Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Method?
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‘Method acting?’
The first thought that flashed through Park Myungjin's mind upon seeing Seonwoo like that was exactly that.
There was no other way to explain Seonwoo's current state besides method acting. But he'd never heard of Seonwoo doing method acting before...
‘Is he trying something new this time?’
Park Myungjin's brow furrowed.
It wasn't exactly welcome news. An actor's style wasn't something you could just switch up overnight.
New acting techniques always came with trial and error... and they weren't in a position to afford any slip-ups right now.
It's just an audition show anyway, so what's a little trial and error?
Save that talk for Im Youngdo. Park Myungjin was shooting a drama, not some audition program.
And besides...
‘Method acting is tough to handle...’
That was another issue.
The public idolized method acting like it was some amazing skill, treating any actor who did it like a true master.
The problem was that very few people actually knew how to do proper method acting.
If anything, there were far more half-baked types who got so lost in their characters they forgot their lines.
And those actors were stubborn as hell, often ignoring the PD's directions outright.
From a PD's perspective, ‘method acting’ just didn't come across positively in any number of ways.
But suddenly, method acting?
He had no idea.
He couldn't very well nag before even seeing the performance.
Park Myungjin crossed his arms, resolved to watch for now.
Meanwhile,
"You feeling okay? Not sick or anything?"
"Ah, no. I'm fine."
"Good. Acting's great and all, but take care of your body. It's no use if you're not healthy enough to do it."
Seonwoo was already getting an earful from someone else.
His scene partner was Go Yongtaek, the actor playing his boss at work—a man in his fifties, maybe. Seonwoo had seen him a few times on dramas before, and now those eyes were gazing at him with concern.
Seonwoo gave a weak smile and nodded.
"Yes, sir. I'll take good care of myself. Thank you for worrying."
He could understand Go Yongtaek's concern.
To his eyes, Seonwoo looked pretty precarious right now. What was the word? Like all the will to live had drained out of him, leaving nothing but an empty shell.
He even seemed more alive when he was acting.
‘Kim Seonwoo’ always tried to hide that emptiness, but Seonwoo's stance was the opposite.
He had to feel that hollowness even more deeply.
Hiding it was for the acting, not for real life.
Because of that, even though he'd finally made it to his first shoot, Seonwoo couldn't fully enjoy the moment.
The office studio.
It looked just like the offices where he'd been interviewing—except overlaid with cameras, lights, mics, and all the rest.
On any other day, he'd have been thrilled or at least surprised.
But not now.
It felt like there was a hole punched right through his chest.
Whenever something resembling emotion welled up... it just slipped away.
Nothing could hold his interest for long.
‘That's how it was.’
And with that, Seonwoo sank into old memories.
He'd been the same way back then.
Nothing caught his heart.
So the most he'd do was go jogging or hit the gym.
Otherwise, he'd just stare at his resume again, even though there was nothing left to tweak.
Seonwoo glanced at Park Myungjin.
Last time, he hadn't satisfied the man.
Hell, he might have even disappointed him.
But today would be different.
He didn't hate Kim Seonwoo anymore.
He could give a different answer to that question now.
The one about whether he hated Kim Seonwoo.
"Alright, we're about to roll. Actors, get to your marks."
Right on cue, Park Myungjin's call came through.
Seonwoo moved to stand in front of Go Yongtaek. Somehow, he'd already locked into character—the worry on his face was gone, replaced by a blank expression as he stared down at his papers.
Gazing at Go Yongtaek like that, Seonwoo popped another color bubble.
‘......Ah.’
And suddenly, he felt his body start to tremble.
It was like plunging into a pitch-black winter sea, no lighthouse in sight—just bone-chilling cold seeping through his skin.
His feet were firmly on solid ground, yet it felt like he was sinking endlessly into the deep abyss.
Seonwoo took a slow breath.
Immersion was good, but he couldn't lose himself completely.
If he drowned in the character's emotions, he wouldn't capture the real essence.
He had to hold back.
Ignore the emptiness, the cold, the anxiety that the floor might give way any second.
