The Face Genius Actor

Episode 032

However, Lee Joo-yeon couldn’t keep a blank expression for long.

Because her name was immediately called by Director Kang Han-sung.

As she was playing the third female lead role entangled with Kim Won-young, it was natural for her name to be called right after mine.

“Actor Lee Joo-yeon, who will play the role of Lim Hee-joo.”

“Ah, yes.”

Lee Joo-yeon stood up a bit late from her seat and bowed her head, and as it had been until now, applause poured out.

She had an expression that seemed curious about something, but of course, she couldn’t interrupt Director Kang Han-sung’s proceedings.

“Actor Oh Tae-seok, who will play the role of Cha Jun-hwi.”

Clap clap clap!

“Actor Lim Sung-guk, who will play the role of Kim Ji-hyun.”

Clap clap clap!

.

.

.

After names were called for quite a while, the script reading finally began in earnest.

The purpose of today’s public reading was to read all of Part 1 of the script, and everyone was certainly extraordinary.

Not a single actor seemed to be lacking in acting skills.

It was a point where you could tell how much effort Writer Kim Hee-soo and Director Kang Han-sung had put into casting.

“You’re telling me the casting fell through now? Does that make any sense?”

“Director, please lower your voice. Do you want to be responsible if the atmosphere on set is ruined?”

“You should be the one taking responsibility, not me! This isn’t some neighborhood game!”

“I’m telling you to be quiet because it’s not a game. Should I raise my voice and fight with you too?”

It wasn’t Writer Kim Hee-soo and Director Kang Han-sung fighting.

It was a scene where the characters of “I Will Cast Love” were having an intense conversation.

Like this, “I Will Cast Love” continued with events centered around the entertainment industry.

In particular, the main male and female leads worked at a fictional production company called WW Entertainment.

‘That’s why the script feels even more realistic. Of course, the actors are bringing it to life well now…’

I thought that for some actors, we could set up a set and point cameras at them right now and it would be fine.

Their acting skills were that good.

As always, I could once again realize how incredible the acting skills of experienced actors were.

In this situation where a perfect script reading was taking place,

However, I couldn’t be simply happy with this situation.

I felt the tension rising gradually.

As an actor, showing your skills to many people for the first time in this setting, it was inevitable.

Even though there were people who had worked together before and had watched each other’s acting on screen,

Directly facing each other and working together had a different meaning.

Above all, I had to show good acting in this place.

That way, the actors working with me could feel at ease.

In the end, the script reading was a place to gauge each other’s skills to some extent.

‘While there might be promotional purposes, there’s no reason to do a script reading just for that. There are many more effective promotional methods.’

That’s why I felt a bit nervous even though I had practiced enough.

It was even more so because it was the first proper script reading after my regression.

In fact, even if I hadn’t regressed, this kind of situation would have been nerve-wracking for me.

I still felt burdened by showing my acting to someone.

‘Will they see my acting as okay? Are they regretting confirming the casting without an audition?’

Feeling my throat dry up, I looked towards Writer Kim Hee-soo who was focusing on the script.

Writer Kim Hee-soo nodded slowly with a faint smile on her lips, seeming satisfied with the script reading.

She occasionally checked something with her pen, which looked just like she was grading.

It was when my tension reached its peak.

Before my turn, Seo Myung-hee started her script reading first.

“Just come comfortably.”

“I’m comfortable with a taxi. More than the foreign car you send.”

“Do you know that the cost of the limousine taxis you take adds up to more than the price of a foreign car?”

“Is it a waste?”

“If I say it’s a waste, will you ride the car I send?”

“No.”

“If the result is the same anyway, let’s just say it’s not a waste.”

“It is a waste. But it doesn’t matter. I’m still more comfortable with taxis. If you’re really concerned, buy me a house nearby.”

“I’m more concerned about you living nearby. So just take a taxi. Whether it’s a limousine or an airplane, I don’t care.”

“Tch. You never say anything nice. Fine! You can take taxis for your mom for the rest of your life!”

Seo Myung-hee performed her acting with surprisingly natural ease.

She perfectly matched her rhythm even with actors who were acting for the first time.

Her ability to lead without any gaps in parts that needed to be delivered quickly was excellent.

I could see several people quietly nodding their heads, acknowledging Seo Myung-hee’s skills.

After Seo Myung-hee’s turn ended, another actor’s performance began.

Only then did Seo Myung-hee take her eyes off the script and look around with a smile on her lips.

Our eyes met, and I silently mouthed ‘You were the best’ to Seo Myung-hee.

Seo Myung-hee smiled deeply once more and then started writing something in her script book.

She showed that writing to me.

-Si-joon. You’re not worrying about the camera again, are you? Don’t be nervous and do well. Fighting.

Only after reading Seo Myung-hee’s writing did I remember that cameras were installed in this place.

I had momentarily forgotten about the cameras while being nervous and paying attention to other actors’ performances.

‘How nervous have I been again.’

I scolded myself and pulled myself together.

