An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 203

203. Turning Crisis into Opportunity (6)

“Okay, but can you put a little more emotion into it?”

Director Jeffrey’s feedback continued.

The script reading room once again felt like a cold ice rink.

The actors continued their performances, watching Director Jeffrey’s reactions.

The script reading lasted for several hours.

Every actor recited their lines at least ten times and received feedback from Director Jeffrey.

It was heading towards the end.

“Jonathan, if you keep running away like that… you’ll lose to the world. Definitely.”

Charles recited his lines with a lack of confidence.

As expected.

“Stop!”

Director Jeffrey’s words cut off the flow.

Startled by his voice, Charles flinched and looked at Director Jeffrey.

“Yes, Director.”

“How can you say it with such a weak voice?”

“…I’m sorry.”

Director Jeffrey sighed and shook his head.

“It’s not about being sorry… try again. Today is just the script reading, so we need to correct it now to avoid mistakes on set.”

“Yes, I’ll try again.”

Director Jeffrey shouted and gave sharp feedback, but.

There was no malice in his shouting.

He was just giving feedback on the acting.

There was no ill will whatsoever.

However, the expressions of the actors who received his feedback were not good.

Of course, they were upset because they heard that their acting was wrong.

Charles took a deep breath with a stiff face and immersed himself in the acting again.

Seeing this, the other actors simply nodded and focused.

No one thought Charles’s acting was lacking.

He was already showing a perfect performance.

It was just that Director Jeffrey’s standards were too high.

Charles shouted his lines again with a renewed expression.

“Jonathan, if you keep running away like that… you’ll lose to the world. Definitely…!”

As soon as his line ended, Charles quickly glanced at Jeffrey.

Jeffrey didn’t give any feedback or interrupt the line, and turned the script to the next page.

It meant he passed without any problems.

With Jeffrey’s attitude, the next actor passionately performed.

Meanwhile, Liam patted Charles’s shoulder, who was dejected.

They were the actors who shared the story about Jin Heeseong in the bathroom during the break.

Of course, Liam was the only one who made derogatory remarks about Jin Heeseong.

Liam, after returning from the bathroom.

He continued to be kind to Charles.

As if he expected him to join him in disparaging Jin Heeseong.

Seeing Liam patting his shoulder, Charles slightly raised the corners of his lips.

And Jin Heeseong was glancing at them.

Jin Heeseong was displeased with Liam, but.

He continued the script reading without showing it as much as possible.

After several tens of minutes of more script reading.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Everyone worked hard.”

The script reading, which lasted all day, finally came to an end.

The staff, Director Jeffrey, and the actors all stood up and applauded each other.

Clap clap-.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“You worked hard today.”

After exchanging greetings for their hard work, Director Jeffrey opened his mouth.

“Then, I hope everyone practices hard based on the feedback from today. Let’s see each other at the first filming site. Good job.”

At his words, the actors shouted in unison.

“Yes!”

And they organized the scripts in front of them and packed their bags.

They began to gather around the main actors around Director Jeffrey to say their final goodbyes.

Jin Heeseong, the only Asian actor, quickly finished organizing and moved towards the main actors.

“Thank you for your hard work. See you at the next shoot.”

“Yes, Heeseong, you worked hard too.”

They shook hands with each other, as if they had agreed to do so.

And Jin Heeseong’s hand started with Daniel, who was nearby.

It went up in order to Charles.

Soon, he reached out to Liam, who was standing at the end.

“Thank you for your hard work today.”

Jin Heeseong was reluctant to shake hands with Liam, but he couldn’t skip him.

It was a place where everyone was together.

Moreover, Liam would think that Jin Heeseong hadn’t heard his story.

However, Liam glanced at Jin Heeseong’s hand reaching out to him.

He immediately shifted his gaze and shouted.

“Oh, Charles. So, do you remember what I told you earlier? Did you check the script?”

Liam’s sudden story.

It was an act to ignore Jin Heeseong’s handshake.

Jin Heeseong, who couldn’t possibly not know the intention, bit his lip.

Soon, he hid his expression and moved away.

Liam raised the corners of his lips as he watched Jin Heeseong’s back.

Meanwhile, Director Jeffrey sat back in his seat as soon as the script reading was over and organized the script.

While doing so.

The actors came into his sight.

In Director Jeffrey’s eyes, Liam’s ignoring Jin Heeseong’s handshake was clearly visible.

He had clearly warned Liam about his behavior in the bathroom.

He thought he wouldn’t do it again, but.

That was Director Jeffrey’s miscalculation.

He sighed deeply as he looked at Liam’s slightly raised lips.

‘Liam… I had suspicions, but I didn’t know he would actually act like that…. I don’t think the filming will go smoothly?’

He stared intently at Liam.

He quickly shifted his gaze and captured Jin Heeseong, who was talking with other actors in a friendly atmosphere.

‘I need to keep a close eye on those two with a sense of alertness.’

***

“Kuh…!”

As soon as I arrived at the 숙소 [sukso – lodging/accommodation], I chugged beer to relieve the stuffiness in my heart.

There was nothing difficult about the long script reading.

