Episode 21
Episode 21: Script Reading
Everyone has intense moments in their life.
The intense moment for Kim Seong-ho, the class president—or rather, now the team leader—came during the summer vacation of his second year of high school.
He first encountered theater when he visited Daehak-ro with his college-aged cousin.
"Hamlet," one of Shakespeare’s four great tragedies.
The actor on stage looked like someone from another world.
His voice resonated, and emotion was embedded in every action.
In particular, when the actor playing Hamlet began his monologue, Kim Seong-ho’s heart pounded wildly.
"To be or not to be, that is the question."
Hamlet’s anguish and anger were conveyed through the actor’s trembling.
His gaze was unstable yet intense, and the lingering resonance of his lines spread deeply through the audience.
At that moment, Kim Seong-ho dreamed of becoming an actor himself, and after graduating from high school, he moved to Seoul without a plan and joined a theater troupe.
However, reality was not easy.
His acting was lackluster, and he realized how inadequate he was compared to his seniors’ skills.
Around that time, he met his beloved current wife.
Marriage to his wife changed his life.
He decided to give up his dream of becoming an actor for the sake of his life with her and their newborn son.
His once burning passion cooled, but seeing his family’s smiles was enough to make him happy.
Another intense moment came to him while living such an ordinary life.
It was the moment he saw Baek Seung-chan’s acting.
Baek Seung-chan’s acting was dazzling.
He precisely grasped the flow of emotions and understood the essence of the character.
Kim Seong-ho envied Baek Seung-chan’s brilliant talent, which he himself lacked, yet he wanted to see the acting he would create with that talent.
While Baek Seung-chan was diligent and admirable, that was the biggest reason he helped him.
Yes, it was greed.
At that moment, his cooled heart began to heat up again.
Because he was delighted and happy to know that he had contributed, even if only a tiny amount, to Baek Seung-chan’s outstanding acting.
So when he heard the news that Baek Seung-chan had signed with Dream Entertainment, he was happy, but also felt a sense of regret.
Because there was nothing left for him to help with.
Just as his briefly rekindled passion was about to cool again, CEO Ji Pyeong-san appeared before Kim Seong-ho.
"We are planning to create a new team at our company to manage rookie actors. Could you take charge of that team, Team Leader?"
Ji Pyeong-san then added an explanation.
It involved tasks such as managing the schedules and mental care of rookie actors, which was not much different from what he was already doing.
However, since he would be starting as a new team leader, the initial salary was somewhat low.
Still, it was a position that guaranteed a much higher salary as he built his career.
Above all, the most attractive condition was that he would also serve as Baek Seung-chan’s manager.
Team Leader Kim Seong-ho accepted the offer without hesitation, and that was how he ended up here now.
"Actor Baek, let’s go in first and say hello later. We’re going to be late for the script reading."
"Yes, I will, Team Leader."
Baek Seung-chan playfully responded to Team Leader Kim Seong-ho’s joke.
"Sit comfortably in the back."
"I’m more comfortable in the front."
Baek Seung-chan sat in the passenger seat, and Team Leader Kim Seong-ho got into the car with a smile.
"Thank you, Seung-chan."
"Huh? For what?"
Before setting off, Team Leader Kim Seong-ho spoke with a serious expression, and Baek Seung-chan tilted his head.
"You must have asked the CEO for a favor. Otherwise, there’s no way he would suddenly make me such an offer."
"Ah, I thought it was something else."
Baek Seung-chan showed an expression of realization.
"I think you’re misunderstanding. I didn’t ask for that."
"······."
Team Leader Kim Seong-ho looked unconvinced, and seeing that, Baek Seung-chan smiled and said,
"Oh, I’m telling you, it’s true!"
"Really? Then how did the CEO suddenly know me and contact me?"
Team Leader Kim Seong-ho and CEO Ji Pyeong-san were acquainted, but not particularly close.
"Well, I wouldn’t know either. Maybe while looking into me, they heard that you’ve always been helping me? Siwoo is like that, and Siwoo’s manager already knew that the Team Leader was helping me too."
