The Haunted Monster Actor - Chapter 55



Only Krnovel

Episode 55

After Jiyuhan’s performance, Im Jinhan just silently taught Hyeonsu how to play the guitar and did not try to persuade him any further.

Two months passed by in the blink of an eye.

Self-defense, self-defense! Jiing―

Im Jin-han thought as he watched Hyun-soo demonstrate what he had learned.

‘Obviously, this guy has some musical talent.’

However, the acting that Hyunsoo showed to himself last time… … .

‘That was… … not at a level where the word ‘talent’ could be used.’

“How is that possible?”

“yes?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Anyway, when does filming start?”

“Filming? I haven’t even auditioned yet.”

“What about an audition? If the people there have their eyes and ears set on you, they won’t be able to avoid picking you.”

“What are you talking about? How many actors in the world are so good at acting… .”

“You know what?”

“… … ?”

“I’ve never seen a musician I was looking forward to perform fail. And when I saw Hyun-soo’s performance, I thought, “

“… … ?”

“Hyunsoo, I want to see your… … no, Jiyuhan’s performance.”

In Im Jin-han’s opinion, Ji Yu-han’s guitar in the script… … is the one that can fully express his feelings for music.

“Hyunsoo, there’s no one else but you.”

Hyunsoo bowed his head politely to express his gratitude for the teachings of the past two months.

“Thank you for everything, teacher. I will definitely pass the audition.”

“If you film a drama, you’ll keep coming to learn guitar, right? Why are you making such a grand greeting?”

“That’s why I’m saying that we don’t know yet.”

* * *

On the day of the audition.

Hyunsoo and Gogun went to Studio Dreamcatcher, where the auditions for “Nineties Dive” were being held, early in the morning.

The weather, which had become full-blown spring, was cool and the sky was clear, perhaps because it had rained the night before.

However, Gogun, who would normally be excited about the weather being so bad and that this was definitely a sign that his brother would pass the audition, was strangely quiet.

“Why are you so quiet today?”

“I, I heard a strange rumor.”

“Strange rumors?”

“That’s right, it’s rumored that Jeong-i Shin applied for this audition.”

Jeong In-shin? If it’s Jeong In-shin… … .

“Didn’t you say that director Bong Jin-woo’s new film is coming out this time?”

Actor Jung Ee-shin.

He was called an acting prodigy since his childhood, and was also the young persona of Bong Jin-woo, a genius film director loved by the world and Cannes.

This time, it’s not just a simple supporting role, but he was cast as the main character in his new work after beating out odds of 3000:1…

“Auditioning for a drama at this point?”

“That’s right! I heard that Director Bong Joon-ho’s new filming schedule has been pushed back by about a year… … . Oh, you’re really greedy. He couldn’t hold it in any longer and said he’d do a drama… … .”

“Hasn’t actress Jeong In-shin been doing a lot of dramas lately?”

“Not only the drama, but the work itself wasn’t very good. Anyway, I can only hope that rumors are just rumors.”

As he said that, he was constantly watching Hyun-soo’s expression.

Even Go Geon, who usually boasts of Hyun-soo’s passing in a half-joking manner, says this, showing that Jeong-in Shin possesses acting skills that are on a different level from other actors.

The media has already mentioned him several times as the next generation national actor, and there is an atmosphere of national recognition for his acting skills.

Even though Hyunsoo is an actor who has been a hot topic recently through dramas and interviews, the comparison itself was completely meaningless.

‘Why on earth is it in this drama… …!’

And, as I said before, only one actor will be chosen from this audition.

This was the reason why Gogun’s face was dark.

“Really? It’s Jeong-i-shin… … .”

But unlike Go Geon, who had a worried look on his face, Hyun Soo’s eyes lit up from the moment he heard the name Jeong I-shin.

‘I really wanted to meet him once. I wonder what kind of actor he is.’

Hyunsoo dreamed of becoming an actor while watching Jeong Ee-shin on TV and the big screen since he was a child actor.

Since becoming an actor, I have felt a huge wall that I couldn’t overcome more than once while watching his possessed acting.

‘This is my chance to see that wall… … with my own eyes.’

Without even knowing what Hyunsoo was thinking, Gogun continued speaking in a dead voice.

“This could also mean that the influence of writer Choi Ui-jeong’s work has grown to the point where Jeong I-shin is coveting it… … .”

“It’s not necessarily just because of that.”

“yep?”

“This piece, the script is really good.”

It is unlikely that Jeong Shin would have chosen a work solely based on topicality or viewer ratings.

Just as I felt something while watching “Nineties Dive”, Jeong-i Shin too… … .

“You must have seen something here.”

