An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 207

207. #36 – Broadening Horizons (4)

“Are you serious?”

Brian frowned, looking at me incredulously.

“Of course. Is it really that difficult for me to get a minor role in the project you’re currently working on?”

He was still speechless, his mouth agape.

“That’s not the point. Why a minor role all of a sudden? What are you talking about?”

Brian quickly drank his coffee.

Setting the cup down, he asked me with a meaningful tone,

“Don’t tell me… is this some kind of thank you for me introducing you to Director Jeffrey? Are you doing a cameo out of friendship?”

I chuckled and shook my head.

He waved his hand, continuing,

“Oh, if that’s the case, it’s really okay. I’d feel too bad if you did this.”

I laughed at his somewhat excited reaction.

“Of course, I’m grateful to you, Brian. But that’s definitely not the reason I want to do it.”

“Then?”

Brian finally focused and started listening intently.

“I want to experience many different aspects of Hollywood. I’m lucky enough to have a significant supporting role in Director Jeffrey’s project right now, but…”

Brian listened without blinking.

“I also want to try minor roles, TV shows, dramas, anything and everything.”

I smiled and continued,

“Of course, I want to play lead roles too. Haha.”

He laughed heartily in response.

“Lead roles… same here. Haha.”

We both regained our smiles.

Brian, still somewhat puzzled, asked me,

“So, you specifically want to try even minor roles?”

“Yes, as an actor, whether I take on a minor role or not, whether my status goes up or down, that’s not important to me.”

He tilted his head.

“You usually go from minor to supporting to lead roles. You’re saying that’s not important?”

“Of course, the level is determined by the role you take, but that’s not what matters. What’s more important to me is ‘growth’ as an actor.”

That’s what I felt since coming to Hollywood.

Director Jeffrey and Director James, of course, cast me after seeing my performances in Korea.

And my impromptu performance in New York.

But I’ve seen and learned a lot while performing here.

Even though it hasn’t been many days since I started acting here.

It wasn’t that I felt my acting skills were lacking for this place.

Watching the performances of top-tier actors in Hollywood, I was impressed by them.

And I just had a stronger desire to perform as great as they do.

Being new to Hollywood, I wanted to learn many things here.

I wanted to grow by directly experiencing and learning.

Brian paused for a moment, nodding his head.

“I understand perfectly.”

He moved his lips, continuing,

“Jin, I think you’re an even more amazing actor than I thought.”

“Huh?”

Brian raised his eyebrows and said,

“Honestly, you’re already playing a good role in a great project, but to take on a minor role to grow… I couldn’t even imagine it.”

I waved my hand.

“No, not amazing. I’m just new to Hollywood, so I have a lot to learn.”

“Not at all. You’re not lacking at all. No, your passion for acting is overflowing.”

“Haha, thanks for thinking that way.”

Brian gave me a thumbs up.

Looking at him, I carefully asked,

“So, is it possible for me to appear in your project as a minor role?”

As soon as I finished speaking, he raised both hands and shrugged his shoulders.

“Oh, of course!”

“Really?”

“If an actor of your caliber appears in a minor role, they’ll probably welcome you with open arms.”

I smirked.

“If they welcome me that much, that would be great.”

“Besides, you’re Korean. There are many Asian actors, but hardly any Korean actors.”

He smiled at me.

“Being a Korean actor is unique. Totally unique.”

“Then, can you talk to the director about it?”

Brian raised his eyebrows as if to say, leave it to me.

“Okay. I’ll ask Director Felix right away.”

“Thank you, Brian.”

He shook his head at my thanks.

“No, I’m more grateful.”

***

After parting ways with Brian.

On the way back to the accommodation, I thought of Manager Kim and packed his favorite brand of burger.

I came out without telling him that I would meet Brian and what we would talk about.

If I said that I would appear in Brian’s project, even as a minor role, he certainly wouldn’t like it.

Knowing that Manager Kim always worries about me, I carefully opened the door with a burger in each hand.

“Hyung [older brother or close male friend]… I’m back.”

He smiled brightly and approached me.

“Oh, you even met a friend in LA. You’re amazing.”

“Aish [expression of annoyance or embarrassment], not amazing. Hyung, have you eaten?”

He rubbed his stomach as if he was hungry.

“I ate earlier, but I feel a bit hungry. Did you eat? If you haven’t…”

Then Manager Kim’s gaze fixed on the burger in my hand.

“What, you bought a burger?”

“Yeah, I bought it from Hyung’s favorite burger place.”

He smiled, pulling the wrapping paper.

“Aigoo [expression of endearment or exasperation], were you sorry for leaving me alone at home all day? I’m okay…”

Unlike his words, Manager Kim’s face was full of excitement as he unwrapped the burger.

I smiled at him and moved to the table.

“Hyung, let’s sit there and eat.”

“Sure.”

We sat facing each other.

I waited until he had almost finished the burger.

After watching him devour it, I carefully opened my mouth.

“Hyung, I have something to tell you…”

He seemed to sense something instinctively, wiping his mouth with a surprised look.

“What is it? What happened?”

Manager Kim put down the burger wrapper and focused on me.

“Well… I met Brian.”

“Yeah.”

“I told you that Brian is currently in a project, right?”

He nodded.

“Yeah, you told me before. So what?”

“I want to appear in it…”

Before I could finish, Manager Kim’s eyes widened, and he shouted.

“What, did you get cast?”

He seemed to think that I met Brian because I was cast.

I bit my lip and made a sound.

“Um… not really. I asked if I could appear in it.”

