The Script-Eating Actor – Chapter 83

Ch 83

I placed the box containing the synopses next to the sofa and carefully took them out one by one.

The synopses of projects that had relatively clear pre-production progress had a brief summary of the investment status.

Things like, “This movie will absolutely not be canceled.”

Or, “It targets this and that audience and does not fall behind the trends.”

All sorts of appeals were written all over, but I didn’t hesitate in my movements.

Flip, flip.

No matter how well they’re packaged, I don’t even glance at anything below 70 points.

Only projects that are guaranteed to be box office hits.

I stop when the script score exceeds 70 points.

And then I read a few lines of the synopsis.

The one thing I consider important in this process is.

‘Intrigue.’

If it doesn’t draw me in even at the synopsis stage, which only highlights the strengths of the project, then it’s not even worth reading.

Because I’ll only be disappointed anyway.

Regardless of genre, if I can naturally picture myself acting just by reading the synopsis, then it passes.

It doesn’t mean final acceptance.

Because I have to meticulously examine the projects filtered in the first round.

I need to find a project that will develop my career by asking who the director is, what the director’s previous work is, whether the investment is perfect, whether there is a distribution company involved, and if necessary, even inquiring about the casting status.

Guarantee?

It’s going to follow anyway.

Enough without having to try to raise it.

That’s how dozens of synopses were narrowed down to just three projects.

“<7 Years of Memory>”

A masterpiece thriller written by Director Park Jin-woo.

I was wondering what to do if Director Park Jin-woo’s work didn’t quite meet my standards, but fortunately, his work is also included in the three projects.

It’s outstanding, rather.

After my script was rejected before, he came back with a perfect script as if he had sharpened a knife.

I start to organize in my head which projects I should have meetings with.

One movie by Director Park Jin-woo, and another one.

Even if I proceed with two projects at the same time, there shouldn’t be any issues with my schedule.

It’s already been three days since I returned from my trip.

It’s about time I started moving.

I picked up my mobile phone.

Just as I was about to call Jae-ik Hyung, who told me to look at the synopses and call him.

*Beep!*

Coincidentally, Jae-ik Hyung was calling me.

“Yes, Hyung. I was just about to call you.”

━ Why? Is something wrong?

“No. I’ve looked at all the synopses.”

Jae-ik Hyung said to me in a hurried voice.

━ Ah, really? Jae-hee, hold off on choosing a project for now. I just got a call from UAA.

“Yes?”

*

L&K Entertainment became noisy.

Because of one email from UAA that flew into the management office.

This one email is making the company chaotic all day long.

UAA（United Acting Agency） is a leading casting agency in LA, USA, with many famous Hollywood stars.

It acts as a middleman, directly connecting directors and crews with the actors they need, and supports the overall overseas activities of actors.

“UAA contacted us? Who are they looking for?”

“It’s obviously Jae-hee. They’re asking him to come for an audition.”

The managers clap their hands the moment they hear the name Do Jae-hee.

“Ah! The time has come.”

The content of the email UAA sent to L&K.

Do Jae-hee is on the shortlist for Director Paul Anthony’s , which is scheduled to be produced in 2020.

They were interested in the actor and asked if he was interested in signing a contract with their agency and starting overseas activities.

“UAA? Isn’t that the place where actors like Teddy Swinton and Angelina Jolie belong? Isn’t it a very famous place?”

“It’s a place that’s already been verified in Hollywood. Wow, Jae-hee is proving L&K’s top-class status even here.”

“It’s a bit late for overseas activities at this point, but still, it’s Jae-hee!”

“Late? How many love calls did he get from China and Japan? It’s not that Jae-hee couldn’t, it’s that he didn’t do it. Korea is the top priority. He’s so picky about the market and projects.”

The end of the year, the peak season for the entertainment industry with award ceremonies lined up.

The UAA’s offer of activities became L&K’s unprecedented interest, so much so that the awards of their affiliated actors were pushed to the back burner.

A hot potato.

‘Hollywood.’

Will Do Jae-hee’s capabilities be effective overseas as well?

There was quite a debate about this.

“But, we’ll have to wait and see. Isn’t it too early for Hollywood?”

