Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Bit-Part.

Filming was a series of waiting, especially for bit-part actors and extras, who often had to stick around the set with little to do compared to the main cast. However, the life of an extra was somewhat better than that of a bit part actor.

Extras usually had a day job and acted on the side, and with a team leader managing them, they tended to gather in small groups to chat under their leaders supervision. As a result, there were many extras with over a decade of experience. But being a bit-part actor was a different story.

Living day to day.

Bit-part actors lives can be compared to living day to day, as the phrase goes. This was not meant to demean them. Speaking from experience of a long life as a bit part actor, its a candid expression of the pain one must endure beneath the pleasure of acting. But those involved didnt see it that way.

They considered themselves caterpillars, patiently and diligently waiting for the day they could shine as butterflies on stage with their brilliant acting. Thats why they constantly practiced their short lines, sometimes exuding more passion on set than the main cast.

Everyone, please help yourselves to this!

Yoo Myeonghan couldnt help but notice the bustling scene on one side of the set. A young boy was bustling around, handing out boiled potatoes to the bit part actors. He had shown an impressive knack and maturity for his age, and now he seemed to be adapting quickly.

PD, that kid is really something, huh?

A Busan-born AD (assistant director) chimed in. After all, the person closest to the bit part actors on the set would undoubtedly be the AD. They were responsible for managing the set, communicating changes in direction between the PD and the director of photography, and conveying these changes to the bit part actors.

Man, Ive never seen a child actor come out so early in the morning.

Usually, the staff was the first to arrive on set, but occasionally, some bit-part actors would show up even earlier. Most of them wanted to establish connections with people in the broadcasting industry. They wouldnt shy away from menial or unpleasant tasks and often stayed on set even after they finished their own filming, just in case they were needed.

And he even brought those boiled potatoes.

PD, you dont even know the half of it. This morning, the kid gave potatoes to the bit part actors, then went around with a huge pot full of sugar water for the camera and lighting teams. The things he said were just adorable. He said that reciting lines on an empty stomach can cause pronunciation to slip and that the staff needs sugar in their bloodstream for energy. I thought I was looking at my eighty-year-old grandma.

Maintaining a smooth connection between the extras, bit part actors, and the rest of the set was undoubtedly the ADs responsibility. But managing both groups and maintaining a balance between them was no easy task, especially when many experienced extras were present, as was the case today.

From the ADs perspective, if they took care of the extras a bit more, dissatisfaction could arise among the bit part actors. This young boy was now playing the role of a lubricant to eliminate that friction, acting like a seasoned veteran who had been on set for a long time.

Jiyong, did our costume team prepare those clothes?

The drama series was set in the 1980s. He looked at the outfit the boy was wearing. His outfit was excellent, with tears here and there, faded colors, and mud-stained sneakers that showed attention to historical accuracy. The closely shaved head added a sharpness to the boys potentially gentle appearance with his dark skin. It seemed like the boy was taken straight from a 1980s photograph.

Hes truly amazing. He prepared the clothes and hairstyle himself. The costume team leader was curious and asked him, Where did he find such old clothes with vintage logos? The answer he got was quite astonishing.

What did he say?

He said he rummaged through all the old clothes collection bins on Yeongdos floor. He even purposely smeared his fingernails with charcoal powder to achieve that look. When the camera director saw the boy in the early morning, he was so surprised he nearly fell over. They hadnt even started shooting yet.

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I really thought young Kim Hajin had just walked in.

* * *

Dramas were divided into different airing times based on their production period and narrative structure. There were short, self-contained dramas with tight scripts and direction, morning dramas with fast-paced narratives targeting mothers, mini-series with free formats and artistic considerations, and weekend dramas filled with family stories and melodrama, which guarantee viewership but vary in quality.

The Man of August.

Ill go ahead. Take your time.

The child naturally called her mom. Watching the child walk away, Park Suyeong thought, What kind of audacious kid is that!

* * *

Schedules on set were primarily determined by the lead actors. The more prominent the lead, the more external events they had, so their schedules were taken into consideration. However, filming child actors was considered an unwritten rule. They received maximum consideration due to their physical limitations. In a way, even if they received less pay, there was no need to suffer waiting for their turn.

