Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 32

Drama and Movie Versions (5)

* * *

There are many small theater groups in the provinces.

Surprisingly, there are many exhibitions and performances by artists, and quite a few theater groups are active here and there.

However, almost none of these groups are known to the general public.

Even if they are called ‘provincial representative theater groups,’ they only shine during events like the National Theater Festival or the Seoul Theater Festival, and then their news disappears again.

It’s not that they stopped their activities. They just don’t get noticed.

“···You’re going to scout those people? Really?”

As they parked the car and walked up to the convention center, CEO Tae grumbled.

Being in the provinces, the overall height of the buildings is several floors lower than in Seoul.

“The pool of actors in Daehakro [Seoul’s theater district] is small. To get fresh faces, we need to look outside of Seoul.”

“Yeah, new faces are good. But even if it’s the provinces, there’s no need to leave this early······.”

Kim Ryul, who was walking ahead, turned around abruptly. His eyes, in his darkly tanned face, looked sharper than usual today.

“We have so many roles in our movie. Even if we bring in several people, it’ll break our backs to fill them all.”

CEO Tae, feeling a bit guilty, chimed in.

“That’s right. Of course, we have to move.”

“And I need to see them in person. The acting form can be different from my memory or recent videos.”

That made sense.

Seo Yohan is the main character leading ‘Black Priest,’ but the supporting actors also play a big role.

They are the human figures who support and threaten the main character, enhancing the completeness of the play.

First is the priest from the Vatican’s Korean exorcism branch.

A male actor in his fifties, who appears around the middle of the play and increases the tension.

Second is a violent crimes detective from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.

Also a male actor in his thirties, who suspects Seo Yohan, who is lingering around the crime scene, and approaches the truth of ‘Salvation Society.’

Third is the female cult leader who is possessed by a demon and mercilessly ‘saves’ believers and humans.

“Hyung [older brother or close male friend], want to see?”

Park Sun, who was walking next to him, handed over a neatly organized bundle of profiles.

“Oh, thanks.”

“It has all their experience and age. The director couldn’t even get audition videos… but it’s well organized.”

They were quite unique resumes.

The actors’ photos were printed in black and white, and the rest of the profile listed their theater experience and age.

‘I hope it goes well.’

Noticing the tense situation, CEO Noh Jung-man called last night.

He asked how I felt about the article, when I would come to the company, and then got straight to the point without any vague talk.

-What are you going to do?

“Are you talking about the movie?”

-Hmm. It seems like casting is difficult.

The power of the agency is a great help for promotion. And now isn’t it an emergency situation?

I could have whined and asked them to move the company’s PR team, but he didn’t say anything, so he seemed curious.

“Sun-i told me that many actors aren’t coming because the lead is a rookie from the drama side. We are continuing with the casting.”

-Shall I find a few people for you? We have many good actors on our side.

“It’s okay. I’ll ask if it doesn’t work out.”

I thought he would recommend it a few more times, but Noh Jung-man surprisingly hung up without much talk.

With a wish of good luck.

‘At least the freedom is good.’

I already checked the lineup of affiliated actors.

Jin Ji-yu, Baek Ha-ni, Gu Shin-seung, Choi Pil-rip… and many other names he didn’t know.

Even if it’s not one of them, CEO Noh would introduce a few people.

But not now. Unless the work really falls apart and the agency is disgraced, there’s no need to borrow a hand from the first work.

‘My party is best when I plan it myself.’

Gun thought, looking at the backs of the CEO and director walking ahead.

Director Kim Ryul seemed surprised that the lead actor was participating in the provincial casting, but CEO Tae Jong-beom welcomed it with open arms.

‘Oh my, if Actor Park comes, it’s like having a thousand soldiers and horses! We’ll take care of everything from meals to snacks today. Just leave it to us!’

Of course, the reason he followed was because of old memories.

―Hero, who else are you going to bring?

―Let’s find Hunt and Eckart first. Raguel will be in the Spider Forest, so let’s leave him out. Let’s go with firepower this time.

―···Who are they?

―They’re there. A goblin-like guy.

The conversations from the early days of being a hero, around the campfire, vaguely come to mind and disappear.

In the early days of being a hero, he used to scour the entire Iron Kingdom to save his comrades.

