I Will Live As An Actor - Chapter 74

I will live as an actor Episode 74 Jang

Young-guk.

Actor Lee Chang-hoon is worried about a new actor named Jang Young-guk. He is the oldest and most experienced actor in playwright Jeong Yong-dae’s play ‘Spring of Joseon’. Even after leaving theater and living as a movie actor, he received many love calls from the theater world. However, I have never once returned to theater again.

However, there were two reasons why he decided to return to the theater stage. They are playwright Jeong Yong-dae and stage director Seong Ji-hoon. If it weren’t for the two people’s passionate courtship, I would never have returned to theater again.

‘It’s fascinating.’

His gaze is focused on the filmography of actor Jang Young-guk on the TV screen. In the past few days, not only did I watch all the dramas and independent films in which actor Jang Young-guk appeared, I also looked at the films in which he made a cameo appearance.

The reason he studied Jang Young-guk like this was simple. This is because he took on the position of temporary director of ‘Spring of Joseon’, which he will assume in the future. As a senior actor, I am in a position to lead my juniors and move forward. In that sense, it was suspicious that the lead role would be played by a novice who had never performed on a proper stage.

‘I heard you’ve definitely never studied acting.’

Actor Lee Chang-hoon feels a strange curiosity in ‘August Man’, which Jang Young-guk played as a child actor. According to the behind-the-scenes story that I learned through the magazine, the producer and writer in charge said that the child was found in a market in Yeongdo, located on the outskirts of Busan. However, the acting of young Jang Young-guk, shown in the picture tube, clearly had the appearance of someone who had studied acting.

‘Do you mean it’s something you’re born with?’

Could that be possible? Looking back on his entire acting career, there were some people who were born with acting skills, but not to that level. As proof of this, in the scene where he teams up with actress Park Soo-young, he shows such passionate acting that it actually devours Park Soo-young’s acting.

At first, I thought he was simply an actor hired by playwright Jeong Yong-dae to create buzz. After all, he was a rookie who heated up last year with the title of the nation’s first love.

“Everyone who filmed with me unanimously praised me.”

Actor Lee Chang-hoon searched in various places and found no shortage of praise for a new actor named Jang Young-guk.

however.

‘A play and a drama are different.’

No matter how much a natural talent showed a passionate performance in a drama, I have seen quite a few cases of drinking the bitter water of hardship in the theater version. Because of that, Lee Chang-hoon became even more curious. What kind of appearance will actor Jang Young-guk show at today’s rehearsal?

* * *

Extreme.

Since ancient times, there has been a clear relationship between superiors and subordinates in the theater world. This means that unlike broadcasters who stand upright and watch when they become popular, there is a clear hierarchy between seniors and juniors. Since the performance is performed at close range to the audience, not a single mistake is tolerated. Therefore, it is inevitable that the discipline will be tight, as if the chef’s head chef were inspecting the dishes.

‘Lee Chang-hoon, Ji Dong-yeon, Kim Min-hwa, Park Sang-ah, Son Ji-min……’

I couldn’t help but be surprised when I saw the members gathered for rehearsal. Aren’t they all actors who are making a name for themselves on broadcasting? They are all characters who have experienced hardships in the theater. Moreover, even stage director Seong Ji-hoon gathered in one place.

In my past life, when I was in college, there was a story that professors always said out of habit. If playwright Jeong Yong-dae had not quit his job in Korea and stage director Seong Ji-hoon had not left the stage, the theater world would have developed decades faster.

“Nice to meet you all. I know some of you, but there are also some I don’t know, so I’ll start by greeting you. My name is Seong Ji-hoon, and I’m the director and stage manager.”

Starting with stage director Seong Ji-hoon, playwright Jeong Yong-dae and the actors continued with their greetings. The actors, who have already been worn out in the theater, are nowhere to be seen feeling nervous. Yeonsu hid her nervousness and greeted me cheerfully. Finally, it was my turn.

“My name is Jang Young-guk, who will play the lead role of Baek Moo-yeol. It is an honor to meet my seniors here today. I look forward to your continued support.”

Now that I think about it, I remember the first time I stepped into theater in my last life. At that time, I was so nervous during the face-to-face meeting with my seniors that I even stuttered. The stage manager and some actors are looking at me with curious eyes. You might be wondering what kind of talent she had that captivated playwright Jeong Yong-dae. It was then.

match!

Actor Lee Chang-hoon gets up from his seat and claps his hands to attract attention. Seeing this, stage director Seong Ji-hoon and playwright Jeong Yong-dae quietly stand up from their seats. Yeonsu looks dumbfounded, but I know.

“Lee Chang-hoon was unintentionally appointed as the temporary director because he is the oldest and has limited acting experience. The reason everyone stopped their schedules and gathered here was for rehearsals. As you can see, the now-defunct theater company Seonghwan We have rented the stage for a month. Since preparations are not easy yet, we cannot show the level of a dress rehearsal, but the situation is good enough to move around and give a reading. There is still about a month left until the Korean Theater Festival. “Everyone will have to be very busy, because just one performance will be the measure of our reputation.”

