The Script-Eating Actor – Chapter 86

Ch 86

Mid-twenties.

A face without any makeup.

To put it a bit more rawly, a face with a kind impression that you might see as a part-timer at a cafe or convenience store.

Pretty enough for a non-celebrity, but not a face where you can say that her plainness is her charm.

In other words, she’s not an actress with a strong visual appeal.

However.

“Your name is, Ha-yoon? Is that your real name?”

“Yes. It’s my real name. A single character name.”

Ha-yoon.

She’s the woman I circled on the profile.

The reason I circled her was that she’s filmed over dozens of various short films, so much that there wasn’t enough space on her profile.

“It doesn’t look like you have an agency.”

“Yes, I’m working alone!”

You can tell from her profile how tenacious and hard she’s worked as an actress.

Short films made by students, paying 30,000 to 50,000 won per day.

Even for those small projects, the competition ratio is close to 200:1.

It’s not about making money.

One second.

She walks a grueling path of obscurity to make that one second memorable.

This woman, she really went everywhere to work on projects without being picky.

For several years, like she was crazy about movies.

And the thing I like most is that she didn’t try to embellish her profile picture.

‘Huh?’

‘Wait?’

‘Hmm, was the photo taken a few years ago?’

How disappointed I was when I saw an actress who was completely different from what I expected after seeing their profile picture.

It’s not about needing a handsome or pretty profile picture. It’s important to emphasize one’s strengths.

The actress named Ha-yoon, she had no embellishments in that regard.

Rather, this plainness makes the connection between the role and the actress feel like a spark, making it more impactful.

I desperately shouted inside.

Please, I hope she’s good at acting.

Director Park Jin-woo, also filled with anticipation, said with a smile.

“Then, please start when you’re ready.”

Then, Ha-yoon said hesitantly.

“Um, I’m sorry…”

“Yes?”

“Could you, um, could you please say just one line of ‘Kang Jun’s’ dialogue, Senior?”

‘Kang Jun’ is my role.

It’s not rude to ask for a line and stage direction during an audition.

I nodded.

“Of course.”

Then, Ha-yoon bowed her head and said.

“It’s an honor.”

“It looks like you prepared for scene 17. Then, let’s begin.”

Director Park Jin-woo started reading the stage directions.

“#17 Kang Jun’s house. Kang Jun. With a hollow face, he looks at the family photo on the wall, sobbing.”

As soon as the stage direction ended, my vision began to rotate perfectly.

And the emotions amplified uncontrollably, but only to the point that I could control them. Exactly, it surged to that point.

“….”

As my breathing became rough, Park Jin-woo read the remaining stage direction.

“Kang Jun’s narration.”

“Before I knew it, I became older than my older sister.”

7 years.

Me, who became older than my dead older sister during that time.

The sense of alienation towards the younger older sister.

Complex thoughts entangled my mind.

“#17-1. Insert cut. The good times. Memories with older sister pass by in a short diary format. #17-2 The day we shared red bean porridge on the winter solstice. #17-3 The time she secretly gave me chocolate and such. #17-4 My older sister, who was proud of me when I got into college.”

“You’ve grown up now, my little brother.”

Ha-yoon’s one line makes me cry.

I looked straight at Ha-yoon, suppressing my emotions and forcing a smile.

“Tch, we’re only four years apart.”

“I practically raised you. Hehe.”

Ha-yoon smiled wryly.

It’s not a particularly special line, but it makes my heart ache again.

Me, who has neither an older sister nor a younger sibling, completely immersed in this moment.

“Our little brother, you got into Korea University, so as promised, your older sister has to work hard.”

The acting of the actress named Ha-yoon and mine blend together quite smoothly.

“#18 Kang Jun’s house. Kang Jun comes out of his imagination…”

“….”

Although it’s only a few lines.

Director Park Jin-woo couldn’t take his eyes off Ha-yoon even while reading the stage directions.

Me too.

Ha-yoon had a freshness and ‘power’ that was no less than established actors.

