The Script-Eating Actor – Chapter 93

Ch 93

『From the Top Pick for Casting in Korea to a ‘Rookie’ Again, Do Jae-hee』

President Lee Mu-taek searched for Do Jae-hee on a portal site, carefully checking the articles that appeared, and said.

“Do Jae-hee, back to being a rookie from the top pick for casting…? What’s with this article title?”

“You have to read to the end. Do Jae-hee’s endless challenge! It’s hopeful, isn’t it?”

『Do Jae-hee’s Endless Challenge! Suddenly, heading to Hollywood. Focusing solely on movies while going back and forth between Korea and the United States.』

『Do Jae-hee, in the midst of meetings for Paul Anthony, the director of ’s next project.』

『Rival is Miyamoto Ryo, the second-generation vocalist of the band ‘Choco Buster.’』

『‘Musical Film?’ Isn’t the opponent too strong? Opinions are divided.』

The netizens’ reactions seemed mostly supportive, but there were also voices of concern from some.

‘A challenge in a musical film? The opponent is too strong.’

‘Do Jae-hee’s advancement to Hollywood is premature. He will become the second Jo Seung-hee.’

“Fail? Become the second Jo Seung-hee? Who is this human who wrote such a review?”

“It’s Jeon Jin-jo. He’s an elite critic who studied film in France… He’s making a fuss saying that Do Jae-hee will fail.”

“A rat-like guy. Is he saying that he’ll try to row the boat since the water has come in?”

“It’s not like it’s an unexpected reaction. What is it.”

Right. This level of reaction was exactly as L&K had expected.

Because of the domestic recognition that the name Do Jae-hee has.

Originally, when a big fish enters the market, there are bound to be those who try to take even a piece of its tail.

President Lee Mu-taek had seen countless of these people in his 20 years of entertainment life.

“Yeah. Let them talk all they want. Who cares anyway.”

“Yes, so I’m not going to push it. If Jae-hee gets through the audition after the lid is opened. Wouldn’t it scratch the pride of the elite critic?”

“Good. They need to get their noses broken once so they won’t talk carelessly later. Now, all that’s left is to get through…”

The fire was thrown on the firewood. The oil was poured on it for sure. If it doesn’t burn, it’s the firewood’s fault, but the responsibility would also have to be shared by L&K, who gathered the firewood.

“No contact yet, right?”

“Yes. If it’s this time… the audition would be over, but seeing as there’s no call yet… Oh? Just a moment.”

The public relations team leader hurriedly picked up the phone.

“Hello? Yes, Team Leader Park! Go ahead.”

“Team Leader Park? Park Chan-ik?”

President Lee Mu-taek quickly asked back with a very tense face.

“Is it America? What did they say?”

The public relations team leader asked with a determined face.

“We were waiting for a call with the President right now… What happened?”

*

There was no need for fabricated techniques or a sophisticated voice.

Just the moment when I became an ‘unknown musician’ and sang with all my heart.

When that fleeting moment ended, Director Paul Anthony started pouring out embarrassing words while having me stand in front of him.

“I can’t believe it. Where did such an actor come from? I can’t understand why he wasn’t on the list of candidates in the first place.”

“…”

Haha, how embarrassing to say that while having me stand in front of him.

I can hear you.

Director Paul Anthony said, looking at Ellani O’connor.

“Where on earth did you find such an actor? We would have missed him if it weren’t for you, O’connor-ssi.”

Ellani O’connor replied nonchalantly with a blank face.

“YouTube.”

And looking at me, she smiles shyly.

“YouTube?”

Director Paul Anthony looked bewildered, and I smiled along with him.

Haha, that’s right! YouTube. You saw it there!

“Where can I see that?”

The director even went as far as checking my video on YouTube. As I stood there, the assistant director brought me a chair and gave me a thumbs up.

“It was the best. Really.”

“Thank you.”

And for the three minutes or so while the YouTube video played, I sat quietly and waited.

This audition.

