By Zephyria 
He suppressed his temper and gave instruction like a teacher guiding a student, quite kindly.
“Look. In a movie where a monster appears in the Han River, the protagonist was originally a loser. But after his daughter is captured by the monster, what happens? He becomes a warrior who risks his life to get his daughter back. That’s what the audience wants to see.”
“This movie’s protagonist is a murderer. Does it make sense for a murderer to reform? The audience won’t want that either, Director.”
Despite the kind explanation, when Lee A-gon showed no signs of understanding, Kim Jun-haeng’s temper began to flare. The two men’s debate gradually turned heated.
“Hey, when did I say he’d reform? I just want to show his human side by including a scene where he regrets his actions. And Nam Hyun-woo wasn’t evil from the start. That’s why I put an explanation in the beginning that he became like this due to medication side effects.”
“Do you really think people will believe that excuse? If you film the movie as you say, you’ll be told it’s outdated.”
“Are you finished?”
At that moment, Kim Jun-haeng’s eyes blazed. Although he had mellowed somewhat in his fifties, Kim Jun-haeng was originally stubborn and hot-tempered.
Hae-jun, watching, felt anxious. He too had studied screenwriting and understood what the director meant.
As the director said, no one would pay money to watch a movie where a loser remains a loser. That’s why the director was trying to lay the groundwork for the protagonist’s narrative, and Lee A-gon was refusing it.
“Hyung, do you think the director is right too?”
After several similar clashes, Lee A-gon asked. Hae-jun shook his head.
“I think you’re right. Of course, in a commercial film, the protagonist’s personality changes. But as you said, our movie’s protagonist isn’t like ordinary protagonists. However…”
He paused for a moment and observed Lee A-gon’s expression.
“You’re a rookie actor, and there’s no benefit in confronting the director, so I hope you won’t do it again in the future.”
Both Lee A-gon and Hae-jun knew Director Kim Jun-haeng had a bad temper. He was reasonably polite to the main actors but was quite rough with one-time supporting actors or extras. “Hey,” was basic, and sometimes curses like “Shit,” “Crazy,” and “Fuck” were thrown around.
“So… even if you feel wronged, please bear with it.”
It was realistic advice.
Whether he decided to accept the advice or realized that arguing with Kim Jun-haeng would be futile, Lee A-gon no longer argued with the director.
The problem was Kim Jun-haeng. He was a very petty person, and the reason he had fired a lead actor on set years ago was not due to artistic differences, but because the actor had made fun of the director’s thinning hair—a widely known secret in the industry.
Kim Jun-haeng could not forgive Lee A-gon for his insubordination. If he could, he would have replaced the protagonist again. However, after the incident of replacing the protagonist, they had faced difficulties securing investment, so he couldn’t afford to do such a thing again.
“Again.”
Instead, Kim Jun-haeng subtly tormented Lee A-gon. The easiest way was endless retakes.
They were already filming the same scene for the fifteenth time. It wasn’t a particularly important part. The protagonist, Nam Hyun-woo, walks down a dark alley. They were shooting this single line for the fifteenth time.
Over fifteen takes, Lee A-gon walked in countless ways. He walked slowly, walked quickly, walked as if running, then walked slowly again. He walked expressionlessly, walked sadly, walked with murderous intent.
Kim Jun-haeng rejected them all. It was excessive bullying (harassment disguised as venting). That crazy bastard was tormenting Lee A-gon, even cutting into his own budget and time.
“Again.”
After the sixteenth NG, the staff’s faces soured. The lighting director openly cursed.
All eyes turned to Lee A-gon. Anyone could see that the problem was the director, Kim Jun-haeng, but Lee A-gon was the one being cursed at. Why did he have to pick a fight with the director if he couldn’t win?
“Action.”
On the seventeenth take, as Lee A-gon appeared at the entrance of the alley, the surroundings darkened. There was no reason to act without lighting. Lee A-gon stopped.
“Light number 4 is off!”
“Number 3 too!”
The lighting crew staff shouted. Soon, other lights also went out one after another.
They heard that there was a problem with the generator truck. The staff, who received a radio message about a delay due to fuel supply issues, sat down everywhere, letting out a collective sigh.
