NOVEL NEXT Episode 015
Episode 015
After An Myung-hyun’s departure.
Originally, the role of high school Shin Han-jae should have gone to another actor.
It would have been a third person not yet cast in
Of course, the process wasn’t easy.
As Writer Jung Su-min and Director Kang Han-sung worried, no actor was willing to take on the role of high school Shin Han-jae.
It wasn’t simply because of the difficulty of the acting.
The high school Shin Han-jae role required both acting skills and looks befitting a protagonist.
Finding such an actor in this age group wasn’t an easy task.
Such actors tended to prefer roles in youth dramas or as younger men in romantic comedies.
Not just a high school protagonist role, but a real protagonist.
But after the An Myung-hyun incident, trying to find an actor for this role as a sort of “stand-in” was impossible.
Eventually, Writer Jung Su-min and Director Kang Han-sung cast an actor slightly older who could cover the high school Shin Han-jae role with acting skills.
There were complaints from viewers about the age difference making it hard to immerse in the story, but it couldn’t be helped.
This was better than using an actor lacking in acting skills or looks just to match the age.
If either of those were lacking, people would immediately start comparing to An Myung-hyun.
I thought that despite the difficulties, the high school Shin Han-jae role would be settled in this way.
So even knowing An Myung-hyun’s future, I wasn’t too worried.
I even accepted the trouble of having to reshoot Part 3 with a peaceful mind.
I thought of it as just another form of practice.
‘I was sure of that… I never thought I’d be offered the high school Shin Han-jae role…’
As it was something I never expected,
I couldn’t say anything for a while after hearing Director Kang Han-sung’s words.
Then, finally coming to my senses, I asked Director Kang Han-sung.
“Can I really take on the high school Shin Han-jae role?”
Director Kang Han-sung nodded without hesitation.
“Of course. We couldn’t find a better candidate than Actor Lee Si-joon. Right, Writer?”
Writer Jung Su-min, who had been lost in thought for a moment, expressed agreement.
“That’s right. I’ve been secretly regretting not considering Actor Lee Si-joon earlier.”
If even Writer Jung Su-min said this, there was no room for doubt.
Seo Myung-hee also seemed to share the same thought, wearing a positive smile.
But there was still something that bothered me.
I first bowed in gratitude and opened my mouth.
“I’m relieved to hear you both say that. However, I’m worried about the high school Hwang In-seop role. It’s a role I personally feel responsible for and attached to.”
Writer Jung Su-min seemed to have similar concerns.
“That’s true. I’m also concerned because Actor Lee Si-joon performed the high school Hwang In-seop role so well. Honestly, I don’t think any other actor would satisfy me.”
Director Kang Han-sung smiled as if understanding our thoughts and replied.
“Certainly, the high school Hwang In-seop role is a challenging one. However, it’s not that there are no actors capable of performing this role. There are plenty of actors who can act well even if their looks might be slightly lacking.”
Seo Myung-hee opened her mouth to support Director Kang Han-sung’s opinion.
“The director is right. Honestly, the high school Hwang In-seop role can be sufficiently covered by directing even if the acting skills are slightly lacking. But the high school Shin Han-jae role is different.”
With even Seo Myung-hee saying this, Writer Jung Su-min seemed to have changed her mind.
The words of Director Kang Han-sung and Seo Myung-hee were that persuasive.
As if to drive the point home, Director Kang Han-sung added.
“I know several actors who could take on the high school Hwang In-seop role if asked right away. So all we need is for Actor Lee Si-joon to make up his mind.”
Even Writer Jung Su-min looked at me with desperate eyes, as if urging me to make a quick decision.
As I was having my final doubts about whether this was really okay,
Seo Myung-hee playfully said, as if blowing away all concerns.
“Why are you hesitating? Quickly say you’ll take the high school Shin Han-jae role. We can’t waste Si-joon’s handsome looks like this, can we?”
Writer Jung Su-min and Director Kang Han-sung burst into laughter at Seo Myung-hee’s words.
Amidst that laughter, I managed to voice my agreement.
“Yes. Then I’ll take on the high school Shin Han-jae role. Please take care of me.”
* * *
As soon as he heard my answer, Director Kang Han-sung called the production company’s PR team right there.
He requested them to circulate a press release about me taking on the high school Shin Han-jae role.
At the same time, the reshoot schedule was quickly rearranged.
Given that all scenes featuring the high school Shin Han-jae and high school Hwang In-seop roles needed to be reshot, the sooner we moved, the better.
After making all the necessary calls and closely consulting with Writer Jung Su-min, Director Kang Han-sung delivered the reshoot schedule.
“We’re planning to start filming from next week. Can you prepare for the role by then?”
Writer Jung Su-min followed up on Director Kang Han-sung’s words.
“Please answer honestly. We’ll be filming Parts 4 and 5 in the meantime, so if it’s too rushed, we can push the schedule back a few days.”
I thought for a moment and then shook my head.
“No, it’s fine. After finishing Part 3, I practiced the Shin Han-jae role, albeit not the high school version, so I should be able to manage the time somehow. The essence is similar.”
Hearing my answer, Writer Jung Su-min and Director Kang Han-sung’s expressions brightened.
Writer Jung Su-min grasped Seo Myung-hee’s hand tightly and spoke in a cheerful voice.
“Oh my. Unni, how did you know to have Actor Lee Si-joon practice the Shin Han-jae role? As expected from my lifesaver!”
Hearing Writer Jung Su-min’s words, Seo Myung-hee smiled and replied.
“How could I have known and made him practice in advance? It’s just a lucky coincidence. Anyway, as Si-joon said, since the essence is similar, he should be able to meet the reshoot schedule.”
