Chapter 152: The Gyeongseong Lady (1)
Chapter 152: The Gyeongseong Lady (1)
Seo-yeon was inwardly surprised when Ji-yeon asked for her help with the audition.
It wasn't because she had forgotten about Ji-yeon’s audition while managing her own image, nor was it because she felt a petty sense of jealousy over Ji-yeon hanging out with Jo Seo-hee lately.
In fact, Seo-yeon had been checking the date of Ji-yeon’s audition every single day.
...Of course, the fact that Ji-yeon had only asked Jo Seo-hee for help initially had weighed on her mind a little.
But that was only because, to Seo-yeon, Ji-yeon was her closest friend, someone she had grown up with since they were children.
‘I understand why she asked Jo Seo-hee, though.’
In her past life, Jo Seo-hee hadn't appeared in The Gyeongseong Lady. Perhaps due to the harsh criticism she received for The Moon That Hides the Sun, she hadn't been very active in her projects back then, and she wasn't treated as the powerhouse actress she was now.
‘She might not have even been offered the role in the first place.’
But the Jo Seo-hee of today was different. Although Seo-yeon had run at full tilt to finally be mentioned in the same breath as her, people still found it difficult to say which of them was superior.
Not that Seo-yeon had any particular desire to rank them.
‘Anyway.’
While Seo-yeon felt a twinge of disappointment that Ji-yeon had sought help from Jo Seo-hee first, there was a part of her that felt relieved.
After all, The Gyeongseong Lady was a film where the romance played a massive role—far more so than in Dream Future, which had previously caused her such awkwardness.
"Did you hear from Jo Seo-hee what your role would be?"
"Yeah."
Seo-yeon and Jo Seo-hee had already been pre-cast for Director Baek Min’s new film. As discussed previously, they had already received the scripts. After some deliberation, Seo-yeon had accepted the role.
At the time, Jo Seo-hee, who had been stealing glances at her, reacted like this:
"Right? It’s good, isn't it? I knew you’d do it. It... it has some of those elements, but I’m confident the artistic quality is outstanding!"
The moment Seo-yeon agreed, Seo-hee had beamed with joy.
For the record, Jo Seo-hee had even turned down a role in Mine to film The Gyeongseong Lady. After all, aside from Jo Seo-hee, Han So-yu, and perhaps Min Do-ha, there weren't many actors who had reached the top ranks of Hyper Action Star and truly showcased their acting prowess.
The GH Group had likely sent casting offers to all three of them. Of course, Seo-yeon didn't know what choices the others had made. The only one she knew about was her acquaintance, Jo Seo-hee.
When she had asked about it, Seo-hee replied:
"I can't do multiple things at once like you."
Then, after a small mumble of "No, that's not it," Seo-hee narrowed her eyes.
"Actually, for an actor who focuses on emotional acting like you do, it’s normal not to be able to juggle multiple roles. You’re the strange one."
That might be true. There were actors who, once they immersed themselves in a role, found it difficult to break out of it. The reason Seo-yeon was free from such struggles was likely due to the influence of her past life. Being able to skillfully control her own emotions was a huge help in compartmentalizing her roles.
‘Jo Seo-hee definitely has a good eye for scripts.’
She wasn't an actress with a flawless track record for nothing. Jo Seo-hee had incredible foresight. Even without future knowledge like Seo-yeon, she could estimate a project's success just by reading the script.
She had even appraised The Gyeongseong Lady like this:
"Because of those elements, it might be a bit weak in the Korean market, but I’m sure it will be well-received overseas. Above all, the critics' scores will be high."
Surprisingly, it was the exact same evaluation The Gyeongseong Lady had received in the future.
‘Of course, it’s not like The Gyeongseong Lady did poorly domestically.’
It drew four million viewers. Although Seo-yeon had recently starred in a ten-million-viewer movie, four million for The Gyeongseong Lady was a staggering record. After all, wasn't it a film with queer themes?
While King's Love Song had surpassed ten million with a male-centered romance, Seo-yeon didn't think The Gyeongseong Lady fell far behind. If anything, the setting and the female-centered romance were elements that the public found even more unfamiliar.
‘It was a work that could have achieved even higher results.’
Artistic quality, screenplay, direction—all three were perfectly aligned. There was only one problem.
‘The actors.’
In fact, there were two issues with the cast. If those could be resolved... the domestic performance of The Gyeongseong Lady would undoubtedly soar.
"I'm grateful you're helping me. It just so happens that the audition script... is related to Jo Seo-hee."
As Seo-yeon was lost in thought, Ji-yeon’s voice reached her ears. They were currently in a practice room at Nova Entertainment.
"Related to Jo Seo-hee?"
"The three scenes for the audition all involve Jo Seo-hee. She’s both a judge and the acting partner."
Which meant Jo Seo-hee would be right there in the room.
"That girl... she definitely won't go easy on me."
That was likely true. While Jo Seo-hee tended to be a bit intimidated by Ji-yeon in private, it was a different story when it came to acting. She was dead serious about her craft. She would surely come at Ji-yeon with the intent to devour her on screen. If Ji-yeon didn't perform properly, Seo-hee would fail her on the spot, regardless of their friendship.
