When I Opened My Eyes I Was a Superstar

Director Yoon Sung Ah worked hard to build the best film team she could make, with people she knew and within her capability.

She thought meticulously before picking each and every person, starting with the Camera Director, who is the second most important person after the director, to the Lighting Designer, and even the scripter.

She did get an investor, but it was her first project. Additionally, she had lost her connections after having left the movie field for a while, so it wasn’t exactly easy to form a team.

However, Director Yoon Sung Ah didn’t care too much.

It was because the casting for Hyo Won and Jung Hwan, the two most important roles, went exactly as she wanted and was chosen perfectly.

‘The battle’s already half won with these actors alone. Now it’s up to me.’

That was Director Yoon Sung Ah’s mindset.

Park Hyo Won, who accepted the role of Hyo Won, was the name Director Yoon Sung Ah had in mind since she first wrote the < Blue Whale > screenplay.

That’s why the character was named after Park Hyo Won’s real name.

For the role of Jung Hwan, it wasn’t that she had Do Wook in mind from the beginning. However, when she saw Do Wook’s acting on ‘Get Ready 1999’, Director Yoon Sung Ah thought that Do Wook would be a good fit for the Jung Hwan role.

Director Yoon Sung Ah’s dream casting was not casting exactly according to image.

She wanted to really aim for a twist.

In reality, Park Hyo Won’s nickname during his undergrad years was ‘garbage truck’. It was from hubaes he met at various drinking get-togethers, but their first impression wasn’t good.

Every word out of Park Hyo Won’s mouth was cussing. He seemed like he would have partied a lot during his school days. In terms of looks, Park Hyo Won was good looking, but you would never hear anyone call him that.

It was because he had a very rough and vicious vibe.

Still, fortunately, he wasn’t really a thug. His actions and way of speaking was rough, but he never actually used violence. He was just a delinquent who drank and smoked in high school.

Still, image was a scary thing to actors, so all the roles Park Hyo Won had had so far were all those types of roles. Back alley gangster kind of roles.

He gave memorable performances in those roles, but that was it. Director Yoon Sung Ah wanted to bring out a different type of character from Park Hyo Won.

It was the same for Do Wook.

The Do Wook portrayed in the media was a proper, reliable young man and the image of youth. There was no sense of incompatibility since he was actually like that, but since the roles he played had the same image, it felt less challenging.

If she saw an actor wearing clothes that fit them too well, it made her want to put them in completely new clothes.

Also, Director Yoon Sung Ah believed that even Do Wook must have a rough side. Though, the Do Wook who comforted her when they met in person was of course warm…

‘He has a cold side. Like a glacier that isn’t fully revealed…if he could bring out that aspect and walk the path of a more full-fledged actor, he’ll truly become an incredible actor.’

That was what Director Yoon Sung Ah thought. When she decided to have Do Wook on < Blue Whale >, she felt a certain joy that she would get to take on that task.

The casting was set first. Getting the filming team together was an unusual task, but there was still harmony in the team.

There was also something that happened just because of Do Wook.

Once it was known Do Wook was on the project, the investors welcomed Director Yoon Sung Ah as a force to be reckoned with.

With Do Wook onboard, someone who was already as renowned as one could be, they were clearly able to enjoy a much bigger promotional effect than originally planned.

Since it was Do Wook’s first movie, it was hard to tell how much ticket power he would have, but they definitely had to increase the number of theaters involved.

Director Yoon Sung Ah deserved a round of applause for making a casting no one could foresee.

However, when they were contacting the on-site staff, the response was half and half.

For starters, they were people who knew Director Yoon Sung Ah in some shape or form, so they had faith in Director Yoon’s screenplay.

However, only about half of them, such as the investment company, were happy about casting Do Wook, either saying that the movie at least wouldn’t be a flop or that they kept up with new regarding Do Wook.

The rest of the people rejected Director Yoon Sung Ah’s request, saying that if it was a movie starring Do Wook, an idol, it could no longer be an ‘art film’.

They were people who were strongly conservative.

Director Yoon Sung Ah had no intention to blame those people. They were firm in their own standards.

However, it was unknown whether they would still think that about Do Wook once they watch the movie.

‘It’s going to change. I’m sure.’

Director Yoon Sung Ah was certain to some extent.

Director Yoon Sung Ah was absolutely certain when they gathered to do a reading before starting filming.

From the first line, Do Wook was acting in a precise tone.

Director Yoon Sung Ah noticed all the subtle emotions he melted into the screenplay.

Director Yoon Sung Ah wasn’t the only one who was surprised by Do Wook’s first line. So was Park Hyo Won who was also there.

“Garbage truck, you have to do the next line, punk.”

“Ah. Geez. Wait a moment.”

Director Yoon Sung Ah and Park Hyo Won already had a close relationship. Park Hyo Won shook his head at Yoon’s scolding and was collecting himself again.

Director Yoon Sung Ah giggled and spurred on Park Hyo Won.

“You’re surprised, huh? That Do Wook’s a good actor.”

“It’s barely the first line and you’re already comparing us? I can’t work like this.”

“You can’t work like this? Are you kidding me?”

Park Hyo Won cussed quietly. Soon, however, he ignored Director Yoon Sung Ah’s teasing and focused on his lines. He wasn’t an idiot who didn’t know Director Yoon was publicly provoking him from the beginning to try to bring out his talents.

For Do Wook, it was honestly a little hard to get used to Director Yoon Sung Ah and Park Hyo Won’s relationship.

To put it into words, the two of them were bickering, like Jung Yoon Ki and An Hyung Seo, but to a higher degree. It felt even more like that because swear words were mixed in.

After the fairly long rehearsal ended, Park Hyo Won and Do Wook walked out of Director Yoon Sung Ah’s studio together.

