The Day the Witch of Acting Walked In
I was momentarily at a loss for words.
With my arms folded, I studied the four supporting actors from Black Bride.
Who, exactly, was the drug addict?
In a sense, I had to be even more careful than when I checked an actor’s performance.
A quarter-billion-won tentpole got shelved in the end because of the lead actor’s drug scandal, didn’t it?
Black Bride could easily meet the same fate if a drug addict had wormed his way into the cast.
A faint chill crept up my spine, and I let out a breath to force the tension out of me before turning my gaze to the man in his fifties.
Veteran actor Park Tae-sik.
Thirty years of acting experience alone.
Even now, he was still the sort of veteran actor who got calls from drama and film sets alike for his rich, flavorful performances and crisp delivery.
But he had also landed in hot water more than once because of his nasty drinking habits and the occasional slip of the tongue.
From what I’d heard, he liked alcohol to the point of being an alcoholic.
You couldn’t put drinking and drugs on exactly the same level.
But you couldn’t separate them cleanly either.
By ordinary common sense, drug users usually enjoyed alcohol and drugs together.
After watching Park Tae-sik closely, I shifted my attention to Go Ju-eun and Kwon Ho-jun.
Both of them were newcomers, with roughly three years of acting under their belts.
And yet their skill had earned them the label of rising stars in Chungmuro.
Unlike Park Tae-sik, neither of them had any especially loud rumors attached.
Go Ju-eun’s private life was just a little messy with men.
Kwon Ho-jun, by contrast, had a private life that was bizarrely clean.
Wasn’t Kwon Ho-jun twenty-three?
That was an age full of restless energy.
And yet, strangely enough, there wasn’t a single scandal trailing behind him.
If not for the assumption that he was a drug addict, he’d be a pretty decent guy.
If Kwon Ho-jun was the type to keep his private life obsessively clean because he was a drug addict?
Maybe it was a bit too much suspicion, but it was certainly possible.
He’s so clean in private that it makes me suspicious.
After assessing the two of them, I looked at the last remaining supporting actor, Kim Nam-seong.
Before I knew it, my words trailed off.
"Honestly, if I’m going by first impressions alone, this one’s the most suspicious of all···."
Dark circles hung under his eyes.
His skin looked dry, as though he hadn’t slept properly.
Judging only by the first impressions of the four actors I suspected···.
Kim Nam-seong honestly looked the most like a drug addict.
Isn’t chronic fatigue one of the traits people associate with drug use?
On top of that, Kim Nam-seong had a peculiar rumor attached to him like a tag.
The acting style unique to Kim Nam-seong was so intense that people half-joked he must be acting while high.
Exactly.
If there hadn’t been a drug addict in the mix, that wouldn’t have been a rumor but praise.
His acting was so intense that people joked he must be high while performing.
But now that he was a suspect, I couldn’t rule out the possibility that that intensity had come from drugs.
Even so many top Hollywood actors have been caught acting under the influence at least once or twice.
Thinking of those cases, Kim Nam-seong had a perfectly reasonable chance of being the one.
Still, this was only my first impression.
Obviously, you couldn’t identify a drug addict from first impressions alone.
So from here on, I planned to look at those four men with a more objective eye.
I tapped the shoulder of Reporter Seo, who was standing beside me.
"What do you think, Reporter Seo?"
Reporter Seo, who had been hammering the shutter of his DSLR without pause, tilted his head.
"Hm? What do you mean, what do I think?"
"The culprit."
"!"
Reporter Seo’s eyes widened.
After staring at me blankly for a moment, he lifted the corners of his mouth.
"···. Ah. That culprit?"
"Yeah, that culprit."
"Heh···. So our Chief Manager didn’t drag me into the script reading for no reason after all?"
He wasn’t exactly wrong, so I just shrugged.
In the meantime, Reporter Seo turned his head back and forth, scanning the area.
"There are a lot of ears around here. Want to move somewhere else?"
I nodded.
Reporter Seo took the lead and walked into the empty meeting room right beside the large conference room where the script reading was being held.
After switching on the lights and locking the door behind him, he stretched out his back.
"Man, I got too focused on the shoot···. My neck’s all stiff. You all right, Chief Manager?"
"I could use a cigarette."
"Oh? Then go out and have one."
"I’ll have one after I hear what you found."
