The Face Genius Actor

Episode 050

NM was a brand that was just starting to make a name for itself in the United States.

Although it was newly launched by ‘Aubrey Summers’, a quite well-known designer,

Not many people knew this fact.

After graduating from Parsons, one of the world’s top three fashion schools,

Aubrey Summers was a talented designer who worked for several luxury brands and consistently showcased works at New York Fashion Week.

Just considering the fact that she most recently worked at ‘Loewe’, one could guess her skill level.

However, her health suddenly deteriorated a few years ago, and she went to Guam to recuperate, only recently regaining her health.

NM was a brand newly launched by Aubrey Summers, completing works as ideas came to her during her recuperation.

Saying it was newly launched might sound grand.

But in reality, it only consisted of a sparse website and a small offline store.

Moreover, the prices weren’t high for a luxury brand.

Although it varied depending on the product material, a women’s handbag that could fit a long wallet was priced in the 400,000 won range.

‘It might be a burdensome price for some… but compared to the average, it can’t be said to be that expensive.’

That’s how modest the brand’s start was.

For this reason, hardly anyone knew about NM.

NM would only start to make a name for itself later.

It gained attention around the same time as otoño, and at first seemed to be losing in the competition between the two.

But in the end, only NM survived and was set to continue thriving afterwards.

This was why I could easily recall the name NM.

As soon as I thought about finding a replacement for otoño, it came to mind as if I had pressed a button.

Moreover, NM was a brand that started in Guam.

It could be called an incredible coincidence.

“It’s remarkable that you know about such a brand.”

Celia muttered in amazement.

I too was quite surprised by the fact that NM started in Guam.

But without showing it, I smiled and answered.

“I’ve been interested in Aubrey Summers’ clothing for a while.”

“So she was a fashion designer you’ve been following for a long time?”

“Yes, you could say that. It was also a place I wanted to visit at least once if I came to Guam.”

“That makes sense then. The quality is certainly evident even just from the photos. By the way, what does NM stand for?”

I recalled the information I had obtained from the site beforehand and answered.

“I heard it’s named after ‘Sinahi’, the giant clam shell pendant commonly worn by Chamorro men. It means New Moon in English.”

“Ah, so it stands for New Moon. Anyway, won’t it be tight on time if we’re trying to get the outfit tomorrow and finish shooting in the morning? We should plan carefully.”

So we made new plans for tomorrow with the And You shooting team.

The main point of the plan was that while Im Seung-yeon and I did the sunrise shoot at Pago Bay Overlook, Celia would purchase the NM outfit.

Celia checked the contact information at the bottom of the homepage and inquired about NM’s earliest opening time.

Fortunately, she got in touch with an NM employee and received an answer that they could open the offline store around 9 AM.

“From NM’s offline store to Pago Bay Overlook is about 30 minutes with plenty of time, so we should be able to deliver the outfit around 9:30 AM.”

The scheduled flight boarding time was 11:30 AM.

It would take a comfortable 30 minutes to load the luggage again and arrive at Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport from Pago Bay Overlook.

Considering the check-in time, it seemed like we would have less than 30 minutes for shooting.

Im Seung-yeon must have made similar calculations, as she wore a worried expression.

“We don’t have much time to spare. Changing clothes and touching up makeup will surely take more time. Will we be able to get an A-cut?”

If I had known this would happen, I should have brought up the otoño issue earlier to get the outfit in advance.

While feeling regretful, I spoke up to do what I could at the moment.

“I’ll… do my best to make it work somehow. So I wanted to ask, with the changed outfit, what kind of concept are you thinking for the shoot?”

At my question, Celia thought for a moment before starting to speak.

Im Seung-yeon also seemed to have some ideas about how to proceed with the shoot.

Thus, tomorrow’s shooting scene began to take concrete shape in my mind.

* * *

We arrived at Pago Bay Overlook before sunrise and immediately started shooting.

Although time was a bit tight, there was no problem with proceeding with the shoot because we arrived early.

I was worried that Im Seung-yeon might feel rushed and ruin the shoot, but that was needless concern.

Perhaps she’s the type who’s strong in crisis situations, as she worked even more focused than yesterday.

The results were much better too, quickly producing several B-cut photos close to A-cut quality.

“The work speed has increased compared to yesterday?”

“Of course it’s getting better. It’s our second day working together.”

“That’s true.”

“Your poses have become more natural compared to yesterday too, actor. Your expressions are much better as well.”

Im Seung-yeon said casually while looking at the photos together.

Indeed, as Im Seung-yeon said, I had also become accustomed to the work.

Of course, there was another reason for this familiarity.

