Prince From Another Dimension Becomes An Idol [EN]: Chapter 215

#215.

‘Lee Yu-hoon…. A role I really want to try.’

There couldn’t be a more suitable character for a debut in acting.

It was the production team that offered the casting, but ultimately, the decision rested with them.

Do-jae prepared for the meeting with all his might to win the role of Lee Yu-hoon.

He memorized the entire script for episodes 1 and 2 to enhance his understanding of the play, as well as the specific scenes he’d be performing during the meeting.

It was something easily achievable with a little effort.

For someone raised with a royal education, ‘memorization’ was the most fundamental skill.

If one couldn’t memorize, progressing beyond basic book learning was impossible, making the acquisition of knowledge in all fields unattainable.

Language skills had to be at least bilingual….

In any case, it was an environment where constant memorization was essential, and Do-jae excelled at it, even among those accustomed to such rigorous demands.

So, memorizing the script wasn’t particularly difficult.

The important thing was the acting itself, built upon that memorization.

Before the meeting.

Do-jae met with an acting teacher for a lesson.

When Do-jae first presented the acting he had prepared on his own, the acting teacher paused, seemingly deep in thought, and then cautiously asked.

“Do-jae…. Did you secretly find another teacher or something?”

It wasn’t just a simple compliment but a rather serious question.

“Yes? No. It’s been a while since I had an acting lesson…. I was worried you might have forgotten what you taught me before.”

“What are you talking about? Your acting has actually improved significantly! Anyone would think you went on an acting study abroad instead of going on tour.”

“You flatter me.”

“No, I’m serious. And isn’t this even the first time I’ve seen you act in front of me?”

“Yes…….”

“I thought you wouldn’t have even grasped the character yet. And you haven’t had the script for long. When did you do so much research…….”

The acting teacher recalled when she first met Do-jae.

In fact, from their very first meeting, she believed he should become an actor, as he displayed such natural talent.

Even though vocalization for singing and acting differed, Do-jae possessed a strong foundation, as if he had been studying acting from the beginning.

Do-jae was the kind of student who learned ten things when taught only one.

She often wished she could point to Do-jae as the very definition of talent for countless aspiring actors.

But still, his skills weren’t quite this close to ‘perfect’.

Even if his emotions had deepened with experience…….

“No, we’ve never even had separate lessons on historical drama [sageuk] tone, so why are you so good at it…….”

She came to teach, but found there was little she could offer.

Rather, she felt she should be learning from Do-jae, at least when it came to historical drama tones.

“Have you been watching a lot of historical dramas lately? No, even if you did, it wouldn’t explain this level of skill…….”

Standing before the acting teacher, who was so taken aback by his skill, Do-jae could only offer a subtle smile and remain silent.

‘I can’t exactly say that I didn’t watch historical dramas, but actually lived in the palace…….’

To be honest, he didn’t feel particularly happy even when receiving compliments, because it felt more like copying his previous life than ‘acting’.

Of course, Lee Yu-hoon wasn’t ‘Lee Do-jae’, so he made subtle adjustments to his gaze and tone to better suit the character’s personality.

“It wouldn’t be bad to try a traditional historical drama later. No, it would be great. Very.”

“If I get the chance.”

“Okay. Um, well. If there’s anything more to add here, it seems to be the part where you talk to the female lead.”

“I think I need more practice in that part too.”

“Yeah. It’s not bad now, but it would be nice if there were a little more emotion…. Now, here in scene 23. The breathing of the lines…….”

The acting teacher identified areas for improvement with a little more practice and offered guidance.

Honestly, it was guidance that enriched an already complete performance.

In any case, Do-jae actively accepted the acting teacher’s guidance and diligently practiced for several days.

Having actually lived as the Third Prince and having prepared thoroughly, it was natural for even the humble Do-jae to feel confident.

When he entered the office where the meeting was scheduled.

Even then, Do-jae felt optimistic.

Because the faces of Cha Tae-hoon, the director of the modern remake of , , and writer Kim Soo-jin were full of delight.

In particular, writer Kim Soo-jin almost had hearts in her eyes.

The production team had ultimately offered the role of Lee Yu-hoon to two people, and Kim Soo-jin was the one who strongly recommended Do-jae.

The other person besides Do-jae was rookie actor Baek Woo-seok.

He debuted in a work by Ong Jin-ho, a film director hailed as a global master, and was a hot actor that everyone in the broadcasting and film industry was paying attention to.

Do-jae had to compete with such an actor for the role of ‘Lee Yu-hoon’.

“Welcome. Nice to meet you.”

At Kim Soo-jin’s greeting, Do-jae bowed his head again.

Director Cha Tae-hoon was scanning Do-jae’s every move with keen eyes.

Do-jae was inwardly curious about how he would be perceived by someone with experience directing many popular dramas.

As Do-jae straightened his back and sat upright in his seat, writer Kim Soo-jin asked first.

“Was there a lot of traffic on the way here?”

She had never written a ‘big hit’ work, but she was a writer who was always evaluated as ‘doing average’.

She, who was not inferior to director Cha Tae-hoon in terms of the number of works, seemed to be trying to make Do-jae, who had come to the meeting, feel comfortable first.

“Yes. It was okay. The office is nearby.”

“That’s a relief. Is this your first drama meeting? But you don’t seem that nervous? Is it because you have a lot of stage experience?”

