Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 55

Casting War (1)

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Romantic comedy.

A movie genre established and derived from Hollywood, in modern Korea it refers to a drama that focuses more on romance than comedy.

Since the long history of screenplays, romance has steadily established itself as a beloved genre.

For producers, rom-coms are a treasure.

It doesn’t require great acting skills, to the point where there’s a saying that it’s a gateway for rookies.

You just need to show realistic acting like in the once-popular period dramas like ‘Return to 1991’.

Isn’t it an era where even idols can do basic acting with three months of training? It’s easy to get good reviews as long as you don’t create a team of wooden dolls.

It’s not just the expectations for acting skills that are low; the profits compared to production costs are also substantial.

In other words, you get more than your money’s worth at a cheap price.

Production costs? Since you don’t need to build a grand set, the budget is reduced.

Casting costs? There are plenty of good-looking male and female rookies, so casting costs are low.

On the other hand, there are plenty of opportunities to exploit.

The main audience for rom-coms is women. Whether it’s the idol scene or the actor scene, it’s a statistically proven fact that women spend more money than men in the entertainment industry.

From the protagonist’s clothes to cosmetics, cars, electronics, and even food, you can aggressively use PPL [Product Placement], so the cost-effectiveness is better compared to ‘big-budget’ productions.

This is why several rom-coms with average viewership ratings of 5-7% on terrestrial TV, or 10% at best, are released every quarter.

“Excuse me? Seo Ye-ni? Then what about Lee Hyo-jeong… No, how can this happen? You said you’d do it first!”

So, ironically, the biggest problem with rom-coms is casting. Because there’s little money to spend but a lot to earn.

Which broadcasting station isn’t like that? But this year, YTS needs to squeeze out as much ‘cost-effectiveness’ as possible.

This is because the ambitious projects that poured money into in the second and fourth quarters of last year failed to break even.

“Hello. This is Yoo Ho-young, the AD [Assistant Director] who contacted you about the casting. Do you have a moment…”

The methods are also diverse. One side has to be difficult, and the other side has to be appeasing.

“Yes, yes! With actor Byun Hwi-seung, promoting the work is a given. If you give us the confirmation, we’ll release the article accordingly. Yes, yes!”

Watching his junior bow like a eunuch while holding his phone, PD [Producer-Director] Hwang scratched his chin.

‘That guy, he’s improved quite a bit after rolling around for a few years.’

There’s a reason why he keeps Yoo Ho-young around even though he scolds him every day. He’s a bit of a screwball, but he works hard when he’s told to do something.

‘But… Park Geon. What’s he lacking that he contacted our team?’

When he asked PDs of similar standing who went to other broadcasting stations, they said he’s been going to auditions these days.

He turned down all the anticipated works of the first quarter… Is he really trying to change genres?

“Here, PD-nim. The ‘Team Leader of Gray City’ team chart is complete. Take a look at this beautiful picture.”

Yoo Ho-young unfolded a B4-sized paper. Like a character relationship chart, profile pictures of the actors were plastered all over the printed paper.

“Beautiful my ass, the holes are as big as my grandfather’s gums.”

“Hey… that’s why I set the table for you to choose, now that the male lead has been picked.”

Lee Jin-ha, the main male lead, was decided to be Park Geon, and Seok Tae-oh, the sub-male lead, was decided to be Byun Hwi-seung.

‘Byun Hwi-seung is a bit lacking, but…’

There are levels to rom-coms, and the work they’re going into this time is a typical budget filler.

Of course, top male actors don’t come. They need to find ambiguous A-listers or guys whose stock has fallen after causing trouble, but there are too few available in the market.

“What about the female lead? Both the main and sub are like this.”

“Han Yeo-wool turned it down because of scheduling conflicts, and Kaijia said they’d send Seo Ye-ni instead of Lee Hyo-jeong.”

“Yes. And they said they’d put one of their actors in with her.”

“Put in my ass, they’re asking us to plug them in. Those gangster bastards.”

