CHAPTER ONE

RQS Production

Ending with a cheerful round of applause, it was a sign of another successful show. The hardship throughout the making of the entire production period closed with joy and a seemingly endless ray of thank you as well as congratulations. The team gathered around on the stage which would be sadly taken down as it was the finale and no more shows shall be played. A sigh escaped from a figure that chose to eye on their work before the responsible team gradually took down the massive stage. Before they realised it, the concrete product was gone as if it vanished into thin air with no trace of metals and planks being left out.

That was it. She is beyond relief when plentiful of positive comments come up onto the screen of her computer a week after the latest play. As the Head of the Technical Department of the play, she is proud to say it is the best stage she ever designed for a theatre performance. The overall lights set up shone according to the plan and the audio played exactly based what had been written on the cue sheet.

Everything went off smoothly in her opinion. There were a number of misunderstandings and fights along the way which were to be expected. However, with the calm director leading the whole production, it reflected on the final night which was apparently the best among the previous nights.

The girl closes the computer, putting it on sleep mode for the rest of the day as she does not want to bother herself by rebooting the entire system when she is planning to stay up in the cramped workspace. Scattered papers of old designs and pictures were all neatly arranged on the corkboard which she supposedly should start clearing for a future project. She assumes the next time she lands another work, it will be on a brand new level.

Nonetheless, her eyes drift towards her left side where a hardcover portfolio was left open. Smiling at the viewed page, she lets a sigh out and wonders if she is ready to take the challenge when it comes.

Transitioning to a group of boys within the same age range of the early twenties, the three of them circle on a round table in a semi lid room. It is not good for the eyes yet none of them is bothered enough to light the area. Not that they cannot afford with the student wage and production income, they are just tired from doing their actual morning routine and by the time they managed to get together, the sun is almost out.

“Well, are you sure we can do this? It sounds a bit more than the previous one.” A fellow who visually appears the eldest among them bites his tongue lightly upon reading a centimetre thick of script. He switches his view from the synopsis page before looking at the one with circular rimmed glasses across him. “Anything is possible for a theatre if you asked me. What do you think?” The boy passed the question to the last one.

“I agree with Wonwoo, Seungcheol.”

Upon revealing the twos’ name, Wen Junhui being the one who stated the agreement takes the script written by no other than Jeon Wonwoo from the future director in the room, Choi Seungcheol. The trio has been together on several projects before with different roles as they believe it is necessary to dab onto multiple spots to be where they are today, aside from Wonwoo though since he is just that good at coming up with new stage play.

“We just need to remember that it is impossible to have Jeonghan again to design everything unless you have another person who can replace him.” Junhui voiced with slight disappointment in his lines. Slow bobbing of heads instantly seen from the other two whilst stumbling in their brains to figure a way out of the problem.

Yoon Jeonghan held one of the important roles in the production they put together for the last few plays. He was the Artistic Director, a Scenographer in theatre dictionary. Sketching the stage, suggesting lighting sequences, designing costumes, and a lot more – it was indeed his forte. Unfortunately for them, he opted to step out of the team once he was offered to work at an actual production house where things will be a lot more stable to him, income-wise.

The Rose Quartz and Serenity Production are anything but a huge and important production house. They are an independent group of young talents such as they are the ones who love watching plays since they were little. The founder of the production team took time to open a place to conduct such projects and finding funds were always a tough challenge since some people are not entirely supportive of their ideas. As it is an independent group, it is not a surprise for people to leave but not without passing the responsibility onto the next generation after. The chosen one is indeed Seungcheol himself.

“How about we try talking to Shua again?” The current Theatre Director popped a name and similarly to Jeonghan’s path, this Joshua Hong also revealed to the group to leave for something more secure. His condition is proven the hardest seeing that his parents never liked him meddling with the so-called artsy world. He figured he had enough so he simply flew across the world to actually further his study unlike our director here.

“He’s in L.A already. Is there really no one in the team that can take over? How about-”

“How about we ask Soonyoung if he can find someone? He has the connections too, remember?” Wonwoo cuts Junhui’s words which the boy pouts and obviously not seen by the other before replying, “I thought you wanted to suggest Soonyoung be our Artistic Director. I’m almost ready to smack your head.”

“Actually, Soonyoung is not a bad designer too. He’s just...how should I say it...” The eldest paused to think and snaps his fingers in excitement. “I don’t see any trouble in having him as the Scenographer though. Should I talk to him tomorrow?”

“But isn’t he more of a tech guy or something? I saw what he did with the lights for the latest show.” Wonwoo added his point. “And he was just the assistant. If I’m you, I will probably go for the leader of his department and hire whoever it was to be the Scenographer. I can see it will come in handy since this play can possibly be designed minimally but with extravagant lighting and audio work.”

“Do you think you can be the assistant director for this then?” Seungcheol beamed at the playwright who rolls his eyes. He thought they already agreed on the position minutes ago. He guesses the fellow can be quite forgetful. That he needs to take note on since he has long accepted the position to sit by the older fellow’s side.

“That is settled then. I will still need a date set for the casting sessions. Should we put it up the same as per usual? I need to let the EM know about it. If I’m lucky enough, I might actually have a chance to discuss more stuff with the PM.” Junhui being the Stage Manager of the upcoming play (if it happens he sneaks that into his brain), he needs to inform the Event Manager as well as the Production Manager to help him in setting the venue up. “Yeah, just go with the usual. The kids there are good actors so I see no harm to that. Maybe we can snatch new faces too and recruit them.”

“Let’s just wish we are not clashing with another theatre casting session. We know what will happen when it happens, right? I never saw our previous director so pissed before. I bet Seungcheol learns that the hard way.”

