For three seconds, I gazed steadily into Kim Hyunji's eyes.
Her trembling pupils gradually regained their calmness.
'Phew... thank goodness. Her composure didn't break.'
On a film set, there is no one whose voice is louder than the director's.
Soon after, the director of the MDN drama shouted, his eyes blazing.
"Who the hell are you!"
"A writer."
"Damn it, if you're a writer, act like one. Why are you on someone else's set..."
"It didn't look like you were filming, it looked like you were catching a rat. Am I wrong?"
"What? What's it to you?"
Honestly, I didn't want to exchange another word with a director who looks down on minor actors.
There's no reason to treat a director who spews curses at an actor on a film set with respect.
"Actress Kim Hyunji. Please come with me."
"Pardon?"
"The director here told you to get out."
"Ah..."
Murmur, murmur—
The atmosphere among the production staff was unusual.
It seemed someone among them had recognized me.
"The, the 'Pure-hearted Macho' writer...?"
"I saw the press conference video."
"Th-that's writer Kim Jinwoo."
Leaving the audible voices behind, I spoke to the wide-eyed director.
"Director-nim, I don't know your name, but..."
I probably would have been angry even if it were an actor I had never seen before instead of Kim Hyunji.
Because whether they're a minor actor or an extra, there's no reason to accept a director's vulgar insults.
"Actress Kim Hyunji is the main female lead of my next project."
"Wh-what!?"
"You just shouted at Hyunji-ssi. You said you'd get her blacklisted from this industry."
"No, that's..."
"Because in this industry, you reap what you sow. Let's see who regrets it soon enough."
"..."
There was no reason to associate with him any longer, so I ignored the director and spoke to Kim Hyunji.
"Let's go, actress-nim."
"What? Ah, yes..."
She followed me as if possessed by something.
When there was no one else around, she spoke softly.
"Writer-nim, thank you."
"What? For what?"
"For lying that I'm the main character."
"It's not a lie."
I slowly turned around, and she was staring with wide eyes.
Because I felt it was finally time to tell her.
"Manager Jung will tell you soon. That the protagonist of my next project is you, Kim Hyunji-ssi."
"Pardon...?"
"You, Kim Hyunji-ssi, are truly the protagonist of my next work."
Actress Kim, so surprised that she just stood there with her mouth open, unable to say a word.
Ding-dong—
At that moment, the system's notification sound echoed in my head.
"Yes!"
[Content: The Regressor Who Erases Memories, Part 5] [Genre: Time Loop, Romance, Crime Thriller] [Location: Tempest Entertainment 1st Floor Cafe] [Time Limit: 1 day] [※ Silver Promotion: 110-110101-1011(Virtual Account, W Bank)] [※ Deposit Amount: 0 won / 100,000,000 won]
"Nice location."
"???"
There's this advantage to having a cast of Tempest actors.
The probability of being dropped in a strange place is significantly reduced.
A moment later, the manager who had pulled up the van spoke to me.
"I'm sorry. Because I left my post..."
"For now, I'll be the one to speak to Manager Jung today."
"No. I've already contacted her. I heard the news from the coordinator."
"Really?"
"It seems things with MDN will be resolved amicably."
"For now... I understand."
I should at least remember the drama's title.
I have to watch and see what a great work it is.
Soon after, I didn't forget what I had to say to actress Kim Hyunji, who was about to get in the car.
"Please familiarize yourself with the script up to Part 4 for the time being."
"Yes! Writer-nim."
Just a moment ago, she had seemed a little timid.
But now, she was looking at me with sparkling eyes.
Rumble—
Actress Kim, riding away in the van driven by her manager.
"Shall I go and write the script right away?"
The latter half of Part 4, where the criminal organization makes its full-scale appearance.
It seems the story will likely proceed with the male lead dismantling the organization.
However,
Bzzzzt—
At that moment, a call came from "Pure-hearted Macho"'s Director Sung Kihoon.
Today is an unusually busy day.
Don't you have those days where everything happens at once?
"Yes. Hello."
-Writer Kim, are you busy?
"No. Go ahead."
-The dinner date scene in episode 10, I think it needs some revision.
"Ah... I'll be right there."
Honestly, it's been too smooth until now.
Fixing a script on set is a common occurrence.