The other two female leads are still vacant. It’s not because there’s no one to do it. It’s because there are so many hands trying to slip them in through the back door.

Two actresses from modeling backgrounds were competing for the sub-female lead. The first option went to another broadcasting station, and the second option was changed by the agency itself.

‘Damn bastards… Anyway, if we take Seo Ye-ni, then the main will be one of these two.’

PD Hwang’s eyes alternated between the two pictures attached to the ‘main female lead’ spot.

One is from an idol background, and the other is a rising rookie from a web drama.

“Those rookies, they’re no help at all.”

“Yes? Rookie?”

Ignoring his junior’s question, PD Hwang took out his smartphone. There’s another rookie in here who’s making him frustrated.

Mr.Uncooperative : [PD-nim, wouldn’t it be better to have a rookie male lead and an established female lead?]

Mr.Uncooperative : [Our drama’s PPL will stand out more]

Mr.Uncooperative : [PD-nim]

Mr.Uncooperative : [Could I be cast too?]

Mr.Uncooperative : [PD-nim, are you busy?]

‘…A rookie who wants as much as a star writer.’

He wouldn’t have taken on this project if it wasn’t for the fact that this work was the winning entry of a contest co-hosted by YTS and the production company, and a special directive from the director.

From the start, his tastes in works don’t match with him. He’s more about sensibility and trendy than commerciality, but he stubbornly pulls out outdated clichés…

PD Hwang, who was massaging his temples, called out in a tired voice.

“Hey, Ho-young.”

“Yes.”

“Put up the audition notice. Let’s decide on the main after seeing the acting.”

“Won’t the agencies make a fuss?”

“What fuss can they make at their level? We have to secure the other roles anyway, so tell them to come for that too.”

Kang Ha-na from Blue Dream Entertainment, Kwon Yu-jin from CNC Entertainment, right? Both have similar agency power, so whichever one he picks, there won’t be any trouble later.

“…This is killing me.”

The director is watching, the CP [Chief Producer] is nagging, and the production company is already putting subtle pressure on him.

PD Hwang Chang-jae brought the chewed-up straw to his mouth.

It’s a total mess, but he has to do it. To protect his motto of living a long and thin life.

The audition was held at the YTS building.

It’s an audition to select the female lead and supporting roles for the Wednesday-Thursday drama of the first quarter, ‘Team Leader of Gray City’.

The waiting room attached to the audition room was crowded with actors from an hour before the start.

“Oh, Ji-ho! You came too?”

“‘You too’? It’s a chance to turn your life around, of course I had to come. But your eyes look a little different?”

Young and fresh faces exchange greetings that are friendly but full of barbs.

Most of them are rookies, but that’s why they feel like they can give each other a shot.

Of course, the aces who will compete for the main role are determined separately. At least from a medium-sized agency or higher, or a rising star who has recently started to gain popularity.

The most promising number one contender among them.

Kang Ha-na from Blue Dream Entertainment enters.

“…Hmm.”

Small reactions mixed with jealousy and envy spread among the actors. As expected of an idol出身 [idol background], her mask is youthful and refreshing. Just enough to suit the rookie employee female lead of the Cinderella cliché.

As if promised, the door opened just a few seconds later and the number two contender entered.

A neat business suit, low-heeled shoes, and a pure face that evokes a sense of protection. It’s Kwon Yu-jin, who hit it big in a web drama on a certain portal site.

“…”

There is no reaction this time. Everyone is speechless because of a competitor who is one step stronger than Kang Ha-na.

‘She’s overdoing it again.’

‘CNC’s fuss is famous. They dress and make up according to the role.’

‘It’s not like her acting skills will change because of that, I wonder if she wants to look good to the PD that much.’

Soon, criticism full of jealousy pours out, but Kwon Yu-jin goes to that corner and takes out the script.

At that time, a commotion was heard at the entrance. Before people could turn around, the source of the noise entered the waiting room.

“Kyaa!”

