Novelist Running Through Time

TL: KSD

People of the past believed that beyond the sea, there were cliffs. I feel the same way. My world was entirely comprised of school, private institutes, and home.

Thus, the nameless girl was the one who taught me about the world. It was as if someone had told me about the existence of a vast continent beyond the horizon.

We roamed freely in this vast world.

I felt the warmth of the blazing sun trickle down my cheek through the leaves while searching for squirrels in the mountains.

On cool moonlit nights, when the air whirled menacingly between the buildings of the city, we spent the night at a warm-hearted fishcake vendor’s cart, enveloped in its savory scent.

We sneaked into a huge palace guarded by fearsome soldiers under the cover of darkness to play hide and seek, and we even stayed in a quiet rural village for a week to try our hands at farming.

On nights when the full moon rose, we walked barefoot on the endless sandy beach, and in the heart of the city, we chased after cats that we encountered, running through the neighborhood.

When we ran out of money, the girl would go to crowded places and clumsily strum her guitar strings, while I danced merrily beside her, collecting coins.

We wandered like the wind, stopping in the sunset, laughing with our noses wet from the rain’s scent on rainy days, and treasured every moment of our daily life as precious happiness.

This journey, which was nothing more than a brief runaway, became my everyday life, my life itself. I often thought I wanted to wander the world with the girl forever.

After the green summer passed,

And the colorful autumn passed,

On the day the first snow fell,

The girl said to me,

“Let’s go back home now.”

It was not a joke.

“Winter is dangerous. If you sleep outside during winter, you’ll die. I need to go to a shelter for runaway teens around this time.”

Our journey was like an adventure out of a romantic fairy tale. When the harsh reality of a “shelter for runaway teens” suddenly came up, I felt as if I had been doused in cold ice water, waking up from a dream.

“Why don’t we go together!”

“If you enter the youth shelter, they must contact a guardian. You can’t enter the shelter without agreeing to that. Rather than being dragged there later, it’s better to go there on your own two feet now.”

Suddenly, I thought,

The girl could have deceived me into going to the shelter, then left me in the care of adults to send me back to my parents. If that had been the case, my heart wouldn’t hurt this much.

“Why are you forcing me to make a choice?”

The girl weakly smiled and replied,

“It’s too sad to leave the trajectory of your life in someone else’s hands. You need to choose, whether it’s something happy or sad. That’s the only way you can have your life.”

It was a difficult thing to understand. I didn’t want to understand. I wanted to dream forever. So, I ran away.

“Hyun-min!”

The girl hurriedly called my name and ran after me.

As I turned to look at the girl chasing me from behind, I carelessly stepped onto the roadway.

A truck was coming at that moment. I wished I could die like in a anime and go to another world. Dying seemed better than going back to my mother.

I closed my eyes as I heard the horn sound.

And then, something warm wrapped around my body,

And our journey came to an end.

EP 2-Other

“Cut!”

The director shouted “cut.”

It meant the scene was successfully completed.

Then we move on to the next scene refreshingly.

That’s the norm.

This filming location was an exception.

“Excuse me, Director.”

The lead actor and the only actor of the movie “Cause of Death,”

Kim Byul cautiously spoke to the director.

“Can we shoot it one more time?”

“Huh? Why?”

“It’s an important scene. It’s the scene where I come to the realization that my decision to commit suicide wasn’t because I was weak, but because of the enlightenment that it was the people who had tormented me all this time…”

“It’s too difficult to express this without dialogue, just with facial expressions, so I don’t think it came out well just now.”

We should reshoot this scene since it seems like it didn’t come out well.

Typically, this is what a director would say to an actor.

Or when top-tier actors are putting their utmost effort.

However, this shoot was neither ‘typical’

Nor was Kim Byul a ‘top-tier’ actor.

So, the director responded like this.

“It’s fine. Just lay some music, add a blur, and shake the camera a bit to get the right feel.”

“But, Director…”

“Ha-ha, it’s a scene that can be covered with direction, so you don’t need to worry too much. Who has the accurate eye? Me, the director, or you, the actor Kim Byul?”

If the movie “Cause of Death” were to be described as a dish, it would be pasta served in a high-end restaurant. Not the ingredients, but the interior, image, and location determine its price.

