The Haunted Monster Actor - Chapter 62



Only Krnovel

Episode 62

Amid the chaotic atmosphere caused by Jeong Eui-shin’s absence from the script reading, PD Jeong Geun-ho and writer Choi Eui-jeong entered the room.

Veteran actor Jo In-soo clicked his tongue and muttered after seeing the two people’s stiff faces.

“Huh, I guess he’s really not coming.”

As the other actors were mumbling to themselves, producer Jeong Geun-ho opened his mouth.

“I’m sure you all have heard, but actor Jeong-in Jeong is unable to attend the script reading today due to personal reasons.”

The faces of the actors who heard his words frowned.

It wasn’t a schedule-related reason, but rather personal circumstances.

Not only during the principal photography, but also among the actors, skipping the script reading session is a particularly taboo subject.

The reason is simple.

This is because script reading failures inevitably lead to various controversies, such as casting failures or discord between actors and production staff.

There aren’t many cases where a drama that has had this kind of noise from the beginning has done well.

That was the reason why the actors reacted sensitively to Jeong Eui-shin’s script reading blunder.

“Personal reasons? Surely you’re not sending me out for that reason?”

“You don’t have to worry about that part, senior.”

“Jeong I-shin, didn’t the media criticize you last time, saying you had top star disease or something? If you keep going like this from the beginning, you’ll get tired in the future.”

“… … He must be doing that on purpose to make me tired.”

Song Ah-jin muttered without lowering her voice, as if for everyone to hear.

He had a cynical expression that contrasted with his cute appearance, and unlike his fans’ nickname of ‘calf’, he was famous for his bull-like personality that did not hold back what he wanted to say.

As everyone’s eyes turned to him, he shrugged and continued.

“I guess it was because he was twisted because he couldn’t do what he wanted.”

As she spoke, Song Ah-jin’s gaze was directed at Hyun-soo.

“… … So, are you protesting right now because of the casting? A person with the same level of experience as Jeong In-sin?”

“Isn’t the acting experience ultimately filled with greed for roles? But this is way over the line. Who doesn’t want to be the main character? A professional should think about doing his best in the role he’s given, not like some kid… … .”

Several of the actors nodded at Song Ah-jin’s grumbling.

Because everyone knew that what he was saying now wasn’t just groundless gossip about Jeong-in.

This is a precious work that was chosen after much deliberation.

He was genuinely angry at Jeong-in Shin for interfering with him before filming even began in earnest.

Before the atmosphere became more chaotic, writer Choi Ui-jeong stood up from his seat.

Choi Ui-jeong, who has worked with Song Ah-jin many times in works and entertainment shows, knew how to handle him well.

“The atmosphere is getting more and more interesting. Actor Song, is it okay for me to leave now?”

“No, I’ll keep my mouth shut.”

“yes.”

Choi Ui-jeong, who had subdued the calf in one shot, continued speaking while holding up the script to the actors.

“As actor Song said, we’re all professionals, right? Let’s just do what we have to do.”

In this situation, Choi Ui-jeong, who was the most upset, came forward and consoled the actors, and the commotion stopped.

As I just said, everyone here is a professional.

The actors began to focus intensely on the script in front of them, and soon the tension typical of a reading scene began to fill the room.

* * *

“There are currently 4 episodes in total that have been completed. As those who know know, the rest of the script is pretty much left unedited, right?”

Several actors, including Song Ah-jin and Kang Ji-hoon, nodded with nervous faces.

Despite being a writer, she is famous for showing up to work on set just like a cinematographer.

It’s not because of my habits when I’m on variety shows.

Because she is a genius.

A genius writing style where he only decides on the overall plot and treatment of the work, and then completes the script for the next episode based on the ‘feeling’ from the actors’ breathing on set.

Let me say this again, this is a finished product, not a script.

So the reason why the actors of the so-called ‘Choi Ui-jeong Division’ were nervous was simple.

Actors must ‘complete’ their characters with the writer throughout the filming process.

There was a reason why so many young, talented new actors were produced in her dramas.

“The script for reading is centered around the main introduction and highlight scenes from episodes 1 to 7. After episode 4, it is only an unfinished draft, so the lines may change during the actual filming. Please just go with the mindset that it is just to get the feel of it.”

