The Script-Eating Actor – Chapter 88

Ch 88

The contract with UAA was successfully concluded.

The contract term is two years.

It includes a clause that allows the contract to be terminated if there are no significant achievements within one year.

Of course, UAA can also impose penalties if I do not diligently participate in auditions.

But that won’t happen.

After finishing a meal at a Korean traditional full-course restaurant that costs over 400,000 won per person, which I had booked in advance, I took commemorative photos with the agents.

Material to be leaked to the press at the same time as the audition success.

Exclusive information that any media outlet would be drooling over.

‘Do Jae-hee’s advancement into the US market.’

After the agents returned to the US, some managers within the company asked me.

“So, in the end, Ellani O’connor recommended Jae-hee for her movie, right?”

“I guess so. Jae-hee, do you know anything about it?”

How on earth do I know a world-renowned pop star?

At L&K, they were curious about the relationship between Ellani O’connor and me, but.

“I don’t know.”

I never opened my mouth.

The agents also didn’t seem to know the full story, and it’s because I don’t know Ellani O’connor’s position.

After that, the company assigned me the best vocal trainer.

A talented singer-turned-vocal trainer named ‘Ho-sung’ who has experience in launching several idols into the major leagues.

Surprisingly, this wasn’t an instruction from President Kwon Woo-chul, who always respected my opinions.

“Isn’t this a Korea-Japan match?”

It’s an instruction from President Lee Mu-taek, who is a bit hot-tempered but cares for me more than anyone.

“Who knows it’s a Korea-Japan match? It’s a private audition.”

“I know it, okay? If I didn’t know, I wouldn’t care. But what can I do if I know? Then we absolutely have to win. We have to win a Korea-Japan match!”

Haha… Okay.

We have to win.

He was from the second generation vocal of the Japanese national band called ‘Choco Buster’.

A versatile musician recognized for his top-notch composition skills and guitar proficiency.

An Asian star born in the archipelago and a star in Asia who has many fans in Korea as well.

Simply looking at his public recognition, he is definitely in contrast to me, who has not been active in Asia.

He’s a talent that Hollywood would be drooling over when targeting the Asian market.

Looking at it only in terms of career, can I be a match for him?

But.

“…It’s good?”

Vocal trainer Ho-sung listened to my song once and immediately diagnosed the situation.

“That’s a song from the movie , isn’t it? ‘Five Hundred Miles’.”

A folk song about the plight of black slaves dragged to America.

I thought of a musician who had the desperation of not being able to return home before succeeding.

“What’s so special about a song? If it sounds good when you listen to it, that’s it.”

“Was it good?”

“You’re doing well now too. Did they say the role is a nameless musician? It matches the song well. Even though it’s in English… I can feel the emotion.”

Is it thanks to the narration of the recent documentary?

Or is it because of the numerous unknown actors I saw at the <7 Years of Memory> audition?

Is it because I might have to play a ‘nameless musician’ soon?

Maybe it’s all of them.

Especially when I sing songs that make my heart ache, I feel a lump in my chest that seems like it will burst but doesn’t.

A kind of resentment.

This resentment is gathering my scattered, miserable fragments of emotion into one.

“As a vocalist, Miyomoto Ryo is a step above in terms of sophistication and technique. But that’s not what we’re competing with. This isn’t an audition to pick a singer.”

That’s right, it’s not an audition to pick an idol.

It’s not an audition to pick a talented singer.

It’s an audition to pick an actor who can sing with all their heart.

“When you hit the high notes, there’s tension in your neck. I’ll definitely fix that one thing. The other things aren’t something I can quickly improve in a short period of time… Let’s just focus on your strengths now. How was it? How did it sound to the presidents?”

At trainer Ho-sung’s question, the two presidents sitting in the corner of the recording room raised their heads.

I, too, watched the presidents through the glass window.

“Please be honest.”