"Then why don't you just ask Jo Seo-hee for help?"
"Ju Seo-yeon, I told you. She’s a judge."
In other words, Ji-yeon felt it would be unfair to receive help with the audition material from the person who would be judging her.
"I want to compete on a level playing field, at least."
She had already received some general help, but she couldn't bring herself to do it for the specific audition scenes. It showed just how serious Ji-yeon was about this performance.
‘She didn't act like this on Ramiel’s broadcast.’
Instead, she had done another collaboration with the Wizard, which had turned Seo-yeon’s stomach. It had happened while Seo-yeon was filming Golden Duckling, making her feel like she was showing her friend her worst side.
‘I’m sure they’ll edit it well.’
Including the things Young-bin had done. However... she had a creeping suspicion that since it was a variety show PD, they might not edit it out at all. Since Golden Duckling hadn't aired yet, she didn't know exactly how it had been cut.
"But you're so calm. I thought you might find this a bit burdensome."
Ji-yeon was fascinated by how readily Seo-yeon had agreed to her request. Even if it was something she’d have to get used to for future filming, it was still a heavy subject matter.
The Gyeongseong Lady wasn't a film with overtly explicit scenes. However, it required the actors to walk a delicate, tingling line, making the audience feel the underlying emotions.
‘Come to think of it, isn't it weird to be doing this with a friend?’
With that thought, Ji-yeon stole a glance at Seo-yeon, who stood there with a composed face. She was a girl whose thoughts were impossible to read. Ji-yeon had expected at least a hint of agitation, but Seo-yeon looked perfectly fine.
‘Thinking back, middle school was more fun.’
Sometimes Ji-yeon missed the old Seo-yeon, who was like a wild colt, unable to control her emotions and running rampant. That was why Ji-yeon felt it was a relief that Seo-yeon hadn't started acting back then. Thanks to that, there was a time when Ji-yeon had been ahead of her.
‘If I don't make it this time...’
She might never get the chance to run on the same level as Seo-yeon again. Ji-yeon vaguely felt that if it weren't for Seo-yeon, she would have quit acting long ago.
The Little Star.
Since they were young, Seo-yeon had been a sort of guidepost for Ji-yeon. Like Polaris hanging in the night sky, lighting the path she should take.
So, Ji-yeon desperately wanted to pass the audition for The Gyeongseong Lady, if only to reach that Polaris. If she couldn't...
‘No.’
Ji-yeon shook her head and looked at Seo-yeon again. For now, only think about passing. With that resolve, Ji-yeon gripped her script.
*
The audition for The Gyeongseong Lady involved a scene with a subtle emotional tension between the character and Jo Seo-hee—the "Lady." Since it was a theme unfamiliar to the domestic market, the director seemingly wanted to see how well the actors could handle it.
And Seo-yeon felt the same way.
‘Honestly, it’s hard for me too.’
Acting out love was difficult. She had managed to fake it in Dream Future, but she wondered if she could do it well again. For Seo-yeon, whether the partner was a man or a woman, there was an inevitable sense of resistance.
The influence of her past life. And the life she lived now. As long as her past self remained within her, it was an unavoidable issue. At the very least, acting with a woman might be slightly better, as acting was more about the psychological aspect.
‘...Affection.’
It was burdensome. But it was an emotion Seo-yeon desperately wanted to feel.
Someday. Perhaps things would change once she "graduated." It was a vague hope. It felt like that time was still far off, anyway. At the very least, it was something she could only achieve once she became a great actress.
"I might be different from Jo Seo-hee’s version of the Lady."
Seo-yeon had already memorized all of the "Lady's" lines from Ji-yeon’s script. It hadn't even taken ten minutes. She skimmed it once, grasped the emotional arc, and then looked at Ji-yeon.
"But you have to do this properly, no messing around. Treat this as a real rehearsal."
Seo-yeon knew what Ji-yeon was thinking. Therefore, she had no intention of letting her friend fail.
Emotional acting is hard. I’m still lacking when it comes to romance.
Now was the time to put such weak words aside.
They faced each other. They took a breath. In a room without a director or an "action" cue, Seo-yeon’s eyes took on a deep, crimson hue.
「Seon-ye, bring me my shawl. We shall hold an auction again today.」
The corners of her eyes curved softly. Her red lips twisted into a seductive tilt.
「Then, shouldn't I look my very best?」
The way she rested her chin on her white hand and tilted her head was truly elegant. Ji-yeon froze for a moment at the performance unfolding right before her eyes. The Seo-yeon who had been talking to her just moments ago had already vanished.
It wasn't often that Seo-yeon performed right in front of Ji-yeon. They had practiced a few times, but it had never been like this. And until now, Ji-yeon had mostly seen her actual acting through a screen.
‘So this is why.’
Ji-yeon couldn't help but realize. She understood why other actors' presence seemed to vanish when Seo-yeon started acting.
The aura of an actor. Her presence was on a different level. People tended to forget because of her usual image, but in the end, Seo-yeon was an actress. It was no exaggeration to say that among actors of their age, no one could dare compare to her, except perhaps Jo Seo-hee or Park Jung-woo.
