Chapter 149: Rural
After a brief exchange of greetings, the meeting and script reading finally began.
The director, who stood up first to greet everyone, had a bright face, as if he had been waiting for this moment.
“Hello. I’m Director Woo Changmin. It’s really nice to meet you, and I look forward to working with you. Let’s make a great work together.”
Team Leader Kang Ok-kyung, who had stepped aside to the staff of the production company, stood by the entrance and gracefully clapped her hands. In the warm atmosphere, everyone responded vigorously.
Clap, clap, clap-
“I look forward to working with you!”
“Shall we turn to the right?”
“Yes, let’s.”
And then came the actors’ formal greetings.
Muyoung, too, stood among them and bowed once more. Soon, everyone took out their scripts, and the director spoke with a hint of nervousness.
“First of all, the most important thing in this project is that more than half of it will be CG work, so I ask that you act accordingly. I know you’re all veterans, so you’ll do great. Hehe.”
At the director’s words, Muyoung also asked playfully,
“This is my first time with so much CG, so please help me out.”
But no one could readily agree. After all, it was mostly their first time, too.
The only one who could claim experience was Muyoung, who had played a vampire in Street Sunlight.
“What shouldI do * 1. 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+”“”“What should 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”““Is it very different? I heard from my seniors that it’s just the same.”
Everyone chatted with a mix of worry and excitement.
The director took out a file and showed the design drawings of the set.
Since everything revolved around one building, they planned to build it once and use it repeatedly.
“Wow, it’s pretty.”
The building, with its red bricks and ivy, felt quaint and old, somehow exuding a retro vibe that was trendy these days.
“But the building’s color is different, isn’t it? The novel’s cover was gray.”
“We made some changes. I thought it would look prettier with color for the mise-en-scène. And I thought this would give it a more aged feel.”
“Where is this? Not in Seoul, right?”
“We couldn’t build it in Seoul. It’s in the outskirts of Yangpyeong. So, when we set the shooting schedule, we’ll have to film consecutively with overnight stays. We’ve partnered with nearby accommodations, so there won’t be any issues with washing and resting.”
It was almost like they had erected a fake building.
“The first floor, which will be the community gathering place, and the top floor, where the main characters live, will be built as is. Only the second floor will have a hallway, and the third and fourth floors will be left empty.”
“We could just live here instead of going to the accommodations.”
“Haha, that’s not possible. There’s no water.”
For scenes requiring water, the staff would have to connect a hose from behind and let it flow. Everyone passed around the photos, looking forward to it.
“It’s going to be rural, isn’t it?”
“Yes, the original author wrote it with their hometown in mind. We found a good piece of land and quickly leased it. I want to convey my gratitude to Nepflix.”
At the director’s playful words, Kang Ok-kyung elegantly shrugged her shoulders. Then, as if to say it was no big deal, she gestured for the meeting to continue.
“Anyway, since the shooting period is short, let’s all work hard and focus.”
“Yes, sounds good! I’m looking forward to it!”
“It feels like we’re going on an MT. Haha.”
“Is there a convenience store around?”
“We’ll build one.”
The people, who had been chatting about the set for a while, were brought back on track by the director checking his watch.
“Anyway, the CG work is going to be tough. And although it will get warmer soon, it’s rural, so there will likely be various difficulties. I’ll make sure the managers are well informed, so prepare thoroughly.”
“Yes, got it!”
“Your spirit is high, Jinseo.”
Kim Jinseo smiled brightly and followed the director, turning the script pages.
“And things might change once we’re on set, but I’ll give you a heads-up. Scenes 21 and 22 in Episode 1 might be delayed depending on when the staircase construction is finished.”
“When will that be?”
“I’m hurrying them, but it looks like it will take more than a week.”
The director frowned, looking troubled.
They had received the construction deadline, but it had been delayed due to rain in the area for several days. They had asked to expedite it as much as possible, but the response was, ‘Safety first.’
It wasn’t wrong, so they couldn’t say anything.
“And next……”
The director went over specific scenes, sharing his directing notes. The actors quickly jotted down the director’s words.
“So, that’s all for now. Any questions?”
“Me!”
Muyoung raised his hand, thinking this was his chance.
“So, when is the first shoot?”
“Oh, my goodness.”
The director scratched his head, looking embarrassed, and laughed.
“It starts next weekend.”
“Wow, the weather is amazing!”
Muyoung, wearing sunglasses, stepped out of the van, dressed brightly and casually as if going on a trip.
The manager who followed him covered his nose.
“Ugh, cow manure.”
“It’s hearty. Is this what the countryside is like?!”
“Is this your first time in the countryside?”
“Yes, it is. Why would I ever come here?”
He had no grandparents in the countryside, nor parents to take him on rural experiences during holidays.
Having never left the barren city, Muyoung found everything he saw fascinating.
“Cow manure! Ohhh! A garden! Chili peppers!”
“Muyoung, this way. This way.”
“Wow! A tractor!”
The manager pulled at his clothes to calm him down. Gyeongmin watched as Muyoung ran around wildly, taking in the surroundings. Soon, he muttered in awe,
“But this place is amazing. How did they find a location like this?”
The vast plain and the mountains surrounding it like a painting. And despite being in the middle of nowhere with few houses, the atmosphere felt warm.
“Helloooo!”
“Oh, Muyoung!”
“Welcome. It must have been a hard journey.”
“The road was a bit rough. Ah! I brought drinks. Everyone, take one.”
And there was the red-brick building he had seen in the photos.
