The S-Rank Paparazzi Reincarnates as an Idol Chapter 88

Chapter 88

 

“It’s pretty chilly since it’s still dawn.”

“Yeah. I don’t think I’ve ever come to an amusement park this early before.”

“Me neither! This is so cool!”

The place we arrived at after getting fully made up in the early morning was a fairly well-known amusement park located outside the city.

That was because the music video for our debut song was being filmed with the amusement park as its backdrop.

‘Just as expected, it fits the song’s atmosphere perfectly.’

At the beginning of the planning meetings, the dominant opinion had been to use a school as the setting for the music video.

Since our debut song had a refreshing concept, I could understand the symbolism that a school setting carried.

But it was also too common.

Too predictable.

If we filmed at a school, it was obvious fans would find it cliché.

At worst, we’d be labeled a generic idol group from the very beginning.

Concerned about that possibility, I strongly opposed the school setting.

While searching for alternatives, the idea that came to me was an amusement park.

‘There’s probably no better place than an amusement park to portray a refreshing concept together with the thrill of excitement.’

After I pushed for it repeatedly, the company eventually accepted the idea following several rounds of discussion.

Once the location was decided, the company rented out an entire amusement park without hesitation.

The financial power and decisiveness of a major entertainment company left me impressed all over again.

“When do you think the sun will come up?”

At Yoo Hoseung’s bright question, I glanced to the side.

“Looking at the time, probably pretty soon.”

Just before sunrise, the pale dawn light slowly seeped through the steel structures.

The carousel horses stood motionless.

The roller coaster remained silent, like a beast catching its breath.

‘Maybe it’s because it’s dawn? The amusement park feels pretty eerie.’

The sight of the empty amusement park gave off a strangely unsettling feeling.

“Wow… we’re really filming our music video at an amusement park?”

“This is going to be fun!”

In contrast to the gloomy atmosphere, excitement dripped from the members’ voices.

Seeing them smile brightly despite the dark, deserted amusement park made me realize I really was getting older.

The staff began moving busily to prepare for filming.

More than seventy people had gathered from the early morning to shoot a music video that would only be about four minutes long.

Camera rails were laid down.

Lights were erected.

“Nice to meet you all, Rusta.”

While I was observing the set, a middle-aged man wearing a cap approached us.

The brim of his hat was slightly worn from years of use, and his beard was so thick it covered nearly half his face.

“My name is Oh Jihoon, and I’ll be directing your music video today.”

His eyes, hidden beneath the shadow of his cap, always seemed half asleep.

“Hello, Director!”

“We look forward to working with you today!”

“Right. Just so you know, we only have this amusement park for today. No matter what happens, every amusement park scene must be finished before the day ends.”

“Yes, sir!”

‘A music video shoot with a strict time limit.’

Given the location, it couldn’t really be helped.

“Once everything is ready, we’ll begin filming immediately. Please stand by.”

“Yes!”

The moment the director returned to where the cameras were, a stylist approached us.

“Siwoo and Chan, let’s do one more outfit check.”

“Okay.”

We followed the stylist back toward the waiting room.

“Siwoo, aren’t you nervous?”

Although Kang Chan spoke expressionlessly, both of his hands were visibly trembling.

‘This guy’s really nervous.’

The director’s warning about finishing all the amusement park scenes today had probably made him even more anxious.

“I’m okay. Are you nervous?”

Kang Chan, whose expression remained unchanged, slowly nodded.

“Yeah. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t.”

‘He struggled a lot during the commercial shoot too.’

A music video shoot lasted far longer than a commercial.

And there were individual acting scenes as well.

Naturally, he seemed tense.

“If you’re too nervous, just think of it as performing on stage.”

“…!”

“This is a filming set, but it’s also a giant stage. A stage where we’re showing our new song to the fans.”

“…Thanks.”

I could see the trembling in Kang Chan’s hands gradually subsiding.

“Good.”

After finishing the outfit check, we headed back to the set.