The success of the movie “Cause of Death” didn’t depend on the quality of the film. It had to be shot and released as quickly as possible before the issues surrounding Author Moon subsided.

The pasta just needs to be basic.

The same goes for this movie.

There’s no need for conversations about whether this spice or that spice was used for decoration on the noodles, whether the broth is made from meat or vegetables, how the plating is done…

Such discussions are unnecessary.

Quickly, tastily, and impressively.

That’s all that’s needed.

Anything more is a waste of labor.

That was the director’s judgment.

But Kim Byul thought differently.

‘What is this…?’

Rushing the filming is one thing. Drama scripts can proceed at the speed of light when it comes down to the wire.

But OK signs are being given even in situations that clearly should be NG. (TL: OK is given when a scene is good and NG i.e. No good is given when a scene needs reshoot)

‘Something’s off…’

Kim Byul, having studied direction to improve her acting skills, quickly realized the thoughts of the director and staff.

‘Could it be…’

The “Cause of Death” is about a ist who, after being diagnosed with lymphatic cancer, goes through internal turmoil before ultimately committing suicide.

Thus, the movie “Cause of Death” is a 20-minute monodrama where a single actor must carry the narrative through facial expressions and actions in a single room, without dialogue.

The difficulty of acting is very high.

But the difficulty of viewing is even higher.

So, whether Kim Byul acted well or not, most of the audience probably wouldn’t even notice.

To the untrained eye, it’s just an actor crying, throwing a fit, grabbing a knife, walking out the door, seeing the snow fall, and then committing suicide.

‘But how can we shoot it so carelessly!’

No matter what, this wasn’t right.

Even if there’s a guaranteed fan base that will buy movie tickets regardless, the movie shouldn’t be made and released in such a shoddy manner.

Creating such a movie and then marketing it with lies like <Two young geniuses meet! The fantastic chemistry between two young talents!> is unacceptable. Critics would immediately dismiss it as pathetic.

Kim Byul wondered what the director was thinking to carry on with this.

And her question was answered just before shooting the last scene.

“Kim Byul. It’s an important scene, so I’ll give some direction.”

The director’s thought was this:

The highlight of the “Cause of Death” is when the protagonist, after deciding to kill his enemies with a knife, gains enlightenment upon seeing the world covered in white snow.

According to a review by Professor Gu Hak-jun, a master of the Korean literary world, this part elevates the to another level. It’s not about personal vendettas but about the agony of a human facing the providence of the world.

Therefore, the movie’s highlight also had to be this part.

“Actor Kim. Let’s show some madness here.”

“Madness?”

The director prided himself on mastering this industry. In his view:

Audiences are crazy about madness. They think it’s artistic to cry while laughing, to break things, to self-harm, or to scream. It’s the same psychology that considers songs with lots of high notes as masterpieces.

Critics go crazy over a highlight that bursts out after a long silence. If there’s something at the end, they don’t call the dry parts boring but defend them as a build-up to the highlight, and they think audiences who say the movie is boring are ignorant. It’s the same mentality as those who pride themselves on being gourmets, who don’t say the bland, expensive food unique to certain hotels is bland but defend it as bringing out the natural flavors of the ingredients.

So, how to bring out the flavor of the movie “Cause of Death”?

It’s simple.

Make the beginning unbearably boring,

Then pack all kinds of direction, OST, and overaction into the last highlight.

This ensures a minimum quality that anyone can recognize.

What comes next is predictable.

Audiences who enter the theater filled with affection for the movie through the will leave the theater filled with pride that they’ve watched a seemingly profound movie and post online that it is a “masterpiece.”

Then the critics, whose job it is to explain ‘why’ this movie is a masterpiece, will elevate the film with all sorts of reasons, even mentioning merits the director himself didn’t know.

That’s why the marketing budget for this film was astronomically higher than the shooting costs. This wasn’t just the director’s ‘plan’ but the ‘strategy’ of Baekhak Entertainment’s film business division.

So, the director directed Kim Byul like this:

“When you’re looking for a kitchen knife at home, could you breathe really heavily, kind of like a beast about to run wild? Just like this! Eh?”

“A beast?”

“Stride around smashing things! Laugh weirdly, you know? Like Heath Ledger’s Joker! Seems like we need to show a madness-filled appearance?”