Hyunsoo nodded as he read the script that was handed out.

Unlike ‘Torso on the Blue’ where almost all of the scenes were completed, the script that was issued after the 4th episode was almost like a draft script.

But this alone was enough to make the world of ‘Nineties Dive’ that I had always pictured in my head and the appearance of the ‘Rising Dive’ members become clearer.

“I will read the fingerprints myself, the problem is the actor Jeong In-shin.”

When Jeong Eui-shin’s name came out of Choi Ui-jeong’s mouth once again, the actors started looking at each other with bewildered faces.

A slightly different sense of embarrassment than before.

It’s an expression that says what was coming has come.

“… … O-Yul Station, who would like to read it?”

Yes, that’s right.

Since Jeong Eui-shin is absent, someone has to read Oh Yul’s lines from the script.

Jo In-soo opened his mouth with a look on his face that suggested he was not pleased.

“Writer Choi, can’t we just skip over the dialogue about Oh Yul?”

“I’m sorry, but that’s not possible, sir.”

Oh Yul is one of the main characters in the drama Nineties Dive.

‘Without him, Rising Dive wouldn’t work.’

And the word ‘outline’ does not exist in Choi Ui-jeong’s dictionary.

“It would be better to reschedule the reading schedule rather than exclude the god who appears in the error rate.”

“Ugh… … .”

At Choi Ui-jeong’s words, not only the actors but also the staff’s expressions became distorted.

The number of actors gathered here is a whopping 20 or so.

Do you have a schedule to get this many actors together again before the main shoot?

It was a nearly impossible task.

“Then who… … .”

The actors who were looking at each other naturally turned their gazes towards producer Jeong Geun-ho.

Apart from the writers and actors, there is no one else who knows the work better than they do.

“I’m sorry, but PD Jeong can’t do it. It doesn’t feel real, it doesn’t feel real.”

Choi Ui-jeong, who had experience making the usually reserved Jeong Geun-ho read fingerprints, continued speaking while shaking his head.

“Everyone knows my style, right? Even if a staff member reads it for me, an actress won’t do. If it’s okay, I’d like one of the two people who most resembles Oh Yul to take on the role.”

As Choi Ui-jeong speaks like that, his gaze alternates between Song Ah-jin and Kang Ji-hoon.

“… … Author, do we really have to do this?”

“I, I would do it if you told me to, but… … .”

Not only Song Ah-jin, but Kang Ji-hoon also seemed not to like the writer’s order very much.

Just like the trailer, the script reading session is also like the first greeting to the viewers.

Even if you just focus on your own role, you’re not sure if you’ll be able to make an impression, so how can you handle other roles’ lines too?

To put it bluntly… … .

‘It’s like asking me to clean up that kid’s own shit!’

“Why don’t you just have Song Bae-woo? I don’t know about his looks, but isn’t his personality the closest to Oh Yul among these people?”

“I have to do it if the writer tells me to. I will do it, but… … .”

It was at that moment when Song Ah-jin, who had held back her anger earlier, could no longer hold back her quivering mouth and was about to blurt out what was inside her.

“How about I do it?”

Soon everyone’s eyes turned to the rightmost seat, diagonally next to Choi Ui-jeong.

The one who stepped forward in a situation that everyone was avoiding was none other than Hyun-soo.

“… …Actor Kim?”

“yes.”

Choi Ui-jeong asked with his eyes narrowed.

“It must be hard for Jiyu to digest it all. Why do you insist on doing it?”

In a situation where no one wants to do it, the reason why Kim Hyun-soo, who feels the greatest burden as the main character, insists on doing it.

Choi Ui-jeong was simply curious about the reason.

It was the same for everyone present.

Soon everyone’s eyes turned to Hyunsoo’s mouth.

“Anyway, I don’t have much time in the beginning of reading… … and above all.”

“… … ?”

“Because I am the only one who has personally encountered the character Oh Yul played by actor Jeong In-shin.”

“… … .”

Choi Ui-jeong thought about it for a moment after hearing Hyun-soo’s words.

After listening to her, it was clear that the person who could best convey the ‘feeling’ that she considered most important in this situation was Kim Hyun-soo.

