Writer Im Jin-ha reduced Jo Ha-rin's screen time.
Seo-yeon didn't know the exact reason for that.
Drama writers would have various reasons for reducing a character's importance.
Considering Park Jeong-woo's reaction, it didn't seem like a common occurrence.
'But.'
Seo-yeon didn't dwell too much on Jo Ha-rin's reduced screen time.
This role was meant to offset Cha Seo-ah's image anyway.
So, she thought the current amount was sufficient.
Occasionally, Cha Seo-ah's image overlapped with Jo Ha-rin's performance, but that much was fine.
It was even funny.
"Seo-yeon ssi."
"Yes?"
It was around that time that Cha Na-hee, who played the role of Song So-ha, spoke to her.
"I'm... really lacking in my acting, right?"
"......What?"
"My screen time, it decreased."
Cha Na-hee said so.
As the lead, her own screen time had decreased.
It seemed she thought it was because 'Song So-ha' had her presence eaten up by Jo Ha-rin.
No.
It seemed like the writer had a different intention.
She tried to tell her that, but the reason it hadn't been brought up much despite her screen time clearly increasing was actually because of that.
She couldn't bring herself to say it.
Because it would sound like Seo-yeon's words were just an excuse to comfort her.
"So, could you help me a little? I'll do whatever it takes until the drama ends."
Cha Na-hee is an idol through and through.
There weren't many cases where idols became sincere about acting.
Well, they had their main job after all.
"Yes, I'll help you as much as I can."
"Th-thank you!!"
What a proper person.
She was definitely older than her, and it couldn't have been easy for her to bow her head and ask like this.
- Song So-ha, is she really the female lead?
- No presence lolol She's only visible when singing
- Just make Jo Ha-rin the female lead
- Both the director and drama writer have lost their touch fr
However, just because Seo-yeon helped with her acting, her skills didn't immediately improve.
Naturally, she would have learned acting from proper instructors before, so it wouldn't improve dramatically.
"......"
But, watching Cha Na-hee like that, Seo-yeon had many thoughts.
She reflected, and realized.
'I was trying to avoid Jo Ha-rin's acting.'
Acting of loving someone else.
Honestly, Seo-yeon lacked confidence in it.
Because she lacked confidence, she didn't really want to do it.
What a childish thought.
Even though she believed she had no intention of picking and choosing roles as an actor.
Seo-yeon had pride as an actor.
She realized that thinking it was okay even if her screen time decreased was ignoring Cha Na-hee.
"Um, I want to see you act properly, Seo-yeon ssi. ......Like in episode 1."
Cha Na-hee said so and smiled.
Even though articles criticizing her were still being posted on the internet.
She was a strong person.
Seo-yeon didn't know much about Cha Na-hee.
That she was from a girl group, and that the girl group would disband before long.
And that she was the head of the household, a girl who supported the group alone.
Among the members of Cha Na-hee's girl group, the only one who remained active until the end was Cha Na-hee.
She thought she understood that reason a little.
"......Yes, if there's an opportunity."
At Seo-yeon's words, Cha Na-hee smiled.
And then.
"This stage scene is really important. You know, right?"
Jo Ha-rin's screen time suddenly increased.
Director Kim Pil-seok said to Seo-yeon.
"Park Min-yul falls, and Jo Ha-rin takes that place. Jo Ha-rin, who had no presence until now."
That meant, the episode 7 performance where her appearances were lacking.
It also meant she had to fill her presence in this single episode.
"Th-this is a bit of an unreasonable request, but."
Min Se-hee said so and bowed her head.
And so, the filming began.
Seo-yeon saw Ma Yeon-woo on stage.
Top idol.
Just as Seo-yeon, as an actor, aspired to be a great actor, a top actor.
He might already be someone at the highest place as an idol.
So, she didn't worry about his performance.
'Emotions......'
Seo-yeon took a deep breath.
It had been a while.
Properly grasping her emotions.
Method acting.
Because she had deliberately kept it at a distance for a long time.
Method acting is just a technique, nothing particularly special.
It can increase immersion, but there's no need to go that far.
It's excessive.
Excessive over-immersion can be cringeworthy.
So Seo-yeon, rather than utilizing method acting which had slow emotional recovery, didn't bother using it.
But.
'Now.'
It might not matter to others, but to Seo-yeon, it was a bit special.
It was the first acting she did.
And the acting that made Seo-yeon's emotions shine brighter than any other.
Surrendering to the boiling emotions, she matched her body to the rhythm flowing from around her.
The stage that would begin now.
The acting Jo Ha-rin would show.
She could feel Cha Na-hee watching her from below the stage.
Seo-yeon smiled at her.
As if smiling at the audience below the stage.
'What Jo Ha-rin has for Park Min-yul is still simple curiosity.'
Something unfamiliar and bewildering.
Yet, the warmth spreading through her heart that started coolly while pounding.
That was definitely the emotion.
'Funnily enough.'
Writer Im Jin-ha reduced Jo Ha-rin's screen time, but it actually helped.
Jo Ha-rin had no screen time until now, and her story with Park Min-yul was practically nonexistent.
So, she had to build it from now on.
She had to convey to the viewers that pleasant unfamiliarity of Jo Ha-rin reaching Park Min-yul.
Because of that, Seo-yeon could empathize with Jo Ha-rin's emotions.
Affection for others was something unfamiliar and bewildering to Seo-yeon.