But until now, perhaps thanks to the system's appropriate location selection, everything had been covered.
"I should get going quickly."
If the system has set the table, I should at least know how to feed myself.
Come to think of it, I had barely visited since the early stages of filming.
"I haven't stopped by in so long... I should bring some gifts while I'm at it."
"Good work."
Kang Jun finished his class at the acting academy and said his goodbyes.
There were only three or four other students acting with him.
One of them was quite friendly, so they had already exchanged numbers.
"Kangjun! A drink today?"
"My uncle is calling me."
"Aww, you always back out."
She was the only female friend he had opened up to at the academy.
How long had it been since he had gotten so close to a friend of a different gender so quickly?
"I can't help it. I might have a project coming up."
"Oh! Why didn't you say so? Just tell your noona. What project is it?"
"We're the same age."
"Ah, you knew?"
Our ages and profiles are written outside.
"Just... I was lucky, and a certain writer saw me in a good light."
"I-is that so?"
Recently, the atmosphere at the company towards Kang Jun had changed slightly.
A rumor had been circulating that he might become the protagonist of a 16-episode major broadcast drama.
'If I say something like this...'
He might lose the friend he had made after such a long time.
Because in this industry, it was common for even friends to be jealous of each other.
Though she might find out later anyway.
"Hey, what a shame. I had my eye on you."
"Wh-what?"
Kang Jun stuttered, slightly flustered.
"I thought you'd be a perfect fit for our theater company."
"Ah... a theater company..."
"There is one. It's called the Jang Geurae theater company, a very great place."
"...?"
"Still, think about it once. I'll even recommend you to my oppa later."
"Who's your oppa?"
"Um, Pure-hearted..."
At that moment, his uncle arrived in front of the academy.
"Ah, Heejung. Let's talk next time."
"Okay! From today, you're an honorary Jang Geurae member. Got it?"
"...Uh."
She's a strange friend, but for some reason, she reminded me of someone.
Should I say the atmosphere is familiar?
"Anyone would think you're siblings."
Looking at them now, they even seem to resemble each other a little.
No, if I say that, one of them might get upset.
Manager Kang asked Kang Jun, who was suddenly letting out a chuckle.
"What's with you?"
"What's with me?"
"No, never mind."
Vroooom—
They got into the used car provided by Tempest and headed somewhere.
"Uncle, where are we going?"
"To a schedule."
"Pardoon?"
"I'm Kang Cheoljoong. I'm not dead."
"Where is it?"
"A cable game show."
It was by no means an easy task for an unknown actor to land a spot on a cable station's game show.
Moreover, seeing that he had booked a schedule so quickly, his uncle's sales skills were certainly amazing.
"Um, you know what the writer says to you sometimes."
"Yeah?"
"I really think you're better off as just a manager, not a CEO."
"..."
"I mean it in a good way."
These days, it seems my uncle's lost confidence has risen considerably.
A sense of stability was felt, just like when Bareum Entertainment was doing well.
'Just like when my father was alive...'
It feels like everything is going smoothly thanks to Writer Kim Jinwoo.
As expected, a strong backing was not a choice but a necessity for his uncle.
"Pure-hearted Macho" filming set.
"Director Sung, there are a lot of problems with this."
"...I know."
A scene where they're on a date under a brilliantly colored bridge.
It was a scene where the protagonist approaches the female lead for the first time without showing off his wealth.
However, the brilliant lights on the bridge had gone out.
The charm of this scene had evaporated in an instant.
"It would have been fine if we had asked the local government for permission in advance."
"Ah, that's... I'm sorry."
An employee from Tempest lowered his head and apologized.
"Manager Jung doesn't know, right?"
"What? P-please, to the manager..."
He seems to be quite a friendly person to me.But it seems he's a scary presence to the employees.
'It's already happened, what can you do?'
It's not as if the system will kindly fix the revised part.
At that moment, Semi, who was listening quietly from the side, slowly raised her hand.
As the staff's attention was focused on her, she opened her mouth with a slightly embarrassed expression.
"Wouldn't it be... okay with just a small light?"
"...?"
"W-well, if I were Cha Yejoo... I think I'd be moved by just a small flashlight."
"Ah..."
