Chapter 8: Audition
“Have you ever heard that story? That some actors change their handwriting for every role.”
“Don’t you mean actor Jo Seungwa?”
“Right. It was famous on the internet for a while.”
It was an intermediate class like any other.
It had been about two weeks since I applied for the first round of auditions.
Oh Seok displayed some material on the monitor.
‘Wow.’
Muyoung couldn’t help but be impressed. The handwriting was clearly different depending on the character.
If I had seen it without knowing, I would have thought it was written by different people.
“This is what you call attention to detail. Of course, since the letter and its contents are captured on screen, it could be that the director gave instructions. But this work here is captured and enlarged. I think the actor did a good job.”
“That’s amazing.”
From a naive country boy to a corrupt prosecutor, and even an ordinary office worker.
Just by looking at the handwriting, you could see the character’s life in it.
“It’s these things that come together to create a character’s life.”
At Oh Seok’s words, Muyoung perked up his ears.
A character’s life!
That was the path he had to take.
“So today, we’re going to practice basic walking. Of course, since we’re not trying to be models, it’s more about adapting to character expression than walking.”
Swish, swish.
Oh Seok said this as he wrote on the blackboard.
[Kim Chul-soo, 34, who doesn’t like company dinners.]
[Kwon Mal-soon, 78, who is obsessed with flower arranging.]
[Park Min-seok, 21, who was exempted from military service.]
And so on. They were characters that could capture the details.
Oh Seok gestured to the students as if to tell them to get up.
“Walk from one end of the practice room to the other. Dialogue is allowed, and so is the use of props. First up is our Chul-soo. Come on!”
Faces that were half troubled and half intrigued. The first to step up was Yuchan.
Yuchan walked forward with his body completely relaxed, dragging his feet.
“Ah, I’m so sick of it. Really.”
“Next!”
Then Bora. Bora also looked troubled, but like Yuchan, she walked with her whole body relaxed.
Oh Seok, who was watching the screen, didn’t say anything, but he couldn’t hide his disappointment.
‘They lack imagination.’
He had mumbled like it was the national anthem that imagination was so important for an actor. Everyone was only looking at the superficial letters and expressing the images that came to mind.
‘Yeah, it’s not easy.’
Anyone can act with just dialogue and facial expressions.
It’s natural to practice focusing on what’s captured on camera.
“Next, Muyoung.”
But to become a better actor, you have to do more than that.
Oh Seok calculated the time in his head. In about two weeks, classes would resume and everyone would leave.
He wanted to pass on as much as he could before then.
“Hmm.”
Then he heard a humming noise.
Oh Seok shifted his gaze from the screen to Muyoung’s actual figure.
“What’s that? That guy?”
“He’s someone who ‘hates’ company dinners?”
Light footsteps. His shoulders were slightly slumped, but his faster than usual pace conveyed the mood of an office worker heading home.
“Huh!”
Oh Seok couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
That’s it!
When everyone was focused on the word ‘hates,’ he was thinking about ‘why’ the character hated it.
There could be many reasons.
It could be because he hated his coworkers, or because he was tired, or because he wanted to meet his lover, or because he wanted to pursue his hobbies, and so on.
“Good! Muyoung!”
Muyoung had chosen Chul-soo, who hated company dinners because of the joy he felt after work.
A kid who’s always one step ahead! It was a moment that continued Oh Seok’s admiration.
Zziiing.
Muyoung’s pocket vibrated.
But Muyoung naturally checked it and kept walking.
If you just put a suit on him, he’d be a typical office worker you’d see at Gangnam Station.
“Ah.”
And the boy stopped, as if he had confirmed something. The atmosphere itself loosened up.
From Chul-soo to Muyoung.
“What’s wrong?”
“Teacher, I got in, right? This is it?”
“What?”
“I got a text saying I passed the first round of auditions.”
“What? Really?”
Everyone forgot what they were practicing and rushed over to Muyoung.