And now, Seo-yeon acts out that unfamiliarity.
That is the narrative, and the most brilliant emotion Jo Ha-rin must show from now on.
Acting so lovely that anyone would fall in love.
The heroine.
'Wow.'
Seeing that, Cha Na-hee opened her mouth while watching Seo-yeon's acting.
Watching Seo-yeon dancing on stage with a bright smile.
It was like watching a real idol.
'Emotions toward Park Min-yul.'
That wasn't all.
As a rookie idol, even that appearance naturally appeared in her actions.
Of course, since Seo-yeon was an actress, there were bound to be awkward parts as an idol.
She sublimated that into acting.
Ma Yeon-woo naturally covered those lacking parts.
He was also a professional.
So, the stage was perfect.
It was truly like watching a real performance.
Showing her strengths to the fullest while hiding her weaknesses.
Cha Na-hee couldn't take her eyes off the bright Seo-yeon.
As if she was really at a concert hall.
The cheers of countless audience members.
It felt like that thing Cha Na-hee had always heard was ringing in her ears.
The song stopped.
She only realized it was over when Seo-yeon high-fived Ma Yeon-woo.
Only then did she remember this was acting.
Probably, she wasn't the only one.
And, just as Cha Na-hee had expected.
[
[
Articles started pouring out.
***
"Did you watch Dream Future yesterday?"
"I didn't watch it because I thought it was childish, but when I watched it yesterday, it was more fun than I thought."
"Did the actor who appeared in episode 7 is the same one who played the serial killer in The Chaser?"
"Really? The vibe was completely different though??"
"Right, right. I was surprised too!!"
Starting from episode 7, stories about
Until now, it was simply an unusual drama that was broadcast simultaneously on internet streaming.
A new attempt.
If that was the feeling.
"Jo Ha-rin is seriously so pretty."
"I thought she was amazing in The Chaser too."
"I wondered why they didn't give Jo Ha-rin any screen time until now, was it a big picture?"
"No way."
You could see people talking about the drama quite often.
Movies, and dramas.
Seo-yeon's name began to be mentioned on both sides.
- lololol
- ???Really??
- They said there's a new writer from ep 7? The original writer stepped down after power struggles
- They said the one who reduced Jo Ha-rin's screen time was that writer??
- lololol They must have been determined to ruin it
Stories about writer Im Jin-ha were also going around on the internet.
It seemed someone among the staff had leaked the information.
Or.
"Heh."
Han Seon-ah scoffed while typing the latest article.
An article covered by KMB internally.
It was an article about Im Jin-ha.
The article title was roughly [Controversy over drama writer's abuse of power, is there no responsibility from viewers?]
Something like that.
"Ah, is this too much aggro?"
Reflecting, Han Seon-ah wrote the article again.
Anyway, she had no intention of letting them step down quietly.
And so
Episode 7 finished airing, and episode 8.
Jo Ha-rin entering the Top Ten, and her meeting with Song So-ha.
"Did it go up again? How much?"
"17%! It went up another 2%."
"Wow, this is crazy? A drama exceeding 20% for the first time in a while?"
A viewership rating exceeding 20% in a trend where drama ratings were continuously declining.
Recently, 20% could roughly be said to stand at the cutline for a mega-hit.
[
[
Followed by
Showing Song So-ha's active role, she realizes her feelings with the male lead Kim Si-hwan.
And Jo Ha-rin also coincidentally meets Park Min-yul.
- Ugh it's so frustrating
- Song So-ha's acting potential has gone up lately?
- It's not Song So-ha it's Cha Na-hee;;
- Same thing isn't it? There's a reason a girl who is the head of household is the head of household.
- She's been posting pictures taken with Ju Seo-yeon on Insta often lately
- Are the two close?
Cha Na-hee did her best in her own way.
As the female lead Song So-ha, she was gradually appealing her presence to the public.
- Jo Ha-rin and Park Min-yul are so ticklish
- Honestly the romance line is so frustrating
- That's what's good, you drama noob
- Probably won't last until the end
- Honestly if she liked Kim Si-hwan and then immediately switched it'd be lame
- Yeah this is right
Conversations about
And so the viewership ratings continued to rise.
YouTube views also increased.
[Lamiel's Stream]
「I recently watched a movie, you see, The Chaser.」
「Ah, everyone knows it right? It's fun, that one.」
「I heard the same actor appears in it and recently watched Dream Future, and I was surprised.」
「It was such completely different acting that you wouldn't know it was the same actor.」
「......Honestly, I thought it was really amazing.」
「Ah, yes? You say my voice sounds familiar from somewhere? N-no, it must be your imagination.」
「Ahem ahem, anyway The Chaser and Dream Future. Lamiel's recommendations!」
Being mentioned on various internet broadcasts, its buzz only grew larger.
Those who hadn't seen
Or those who hadn't watched
"That actor Ju Seo-yeon? She's appearing a lot lately."
"I first saw her on a variety show, she's bright and cheerful so she's good."
"But maybe because of Cha Seo-ah's image, she's a bit scary. Like she'll show up holding an axe."
"Pfft, that's true."
So, as a supporting role appearing in both.
Mentions of Seo-yeon inevitably increased as well.
[
The OSTs from the drama also gradually climbed up music sites, showing their presence.
[
And so, as
"Yes, hello, Director Bae Jin-hwan. ......Yes? Me?"
It was right around that time that Seo-yeon received a phone call.