Chapter 77
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 077
Chapter Title: Tamra Casting
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It was the weekend, and the Red Film office was completely empty.
Ahead of the auditions for the Joseon-era zombie flick.
"Yi-han, got anyone in mind?"
"Hm."
Kwak Hoon had called Shin Yi-han over first to get the writer's input.
Or more accurately, they were racking their brains together.
There was just so much to consider.
"For now, I'm thinking Park Mu-gang for this role."
"Oh, that's perfect."
"And for the uncle..."
These two might be worth calling in for auditions.
Far more applicants had shown up than expected.
Shin Yi-han scratched his cheek as he stared at the endless stack of applications.
From the fact that he himself had been locked in as the lead actor, to it being a project by the writer and director of the indie smash hit...
Interest in the movie Tamra was on a whole other level compared to the previous indie.
'At least we've got some solid candidates lined up already.'
Honestly, just thinking of the actors from his past life who had starred in it was enough to fill most of the roles.
There were performers who were perfect fits he didn't want to drop, and with all the actors he'd worked with as a writer so far, decisions came quick.
But.
This version of Tamra was starting production nearly two years earlier than in his past life.
With everyone's schedules so different, plenty of roles had to be recast from scratch.
The child actors were the biggest headache.
- The deposed young king.
This was the second-most crucial role after the protagonist in Tamra, and a child actor had to carry it.
- The young king was dethroned, and his uncle took the throne.
It was the very incident that kicked off the movie.
- Later, the young king is exiled to an island, but his uncle still schemes to take his life.
- Blissfully unaware that this greed was something he should never indulge.
They needed an exceptional child actor from start to finish.
At minimum, someone on par with the kid from his past life.
But that past-life child actor was now...
'Way too young.'
Kids grew so fast every year—it couldn't be helped.
With Tamra being made much earlier now... no way that age range fit the role anymore.
He had to scout fresh talent.
In the end, Shin Yi-han flipped through the applications for the "young king" role and asked Kwak Hoon.
"Director, is this all the child actor submissions we have?"
Nothing had caught his eye yet.
There were some famous child actors mixed in, even kids who'd acted in theater.
'Something's just not clicking.'
Truth be told, it was partly because he already had someone in mind.
Honestly... if he could cast that kid, it would be a total jackpot.
Shin Yi-han smacked his lips, reminiscing about his past life.
The problem was, the agency hadn't even debuted her yet—or rather, she hadn't started real activities. And naturally, no one knew where she was at this point.
She was someone he'd only met after she'd grown up.
He only knew her name.
'Lee Do-ha.'
But he couldn't help his greed.
She was the one actor he, as a writer, had no choice but to envy.
The one who'd shone brightest in his movies.
Thinking how she was exactly the right age for a child role now made it all the more regrettable.
"Huh? No more?"
Kwak Hoon ducked under the desk at Shin Yi-han's question.
"What you're looking at is just the ones I pre-selected first, so it's a short stack."
He pulled out a whole box from under the floor like it was nothing.
Thud!
"There's just way too many, honestly."
The box he plopped on the desk was stuffed to the brim with applications—like they'd swept up every child actor out there.
"Whoa, wow."
Shin Yi-han jumped up and started pulling them out.
So many.
Even among the rejects, there were some promising kids.
Faces with no experience but destined for fame.
Oh? Some who blew up later in dramas, even ones who went idol route.
Any of these would work fine.
But he couldn't shake the lingering doubt with each page he turned.
Maybe because there were this many apps and still no sign of the one he wanted.
'Even younger child actors? Eh.'
Or maybe because of what Lee Do-ha had said in his past life kept popping up.
'Back then, I just couldn't make it.'
'Just a crappy old phone pic for a profile shot taken by the director, a resume full of grammar errors, no experience at all.'
'No one picks a kid like that.'
She'd grown up in an orphanage. Adult Lee Do-ha had laughed it off like no big deal.
'Tried a few times and gave up, y'know.'
She'd wanted to, but couldn't.
It had stuck with him.
Honestly, hearing it back then, he'd projected a lot of himself onto her story—the past her and the him who'd quit acting.
'...Maybe I should just try to find her properly.'
If the orphanage was too remote, it might be tough, but hiring a PI or something could work.
She wouldn't debut till high school anyway.
'No way I wait that long.'
Even if not this role, there were future scripts. Scouting her early and offering a spot...
Sounded...
'Huh?'
Wait a sec.
He'd grabbed it absentmindedly from the box. Shin Yi-han's eyes went wide.
He flipped it over, checked again and again. Same result.
It was that messy application no one would pick—just as described.
- Lee Do-ha
Three clear letters on the form.
"......!"
Shin Yi-han shot to his feet.
No way.
Lee Do-ha? The real Lee Do-ha?!
He'd heard she'd auditioned a few times as a kid, but for it to lead here...
Jackpot.
What kind of coincidence was this?
Shin Yi-han was thrilled.
Huh? Yi-han, what's up? Kwak Hoon next to him just looked baffled.
"Th-this kid."
"Huh?"
Shin Yi-han shoved the application at him, beaming with excitement.
Kwak Hoon could only blink in confusion.
"Lee Do-ha?"
The address had typos, the photo was in some weird angle like an old person took it. He remembered it.
It was the first one he'd tossed.
And now Yi-han was holding it up.
"I want this kid no matter what!"
"Uh, wha?"
Grinning ear to ear like he knew her forever.
Even though she had zero credits—had to be a first-timer.
