episode_0008

I Became an Actor Like This. Day of the 2nd Audition.

“Here, how about this role?”

Lee Geum-suk, the writer, shook her head at Choi Hee-won PD’s words.

“I’m telling you, it doesn’t suit her. How many times do I have to say it?”

“Writer Lee, please listen to my reasoning.”

“I feel like I know it without listening. Isn’t it that the role suits Soo-ah the most when you consider her age and gender?”

“Yes. That’s correct.”

“No. That role needs to be played by someone who looks a bit pitiful.”

Differing opinions that were difficult to narrow down. Choi Hee-won crossed his arms.

“Weren’t you planning to include Soo-ah in your next project? The rest are all male roles.”

“I can change the script. If I give her just any role because I’m in a hurry, she’ll definitely get indigestion. You know that, right?”

In the end, Choi Hee-won nodded.

“Hmm, you’re not wrong. Since it’s the 2nd audition today, let’s watch Soo-ah’s acting one more time and then decide.”

Only then did Writer Lee Geum-suk smile faintly.

“Actually, I want to quit the audition right away and offer her a role in the drama, but I’m also looking forward to seeing what kind of acting she’ll show in the 2nd audition. That’s why I can’t say anything. I’m sorry, Soo-ah.”

“I agree. But I don’t think this is bad either. I haven’t even decided what role to offer her yet, and something might come to mind if we watch her a little longer.”

“That’s what I’m saying!”

In fact, they weren’t even that close, but the two of them were chatting away, forgetting that fact. The reason, of course, was Lee Soo-ah. Because of the monstrous contestant who appeared like a comet.

While the two were chattering away incessantly.

“Hey, did you really come along?”

Seo Yeon-ju spoke to Kim Seon-il.

“I don’t lie.”

“So, what do you think after seeing the contestants? I don’t really see anyone who catches my eye. Is this because of Lee Soo-ah? After that person, everything else seems ordinary.”

“Seo Yeon-ju.”

Kim Seon-il coldly called her name.

“If you’re an actor, it’s natural to be good at acting.”

“That statement means you also acknowledge that Lee Soo-ah is good at acting, right? You idiot.”

Ignoring Seo Yeon-ju who clicked her tongue, Kim Seon-il quietly recalled his memories. The scene he watched on TV yesterday.

Vividness. Desperation. Skill.

“Yeah. She’s good. At acting.”

Kim Seon-il wanted to cleanly admit what he had to admit.

“Then what’s the problem?”

“Being good at acting. That’s not enough.”

However, his standards were just a bit higher and stricter.

If Kim Seon-il were a judge on ‘I Became an Actor Like This,’ he would have applauded without hesitation. A cut above the rest. Lee Soo-ah stood out clearly among the contestants.

But.

This is a task of choosing someone to work with him on a drama. Isn’t it natural for the standards to be strict?

Seo Yeon-ju narrowed her brow.

“Then what else is needed?”

“An eye for the script. An attitude towards the script.”

Kim Seon-il fiddled with the script for the 2nd audition.

“First of all, this 2nd audition script is garbage.”

“Can’t be helped, can it? Son Ji-woong PD-nim is a variety show PD. This is a mission script, so it can’t help but be sensational.”

“You know it well. I call it garbage.”

The 2nd audition script. A torture scene.

Kim Seon-il already seemed to see a few videos in his mind’s eye.

– (5 million views!) 000’s reaction to torture!

– Always gives me chills, 000’s torture acting!

A mission script. Something necessary for recording M-Tube clips. It’s just sensational and has no distinguishing features.

Disgusting. Repulsive.

His mysophobia wasn’t just limited to hygiene. Rather, he reacted more severely when it came to acting.

Acting to create a drama, sensational acting like a stunt show just for views.

The two are bound to be different. He doesn’t like it.

Seo Yeon-ju shook her head as if she was tired of it.

“Tiring, tiring. What kind of attitude should they have?”

“At least not an attitude of just working hard without thinking.”

Kim Seon-il did not want an ‘actor who was just called in and did their best’ to participate in Writer Lee Geum-suk’s next project, which he had cheered for so much.

Is the target role that they hope for clear?

Have they recognized the main points of this script?

Is their understanding of the relationships with the other roles clear?

Their acting skills must of course be excellent, and he hoped that only first-class actors who could recognize the true value of the script like the above could participate. Only when such conditions are met will a masterpiece be born.

So today, Kim Seon-il will dig up everything.

Lee Soo-ah, what reaction will she show to the 2nd script.

Does she have the courage to say that a trivial script is trivial?

Does she have faith in her own acting?

Does she recognize the true value of this writer’s script?

But, at that moment.

“Ah…! I’m so sorry…!”

The door burst open, and Son Ji-woong PD rushed into the judges’ waiting room. With a face that looked like he was about to cry any moment.

“Contestant Lee Soo-ah, she’s not coming! No matter how much I call her, she won’t come!”

“…!”

It didn’t take long for the other judges to be surprised. Without saying a word, they all jumped up from their seats.

“You mean she gave up voluntarily?”

“No, what are you talking about?”

“That’s…!”