Someone screamed and quickly covered their mouth. But no one blames them.

Park Geon appeared in a full suit.

The actor wearing a charcoal-colored suit with a pomade perm strode in, followed by two men who appeared to be managers.

The protagonist in the ‘Team Leader of Gray City’ scenario, the perfect incarnation of Team Leader Lee Jin-ha.

‘Crazy. Lee Jin-ha’s role was Park Geon?’

‘I didn’t know because the official announcement wasn’t out and the article wasn’t circulating, so the Gray City team hid this.’

‘…But why is the lead here?’

The three actors in the corner, who were whispering like a machine gun, blinked at the same time.

Originally, popular stars don’t audition well. By that point, there are many places calling them, and they think that it lowers their level.

The question was resolved after the audition started and Park Geon left his seat with his manager for a while.

“He came as a judge, right? To pick the female lead and supporting roles himself.”

“No, you idiot.”

The actor who quickly rebuked whispered secretly.

“Actually, Park Geon is an audition maniac.”

“…Audition maniac?”

“I heard it from a friend at JNBC. He’s been looking for work while only going to auditions these days. He passed a few places and didn’t go.”

The people who were listening were dumbfounded. An actor who is already in the top star ranks is auditioning?

You could think of it as a bad hobby, but there are many things to do besides abusing your power to cut your own flesh. [Taking roles beneath one’s status]

The way he showed himself at the Grand Bell Awards and the JNBC Awards ceremony was also like that… At that point, it’s right to see him as a crazy person who is crazy about acting.

The supporting actor who applied for the role of the main female lead’s best friend swallowed.

“I’m curious about the audition acting.”

“Hello, this is Kang Ha-na.”

“Yes. You can sit there.”

Kang Ha-na suddenly tilted her head as she tried to sit on the chair.

This is because there was a tripod and a smartphone set up next to the PD, the cinematographer, and the staff who appeared to be assistant directors.

‘The filming will be done with that camera over there, so why are they filming with a smartphone?’

It doesn’t matter anyway. Whether they film with a smartphone or a 6MM camcorder, she just needs to show her acting here and get the role.

“The scene I’m going to act is…”

On the other hand, PD Hwang Chang-jae was even more troubled than the actor who was trying to audition.

‘I’m really… I’m going to quit being a PD after filming this.’

The smartphone placed on the desk is not for recording, but for video calls. The writer who said she would watch the screening together collapsed, saying she was too nervous to go.

‘…She looked neat at the meeting, but anyway, those writers are out of their minds.’

Thanks to this, this audition was watched in a bizarre combination of three offline and one online.

“Team leader, do you hate me? Then just tell me, I won’t cause any trouble and I’ll leave on my own.”

Kang Ha-na is performing enthusiastically, but PD Hwang’s mind is elsewhere.

For example, the acting monster outside.

He was happy and jumping when he got the call, but when he found out that Park Geon was a ‘habitual audition offender’ who was looking for work like a hyena, he felt like he was going to have a panic disorder.

What if Park Geon doesn’t work out either? Do I really have to put up figureheads as the main male lead? While trampling on even the minimum level of artistry?

“That’s all.”

“Ah, I saw it well. You can go out.”

Kang Ha-na was slightly embarrassed by the unreserved eviction order, but she soon bowed and left the audition room.

This is because she knows that if it’s not her, it will be Kwon Yu-jin outside.

When the door closed, the cinematographer opened his mouth.

“It’s smooth. It feels like a rookie who was raised by an agency and took acting classes for a year or two.”

“It’s exactly what I thought. It would have been better if the tone was a little more stable…”

While the cinematographer and PD Hwang were putting their heads together, AD Yoo Ho-young asked.

“Um, can we keep actor Park Geon standing by? I think it would be better to see him quickly and send him away.”

“I was going to do that too.”

“But why, can’t he memorize the lines yet?”

“He said he’d do it last. He said he didn’t want to cause any trouble because it wasn’t a role that was originally on the audition schedule.”