Chapter 26
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: The Judges' Verdict
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"26"
"Tank yoo!"
The cute farewell from participant number 36.
After Han Siu left, Jessica burst into laughter.
"Isn't it amazing? Hey, everyone said a kid actor from Korea would be too much, right?"
Joy-su softened Jessica's words a bit before relaying them to the Korean judges.
They couldn't argue with her, so they just kept clearing their throats ahem, ahem.
"Seeing him in person makes it even more impressive. I can't wait to meet him."
"Jessica. Have you already made up your mind?"
"Joy-su. You're the same, aren't you? Among the child actors we'll see today or tomorrow, is there really anyone who can surpass that kid? I don't think so. And with his skills, we could take him straight to Broadway... My protégés' spots might be in danger."
Joy-su's eyes widened in surprise at Jessica's words, delivered with a smile.
Many of the big stars she'd raised on Broadway had been cast under her wing at a relatively young age.
To compare that kid to those superstars...
Joy-su recalled the kid's performance from moments ago once more.
It was special.
But Jessica's reaction seemed to go beyond that.
Hesitating, Joy-su asked her.
"Jessica. I agree his acting was incredible. But... it sounds like you're putting him on the same level as Broadway's adult actors... Is that right?"
"See, Joy-su. You're starting to understand me pretty well now."
"...That's not the point."
He was only five years old, after all.
What on earth had Jessica seen in that kid to rate him so highly?
It wasn't about picking a fight.
He was just curious about whatever he might have missed.
As if reading Joy-su's mind, Jessica grinned and continued.
"Oh, Joy-su. Didn't you notice?"
"Notice what, Jessica?"
Joy-su sighed, watching Jessica beam with delight.
She wouldn't leave him hanging, but that face definitely meant she was enjoying this.
Jessica loved teasing Joy-su, her fellow director, more than anyone else.
Meanwhile, as the two conversed rapidly in English, the Korean judges sat there blankly, unable to join in.
Joy-su was fluent enough in Korean and English for simultaneous interpretation, so no other translators had been brought in.
But seeing them talk so fast now, it didn't look like Joy-su planned to relay anything for their sake.
"What are they saying?"
"Who knows. Seems like it's about Han Siu... Agent Lim. What exactly are they talking about?"
"...It's too fast. I can't keep up."
No wonder he put "study abroad" on his resume after just half a year. Tsk tsk.
The man called Agent Lim bowed his head deeply at the section chief's mutter.
How was anyone supposed to follow native-speed English after a measly six-month language program?
Meanwhile, Jessica ignored the curious stares from the others and plunged ahead with her fascinating discussion.
"That answer of his. Isn't it just shocking? Remember when I dealt with Jerry?"
"Jerry..."
Joy-su furrowed his brow.
Jerry was the actor Jessica had cast as the grandson in her second production of RUN on Broadway, right after the first.
He was eight years old, a year older than the grandson in the original story.
But since he was on the small side, he'd caught the eye of Jessica, who wanted a perfect recreation of the original.
Back then, Jessica had demanded something pretty harsh from Jerry.
She wanted him to experience the same environment as the grandson in the play and understand those feelings.
All the staff had protested that it was too cruel, that it could even be reported as child abuse, so it never actually happened.
Jessica insisted that a properly prepared and educated child could fully grasp those emotions.
She wasn't really going to put him through helljust have him deeply imagine it. What was the big deal?
That's when she'd said:
"You're all too fixated on the age of seven. The boy we're putting on stage isn't your average seven-year-old. Shouldn't he at least try to understand and accept that situation? Adult actors do it without batting an eye. Why is demanding the same from a child actor abuse?"
"Jessica, it depends on how you demand it."
"It's work, Joy-su. I'm not saying make him truly miserable. It's about building together what thoughts and feelings he'd have if he were. Sigh, fine. If that's not possible, we'll just go with Jerry as is."
In the end, Jessica had bowed to the majority opinion back then.
Joy-su thought back to participant number 36, Han Siu's response just now.
That even a child could know and understand it all.
This must be exactly the answer Jessica had been hoping for.
"No living person could stay purely innocent in that situation. Sure, there's a limit to convincing and making a child understand, but we can't deem it impossible."
Jessica added that with a deeply satisfied expression.
And now, a child actor had appeared who already grasped it without any such effort on her part. She'd even let out a cheer of triumph.
When she'd put Jerry on stage, Jessica had constantly grumbled about the lack of emotional depth.
But as a brilliant director, she'd compromised masterfully with realityadjusting the lighting, demanding more precise eye work from Jerry, and completing the production.
"Aren't you excited, Joy-su? I have so much to talk about with Siu. We could pull an all-nighter."
"Jessica. That would be child abuse too."
"Ahh, I wish Siu would hurry up and grow into an adult."
"Then he couldn't be cast with us."
Joy-su said coolly.