Her plain face became an advantage. Her face even felt like a charm that made me want to keep looking at it.

When the acting ended, Ha-yoon wiped the tears from her eyes and took a big breath, as if embarrassed.

“Hoo━!”

“You’re good at it?”

At my compliment, Ha-yoon sniffed for a moment, then ruffled her hair as if embarrassed and said.

“It’s because Senior helped me.”

She’s also polite.

I asked again.

“It wasn’t just that, though? Your profile says you’re a high school graduate, did you major in it separately?”

“Actually, I dropped out of the theater and film department and only did plays in Daehak-ro… Then, I started filming short films about two years ago. Then, I got connected and did a few independent films… I learned a lot from there.”

“You did all these projects in two years?”

“Yes.”

She must have been constantly pushing herself, applying to every audition.

Director Park Jin-woo asked, as if intrigued.

“Was there a special reason why you started doing movies after doing theater?”

“Yes.”

“If you don’t mind, can we hear it?”

Ha-yoon smiled awkwardly and said.

“It might sound cliche, but… exactly, in October of the year before last. I happened to go to the Seoul Independent Film Festival…”

Seoul Independent Film Festival.

And the Independent Star Award.

Ha-yoon smiled awkwardly.

“I’m a fan of the director and Actor Do. Actually, it’s an honor to even be standing here like this.”

The playfulness of and the cheerful punch it threw at the world changed the life of a poor theater actor.

It gave her the courage to want to run alongside them in their ranks.

It gave her the belief that her life was not a cheap backwater.

“Ah, haha…”

“You saw it there.”

Director Park Jin-woo and I looked at each other and smiled.

The meaning of the smile was clear.

‘We found her.’

‘Indeed.’

When we see a good actor, our eyes shine brightly.

At that moment, Ha-yoon waved her hand awkwardly and said.

“And there’s one more thing I’d like to say…”

“Yes, please tell us.”

Ha-yoon said with an insecure voice.

“Um… Senior Do Jae-hee… I’m a member of your… fan cafe…”

“Yes?”

“A… active member…”

“….”

Ah. Was that so?

Ha-yoon said in a small voice, like a mosquito crawling.

“…. I’m done for.”

“Excuse me?”

“Do, Dojyeotda…”

A habit of my fans, who always shout that when they see Do Jae-hee.

“….”

I was speechless with bewilderment at the sudden fan reveal. Then, Director Park Jin-woo grabbed his stomach and laughed heartily.

“Hahaha! Is this what they call a successful fan? Acting with your idol!”

“If you’re an active member, you must have over 1,000 comments… That’s amazing.”

At my words, Ha-yoon smiled bashfully.

“Hehe…”

I don’t know what’s so good about it.

Anyway, that look seemed quite trustworthy.

I sent a favorable look to Director Park Jin-woo and shrugged my shoulders.

This means.

‘I like her.’

Director Park Jin-woo also said as if he had been waiting for it.

“It was good. I hope we can see each other again soon.”

*

Deceived by the photos and deceived by the company names in the audition competition.

Only one actor survives.

Although Director Park Jin-woo and I often had different opinions on other supporting actors.

The lead actress was unified as one.

“Ha-yoon. How do you feel?”

“Director’s will is my will.”

The female lead was decided to be an unknown actress that no one knows.

“Director, aren’t you scared?”

Some were saying that the decision to cast a rookie female lead in a project that would be responsible for the future of the film company was too reckless, so I asked jokingly.

Because these cases are really special, happening maybe once or twice a year.

But Director Park Jin-woo said with a firm face.

“Actor Do, you know it too, right?”

At those words, I chuckled and agreed.

“I know.”

I know.

That she’s an actress with much stronger energy than most established actors.

And that she would be perfectly imprinted as the face of the ‘fresh rookie’ that Director Park Jin-woo spoke of.

Director Park Jin-woo asked playfully.

“Hehe… By the way, aren’t you scared, Actor Do?”

“What are you scared of?”

