Chapter 10

Villain Only Acting 101

Making, Not, Solo Camera (3)

‘Crazy.’

As she skimmed through the recording, Jung Suyeon almost screamed in her heart.

Her brother seemed to have completely forgotten his surroundings, focusing solely on his drawing.

His distorted expression as he glared at the canvas and moved the pencil was like a well-honed blade.

It looked as if he was not drawing but engaging in a battle.

The rapidly forming scenery was so complete that it seemed a master had possessed him.

She even felt an impulse to give him a paintbrush instead of a pencil.

What shocked Jung Suyeon the most was the final moment.

Her brother, who had not put down the pencil until the sketchbook was filled, suddenly broke it.

The momentum that seemed ready to fight the world was gone, and he looked at her with a defeated expression, like a weary old general.

"Why did you do that? Because of thirst. A thirst I don't even understand."

His voice, filled with a sense of powerlessness as if he had poured out all his resentment and hatred, was hard to believe coming from her brother.

No, he was no longer her brother.

He was Private Lee Jin-wook, swept up in the battlefield.

Unaware of the reversal in Lee Jin-wook's character, Jung Suyeon felt a moist desire to comfort him.

‘Damn! What the hell is this kid doing!’

Shaking herself back to her senses and scolding herself, Jung Suyeon replayed the video.

“This kid, he's got the emotion down.”

***

The script reading was set.

Jung Suyeon was bustling around from morning, trying to meddle.

She called it taking care of a beginner, but from Jung Seohoon's perspective, it was meddling.

“Just do it neatly and straightforwardly. Anyway, the leads will come in a relaxed mood, so there's no need to put on a show unless you're going to start a power struggle at the script reading.”

“Power struggle?”

“Yeah, everyone puts in a lot of effort then. When actors with a competitive spirit are cast, that happens. But we don't have that kind of thing.”

“Is the power struggle among actresses really that serious? Is it true?”

“It's true, but we have Yoo Jeong-a, who stands alone at the top. There's no room for a power struggle. The same goes for the men. One of the leads is a college student who has never been to an acting school. To Cha Do-jin, you're just a rookie, a rookie.”

“But I'm playing a supporting role.”

Jung Seohoon is practically a lead, driving the plot forward.

However, in the production profile, he is introduced as a supporting role and is supposed to disappear after the early stages.

The PD and the writer decided to deceive the audience by first deceiving the production team.

Since the staff wouldn't know the identity of Lee Jin-wook's character in the early stages, it wouldn't affect the shooting.

“Have a good trip.”

“What do you mean, 'have a good trip'? I should go with you.”

“Oh, right.”

“But if it's a script reading, shouldn't you go first to prepare?”

“Yeah, PD Song said he'll take care of you for a while, replacing your manager. Since we're siblings, it'll be easier to look after you.”

“Who's looking after whom? I'm driving.”

“Still, I can't let a level 1 rookie wander around a drama set alone. It seems PD Song is grooming you for his own team.”

Always talking about PD Song, PD Song.

Now, because he's considering your commute, he's PD Song.

“And don't show that we're siblings.”

“That's what I was going to say.”

“Hey, I feel exactly the same way, but I'm worried it might come out. I don't want it to sound like I'm a parachutist or something.”

“Is there even such a thing as a parachutist in a directing aspirant?”

“It could come out that I pulled strings with PD Song to get you in. It's better to let it be known naturally after you prove your acting skills.”

Jung Seohoon thought there were more things to be careful about than he expected.

But compared to rolling in the battlefield, it was a minor issue.

“Let's go.”

***

As soon as she arrived at the studio, Jung Suyeon told him the location and quickly disappeared.

Jung Seohoon walked slowly down the corridor.

The place was still noisy and full of energy.

The resistance of a soldier unfamiliar with the area was evident, but it wasn't unbearable.

Jung Seohoon tried not to count the footsteps coming closer and farther away as he entered the script reading room.

About half the seats were empty.

“Hello.”

He greeted in an appropriate voice, as his sister had instructed, and quietly sat in the seat marked [Lee Jin-wook: Jung Seohoon].

Most people glanced at him once and then focused back on the script.

An unknown face with an unknown name, they thought he was an unknown rookie.

