NIS Agent Reincarnated as a Genius Actor - Chapter 6

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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 6. Audition Preparation

Rustle.

 

In the director’s office after Cheol-min left, only the continuous sound of paper friction could be heard as Yeon-woo turned the pages of the script.

Before he knew it, he had become completely immersed in the scenario and began reading the script.

 

The script Yeon-woo received contained only 3 episodes out of the 16-part series and fragmentary latter parts where the supporting character needed for this audition first appears, and even this had a high possibility of continuous revisions until actual filming began.

 

The original webtoon tells the story of the female protagonist Jung Yeo-reum, a Fashion Design Department student, who creates a clothing store called ‘Summer’s Closet’ by decorating an unused department storage room with her classmates to earn money for Paris Fashion Week, which was her dream.

 

Looking at the content up to episode 3, it felt like they added a triangular love line between the male lead and sub-male lead with more weight to the original webtoon content.

 

“This part needs to keep the atmosphere bright in the drama, so I should be as lively as possible…”

 

Yeon-woo analyzed by emotionally immersing himself in all characters while taking notes until the script turned black.

 

“Hmm, when I imagine actually acting it, honestly the lead characters are tempting.”

 

Due to the nature of light and fast-paced romantic comedy dramas, supporting character roles couldn’t be carried strongly, so most scenes basically involved agreeing with the lead actors’ actions or keeping the drama atmosphere bright with relatively comedic acting.

 

On the other hand, seeing the lead characters with their lively bouncing personalities and vivid, detailed characterization naturally made him greedy.

 

‘Still, someday I’ll get to play roles like these too, so I should think of this as practice in advance.’

 

After finishing character analysis, he turned on the camcorder in the practice room, stood in front of it, read the lines, then tried delivering them as he had imagined in his head.

 

“What, Jung Yeo-reum. You started first? You first, hmm. ‘You’ started first?”

 

He tried emphasizing here and there, finding a natural tone that fit the situation.

 

-What, Jung Yeo-reum. ‘You’ started first?

 

Yeon-woo repeated the process of delivering lines then turning on the camcorder to watch them back.

 

Several hours passed like that.

 

“Yeon-woo! You still haven’t gone home?”

 

Cheol-min returned after finishing his lesson in the next room.

 

“Oh, teacher. Thinking that if this audition goes well, I’ll be entering my first work, I’m fired up.”

 

Yeon-woo smiled brightly as if truly happy.

 

“Still, kid, it’s almost 11 o’clock. Your brother and sister-in-law will be worried. I’ll help you properly after school tomorrow, so let’s go home today. I’ll give you a ride.”

“Thank you!”

 

 

When Cheol-min gestured toward the door, Yeon-woo gathered his script and stood up, tidied up various things, then together they closed the academy and got in Cheol-min’s car.

 

“Yeon-woo, I had many lessons today so I couldn’t help you at all. How was the work? Did you read it all?”

 

Leaving the parking lot, Cheol-min asked Yeon-woo apologetically.

 

“There’s only content up to episode 3 and the stage directions are rough, but it’s interesting!”

“Are there any characters you want? During break time I called my senior and asked, and he said they’ll proceed by doing free acting within the script and giving assigned acting instructions on site if needed.”

 

Cheol-min had asked about the process during his break time because he was secretly worried about Yeon-woo.

 

“Among the supporting roles, Hwang Jae-il’s role with relatively high importance is good, but if I can just get any role, I should work hard even on small parts.”

“Right, just looking at your appearance, you’re definitely lead material. Let’s use this opportunity to make your face known. Even if it’s a small role, once you appear on screen, there will be many opportunities in the future.”

 

Cheol-min, who had directly trained Yeon-woo, was confident.

About this audition, and about Ryu Yeon-woo’s future as an actor afterward.

 

“Yes, I hope so.”

 

He smiled lightly while making a resolution inside.

 

‘In this life, I’ll really work hard and definitely succeed as an actor.’

 

***

 

After that, for four days Yeon-woo rushed to the academy as soon as school ended and practiced and practiced.

 

“It’s already tomorrow. I think this is definitely it. Yeon-woo. There’s no way Director Kim Han-su would miss a gem like you.”

“Come on, aren’t you being too biased because I’m your student?”

 

Yeon-woo felt a bit embarrassed by Cheol-min’s blatant flattery and acted coy.

 

“It’s not like that, man. Teacher will drive you tomorrow, so let’s go up together and come back.”

“Teacher, it’s okay. I already booked train tickets and I can go and come back by myself.”

 

Yeon-woo waved his hands and answered Cheol-min’s suggestion.

 

“Train tickets can be canceled. Do you think your sister-in-law will be comfortable working after sending you to Seoul alone? I’ll call and tell her.”

“Ah, then I’m sorry but I’ll impose on you tomorrow. Thank you, teacher.”

 

Yeon-woo, who in his past life had traveled alone even to operation zones where shells were falling, felt awkward being treated like a child, but thinking of Cheol-min’s warm heart and his parents who would worry, he gratefully accepted without further argument.

 

And the next day dawned, and though the test was scheduled for 1 o’clock, saying it was better to go early than be late, he headed to Seoul with an escort from Cheol-min who came to pick up his student early in the morning.

 

Cheol-min’s car arrived in front of a building in Gangnam.

 

“Yeon-woo, if I go in with you there might be familiar faces, and it might seem like I’m pulling strings, so go up alone and come back. It’s the 8th floor of this building. Call teacher right away when you’re done.”

“Yes, teacher. I’ll do amazingly well and come back!”

 

At Yeon-woo’s spirited answer, Cheol-min’s lips unconsciously curved up.

 

“Which kids these days say ‘amazingly well,’ anyway, fighting.”

