* * *
The next morning, Shin Eun-ha filmed two more action scenes with Na Kang-in.
After filming, Son Tae-min replayed the video. Shin Eun-ha watched it with him.
Son Tae-min exclaimed, “As expected of Na Kang-in. He nailed it in one take again? Thanks to him, we have more time for editing.”
During the day, Son Tae-min shot the movie, and at night, he edited the footage with the staff. He even squeezed out time to revise the script.
Despite the grueling schedule, his eyes gleamed with more determination than ever.
“Whenever I think about how our movie almost got ruined because of that druggie, I get furious. But then I see how our movie is turning out great, and it cheers me up.”
Son Tae-min looked at Shin Eun-ha and asked, “In this scene, Na Kang-in is kind of covering your belly. Should we reshoot this part if you’re not happy with it? We have enough time now.”
Shin Eun-ha watched the scene. She had eaten so much the day before that her belly was slightly protruding that morning, but Na Kang-in had cleverly covered it.
She quickly shook her head.
“No, don’t reshoot. I like it just the way it is.”
“Really?”
“Na Kang-in-oppa said the same thing. He said retaking action scenes doesn’t capture the same intensity as the first take.”
“True.”
Including the time it took Na Kang-in to travel to and from the set and the actual shooting time, he spent three or four hours a day on set.
The rest of the time, he worked at the PC bang, selling food and gathering various information. Some information was collected online, and some were confirmed in person.
Several days passed like that.
The final scene of the additional shoot involved Shin Eun-ha falling, and the main actor Kim Yoo-chan catching her.
However, Kim Yoo-chan sprained his wrist while filming that scene.
Son Tae-min sighed.
“Yoo-chan, this isn’t even a fight scene, it’s just catching someone who’s falling. How did you….”
Kim Yoo-chan, trying to scratch his head with his right hand, winced in pain and switched to his left hand.
“Sorry. I tried to make the final scene as flashy as Na Kang-in’s, and I overdid it….”
Son Tae-min turned to Na Kang-in.
“Na Kang-in, we can’t wait for Yoo-chan’s hand to heal. This is the last scene. Can you step in? You two look similar with masks on anyway.”
“Sure.”
Na Kang-in wore the mask and sunglasses and reshot the scene.
When acting with Kim Yoo-chan, Shin Eun-ha fell carefully because she didn’t trust him. As expected, Kim Yoo-chan got injured while overacting.
But this time, her partner was Na Kang-in. She fell without any worry.
Na Kang-in caught her around the waist with his left arm.
Feeling the firm yet gentle hold of his arm, Shin Eun-ha leaned into him slightly.
Son Tae-min shouted, “Cut! Eun-ha, that starlit look in your eyes is perfect! That’s exactly the look I wanted!”
Na Kang-in straightened her up and removed his mask and sunglasses.
He asked, “Are you okay?”
Shin Eun-ha smiled brightly. “Yes, I’m perfectly fine.”
Son Tae-min stood up. His voice was filled with excitement.
“Man, when that drug scandal broke, I thought our movie was doomed. I really did. Trying to reshoot all of the druggie’s scenes in a week would have turned the movie into a mess.”
The news had caused Son Tae-min immense stress.
The supporting actor had so many scenes that reshooting them all in a week was unrealistic. Even if they managed to film everything, it would be hard to match the original quality. And there wouldn’t be enough time for editing.
On top of that, there was an accident where the set collapsed on the first day of filming.
With any other movie, they would have given up on meeting the deadline or released a botched film.
But all those problems were perfectly solved. Not just solved, but the final product was better than the original.
Son Tae-min looked at everyone and said, “We finished the additional shoot two days ahead of the release date. I never imagined this.”
In two days, the movie would be in theaters. Normally, this would be a critical situation.
But Son Tae-min was thrilled.
“I still have two whole days!”
The assistant director flattered him.
“Not only did we finish quickly, but you also made the story better, director.”
“Heh. Watching Na Kang-in’s action scenes gave me so many ideas. I rewrote the whole script overnight.”
Son Tae-min shook Na Kang-in’s hand with both of his. “Na Kang-in! Thank you! I won’t forget this debt!”
Na Kang-in replied calmly, “It’s nothing. I did it for the paycheck.”
“Later, are you going to film with me again? You must, okay? I really want to shoot a full-blown action movie!”
Son Tae-min is a director known for romance films. He has never had an action movie in theaters. Yet, he shouted confidently.
“I’ve always wanted to make an action film! With Kang-in, we can create something truly amazing!”
“But I’m just a stand-in actor…”
Son Tae-min pointed dramatically at the people around him.
“Who said Kang-in is just a stand-in? Was it you? You? Huh? It was you!”
The assistant director crossed his arms to form an X.
“It wasn’t me!”
“See! I told you it wasn’t!”
***
The final shoot for the movie “A Sunny Day” was completed.
Director Son Tae-min was pleased that there were still two days left until the movie’s release. Normally, this would be an insufficient amount of time, but at this moment, he was grateful for even two days.
The atmosphere among the movie production staff was bright.
If this movie, which had faced the worst situations, succeeded, the reputation of the staff who ran around fixing things would improve in the industry.
Son Tae-min shouted to the staff.
“I’ll take the footage from today and finish editing it, so you all clean up the site and go home to get some good rest! Let’s have our wrap party after our movie hits the theaters! The CEO said he’ll treat us to beef! Hanwoo beef!”
***
The CEO of the film company, Lee Tae-ho, and his wife, Jang Mi-jung, waited on-site for the final shoot to end.
After Son Tae-min declared the end of the shoot, the couple approached Na Kang-in.
Lee Tae-ho greeted him.
“Kang-in, thank you.”
“I did it because I was being paid.”
“Of course, we appreciate you helping with the movie production.”
From behind Jang Mi-jung, Lee Min-ji appeared and bowed her head.
“Uncle, thank you.”
Na Kang-in smiled and ruffled Lee Min-ji’s hair with his hand. She quickly stepped back, waving her hands above her head.
“Ah! My hair’s getting messed up!”
Na Kang-in laughed and asked.
“Looks perfectly fine to me?”
Lee Min-ji also smiled brightly at Na Kang-in.
“Hee.”
When Lee Tae-ho heard the news that an important supporting actor had been arrested at a drug party, he thought it would be fortunate if the movie could even be released on time and recoup half of the investment.
At that time, re-shooting all the problematic parts and finishing editing within a week seemed nearly impossible.
However, the shoot ended two days earlier than the scheduled release date. Thanks to Na Kang-in.
Lee Tae-ho expressed his gratitude again.
“Thanks to you, we gained two extra days. I’m really grateful for that. Since this movie was produced with direct investment from our company, a lot of money was spent. Haha.”
Lee Tae-ho was in a very good mood. He wanted to take the entire staff and have the wrap party the director mentioned right away.
But it wasn’t possible yet. The staff still had work to do. Especially the editing team, who had to work all night with the director.
However, the actors had no more work to do. Especially Shin Eun-ha and Kim Yoo-chan, who had plenty of free time now.
Shin Eun-ha prowled around like a cat eyeing its prey.
Lee Tae-ho made a suggestion to Na Kang-in.
“I’d like to buy you a drink.”
* * *
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