“Heath Ledger?”

Kim Byul thought:

‘He’s talking nonsense.’

But what could she do? If told to strip, you strip.

This might have been different at another filming location, but this place was a shooting site run by a production under Baekhak Entertainment, and it was under the scrutiny of not just CEO Baek Seung-won but also the film business division and the publishing management department. Kim Byul, an actress affiliated with Baekhak Entertainment’s Actor Management Department 2, couldn’t possibly put on airs here.

Corporate life is this tough.

But the fact that Kim Byul, only 16, was cast as the sole lead in a short film based on a popular (despite not matching the age or gender) was also thanks to being under the shadow of Baekhak Entertainment.

The problem was that Kim Byul’s opinion wasn’t reflected at all here.

Since her debut as a child actor, Kim Byul’s acting career was controlled by her mother.

Her mother was her manager, financial advisor, stylist, and most importantly, her ‘mother.’

Sigh…

The fact that Kim Byul hadn’t exploded yet, despite being put into such a crappy shooting like a marionette on strings,

Was because she was a veteran who knew that once she was marked as a troublemaker, she wouldn’t survive in the entertainment industry. That professional spirit killed the inner teenage girl.

‘Let’s do this professionally. Professionally…’

Kim Byul gave her best despite the unreasonable demands.

She didn’t understand why such an unfunny emotion like madness had to suddenly emerge, but since the director asked for it, she acted her best.

She controlled her muscles to hold the knife with trembling hands, managed her breathing to create an anxious atmosphere, and used her gaze to reveal a madness-filled humanity.

Thus, the last scene was shot in a long take of three minutes.

“Hmm. Wait a minute.”

It wasn’t OK, but NG.

“Actor Kim. Do you want to take a look?”

Kim Byul checked the last scene she filmed, which was also the highlight of the movie.

It was a mess.

The breathing was all wrong. That wasn’t madness but closer to excitement. The gaze was overly exaggerated, and the movement was too distorted.

“It seems like our actor Kim Byul, still being inexperienced, shows some unrefined aspects.”

The director repeated the same explanation he had given earlier. Kim Byul let it go in one ear and out the other.

This wasn’t the problem.

It was a very, very complex issue.

Firstly, the genre of the drama Kim Byul is currently filming is a daily sitcom. Asking someone who has been shooting comedy up until a few days ago to perform such acting is why her body couldn’t adapt.

Secondly, the emotion of ‘madness’ does not exist in the original . The protagonist of “Cause of Death” maintains a calm and logical attitude throughout. The logical dilemma coincides with madness only at a glance; it’s not that the protagonist’s character overflows with madness. Thus, the sudden introduction of madness twists the entire context of the narrative.

Thirdly, this filming set was too shoddy to handle a 3-minute long-take. From the set props to the artificial snow falling from the sky. Acting seriously in such a background creates a disconnect between the setting and the characters.

That was Kim Byul’s answer.

However, the director’s answer was different.

“Okay! Actor Kim. Let’s regroup and go again!”

3 minutes passed. It was NG.

3 minutes passed. It was NG.

3 minutes passed. It was NG.

Kim Byul produced a total of seven NGs.

Dozens of staff members, including the lighting operator, sound department, cameraman, cinematographer, assistant director, etc., witnessed Kim Byul’s seven failures.

Now, it was all because of Kim Byul.

“Why is this happening…”

The director, assistant director, and cinematographer muttered among themselves before reaching a conclusion.

“Should we just use it?”

“Let’s do that. Somehow fix it in post-production, whatever.”

“The crew is also exhausted. We have to go shoot an idol music video tomorrow. We need to conserve energy.”

“Let’s do that, then.”

After all, sales would be determined not by the quality of the work, but by the original fandom and the marketing department’s efforts.

Thinking this, the director compromised and shouted.

“Okay! Cut! Good job everyone!”

But Kim Byul was still young.

Child actor Kim Byul. 16 years old.

An age not good at compromising.

“Um…!”

“Eh? Why? Actor Kim?”

Kim Byul’s fingertips trembled slightly.

Her professionalism was speaking.

The moment you nag the director to reshoot the last scene, you’re finished.

But that professionalism also said:

The moment you don’t speak up about reshooting the last scene, you’re finished as an actor.

I don’t know what to do.

