Chapter 42: Luxury or Quirky (3)
Completely unaware of the previous conversation between Yoo-Jin and me, Park Bull-Chool was passionately discussing today's shoot. "Miss Yoo-Jin. Today’s shoot will be a huge success as long as you just follow the storyboard. Trust me on this. I'm quite well-known in this industry, you know?"
Yoo-Jin smiled and responded playfully. "Of course, my talent agent already told me how much of a genius you are."
This was a lie. After all, I had only learned who the director was upon arriving at the set. Nonetheless, Yoo-Jin maintained a professional business smile with an overjoyed expression. This encouraged Park Bull-Chool to extend his hand to me for a handshake as well.
"I appreciate the trust, Mr. Jung. Please leave it to me and I'll deliver a perfect result."
Park Bull-Chool's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm.
At that moment, a chill ran down my spine. The other nickname for the advertising genius Park Bull-Chool was 'the Maverick of the ad world.' Though I had heard of his fame, I had never witnessed his shooting style firsthand.
Just then, an assistant director approached us quietly.
"Mr. Park, we need you to check the set."
Park Bull-Chool, who had been engrossed in explaining the storyboard, suddenly snapped back to reality. "Oh, right. I almost forgot. Haha. Okay, I understand. Just give me a moment and I'll be right there."
"No, Mr. Park. We don’t have the luxury of time."
When I turned around, I saw the staff scratching the back of their heads while waiting for Park Bull-Chool's final check. The basic setup was complete, but Park Bull-Chool preferred to do the final checks himself, which was part of his unique style.
"Okay."
Park Bull-Chool quickly left to check the set and promised to return soon.
While he meticulously inspected every detail of the set, the staff approached Yoo-Jin to start her makeup. Within just 20 minutes, she underwent a remarkable transformation, adorned with elaborate eye makeup, horns, and a crimson robe. With a scepter in hand, Yoo-Jin was exuding the regal presence of a queen as she burst into laughter.
"How do I look?"
"You look beautiful. Really beautiful."
"Right? Oh, but there's a burger here. Wow. It looks delicious."
Yoo-Jin, who had been on a strict diet until now, cast an eager gaze upon the 'Truffle Monster Burger' prop. She seemed starved, considering that she was drooling over a fake burger.
"There's a scene where you'll eat a burger during the shoot, so just hold on a little longer."
Yoo-Jin’s eyes widened in excitement. "Really? Yay! Don't stop me today, I'm loosening my belt!"
Promising her that she could indulge in burgers on set today had skyrocketed her energy levels in an instant.
Once everything was ready, a staff member announced the start of filming.
"Miss Yoo-Jin, we're going in for the shoot."
"Okay."
Wearing a crown with burger motifs and holding a scepter, Yoo-Jin made her way to a red throne set up on the set. She raised her left hand to signal she was ready, and Park Bull-Chool grabbed a megaphone and called out.
"Everyone, get ready~."
"Yes, Mr. Park."
As the staff signaled their readiness, Park Bull-Chool announced the start of the shoot. "Okay, we're shooting. Ready~ Action!"
With the cue, the background music began to fill the set. The low sound of drums echoed from the woofers and dry ice smoke started to flow across the floor. Soon after, a cacophony of bizarre sounds filled the air.
Keeooooo!
Kyaaaaa!
The shoot was chaotic from the start. But Yoo-Jin went a step further and raised her hands as she laughed like a madwoman. Park Bull-Chool was delighted with Yoo-Jin's performance and waved his right hand enthusiastically with an impressed expression.
Seeing the signal, Yoo-Jin began to glare at the camera intensely, as if she was about to devour it. Then, the low drumming in the background stopped.
That was when Yoo-Jin's lines began.
『Hahahaha! I, the Burger Queen, have finally obtained the divinely bestowed 'Truffle Monster Burger!’』
Dressed in black stockings with her legs crossed, Yoo-Jin slowly turned her head toward a transparent acrylic box. That was when Park Bull-Chool called out. "Cut! Great job. Let's prepare for the second scene right away."
Just like that, the first scene was done in just one take. Park Bull-Chool was quick to give the okay sign which was rare.
"Really? Just like that? No retakes?"
