Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All - Chapter 203: In the Name of God Crank In (2)

“Ms. Yang, there’s a thin summer long coat in the back seat. Yes, it’s the one with a leopard print. Also, please take out the red horn-rimmed glasses without prescription lenses. Oh, and the red summer boots as well,” I instructed Yang So-Ri.

Yang So-ri nodded. “Oh, okay. Got it.”

I took the clothes and props from Yang So-Ri and handed them to Yoo-Jin, who had transformed into Jin Yoo-Jung.

“Put this on, wear these, and wear these as well.”

Yoo-Jin, now Jin Yoo-Jung, took the leopard coat, red horn-rimmed glasses, and red boots I handed over to her.

And a moment later, Yoo-Jin was dressed in the items I handed her and looked at herself in the mirror with a slight smile.

“I like it and the character seems more defined now. As expected from Team Lead Jung,” said Yoo-Jin.

I, too, thought the character finally came to life.

Seeing Yoo-Jin satisfied, I also recalled the character setting of Jin Yoo-Jung.

‘Jin Yoo-Jung. A friend of Kim Soo-Hee, a shaman who used to act at an earlier age, turned 63 years old this year and has a sharp but confident personality. Remember this, Yoon-Ho.‘

I stored the profile of Jin Yoo-Jung created by Yoo-Jin in my mind and started treating her as a separate individual from Yoo-Jin.

“It’s time to head to the filming site, Mrs. Jin.”

At that moment, Jin Yoo-Jung nodded and said, “But first, I’d like to see a girl named Miso. I wonder if she’ll recognize who I really am.”

I was curious too. If Miso couldn’t recognize who Jin Yoo-Jung was, then nobody else would be able to either.

I replied, “Yes, ma’am. I’ll turn the car around right away.”

***

It happened to be break time by the time we returned to the site.

Hearing that Miso was waiting in the car for her turn to film, we parked our car next to the one Miso was in.

I turned behind and said, “Mrs. Jin, you can get out now.”

Jin Yoo-Jung, dressed in her flamboyant leopard print long coat, adjusted her white wig.

The assertive Jin Yoo-Jung gave me instructions. “The makeover is all done. Team Lead Jung, you lead the way.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I looked around cautiously and then carefully opened the door of the van.

Jin Yoo-Jung fluttered her leopard coat and stepped out of the car. The heels of her boots clicked against the asphalt of the parking lot.

I led her to the door of Merciless Bends Springer 2 where Miso was.

Click.

As I opened the door of Merciless Bends Springer 2, Miso greeted me with a bright smile. “Oh! Uncle Yoon-Ho’s here! Where’s Mom?”

“Oh, she will come later,” I answered her.

After calming Miso who was looking for her mom, I introduced her to the person standing behind me.

“And Miso, this lady is Mrs. Jin Yoo-Jung and she will be playing the role of Manshin Wol-Ah.”

In that instant, Miso turned her gaze toward Jin Yoo-Jung standing behind me. Miso blinked her eyes innocently for a moment and tilted her head in curiosity.

At that moment, Jin Yoo-Jung spoke to Miso in her distinct sharp voice. “You look very clever. So, I heard your name is Miso?”

That’s when Miso suddenly exclaimed after staring intently at Jin Yoo-Jung for a while. “Mom, what are you doing wearing a grandma’s mask?”

Both Yoo-Jin and I froze on the spot.

‘How on earth did she know?‘ I wondered.

Utterly surprised, I quickly got Jin Yoo-Jung into the Merciless Bends Springer 2.

As soon as the door closed, Miso said, “Mom, are you trying to surprise me by dressing up? Then I’ll close my eyes now, so you go out and come back in again. Then I’ll pretend I don’t recognize you!”

Miso covered her eyes with her hands after speaking.

At that moment, Jin Yoo-Jung let go of her voice and returned to her original self as Yoo-Jin.

“Miso, how did you know it was me?” Yoo-Jin asked.

I was truly curious as well.

‘How did Miso recognize her? Yoo-Jin’s face and hands were completely hidden by special makeup, and her voice totally changed too,‘ I thought.

Miso smiled and replied, “I recognized you because your eyes look just like Mom’s. And you smell just like Mom too!”

