Seoul Dragon - Chapter 89

Usually, ad-libs by acting beginners either disrupt the flow of the drama or rarely lead in a good direction.

Ad-libs are permitted for actors who have already carved out their own territory.

Of course, depending on the director's tendencies, many don't allow even such actors' ad-libs.

However... Director An Jinho often lets ad-libs go if possible. First watch, and if the result pleases both the actor and director, it's okay.

When it doesn't, it's naturally rejected.

The director pondered.

Should he stop it or not?

He'd usually let ad-libs happen, but if Hyeon and Yul were really going to spar, it would affect the entire flow of the drama.

There might be a need to add scenes or modify the script.

It was a given fact that work would increase.

But... Director An Jinho didn't particularly want to stop Seohyun.

The script? Just modify it.

Scenes? Just add them.

If he watched and thought it wasn't right, he could just tell her not to ad-lib.

Above all... he was curious.

What would ad-lib layered on that raw acting be like?

The director looked at the cinematographer and nodded.

Since they were filming now and no noise should interfere, he signaled the continuation of filming with a simple action.

He also gave Sohyeon a look. To continue filming.

Sohyeon had no choice but to be flustered by Seohyun's sudden ad-lib.

And for good reason - sparring?

It wasn't even in the original script, and it was ad-lib that required action acting.

She glanced toward the director. The director nodded at her with a look.

It was a signal to continue.

Continuing wasn't particularly problematic, but... would it really be okay?

Sohyeon opened her mouth. Once again, she spoke as Yul.

"Sparring... there's no reason to refuse. I'm also curious what human martial arts displayed by a dragon would be like."

"Then, let's start right away."

In an instant, Seohyun's body moved. While thinking.

She had acted on impulse, but had no idea how to move.

Seohyun felt a slight cold sweat.

'Did I ad-lib for nothing? No, this flow is right for Hyeon.'

She believed the direction she was acting was correct.

Though she was a beginner who knew nothing about acting, she thought Hyeon would definitely do this.

Then indeed, how should she spar?

'...Taehoon. Taehoon sparred with Sohyeon. Then...'

Seohyun recalled Taehoon's swordsmanship that he had shown once.

The dragon's memory and insight perfectly replayed Taehoon's movements in her memory.

Muscle movements.

The path the sword moved.

Movements of feet and waist.

All of it vividly emerged and was stored in Seohyun's actions.

She broke off a nearby tree branch. And from that moment, she became Hyeon again.

Yul spoke to Hyeon as if absurd.

"You're going to face me with a tree branch?"

"Why not? Did you forget? Who gave you power?"

Hyeon, who swept the tree branch once with her hand, seemed quite pleased and wore a satisfied smile.

Yul looked at Hyeon with cold eyes seeing that.

Hyeon's words were right.

Yul drew her sword and took stance.

The first to charge was Yul.

Quite gracefully, smoothly flowing sword strikes were swung toward Hyeon.

Whoosh-!

The sound of wind brushed past Hyeon's ear.

Hyeon smiled as she slightly turned her head to avoid Yul's downward slash.

Now, what to do from here?

That wasn't particularly difficult.

Hyeon's mouth opened.

"Hyeonhwa would have done this."

At that moment, swordsmanship like Hyeonhwa's unfolded, pressuring Yul.

Yul had no choice but to widen her eyes.

That was Hyeonhwa's sword. Yul, who had lost everything to that sword, could tell.

Instantly, Yul's sword strikes became fierce. But no matter how fierce, Yul's insufficient skill couldn't surpass Hyeon.

Clang!

Finally, the tree branch struck the blade.

Though it was clearly a collision between tree branch and sword, a metallic sound rang out.

Then, in the blink of an eye, Hyeon's tree branch was positioned in front of Yul's throat.

Yul felt her spine chill.

"How about it? Wouldn't this be worth learning?"

Looking at Hyeon who spoke with a slight smile, Yul silently nodded.

The people who watched Seohyun and Sohyeon's sparring only then caught their breath.

Somehow, it was a scene that seemed like nothing special, but was strangely immersive.

"Jackpot...!"

The reaction was good.

