Chapter 15: An Actor's Performance (3)
Chapter 15: An Actor's Performance (3)
Jung Eun-seon’s words caused the atmosphere on set to freeze.
It was only natural. To anyone watching, Seo-yeon’s acting just now had been superb.
I knew it.
Gong Jeong-tae squeezed his eyes shut. It was clear that Jung Eun-seon didn't like Seo-yeon. Since she was particularly fond of Jo Seo-hee, she likely wasn't pleased that Seo-hee had failed the audition. Or perhaps, as recent rumors suggested, she thought Director Jo Bang-woo’s influence had been involved.
“Ms. Jung Eun-seon.”
In the end, he was the only one who could handle this situation. As a veteran actress and the most powerful figure among the cast of this drama, she was a force to be reckoned with.
“That… that is a bit too harsh. Seo-yeon’s acting was more than excellent.”
The level of acting expected from a child actor isn't usually that high. If they can deliver their lines without mumbling and follow the emotional arc, they are considered a promising talent. There was a reason Jo Seo-hee was called the princess of daily dramas. Gong Jeong-tae had never seen a child actor as skilled as her.
At least, not until he saw Seo-yeon.
This child’s acting has power.
Even if her technique was lacking, she had the power to move people’s hearts. He had worried it might be difficult in a drama setting, but hadn't she just proven herself brilliantly?
“Pardon?”
At Director Gong Jeong-tae’s words, Jung Eun-seon looked at him with narrowed eyes. Her gaze was as sharp as a blade, reminiscent of Queen Dowager Eunhye herself, making him instinctively flinch.
“Ahem. I was saying, don't you think you’re being a bit too severe?”
No matter how much of a veteran she was, he was the director of this set. He couldn't just stand by and watch her act like this. It was so bad that even those who had originally looked at Seo-yeon with prejudice were starting to think she was going too far.
“...”
Jung Eun-seon remained silent for a moment at Gong Jeong-tae’s remark.
“It seems you’ve misunderstood my meaning.”
“What?”
Was there anything to misunderstand in what she just said? A flustered Gong Jeong-tae asked back, but Jung Eun-seon’s gaze was still fixed on Seo-yeon.
Seo-yeon simply met her gaze with a blank expression. She didn't quite understand how the situation was unfolding. To be honest, from Seo-yeon’s perspective...
Can’t she just give some feedback?
Manager Kim used to nitpick like this all the time. She simply continued her peaceful train of thought.
“Director Gong, what did you think of Seo-yeon’s acting just now?”
“What do you mean? It was good, of course. I gave the ‘OK’ sign because it was good, didn't I? I’d rather ask you, Ms. Jung Eun-seon. What part of Seo-yeon’s acting did you find so displeasing?”
“I never said I found it displeasing.”
Jung Eun-seon replied firmly to Gong Jeong-tae’s question.
“What I said was that there was no emotion in this child’s acting—that it wasn't sincere.”
...Isn't that the same thing?
The thought crossed his mind, but Gong Jeong-tae quietly listened to her.
“The acting itself was beyond reproach. Yes, it was very good. Honestly, I was startled.”
It was a sudden compliment. As a bewildered Gong Jeong-tae watched her, Jung Eun-seon briefly turned her gaze back to Seo-yeon.
Her eyes were clear. Mysterious pupils that seemed to hold a hint of red. Those eyes were likely one of her charms.
“Director Gong.”
“Yes, yes?”
“Could I have a brief word with Seo-yeon’s mother?”
At those words, Gong Jeong-tae couldn't help but freeze. This, too, was completely unexpected.
*
“...”
Sua shrank back as she looked at the middle-aged woman in front of her. Honestly, Sua disliked the actress Jung Eun-seon. It was only natural. How could she say such things after seeing Seo-yeon’s acting, which had left everyone else in awe!
If the other staff members hadn't stopped her, she would have rushed onto the set right then and there. But the conversation had taken a strange turn, and now she found herself facing the woman.
Filming had been temporarily halted. Seo-yeon was waiting outside, and only Gong Jeong-tae, Sua, and Jung Eun-seon were in the small waiting room.
“I’m telling you, there is neither sincerity nor emotion in Seo-yeon’s acting.”
“...What do you mean by that?”
Sua, who had been thoroughly intimidated, flared up at Jung Eun-seon’s words. She was about to slam her hand on the table and argue back forcefully, but she stopped when Jung Eun-seon continued.
“I mean that she reached that level despite having no sincerity or emotion in it. ...Everyone seems to think that child is a prodigy whose specialty is emotional acting.”
“Ah.”
Only then did Gong Jeong-tae realize what Jung Eun-seon was talking about. He was an experienced director himself. He could catch on to what she was implying. In fact, one could say he was late in noticing it. Sua, of course, unlike Gong Jeong-tae, did not understand what Jung Eun-seon meant.
“That is...”
“At first, I thought I was mistaken, but after seeing her act today, I’m certain.”
The first time Jung Eun-seon had seen Seo-yeon was in the soy milk CF. At the time, she simply thought she was a lively child. She didn't think of it as acting.
The next time was during the audition for The Moon that Hides the Sun (Taesumdal). She had watched the making-of film because it featured her cherished junior, Jo Seo-hee. And there, she saw Seo-yeon again.
