Chapter 34: And Spring (1)
Chapter 34: And Spring (1)
<Genius Child Actor Suddenly Retires? No! She’ll Be Back!>
<Why Did the Child Actor Who Became an Overnight Sensation as Princess Yeonhwa Suddenly Decide to Retire?>
<Taesumdal Is Unstoppable! Average Viewership Surpasses 25%! New Record Within Reach>
“…….”
Han Seon-ah rubbed her eyes.
She thought she was dreaming, but she wasn't.
‘Unnie, can you wait a long time for me until my next project?’
Suddenly, the words Seo-yeon had spoken to her at the preview screening came to mind.
Ah, so that’s why she asked if I could wait.
It wasn't an impulsive decision; it must have been an answer reached after long deliberation.
Realizing this, Han Seon-ah shook her head vigorously.
“……Because she didn't say she was retiring.”
Seo-yeon had said it.
She asked her to wait until her next project.
She was likely planning to take a fairly long hiatus.
It was a common enough occurrence for child actors.
It was just that usually, no one went on hiatus right at the peak of their popularity.
“I have to study.”
Thanks to Seo-yeon, she had even been accepted into Seoul S-University.
So, Han Seon-ah would keep waiting.
She would wait so that she could meet her again as a proper adult, a much cooler version of herself than she was now.
Looking at what was likely the one and only autograph Seo-yeon had ever given, Seon-ah made a silent vow.
*
“This makes no sense!!”
Jo Seo-hee’s scream-like shout echoed through the living room.
Jo Seo-hee’s father, who had been watching the news with his daughter, covered his ears at her sudden outburst.
“A-Ah, Seo-hee. Why are you screaming all of a sudden…?”
“Didn’t you see that?! Her!”
Jo Seo-hee grabbed her father’s collar as if she were going to shake him by the neck.
She was a daughter with strong pride, high energy, and a personality that was hard to describe in words.
She had been completely dejected after failing the audition for The Moon That Hides the Sun.
‘There must have been something going on behind the scenes. Otherwise, there’s no way you would have lost, Seo-hee.’
Her father had comforted her with those words, but her dissatisfaction remained.
If she had been clearly superior, she wouldn't have lost even if there had been interference from above.
Seo-yeon’s acting and her own were similar.
In terms of emotional acting and creating an atmosphere, Seo-yeon was superior.
In terms of the stability and skill of pure acting, Jo Seo-hee was superior.
The Princess of Daily Dramas.
Jo Seo-hee’s career as a child actor, as she was called, had been a smooth road.
She never imagined she would lose to a complete novice in a place like that.
However, even Jo Seo-hee had to admit it when she watched episodes 2 and 3 of The Moon That Hides the Sun.
It was acting that even the young Jo Seo-hee found herself watching in a daze.
If she had seen it on the actual filming set, Jo Seo-hee would have been completely swallowed whole by Seo-yeon.
“After putting on a performance like that…!”
Jo Seo-hee bit her thumbnail and glared at the TV.
Her eyes were so fierce that her father, who had been sitting with her, slowly slipped away from the room.
「She’s the goose that lays the golden eggs, isn't she? Usually, people might kill the goose to get the eggs, but in this case, she’s just left the eggs behind and flown away.」
「Thanks to that, the last commercial Seo-yeon filmed is becoming a hot topic. It’s a children’s supplement ad she filmed following her soy milk commercial.」
「Ah, I saw that too. I’m sure commercial offers are pouring in, so I really don’t understand the reason.」
The hosts on the screen spoke as they watched the commercial shown as a reference clip.
It was an ad Seo-yeon had filmed with the middle-aged actress, Kim Mi-yeon.
They were shown acting as a close mother and daughter.
It was completely different from the drama, but it was still clean, polished acting.
‘She’s so good at it.’
Even now, news programs covering entertainment gossip were constantly talking about Seo-yeon.
That was how sudden and unthinkable it was.
‘Is she just going to win and then run away?’
She had made up her mind never to lose in the next audition.
In fact, failing this audition had been good medicine for Jo Seo-hee.
Because everyone praised her as the Princess of Daily Dramas, she had become complacent and arrogant.
After all, Jo Seo-hee was still just a child.
She thought a child actor didn't need to be any better than she already was.
Hadn't the actress Jung Eun-seon, who adored her, always said so?
That Seo-hee’s acting was already at the level where it could be called the best for a child actor.
Yes, as a child actor.
But Seo-yeon was now being compared to adult actors, not other children.
Like Ha Ye-seo, who played the grown-up Lee Hye-wol in episode 4.
“Just you wait.”