‘Well, actor Kim is the only one who has directly experienced Jeong Ee-shin’s incredible acting during the audition.’

Not only did they clash, they even took the lead in the flow.

Choi Ui-jeong’s face quickly turned into a look of anticipation as he briefly recalled the eerie moment from back then.

‘And… … I’m also curious about what Kim Hyun-soo’s error rate will be like.’

Choi Ui-jeong, who had gathered his thoughts, nodded and said okay.

“It’s just a script reading, so there’s no need to go into detail about the lines.”

“Yes, I understand.”

It was then that Hyunsoo, who was nodding, met the eyes of the two lead actors.

“… … ?”

Two pairs of bright eyes turned towards Hyunsoo.

The two young actors looked at each other with a look of emotion for some reason.

‘… … Thank you, actor Kim Hyun-soo.’

‘Tch, I don’t really like the idea of ​​another actor dealing with the problems caused by that kid… … Anyway, I owe him a favor.’

Thanks to the protagonist’s sacrifice(?), all realistic problems were resolved, and the full-scale script reading finally began.

* * *

As I said before, it is not Kim Hyun-soo who plays the twenty-year-old Ji-yu-han.

Rookie actor Jung Jin-wook, who plays the role of Ji-yu-han, a 20-year-old child actor and the only one among the members, recited the main character’s first line.

“Let’s form a band!”

In reality, Jung Jin-wook, a rookie actor in his early 20s with many dreams, perfectly portrayed the character of the innocent 20-year-old Ji Yu-han.

Kang Ji-hoon and Song Ah-jin also energetically exchanged unique lines as 20-year-old Shin Jung-hyeok and Cha Woo-ram.

And in the meantime, Hyunsoo read Ohyul’s lines at appropriate times to help keep the flow of the three people’s reading from being interrupted.

There was nothing special about Oh Yul, a twenty-year-old boy led by Hyunsoo.

There was also Choi Ui-jeong’s request that he not reveal his true feelings, but the character of Oh Yul, who was twenty years old, was a character who had no particular emotions and spoke in a monotonous tone, and who rarely revealed his feelings.

“Huh? I said let’s form a band? Let’s do it, let’s do it, let’s do it, let’s do it, let’s do itaaa …

“Band? Yeah, I guess so.”

“Hehehe, I was bored so this is great! Isn’t it just like playing the same keys you play at church on stage? Oh, of course I’m the leader, right?”

“… … Will I get credits if I do that?”

Ji Yoo-han, Shin Jung-hyeok, Cha Woo-ram, Oh Yul.

The actors watching the three actors, each with their own unique personalities and fresh youth, acting out the comical formation of a band found themselves bursting into laughter.

“It’s a shame that there’s no actor Jeong In-shin… … but it still feels better than I expected.”

Hyunsoo nodded without realizing it as he listened to Choi Uijeong’s monologue while sitting right next to him.

‘Really… …the actors seem prepared for these roles.’

Of course, the actors cast by Choi Ui-jeong also have top-notch basic acting skills.

But what Hyunsoo was talking about now was different from his acting skills… … so to speak, it was closer to the ‘feeling’ that Choi Ui-jeong often mentioned.

‘Perhaps even more than dramas, casting is an important aspect of entertainment.’

There are countless factors that determine the quality of a drama or movie, such as the narrative, completeness, quality of scenes, mise-en-scène, and directing.

However, to put it a bit exaggeratedly, you could say that ‘entertainment’ is half ‘planning’ and half ‘performer’s’ ability.

Soon, Hyun-soo seemed to know what Choi Ui-jeong’s criteria were for selecting actors.

‘From the beginning, it feels like the actor’s ‘innate temperament’ is in sync with the role.’

So then, why did she cast Kim Hyun-soo in the role of Ji-yu?

Soon everyone knew why.

After Rising Dive’s twenties.

Soon, ‘Kim Hyun-soo’s Ji-yu-han’ spoke his lines.

“Let’s… …be a band again―!”

“… … .”

“… … ?”

“… … .”

Jo In-soo tilted his head toward Kang Ji-hoon and asked.

“What are you doing, Actor Kang? Aren’t you going to say your next line?”

Continued in the next episode