Chapter 9

Former Internet Celebrity Becomes Top Star - Chapter 9 (9/110)

9

Xiaoming started the public audition with a show of determination.

Despite already receiving many cold glances, there was a reason for staging such a grand event so openly.

“Wow, so many people came.”

“The director did pick quite a few, but I thought maybe less than half would show up.”

“At least it shows that our director is still alive and kicking.”

As one of the staff members who had glanced outside spoke, the gathered people began to murmur.

Sure enough, as they said, the waiting room outside the audition venue was filled with numerous applicants.

“It’s bound to be a hot topic, right? They say the number of applicants is unprecedented.”

“That’s true. You know A Magazine? My former classmate who works there contacted me.”

“Wow, then our director’s comeback must be a complete success, right? Wow, a title is already out. The King’s Return.”

Words filled with hope were exchanged.

However, the real protagonist, Director Kim Sung-ha, was still burning with anxiety.

‘I deliberately made a show of it to draw attention, and the response isn’t bad. At least it’s clear that I, Kim Sung-ha, am back and not dead! But that’s not enough...’

It was good that he had returned with a vengeance, despite being cut off by the industry after hearing rumors.

Although he ended up holding an audition because no one would hire him anywhere.

This, in turn, became an issue, drawing people’s attention.

But this audition was a double-edged sword.

‘What if this audition fails?’

The thought was terrifying.

His name would be buried again, and the malicious rumors would swell, completely swallowing him.

He wouldn’t be able to set foot in this industry again.

‘Or, I might be so embarrassed that I’ll quit in shame!’

For his return to be successful, this audition was crucial.

It couldn’t just be a hype.

He needed to draw attention and make it a success.

Only then could he take revenge on the people who spread malicious rumors and those who cut ties with him based on rumors.

The problem was:

‘Are there really no capable talents? Really?’

Despite the numerous applicants, there was no actor who caught his eye!

It was very troubling.

To achieve success, he needed a big catch, but there was none.

He didn’t expect to find a top-tier actor, but even mid-level actors were scarce!

‘If this continues, will the production even be possible? If casting is this difficult from the start...’

It was a miscalculation that more actors were wary of the industry than expected.

It was also evidence that Director Kim Sung-ha’s reputation was still in tatters.

‘If there are no capable actors, it’s really a problem...’

The production costs could be covered by his own funds or loans.

But actors were different.

Although it’s said that a movie is a director’s game,

Fundamentally, a proper actor is needed to create something.

Even if editing can cover things up, you can’t create something from nothing, right?

He didn’t hold the grand audition for nothing.

“Hello!”

“Hello, I am...”

“Applicant 29! Greetings!”

Even as the audition progressed and various applicants showed their acting skills and left,

Director Kim Sung-ha’s anxiety continued.

‘If I could just see a spark, I could somehow... nurture it.’

Ding, ding, ding, ding.

His anxiety reached its peak, to the point where the assistant director next to him asked if something was wrong.

“...!”

Director Kim Sung-ha’s eyes widened.

After hearing a clear voice that strangely resonated in his ears.

‘No, is that...?’

His eyes, which had been filled with despair, suddenly regained their light.

His half-open eyes snapped wide open, and his dazed mind cleared.

Not only that,

It felt as if adrenaline was surging through his entire body!

‘I must capture this person!’

His instincts roared.

To capture this person.

Not to let this person slip away.

Kim Sung-ha knew this feeling very well.

It was the exact same feeling he had when he first met the people he had helped become top stars!

Although it was very frustrating that none of the people he had discovered had contacted him...

Anyway, that wasn’t the most important thing right now.

“Director?”

“What’s the name of that person? Where’s the group file that just came in?”

As Kim Sung-ha, who had been slumped like wilted spinach, suddenly came to life and spoke, the assistant director next to him was surprised.

“Didn’t you hear the introduction just now?”

“Don’t argue. Just give me the file. Quickly!”

“The file is here, but... why? What’s the sudden rush?”

Instead of answering, Kim Sung-ha quickly scanned the application documents.

One of them caught his eye.

‘Lee Roon?’

The profile photo attached to the application.

The face looking straight ahead was quite impressive, even to Director Kim Sung-ha, who had seen countless handsome and beautiful people.

It felt decent enough? According to his big data, such a person was likely to be disappointing in real life.

But.

‘What is it? It feels different somehow. Why does it feel so different? Is it because the person doesn’t photograph well? No, it feels too different to be just that.’

If the person in the photo was just a scentless flower, the real person was completely different.

Not only was the real person not disappointing, but the photo didn’t even capture a fraction of the real person’s presence.

Just looking at him, you could feel this presence!

‘Why did I miss such a person?’

An actor isn’t just about good acting.

Even with the same actions.

Even with the same lines.

Some people feel more special and different.

‘Such a person should become an actor.’