Everyone swallows their saliva at actor Lee Chang-hoon’s last words. As we exchanged greetings, the friendly atmosphere immediately became tense. After all, aren’t they all actors who left the theater scene? The determination they bring to this stage is no less than that of any other actor.

“From now on, I will speak in peace.”

The reason why Lee Chang-hoon, who is known to be gentle, spoke so strongly was simple. Unexpected situations that occur on stage are something the stage manager or playwright cannot be involved in. Moreover, the role of the commander is no different from that of a military base commander.

Sometimes he is kind like his mother, but at other times he has to be extremely strict like his father. In a word, it was no different from carrying the gun as a senior actor.

“We’ll start with training and rehearsals first.”

I thought so.

In most theater rehearsals, beginners are often brought on board first. Moreover, aren’t Yeonsu and I still rookies who have never had any proper theater experience? I can’t help but wonder from the perspective of the actors who were worn out in the theater.

“yes!”

Yeonsu answers energetically and stands up. Only the stage manager, playwright, and actors are sitting in the empty auditorium. I also sit in an empty seat and look at Yeonsu standing alone on stage.

‘Whoa.’

Yeonsu is catching her breath.

Seeing that scene brings back memories of being on stage for the first time in my life. Even back then, they performed while the senior members of the theater group sat in the audience and watched. To be honest, I don’t even remember what kind of performance he showed.

Even though it was only a rehearsal, the pressure of the first stage made my eyes turn white and even my voice tremble. What followed, of course, was the senior’s scolding.

‘It would be nice if you didn’t cry.’

Aren’t you taking it easy because it’s a rehearsal?

What all theater people talk about together is the fear of rehearsals. This is especially true for rookies. It was scarier to see seniors looking at you with stern eyes than to see a full audience. Moreover, isn’t it a lead role and not a minor role? Not only must there be a lot of dialogue, but the range of action must also be utilized widely.

“Act 1, Scene 7.”

Director Lee Chang-hoon’s voice resonates throughout the theater.

Only then does Yeonsu move her steps and open her small lips.

“Who is this man that he hangs out with Japanese women like that? There really is no shame in Joseon. He fawns so much and seems to want to be the dog of the Japanese. Does that mean he wants to be a Japanese if not a dog?”

Vocalization and tone are good. It looks like they are trying hard to erase what they had in the drama. But there is a problem.

‘Blocking.’

A play is not a stage consisting of only actual dialogue. Even the actor’s emotions and thoughts must be shown to the audience without any mistakes in order to understand and persuade them. In that sense, the character’s movements and facial expressions are an essential part.

Moreover, that is not the only thing that Yeonsu overlooked. I gently closed my eyes. As if he had anticipated the loud noise that would soon be heard.

“hey-!”

* * *

There is a cold atmosphere in the theater. Those sitting in the audience can only stare at the stage. Yeonsu’s cheerful face when she introduced herself suddenly looks anxious, as if she might burst into tears at any moment. It looks like he is biting his lip and trying to endure it all. but.

“again.”

Rehearsals have already been repeated so many times that I can’t count them on my fingers. However, Yeonsu stops at the line in Act 1, Scene 7. As soon as the line ends, like a Möbius strip that is constantly repeated, leader Lee Chang-hoon shouts ‘again’ in a raspy voice.

‘They teach harshly.’

Director Lee Chang-hoon doesn’t even point out what Yeon-soo did wrong. I don’t know why he’s pushing Yeonsu to the point where I think it’s a bit too much. Moreover, there was a good reason for rehearsing on stage all at once without even reading the script. Because there is not much time left until the Korean Theater Festival.

‘Shock therapy works best.’

This is something I also experienced in my past life. The seniors are lined up in a row and made to repeat over and over again, and they don’t even teach them what went wrong on the first day. Anyway, if they were going to teach me every single thing, I should go to an acting academy and not come to a theater company.

‘I did it for three hours.’

Training is better. In my last life, when I had my first rehearsal, I had to repeat my act while swearing at the director for three hours. If you recite the same line over and over again for three hours, not only will your head turn as white as a sheet of paper, but your hands and feet will start shaking.

There were many cases where many new actors ran away from theater after going through this experience. Every time, the seniors said:

-This is the floor where only those who will do it anyway are left.

As if to prove her words, Yeonsu bites her lip and recites the line. Although Yeonsu is tired of repeating lines, she seems to be constantly trying to maintain her voice and tone. It was then.

“stop.”

Actor Lee Chang-hoon nods his head with a satisfied smile. An hour has already passed. But the seniors never took their eyes off that figure. Now it is the seniors’ turn to step forward. Usually, they do not point out the rookie’s problems right away and tell them to look at the senior’s performance at the next rehearsal and find corrections on their own. It was then.

“uk.”

me?

Actor Lee Chang-hoon looks at me. I was lost in reminiscing about my past life and forgot about it for a moment.

“Go up.”

The fact that I am also a rookie now.