The Face Genius Actor

Episode 111

The director mode was quite different from the previous method mask.

First, the camera’s perspective was unique.

Originally, the method mask was about embodying the role I wanted in first-person.

This was advantageous for repeatedly practicing everything about the role – actions, expressions, speech, and breathing.

However, one drawback was that I could only view the surroundings from a first-person perspective.

But the director mode was different.

It was possible to observe the actions of all roles as if looking down from above.

It felt like I was acting with a drone hovering above my head.

The field of view was wider, and I could check the acting of each and every other role.

However, the director mode didn’t prevent first-person immersion either.

If I wanted, I could embody a role in first-person while observing the entire situation through a square box following the bottom right of the view.

The method mask called this the “first-person director mode.”

Also, it wasn’t necessary to always compose the screen as if looking down from above.

If desired, it was possible to compose the screen as if actually filming on set.

Additionally, up to three other screens could be displayed in the bottom right corner.

Ultimately, this meant that if I wanted, I could check “my face,” “the face of the opposing actor,” and “the overall picture” all at once.

Even while acting in first-person.

‘This is really… the most perfect feature for practicing acting from a producer’s perspective.’

Thanks to the director mode, I could freely practice acting from a producer’s perspective.

Not only that, but I didn’t need to fall into other thoughts.

I could grasp what was happening on the other side in real-time while I was embodying the role.

As I practiced repeatedly, every scene happening inside the camera during filming was injected into my mind.

‘This is it. With this, I won’t think about other things even during actual filming.’

It was natural since I had already put all situations into my head.

If I still fell into reverie after doing this, it wouldn’t make sense.

‘Using the director mode would mean putting more scenes into my head and increasing practice time, but…’

It was much better than trying to achieve the same result by constantly looking around to grasp what’s happening using the normal mode of the method mask.

I could drastically reduce practice time.

Moreover, it was positive that I could prepare to practice again from a producer’s perspective.

Until just now, I was trying to give up on this part and somehow focus on just doing my original acting.

‘Alright. Let’s continue practicing like this.’

Thanks to the new feature of the method mask, I was able to regain my confidence.

* * *

The next day.

When I arrived on set, the atmosphere seemed more subdued than yesterday.

It wasn’t hard to understand why.

The staff on set were clearly worried about my acting.

Especially today, more scenes were related to me than yesterday.

As a result, the on-set staff couldn’t help but worry.

If I made many NGs like yesterday, filming would inevitably be seriously delayed.

Of course, this wouldn’t violate the legally set working hours, but.

Repeatedly shooting the same scene was stressful for everyone.

‘The director must be worried about this too, right?’

With this thought, I moved towards where Director Choi Seo-young was.

Even during this, I didn’t forget to greet other people.

Thinking that all these people were worried about today’s shooting because of me made me feel uneasy.

So I tried to greet them even more brightly.

“Actor! You’re here!”

“Hello, Director.”

As the distance closed, Director Choi Seo-young noticed me and greeted me.

She looked brighter than I expected.

I couldn’t feel any sense that she was worried about today’s shooting.

‘What’s this? Is she really not worried?’

I started a light conversation with this thought in mind.

But even as the conversation progressed quite a bit, I couldn’t detect any signs of worry from Director Choi Seo-young.

Shortly after.

Director Choi Seo-young began to deliver today’s shooting directions, and at the same time, I could tell.

‘No. Director Choi Seo-young definitely has concerns about today’s shooting. She’s just trying hard to hide it.’

The evidence was that Director Choi Seo-young’s on-set directions had become more meticulous.

When giving on-set directions, Director Choi Seo-young didn’t particularly mention the emotions of the characters or the interpretation of the work.

Compared to how Director Kim Pil-sung usually focused on these parts, it could be said that the approach was quite different.

But I couldn’t conclude that this was Director Choi Seo-young’s usual on-set direction style.

After all, the reason Director Choi Seo-young didn’t touch on these parts was because I was the writer of “I Am Not a Villain.”

Moreover, yesterday she tended to give fewer on-set directions overall.

It seemed like she had faith that I would do well enough on my own.

But that wasn’t the case, and perhaps because of that, her on-set directions had become more detailed.

Director Choi Seo-young’s on-set directions generally felt like explaining her plan for how she would shoot this scene.

How many cameras she would use, how she planned to compose the shots, what she would focus on when giving the OK sign.

Director Choi Seo-young concentrated on explaining these aspects.

Since most of our opinions aligned, we could finish the conversation without difficulty.

“I understand, Director. I’ll prepare accordingly.”

“Yes, Actor. Please act without feeling too much pressure. We still have plenty of time, you know.”

Director Choi Seo-young tried until the end to reassure me and give the impression that she believed in me.

