They had filmed some scenes in bursts, and the remaining scenes were ones that could afford to be shot at a slower pace.
Director Bae Jin-hwan decided to take a short break rather than film right away.
"Ms. Seo-yeon, you've been immersing yourself too deeply in your acting lately. Let's take it a bit easier."
This was Director Bae Jin-hwan's own way of showing consideration.
Having judged Seo-yeon's acting as method acting, he kept her mental fatigue in mind.
Another reason was that there were no scenes urgently needing to be filmed, so there was no need to push the actor too hard.
'I'm not really that tired, though.'
That thought crossed her mind, but honestly, she was grateful.
There was quite a lot to do besides the movie filming.
And she also liked that the people she had grown somewhat close to called her "Ms. Seo-yeon" rather than "Seo-yeon-ssi."
She sometimes thought about it—adults with an age gap really took a liking to Seo-yeon.
……It was just strangely awkward with people her own age.
'But that's just a matter of time too.'
Seo-yeon nodded her head a couple of times.
Now, from playing the ghost role for the school festival preparation, there would be plenty of opportunities to talk with the kids one way or another.
By chatting here and there, they'd naturally joke around, swear, and become close.
Truly perfect.
Then Lee Ji-yeon wouldn't be able to mock her for not having friends either.
Right, Lee Ji-yeon too……
"……"
Seo-yeon grabbed her head.
Ah, she had forgotten.
She meant to ask about the VTuber situation—how it came to be and what happened.
And what was that magician about too?
'I've been so focused on the role of Cha Seo-ah lately……'
There was still about a week left until Lamiel's first stream.
It was a somewhat monumental stream, after all.
Part of her didn't want to stir things up before that.
Like needlessly scratching and making a wound worse, perhaps.
Plus, it was the red pill to begin with.
Should I watch the stream with the mindset of 'I don't know this person named Lee Ji-yeon'?
No, that would be right, but……
Subscribers: 325.
Seo-yeon narrowed her eyes looking at that.
It was still a small number, but considering she hadn't even done a proper stream yet, it was an absurdly high figure.
Probably because the modeling was really good, and because of the magician she streamed with.
'……'
For some reason, Seo-yeon felt a bit hurt.
Because Ji-yeon told the magician, but didn't tell her.
'……As expected, voice acting academy. I should go once.'
First, after the initial stream ends.
Of course, she didn't particularly plan to do anything.
If she went to the academy, she felt like she could understand why Ji-yeon suddenly started being a VTuber.
That was all.
***
Eclat Etoile's commercial filming set.
Actually, calling it a filming set, there wasn't much to it.
Since most of it would be processed with graphics anyway.
Just checking that the lighting and the green cloth serving as the background were fine was enough.
"Mr. Hee-bin, you'd better not be late today."
"Right, she was showing clear signs of not wanting to film the previous commercial."
An actor who had gained great popularity from a recently aired Mon-Tue drama.
When filming the previous commercial, it was before that drama.
Even back then, Song Hee-bin had found this commercial disagreeable.
As if thinking,
'I want to quit this has-been brand's commercial!'
That feeling was showing through.
Of course, she had never actually said such words out loud.
But people can roughly guess the other person's thoughts from their attitude and facial expressions.
It was like that before, so what about now that her recognition had greatly increased from the drama?
Some staff were already worried about the shoot.
"Ah, didn't you hear? The commercial model changed this time."
At that, a young staff member spoke up.
"Yes?"
"They said Song Hee-bin stepped down and they're filming anew with a different actor?"
"A different actor? Who? Wow, they said they had no intention of using another actor, that they didn't have the capacity—was that all a lie?"
"From what I heard…… it's Joo Seo-yeon. Joo Seo-yeon. That child actress from 'Tae-soom-dal.'"
"Child actress?"
"Ah, of course she's grown up now. When was 'Tae-soom-dal' even……"
"Right. That's already 10 years ago, wasn't it?"
"10 years? Wow, has it been that long?"
Joo Seo-yeon.
The moment they heard that name, a few staff members let out an "Ah!" of admiration.
That was because she was the child actress who had made a spectacular comeback recently with
And those familiar with online communities knew her from
"Yeah, there were quite a few articles about her comeback too. ……But what else is there?"
"I saw that play, and it was seriously no joke."
A female staff member raised her hand and said with a hehe laugh.
Staff who enjoyed watching plays and musicals knew her from that side too.
'She's already done a lot of different things.'
It wasn't that long ago that she made headlines with
But the staff already knew Seo-yeon through their own different paths.
The staff found that remarkable.
And the director in charge of filming this commercial, Do Hyung-tae, felt the same way.
'A play, two variety shows. Plus this commercial now.'
She really lives busily.
Her recognition doesn't seem to be at that level yet, but is this also an ability?
Or does she have someone backing her?
From the perspective of Do Hyung-tae, a young director in his early thirties, that's what it seemed like.
Even if Song Hee-bin had quit and left, Eclat Etoile was not a small company.
This commercial was definitely not a small one either.
There were probably plenty of actors who wanted it.
That Joo Seo-yeon beat out such people meant she either had backing.
Or had something that could override name recognition.
'An investment seeing the future? No, a commercial isn't some child's play.'
Sometimes people go all in with the heart of a beast, betting on something that will unconditionally hit!
But that's not as easy as it sounds.
A commercial means becoming the face of that brand for at least several months.
Naturally, the commercial model is that face.
Using an actor with no recognition means that much loss for the brand, so you can't recklessly throw around "investment" and use a commercial model.