At my words, President Kwon Woo-chul gave a thumbs-up, and President Lee Mu-taek, who was most worried about my trip to Hollywood, jumped up from his seat, grabbed the microphone in front of Ho-sung, and said.

In a very loud voice.

“Let’s go! Jae-hee!”

*

In addition to vocals, guitar training support also followed.

The only experience I had with a guitar was learning basic major chords in the military.

As most people who lightly learn the guitar do, after learning basic chords like Em, Am, C, and G, they can play a few easy songs with repeating chords. It’s fun up to that point.

When they get to the F chord, their fingers tremble, and they give up.

Well, maybe it’s just me.

At least, I haven’t touched a guitar since the F chord.

But now, 7-8 years after being discharged from the military, I’m holding a guitar again.

“Wah!”

My body still remembered the joy I felt when I played the guitar before.

A simple hobby of humming and singing folk songs has now become work.

So, I have no choice but to hold the guitar all day.

On days when I didn’t have a schedule, I devoted myself to vocal training and guitar practice all day.

By the end of January, my fingers were calloused, and I was able to move relatively freely between the F chord and high chords.

Today.

The script reading and group dinner for the movie <7 Years of Memory> were scheduled.

It’s a bit of a special day, unlike the usual readings.

Because it’s the first day I’m working with some of Korea’s leading character actors.

Seol Gang-shik, Yeo Ho-seok.

‘Flawless’ actors I’ve never met on set before.

They are master actors with over 30 years of acting experience, and just standing in front of the camera with them is an honor.

So now, I was twice as nervous as usual when I visited the office of the film company .

As if proportional to the public’s interest.

The office lobby was crowded with reporters.

Seeing that, Jae-ik Hyung said.

“It’s inevitable that the reporters would be interested. The three lead actors participating in today’s reading. Do Jae-hee, Seol Gang-shik, Yeo Ho-seok. If you combine their representative works, the total number of viewers is 40 million. If you exclude the population that can’t watch movies, it’s like the entire population of Korea has seen it.”

A total of 40 million.

It’s a possible figure since the movie , in which Seol Gang-shik Sunbaenim participated in 2015, exceeded 17 million viewers.

Tap tap.

“Don’t be intimidated, just do what you’ve been doing.”

Jae-ik Hyung patted my shoulder and disappeared into the crowd of managers.

Okay.

Just do what I’ve been doing.

“Excuse me, I’m just passing through.”

I passed through the reporters and entered the reading room, clearing my throat.

A wide, square space with eight long tables connected.

Director Park Jin-woo was sitting at the head of the table, and next to him was Ha-yoon, the new actress who was selected through the rookie audition.

“Welcome, Actor Do!”

“S-Sunbaenim. Hello!”

The two Sunbaenims haven’t arrived yet.

I shook hands with Director Park Jin-woo and greeted Ha-yoon.

“How have you been?”

“Yes!”

As I sat down, the managers began to move busily, filling the table with refreshments.

If it were a normal reading, I would have casually spread out a clean script with nothing marked on it and relaxed, but.

Definitely, it’s a bit nerve-wracking because of who I’m up against.

“Thank you.”

I took a sip of bottled water and moistened my lips.

Seol Gang-shik, Yeo Ho-seok.

I had seen them from afar and exchanged brief greetings at the last awards ceremony, but this is the first time I’m facing them through a full-fledged ‘work’.

I’m nervous.

At that moment, the door to the reading room opened, and the two Sunbaenims entered at the same time.

“Oh, Sunbaenims!”

“Oh my, Director Park.”

Director Park Jin-woo jumped up from his seat and walked forward to greet Seol Gang-shik and Yeo Ho-seok Sunbaenims.

The Sunbaenims came to the office wearing thick padded jackets and not shaved, looking like their natural ‘everyday’ selves. They had ordinary appearances, nothing special, but why do they seem to shine somehow?

Probably, their eyes.

The most prominent feature of these veteran actors is their eyes.

“….”

Their eyes are deep.

