Chapter 21
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: The Audition Video
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Kim Sangcheol handed me the audition script, a summary outlining the full story, and the audition notice before stepping out of the theater owner's office for a bit.
Left alone, I examined the bundle of papers he'd given me.
First up was the plot summary for the full story of RUN.
"Looks good."
Just from the outline, I could tell.
The story of RUN was simple yet plenty entertaining.
At least, there was no sense of disconnect about it being destined for a big stage.
RUN originated in America...
In my previous life, that massive landmass discovered by the Italian explorer Columbus had become a country called America now.
Mom had told me that after Columbus's discovery, America fell under colonial rule by European powerhouses like England, which was why they still used English like the British did.
No wondersometimes in movies, I'd hear people speaking English with accents wildly different from what I knew.
Turns out most of those actors were from America or that southern island nation down under, Australia.
Anyway, it made sense that a hit from America, now a massive superpower, would be a big deal.
Next, I checked the audition script.
Phew, all that grueling effort to read Korean had paid off.
Now I could read pretty much any Korean text.
Hmm. The dialogue's solid too.
Having read through the entire script, I leaned back against the sofa, relaxing.
As always, I sipped the chamomile tea he'd kindly brought for me and caught my breath.
The more I read, the clearer it became: this was a really solid piece.
Naturally, that sparked even more ambition in me.
The upside to this little body was how fast it was growing.
Along with that, week by week, my pronunciation was noticeably improving.
At this rate, even up against ten-year-old kids, I wouldn't lose out on anything but pure acting skill.
"Hmm. What do auditions even look for?"
The only audition experience I'd had so far was that brief performance in front of Kang Yonghwi and Kim Sangcheol when I first joined Emergency Iron 777.
It hadn't been a formal audition, so I still didn't know exactly how auditions worked in this era.
I peeled my back off the sofa and scrutinized the audition notice.
"Hmm."
I could read Hangul fluently now, and my pronunciation was better, but one problem lingered.
I could read the words, but there were tons I didn't understand.
"What's this mean?"
Clink.
I set down my teacup and peered intently at the audition notice.
The audition had two roundspreliminary and finalbut the phrase next to the first round was weird.
Submit Audition Video
Theme: Free Acting
I got the free acting part...
But what was "video submission"?
I tilted my head, then shook it.
"Gotta ask Uncle Heesung."
I was heading to Moon Heesung's place soon anyway, so I'd just ask then.
"I'm gonna head out now."
The moment Moon Heesung opened the front door, I shoved the RUN audition notice at him.
I'd been dying to talk about this audition the whole way here.
Maybe sensing my urgency, he smiled and replied.
"Yeah, yeah, Sangcheol hyung told me. Let's chat details inside. I even picked up those cookies you like, Siu."
"Cookies!"
Yay!
I dashed toward Moon Heesung's house but paused.
Then I spun around and reached for Mom.
"Be back soon!"
"Hehe, alright. Don't cause trouble for the actor, okay?"
Mom. I'm not a baby anymore.
I'd never even caused trouble, but she always worried the same way.
"Ung!"
I planted a goodbye kiss on Mom's cheek, then bolted into Moon Heesung's house.
"Then we'll be in touch."
"Yes, please take good care of our Siu."
Behind me, I heard Moon Heesung and Mom exchanging goodbyes.
Since I came every other week, I waddled naturally inside like I owned the place.
"Here we go."
I plopped casually onto the sofa and waited for Moon Heesung to come in.
My heart was racing for some reason.
Gotta prep quick.
I gripped the RUN audition notice tight in my hand, then pulled the script bundle from my bag and set it on the table.
I needed to know what "audition video submission" meant ASAP.
"Oh, is this the audition script?"
Moon Heesung spotted it while bringing the cookies.
He sat beside me and snatched up the notice.
While he checked the details, I munched contentedly on the cookies.
"Rainbow Pictures is involved directly? Siu, this is a bigger opportunity than I thought."
"Ung? Really?"
I'd known it was big, but even Moon Heesung was surprised.
No wonder Kim Sangcheol was pushing me toward it.
Guess I owe him something nice later.
"But I got a question. What's 'ego' mean?"
Like I'd been waiting, I jabbed at the middle of the notice.
"Submit audition video? Looks like they're replacing the first round with this."
Exactly.
I knew that muchwhat is it?
"How do you do it?"
I gazed up at him with sparkling eyes, urging him to explain.
"Hmm, it's exactly what it says: film yourself doing free acting and send it in..."
"Ung?"