Well, that said, it's not completely nonexistent either.
'Well, it'd be nice if she at least listens well.'
Whether she has backing.
Or whether it's an investment for the future.
Either way, from an actor's perspective, there's going to be some arrogance in those shoulders.
Especially since Joo Seo-yeon is a young actor, isn't she?
'Seventeen? Wow, she's young but really lives diligently.'
Honestly, this part was also a concern.
Seventeen.
Eclat Etoile is naturally a cosmetics brand targeting adult women.
But if she's a teenage girl, she'd naturally still have freshness.
Rather than the "beauty" that adult women desire, it was closer to "cuteness."
Isn't there a saying that teenagers have makeup that suits teenagers?
So rather, with a young appearance, there was a possibility that the makeup itself wouldn't take well.
'The advertiser must have considered that too, probably.'
But experts don't necessarily consider all of that either.
Anyway.
'She must be full of hot air.'
With her already doing such vigorous activities, it wouldn't be strange if she was full of herself.
Especially a child actress who had a big hit since she was young.
It was prejudice, but he couldn't help thinking her personality wouldn't be good.
Just thinking about how Song Hee-bin got full of herself made it understandable.
"The shoot is soon, when did they say Joo Seo-yeon is coming?"
"Ah, she already arrived. They said makeup is done too."
"Really? She came earlier than expected."
Do Hyung-tae checked the time.
There was still about 30 minutes left until the shoot.
Compared to Song Hee-bin who was frequently late, she came very early.
Considering makeup, she probably came at least an hour early.
"They said she came early in case the makeup took long."
"Hmm……"
At the other staff's words, Do Hyung-tae crossed his arms.
At least she has a diligent personality?
That would be a relief if so.
Clack.
About 10 more minutes passed like that.
The door to the filming set opened.
The gazes of the staff who had just finished preparing for the shoot all moved at once.
The new commercial model.
To see the face of the actress who became a cosmetics model despite still having low recognition.
"……"
At that moment.
The staff's movements stopped.
Do Hyung-tae's hand, which had been fiddling with a cigarette in his pocket, also stopped.
What caught his eye first was the long black hair.
Next were the brown eyes with a reddish tint.
Her pale white skin—it was hard to tell whether it was because of makeup or not.
One thing was certain: the color had taken extremely well.
He had heard seventeen, but seeing her with makeup on, she had the same beauty as an adult actress.
That point struck Do Hyung-tae very impressively.
"Hello, I'm Joo Seo-yeon. Please take good care of the shoot today."
And, a bow.
At the sight of her bending her waist.
"Ah."
Do Hyung-tae let out a short exclamation.
'This is…… well.'
What do you call this again.
Buying at the bottom? An investment for the future?
'At this level, it's worth doing.'
This level of appearance.
Eclat Etoile (éclat Étoile).
It was a radiant appearance fitting the brand name meaning "shining star."
The actor named Song Hee-bin had already disappeared from his mind.
'Wow……, she's the real deal.'
They say actors give off an aura different from ordinary people.
Do Hyung-tae had seen various actors.
And he had met several who actually made him feel that.
Song Hee-bin too…… well, she had her own in a way.
But, Joo Seo-yeon.
This actress felt different.
He could understand why she had made a name for herself from child acting.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Do Hyung-tae, directing today's shoot."
Unlike his usual cynical personality, Do Hyung-tae reached out his hand first.
At the same time, he thought.
No matter what.
This commercial would likely become a quite impressive line in his career.
***
Three days until Yeonhwa High School's festival.
The festival preparation was heading toward its final stages.
Especially in Seo-yeon's class, given the scale of it, there was literally a mountain of things to prepare.
To the point that even students who weren't interested had to participate.
If it were a school that focused on academics, there would definitely have been complaints.
"……Um, th-that. That……"
The female student couldn't properly continue her words as she looked at the girl before her.
In her hands, she currently held makeup for doing the face.
No, rather than makeup, it was special effects makeup.
Unable to move her hand under Seo-yeon's blank stare, the female student was frozen.
That was understandable.
"About the makeup on your face, is it really okay to…… r-remove it?"
Seo-yeon's face currently had makeup on.
No, it might be more accurate to call it makeup rather than special effects makeup.
'A commercial model has to use the cosmetics from that commercial.'
That applied to Seo-yeon as well.
Of course, it wasn't a rule that absolutely had to be followed.
But it was a sense of duty she should have as the model for that commercial.
This was the diligent Seo-yeon showing through in this area too.
Even though makeup felt awkward, she had become the model for a commercial worth 400 million won, so shouldn't she consistently use the product?
'What if I go around with a bare face, and hear something like "It seems you don't use Eclat Etoile cosmetics"……'
Seo-yeon was already being careful because of her image.
She should avoid getting involved in unnecessary gossip.
Anyway.
'……What should I say?'
The female student had a terribly apologetic face.
Seo-yeon thought deeply.
Should she coolly say "Wipe it off"?
Or should she say "It's okay" a bit more warmly?
'Something, this isn't right.'
In other places, they were applying makeup on faces and chatting amiably.
It was strange.
She had talked quite naturally with the older sister who did her makeup.
Could there be a problem with her communication skills?
That thought suddenly crossed her mind, but she shook her head.
At least in her acting work so far, she had never felt that way.
Just, how should she put it.
Was it because she had never really experienced making friends since her past life……?
'……Later, when practicing the ghost role, I'll make up for it.'
Feeling the hand of the female student trembling as she wiped her face, she thought.
There was still plenty of time left until the festival.