Right, in the drama I saw, the background was just an additional device.
A tool that could be filled in with the actors' performances and props.
The emotion I felt came not from the lights on the bridge, but from Semi's expression.
Clack-clack, clack-clack-clack—
I improvised and revised the drama based on the drama I had seen.
I can't say it's 100% accurate, but I'm the only one here who has seen the future drama.
［A soft light turns on from Cha Yejoo's left side, and Cheon Jiho stares at her blankly.］
A moment later, filming resumed based on the script I had revised.
"K-euu, it's perfect."
This time too, it was almost identical to what I had seen.
Semi and Im Jaejun's chemistry was flawless.
The actors overcoming the difference in background with their facial expressions.
As expected, the drama I saw in the system was an asset greater than just the script I wrote.
At that moment, a staff member approached and greeted me.
"Writer-nim, the staff is really grateful for the gift."
"No. I'm the one who's sorry for not stopping by the set enough."
I was thinking of buying coffee myself, but since it was physically impossible, I substituted with coupons.
I had given the assistant director coupons for 100 people, worth 20,000 won each, so the expense was considerable.
It's not often that a rookie writer like me gives out gifts.
But originally, writers who earn a lot of money sometimes give gifts like this.
I should think about buying everyone a padded jacket when I become a star writer later.
"Writer-nim, we'll enjoy the food!"
"Thank you!!!"
"We love you, Writer-nim—!!!"
The atmosphere on the "Pure-hearted Macho" set was quite bright.
An environment contrary to the failed drama that actress Kim Hyunji had filmed.
Soon after, having finished filming, the actors moved to the next location in an exhausted state.
Step, step—
I approached Semi, who was sitting in a chair.
"Semi-ssi, are you done with filming for today?"
"Ah, yes, Writer-nim! I have a schedule in Japan starting tomorrow. For two days."
"Japan?"
"Yes. It's a group activity. The director filmed my scenes in advance."
"Hmm... you're working hard."
At that moment, her manager called out to Semi from a distance.
"Semi-ya! We have to go right away."
"Ah, okay, oppa."
The way she doesn't lose her refreshing smile even while working hard at a young age.
As expected of my actress.
"I'll be going now!"
"Yes, Semi-ssi. I'll stop by the set again next time."
"Okay. Hehe."
I arrived home, dragging my tired body.
In one day, I had gone from a director's meeting to a filming set.
"That was so hard."
[Time Limit: 19 hours 43 minutes 30 seconds]
It's late, so I think I'll have to write Part 5 tomorrow.
More than anything, I don't want to think about anything tonight.
My sister approached me as I was sprawled on the sofa.
"You alive?"
"I'm dead."
"So you're alive."
My sister brought up a topic I had no interest in.
"There's this guy I've been meeting at the academy lately."
"What!?"
Which bastard dares to touch my sister.
"He's a really nice person!"
"...No, I didn't mean meet like that, I meant we're taking a class together."
"Ah... too bad."
Plop—
I lay back down on the sofa.
"But that friend's acting is really amazing."
"I don't pick based on acting."
"Then?"
"They have to be chosen by the system."
"Huh...?"
Heejung, as if she were disappointed, added a word.
"Geez, I was going to recommend an actor."
"Yeah. Nepotism recommendations, get lost."
Thwack—
My sister kicked my butt and ran away.
"Should I kill her?"
I've been spoiling my only sister too much.
Bzzzzt—
At that moment, a call came from Manager Jung Saerom.
"Ah, I want to stop working."
What if it's important? I have to answer.
"Hello-Saerom."
-...I've received a call from Director Song.
"What? What call?"
-We've gotten a response from KBC.
"Oh! Really? They gave permission?"
-It's less of a permission... and more of a welcome.
"Wow, you're really capable, Manager-nim."
How many production companies can get in touch with the KBC drama department in just a few hours?
-No, I'm telling you, they really welcomed it.
"As expected of our Manager Jung...!"
-...Stop it.
So she noticed I was teasing her.
-It's tomorrow, so prepare yourself well.
"Pardon?"
-Director Joo is by no means an easy person.
To rise to that position at a broadcasting station, he must be no different from an in-house politician.
"...You said tomorrow?"
It seems I, too, will need to prepare.
As a writer.