It’s a seed I planted entirely through my own ‘effort,’ without borrowing my ability. Regardless of how this result turns out, I feel relieved right now.

Well, actually.

“Found it! I found it!”

…It seems like I’ve already been accepted.

Director Paul Anthony cheered wildly at me. Like Guus Hiddink, the coach who jumped for joy and cheered when the players scored a goal at the 2002 World Cup. He gets up from his seat and throws an uppercut into the air.

Whoosh! Swish!

Director Paul Anthony, as a film director who majored in music, has a free-spirited and hot-blooded side to him that you never know where he’ll go next.

“Bang! Can’t you see the picture?”

Ellani O’connor said.

“Hehe, Director. I told you, right? That there was no need to even hold an audition.”

“….”

Huh? What do you mean by that?

But it seems like it was a conversation that had already been concluded among the crew, and Director Paul Anthony said awkwardly.

“That’s right. O’connor-ssi, you’re right about everything. Jae-hee perfectly matches the role I was looking for. So much so that there was no need to even hold an audition.”

And the head of the HighMount distribution team also chimed in, glaring at the UAA agent.

“Why did you bring a （Rock） star when we were picking an unknown musician?”

“Huh?”

“I’m talking about that Japanese rock star.”

“…That, that was… something we didn’t expect either.”

“I will definitely remember this. After saying that you were confident and that we should believe you… you brought someone who didn’t even meet the basic requirements for an audition. If it weren’t for Jae-hee, we would have had to redo the audition.”

“….”

What?

Wait a minute.

I remembered the Hong Kong actor who left LA in a huff, saying that there was already a ‘pre-selected person’ for the audition.

I naturally thought that the ‘pre-selected person’ was ‘Miyamoto Ryo’, but on the contrary, HighMount was scolding the agent for ‘bringing a rock star’.

Then what is this….

“As expected, O’connor-yang’s insight is trustworthy.”

“Hehe, thank you.”

“….”

Could it be that I was the ‘pre-selected person’?

It seems that way.

A role that Ellani O’connor had picked out early on.

At the audition to pick that role, she recommended me without hesitation, even though she didn’t know me well.

The symbol of a musical film is, after all, music.

What more can be said about the influence of Ellani O’connor, who creates the music as a whole.

Her strong recommendation. And my stage that makes that recommendation not embarrassing.

‘A perfect mise-en-scène!’

In short, it was art, right?

Director Paul Anthony said, unable to hide his excitement.

“Hoo, I can’t calm down. The audition announcement is usually made after Jae-hee returns to Korea, and we contact him later, but… I’m worried that Jae-hee’s mind might change in the meantime. If it’s okay with you, would you give us a definite answer in this spot?”

“….”

Rather, the movie side is asking me for a ‘definite answer’ on whether or not I will participate in the movie.

The situation completely flipped in 10 minutes.

When they are the ones who are more eager for me, that’s when the ‘demands’ have power, right? The ‘right’ that I had resolved to have a little while ago has been created.

I have the cards in my hand, but there’s no need to act expensive.

“Thank you. I also really want to participate in this movie.”

At my cool and clear answer, Director Paul Anthony jumped up from his seat and threw an uppercut into the air once again.

“Yes!”

“Puhuh.”

I burst out laughing because his actions were funny, and Ellani O’connor looked at me, squinted her eyes, and said in a small voice.

‘You did very well.’

Hmm, was it okay?

After that, around the time when the formal contract discussion was about to begin, a HighMount employee said.

“Send that rock star back to Japan. Tell him the audition is over. And have the staff from Korea come inside.”

First, we need to sort out the traffic.

The UAA agent went outside and began explaining the audition results.

Though I couldn’t see it from where I was sitting.

“Waaah!”

“Jae-hee-yaaaaa!”

Judging by the loud noises that burst out all at once from beyond the slightly open steel door, it seems like they were waiting for this news a lot.

