The Haunted Monster Actor - Chapter 61



Only Krnovel

Episode 61

The day of the script reading.

Hyunsoo went to Apgujeong Jian early in the morning to get her basic makeup and hair done.

Script reading clips are a major promotional tool used along with teaser trailers before the drama airs.

Moreover, in an era where short-form videos on social media have become mainstream, its importance cannot be overemphasized.

So even if it was a script reading, basic settings were essential.

“I asked you to do it in a natural style… … Do you notice something different these days, hyung? It’s not for me, your manager, to say this, but now you can tell just by looking at me that I look like an actor.”

Now, Gogun also notices the subtle change in Hyunsu’s mood.

Even though it was just a light touch, an unusual aura was emanating from Hyunsoo.

“… … This isn’t even an actual shoot, isn’t this too much?”

Gogun smiled and shook his head at Hyunsoo’s words.

“You don’t know what I’m talking about, hyung. Considering the power of writer Choi Ui-jeong, this is something he’s endured a lot. I don’t know for sure, but I think reporters will be all over the place by now.”

This is none other than writer Choi Ui-jeong’s comeback work after several years.

There was no exaggeration in Gogun’s words that this was something he had endured a lot.

As soon as we arrived at the studio, we started seeing reporters lined up at the entrance.

“Look, brother. Am I right?”

At the time of the audition, he was so focused on the audition that he didn’t realize it, but this place was bigger than any studio Hyunsoo had ever visited.

Starting with the production of YouTube web dramas, it has grown explosively in a short period of time and now exclusively signs contracts for works from terrestrial and cable channels as well as Netflix.

The scale of the reporters camped out in front of the large building of the dream catcher was also beyond imagination.

“Isn’t this… … too much?”

“Hey, but with the addition of a top actor like Jeong I-shin, a famous writer, and a popular actor like Kim Hyun-soo, isn’t this too much to call it a series?”

Hyunsoo and Gogun got out of the car with dumbfounded faces.

Soon the two discovered why there was an unusually large crowd of reporters in front of the studio.

Named writer, top actor, popular actor.

In addition to the three factors that attracted the reporters mentioned earlier by Goh Geon, one more fact was added.

“Actor Kim Hyun-soo! Please tell us how you feel about receiving the TVM Best New Actor Award and being invited to Cannes!”

“There is also a lot of interest in whether you will win an award at the upcoming Black Art Awards. What do you think about that?”

“When exactly is the release date of Torso on the Blue, a Cannes-bound film?”

“You won the Best New Actor award for your first drama, and were invited to the Cannes Film Festival for your first film. You’re breaking unprecedented records for a new actor. What kind of performance will you be in ‘Nineties Dive’? …!”

‘… … .’

Goh Geon made a face of disappointment as he looked at Hyun-soo, who was surrounded by as many reporters as when he walked on the carpet heading to the year-end awards ceremony, or rather, even more.

The first lineup and special invitations for this year’s Cannes Film Festival will be held at 22:00, French local time, which is unusual.

In our country, it was announced at 6 AM today.

Due to the surprise announcement by the organizers due to internal circumstances, Woo Ji-yoon has been adjusting her schedule since dawn in preparation for the media’s reaction.

Of course, Gogun also knew that fact… …but it was announced just two hours ago.

Gogun, who had not expected that so many reporters would flock there in such a short period of time, was astonished.

“I’m sorry, brother. It was my fault.”

In fact, the fact that I was invited to Critics’ Week wasn’t news that would make headlines or draw reporters in for a few hours like it does now.

However, it is the combination of the three elements that Gogun mentioned earlier and the word ‘Khan’ that has created such tremendous synergy.

Moreover, the main character is Hyun-soo, who won the Rookie of the Year award at the end and beginning of the year.

From the reporters’ point of view, it was bound to be an unbearable prey.

“Okay, okay. Regarding the invitation to Cannes, we will separately coordinate the Q&A and schedule at the company level, so everyone please calm down… … .”

Of course, the reporters who were only looking at Hyun-soo’s mouth could not hear Go Geon’s words.

While he was marking Hyun-soo and somehow calming down the reporters, Goh Geon’s phone rang.

It was Woo Ji-yoon’s call.

-There now… … .

