༺ As if Singing ༻
A script reading was a space for the actors to familiarize themselves with each other’s faces and roughly coordinate the characters.
Normally, actors wouldn’t put as much effort into their lines as they would during the actual shooting.
However, the writer asked for ‘acting.’
It was a bold request for a newbie writer, but wasn’t she the writer who had produced three consecutive hits?
— So, please give it your all and act to help solidify the ‘characters’ in my head during today’s reading.
To the actors, this seemingly simple request translated to:
— Do your best. If you do well, you might get more lines or even pivotal parts.
It sounded like the tempting voice of a serpent, inviting them to taste the forbidden apple.
To increase their parts or to avoid being overshadowed by others,
The atmosphere in the reading room began to heat up.
*
<Showbiz Studies: Synopsis>
Kim Hana, played by Cha Harin, was a brave young lady living only with her sick grandmother.
She dreamed of becoming an actress, but her circumstances were too harsh. Nonetheless, to get closer to her dream, she joined the renowned management company ‘Star Entertainment Agency’ as a road manager.
There, she became the road manager for the male lead, the talented but arrogant actor Kwon Do-jun (played by Baek Seunghyo), and learned the harsh realities of this world. Kwon Do-jun, too, learned that not everything in the world would go his way after meeting Kim Hana, and they slowly fell for each other.
Kwon Do-jun’s rival actor, Tak Gyu-min (played by Lee Kyu-seong), developed feelings for Kim Hana, while the actress Ryu Jun-kyung (played by Jung Junhee) had her sights on Kwon Do-jun. There was a subtle tension between these two as well, making for a complicated love square.
“Should we start with the actors’ introductions?”
Prompted by the director, the lead actors introduced themselves first.
Yoomyeong carefully observed the actors he’d be working with for the next few months.
“Hello, I’m Baek Seunghyo, playing the role of Kwon Do-jun. I feel both the pressure and excitement of playing a top actor’s role, so I’ll give it my best.”
Baek Seunghyo, with his captivating masculine face, had a deep voice. A five-year acting veteran at 27, he recently had a surge in his stock value due to his solid acting skills. He was rumored to have a lot of die-hard fans.
“I’m Cha Harin, playing Kim Hana. I’ll do my best.”
The lead actress spoke without much enthusiasm. Having started as a child actress, she was known for both her looks and acting prowess. Twelve years in the industry, she was a veteran despite being younger than Yoomyeong. Her character seemed somewhat enigmatic, so Yoomyeong reserved his judgment.
“I’m Jung Junhee, playing the role of Ryu Jun-kyung. I’m thrilled to be cast in a role that suits me perfectly. Nice to meet you all!”
The next actress, who greeted with a hint of charm, was someone who had just passed the rookie stage after three years in the industry. In her previous life, she was a supporting actress who frequently appeared as a panelist on cable TV as she got older.
Last but not least…
“I’m Lee Kyu-seong, playing the role of Tak Gyu-min. I’ve always wanted to be a part of a work by writer Yook Mi-young. I’m grateful to have been chosen for such a captivating role. Thank you for having me.”
Yoomyeong frowned slightly.
There seemed to be various ‘intentions’ behind his words: flattering a popular writer and the choice of words that subtly elevated his pride by saying he was ‘cast.’
Of course, it wasn’t right to judge someone based on a few words.
However, this actor would be involved in a scandal a few years later, and that controversy would be a reflection of his flawed character. Even before the incident, Yoomyeong couldn’t help but feel negative towards him.
Regardless, his current popularity was arguably higher than Baek Seunghyo’s, and he was a trendy actor with a tremendous amount of teenage fans. He had a fair and gentle face, a bright smile, and looked almost like an idol. His acting skills were also relatively good for his age.
These four were the main pillars of the drama <Showbiz Studies>.
The writer emphasized acting skills, and the cast indeed lacked any weak links.
Among the actors in their 20s, they all possessed at least above-average acting skills.
Then, Yoomyeong stood up and bowed.
“I’m Shin Yoomyeong, making my TV debut as Yoon Bohyung. Since everyone here is my senior, I’ll ask for your generous advice. I will do my best!”
With that humble and energetic greeting, most of the senior actors and staff showed a smile at the corners of their mouths.
Except for one person, the PD.
*
“Let’s begin the reading.”
After the introductions from the minor cast and staff, the reading began.
“Scene 1. In front of the Star Entertainment Agency. A large, modern building. A low-angle shot (where the camera pans from below) to capture the imposing structure. The scene changes, and from a high-angle shot, a person who looks smaller and is wearing an ill-fitting suit is seen.”
Click— click— click—
The assistant director began reading the script for episode 1, and the reporter who would later write articles about today’s reading was busy taking pictures.
And then, the female lead’s first line.
“Wow… So this is the Star Entertainment Agency.”
What—
Yoomyeong was surprised.
Cha Harin’s voice was full of energy.
“If I work here, I’ll meet many actors, right? Oh, I want to be an actress too, but being poor is such a curse. Still, there are cases where people get recognized while working as a manager and make their debut, right? Ah, right, wasn’t that a comedian and not an actor?”
Even her sighs were cheerful.
Her character, which was always cheerful despite challenging circumstances, was conveyed well in just a few sentences.
Just as the writer had instructed, her lines carried weight. Her previously unfocused eyes now held a sharp gaze.
‘So she’s the type that ‘transforms’ when acting.’
“Scene 2. Hana, wearing a visitor’s badge, walks down the agency’s hallway. Her sagging bag catches on a framed picture, which teeters and eventually shatters. Having caused an accident on her first day, Hana stands there in shock, when Gyu-min, who was passing by, speaks to her.”
