The Face Genius Actor

Episode 036

After the main leads participated in the script reading, contact from Director Kang Han-sung became less frequent.

The regular messages about weekly script readings suddenly stopped.

Feeling a bit empty, I exchanged messages with Joo-yeon about this.

[Joo-yeon][14:03] Why do you think that is?

[Si-joon][14:03] Well…

[Si-joon][14:03] Maybe they’re focusing on intensively caring for the main leads now?

[Joo-yeon][14:03] True, the other actors have adapted quite well to their roles through the script readings…

[Si-joon][14:04] Compared to that, the main leads’ acting was a bit disappointing

[Joo-yeon][14:04] I did a lot of self-reflection after seeing the main leads this time

[Si-joon][14:04] What kind of self-reflection?

[Si-joon][14:04] What do you have to reflect on, senior?

[Joo-yeon][14:04] I used to think just immersing yourself in the role was best, but it seems that’s not always the case

[Si-joon][14:05] Do you also think the main leads haven’t broken free from their previous roles?

[Joo-yeon][14:05] Don’t you?

[Joo-yeon][14:05] It was obvious in their acting

[Joo-yeon][14:06] Even in the questions they asked the writer

I thought I was the only one who had identified the main leads’ problem, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

If I knew, and Joo-yeon knew, then everyone else must have realized it too.

This probably happened in the same way before my regression.

‘And yet… the main leads’ acting didn’t improve much beyond that level.’

I found this part even more shocking.

It was a shock I could receive because I knew the near future.

If my guess was correct, writer Kim Hee-soo and director Kang Han-sung were surely calling the main leads separately for intensive care.

Of course, they would also mention that it seems they haven’t broken free from their previous roles yet.

The fact that they still couldn’t recover their skills despite this was shocking.

I suddenly realized how difficult it is for actors to break away from their previous roles and immerse themselves in new ones.

‘But…’

There wasn’t much I could do to help with this.

Even Seo Myung-hee couldn’t suggest an appropriate solution for this.

‘She did suggest one method, but…’

Honestly, I didn’t think it would really be effective.

I recalled the moment I had a conversation with Myung-hee not long ago.

“It’s not a situation where someone else can solve the problem, but…”

“But what?”

“If we’re looking for a solution, there is one way.”

“What’s that?”

“You, Si-joon, should do your best in acting so that the main leads can snap to attention.”

“What? Will the problem really be solved if we do that?”

“We can’t know. But if they’re responsible main leads, they’ll react to your acting. The more overwhelming the difference in acting skills, the better the reaction will be.”

The solution Myung-hee suggested was honestly a bit unrealistic.

I couldn’t be sure how the main leads would react just because I showed excellent acting.

As Myung-hee said, if I could show overwhelming acting skills, the situation might be different, but I didn’t have that ability.

So I took Myung-hee’s words as advice to focus on my own acting without being swayed by other problems.

“…That would be nice, but I’m not sure if I can show such overwhelming acting. Haha.”

Myung-hee shook her head and replied.

“Really. Si-joon, you have too little faith in yourself.”

The conversation with Myung-hee ended rather blandly, and I ultimately couldn’t find a suitable solution.

I kept thinking that I should just do my job well, unable to solve the problem, like a broken record.

If I tried to think positively, the main leads would eventually do their part even without my help.

Also, “I Will Cast Love” was expected to surpass 15% in ratings without much criticism and join the ranks of hit dramas.

For this reason, I was able to gather my thoughts and wrap up the conversation with Joo-yeon, telling her not to worry too much.

[Si-joon][14:07] The writer and director have started intensive care, so something will come out of it

Joo-yeon also seemed unconcerned, probably thinking the two would handle things well enough.

[Joo-yeon][14:07] Yeah, that’s right?

[Joo-yeon][14:07] I should stop worrying about this too, I’ve got my own problems

[Joo-yeon][14:07] Both Park Jun sunbaenim and Jung Se-hee sunbaenim are so capable after all

Although I was shocked, it was natural for anyone who had seen the main leads’ previous works to be optimistic about the future.

The impact Park Jun and Jung Se-hee had shown in their previous works was that overwhelming.

‘I hope they’re not fighting while doing script readings by themselves?’

The phrase “internal conflict” briefly crossed my mind, but I chuckled and dismissed it.

That day, no one showed any signs of crossing the line.

Rather, writer Kim Hee-soo’s attempt to resolve issues through dialogue even in potentially unpleasant situations was impressive.

The internal conflict issue was just an unfounded rumor looking for the cause of the main leads’ deteriorating acting skills in the wrong place.

As someone who had directly observed the atmosphere in the reading room, I could be certain of this fact.

* * *

Time passed, and finally, the full-scale filming of “I Will Cast Love” began.

-Actor! We’re in front of your house!

I came out after receiving Yeo Kyung-chan’s message.

As I opened the car door, I heard an unfamiliar voice.

“Hello, Actor!”

Turning my head, I saw an unfamiliar person sitting inside the car.

“I’m Song Jin-ah, the stylist who will be working with you from today!”

Come to think of it, I had received a message from Kim Jun-man that a stylist would be assigned.

The role of a stylist was as important as a manager in drama filming.

“Ah! Stylist! Nice to mee… Huh?”

“Yes?”

“Excuse me?”

“Aren’t you the person I worked with on the Census advertisement shoot?”

“Wow. You remember that?”

