Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Producer Kim Mansoo sat in silence, his expression blank as he quietly listened to the actors’ reading. At first glance, he may have appeared indifferent, but deep down, he was filled with concern. Now, his entire attention was fixated on Jinseok.

“I have to do well...” Jinseok thought to himself.

On the day of Jinseok’s audition, producer Kim Mansoo felt a deep sense of worry. When he witnessed Jinseok’s acting for the first time, he was utterly captivated and declared that he had passed. However, he couldn’t help but wonder if such an exceptional performance was a mere stroke of luck or a coincidence.

“If that acting was a fluke, I’m out of here,” he thought to himself.

Although he kept his restlessness hidden, PD Kim Mansoo’s inner turmoil was palpable.

“Please, show at least half of the emotion you displayed during the audition,” PD Kim Mansoo requested.

“Minho... I’m sorry, Son. I’m really sorry...”

The lines of the actor portraying ‘Minho’s’ mother resonated in the room. As expected, the performance was steady. Now, it was Jinseok’s turn.

“Please... please...”

Irrespective of the success or failure of this project, it served as a platform for Jinseok to showcase his acting skills. Naturally, the outcome of his act might be influenced by his performance.

In light of this, Producer Kim Mansoo harbored both expectations and concerns for Jinseok.

At that moment, Jinseok finally spoke.

“Mom... I’m really okay.”

“I hope my brother stays healthy. Even if I don’t make it.”

Two brief lines of dialogue had a profound impact. The reading room fell into an abrupt, hushed silence.

Producer Kim Mansoo quietly clenched his fists, internally cheering, “It’s alright. It’s done. It really worked!”

The memory of that unforgettable expression lingered in his mind, and just the recollection sent shivers down his spine.

When the drama finally airs, Jinseok’s short scene will undoubtedly become a hot topic.

“Good!” Kim Mansoo exclaimed.

From the corner of his eye, Kim Mansoo glanced at Eom Hyeryeong. She was feigning indifference, but a subtle smile was beginning to appear on her lips.

“Probably because she’s eager to capture the moment in photographs,” he thought.

Eom Hyeryeong was a professional among professionals. If Eom Hyeryeong could act with such brilliance and wear that genuine smile, it would be a testament to the success of casting Jinseok.

Then, there was the sound of something falling to the floor. As heads turned in the direction of the sound, Park Woohyun, who appeared embarrassed, hurriedly picked up the script and spoke in a fluster.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I was quite embarrassed... I mistimed it. I’m truly sorry!”

It was not uncommon for the flow to be disrupted during a reading.

Nevertheless, Park Woohyun felt compelled to apologize, as it could be perceived as a lack of preparation.

However, everyone in the room, especially the actors, understood Park Woohyun’s momentary lapse. This understanding was because everyone had been captivated by Jinseok’s previous line.

The atmosphere had deteriorated to the point where it was challenging to continue reading. In an attempt to lighten the mood, Min Kyungsoo spoke with a wide smile.

“Ah, Woohyun, were you perhaps caught up in mentoring a rookie? Is this going to be headline news?”

Sitting beside him, Narin Lee offered support to Kyungsoo Min.

“I know, right? But Woohyun sunbae, you can’t afford to repeat this on set. You know how sensitive Producer Kim Mansoo is, don’t you?”

“True, but we also have to understand PD Kim Mansoo’s personality,” another person chimed in. “If a rookie acts like that on set and we look at the number of NG takes, will you be throwing the script away right away?”

A burst of laughter filled the room.

The atmosphere was reinvigorated by the words of Min Kyungsoo and Lee Narin, who had lightened the mood with their banter.

Thanks to this, the reading resumed, and after making various adjustments, it concluded in about four hours.

“Everyone, thank you for your hard work today,” Producer Mansoo Kim expressed with a satisfied smile. “After witnessing this reading, I’m confident that this project is destined for success.”

“Today’s reading session will conclude here,” he continued. “It’s a bit early, but if any of you plan to have a company dinner or evening plans and have no conflicting schedules, we’d appreciate your participation.”

When Min Kyungsoo heard the mention of a “company dinner,” he inquired subtly, “Is PD Kim Mansoo joining us?”

The response was affirmative. “The director approved it. Let’s go.”

Upon hearing the mention of “Beopka,” the staff reacted enthusiastically.

“Beopka? Great!”

“Director, is it unlimited? How much can we use?”

TN: Beopka – a type of meat in KR.

“I don’t know, let’s eat first and figure it out later!”

“Let’s go!”

Not only the employees but also several actors cheered upon learning that the director’s corporate card would be used.

Among them was a well-established, mid-career actor like Min Kyungsoo.

Producer Kim Mansoo chuckled as he observed the scene. Then, he noticed Jinseok packing his belongings at the far end of the reading room.

“Will your friend be joining us too?”

“Actor Kang Jinseok, is there anything in particular you’d like to eat?”

Producer Kim Mansoo approached Jinseok and inquired.

***

“Jinseok, how long have you been in the acting profession?”

Since we were seated at the same table, we had grown quite close, and now both Senior Min Kyungsoo and Park Woohyun referred to me as ‘Jinseok.’