Then he checked the time.
"Are we just going to keep sitting here? We have auditions tomorrow too. Shall we wrap up?"
Han Siu had been the last one today.
The second round of auditions was split over two days to account for the child actors' stamina.
Jessica had scheduled him as the final slot on day one, saying she wanted plenty of time to watch his audition.
"Oh, sure. But first, shouldn't we reach a proper conclusion?"
"Of course."
Joy-su then interpreted Jessica's following words for the other judges.
"So, what did you think of today's auditions? Still against putting such a young kid on stage?"
At her question, the three Korean judges exchanged glances, then mumbled hesitantly without committing.
Honestly, earlier in the day, they'd earmarked a couple of kids around ten years old.
If they had to cast a child actor as Jessica insisted, picking the oldest within her age limit seemed the safest bet.
But the very last auditionee.
Five-year-old Han Siu's appearance had left them speechless.
Even recalling the ten-year-olds' performances now felt hazythe final participant's had been that uniquely outstanding.
"No one's speaking up. So, does that mean we're all picking the same actor I have in mind?"
"You mean participant number 36?"
"Yes. Why? Still hung up on his age?"
It was the smile of someone certain of victory.
The three Korean judges clamped their mouths shut.
Having seen Han Siu's skills with their own eyes, they knew opposition was pointless.
Normally, for child roles, you'd cast someone older rather than younger.
The silver lining was that Siu, being a January baby, was a bit bigger than most kids his age.
No matter how talented a five-year-old was, their concerns hadn't fully vanished.
But no one could object now.
They were certain from Jessica's deeply etched smile.
If they dared oppose her here, her wrath would descend.
Bring a kid who outperforms that one.
...As if such a kid existed.
The Korean judges shook their heads reluctantly, like swallowing bitter medicine.
They could only pray that the spirited kid's talent shone flawlessly on stage too.
A peaceful weekend in September.
"That's why that jerker, that guytotally scammed our Nayoung unnie..."
It was evening, so Dad had closed the chicken shop early and we were all gathered on the sofa.
I was excitedly explaining the drama I'd been hooked on lately.
That's when,
"Gasp! Everyone home?!"
Uncle, who'd gone out early for some reason, came rushing back in a panic.
"Yeah?"
"Dong-wook, what's up?"
Uncle ignored Mom and Dad's questions and bolted to his room.
What now?
I shot a fierce glare at Uncle for stealing Mom and Dad's attention.
Moments later, he returned from his room with his laptop and set it down on the living room floor.
"Come here, everyone. Check this out."
"I gotta watch my drama."
"Siu, this is way bigger than your drama right now!"
Bigger than my drama?
It better be.
His fussing had me a little curious now.
So Mom, Dad, and I huddled around Uncle.
"What's going on?"
"Yeah, what?"
"Look at this. There's an article about Siu!"
Rainbow Pictures' 'RUN' Confirmed for Premiere at Gwanghwamun Cultural Center in Korea. Bold Casting Choice...
Oh ho.
Uncle clicked the intriguing headline, and the subheadings scrolled down.
For Rainbow Pictures' new production 'RUN,' the lead is a five-year-old boy. Let's learn about Han Siu.
"Whoa! It's really about our Siu?"
Mom's eyes sparkled with wonder at seeing my name in print, totally focused.
Seeing that, I sneakily grabbed the remote and turned off the TV.
"Look at this, and get thisthe reporter is Lee Ga-eun!"
"Lee Ga-eun?"
"Who's that?"
"She's a huge deal in theater journalism. Not everyone reads her, but anyone even mildly interested in plays knows her magazineshe's the main writer. If she covers you, it's massive. She doesn't touch rookies lightly."
Mom and Dad's faces lit up brighter and brighter as Uncle explained, practically spitting with excitement.
"Wow... that big a deal?"
"Our Siu is amazing!"
"Ahem."
I didn't get all the details, but basically, my name was in some super prestigious outlet.
I stood proudly in the middle of the living room, hands on hips.
A five-year-old leading 'RUN'a hot topic in theater circleswas prime news fodder.
Still, the news spread fast.
I'd only gotten the casting confirmation call yesterday.
"No choice. I'll print this tomorrow somewhere. Gotta scrap Siu's article."
"Dong-wook."
Mom quietly called to Uncle, who was buzzing with excitement and making a fuss.
Yeah, I figured you'd chew him out.
"Huh? Don't stop me. I'll grab a scrapbook too."
"No. Print two copies. I want one."
"Oh, sure."
Mom...?
I just nodded at her serious expression.
Sure, she wants a copy of her son's stellar article.
But then, Dad's face, grinning wide as he scrolled through it, gradually darkened.
"Uh... Siu, don't read this anymore."
What? Dad, what do you mean?
I'd planned to read it once more before bed!
Thunderstruck, I cupped my cheeks with both hands.