The Saintess was fixed, and the main members often changed in order and combination.

Mangnani Hunt, the Empire’s 4th Prince, the traitor Cale, Murugoros, the last dragon left in Middle-earth.

How many of them died and how many survived?

While recalling the dragon’s body covering the sky, they arrived at a theater.

It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but when you come in, the space is quite spacious.

The headhunter party took seats in the middle where the stage was most visible.

“But they’re performing from the afternoon?”

“This is a cultural center, so we have no choice but to squeeze in the remaining time. Another team has to use it in the evening.”

CEO Tae explained to Park Sun’s question.

“Who is it?”

“It’s [a popular trot music program], Kim Su-hyang who’s popular these days? Her whole team is coming to perform.”

Ah, Park Sun nodded and pulled up a chair.

TV commercials, channel lineups, large concert halls, and sports stadiums are all the same. Wherever you go, the main time slots are occupied by the most popular guys who sweep up the money.

“But Director Kim, there were actors who didn’t even work in Seoul. How do you know the local from Yeoju?”

“I got some help from the theater group I was in. There are people I’ve been personally watching… It’s starting.”

Soon the curtain rose and the stage began.

‘Those are the people.’

Gun watched the play with his chin resting on his hand.

The play was nothing special, a human story. A predictable synopsis, a suitable composition, and acting that could be used while going around.

The people in Director Kim Ryul’s profile were two male actors, and their acting wasn’t bad.

Their skills are inferior to those of the broadcasting station’s actors, but their expressiveness is good. Director Kim Ryul is also taking out a pen and checking something diligently.

“···Talk to me.”

“I have nothing to say. It’s all over then.”

Certainly, other than those in the profile, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was lacking every time they delivered their lines.

If ‘Seoul Dog’ had acting powerhouses like Yong Joon-sang and Seo Hee-do to hold the center, now he needs helpers who suit him.

Seo Yohan is different from Choi Seung.

He’s not a character whose main focus is action, so he can’t do the previous ‘martial arts instruction’ he did for the extras.

“Are we··· breaking up now?”

“Don’t be ridiculous! No matter what that bastard Kim Han-young said, I’m not leaving you. No, I can’t leave!”

The main characters of the play exchange lines.

Gun’s mental simulation also runs smoothly.

It may be difficult to analyze like a veteran actor or industry insider, but he can roughly predict what kind of picture will come out when acting together.

“At that level, it’s cheap··· It’s not as good as Kim Mi-hoon··· If there’s no Lee, use your gums······.”

CEO Tae and assistant director Han Sang-yoon cover their mouths and share real-time reports.

At that time, another person caught Gun’s eye as he looked down at the stage.

‘Who is that?’

It’s not someone who comes out as the main.

It was the actress playing the role of the female lead’s friend, standing behind the main characters exchanging lines, like an object.

A twenty-something woman with carelessly disheveled perm hair, no makeup, and a black backpack.

“What, are you guys back together?”

“That’s right. They say you can’t get rid of bad habits, that’s exactly right.”

“Hey, hey, stop it. Jung-sook is over there.”

Gun narrowed his eyes.

The lights were strong and only illuminated the center of the stage, so others didn’t know, but his superhuman eyesight accurately captured the facial muscles of the actors in the back.

While the conversation was going on, the supporting actor kept changing her expression.

It’s not acting to get attention or to show the audience. Rather, it’s closer to being assimilated into the role she’s playing.

Finally, when the play reached its climax, the woman smiled obliquely while staring at the main characters.

It was a smile that looked like she was about to take out a bottle of hydrochloric acid from the bag on her back.

“Thank you, thank you!”

“Thank you for watching! Our theater group ‘Gap’ will perform again, so please come and find us!”

The play ended. The few audience members who were there packed up and left, and the production team also got up.

Park Sun got up and asked.

“Oh, what about the curtain call? Is it over like this?”

Assistant director Han Sang-yoon, who knows this field well, said bitterly.

“There’s no such thing here. There are no audience members waiting for the actors to come out. You can just go to the waiting room.”

“Okay, let’s go quickly. Those people are busy, so we have to hurry.”

“Just now, there was no curtain call······.”