‘What would the band Rising Dive look like, interpreted by Jeong Ee-shin?’

So Hyun-soo arrived at the audition venue with pure expectations as an actor.

* * *

Dreamcatcher Studio building.

A long hallway is lined with people, each holding a tattered bundle of paper in one hand.

Or memorize the lines by going over each and every word carefully.

Or exchange it with the person next to you.

Or, they explode with passionate emotions without caring about their surroundings.

Their eyes, their voices, their gestures and their actions all contain a desperation that is difficult to conceal.

Everyone holding a script in one hand is an actor.

“The competition rate is 150:1? At this rate… … .”

“Even if it’s not possible, it’ll probably be more than 300 people, right?”

“I saw earlier that the lower floor was also full of actors waiting. This is the number of candidates who passed the first round of auditions for lead roles. Writer Choi Ui-jeong is truly amazing.”

Hyunsoo nodded after hearing Gogun’s words.

Although Hyunsoo had applied for countless auditions, this was the first time he had seen so many actors gathered together.

“Well, most of the actors who have starred in Choi Ui-jeong’s dramas have done well. Anyway, hyung, I’ll go and check out how the audition schedule is going.”

“Okay, have a good trip.”

Hyun-soo, who had parted ways with Go-geon, entered the hallway lined with actors alone.

As Hyun-soo appears, the actors’ gazes turn towards him.

“Kim Hyun-soo is an actor.”

“Oh, actor Kim Hyun-soo is here too.”

“I enjoyed the drama. The acting was pretty good.”

“It’s pretty much. It’s no joke.”

But that only lasted for a moment, as the actors’ eyes turned back to the script.

Now is a crucial moment when their dreams are at stake.

At this time, when every second counts, there is no time to pay attention to other actors.

It was the same with Hyun-soo.

As soon as Hyunsoo sat down in the waiting room, he quietly closed his eyes.

I already have the lines I need for the audition in my head.

Hyunsoo began to simulate the acting he had prepared for the audition in his head.

He opened ‘Simsang’ and went up on stage with Ji Yu-han.

After some time had passed, Hyunsoo suddenly realized that the surroundings had become quiet and opened his eyes.

“… … ?”

All the surrounding actors were looking at one place, and naturally, Hyun-soo’s gaze turned in that direction as well.

“It’s Jeong I-shin.”

“Jeong-ishin… … You really came.”

The actor’s aura overwhelms everyone just by walking in.

‘… … So this is what it means to have a halo shining from behind.’

Of course, it goes without saying that Jeong Ee-shin was able to maintain her top position from child actor to present not only because of her genius acting skills.

Jeong Ee-shin has grown up to be just like when she was a child, with pure eyes and skin as white as jade.

A dazzling appearance and an amazing acting ability that makes even that appearance pale in comparison.

He was the one who came closest to the dreams of all the actors here.

Perhaps that’s why, unlike Kim Hyun-soo’s time, the actors couldn’t take their eyes off him for a while.

The actors’ faces begin to show a wider range of emotions than when they were holding the script in their hands.

There were also actors whose eyes lit up when they saw Jeong-in Shin like Hyun-soo… … .

“… … Tsk, what is a successful actor doing here?”

“So, shouldn’t we make some concessions to our juniors in these things?”

“Ha, you’re wrong. How can you beat Jeong-i-shin?”

Most people did not welcome the appearance of actor Jung Ee-shin.

He took a quick look around the hallway and sat down in a seat that happened to be empty.

Coincidentally, it was the seat across from Hyun-soo.

“Oh, the owner of that place is in the bathroom for a moment… … .”

Jeong-in-shin sat down, either because she didn’t hear Hyun-soo’s words or because she ignored them.

The owner returned shortly after, but when he saw that the person sitting in his seat was Jeong I-shin, he went to sit in another seat with a flustered look on his face.

Even though we were both actors, there was something about Jeong In-shin that was difficult to even dare to talk about.

It was the same for Hyun-soo, but he wanted to say hello even more.

Hyunsoo greeted Jeong Ishin with bright eyes(?).

“Hello, senior. My name is actor Kim Hyun-soo. I have always admired you so much, senior. It is an honor to meet you here… … .”

“This is Jeong I-shin.”

That was all for the greeting.

Jeong-i-shin, who had just bowed to Hyun-soo, immediately leaned back against the chair and closed her eyes.

A contrast to the other actors holding their scripts in one hand.

‘I see, so actor Jeong-i Shin also memorized the entire script for the audition. I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of acting he’ll show.’

Jeong Ee-shin’s facial expressions, which showed a variety of emotions in the movie, were more dry than expected, and her speech was also extremely bleak.

Hyunsoo chuckled and closed his eyes as if he was seeing a male version of Choi Joo-mi.