"F-for real? You want this one?"
"Yes!"
Kwak Hoon's shock didn't last.
'Wait. No way.'
This felt familiar.
He naturally flashed back.
'His face-reading?!'
Last time, all of Shin Yi-han's picks had been unanimous hits.
Even when he'd doubted the "good aura" excuse, the casting had been flawless.
Even if it wasn't real face-reading.
That special instinct of his was kicking in now, for sure!
"...Okay!"
Kwak Hoon took the application without question.
"I'll call her first for auditions! Cool?"
"Perfect!"
Shin Yi-han nodded eagerly.
The key role was as good as cast.
If Lee Do-ha took Tamra's child lead...
No more worries.
Shin Yi-han was already pumped for filming.
This lineup would make Tamra even more perfect.
But just as Shin Yi-han and Kwak Hoon's casting meeting was going smoothly...
"Huh?"
Kwak Hoon checked his phone, tilting his head.
Random call from the assistant director on a day off.
"What's this guy want?"
He answered on speaker while grabbing more applications, no big deal.
"Jong-hyuk? What's up?"
Shin Yi-han listened in while sorting resumes.
But the vibe felt off.
- Director Kwak!
The slightly hyped voice from the phone.
- Did Kim Hwa-wook's crew approach you?!
First question hit like that.
Shin Yi-han and Kwak Hoon locked eyes. Uh, what? What the hell?
- No! I'm with the cinematographer right now!
- Same here!
- Guess who showed up at ours?!
Here's what happened.
Someone from the film company had already contacted major staff to join Kwak Hoon's team.
Luring them with famous director Kim Hwa-wook's name.
To poach their crew.
'What?'
Kwak Hoon's mind reeled at the absurd news.
'Wh-what the...'
He was pissed at Kim Hwa-wook for this unethical stunt.
But it made no sense.
Why would Kim Hwa-wook bother?
No real connection—just vague acquaintances.
Shin Yi-han, overhearing beside him, was just dumbfounded.
Honestly, on the verge of laughing.
'No way.'
The reason was too obvious.
'Because I turned down his casting call once?'
Nothing else explained Kim Hwa-wook sabotaging Tamra.
'Over that...? This petty?'
So blatant. Shin Yi-han was floored.
Especially since it was Kim Hwa-wook.
He stayed quiet, gauging the situation.
Listening to the call.
The key was if the staff accepted.
"Others too?!"
- Yeah! Group chat's blowing up!
"And? You guys going...? Anyone wanna?"
Kwak Hoon asked the same thing, stunned but checking.
A surefire hit movie, instant ties to a major studio.
A shot at bigger, better gigs.
So he half-expected this call to be someone itching to jump ship.
- Huh? From us?
Shin Yi-han tensed a bit too.
No one knew yet how rotten that side was.
It did look tempting.
But the response...
- Director! Are we crazy?!
"Uh...?"
Blunt as hell.
Voice cranked up like no hesitation. Kwak Hoon's eyes widened.
Not a single acceptance.
- What do they think we are? This script's gold! Shin Yi-han's the lead!
- Yeah. We'd just be nobodies there anyway.
Assistant director, then cinematographer chimed in.
- I wanna work with Actor Shin Yi-han!
- Thought Tain's Hell fame meant no more collabs, but this? Thrilled!
- Right! What an opportunity! I wouldn't go for Tak Bong-chun himself!
- Uh... Cinematographer bro. Hold up. Tak Bong-chun? For real?
- Y-yeah! Not going! Can't!
Pfft. Kwak Hoon burst out laughing at their banter.
Shock melted away.
He chuckled long after hanging up.
Yeah.
Famous director or blockbuster franchise.
As long as Shin Yi-han was here, not one staffer wanted out.
Kwak Hoon sighed in relief.
"Yi-han, you hear that?"
The director was pretty touched by their loyalty.
"Nobody's going!"
Shin Yi-han laughed too. Their conviction was rock-solid.
Reassuring.
"Good thing."
Really was.
Going would've been digging their own graves.
Like he'd said before.
Sin City 4 wouldn't just flop—it might not even release.
Kim Hwa-wook strutted high now, but...
This was why Shin Yi-han ignored him.
'Kim Hwa-wook's heading to prison soon.'
And comeback would be rough.
Shin Yi-han shrugged.
Super soon, too.
You gotta treat those closest right, but Kim Hwa-wook never learned.
By mid-Sin City 4 shoot, that assistant director would snap.
They'd just grab popcorn and watch him crumble.
Ding!
Then it hit.
'Huh...?'
A sudden text changed his mind.
'What? Blowing up this fast...?'
Maybe he could pour some fuel on the fire.
- Shin Yi-han?! You! You?!
From Park Mu-gang.
After getting cast in Tamra last time, he'd pushed to shoot together.
- Told me not to do Sin City 4?!
- You knew ahead, didn't you?! Crazy!
Good news for him.
- Just heard from a reporter buddy!
- It's about to explode!
Faster than his past life.
- Kim Hwa-wook drugs!
Shin Yi-han grinned unwittingly.
- Drugs trafficking, assaults—charges everywhere!
Before Sin City 4 even started shooting, scrapped.
And on a whim...
"Looks like their movie's toast."
He showed Kwak Hoon the texts.
"We should snag their actors."
"......?!"
Kim Hwa-wook was trash, but had an eye for talent.
Shin Yi-han smirked.
Solve casting.
And teach what poaching feels like.