Profile Photos and Audition
Deok-su had been surprised.
He had figured Kim Hyeok-jung would already be bouncing off the walls, demanding to know what kind of audition this was.
“Why? Do you think I went too far?”
“Professor, I haven’t even been acting long, and my image is still…”
“Why? Afraid?”
Deok-su gave an awkward laugh.
He had been hit right in the spot.
Kim Hyeok-jung patted Deok-su’s shoulder and continued.
“We’re a job that gets judged in front of the public. ‘Don’t do this, don’t do that.’ It’s all just excuses.
When an opportunity comes, you have to grab it and make it happen, no matter what.”
“……”
“It doesn’t matter what kind of profile I put in at JMT.
But if we got it, you have to go in with the determination to reach the broadcast.
Am I wrong?”
“Correct. One hundred percent.”
Just the prerequisites didn’t matter.
Kim Hyeok-jung’s words were exactly what Deok-su needed right now.
The same went for Lee Hui-yeong.
The company had turned its back on her, but if she seized the chance, everything would change.
“I’ll prepare the profile photos.
I’ll set up the studio.”
“Manager Hui-yeong, when is the audition?”
“Next Friday.”
Kim Hyeok-jung rested a hand on his chin.
“Profile prep or audition prep? It’s going to be tight.
Kim Deok-su, have you ever had a profile photo taken?”
“No, never.”
Not even the original Kim Deok-su had ever had one, let alone Deok-su.
“Ugh… oh well. Nothing for it.”
Kim Hyeok-jung coordinated his schedule with Lee Hui-yeong.
He had offered to help with the profile photos.
Deok-su couldn’t refuse.
He needed the help more than he had needed anything in a long time.
“Thank you.
I’ll definitely…”
“Right now, just think about making the right impression.
Let’s do this.”
After that, Kim Hyeok-jung coordinated his schedule with Lee Hui-yeong and left.
Back in the training room, Lee Hui-yeong sat across from Deok-su.
“I’m sorry. I tried to stop it somehow…
My abilities weren’t enough.”
“It’s not your fault.
And Professor is right. Prerequisites don’t matter. The result does.”
“……”
“Um… Oppa.”
Lee Hui-yeong grew dejected.
She took a deep breath and spoke in a flat tone.
“Am I… too much of an inexperienced manager for you?
No expectations or anything?”
“Huh? No expectations?”
“A newbie, right?
Failing at work is normal.
This kind of thing…”
Deok-su was stunned.
He had never even considered such thoughts.
She was actually one of the few people he could trust at the company.
“I should probably make that clear right now.”
“……”
“Definitely?”
“Right now, I’m the person I trust most at the company.
The reason I can focus only on training is because of you.
Does this count as an answer?”
Lee Hui-yeong had nothing to say.
The Kim Deok-su she knew never lied and was straightforward.
“It’s embarrassing.
Let’s go.”
“Y-Yes.
I-I wasn’t thinking about it.
It’s just… I didn’t spend much time on you, so…”
“It’s not your fault.”
On the way home, Deok-su leaned his head against the window and fell asleep in the passenger seat.
Lee Hui-yeong watched him and sighed.
-Is this washed-up actor really going to make a comeback?
“A washed-up actor and Signature… Me too.”
Lee Hui-yeong shook her head.
The next day, after changing clothes, Deok-su came out of the room with wide eyes.
“W-What are all these?”
Dozens of pieces of clothing blocked every step in the living room.
They were the ones Lee Hui-yeong had bought at Dongmyo Market.
“I went to the market yesterday.
I wanted clothes that would suit you… Try them on.”
Deok-su stood there blankly as Lee Hui-yeong dressed him.
Many were in unique styles that 2030s loved.
“The clothes are fine.”
“You wear anything just fine.”
“I just picked the right ones.”
Of course, there weren’t any professional coordinators, but these would be enough for a drama.
It wasn’t like he was wearing them to the broadcast.
The two spent a long time trying on clothes.