“Yes, it’s not chaos right now. What’s going on?”

―… … If Manager Ko is this flustered, then it must be more than I expected? He said that he had a script reading schedule today and that he would set up an official interview schedule later.

“It looks like you’re going to wait until it’s over, but I guess it’ll be hard for me to open the cabaret by myself?”

-Okay, right now, the PR team members… … No, I’ll go myself, so take Actor Kim with you for now.

“Yes, then I will do it according to the manual.”

-Okay, good luck.

After hanging up the phone, Goh Kun quickly began to skillfully control the reporters.

“Okay, actor Kim Hyun-soo is currently attending a drama script reading, so we will ask the company’s public relations team, who will arrive soon, to cover the interview!”

“Actor Kim Hyun-soo, we will only receive brief interviews related to the drama!”

“Haha, I am so grateful for the reporters’ interest and I ask for your generous cooperation in helping the actor’s schedule run smoothly!”

“Thanks to you reporters, you’re not going to write an article saying that the lead actor was late for the script reading, are you?! Okay, okay, let’s get started!”

After wrestling for about ten minutes, Hyun-soo and Go-geon were barely able to break through the reporters’ defensive line and escape.

Goh Geon, who finally took a breath after entering the studio, let out a deep sigh and muttered something resentful(?).

“I always think this way… … but our CEO is truly a scary person.”

“What does that mean?”

“Those reporters. I have a feeling that the CEO sent them on purpose.”

“Why did you send it on purpose?”

“Of course it’s for my brother. Today’s script reading news, along with the fact that I was invited to the Cannes Film Festival, might be featured on the front page of the entertainment section. No, with this level of firepower, it’s just unconditional.”

To tell the truth, Gogun’s guess was correct.

Woo Ji-yoon, who has worked on the front lines of idol entertainment, knows how to deal with the mass media more aggressively than anyone else.

It was a coincidence that the first lineup for the Cannes Film Festival was announced on the day of the script reading, but Woo Ji-yoon was a woman who knew how to turn that coincidence into an opportunity.

As soon as she heard the news, she went to work without washing up and contacted reporters from major media outlets and entertainment departments to focus their attention on Hyun-soo.

What if people start to focus more on Hyun-soo than on the drama?

It doesn’t matter.

In fact, that’s exactly what she wanted.

For Woo Ji-yoon, the number one priority is not the drama, but actor Kim Hyun-soo.

And in fact, strictly speaking, interest in Kim Hyun-soo is soon… …

“Oh my! Our actor Kim Hyun-soo is here?!”

I am also interested in dramas.

The person who was waiting for Hyun-soo in the lobby on the first floor without fail was none other than Dreamcatcher production director Lee Jin-soo.

The cool and determined look he showed during the audition is nowhere to be found, and his face is always smiling brightly.

“Haha, we should have sent people out from the studio to control the reporters, but they’re all out on set filming and stuff, so that’s all.”

As he spoke, Lee Jin-su’s face was filled with smiles.

Looking at that expression, Gogun let out a hollow laugh.

‘What about control? I never intended to do that in the first place.’

Yes, that’s right.

Although Woo Ji-yoon and I have different ‘first priorities’, he is also someone who is risking his life for the success of the drama.

Whatever the reason, from the producer’s perspective, this situation where the script reading receives a lot of attention from the media cannot be anything but welcome.

“Haha, you must have been out of your mind during the audition. I came to pick you up in case you got lost. Oh, the script reading location is over here.”

Soon, Kim Hyun-soo will be under intense media scrutiny.

In that saturation, how much does our protagonist mention the drama?

Since this morning, that thought has been on Jinsoo’s mind.

‘Hahaha, my decision was not wrong! The pumpkin came rolling in on a vine!’

Jin-soo Lee, who arrived at the script reading room, opened the door himself and opened his mouth to Hyun-soo.

“After reading, if you have time, why don’t you come and have a cup of coffee with me?”

“… … .”

“Oh, if you don’t like coffee, should I prepare tea?”

Seeing the smile that contained Lee Jin-soo’s professionalism, Go Geon was able to understand to some extent the background of how Dreamcatcher was able to achieve such explosive growth.

* * *

As we entered the script reading room with Lee Jin-soo’s lively guidance, everyone’s eyes in the room turned to Hyun-soo.

