Top Star By Luck [EN]: Chapter 168

168

Filming Site.

Who would be the most avoided actor in that ultimate pandemonium?

A bad actor?

No.

There are too many of those. Simply being bad at acting isn’t enough to earn the title of ‘most’.

In the first place, they often don’t get good roles, and you can always give them a bit of a hard time with subtle cues.

Then, an actor with a terrible personality?

That’s also not it.

There are far more actors with awful personalities than those who are bad at acting.

‘Besides, they often believe that as long as they don’t get caught by the public, they can do whatever they want on set.’

So, who is the most avoided actor?

The answer was quite simple.

It was an actor who was bad at acting but had such strong backing that it was hard to openly give them a hard time.

“Isn’t this a stroke of luck thanks to our actor Chun Gun-ju? You’re so fortunate, so fortunate.”

“……Thank you.”

Chun Gun-ju.

An actor from a failed idol group, Chun Gun-ju was exactly the kind of person who fit the previous example.

Director Moon Hyo-sung, standing in front of him, grinned as if he couldn’t be happier, and continued.

“Haha, that’s why having good connections is important. Oh, I’m not saying anything bad about Gun-ju, I’m just saying I’m grateful. You know what I mean, right, Gun-ju?”

“Yes, I’m glad I could be of help to you, Director.”

“Oh, Gun-ju is so humble, I really like that. Gun-ju, filming will start as soon as it gets dark, so go and rest. When actor Lee Min-ki arrives, let’s have a chat together.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Click.

Chun Gun-ju, having finished his short conversation with the director, closed the office door and came out.

However, his heart wasn’t quite at ease, and as he walked down the hallway looking at the floor, he happened to hear voices from afar.

“He can’t even act, but he’s sitting in the lead role thanks to his agency. He’s trying to get any advantage he can, isn’t he?”

“Though it’s not his own skill.”

Beyond the hallway, Chun Gun-ju sighed slightly at the subtle mockery.

The words had no specific subject, but the target was obvious. Whether they knew Chun Gun-ju was listening or not, three men and women snickered and made disgruntled small talk.

“He has to contribute somehow. It’s a relief he has some sense.”

“JC must be doing well. I wonder if there’s a spot left there?”

“Didn’t you know? They’ve become incredibly picky lately and aren’t taking people. It’s all because of Lee Min-ki, I guess.”

Chun Gun-ju, unable to muster the courage to confront them even with the director’s protection, quietly walked into the restroom.

‘I can hear everything, you know.’

It’s bitter.

But no matter how much he gritted his teeth, the problem was that the words themselves were hard to refute in essence.

‘I know too. I know that I’m acting in a position that I don’t deserve.’

That’s right.

Chun Gun-ju belonged to the typical category of actors who got in through connections.

He gained some recognition by making it into the top 8 in a public broadcast acting audition and debuted as an idol, but things didn’t go well after that.

[Hey, these days, actors all go through being idols once.]

The idol group, which he debuted in after being deceived by the CEO’s words and giving up his original dream of acting, failed miserably. After disbanding, he applied everywhere, determined to live as an actor again, and somehow got into JC.

JC, which recently started being called one of the [Four Emperors] among agencies, rivaling the top 3 agencies, at least when it came to actors.

‘I don’t know why they picked someone like me.’

Chun Gun-ju himself could only sigh.

[Well, looking at your acting, you just need to gain some experience. You have the look, and you said you rapped when you were an idol? Your vocalization is solid. We just need to adjust your tone to an acting tone.]

CEO Gu In-mo said to pick him, so he was picked. He seemed more like a gangster than the head of a company, which made it even more suspicious that he was the one who picked him.

Anyway, he passed smoothly and was somehow cast as the lead in the drama [Boyfriend from Outer Space].

‘It was good at first.’

His eyes almost popped out at the miracle that had come to his insignificant career.

An undeniably lucky build-up for a rookie actor. But was it because of that? The gazes around him were extremely cold.