The members who were already waiting greeted us by waving enthusiastically.

“Guys! Hurry over here!”

“Hyungs! They said filming’s about to start!”

“Okay!”

The first scene was filmed in front of the amusement park’s main entrance.

The scenery before us felt as if reality and a fairy tale world were blending together at the gates.

When I turned around, towering blue castle walls stretched toward the sky.

The spires rose sharply upward, and a metal flag atop the tallest tower slowly rotated in the wind.

The sunlight caught the surfaces of the towers, making them gleam.

The entire place felt detached from reality.

‘But why does this place feel familiar?’

I tilted my head in confusion.

“Let’s officially begin filming!”

“Yes!”

At the director’s words, my attention returned to the camera.

“For the first shot, Cha Siwoo will be at the center while the other members gather one by one at the entrance.”

“Yes.”

“Act as though you’re meeting for the first time. Once everyone has gathered, smile while looking at one another.”

“Understood!”

Apparently satisfied with the energetic response, the director nodded and walked back toward the cameras.

“We’ll begin filming now.”

As the signal rang out, the amusement park came alive.

The rides that had stood still slowly began moving.

Sunlight poured across the empty pathways.

“Ready… Action!”

‘He said to portray the excitement of meeting someone for the first time.’

Recalling the script I’d reviewed beforehand, I carefully managed my expression.

As I turned my head from side to side, the members approached one by one according to the planned order.

The first to arrive was Yoo Hoseung.

When he spotted me, he showed a look of surprise.

As expected, even the seedling of a future actor was extraordinary.

“Cut! Both of you are good at acting.”

“Thank you!”

The director smiled with satisfaction and continued filming.

“Ready… Action!”

The second person to approach was Kim Sunyoo.

He widened his eyes slightly when he saw us before breaking into a gentle smile.

‘Sunyoo’s pretty good at acting too.’

The shoot continued smoothly.

The third to arrive was Seo Hayul.

He walked over while trying his hardest to look cool and mysterious.

‘…Pfft!’

It was so funny that I barely managed to suppress my laughter.

Rua, true to his reputation as someone born to be an entertainer, approached cheerfully without the slightest sign of nervousness.

“Haha! Guys~”

The director looked pleased by how natural he appeared and immediately gave an okay sign.

After everyone finished their scripted acting, Kang Chan finally strode over.

The expressionless Kang Chan looked at the group and only slightly raised the corners of his lips.

“Cut! We’ll do that again.”

‘Wasn’t that good enough?’

I was confused, but a rookie idol couldn’t exactly question the director’s judgment.

The director was an entirely different person whenever he looked through a camera.

The eyes that had seemed indifferent moments ago instantly sharpened.

Not even the slightest shake inside the frame escaped his notice.

“Sorry.”

“Let’s start again.”

The scene where Kang Chan joined us was filmed over and over.

By the time my facial muscles were starting to cramp, the director finally nodded in satisfaction.

“Cut! That was good. Let’s move on to the next scene.”

“Yes!”

“Next, everyone will walk from the entrance to the carousel together. Just walk naturally like you normally would.”

“Okay!”

“We’ll begin right away. Three… two… one… action!”

‘Naturally, huh.’

Holding a balloon in one hand, I put on my professional social smile.

“Hahaha.”

“Hehe.”

Making awkward laughter sounds for no reason, I headed toward the destination.

‘This is nothing like how I normally act.’

Being an idol really wasn’t easy.

Just as we finally reached the carousel…

“Ah…!”

A strong gust of wind suddenly blew past, causing me to lose my grip on the balloon in my right hand.

‘My balloon.’

The balloon floated into the sky, catching the sunlight.

“Cut!”

“I’m sorry!”

I immediately bowed ninety degrees in response to the unexpected mistake.

“Cha Siwoo.”

“Yes?”

When I raised my head, the director’s expression was surprisingly calm.

“It actually feels more natural this way. We can use the balloon scene.”