She didn't think it was a permanent retirement.
The news blathered on about retirement and whatnot, but when she looked up the segment on Star of the Topic from Entertainment Live Broadcast, it was closer to a ‘temporary break’ than retirement.
She didn't know how long that break would be.
Child actors often took breaks that lasted over ten years.
Especially for someone as young as Seo-yeon, the hiatus would likely be even longer.
Generally, the age group most sought after for child actors is 5 to 7 years old.
They can continue to work after that, but there aren't as many roles available as one might think.
Above all, don't they have to go to school?
So, most of them reappear after becoming high schoolers or adults—when they are capable of handling the roles that adult actors take on.
But Jo Seo-hee had no intention of doing that.
She would continue to grow, not as the Princess of Daily Dramas, but as a proper actress.
While Seo-yeon was gone.
Until she surpassed even Park Jung-woo and was called the best among actors her age.
“Next time…”
…I’ll win no matter what.
Jo Seo-hee made that vow.
*
“Seo-yeon, for now, I think you should try acting without using your emotions.”
Hong Jung-hoon, an acting instructor at Hwayang Acting Academy, said to Seo-yeon.
“The thing is, Seo-yeon, you have a way of drawing people’s eyes. It’s very magnetic. I think that acts as a strength in your emotional acting, but…”
Acting that captivates the viewer’s vision.
The reason Seo-yeon was capable of that was likely due to her beautiful appearance, her mysterious eyes, and her unique aura.
So, when she displayed static acting, Seo-yeon literally had no rivals among her peers.
She was at a level that would make even veteran adult actors nervous.
As for how the aspiring child actors who experienced that acting right in front of them felt…
“Teacher, I-I can’t do it like that.”
“I saw her on TV… Why is she here?”
They were in a state of total loss of motivation and were getting kicked in the butt by Lee Ji-yeon.
It seemed they had frozen up after experiencing real ‘actor’ level performance that they couldn't believe came from a peer.
“What’s wrong with you guys? Aren't you going to do it right? Do you want another kick?”
“A-Alright, I got it.”
The boy who had been practicing acting in a pair with her started acting again at Ji-yeon’s kick.
It wasn't anything grand, just a simple level of acting where they exchanged lines.
In fact, it was closer to ‘storytelling’ than acting.
That was the level of typical children’s acting.
“Is it possible to act without using emotions?”
“I’m not saying don’t use them at all. I’m saying you need to use your body.”
The movement of fingers, the movement of pupils. Minor actions.
“If you’ve interpreted a character, that character should naturally have habits. There are gestures you should take for every line. How was Princess Yeonhwa?”
“Princess Yeonhwa was…”
She had imitated Park Jung-woo in her own way.
But those were the actions of Ju Seo-yeon rather than Princess Yeonhwa.
The reason it felt natural was that Princess Yeonhwa, having escaped the palace, was in a state of acting like an ‘ordinary girl.’
‘The acting of Princess Yeonhwa right after she escaped the palace was probably clumsy.’
She had gotten an ‘OK’ on the first take.
Most likely, that was because the director interpreted Seo-yeon’s clumsiness as intentional clumsiness.
Or, perhaps he just let it slide because it suited the scene well.
‘Park Jung-woo didn't have much of a reaction back then.’
Seo-yeon had thought that was just Jung-woo’s general attitude toward others.
A calm, indifferent ten-year-old.
Since Seo-yeon also had a certain numbness toward others, she thought they were of a similar breed.
However.
“How can you act to that extent?”
After filming episode 3, Park Jung-woo’s reaction had been completely different.
His face showed he was shocked by Seo-yeon’s acting.
He had clearly thought of her as ‘just a child actor who’s worse than me’ until episode 2.
He probably felt something like, ‘She’s pretty good for a child actor.’
‘Even though he’s a child actor himself.’
It seemed he had been looking down on her just because he was three years older.
‘Serves him right.’
But since she had given him a proper shock in episode 3, Seo-yeon felt quite refreshed.
…Though it felt a bit awkward if she factored in her age from her previous life.
“So, you’re saying I should try to express the character through movements while stripping away as much emotional acting as possible?”
“Yes, exactly!”
Hong Jung-hoon beamed a wide smile, seeing how quickly Seo-yeon understood.
‘I was flustered when she first came here… but this is a huge opportunity.’
Acting academies often double as agencies.
Hwayang Acting Academy was the same, and it was the place where Lee Ji-yeon had settled after leaving Eunha Entertainment.
It was the agency Seo-yeon had recommended.
It was an excellent agency and acting academy that would later produce several great actors.