It was just reading without any acting, but both of them were exhausted from acting fierce. Their steps were much slower than usual.

“Hey, I can speak informally right?”

It was Park Hyo Won who started the conversation first.

Do Wook quickly nodded his head in response to Park Hyo Won. Just like with Director Yoon Sung Ah, he had never seen him at school, but Park Hyo Won was clearly Do Wook’s school sunbae.

In addition, this time, he was an acting major sunbae. Whether it was in terms of graduating class, age, or experience, Park Hyo Won was above Do Wook no matter what way you looked at it.

“Yes, please feel free to do so.”

Park Hyo Won frowned when Do Wook answered in an overly polite manner.

“I can’t be the only one speaking freely. You can speak freely too.”

“You mean me?”

“Yeah. It’s only for 2 weeks, but we should be getting along as friends. Don’t you think acting comfortably normally will help when acting too?”

Park Hyo Won’s words made Do Wook come to a realization and he completely agreed.

Now that he thought about it, even during ‘Get Ready 1999’, they were able to be natural when acting because they had a friendship with a comfortable atmosphere off the set too.

“It doesn’t matter if you say ‘Hey, Hyo Won.’”

Do Wook could definitely tell that, unlike his appearance or way of speaking, Park Hyo Won was the type to look after people in various ways.

You couldn’t call him warm, but if nothing else his passion for acting was fiery.

“Ahh…No. I wouldn’t be comfortable with that.”

“’K.”

“Should I call you…sunbae?”

“Sunbae? We’re not at a school. Just call me hyung.”

Do Wook nodded his head.

“Where did you learn to act?”

Park Hyo Won asked as they left the studio and headed to the parking lot. Park Hyo Won had his own car and Gu Chul Min was supposed to come get Do Wook.

“I got private lessons for a few months as I was preparing for school, hyung.”

Park Hyo Won smiled as Do Wook immediately stopped speaking formally and called him hyung. He could feel that Do Wook was no ordinary guy.

“Who?”

“Instructor Lee Kang Yeon.”

“Ah. I think I’ve heard that name before. Anyways, I’m fucking jealous.”

When Do Wook’s expression showed he didn’t understand whether it meant jealous he got lessons or what, Park Hyo Won replied,

“Your talent.”

It was just one word. It wasn’t as if he’d never been complimented before. However, a compliment from Park Hyo Won hit Do Wook hard for some reason. It might have been even more so because he had just seen Park Hyo Won’s performance.

***

After the staff and cast had gathered for the small run-through, filming of < Blue Whale > began.

A movie set had a completely different vibe from a drama set.

There was a reason that shooting dramas was more difficult for most actors than shooting movies. Since they have to film multiple episodes in a short time, there are problems that come up.

The scripts for episode 1 and 2, even sometimes up to 4, are ready so they usually don’t have to spend all night on set, but once the broadcast starts airing, the situation changes.

Generally, broadcasts are aired twice a week. Even if they film until episode 4, the broadcast catches up in a blink of an eye.

Whether it’s filming or writing the script, it’s the same. The later the scripts come out, the more the actors have to busily memorize the scripts instead of understanding it, and there are many scenes during filming that are rushed through.

It’s a struggle in many ways. Nevertheless, dramas have their own charm.

When the broadcast airs, the viewers respond immediately, and the impact is substantial.

In any case, there are many differences starting from systemic differences to the value each person aims for.

‘Get Ready 1999’ was also pre-produced, so conditions were good considering it was a drama set, but Do Wook still felt the glaring difference between a drama set and a movie set.

It was difficult to determine which was good and which was bad based on the differences. A short running time and long prep time did not mean that filming a movie was not difficult.

‘It depends on where you place value…’

It depended on the director, but it mentally felt like they were being pushed around more.

With those thoughts on his mind, Do Wook got up from the chair. The staff had finished preparing to film again.

Do Wook had to say the first line multiple times to get a good scene in one cut.

It was the same cut, but it was already the second day of filming. The background was a park during sunset, so it wasn’t possible to film once the sun set.

Do Wook had to do well today so the staff wouldn’t have to suffer again tomorrow.

Director Yoon Sung Ah had praised this first line during the reading. However, she kept calling “NG” for some reason.

“What are you staring at, you bastard?”

“NG! Again!”

When Director Yoon Sung Ah yelled NG, Do Wook’s shoulders drooped.

He also felt sorry for Park Hyo Won, who was in front of him preparing to say the next line and had yet to say a single line.

Park Hyo Won’s expression was hardened. Of course, Do Wook knew it wasn’t because of him, but because he was engrossed in the situation.

‘She definitely said it was perfect back then…it was the exact same feeling as that time, so why…?’

Do Wook thought as he pulled himself together.

Do Wook was currently the head of a violent circle. Underprivileged background, vagrancy, violence, … Do Wook continued thinking about them.

He couldn’t help but think of Seo Kang Jun.

Seo Kang Jun didn’t have an underprivileged background nor was a vagrant, but he was the most violent person when he was harassing someone.

He thought about Seo Kang Jun’s every little movement.

‘Kim Bo Myung. Are you looking at me right now? What are you looking at with that dirty look, you bastard!’

Thinking about Seo Kang Jun, who used to inflict violence on him, in and of itself could have been something difficult enough to be traumatic for him. However, Do Wook was now Do Wook. He wasn’t Kim Bo Myung.

Do Wook could separate himself and analyze the situation from back then. That was how much he was able to separate himself from Kim Bo Myung.

‘The reason that it was ok during the reading but not now is definitely either my gaze or body movement…’

The sunset behind Do Wook was blood red. Do Wook stood in front of the camera once again and nodded.

—

Next chapter: We see a completely new side of Do Wook.