Everyone knew it was ad-lib, but a quite plausible scene had emerged.

It was also a scene that clearly explained how Yul could grow to become Hyeonhwa's match.

In other words, a scene that properly injected credibility into the protagonist's growth had been captured.

It was also a scene that hinted at the protagonist's ending.

Gaining Hyeon's power at the cost of lifespan, and flames that burn life itself.

Yul really is mad with revenge. She devoted everything for revenge.

So that movie viewers could naturally accept it.

Director An Jinho believed his choice wasn't wrong.

And that thought became even more solid when he reviewed the just-filmed scene with the cinematographer.

"...It's not bad?"

"That's right."

"It's too natural for ad-lib by someone who's never acted before. I can't even think of it as ad-lib."

"Let's include this."

"Then we'll need to modify some scenes and script, is that okay?"

"Just film more and that's it."

At the director's words, the cinematographer sighed.

"Eh, this guy. Trying to work us again."

"If the movie does well, that's good for everyone, right? And how much more filming could there be? This work, the actors rarely NG so we filmed quickly."

"Haha! Just joking, joking. To tell the truth, seeing this makes me think filming more would be better. So, how are you planning the script and scenes?"

"It all just came to mind."

"Wow, as expected."

"Originally this kind of thing depends on a moment's spark... seeing Seohyun made it all come to me."

He recalled the sparring he just saw. The two moving gracefully.

Especially Seohyun's side showed high-level action despite never receiving action acting training.

And that was in impromptu sparring, not with detailed acting direction.

The feeling comes.

The feeling that this cameo casting was a great success.

"Have you ever learned action acting separately?"

After the ad-lib ended, Taehoon asked me.

Action acting? Where would I have time to learn that?

"Me? No? You know that thing you showed right after mutating. Making a sword with fire and slashing. I just copied that?"

"Ah, that time..."

Taehoon recalled that memory.

He had swung in a trance and cut an alloy wall in half.

It felt familiar somewhere - those were movements he had shown Seohyun after mutating.

Did she remember and recreate that?

"You remembered all of that?"

"You know my memory."

"...No, even so, copying the movements themselves, completely?"

"It worked when I tried."

It was nothing new, but Taehoon wondered if there were any limits to Seohyun's abilities.

But well, it's not like he was incredibly envious or anything.

What would she use it for if she got even stronger?

She was satisfied with her current self.

She was just curious about the limits of Seohyun's endless abilities.

"What can't you do, really?"

"I don't know either..."

"But is it okay? Your part seems to have gotten much bigger than expected... it seems like quite a significant role for a cameo."

"Hmm... well, it's fun so it's good?"

"...Thanks, in many ways."

"Hey, why so suddenly? You agreed to help me too."

"No, still."

"Rather, I'm grateful. When would I ever get to experience something like this? These are all precious memories."

"You might end up attending the premiere later."

"That's right. Originally I was planning to get premiere tickets from you and go... but I might as well appear as a supporting actor."

"Really... has there ever been a case like this?"

"If you look, there probably is? Why, cameos all have different screen time, right?"

Then, the director who finished talking with the cinematographer joined the two.

"It's not a common case. Cameos are mostly just briefly showing your face using personal connections. Cases of taking on such significant supporting roles are rare too. Above all, these days cameos often receive pay, so in cases like this, even production costs increase..."

"I see."

"So, are you really okay with this? No matter what, when you're helping this much, not receiving appearance fees is a bit..."

"I told you, right? I'm a civil servant, so I'd be in big trouble if I received money."

Saying that, Seohyun smiled.

Director An Jinho could only say he was grateful to her.

"Um, then there might be some additional scenes and script, is that okay?"

"Ah, so I'll have more appearances then?"

"It seems like we'll have to. I want to make Hyeon feel like Yul's teacher. Would that be okay?"

"I'll do it. But did the others agree too?"

"Haha. We all know that much. Just looking at the on-set reaction gives the answer."

At the director's words, Seohyun looked around.

Somehow, despite the increased workload, the gazes looking at her were strangely favorable.

Because they too realized.

That Seohyun's presence would have considerable impact on their box office success.