An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 288

288. Episode 52 – When True Worth Shines (1)

On the day of the script reading.

It was a particularly nerve-wracking script reading.

Before joining this project, there had been a time when a black comedy project fell apart after the script reading.

“Hoo… I’m nervous.”

At my words, Manager Kim gave an awkward smile and raised his fist.

“Do well. It won’t happen this time.”

The fist he raised as if cheering me on.

And he, too, seemed to be constantly worried about the black comedy project that had fallen through, just like me.

It was inevitable.

“Yeah, I’ll do well.”

I shook off the nervous feelings in the car and headed to the script reading room.

[Movie ‘Undercover’ Script Reading]

A large sign posted on the door.

I reconfirmed the movie title written on the paper and took a deep breath.

“Hoo… I can do it….”

And with that resolve, I burst open the door.

As I opened the door, some actors had already arrived.

I put on a bright smile and approached them, offering greetings.

“Hello, I’m Jin Hee-sung. Please take good care of me.”

In response to my greeting, the other actors stood up from their seats and bowed.

“Hello, senior. I’m actor Son Min-hyung.”

“Nice to meet you.”

I extended my hand towards him.

He wiped his palm on his thigh and then shook my hand.

“It’s an honor to work on a project together.”

At Son Min-hyung’s words, I smiled and replied.

“The honor is mine. Let’s work well together in the future.”

“Yes!”

After a brief greeting with him, I calmly continued to greet the actors sitting next to him.

As time passed, more and more actors kept coming in.

Each time someone appeared, the actors, including myself, stood up and exchanged greetings.

I couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration at the appearance of some actors.

A lineup of incredibly solid actors.

Although they were supporting roles, they were cast with actors of tremendous experience.

Actors who were so famous for their scene-stealing roles.

It was almost amazing that such actors were gathered in one place.

Usually, even if one such actor appeared in a project, it would attract attention.

But there were already three such actors in this project alone, so the supporting roles were incredibly strong.

Moreover, actors who could be leads in other projects were also cast as supporting roles in this project, causing a stir.

It was clear that the casting alone could captivate the public.

I shook my head, looking at these actors who were hard to gather in the same place.

‘The actor lineup… is no joke?’

And finally, Director Park appeared.

“Hello.”

At his appearance, all the actors stood up from their seats and welcomed him.

“Hello.”

Director Park introduced the middle-aged man who came in with him.

“This is Jang Han-min from the investment company that is making our ‘Undercover’ possible.”

At his words, Jang Han-min immediately opened his mouth.

“Hello, I’m Jang Han-min. As we are all in the same boat, I look forward to working with you all.”

Clap clap-

In response to Jang Han-min’s words, we responded with applause, and Director Park smiled and said.

“Then, let’s take some time to greet each other and prepare before starting the script reading.”

“Yes.”

The preparation time that followed.

Before the script reading that would begin soon, the actors loosened their voices and began practicing with the script.

And Director Park, along with Jang Han-min, passed by us, exchanging greetings and introducing the actors.

Director Park showed a subservient attitude, but such an appearance was natural.

If the investment company hadn’t invested, this project wouldn’t have been possible.

Of course, they had chosen to invest in a project that was worth investing in.

Nevertheless, it was the way of this industry for the director to be on good terms with the investment company.

He was the ‘甲’ [Gap – the superior party in a business relationship], and the director was the ‘乙’ [Eul – the subordinate party] in the relationship.

Director Park first approached me with Jang Han-min.

The reason must be because I was the lead.

Seeing them approaching me, I immediately stood up from my seat and greeted them again.

“Hello, I’m actor Jin Hee-sung.”

At my greeting, Director Park smiled contentedly and introduced me to him.

“This is the actor who will be playing the lead role in our project. We had a meeting beforehand, and his acting is beyond words.”

Jang Han-min crossed his arms and quickly scanned me up and down.

I could tell at a glance what his eyes were saying as he looked at me.

That he was not pleased with me being the lead actor.

“Ah… yes.”

But even with his attitude, there was nothing I could do.

Except to show him my confidence that I could do well.

“I will do my best. Please take good care of me.”

At my words, Jang Han-min replied to me with a forced smile.

“Yes, well… Director Park kept pushing for you, so…. I’m sure you’re a good actor, right?”

