Chapter 45: Preparing for the Play (2)
Chapter 45: Preparing for the Play (2)
Shim Cheong-seok. The reason I knew him was, in a way, similar to why I knew Pyo Ji-woo.
It was because of an accident that had been heavily reported in the news.
I hadn't recognized him immediately because I’d only seen his face in a small thumbnail in the corner of a news broadcast.
‘The incident probably happens about a year from now.’
It was an accident that occurred during a drama shoot.
A fall.
The report said he had lost his footing on set and tumbled down a ravine.
At first, it was reported as a simple accident, but it was later revealed to be the result of a senior actor’s power trip. They had allegedly forced him to perform the stunt himself before the stuntman had even arrived.
‘A senior actor’s power trip, huh.’
In truth, it was an issue with many layers.
I was lucky; I had never really experienced that kind of abuse during my days as a child actor. However, child actors are surprisingly vulnerable to being mistreated by other actors or staff members.
‘I really was lucky.’
Regardless, unlike me, Shim Cheong-seok had been unfortunate.
I didn't know if the senior actor disliked him for coming over from the theater scene, or if they felt inferior to his talent, which had landed him a role in a major OTT drama right away.
Thanks to that incident, there was talk in the National Assembly for a while about passing the "Shim Cheong-seok Act" to prevent such abuses of power among actors.
"…Why are you looking at me like that? I mean, why are you looking at me like that, sir?"
"Pardon?"
"You’re looking at me like… like I’m someone who’s about to die."
Shim Cheong-seok spoke with a very uncomfortable expression.
Ah, I must have looked at him like that without realizing it.
‘But what’s with his tone?’
Is he uncomfortable using honorifics with someone as young as me? If he kept talking like that, it felt like it would seriously hinder our conversation.
"You can speak comfortably. It’s fine."
"Oh, really?"
I was taken aback by how instantly he dropped the formalities the moment I gave him the green light.
I didn't mind, but how should I put it?
‘He does realize I’m his senior, right?’
He definitely wasn't the type of junior that senior actors would naturally take a liking to. Not that I had any intention of throwing my weight around as a senior, of course.
…Really.
"Anyway, I didn't have any particular intention behind that look just now."
"Hmm."
He had a sharp impression, but his manner of speaking was different. His speech was slow, and his movements weren't particularly brisk. He definitely looked like the type who would have a hard time if he were bullied.
"Well, if you're ready, let's get started."
Shim Cheong-seok seemed to have lost interest in me as he turned to look around.
Currently, the cast members for this play were sitting in a circle around a table.
The script reading.
Whether it’s a drama or a play, this is the foundation of all work involving a script. It’s not just about reciting lines and acting; it’s a process of reviewing the pronunciation and sentences to see if they fit the actor.
‘We breezed through this during the last drama.’
Was it because I was a child actor then?
As that thought crossed my mind, I noticed that everyone’s script looked different. They were scripts edited to suit each individual's style.
For the record, mine was just the standard version. I didn't feel the need to change anything, so I was holding the original copy I’d received.
"Seo-yeon, this is your first theater script reading, right?"
"Yes."
As I sat quietly examining my script, Lee Hye-jin, who played the role of Song Min-seo, spoke up cautiously.
"The first reading usually takes quite a long time. I think we’ll finish late; is that okay?"
"Yes, I already told my family."
And even if it wasn't okay, it was something that had to be done. If I said I had to leave because it was late, my role would surely leave with me.
"Then, as we discussed, let's have Seo-yeon and Cheong-seok start first."
I wondered why it was the two of us, but it made sense when I thought about it. The actors for the other two parts had already worked together during the premiere. Since the actors for our part had all been replaced, we were essentially the only ones doing a "first" reading.
‘But wouldn't it make more sense to start with Lee Hye-jin, who plays Song Min-seo?’
The question popped into my head, but I figured there was something they wanted to check.
I opened my script with that thought. I turned to the beginning of Act 2, where Bae Seong-hak and Hong Jeong-hee meet for the first time.
*
"Let's begin."
At Shim Cheong-seok's words, everyone's eyes turned toward the two of them.