“It’s been about five years since I started studying on my own, and this is my first experience working on a drama.”

“Alone? Didn’t you study at school or an academy?”

“Yes, I graduated from high school with a GED, and I wasn’t in a position to attend an academy. So I had to self-study.”

Senior Park Woohyun, upon hearing this, expressed amazement.

“You taught yourself acting and you’re performing like this? How’s that even possible?”

Then Senior Min Kyungsoo let out a snort and scolded Senior Park Woohyun.

“Hmph. If you can excel through self-study, why are you so surprised? True acting comes from the heart, not just theory. Look at Jinseok. You’re talented even without formal training, right?”

“My brother studied acting at school and doesn’t act that well. He even has a master’s degree.”

“I only got it because it happened to be given to me.”

Listening to this conversation, I couldn’t help but reflect on the actors’ performances earlier.

“Their acting was definitely on a different level than mine. Is it because they all received formal training...?”

Not only were their breath control and stability impressive, but they also delivered lengthy lines with precise diction. It was clear that my foundational knowledge was lacking.

“He’s on a completely different level than me. Maybe I should at least consider enrolling in an academy to learn the basics...”

For the past five years, I had scoured the internet and acquired professional books for self-study, but my shortcomings were too apparent.

As I contemplated my situation, Senior Lee Narin voiced her thoughts.

“If the opportunity arises, I’d like to attend college and study acting professionally. Despite my current skills, formal training could still enhance my performance.”

Lee Narin had been relatively quiet throughout the dinner, but her advice at this moment sounded earnest.

She remarked, “Considering joining an agency for training isn’t a bad idea. However, I’d advise against it because Jinseok’s acting might become overly stereotypical.”

“Stereotypical?” I asked.

“Yes. In a positive sense, it can be marketable acting, but negatively, it may come across as characterless. Many agencies focus on teaching such acting, especially to newcomers. Yet, that style of acting is often formulaic.”

I didn’t fully grasp all she was saying, but after listening to Lee Narin’s insights, I started to reconsider the idea of joining an agency at this point.

“Anyway, it’s university...”

I hadn’t even considered it before. There seemed to be no compelling reason to attend college thus far, and the financial aspect weighed heavily on my mind.

Senior Park Woohyun chimed in beside me.

“Hmm... Various actors hold different views on this, but going to college, even if it’s not necessarily for acting, isn’t a bad idea. Gaining diverse experiences can be beneficial for your future acting career.”

“···.”

“In simple terms, if your sole goal is to learn acting, going to college may not be necessary. Frankly, your reading earlier gave me chills.”

Then Senior Min Kyungsoo playfully teased Senior Park Woohyun once more.

He said, “I was taken aback by rookie Park Woohyun,” and added, “Honestly, I was quite impressed.”

Leaving the two of them behind, Senior Lee Narin spoke to me.

“My younger brother is planning to enroll in Seokuk University’s Department of Theater. If you’re interested, you should look into it. However, keep in mind that you can only apply to that university with a letter of recommendation from a high school teacher or someone in the industry.”

“A letter of recommendation... Did you write one for your younger brother?” I inquired.

“No, to be honest, my youngest brother doesn’t have the necessary skills to earn it,” she replied with a resolute tone.

It made me contemplate the concept of protecting what truly mattered. When you thought about it, it seemed natural. A ‘letter of recommendation’ was something that should only be given if you genuinely believed in the individual you were endorsing.

“It must be strange to just write something like that,” I mused.

After pondering for a moment, Senior Lee Narin spoke in a relaxed manner.

“If you genuinely want to learn acting properly, there are many paths to choose from. As I mentioned earlier, my personal recommendation is college. As Senior Woohyun pointed out, you can gain various valuable experiences, even if you’re not necessarily focused on academics.”

Normally, I didn’t pay much attention to the idea of college, or rather, I hadn’t given it any thought at all. But after witnessing the skills of the other actors today, I felt a growing need to learn something more.

Ultimately, the choices boiled down to attending an academy, enrolling in college, or joining an agency. One of these paths needed to be selected in order to strengthen my foundational skills.

Among these options, college appeared to be the most favorable.

Just as Senior Park Woohyun had pointed out, attending college would not only enhance acting skills but also provide a broader education.

Truthfully, I didn’t rule out the idea of an agency... I had dismissed it mainly because it seemed unattainable at my current level of awareness.

Amidst my contemplation, Senior Lee Narin shared her perspective.

“If Jinseok decides to attend college, I hope he chooses Seoguk University. I’m an alumnus of Seoguk University myself.”

“Haha... I’d love to attend a prestigious university like Seoguk, but I don’t have anyone to provide a letter of recommendation for me... I’ll have to explore other options.”

He said this with a modest, slightly awkward smile. In truth, his statement was more realistic than humble.

However, the three people sitting at the table appeared puzzled.

“Why don’t you have anyone to write a letter of recommendation?”

“Can’t I simply write you a letter of recommendation?”

“I’ll provide a letter of recommendation for you as well.”

Three renowned actors stepped up to offer their recommendations.