The Script-Eating Actor – Chapter 35

Ch 35

I’m going to briefly tell you about the time when I was doing commercial theater in Daehak-ro.

Looking back now, it’s a common story that’s not a big deal for unknown actors.

It’s very similar to the incident that happened to me today.

At that time, my value was only one thing.

‘Acting over money.’

Sometimes this value made things difficult for me, but at the time, I endured poverty with the excuse of youth and devoted myself to ‘theater,’ which didn’t make money.

I can say with certainty that money didn’t drive me into a corner.

What drove my theater into a corner was none other than ‘people.’

“Actually, it’s a bit ambiguous.”

“… Excuse me?”

“That’s right. You’ve seen the script too, haven’t you? Don’t you feel anything?”

The most difficult moment.

When others doubt my identity as an actor.

And when they arbitrarily define the actor called ‘me.’

“Seriously, if you had any sense, you’d see it. There are only two male actors. Huh? Your experience and acting skills are all ambiguous.”

The answer from the commercial theater group in Daehak-ro, where I had been since my university days, devoting myself to it during both breaks and semesters.

‘You’re not there yet.’

When did they ever entice me by saying they would give me the ‘leading role’ because I was handsome?

I was furious at the president’s shameless attitude of not giving me a chance, saying my acting skills were ambiguous and my experience was ambiguous.

“President, you said four months ago that I was perfect for the Min-woong role in . You said you’d let me act, so please help me a little more.”

“What? Are you arguing now?”

“That’s not it.”

“Oh, fine. Honestly, I did say that back then. In commercial theater, the male lead just needs to be good-looking, even if he can’t act well, right? So, I was going to give it to you if possible. But! The situation has changed now. You know? He came in!”

The person the president pointed to.

It was a man looking around the theater with bewildered eyes, as if he had never been in such a small theater before.

His only advantages were that he was a little bit handsome and cute.

The president shouted, as if excited.

“He’s an idol, an idol!”

I think his name was Yoon-ho from the group Zepis.

He’s a member of a male idol group that I’ve never heard of on TV.

A 3-year-old, 6-member male group whose albums all flopped and whose fandom is faint, lacking presence.

The member with the lowest recognition among those six.

He’s only twenty-one years old.

A complete novice who has never acted before.

“….”

I understand the agency’s position in inserting that idol into the commercial theater scene.

Since the idol group they poured hundreds of millions into completely failed, the agency must have been desperate to sell him off even in this small Daehak-ro commercial theater scene.

That guy’s entertainment career is already at its end.

But what makes me even more angry is.

The president is going to cast that kind of guy as the lead in his work.

That kind of newbie.

Me, who went to a four-year theater and film department and dedicated myself to the theater group throughout my university life.

I was pushed out by that ‘has-been’ who has never acted before.

“Their agency will sell tickets to Zepis fans, and, huh? They’re going to try to raise him as an actor this time. How much effort is that?”

“…”

“As you know, male lead acting is all the same, so if we teach him a little, he’ll do well enough. So, you help him with his acting, and, huh? You do the lighting operator（staff） this time, and we’ll find a role that suits you in the next work. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

My answer was no.

That’s ridiculous. You crazy bastard.

If you’re good at acting, you become an actor ‘with the potential to make it someday.’

I belatedly realized the uncomfortable truth that if you have good recognition, you become an actor who ‘sells right away.’

After that, I didn’t do commercial theater.

After graduating from university, I entered L&K to increase my own recognition and spent a long time as an unknown actor.

And now I’ve taken my first step, and I’ve come this far.

… Damn ‘recognition.’

I thought I had worked hard to get this, in my own way.

I thought I was becoming a fairly sellable actor now.

This ‘recognition’ is holding me back once again.

People say.

‘You’re not ripe enough yet.’

So, I.

Decided to go for a straight fastball.

“Ah…!”

Jae-ik Hyung, who was hit by the fastball I threw, put his hand on his forehead from afar and let out a sigh, but.

My gaze was only directed at Director Han Man-hee and Director Um.

“I’ll film it too. And film the version where Min-woo takes my lines. Can’t you film both and use the one that’s better? Of course, I’d have to ask for the seniors’ permission.”

“Both?”

Instead of fighting, let’s film both and choose the one who does better.

Director Um’s face changed a little harshly.

It looked like he wanted to say, ‘Know your place!’, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

Because Jo Seung-hee chimed in from the side.

“That’s not bad?”

He said with a serious face.

“The most important thing here isn’t who says the lines. It’s that the two of you keep disagreeing, and filming is being delayed. Director Um wouldn’t be happy with this situation either, would he?”

At first, it might have been a light suggestion from the investor, meaning ‘please save my pride’ .

‘I spent a lot of money, so please look favorably on my actor.’

But when Director Han Man-hee came out more stubborn than expected, Director Um must have been internally anxious as well.

Jo Seung-hee’s gaze was fixed on Han Man-hee.

“Of course, the choice is up to the director.”

Director Han Man-hee asked.

“Seung-hee Ssi, are you okay with it?”

Jo Seung-hee nodded.

“Well, it’s not like filming twice costs money. I’m fine with it.”

Director Han Man-hee’s expression became complicated. He asked the other actors as well, and all the ‘Fisher Gang’ actors, including Bae Myeong-woo, nodded.

“I’ll go with the director’s opinion.”

Finally, Director Han Man-hee asked me.

“Jae-hee Ssi, are you going to be okay with this?”