“You said they’re already filming. What role are you suddenly going to play?”

“Well… they said I can still appear as a minor role…”

Manager Kim put down the tissue he was holding and shouted at me.

“What? A minor role?”

Manager Kim looked at me blankly, his face full of bewilderment.

When I quietly nodded, he flinched and asked,

“What? Are you serious right now?”

“…Yeah.”

Manager Kim swallowed hard, barely suppressing his bewildered feelings.

“What is Brian doing? Didn’t you say it’s a TV show?”

“That’s right. It’s a TV sitcom.”

“No… why would you…”

Manager Kim was speechless and couldn’t finish his sentence.

I quickly opened my mouth to persuade him.

“Hyung, listen to me. I’m only filming about three days a week now. I have no work for the remaining two days. I’m also resting on weekends.”

“Yeah.”

He answered with a soulless expression, as if agreeing with me.

“I don’t want to waste that time. When else would I get to appear in a sitcom in Hollywood? And once this project is released, there will be even fewer opportunities to take on minor roles.”

“Still, why would you volunteer for a minor role that you said you’ll have even fewer opportunities to take on in the future?”

I smiled and replied to Manager Kim.

“It’s good to grow by experiencing everything. And you told me not to spend my time like this and to have a hobby!”

“Hey!”

Manager Kim shouted so loudly that I was startled.

“Ah, geez.”

“I told you to find a hobby, not a job!”

I smirked and replied.

“Aish, Hyung. Acting is my job and my hobby.”

“Haa….”

He sighed deeply.

“That’s right. I’m sorry your work has increased.”

He shook his head and hand at the same time.

“No, that’s not what I mean…”

Manager Kim eventually chuckled and shook his head.

“Aish, who can stop you?”

I smirked and said to Manager Kim with a playful face.

“Hyung, you understand, right?”

“I don’t know, you.”

Manager Kim, who answered curtly, immediately brought out his diary and opened it.

Then he looked at the date and fixed his gaze, opening his mouth.

“If they contact us, I’ll try to adjust the dates for now.”

“Thank you, Hyung.”

He closed his eyes and shook his head vigorously.

Looking at Manager Kim, I said,

“Hyung, and I can adjust to them as much as possible. It’s enough as long as it doesn’t affect Director Jeffrey’s project.”

Manager Kim’s eyes widened.

“What if you adjust everything to them? If we want to set the appearance fee…”

Before he could finish, I shouted,

“We don’t need to ask for a high appearance fee. Can we just do whatever they want?”

“So, you’re really appearing to experience it?”

I nodded quickly.

“Yeah, I’m not doing this for money.”

Manager Kim bit his lip in disbelief.

“Hee-sung, you’re more amazing than I know… really.”

***

Knock knock.

‘WG Entertainment Team Leader Han’s Office’

Team Leader Han, who was waiting on the sofa, looked at the closed door and shouted.

“Yes, come in.”

The door opened, and someone approached him.

It was Song Yuna.

“Hello, Team Leader.”

“Welcome, Yuna.”

He pointed to the chair and spoke to her.

Song Yuna sat down and replied.

“I came because you called me.”

“That’s right. Did you have lunch?”

“Yes.”

Song Yuna’s short and clear answer.

It was a choppy conversation, but since the purpose was not to joke around and chat.

Team Leader Han nodded and immediately got to the point.

“Yuna, I told Chief Choi. Have you thought about whether to go into a drama or a movie for your next project?”

“Um… I already heard about it from Chief Choi.”

Team Leader Han focused on her answer.

“It’s not that important to me…”

Just as Song Yuna was seriously continuing her words.

Ring ring.

Team Leader Han’s cell phone started ringing.

He glanced at the screen.

Then he looked back at Song Yuna, raising his chin.

“Sorry, continue.”

Song Yuna also glanced at his phone on the table.

[Caller: Manager Kim Ji-hoon – Jin Hee-sung]

After checking the caller, Song Yuna blinked and replied to Team Leader Han.

“No, you can answer the phone.”

“Yuna is more important, so I can answer it later.”

Song Yuna was curious about Jin Hee-sung, who had no SNS activity and didn’t contact her.

Waving her hand, she hurriedly said to Team Leader Han.

“That looks like an international call. Isn’t it an urgent call?”

Team Leader Han raised his eyebrows and replied.

“Then I’ll take the call for a moment. Sorry.”

“No, it’s okay.”

At Song Yuna’s continued urging, Team Leader Han clicked the answer button on the phone.

“Hello.”

-Team Leader, is it possible to talk?

“Yeah, what’s wrong?”

-I have something to tell you.

“Isn’t it night there now?”

-Yes, that’s right. It’s 9 PM.

“But what’s going on? At this hour?”

Thanks to Team Leader Han’s loud call volume, Manager Kim’s voice could be heard in Song Yuna’s ears as well.

Song Yuna pretended to look at her cell phone, listening to their conversation.

-Hee-sung wants to appear in a TV sitcom this time.

“Oh, did he even get a role over there?”

-Actually, Hee-sung said he would appear as a minor role, so I’m calling you like this.

“What? A minor role?”

Song Yuna flinched while sitting at Team Leader Han’s loud voice.

Their conversation was heard more clearly in Song Yuna’s ears.

-Yes, it’s a minor role, and it’s to the extent that it doesn’t harm the project being filmed now….

Team Leader Han and Manager Kim continued their conversation about Jin Hee-sung.

Song Yuna bit her lip, looking at the empty cell phone screen.

‘Jin Hee-sung, what on earth are you doing in Hollywood?’