“That’s right. What are all the actors who were so excited about going to Hollywood doing these days? They film one or two minor roles in the US, and now that no one is looking for them, they quietly return to Korea and say, ‘I missed my domestic fans and came back,’ or something like that…”

“That’s still considered an activity. The reporters keep calling them Hollywood actors, Hollywood actors…”

“Oh my, that’s still good. How many people can’t even set foot in the US market itself? It’s the same with casting agencies. What’s the point of signing a contract? They can’t even pass the auditions.”

Basically, they are faced with the barrier of ‘English.’

Even if they solve the English problem, it’s not easy for an ‘Asian’ to play a ‘leading role’ in the US.

It’s hard to find such projects, and the production environment is not provided.

Most of them are only ‘supporting roles’ with villainous roles or characters that are already ‘set.’

Well, that’s just the reason on the surface.

They have to fight against the numerous ‘discrimination’ and ‘unreasonableness’ hidden beneath the surface.

Ten out of ten people want to advance to Hollywood.

A stage where eight of them give up.

A barrier that young and promising actors who were well-known in Korea challenged.

But there has never been an actor who has ‘firmly established’ themselves.

Because the actors, whose pride is hurt by repeatedly failing auditions, give up the challenge and choose to return to Korea.

Far from the American Dream, it’s a graveyard for Asians.

“Rather, there are many proven places like China and Japan, right? What’s so important about that Academy Award or global fame? If it were me, I wouldn’t go the hard way and live comfortably in Asia.”

The debate starts to heat up.

“That’s it? The Academy is that it? Is it Hollywood for nothing? It’s the number one place in the film industry. Jae-hee is worth the challenge.”

“That’s right. It’s not like he’s giving up his Korean activities by going to the US. He can just do this one project and then resume his Korean activities, right? The gap is only a few months at most.”

“Yeah, Jae-hee will do well. I know… The problem is whether he can do it consistently.”

It’s a simple problem.

It’s not like he’s completely moving to the US right now.

His Korean activities are the main focus, and he’s just expanding his options.

“Oh, it’s Jae-hee.”

The surroundings became quiet in an instant at my appearance.

The silence that swept through the bustling company lobby. I, with their gazes on my back, went straight to the president’s office with Jae-ik Hyung.

Knock knock.

“Come in.”

When I opened the door and entered, Park Chan-ik Team Leader, the head of Management Team 1, as well as the team leaders of Teams 2 and 3, the Planning Director, the Public Relations Team Leader, President Kwon Woo-chul, and Lee Mu-taek, another co-president of L&K, were also sitting there.

In other words, the core members of L&K Entertainment are all gathered.

“Come in.”

That’s how important this matter is.

It’s also an issue of a dual ‘contract’ with a famous agency, and an issue about my activity scope for the first half of next year.

When Jae-ik Hyung tried to go out, President Kwon Woo-chul stopped him.

“Jae-ik, you stay here too.”

“Ah, yes.”

Jae-ik Hyung and I sat together in the empty seats.

Then, President Kwon Woo-chul said to me with a friendly look.

“Was the trip enjoyable?”

“Yes.”

“Good. No matter how enjoyable it is, don’t take economy class next time. There’s also the company’s image to consider.”

“Puh-heup.”

The atmosphere, which I thought would be rigid, softens a little with the president’s joke and chuckles. It seems they are still amazed that I took economy class.

“Okay, I heard about it through Jae-ik, right?”

“Yes. They said UAA made a contract offer.”

“That’s right. That’s why I called you. As stated in the contract, your opinion is the most important when choosing a project.”

President Kwon Woo-chul straightened his posture, shaking off his well-tailored suit. The expensive-looking gold watch on his right wrist glitters.

“Before hearing your opinion, shall we have a briefing on the situation?”

As President Kwon Woo-chul lay down on the plush sofa, Park Chan-ik Team Leader, who was sitting next to him, straightened his back and said.

“First of all, the contract offer from UAA came at 9 am today. The inquiry is about recommending Do Jae-hee for a supporting role audition in Director Paul Anthony’s ‘musical film’. The written content… UAA wants to bear all the costs for the audition schedule and guidance. They are confident that they can actively appeal for future auditions, even if it’s not for this movie. They will reflect L&K’s opinions as much as possible regarding contract-related matters. That’s about it.”