CEO Tae, who was taking care of the scenario and smoothing his hair, replied nonchalantly.

“This is like free service. Even if you fill a time slot after being invited like a cultural center, you get paid 10,000 won [approximately $7.50 USD] per person. If you want to realize yourself, you have to go make money.”

*

The waiting room connected to the back of the stage.

The members of the theater group ‘Gap,’ who had finished the play after a long time, were busy preparing for the next schedule.

“What time is it now?”

“Half past two. Are you in a hurry?”

“It’s not just urgent, it’s critical. If I’m late this time, I’ll really get fired.”

“Well, finding a part-time job at a convenience store these days is like picking stars in the sky.”

Since they spent valuable daytime hours, some had to go to convenience stores and others to study rooms.

They don’t even expect gorgeous applause, a packed audience, or a curtain call in support.

In places that call them like cultural centers, they just pray that they can make enough profit to maintain the theater group since there are no stage production costs or rent.

It was when the actor who finished preparing first opened the waiting room door.

“Excuse me.”

Several unfamiliar faces were standing in front of the waiting room.

The deputy head of ‘Gap’ quickly stepped forward.

“Are you the people coming for the next turn? We’re almost done, if we have to leave the waiting room right away······.”

The well-mannered man in a suit smiled warmly and handed over a business card.

“Ah, no. I’m Tae Jong-beom, CEO of ‘Keunbeom Studio.’ Nice to meet you.”

“I’m movie director Kim Ryul. I came from Seoul regarding the casting of actors Jang Seong-hwa and Jo Yong-jo.”

A moment of silence flowed. It’s one of the few moments when an actor can be most thrilled behind the stage.

After a few seconds, a burst of enthusiastic cheers erupted.

“Hey, Jang Seong-hwa! You bastard!”

“Yong-jo, let’s go! I told you there would be a day to see the light!”

It’s not an audition proposal, it’s a casting offer from the production team who came directly from Seoul.

The members who had been living together in the small theater group were as happy as if it were their own business, surrounding the two actors and jumping around.

CEO Tae Jong-beom also handed over the scenario with a smiling face.

“Here, there are casting details and a scenario, so please contact us later. I hope you both like it.”

“I’ll read it right away. Thank you so much.”

Of course, they know it’s not a great company. If it were a big production company, they would have just called and notified them of the audition, not caring whether they came or not.

“It’s good, it’s crazy!”

“It’s Seoul, Seoul! You always said you wanted to go to Seoul and act, you’re going up there!”

However, for people who put their dreams on acting and work two or three jobs, there is nothing more pleasing than this.

The two actors received the business card handed over by CEO Tae with a mixture of bewilderment, joy, and sorry for the members.

“Sorry to interrupt.”

At that time, a low voice was heard.

From behind the guests, a tall man wearing a baseball cap entered the waiting room.

There were some who didn’t know Park Gun, but there was no one who couldn’t recognize that atmosphere.

“······.”

He’s a ‘real’ celebrity. There are many actors with outstanding looks among theater actors, but it’s normal to be speechless when you see that level of appearance in front of you.

While both men and women were staring blankly at Park Gun’s face, the leader plucked up the courage to ask.

“Are you··· Actor Park Gun?”

“Yes. I really enjoyed the play.”

“Thank you. But why suddenly······.”

Park Gun looked around the members as if looking for someone.

“Is Lee Jang-mi here?”

Hey, Lee Jang-mi! Where did she go?!

A more excited buzz spreads than before.

Soon, the members in the front split apart, and the person standing in front of the locker room appeared.

“······.”

Twenty-three, maybe twenty? When she erased her makeup, her face looked younger than before.

The actress who hid her obsession and madness disappeared, and only one tired-looking college student was wiping her eyes with a cotton pad soaked in remover.

CEO Tae and Director Kim Ryul, who had not received separate notice, were also watching with interesting eyes.

“Jang-mi, he’s looking for you.”

“It’s her, it’s her. Lee Jang-mi.”

It’s an atmosphere where a scout or casting offer will come out no matter who sees it. Even though her colleagues are poking her in the side, there is no movement on her expressionless face.

Lee Jang-mi, a member of ‘Gap’ carrying a backpack, threw the cotton pad she was holding into the trash can.

“I don’t act.”

*