After that, there was no word between the two actors.

It was like the silence right before a show begins.

* * *

The auditions for “Nineties Dive” were conducted with four people forming a group.

In auditions for Jordan-level roles, it is common for two or three people to audition in pairs, but it is rare for four people to audition at the same time for a lead role.

“It’s not just because there are a lot of people… … but something seems strange.”

As Hyun-soo was making that puzzled expression, a voice suddenly came from in front of him.

“Four people.”

“yes?”

“Members of the band.”

“……ah!”

Whether it was a coincidence or fate, Hyunsoo and Jeong Ishin, who were sitting across from him, ended up going into the audition room as a group.

‘But… … did you just give me some audition tips?’

Before entering the audition room, it is important to know the judges’ intentions.

No matter how small it may be.

‘The more I look at her, the more she seems like Choi Ju-mi.’

With that thought in mind, Hyunsoo sat down next to Jeong Ishin.

“Hello, this is Jinsoo Lee, the production director of Dreamcatcher.”

“This is PD Jeong Geun-ho.”

“Hello, I am writer Choi Ui-jeong.”

Their surprised eyes, slightly tired from the audition that had been going on for quite some time, turned to one person.

Their gaze, which had suddenly become more lively, naturally turned to where Jeong-i-shin was sitting, not Hyun-soo.

“Actor Jeong-i Shin… … I was surprised when I saw his profile, but he really came? He never came to variety shows even when I called him that way… …!”

As a variety show writer, it was an unpleasant experience, but strangely enough, it wasn’t like that at all.

In any case, the fact that actor Jeong Ee-shin chose his work also meant that he was recognized as a drama writer.

In some ways, this was something I felt even more proud of than appearing on a variety show.

Even though the PD and production director sitting on either side of writer Choi Ui-jeong burst into laughter, the heavy atmosphere in the audition room showed no sign of lightening.

Looking at the sparkling eyes of the judges, the other actors who were paired with Jeong In-shin began to cry inwardly.

‘As expected, everyone is obsessed with Jeong In-shin.’

‘Damn it, why did he have to be in the same group as Jeong-i-shin! Why did he have to go to the bathroom at that time… …!’

Of course, Hyunsoo had been smiling brightly since earlier.

Honestly, I didn’t know that something like that would happen, but I was given the opportunity to watch Jeong Eui-shin’s acting right before my eyes. No, right next to me!

“Okay, everyone must be very nervous and mentally exhausted from waiting outside for a long time, so wouldn’t it be better to get started right away?”

Tension appears on the actors’ faces at the words of production director Lee Jin-soo.

Except for ‘two people’.

‘Hoo.’

The judges’ eyes turned to Hyunsoo for a moment.

Even though Jeong I-shin had been well-versed in numerous auditions since her childhood, Hyun-soo also had the same relaxed expression as when he first entered the audition room.

No, it’s more like he’s enjoying the moment.

‘Actor Kim Hyun-soo, although he’s not at the level of Jung Yi-shin, he showed some pretty good acting this time. I wonder… … Will he be able to do the same next to Jung Yi-shin?’

“Actor Kim Hyun-soo.”

“yes!”

“I think actor Kim is the type of person who doesn’t get nervous?”

“……yes?”

“But since this is a place to choose a leading actor, I don’t think you’re too nervous.”

Director Lee Jin-soo’s face looked a bit cold as he spoke like that.

The other actors’ faces began to harden at Jin-soo Lee’s comments, which immediately started pressuring them even though this wasn’t a company interview.

‘Kim Hyun-soo, what kind of actor are you?’

Of course, it’s not that Jinsoo Lee, an industry veteran, has ill feelings toward Hyunsoo, whom he met for the first time today.

The lead actor of a drama is an important casting that is directly connected to the success of the work.

Yes, that’s right.

In fact, even this comment right now is part of the audition.

The moment you enter this room, the audition has already begun.

The reason for shaking up the actors’ emotions before going into the audition was simple.

‘How quickly can you regain your composure and immerse yourself in acting in this situation?’

Choi Ui-jeong is a writer who pushes actors.

And there aren’t many new actors who can handle this.

So, unintentionally, Lee Jin-soo was given the role of a villain who would drain the actors’ souls in this audition.

“Actor Kim Hyun-soo?”

With Lee Jin-soo’s sharp tone, all eyes in the room turned to Hyun-soo.

Hyunsoo answered without erasing the innocent smile he had on at first.

“Auditions are… … fun.”

“……ok?”

“Being able to tell other people what’s inside of me… … just thinking about it is an awesome thing―!”

It was Ji Yu-han’s line in the work.

Continued in the next episode