Top Star By Luck [EN]: Chapter 97

97

Do you know what a division is?

In the military, it commonly refers to a unit of soldiers, but in the film industry, it’s used in a slightly different sense.

[The Steve Odorson Division]

[The Noh Ho-yeon Division]

[The Yang Cha-ok Division]

It refers to a group that has worked together under a specific director for a long time.

Directors.

Screenwriters.

Lighting.

CG, costumes.

Even the cast.

And.

Among these divisions in Korea, the most famous one is:

‘It’s definitely the Hwang Eui-seong Division.’

The Hwang Eui-seong Division, centered around Director Hwang Eui-seong, was just that.

‘Amazing. Everywhere you look, there are only big names. The average is professor-level.’

Lee Min-ki looked at the members of the division gathered in the script reading room with a surprised expression.

‘It truly is the best division in Korea.’

It was as he thought.

The Hwang Eui-seong Division was composed of personnel who deserved to be called the best in Korea.

Is it because they pay a lot?

No.

If you’re talented enough to join the Hwang Eui-seong Division, you can receive better treatment anywhere in Korea, and even enter Hollywood.

Then, is it because Director Hwang Eui-seong’s character or reputation is outstanding?

No.

His personality is so overwhelming that it’s suffocating.

Even making eye contact is tiring, and if you exchange words, you’ll want to leave.

Career?

His career is outstanding, but it’s Hwang Eui-seong’s career that’s outstanding, not the fame of those under him.

Then why is the level of the Hwang Eui-seong Division so high?

The reason is:

‘They’re people who are crazy about one thing: the work itself.’

They only care about the quality of the work.

They’re united by the idea that it doesn’t matter if the director is eccentric, as long as the work is good.

For them, Director Hwang Eui-seong’s work is also the work they want to create.

[We’re going to break through the Academy Awards with this piece.]

Most of them have this level of determination.

Because they deeply believe that Director Hwang Eui-seong is the one who can create the best work in Korea.

And.

Ironically, this time, Lee Min-ki was also one of them.

“Hello. I’m actor Lee Min-ki. I’m honored to participate in the work of the esteemed Director Hwang Eui-seong. If there’s anything lacking, please give me strict guidance.”

As Lee Min-ki bowed his head with a gentle smile, a seemingly mild gaze flowed through the script reading room.

There were many picky people, but not as picky as Director Hwang Eui-seong.

‘I thought he’d be arrogant because he’s an actor who’s had consecutive hits, but it doesn’t seem that way.’

‘I heard there was something between him and Kim Do-ha… was it just a rumor?’

‘A young man is fascinated by a weirdo like Director Hwang. Tsk tsk.’

Some looked at him with favorable eyes.

Some with distrust.

And some with pity.

But there was one common emotion in everyone’s gaze.

‘How well will he really do?’

It was curiosity.

Lee Min-ki’s reputation as an actor was slowly spreading among industry insiders.

[Campus Story] showed potential.

[Forever Green] showed a level of skill that didn’t seem like a rookie.

[Cafe del Dia] showed the ability to carry a project.

So, what kind of performance will he show in [Fashion & Passion]?

‘It won’t be easy.’

The difficulty of the script had already been confirmed.

It’s the highest.

There is no acting more difficult than this… well, it’s rare enough to be sure that it’s a terrible order.

‘Okay, let’s see what you can do.’

It was the moment when everyone’s expectations soared so high that they seemed to pierce the ceiling of the conference room.

“Let’s start with scene 3 first.”

“Yes.”

“Understood.”

Director Hwang Eui-seong’s voice was heard, and two actors answered at the same time.

One was Lee Min-ki, and the other was.

‘Actor Kang Se-hwang.’

It was Kang Se-hwang.

A person often called a “myeongpum” [masterpiece] supporting actor in the Hwang Eui-seong Division.

A person who was recognized purely for his acting ability, despite having a mask so devoid of character that it seemed to have evaporated.

For an actor, the modifier “yeon-gi-pa” [acting genius] is actually close to shameful.

Because the job of an actor is to be good at acting in the first place.

But if there is someone who deserves to be called an acting genius despite that, it is Kang Se-hwang.

“Ah, ah.”

He opened his mouth.

“Have you ever thought about being a model?”

“A model?”

“I’m from a shopping mall in front of here? If you come out for an hour or two a day and take pictures. Click, click. Sounds cool, right?”

It was the scene where the main character [Lee Jong-ho] is being cast by [Noh Young-hoon], an employee of a model agency.

Even with that short line, Lee Min-ki’s senses were all on edge.

‘As expected, it’s Kang Se-hwang.’

The skill contained in the acting was on a different level.

“You go to school in front of here, right? You must have studied well. Take my business card. If you’re a student, you’ll need pocket money. You should earn money and hang out with your friends.”

You can feel it just by listening to the short lines.

The acting ability of the actor Kang Se-hwang had already reached its peak.

In fact, he had experienced script readings with good actors many times.

Back when he was filming [Forever Green], wasn’t that the case with actors Kang Do-won and Choi Yu-chang?

Both are “myeongpum” [masterpiece] actors who can be said to represent Korea.

But Kang Se-hwang was different.

“I can tell that you have a good style. You like clothes, right?”

What should I say?

‘He’s the type that doesn’t show off that he’s good at all.’

He was just endlessly natural.

As if the character in the movie had popped out into reality.

He mechanically removed the sense of incongruity, as if he was just playing the sound source of the scene.

That’s why it was scary.

Actor Kang Do-won’s acting was as heavy as a rock.

[Don’t answer. I don’t want you to.]

Actor Choi Yu-chang’s acting was full of human scent.

[Oh my! Mr. President! Why did you give me so much!]

Both of them clearly had characters.

