As the end of the year approached, most people were slowing down—ready to relax, take a break, and enjoy the holidays.
But not Jihoon.
At the film set of Sunny, things were just getting started.
"Sunny, scene one, first shot, first take. Get ready... action!"
Jihoon sat in his director's chair, eyes glued to the monitor, his director's baton tapping lightly against his leg.
His focus was sharp.
This was day one of filming, and everything needed to go smoothly.
Standing beside him was Sulli, wide-eyed and curious.
She had seen all of Jihoon's films in the cinema, but this was her first time watching him work up close.
And she was fascinated.
Seeing Jihoon direct in real time, shouting commands, adjusting shots, giving feedback—it was like watching a different person.
The scene they were shooting took place in a classroom. It introduced the movie's heroine—a shy new transfer student from the countryside.
She wasn't supposed to be glamorous or confident.
Quite the opposite.
The role called for someone plain, awkward, and a little rough around the edges.
That's why Jihoon cast Song Yoonah.
Her skin was slightly darker than the other actresses', her look more grounded.
She had a quiet presence that fit the role perfectly.
On screen, she wore a short, unstyled haircut and stood nervously at the front of the class.
"Hello, everyone… I just transferred here…"
Her voice trembled slightly. The words were clear but a bit rushed.
Jihoon leaned forward, then raised his hand.
"Cut. Hold on."
The crew paused. Yoonah looked toward the monitor, uncertain.
Jihoon smiled gently and picked up the mic. "Yoonah-noona, you're doing really well," he said.
"That nervous energy? It's perfect for the character. Just slow down a little, okay? Let each word land. We need to hear your lines clearly."
Yoonah nodded, a breath of relief escaping her lips.
She had been nervous—who wouldn't be?
This was her very first movie.
And not just any movie—it was being directed by Jihoon, one of the most respected names in the industry.
But she wasn't the only one feeling the pressure.
Other than Sun Yejin, who had worked with Jihoon before, the rest of the girls were also new to being on a film set.
Only some of them were trained actresses.
And Jihoon had given them that chance.
They were so thankful for the opportunity that they even refused payment.
Not because they didn't need the money, but because they felt it wouldn't be right.
They weren't here for a paycheck.
They were here to learn. To experience. To be part of something meaningful.
And they trusted Jihoon to guide them.
The shoot was currently focused on the high school scenes.
All the cast members were playing students, and while the veteran actresses—like Jung Aeri and the others—weren't due to film yet, they still came to set.
Not because they had to. But because they wanted to.
They sat in on script readings, chatted with the younger cast, and helped build a sense of comfort and teamwork on set.
Some were curious to watch Jihoon direct in person.
After all, he was one of the most talked-about directors in Korea right now.
Geum Bora let out a long sigh as she flipped through the script in her hands.
"Aigoo… this script is really something. Even someone like me, who's read dozens over the years, can't help but feel a little emotional."
Baek Jongok, sitting beside her, nodded in agreement. "You're right, unnie. Now I really understand what it means to be directed by a Palme d'Or winner. The weight of it… you can feel it in every scene."
Jung Aeri, who had been quietly listening, finally chimed in. She'd been in the industry for decades and had seen her share of stories—good and bad.
"Who says it's not impressive?" she said, her tone thoughtful but teasing. "If we're talking about deep, artistic introspection, sure, maybe the script isn't chasing that."
"But if we're talking about excitement, emotions, humor, youth, pain—it's all here. It's packed."
She tapped her finger against the script. "This little boy… he understands women better than women do. And he's only 19. What's going on inside that head of his?"
That comment sparked laughter from the others.
They weren't shooting any scenes that day, so the "nonna squad," as the crew had started calling them, had gathered in a corner of the set.
At first, their chatter was all work-related—script notes, camera angles, costume fittings.
But as with any group of women, the conversation shifted.
Gossip knows no age limits.
They talked and giggled like schoolgirls, despite the years of experience between them.
Some had seen their prime in the '90s, others had been typecast into mother roles for years.
But here, in this room, they were all part of something fresh again. Something exciting.
And outside the set?
Chaos.
The entertainment world was buzzing.
Word had gotten out that Jihoon—yes, the very same Jihoon who had taken Cannes by storm, who was now attached to a Hollywood project—had quietly started filming a new movie back in Korea.
Agencies were panicking. Investors were scrambling. Producers were making calls at all hours.
Everyone wanted a bite of it.
After all, Jihoon wasn't the same director from previous year.
He was already known as a hitmaker.
With two award-winning films behind him and a third one already in post-production, Jihoon had proven himself as more than just a rising star—he was the real deal.
And now, having directed a Hollywood movie, he'd reached another level.
Whether that film turned out to be a box office success or not, just getting the chance to shoot a Hollywood film was like earning a badge of honor.
For any director dreaming of global recognition, that kind of opportunity was a big deal—a symbol that you'd made it onto the world stage.
But by the time the industry caught wind of "Sunny," it was already too late.
Casting? Finalized.
Script? Locked.
Production? Funded.
And none of the usual big agencies or studios had a single hand in it.
That fact alone had more than a few power players in the industry grinding their teeth.
Because once again, Jihoon and JH Pictures had quietly built something magical—without needing to knock on anyone else's door.
But that was a headache for others.
Jihoon, meanwhile, had no time to worry about the buzz outside.
He was on set, knee-deep in filming Sunny, and at the moment… he looked like a man who had just lost a bit of his soul.
It wasn't that he didn't enjoy working with new actors—he actually liked giving fresh faces a shot.
But there was a reason professional training mattered, and today was a clear reminder of that.
Take Lee Minjung, for example.
She was beautiful, camera-ready, and popular—but when it came to acting, the basics just weren't there yet.
She kept glancing straight into the camera during takes, breaking the illusion of the scene.
It wasn't her fault entirely—coming from a modeling background, she hadn't gone through formal acting training.
But for Jihoon, it meant every few minutes, he had to stop filming, reset, and explain things from scratch.
And this wasn't a solo film.
This was a group ensemble—a story built on chemistry, timing, and collective energy.
But out of the whole cast, only the veteran actresses had the instincts and control to nail their roles on the first take.
The rest needed guidance. A lot of it.
So Jihoon found himself walking actor by actor through each scene.
Breaking down their lines, explaining the emotional beats, even showing them the kind of reactions the camera needed to catch.
It was like teaching a crash course in acting—on a live film set.
He wasn't mad. Just tired.
Still, he reminded himself why he gave these women a chance in the first place—because sometimes, talent just needed a bit of shaping.
And if no one gave them the space to grow, then what was the point of making films that spoke to real people?
He took a breath, picked up his mic again, and calmly said,
"Alright, let's try it one more time. And remember—no looking into the camera this time, okay?"
Minjung blushed and quickly nodded, flustered but also eager to get it right.
Jihoon gave her an encouraging nod. "You've got this. Let's roll."
[Author's Note: Heartfelt thanks to Wandererlithe, JiangXiu, Night_Adam, OS_PARCEIROS, BigBoobs, Daoist098135 and Daoistadj for bestowing the power stone!]