“She’s an active member, right? What if she secretly takes pictures of you sleeping on set and uploads them to the fan cafe?”

“….”

Oh, please, don’t say such scary things.

After Director Park Jin-woo’s audition for supporting roles, which reflected my opinions, the discussion about the lead actors began.

It’s obvious, but the lead actors, including me, are chosen not through an audition process, but through the director’s earnest ‘request’.

‘Please appear in my project!’

The director would naturally have an actor in mind from the time they wrote the scenario.

Most of them are top-notch actors who are recognized for their popularity and acting skills.

I could also vaguely guess who the casting candidates were.

Director Park Jin-woo said.

“These are the seniors we succeeded in casting.”

For the role of the murderer, Seol Gang-shik.

For the role of the father, Yeo Ho-seok.

Giants who are never left out when talking about acting powerhouses in the Korean film industry.

“…Really?”

They are obviously ten million actors, with a good image as reliable actors, good at acting, and respected by their juniors, actors in their 40s and 50s.

It’s 100% in line with the image I had imagined.

If Jo Seung-hee is a star representing the 30s, then these are the ‘actors’ of actors, across all ages.

The pride of Korean cinema that I’ve been watching on screen since I was young.

Role models for young actors.

A legendary lineup that they desperately hope to become like in 10 or 20 years.

I was so surprised that I became rather calm.

“Are Seol Gang-shik and Yeo Ho-seok Seniors really participating?”

“Yes. We received confirmation. Haha, we were lucky.”

“….”

Lucky?

No, this is not something that is decided by simple luck.

“I had a connection with both seniors when I was a complete rookie reporter in the cultural department… They still remembered me.”

Right.

Director Park Jin-woo is definitely someone whose life is tied to the film industry.

A very strong one at that.

<7 Years of Memory>

『92/100』（+7）

The movie’s score that only I can see.

It seems like 2020 will be a good year.

“Especially, Senior Seol Gang-shik showed interest when he heard that Actor Do was participating. He was very curious about what kind of actor you were, since the rumors about you among the juniors are so widespread.”

“…Juniors?”

Widespread rumors among the juniors?

What kind of juniors are you talking about?

At that time, Jae-ik Hyung said to me.

“Jae-hee, are you free for a moment?”

*

What Jae-ik Hyung told me was about a request for a program casting.

And it was also related to the ‘juniors’ that Senior Seol Gang-shik mentioned in passing.

A documentary produced by KTN.

The title is .

A special documentary that will be aired as a New Year’s special, filming the lives of ‘minor role actors’ in a one-on-one interview format.

Filming is already finished, and countless rookie actors and minor role actors have been interviewed, and even the rough cut is finished.

“Do I just need to do the interview?”

“That’s right.”

“But you said the rough cut is already finished.”

“The interview will be filmed separately as an addition, and the narration came in.”

The request that this documentary team made to me was ‘narration’.

The reason is.

“You were chosen as the number one actor that minor role and rookie actors want to be like.”

“Huh? Me?”

“Yeah. They said your story came up the most in the interviews. That you’re amazing. That they want to be like you.”

“….”

University, theater, agency. And three years of obscurity.

I don’t want to say that my obscure career was difficult. Because there are many actors who have had a harder time than me, who have reaped the rewards after 10 or 20 years of long endurance.

However.

“There’s no actor in the country who has risen at this pace. People see it as a kind of myth of an unknown actor.”

“….”

A self-made man of an aspiring actor with no money or connections.

To them, I’m someone who is enjoying the greatest success.

I wondered if I was qualified, but I also didn’t neglect my efforts to not fall behind.

Also, I have something I want to say.

Jae-ik Hyung already seemed half-convinced.

“This seems like it would be good for your image. Even if it’s not for the money… how should I say it…”

I cut off Jae-ik Hyung’s words and answered right away.

“I’ll do it.”

“Really?”

This is not for the money, nor for the image.

It’s a kind of debt of the heart.

I just want to do it.