I’m an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me - Chapter 205

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 205

* * *

Today was finally the day to head to Hyehwa.

“Yeoreum, it’s a bit different from what you’ve been doing, so it might feel awkward at first.”

Manager Choi, gripping the steering wheel, spoke encouragingly. I still hadn’t let go of the script from my hands.

“But it’s the first day! It’s okay! Just starting with energy is enough! Let’s go for it!”

Always so positive, which is nice. But contrary to Manager Choi’s words, the first day of script reading is far more important.

‘I need to establish dominance from the start.’

A rising star who parachuted in through Geum Bitkang, a greenhorn rookie backed by a major agency. There’s no way they’d look kindly upon someone like me.

‘Especially since this is the theater world.’

The theater world already had pride in competing purely on skill.

‘I’d bet my right hand that they’ve already gathered to bond over tearing me apart.’

From the moment I walk in, hostility forged through subtle solidarity will be directed at me.

‘It’s not like I can’t understand that feeling completely…’

But I have no intention of just letting it slide, so I need to make them acknowledge me no matter what. If the chemistry doesn’t work well from the first day, the completion of that production’s stage drops significantly.

In the end, it’s work done by people. If something goes wrong in a corner of someone’s heart, there’s bound to be a major accident at least once.

“You think so?”

“Of course!”

Sister, really, how naive.

‘They’ll all hate me. What’s with the “let’s go for it.”‘

I could be certain after looking through the cast. Especially Senior Tak, whom I got to know in my past life.

“Hey, Han Yeoreum!!! Are you going to get on stage like that?!”

He was a senior with good memorization ability. Since he was serious about acting, he also lived with the script constantly in his hands.

He probably aimed for the lead role in this <Academy of Academy of Intern Academy>. His anger toward me would be considerable.

‘Senior Tak’s pickiness is well-known.’

He was someone with strictness who wouldn’t be lenient even with himself. With Senior Tak there, who wouldn’t tolerate even a second of losing focus in a play, my preparation had to be even more perfect.

‘I memorized the entire script on the first day I received it.’

At first just my lines, then I ended up memorizing the entire script. Theater has a structure where if one person makes a mistake, others have to support them together. We can’t let the audience catch any slip-ups.

‘Even to look good to the revolving door audience.’

The so-called veterans. I wanted to show the revolving door audience, who were like amateur critics of the theater and musical world, what kind of person Han Yeoreum is.

I recalled those long days of living in obscurity, never having my name called properly.

“We’re here, Yeoreum! I’ll park and come in.”

How long had my thoughts continued? I slowly opened my eyes at Manager’s voice.

I looked at the Neulpureun Art Center. Beyond there was the stage I had come to caress alone one night.

“Yes. I’ll go.”

Finally, I can stand at the very center of this place.

* * *

What’s the most important thing in comedy? Different people would answer differently.

“Unexpected absurdity?”

You could give a completely unrelated answer to someone’s question and make them burst into laughter.

“Facial Expression Acting!”

This was especially a crucial factor in comedy. Even slightly exaggerating facial muscle movements would make laughter burst out here and there. The very fact that comedy was chosen is proof that the audience is ‘ready to laugh.’

“You have to use your body well!”

Light and quick body movements were also important. You had to present those images that first come to mind when thinking of comical movements. Within the typical, audiences instinctively grasp it.

Which character will specifically provide laughter. Just recognizing that makes laughter come more easily.

‘But the most important thing isn’t any of those three.’

Anyone who has watched theater for a long time knows. Real comedy wasn’t determined by those three things.

“Sister, do you love me?”

“….”

“….”

“I love you, I love you.”

It’s none other than push and pull. It looks the easiest but is the hardest. You have to realize it through crazy practice, or be born with natural talent.

Han Yeoreum was the latter. At just twenty-two years old, an actor who debuted right after turning twenty couldn’t have had an enormous amount of practice.

Yet Han Yeoreum inserted pauses between lines like a ghost.

‘Silence means the actor was flustered.’

From the character’s appearance of seemingly revealing their inner thoughts, audiences laugh comfortably. It’s different from other genres. Comedy approaches audiences openly and easily.

“…No, that kind of academy?”

Han Yeoreum knew how to subtly twist even the same line. Just like when you’re laughing and chatting with friends and suddenly silence comes, right after that, bigger laughter usually follows.

“Would exist. Yes. Of course! It would exist.”

Han Yeoreum led the atmosphere with her distinctive diction. It was the first day of script reading. Han Yeoreum didn’t make a single line mistake. Rather, the existing actors stumbled over their lines several times.

‘Everyone’s mood is different.’

Even the actors who had been giggling until this morning, saying let’s see how well Han Yeoreum does, had different expressions. They were tense faces.

Everyone here was seasoned in this place. They couldn’t be pushed around by someone from web dramas.

This was a battle of pride.

‘She’s different.’

But… Han Yeoreum was somehow different. Every single line was seasoned.

The transition from clumsy college senior Jin Jinjoo to newcomer Jin Jinjoo who completed intern academy and entered the probation period was natural.

‘Even working with that Geum Bitkang…’

She wasn’t pushed back at all. Rather, every time the two matched their timing, the sound quality that filled the practice room was excessively good. It made the actor who had to deliver lines next look shabby.

‘If it’s like this with just script reading.’

Tak Jeongyun was nervous. The scenario in her fingertips got crumpled.

What would happen if Han Yeoreum, who seemed to control the scene with just her voice, was let loose on stage?

Tak Jeongyun unconsciously bit her lips.

* * *

“Let’s take a break!”

After the 1 hour 30 minute first script reading ended, all the actors were exhausted. When Geum Bitkang left her seat, Han Yeoreum followed behind.

“Want a cigarette?”

“If Professor gives me one, I’ll start learning from today.”

“Stop with the habitual flattery.”

Geum Bitkang chuckled and took out a cigarette. After deeply inhaling the smoke, she exhaled the murky air at once.

“How’s the reading.”

“…Thank you for going easy on me today.”

As expected, Han Yeoreum had noticed. Geum Bitkang had deliberately accommodated Han Yeoreum as much as possible.

As a result of closely observing while delivering lines, Han Yeoreum knew exactly how to do theatrical voice projection. She understood how to bring words out of her mouth. That alone was quite satisfying.

“What about this analysis?”

Then she immediately brought up the main point. Han Yeoreum beside her answered calmly.

“You mean the characters?”

“Yeah. Characters.”

“If that’s what you mean, all of them.”

“…What?”

Geum Bitkang momentarily forgot to exhale cigarette smoke. Fluffy white smoke spread.

“What I think is most important in this play is timing.”

The face of the student across from her blurred for a moment, then slowly became clear.

“So I analyzed the sections where each character can be played with.”

Where had she seen that expression before. Geum Bitkang thought for a moment. Then she suddenly realized.

It was the past Geum Bitkang. It was her own face when she practiced fiercely and devoted herself day and night to finally completely and thoroughly dissect a work.

The twenty-something Geum Bitkang was before her eyes.

“You’re confident?”

Before she knew it, forgetting to bring it to her mouth, Geum Bitkang fiddled with the cigarette burning between her fingers.

“Yeah, well then. Run wild to your heart’s content.”

The cheeky disciple smiled slightly.

“Don’t go easy on a single one of them.”

At this, Geum Bitkang smiled back.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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