I Will Live As An Actor - Chapter 5

I will live as an actor Episode 5

is bold.

That was the first thought that came to my mind after finishing the call. Of course, it was not uncommon for actors to raise their wages. There were many cases where the agency raised the appearance fee. There were also many who argued that actors should be paid more than their counterparts. This was especially true for bright stars who had just begun to make their names known, rather than established actors. Isn’t it common to say that since the mullet jumps, the goby also jumps?

However.

“This is the first time something like this has happened to a rookie.”

Moreover, he is a child actor. In dramas and movies, child actors’ fees were lower than those of adults. Even if you are a child of the main character, you receive a salary similar to or slightly higher than that of a minor role. Not only was the number of appearances small, but in most cases, child actors aimed to raise awareness rather than earn money.

Yumyeong twitched his cheeks. Rather than feeling bad, it just felt strange. How confident is he in his acting that he is so confident? What was interesting was that Jang Young-guk’s tone and intonation that I felt while talking on the phone had no dialect whatsoever. To put it bluntly, it was the standard language spoken by someone who has lived in Seoul for a long time. It was as if I, a ghost, was crying out for having heard a stronger dialect than the Busan girls at Namhang Market.

“What if PD Yu leaves midway? Everyone is waiting for PD to give a toast. Come on, let’s go in quickly.”

Writer Choi Eun-sook walked in front of a large pot house where you could feel the sea breeze. Filming had not yet begun, and only the minimum number of people to coordinate the scene, including the assistant director, had come down to Yeongdo. However, since there were more than fifteen people, it was quite complicated. In addition, Choi Eun-sook and several assistant writers were added, so in a way, it was a drinking party to promote friendship. Directing and scripting were inseparable. Wouldn’t applause have to meet each other to make a sound?

“I just got a call from student Jang Young-guk.”

Eunsuk Choi felt her drunkenness disappear in an instant.

“Oh really? So what do you say you’re doing? Are you interested?”

“He was so bold. He asked without even blinking how much he could give me for my appearance fee, and he broke into a cold sweat.”

“He must have been selling fish at Namhang Market for a day or two. If you look at his size, it’s just right. He’s so strong that he can’t even be compared to the Seoul cuties, so he’s a tough guy even among the Busan ladies. If you think he’s ordinary, you’re wrong. But his acting is perfect. Will things get better soon?”

“You saw writer Choi, too. He’s the type of guy that gives me the right feeling.”

Eunsuk Choi nodded briefly. However, soliciting customers in the market and acting are completely different things. Why do so many child actors go to acting academy and learn eye gaze and vocalization before learning factoring? There is a saying that in acting, the difference between a beginner and an experienced person is as different as heaven and earth. Unless you are a born genius.

“He said he would first read the script.”

“Reading to a child actor?”

Usually, child actors do not attend script readings. To be precise, it would be correct to say that you can’t. In any case, the amount of child actors appearing in dramas is limited, and they attended the script reading because if they were intimidated by poor acting, it could disturb the concentration of the adult leads.

“But what’s funny is that he said he would give me a reading. He seemed like he was waiting and asked to meet me tomorrow.”

“her.”

“You know how high that guy’s arrogance is, right? That’s why I said that. He won’t get upset with anything. Do you know what he said when I asked him if he was confident?”

The laughter of the noisy people in the large pot restaurant resonated harmoniously with the rolling sea water across Yeongdodaegyo Bridge. As the famous PD raised his soju glass for a late toast, writer Choi Eun-sook tapped the table of the restaurant with a spoon to attract attention.

“I hear a lot of stories around me these days. They say that the drama is falling apart because a guy who hasn’t even completed his tenure yet is in charge. Also, other broadcasting stations are producing high-end dramas with top stars at the same time as ours. So, I’m also worried about that. To be honest, I’m half excited and half nervous every day. But today, a ‘friend’ said this to me.”

Beneath the seagulls and various human figures on Yeongdodaegyo Bridge, the broadcasting station people were all paying attention. Yoo Myung thought of a boy as he received attention pouring on him.

“You have to guess to know what’s long and short!”

At that moment, numerous soju glasses clinked cheerfully like the churning sea water.

* * *

I used to think acting was a talent. However, it took a very long time for the meaningless word ‘talent’ to collapse. Starting from doing odd jobs in theater productions to playing minor roles. I admired my seniors who played leading roles on stage. I thought their talent was like the sun compared to my firefly-like talent. However, after seeing how hard they worked and how passionate they were about acting day and night, I realized that effort was even more important.

Plays, movies, and dramas each have different acting paths. While acting is the main focus in plays, which are closest to the audience, directing is the main focus in movies, and in dramas, the writer’s capabilities are greatly demonstrated. The fact that vocalization, breathing, movement, facial expressions, and even gestures all have to be different in each place was a result of realizing it through bumping into each other with my whole body in the past life. Nevertheless, I was able to ask him only after he died. Did I really try?

“Here we are.”

Prince Hotel is only a hotel in name, but if you look at the exterior and interior, it is a little better than a motel. However, except for inns in Yeongdo, which is known as the outskirts of Busan, it could be said to be a high-end lodging establishment.

“British student here. Here!”