I perched on the edge of the table and asked,
"Who do you think looks like the culprit, Reporter Seo?"
He slowly scratched his chin.
"If we’re going by first impression?"
"Yeah."
"Well···. Just from the looks of him, actor Kim Nam-seong really does look the most like a drug addict, doesn’t he?"
So he’d been thinking the same thing as I was.
Then the corners of Reporter Seo’s mouth lifted.
"But that’s just first impressions···. Investigations should be based on facts and evidence, right?"
My eyes widened.
"You found evidence?"
"Not evidence exactly. More like, I finished checking things out?"
My pulse started to quicken.
Forcing down my rising excitement, I asked,
"What did you check?"
Reporter Seo stated it outright.
"For now, I don’t think actor Park Tae-sik is the drug addict."
Veteran actor Park Tae-sik wasn’t the drug addict?
"You’re sure about that?"
"Hmm···. Well, if he’d deliberately hidden it, that’d be a different story, but based on the information I dug up, the odds are low, let’s say?"
Reporter Seo folded his arms.
"I focused my investigation on BH and Park Tae-sik’s side after hearing what you said, Chief Manager. And as you know···. Park Tae-sik has pretty nasty drinking habits, right?"
I nodded.
"I heard he’s like an alcoholic."
"Exactly! An alcoholic! If the guy loves liquor that much, there’s a chance he’d mess around with drugs too, right? So I went and dug around."
Reporter Seo shrugged.
"But it was too clean! I even checked the VIP room the old man supposedly goes to all the time, and there wasn’t a trace."
He had checked the VIP room too, and found nothing?
Rubbing my freshly shaved chin from this morning, I asked,
"Isn’t it possible he keeps his own place for using drugs, or has some separate location for it?"
"I thought about that too···. But doesn’t that make no sense? The man’s been married for twenty years, and he’s got two fully grown sons. He does drugs at home?"
Reporter Seo shook his head firmly.
"If someone’s putting in that much effort, you’ve got to respect it. Besides, how many years has Park Tae-sik been around? A full thirty. If an actor like that had been using, wouldn’t the rumors have leaked ages ago?"
Listening to his reasoning, I nodded.
"That does make sense."
"Right? That’s what I’ve found so far. So what do you think? Did I earn my keep?"
"Mm···. Just enough to pay for your meal, I’d say."
"Hey! That’s stingy! Do you know how many days I spent staking out that old man?"
At his grumbling, I couldn’t help but snort.
"We’re just getting started. No point decorating your face with gold yet, Reporter Seo."
"Ah, it’s hard to get even one compliment out of you, Chief Manager."
"So who’s the next target?"
The corners of Reporter Seo’s mouth lifted.
"I’m thinking Kim Nam-seong for now."
"Going by the whole face-reading thing, you got a feeling?"
"Heh···. You could say that. I know it’s rude, but Kim Nam-seong’s got the kind of face that looks like it’s been high on something."
That was true.
Kim Nam-seong definitely didn’t have an ordinary face.
Nodding, I thought to myself, Not bad.
Bringing Reporter Seo to the script reading had been the right move after all.
In the end, he’s the one who actually goes out and does the legwork, so his instincts matter more than anything.
With those instincts, he had pointed to Kim Nam-seong as the next target, and confirmed that Park Tae-sik had a low chance of being the drug addict.
That was more satisfying than I’d expected.
Getting to my feet, I said,
"Let’s go, Reporter Seo."
"So this is enough for me to qualify for on-site still shots?"
"I’ll grant you that qualification."
With Reporter Seo, I headed back to the reading room. Just then, Director Park clapped his hands and announced,
"Ten-minute break!"
Even though the air conditioner was set to eighteen degrees, Director Park’s bangs were soaked through with sweat as he fanned himself with his hand and panted.
"We’ll pick up the reading again after ten minutes, everyone!"
With those words, the tension that had been hanging faintly over the script reading room snapped cleanly in two.
All eyes naturally turned to one place.
"..."
Top actress Lee Ha-eun.
Every gaze in the room was fixed on her after she had swept through the reading with impossible, absurdly good acting.
***
During the break, the production staff and reporters heading toward the restroom couldn’t hide their excitement and kept whispering to each other.
"Wow···. Lee Ha-eun really is Lee Ha-eun."