"That could be the case."
Besides, the CEO wasn’t a fool; there was no way he would just hand over a team leader position simply because of a request.
"That’s true."
Team Leader Kim Seong-ho nodded at the convincing words.
Dream Entertainment wasn’t some small corner shop, so there was no way they would casually give out a team leader position just because an actor asked.
"They didn’t hire you because of me, Team Leader. They hired you because you’re capable. So please don’t feel uncomfortable."
In fact, it wasn’t that Baek Seung-chan hadn’t helped at all.
Right after signing the contract, CEO Ji Pyeong-san had asked Baek Seung-chan what kind of person he wanted as a manager, and Baek Seung-chan said he would like someone like Team Leader Kim Seong-ho.
CEO Ji Pyeong-san already knew Team Leader Kim Seong-ho, so he naturally considered him for the team leader position.
In the end, the acting team leader position was earned through Kim Seong-ho’s own abilities.
"Alright, thanks. Let’s go."
Team Leader Kim Seong-ho felt much more at ease at Baek Seung-chan’s sincere words.
The script reading took place in a tall building in the center of Yeoksam.
Perhaps because the production company was the global media giant C-Genie, even the script reading venue was extraordinary.
Of course, the entire building didn’t belong to C-Genie, but renting even a single floor must have cost an enormous amount.
"Seung-chan, you don’t need to be too nervous. Just think of it as getting to know each other and rehearsing a few scenes before the project starts."
While riding the elevator, Team Leader Kim Seong-ho offered words of encouragement to Baek Seung-chan standing beside him.
At those words, Baek Seung-chan gave a faint smile and replied,
"It seems like you’re more nervous than I am, Team Leader."
"Is that so?"
Team Leader Kim Seong-ho gave an awkward smile but couldn’t hide his nervousness as he shifted his feet.
"Yes."
Baek Seung-chan answered firmly.
In truth, Team Leader Kim Seong-ho was fidgeting with tension.
He had experienced script readings during his time appearing as a supporting actor, but that was ten years ago.
Moreover, this was his first official duty as the team leader of Dream Entertainment’s acting team.
Naturally, the pressure was immense.
As the elevator ascended, Team Leader Kim Seong-ho kept clearing his throat and adjusting his collar.
Watching this, Baek Seung-chan gave a slight smile and said,
"Team Leader, don’t be nervous. Just having you beside me is already a great help."
"Ha, alright."
Encouraged by the warm words, Team Leader Kim Seong-ho paused briefly, took a deep breath, and entered the script reading office.
There were still 30 minutes left until the scheduled time, but the room was already filled with quite a number of actors.
"Should the emotion burst here, or would it be better to hold it in and release it later?"
Some actors were exchanging opinions.
"The barbecue place I went to yesterday was really good."
"Really? I was thinking of going there."
Others were having casual conversations.
"······."
There were also actors quietly listening to music, immersing themselves.
Each prepared for the reading in their own way.
Those actors stopped what they were doing and all turned their attention toward Baek Seung-chan and Team Leader Kim Seong-ho as they entered.
"Wow, I see a lot of familiar faces here."
After quickly scanning the room as if assessing the situation, Team Leader Kim Seong-ho spotted familiar faces and smiled brightly.
There was no trace of the nervousness he had shown in the elevator just moments ago.
"Senior, how have you been?"
He immediately approached a middle-aged actor sitting to one side and greeted him politely.
He was the oldest actor in the room.
"Seong-ho, long time no see!"
"What brings you here?"
"Hello, senior."
A few other actors also stood up and approached to greet him.
Their attitudes were friendly.
It was a moment that revealed the network and trust Kim Seong-ho had built during his time as an actor.
"But Seong-ho, what brings you here? Are you starting again?"
"Yeah, are you making a comeback?"
At the questions filled with anticipation, Team Leader Kim Seong-ho scratched his head and answered honestly,
"I’m not returning as an actor. I’ve started working as a manager."
