I Want to Be a VTuber

Occasionally, during a drama shoot, the script gets swapped out.

In such cases, there are various reasons behind it.

One could be that the audience’s reactions were overwhelmingly negative, prompting urgent modifications.

Or perhaps the writer left midway or was replaced.

When the writing pace can’t keep up with the filming schedule,

naturally, the prepared script mostly reflects the original version, so the newly prepared script might only arrive on the day of filming.

“Is this right?”

“……”

The expressions of idol-turned-actors, Ma Yeon-woo, Cha Na-hee, and Aiden, were very complicated.

At least Cha Na-hee had some acting experience, but for the other two, this was their first foray into acting.

But was Cha Na-hee’s situation any better? Not really.

‘It’s my first time with a revised script…’

A sense of gloom began to creep in.

Well, in Dream Future, the one facing the most criticism was none other than Song So-ha.

In other words, that was the role Cha Na-hee was playing.

‘My presence is diminishing Jo Ha-rin’s role.’

Of course, Director Kim Pil-seok claimed the revised script was due to writer Im Jin-ha’s personal ambitions, but there were aspects hard to accept just with that explanation.

Even if it wasn’t a personal whim, the script would have certainly been modified.

Jo Ha-rin, with her minimal screen time, received about as much buzz online as Song So-ha.

That meant Cha Na-hee’s role, as Song So-ha, had a lack of presence.

“……”

This wasn’t good for the lead actress driving the story forward.

Director Kim Pil-seok was also increasingly demanding more from Cha Na-hee.

Even if Jo Ha-rin gained more prominence and popularity here, the true lead of the drama was still Song So-ha.

If Song So-ha couldn’t thrive, the drama would ultimately flop.

‘What a troubled face.’

When the hastily revised script was handed out, the actors’ expressions darkened.

Only two remained unbothered.

Park Jung-woo and Joo Seo-yeon.

Especially Park Jung-woo, a veteran with over ten years of experience since his child acting days.

Sure, calling someone in their twenties a veteran sounds odd, but that was the case.

‘That kid doesn’t seem like someone who has returned to acting after ten years.’

Suddenly, the weight of expectation increased.

He could easily have felt a tremendous pressure, yet Seo-yeon maintained a steady expression.

The suddenly boosted lines didn’t phase her at all.

Instead, she thought,

‘Why has Jo Ha-rin’s role increased so much?’

Ma Yeon-woo’s face turned pale while checking the script.

After nearly injuring himself in an arm wrestling match, he’d been careful around Seo-yeon, but that situation had been improving lately.

‘Aside from narrowly avoiding a broken arm, he doesn’t seem that intimidating.’

He recognized this to some extent; he’d been on friendly terms by calling everyone by their names on set.

Seo-yeon appeared indifferent to it too.

However, two days ago, after watching The Chaser with the members of Just X,

“Wow, that’s her?”

“She’s the girl shooting with Yeon-woo this time.”

“Is she really the same person? Good thing we didn’t mess with her then.”

The members of Just X had been muttering such things while looking at Ma Yeon-woo.

And he understood what they were hinting at.

It was mostly sympathetic gazes.

‘……It’s just acting, what does it matter?’

He thought that, but the image of Cha Seo-ah from the film was too powerful to easily forget.

Her shining red eyes in the rain.

The firefighting axe in her hands.

The beast-like appearance as she charged at the last police officer.

It overlapped with the image of Seo-yeon bending her arm backward.

“…….”

Even while knowing it wasn’t true, human perceptions can be strange like that.

But up to that point, it was bearable.

Jo Ha-rin’s role wasn’t significant in Dream Future.

When they crossed paths on set, Seo-yeon would bow her head to greet them.

Their conversations weren’t many enough to be burdensome.

That was certainly the case until today.

“Um, Senior Park. Is this right? Can scripts really change so suddenly?”

In reality, Yeon-woo was four years older than Park Jung-woo.

Twenty-four.

Second oldest among Just X.

But now that they were in the acting scene, he tried to refer to Jung-woo as “senior” in a friendly manner, often jokingly.

“It’s quite common.”

“Really?”

“What’s the problem?”

Yeon-woo gulped at Park Jung-woo’s calm inquiry.