That’s what Kim Sung-ha thought.

Even a simple gesture draws attention.

Just a look can stir emotions.

Actors need this special aura.

It’s what captivates and engages people.

Whether it’s a person or a story.

‘In other words... it’s also called star quality.’

Kim Sung-ha felt anxious because there was no one among the many applicants who gave him that feeling.

He needed such a star for his grand vision.

‘The acting is a bit clumsy, but... so what? When have I ever relied on an actor’s name? If I see potential, I can turn them into a star myself!’

Kim Sung-ha was confident.

How many stars had been born through his works?

If there was potential, he could nurture it.

And the person in front of him was that raw gem.

Having seen countless raw gems, Kim Sung-ha was confident.

“Use me. Use me, not someone else, and put me in that position.”

“You’re saying some really strange things. Use me? How can you say that? Do you know how I’ve lived!”

While he was frantically looking through the files,

The audition was already progressing.

Just then, it was Lee Roon’s turn, and his clear voice caught Kim Sung-ha’s attention.

It was a familiar line from the script given on the audition day.

“Why can’t it be? You approached me to use me anyway. So why can’t it be?”

A short line.

But Kim Sung-ha was once again convinced.

‘This is it...!’

Even though the audition had only been going on for a few minutes,

Kim Sung-ha was already convinced.

In fact, the demo tape he had just seen was a 100% rejection.

‘But people can change like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly with just a small trigger.’

The skills that wouldn’t even make it to the audition list.

But now, something had changed, and it was 180 degrees different.

‘Was it for nothing that he sent it to me?’

The contact from a once close younger brother who ran a talent agency.

When everyone was pretending not to know, he had received a call and accepted it out of gratitude.

But it was so bad that he had forgotten about it.

He had called Roon to the audition as a courtesy, but it was more like a formality.

‘I must capture this person!’

For some reason, his instincts were roaring.

To capture this person.

“Mr. Lee Roon?”

“I don’t know, I don’t know. What... Yes?”

Roon, who was delivering his lines, was startled and stopped.

His large, round eyes were filled with questions as he looked at Kim Sung-ha.

‘His expressions are rich and varied. His delivery is excellent.’

The profile photo and demo tape had shown a one-dimensional, seemingly fatalistic expression.

How could a person change so much?

But seeing the changed person in front of him, he couldn’t help but believe it.

“Mr. Lee Roon, is that you? Not a stand-in or something?”

“Yes? No, no, yes. I, I am...”

Roon, confused by the sudden question, blinked his eyes.

Seeing him, Kim Sung-ha thought,

‘I found it. My muse.’

* * *

“Name? Yes? Mr. Lee Roon?”

The staff member who heard Roon’s name furrowed his brow.

For some reason, he looked at Roon’s face, then at the list, and tilted his head.

“Is there any problem...”

He had heard that the registration was a bit late, but it shouldn’t be a problem.

“No, no problem. Mr. Lee Roon, you’re confirmed.”

Fortunately, the staff member finished the check and began to guide Roon.

“Please wait over here. When it’s your turn, go to that room. You’ll wait there for a bit before entering the audition venue.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Roon politely greeted, and the staff member tilted his head again.

“What is it...? Is there someone who looks similar? No, but the name is the same...”

The staff member mumbled something as he turned away, but with the audition just around the corner,

Roon’s attention was elsewhere.

Click.

As he opened the door and entered, gazes flew from all directions.

Sharp glances.

Wary looks and subtle interest.

‘More people than I thought...’

He had thought that people would be hesitant about a director who had been kicked out of the industry.

But seeing so many people, it seemed he was wrong.

Roon found an empty seat and sat down quietly.

Among them, there were some who persistently scrutinized him, but Roon didn’t pay much attention.

‘Hmm. Better than I thought...’

According to his manager, the director was known for all kinds of bad behavior, so he expected a harsher reaction.

‘This is like fresh blood compared to the pressure we received when our kids got into trouble.’

He could probably relax a bit.

People continued to enter behind Roon.

As many people entered, the number of those called to the next room also increased.

“Mr. Lee Roon. Mr. Kim Jung-ryul. Mr. Shim Saero. Please come this way.”

It seemed it was his turn.

Roon stood up with the two others and moved to a small waiting room.

“You’ll all go into the audition room together. Please take these papers. When the previous applicants are done, you’ll be called, and you can move right in.”

It seemed the audition was being held in a group format due to the large number of people.

Roon quietly took the paper that was handed to him.

It was a short script with a few different conversation scenes.

“Damn. Just my luck.”

As soon as the staff member who distributed the scripts left, someone mumbled.

Roon, who had unconsciously looked at the voice, met the eyes of someone.

It was the applicant with the small shoulders who had been called Kim Jung-ryul, who was looking at him with displeasure.

The voice was low, but the problem was that it was in a suffocating silence.