Oh Seok was jumping for joy inside, but he just coughed to maintain his composure.
“Ahem. Everyone, be quiet.”
“When’s the second round?”
“Next weekend.”
“That’s good.”
But no one listened. Hyungju grumbled unnecessarily and picked a fight.
“It must’ve been easy since it’s a web drama.”
It was the first time he had heard the news of his acceptance.
He was already annoyed, so there was no way Hyungju was going to say something nice.
“But it’s hosted by Seoul City.”
“How much can you really do with a web drama? Can it compare to the competition rates of MBV and SBC? Ah. Of course, congratulations. I’m just saying.”
That guy’s a lost cause, Yuchan thought, looking at Hyungju with an awkward smile.
It’s not wrong, but he sure knows how to say it in an annoying way. He’s talented.
“Ah. If I’d known it would be like this, I would’ve done that too. Public broadcasting seemed too intense from the start, so looking at it that way, Muyoung was smart. He planned it strategically. He must be smart.”
It was then.
Bora, who had been listening quietly, sighed and replied.
“You probably didn’t get rejected because it was public broadcasting.”
“Augh. You again, you’re picking a fight again.”
“I got in.”
She avoided his gaze.
To be precise, she avoided Yuchan’s gaze.
“……The results came out yesterday.”
“What? Really?”
Yuchan, Bora, and Hyungju had applied for the same drama.
In other words, out of the three, only one got in.
She seemed sorry to tell Yuchan, even if we exclude Hyungju.
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“……I just happened to miss it.”
An awkward silence. Oh Seok, who had heard everything, clapped his hands to change the mood.
“Come on! Any more good news? Then Muyoung and Bora, after class is over, stay behind. I’ll help you prepare for the audition. When’s the second round?”
“Next weekend.”
“Me too.”
“……When exactly?”
Muyoung and Bora glanced at each other and answered at the same time.
“Saturday at two o’clock.”
Muyoung arrived at the Square Film building in Mapo.
He was with Junho, who was much more dressed up than the audition participants.
“It’s smaller than I thought.”
“They specialize in web dramas.”
“Hey! Get your clothes!”
Junho pulled out a coat from the back seat. It was a brand new product, still unopened.
He must have slyly taken it from where his brother worked.
“Put the tag inside when you wear it.”
“I appreciate it, but I’m fine, you know?”
“That’s what you think. What actor goes to an audition wearing a jacket with a torn sleeve? Don’t talk back, just wear it.”
Muyoung gave up on responding and picked up the clothes.
The audition dates overlapped, so he couldn’t come with Oh Seok.
Considering the scale and the time they’d spent together, it was natural to choose Bora…… but.
“Aren’t you disappointed?”
“What.”
“If it wasn’t for me, you would’ve come alone. And you would’ve taken the subway and the bus.”
Muyoung smiled.
He remembered what he had said to him the night before, while they were eating late-night snacks together.
-Muyoung, just do what you’ve been doing. I’m not worried.
The look in his eyes that said he trusted him completely. Muyoung wasn’t disappointed because he had received that.
Besides, hadn’t he seen it even before he applied? The huge amount of flower pollen being emitted.
No matter what he did, good things would happen.
“It’s fine since you’re here. Let’s go in.”
“Augh! I don’t know why I’m so nervous. Bora’s going to the broadcasting station, right?”
“Yeah. MBV. It’s nearby, so I think we’ll meet up after.”
“Hehehe. That’s nice.”
When Junho got excited, Muyoung clicked his tongue.
No matter how he looked at it, it seemed like he was chasing after something that wasn’t there.
Even Muyoung, who had no sense of tact whatsoever, could see that there was definitely something between Bora and Yuchan.
Squeak.
“What the—”
Junho, who had vigorously opened the door to Square Film, soon flinched and froze in place.
Muyoung, who was following behind him, also poked his head out from behind his shoulder.