Yeon-woo was a popular idol, so he had seen countless handsome men, yet Jung-woo stood out among them.

It’s often said no matter how good-looking an idol is, they lose their shine next to an actor.

Though Yeon-woo wouldn’t readily admit it, there was definitely something about Jung-woo that made it ring true.

It was his looks and an aura that seemed hard to approach.

Much like the one Seo-yeon possessed.

Park Jung-woo, seeing Yeon-woo’s demeanor, shot a look of sympathy.

‘……It must be a huge burden.’

Sudden script changes are tough on the actors.

Especially with an idol trying acting for the first time.

Especially when the co-star is Seo-yeon.

‘That girl, her acting is no joke.’

Jung-woo had seen The Chaser.

His impression after watching was,

‘So, she could reach this level.’

A mix of admiration and awe.

Honestly, her acting surpassed Jo Ha-rin’s by far.

The synchronicity was staggering, and her emotions cut through to the audience beyond the screen.

It set a standard every actor should aspire to hit.

Seo-yeon’s performance as Cha Seo-ah was that level.

Even Jung-woo’s father, actor Park Sun-woong, commented,

“I knew Seo-yeon was a good actress, but Cha Seo-ah is on a different level.”

“……Different?”

“You’d feel it too. Seo-yeon’s specialty is method acting, you see. But Cha Seo-ah wasn’t that.”

Actually, since her return to acting, Seo-yeon hadn’t relied much on method acting.

There just wasn’t a role that required that deep immersion, nor could the situation allow for it.

She had gotten through with the acting techniques acquired over ten years.

But Cha Seo-ah was different.

‘Her true self.’

She could almost be called that.

The vivacity was such that it hardly felt like acting at all.

If Jung-woo felt that way, then the audience would perceive her performance even more rawly.

Cha Seo-ah had a significant presence in the movie, but her screen time was rather short.

It was mainly during the murder scenes and the part with her part-time job.

A brief flashback each time the detectives chased leads.

That was all, yet it generated this much buzz.

Originally, the term “ten-million actor” is reserved for the film’s leads.

But no one hesitated to label Seo-yeon, playing Cha Seo-ah, as a “ten-million actor”.

‘……Could she have that condition……’

Wasn’t there a term for it? Emotional detachment or something like that.

The level of understanding she conveyed was absurd.

You could feel just how terrifying it was through her acting.

The discomfort.

A strangeness that felt human yet non-human.

Jung-woo couldn’t help but wonder if Seo-yeon was suffering from that affliction.

Even Joo Seo-hee, who had watched the same movie, showed notable signs of agitation.

“I have to check in person later; I need to see it with my own eyes.”

She had said, leaving in a rush.

‘But were they close enough to worry that much?’

It didn’t feel like that, but for some reason, Joo Seo-hee seemed particularly fond of Seo-yeon.

The reason was unclear, but still.

‘……Well, she probably isn’t suffering from something like that.’

Watching Seo-yeon in Deserted Island Survival,

He felt she was more emotional and in-touch than anyone.

It merely took time for those feelings to surface.

So Jung-woo didn’t believe Seo-yeon was suffering from such a frightening condition.

In fact, the thought of competing with an actress of her caliber sparked his curiosity.

“You don’t have to feel too pressured by Seo-yeon’s acting. She’ll adapt well, no doubt.”

Anyway, Jung-woo thought Yeon-woo’s anxiety stemmed from Seo-yeon’s incredible acting skills.

Yeon-woo, though decent for an idol, was plagued by the most controversy over “bad acting”.

‘No, it’s different.’

Yeon-woo had given up on explaining further to Jung-woo.

He couldn’t exactly say he was frightened of acting with the actress.

“Park Jung-woo!”

Suddenly, a petite woman rushed over to Jung-woo.

It was the newly appointed drama writer, Min Se-hee.

“Yes?”

“Do you, um, happen to know where Joo Seo-yeon is?”

“Oh, over there. …But, is something wrong?”

“No! It’s just that I need to explain various situations since things have changed quite a bit.”

“Oh, okay.”

“Thank you!!”

As Min Se-hee bowed and hurried off, Jung-woo recalled the script once more.