Eyes that hold a variety of emotions that you wouldn’t normally notice, wondering what they’re thinking. Those deep eyes, which are perfectly controlled according to their will, all turned to me at once.

“Ah.”

I walked forward and bowed my head.

“Hello, Sunbaenims.”

Then, Seol Gang-shik Sunbaenim smiled, showing his teeth.

“Hahaha, Jae-hee Ssi. Is this the first time we’ve seen each other since the （Daejong Film Awards） at Sejong Theater?”

“Yes, Sunbaenim.”

“Congratulations, though it’s late. Now, let’s all sit down.”

Then, Seol Gang-shik Sunbaenim looked at Ha-yoon and stopped his gaze.

As if asking, ‘Who are you?’, Ha-yoon stood at attention like a soldier and said.

“Ah, ah, hello! I’m rookie actress Ha-yoon!”

Ha-yoon doesn’t have a big role in the drama, but she plays an important role in providing the cause of the episodes.

She hit the ‘lottery’ with her first commercial project, and she seemed completely overwhelmed by the fact that she was appearing in a work with Sunbaenims who were so high up that it was hard to even look at them.

Seol Gang-shik Sunbae nodded as if he understood.

“Ah, the ‘older sister’ role?”

“Yes, yes!”

“Okay. Let’s do a good job.”

“…Yes, yes!”

As if moved, Ha-yoon clenched her fist, sat down on her chair, and stared blankly ahead.

She’s already frozen.

Maybe even her mentality is frozen solid.

Yeah, even I’m this nervous, so how much more would a complete rookie be.

Seol Gang-shik, Do Jae-hee, Yeo Ho-seok, Ha-yoon.

Director Park Jin-woo looked at this lineup sitting down and said, as if satisfied.

“Just looking at you like this makes me feel reassured. Please take care of me, Sunbaenims.”

Then, Yeo Ho-seok Sunbaenim said with a delighted expression.

“Huh? I’m just trusting Director Park?”

“Ah, yes?”

“Don’t trust us too much. We’re not that skilled.”

At Yeo Ho-seok Sunbaenim’s jest, the room burst into laughter.

“Hahaha, I’m just kidding. I have to work hard too. I’m participating in such a well-written work with such famous actors. Isn’t that right? Hyungnim?”

“That’s right. I have to be on my toes if I don’t want to lose my job in my old age. Hehehe.”

Seol Gang-shik Sunbaenim also looked at me with a kind smile.

His eyes were endlessly kind.

“Can we start the reading?”

“Let’s do it, let’s do it.”

But as soon as those kind eyes changed 180 degrees and turned into those of a ruthless killer, the atmosphere around us changed rapidly.

“This is the first scene. Right before the opening title appears, a pair of high-end shoes enter the black screen. Clack clack. Feet walking in an underground parking lot. But they stagger from time to time as if drunk. The camera tilts up from the legs to reveal a face. A ‘killer’ wearing a well-tailored suit and heavily drunk. He stops in his place. A full shot of the underground parking lot. And the appearance of another presence. That is, ‘Kang Jun’.”

As soon as the reading started, a heavy atmosphere settled in the office, as if weighing down on both shoulders.

Seol Gang-shik Sunbaenim glared at me with terrifyingly cold eyes and said.

“Who are you?”

And I.

Repeatedly inhaled and exhaled like a beast.

It’s boiling, from deep within.

I met the killer who killed my older sister, whom I had reunited with after 7 years.

“Heok━! Do you know me?”

“….”

I’m disgusted by this shamelessness.

I’ve been living huddled at the bottom of society, imagining this moment of reunion with the killer every moment, but.

This guy is going to room salons and driving around in luxury cars without any sense of guilt.

…You bastard!

Tears like chicken droppings run down my cheeks.

Overwhelmed by uncontrollable emotions, I said, panting.

“From now on, I’ll make you know.”

Seol Gang-shik Sunbae’s eyebrows twitched.