Godsent Top Star [EN]: Chapter 199

199. Character Study (1)

May 18, 2022

Yeonwoo sighed.

“You’re saying that’s not enough, right?”

Kwon Seong-hyun’s smile deepened as if that was the correct answer.

It was something Yeonwoo was already aware of.

For example.

The character setting might only state, ‘Has obsessive tendencies.’

But for an actor, that shouldn’t just remain a setting; it should become an actual habit that is displayed.

The obsession needs to be revealed through actions or dialogue.

The task of directly filling in those minute gaps is necessary.

An actor isn’t an avatar being controlled by someone.

An actor is someone who subjectively interprets and becomes the character itself.

Breathing life and adding color to a flat character to make it come alive.

That was the role of an actor.

“Yeonwoo, you don’t just want to be ‘good’ at acting, do you? Right?”

Kwon Seong-hyun said as if looking into his soul.

As if he knew that he was gradually becoming more ambitious.

It seemed like he had already read him completely.

“You don’t want to become someone’s persona, do you? You probably don’t want to be a tool used to reveal someone else’s world either.”

“Of course not.”

“Then this won’t do.”

The intention understanding that had been helping Yeonwoo was now becoming an obstacle to further growth.

Kwon Seong-hyun could never know that Yeonwoo possessed such abilities, though.

‘As expected, there’s a reason why he’s a top actor…….’

He so easily pointed out the tendency that could be called Yeonwoo’s acting characteristic.

“Since I’ve said this much, I think Yeonwoo already knows.”

“Yes.”

“Was it helpful?”

“……Very much so.”

“I’m very glad to hear that.”

He started to prepare for the audition.

However, there were no direct tips on how to approach the audition.

But Yeonwoo knew.

He had learned very definite information, more so than any tips about auditions.

‘To completely embody the role and become the character itself…….’

Every minor habit must be recreated and fully digested.

Otherwise, only an unconvincing and clumsy character will remain.

‘Of course, it has to be within the broad framework.’

It would be problematic to disrupt the entire play.

So, he had to become a character that was as vivid and lively as possible within the lines.

He had to create a character that anyone would find irresistibly charming.

And that was entirely up to Yeonwoo.

“They say 35 applicants have applied for the serial killer role audition.”

“35 people?”

It was more than he expected.

However, Kwon Seong-hyun said the opposite.

“It’s fortunate that there are only that many, right? I heard that other supporting roles have over a hundred.”

“A hundred people…….”

He could feel the enormity of the audition once again.

Also, the fact that there were so many people who wanted the role.

“The number may increase further since the deadline hasn’t passed yet. After all, this is practically the first self-produced work by Director Gil’s team.”

In severe cases, it can easily exceed several hundred people.

“Assuming everyone has similar acting skills, the key will be how they analyze the character.”

“That’s right. Everyone will create their own unique character. At least 35 people. Yeonwoo, you have to create a character that stands out more than these 35 people. And since Yeonwoo has chosen the audition method…….”

Kwon Seong-hyun stared straight at Yeonwoo.

“You’ll have to produce results that no one can argue with.”

It was like a provocation in his eyes.

A provocation asking if he could do it.

A smile spread across Yeonwoo’s lips.

“Of course.”

And that afternoon.

The script for the character in the audition Yeonwoo would be participating in arrived.

“Are you really going to go with this role……?”

“Yes.”

“Ah…… I still think it’s such a waste…….”

Lee Gyu-han, who came to deliver the script, was holding two scripts.

One was, of course, the script for the serial killer that Yeonwoo wanted.

The other one was…….

‘I guess they really don’t want to give up on the main character role.’

Everyone except Yeonwoo was regretting that he had given up the lead role.

But regardless.

Yeonwoo picked up only one script.

“It’s an interesting character.”

That was Yeonwoo’s first impression of the script he received.

It wasn’t a fitting impression for a psychopath character who was a serial killer.

‘The training was quite helpful.’

Certainly, that Spartan-style training had left Yeonwoo with many things.

One of them was this.

‘I have a slight grasp of how to handle this character?’

The script consists of instructions and lines.

He could envision how it would be concretized when it was made into a video.

The character setting, which had a few more lines added similarly to the synopsis, was also quite helpful in this analysis.

‘First of all, what the writer wants is a highly intelligent psychopath character.’

As he read the script, intention understanding kindly informed him of the producer’s intentions.

It meant a character who uses his smart brain for murder.

‘But simply portraying him as a crazy person with poor social skills is too simplistic.’

There’s no reason why the setting of high intelligence would be attached for no reason.

If he wasn’t smart, he wouldn’t be able to commit serial murders without getting caught.

So, another setting is added.

‘It means he’s been properly socialized. Or he’s so thorough that he can act like he’s been socialized without getting caught.’

Yeonwoo placed more weight on the latter.

There is a clear difference between being socialized and wearing the mask of being socialized.

A murderer who kills people without any remorse could never truly interact with someone else.

‘Then another thing is added here. We need the heterogeneous feeling of a predator wearing the mask of a gentle lamb.’

Yeonwoo’s eyes scanned the script again.

It was the part where the protagonist and the serial killer were talking.

Kang Seok: (Looks at the sky and sighs) Haa. This is driving me crazy. It’s happening again, again.

Kim Seon-woo: (Passing by) Oh? Officer. I see you again today.