Even excluding the staff running around busily, the number of actors sitting in the seats seems to easily exceed twenty.

‘Is this the number of supporting and supporting actors, excluding the supporting roles?’

Of course, the number of actors is not a measure of success.

But certainly, the energy that the actors who participated in the works of the named writers gave off was so strong that I could feel it on my skin even when I was still.

As soon as he entered, Hyunsoo first bowed his head politely to the actors.

I arrived a little late because I was unintentionally held up by reporters outside.

“Hello, this is actor Kim Hyun-soo. I’m really sorry for being late! I’ll make sure this doesn’t happen again!”

Just like Torso, most of those here are senior actors compared to Hyunsoo.

Hyunsoo bowed 90 degrees towards them and uttered the skill(?) he had learned from Leeseo, a ‘bold apology’.

Of course, it didn’t have as much power as when Lee Seo cast it.

“Oh, nice to meet you. Actor Kim Hyun-soo. Please sit down.”

“Hey, it’s Kang Ji-hoon… … .”

“It’s Song Ah-jin. Please take good care of me, junior.”

“Hello, senior! I’m rookie actor Jung Jin-wook. Please take good care of me in the future!”

“hello-”

“This is Jeong Mi-ran. Let’s do well from now on.”

“It’s Jo In-soo. How late are you? Come quickly.”

The atmosphere inside the reading room was somehow subtle.

‘I don’t think it’s because I’m late.’

A colleague to film with, and the main character at that… … .

‘The air in the room seems too stagnant.’

Hyunsoo sat down, looking around slightly.

Not long after I read the distributed script, the actor sitting next to me spoke to me.

The first thing that catches the eye is the strong face with a sharp jawline and Western nose.

In contrast to his solid physique that makes women want to hug him right away, he has a languid gaze that somehow gives off a sense of decadence.

The man with the urbane appearance that you might run into in an alleyway in Gangnam at night was none other than actor Kang Ji-hoon, who played the role of drummer Shin Jung-hyeok.

As you can see from his appearance, he is an actor who is making great strides in the romance genre based on his stable acting skills and the sophisticated masculinity that captures the hearts of today’s women.

“Well, the atmosphere… is a little bit like that, isn’t it?”

Hyunsoo tilted his head slightly after hearing Kang Jihoon’s first words.

Contrary to his manly appearance, his voice was timid and trembling.

“Yes, is there something wrong?”

The atmosphere inside the reading room was too dry for it to have been created because Hyunsoo was a little late.

Even the fellow actors who seemed friendly with each other didn’t seem to have much conversation with each other.

“I, that’s… … .”

As actor Kang Ji-hoon spoke like that, his eyes turned to the empty seat opposite Hyun-soo.

That was the seat of the actor Jeong In-shin.

“I, actor Jeong-in… … I think it’s today… … .”

“yes?”

“this…….”

Kang Ji-hoon timidly crosses his index fingers into an ‘X’ shape while saying ‘this’.

What that gesture means is… … .

“Hey, why are you fussing around like that, you hussy?”

The person who suddenly joined Kang Ji-hoon’s conversation while standing right behind him was actress Song Ah-jin, who played the role of keyboard player Cha Woo-ram.

‘cat?’

At around 176cm tall, she has a cuter face than most female idols.

He, who has a slender physique that stands in stark contrast to Kang Ji-hoon, is also an actor who is rising as a trend among the younger generation these days.

For reference, he was also a senior actor who started his acting career long before Kim Hyun-soo and Kang Ji-hoon.

However, the calf’s large eyes and haggard facial features are furrowed.

Song Ah-jin continued speaking, raising her eyebrows and raising her arms.

“Just tell senior Jeong-in, who is very busy with construction work, that he won’t be attending the script reading today!”

“……yes?”

“Didn’t you hear? Actor Jeong-i-shin… … Today’s script reading was punk, punk!”

Punk… … ?

Kim Hyun-soo, who was late from the first day.

Song Ah-jin speaks in a nervous voice, and Kang Ji-hoon looks helpless next to her.

And, even Jeong-i-shin, who isn’t even here.

The first performance by the Rising Dive members could be described as ‘dissonant’.

Continued in the next episode