It didn’t make sense that my poses would improve after working together for just one day, given that I was naturally uncoordinated.

“If we take a few more photos in the style of numbers 11 and 20, I think we’ll get an A-cut. What do you think?”

“I think that’s the best too. Let’s quickly resume shooting before the sun fully rises.”

A little while later.

The shoot proceeded with focus again, and we finished all the work.

We finished shooting 15 minutes earlier than the time Celia was supposed to arrive, which was a bit generous.

However, even after 9:30 AM, Celia had not arrived.

Unable to hide his anxiety, Yeo Kyung-chan was pacing back and forth, and Im Seung-yeon was biting her nails.

The And You shooting team staff who moved to Pago Bay Overlook with us were the same.

Everyone was restless, moving their bodies here and there.

As the sun rose, a beautiful landscape was unfolding at Pago Bay Overlook, but no one was interested in this sight.

People’s attention was solely focused on when Celia would arrive with the outfit.

‘If… really if… we can’t get an A-cut photo with the new outfit because of lack of time, we decided to use another method.’

It was to give up uploading to other channels like YouTube and include B-cuts in the special feature.

This was the most reasonable alternative we could take in case of emergency.

But at this moment, no one was saying, “Don’t worry too much because we have an alternative.”

Everyone was earnestly hoping for Celia’s arrival with one heart and mind.

It was natural.

Professionals were those who strive to produce the best results in any situation.

And everyone gathered here was a person with a strong professional consciousness.

As time passed relentlessly in this desperate atmosphere,

At 9:42 AM, the vehicle Celia had left in appeared.

“Ah! She’s here!”

“Celia! Over here!”

“Why are you so late!”

“You brought the outfit, right?”

The And You shooting team staff who spotted Celia shouted in relief.

Hearing their voices, Celia waved her hand out of the vehicle and answered.

“I’m sorry! I took a wrong turn on the way! Don’t worry, I brought the outfit safely!”

Celia’s expression showed genuine remorse.

But it wasn’t time to scold Celia.

So I immediately received the outfit and prepared for setting up.

The NM outfit Celia purchased was a striped shirt reminiscent of Guam’s straight palm trees.

It was a piece called ‘Natural Stripe Shirt’ and could be considered NM’s signature outfit.

I quickly changed into the outfit, received makeup touch-ups, and stood in front of the camera.

With Celia’s delay, we now had only 15 minutes left for photo shooting.

I posed with the road near Pago Bay Overlook, where the sea meets the horizon, as the background.

Then Im Seung-yeon, who was holding the camera, lowered her hand without pressing the shutter and spoke.

“15 minutes! We can do this! Please do your best too, actor!”

Even in this urgent situation, Im Seung-yeon sent out an enthusiastic fighting spirit.

It was a will not to give up yet.

I nodded vigorously.

“Yes! I’ll do my best!”

Meanwhile, the And You shooting team staff were packing up for quick movement behind us.

It was still evidence of the tight situation.

“Alright! Let’s start! That pose is good now!”

Click. Click. Click.

And so the photo shoot began in earnest.

And a moment later,

A smile began to spread on Im Seung-yeon’s face as she started pressing the shutter with a serious expression.

Similarly, Celia’s expression brightened, who had been blaming herself for taking a wrong turn.

It was natural as the shooting was going better than expected.

‘Of course it would. I’ve already repeated this same shoot hundreds of times.’

It wasn’t for nothing that I asked Im Seung-yeon about the new concept yesterday.

It was to analyze today’s shoot through specific images and practice repeatedly.

Because I had brought the method mask with me just in case when departing.

If it had been a drama set, I couldn’t have used the method mask, but this schedule was for one night and two days.

I brought it thinking I could use the method mask at the lodging.

It was a method I could think of because I knew from the previous Census experience that it was possible to practice photo shoots and commercial shoots with the method mask.

So I listened to Im Seung-yeon about how she would proceed with the shoot,

And checked in detail with Celia about what outfit I would wear.

Then I researched the road near Pago Bay Overlook through Google Maps.

Then today’s shooting scene was implemented through the method mask.

‘I took over 1,000 photos with the virtual Im Seung-yeon… right here…’

It would be strange not to know in which situations A-cuts were likely to come out.

Even with the same pose, it couldn’t help but come out more naturally.

After shooting photos intensely with amazing concentration like that, Im Seung-yeon lowered her hand with a sigh.

“Shoot’s over. We got an A-cut.”

At the same time, cheers erupted from the staff including Celia.

“Wow wow wow!”

“Amazing!”

“Good work everyone!”

It was the moment when the photo shoot with And You dramatically concluded.