Shim Cheong-seok and Ju Seo-yeon.
They were likely the ones who would monopolize the most attention during this script reading.
‘A rising star of the theater company and a genius child actor.’
Both possessed distinct characters.
Kim Cheong-un glanced at Shim Cheong-seok. Honestly, when Jo Do-yul recommended him, he wondered if the man had lost his mind. Cheong-seok certainly had talent, but he was like a wild horse. He was an actor with a strong personal color and stubbornness.
For Seo-yeon, who was new to theater, he was a formidable partner. Especially in a script reading like this, Shim Cheong-seok was the type to point out every single flaw if Seo-yeon failed to keep up with the rhythm. In fact, some actors even avoided him because of that personality.
「Ah! You must be Hong Jeong-hee. It’s a pleasure to meet you. You come to every performance, don’t you? Your face looks familiar.」
The scene was an idol fan meeting for Bae Seong-hak. That dialogue was the first interaction between Bae Seong-hak and Hong Jeong-hee in the play.
His sharp impression vanished, leaving only a refreshing, handsome man in an instant. Even without any facial acting, his vocalization carried a vivid sense of character.
「A-Ah, hello. I-I-I’m Hong Jeong-hee.」
Seo-yeon, receiving the line, was equally impressive. As if proving how she had beaten Pyo Ji-woo in the audition, her voice acting alone conveyed clear emotions. Her vocalization was also excellent.
Brief gasps of admiration escaped the onlookers.
"Hmm."
However, Shim Cheong-seok frowned with a dissatisfied look.
"Aren't you stuttering too much?"
His words could easily be taken as a sharp rebuke. It was a cold voice, enough to discourage an ordinary actor.
Of course, he didn't necessarily mean it that way. It was just his tone; it was a genuine question.
"If she were someone who spoke well, she wouldn't have rambled like that to Song Min-seo."
"That's different from this."
"No, this is correct. The script says 'speaks while making eye contact,' but I think it would be better to avoid eye contact as much as possible and give the feeling of her body trembling."
Seo-yeon didn't back down an inch. She had her own brand of stubbornness when it came to these things. Even as a child actor, Seo-yeon had been so serious about character interpretation that she would change the script on her own.
Even if… the reason for doing so back then had been incredibly trivial.
Regardless, in response to Shim Cheong-seok's criticism, Seo-yeon decided to give him a taste of his own medicine.
"Your acting is a bit too... refreshing."
"…."
"It doesn't fit the character very well."
Shim Cheong-seok's eyebrows twitched at Seo-yeon's remark. He probably hadn't expected to have his own acting criticized.
"You have to use this kind of tone for it to reach the audience properly. You might not know that since you lack experience."
Ho-oh, experience.
Seo-yeon’s face remained expressionless, but the corner of her mouth quirked up slightly.
"Experience, you say? Actor Shim Cheong-seok, when was your debut date?"
"…My debut date?"
"For the record, mine was ten years ago."
"…."
"So, who’s the one lacking experience?"
She didn't care about arguments like how she had taken a break or that this was her first play.
‘My acting career spans ten years.’
Seo-yeon puffed out her chest triumphantly.
"Let's continue."
"…Fine."
His eyes narrowed as he looked at Seo-yeon for a moment. His face said, 'Let's see how far you can go.'
And that was exactly what Seo-yeon wanted.
The script reading that followed was quite intense. It wasn't a half-joking power struggle like before. They discussed each scene one by one, revising the script as they went.
Generally, a script reading takes two to three times the length of the play itself. That means three to five hours is the standard.
However, the script reading didn't end until midnight. A full eight hours had passed.
"…I’m sorry for getting so heated."
"No, no. You don't need to worry about that, Seo-yeon."
Of course, the script reading wasn't just for Seo-yeon and Shim Cheong-seok. It took this long because it included the other actors as well. Though, admittedly, Seo-yeon and Shim Cheong-seok had taken up the most time.
‘She’s the real deal.’
Watching Seo-yeon, who was now glancing around self-consciously, Kim Cheong-un was inwardly impressed. Even though it was her first theater script reading, she seemed very accustomed to it. Or perhaps, since she had done them for dramas, the distinction should be limited to "theater."