[What, I heard a rookie was cast as the lead right away, so I wondered how good he was… He should start with minor roles again.]

[I had expectations because it was JC.]

[What was the director thinking when he picked him?]

[No matter how much they cover it up with directing, if the acting is that awkward, the viewers will notice. Did you see him not being able to make eye contact with his co-star earlier?]

Harassment that felt like it would tear his eardrums came from all directions. This must be what it’s like to have enemies within.

It was this bad. Being cast as the lead was only good for a day or two, and with contempt in every glance, there was no room for his self-esteem to rise.

Chun Gun-ju was that kind of person.

Clearly a hindrance on set, but with such strong backing and the director protecting him, no one could say a harsh word to him. Even he himself thought it was normal to be hated.

“Hoo-ah.”

Swish, swish-

Chun Gun-ju, who had washed his face with the flowing water, looked straight ahead.

Even his face, which he had thought was a strength, now only felt miserable. But he couldn’t just keep frowning like this.

‘I should at least do well when actor Lee Min-ki comes.’

He knew.

That not only the cast but perhaps even the viewers had higher expectations for Lee Min-ki than for him. Then at least he shouldn’t hold him back.

‘How can I show a dejected face to the viewers? At least let’s not be ashamed, let’s brace ourselves and do our best.’

He always had the beginner’s mind as an actor. Not becoming an actor who has filmed successful works, but becoming an actor who does successful acting.

Chun Gun-ju, having steeled his heart, dried his face and walked out of the restroom.

Even though he didn’t believe in himself.

* * *

When he arrived at the set, Lee Min-ki had only one thought in his head.

‘Is this what a cameo is like……?’

It was dizzying. That’s how the gazes around him felt.

“Senior! I’m a fan!”

“Wow, thank you.”

“I enjoyed ManManTwo so much. A work that represents Korea! I really grew my dream as an actor watching that.”

It was like they were treating him like a celebrity from all directions. No, he is a celebrity, but this is a bit much. It’s not like I came to a fan meeting.

Lee Min-ki’s facial muscles twitched awkwardly.

‘ManManTwo is not even a year old yet, and if you grew your dream as an actor watching me, when did you start acting? You debuted really fast.’

It was too much to be so blatantly praised from all directions. This is not the situation I want.

Lee Min-ki slightly averted his gaze from the attention pouring down like a shower and turned his head slightly.

‘He’s over there alone again.’

Chun Gun-do.

The very person who made Lee Min-ki come to this studio today was actually a few steps away, looking around.

But that appearance looked very strange to Lee Min-ki.

‘Why is he so down?’

Rather than being humble, he was more like a frightened puppy.

It was awkward for the lead to be like that. Whether they were supporting actors or extras, they were eager to say a word to him, but the person who should be the most comfortable here was acting like that.

He had been like that ever since he came to the studio and exchanged a few greetings.

‘Well, I think I’m more comfortable with him than with these people.’

It’s truly ironic that being in an awkward relationship is much more comfortable than people being openly friendly.

Whatever. I should quickly finish my cameo acting and go back.

“Senior, what do you focus on when it comes to eye contact when you’re acting?”

“Close to the viewer’s gaze…….”

“Ah! The viewer’s gaze! You’re saying you act considering beyond the actor, even beyond the camera. Wow, you’re really different.”

Lee Min-ki was focusing only on the ticking of the clock with a soulless gaze.

“Actor, you must be busy, let’s start right away.”

The director came up and signaled him to start.

Lee Min-ki felt like he was hearing the sound of an angel’s trumpet in that voice for a moment.

Soon, a familiar scene began as if he had been waiting for it.

‘Well, it’s this scene after all.’

The blockbuster hit [Boyfriend from Outer Space].

Among them, there was one scene that was particularly famous, and that was the scene he was filming now.

[Despite the demands of his race, the protagonist, Gun-yung, cannot bear to abandon his love for Earth. An old friend approaches Gun-yung to offer advice.]