From that day on, practice for the high school Shin Han-jae role began in earnest.
The practice went smoothly because there were indeed many similarities with the Shin Han-jae role.
Seo Myung-hee also nodded in satisfaction as she watched my practice process during breaks from filming Parts 4 and 5.
“So this is how the high school Shin Han-jae role should be portrayed. After seeing An Myung-hyun’s acting and now Si-joon’s, it feels like my eyes have been opened.”
“I’m glad it’s not bad.”
“It’s not just ‘not bad’. It’s very good. At this rate, I think Si-joon will gain more from
Although there was the prerequisite of performing the high school Shin Han-jae role well on set, I shared the same thought.
After all, the high school Shin Han-jae role had more weight than the high school Hwang In-seop role.
And higher weight meant more attention from viewers.
In any case, up to Part 3 of
Although unintended, getting the high school Shin Han-jae role was a great stroke of luck.
“After hearing your words, I feel like I need to practice even harder.”
“Practice is always right. But you’re already doing well enough, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself. It’s scary just imagining a practice bug like Si-joon increasing their practice time even more.”
But I really did increase my practice time.
As Seo Myung-hee said, I tried not to overdo it, but it wasn’t a situation where I could afford that luxury.
[Nex’s An Myung-hyun leaves
[
[Rookie actor chosen as An Myung-hyun’s replacement! Can he really pull it off?]
[Viewers’ doubts grow! Why couldn’t
[Drama
[Too complicated! Comments from fans of the actor originally cast in
[Internal promotion of rookie actor in
Concerns about me taking on the role of high school student Shin Han-jae began to pour in.
It was an inevitably burdensome situation for me.
And there was only one way to overcome this situation.
To deliver a performance that could satisfy the viewers.
‘…I’m not sure if this will work out.’
Although I was practicing while receiving praise from Seo Myung-hee, I couldn’t help feeling anxious.
The media’s attempts to shake things up were intensifying day by day.
Moreover, I was an actor who had always been embroiled in acting skill controversies before my regression.
As public opinion worsened, the wounds that remained hurt even more.
Some nights, even practicing all night couldn’t calm my mind.
Time flew by in a haze of pressure, and finally, the day of re-shooting dawned.
When I arrived at Sinsa-dong in Eunpyeong-gu where today’s shooting was taking place, contrary to my worries, the atmosphere on set wasn’t bad.
“Actor! Welcome!”
“Have you been well? It’s good to see you like this!”
“Looking forward to today’s shoot!”
“You’ll do great! Fighting!”
Instead, the staff took the initiative to encourage me.
I shared the joy of reunion with the staff, feeling a bit dazed.
“Hey! Bro! So it ended up like this after all! There’s no better protagonist than Si-joon!”
Goo Kyung-mo, who had arrived on set earlier, greeted me with his hand raised high.
Finally finding someone to talk to, I asked Kyung-mo.
“Why is everyone in such a good mood? Is this normal for a re-shoot set?”
“It’s my first re-shoot too, so I’m not sure, but I don’t think so. It should be a bit gloomy normally.”
“Then why here?”
“Well, because the situation has improved since the high school student Shin Han-jae role changed.”
“The situation improved? Is everyone here a strongheart who doesn’t care about the internet?”
“Are there even people like that? Everyone knows how things are going. They’re probably deliberately acting more cheerful because of that.”
“…Really?”
“That’s right. They don’t want to burden you. After all, you stepped up to help the drama in a difficult situation.”
“Even so, it can’t be easy to act like this…. They’re all professionals.”
“I heard Director Kang Han-sung’s team is famous for this kind of thing. Besides, what does it matter what others say? Everyone has already seen your acting.”
“Hmm….”
“You’ve been preparing hard, right?”
“Well, it’s not like I haven’t prepared….”
“That’s enough! I’m looking forward to today’s shoot. I don’t like re-shoots much, but I was curious to see how you’d handle the role of high school student Shin Han-jae.”
Kyung-mo’s eyes sparkled as he clenched his fist, looking genuinely excited.
I was a bit flustered as I wasn’t used to receiving this kind of treatment.
But I quickly pulled myself together.
After all, to repay those supporting me, I’d have to deliver a good performance somehow.
Yang I-deum, who arrived on set a bit later, seemed to read this determination in my eyes.
“Ooh. What’s with that resolute look? There’s going to be a commotion once Si-joon nails the role of high school student Shin Han-jae. You haven’t decided on an agency yet, have you?”
“Not yet…. I’ve been too busy getting into the new role.”
“You’re diligent as always. Anyway, that’s good. You’ll be able to get better terms from agencies after
“But what?”
“Isn’t it tough without an agency? Hwang In-seop might have managed alone because his part was relatively small, but Shin Han-jae is the main character. For three episodes.”
Seo Myung-hee seemed to worry about this too, offering to assign me a separate academy staff member.
But I politely declined Seo Myung-hee’s offer.
Thanks to my experience before the regression, I knew how things worked on set, so I could somehow manage the single drama schedule.
“The teacher said she’d help, but it’s not like we’re shooting all the scenes, just re-shooting. So I told her it was okay.”
“Hmm. Well, if you say you’re fine, then you’re fine. But if anything gets tough, let me know. I’ll help however I can.”
“Thanks.”
“No need for thanks. Well then, I’m looking forward to your acting today.”
And so, I received plenty of encouragement and expectations from the set.
It could have been a somewhat burdensome situation, but the fact that I wasn’t being criticized at least reassured me.
Finally, the preparations for the re-shoot were complete, and at the same time, Director Kang Han-sung’s voice was heard.
“Alright. We’re starting the re-shoot. Episode 1, Scene 1. Please standby.”