An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 96

96. #19 – There is No Set Answer (4)

‘Survivor of a Ruined World’.

I went to the company practice room early in the morning.

And with only the script on the table, I stared intently at it.

The advice I received from Choi Seo-bin.

If the work is good, don’t hesitate and just appear in it.

But having just become a lead, going back to a supporting role wasn’t an easy decision.

Of course, it’s also true that I should go to learn something from the work itself.

Kim also didn’t actively recommend going down a step to a supporting role again.

So, instead of just worrying in my head, I started reading the script calmly from the beginning again.

I needed to think more objectively about whether this work was worth it.

Since I came to the office early in the morning, the practice room was quiet, as if not even an ant was passing by.

Thanks to that, I was able to fully concentrate on the script.

Concentrating on each word, I read the script for several hours.

Without breaking my immersion even once, I closed the last page of the script.

“Haa, the script… it’s so good even when I read it again.”

The script was definitely too good.

So good that I had no choice but to worry for several days.

And I looked at the director’s name written at the front, ‘Kang Jun-soo’.

Director Kang Jun-soo.

While worrying about this movie, I researched him.

Director Kang Jun-soo didn’t have many works.

No, only one work had ever been screened in theaters.

So, this ‘Survivor of a Ruined World’ movie is his second work.

His first movie barely crossed the break-even point.

It ended just enough not to fail.

But considering it was his first movie released under his name, it can be seen as a pretty successful start.

It’s never easy for a director’s movie to cross the break-even point before his name is known.

His movie wasn’t screened in theaters for a long time, nor did it become widely famous.

However, the visual beauty of the work was outstanding, and it was mentioned several times in the film industry.

That’s why I heard that quite a few people are looking forward to his second work.

There’s no guarantee that this work will be successful.

But I thought it was worth a try.

However, saying it’s worth a try doesn’t mean I’m going to appear in this movie.

I also had the thought that it would be too much to bet my life on this movie to the point of stepping down from the lead role.

There is no right answer to everything, and the future is unknown.

I have no choice but to be hesitant to make a decision.

My head started to throb with various thoughts, and I jumped up and approached the window.

As I sighed while looking at the peaceful outside world.

“What, Hee-sung. You’re already here?”

Before I knew it, Kim was standing in front of me with his bag.

It seems he came to me first after coming to work.

I smiled at him and replied.

“Yeah, I wanted to see the script again, so I came a little early.”

At my words, he shifted his gaze to the table.

And after looking at the script placed on it, he pursed his lips and nodded.

“You still haven’t decided?”

Kim put his bag on the table and sat down.

“Well, you’ve just started to spread your wings as a lead, but going back to a supporting role… it’s not easy.”

At his words, I still looked out the window and moved my head.

“I don’t have to make a decision right away. But I think I’ll have to give an answer soon.”

Kim opened his diary, checked the date, and said.

I shrugged my shoulders and nodded.

“Yeah, I’ll think about it a little more. It’s not as easy to decide as I thought.”

Then Kim opened the script in front of him.

I listened to the sound of him turning the pages and fell into thought again.

At that moment.

Beep, beep.

Kim’s cell phone on the table vibrated violently.

His eyes widened.

Then, he quickly straightened his posture and cleared his throat.

“Hello. Ah, yes. That’s right. Yes, yes. It’s possible.”

During the call, Kim frowned while covering the script.

He stretched out his index finger and tapped the letters on the script.

“Yes, then please send me the meeting time and place by text, and I will check and reply. Yes, thank you.”

The moment I heard the word ‘meeting’ in his call.

I sensed it was my business and took a seat in front of him.

And soon his call ended.

Before I could ask, Kim raised his head first and looked at me.

“Hee-sung, what are you going to do about this work?”

“This, you told me to think about it.”

“But… a meeting request just came in from Director Kang Jun-soo.”

“Already?”

I haven’t finished thinking about it yet, but a meeting request already.

I bit my lip.

Kim nodded and asked me.

“What should we do?”

I haven’t decided whether to join the work or not.

But I wanted to meet Director Kang once.

And I stared at the script in front of me as if glaring at it and replied to Kim.

“Let’s go see Director Kang Jun-soo.”

***

Inside a car speeding quickly.

I was heading to the meeting place with Director Kang.

And that meeting was not an audition.

It was just a place to talk about whether to take the supporting role through a conversation with Director Kang.

But even on the day of the meeting, my heart was still not set on one place.

A work I want to do so much.

I had never seriously worried about this before taking on the lead role.

No, I couldn’t.

I was just happy if a work was given to me.

Instead of finding a work I wanted to do, I always looked for a work that needed me.

And if I passed the audition, I was overwhelmed and happy with any work.

But when I reached a certain stage, I felt strange thinking that I would worry about works or roles like this.

This feeling was neither good nor bad.

My position has changed, and the topic of concern has changed accordingly.

“Hee-sung, we’re here.”

The car gradually stopped after arriving at the meeting place.

Taking a deep breath, I took a step out of the car.

***

Knock knock.

With Kim, who was standing with a nervous face, I exhaled and knocked on the door.

When the door opened, Director Kang, who was standing in front, looked quite different from what I expected.

Director Kang, whom I saw in the picture, had a cold impression with a expressionless face.

But his actual appearance was the opposite of what I had expected.

“Oh, you’ve come a long way.”

Director Kang Jun-soo smiled brightly and held out his hand to us.

Tall height, plump body.

He was quite large, so if I had to compare him to an animal, he felt like a bear.

His tone was also friendly, and unlike my worries, we smiled and shook hands with him.

“Hello. I’m Jin Hee-sung.”