“Fighting!”

 

Yeon-woo turned around energetically and entered the building.

 

“Senior. I’m sending up a monster for you. You’ve been blessed.”

 

Left alone in the car, Cheol-min muttered to himself while watching Yeon-woo’s retreating figure.

 

Ding―. 8th Floor.

 

As he got off the elevator, there was a sign with an arrow pointing straight ahead.

 

「Summer’s Closet – Audition Hall is this way.」

 

“Finally.”

 

He opened the door to the Audition Hall Lobby and entered.

 

 

Meanwhile, in the Executive Conference Room inside the Audition Hall, which had been in chaos since morning, sighs were being exchanged.

 

“I knew this would happen. I had a bad feeling about that guy from the moment I first saw him.”

 

Writer Choi Mi-hyeon, who was in charge of adapting and writing the script for this drama, spoke while sighing.

 

The casting director looked at Writer Choi with a troubled expression and made excuses.

 

“His reputation in the broadcasting industry wasn’t great to begin with, but we picked him purely for his face and popularity.”

“Turns out, the reason he quit being an idol was because his former agency had already caught on to it.”

 

At the assistant director’s words, Director Kim Han-su spoke up.

 

“What’s done is done. What can we do? We’ll have to find someone new. Still, it’s a blessing in disguise that this happened before the production announcement.”

 

Though he said that, Director Kim Han-su, who was usually thorough in his preparations and had a relaxed personality, couldn’t help but sigh.

 

This morning, they received a call from the talent agency that exclusively managed actor Jung Min-hwan, a former idol who was cast as the sub-male lead, the third most important role.

 

‘Drug use charges have been confirmed and it looks like it will be reported in the news soon, so he cannot join the production.’

 

‘Since no formal contract has been signed between the production company and the agency yet, and the production announcement hasn’t been held, we cannot pay any penalty fees.’

 

The casting director, recalling the phone conversation, said:

 

“Actually, the penalty fee isn’t the problem – the problem is that we don’t have anyone listed up.”

“It couldn’t be helped. Who knew the broadcast date would be moved up this quickly? Ugh, this damn general programming channel.”

 

At Director Kim Han-su’s words, everyone’s faces darkened.

 

The drama “Summer’s Closet” was planned to air next summer and was supposed to be pre-produced, so there was plenty of time.

 

However, the variety show currently airing in the same time slot was suddenly cancelled due to the host’s affair scandal, and the follow-up shows scheduled to air afterward had their broadcast dates hastily moved up, creating a butterfly effect that forced “Summer’s Closet” to air early next year.

 

Still, since it was based on a webtoon, they didn’t need to conceptualize the script from scratch – Writer Choi could adapt it and quickly produce the script, so production wasn’t an issue.

 

However, since autumn was a good time for filming, many dramas were just starting production, so everyone was already cast and there was a shortage of young actors suitable for leading roles.

 

Moreover, since this production required acting as a twenty-year-old, the options were even more limited.

 

So despite having sufficient production budget, they were unusually holding auditions for supporting roles, and now with the sub-male lead falling through, they were in a difficult situation.

 

“Enough. Let’s all stop sighing. Since filming is right around the corner, Casting Director Jeong, please list up as many candidates as possible. I’ll also roll up my sleeves and use my connections to look around until we start shooting.”

 

When Director Kim Han-su mediated, everyone nodded.

 

“Everyone, since it’s time, let’s make sure to fill all the supporting roles completely in today’s audition, and think of the sub-male lead as the final piece to fit in.”

 

The assistant director tried to lift the mood as he left the meeting room and told the staff to start the audition.

 

“Yes, let’s all get up.”

 

When Director Kim Han-su stood up, everyone got up and headed to the Audition Hall.

 

 

And in the audition Waiting Room.

About thirty people were gathered, each preparing for their audition.

 

“Oh my, Hye-su, it’s been a while.”

“Senior. How have you been?”

 

Established actors who seemed to know each other greeted with smiles.

 

“Hey, did you hear? Han Jun-kyung did drugs.”

“What? Then what about the drama he’s currently filming?”

“I don’t know. Why are there so many drug scandals in the entertainment industry these days?”

 

And those who came from the Academy or the same department huddled together in a corner, chatting and sharing entertainment industry gossip.

 

In the midst of all this, Ryu Yeon-woo sat alone by himself.

 

But everyone was glancing at Ryu Yeon-woo out of the corner of their eyes.

 

“Hey, but where did that guy come from? I’ve never seen him before.”

“Right, but even combining all the actors I’ve seen, with that kind of face he’d make it.”

“What actors have you seen besides our professors?”

“I see them on TV.”

 

The students from the Top National Arts University’s Theater Department had to nod at their friend’s words.

However, one of them who had been looking at Yeon-woo with displeasure spoke coldly.

 

“Still, that guy’s definitely going to fail this audition.”

 

His friends looked at him when he declared the failure so definitively.

 

“Why?”

“This drama is Director Kim Han-su’s work. He’s absolutely not the type to pick someone just because they have a decent face. I heard from a senior that you need to show charm that matches the character. He obviously looks like a rookie, and when he’s already struggling just to act, what kind of charm could he possibly show?”

 

He didn’t know where this guy had rolled in from, but having been in the acting scene for a long time since starting as a child actor, there were few people among aspiring actors or unknowns that he didn’t recognize.

 

The fact that he was seeing him for the first time definitely meant he was an inexperienced rookie.

He was surely just some naive kid challenging acting just because he had a decent face.

 

“We’ll begin the audition. Participant number 1, Na Seong-jin, please come this way.”

 

At the staff member’s announcement to begin, the participants who had been murmuring also stopped glancing around and each began to focus.

 

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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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