Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Table Read Breakthrough
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Baek Da-bin, the acting major, snatched the script from Yoo Ha-jin's hand. It was a clear challenge: let me see it.
She had a substantial role in this graduation project. It was her first real credit, one that would stick to her like a tail if it flopped. Of course she couldn't be welcoming about it.
If it just followed me around, that'd be lucky. Doesn't he know how crucial first impressions are in this industry? One slip, and this could be my last gig. Did he think I'd greet him with 'Aw, you worked so hard~'?
The other lead actress, Kim Han-na, shot Yoo Ha-jin a cold look as well.
I can't even say it's admirable effort.
She might have marveled at the effort poured into the battered, thickened script.
But the guy holding it was none other than Yoo Ha-jin, the infamous bottom of his class. As a classmate, Kim Han-na knew his skills all too well.
I get that he's putting in the work... but so what? What now?
In the arts, nothing was more pointless than the efforts of a dullard. Wrong direction, and the harder you tried, the deeper you sank. And Yoo Ha-jin had zero sense for direction.
Park Kwang-jae, Yang Ji-ho, Shin Dong-wook, and the other crew wiped their faces or shook their heads.
The cinematographer, Park Kwang-jae, spoke up first.
"I know your sister's an acting major. I know things are rough for her right now. But this isn't it."
"What'll the department folks, professors, and industry people say later?"
Some eyes reddened.
"Unnie, I'm really disappointed... This is our project, all of ours. Sacrificing it out of desperation by shoving in your brother? That's not like you."
Yoo Ha-eun gave a small nod. She knew better than anyone how off this looked. Their reactions were only natural. Which left her with just one thing to say.
"Judge after seeing one take."
"Acting? Ha..."
"I don't even know anymore..."
But the mood shifted the moment someone spoke up.
"H-ha, mind if we take a quick look?"
It was Baek Da-bin, who had been glaring at the Yoo siblings with disbelief and scoffing laughs.
"Huh?"
"Da-bin, what gives...?"
After flipping through the script for a few minutes, the biggest opponent suddenly flipped her stance. The acting major, who had protested most fiercely, silently handed the script over.
"Senior, why do you look so spaced out?"
Kim Han-na, the other acting major, took it. And began reading.
How much time passed? Suddenly, Kim Han-na's voice rose. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
"Hold on! This is your analysis, Yoo Ha-jin!? You did this!?"
"What's up?"
"What is it?"
Their reactions drew others to the script, one by one. Soon, it was passed around.
"..."
Silence fell. Baek Da-bin, snapping out of it, stared at Yoo Ha-jin with grave eyes.
How does a sophomore pull off analysis like this??
And not just any sophomore. Yoo Ha-jin, famous for his lack of talent.
Kim Han-na, equally stunned, asked,
"Right, Yoo Ha-jin, you're Yoo Ha-eun sunbae's brother. So you've seen the script before? Practiced for ages? With her help?"
Even that would be forgivable. But her older sister Yoo Ha-eun replied,
"He did this alone. All last night, in one day."
"No way! That's physically impossible!"
"Lies! No one could do this in a day!"
No surprise from the acting majors. Cinematographer Park Kwang-jae turned to Yoo Ha-jin.
"You really did this?"
"The analysis took one day. But I'd been mulling over ideas for noona's project before that."
Largely true.
Before regression, he'd once fished the pre-revised script his sister had tossed from the balcony trash pile and read it.
I stood there forever, stunned. How could a film like this fail?
He'd naturally pinpointed the culprits: the revised script and the lead actress.
He'd pondered what he'd do in her shoes. The biggest help had come from the weekly fresh scripts as a reenactment actor.
Even editor Yang Ji-ho, eyes misty, now blinked between script and Yoo Ha-jin. It was inevitable.
It nailed the director's intent, themes, prop placements per scene, character paths—all perfectly.
And more. Traces of agonizing over deepening the protagonist's character everywhere.
It's... too brilliant!? From a fellow student!?
Everyone agreed. Park Kwang-jae spoke.
"Let's do a reading."
No objections.
He'd somehow convinced them. Trading his sister's reputation and everyone's precious time for this shot. He set aside his self-doubt for now.