His words were full of sharp thorns.

Doubt about my acting ability.

He clearly showed the feeling that he didn’t like me as the lead.

His tone and expression seemed to want to make me uncomfortable on purpose.

“…….”

His attitude of scrutinizing me with suspicious eyes.

As if to mediate this situation, Director Park opened his mouth with a hearty laugh.

“Of course. Actor Jin Hee-sung even went to Hollywood and even won an award at the last ceremony….”

At Director Park’s words, Jang Han-min twisted one corner of his mouth and replied.

“Hollywood… that’s good. But you didn’t stay there, did you? Didn’t you come back?”

He stared at me intently and asked, and finally, my mouth opened at that question.

“Yes, even if I went to Hollywood, I couldn’t just stay in Hollywood. I am an actor who acts, so I am ready to go anywhere and act if it is a good project. That’s why I’m doing this project too.”

I smiled and replied to him.

In fact, Jang Han-min’s attitude was unpleasant and uncomfortable.

But I couldn’t just reveal this feeling and continue the conversation.

I didn’t understand, and didn’t want to understand, how a person could say such things to someone’s face.

Because that man is absolutely ‘甲’ [Gap – the superior party] here.

And because I’m standing here because I persuaded him.

I wasn’t trying to look good to Jang Han-min.

I was just showing the minimum courtesy to repay Director Park, who put me in this position.

Jang Han-min pouted his lower lip and nodded.

“Yes, I’ll watch your acting carefully today.”

“…Yes.”

He glanced at me and headed to the actor next to him.

Looking at Jang Han-min like that, I bit my lip.

The best I can do right now is just one thing.

The only way I can prove myself here.

The investment company wanted to put an actor with far more experience than me in the lead role.

To make that thought disappear, I had no choice but to show them with my acting.

His attitude of ignoring me fueled my determination even more.

* * *

The two men headed out of the script reading room and into the hallway.

Director Park and Jang Han-min.

Jang Han-min sighed with a dissatisfied face and said to him.

“Director Park.”

“Yes.”

“I put Jin Hee-sung in that lead role because I was persuaded by Director Park, but….”

The name ‘Jin Hee-sung’ was mentioned from his mouth.

Director Park hurriedly closed the hallway door and replied.

“Yes, please trust him once. He is a reliable actor when it comes to acting.”

“I know. But when we talked internally at our company, you know that we wanted an actor with solid acting experience for this project. I trusted you and came this far, but I’m a little worried.”

At his words, Director Park said with a confident look.

“Let’s see today.”

“This project is especially one where the lead actor’s performance is 80% of the project, isn’t it? Our investment in this project is quite large. From our perspective, we can’t help but be anxious.”

“Yes, this is a project that I’m putting my life on. That’s why I cast Jin Hee-sung as the lead. Please trust me and watch.”

At Director Park’s words, Jang Han-min reluctantly nodded.

“Okay. However, as I said, I’ll watch the script reading today… and if it doesn’t seem right, I’m thinking of reconsidering the casting, even if it takes time.”

“Yes, please do.”

Director Park was confident in Jin Hee-sung’s acting ability.

But he was seized with anxiety because of the investment company’s stubborn attitude.

He was afraid that Jin Hee-sung’s acting ability might be lacking, which would break the trust between him and the investment company.

Director Park swallowed hard and moved his feet towards the script reading room.

* * *

The script reading with pressure on Jin Hee-sung and Director Park.

And the script reading began under the piercing gaze of investor Jang Han-min.

The opening of the first scene was opened by the voice of the lead, Jin Hee-sung.

“There will be no more drugs in Korea. I will make it so!”

The actors quickly began to immerse themselves in his acting.

Jin Hee-sung continued acting without even looking at the script, as if he had memorized it all.

“We will definitely do it. If you trust us and leave it to us….”

“What do you mean by cutting off drugs with guys who haven’t even caught the tail of the organization yet.”

“If you trust us and leave it to us for just six months, we will catch them somehow.”

Jin Hee-sung continued acting with a desperate expression.

The middle-aged actor, who was the opposing role, also glared at Jin Hee-sung and shouted, immersed in the acting.

“Six months? No, finish it in three months.”

“But Chief….”

“Catch the leader, eliminate the drug organization, or do something within three months.”

