NOVEL NEXT Episode 054
Episode 054
After finishing the conversation with Cindy.
We decided to take a 10-minute break before filming the flashback scene.
I wouldn’t have minded starting the shoot right away, but Cindy needed a rest.
We had been filming continuously without a break until now.
So people dispersed for a moment.
Not wanting to return to the standby vehicle, I chatted with Yeo Kyung-chan.
“If it’s going to be like this, they shouldn’t tell us to standby…”
Yeo Kyung-chan grumbled in a small voice, and I replied with a smile.
“It’s okay. I wanted to see Senior Cindy’s acting anyway.”
“Our actor’s passion for acting is really something else.”
“A music video shoot. When will I get another chance like this? I should learn while I can.”
“That’s true… By the way, I heard she’s stingy with compliments despite being sociable, but it doesn’t seem that way today.”
“Who? Senior Cindy?”
“Yes. I heard it from a pretty reliable source. I guess showbiz rumors can’t be trusted after all.”
“Rumors in this industry are like that.”
Certainly, rumors in the entertainment industry weren’t very reliable.
Who could say she’s stingy with compliments after seeing Cindy’s behavior today?
Rather, it was almost embarrassing how much she praised me.
‘If she had praised me alone, it might have been okay…’
With Kim Sung-hee also showering compliments, it was overwhelming.
Thankfully, the music video director announced a short break, allowing me to escape from the flood of praise.
“Above all, the CEO of EM Entertainment was unexpected.”
“Did you hear something about her too?”
“I heard she’s the only one who can control Cindy? That she has amazing charisma.”
“She didn’t seem like that at all…”
“Exactly. From now on, I shouldn’t listen to what others say.”
“That’s actually the best. Judging people with your own eyes.”
Yeo Kyung-chan and I formed a bond of sympathy through this conversation.
But for some reason, Song Jin-ah was standing nearby with a strange expression.
“Huh? Stylist, why do you look like that?”
“Don’t tell me… You two really didn’t notice?”
Notice what?
I couldn’t even guess what Song Jin-ah was talking about.
Yeo Kyung-chan seemed the same, tilting his head and asking back.
“Notice what?”
Song Jin-ah sighed and replied.
“Never mind. It’s better not to know. Especially for you, actor. Not knowing is part of your charm.”
Can not knowing be a charm point?
As I was thinking it was getting harder to understand the conversation.
Fortunately, Song Jin-ah provided a simple conclusion.
“Don’t worry too much. Anyway, both Cindy and the CEO of EM Entertainment liked you.”
That was at least reassuring news.
I certainly felt goodwill from both of them.
It would have been strange if I hadn’t felt their goodwill after receiving so much praise.
‘But receiving so much praise is a bit burdensome. They might be disappointed if I don’t perform well in the actual shoot.’
Thinking this, I briefly recalled the flashback scene I was about to film with Cindy.
Even after carefully reviewing, it seemed there were no parts I hadn’t practiced.
That was a relief.
Because of this, I was able to regain confidence and look forward to the shoot.
And then, a little later.
Finally, the main filming began.
* * *
[The sun, where even worry can’t remain beside it]
[Why did I think everything was my fault]
As the pink classic car drives, the sun rises in that direction, revealing a rest area below.
A man emerges from the purple rest area building holding a whole potato skewer, Cindy’s lover.
Cindy happily receives the potato skewer the man offers, and they both eat deliciously.
[Brightening the shadows, I’ll go to you]
[Grasping the wind with lost hands]
[If I float my body like dandelion seeds]
The scene changes to a bright sunny day.
Cindy and the man taking Polaroid pictures on a beach with yellow waves.
Even while enjoying a pleasant moment, they look at each other lovingly and smile.
That scene is fully captured by the light blue Polaroid camera.
[Now I’m Straight Sun]
[I’ll entrust myself to you on this hot day]
[Tell me night won’t come]
[You can make lies into truth]
In the pastel blue sky, a scene of the two holding hands and crossing clouds is drawn.
As they cross the clouds step by step like in a fairy tale, Cindy covers her face with one hand as if dazzled.
The man shields her from the sunlight with his broad shoulders.
In the shaded view, the man’s face gradually overlaps with Cindy’s face.
[Just now Straight Sun]
[For a life without regrets]
[Tell me it’s okay if I just arrive]
[I’m scared you won’t be there]
Just as their lips are about to touch.
Suddenly, the man’s figure disappears like evaporated water droplets.
A single tear falls from Cindy’s eyes, but the man is nowhere to be found.
All that’s left in Cindy’s hand are photos symbolizing their happy times together.
[The sun, where loneliness can’t remain beside it]
[Why did I think I was alone]
Back on the highway.
Cindy’s happy appearance is no longer there.
She just keeps driving with a somewhat gloomy expression, missing the man.
But that doesn’t mean there’s no hope at all.
