A Genius Director Who Dominates OTT Platforms - Chapter 64

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Genius Director Who Dominates OTT

 

Episode 64

 

* * *

 

【Caught at Fingertips】 is a drama set in the E-sports industry, but Part 1 is an exception.

 

Since Park Seong-hwa starts as a volleyball coach, volleyball inevitably takes up a large portion.

 

Not just Part 1, but volleyball-related scenes made up a considerable number of the flashback scenes that appeared periodically.

 

That’s why volleyball-related filming was concentrated at the beginning of the call sheet.

 

The same went for the appearances of extras playing volleyball players.

 

Among them, a particularly tall man opened his mouth.

 

“Are we really filming today? The wait seems too long…”

 

“First time on set? Usually when they say 2 PM filming, it’s better for your mental health to think we’ll shoot at 12.”

 

“That much?”

 

“At least it’s indoor waiting. When I filmed historical dramas, I waited 12 hours in the mountains. It was colder than the dead of winter.”

 

“You’re also a former athlete, right? What sport did you do?”

 

“Long jump. If I’d known it would be like this, I should have done volleyball.”

 

“Right. Former volleyball players would get more shots, wouldn’t they?”

 

It was when the extras were chatting in small groups due to the extended wait.

 

Staff members came in to control the set, then the directing team that had been filming on the adjacent set entered, and things started to liven up.

 

“Will actress Jeon So-ra come? I’m really a fan.”

 

“Since it’s Kim Ra-un’s solo scene, she probably won’t come.”

 

“I heard on the first day of filming, they often look around generally.”

 

At that moment, Min Jae-ryul entered the set.

 

“He’s taller than I thought?”

 

“Probably because his face is small? His profile says 177cm.”

 

“Then maybe early 170s.”

 

“Wow, his proportions are amazing…”

 

The extras envied Min Jae-ryul, who wasn’t much different in age from them, but what was more enviable was Kang Min-sik who entered next.

 

A complete rookie like them had the third role in this big drama.

 

“I thought I’d at least recognize the face, but it’s really the first time I’m seeing him…”

 

“He’s Dohyeon-u’s theater troupe senior.”

 

“Even so, can you just give a major role based on personal connections?”

 

“He must be good at acting. Like the Accomplice actors.”

 

“I don’t need Min Jae-ryul or Kim Ra-un, I just want to be friends with Dohyeon-u…”

 

“Really. I should have gone to D.P.”

 

“I’m with D.P, but I’ve never had a conversation with him.”

 

Every time actors entered after that, noise arose among the extras.

 

Kim Ra-un who seemed already immersed in emotion, Luhan who was a member of a first-tier boy group, and Oh Ha-eun who was doing well in web dramas even if the general public didn’t know her well.

 

Even when young actors who would play pro gamers from Seong-hwa Empire entered, it was the same.

 

But the moment Jeon So-ra entered, the noise on set disappeared as if washed away.

 

“It’s really Jeon So-ra…”

 

“Wow, crazy. She’s still incredibly beautiful.”

 

Leaving only small exclamations.

 

Finally, when Dohyeon-u and the director entered, the staff began preparing for filming.

 

“Extras, please pay attention here! Check if anyone hasn’t returned their phones! Go to your designated positions! No lines, don’t make eye contact with Park Seong-hwa, and don’t look at the camera!”

 

Even after the extras scattered to their positions, the filming setup continued for a while.

 

When those standing and waiting started thinking their legs hurt.

 

“Part 1! Scene 12, Cut 1, Take 1!”

 

Filming of Part 1, Scene 12, Cut 1, Take 1 began.

 

* * *

 

The day after the violence incident with the team’s franchise star made headlines.

 

Park Seong-hwa came to work as usual, but what came down from the club was a notice of disgraceful dismissal.

 

“You’ve worked hard, Coach Park. The legal team will contact you about the details.”

 

Park Seong-hwa glared at the general manager who showed an attitude of not accepting any excuses, then slammed the door and left the general manager’s office.

 

Then he hesitated.

 

There were two paths.

 

Left was the path leading straight to the entrance.

 

Right was the staff-only passage going through the gymnasium.

 

“…”

 

Park Seong-hwa’s choice was the gymnasium.

 

The moment he opened the door to the private passage and came out.

 

The entire gymnasium was quiet.

 

Clearly there had been sounds of practice until he opened the door, but with Park Seong-hwa’s appearance, all noise disappeared as if washed away.

 

As if to say, you are no longer our coach.

 

Step, step.

 

His pace quickened as if expressing his bubbling anger, then stopped in front of the court line.

 

Because he was wearing dress shoes.

 

But soon, as if there was nothing to worry about, he stepped on the court with his dress shoes and passed between the players who avoided his eyes.

 

The moment he reached the exit.

 

Park Seong-hwa suddenly picked up one of the volleyballs near the entrance and threw it onto the court.

 

Thud! Thud!

 

Thud, thud, thud…

 

Park Seong-hwa watched the volleyball rolling helplessly.

 

“Fuck…”

 

Leaving behind a quiet curse, he headed toward the damn dazzling outside.

 

* * *

 

The moment Kim Ra-un’s acting ended, amazement spread among the extra actors.

 

“Wow, what was that.”

 

“He’s good…”

 

Usually drama filming sets have many extras gathered as part-time workers, but not today.