“I am nervous…. But I don’t usually show it.”

“I see.”

Writer Kim Soo-jin smiled briefly and said.

“You’re really handsome, not just when I saw you on TV.”

“Ah…. Thank you.”

“Aha. You don’t say, ‘Oh, no,’ and just say thank you right away?!”

Do-jae smiled slightly at Kim Soo-jin’s teasing words.

“To be honest, I hear it often.”

He heard the words that he was handsome every day from the members in the dorm.

Kim Soo-jin burst out laughing at Do-jae’s smile and nonchalance.

She literally burst out.

“I heard that the young man is very polite! And he’s even funny. Oh my.”

Director Cha Tae-hoon, who had been wearing a more indifferent expression compared to writer Kim Soo-jin, also chuckled.

The atmosphere loosened up and became friendly.

“You’re very popular right now. I know you’re busy, but thank you for coming.”

“No. I’m very grateful that you called me. I’m a complete rookie as an actor.”

Do-jae replied to Kim Soo-jin’s words without losing his humility.

In the meantime, Do-jae took a sip of the drink that the production company staff had brought him.

It was the first time he was showing ‘acting with lines’ outside of music videos or commercials.

He was having a relaxed conversation, but Do-jae was nervous enough to make his throat dry.

Director Cha Tae-hoon didn’t miss even the sight of Do-jae drinking his drink.

“Since we’ve called a busy person…. I think it would be good to see the acting first.”

When director Cha Tae-hoon brought it up, writer Kim Soo-jin agreed.

Director Cha Tae-hoon told him to act out the scene he had announced in advance.

“Do it when you’re ready.”

“Yes.”

Do-jae got up from his seat and took a moment to catch his breath.

Scene 4 of episode 1.

It was the scene where the Third Prince Lee Yu-hoon, who learned that the Second Prince had disappeared and that he would inherit the throne, rebuked the eunuch and despaired.

“…….”

While Do-jae was preparing, silence filled the office for a moment.

“Then I’ll start.”

Do-jae, who spoke in a calm tone, twisted his body slightly diagonally.

At the same time, Do-jae’s calm eyes flickered with bewilderment.

“The Crown Prince! Are you saying the Crown Prince has really disappeared?!”

Do-jae’s low and heavy voice echoed deeply in the office.

The uneasy gaze and the slight trembling at the end of his voice instantly revealed Lee Yu-hoon’s situation.

“……!”

Whether it’s singing or acting, you can get a sense of it to some extent just by hearing one line.

Surprise appeared on writer Kim Soo-jin’s face.

Director Cha Tae-hoon calmly acted as the eunuch instead.

“Yes. I am sorry to report…….”

“No way…. This can’t be happening, this can’t be happening. What on earth happened to the Crown Prince……!”

Do-jae wandered around the office and muttered.

Director Cha Tae-hoon’s acting was, frankly, terrible.

It was enough to interfere with the immersion in the acting, but Do-jae didn’t care.

Do-jae was now standing in the middle of the palace, not the office.

“This is not the time to be doing this. You must go to His Majesty at once.”

“If I go…! If I go, I’m done for. He will surely tell me to inherit the throne. But I cannot…. I cannot inherit the throne.”

“…….”

“I have…….”

It was when he was about to say the next line.

“That’s enough.”

Director Cha Tae-hoon cut off Do-jae’s acting.

Do-jae, who was building up his emotions, was a little embarrassed by the abruptly cut-off acting, but stopped his movements with an indifferent face.

“Good job. Let’s see the next scene, scene 15.”

“Ah. Yes.”

Do-jae turned the script over, skimmed through scene 15, and put the script down.

And he started acting.

This time, director Cha Tae-hoon cut off the acting in the middle.

And finally, he made him act out scene 23.

Scene 23 was the scene where the Third Prince, who was also a college student, met the female lead who would be working with him on a group project in a liberal arts class.

The female lead was in a situation where she mistakenly believed that the prince, Lee Yu-hoon, was ‘freeloading’.

Writer Kim Soo-jin took on the role of the female lead.

“I know you’re a great person, but isn’t this too much?”

“Didn’t I say there was a misunderstanding? As the Crown Prince of the Imperial Family, who must set an example for the people, there is no way I would do something like freeloading.”

Do-jae delivered the lines in a different tone from the acting he had done earlier against the backdrop of the palace.

It was the image of a prince who was a little prickly but did not lose his dignity.

A smile appeared on writer Kim Soo-jin’s lips.

This was because she felt that not only was his acting excellent, but he had also memorized all the lines in every scene.

If there was a part that she was worried about when offering Do-jae the casting offer, it was that he had a separate main job and might lack enthusiasm for acting.

But it was a concern.

His enthusiasm was better than that of most aspiring actors, and his acting skills were more than she had expected.

“That’s enough.”

This time, director Cha Tae-hoon cut off the acting without watching all of scene 23.

Do-jae might have been puzzled, but director Kim Soo-jin knew.

The reason why director Cha Tae-hoon cut off the acting was because he liked it so much that there was no need to see more.

After confirming his acting skills, director Cha Tae-hoon asked Do-jae a question for the first time before Do-jae even sat down.

“Do-jae-ssi [term of polite address].”

“Yes, Director.”

“ will also have kiss scenes. Can you do it?”

Do-jae was speechless for the first time.

“When I film a kiss scene, I film it for real.”