"Did you see her acting? Man···! I honestly thought she was possessed by the devil."
"I knew she was good, but that level? She was way too good."
Of course the topic was Lee Ha-eun.
At the Black Bride script reading, where skilled actors had gathered, the production staff could only marvel at the aura of the actress whose overwhelming presence had dominated the room.
"The other actors were all pretty good too···. But she just ate them alive on her own. By now the rest of them are probably in shock."
"In shock? At that level, wouldn’t their pride be crushed too?"
"Well, if they got swallowed up like that, they should feel ashamed."
"That said, the way our Director Park was looking at Lee Ha-eun, he was practically dripping honey."
"If I’d seen that acting, I’d be dripping honey too. Lee Ha-eun is just too good!"
Back at the reading table for the Black Bride cast.
Director Park had announced the break, but the actors from Black Bride still couldn’t bring themselves to leave their seats.
Park Tae-sik, the four supporting actors, and even Seo Tae-jun, who was playing opposite Lee Ha-eun.
All of them were looking at Lee Ha-eun as she leafed through her script with a complicated, unreadable expression.
How much time had passed like that?
Veteran actor Park Tae-sik cautiously called out to top actress Lee Ha-eun.
"Hey, actress···?"
"Yes, senior?"
Park Tae-sik glanced at her carefully and muttered,
"You could maybe take it a little easier···, you know?"
"What do you mean by that all of a sudden?"
"No, I mean you’re standing out way too much right now! It’s a script reading, and you’re acting that seriously? How are the other actors supposed to breathe?"
Lee Ha-eun let out an "Ah-" sound.
"I guess I got a little too into it?"
"Yeah! Show a little consideration. I don’t know about you, but can’t you see those guys over there looking rattled?"
Park Tae-sik pointed at Kwon Ho-jun and Go Ju-eun.
Kwon Ho-jun blinked like an idiot, and Go Ju-eun flinched before snapping her head away.
Watching that, Lee Ha-eun let out a small laugh.
"You’re right. I really wasn’t considerate of the newcomers, was I?"
"Exactly, so tone it down a little!"
"But senior?"
"Hm?"
"If they can’t even keep up with this much, how are they planning to survive the actual shoot?"
"!"
Lee Ha-eun’s voice rose slightly.
As though she wanted someone in particular to hear it.
"I haven’t even started yet, and if I’m already hearing people complain, that’s a little inconvenient."
She hadn’t singled anyone out directly, but Go Ju-eun’s shoulders trembled.
Fortunately, her long bangs hid her expression, but they couldn’t conceal her mood.
The actors watching in silence clicked their tongues.
Damn, the way she was crushing her is a work of art···.
Seriously, Go Ju-eun, why pick a fight with Lee Ha-eun for no reason···. Tsk.
At this point, I almost feel sorry for Go Ju-eun.
Then Go Ju-eun shot to her feet.
The face hidden beneath her heavy bangs finally came into view.
Her mouth trembled as though she were holding back anger.
Still, there was enough reason left in her to force a smile.
"I’m···. going to the restroom, seniors!"
Lee Ha-eun, who had been watching quietly, lightly called Go Ju-eun’s name.
"Ju-eun?"
"···. Y-yes?"
"Your makeup’s caked. Fix your makeup on the way."
"···!"
"Even if it’s a closed reading, the still shots from set are still going out. A leading actress can’t look like that."
Go Ju-eun stood there, mouth opening and closing like an idiot.
Lee Ha-eun tilted her head with an innocent expression.
"Oh dear, what’s with that look? Was that unnecessary?"
"···. No. Thank you, senior."
Lee Ha-eun simply smiled in response.
Go Ju-eun’s expression twisted for a fleeting second before she turned on her heel irritably.
As Lee Ha-eun let out a snort of laughter at the sight of her retreating back, the making film team carrying a video camera appeared.
"Hello, actress Lee Ha-eun."
"Oh, the making film team?"
"Yes. We’d like to film a quick interview, if that’s all right?"
Lee Ha-eun smiled brightly.
"You’ll film me, right?"
"···. Pardon?"
"You’re going to film me nicely, right, VJ?"
The VJ blinked, then answered a beat late.
"Of course! Of course, Lee Ha-eun!"
Instead of answering, Lee Ha-eun raised the corners of her mouth slightly.