 

Since they had to act as volleyball players, most were from athletic backgrounds, and many had agencies due to their good physical conditions.

 

In other words, they had enough discernment to admire others’ acting.

 

In their eyes, Kim Ra-un’s acting was heavenly.

 

Dialogue was almost nonexistent, just one line.

 

He simply crossed the gymnasium while angry.

 

Looking at the script, they thought it would be somewhat boring, but Kim Ra-un’s acting wasn’t boring at all.

 

Just his walking was somehow different.

 

The highlight was the ad-lib of throwing the volleyball onto the court.

 

The script clearly said ‘Park Seong-hwa stops at the entrance, kicks the volleyball next to the door, and heads to the damn sunny outside.’

 

‘Someone who acts like this got criticized?’

 

‘Well, Youngpal’s problem was the plot, not the acting.’

 

‘He’s completely sharpened his blade.’

 

It was the moment when the extra actors were each admiring in their own way.

 

“NG.”

 

Everyone’s eyes widened at the quiet voice.

 

Contrary to public perception, the word ‘NG’ rarely comes out on filming sets.

 

Everyone usually shouts okay first.

 

They cushion it with ‘Okay! The acting was good. It was so good but the direction…’ and explain what was disappointing from the director’s perspective.

 

Outright shouting ‘NG’ was only possible when in a power struggle with an actor or when the acting was obviously terrible.

 

If not that, then it was a rookie or extra who could be treated roughly.

 

But Kim Ra-un didn’t fall into any of those three categories.

 

And the bigger problem was that it wasn’t the director who called NG.

 

It was Dohyeon-u who said it.

 

‘Is he crazy?’

 

‘Why is he acting like that?’

 

‘Is he mistaking himself for the director just because people are talking about him?’

 

The extras unconsciously glanced toward the staff.

 

Staff members are more sensitive to the hierarchy on set than actors.

 

However, the staff’s faces were strangely calm.

 

They were the ones who had watched Dohyeon-u stop a smoothly progressing reading and start over from the beginning.

 

That was about ten times stranger than an OTT director calling NG on set.

 

Besides, there’s no way Dohyeon-u would have done that on his own, right?

 

He must have had prior understanding with the director.

 

While the extras, who couldn’t even guess at these circumstances, tilted their heads in confusion, Dohyeon-u opened his mouth.

 

“Actor Kim Ra-un?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I think you need to stop showing off. We’re not filming shorts here, are we?”

 

While the extras were startled by the harsh wording, the criticism continued.

 

“Why did you throw the volleyball?”

 

“I was trying to express anger.”

 

“But why?”

 

“The emotional line…”

 

“No. You were just showing off, weren’t you? Look how well I can act anger.”

 

“…”

 

“Let’s go again.”

 

Filming resumed in terrible silence.

 

Starting from the part where Park Seong-hwa opens the door to the private passage and comes out.

 

But the moment Kim Ra-un, who came out of the door, arrived at the court, Dohyeon-u’s voice was heard again.

 

“NG. Let’s go again.”

 

Next time, he couldn’t even take a few steps after opening the door.

 

“NG. Again.”

 

Similar things repeated.

 

“NG.”

 

“Again.”

 

“Let’s go from the beginning.”

 

The extras stirred, and the actors working with Dohyeon-u for the first time were flustered.

 

Finally, Kim Ra-un’s face contorted as he came out after opening the door.

 

Everyone thought he had endured quite a lot already.

 

No matter how much Kim Ra-un had fallen from S-grade while living off his image, he wasn’t at the level to receive this kind of treatment.

 

But Dohyeon-u’s words didn’t stop.

 

“Are you ready to act?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

“Now it doesn’t matter if it’s Park Seong-hwa or Kim Ra-un. Let’s go again.”

 

It doesn’t matter if it’s Park Seong-hwa or Kim Ra-un?

 

What does that mean?

 

But there was no time to resolve the question.

 

The set returned to the beginning, and the next take started.

 

* * *

 

The moment Park Seong-hwa appeared, all the players stopped their movements at once.

 

Silence descended on the space where the noise created by practice had disappeared.

 

Park Seong-hwa walked through that silence.

 

Step by step.

 

Calmly.

 

Then, the moment he finally arrived in front of the court line.

 

Park Seong-hwa, who had been staring down at his shoes, takes them off.

 

Holding his dress shoes in his right hand, he crosses through the players who avoid his gaze.

 

Unlike the first take, it was a leisurely walk.

 

But everyone could feel it.

 

That leisureliness wasn’t real leisure, but a heart that didn’t want to show embarrassment.

 

When Park Seong-hwa, who had arrived at the entrance like that, put his shoes back on properly and opened the door.

 

“…”

 

Damn bright sunlight bursts through.

 

But Park Seong-hwa didn’t head outside.

 

He suddenly turned around and threw a volleyball onto the court.

 

Thump! Thump! Thump, bounce bounce…

 

Park Seong-hwa, who had been watching the bouncing ball for a while, raised his head and scanned the players.

 

The moment the extras, remembering the order that they shouldn’t make eye contact, were startled and avoided Park Seong-hwa’s eyes.

 

“Haha…”

 

He laughed bitterly and headed out the door.

 

* * *

 

“Cut! Okay!”

 

The moment the director’s voice, which seemed somewhat excited, was heard, people’s gazes turned to Dohyeon-u.

 

He was smiling brightly.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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