༺ Reactions and Aura ༻
“Let’s talk a little bit about the script.”
Director Son gestured, and Yoomyeong moved closer. He must’ve been quite thirsty after such a passionate performance, so the director poured him a cup of tea.
The scent of chrysanthemum tea filled the air.
“Rookie actor, what is your impression of the character of Lee Bang-won?”
One thing had changed, though – the title ‘actor.’ Director Son asked while looking at the young actor with a promising future.
Yoomyeong briefly thought about the history of the late Goryeo and early Joseon Dynasties and gave a concise answer based on common knowledge because it wasn’t his forte.
“He was a strong ruler who killed his brothers to ascend the throne and a ruthless politician. He’s also the father of Sejong the Great.”
“That’s correct. If we elaborate a bit more…”
Sip—
Director Son took another sip of tea and put the cup down.
“As I see it, Lee Bang-won is a talented individual with exceptional qualities, in both the pen and the sword. Moreover, he is a genius in politics, unprecedented even when looking at the history of this land. At the age of 17, he passed the civil service examination, becoming the youngest ever to do so. In 1388, at the age of 22, he evacuated his family to Kaesong when the Wihwado Retreat occurred. If he hadn’t, the Lee family might have been in danger.”
“At age 26, around the same age as actor Shin, Lee Bang-won was living as an illegitimate child under the care of his biological mother. Right as Lee Seong-Gye fell from his horse, leaving his troops vulnerable, Jeong Mong-ju attempted to eliminate Lee Seong-Gye’s close aides using that gap. Among his brothers, Lee Bang-won alone refused to accept his father’s impending death and brought Lee Seong-Gye back to Kaesong.”
He had wise judgment and boldness that belied his age.
“Furthermore, he is credited with ordering the brutal killing of Jeong Mong-ju, a giant respected by all scholars and the founder of Eastern Confucianism, in a public place. That also happened when he was 26 years old.”
It felt eerie for Yoomyeong to think about what someone of his age had done.
“Lee Seong-Gye tried to appease Jeong Mong-ju until the end, but Lee Bang-won didn’t hesitate to eliminate the greatest politician and diplomat of the late Goryeo Dynasty, an old friend of his father and an academic mentor to him, because ‘his path is different from mine.'”
“…”
“Why did he order such a brutal assassination in a public place instead of a discreet one? There are various interpretations, but I support the idea that he did it in a conspicuous location deliberately. If the assassination had been discreet, he would have incurred his father’s anger, overshadowing his own achievements. So, by killing him in a public place, he ensured that the act would be seen and recognized.”
He was a man who was bound to go down in history either for his accomplishments or for his infamy.
“Even afterward, it was the same story. The history leading up to Taejong’s rule is stained with blood. Lee Bang-won was capable of assassinating his own brothers when necessary, seizing his father’s throne, and even executing his own in-laws. However, I don’t think it was because he was naturally cruel. He was quite lenient in his treatment of subordinates who opposed him.”
If it wasn’t inherently cruel…
“I interpret this as his ‘powerful ego,’ where his ambition is so intense to the extent that it can engulf a nation. He also had unwavering determination and a profound understanding of the path to his goals.”
The director concluded his lengthy explanation.
“Can you imagine the intense aura and presence that such a figure would exude just by existing alone?”
*
For a moment, their conversation ceased.
The one who broke that silence was Hansung.
“Director, I’ve already read the script, and I understand that the character Lee Bang-won is a charismatic figure. In that case, isn’t the actor’s acting ability more important?”
“Hmm… how should I explain this…?”
Director Son pondered for a moment.
“I believe that apart from an actor’s skill, there is something called an aura or presence that an actor gives off. It could be described as the energy they possess. Some of it may be innate, while some might develop over time.”
Goosebumps broke out on Yoomyeong’s arms.
He was definitely talking about ‘presence.’