Strictly speaking, I’m in a situation where I’m being robbed in broad daylight.

There’s no way I’m okay with it.

But, I’m not going to just sit back and let them take my meal ticket either.

“… Yes.”

Director Han Man-hee spoke to Director Um with a slightly hardened face.

“…. For now, I’ll accept Director Um’s opinion. But, after checking the acting, I’ll make the final decision. Keep that in mind. Anything more than that is overstepping my authority.”

Director Um also tightly closed his mouth and nodded.

It was a proposal made believing in Yoon Min-woo’s skills, so he must have calculated that if he filmed it, he would eventually be able to change Director Han Man-hee’s mind.

In a rush, I ended up having a battle with Yoon Min-woo using the same lines.

Ha, I’ve seen all kinds of situations.

I asked Yoon Min-woo.

“Do you have all the lines memorized?”

Then Yoon Min-woo nodded obediently.

“Of course.”

“….”

Just a little while ago, didn’t he say that he didn’t want this situation?

No. He came prepared with a plan.

I said.

“Then, Min-woo Ssi, you go first.”

Then, Yoon Min-woo smiled brightly.

“It’s not Min-woo Ssi, it’s ‘Sunbae-nim’.”

“… Huh?”

“I’m your senior.”

“….”

He’s telling me to use honorifics.

What kind of psycho is this?

“We’re going to shoot!”

“We’re going to shoot! Get ready!”

As the filming preparation signal went off, the staff who were resting nearby poured out and began preparing for filming.

“We’ll shoot scene 89. The location is the dock!”

If you were to pick the commonalities between the ‘Mango’ character and the ‘Stock Market K’ character in .

‘Visuals’ and ‘characters with strong, flamboyant speaking skills.’

And the situation we’re about to film now is.

Due to the pressure from the special prosecutor, the ‘Fisher Gang’ is in danger of being wiped out, and ‘Stock Market K,’ who has been secretly managing Fisher’s funds disguised as a financial expert, is also exposed.

The gang members are in a miserable state, gathering in a container near the dock to prepare for illegal immigration.

Among them, ‘Mango’ is.

‘Hey, you! I told you not to eat it like that!’

From the gag of hitting the back of the head of the character ‘Megi’（Bae Myeong-woo）, who is pouring peanut butter directly onto bread and eating it, making the atmosphere light.

‘The boss alone? Then what about us? We’ve been wiping the boss’s a*s all this time, and if he runs away alone, what are we supposed to do!’

To the fairly long lines that set the mood.

And there’s also.

‘Shibaal! We’re going to go over there and live coolly!’

It’s a diverse character who tears the bread he’s holding into small pieces and throws them up in the air, laughing like crazy.

There are no major events that drive the narrative.

But, along with Megi（Bae Myeong-woo）, he boasts a fantastic chemistry in the comedy line as part of the ‘Fisher Gang’.

However, except for the line ‘Hey, you! I told you not to eat it like that!’, all the important core lines were given to Yoon Min-woo.

The reason was the ridiculous reason that I stood out too much.

Should I laugh or not?

“Let’s go to rehearsal! Sunbae-nims! Let’s go to rehearsal!”

“Rehearsal!”

Yoon Min-woo and I stood in front of the camera at the same time.

In the awkward atmosphere, I said.

“You go first, Sunbae-nim.”

You son of a b*tch.

*

After the full shot filming, I stood at the monitor and watched Yoon Min-woo’s bust shot.

Okay, let’s admit what needs to be admitted.

There’s a reason why he’s the most talked-about actor in the entertainment industry in 2018.

His snow-white face and sharply slanted eyes.

Yoon Min-woo’s visuals, reminiscent of a gigolo, especially shined on the monitor.

“See? What did I say? Didn’t I say he’d do well? Haha!”

Director Um forgot that they were ‘filming’ and laughed heartily with a satisfied smile.

“Be quiet.”

Thanks to that, he received a cold response from Director Han Man-hee.

“Shibaal! We’re going to go over there and live coolly! How’s that!”

“….”

Okay.

He’s good.

Even without the backing of ‘JW’, he has a sufficiently attractive ability as an actor.

But.

That’s all.

I glanced at Jo Seung-hee.

His expression clearly showed the result of this fight.

He twitched his thick eyebrows, fully immersed in Yoon Min-woo’s acting, and then slightly shook his head.

‘Failed.’

It means he didn’t meet Jo Seung-hee’s standards.

There’s a slightly ‘excessive’ feeling, too.

He’s provoking me.

No, not just me ━ he’s putting in all his effort to dye this entire place with the charm of ‘Yoon Min-woo’.

“Okay!”

When Director Han Man-hee gave the okay sign, Director Um waved his right hand up and down and took an uppercut pose.

“Nice!”

He’s satisfied.

“Good job, Min-woo.”

Director Um patted Yoon Min-woo’s shoulder and gave him a thumbs up.

“Next! Jae-hee Ssi!”

Now it’s my turn.

Since there was no change in the acting of the other actors, including Jo Seung-hee, the situation was that we only needed to film the full shot, my bust, the character’s reaction bust, and the two-shot.

Before walking, I made eye contact with both Director Um and Yoon Min-woo at the same time.

They were asking me.

‘Let’s see what you can do.’

I clenched my fist tightly.

Now, the form I can take in this situation is.

One.

“Kill them.”

Jo Seung-hee whispered to me in a voice that only I could hear.

“It’s what you’re good at.”

I nodded.