PD Yoo, you want to go from a full shot (F/S) to a full figure (F/F) and then straight to the last close-up (C/S)? This will cause a mess if we tilt up and go all the way! Should we keep changing tapes from the start?

Senior, as you can see from the script, its best to get this shot in one go. If we separate and insert it later, it could feel disjointed, like duck eggs in the Nakdong River.

Do you think I dont know that? I understand PD Yoo wants to save the scene, but isnt this the child actors first time? Sure, when I saw him at dawn, the mask fit perfectly, as if I couldnt tell where he came from. But if acting follows the face, where would the profession of acting be in this world?

Kim Deukhyeong, a camera director from Gyeongsang Province, scratched his Busan-accented head. Yoo Myeonghan was not unaware of his concerns either. The filming location was Jagalchi Market. It was already crowded, but as soon as they mentioned they were filming a drama, tourists and merchants started gathering since morning. Although the FDs controlled the situation, they couldnt take away the onlookers gazes.

In such cases, seasoned actors usually blended into the scene without paying attention to the surroundings, but child actors differed. The gazes of numerous staff, camera lenses, and spectators all contributed to the pressure of outdoor filming.

He said hes worth his pay. Dont worry. Lets give it a shot.

Ahem.

Who can be full of just one spoonful? We always bring extra tapes for child actors shoots. Even if the camera team runs out of budget, Ill cover it, so dont worry.

Alright, Ill trust you, PD Yoo. Lets go for it. By the way, Actor Park should be quiet today. Last time, the shoot was delayed because she scolded the child actor.

Under Yoo Myeonghans command, ADs, camera, lighting, and sound teams hurriedly prepared for the shoot. The three FDs were busy with their respective roles: some conveyed the PDs instructions to supporting actors and extras, while others controlled the scene. Soon, the red light on the shooting camera was on.

Scene number 1, mother and child at Jagalchi Market!

The filming began with the sharp sound of the clapperboard, also known as the slate. The camera director held his breath and focused on the protagonist. Wasnt this his first time acting? Yet his movements and gait within the frame were incredibly natural.

What about that expression? The kid smiling pleasantly at dawn, now glared rebelliously like an angry teenager. Then, as if a trigger was pulled, the first lines were spoken.

Why do I have to be in a place like this instead of studying and attending school? If we dont have money, we can just live without it! Why must I catch and sell those parasite-like creatures crawling in the water? My dad died catching those tough things! And now you want my help too!

The defiant outburst drew the attention of those around. However, the boy seemed unfazed by the onlookers gaze, his rebellious attitude unwavering. His sharp voice captured the attention of the Jagalchi Market. Meanwhile, his mother, dressed in baggy pants, seemed at a loss for what to do.

So this is what happens when you spoil an only child. Am I supposed to sell fish like my mom when I get old? No way, Ill never do that. I wont stay here, even if it kills me! Cant you speak? Am I embarrassing? If Im that embarrassing, you should have just given me up! I cant take it anymore. Ill destroy all these stinking things!

The furious boy grabbed a fish from a red tub and threw it with all his might. It should have landed on the Jagalchi Market floor, but strangely, the fish flew towards his mother in baggy pants.

Slap.

With a sharp sound, the fish flew into the mothers arms. Kim Deukhyeong was immersed in the scene captured by his camera, and so were the staff members. Even the tourists were holding their breath and silently watching the spectacle. Thats when it happened.

NG!

PD Yoo Myeonghan called out as the mothers line did not come out even after some time had passed. Meanwhile, the actress playing the mother, Park Suyeong, had a face filled with panic and anger. It wasnt just because of the sudden fish thrown at her. The script had indicated thrown, so there was nothing she could say about it coming her way.

The real reason for her great anger was something else. She couldnt bear the fact that, for a moment, she had been overwhelmed by the young actors momentum. It was a scratch to her pride. In the tense standoff, where one could not swallow saliva easily, the camera director muttered to himself, tilting his head.

Geez, is this really his first time acting?