A famous producer. In his last life, he was the head of the drama department at KBC Broadcasting Station. However, he is now a young man in his early thirties. Isn’t there a saying that a place makes a person? In his past life, the man who felt like he felt suffocating just by facing him now seemed like a good-natured neighborhood guy.

“Would you like some orange juice?”

“No, it’s okay.”

The sweet taste actually makes the mouth feel stuffy and causes the tip of the tongue, which is supposed to control the intensity of metabolism, to shrink. As I was waiting inside the room, writer Eunsook Choi came in shortly. She handed me a copy of the script.

“I heard that a British student was reading a script today, so I came to watch. If I feel uncomfortable, should I leave?”

“No, you are the writer, so of course you should see it.”

“I admire the confidence of British students.”

“Let’s stop putting pressure on Writer Choi. Yesterday, a British student said this to me. He said that you need to know how long and short it is. Shall we read the script while reading it?”

“I’ll memorize it. Just give me thirty minutes.”

“uh?”

I have played many roles in my past life. From small roles to supporting roles. Just the scripts I’ve read so far would be enough to fill the walls of the library. Thanks to that, my memorization ability has improved. It was a way to deal with the situation. The positions of the protagonist and minor characters are different. If the main character makes a mistake, you can just laugh it off and move on. Because it was a minor role, I had no choice but to be cautious, and since I had no choice but to become a criminal the day I gave even one NG, I was careful about every word of my lines. It is the providence of this world that even short lines of dialogue are edited out in their entirety.

Yoo In-myeong and Choi Eun-sook waited for the boy in front of them in silence. A mixture of curiosity and concern flowed through their eyes. Is it possible? Because he was a child actor, his lines were shorter and the amount of screen time was less than that of an adult. However, if you are new to acting, it will be difficult to understand everything right away after reading the script. But before even thirty minutes had passed, England took his eyes off the script and looked up.

“I need someone to take that line.”

“Already? Oh, my sister will do that.”

“Writer Choi has sold his conscience. Shouldn’t he be called an aunt, not an older sister?”

“Oh, what’s so important about it? I’m nervous too because it’s been a while since I’ve received my lines. Which part should I start from?”

“You can start from whatever part the writer wants.”

Eunsuk Choi’s eyes opened wide. You mean you memorized it all? really? really? Less than thirty minutes had passed since we talked. It is a short time to fully understand the situation, including the text and dialogue. Furthermore, writer Choi was speechless in front of the boy who said that he had memorized not just one scene, but all the scenes in which the child actors appear. At this point, is it really confidence or is it just an immaturity? My curiosity was piqued.

“Oh my gosh, Hajin. Don’t do that. Get on my mind, get on my mind.”

Choi Eun-sook spoke her lines first. Of course, she was reading the script and reciting it. Although I didn’t learn acting, I was even changing my accent to try to understand my work as much as possible as a writer. That’s a great attitude. Yumyeong’s eyes turned to the boy in front of him. But for some reason, the boy’s expression was unusual.

‘drama.’

In dramas, dialogue is an act of extreme persuasion that must be performed in a limited space and situation. The role is to inform viewers beyond the TV screen that the actor is not the main character in the script, but that the main character is an actor. Acting is what makes that possible. Soon, a calm, but shuddering voice, as if it contained huge waves, rang out.

“I’m coming. Minseok first criticized that bastard for being a fatherless brat. Beating him like a dog isn’t enough, so I come and apologize. And mom says, wow, wow. Geumma, what’s wrong with lowering your head to mom?”

Silent film master Buster Keaton said: There are many facial expressions in the world. However, as an actor, you must be able to find sadness in a deadpan expression and also know how to extract joy. And the mission is to present this series of condensed emotions to the audience beyond the screen. The boy’s expression gradually changed as if the frame was broken. From anger to wailing sorrow.

“I’m coming to school! Don’t wear those dirty shoes. How many times have I told you to throw away your worn-out shoes? Because I’m an idiot, I don’t want to come into this guy’s house! Do you know? Why do I have to live like this? Why do I have to live like these rotten shoes? “You have to live in poverty!”

“Jin-ah, mom is like that.”

“It’s not like that, I told you to kneel before your mother. You’re doing something you didn’t ask to do!!”

“Because I’m a mother. I’m sorry Jin-ah, I don’t write because I’m a mother.”

“Aaaahhh!”

The pitches of the lines spoken as if screaming are clear. It’s as if anger, gloom, and even resentment are injected into every single word of the line. Eventually, my emotions exploded as if a trigger had been pulled.

“Please throw those damn shoes into the sea. Just like my dad who drowned in the sea!”

A fisherman swept away by the sea and a mother clutching the gift he left behind.

The scene ended, but no one spoke first. It would be correct to say that he was overwhelmed by the boy’s acting. Even though there were no cameras, just reciting the lines in a limited space sent goosebumps down the spines of Yoo Yoon-in and Choi Eun-sook. As if the play had ended, the boy’s expression returned to its original expression as he closed the script. Not the bloodshot young boy who was screaming and screaming, but an ordinary boy.

“How did you act like that?”

It was Choi Eun-sook’s curiosity. Because, as a writer, he reproduced the image of Kim Ha-jin he imagined with just the dialogue. However, the answer was simple, but it made Choi Eun-sook’s heart pound.

“Because that’s what the script said.”