The set was as chaotic as usual, but there was something special.
“Chroma key!”
A green cloth was rolled up and placed in a corner of the set. And there were strange helmets, spandex suits, and what looked like bands everywhere.
“There’s a lot of stuff, isn’t there?”
“Ah! You startled me.”
A whispering voice came from behind. It was Kim Jinseo. She, too, was dressed lightly, wearing a hoodie and crunching on chocolate.
“Want some?”
“Yes, thank you.”
The manager left to discuss something with the assistant director, and the two squatted in a corner of the set, sharing the chocolate.
“Everyone seems really busy, don’t they?”
“In the countryside, the sun sets early in the evening. Even with lighting, they say only indoor shooting is possible, so they’re rushing to finish quickly.”
“I see. By the way, how long are we going to speak formally?”
“Just until now?”
“Hmm, sounds good.”
Muyoung playfully offered her a handshake. The problem was that they had met once before through Yuchan, so they were vaguely acquainted. They had to work together, so they couldn’t stay like this forever.
“Is the monster today Knox?”
“Yeah, that’s what I heard.”
And they crunched on more chocolate.
It was a monster similar to a reindeer, the first one the protagonist and his party encountered.
It ate the supermarket owner and informed the party that the world had ended.
At first, there was only one, but over time, they appeared in droves, moving through the village. It would probably feel like looking at a savanna.
“Yuchan spoke very highly of you.”
“Really? What did he say?”
“He said that if you’re living in the same era, no one could beat you.”
Kim Jinseo’s eyes sparkled strangely as she conveyed his words. Muyoung, flattered by the praise, scratched his philtrum.
“Wow.”
“Help me a lot. I’m at a very important point right now……”
She had been on an upward trajectory. It was crucial not to lose momentum and keep pushing forward. Muyoung clenched his fists, resolving firmly.
“I’m important too. There are no unimportant works. Let’s do our best.”
The two nodded and crossed their forearms. As their invisible passion burned fiercely, a man in a spandex suit walked slowly toward them.
“……?”
He wore a helmet with long horns, and his spandex suit had dots at every joint.
“Wow.”
He must be the actor playing Knox.
With a lethargic body and patches of fur attached here and there, he sat on the ground, looking enlightened.
His head looked heavy, so Muyoung quickly ran over and supported his neck.
“Are you okay? Are you Knox today……?”
“Huh?”
Muyoung’s eyes met the man’s. He looked very familiar, but with his face painted black, he couldn’t quite place who it was. The man broke the silence between them.
“Muyoung! Long time no see! How have you been?”
“Uh…… uh, uh-”
“It’s Un Jeong-gil!”
“Right! It’s Un Jeong-gil!”
Whoosh-
Muyoung, surprised, clapped his hands, and the man’s head wobbled backward. Startled, Muyoung quickly steadied it again.
“Oh, sorry. It’s been so long!”
Wasn’t he an extra I met during the filming of The Plague? The man who had suddenly filled in for a minor role and delivered his first lines. The man who, despite the hardship, couldn’t give up acting.
“I heard you became the lead, but I didn’t expect to see you so soon. I wish I could have seen you in a more decent state.”
He lifted his helmet and laughed.
“Nonsense. You look cool enough as it is.”
Muyoung squatted in front of him and laughed along.
“Saying one line back then, it was like a drug. I just couldn’t stop. So, I went around independent films and somehow ended up here. Maybe because I had some experience, I had a bit of talent.”
Two years. Depending on how you look at it, it was a short time, but also a long time—long enough for someone’s life to change.
It was like that for Muyoung, and for Un Jeong-gil as well.
“Seeing you do well, I was so happy. Really. I still have the coffee you gave me back then.”
“Huh? Coffee?”
“Why. The one Lee Hijun gave you to drink.”
“Oh, right.”
Honestly, he didn’t remember. But did it matter?
Muyoung chatted and caught up with the man. They talked until the assistant director called for standby.
“We’re starting to shoot. Are you ready?”
“Ah, yes! Ready!”
“Director, they’re all set!”
Un Jeong-gil waddled to the set, burdened by his cumbersome costume. With the vast plain as a backdrop, he stood.
“One shot of Knox stepping on the ground. One full shot following his leg. Then one shot of him turning his neck to look at the building. We’ll do these three consecutively.”
“Yes, got it.”
Muyoung squatted and watched the set.
Un Jeong-gil, enthusiastically coordinating his movements with the director, reminded him once again how cool it was to take on a challenge.
Because it was something they had chosen to devote their lives to.
“Standby!”
Following the director’s instructions, he lay down and stretched out his hand. As a reindeer-like monster, he tried to capture that image.
“Muyoung, you need to get into makeup too.”
“I’m unemployed, what do I need?”
“Still, you need to get your face done. Come over here quickly. Stop gawking.”
Aww, I want to watch more!
Urged by the manager, Muyoung got up as if he had no choice.
But over there, people were gathered, looking this way.
“Helloooo.”
They must be locals. And all of them were elderly.
Muyoung bowed deeply and smiled. They were kind people who would put up with the late-night shooting.
“What are you doing?”
“Huh? Saying hello.”
“So, to whom?”
But the manager looked at him strangely. Muyoung blinked and looked again where the people were.
“Wow.”
……They had vanished without a trace.
It had been a while since he’d seen people roaming around like that in broad daylight……
He just smacked his lips and headed to the makeshift makeup room. It was only in the late afternoon that he found out.
In the direction Muyoung had been looking, there was a cemetery.