Superstar 836
by CristaeWhen Seo-jun met the cat’s eyes, he gave a gentle smile and took a small step back from the cage.
Hailey Lodge, who had once declared, “I like both dogs and cats, but if I had to choose—definitely cats!” mirrored Seo-jun’s cautious movement, her face slightly flushed.
They both knew just how sensitive cats could be.
“Alright, please open them.”
After confirming that the meeting room door was securely shut, Director Wilma gave the signal. The three handlers unlocked the cages.
Click.
With that sound, the locks opened, and the doors slowly swung open. The already quiet meeting room fell into an even deeper hush.
Strange environment. Unfamiliar space. New people.
Most cats wouldn’t come out, or if they did, they’d immediately hide. That’s likely why Wilma had made sure the room was secure.
‘Will it take some time for them to come out?’ Seo-jun wondered—barely a second before a soft black paw peeked out.
It was Jack, the black cat.
Jack’s right front paw emerged from the cage, then the left. A small head the size of Seo-jun’s fist followed, then a flexible torso and a waving tail.
Oh…
Seo-jun let out a quiet breath of admiration at the fearless and smooth movement.
Jack stepped fully out of the cage and scanned the room with golden eyes.
He looked at Seo-jun first, then Hailey, then turned his head to Wilma and the handlers—likely checking for his human.
If he had been a dog, he would’ve run over tail wagging. But, true to cat form, he gave his waving hand a glance and simply stretched out his front paws. His black tail rippled like a wave.
“Ah…”
The owner, who’d been waving, smiled in resigned amusement. ‘Of course. What was I expecting?’
Everyone stifled a laugh at the classic cat behavior.
Rather than going to his owner, Jack sat just in front of the cage and began grooming himself calmly.
Then, Lily and Bella appeared.
“They really do look identical.”
“Yeah. Without the name tags, I’d be confused.”
Glossy black fur, bright yellow eyes—three perfect copies, from ears to tail.
“Are their personalities the same too?”
“Seems like it.”
Just like Jack, Lily and Bella didn’t freeze up. They calmly observed the surroundings, glanced at Seo-jun, Hailey, then Wilma and their owners.
“Ah, maybe not,” Seo-jun amended with a smile.
Unlike Jack, Lily and Bella ran straight to their owners when they saw them.
The two handlers laughed and scooped them up.
Meanwhile—
“Jaaack…”
Jack’s handler called out tearfully.
Jack didn’t even blink, continuing to groom himself without a care in the world.
More quiet laughter filled the room.
“They all seem so comfortable here.”
“They were chosen specifically for their adaptability,” Director Wilma nodded. “They’re also friendly, which is important on a busy set.”
Indeed, Lily and Bella were already exploring the room, their eyes curious.
“Jack’s more… detached, though. He was like this even during auditions.”
He was now comfortably perched on the table, sitting like a loaf of bread.
“Will he perform well?”
Hailey sounded uncertain.
Wilma chuckled.
“He’ll be fine. Jack’s the most experienced of them all. He’s done several commercials and even appeared briefly on TV.”
“Really?”
Seo-jun and Hailey’s eyes widened. The handler shrugged with a resigned smile.
“Yup. He’s smart. Understands everything I say, but…”
But?
Seo-jun and Hailey blinked.
“…he just ignores me. He’s good during filming, though. If you give him treats.”
The room burst into laughter.
“Bella loves treats too.”
“So does Lily. Oh, and she’s crazy for feather toys.”
Toys came out from the handlers’ bags, catching the attention of the two curious cats.
“When filming with animals, personality matters—but knowing what they like is more important.”
“Why’s that?”
Seo-jun, new to animal acting, asked.
“It’s how we guide them. Treat lovers will move where we lure them. Toy lovers, well—”
Wilma waved a toy.
Meow! Lily and Bella leapt into the air like sleek panthers.
“Whoa!”
Hailey watched them with delighted eyes.
“See?”
“I get it now.”
“I can make Jack move too!”
Unlike the other two, Jack had been snoozing until now. His handler reached into the bag.
Rustle.
Jack’s eyes shot open. He sat up and stared intently at the sound.
Seo-jun laughed.
So this is what they mean by “cat food opener”…
“This is freeze-dried tuna. Want to give it to Jack?”
Jack’s laser-focused eyes followed the treat as it passed from handler to Seo-jun’s hand.
“He must really love food.”
“He does. We limit his portions so he doesn’t gain weight. That’s why he’s crazy for treats.”
Jack looked like he might drool.
“Tap your lap. He’ll jump up.”
“Okay.”
Seo-jun held up the tiny treat and lightly patted his thigh.
Jack, eyes gleaming like a starved predator (his handler protested), leapt like a shadow and landed neatly on Seo-jun’s lap.
Tap.
Soft toe beans met firm muscle.
“Ooh…”
Perfect landing.
Jack sat neatly and looked up expectantly.
Seo-jun chuckled and gave him the treat.
Meow! For the first time, Jack made a sound and quickly devoured the snack.
Snap.
It was gone in seconds.
Knowing he wouldn’t get another, Jack licked his lips and shifted his weight—about to return to the table.
Then he paused.
Instead of leaving, he started kneading Seo-jun’s lap with his paws.
“Huh?”
Seo-jun tilted his head.
Knead, knead…
Jack circled and kneaded, then settled back down, loafing again. A soft purr followed.
“Wow. He doesn’t usually do that,” his handler said in awe. “He must really like you.”
Seo-jun smiled, gently stroking Jack’s back.
“I like him too.”
“Uh—!”
Hailey’s voice made Seo-jun look up.
Lily and Bella had wandered over, watching curiously.
Meow!
The two cats circled and then leapt—onto Seo-jun’s lap.
Then they got comfy, regardless of Jack being there first.
Huh?
Seo-jun was now a human cat bed.
Correction—Jack quickly escaped the squish, climbed onto Seo-jun’s shoulder, and claimed a new spot.
Now he was a human cat tower.
Seo-jun blinked, then laughed when Jack’s tail brushed his face.
“I want that too…”
Hailey watched longingly. The handlers were stunned.
Wilma, who had been observing from a distance to see which cat paired best with which actor, chuckled.
As expected of Snow White.
Filming would be just fine.
The cat-actor meeting ended on a high note.
Time flew.
On April 3rd, one day before filming—
“…What is this?”
Dan Kendrick blinked, wondering if today was April Fool’s.
A round pig doll sat on a table, surrounded by fruit offerings.
Wilma Evans had brought something odd again.
“It’s for a gosa!”
“Gosa!”
Brian Gudell clearly knew what it was. As the others looked to him for explanation, he eagerly shared.
“It’s a ritual to pray for safety during filming and no injuries for actors and stuntmen. Every movie Jun’s in has one!”
“Not every,” Seo-jun chuckled.
[Sha&Na] had one, but [Over the Rainbow 2] did not.
Maybe because it didn’t have action scenes.
He shrugged.
“If the director wants it, we do it. It’s just a superstition.”
“Even so, it seems to work. No one got hurt in those films, and they were hits.”
That included his own films and [Dandelion], which even won an Oscar.
In film, just like sports, people tended to be superstitious.
“Better safe than sorry!”
“And it brings good luck!”
Even if they trusted New Eclipse, some nerves were inevitable.
“How do we do it, Jun?”
Seo-jun explained the simple ritual.
Soon, everyone was gathered.
“Success! Success!”
“Please bless us!”
“Even just break even!!”
Seo-jun watched Wilma, the actors, and the New Age staff praying solemnly before the pig.
Hmm.
[(Pre-Select) Orc Shaman’s Prayer – Intermediate activated.]
It would definitely work.