“Yes, I know. Thank you for coming all the way here.”

“Haha, it’s nothing.”

After a brief greeting.

We sat at the table and looked at each other.

Soon after, steaming coffee was prepared on the table.

“You came all the way here, but all I can offer is coffee.”

Director Kang said to Kim and me.

“No, I’ll enjoy it.”

After answering him, I picked up the glass and took a sip of coffee.

And I glanced at Director Kang’s back.

Starting with the poster of his past movie, the actors and staff who appeared in the movie.

And numerous photos taken from the movie were attached to the wall.

There was a large bookshelf on one wall, and the bookshelf was filled with books.

Every single one of those books was related to movies and directing.

Just looking at that, I felt like I could tell how sincere Director Kang was about movies.

“Have you read the script?”

Director Kang looked at me and asked.

I nodded vigorously and replied to him.

“Yes, I think I’ve read it several times, not just once.”

“Wow, you’ve seen it several times, thank you.”

He smiled so brightly that his eyes couldn’t be seen and was happy.

He really started talking about the script without adding any lies.

“I thought the script and the structure of the content were solid from the first time I read it. When I read it for the first time, I didn’t even know the time was passing….”

When I started talking about the script, Director Kang put down the coffee cup he was holding.

Then, he concentrated on my story without blinking an eye.

It didn’t seem like he was acting considerate of me.

He just seemed interested in the fact that he was talking about his movie script and giving his opinion.

“…That’s right. That’s what I wanted. The only survivor in the ruined world, the human who feels the ultimate fear. Because of that….”

Director Kang’s eyes were sparkling.

His eyes were full of desire.

I also continued the conversation as if having a heated debate with him.

Director Kang seemed more sincere than anyone else about the movie.

It’s natural for a director to be completely immersed in his movie.

I thought Director Kang’s depth was a little deeper than the directors I’ve seen.

His perspective, attitude, and passion for movies were, of course, beyond words.

We talked about the movie for dozens of minutes without resting.

And the topic of the conversation never deviated from the path even once.

Kim participated in the conversation, but at some point, he only nodded and listened.

Director Kang and I continued to talk as if we were saying all the scripts out loud without getting tired.

“Wow, actor Hee-sung has captured all the details that I wanted and that the audience would see with the script alone.”

“Haha, is that so?”

“Yes, I’m so happy right now. Hahaha!”

He laughed heartily and grabbed his chest.

Soon we both drank coffee at the same time.

Kim glanced at me and Director Kang and carefully participated in the conversation.

“Um… Director.”

“Yes, Manager.”

“Then you’re saying that we can’t appear as the lead?”

Finally, the main point was thrown.

Director Kang opened his mouth with a face that had already erased his smile.

“…Yes, I know that Hee-sung is in the lead role.”

He slowly nodded and continued.

“I also know that it’s too difficult to come back down to a supporting role….”

Director Kang also seemed to know that I had appeared in a drama as the lead.

“But I’m planning to make all the leads in this work only female actors.”

“Ah….”

It wasn’t that I didn’t meet his expectations or that I didn’t fit the role.

From the gender, I was not satisfied with the lead.

I’m planning to make the lead only with female actors, so it’s useless for me to be obsessed with the lead anymore.

Me and Kim nodded repeatedly at the story we heard for the first time.

“I didn’t know that.”

When Kim replied, Director Kang hurriedly opened his mouth.

“We decided to make all the leads in our work female actors. So I wanted to bring in a male supporting actor with solid acting skills.”

At his words, I tilted my head and asked.

“Then, have you decided on the lineup of the lead female actors?”

At my words, Director Kang shook his head and replied.

“The lead actors are Han Sia and Seo Hye-na.”

At his words, Kim and I exclaimed and nodded.

Han Sia, and even Seo Hye-na.

They were already famous actors who were making a name for themselves in the acting industry.

As we savored the names of those actors and looked at him, Director Kang looked straight into my eyes and said.

“I was surprised to hear that you offered to appear on our side at first. And I thought a lot about it, but I didn’t think there was an actor who could handle it as well as Hee-sung.”

Director Kang swallowed dryly and continued.

“So I didn’t want to miss Hee-sung. I wanted to work with you, so I requested a meeting like this today.”

His drooping eyebrows.

But his sincerity was dripping from his wide eyes.

“Yes, I also thought the work was too good. So I asked for a contact request first.”

At my words, Director Kang opened his mouth with an excited face.

“When I think about it, I don’t think movies are just made by directors and actors just act by looking at the script.”

He continued to speak while looking only at my eyes.

“I’m the kind of person who thinks that the role and the actor should become one, not just worrying about making mistakes in the lines and acting.”

I responded to his words.

“That’s right. I also don’t think that just spitting out lines and speaking naturally is what actors do.”

“Yes, so I don’t think I make the work. I’m careful that professionals who can be sincere in all aspects should be together.”

Director Kang’s eyes, who was talking about his view of the work, were quite different from the eyes I had seen so far.

His big eyes were sparkling, and his pupils were enlarged as he swelled his body as if he were spewing out his passion.

How much he loved and respected his work, all of that seemed to be conveyed to me.

“So I don’t just want an actor who is good at acting. About the work….”

Director Kang let his coffee cool down and talked about his work, the director’s ability.

Even the attitude and respect of the actor.

If it’s a director like this, even if I temporarily step down one step as a supporting actor.

I wanted to believe and make a work together.

Yes, what I wanted was passionate acting.

The moment his sincerity got through.

I raised the corners of my mouth.

“Director Kang.”

“Yes, Hee-sung.”

I straightened my back and shouted at him.

“I want to make this work together.”