And Team Leader Park Chan-ik, stylist Jang Team Leader-nim, Jae-ik Hyung, etc. The staff began to enter the studio with confident strides.

“….”

Oh, confidence.

They’re turning the studio into a runway?

“Kyaa! Jae-hee!”

Jang Team Leader-nim, with her arms wide open, ran towards me as if she was going to hug me.

“You worked hard!”

“Haha…”

…I can’t breathe.

Let go of me.

“You did great!”

“What did I say? I told you not to worry, right?”

He winks at me and clenches his fist, sending his support.

While also.

“I am Park Chan-ik, the team leader of the L&K management team in charge of Jae-hee. Translate that exactly.”

Without losing his ‘dignity’, he confidently introduces himself, and when he gets into ‘work’ talk, his eyes change.

They really are pros.

Yeah, we have nothing to be sorry about.

*

In the evening, a dinner appointment was scheduled with HighMount Pictures.

The restaurant is LA Baltaire.

A high-end restaurant often frequented by Hollywood stars and celebrities. With overall dark lighting, pretty candles and lights. It’s a place where luxurious tableware is set, and from the white marble entrance, you get the feeling that it’s a space for the ‘upper class’.

Director Paul Anthony, Ellani O’connor, and agent Bill accompanied this dinner.

Champagne came out before the appetizers.

“The seafood here is very good.”

Ah, it’s because of the seafood.

A dish of well-cooked and peeled large prawns, sprinkled with lemon juice and eaten cold.

Not my style.

And for appetizers, a seasoned octopus and a dish made of a bone that I had never heard of （?） came out.

The others were enjoying it, but I couldn’t even touch it.

How on earth do you eat this?

“Doesn’t it suit your taste?”

“Ah, no, it’s not that.”

After that, a fish fillet that was made into a patty like a meatball and a steak came out.

“Hehe, it really suits my taste.”

Meat is the truth.

As expected, my taste is too simple.

It’s a night where I crave soju with samgyeopsal sprinkled with lots of salt and a bubbling doenjang jjigae.

Nevertheless, I was getting drunk on the calm atmosphere of this high-end restaurant.

With champagne, and. With the sweet ‘words’ directed at me.

“You haven’t received the script yet, right?”

“No.”

“The name of the East Asian musician’s role is ‘Kim’. It’s a very important role where he is the main vocalist in the main band.”

“Vocalist?”

Vocalist? Not even a sub-vocalist, but the main one?

Isn’t the protagonist naturally the vocalist?

I was about to ask back if I had misheard, but Team Leader Park Chan-ik was faster.

“Wait, just a moment. In the synopsis, it clearly says that there is a separate protagonist who is a ‘genius artist’ but has a fatal flaw? But is Jae-hee the main vocalist?”

“Yes, the fatal flaw is his voice. He can’t speak. Of course, he can’t sing either.”

“….”

What? The protagonist can’t sing?

“Instead, he is in charge of the band master and composition in the play. Of course, the actual composition will be done by O’connor-yang here. Hehe…”

“…..”

A protagonist who can’t speak.

I wondered if it might be a little minor, but on the other hand, I was also curious.

Director Paul Anthony appealed while imitating the protagonist.

“Ah! Hup! Eup! He draws out emotions through these single sounds. If the protagonist is the one who drives the important story of the play, then the role of ‘Kim’ that Jae-hee-ssi will take is the medium that will realize the protagonist’s dream together, or instead of him.”

“….”

I kept my mouth shut.

“The band Adagio is formed by these people who are somewhat lacking! What do you think?”

Well, the meaning is good, but.

It’s a bit shocking that the protagonist can’t speak.

But it’s said that he’s not a mute all the time. In the latter half of the play, there’s a scene where he starts speaking while performing with the band. And that will give an enormous catharsis.

Ellani O’connor raised both her arms.

As if asking, did you just find out?, I nodded my head.

Yeah, I just found out.

“That’s why Jae-hee’s role is very important.”

“….”

Isn’t this practically the main role?