Prop up those drooping lips.
Make sure no one saw through his facade.
And then,
"Ready—and action!"
The moment he finally nailed the emotion, Park Myungjin's cue sign slammed in like it had been waiting.
"You really planning to quit?"
Chilling.
A voice sharp as a blade, just like last time. No trace of the salaryman boss—pure, emotionless detachment.
During script reading, he'd thought this voice was so cold.
But why?
This time, it didn't feel cold at all.
If anything, in some ways, it even felt warm and soft.
Had Go Yongtaek changed his acting?
No, that wasn't it.
Seonwoo had changed.
Back then, he hadn't immersed himself in Kim Seonwoo's mindset.
He'd tried to rationally grasp and express it.
But now, with his whole body dyed in Kim Seonwoo's color, it was different.
The constant bone-numbing chill wrapped around him, so even a voice without much warmth... felt toasty by comparison.
Seonwoo realized just how absurd it had been to act without popping color bubbles or embracing Kim Seonwoo's heart.
How could it be anything but different?
The voice in his ears, the fluorescent office glow, the paper brushing his fingers—everything hit differently now. And he'd tried to ignore it all.
He'd almost failed to convey it.
But this wasn't the time for self-recrimination.
Seonwoo opened his mouth.
"Yes. That's the plan."
During script reading, he'd desperately tried to infuse that voice with Kim Seonwoo's emptiness.
No need now.
He'd been popping color bubbles nonstop for days.
His eyes, expressions, even tiny gestures overflowed with it unless he held back.
What Seonwoo needed to do now wasn't contain the color.
It was hide it.
"I mean, you can't hold onto someone who wants to leave... but you've done great work. Good numbers too, Seonwoo. Promotion's a lock next year. You sick or something?"
"No. I just... want to take a break."
But even in that seemingly transparent voice, a faint gray haze clung inescapably.
Like a smoker's hands still reeking no matter how hard they scrub—Kim Seonwoo's hollowness showed through despite the effort to hide it.
"That's all."
And Go Yongtaek, facing him, felt it cut deep.
Seonwoo's shift was instantaneous, jarring enough to shake his own immersion for a second.
‘...Is this the same guy?’
His first impression of Seonwoo had been ‘good with details, but lacks immersion.’
Makes sense—he hadn't popped a single bubble then.
He'd subconsciously resisted diving into Kim Seonwoo.
But look at him now.
Lack of immersion? Hell no. This was better than any junior Go Yongtaek had seen.
Made him think the script reading was intentionally dialed back.
"If you need a break, just take a leave of absence."
"...I want something longer. A real, extended rest."
After their final exchange, Go Yongtaek stared at Seonwoo's face for a quiet moment.
An awkward smile.
Like he'd forgotten how to smile naturally—forced and artificial.
But not due to weak acting.
Kim Seonwoo just didn't suit smiles.
...Go Yongtaek shivered anew.
If a rookie could act like this before debut... what after years of experience?
His gut screamed it.
This kid would one day be an actor everyone in the country acknowledged.
And that instinct wasn't just his.
"...Cut."
Park Myungjin called cut slowly, staring blankly at Seonwoo.
Great acting.
Clean enough he wondered if a retake was even needed.
Honestly, unexpected.
Up until script reading, Seonwoo had struggled to immerse in ‘Kim Seonwoo.’
A stark contrast to his mute role.
He got it now.
Everyone has characters that fit them.
Ryu's creation might suit her vision but baffle Seonwoo.
But seeing this... looks like he'd misjudged.
‘Unbelievable.’
Last time, he'd told Im Youngdo as much.
Said a little polish and something would shine through. That's why it was a shame.
Like it was missing 2%.
But he never thought filling that 2% would be easy.
Actors pour their lives into it and still fall short, fading without reaching the top.
What he'd hoped from Seonwoo wasn't the full 2%.
Just 1%... or even 0.5% more. Something a bit more polished.
But it looked like he wouldn't need to bother.
‘Haven't even touched him yet...’
This guy had already filled that 2%.