“It’s not just about actors; it applies to politicians, artists, and businessmen too. The so-called ‘charismatic,’ ‘attention-grabbing’ types exist in all fields. Among them, for someone like Lee Bang-won in his time, the aura he exudes must be overwhelming. Only then can we create the tension we need when he’s facing off with Jeong Mong-ju, the greatest political figure in Goryeo and someone who’s 29 years older than him.”
“Do I lack that aura, Director?”
Yoomyeong asked for the first time, and the director nodded slightly.
“Don’t misunderstand me. You already have more presence than the average actor in their twenties, and dedicated actors tend to accumulate this aura over time. That’s why I said that you’ll easily become a top actor if you stay in this industry for ten more years.
But now, well… Rather than saying that you have an overwhelming presence, it feels like you’re utilizing 120% of your not-so-high presence. If we were to compare it to fighter terms, it would be similar to saying that you had more speed and technique than the power in your punch?”
Yoomyeong flinched at his words.
The insight of the seasoned director who had spent 30 years in the movie industry was amazing.
When he first went back to being twenty-three years old, Miho asked him to choose the amount of presence he would receive as a condition for their deal, and he chose 25. If he chose to receive 50 presence during that time, and if he could have an overwhelming presence even when he stood still, would the director have cast him?
If so, did he make the wrong choice?
“Because your acting skills are outstanding, that part is mostly covered when you’re actively acting. However, when I saw you act three times earlier, between those acts—when you briefly closed your eyes, your aura noticeably diminished.”
That was correct. The last time he checked, Yoomyeongs’s presence was at 62.
Director Choi Ruhan mentioned this as well. He had said that when they caught him on camera during normal moments and when he was acting, the difference in screen presence was astonishing.
“Of course, reactions are also part of acting. So, your presence increases when you’re reacting. But during moments when you’re not actively acting, you rely more on the aura you naturally possess. As a rookie actor, you still lack that intense presence that this role requires.”
“Director, are there any actors who meet these criteria among the actors in their early twenties?”
Hansung asked with genuine curiosity.
“There are young talents with inherent charisma and years of acting experience who have accumulated presence from a young age. They don’t completely meet my criteria, but there are a few candidates. They may not have better acting skills than the rookie actor, but I’m thinking of directing them precisely and creating each scene step by step.”
Miho mentioned that senior Ryu Shin had a presence level in the mid-70s. He was born with a high presence, and his stage experience, accumulated from a young age, formed a strong aura compared to his age.
There probably wasn’t another actor like him.
Yoomyeong understood what Director Son wanted. No one knew better than he did.
However…
Hearing those words made him covet it even more.
A person with the power and ambition that could dominate an entire nation and more.
Besides, he hadn’t been acting between his dialogues earlier.
At the very least, he should show a good reaction performance before he left so he wouldn’t regret it.
Yoomyeong looked directly at the director and spoke.
“Director, can you give me one more chance?”
He then bowed his head.
*
“Hmm…”
Director Son was at a loss.
He hadn’t originally planned to discuss such abstract topics like ‘aura.’ Criticizing the rookie actor for falling short despite having sufficient acting skills was an unlikely move, even for him.
However, the sincerity, passion, and talent of the rookie actor made him speak the truth.
Director Son had a strong liking for rookie actors who were serious about acting, and he was quite fond of the actor in front of him as well.
But casting was a different matter.
He still believed that the role of Lee Bang-won required explosive ‘power’ and charisma, and that ‘power’ couldn’t be accumulated overnight.
‘What should I do…?’
There was no more time to spare. Pre-production was already underway. The crew had been selected, and location scouting and storyboarding were being carried out simultaneously. About half of the cast had already been finalized.
The role of Lee Bang-won was still vacant because they hadn’t found a suitable actor yet, but they needed to finalize the casting within this week.
‘But still…’
Although he didn’t think the decision would be reversed, Director Son decided to give the rookie actor one more chance.
After all, this actor had surprised him with his acting abilities after a long time, so Director Son thought he should at least grant this request.