‘She probably wants to explain the revised script.’

The role had increased.

And there was clearly a love line involved.

With Ma Yeon-woo.

So there would certainly be quite a few things to discuss.

“……”

Jung-woo rubbed his chin with his thumb.

A love line… that should have been included from the start.

However, up till now, due to lowered emphasis, all such parts had been excluded.

‘Did she avoid including it because she didn’t want to give Seo-yeon a love line with the actor she liked?’

That was probably not the reason.

As the roles were trimmed down, there was nothing left to cut except that.

The addition of a love line inevitably means more narrative.

Since she had tagged the love lines for Yeon-woo and other actors, it wouldn’t be right to say that she avoided it.

‘……But.’

Jung-woo’s expression turned serious.

Seo-yeon’s past performances.

And the revised script.

The emotion and presence he witnessed on the deserted island.

Comparing that to this new script…

“Min Se-hee!”

“Yes?”

Jung-woo grabbed Min Se-hee before she turned to leave.

“I’d like to ask you something about the script.”

“Yeah?!”

Min Se-hee froze at Jung-woo’s suddenly serious tone.

Typically, whenever he asked so earnestly, it often led to the most troublesome situations.

*

Seo-yeon’s pupils jolted as she looked over the revised script.

The details of the original Dream Future were all in her head.

She knew exactly how Dream Future succeeded initially.

‘Surely Dream Future will start plummeting at first, then regain viewership around episode 7.’

That pattern mirrored her past life almost identically.

The only episode that had exceptionally high ratings was the first, where Seo-yeon shone.

She had propelled Dream Future to a 15% viewership rate, but in her previous life, the premiere had only garnered a mere 7%.

She had already hit double that in the first episode, and while it gradually spiraled downwards afterward, it still remained higher than in her previous life.

Originally, from that point on, Dream Future would begin to inch upwards in ratings from around episode 7, ultimately closing at a whopping 20%.

Jo Ha-rin’s prominence dwindled around episode 7, leaving her unable to reap the benefits, yet Seo-yeon was still fine.

Post-episode 8, the drama’s latter half often showcased deeper love lines.

However, for Jo Ha-rin, whose role would diminish from episode 8 onward, that wouldn’t be the case!!

But now?

‘It’s clear that the interactions with Park Min-yul have increased.’

Park Min-yul, the character played by Ma Yeon-woo.

To confirm Seo-yeon’s rising popularity, that role had definitely expanded.

And with that increase post-episode 7, it indicated a significant uptick in romantic elements.

‘Can I, really do this?’

Honestly, she wasn’t confident.

She couldn’t even fully understand those feelings.

“Joo-Joo-Joo, Joo Seo-yeon!”

The sound of hurried footsteps as Min Se-hee rushed towards her was unmistakable.

Behind her was Kim Pil-seok, the director.

She was definitely here to give acting guidance before they kicked off the shoot.

“Can I change a few of the lines in the script?”

“Yes?”

Thus began their newly added script changes.

Fresh guidance for acting.

With the main writer replaced, the first filming of Dream Future kicked off like this.

And.

“Dream Future…… will it be okay this week? I just hope it doesn’t drop any further.”

The employees at KMB’s Drama Department were worried as they exchanged such conversations.

The drama that started off considerably well at 15% was gradually trending downward.

Because of that, the competing MDC drama airing simultaneously was laughing all the way to the bank.

“I heard the writer was swapped out.”

“Does that really mean a significant turnaround?”

“Probably not. It usually doesn’t.”

Changing writers often swung to be a bad omen.

Revised scripts often ended up subpar.

Previously, it had been enjoyable to see live reactions in the chatrooms, but now they hesitated to look.

“Still, we should check the ratings. It’s been about 20 minutes since it started, right? What’s the percentage?”

It had appeared roughly the same as before the start. It had been similar ten minutes ago too.

So they thought it wouldn’t change much this time either.

“Uh, 14%.”

“Okay, 14%…… huh?”

14%

That figure approached the premiere’s highest rating.

“Quick! Tell the producer ASAP, hurry!!”

“Yes!!”

He hurriedly reviewed the live chat for Dream Future to find out what had transpired in just ten minutes.

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