I couldn’t ruin all the practice I had done until now like this.

At the same time, I could understand what Seo Myung-hee was trying to say.

Seo Myung-hee wasn’t simply telling me not to be too conscious of the camera.

She was telling me to have confidence.

‘Certainly, if I act with confidence, I can also give a good performance.’

It wasn’t arrogance.

The reason was that I was the one who had helped Seo Myung-hee perfectly digest her role.

After judging that I had somewhat digested the role of Kim Won-young, Seo Myung-hee had me practice other roles.

She said that was the only way to understand the entire drama and get one step closer to the character of Kim Won-young that I was playing.

I agreed with Seo Myung-hee’s teaching method because I had felt similar emotions while playing various roles in “Arrest”.

So I started analyzing and digesting several roles from “I Will Cast Love”, and in the process, I was also able to help with Seo Myung-hee’s acting.

It wasn’t that I did it specifically to help.

It was more like naturally matching up with Seo Myung-hee’s role when it came up during practice.

And surprisingly, the more we did this, the more I felt Seo Myung-hee’s acting improving.

When I mentioned this, Seo Myung-hee nodded and replied,

“I’m definitely adapting to the role faster than usual. Maybe it’s because you’re helping me so well, Si-joon.”

At first, I thought it was just lip service.

But the longer we practiced together, the more I realized it wasn’t.

I was convinced as I watched Seo Myung-hee’s acting tone change subtly while practicing the same scene.

It was an amazing experience to see someone else improve their acting because of me.

‘And Seo Myung-hee said that my understanding of the Kim Won-young role was close to perfect.’

It was believable because it came from Seo Myung-hee, who had worked with me longer than anyone else.

And if Seo Myung-hee’s words were true, there was no reason to be nervous at all.

Rather, being nervous would make it harder to fully digest the role.

So I had to do my best to focus on the role with confidence no matter what.

I took a deep breath while organizing these thoughts.

Just then, it was my turn as the scenes went around, and I started to match up with ‘Jung Se-hee’, the main female lead of “I Will Cast Love”.

“Hey! Kim Won-young!”

“Ah, you startled me. What’s the fuss about now?”

“Didn’t I tell you to put the toilet seat down after you pee?”

“…Did it not go down again?”

“Is the toilet seat an automatic door? It doesn’t move on its own if you just leave it!”

“Okay, okay. Stop it. You can just put it down next time. You’re really making a big deal out of nothing.”

“Nothing? You crazy bastard! Why don’t you sit on a toilet rim with pee on it! Does that feel good?”

“I’m a sharpshooter, so that won’t happen to me. It’s not just tears that a man shouldn’t spill. That’s my motto.”

“You’re talking nonsense.”

I didn’t just read the lines.

To begin with, I couldn’t practice that way with the Method Mask.

Because of that, just reading the lines felt more awkward, and I naturally added facial expressions.

Maybe that worked.

I could feel Director Kang Han-sung and Writer Kim Hee-soo’s smiles deepening every time I delivered my lines.

The other actors present also seemed satisfied.

Feeling my confidence grow a little more, I moved on to the next scene.

This time, it was the scene of my first meeting with Lee Joo-yeon.

“Excuse me. Student.”

“…Me?”

“Yes. Student. You.”

“I’m not a student though?”

“Oh really? Anyway, take this.”

“Oh? My transit card…”

“Looks like it’s yours. Take it. You need a transit card to go to school.”

“Thank you. But I’m not on my way to school.”

“Ah. You said you weren’t a student. I forgot. But… are you really not a student?”

“How many times do I have to say it? I’m not a student. I graduated last month.”

“University?”

“I didn’t go to university.”

“Then high school… If that’s the case, you’re definitely not a student, but…”

“What?”

“No, nothing. Still, the age difference is too big. Anyway, take care.”

“What’s with him… Oh, thanks for the transit card!”

Lee Joo-yeon and I vividly recreated our first meeting.

Since it was a scene with a humorous tone, laughter erupted here and there.

I was completely reassured as I heard Writer Kim Hee-soo’s laughter.

Fortunately, the atmosphere in the script reading room was flowing smoothly.

* * *

In the end, the first script reading after my regression was successful.

After the first meeting scene with Lee Joo-yeon, I performed four more scenes, all of which I was able to act out satisfactorily.

This gave me confidence that I could do well.

I felt that in this state, I could deliver a good performance on set as well.

The actors who would be working with me also seemed to have a good impression of me.

Unlike before the script reading, there were actors who approached me first, and they all praised my acting.

At this rate, it seemed like I could build friendships with many actors at the dinner gathering planned for today.

I was looking forward to it because maintaining good relationships with actors was also very helpful for acting.

While I was deep in these thoughts, Lee Joo-yeon approached me.

“Si-joon!”

“Ah. Senior.”

“I was really surprised! The role you took was Kim Won-young?”

I slowly opened my mouth while watching Lee Joo-yeon’s expression.

“Well… about that…”