Chapter 4
Hmm.
I, with my arms crossed and eyes gently closed, found myself thinking.
I’m nervous.
Just because my gender changed doesn’t mean I’ve stopped being human, right?
What’s scary is still scary, and what’s tense is still tense.
I wasn’t like this during the audition.
Honestly, I thought I would fail the audition.
Was that mindset of “it’s all experience” actually a benefit?
“Oh my, Seo-yeon, are you nervous?”
Not at all!
“Sure you are.”
No, I’m not!
In moments like this, the sharp-eyed Sua knew just how to point out my inner thoughts.
When I shot her a pouty stare, Sua wrapped me up in a big hug with her ample bosom.
Hmph, fine, whatever.
“This must be the studio; let’s go in,” said my dad, Jo Young-bin, as I nodded.
I had no real idea how big the studio was.
Since it was my first time visiting such a place.
“Oh, you’re here!”
As soon as we entered the studio, the CF director, Jo Min-tae, greeted us like he had been waiting.
While my parents exchanged a brief conversation, I took the opportunity to look around the studio.
It’s fascinating.
Reflectors, filming cameras, and various props were scattered all over the rectangular space.
Maybe the staff had arranged it ahead of time, but it had a pretty whimsical setup.
It was nothing like the plain audition room; this felt much more professional.
“Hello there.”
“Oh, you must be the young Seo-yeon. I’m looking forward to your acting today.”
As I wandered around, I waved at the staff with a cute bowing motion.
Children’s bows are extremely potent weapons.
Back in my previous life, they could make my wallet pop open without me noticing it.
Especially with me greeting them cutely like this, it was only natural that the staff’s expressions softened.
Reputation management is crucial, you know.
Who knows, I might end up successfully becoming a VTuber again.
So it’s important to prepare for any situation.
“Aww, how adorable!”
“If our daughter was just half like that girl…”
Just like that, I could hear the sighs of admiration due to my bow.
Huh?
As I was out and about greeting everyone, I noticed a striking woman.
She sat on a white plastic chair, her face twitched with worry.
Kim Jeong-ha.
The Kim Jeong-ha I know is the one and only famous actress who would later hit ten million views.
Seeing her ‘before success’ face was quite unfamiliar.
“Hello, actress Kim Jeong-ha.”
As I greeted her with my signature bow, I could see her eyes widen.
“Uh, you’re the child actor in this CF, right?”
“Yes, that’s right. I’m Seo-yeon Joo.”
The term “child actor” felt a bit weird, but I nodded anyway.
“Wow, it really… feels like you were born to act.”
N-no?
Kim Jeong-ha’s expression soured as if something went wrong.
She seemed to shrink back in her plastic chair, looking like someone who had become a recluse, the embodiment of a hermit.
How did she even get here after all those happy broadcasts?
“Can I keep up with her?”
Now I was even more nervous with Kim Jeong-ha acting like this.
It might be better to abandon my plan of relying on my senior’s aura.
“Jeong-ha! Seo-yeon!”
Then, a staff member was waving at us.
“We’re going to start filming soon. You memorized the script, right?”
The word “script” made me recall the one I had left in the car.
The shooting script that had arrived by mail after the audition results was quite different from what I had imagined.
This was not the kind of dense dialogue you’d find in a drama or movie script.
It was more like a webtoon.
Pictures and dialogues were presented together, clearly showcasing the scene’s concept and direction.
So, it’s different from regular acting.
They say that a CF director’s sense of aesthetics is vital.
Directing creates visuals that resonate with people visually and aurally, after all.
At first, I didn’t understand what that meant, but holding the script made it clear.
I might have to seek help for my future VTubing.
If I have good aesthetic sense, it would be beneficial in various ways.
After all, Jo Min-tae would not only be a CF director but also hit the jackpot and become a big-name director later.
Keeping that in mind, it was crucial I made a solid impression here.
“Alright, let’s begin filming!”
At Jo Min-tae’s words, everyone sprang into action.
Even though it was a low-budget ad that didn’t have much money flowing in, so many people were needed.
Vrooom!
All the lights turned on at once while staff moved surrounding reflectors busily.
In CFs, the lighting is exceptionally important.
Props and actors need to shine brightly.
“Seo-yeon must have a heart of steel. You don’t seem nervous at all!”
Watching this unfold, Jo Min-tae said with a grin.
Unlike during the audition, he truly gave off a ‘director’ vibe now.
“Uh, of course,” I tried to respond nonchalantly, but my voice quivered slightly, causing my parents, who were watching, to chuckle.
I’ll have to say a few words later.
Despite a slight tremble in my voice, my unbeatable poker face held strong.
Standing confidently with my arms crossed, I noticed Kim Jeong-ha beside me nervously adjusting her posture.
“Alright, let’s go with the first scene. Cue in!”
The first scene. This was likely the first script I had reviewed.
“Action!”
With Jo Min-tae’s shout, the filming began.
*
Kim Jeong-ha thought from the moment she saw Seo-yeon for the first time.
Ah, so this is what a natural-born actor looks like.
The moment they were born, the heavens had evidently chosen them to be actors.
It was an instinctual realization.
And once the shooting actually commenced, Kim Jeong-ha felt it acutely.
The sight of a once expressionless child suddenly blooming with a delightful smile.
The soy milk in her hand appeared like a heavenly nectar, sweet and irresistible.
