Following the script reading, the crew immediately moved on to shooting posters and preparing for filming.
In the South Korean film and television industry, filming usually follows the general plot development, unlike in China where all scenes in one location are typically shot at once. This is also related to the 'shoot-as-you-go' broadcast model.
However, this is also beneficial for actors, allowing them to adjust their performance as the plot evolves.
Otherwise, it's very possible that in one scene they're deeply in love, and in the next, they have to act like bitter enemies cursing each other out, which is quite challenging for an actor.
Scene one.
Kwon Hyuk, dressed in a custom-tailored school uniform, with his hair styled according to the character's setting—neither long nor short—sat beneath a campus statue.
He slowly looked up, wearing headphones, at Kim Hye-yoon approaching, his brows slightly furrowed, his tone filled with dissatisfaction and a hint of confusion.
"Why didn't you answer the phone?"
Kim Hye-yoon, standing beside him, glanced at him, then, with a slightly narcissistic expression, brushed her hair back before walking away briskly without looking back.
"Cut!"
"Let's do it again!"
The scene and dialogue were the same, but the camera changed angles for another take.
"Continue."
Another take.
"Good, one more."
Another take.
Actual filming is indeed this monotonous. One scene has to be repeated over and over because multiple angles are needed for post-editing. Just shooting one angle is not enough.
"Next scene."
Director Kim Sang-seop, sitting in front of the monitor, nodded, quite satisfied that Kwon Hyuk, acting for the first time, had made no mistakes.
Actors and idols are different: one must constantly ignore the camera, while the other must constantly find the camera.
It was clear that Kwon Hyuk was adapting very quickly.
For the next scene, the setting was a luxurious hotel interior combined with a school exterior. It depicted the trio's grand entrance, surrounded by onlookers who were infatuated and cheered wildly.
"Cut!"
The script supervisor called a halt to the filming, and the actors, surrounded by cameras and other film equipment, relaxed. Then, they changed angles and started over.
Next, the second female lead bumped into the third male lead in this setting, both falling to the ground in an accident. Kwon Hyuk's main role here was to be a background character, expressing the emotions his character should show upon seeing such a scene.
The camera zoomed in on Kwon Hyuk for a close-up.
His features were displayed on screen, and those watching the monitor couldn't help but nod or praise him.
They were all seasoned professionals in the entertainment industry, having seen countless handsome men, yet there was always a more outstanding one who could refresh their impressions.
Just like Cha Eun-woo, who became famous a couple of years ago, he effortlessly established himself in the entertainment industry purely on his looks, receiving countless acting offers.
It's not an exaggeration, but it's foreseeable that once the show airs, Kwon Hyuk's character will likely pose a significant threat to the male lead's status.
His character is more likable, and his appearance is exceptionally striking. The combined effect is simply too powerful.
The emergence of the next big star in the entertainment industry is already clearly visible.
Some crew members couldn't resist taking out their phones to record, especially some newcomers, planning to take it back to share with their friends as a topic of conversation.
In South Korea, the pursuit of appearance is a social norm, especially within the entertainment industry, so plastic surgery and adjustments are perfectly normal.
Even within the acting circle, where actors rely on their faces to convey emotions, the trend of plastic surgery is quite prevalent.
It's fine for idols to have work done; minor or major changes in facial expressions don't matter much. But for actors, the naturalness of their face is crucial for the long-term development of their career.
Minor touch-ups are acceptable, but major surgeries can lead to visible side effects where big expressions fall apart, and acting becomes difficult to convey through a distorted face.
Therefore, it's hard to achieve long-term success in awards; this is the price of beauty.
Kim Ro-woon, the male lead in the same group, is an example. He came from an idol background and had extensive bone reshaping surgery.
But then again, if one's natural conditions are not good enough to make a breakthrough without plastic surgery, then plastic surgery is the only option.
"Director, do I need another take?"
Kwon Hyuk was very diligent. After his scenes were done, he approached the director to ask proactively.
"No, this face has performed very well already."
Director Kim Sang-seop nodded, praising him.
"Alright, just be strict with me, I have no problem."
Kwon Hyuk had a strong desire to learn. After asking, he didn't leave but stayed nearby, quietly observing and learning. Seeing the director babbling for a long time, he very perceptively unscrewed a bottle of water and handed it over.
That wasn't all. When he saw the scriptwriter arrive on set, he proactively went to greet her and strike up a conversation, throwing out sweet compliments without batting an eyelid.
The two female scriptwriters were delighted by the conversation, laughing continuously.
Park Jun-jung said he was meant for this industry for a reason: first, he had a natural talent for acting and appearance; second, he was good at socializing, knowing how to talk to all sorts of people and being good at handling situations and speaking well.
Many actors and idols are polite and well-behaved, neither overly lively nor stiff. There's nothing wrong with that, but the key is that when everyone is like that, it becomes very bland.
Sometimes, resources in the entertainment industry don't just come from the company; they're also gained through personal connections and social skills, as everyone prefers to work with people they admire.
Once this was done, Kwon Hyuk didn't sit idle. He bought some things and distributed them one by one to the behind-the-scenes staff.
This was especially true for crew members whose positions weren't prominent but significantly affected an actor's on-screen performance, such as cinematographers, lighting technicians, and post-production editors.
Doing things strictly by the book would never be as effective as adding a personal touch.
When he was free, he didn't go back to rest but stayed on set to observe and learn.
His behavior naturally attracted the attention of others.
"Don't you have an assistant? Aren't you busy by yourself?"
Lee Naeun's scenes for the day were finished. Seeing him bustling around the set, she approached and asked.
"I don't need an assistant for now; I can handle things myself."
"Oh, why are you acting so proactive?"
Kwon Hyuk turned to look at Lee Naeun, whose expression was curious, as if she had spoken without thinking, and he casually made an excuse.
"I'm a newcomer."
"Alright, I just saw you chatting happily with the scriptwriter. What were you two talking about?"
Lee Naeun asked tentatively.
"Nothing much, I'm a newcomer asking some questions. Why didn't you come over and join us just now?"
Kwon Hyuk found her question a bit inexplicable, but he just attributed it to different personalities.
"I didn't dare."
Lee Naeun smiled, a little awkwardly.
Kwon Hyuk gave her an encouraging smile, "You're the second female lead. Communicating more with the director and scriptwriter won't be a bother."
"Then, when you chat with the director and scriptwriter, can you bring me along?"
Lee Naeun asked proactively.
"If the timing is right."
Kwon Hyuk found this request a bit strange.
Lee Naeun thanked him with a beaming smile.
He had no particular feelings for the girl in front of him and didn't find anything attractive about her. Moreover, he could sense that her approach was not very sincere.