NIS Agent Reincarnated as a Genius Actor - Chapter 7

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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 7. Audition Begins

“Ha! Why does it have to be number 1? I’ll be back.”

“I’m going to get the part anyway, but do well.”

“Yeah. You won’t.”

 

One of the students from the arts university stood up, bumped fists with his friend, entered the audition room, and came out about 3 minutes later with a somewhat dark expression.

 

“Thank you for your hard work. We’ll contact you with the results later. Sorry, but you can’t talk to other participants and please go straight down that way.”

 

The staff member standing by the door guided Na Seong-jin to the exit.

 

“Next participant, number 2, Jung Su-yeon.”

 

Jung Su-yeon, who had been sitting in the corner and had made somewhat of a name for herself among young people through web dramas, went in and came out shortly after.

Like the other participant who went in before her, her face was dark.

 

“Haah, what should I do.”

 

Jung Su-yeon unconsciously let out a sigh as she left the audition hall.

 

‘At this rate, I’ll end up on the same path as Ju-young unnie.’

 

Jung Su-yeon left the audition hall with a dark expression.

 

Seeing this, an actor sitting next to Yeon-woo struck up a conversation.

 

“Phew, the atmosphere seems pretty intense, doesn’t it?”

“It seems so. This is my first time, so I’m nervous.”

 

Yeon-woo smiled slightly while looking at the actor who spoke to him first.

 

“Just do what you normally do in front of the camera and you’ll be fine. Well, I’m not really in a position to talk. Phew!”

 

After giving advice to Yeon-woo, who said this was his first audition, he took a deep breath as he seemed to get nervous too.

 

“Anyway, let’s get good results. I’m An Jun-ho. If I get into this project, it’ll be my third. I’ve only played small roles so far, so I’m practically unknown.”

 

He extended his hand to Yeon-woo, asking for a handshake.

 

“Yes, I’m Ryu Yeon-woo. Senior. This is completely my first time.”

 

Yeon-woo took the extended hand and smiled brightly.

 

“Hey, what senior. Still, looking at your face, Yeon-woo, you’ll become famous soon, won’t you?”

“Thank you for the kind words.”

 

Just then, they heard a staff member calling An Jun-ho.

 

“Number 4, An Jun-ho? Mr. An Jun-ho, please come in.”

“Ugh, why does it have to be the unlucky number 4. Maybe this one isn’t meant to be either. I’ll go in first, Yeon-woo.”

 

An Jun-ho greeted Yeon-woo and stood up.

 

After that, several more people auditioned and Yeon-woo’s turn approached.

 

“The next person to come in is, let me see. Ryu Yeon-woo? There’s no photo in the profile?”

“Ah, that’s the person. Jeong Cheol-min contacted me urgently a few days ago asking to put his student in the audition, so I just told him to send simple personal information.”

 

Writer Choi Mi-hyeon spoke as if pleased at Director Kim Han-su’s words.

 

“Aha, Cheol-min recommended him. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him. Was the last time when we filmed ‘Seeing the End’?”

“Ah, Cheol-min appeared as a supporting actor in Writer Choi’s work once, right?”

“He was a perfect supporting actor. The work failed, but Cheol-min did really well back then.”

 

As Kim Han-su and Choi Mi-hyeon reminisced about Jeong Cheol-min, Casting Director Jung Yoon-seok added his comment.

 

“But that actor. His own acting is really flawless, but his teaching skills seem lacking. He’s sent actors to commercial film auditions I’ve handled several times, but I’ve never selected any of them.”

“Hmm. Maybe he just hasn’t discovered a gem yet. Jeong Cheol-min is probably in the provincial areas now, right? In this industry, the talent pool in Seoul and provincial areas is different.”

 

Just then, the door opened and Ryu Yeon-woo walked in with confident strides and stood in the center of the audition room.

 

“Hello! I’m aspiring actor Ryu Yeon-woo who applied for the ‘Summer’s Closet’ audition.”

 

He had truly sculpted looks that created the illusion of a halo shining from behind him.

 

“…Oh oh. Found him.”

 

Writer Choi Mi-hyeon dropped the pen she was holding onto the desk with a thud.

 

The production team came to their senses at Choi Mi-hyeon’s words that she unconsciously whispered quietly.

 

“Cheol-min asked me to definitely take a look at one of his students. First of all, his visuals are outstanding.”

“Thank you, Director.”

 

At the mention of Teacher Jeong Cheol-min, Yeon-woo recognized him as Director Kim Han-su.

 

“You don’t have any acting experience yet. Plus you’re still a minor, hmm… How long have you been doing acting?”

“Yes, I’ve been learning acting for about 6 months now.”

 

Casting Director Jung Yoon-seok smiled slightly as if interested but regretful.

 

“Your looks are definitely star material, but 6 months… Let’s take a look first. Shall we start, Director?”

 

At Casting Director Jeong’s words, Director Kim Han-su nodded and asked Yeon-woo for free acting.

 

“Would it be okay if I act any role from the script?”

“Yes, if there’s a role we want to see more of, we’ll ask for assigned acting again, so you can act any role, any scene from the script we sent.”

“Understood. Aspiring actor Ryu Yeon-woo will begin acting Episode 2, Scene 16.”

 

Looking at the young man about to start acting, Writer Choi Mi-hyeon prayed that he would do well.

His appearance is perfect, and if his acting skills could just support him a little, it would be a blessing that rolled right in.

 

Yeon-woo set down the script he had brought, and the production team flipped through the script to find Scene 16 of Episode 2.

 

The role he would be acting this time, ‘Cha Woo-ju’, is the son of a wealthy family.

 

In the previous scenario, he defied his father’s opposition to enter the Modeling Department and was kicked out of his home, leaving him with nowhere to go as he aimlessly kills time on a Campus bench.