At that faint smile, the VJ’s Adam’s apple bobbed hard.
Wow···. How does a person’s smile look this elegant?
And she was asking to be filmed nicely? No matter what angle you used, the subject was already too perfect.
The VJ swallowed and opened his mouth.
"Then the first question."
He read from the cue sheet prepared in advance.
"Lee Ha-eun, was there a special reason you chose Black Bride?"
Lee Ha-eun rested her chin on her hand.
"You mean why I chose the project?"
"Yes, yes. In fact, there’s been a lot of discussion about your decision to appear in Black Bride, hasn’t there?"
"There has?"
"Some people even wondered whether this had to be the project. Since it’s an occult film and the film industry isn’t in the best shape right now, could you explain what led you to take on such a bold challenge?"
Instead of answering right away, Lee Ha-eun glanced sideways.
Leaning against the wall was a man looking in this direction.
She stared at him for a moment, and then her lips slowly parted.
"···. The reason I chose the project."
The top actress answered carefully, one word at a time.
The VJ nodded in satisfaction.
"Great! Let’s move on to the second question!"
***
Director Park Jun-seo, who had announced the break, returned.
"All right, everyone! We’re starting the script reading again! We’ve got not much left, so let’s give it our all!"
He hadn’t been drinking, and yet Director Park Jun-seo’s face was flushed red.
Had that excitement spread like an infection?
The production team’s voices were higher than they had been at the first reading.
"···. Doesn’t it feel like our movie might actually be a hit?"
"I know, right? No, seriously, the actors are way better than I expected."
"Are we actually about to do something huge here? Honestly, Director Park’s screenplay was already good from the start, wasn’t it? It’s just that the genre makes the cast feel smaller, so it didn’t get as much attention!"
"This time we don’t even have that problem. We’ve got Lee Ha-eun as the lead. Who’s going to say our cast is undersized?"
Suppressing a laugh, I looked at the head of PR.
When our eyes met, the PR team leader grinned.
"···. It does feel like it’s going to be a hit, doesn’t it?"
"Should I answer honestly?"
"No, don’t. Your face says it all already!"
The PR team leader nudged my side and said,
"Where did Chief Manager Kwon dig up a project like this?"
"I got lucky."
"Luck is everything in this business, but maybe that’s skill?"
"There you go again, blowing smoke up my ass."
"It’s not smoke! These days, everything is going absurdly well for you. Go buy a lottery ticket or something, Chief Manager Kwon!"
At that, I couldn’t help laughing out loud.
"···. What? Was my joke that funny?"
Instead of answering, I shrugged.
The PR team leader looked at me suspiciously.
Ignoring the look, I turned my head.
Under Director Park’s lead, the Black Bride script reading was entering its final stretch.
Good.
The Black Bride reading had carried both worry and anticipation.
And if I judged the result by itself···.
It was a far bigger hit than I’d expected!
The acting quality from the cast is a jackpot.
The production team, the director.
Even the reporters’ reactions were top-notch.
But it wasn’t just the atmosphere on set that was good.
We’ve got a result on the drug addict side too.
It was a pity I hadn’t caught the culprit by the tail yet, but I had managed to eliminate one of the four suspects.
And on top of that, I’d even been able to set Reporter Seo’s next target.
Those tangible results sent my thoughts toward the future.
When this reading is over, let’s see···. We’ve got three weeks left until the actual shoot?
Three weeks should be enough.
Enough to find the drug addict among the three remaining suspects.
Reporter Seo was moving with more passion than I’d expected, and I’d use the first impressions I got today to move in my own way as well.
Only then did I finally loosen the shoulders and back that had been stiff with tension.
With my composure restored, I watched the rest of the reading at my leisure.
Some time later, Director Park declared,
"That concludes the reading! Good work, everyone!"
The Black Bride reading, which had carried both worry and anticipation, finally came to an end.
***
After all the cleanup was done, the Black Bride script reading had completely wrapped up.
I was about to head straight home now that the day’s schedule was finished, when the top actress blocked my way.
"Where are you going?"
"···."
"Buy me dinner. I’m hungry."
I’d lost the words again at how brazenly she said it.
In the meantime, the corners of Lee Ha-eun’s mouth lifted with mischief.
"You weren’t seriously planning to just leave after seeing me, were you?"