"Nope. I don’t see the need to shoot twice. Let's move on."
"Ah, okay. Alright."
Yoo-Jin looked surprised, but she quickly started preparing for the next scene following Park Bull Chool's direction.
While it was common for a non-international location CF shoot to be completed in a day, this pace was exceptionally fast.
"Alright. Camera jibs at a 45-degree high angle from Miss Yoo-Jin's right! Focus on the bust with camera 3, Miss Yoo-Jin's left face with camera 1, and a low angle from her right with camera 2! And the production team, make sure to check the shadows with the green screen. Props team, double-check Miss Yoo-Jin's costume."
Every staff moved in perfect unison as Park Bull-Chool directed them like a maestro.
"Cut. Perfect~. The second shot is also great! Let's move to the next one. Ready~ Action! Cut! That was great. Yes, yes. Excellent, Miss Yoo-Jin!"
Once again, it was a one-take wonder. Park Bull-Chool was moving onto the next shot before Yoo-Jin could even fully reset her emotions.
The speed of shooting was simply insane.
***
After finishing the queen scene, Yoo-Jin came over after removing her makeup.
However, there was a look of concern on her face. "Oppa, is it normal to shoot ads like this?"
"Uh, maybe?"
Despite reassuring Yoo-Jin, I couldn't help but share her concerns. This pace of shooting was certainly unprecedented and unheard of, even in my past life
‘What kind of advertisement is he aiming to create?’
"Props team, hurry up and change Miss Yoo-Jin's outfit," directed Park Bull-Chool.
Soon, AD Choi Joong-Gu approached us. "Um, Miss Yoo-Jin. We've prepared as many animal costumes as possible. We're hoping to avoid using CG if we can..."
I checked the prepared costumes upon sensing the assistant director’s hesitance. There were about twice as many as originally planned: bear, lion, chicken, and caterpillar costumes.
This would reduce the need for CG work. Given the tight budget, cooperating with them seemed like the best course of action. After all, it was not surprising for plans to change on the day of filming advertisements.
"Yoo-Jin, it might be a bit tough, but let's go with it. We should earn our advertisement fee, right?"
"Hmm. Okay," Yoo-Jin agreed without complaining, making things much smoother.
Compared to other actors I had managed before my regression, Yoo-Jin was an angel. I remembered actors who demanded CG for running scenes in soccer shoe ads just because they didn't want to sweat.
Yoo-Jin’s willingness to cooperate brought a bright smile to Choi Joong-Gu's face. "Thank you for your cooperation, Miss Yoo-Jin. You’ve got this!"
"No problem, Mr. Choi. Yes, I can do it!"
Yoo-Jin cheered energetically, but her unease was evident because she now had to portray animals, not humans.
"Miss Yoo-Jin, we're changing the order for the shoot. We're starting with Bear Queen."
In this ad, 'Queen' was appended to all the characters given that this was an ad for Burger Queen.
"Bear Queen? Not Rabbit Queen?"
"Yes, Bear Queen first. Please get ready right away."
“Ah, okay.”
A short while later, Yoo-Jin emerged from a makeshift changing room at one corner of the set, wearing an animal costume.
"Pfft."
‘I shouldn’t be laughing...but how do I not laugh at that?’
Trying not to laugh was a challenge. Yoo-Jin’s pale face stuck out awkwardly from the hole in the costume's head, and her left eye had blue makeup to simulate a bruise given by the Warrior Queen who defeated the Bear Queen.
Yoo-Jin, clad in the oversized bear suit, waddled toward the center of the set.
Park Bull-Chool cheered enthusiastically. "Okay, Miss Yoo-Jin. Let's do it in one go. Whether human or bear, it's all the same. Raise your hands high and shout! Go~ Bear!"
Yoo-Jin lifted the massive bear costume's arms and roared loudly.
『Roaaar! Bear!』
As Yoo-Jin's roar echoed through the set, the staff were struggling to contain their laughter, covering their mouths and turning red-faced. The sound of a human imitating a bear was far from being authentic.
Nevertheless, Yoo-Jin continued her spirited bear performance. She crossed her sharp claws, lumbered around the set, and even occasionally struck PowerTuff Girl poses—which looked utterly different from the original in the bear suit.