Of course, right now, it was just an ordinary acting academy that managed a few child actors for commercials or extra auditions.
‘The genius child actor, Ju Seo-yeon.’
The most talked-about child actor recently.
If Hwayang Acting Academy kept this child, many people would surely come seeking them out later.
It was an opportunity to make a name for themselves.
On top of that, the talent Ju Seo-yeon possessed was at a level that left him in awe.
‘She’s quick to understand. She doesn't seem seven years old at all.’
He had thought Lee Ji-yeon was an incredibly smart child for her age.
But Seo-yeon was beyond that.
Her level of comprehension was such that she couldn't be seen as a child.
“Then, I’ll give it a try.”
Acting without using emotions.
Seo-yeon began her performance, relying solely on physical movements.
He waited in anticipation, wondering how much she would surprise him this time.
And then.
“Um, let’s start from the beginning, Seo-yeon.”
“…….”
She realized the truth. Seo-yeon’s acting without emotions was just a stiff Ju Seo-yeon.
‘It’s all because of this body.’
Her physical abilities far surpassed those of a child.
She told herself it was definitely because of that.
Or perhaps the disconnect between her emotions and her physical body was the cause.
‘Right, that’s definitely it.’
Seo-yeon made excuses to herself.
She realized that just because she had this invincible TS body didn't mean she would be good at everything from the start.
*
Regardless of the humiliation at the acting academy.
My daily routine was quite disciplined.
Mondays and Wednesdays, I went to the acting academy.
Tuesdays and Thursdays, I went to the voice acting academy.
And on Fridays, I tried out various sports.
I was looking for an exercise that suited my body, trying everything from Taekwondo to children’s boxing.
“But, Ju Seo-yeon. No matter how much I think about it, aren't voice acting and… screen acting different?”
“They both use vocalization.”
“No, they seem completely different to me.”
And today was the day for the voice acting academy.
I had already practiced vocalization to some extent, so I could speak with a decent sound.
‘Voice actors are masters of vocal acting.’
However, even if the acting is the same, the vocalization method is completely different from that of a screen actor.
The feeling itself is worlds apart.
‘Like Lee Ji-yeon said, it’ll be hard to use this in screen acting….’
I should just use it when I’m trying to get into character emotionally.
Besides, voice acting vocalization was very difficult, and I struggled quite a bit.
‘I felt this during acting too, but I guess I’m not good at everything.’
Thinking that, I felt relieved once again.
I’m glad I took a break from acting….
If I had continued acting just like that, I wonder how long the ‘genius child actor’ title would have lasted.
Of course, I could probably fake it well with emotional acting.
But that would be a burden on my body, and it would have been difficult during puberty.
“Ji-yeon, you’re really good. You really haven't learned this anywhere before?”
“Of course not. But who’s better, me or Ju Seo-yeon?”
“Ah, that’s…”
The instructor glanced back and forth between me and Lee Ji-yeon for a moment, then whispered something in her ear.
It seemed he thought I would be offended if I heard.
‘But, based on the way he’s talking… and that triumphant look on her face….’
Am I losing to Lee Ji-yeon?
How can this be?
“Ahem. Then let’s try again. I think it would be good if you tried making your voice a bit higher.”
“Yes!”
Voice acting isn't just about speaking well.
From narration to character acting.
And vocalization for animation dubbing.
Anyway, there’s a lot to it.
The voice acting academy had a proper curriculum for all of it.
Currently, Lee Ji-yeon and I were only taking the basic classes.
“Hmm.”
I drank some water to soothe my scratchy throat and quietly listened to Lee Ji-yeon’s voice.
Today, I think we were supposed to directly act out a character from a fairy tale.
Was it a little squirrel?
In a way, it suited Lee Ji-yeon well….
「My acorn, where is my acorn?」
The vocalization of a cute child.
Lee Ji-yeon was definitely better at this than screen acting.
“Pfft!!”
But the moment I heard that voice, I accidentally spat out my water.
It was because a voice with a completely different tone from her usual narration or general character acting flowed from Lee Ji-yeon’s throat.
I had heard that a normal child’s throat couldn't produce that kind of sound, but Lee Ji-yeon was surprisingly capable of it.
“……What? Why are you suddenly laughing at me, Ju Seo-yeon?”
“Huh? I-I wasn't laughing.”
“Hmm, really?”
Lee Ji-yeon glared at me suspiciously for a moment but didn't press further.
Watching Ji-yeon turn her back and walk away, I wiped the water from my lips.
‘N-No way, right?’
I tried my best to think that.
Because no matter how I looked at it, that seemed like a bit too much of a stretch.