Chapter 302 (2/2)

“Yeah, it was decent. There were celebrity autographs as well. It looks like it’s quite famous.”

Just as they were talking about things not related to drama, the cue sign fell. Woojoo started walking from Maru’s opposite side and collided with the actress. The actress, who was having a good time showing off her new shoes got angry at him and Woojoo took steps back, flinching away. Minor actors started attacking Woojoo with words after gathering around. Then cut.

“Hey! You were doing well last time. What happened to you?” Director Lee shouted. It seemed that Woojoo was the problem. Woojoo apologized to the staff and the other actors.

“Let’s do that one more time. Do it properly this time.”

That was followed up with a small ‘cue’ sound. The moment Woojoo started acting though, the director shouted cut again. The actress, who was wearing the trainers sat down in annoyance. Director Lee approached Woojoo.

“What are you doing. Do you think we’re playing around?”

“I’m sorry.”

Woojoo lowered his head like a sinner.

He seemed nervous. Maru sighed. Just like how it still rained, despite rarely, in the desert, opportunity found its way to everyone. Skill referred to being able to take that opportunity or not. Perhaps it could be called luck. One might sigh and complain about the opportunity not coming at the right time. However, a missed opportunity would never come back. There was only one thing that people could do, and that was to grab the opportunity if it came their way.

The entertainment industry was something where that brief appearance on TV might make or break a person. This was a world where a nameless actor became famous through just one appearance on TV. Woojoo probably knew himself that this was an opportunity of his lifetime.

The third shoot began, and Woojoo made a mistake this time as well. He screwed up his steps. Seeing Woojoo misstep and look like he was about to fall over, the director just laughed in vain. The leader took Woojoo away. Having returned, Woojoo just sighed and sat back down.

“This isn’t going well.”

Bitterness could be heard from his voice. However, that only lasted a brief moment. He soon returned to his smile. The nearby supplementary actors consoled him saying that it was okay. Woojoo smiled and nodded his head. Meanwhile, the director declared a break time. The staff put down the heavy equipment and stretched out their bodies. The supplementary actors stood up as well. Woojoo was within that group.

“Isn’t this an opportunity for you?” Maru asked Woojoo.

Woojoo blinked several times as he looked back at him.

“Did you tell the producer that you’d like another chance?”

“What?”

“Opportunity came your way. So you should grab it.”

Maru felt rather annoyed since Woojoo, who looked like he could fight against injustice, was looking so powerless here. Why not bring up that courage here?

“It’s nothing great.”

“Yet, you’re making such a disappointed face. Are you sure you don’t want to try again?”

“...I do.”

“Go tell him then. Tell him that you want to try again. If you can’t do it even after that, only then do you give up.”

“I already messed up three times. I’ll be inconveniencing others.”

“If delaying everything by five minutes is an inconvenience, I guess those people who screw up four to five times as much as you must be serial killers. Hyung, you were very brave against that woman before, right? That’s bravery that will make you face losses. Yet you stood up to her. Right now, it’s the opposite. It’s an opportunity you can profit from. It’s fine if you put a thick face on. I heard you got into a fight against a company because of payment delays. Why don’t you talk to him with that kind of resolve?”

“That’s a different situation though.”

“If you keep minding the situation, you’ll eventually be driven out by people that don’t mind the situation. Even a hero of justice needs food to eat. I thought your dream was to become an actor. Yet you want to miss this opportunity where you can have your face go on TV? What about after that? Do you think that picky leader will ever pick you again? Are you going to keep doing part time jobs forever?”

“Hey, watch your words,” Woojoo frowned.

“Good. You won’t be nervous if you get angry. Don’t just face losses and profit where you can. If I look at people like you, it makes me angry, honestly. Why don’t you care about yourself rather than others?”

Woojoo was a naïve and kind man. That could be seen from his attitude, expression, and actions. Maru could sit back and laugh when he was watching trashy people fall into shitholes, but he would become angry if people like Woojoo were not desperate because they were ‘considerate of others’.

At that moment, the director gestured towards the two. He was calling out to ‘the one that fell over’. Woojoo’s eyes shook.

“If the director tells me to take that role, I’m taking it.”

“....”

“To be clear, I don’t kick away opportunities that come my way. Right now, it’s right in front of me and once it’s within my reach, I’m definitely grabbing it. So why don’t you try and do something before it comes to me?”

Maru pointed at director Lee with his chin. Woojoo clenched his teeth before walking towards director Lee. The two started conversing. Director Lee scanned Woojoo from top to bottom before putting up his index finger. He probably meant something like ‘just once’.

Director Lee turned around. Maru met eyes with Woojoo. Woojoo nodded slightly. It seemed that the director gave him permission.

The shoot resumed. Woojoo walked in between the main actors. There were no mistakes made this time. He played a person who was pitiful and unjustified. The director gave it an okay this time. He seemed satisfied.

Having returned, Woojoo scratched his head.

“Aren’t you gonna thank me? I went out of my way to help you.”

Seeing Woojoo make a flustered expression, Maru smiled.

“If you feel thankful. Try to get me a place if you get something good next time. Sorry about acting so rudely before. It’s only effective if it sounds rude.”

Hearing those words, Woojoo smiled. At that moment, a commotion erupted on the staff side.

“You said that this month wasn’t a problem. Also, you said today that it will be done by two, didn’t you? Hah! I can’t do this shit anymore. I’m done with it.”

A man, who was standing in front of director Lee violently turned away. At the same time, the majority of the staff followed the man out of the cafeteria. The shooting location became a mess in an instant. The main actors, the idols, were at a loss while looking around, while director Lee and the staff around him sighed as they chased the staff members that left the cafeteria. People that seemed to be the managers came in and started making calls. Only the people with TV station employee cards were calm.

“Looks like something happened.”

The supplementary actors also made a move to find out what this was about.

Maru also left the building for now.