‘The production team definitely has a reason to be invested.’
In fact, even if Seo-yeon's acting had been slightly inferior to Pyo Ji-woo's, she likely would have been cast anyway. The child actor from The Moon That Hides the Sun. If her return after ten years was through a play, there was no better promotion than that.
A "comeback project" is a premium title that can only be used once. Since it was a play, the impact might not be as large as a terrestrial broadcast, but compared to other plays, it was like giving wings to a tiger.
‘And she didn't lose an inch of ground to Shim Cheong-seok.’
He was already looking forward to the actual performances. Shim Cheong-seok was also an actor of immense talent.
*
There is a variety show called Looking at the Past and Memories!
It’s a show that reenacts variety shows or dramas that were popular in the past. The target audience is usually teenagers who don't know that "past." Sometimes they visit schools to reenact famous scenes from old dramas, and other times, students personally demonstrate variety shows that were once huge hits.
"Since the last one was a variety show segment, this time it’s a drama. Or should we just do both?"
"…."
"Why are you so quiet?"
Jung Min-jae, the Chief Producer of the Variety Department, spoke to his junior, PD Park Geon.
"I-I was just wondering how much time we have left until the show gets canceled."
"…Uh-huh."
Their previous viewership rating was roughly 6 percent. It was barely hanging on. It was in a state where it was just barely breathing; if it dropped even a little more, it would be canceled immediately. Even if it survived, this season would likely be its last.
"I thought viewer-participation variety shows were popular…."
"It seems to be because the target is students."
"Ugh."
PD Jung Min-jae let out a sigh. Originally, he thought reenacting old popular variety shows or dramas through the lively and fresh lens of students would be fun. In fact, the reaction had been good when they did the pilot.
But the reality? A mere 6 percent rating.
‘Well, I suppose a proper reenactment is impossible.’
It’s fine if it’s a high school with a drama club. If they don't even have that, it becomes a 20-minute parade of terrible acting. Ironically, that was funny in its own way, which was how they were maintaining the 6 percent.
"Let's use a guest."
"A guest?"
"Wouldn't the kids be more motivated if an actual actor is involved in the scene? And the acting might be more watchable?"
It wasn't a bad idea for something said in the heat of the moment. It would be perfect to use someone who had actually appeared in the drama they were reenacting as the guest. PD Jung Min-jae’s mind worked quickly.
"We shouldn't decide on the drama first; we should decide on the actor. Do you know any good actors who might appear on our show?"
"I know one."
Just then, a staff member raised their hand. It was the staff member who always ordered gukbap alone whenever everyone else ordered jeyuk for lunch.
"Hmm, and who would that be…?"
"Actor Park Jung-woo."
"Pardon?"
At the name mentioned by the Gukbap Staff, PD Jung Min-jae momentarily wondered if he had heard correctly. Who?
"The son of a friend of my father’s second cousin’s brother-in-law filmed with Actor Park Jung-woo before. That’s how I know."
"Is that an actual contactable acquaintance? Isn't that basically a stranger?"
"Of course not. We were just KakaoTalking until recently."
As he spoke, he actually showed the KakaoTalk chat where he had been talking with Park Jung-woo.
‘Good lord. This is actually possible?’
Park Jung-woo was one of the hottest actors lately. He was twenty years old. An actor who had stepped out from his father's shadow and successfully established himself. His handsome face had reportedly spawned countless "older sister" fans.
"Park Jung-woo, Park Jung-woo… if we get him, the drama is already decided."
"The biggest hit among the old dramas Park Jung-woo appeared in was The Moon That Hides the Sun, right?"
The picture was perfect. If this worked out, it might truly be a life-saving opportunity to revive the program.
"Does the high school we're visiting this time have a drama club?"
"Ah, yes. It’s quite famous, too."
"Perfect."
Jung Min-jae grinned broadly and searched for the high school they were scheduled to visit on his smartphone.
Yeonhwa High School.
It was the very school that Seo-yeon and Ji-yeon were currently attending.