Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Eyes on the Star
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If there was anyone as desperate as the contestants right now, it had to be PD Im Youngdo.
Planning an acting audition program in the first place was a hugely risky venture. If he hadn't always had a passion for something like this, he probably wouldn't have taken on a show like it.
'There's no stage for rookie actors.'
Idols, singers, even rappers had their chances to shine... but actors? Nothing like that.
Most professions at least had some open gateway to try out, but rookies in acting didn't even get that.
That was why he'd made this program.
He wanted to create a new opportunity for actors.
...Maybe it was just meddling from someone who'd once dreamed of being an actor himself.
Either way, for that meddling to succeed, the ratings had to deliver.
And that wasn't something Im Youngdo could force through effort alone.
The contestants had to show enough charm to captivate the viewers.
'What this show needs is a star.'
They needed contestants with star quality.
That was why he'd gone to the Cheongsong Troupe. He knew they had a bunch of charismatic actors.
If they appeared on the show, the odds of unearthing a star from the bunch would skyrocket.
And Seonwoo was one of the star candidates who'd caught Im Youngdo's eye.
That explained why, during the follow-up interviews, all the other Cheongsong qualifiers got questions about Seonwoo.
"Seonwoo? Hmm... he's seriously impressive. I've never seen anyone improve their acting that fast."
To Hyeseong,
"It's not just talent—he's a practice machine. Seonwoo's definitely going to be a great actor."
To Minhee,
"That guy's a genius!!"
To Yechun,
"......"
Even Seo Jinwook got asked about Seonwoo.
Of course, all he gave back was a look that seemed uncomfortable around him, but even that could be spun into good content if used right.
Anyway, after fielding all those questions, the troupe members picked up on it too.
"Feels like the PD's kinda pushing you, huh?"
"Me?"
"Yeah. He asked a ton about you. Did he grill you about us too?"
"Well..."
He had gotten questions about Jaewon and Minhee.
But nothing about the other members. Still, he couldn't just blurt that out, so Seonwoo trailed off.
Reading his mind, Hyeseong flashed a bright smile.
"Anyway, that's awesome. Getting noticed by the PD is as big a deal as grabbing viewers. Kinda jealous."
"...Haha."
Seonwoo gave an awkward laugh.
Hyeseong was right—it was a good spot to be in. But it came with pressure. Being framed as a genius like this meant any single misstep could bring a brutal backlash...
Well, just don't misstep.
Seonwoo steeled himself.
He couldn't approach the competition planning to screw up from the start. He'd give his all from beginning to end.
And if luck was on his side...
'Lead role isn't a pipe dream.'
Of course, it wasn't an easy goal.
To snag the lead, he had to take first place—crush countless rivals.
No need to overthink the distance.
Could he even beat Jaewon?
'Honestly, not right now.'
And [I Am an Actor] had plenty of others on Jaewon's level, even without him.
To beat them, staying like this wouldn't cut it.
So what then?
What else? Practice like hell.
Two weeks until the main round.
The production team hadn't specified any acting prep.
Probably handing out missions on the day.
But he couldn't just slack off for those two weeks.
His mom Jeonghee and dad Youngsik were already buzzing with excitement about the audition show.
He couldn't let them see him flop.
Seonwoo reviewed his acting with the troupe.
Honestly, for his experience level, his acting had no glaring flaws.
But even so, he wasn't fully satisfied.
'I want to act like Doyoung-hyung.'
That intense color that filled the entire stage—not just his own performance.
He couldn't unleash something like that overnight, but he wanted to feel himself inching closer.
When he asked the others for advice, this was their take:
"Repetition practice is the key."
"Repetition?"
"Yeah. Sadness? Nail sadness. Fear? Nail fear. Lock in the emotion and drill it over and over. The more you do, the more natural it gets."
"Right. They say anger's real when someone who knows how to get mad lets loose? Acting's the same."
Minhee shrugged.
"You gotta get comfortable with that emotion."
Get comfortable with emotions.
That hit home. Seonwoo admitted he'd leaned too hard on the color orbs, skimping a bit on how to unpack the feelings.
It had been his best effort back then.
Just emitting the color he'd absorbed was overwhelming enough.
This time, he'd dive deeper into emotions—and colors.
Even if bursting a color orb let him immerse in a character's mindset... the one feeling it all was still 'Kim Seonwoo.'
If he didn't deepen his own grasp of emotions, there'd be limits to what he could feel and express.
It was tricky, but fine.
He'd expected challenges from the start. And above all, even this complex stuff felt fun to him.
Every moment was so vibrant, after all.
No room for complaints.