“Of course. You helped me a lot that day.”

“Ah! Thank you so much!”

“No need to thank me. I’ll be the one receiving a lot of help from now on. I look forward to working with you.”

“I look forward to working with you too!”

I exchanged pleasant greetings with Song Jin-ah, who would be in charge of my style from now on, and headed to the set.

As I had noticed when working with her before, Song Jin-ah had an outgoing personality.

At the same time, she knew how to be considerate of others.

She would chatter endlessly as if she’d never stop, but if she sensed I was tired, she’d close her mouth like a ghost.

As a 4-year experienced stylist, she definitely had a knack for it.

As I was feeling satisfied with Song Jin-ah joining the team, the vehicle arrived at the shop.

I got my makeup done at the shop, changed clothes, and headed back to the set.

Fortunately, the atmosphere on set was brighter than I had worried about.

I could sense the excitement for the first shoot in the staff’s expressions.

Since it was the first shoot, I went around the set with Yeo Kyung-chan, greeting the staff.

Meanwhile, other actors arrived one by one, and I made sure to greet them as well.

I felt glad to see some people I had long conversations with during the first dinner after the public script reading.

After greeting everyone to some extent, the main male and female leads appeared.

First, I exchanged normal greetings with Jung Se-hee, the main female lead.

“Hello, senior! I’m Lee Si-joon!”

“Ah! Kim Won-young! It’s been a while. I’m looking forward to working with you today.”

“Yes, senior. I’m looking forward to working with you too.”

Since I was set to play Kim In-young’s sibling, the character Jung Se-hee was playing, we had quite a few scenes together.

Today, we were supposed to shoot one or two scenes together.

Fortunately, judging by Jung Se-hee’s expression, it seemed like we’d be able to finish the shoot smoothly.

Feeling relieved, I moved towards Park Jun, the main male lead who had just arrived.

“Hello, senior! I’m Lee Si-joon!”

Park Jun looked at me, seemed surprised for a moment, then extended his hand.

“Nice to see you, Si-joon. This is the first time we’ve met since the last script reading, right?”

“That’s right, senior.”

As I shook his hand and replied, Park Jun made a bitter expression and continued.

“I showed quite an unseemly side of myself that time, not befitting a senior.”

“Ah, no, not at all, senior.”

Park Jun quickly erased his bitter expression and spoke with a confident look.

“I know how I was back then. But I’ve prepared thoroughly for today, so look forward to it.”

And in that confidence, I felt a sense of thorns sprouting.

Of course, those thorns weren’t directed at me.

It seemed like an attitude of wanting to show his abilities as the main male lead.

It was a kind of competitive spirit, which wasn’t a bad thing.

Rather, my hope was that Park Jun would act better than I remembered.

Soon after, Director Kang Han-sung appeared, receiving greetings from many people, and began organizing the set.

“Alright. We’re starting the first shoot of ‘I Will Cast Love’. Please standby for Part 1, Scene 1.”

At Director Kang Han-sung’s request, the staff began moving busily, and several actors including Park Jun stood in front of the camera.

As Director Kang Han-sung gave the start signal, Park Jun’s expression instantly became calm.

He had shown confidence earlier, and it seemed he had prepared properly.

I stood to one side with anticipation, watching Park Jun’s acting.

* * *

Pouring lights, beautiful music, people gathered in groups of three or four engaged in conversation.

A banner hanging high reads ‘WW Networks 5th Anniversary Event’.

In one corner of the glamorous party venue, people who seem to be the protagonists of this event at a glance are talking.

“Chairman Jang, you’ve done a great job. As expected, your skills are different. How did you come up with such an idea?”

“That’s what I’m saying. I was really surprised too. We really can’t do without Chairman Jang. Right? Haha.”

“Haha.”

Laughter erupts from the group, but Jang Hyuk-jun (main male lead), the subject of the conversation, doesn’t look happy.

The people around him start to watch his reactions carefully.

Jang Hyuk-jun slowly picks up the glass in front of him and drinks the champagne in one go.

“An idea… It was good. That’s why WW Networks broke its sales record again this year.”

“Yeah! That’s right! Haha.”

“It was really the best…”

“But, what idea are you talking about?”

“Huh?”

“Well…”

“Is it about using entertainment expenses to boost someone’s mood and then disguising that money as movie production costs?”

“Chairman Jang.”

“…Why are you acting like this?”

“Or is it about trying to take a rookie actress to a hotel, getting caught, and then hushing it up with money?”

“What?”

“That was…”

“Or is it about somehow making a movie successful and winning an award at a French film festival while everyone was busy embezzling the budget?”

Bang!

As Jang Hyuk-jun slams his fist on the table, the empty champagne glass falls and breaks.

Everyone looks at Jang Hyuk-jun with shocked faces, and Yoon Jung-hoon (supporting male lead), sitting nearby, squeezes his eyes shut.

“I’ll give you exactly 5 seconds to resign gracefully. 5… 4… 3…”

As Jang Hyuk-jun starts counting down, people who were watching the situation quickly leave the party venue.

Some stumble and fall, others fall into water, causing a commotion.

But Jang Hyuk-jun ignores it and mutters.

“Trash.”

* * *

“Cut! Okay!”

Park Jun’s acting was definitely good.

It was certainly better acting than before the regression.

But for some reason, I couldn’t help but feel a thirst while watching Park Jun’s acting.

His acting skills felt lacking to that extent.