi-jeong?”

“The costume team leader. She was so angry that Young-guk’s clothes were burned, and she asked me how the PD felt before the shoot. But when she came back from talking to the supporting actor team leader, Mi-jeong noona’s face was completely different. She said she saw the most splendid costume in her life. I wondered what she meant by that… Wow, look at those arms and chest muscles that are so ripped.”

It was when AD Kim Young-min opened his mouth wide at the sight of the man’s body.

“Kim Young-min, how can you call the costume team leader noona when she’s much older than you?”

“Hey, we’ve been drinking together since before the crank-in. I guess the people from the costume, art, and makeup teams are more comfortable with me than the PD. We decided to call each other noona then. She looks strict, but she’s actually soft-hearted. That day too, after the filming, she teared up and said, ‘Our youngest survived.’ I felt so sorry for her.”

“Huh, you have a way with words.”

“By the way, when this scene airs, the ratings will skyrocket. Don’t just do a full shot, but change the angle and shoot it again in medium. The director gave us Team C as support, so this little bit of extra schedule is fine. And is Young-guk preparing for physical education college entrance exam instead of law school? Or are the kids these days growing up so well? By the way, didn’t you say he had orientation today?”

“He probably attended by now. And hey, Young-guk is only nine years younger than you. He’s an adult. An adult. Of course, if you look at the face value, Young-min, you look more like a hyung than me.”

“Wow, I didn’t know Yoo sunbae thought of me like that. Then why don’t you call me hyung for a change?”

“Shut up!”

They bickered like that, but their eyes were still fixed on the screen of the editing room device, where Yi-yun’s ripped muscles were visible.

They both gasped at the scene that followed.

The sweat that shone with the dawn looked like a picture of a photo shoot.

***

The campus was full of vitality as if it welcomed the spring day for the orientation of the new college students.

It was a time when the ink on their ID cards hadn’t dried yet, but they all had pride in having peeled off their minor stickers.

They all dressed like adults, trying too hard to look mature.

Some had already dyed their hair, and some had curled it up.

They were in their prime.

“This is the best time of their lives.”

Young-guk blurted out his inner thoughts, and Manager Lee Bong-chun, who was holding the steering wheel, glanced at him through the rearview mirror.

“Young-guk, why do you act like an old man sometimes? All the students walking around are the same age as you. They look like they’re having fun, saying they’re freshmen and all. But you…”

“What’s wrong with me?”

“You look like a graduating sunbae who’s preparing for a job. There’s no excitement on your face. Maybe it’s because I had a short backpack strap, but I was always thrilled and nervous when I went to college. Even when I was selling eels at Jagalchi market, I felt that way. My sister nagged me so much that I went to see Busan University with her once, and I was so impressed by the college students who were drinking soju and playing guitar on the lawn.”

“Is it because of CC?”

“What’s CC? This car is 2000cc, if that’s what you mean.”

Korea University’s campus was one of the largest in the country.

It was quite a distance from the main gate to the law school building.

Before Young-guk knew it, he could see the Law Department building through the car window.

It was an old building that showed the traces of time.

Ivy vines covered the dark walls and reached the door.

As if to prove its deep history, the placard fluttering in front of the building had the names of the bar exam passers from last year.

There were so many names that they filled the entire placard.

Well, it was a place where the best of the best gathered, so what else could he expect?

“I’ll be back soon.”

“Okay, Young-guk. Have fun!”

Manager Lee Bong-chun waved his hand vigorously as if he was sending off his younger sibling on a school trip.

He was so enthusiastic that the van shook.

Actually, Young-guk looked like an old man, but he was just a young adult.

But he never had the leisure to enjoy his life like other students because of his filming schedule, so he hoped he would forget about the drama for today and have a good time as a freshman.

“Room 107.”

Young-guk repeated the number of the lecture hall where the orientation was held.

There was no one in the first floor hallway.

He arrived right on time for the orientation, hoping to avoid people’s attention.

He stopped in front of room 107 and opened the door.

“Welcome to Korea University’s Law Department orientation!”

But his plan was ruined.