The whole scene was absurd. But the quirkier an ad, the more likely it was to capture attention. It was a rule of thumb in advertising.
"Yoo-Jin, hang in there," I whispered.
All I could do was cheer her on for carrying out an intense performance.
Park Bull-Chool continued with his wild directions. "Now, Beggar Queen! Lie on the ground and beg for a burger as pitifully as possible!”
He was like a madman, relentless in his directing.
"Rabbit Queen is a treacherous courtier! Act annoyingly, Miss Yoo-Jin! Threaten to behead if not given a burger! Yes, that's perfect!"
Yoo-Jin, who had been energetically performing acrobatic moves in her costume, returned to her chair utterly exhausted, gasping for breath. "Huff, huff, huff. O-oppa, please get me some water."
She was proudly taking on the challenge just a moment ago, but now she seemed like her soul had left her body.
"Oppa, I might die at this rate."
"Nah, people don't die that easily."
Yoo-Jin glanced at me with a slightly annoyed look. It looked like she was shooting a laser out of her eyes.
"Oppa, are you saying that just because it's not you doing it? Huh?"
I tried to maintain a poker face but couldn't help feeling a bit guilty.
"Me? No. No way."
Just then, Park Bull-Chool announced the last scene. "This is the last one, Miss Yoo-Jin. The burger-eating scene. You can do this!"
For the first time today, a spark of life returned to Yoo-Jin's eyes. "R-really? The burger-eating scene already, Mr. Park?"
The incredible speed of the shoot had left her unable to keep track of her progress.
"Of course! Just enjoy eating the burger and we're done. Look, there's a freshly prepared Burger right there!"
Yoo-Jin's face lit up with excitement. The table at the set was piled high with 'Truffle Monster Burgers', and the aroma seemed to revive her. She raised her exhausted self up, ready to forget about her diet and indulge in the burgers.
In her Warrior Queen costume, Yoo-Jin sat at the table and started filming the scene where she savors the 'Truffle Monster Burger' as a reward. After a big bite, Park Bull-Chool instructed, "Now, just drool over the burger without actually eating it. Yes, that’s it. And now, just a small bite."
Soon, Park Bull-Chool made a content smile. "Cut! Perfect, Miss Yoo-Jin. You really have great expressive skills. You could even do mukbang!"
Yoo-Jin spoke with her mouth full of burgers and made a perplexed expression, "Huh? Really? I thought it wasn't that good."
"Not good? It was perfect, Miss Yoo-Jin. Perfect!"
The shoot was okayed in just three takes. Seeing the table still full of countless burgers, Yoo-Jin's eyes shook rapidly.
Yoo-Jin pleaded desperately, "Mr. Park. Can we do one more take? I can eat it more deliciously!"
"Come on, I can't let an actress consume high-calorie food like that. I'm not that heartless. Alright, everyone! That's a wrap for today! Props team, please clear the table."
Park Bull-Chool turned to me, winked, and walked away. This was thanks to the discreet request I made to him before the shoot, asking if he could minimize the eating scene.
Yoo-Jin made a sad face and left the table when the staff began to clear the set. Disappointment was evident on her face as she licked the sauce on her lips. However, she had to turn around as many staff were looking at her.
Being exhausted from the rough shoot, Yoo-Jin slumped down on the chair.
"I only had three bites... I didn't even eat half a burger..." Yoo-Jin murmured to herself and looked at me with a sad expression.
"Yoo-Jin, listen. I..."
Before I could even finish, Yoo-Jin responded in a weak voice. "I'm so hungry."
"Yeah, I thought you might be so I prepared a salad for you. Want to try it?"
At the mention of a salad, her eyes seemed to shoot lasers at me. She then burst into a mix of laughter and frustration.
"Roaaaar! Bear! Burger! Give me meat!" In mock fury, Yoo-Jin playfully attacked me.
"Hey, don't bite! Ahhh! Did you actually bite me? Ouch! Let go, let go!"
While the shoot ended successfully, I was left with a red mark on my arm. Thanks to Yoo-Jin's playful 'bite,' I was able to check how many teeth Yoo-Jin had.
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