 

Then, a basketball flies into the motorcycle parked beside him, and the impact breaks the motorcycle’s mirror. The scene Yeon-woo would act is right after that.

 

Instead of seeking compensation from the drama’s male protagonist ‘Kang Seo-jun’ who threw the basketball, it’s a scene where he follows him home and stubbornly demands to be allowed to live in his place.

 

There was a somewhat strategic reason for choosing this scene for Free Acting.

Scene 16 of Episode 2 is the scene that can most diversely showcase changes in facial expressions among the contents of the scenario received for audition.

 

And that’s the most powerful weapon among the strengths that the current Yeon-woo can present.

 

‘Good, it’s my first audition, but let me show what I’ve practiced.’

 

Yeon-woo began his acting in earnest.

 

“Hah, I don’t know about that. Since you broke my motorcycle, I’m sleeping here. There are two rooms anyway.”

 

Yeon-woo covered his ears as if he couldn’t hear and lay down on the stage.

Then, not long after, he jumped up again and delivered his next line in a coaxing voice, whispering like a street vendor.

 

“Look, I told you I have nowhere to go. And do you know how much that motorcycle costs? You’re getting off cheap. What kind of world do we live in these days.”

 

Perhaps because they didn’t expect much after hearing he had only been learning acting for a short time.

The production team showed interest seeing Yeon-woo deliver his lines more naturally than expected.

 

“No way! Hey, let go. Don’t drag me! Wow, look how strong this guy is?”

 

Even though there was no one in front of him, Yeon-woo delivered his lines in an urgent voice as if he was really being dragged away.

 

“Hey hey, on such a cold day, are you really going to send me outside?”

“Ah, it was the new semester. It’s spring. No way, don’t you know about the late spring cold?”

 

Yeon-woo continuously poured out his lines somewhat pathetically and comically without pause.

It wasn’t outstanding acting, but it was still unbelievable skill for someone who had only started just six months ago.

 

However, the eyes of the production team looking at Yeon-woo seemed to be just about that level.

 

‘Hah, to make an impression and get at least a small role… I guess I have to do it after all?’

 

Yeon-woo began to control his mind internally.

 

‘I am Ryu Yeon-woo. Since I’m eighteen, I can be cute. I can definitely be cute.’

 

Soon, as if he had made up his mind, he opened his eyes wide and intentionally looked toward the production team.

 

“Hey. Friend, think about it again. If we’ve known each other for a day, we’re friends. Look, look at my rabbit-like eyes. Doesn’t it change your mind somehow?”

 

He cupped his face with both hands and blinked his eyes naturally.

 

With his sculpture-like appearance and big, pretty eyes that could be mistaken for a girl’s, blinking constantly, it became charming in itself and melted the hearts of the production team who were watching in a daze.

 

“That’s all. Thank you for watching.”

 

The trembling of Yeon-woo’s cheeks as he bowed his head must surely be an illusion.

 

Soon returning to an expressionless face, Yeon-woo went back to stand in the center where he had put down his script.

Several seconds had already passed since the silence began.

 

“His voice projection isn’t bad either, right?”

“If we polish him little by little, he’ll improve quickly, won’t he?”

“It’s only been six months. If he improved this much at the academy, he’ll be ready quickly once he gets on set.”

 

Director Kim Han-su, who barely came to his senses from the judges’ whispered evaluations heard from the side, nodded as if he had decided something.

 

“We saw it well. Let’s see, Scene 32 of Episode 3? Let’s take a look at this one additionally. You can take your time and read it slowly.”

 

Director Kim pointed to Yeon-woo’s script on the floor and requested a different scene.

 

‘Scene 32 of Episode 3, hmm. The designated acting is also Cha Woo-ju’s scene.’

 

After thinking for a moment, Ryu Yeon-woo opened his mouth.

 

“I’ll start right away.”

 

The production team tilted their heads at Yeon-woo’s words.

 

‘Start right away? It’s not even a supporting character scene, surely. Did he memorize the entire script?’

 

“Come on, choose, choose. Huh? That sweater? It suits you so well, miss. Since you have a pretty face, everything looks good on you.”

 

With Yeon-woo’s natural acting, it seemed like there was really a female student in front of him trying on a sweater.

 

“There’s a Fitting Room inside, so try it on and come out. Huh? I’ll take a look for you. Miss.”

 

He smiled with his eyes while talking to the customer on the right, then immediately looked to the left and his expression changed to completely expressionless.

 

“Hey. Jung Yeo-reum. You definitely said it. If I sell just twenty of these today, you’ll give me a room in the house where you guys live, right?”

 

Then, as if Yeo-reum’s words were bothersome, he waved his hand dismissively and Yeon-woo continued his lines.

 

“Ah, whatever. Whether you guys are newlyweds or childhood friends, I don’t care. You’re letting me sleep there, right? Yeah, that’s all that matters.”

 

Cha Woo-ju, who makes various expressions – when looking to the right, he provides Customer Service with a bright smile, and when looking to the left, he treats Jung Yeo-reum as if annoyed.

 

‘This was supposed to be shot separately in two takes. But if he can do it this perfectly, we could capture it in a full shot and go with one take. If that’s possible, the visuals would be even better.’

 

Director Kim Han-su kept nodding his head while watching Ryu Yeon-woo’s acting and continuously took notes.

 

“That’s all. Thank you for watching.”

 

Before long, Yeon-woo had finished his acting again and stood in the center, bowing politely.

 

Clap clap clap!

 

Writer Choi Mi-hyeon applauded with a bright smile, which seemed unusual for an audition hall.

 

And Casting Director Jung Yoon-seok asked what he had been curious about from the beginning.

 

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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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