“Hello, no, good afternoon. Participant number 43—”
“Yeah, I’m here for the audition. Drinks after? Hehe?”
“Noo. That’s what he said? That’s so funny!”
It was literally a mess.
The waiting area was narrow, but the problem was that there were people of all ages gathered there with absolutely no common ground. From an elderly man with gray hair to a young child.
“Hey, are you sure you did it right?”
“Um……”
“Are you sure you applied for a drama?”
Probably. When Muyoung just shrugged his shoulders, Junho shook his head.
Then an employee at the entrance approached the two of them and guided them.
“Are you audition participants?”
“Yes, I’m Ha Muyoung.”
“Let me see. Ah. Yes. You’ve been confirmed. Your participant number is 76. Please wait here for a moment.”
Muyoung stuck a sticker with the number 76 on his chest and wandered around the building’s lobby.
There were so many people that there was nowhere to sit.
“You can stay in the car.”
“No, it’s fine.”
Junho was standing next to him. Muyoung felt sorry and hoped time would pass quickly.
And finally, at exactly two o’clock.
“The audition will begin. Participants numbered 1 to 5, please follow me!”
When the employee’s loud voice rang out, the people who had been lying around bored began to move busily. It was clearly an acting audition, but it was unclear why they were carrying things like baseball bats and fishing rods.
“Aren’t you hungry? Should I get you something to eat?”
“No, I’m fine.”
Maybe it was because it was his first audition, but Muyoung’s chest was starting to feel nervous.
Time passed relentlessly—
“Participants 76 to 80, please get ready!”
Muyoung’s number was called.
Junho checked Muyoung’s sleeves and hair, and then patted his shoulder lightly.
His friend playfully winked at him. He smiled back in response.
“You’ll go in order.”
The place the employee led them to was a meeting room on the third floor.
There were five chairs, and more judges than participants, six of them, were sitting there.
“Please sit down.”
Come to think of it, even though people of all ages were mixed together, the group they were divided into was made up of people of similar ages. The team leader shuffled through some papers and whispered something to the employee next to him.
‘Participant 76 has a good face.’
‘His acting score isn’t bad either.’
‘What’s his agency?’
‘It’s not listed.’
It was the turn to select the supporting actor for episode 1, which the CEO had specifically instructed them to pay attention to.
To suit the role of a high school student, all applicants were 23 years old or younger.
“Okay, then let’s introduce ourselves. Starting with number 76.”
“Hello, I’m Ha Muyoung.”
“Yes, Mr. Ha Muyoung. I see you have no acting experience?”
No experience, but a high acting score?
The team leader, who hadn’t participated in the video review, tilted his head in confusion.
“Yes. But I’m confident that I can do my best in any role.”
These were the words spoken by the 75 participants before Muyoung, who was number 76.
The team leader smiled perfunctorily and asked,
“I see. Hmm. But the personal information section has no address listed?”
It was a question asked without any particular intent.
But the answer that came back was quite shocking.
“Because I don’t have a home.”
“What?”
Not only the officials, but also the participants next to him glanced at Muyoung.
He looks fine, but he doesn’t have a home?
“I’ll tell you the details if I get selected.”
“Haha. Okay. Well……”
The team leader just laughed off Muyoung’s light joke.
The character of the guest in episode 1, a high school student, was almost finalized.
‘Poverty and youth.’
The team leader fiddled with his pen and suddenly asked,
“But you know, it’s kind of funny for me to say this, but if your situation isn’t good, it would be better to do one more part-time job at this time. Since it’s a one-time supporting role in a web drama, the pay isn’t that satisfying, to be honest, considering the time investment.”
It might be better to work as an extra. It’s hard work, but the money is directly proportional to the time spent.
But Muyoung was determined.
“Are there people who start acting because of money?”
With a voice that contained not a single lie.
“First of all, I’m not, and I’m doing this because I’ll die if I don’t.”