At the end of this road, it seems the man might be standing with a bright smile like before.
[I’ll cross the asphalt to go to you]
[Opening the entrance wide with both hands]
[When my eyes adjust to the dazzling light]
As the lyrics progress, the story gradually reaches its end.
Cindy finally encounters the man’s shadow at the purple rest area.
[Now I’m Straight Sun]
[I’ll entrust myself to you on this hot day]
[Tell me night won’t come]
[You can make lies into truth]
As the man’s shadow gradually takes shape with intense light…
[Just now Straight Sun]
[For a life without regrets]
[Tell me it’s okay if I just arrive]
[Thank you for being there now]
The song comes to a complete end.
* * *
The filming with Cindy proceeded smoothly.
Not a single scene had to be shot twice.
The shooting was so fast-paced that I was worried if the result would be good.
But fortunately, the results checked after each scene were not bad.
In fact, they were so good that it seemed difficult to make any changes.
While I could attribute my performance to repeated practice through the Method Mask,
Cindy’s ability to shoot without a single NG was amazing.
Her talent was evident in how skillfully she performed every scene as if she had practiced hundreds of times.
There was only one mistake by Cindy near the very end, but
The shooting wrapped up much faster than expected.
“Is it really okay to end it like this… Are there any parts that need additional shooting?”
The music video director asked Cindy, scratching his head as if embarrassed to just end it like this.
Cindy carefully checked the footage, then clapped her hands once and replied.
“If it’s okay with you, director, we should end it. I like it. What do you think, Si-joon?”
I also carefully examined the footage, but couldn’t find any problematic parts.
Almost every scene was expressed as I had imagined during practice, which was satisfying.
Some scenes even turned out better than practiced.
‘Above all, if both of them are okay with it, there’s nothing to worry about.’
With this thought, I answered Cindy’s question.
“I’m okay with it too. I think it’s fine to wrap up the shooting like this.”
With everyone agreeing to end the shoot, the set started to be cleaned up.
When the music video director officially announced the end of shooting, the staff cheered.
It was natural from the staff’s perspective.
The faster the shooting ended, the better for them.
“Si-joon! Thank you so much for your hard work today! Let’s meet again if we have the chance!”
“You worked hard too, senior. I hope we can meet again.”
“I’ll send you a CD when the album comes out!”
“Thank you. Take care, senior.”
After exchanging goodbyes with Cindy, I started walking towards the standby vehicle.
As I was recalling the satisfactorily acted parts from today’s shoot and considering how to apply them to romantic comedy acting,
Someone approached me and spoke.
“Si-joon!”
When I turned my head, the person standing there was Cindy, with whom I had just said goodbye.
“Oh? Senior? What’s the matter? Weren’t you going home?”
“I was going to. But when I got in the car, it felt too disappointing to just leave like this.”
Disappointing?
What does she mean?
While I was thinking this, Cindy brought up an unexpected topic.
“There’s a drama I’ve confirmed to appear in after my album activities are over.”
I tried to recall the drama Cindy appeared in around this time.
‘What was it…’
If it was a drama Cindy appeared in, it must have been a big success, but strangely, I couldn’t remember well.
“It’s a romantic comedy drama written by writer Jung Soo-jin. Do you know it?”
Even after hearing the writer’s name, I still couldn’t remember the drama’s title.
So I answered honestly.
“No, I’m not sure. I didn’t receive a script from writer Jung Soo-jin.”
“Oh… Why?”
“If it’s okay, could you tell me the title? I might remember if I hear the title.”
“Ah, sure. Since the casting news is already out, it’s fine. The title is
At that moment, I recalled the content of the work titled
At the same time, a few scenes of Cindy’s performance in
“Ah!”
When I let out this exclamation, Cindy asked eagerly.
“Did you remember? You received the script, right?”
“No, I didn’t receive the script. I just remembered the news about your casting in
When I gave this vague answer, Cindy seemed somewhat disappointed.
“Huh. That’s strange. I was told the script was distributed…”
I asked, not understanding why Cindy was reacting this way.
Above all, I was curious why she brought up
“By the way, why suddenly mention
“Oh. Actually, I was going to suggest that if you liked the script, how about confirming the casting? I wanted to work on a drama together.”
She seemed genuinely interested in working with me.
The fact that Kim Sung-hee, standing with Cindy, also looked disappointed was proof of this.
Because of this, I felt regretful about not receiving the script for
“That’s too bad. I really wanted to work on a drama with you, senior.”
“Really? Then maybe…”
Cindy hesitated, about to say something.
Her attitude was so cautious that I quietly waited for her next words.
Then, unexpected words flowed from Cindy’s mouth.
“You’d have to check the script first, but if I recommend you, would you consider appearing in
It was an unexpected and bold proposal.
But honestly, I was conflicted.
Because
Among the dramas Cindy appeared in, it was the only one that didn’t exceed 10% viewership.
This was