Since Lee Jin-wook's character was supposed to appear briefly in the early stages and then exit, it made sense.

“New face. Are you a rookie?”

The actress sitting next to him asked casually.

She was pretty, but not enough to be the lead.

Checking her name and role, she was one of the lead's friends, a character who occasionally appeared to add energy to the plot.

“Yeah, I'm a rookie. Nice to meet you.”

“You die in episode 2, right? I'm still in until the end. Let's make the most of it while we can.”

“Yeah, thank you.”

Whether she meant ‘until the end’ as a plot twist or just a self-promotion, he would have to ask his sister later.

“Which agency are you from?”

“I'm not with any agency.”

“Oh, really? Then you don't have a manager either?”

“Right.”

“Oh! Are you the one PD Song cast after seeing the camera test? I heard you've never acted before.”

The rumor had already spread.

Jung Suyeon's words, ‘There are no secrets in this industry,’ suddenly came to mind.

“He did so well in the camera test that PD Song and the writer were over the moon. Wow, I didn't know. Nice to meet you.”

The actress's reaction became more enthusiastic, thinking he was part of PD Song's line.

Just then, Hwang Shin-yoon, who had done the camera test with him, entered.

As he walked in with a smile, his lips stiffened slightly when he met Jung Seohoon's eyes.

No one else might have noticed, but a soldier's trained eye couldn't miss it.

Hwang Shin-yoon spoke first.

“Nice to see you again.”

“Nice to see you too.”

“Do your best.”

“Thanks.”

The conversation ended there. Hwang Shin-yoon sat a bit away from Jung Seohoon.

‘He doesn’t want to get close, but he wants to keep an eye on me.’

From the distance and angle of their seats, it seemed he had chosen his position with that intention.

“Oh, I'm late. Hello everyone. I'm PD Song Jeong-woo, the director.”

“I'm writer Kim Sang-hee.”

The PD and the writer arrived, followed by well-known actors.

Lead male Cha Do-jin, lead female Yoo Jeong-a, veteran actor Lee Min-soo playing the villainous CEO, and others.

They naturally greeted and chatted with each other, subtly showing the special league they belonged to.

Of course, Jung Seohoon could tell from a simple observation that they didn't intend to do so.

“Are you here?”

Song Jeong-woo, who had been greeting everyone, came to Jung Seohoon.

“Don’t be nervous, just do what you usually do. Just do what you usually do.”

“Yes, PD.”

“Do your best.”

After the PD greeted everyone individually, a formal introduction ceremony was held.

The gestures, eye contact, and expressions during the introductions revealed their ranks, popularity, and hierarchy.

“Lastly, actor Jung Seohoon, who plays Private Lee Jin-wook. ‘He dies in episode 2, but he has an important role in the early stages, awakening the main character.’”

A half-hearted applause welcomed him, and the script reading began.

The staff focused on the cameras for the making-of film.

Among them was his sister.

Their eyes met briefly, and she mouthed silently, “Don’t be scared.”

“Yeah. Your words.”

Writer Kim Sang-hee was famous for making bold changes.

In other words, she wasn't hesitant to completely overhaul the script if the script reading or the actors' performances weren't up to par.

Sometimes the direction would change entirely from the initial plan.

But the results were always good, as the ratings showed.

Through this process, she earned the nickname of a writer who specializes in hidden leads.

She often chose to highlight supporting characters more than the leads.

She even upgraded minor roles with a few lines to major supporting roles if their characters came alive.

Therefore, the actors focused on every line to avoid catching her eye.

The leads didn't overdo their makeup for the same reason.

To avoid being criticized for focusing only on their appearance and not on character interpretation.

As Song Jeong-woo read the lines, Kim Sang-hee typed on her laptop.

[Is Jung Seohoon's condition not good?]

[Does it look that way to you too?]

[It's not the same as last time. It's not bad, it's good...]

[I know. Is he nervous?]

[What is it? What's the reason? His complexion doesn't look sick, and he doesn't seem nervous...]

Jung Seohoon's acting wasn't bad; it was rather good.

The other actors didn't give him a second glance.

In other words, his performance was just what they expected from a role that exits early in episode 2.

Kim Sang-hee thought for a moment and typed again.

[Instead of the making-of film camera, how about a solo camera?]

Is he really going to die in episode 2? (1)