The characters, as if originating from the person themselves, were richly embedded in the acting.

From this point of view, it cannot be said that there is absolutely no way to attack the acting of the two giants.

Because you can grab a suitable character as the counterpart and blend in.

But Kang Se-hwang’s acting was different.

‘It’s uncomfortable.’

It was uncomfortable because there were no flaws.

Rather than emphasizing overwhelming strengths, there are no weaknesses.

That’s why it was acting that made the opponent a fool.

No matter how soft the hair is, it’s just a dry, rough fur in front of mink.

‘The world is so wide. I knew Actor Kang Se-hwang was good, but I didn’t know he was this good.’

Is this the level of the best supporting actor?

With only 3 seconds left until his turn, Lee Min-ki let out a hollow laugh inside.

It’s awkward.

But that’s why it was fun.

‘That’s how my skills improve.’

By the time this project is over, he will also have gained something.

Back to the point, how can you beat the opponent?

There were two options.

Either compete head-on with a similar level of perfection, or use one overwhelming strength to rub against them.

Is there any need to say more?

Among these two, Lee Min-ki’s choice was only one.

“If I become a model, do you give me a lot of money?”

It was the character.

* * *

“……!”

Lee Min-ki’s mouth opened.

While everyone in the reading room was surprised at the one word, Lee Min-ki continued to speak in an emotionless voice.

“Money.”

At that word, actor Kim Se-hwang said in a trembling voice.

“Huh? Yeah, I give you a lot of money.”

He was clearly trembling.

But that trembling was so natural that it only seemed like he was surprised by Lee Min-ki’s acting.

In reality, it was just a part of his script reading.

And.

‘As expected, the guard is solid.’

Lee Min-ki knew this fact best.

He had seen at least 20 of Kang Se-hwang’s works, so he was perfectly aware of even the subtle nuances.

“Forget it. How much do you give me?”

It’s a short line.

He just answered how much money he would get for the offer to become a model.

But the character was infinitely concentrated in that voice.

‘He’s really only interested in money.’

‘I’ve completely lost my appetite.’

In the mannequin-like emotionless acting, only the feeling that he needed money right now was the only thing that glistened.

It’s perfect.

Unlike a rookie, it wasn’t excessive, but rather the taste of restraint was alive.

Michael Jackson’s dance is said to reveal its true value not in the movements but in the pauses.

In Lee Min-ki’s acting, the beauty of restraint slyly raised its head like a crescent moon in the night clouds.

‘Wow.’

The corners of the lips of the staff surrounding the reading room went up on their own.

‘He’s something.’

‘Actor Kang Se-hwang’s acting is coming out like this? Without being embarrassed?’

‘It’s fun. The details are alive.’

It’s ironic.

Lee Min-ki’s voice was still emotionless.

It was as cold as a mannequin who had been stripped of emotions.

No, it was lukewarm.

To create depth from that subtle gap.

Actor Kang Se-hwang faintly smiled naturally and opened his mouth.

“Our friend, if you talk about money first, *ajusshi* [a term for older men, like ‘mister’] is a bit…”

“Then I won’t do it.”

“Why don’t you go to the office and listen to the story?”

“…….”

“Hey, don’t do it, don’t do it. You don’t have to. There are many people who can do it besides you.”

“Yes.”

“……Ugh, *ssi* [a polite suffix, like ‘Mr.’ or ‘Ms.’].”

It’s a wall of steel.

Here, Lee Min-ki’s acting.

There were several reasons why his acting was able to exert more power than expected.

It was thorough input.

That is, input gained not from work but from life.

‘I was also scammed.’

Speaking of people who are scammed because they are naive.

That’s what Lee Min-ki’s past life had been like.

He failed to debut and failed again, and when he reached the cliff as a human being, he was scammed by a con artist.

He signed the contract with a feeling of giving up.

He knows the heart of a person who has nothing more to lose.

Lee Min-ki simply went back to the feeling he had at that time.

People with sick hearts don’t show their pain.

It’s just that the pain is ingrained.

‘Lee Jong-ho is me. Me living a slightly more unhappy life.’

Lee Min-ki opened his mouth as he fell into the depths of himself.

“Do you give enough to pay for hospital bills?”

“Hospital bills? What hospital bills?”

“My dad is sick. They told him to leave the hospital.”

With that last line, scene 3 came to an end.

It was a reading that lasted less than 2 minutes.

But before and after that, the way they looked at Lee Min-ki was clearly different.

‘He’s not just a rookie.’

Lee Min-ki was different.

What should I say about him?

‘There’s a special taste.’

That’s right.

He was special.

While working in the industry for a long time, the sparkle that can only be witnessed by a very small number of people was melted into his acting.

Even Kang Se-hwang smiled without realizing it.

‘If all the new actors these days are this good, I might have had to retire tomorrow.’

He’s proud of his junior.

Is it possible that a male rookie in his late 20s has the skill that he completed when he was almost forty?

He thought that the future of the industry was shattered when he saw Kim Do-ha, but seeing Lee Min-ki, it seemed that there was still a spark left.

A spark that may become the sun in the near future.

“Hoo, Lee Min-ki is good.”

It was the moment when someone instinctively muttered.

“Thank you!”

At that moment, Lee Min-ki’s original voice, which was bright and cheerful as if the person had changed, rang out.

Everyone in the script reading room flinched at the overwhelming gap, wondering if it was the same person who had been acting until just now.

“Let’s look at scene 4. Stand up.”

Before he knew it, Director Hwang Eui-seong’s next instruction flew in.

This time it was Lee Min-ki’s solo performance.

And.

‘The director smiled again.’

Only Director Kim Yeon-chul noticed Director Hwang Eui-seong’s smile once again.