An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 3

Episode 3 #1 – Camera Shyness (3)

The camera displayed a small red light.

Beside it was a small desk occupied by a single person.

It was the casting director, the individual who would observe and evaluate my audition today.

There were no empty seats on either side of the casting director.

It wasn’t merely that the seats were temporarily unoccupied; it signified that the casting director was the sole observer of the audition.

In fact, the main director or drama writer rarely attends these auditions for minor roles.

No, it’s safe to say they almost never do.

The main director or drama writer only attends auditions for lead or supporting roles; they don’t bother with auditions for minor roles like mine.

Minor roles don’t carry much weight.

They don’t meticulously examine each person to determine if they perfectly fit the minor character.

They only verify that the minor character’s acting doesn’t disrupt the drama or movie’s immersion and that they somewhat align with the role before casting them.

Thus, the important main director or writer doesn’t attend, and the casting director alone can select several minor roles.

“Participant number 37?”

As I stood frozen, staring at the camera, the casting director called my number in a loud voice.

His words snapped me out of it, as if the anesthesia had worn off, and I stammered.

“Ah… yes!”

Then, the audition staff member next to the casting director looked at me with an emotionless expression.

“Please introduce yourself.”

I looked at the casting director, bowed at the waist, and greeted him.

“Yes. Hello, my name is Jin Hee-sung.”

He didn’t even acknowledge my greeting, keeping his head down and focusing solely on the papers.

He seemed to be reviewing the documents I had submitted.

He scanned the documents with his pen and asked a question.

“Hmm… you’ve played a few minor roles?”

“Yes. I’m familiar with minor roles, as I have experience in them.”

Of course, it’s not a lie.

It’s true that I have a lot of experience in minor roles.

It’s just that the fact that I messed up every time because of camera shyness is also true, but I can’t exactly say that.

Well… he didn’t ask if I performed well on set with the camera, so I didn’t technically lie.

“Then, you must be good. Let’s see.”

“Yes.”

Okay, I can do this.

As long as only the casting director is in front of me, my acting is always perfect, just like in practice.

I just need to perform as I always have in auditions.

But today, unlike other auditions, there was a camera in front of me.

And it was a camera with a clear red light on.

Can I really do well with the camera there…?

I squeezed my eyes shut, took a long, deep breath, and calmed my mind.

Don’t be nervous.

You can do it.

You’ve practiced a lot.

It’s not long, just three lines.

“Hee-sung?”

The casting director frowned slightly and called my name because my breathing was taking longer than he expected.

Gulp.

I was startled by his voice and swallowed hard.

The sound of me swallowing was audible in the audition room.

“Ah! Yes. I’ll start.”

I cleared my throat and immediately began to immerse myself in the role.

As soon as I slowly inhaled and exhaled, my eyes changed.

“The enemy forces targeting the Princess are increasing.”

As soon as I uttered the first line, I became strangely immersed.

Like entering a dream I had a while ago.

No, it was as if I was possessed by the soldier I saw in that dream.

My chest swelled, and an unknown courage surged within me.

The Princess’s line is next to my line.

In auditions, when I shout the lines of the role I will play, the casting director usually recites the lines of the other role.

But I looked at the casting director, who didn’t open his mouth even after a few seconds.

He made eye contact with me with a dazed look.

Then, with a look as if he realized it, he quickly shook his head and opened his mouth.

“Are you sure?”

Instantly immersed in his line, I uttered the line again.

“Yes. I don’t know how long this place will be safe. You must move your residence soon.”

“I don’t want to. You also know why I have to stay here. If I say I’ll stay here… if I do, what will happen?”

I looked up at the camera and recited the next line.

“However….”

The line of the royal guard to the Princess.

It was just one word, ‘However,’ but all the emotions within it were desperately revealed in my expression and gestures.

The figure of the royal guard contemplating the princess looking only at him in the midst of a dangerous situation and the scene unfolding before his eyes.

“I will stay here. Anyone who wants to leave is free to leave.”

The casting director’s low, medium-low voice and the lines that sounded like reading from a textbook.

Nevertheless, I felt all these situations were urgent to me, who was immersed.

Soon, I nodded my head once, conveying a face and eyes full of great determination.

“I… no, we will protect the Princess. Surely…! That will be the case.”

There was a lot of strength in my voice.

A strong voice that was not fancy or exaggerated, but shouted so that all the allies could hear in the war.

As soon as my acting ended, the casting director’s eyes widened.

And he called me in an unusual voice.

“Hee-sung.”

At his words, I answered with great tension.

“Yes.”

“Why have you been doing minor roles for so long?”

“…Yes?”

“No, you’re so good at acting?”

He tilted his head.

He seemed genuinely impressed by my acting.

Joy surged within me.

He praised me so much after seeing my acting at the audition.

Even if he simply gave me a pass notice, the joy would have been indescribable.

It is a great compliment just to have been praised for being good at acting for a minor role.

I repeatedly bowed and answered him.

“Thank you!”

“I should have said the line right away, but I was so immersed in Hee-sung’s first line that I said the line late. I’m sorry.”