Seonwoo dove into practice.
It was kinda funny to watch. Reading lines, staring blankly into space, chuckling to himself, then grimacing—rinse and repeat.
No dialogue, just cycling through who-knows-what emotions.
Even Jaewon shook his head watching.
"Not normal, right?"
Minhee spoke up first.
She stared at Seonwoo in amazement.
"First time I've seen someone grind acting this hard since you, oppa."
"...I'm different."
"What? You worked harder?"
"No, that's not..."
Jaewon's lip twitched.
Minhee glanced over casually and froze. What was that look? Like he envied Seonwoo or something.
"He's enjoying it more than me."
Enjoying it.
She hadn't thought of it that way...
Minhee turned to watch Seonwoo. Now that she considered it, he showed none of the 'gloom' passive skill that defined no-name actors.
She'd figured it was because he was new to acting and hadn't tasted the full bitterness of obscurity yet. But now? Not quite.
"None of us enjoy acting like he does."
Jaewon was spot on.
Seonwoo was enjoying it more than anyone.
If he succeeded, great. If not, whatever. Pure, unfiltered joy in the act.
Minhee gazed at him blankly for a moment.
When was it? The last time she'd smiled happily just from acting?
She muttered bitterly.
"They say the enjoyers are the elites. By that measure... Seonwoo's already elite."
"Well, we're seniors too—we can't get shown up."
Jaewon tied back his hair with a smile.
"Let's have some fun with it."
And with that, he headed to Seonwoo.
Minhee chuckled watching them sync up for practice.
Yeah.
Don't overthink it.
Just enjoy it for now.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Main round day.
Filming studio. Stepping into the plaza ringed by cameras, Seonwoo muttered in surprise.
"...Wow, such a diverse crowd."
Kids who looked about ten were everywhere.
Sure, prelims had some too. But he'd thought making mains would be tough for them. Wrong.
And it wasn't just the kids that shocked him.
Grandmas and grandpas dotted the crowd, along with middle-aged folks who looked like regular office workers.
Being here meant they'd all shown solid acting in prelims... How hard had they practiced?
Awe filled Seonwoo's eyes.
<<Thank you all for making it this far. Great job.>>
A familiar voice boomed from the speakers.
Seong Junil's.
With that, the curtain on stage parted, revealing the judges.
Seong Junil, Yoo Miyeon, and Lee Moobeom.
They slowly scanned the hundred contestants in the plaza.
<<Starting today, you'll embark on an 80-day journey. Not everyone will last, of course. Some half, some... maybe just days.>>
<<But I promise this: those who see it through will live a different life.>>
Seonwoo nodded inwardly.
Yeah. Just reaching the end would change his life.
The question was whether he could...
<<To let you focus purely on acting, we've done our best to set up the environment.>>
<<Double rooms rivaling any hotel—prepared for all contestants.>>
<<But... there are only 25 rooms.>>
Things felt off right from the start.
25 double rooms for 100 people.
Contestants already clutching their foreheads in anticipation, Seong Junil continued in a flat tone.
<>
<<Entry sequential, one at a time. Once four enter a room, the door locks.>>
<<Then, an acting showdown to decide the two who claim it.>>
...As expected.
Sighs rippled through the crowd.
He'd figured twists like this were possible, but cutting half on day one?
Seonwoo glanced at the troupe.
They met his eyes—same thought.
"...Please don't end up in the same room as me."
"Seriously. Killing each other would suck..."
They might draw each other. Horrifying just to imagine.
Win or lose, it'd feel wrong.
"Anyway, let's all dodge each other smartly."
<<Room assignments starting now!>>
With Seong Junil's call, contestants began filing toward the dorms.
The hotel-level doubles weren't hype— the building looked sleek and clean.
Problem was the cutthroat battles about to erupt inside...
"I'm going first."
"...Please no matching rooms!"
Troupe members trickled off one by one.
Seonwoo swallowed hard. Tension prickling for no reason. Just avoid them and it'd be fine.
"Kim Seonwoo-ssi, your turn."
"Yes."
His moment.
Seonwoo entered the dorm tense-faced. More nervous than prelims—maybe worse.
Anyone but troupe.
Strong opponent? Fine. Just not troupe.
'Here goes...!'
He reached for the doorknob.
Door opened. Seeing the occupant, Seonwoo's face turned weird.
"Ah, hello!"
A boy who looked barely ten, bowing deeply.
His tension was painfully obvious—heartbreaking.
"Hello."
Seonwoo returned the greeting awkwardly.
Well... he'd thought anyone but troupe was okay, but not this scenario.
I mean... he was way too young.