What’s more significant wasn’t just that ambiance.
“Unnie, is this milk or soy milk?”
The child that spoke cheerfully seemed far removed from Seo-yeon.
It was as if the child in the script had leaped out into the real world.
Method acting.
It didn’t make sense, but Jeong-ha instinctively thought of that term.
It felt as if Seo-yeon had become someone entirely different.
If this isn’t method acting, then what on earth is it?
Thanks to Seo-yeon’s performance, Kim Jeong-ha now had to scramble to keep up.
Hmm.
As Jo Min-tae observed, his lips twisted in displeasure.
It signified his discontent.
“Cut, cut! Let’s do that again. Jeong-ha, just be a bit more natural, please.”
“Y-yes.”
In shooting, child actors often brought issues, but now the problem laid with her.
Dynamic acting makes me uneasy.
Certainly, an actress shouldn’t be this self-conscious, but at that moment, Kim Jeong-ha definitely was.
Especially with that monster of a child next to me.
Her confidence plummeted.
Was she really cut out for acting?
“Cut! Again!”
After struggling and retrying the first scene several times, conditions hadn’t improved.
The atmosphere on set cooled, and Jo Min-tae’s brow wrinkled further.
It feels heavy.
Even the soy milk I had been sipping began to feel burdensome.
No, it wasn’t just the soy milk weighing me down.
“Uh, Director?”
At that moment, Seo-yeon, who had been quietly acting, raised her hand.
“I thought the second scene was better.”
Her innocent proclamation sparked a chuckle among the nearby staff.
Usually, actors don’t voice such opinions first.
Yet, they laughed for one reason alone.
Because she was still a child.
And with Seo-yeon delivering stellar performances, letting it slide with laughter felt fine.
“Oh, the second scene, you say?”
Jo Min-tae considered Seo-yeon’s words, reviewing the second scene.
It wasn’t quite the family-oriented vibe he had in mind.
It’s far too cheerful.
He briefly glanced at Jeong-ha.
Isn’t it challenging?
Static acting has its own difficulties, and lively acting would have its share too.
If static acting ends up being bland, and lively acting risks becoming childish…
How could Jeong-ha, who couldn’t even manage static acting, pull off lively acting?
“Well, let’s give it a shot.”
Since sticking to the first scene wouldn’t get them anywhere.
The biggest hindrance in food advertising is eating the food itself.
Since they could pretend to drink soy milk, but emotionally, it’s easier for both Jeong-ha and Seo-yeon to genuinely interact over it.
So, filming resumed.
“Huh?”
“Not bad at all!”
The staff members showing surprises were evident.
Once the acting transformed into something more vibrant, Jeong-ha began to truly come alive.
As lively performances kicked in, Kim Jeong-ha’s previously melancholy acting was revitalized.
Not just revived but the excitement was practically soaring to the sky.
She’s nailing it, like perfectly.
In this advertisement, Jeong-ha and Seo-yeon were conceptually sisters.
A lively older sister and a cheerful younger sister.
Seo-yeon’s performance shone through excellently.
She was the very embodiment of a vivacious younger sister.
This is it.
While the staff merely felt a hint of admiration, Jo Min-tae felt chills.
Her performance matched the one Seo-yeon showcased during the audition.
How can it be this identical?
Is this even possible?
The script couldn’t have leaked.
Invoiced with awe while observing the performance, he forgot to yell “cut” altogether.
“Ugh, sorry! Cut, cut! That was amazing! We can wrap it up now!”
Having all their troubles dissolved in an instant, Kim Jeong-ha wiped sweat from her brow in disbelief.
In one shot? Really?
Despite nailing such a lively performance, she had never expected that to yield a ‘okay’ sign immediately.
Wait, did she know this would happen?
Seo-yeon’s suggestion to switch to the second scene was astonishing.
This has to be a coincidence?!
There’s no way she could’ve planned that.
After all, when would she have ever seen a performance like this from me?
“Alright, let’s check it out! Jeong-ha and Seo-yeon, please come this way.”
Jeong-ha followed Seo-yeon to the camera that had just finished filming the ad.
On the small screen, the video they had just shot played back.
“Unnie, this is soy milk!”
With Seo-yeon’s cheerful exclamation, the video began.
As they watched, the staff felt impressed while Jeong-ha blinked in amazement.
Wow, it’s so clean!
Has filming always been this easy?
While she pondered this, she stealthily stole a glance at Jo Min-tae’s face.
Huh?
His expression seemed a bit grim.
It wasn’t just Jo Min-tae.
Seo-yeon also looked pensive.
“This feels off, though. It’s definitely good, but….”
Jo Min-tae continuously replayed the footage.
Kim Jeong-ha’s performance was exceptional.
Seo-yeon’s acting was also very good, wasn’t it?
Or maybe not?
Is this really okay?
“It might be better to film this again.”
Before Jo Min-tae could say anything, Seo-yeon spoke up first.
This was Seo-yeon’s first CF shoot.
And this was also the first time she was watching footage of her performance this way.
Yet, she was still capable of discerning any oddities.
Especially if it was her fault.
“I messed it up.”
Kim Jeong-ha couldn’t understand what Seo-yeon was talking about.
What exactly went wrong in that recent shoot…?
Ah.
Only then did she grasp why Seo-yeon wanted to film again.
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