“No. It’s okay.”

He smiled contentedly and continued.

“The filming is next Monday, can you come?”

“Of course. I can!”

“I’ll send you the time and place by text, so don’t be late.”

“Yes, thank you so much!”

***

I exited the building where I auditioned, passing through countless people.

What is it…?

I could feel for myself that my acting was different from usual.

A sense of immersion that was different from previous auditions or when I was practicing.

A feeling like I’m not myself.

It was like I was possessed by something.

However, it wasn’t that I didn’t remember the moment when I was actually possessed and acted.

Because I was clearly acting with my own body.

Wait a minute….

Come to think of it, there was definitely a camera in the audition room?

I got goosebumps all over my body.

Even though the camera was clearly flashing red, I acted without trembling.

Although it was a short three-line dialogue, I didn’t miss a single word.

I don’t think I’ve ever had this experience before…?

The moment I acted a little while ago came to mind, and I felt a thrill all over my body.

Is my camera phobia disappearing like this?

I felt my heart was getting hot, and I felt confident for some reason.

Yes, just like today.

If I do as I always do and as I practiced, I felt like I could do anything in the future.

***

Whew.

Today, as always, I started taking deep breaths as soon as I took a step.

Monday, which I had been waiting for.

It is the filming site of the drama ‘Flower Blooming in the Hwang Country’.

The more I walked to the site, the more people and cameras I saw.

The PBC [a fictional broadcasting company] broadcasting station mark was plastered all over the luggage and cameras on the site.

And the props had stickers with the abbreviation of ‘Flower Blooming in the Hwang Country’, ‘Hwang Flower’, largely engraved on them.

I calmed my mind while looking at the props with the words ‘Hwang Flower’ written on them.

I got the chance to appear in this drama.

Please don’t tremble today.

Let’s do as much as we practiced, as much as we did when we auditioned.

“Hello!”

As always, I started greeting the staff one by one.

Still, there were few staff members who accepted my energetic greetings.

I was grateful even if they didn’t respond to my greetings or just nodded their heads while passing by.

That’s because.

“Ah, go over there and stay there. Don’t come all the way here.”

There are also staff members who give me a hard time as if I am more of a hindrance than the props scattered on the floor.

But I’m not going to be discouraged by that.

This wasn’t my first time at such a site.

After greeting all the staff, I walked to the place where the minor actors were gathered and waited.

“Excuse me.”

A stranger I’ve never seen before.

At his call, I tilted my head and asked back.

“Yes? Me?”

“Yes. Have you heard of it?”

The minor actor spoke to me again.

He asked me questions without hesitation even though it was the first time I had seen him.

“Yes. Song Yu-na is coming to the filming today.”

“…Song Yu-na?”

He asked me again at my hesitant tone.

“Why? Do you have something with Song Yu-na?”

“Oh… no. I saw her at the movie set a while ago.”

“Wow, that’s amazing. It’s my first time seeing her! How is she? Is she the same in person as on screen?”

At that time, Song Yu-na harassed me as much as the director.

Unlike her pretty face, befitting a top actor, her personality is a bit….

Come to think of it, my role today was the Princess’s royal guard.

I was curious because the leading actors don’t even tell minor roles like me who they are in detail, but I didn’t know it would be Song Yu-na….

Before I could answer him, who had asked me the question, everyone turned their heads at the buzzing sound.

I also turned my head following everyone’s gaze, and a familiar van stopped in my sight.

Soon, the door opened and a woman got out of the car with a haughty expression.

It’s Song Yu-na.

She walked to the director far away, and the staff who confirmed it opened his mouth in a loud voice.

“Okay! The actor is here, let’s get on standby!”

The staff approached the minor actors.

I walked straight to the filming site after hearing his call.

Numerous staff and cameras that can be seen upon arrival.

Not only were there many cameras, but even the prickly Song Yu-na.

While waiting to stand by, my legs, which were attached to the ground, began to tremble.

And then a drop of sweat flowed down my back.

Damn it.

Is this damn camera shyness coming back?

I thought it had gotten better during the audition.

Still, it would be enough if I did as much as I did during the audition.

I silently mouthed the lines and reviewed them.

Because I thought it would be a little calming if I practiced at least.

“Huh? What is it?”

At that time, a sharp voice was heard from behind me.

When I turned around, I saw a person looking at me with a displeased expression.

It was Song Yu-na.

The gaze that was directed at me soon moved to director Kim Chan-ki.

“Director. Who is she?”

At her words, director Kim looked surprised and hurriedly approached Song Yu-na.

“Why, Yu-na, what’s wrong?”

“Ha.”

She let out a breath as if she was dumbfounded.

“This person.”

Song Yu-na pointed her finger at me as if she was scolding me.

And director Kim looked at me, where the tip of the finger was pointing, and tilted his head and asked.

“Huh?”

Director Kim glanced at me and tilted his head again, looking at Song Yu-na.

“Why, is there a problem?”

“This person is really bad at acting.”

Song Yu-na glared at me and added.

“Please replace her. I can’t work with her.”