Getting feedback from Director Jeffrey?

I received much less feedback than the roles with similar importance to me.

Furthermore, I think feedback is very important.

There was no stress about it.

However, the reason why I feel so frustrated.

It was because of Liam.

I was angry at the low-class act of ignoring Asians, but I had no choice but to endure the reality.

I chugged the beer again.

“Kuh, good.”

Seeing me, Manager Kim approached with a surprised face and asked.

“Heeseong, what’s wrong? Why are you drinking beer like that instead of eating as soon as you get here?”

“It’s refreshing.”

He didn’t take my words at face value because of my unusual appearance.

“What’s wrong? Something happened during the script reading. What is it?”

I didn’t want to tell him because Manager Kim would worry.

He knew all my feelings even with my small actions.

I judged that not telling him now would only cause him more worry.

I took another sip of beer.

I went to the 식탁 [shiktak – dining table] and sat down.

Manager Kim naturally took a can of beer out of the refrigerator, came to me, drank beer, and asked me.

“What is it, tell me.”

“Hyung, actually, something happened during the script reading today.”

At my words, Manager Kim looked at me with a serious face.

“What happened?”

“You know that actor named Liam, right?”

He nodded at my words and replied.

“Oh, isn’t that the actor in his 40s?”

“That’s right. Liam was in the bathroom earlier….”

I told Manager Kim about the low-class racist story that Liam had said in the bathroom.

As soon as I finished speaking, Manager Kim slammed the table with his fist and shouted.

Bang-!

“Isn’t he crazy?”

I nodded at his words.

An excited Manager Kim looked straight at me and said.

“You heard everything, why were you just listening quietly in the bathroom?”

“There’s no point in me getting excited there.”

Even at my words, Manager Kim distorted his face and breathed roughly, unable to overcome his anger.

“Hyung, think about it. No matter what I say when I go out there, it won’t benefit me.”

Manager Kim bit his lip at my words and nodded.

Then he murmured softly.

“Well… even if it was Korea, let alone an apology, your image might have gotten worse.”

“Yeah, even though social awareness has improved a lot compared to the past, I can’t handle each and every one of those people.”

Manager Kim sighed deeply at the unfortunate reality and drank beer.

“That’s right. So, is that why you drank beer like this as soon as you came in?”

“Yeah, because I was frustrated.”

He looked at me with a worried face, lowering his eyebrows.

I smiled at him and replied.

“Don’t worry too much. I never thought there would be no racism at all. However, I didn’t know I would meet someone like this so soon.”

Manager Kim bumped his can of beer against mine and said.

“Let’s just step on poop even if it’s dirty and try not to run into each other as much as possible. That’s the best way.”

“Yeah, I’m going to.”

We chugged beer to get rid of all the actions Liam had done to me.

***

Finally, the first day of filming arrived.

As soon as I arrived at the site, I 벌렸다 [beollyeotda – opened wide] my mouth wide open as I watched the scene unfolding before my eyes with Manager Kim.

“Wow… it’s even better than what I saw during the script reading?”

At my words, Manager Kim nodded and said to me.

“The set is really amazing.”

The trailers spread out on one side of the set.

The trailers were not organized during the script reading.

So I couldn’t see the 펼쳐진 [pyeolchyeojin – unfolded/spread out] scenery like this.

Moreover, I couldn’t see what my trailer was like at that time, and even the inside of it.

Manager Kim quickly ran to the staff and asked something.

I took a picture of the neatly arranged trailers.

Click-.

And then Manager Kim came running with a bright face.

“Heeseong.”

“Yeah?”

He ran back to a trailer and waved at me.

“Come here.”

I quickly moved and approached at his gesture.

“This trailer is yours, Heeseong.”

“Wow, let’s see it quickly.”

Manager Kim 벌컥 [beolkeok – abruptly/suddenly] opened the door with a humming and a face full of anticipation.

“♪♬….”

Squeak-.

As soon as the door opened, I and Manager Kim looked inside.

Soon, I turned my head and looked at each other, 막았다 [makatta – blocked/covered] our mouths.

“Wow….”

“Is it crazy?”

The resting space at the Korean filming site was nothing more than a barren field.

I usually put a good camping chair outdoors and leaned on it to rest.

Most of the break time is in the car.

Or I spent time talking with other actors.

But it was difficult to express this trailer as a car.

It looked like a small house moved as it is.

There was a bed inside so that I could sleep, not just take a short break.

There was a sink where I could wash easily, and even a small refrigerator.

It was like bringing a good camping car from Korea as it is.

“Isn’t this more than good, it’s great?”

“Hyung, I think I can eat and sleep here…?”

I looked around the trailer with a blank expression.

Manager Kim laughed and said to me.

“To say that, our 숙소 [sukso – lodging/accommodation] is too good. Are you going to eat and sleep here? Haha.”

At his words, we laughed heartily and started looking around carefully.

“Hollywood… it’s really too good, Hyung.”

Manager Kim and I poured out 감탄 [gamtahn – admiration/awe] in the trailer for a long time.

Now heaven and hell are coming at the same time.

Hollywood… life here was beginning.