It’s driving me crazy.

So, Kim Byul pretended to be crazy and said.

“Can we… reshoot the last scene…?”

“…”

“…”

“…”

The director, assistant director, and cinematographer looked at Kim Byul with the same expression, implying, ‘Kim Byul, what on earth are you talking about?’

Immediately after, the director smirked with a twisted smile, and the assistant director asked Kim Byul for understanding with an awkward smile.

“Actor Kim. I understand that you’re not satisfied with the quality, but the director has judged it to be a raw gem that’s sufficient for refining in post-production.”

“Is that… so?”

“Your passion is great! But, we’ve done enough shooting for today, okay? You get it, right?”

The cinematographer interjected, trying to smooth over the director’s ruffled feelings with some conversation.

“Director, you’ve worked really hard today-”

“I don’t think madness is quite right!”

Kim Byul shouted out with courage.

That courage was met with stares.

The lighting operator peeking to see if the equipment was broken, the sound department collecting the boom mic, the cameraman helping with odd jobs after setting down the camera, the shocked cinematographer, the assistant director with a resigned expression as if foreseeing what was to come,

And the director’s gaze filled with anger.

“Hey. You. What are you?”

“Director! Please calm down!”

“Look at this, really!”

The director shouted.

“Hey-!!!”

As someone who shouts “cut!” every day, his voice was very loud.

Kim Byul involuntarily flinched and tightly closed her eyes.

“Who are you to dictate what should be done with the footage!”

“…”

“Do you know more about movies than me? Who doesn’t know there’s a quality issue? We’ll cover that with editing! A young kid who can’t even understand words! Making a big deal out of nothing.”

Kim Byul also lost her patience.

“How can you release this as a movie!”

“What?”

“I know my acting the best! This is completely messed up! How can this be okay for the most crucial scene?”

“Are you serious about what you’re saying?”

“Please give me a little more time to study the work! I received the script just three days ago, so I haven’t fully internalized it yet! Just one day! No, even a few hours to slowly ponder…”

“Isn’t that what being a professional is?”

“Excuse me?”

“Being professional means doing your job well regardless of the circumstances. You’re being paid a lot. That lighting assistant over there doesn’t even make minimum wage. But both you and he are in the same situation of having hurried into this shoot.”

The director boldly omitted the difference between the difficulties of an actor who received the script three days before shooting and the filming crew who were rushed into the shooting schedule.

“If I cater to everyone’s individual circumstances, we’d never finish shooting. Even though it’s less than 20 minutes, do you think it’s easy to shoot an entire film in one day? I know it’s hard. That’s why I let it slide even when you caused NG seven times. And I said we’d make it look decent in post-production. Is that so hard to understand?”

“But, still.”

“That’s an illness you have. Art-sickness. Everyone else is struggling with their schedules, but you’re the only one making a fuss because you’re not satisfied? Grow up. Tsk!”

Kim Byul couldn’t bring herself to say ‘I’m sorry, but it’s not my fault; it’s wrong because you’re talking nonsense about madness or whatever.’ She was pressured by the glare of the middle-aged man staring her down. She bowed her head.

“So, so, sorry…”

At that moment, Lim Yang-wook, with a friendly smile, grabbed the director’s shoulder.

“Excuse me, Director. Ha-ha, please calm down a bit. Our Author Moon has something to say.”

“What?”

Author Moon approached with an expressionless face.

As everyone looked at the boy with stunned expressions,

The boy at the center of attention said,

“I don’t think madness is quite right?”

The director slapped his forehead and tightly shut his eyes. This is why hierarchies are important. If a 16-year-old dares to speak up, then a 13-year-old also dares, doesn’t he?

But Author Moon was not part of this industry, so the director’s authority didn’t apply to him. Thus, the director responded with a slightly softened tone.

“Author Moon. This is an important business matter for adults…”

“Business? Did you just say business?”

The boy, draped in a blanket, shrugged indifferently.

“If it’s not about art but business, then the conversation is easier. I will not agree for the Publishing Management Department’s secondary rights to be shared with the Film Business Department.”

***

TL: If there is confusion about whose POV it is, should I mention that at the start of each POV to make it clearer? Please let me know in the comments or via Discord.

****

Join our discord here: https://discord.gg/GGKyZWDuZM