Son Ji-woong PD said, sobbing.

“She doesn’t like the 2nd script…! She said she hates it…!”

While everyone was already surprised.

“….”

Kim Seon-il’s eyes finally widened clearly.

◈◈◈◈◈

Meanwhile, at Soo-ah’s studio apartment.

[LET’S LIVE DILIGENTLY!]

Soo-ah stuck a large printed paper on the wall. She had unlocked the special perks. Now, the second act of her life has begun.

“I’m going to live diligently. Diligently!”

Soo-ah sat in front of the computer, determined.

Suddenly, she remembered the phone call she had with Son Ji-woong PD.

─ Huh? No, are you kidding me?

─ It’s not difficult at all with Soo-ah’s skills, right?

─ That’s not the problem.

─ Soo-ah-ssi, please think about it one more time.

─ It’s a really good opportunity for Soo-ah-ssi too.

─ Soo-ah-ssi…!

─ I’m sorry.

The last phone call with Son Ji-woong PD ended quite coldly, but Soo-ah didn’t feel any regret at all.

“I almost got into real trouble….”

No, rather, she was relieved and happy. To experience unbelievable torture? Why me?

Of course, Son Ji-woong’s words made sense.

─ It’s a really good opportunity for Soo-ah-ssi too.

That’s right. It would be good to make a name for herself in the audition. But if I ask if there’s no other answer than that spot, then no.

“Hehe, I have the third special perk.”

Yes, this power that the world has only allowed Soo-ah. She can gradually build her filmography with this.

As a result, Soo-ah is currently….

“This one’s a pass…. This one’s a pass too…. Oh? Is this one okay?”

She was in the process of filtering out job postings that are recruiting actors on the internet, just like filling a shopping basket at a supermarket.

[Recruiting actors to help with a Hyeongyeong University project]

[We are looking for actors for the short film (Salt)]

[Actors to appear in the University Hospital web drama]

[Recruiting for Crosswalk (working title)!]

Of course, she can’t just keep an eye on everything she sees. Among these, she only judged those with attached scripts. She can’t throw away the chance to see the level of box office success in advance, can she?

“Ah, and before experiencing the script, be sure to check it once with your eyes in advance.”

Soo-ah emphasized as if she was brainwashing herself.

It would be terrible if something like being tortured happened after going in blindly. She carefully looked at each script before downloading it.

After a long time like that.

Soo-ah was only able to apply for two.

(Apply) [Energy Drink CF Actor Recruitment]

First of all, this one, even though it’s an advertisement for a drink, there was a script. The grade she checked after experiencing it was a whopping grade 2.

(Apply) [Short Historical Film ‘Sword’]

This one also has a grade of 2. She applied right away.

“Whew….”

She felt nervous because it felt like the beginning of something serious, but Soo-ah decided to trust the special perks and herself. After all, if she doesn’t trust herself, she won’t be able to do anything.

In fact, she had quite a bit of confidence compared to before.

‘Should I call it experience proficiency? I think it’s increased a little.’

Headaches, trembling, uncontrollable emotions…. The things that came along like aftereffects after finishing an experience were gradually weakening. This is very good news for Soo-ah.

Besides….

She thought of any line from the script she had just experienced.

“Your sword is heavy. It’s not like anyone is holding it down.”

She nodded her head right after speaking. Along with a short exclamation.

“Oh.”

All the lines were memorized. Soo-ah realized once again. Special perks aren’t special perks for nothing.

“Hehe.”

Soo-ah started searching for recruitment announcements again.

This is more fun and enjoyable than I thought.

Experiencing the scripts too.

And imagining the future while applying too.

For the first time, Soo-ah’s life, which had only been bleak, had a motive, and she placed a very small expectation on herself.

◈◈◈◈◈

─♩♪♬

A while later, a call came from an unknown number.

“…Ugh, an unknown number.”

Soo-ah frowned without even realizing it.

Soo-ah had experienced all kinds of fields to find her aptitude such as soccer, basketball, and Pilates, so when she received a call from an unknown number, she couldn’t help but be reluctant.

Whether it’s a call from a job she quit before, or a contact from a sports club she already quit. Anything is annoying. Now that she’s even dropped out of the audition, she doesn’t need to answer all the calls.

She lightly ignored the first call.

However.

─♩♪♬

─♩♪♬

─♩♪♬

It kept calling, so she had no choice but to pick up. Usually, phishing or spam calls don’t go this far.

“Hey. It’s Kim Seon-il.”

That’s what he said in his first words. A very low voice.

After a moment of silence, Soo-ah hung up the phone.

No matter how much she thought about it, it wasn’t someone around her.

─♩♪♬

But the phone was calling again.

“Hello. Isn’t this Lee Soo-ah’s number?”

“Who is this?”

Someone who knows her?

Who is it? Her head tilted.

“It’s me, actor Kim Seon-il.”

A voice full of annoyance. Soo-ah also became annoyed.

“I don’t know who that is.”

“What…?”

She was about to hang up, thinking it was a malicious call.

“First, make some time. Would one million won be enough for travel expenses?”

“No?”

What is this voice phishing?