As soon as the back door of the lecture hall opened, the freshmen and the upperclassmen who were standing on the podium all looked at him.

And when they saw his face, their eyes widened even more.

That was when it happened.

“Why are you so timid when you’re late? Hurry up and sit down.”

“Excuse me?”

“Are you a law freshman or not? What are you all staring at? Even if your classmate is handsome, you don’t have to gape at him like that. How sad do you think the sunbaes here are? Come on, focus!”

The short-haired female student on the podium snapped at them.

Her voice was so sharp that the freshmen who were surprised by Young-guk’s face quickly turned their heads back.

It didn’t take long for him to find out who she was.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Shin Jae-hee, the president of the 51st Law Club and a junior at Korea University’s Law Department.”

***

For most freshmen, sunbaes were like the sky.

In reality, they were only a few years older, but to the inexperienced freshmen, they seemed as big as mountains under the fence of the university.

“Hello, I’m Kim Man-seok, a law freshman!”

One by one, the freshmen went up to the podium and introduced themselves.

The club president and the sunbaes were sitting in the front row, listening to their greetings with crossed arms.

On the other hand, the freshmen who went up to the podium had nervous faces.

“Are you not going to tell us your student number? And are you not going to show us your talent? We don’t care about your name, it won’t stick in our heads anyway. And why is your voice so small? Why are the freshmen this year so timid? Do you want me to scold you on the first day of orientation?”

They ended up doing awkward dances and songs under pressure.

As a result, the freshmen who were waiting for their turn had anxious faces.

Finally, the club president decided to end the talent show, but a mean sunbae teased her.

“Hey, Shin Jae-hee. Are you ignoring the sunbaes because you’re the club president now?”

“I’m telling you this because the department head will be here soon and it would be better to wrap things up by then. And if you want to see a talent show, why don’t you go first, sunbae? Is there anyone among the freshmen here who knows your name?”

“What!”

It was Young-guk’s turn.

As he climbed up to the podium, all eyes were on him again.

He was an actor, after all. And he was the top student who entered the Law Department this year.

He bowed his head and greeted his sunbaes and peers.

The sunbae who had just argued with the president sneered at him.

“Talent show, this is not a place where you can get away with being a celebrity.”

‘Kids these days.’

Oh, right.

They were just kidding. Young-guk couldn’t help but laugh and tried to hide it.

The sunbae sitting in the front row glared at him. Young-guk remembered his face, with a nose as big as a tangerine and cheeks full of greed.

That was when.

“Are all the freshmen here today?”

An old professor with white hair entered the classroom.

He was one of the interviewers who had faced him in the oral exam.

As soon as he entered the classroom, he saw Young-guk standing on the podium and smiled warmly.

Young-guk bowed to the professor and returned to his seat.

The sunbae narrowed his eyes as if he thought Young-guk was lucky.

The professor stood on the podium and looked at the freshmen and the students.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Shin Jung-gil, the head of the Law Department at Korea University. You might think I’m making a fuss by coming here on such a happy day, but please understand with a generous heart. I wanted to meet the students who will lead the Law Department of Korea University as soon as possible.”

Everyone focused as the professor began to speak.

“Those who applied on time met me once in the oral exam room. As an interviewer, I wanted to know what values the incoming freshmen had. There were several questions for the interview, but most of them gave similar answers to the question about judicial justice. Except for one student.”

At that moment, the professor’s gaze turned to one person.

“There is no solution because of the lack of self-reflection. That’s what stuck in my chest. Do you still think so, Young-guk?”

For a moment, everyone’s eyes followed the professor and turned to Young-guk. The president, Shin Jae-hee, also looked at him with surprise. Young-guk felt the pressure of the attention on him, but he answered calmly.

“I came here today and found out for sure.”

“What did you find out?”

“That one loach can muddy the water.”

“Then isn’t it just a matter of catching that loach?”

“That’s not what I’m worried about.”

“Then what?”

Young-guk looked around the audience.

He ignored the sunbae who had been picking on the president’s words.

The professor’s eyes sharpened as he heard the next answer.

“The fish that grow up in the muddy water think they are loaches.”