“Don’t remind me.” Seungcheol groans once he remembers what happened during the initial phase of the previous play’s production. He was the Assistant Director and worked as the Stage Manager on the spare times whenever they were short of crew during practices. Let’s just say, they only managed to get leftover talents and none of them was experienced dancers. At least they made a decent group of backup dancers though. One of the many gestures he had done throughout the whole ordeal was face-palm and lots of it.

“I’m going to hope Yanan and Sungjae will do a great job at picking the audition space. I don’t want to do at the campus quad again. That was terrible and embarrassing.”

“Hey, put more hope in him at least. We’re not taking them in to be the EM and PM for nothing for goodness sake. Not to mention your close friend too.” Junhui mentioned as a reminder since he clearly recalled it was not the duo who handled that chaotic event back then.

He loves running. It gives him the needed adrenaline rush flowing in his veins yet the reasoning behind his sprinting seems to make him feel everything but loving it. It is unlike him to unnecessarily break into a run, steps bigger than his usual as he heads towards the performing arts building. He loves running but not when he is running late for class.

“Please be open. Please be open.” The boy chanted as soon as he finds the door leading to the lecture hall closing its distance as he increases his speed because he does not have the time to stop and get a glance at his watch.

He wants to scream. Really, he wants to do so yet the only thing comes out of his mouth is a curse before he lets his hand slides off the door, dejected to find the door indeed locked which translate to him being tardy for the second time in a span of three weeks. Note to self, he swears to never stay up late or procrastinating with his assignments again. But hey, a student is a student and he will surely break his own oath again.

In the midst of defeat, the boy, namely Xu Minghao feels the vibration in his pocket which he immediately takes out only to have his eyes widen upon answering the call. The call later then takes him to the faculty’s cafeteria where his friend waving over in his direction. Putting up an annoyed expression, he slips onto the bench and looks up at the ever-so cheery Kim Mingyu.

“You could’ve called me last night to tell me about the class being cancelled, you punk!” Minghao fired when Mingyu keeps on being his own giggly mess which causes the other to have another reason to be beyond than pissed. To think that the fellow literally lives across him, the least he could do is just that. “I knew about it in the morning, okay? Besides, I’m just taking the subject as a minor unlike you who is obviously a Film major.”

“I just fetched my phone back from the service centre this morning too and got it all formatted. How am I supposed to get the text, huh?” He rolls his eyes and mutters how he wasted his morning lining up at the store to retrieve his broken phone and running for the afternoon Cinematography class.

“By the way, I have to cancel the movie night this Friday. I got a text from RQS again. I have to go to the meeting because I’m important enough to join from scratch for once.”

“Isn’t this your third time working for them? Are you even getting paid decently for those?” The Film student questioned the apparently Theatre student in front of him with a curious look. They have been friends for months or a year (almost) so Minghao knew how Mingyu worked extra hard doing the things he formerly sees as a hobby to an actual job. Though the payment received is supposedly more than he earned as he often came out of the production budget to buy new materials but the boy does not seem to mind it, unlike the other lad.

“I need to, Hao. It’s hard enough to fill my portfolio so why not? I might get a job as a fashion designer at the company I like if I work hard for this, you know?” Mingyu defended. They discussed this before. The reason that keeps him going back to design costumes for the talents cast for the play. It is just this time around, it will be different. Minghao concludes it will be different since his friend is very persistent about it.

“How different will it be, Gyu? You barely managed to keep up with the reports and assignments. You told me it will be a hectic semester.” He said, playing with his smartphone as if it is a fidget spinner. One can clearly tell what actually happened to the phone beforehand.

“It’s not as hectic this time, Hao.” The tall fellow stressed the need word before adding on, “I was exaggerating. I’m doing just fine. Besides, this is my first time as the Head of the Costume Department. I don’t know who the Artistic Director is yet since Seungcheol didn’t tell me but-”

“You’re telling me, Choi Seungcheol, the Director of this play, doesn’t have an Artistic Director sorted out yet?” That is enough to make Minghao questioning about Seungcheol even more. He heard about the guy before. He even attended some of his previous work which he took as the Assistant Director so he can pick up a pattern. He does not take Theatre for his minor for nothing. Thanks to his fellow beanpole-like friend who suggested that that brought out his hidden talent in acting.

“I think I still have to watch that movie anyway. It’s for my review assignment. I can’t risk getting my paper thrown out of the window again. It’s dreading just thinking about it.”

“Chill, Hao. That happened like two semesters ago. Why are you still thinking about that? You’re the top student now too.”

“Being academically on the top is not good in this era now, is it? I still need to get that extra credit for Acting class. Do you know anyone who looks for an amateur?”

“I don’t know. My major is Scenography, remember? I’m not exactly the buddy-buddy kind to talk with the other kids from the other theatre courses.” Mingyu pursed his lips as he meets the eyes of a helpless Minghao. Well, he has an idea.

“How about you try auditioning for RQS Production? There’ll sure be a casting session happening soon. Try landing on the supporting role and you’re good to go. But careful not to be too good or you might get the leading role and that’s a no-no.” The friend suggested, waving his left index finger to stress his last word.

“Why? Am I not good enough to take a leading role?” A hint of disappointment can be heard in Minghao’s sentence but he eases when he listens to Mingyu’s additional statement. “I’m just saying that you already fit the leading role. In fact, Sungjae already sent a synopsis of the story. I’m just giving a heads up since really you’re the first guy I can think of that fits the character.”

“Great. I have to act I’m not good enough to get casted in a theatre performance. I wonder how your brain even works at most time, Gyu.”

“Sometimes I just let them fly somewhere happy and most of the times they’ll return back with brilliant ideas.”

“Great.” Minghao pondered silently. “Most of the times...”

 MEET THE CREW