Just looking at these aspects, I could understand why Director Choi Seo-young would eventually become a world-renowned master.

Director Choi Seo-young already had the ability to care for actors’ mental states and control the set.

It seemed like a talent.

‘In the end, it means I just need to act well.’

While I was thinking this.

“Si-joon!”

A familiar voice was heard from somewhere.

When I turned my head, Park Jun was standing there.

Park Jun had agreed to make a friendly appearance as the duty driver today.

“Jun hyung! You’re here?”

“Yes. I just arrived and got my makeup done.”

“You’ve worked hard. Shall we talk over there?”

Park Jun and I found a suitable place with few people and had a conversation.

As soon as we started talking, Park Jun asked:

“By the way, why is the atmosphere on set like this?”

“What do you mean, what’s wrong with the set?”

“It feels a bit stiff, doesn’t it?”

As expected of Park Jun, who has experienced many sets, he quickly grasped that the atmosphere was tense.

So I answered honestly.

“Ah. Actually, I had eight NGs yesterday.”

“You? What happened?”

“While trying to play the writer’s role and act at the same time, I couldn’t immerse myself in the character.”

“Ah. That was the problem. I can see how that could happen.”

“Yes. I kept having other thoughts. I was worried if other people’s acting was being captured well on one side of the screen. As a result, I got a bit lost.”

“Still, you’re different, Lee Si-joon, figuring out the problem right away.”

“You think so?”

“Of course. I was lost throughout the early stages of ‘I Will Cast Love’. So, anyway, the problem is solved now, right?”

“Yes, I think so.”

“As expected, you’re quick from problem identification to problem-solving. Really fast.”

Our conversation naturally shifted to the time when we were filming “I Will Cast Love”.

And as we talked like this, the shooting time quickly approached.

“Standby! Cue!”

* * *

I’ve been investigating Han Ho-hoon’s whereabouts for several days, but nothing has come up.

I feel like I’m constantly missing something important.

So I decide to talk to the people around Han Ho-hoon again.

The first person I need to talk to is the duty driver who last saw Han Ho-hoon.

As soon as I show my police badge, the duty driver immediately waves his hands.

“I didn’t kill him!”

“I know.”

“I really didn’t kill him!”

“I said I know.”

“Then why do you keep coming? I’ve told you everything I know!”

The last witness is usually the most likely suspect.

Everyone knows this fact.

So the police have already investigated the duty driver’s alibi.

But the duty driver has a perfect alibi.

There’s also a lack of motive to specify him as a suspect.

However, people keep bringing up the story that the last witness is the most likely suspect, pressuring the duty driver.

“The police will make an official announcement soon, and after that, the suspicion from those around you will subside.”

“That official announcement… Can’t it be made right away?”

“It’s a bit difficult as we still lack investigation results. I’m sorry.”

“Sigh…”

Maybe it’s because I apologized.

The duty driver’s attitude softens a bit.

The duty driver turns his body halfway and glances at me, asking:

“So, what else do you want to know?”

“I’d like to hear in detail about when you last saw Han Ho-hoon.”

The duty driver repeats what he said at the police station.

At that time, he was spreading fertilizer to plant spring flowers, and during that, he happened to see Han Ho-hoon going home.

His expression was bright, and he seemed to have no problems.

He greeted politely as usual.

His expression was brighter than ordinary students, so it was impossible to think he had bad thoughts.

Some say he ran away from home, but that’s certainly not true.

Because he always thought well of Han Ho-hoon, who always greeted him brightly first, he hopes Han Ho-hoon returns safely.

However, he can’t help but feel uneasy for some reason.

As I listen to the story, I suddenly feel something strange.

I felt that the duty driver was unusually fixated on Han Ho-hoon’s bright expression.

“But is it so important that Han Ho-hoon was unusually bright?”

The duty driver clears his throat and answers.

“It’s better than being gloomy. There was someone in Han Ho-hoon’s class before, who was unusually gloomy…”

“Who?”

“The name… I can’t remember. Anyway, a bright kid is always better. What’s good about being gloomy? It just makes you feel bad. Anyway, if you don’t have anything else to say, I’m leaving.”

The duty driver leaves like this.

Left alone, I think that somehow the student who was in the same class as Han Ho-hoon bothers me.

But I shake my head.

We can’t investigate a case based on just this feeling.

As I turn my head, I notice a student sitting quietly reading a book on a bench in the shadow of a distant tree.

With each turn of a page, a fresh breeze blows, and I seem to hear a beautiful melody in my ears.

I approach there as if enchanted.

But when I finally get close to the bench.

There’s no one there.

* * *

“Cut! Okay!”

Should I say fortunately?

This time, the OK sign came out at once, and Director Choi Seo-young’s expression was bright.

The same was true for other staff members.