For a moment, Ji-yeon felt breathless. She was momentarily confused about what kind of acting or emotional tone she should use to respond.
「You must do your makeup first, My Lady. You shouldn't be looking for a shawl yet.」
Ji-yeon spoke in a calm tone, lowering her head. Thanks to her experience in cable dramas, she didn't stumble over her words. This was a scene where the "Lady" was being petty toward her maid, Seon-ye. The Lady already had feelings for Seon-ye, but Seon-ye was trying to ignore them.
That kind of emotion. In the next line, I need to show my feelings more overtly.
The moment she made that resolve—
"Stop."
Seo-yeon spoke.
"Your acting is boring."
Her tone was blunt. Ji-yeon’s eyes widened, but Seo-yeon placed her thumb against her chin and thought for a moment.
‘I think this is similar to what I heard when I was young.’
Was she unconsciously mimicking Actress Jung Eun-seon’s high-handed tone? That wasn't great. Despite the thought, Seo-yeon looked at Ji-yeon. But what she had just said was the truth.
‘The acting is a bit too ordinary.’
Had Jo Seo-hee not pointed it out? No, she must have. That was likely why Ji-yeon was nodding as if she had expected it.
"Are the emotions not coming through?"
"It’s a bit different. It feels like you’re trying too hard to show them."
Seo-yeon continued.
"You have to make the audience feel anticipation through your acting. It’s not interesting if it’s too obvious what you’re going to show."
Anticipation. By complicating the emotions and adopting a stance that somewhat contradicted the dialogue, there were many ways to achieve it.
"I think Jo Seo-hee said something similar."
Ji-yeon admitted it was difficult to get a feel for it. Seo-yeon nodded.
"I'll teach you."
"Huh?"
"So, focus on me."
Seo-yeon looked at Ji-yeon and curled her lips. Her expression was now remarkably similar to the "Lady" in the script.
"I'm confident I can teach you well now."
Seo-yeon wasn't usually accustomed to teaching. Her basic mindset was usually, 'Why can't they just do it?' However, as she became more adept at handling emotions, she had learned a lot. Combined with the "Emotional Mimicry" she had mastered in her past life, she was now able to analyze acting more technically.
So, she would make it happen. She would ensure Ji-yeon could deliver a performance that would shock everyone in the audition room.
*
A building in Gangnam where the auditions for The Gyeongseong Lady were being held was bustling from early morning.
Actors had arrived early, though their numbers didn't seem that large yet. However, it was unlikely that many more would come.
"There aren't that many applicants."
Director Baek Min glanced at the crowd and chuckled. Despite the small number of applicants, he looked pleased.
"The quantity is low, but the quality is high. They’re all actors I know."
In auditions like this, there are usually a significant number of rookie actors. However, this audition had a strangely low number of newcomers. There had certainly been many more applicants, but the number had been drastically filtered down.
"What do you think, Judge Jo Seo-hee?"
Director Baek Min asked playfully. Jo Seo-hee, who had been scanning her script again, narrowed her eyes as if telling him not to joke around.
"The audition looks like it’ll be fierce."
Even if the numbers were small, the quality of the actors was what ultimately mattered. It wasn't about how many actors performed various styles, but about who gave the most outstanding performance. If the quality was high, the competition was bound to be intense.
‘That’s how Director Baek Min’s auditions are.’
Because there were fewer participants, some people underestimated it, but the reality was the opposite. Actors have their favorite directors, too. Director Baek Min’s films had such a unique color that many actors specifically preferred them. One could say they were drawn to that distinct style.
Consequently, the actors participating were quite familiar faces—actors who had auditioned multiple times just to be in a Baek Min film. Some were even veterans who had already done several projects.
‘It won't be easy for Ji-yeon.’
Jo Seo-hee thought. She had been helping Ji-yeon with her acting, but the fact that it was a bit ordinary weighed on her mind. Since Ji-yeon already had experience in cable dramas, her acting wasn't particularly flawed or lacking, but...
‘She doesn't seem nervous, though.’
Jo Seo-hee stole a look at Ji-yeon, who was sitting quietly in the waiting area. Her complexion was calm. If anything, Jo Seo-hee felt more nervous herself. But seeing her like that...
‘...Does she seem a bit different?’
She had heard Ji-yeon was practicing with Ju Seo-yeon. Was that why? Hmm, acting with Ju Seo-yeon, huh?
"Hehe."
"Why are you laughing, Seo-hee?"
"Eh? Oh, did I... did I laugh?"
"Yes."
At Director Baek Min’s remark, Jo Seo-hee pointlessly tapped her lips with her palm. No, I can't do this. Filming hadn't even properly begun yet.
‘But I’m so looking forward to it.’
She had only gotten a small taste of Seo-yeon’s acting through Hyper Action Star. The thought that they would finally be acting together in the same movie made Jo Seo-hee’s heart race with anticipation.
And then.
"Alright, we’re starting the audition. Numbers 1 through 5, please come in!"
The audition for The Gyeongseong Lady officially began.