The musty smell of old clothes filled the entire room, but they didn’t care.
“Mom will wash them.
Just leave them.”
“No, I’ll take care of them later…”
“Manager Hui-yeong is busy too.
You should help.”
Both Deok-su and Lee Hui-yeong felt grateful to Jeong-mi.
Inside the car heading to the company, Deok-su turned his eyes to the script Lee Hui-yeong had given him.
It was the script for My Hwarang that he was submitting for the profile.
“Episode 7? Lucky number.”
“It’s a minor role with no name and no importance.
He charges in first and gets killed.”
Lucky number or not, it was an unknown, insignificant role.
“A drama that’s already at episode 12 getting an audition? Are there such cases?”
“Almost never.
There’s no time either.
But the writer isn’t stubborn like usual.”
“Was it Na Mi-yeong?”
“Yes.
Na Mi-yeong’s style is pretty prickly.
Rumor has it the production company picked her and she said something like, ‘Can I even look like a Hwarang with a face like this!’”
Deok-su gave a small laugh.
Only then did Lee Hui-yeong blush shyly.
“Anyway, it’s a good chance for us.
Probably not just the PD, the writer will come too.
This is almost 100% certain information.”
“I see.
Well, first the profile has to pass.”
After parking the car near the company, the two headed to the photography studio nearby.
It was for the profile photos.
At the studio entrance, Kim Hyeok-jung was already waiting.
“You’re late.”
“Only twenty minutes until the appointment time.”
“……”
“Yeah, sure.”
Deok-su followed Kim Hyeok-jung inside.
This was a famous studio that specialized in celebrity profile photos.
The photographer positioned Deok-su in the center and told him to pose.
With the lights on, Deok-su’s awkward face was clearly visible.
He was getting used to cameras, but a DSLR was something else.
Kim Hyeok-jung crossed his arms and clicked his tongue.
“I thought it was unlikely, but you really are a beginner with profiles too.”
“You, it’s because you’re too old…”
“The reason doesn’t matter.
Hey, one writer, wait a second.”
Kim Hyeok-jung asked for permission from the photographer and gestured to Deok-su.
“Why are you so fidgety?”
“No, I’m just a little nervous.”
Deok-su shook his head.
Following Kim Hyeok-jung’s advice, he had turned on the camera whenever he trained or was at home.
The effort he had put in to stop thinking about it was almost tear-jerking.
“That’s just another camera.
Different kind.”
Kim Hyeok-jung gestured for Deok-su to come closer.
With the shutter sound, shooting resumed.
Lee Hui-yeong, watching anxiously, felt a little strength return to her eyes.
“Prof… Professor. Oppa’s expression…”
“Yes.
If you’re going to be good at it, why bother…”
Deok-su, now wearing hanbok, began to naturally look at the camera.
His eyes were softer and full of strength.
The photographer’s voice grew energetic too.
“Good! A little more, more! Yes!”
Profile shooting continued for a while.
After shooting ended, while Lee Hui-yeong was calculating, Kim Hyeok-jung and Deok-su stepped outside the studio.
“How was it?
Did you get the hang of it?”
“When I think of it as just people’s eyes, it becomes easier.”
“That’s right.
That’s it.
Actors and celebrities are meaningless if no one is watching.”
Deok-su nodded quietly.
Kim Hyeok-jung reached for a cigarette in his pocket, glanced at Deok-su, put it back, and muttered.
“A guy who doesn’t even smoke…”
“What if something happens to your throat?
It would be bad.”
“……”
“Right.
Your neck is more important than your face.
Hah, take care of it from now on too.”
Deok-su nodded and handed Kim Hyeok-jung a piece of gum.
Kim Hyeok-jung chewed it, crossed his arms, and looked a little more relaxed.
“Kim Deok-su, do you know when writers or directors look at profiles?”
When Deok-su shook his head, Kim Hyeok-jung laughed.
“When eating, in the bathroom, right now while smoking.”
“They don’t make time?”
“They’re really busy.