Kang Seok: (Startled and gets up) Oh, oh, oh! Hello!

Kim Seon-woo: Why are you out here?

The script only contained dialogue and action directions.

How to approach with what tone was entirely up to the actor’s interpretation of the character.

Considering the setting of a psychopath, the dialogue processing here is probably…….

‘There’s a high probability that it will come out indifferently.’

But the psychopath Yeonwoo saw, Kim Seon-woo, was not such a simple character.

Rather, he was a very complex and twisted character in many ways.

‘But he’s bothering to talk here.’

Even to the police, who are the people he should avoid the most.

Even though the protagonist is a rookie, he bothered to talk to him.

‘It also shows that they’ve exchanged greetings quite a few times.’

In Yeonwoo’s judgment, there was no need for Kim Seon-woo to talk to the protagonist.

However, Kim Seon-woo takes the initiative to greet the protagonist.

The reason for this was not given in the script given to Yeonwoo.

The script given to the audition participants is only a part of it.

It is up to the actor to fill in the blanks that have not yet been seen.

Yeonwoo slowly began to fill in those blanks.

‘Several times, to the point where they know each other’s faces.’

Here, Yeonwoo’s interpretation changed once again.

‘Then it would be more appropriate to be affable rather than indifferent.’

Kim Seon-woo is highly skilled at hiding himself.

He is more likely to be pretending to be a nice person in order to wear a more perfect mask, suppressing his instincts and nature as much as possible.

Pretending to be a more cheerful, harmless, and kind person than the average person.

‘That way, the clarity when the mask is peeled off will be more vivid.’

The rough framework is set.

The young man named Kim Seon-woo, who was only described in a few lines on paper, gradually begins to take shape as he adds flesh and blood.

Flap!

Yeonwoo’s eyes scanned the script incessantly.

‘I need to adjust the tone in this way here.’

‘It would be good to put a pause in the lines on purpose. If you only pretend to be too kind, the unique setting of the character may be damaged, so you need to reduce the sense of incongruity.’

‘He’s not just a madman. Even if he feels joy in committing murder, he doesn’t just get caught up in it.’

One by one.

Step by step.

The character Kim Seon-woo that Yeonwoo is creating is gradually being completed.

The next is the murder scene.

It was the very scene where the most raw appearance of Kim Yeon-woo, a psychopath and serial killer, comes out.

Victim: (Crying) No. No! Please, please save me!

Kim Seon-woo: Why not?

Victim: Please…… save me! Why are you doing this to me?!

Kim Seon-woo: I wonder. Why is that?

Kim Seon-woo: (Approaches the victim and commits murder)

The instructions were not very long.

It was very brief even though it was still a work in progress.

‘The goal of this scene is to kill as cruelly as possible.’

That’s what intention understanding told him.

But everything else was blank.

‘It doesn’t say how to kill, what kind of expression to make, or how to talk to the victim.’

How should it be expressed?

Yeonwoo was lost in thought for a moment.

How will the character Kim Seon-woo act in this scene?

Will he be immersed in madness and excitedly commit murder?

‘Since he’s a human who lives to kill, that’s also a possibility.’

It’s not just a normal murder, it’s a serial murder.

It’s the story of killing many people continuously.

But as he thought about it, one part came to mind.

‘But he hasn’t been caught even though he’s been killing for so long.’

Moreover, Kim Seon-woo is a person with a brilliant mind.

‘Even if he’s a human who lives to kill, it doesn’t suit him to be full of joy.’

The human being Kim Seon-woo, whom Yeonwoo gradually grasped, is not the type to be immersed in joy.

Rather,

‘He’ll be cold-blooded.’

What is the reason why a smart serial killer who has not been caught until now can still leisurely satisfy his desires?

The answer came quickly.

‘He won’t act clumsily enough to get caught.’

So, he was sure that he would not lose his reason even while committing murder.

Losing reason increases the probability of making mistakes.

That would also increase the chances of getting caught.

In the end, the scene of excitedly killing people while immersed in madness became a scene that absolutely did not suit the character Kim Seon-woo.

‘Come to think of it…… it wasn’t always the answer to be faithful to the script.’

That was one of the other facts he realized through this Spartan-style training.

‘If I interpret it as…… it would be more appropriate to use polite language rather than informal language in this scene.’

The vague and abstract image of Kim Seon-woo that existed in the script.

As it became more and more concrete, Yeonwoo was lost in thought for a moment.

Will the writer really accept changing the lines a little bit at will?

‘Well. I think this side is a little more lively.’

The direction that the original author had vaguely and vaguely set.

However, if he pushed forward as Yeonwoo thought, a more vivid killer would be born without deviating from the big picture that the original author had thought of.

‘He doesn’t let go of his reason even while killing.’

That’s what the character Kim Seon-woo, whom Yeonwoo had slowly built up, was like.

‘Of course, you have to feel the pleasure.’

Restrained joy is needed rather than simply expressing joy.

Even while taking precautions such as wearing a mask to thoroughly hide himself while committing murder in a place where no one can see.

On the one hand, a long, torn smile is hidden inside that mask.

That’s the kind of restrained joy.

‘So, you have to show a rational side even before the murder scene. More extremely rational than ever.’

The informal language in the script was extremely unsuitable for Kim Seon-woo in Yeonwoo.

‘It’s fun.’

A slightly different character analysis method than before.

It was unfamiliar, but it was just as fun.