Yoo-Jin tilted her head. “Smell? But I didn’t even wear perfume today.”

“But it still smells like Mom. You smell good!” Miso exclaimed.

Yoo-Jin looked quite flustered as she laughed awkwardly. At that moment, Yoo-Jin’s special makeup was slightly distorted.

The startled Miso began to comfort her mother. “Sorry, Mom. But I wouldn’t have been able to recognize you if it weren’t for your eyes and smell!”

That’s when I realized Miso’s hidden talent. ‘She has keen eyes.‘

In my past life, I once heard from the veteran actor Choi Man-Ho how important it was to have good eyes.

-There’s a saying that actors need a good face, but I think eyes are more important.

Acting fundamentally involved portraying someone else.

He had said that an actor with good eyes can, with just a glance, capture the characteristics of their subject and imitate them with ease.

But Miso’s eyes were far beyond just being good.

‘Indeed. To perform the role of young Cheongmyung so effortlessly at her age, she must have been imitating Yoo-Jin’s acting all along,‘ I silently remarked.

I hid my astonishment and said to Miso, “Miso, since no one else but us knows that grandma is Mom, you shouldn’t tell anyone else. Okay?”

Miso nodded and covered her mouth with her finger. “Okay! Shh! It’s a secret!”

“Yes, it’s a secret,” I echoed her.

As Miso nodded repeatedly, I turned to the still-dazed Yoo-Jin. “Yoo-Jin.”

Yoo-Jin turned her head. Yoo-Jin, disguised as Jin Yoo-Jung, looked worried. “Oppa, what should we do?”

“Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. There’s almost no one like Miso.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. So let’s eliminate any weak spots first. Then no one will be able to tell. Just trust me.”

Yoo-Jin nodded.

I immediately instructed Yang So-Ri to get colored lenses that would alter the appearance of the eyes and perfume based on bluegrass flowers.

***

With the colored lenses in place and the eye makeup intensified to alter the shape of Jin Yoo-Jung’s eyes, Yoo-Jin’s gentle eye shape completely disappeared.

The slightly lifted appearance of the eyelids helped to make her eyes look much sharper.

Then, as we sprayed the bluegrass flower-based perfume on Yoo-Jin, Miso clapped her hands in amazement. “Wow! Now I really can’t tell!”

“Really?”

“Really! Uncle Yoon-Ho, there’s no Mom now!”

Only then could I finally breathe a sigh of relief.

The relieved Yoo-Jin sighed and transformed back into Jin Yoo-Jung. “Shall we go now, Team Lead Jung? It’s time to check if no one else notices.”

I nodded. “Yes, ma’am. Let’s go.”

With the last vulnerability hidden, Jin Yoo-Jung stepped out of the car.

I assumed the other actors would have already left the scene because quite some time had passed during the special makeup application. However, many actors were still present and watching the filming.

That’s when Ju Yung-In spotted us and approached with a quick stride. Standing in front of us, her eyes sharply scrutinized Jin Yoo-Jung before asking me a question.

“Yoon-Ho oppa, is this lady Mrs. Jin Yoo-Jung?”

“Yes,” I replied.

Ju Yung-In nodded her head and bowed toward Jin Yoo-Jung. “Hello, ma’am. You know me, right? I’m Ju Yung-In.”

That’s when I recalled that Ju Yung-In also had keen eyes.

Just as I was nervously wondering if she would recognize Yoo-Jin, Jin Yoo-Jung suddenly burst out in an angry voice.

“What bad manners to look someone older than you up and down! Where did you learn to be so rude?”

“N-no, that’s not what I was…” the surprised Ju Yung-In stammered.

Jin Yoo-Jung waved her hand and threatened. “Just try looking at me like that again and I’ll pluck every hair from your head! Understand?”

Overwhelmed by Jin Yoo-Jung’s sharp energy, Ju Yung-In stepped back hesitantly. “I-I’m sorry.”

She apologized reflexively, then soon contorted her face in dissatisfaction. It seemed she couldn’t accept being intimidated.

“It seems you don’t like me from your expression, huh? Fine. Let’s try not to see each other’s faces if we can help it,” Jin Yoo-Jung retorted.