Though his voice was low and rough, the faint upward curve hidden beneath his beard signaled that he liked the shot.

“Thank you!”

‘That’s a relief.’

It had been an accident, but if the director liked it, that was all that mattered.

“Next, we’ll film the group choreography in front of the carousel.”

The carousel had not yet fully started moving.

Instead of music, only the low hum of warming motors echoed across the ground.

The horses decorated with golden ornaments stood frozen in place with their heads held high.

Behind them, colorful lights gradually flickered on one by one.

The members lined up in front of the carousel.

The formation was perfect.

The spacing looked as though it had been measured with a ruler.

Everyone’s eyes faced the camera directly.

Their shirts fluttered slightly in the wind, blending strangely with the carousel decorations.

Standing at the boundary between reality and fantasy, the scene looked so perfectly arranged that it felt unreal.

“Action!”

The director’s low voice came through the radio.

As the playback began, the first beat struck.

Thanks to all our training, our bodies moved naturally with the music.

The angle of each step.

The height of every arm movement.

The timing of every turn of the head.

The results of countless hours of practice revealed themselves without the slightest deviation.

The fairy-tale backdrop of the carousel collided with the precisely calculated choreography, creating a strange tension.

And then it happened.

The carousel began to move.

Whether a staff member had pressed a button or it had always been part of the cue, I didn’t know.

‘Beautiful.’

The horses began rotating smoothly, moving half a beat slower than the music’s tempo.

The golden ornaments sparkled as though liquid light were flowing across them.

The song surged toward its climax.

The choreography never stopped.

If anything, it looked as though the carousel itself was following our movements.

When I extended my arm, a horse behind me raised its head in the same direction.

The lights flashed a beat after our jump move.

“Keep going!”

The director spoke quietly.

His eyes never left the monitor.

As the chorus began, all the members stepped forward together for the highlight choreography.

The motion of raising our hands as if greeting someone flowed perfectly with the lyric “Hello.”

At that exact moment, as though it had been waiting for the scene, every light at the center of the carousel illuminated at once.

The camera pulled back, capturing the entire group in a single frame.

Moving in rhythm with the sound of the rotating carousel, we finally froze together in the final pose.

“Hoo… Haa…”

Heavy breathing escaped between the members as the intensity of the choreography lingered.

‘Everyone danced exactly as we practiced.’

The image of our flawless synchronized dance flashed through my mind.

‘Will the director like it?’

While catching my breath, I stared silently at his lips.

“Okay.”

With that single word, the tension snapped.

Small exclamations erupted among the staff.

Someone let out a long breath over the radio.

“Wow, are they really rookies?”

“Maybe acting isn’t their specialty, but nobody made a single mistake in the choreography!”

“They nailed it in one take? That’s impressive.”

As praise poured in, memories of all the sleep we’d sacrificed for practice flashed through my mind.

‘All that hard work paid off.’

The other members seemed to feel the same way.

Their expressions were noticeably brighter when they looked at each other.

No one said anything.

But everyone knew.

This scene was going to stay.

“Now we’ll move on to individual filming. First, Seo Hayul and Kang Chan, please come forward.”

For this song’s introduction, Kang Chan and Seo Hayul had been chosen because of their appealing low voices.

As a result, they were the first to begin filming their individual and duet scenes.

“Guys, do your best!”

“Fighting!”

“We’ll be back.”

The two walked away amid the members’ cheers.

“Pulling off the choreography in one take feels amazing.”

“Yeah. All that practice was worth it.”

We headed back to the waiting room while waiting for our turn.

As the endless waiting continued, I sat down on a sofa to catch my breath.

Then…

“Hey, guys. Let’s go ride some attractions while we’re waiting!”

“…What?”

Since Kang Chan and Seo Hayul’s shoot was taking longer than expected, Rua suddenly made an out-of-nowhere suggestion, apparently because he was bored.

“Sounds good.”

Kim Sunyoo, whom I had expected to object, unexpectedly agreed.

‘Why are you going along with it too…?’