"Cut!" Jihoon raised his hand and leaned forward, his voice calm but clear through the mic.
"Jiwon-noona, let's try that again—this time with a warmer smile. Not a big goofy laugh, okay? Just... your normal smile will do..."
"Okay, Jihoon. I'll adjust it," Uhm Jiwon nodded, her cheeks flushing slightly with embarrassment.
She knew she wasn't a trained actress, and she could tell Jihoon had been extra patient with her since the beginning.
His kindness only made her more determined not to disappoint.
"And Minjung-noona," Jihoon sighed, this time rubbing his forehead.
"Can we stop looking directly into the camera? We're shooting a film, not recording a live podcast."
"Ah—sorry, I'll fix it!" Lee Minjung quickly looked down, her voice small, clearly flustered.
She had the kind of gentle beauty that made her look like a painting—sweet, graceful, and harmless.
One glance at her innocent expression, and it was hard for anyone—even Jihoon—to throw any harsh words at her.
Just then, a familiar cheerful voice cut through the tension.
"Oppa! I brought you coffee—black, just the way you like it!"
Sulli trotted over, holding out a takeaway cup with both hands, eyes shining with pride.
Jihoon grinned. "Yo! My good little sister."
He took the coffee and patted her head affectionately. "So, what do you think of your first day on a movie set?"
Sulli lit up, bouncing on her toes. "It's so fun! Way better than the drama set I was on for Ballad of Seodong."
"Oh? What's different?"
Sulli didn't even pause. "Everything! Over there, it was so stiff—everyone was too formal, meals were usually eaten in silence, and the seniors were really strict…"
"Even though I was still young, I could feel how tense it was. It felt more like taking a school exam than working on a film set."
She looked around, smiling at how busy and lively the Sunny crew was as they got ready for the next scene.
"But here? Everyone's joking, chatting, and working together. I don't feel nervous at all. It feels like… family, especially Aeri Sunbae she teach me a lot about acting..."
Jihoon took a sip of the coffee and smiled thoughtfully.
That was exactly what he wanted JH Pictures to be.
Not just a production company, but a place where people could grow, where every cast and crew member—from top stars to rookies—felt comfortable, heard, and respected.
Many of his crew were trained in-house or had followed him from his previous work, including from Inception.
That experience—especially working alongside Hollywood professionals—had changed how they approached filmmaking.
They'd absorbed the Hollywood standard: precise, efficient, and collaborative, without losing the warmth and human touch of the work culture he had emphasized from the beginning.
And now, those same standards were here on the set of Sunny—a film about youth, friendship, and the bittersweet passage of time.
Jihoon looked around at his amateur actors, his seasoned crew, and the unfiltered energy bubbling across the set.
They were far from perfect.
But they were getting there—one warm smile and one coffee break at a time.
The film was originally scheduled to wrap in a month and a half—maybe less if things went smoothly.
But so far, smooth wasn't exactly the word anyone would use.
After a short coffee break, the shoot resumed.
This time, it was the senior actresses—affectionately called the "older nonnas"—stepping in front of the camera, while the younger cast stood off to the side, quietly observing.
"Aeri nonna, that was excellent," Jihoon called out with a satisfied smile. "One take. There's no need for retakes."
"Jongok nonna, amazing as always. Perfect shot."
He turned to another monitor.
"Inhwa-nonna, I'll need one more take. This time, give the emotional outburst a little more punch—bring it from the chest."
For the first time in days, Jihoon finally felt that sense of flow he'd been missing—the kind of rhythm that made the job feel like art again.
On the sidelines, the younger nonnas were wide-eyed.
"Wow, Hyojin-ah, look at them…" Junghyun whispered in awe, nudging her friend. "That was such a long, intense take. And they nailed it in one go."
"Ya! Stop poking me," Hyojin muttered, never taking her eyes off the performance. "Focus. We need to learn everything we can from them."
Truth be told, while these veteran actresses were only playing supporting roles, their presence alone could command a full project's spotlight.
Each one was a heavyweight in the industry.
For any production team, landing just one of them meant a serious budget stretch—not to mention that each of them had personal preferences when it came to choosing projects, which made the vetting of the script even more rigorous.
But Jihoon had done something no other director in Korea dared: he didn't cast one or two, he brought in seven.
It wasn't just about money. It was about respect.
Each of them had different agencies, tight schedules, and high standards.
Some of them only agreed to roles after thoroughly reading and believing in the script.
That's where Jihoon's name came in.
His growing reputation—especially after his Palme d'Or win and his upcoming Hollywood film—had opened doors.
And the Sunny script?
It had heart. It had soul. It had something to say. That was enough to earn their interest.
Of course, when it came to filmmaking, Jihoon never cut corners.
Sure, in everyday life he could be a bit frugal—counting change at a vending machine kind of frugal.
But on set?
He believed in spending where it mattered.
Quality actors. Proper equipment. Enough time.
He knew that if you wanted to make a film that lasted, you had to build it with the best.
Filming was supposed to wrap in a month and a half.
But as the days rolled by, Jihoon realized things weren't moving as quickly as planned.
The younger cast was still finding their rhythm.
Their acting was improving, yes—especially with help from Jihoon and the guidance of the veteran "nonna" actresses—but it was slow.
Jihoon, ever patient, decided not to rush things.
Instead, he extended the shoot by another week and made sure to inform the older actresses in advance.
The younger ones didn't mind the delay.
They were just grateful to be part of something this meaningful.
Sun Yejin, being the most in-demand among them, had a busy schedule and occasionally had to leave for other commitments—but she always came back to the set whenever she could.
By this point, the filming location had changed.
Even though the younger cast members had already wrapped up their scenes, they still came to set to watch and learn.
After all, how often did you get to observe legendary actresses perform right in front of you?
It wasn't just filming anymore—it had become a masterclass in acting.
With Lunar New Year approaching, Jihoon decided to give everyone a well-deserved break.
They would pause filming for three days and resume afterward.
Technically, he could have pushed to keep going.
The cast was willing. The crew was available.
But Jihoon knew better. Keeping people happy mattered just as much as keeping the camera rolling.
Besides, any money lost during the break would be made back easily once the movie hit theaters.
To send everyone off with good vibes, Jihoon organized a holiday gathering.
He booked a private hall at Hotel Shilla—his aunt's hotel—for a festive dinner.
It wasn't just a celebration of the New Year; it was Jihoon's way of saying thank you.
As the crew gathered that evening, dressed in everything from cozy sweaters to formal wear, there was a buzz in the air.
The food was amazing, the atmosphere warm and cheerful—and most importantly, the bonus envelopes were generous, making the crew smile even wider.
[Author's Note: Heartfelt thanks to Wandererlithe, JiangXiu, OS_PARCEIROS, BigBoobs, and Daoistadj for bestowing the power stone!]