Moon Heesung pondered a moment, then turned on the TV.
He flipped channels a few times, and soon my favorite drama filled the big screen.
"Look at that, Siu. Know how they make dramas like this?"
"Um, actors act it out, they film it, and send it out?"
"Right. They want you to do the same. It'd take too long to see every actor in person."
"Ung."
What a great world.
"But acting for the camera isn't like performing for a live audience."
"Why not?"
I tilted my head at his words.
"Filming acting isn't one-and-done. They shoot the same scene over and over, then pick the best takes. That way, the director and actors can choose the top performances."
"Ung?"
Moon Heesung opened his mouth to explain more kindly, seeing my reaction.
"So, basically..."
But unfortunately, not a word got through to me.
They didn't film it straight through from start to finish?
That "best performance" everyone praised was just... pieced together?
Plop.
The shock hit so hard I dropped the cookie I was holding.
Acting is one continuous flow, one breath.
How could they patchwork it like rags?
My mind flat-out rejected it.
"Siu...?"
"That's... not acting!"
Frustrated beyond words, I pointed at the TV and yelled.
Moon Heesung's eyes went widehe'd never seen me shout before.
"Haha, guess it surprised you, huh, Siu."
But he didn't seem to take it too seriously.
"You've only done theater, Siu, so maybe that's why. Folks who've done nothing but theater their whole lives can get those kinds of hang-ups."
"......"
I pouted, lips jutting out.
Hang-ups?
Hah.
I couldn't accept it.
How could anyone split a scene into pieces?
The immersion from the start would just evaporate midway.
Arms crossed, I glared at the TV I'd once adored.
"Siu, didn't anything ever feel off when you watched dramas before?"
"......Off?"
"Yeah. Like backgrounds changing suddenly, or actors' clothes switching out of nowhere."
"Ah! Yeah, I knew that."
I'd figured out they acted in bits from how the screen jumped around.
But repeating the same acting over and over, then stitching it together?!
"But still..."
"So you knew, but you don't like reshooting the same scene multiple times?"
"Yeah. How do you keep the emotions connected?"
Even the same play, same sceneemotions and expressions aren't identical every time.
Shoot it repeatedly and patchwork the best bits, and you'd get mismatches in emotional lines for sure.
"Hmm. True, you can't keep the flow like in theater."
See?
Even you admit it!
"But that kind of filming has advantages theater doesn't, right?"
"Advantages?"
"Perfect timing. Like thatshowing the actor's face big up close. That's a 'close-up.'"
Moon Heesung pointed at the TV where the drama played on.
"Aah......"
That's what a close-up is.
It was one of the biggest shocks when I first watched dramas.
"They pull the camera right up to the actor's face in that moment. Captures their emotions super intimately."
"...Yeah."
"No way to do that in theater, right?"
Fair point.
I had wanted to see the protagonist's tearful scene closer up once...
No, no. Don't get swayed.
I shook my head vigorously, and Moon Heesung chuckled.
"It might seem weird to you, Siu, but theater, dramas, moviesthey're all the same at the core."
"Hmm."
Still couldn't buy it.
Arms still crossed, but Moon Heesung stood up.
"Seeing is believing, right? Wanna try filming one?"
"Ung?!"
S-seeing is b-believing what?
Looks like I'm still far from mastering Hangul.
"Before diving into close-ups or other techniques, better to get what acting for camera means first."
Moon Heesung went into a small room and came back with a big camera and tripod.
He extended the legs with a whoosh, fiddled with the camera on top.
Amazingly, it all clicked together.
"Whoa."
"Ready to film?"
"Ung!"
Filming? Piece of cake.
I stepped confidently in front of the camera.
"For the free acting profile video, it's one continuous take. Just like theaterone go, nice and easy."
"Yep!"
Moon Heesung hit record and said.
"It's not as easy as you think."
"Hmph. Easy or not, I can do it. Watch me."
"Just adapting for nowdo anything."
I stood in the middle of Moon Heesung's living room, facing the camera.
Bright light poured through the big window, illuminating my profile.
I could see Moon Heesung crouching to check the camera.
Hmm, maybe 'cause it's bigger than usual?
That black camera lens felt like a piercing pupil staring right through me.
I'd thought it'd be like Mom snapping photos...
But something felt off.
I gave my head a little shake.
Weird vibe or not, acting's essence doesn't change.
"I'll do something!"
Moon Heesung nodded at my shout.
Whew.
Eyes closed, deep breath, locked in the emotion.
When I opened them again.
I became the tragic heroine.