With her personality transformed 180 degrees, Jin Yoo-Jung hastened her steps toward where Lee Ji-Yeon and Kim Soo-Hee were.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Jin Yoo-Jung and I left Ju Yung-In with a dumbfounded look behind, confirming that Yoo-Jin’s disguise was indeed perfect.

***

Lee Ji-Yeon complimented Yoo-Jin in a low voice as she saw us. “You really came as a perfect Jin Yoo-Jung, didn’t you?”

Kim Soo-Hee couldn’t close her mouth in amazement. “Really. She’s completely transformed. To be exact, she reminds me of someone I know.”

Both quickly realized who Jin Yoo-Jung was modeled after.

But despite their praises, Jin Yoo-Jung merely listened attentively with a dignified posture.

At that moment Kim Sung-Woon shouted to the staff, “Let’s start with Mrs. Jin Yoo-Jung’s scene. This lady is a specially invited real shaman, so please be respectful.”

“Yes, Mr. Kim!”

Following Kim Sung-Woon’s cue, it was time for Jin Yoo-Jung to perform. She nodded once and then walked with dignified steps toward the set.

Watching her walk away, Lee Ji-Yeon tapped my shoulder and laughed. “Good job. You really put a lot of effort into the costume, didn’t you, Team Lead Jung?”

“I just did what needed to be done,” I said humbly.

“Look at you, always so modest. Both of you are incredible,” Lee Ji-Yeon continued praising us.

Kim Soo-Hee also nodded in agreement.

At that moment, I felt confident that we could deceive everyone on the set. After all, neither Lee Ji-Yeon nor Kim Soo-Hee would have batted an eye if it were just an ordinary transformation.

“Well, I should head to the set now.”

“Alright. Good luck.”

I suppressed the excitement and followed Jin Yoo-Jung.

***

The scene Jin Yoo-Jung was acting out today was scene 23 where the old shaman Wol-Ah moved to a new village and caused a stir among the locals.

[Scene 23: Manshin Wol-Ah is decorating a cedar tree. Four local residents visit her and protest that she leaves the town…]

I checked the script for a moment and looked around the set.

Jin Yoo-Jung, who was soon about to act as ‘Manshin Wol-Ah,’ stared intently at the cedar tree and called me over.

“Team Lead Jung. Please bring me shoes and a cane.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

I quickly fetched the items Jin Yoo-Jung needed to transform into Manshin Wol-Ah and approached her. When I handed over the cane and shoes, Jin Yoo-Jung cast off her leopard print coat. She handed me her glasses and boots, then slipped into the white rubber shoes I brought for her.

Dressed in a pure white mourning robe with a white-haired wig and holding a dark red cane, Jin Yoo-Jung completed her transformation into Manshin Wol-Ah.

When she instructed me to step back, I moved out of the camera’s frame with the clothes and shoes in hand.

Just as everything seemed ready, Kim Sung-Woon called for the start of the shoot. “Scene 23, standby. And let the extras in when I give a signal.”

“Yes, Mr. Kim!”

Behind Jin Yoo-Jung facing the sacred tree lined up four extras in their fifties.

Kim Sung-Woon continued with his instructions. “And the props team, bring over the hanji paper,[1] colorful papers, and scissors to Mrs. Jin Yoo-Jung.”

“Yes, sir.”

The props team approached and handed her the pristine white hanji paper, vibrant colored papers, and scissors. Jin Yoo-Jung silently accepted the items with her left hand. Then, she slowly walked toward the cedar tree which was wrapped by a rope.

The cedar tree was surrounded by a pile of stones standing about 30 cm tall and only had a rope tied around it without any other decorations.

Once filming started, Jin Yoo-Jung was to climb over the pile of stones and attach the hanji and colored papers to the rope.

“Mrs. Jin, are you ready?” Kim Sung-Woon asked.

Holding the cane in her right hand and the props in her left, Jin Yoo-Jung nodded.

At the same time, Kim Sung-Woon announced the start of filming. “Alright, let’s begin then. Mrs. Jin, I look forward to your acting. Ready—action!”

At that moment, an astonishing scene that surprised everyone began to unfold.

1. traditional handmade paper from Korea ☜

Ristretto’s Thoughts

If anyone wants to know what korean shaman is like, go watch Exhuma (it’s a movie)