They don’t put in effort for each new profile.”
Kim Hyeok-jung placed a hand on Deok-su’s shoulder.
“I don’t think you’ll fall out of the profile, but people’s things don’t always go as planned…”
“I could fall out.
I’ll keep trying until I make it.
Oh, wait a sec…”
While Deok-su stepped out for a moment, Lee Hui-yeong came out of the studio holding Deok-su’s profile photos.
Kim Hyeok-jung looked at the one of Deok-su in hanbok and showed satisfaction.
“I want to submit this as the main.
What do you think, Hui-yeong?”
“I agree.”
The hanbok profile photo looked like it had jumped out of a manga.
To be blunt, it felt a bit detached from reality.
“This one can’t fail to be picked, right?
It’s just…”
“You’re worried it won’t be picked because the image is too bad?”
“I have to consider everything, even the worst case.”
Kim Hyeok-jung smiled.
“Hui-yeong, you’re going to be a good manager.”
“……”
“Oh, thank you.”
“This isn’t empty talk?
Then let’s prepare for the audition seriously?”
Lee Hui-yeong was still worried, but Kim Hyeok-jung’s face showed no sign of it.
Days passed after submitting the profile.
Indeed, the production company called.
Lee Hui-yeong told Deok-su the news right after saying she would participate.
Deok-su was doing exercise with Ryu Min-hye and was strangely calm about the acceptance.
Ryu Min-hye, however, was all over the place with celebration.
“Wow! You really passed?!
Total celebration! Overwhelming celebration!”
“Thanks, but don’t learn weird words.
You’re not even accepted yet.”
“Ah, not now.
The audition is tomorrow! What was today’s dinner?”
Ryu Min-hye rechecked the diet.
Her face could swell if something salty went in, and that would hurt the audition.
“……”
“From tomorrow, I really have to manage.”
“Leads usually start managing a few days early.
But it feels weird.
The person who’s managing me is going to see the audition…”
“If I make it, it’s all thanks to you.”
“Don’t flatter me.”
Grumbling, Ryu Min-hye’s face showed her inner joy.
“Tonight, absolutely no snacks.
Tomorrow too, don’t eat soup or anything at lunch even if you skip breakfast.
You could swell up suddenly.”
“Got it.
I didn’t think of that at all… but now I do.”
“You’re making excuses because you want to eat.
Just eat.”
After that, Deok-su bowed his head to Ryu Min-hye.
“Thank you.
I never thought you’d care this much.”
“What.
Good things are good things.
I get experience if you do well.
Honestly, how much training can I do?
The company treats me like a casting brother and wants to place me anywhere.
I know that too.
I’m not much help.”
“You helped.
That’s good.”
“……”
“Don’t say serious things like that to me.
Stop scheming and pray.”
Deok-su picked up the barbell again.
His muscles felt fuller and stronger than ever.
The next day, Deok-su and Lee Hui-yeong headed to NT Media, where the minor audition for My Hwarang was taking place.
NT Media, the producers of My Hwarang, was in Sangam-dong.
Following the staff’s guidance into the waiting room, about fifty people were nervously waiting in line.
The scene was varied—some alone, others with managers calming their nerves.
“That’s L’Vyu, right?”
“Wow, the washed-up L’Vyu came to a minor audition?”
“Shh.
Don’t cause trouble.
If he gets angry, you’ll be eliminated?”
Deok-su was a strange existence to people in many ways.
Those whispers reached Deok-su and Lee Hui-yeong’s ears too.
Lee Hui-yeong gripped Deok-su’s arm tightly.
“Don’t worry.
What matters now is…”
“It’s fine.
I won’t do what you’re thinking.”
“I know.
Still…”
Thankfully, unlike her worries, Deok-su was calm.
“Since I came here, I’m going to pass no matter what.”
In Deok-su’s mind, there was only one thought.
Whether he got Hwarang 7 or the lead, it didn’t matter.
“Applicant number one, please come in.”
After waiting thirty minutes, the actual audition began.