Something is strange.
The acting battle between Jo Seo-hee and Seo-yeon. The close contest, split into parts one and two, was certainly impressive. To display such acting at such a young age—Jung Eun-seon was genuinely impressed. Although she was rooting for her junior, Jo Seo-hee, her eyes kept drifting to Seo-yeon.
It’s strange.
She replayed it several times. Seo-yeon’s acting drew people in. Emotional acting. The captions said Seo-yeon’s specialty was emotional acting. That it was Method acting.
No, it’s not.
But Jung Eun-seon was an actress who specialized in Method acting. Because she was one herself, she couldn't help but know. Seo-yeon’s acting wasn't true Method acting. If it were Method acting, she wouldn't be able to snap out of the emotion so quickly. Especially not a young child.
In fact, the idea of a child actor specializing in emotional acting was, frankly, a dangerous category. Was it just edited that way for the broadcast? Was there something she hadn't seen? But if that was real...
Jung Eun-seon bit her lower lip. An ordinary child couldn't possibly do that. If it were just emotional acting, you could explain it away as her being a natural-born actress. Even that was too perfect, but acting that comes from ‘experience’ isn't something you’re born with.
So she thought there must be an external cause. The person who usually has the greatest influence on child actors: the parents.
From the moment that thought occurred to her, Jung Eun-seon had been in a foul mood. It was common for parents to force excessive expectations and effort onto a child. She assumed this was another such case. She was certain there was something wrong with the parents.
But the Sua she saw before her didn't seem to have any major issues.
“...Method acting is like throwing yourself into a deep sea.”
You immerse yourself deeply in your role, sinking far below the surface. That’s why you’re out of breath when you come up, and it’s not easy to escape those emotions.
“But Seo-yeon isn't like that. This means she is performing on the surface. What feels like emotional acting is actually her being accustomed to how others perceive her. This sort of thing doesn't appear in ordinary children...”
“Is that... a bad thing?” Sua asked cautiously.
Jung Eun-seon hesitated on how to answer. If Method acting was diving into the water, Seo-yeon was walking on its surface. She was peering down at the surface of the water. Like a child who didn't understand emotions, she was mimicking them. Even now, Jung Eun-seon couldn't understand how such a thing was possible.
But...
“...She’s at this level without even using her emotions. It’s probably because she doesn't have the technique yet.”
That was why Jung Eun-seon liked Jo Seo-hee. Jo Seo-hee knew the line. She knew the emotional line she shouldn't cross. But Seo-yeon had no line. She had no brakes. Because she didn't know. She didn't know how far she could go. That line was maintained only because she didn't know how to put true emotion into her acting.
But what if... Seo-yeon actually learns how to act? What if she performs true Method acting, not just an imitation? What if she acts with sincere emotion?
“I’m not sure myself. It might be nothing, but... Seo-yeon is still young.”
Jung Eun-seon thought to herself: Emotional acting is poison to a child. She could say that for certain. It was best to refrain from excessive emotional acting as much as possible. Especially if a child with sensitive emotions were to do Method acting, it would be very difficult to escape its influence for a long time.
But even if it was fake, for a child to perform such deep acting...
“I wonder what will happen when she starts performing an actor’s acting.”
That was why Jung Eun-seon didn't like Seo-yeon’s acting. That was the reason for her constant discomfort. It felt as if a child walking along a river of emotion, peering at the surface, might accidentally lose her footing. Yes, like a child left alone by the riverside. That was exactly how it felt.
“I only hope my concerns are misplaced.”
At Jung Eun-seon’s words, neither Sua nor Director Gong Jeong-tae could say a thing.
*
Despite the minor commotion, the filming was successfully completed. After all, the scene with Jung Eun-seon had already received an ‘OK’ on the first take. The footage looked quite good, too.
When Jung Eun-seon returned with my mom later, she still looked uncomfortable, but she even went as far as to apologize, saying her words had been a bit excessive.
“Seo-yeon.”
“Yes?”
On the way back, Mom asked quietly, “How do you feel about acting?”
Mom seemed somewhat more downcast than usual. It was hard to tell why. Did Jung Eun-seon say something to her? I didn't think so. Honestly, I’m not the best at reading people, but I didn't get the feeling that Jung Eun-seon hated me. Though she did keep looking at me with dissatisfied eyes.
“It’s fun.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
At first, it felt like a simple practice run before starting as a VTuber, but now I’ve grown quite fond of it. In the end, it was similar to being a VTuber in that I became someone completely different.
I’m not a big fan of the Red Pill, though...
Still, wouldn't it be cool if the Red Pill of a normal VTuber turned out to be a popular actress?! No, but still, the Red Pill is a bit...
“Seo-yeon, if anything is ever difficult, you have to tell Mom, okay?”
“Huh? Oh, yes.”
I answered Mom’s words reflexively. At the very least, I thought I was living much more diligently than in my past life. The proof was the money steadily piling up in my bank account! If I work hard here, film more commercials, and appear in more dramas...!
Hmm.
Suddenly, I recalled what Jung Eun-seon had said today. Her words about it not being sincere, about it lacking emotion. Even if no one else did, I partially agreed with her.
...Ugh.
I crossed my arms and let out a sigh. I already had a rough idea of what that was about.