“…Yes, I understand.”

Bang-

He glared at Jin Hee-sung and slammed the desk.

“If you don’t do anything within three months, your team will be disbanded!”

At his shout, Jin Hee-sung bit his lip tightly and bowed his head.

As soon as the first scene ended, it moved on to the next scene.

The actors in the next scene unfolded their acting.

And Director Park’s gaze moved quickly.

Not to the next actors, but to Jang Han-min.

He glanced at Jang Han-min as if trying to read his expression, and soon he could read Jang Han-min’s expression.

That Jin Hee-sung’s score was being graded in his mind.

And the expression clearly showed that the score was not generous.

Jang Han-min twitched his lips and scribbled something on the paper.

At the end of his gaze was Jin Hee-sung.

Jang Han-min shook his head, looking at him.

‘Well… he’s good at acting. But with that level of skill… hmm….’

The script reading continued for several hours.

It was already heading towards the end, the key scene of the movie ‘Undercover’.

The scene that everyone from Director Park to Jang Han-min was paying attention to began.

The actors were not tired of the long script reading.

Rather, they were so immersed that they even added a sense of realism, and some even stood up from their seats and took action.

“The chairman will be here soon, so let’s wait here.”

It was Jin Hee-sung’s turn.

As he had practiced and put a lot of effort into this scene, Jin Hee-sung calmly took a deep breath and opened his mouth.

“It’s hard to see the chairman’s face?”

“Because he’s not someone who can be easily seen by just anyone.”

“Anyone…. So, what about the stuff?”

Jin Hee-sung raised his chin and looked down at the other actor.

The other actor also glared at Jin Hee-sung and grinned slyly.

“The stuff is always ready. Shall we test it before the chairman comes?”

In an instant, Jin Hee-sung’s pupils shook rapidly.

The actor next to Jin Hee-sung held out a notebook in front of him as if handing him drugs.

Jin Hee-sung, who immediately recognized the motion, pulled the notebook towards him.

“Test… I have to.”

“I think it’s right to check this kind of stuff directly. Why, can’t you do it?”

The other person asked, as if doubting Jin Hee-sung.

To get rid of that suspicion, Jin Hee-sung had to take the drugs.

He immediately buried his head in the notebook in front of him.

Then, he made a motion of inhaling as if there were really drugs on it.

“Hoo… inhale!”

At his sound, the actors in the script reading room glanced at Jin Hee-sung in surprise.

Director Park and Jang Han-min also fixed their eyes on Jin Hee-sung.

“Ugh…!”

Jin Hee-sung screamed as if wailing and began to shake his body.

He threw his head back to the ceiling and shook it as if his neck would break.

“Wow….”

The actor next to him exclaimed in surprise at his appearance.

And in an instant, he covered his mouth at the sound he had made.

It wasn’t just one or two actors who were surprised by Jin Hee-sung’s acting to that extent.

But Jin Hee-sung didn’t bat an eye and continued to act as if he was inhaling drugs.

“F***…. Ugh!”

The chair was precarious, as if it would break soon, with his body shaking uncontrollably and twisting.

Jin Hee-sung’s arms and legs trembled.

This was an extreme depiction that could not be expressed as acting.

And the actors were watching Jin Hee-sung as if watching a movie, covering their mouths at the sight.

“Ugh… ugh….”

With his body continuing to tremble, Jin Hee-sung eventually couldn’t control his body.

Thump-

He slumped his limp body on the desk.

A few seconds of silence passed, and soon applause began to ring out.

Clap clap clap-

“Wow… that’s crazy.”

“Wow, is that really acting?”

Without exception, the actors admired and stuck out their tongues.

Director Park dropped the pen he was holding in his hand with his mouth wide open.

Then he covered his head with both hands and chanted.

“…It’s done!”

Clap clap-

At the sound of clapping again, Jin Hee-sung raised his body that had fallen and turned his head.

The person who came into his sight.

It was none other than Jang Han-min.

He was frowning, as if surprised by Jin Hee-sung’s acting.

He had already stood up from his chair and was giving Jin Hee-sung a standing ovation.

“Wow… this is… really unbelievable…”

Jang Han-min made eye contact with Jin Hee-sung, and he immediately stopped clapping and gave him a thumbs up.