Lee Mu-taek, who had been listening quietly, opened his mouth.

“Where did they see him? Jae-hee? What movies has he done that were released in the US?”

“I was also curious, so I tried to call them, but it was nighttime in the US. So, the call failed. But in the written document, they were talking about ‘singing’?”

“Singing?”

“Yes. I guess they saw the Trafalgar busking YouTube video.”

Lee Mu-taek, who is a bit grumpy by nature, scoffed.

“You can’t trust those Westerners. They say they’ll treat you with the utmost respect in the email, but once you fail a few auditions, they turn their backs on you.”

While Lee Mu-taek was grumbling that he didn’t trust ‘Americans,’ I focused on the word ‘musical film.’

Perhaps, the general music artist for that movie is Ellani O’connor.

I wonder if she recommended me to UAA.

If it’s not that, the timing is too perfect.

President Kwon Woo-chul asked Park Chan-ik Team Leader with a relaxed smile.

“You were originally trying to approach the ‘musical film’ side, right?”

“Yes. Actually, I was only thinking about looking into it… I didn’t expect them to contact us first.”

President Kwon Woo-chul nodded and asked me.

“You’ve seen the synopsis, right?”

“Yes.”

“How was it?”

Director Paul Anthony’s .

A movie about breaking through the miserable reality through music and singing hope. A notable feature is that the members of the protagonist’s band each have a wound in their hearts and the movie depicts the process of healing through music.

The role I was offered is a Korean musician who came to the US dreaming of the American Dream but only tasted failure. As a member of the protagonist’s band, he plays a fairly significant role.

Adagio. As the movie title suggests, it depicts the lives of young people who are moving forward ‘slowly.’

“Well, the movie itself wasn’t bad.”

At my answer, President Kwon Woo-chul smiled and asked Lee Mu-taek.

“What do you think, Hyungnim?”

Then, Lee Mu-taek shook his head.

“What are you asking? I’m against it. It’s not like those Americans are seriously interested in Jae-hee.”

Then, President Kwon Woo-chul smiled and said.

“I’m for it.”

“What?”

Lee Mu-taek was furious, but President Kwon Woo-chul was only looking at me and smiling as if he wasn’t interested in that side.

“Did you hear that? It’s 1:1. Jae-hee, do whatever you want.”

“….”

Whatever I want.

“So far, Jae-hee has done whatever he wanted, what project has failed? Let’s trust him. Whatever choice he makes.”

“….”

The US is a kind of dream stage.

If you ask if the conditions are that much better than in Korea.

Well.

There’s only one thing I can confidently answer.

That no Korean has ever reached the top there.

With that, I feel I have enough reason to challenge it as an actor.

I took a breath and opened my mouth.

“Then, shall we just try the audition for now? But, at the same time, proceed with <7 Years of Memory>, Director Park Jin-woo’s next project.”

At my answer, Lee Mu-taek also closed his eyes as if there was nothing he could do.

“Hmm.”

It’s not like I’m leaving to challenge Hollywood with determination, but rather just putting one foot in, so to speak.

At my words, President Kwon Woo-chul’s face brightened.

“Of course, whatever is good for Jae-hee.”

And then, he turned his head and said to the managers.

“Did you hear that? If you heard it, let’s start moving.”

“Yes. I’ll contact UAA first, so gather all the information about Director Paul Anthony and . How about we not leak it to the media for now?”

“Good. It’s better to announce it after it’s confirmed than to get excited beforehand.”

“Then, we’ll proceed.”

As everyone got up from their seats, President Kwon Woo-chul took out a whiskey bottle from the cabinet and then took out ice from the refrigerator and started putting it in an on-the-rocks glass.

“Jae-hee, do you want a drink?”

Whiskey on the rocks（on the rock）.

I, an original ‘domestic product’ who has only ever drunk soju, am now exploring the US market.

Whether it’s music or the US, it’s an unfamiliar genre, but.

I have a desire to try it out.

I nodded and said.

“Give me one.”

I’m challenging it, that’s all.