Delayed(1)
The streets of Itaewon that were usually alive with chatter and activity at night were eerily silent at one side. Road blockages were put at the end street, its purpose was to block passerby for the upcoming shoot.
Instead of people strolling around, the street was filled with towering equipment trucks, shooting equipment, staff members, and hired actors.
Everyone was minding their own business when a cab suddenly came to a halt at the side of the street.
There, a young man dressed in fine clothes stepped out, clutching his small bag tightly. He paid the taxi driver and turned to look in the scene before him.
"Looks like they're going all out for this shoot" Minjae adjusted his bag on his shoulder, his breath in the air was visible as he sighed.
Minjae's eyes scanned the setup.
The massive lighting panels and high-quality cameras were being adjusted with care, ensuring every angle and shadow would be captured perfectly.
Aside from that, he could see some restaurants and clubs filled with extra actors to act as customers. He could even recognize a few, as some were the people who had auditioned with him in his current role.
'I guess the studio still hired them.'
As expected of a top studio, they do know how to make everything look more realistic. It was the endless budget that made this possible.
Minjae took a deep breath one more time before he approached the crew. It felt new — no one was rushing to meet him unlike his last life.
"Minjae!" Amidst the silence, a cheerful voice called out, pulling Minjae from his thoughts. He turned to see a man in his mid-thirties approaching him.
It was Director Choi Yejun.
"Director Yejun," Minjae greeted with a polite bow. It was a custom in their culture, especially when greeting older people or people of higher status.
Yejun smiled warmly at Minjae. "You're early, huh? It's good to see someone so eager. How are you feeling Minjae? Are you ready for tonight's scene?"
"I'm feeling good, Director," Minjae replied, straightening up. "I've been preparing for this all week. I hope that I won't make any mistakes so we can have a smoother shooting."
Minjae's conversational skills with his fellow workers had evolved over the years. With his experience, he knew what to and what not to say. It was mostly important for him, who was just starting in the industry.
"Haha! That's what I want to hear," Yejun said in an enthusiastic voice. He had a friendly aura, allowing him to easily talk to people. It was an essential part of his work.
For a shooting to smoothly progress, the actors shouldn't be too nervous. That was even more important for extras who weren't used to the cameras.
"If you need more time to be comfortable, just tell me. The scene is going to be intense, so it might be too much for you. I know that you can do it well though because of your audition. I'm looking forward to your performance, Minjae-ssi~"
"Thank you, director." Minjae kindly smiled. He had once worked with Yejun, so he knew that he wouldn't say those words lightly.
"Haha, no worries." Yejun chuckled as he placed a hand on Minjae's shoulder. "Anyway, we prepared a tent for you so you could change clothes and do makeup. Just wait there, okay? We're still waiting for the Main Actor since he had a prior schedule. Don't worry he'll be here soon."
"Alright, director," Minjae replied calmly, though on the inside, he was preparing himself for the inevitable encounter with Sooyun.
"I can start preparing in the meantime."
"Great. Let's get you set up."
Yejun led Minjae toward a small tent that was set up near the equipment trucks. Compared to the larger and more luxurious tents reserved for the lead actors, this one was barely big enough to house a mirror, a chair, and a few people.
It was far different from the grandeur Minjae was used to in his past life, but he didn't let it bother him. Inside of his tent, a stylist and a makeup artist were already waiting.
"Hello! Minjae, right?" A young woman asked enthusiastically. She was standing beside the mirror, carrying a bag full of makeup brushes.
"Yes," Minjae answered politely.
"Oohhh. Come and sit so we can start! I'm Somin by the way and that girl is Jihyo." Somin uttered as she pointed at a younger girl next to her. "Director Yejun said that you'd need to look tired and desperate so we'll be going for a more heavy make-up for today." Somin said with a chuckle as she gestured for Minjae to sit.
Somin was already in her late-20s. She has long brown hair and fair skin. She had been working as a make-up artist for a couple of years, and most of her clients were rising actors.
"I'll be in your care then, Somin." Minjae uttered before sitting at the chair. As he sat, he saw his reflection in the mirror.
Even if a few days had already passed, it still felt odd. He couldn't get used to seeing his new face, especially when it wasn't as good looking as he used to be.
"Let's start." In an instant, Somin and Jihyo started working. The two harmoniously moved together as if they have been doing this for years already.
Jihyo styled Minjae's hair, slightly dishevelling it while still maintaining a good look. On the other hand, Somin was more focused on putting makeup in Minjae's face.
She was working wonders, putting on a seamless base as if it was just skin. She brought highlight to Minjae's chiseled jaw and pointed nose, one of his face's best features. She also added darker shadows in his eyes and under eye, creating a weary and tired look.
Afterward, Jihyo prepared a set of dark clothes that looked baggy and worn but still aesthetically pleasing under the bright lights of the camera.
As they continued working, Minjae's eyes caught the figure of Dongwook entering the tent. Dongwook was carrying a cup of coffee while a bag slung over his shoulder.
"Dongwook," Minjae's forehead creased. "What are you doing here?" he asked, confused.
"Thought you'd need someone here," Dongwook said with a smile on his face as he handed the coffee to Minjae. "You've got this, man. I wanted to see how you'll blow them away today."
"Thanks for coming," Despite the unexpectedness, Minjae replied.
"No worries," Dongwook smiled as he sat at a free chair that was cramped at the very side of the tent. In there, he sat silently, hovering on his phone and sometimes looking at Minjae's progress.
Their boss, Joon Chanhyuk, sent Dongwook tonight to oversee Minjae's acting. And even though it was already outside his working hours, he still happily agreed to it.
There was an extra pay and he also wanted to support their new artist.
Once Minjae was prepped, Yejun returned to check in.
"You're looking great, Minjae~" the director said, giving him a quick look. "Anyway, the main setup is almost done. We'll run through the scene once Sooyun gets here. Until then, just stay loose and hydrated in your tent. I'll introduce you to the staff later."
"Yes, director," Minjae nodded.
Yejun checked his watch and smiled reassuringly at Minjae. "Alright, I'll leave you to get settled. If you need anything, just ask the crew. I'll be back once we're ready to roll."
"Understood, Director," Minjae replied with a polite nod.
Yejun gave a quick thumbs-up before stepping out of the tent. Just then, Dongwook stood up, stretching slightly before glancing at Minjae.
"I'll head out with him to see the setup and get close with the crew members," Dongwook jokingly winked at Minjae. "I'll put on some good words for you so just stay here and relax."
Minjae chuckled before shaking his head. "Alright. Make sure they like me afterward."
Dongwook laughed and left the tent, leaving Minjae alone with his thoughts. The schedule dictated that the shooting should start by 8:30 p.m.
Right now, it was only 8 so he still had 30 minutes to kill.
However, 8:30 came and went with no call to action. The silence stretched far, to be broken only by the occasional rustling from the crew outside.
Minjae frowned slightly.
"Is Sooyun still not here?"