“Are you okay?”
With Cha Harin setting the tone high from the start, Lee Kyu-seong, the second male lead, also stepped up his game.
With a pure smile that could turn the eyes of teenage girls into hearts, Gyu-min kindly extended his hand and even made up for the mistake of breaking the frame. Hana starts to like Gyu-min.
Soon after, Hana was assigned as the personal road manager for the male lead, Do-Jun.
“You’re assigning a newbie girl as a road manager? Boss, have you finally lost your mind?”
“What else can we do? No one wants to be your road manager thanks to your terrible attitude!”
Do-Jun was the epitome of a typical male lead in a kdrama: he started off as a proud and arrogant character but began to change after meeting the female lead.
He lost the argument with his bickering boss and eventually accepted Hana as his road manager. However, he picked on her in every way possible to make her quit.
“Ugh! What a huge disappointment! I was his fan, but he’s such a jerk!”
After a day of putting up with Do-Jun’s antics, Hana grumbled on her way home when she saw a familiar figure in the park.
It was Bohyung’s first appearance.
*
“Hana.”
“Huh? Bohyung? Why are you dressed like that?”
“Our family went bankrupt…”
“What?”
“I have no clothes to wear… and nowhere to sleep tonight…”
“Oh no! Are you okay? What about your parents?”
“They… they ran away, leaving me alone. They took the cat… probably because it eats less than me… huhuhu.”
Rumors about this exceptional rookie actor who was praised repeatedly by the writer had reached both the actors and staff. Some watched with skeptical eyes to see how well he would do.
But… their skepticism melted away.
“Do you have any newspapers at your place? I’ve heard newspapers keep you warm. There’s a reason why homeless old men sleep covered in newspapers. A box would be nice… but that’s too much luxury, right? I asked too much from you… I’m still young, so a newspaper is fine…”
His performance felt distinctly unique from simple acting.
‘What’s this? It feels like I’m listening to a song rather than a line… Ah…!’
Baek Seunghyo, who was listening intently, realized why his acting felt different.
Rhythm.
Untrained individuals might not notice, but a seasoned actor who had solidly learned the basics of acting like Baek Seunghyo could.
The actor delivered his lines rhythmically.
As if it’s more than a simple ‘slice-of-life’ drama.
Cha Harin, who was exchanging lines with him, was equally surprised.
Despite merely exchanging lines, she felt cozy.
The air seemed to dance to the melody of his voice. Affected by it, her lines naturally slowed.
“I live with my grandma… If you want, you can stay at our place until you find a part-time job and can pay for a room.”
“Rea… really? Thank you, Hana. I will definitely repay this favor. Thank you so much!”
The next scene was in Hana’s old multi-generational home.
“Grandma! I’m home~ Were you okay today? Did you manage to eat regularly while you were alone?”
“Our Hana is here. Don’t worry about me. But who is this fellow?”
Veteran actress Lee Ok-hyung, who played Hana’s grandmother, asked in a guarded tone at the sight of the unfamiliar figure.
Then,
“Grandmaaaa~ I’m Hana’s friend! I’ve heard so much about you. I’ve been wanting to meet you!”
A voice dripping with charm, smooth as whipped cream.
‘Is this guy… actually a guy?’
The face of the famously fussy veteran actress Lee Ok-hyung melted.
*
‘Isn’t he overdoing it?’
PD Joo was about to give some feedback to the actor playing the role of Bohyung after the reading of the first episode was over. He felt that the actor’s tone felt somewhat off compared to the others.
However, writer Yook spoke up first in an excited tone.
“Bohyung! It’s like the Bohyung from my imagination has come to life!”
She gushed with praise.
“How did you do that, that thing with your voice? It sounded so… resonant.”
She described the rhythm.
“In the script, there are multiple instances where it says ‘Bohyung speaks as if he is singing.’ So, I tried to express it as rhythmically as possible without compromising the feeling of ‘speech.'”
“Do you understand why I wrote it that way? Do you get Bohyung’s character?”
“In my opinion, it’s sort of like… Hana’s ‘guardian angel’?”
“Yes, that’s it!”
Yook Mi-young slapped her knee in agreement.
In an era where dramas mainly highlighted the lead, the trend was slowly changing.
She wanted to try out an attractive supporting character who wasn’t the lead but was a pivotal part of the narrative. That character was Bohyung.
For the ‘aspiring actress’ and ‘commoner’ Kim Hana, there were two unfamiliar worlds.
The glamorous world of celebrities and the equally flashy world of the wealthy elite.
As she entered the unfamiliar world of showbiz, Bohyung, a member of the wealthy elite, stepped into her life.
He served as an advisor for Hana, who was lost.
Since the entertainment industry was just a different version of the conglomerate world that Bohyung originally belonged to, he used his own experience to give Hana some pointed advice.
He also played the role of her material supporter.
He discreetly helped her out with her tight finances and ensured that she always looked presentable.
In essence, his role was that of a realistic character with an unrealistic role.
A jack-of-all-trades butler. Or…
A fairy godmother to Cinderella, who turned pumpkins into carriages.
Hence, Yook Mi-young used the phrase ‘speaking as if singing’ several times in the script when describing Bohyung, hoping for a slightly surreal atmosphere when Hana and Bohyung interacted.
She had written it that way, but she hadn’t really expected it to be portrayed like that…
“You were good during the audition, but you’ve improved so much more since.”
In contrast to the dreamy expression of the writer, the atmosphere in the reading room became tense.
For all the actors and staff present,
And especially the four leads,
Their first impression of Yoomyeong became vividly etched into their minds.
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