The money and time spent on filming were limited. If they couldn’t finish shooting today, they would have to manage an even tighter schedule tomorrow.
“Hey!”
At that moment, Kim Jun-haeng shouted and hit the head of a staff member working as a prop man for lighting with his tightly rolled-up script.
“Who was in charge of the generator truck? It was you, right? Why didn’t you do your job properly and cause this mess!”
The staff member, who had been hit squarely, stumbled and fell. Kim Jun-haeng followed him and continued to beat the staff member. Now he was hitting him with his hands, not the script.
“If you had done it properly! We would have finished shooting by now! You incompetent bastard! How dare you try to ruin my set!”
The lighting director’s face turned pale. No one dared to intervene. This was a tantrum. Since he couldn’t hit the lead actor like that, he was picking on the more manageable staff member.
Hae-jun grabbed Lee A-gon’s arm, which was flinching. He shouldn’t step in. He knew that everything Kim Jun-haeng was saying was directed at Lee A-gon, but he still couldn’t step forward.
“A-gon-ssi.”
Hanna Young approached Lee A-gon and spoke in a cautious tone.
“I’m sorry to ask this, but could you apologize to the director?”
“……”
“When you told the director he was outdated, that really struck a nerve. He’s already very sensitive about being told he’s past his prime or that his sensibilities are no longer current.”
Hanna Young sighed with a tired expression.
“We all know Mr. A-gon is being wronged. But what can we do when the director has that kind of temper? Just apologize, say you were wrong, and beg him once. Then the director will forgive Mr. A-gon too. It’s fine for me and Mr. A-gon since we’re leads, but how will the young staff and supporting actors endure this atmosphere? Please, I’m asking you.”
Han Na-young recounted how the youngest member of the directing team had cried yesterday, saying they couldn’t continue in this atmosphere, and then left.
Did Han Na-young want to make such a request? But she was a lead actress, and leads had their responsibilities.
“Am I in the wrong?”
Lee A-gon asked Hae-jun after returning to the dorm. Hae-jun shook his head.
“You did nothing wrong. Arguing over character interpretation is common. It’s the director who’s immature for not being able to accept it.”
Lee A-gon pondered for a moment and asked again.
“Should I apologize?”
“Well.”
Hae-jun had nothing to say about this. It was Lee A-gon’s decision to make.
However, it was the lead actors who set the atmosphere on set. The reason all the staff worked day and night was for the work that would be created through the protagonist.
The lead had to be responsible for the set atmosphere. Han Na-young meant that it was more important than your pride.
“I’ll go meet the director.”
After much deliberation, Lee A-gon left the dorm. He returned about two hours later with a face Hae-jun had never seen before.
At first glance, he seemed calm, but a quiet rage simmered within. Blood had even beaded on his lips, a sign that he had bitten them until they split, desperately trying to hold something back.
Hae-jun, without thinking, reached out and took Lee A-gon’s hand. Lee A-gon coldly pushed his hand away and said, “I don’t need it.”
Still, Hae-jun reached out again and held onto Lee A-gon. After being pushed away a second time, he reached out a third time.
Finally, Lee A-gon took his hand and bit his lip. It was the very spot that was injured.
“Don’t bite it.”
“I’m not crying.”
“No, don’t bite it. Your lip.”
“Ah…”
Lee A-gon rolled his lips inward. His ears turned slightly red. Hae-jun realized. He apologized and cried out of frustration.
“The atmosphere on set will be better starting tomorrow.”
Hae-jun gently massaged Lee A-gon’s hand.
“The young staff and supporting actors will be able to work in a better environment.”
“……”
“It’s all thanks to you.”
As Hae-jun infused assistance into their clasped hands, Lee A-gon’s shoulders dropped. He let out a long sigh. Along with it, his anger and frustration slowly cooled.
Lee A-gon, a twenty-one-year-old rookie actor, was still young. He hadn’t even finished middle school and had a difficult childhood, growing up without an Assistant.
He was only just beginning to understand the world. That there were times when one had to apologize even when it wasn’t their fault, the responsibility of a lead actor—these were things he was learning belatedly.
“You worked hard, Lee A-gon.”
Hae-jun smiled brightly at Lee A-gon. It was the best comfort Park Hae-jun, the manager, could offer Lee A-gon.