A scene where an old friend approaches the protagonist, who is in inner turmoil, to give advice.

The character that Lee Min-ki plays here was that old friend. A perfect role for a character who only appears once and won’t appear again.

‘Okay, let’s start.’

A dark evening park.

There, Chun Gun-ju was sitting on a swing with a gloomy expression, looking only at the ground. As if showing off that he was the tragic male lead.

‘Wow, that suits him a bit?’

Lee Min-ki was slightly surprised.

He knew that he was originally a person who lacked confidence, but perhaps that’s why that kind of role suited him perfectly.

‘My role is to comfort him, right.’

He was told to follow the script as much as possible, but to allow for some ad-libs [Improvised lines].

With that, Lee Min-ki took a moment to catch his breath.

“Ready, action!”

With the director’s signal, he slowly moved his steps.

It’s only a few minutes of acting from now on, but since I’ve taken on the role, I have to do well. Isn’t that what you expect from a cameo? A pinch of licorice, a hidden charming point, a joker, something like that.

Step, step.

Lee Min-ki, who slowly moved his shoes from outside the camera, had already reached Chun Gun-do’s nose.

Just as his shadow slightly fell over Chun Gun-do’s bulk. Chun Gun-do was startled and said.

“Hyung [Older brother or male friend].”

“Oh, it’s hyung.”

After looking at each other silently for a moment. Lee Min-ki placed his butt on the swing next to him, startled and said.

“Ugh, shh, why did they make the chair so shaky here? The people of this planet are out of their minds.”

“Pfft.”

At those words, Chun Gun-ju, who had been gloomy, laughed softly.

“Hyung, that’s not a chair.”

There was something like that in the script, but Lee Min-ki’s surprised expression was so natural. In a way, it could be seen as a genuine laugh.

“Ah, what is it. You surprised me.”

“I should be surprised, why are you surprised?”

But regardless of that, the protagonist’s mood is gloomy, so shouldn’t he show a gloomy performance?

‘Let’s do it.’

Chun Gun-ju opened his mouth with a trembling voice.

“Um, hyung.”

“Why.”

“Hyung, what do you think of the people of Earth?”

“…….”

It was a cheesy line.

As if it wasn’t a cheesy work even among fantasy dramas, even in this serious situation, the lines were cheesy.

“Do they seem like greedy, selfish, and exclusive races? Like the Council Elders say.”

Even as the person uttering those lines, goosebumps rose on his skin.

But Lee Min-ki’s expression was calm.

As if even Chun Gun-ju himself, who was uttering those lines, would melt into this situation with just one look, he was so serious without even a slight movement.

‘As expected, the actor is…….’

He was about to be surprised by just one look.

“You’re full of crap.”

Lee Min-ki’s ad-lib burst out.

“Yes?”

In a situation where Chun Gun-do was greatly surprised and widened his eyes at the unexpected situation. But Lee Min-ki was just as surprised.

‘Ah, mistake.’

I made a mistake properly.

This ad-lib wasn’t originally in this drama’s script. Because I watched this scene so many times in [Boyfriend from Outer Space] in my past life and followed it, that line came out first.

As a fan of the original, I couldn’t help it. I can’t stand this.

But.

‘Judging by the fact that they’re not stopping me…… does that mean I should continue like this.’

At the end of the glance, the director didn’t send a signal to stop. That must be what you’re going to do.

‘Then.’

Since I’ve already made an ad-lib, shouldn’t I try to continue it somehow? With that in mind, Lee Min-ki opened his mouth.

“That kind of question is not cool.”

“Hyung.”

“That’s a really useless worry. Even clear water has shadows, who in the world doesn’t have a reason to be criticized?”

Let’s grit our teeth and go. Recalling Director Shim Sung-bo’s habit of speech.

[If you stop filming, it’s a mistake, but if you continue filming, it’s an ad-lib.]