"A manager?"
"Yes, Dream Entertainment created a new acting team, and I joined as the team leader."
"Dream Entertainment? You’ve made it, senior."
"I just got lucky. Anyway, there’s someone I want to introduce today. Seung-chan!"
At his call, Baek Seung-chan stepped forward.
"This is Baek Seung-chan, a rookie actor from our company. Seung-chan, greet the seniors."
Baek Seung-chan bowed his head and greeted them neatly.
"Hello. I’m Baek Seung-chan, playing the role of ‘K’ this time. I look forward to working with you."
"Ah, so you’re the final key."
"Indeed, you’ve got exactly the look the director wanted."
Several actors nodded with smiles.
"The final key?"
Curious, Team Leader Kim Seong-ho asked, and one actor replied with a laugh,
"The role of ‘K’ wasn’t decided until the very end, so the script reading got delayed. That’s why we’ve been calling it the ‘final key’ among ourselves."
Baek Seung-chan and Team Leader Kim Seong-ho nodded in understanding.
"Right, I’ll go greet the others as well."
Team Leader Kim Seong-ho didn’t know all the actors present.
He approached others first, introducing Baek Seung-chan and naturally easing the atmosphere.
"Team Leader, you said you were nervous, but you’re handling this like a complete veteran."
After finishing the greetings and taking his seat, Baek Seung-chan whispered quietly.
At those words, Team Leader Kim Seong-ho smiled and replied,
"Really? Maybe I’m more suited to this kind of work than I thought."
He was performing his role excellently.
After a while, once all the actors and staff had taken their seats, the script reading began.
"Alright, let’s begin the first script reading for ‘The Killer’s Shopping Mall.’ Director, please say a few words."
At the assistant director’s words, Director Go Jin-seok stood up.
"I’m Go Jin-seok, the director of ‘The Killer’s Shopping Mall.’ I look forward to working with all of you."
With the director’s greeting, the atmosphere settled, and then starting from the lead actors, everyone stood up one by one to briefly introduce themselves.
Then the script reading began in earnest.
"Uncle, what on earth is happening?"
The actors began reciting their lines while looking at the script.
The emotions and atmosphere of each character could be felt in their voices.
Baek Seung-chan sat and carefully observed them.
"They’re all good."
Even just reading the script, the actors vividly brought their characters to life.
Each one was skilled, proving that no one had been cast carelessly.
"That was good, but it would be better to restrain the emotion a bit more here."
"Let’s adjust the line too. It’s too serious and makes the atmosphere heavy."
The director, writer, and production team identified issues while watching the actors and continued refining the script.
Script reading was an important stage that polished the work through this process.
About an hour passed, and Baek Seung-chan’s turn approached.
The scene was as follows.
While walking down the street with the female lead, a villainous killer appears.
The killer threatens the female lead, but Baek Seung-chan, who seemed like an ordinary student, steps in to stop him.
A knife is already in his hand, and in an instant, he brings the blade to the killer’s neck, subduing him.
"······."
However, since Baek Seung-chan had no lines, there wasn’t much he could do.
As a result, the actors’ gazes turned toward him, but an awkward situation unfolded where he couldn’t say anything.
"Hmm, it doesn’t quite feel right like this."
At that moment, Director Go Jin-seok spoke with a hint of disappointment.
"For this scene, let’s have you come up front and try it like a rehearsal. We need to get a sense of it."
In the end, Baek Seung-chan, the actress playing the female lead, and the supporting actor playing the villain came forward.
"Since there are no props, Seung-chan, just roll up the script and use it like a knife."
"Yes."
Thus, the three began the script reading, and the attention of all the actors and staff focused on Baek Seung-chan.
Because they were curious about what kind of acting the rookie would show.
"······."
When the short rehearsal-like reading ended, the room was enveloped in silence.
"Hiccup!"
The silence was broken by the sudden hiccup of the villain actor, whose face had turned pale.