Think about the film again.
He looked down at the script.
[Dry Flower, Floaters. - Yoo Ha-eun.]
This short opened with a close-up of dried flowers hanging on the door.
A bouquet from family and friends at university graduation. Symbol of their expectations, now upside down inside the protagonist's door for years. Bone-dry.
Fade to black. Focus on a frame of her with friends, lover, family at graduation.
Black again. Bird's-eye of the whole studio apartment and her current state.
Final black. Protagonist's POV. Faint first-person sharpens slowly.
But a black dot trails her focus. Lately, more fruit flies.
Here began the story.
After a friend's death, protagonist gets floaters. They worsen with job failures, breakup. Pressure to meet family, friends, lover's expectations. Endless failures. Tries overcoming despair to truly live—but fails.
Finally, final interview. Tells ex, leaves door open for reunion...
But in the room, pent-up pressure erupts. Floaters overwhelm.
A gem, no matter how many reads. Tight plot for a short, every gear meshing perfectly. Visual poetry too.
With a solid lead performance, this'll be great.
That's why his sister hunted for the lead to the end. Why the team was so sensitive and regretful. But now.
"Ready?"
He glanced at senior Park Kwang-jae, cinematographer. Despair faded; a thread of hope gleamed. Calmly,
"Let's start."
Shared office conference room. All from morning seated at the 'ㄷ' table.
Eyes closed, deep breath. Just a graduation short reading, rushed. Still.
Good. This tension. The chill air.
First time acting to fix something. Emotion locked. He began.
"Now it's for real~! Heading into society~! But with what we've built, I'll adapt quick and settle in~!"
First lines: flashbacks inserted as protagonist wakes, scans room. Then narration.
"That's how I've been repeating starts for years."
He scanned faces. One biting lower lip. Sister clenching fist under table.
"Waiting's gotten so tiring now. Sorry."
Opposites' lines carried it faintly. They were the tense ones, taking his cues.
"All normal. Eye pressure, vision. Floaters could mean retinal detachment or glaucoma, but tests clear."
"Th-then... can't fix it?"
He felt their strain to match breaths.
But last scene made efforts futile.
"...Flies everywhere. Hah, stop... stop appearing. Leave me alone!"
"Applicant 15, what's wrong!?"
"Something off?"
Black dots multiply uncontrollably, mind breaks. He stood, raved madly.
"Ugh! Hngh! D-don't interfere! Stop following me... please!!"
In film, he'd flail at flies, dash to outdoor terrace. Opening door: cracks through vision at flies, world crumbles.
Reading stopped short. Silence.
Then.
Clap clap clap. Clap-clap-clap.
Sister first, everyone applauded him. Someone yelled,
"Better than Bang Tae-hyuk!"
"That jerk's out! Don't even mention him!"
Acting senior Baek Da-bin stood, approached. Offered the script she'd snatched earlier, sheepish. Pure goodwill.
"Amazing!? Not from arts high school? Acting academy? Sorry for doubting!"
Some looked embarrassed. Kim Han-na especially.
"S-sorry... really sorry. Heard you'd improved a bit, but not this good."
"It's fine. Situation warranted it. I know how vital this short is for you."
Kim Han-na peeked up cautiously.
"Any... secret to it I could ask about?"
Her eyes burned with curiosity.
No wonder. It's me, after all.
Bottom of the class. Even Film Department-wide, top three—from the bottom. Natural he'd spark questions.
Especially nailing a short from start to finish. Hardly luck.
But no special tips...
Not genius skill, but 30 years. Pre-J University efforts made 40. Straight grind.
"Read and analyzed the script hard."
"Ah... yeah. Thanks."
Like a Seoul U kid saying 'Studied textbooks.' Kim Han-na and others visibly deflated.
Whatever.
Clap clap.
"Crew's coming! Set gear for immediate shoot~!"
"Let's go! Go!"
"Flatten Lee Jong-myeong's nose!"
Morale high, sister directed.
"Noona, I'll check the terrace path quick."
To etch locations deeper in mind for acting. If this was farewell to acting, no regrets—all in.