“We don’t have the luxury of time, and we won’t be able to meet again. Would it be okay if we gave you one more assignment right here?”
“Yes, of course.”
With a mature expression that didn’t match his age of twenty-five, the rookie actor replied.
Director Son pondered for a moment, thinking about what assignment to give. Then, he turned to Yoon Hansung.
“Hansung, can you help with this one?”
“Yes, Director. What do you need me to do?”
“Do you have the script with you?”
“Yes.”
Hansung pulled out the script with ‘The Late Goryeo Dynasty & the Early Joseon Dynasty’ written on the cover.
“Could you please read the final confrontation scene between Jeong Mong-ju and Lee Bang-won, where Jeong Mong-ju is expressing his views in response to Lee Bang-won’s question?”
“Yes.”
“And, Mr. Shin Yoomyeong. In this part, Lee Bang-won mostly listens to what’s being said without offering much of a counterargument. Your reactions should include nodding or adding minimal interjections while exuding the maximum aura you can.”
Yoomyeong nodded deeply.
*
Yoomyeong carefully examined the handed script.
Even though he hadn’t held it for only two weeks, he could smell the scent of paper that he missed.
He began to envision the aura of Lee Bang-won in his mind.
Jeong Mong-ju was an outstanding and seasoned political figure who was second to none in the land.
And a young hero with a presence that didn’t pale in comparison to him.
After taking all the time he could to study the script, Yoomyeong set it aside.
He trembled.
It was a test with lower odds of success than any other test he had faced after turning back time.
The anxiety of facing something he hadn’t encountered in a long time felt, in fact, quite familiar to him.
“Senior, you can start.”
Hansung nodded and began reciting Jeong Mong-ju’s lines.
“Yudeok (*Lee Bang-won’s name), what is needed to create a nation for the people is a system. A system that does not rely on the qualities of the monarch, who may or may not be capable, but on good subjects to produce worthy results.”
The director watched Yoomyeong as he listened to the lines.
He was leaning slightly against the armrest of his chair, gazing intently at Hansung.
The composed and confident look in his eyes suited the young Taejong (*Taejong: What the founder of a new dynasty is called) in his earlier years.
It was excellent acting.
“But why do we need a revolution then? The king and the dynasty are not the core of that system, are they?”
“Isn’t it faster to cut out what has already decayed?”
That was the longest reply on that page.
During that time, his presence surged. However…
“I don’t see a problem with that. The first king to start a new nation is always the most capable. That’s why it’s difficult to establish a system that centers on officials. But what guarantee do we have that the next king, and the next, and the next, will be as competent?”
As Hansung’s speech extended, the intensity in Yoomyeong’s aura diminished.
It was clear that he was giving it his all, but it just wasn’t enough to match Lee Bang-won’s charisma.
The director silently swallowed his disappointment.
“I see.”
“In fact, the most suitable time to transform the system towards one centered around officials would be when the power of the military king is at its weakest.”
But then it happened.
‘No!’
For a moment, Director Son felt something shift.
“Well…”
An aura surged as if it were emanating from him.
It lasted for just a brief moment, overwhelming and filling the room, but it was the kind of presence Director Son had desired for ‘Lee Bang-won.’
He was astonished.
Based on his experience, an actor’s skills could improve significantly in a short amount of time, but an aura didn’t typically grow so rapidly.
‘But how…’
How had he briefly exuded such an overwhelming presence?
‘…’
Director Son closely observed Yoomyeong until he finished his performance, but he couldn’t detect that aura again.
“Let’s do it together.”
“Huh? Really?!”
Yoomyeong was both delighted and puzzled.
When he had requested a retest, the director had granted it, but he had a stubborn expression on his face.
So, Yoomyeong didn’t expect a change of heart. He simply did his best.
But then, the decision suddenly flipped.
“How did you do that? Your presence briefly became overwhelmingly powerful.”
“Uh… did it? I’m not sure.”
“Well… it seems there was untapped potential within you. Let’s bring it out together.”
“…Yes. I’ll do my best.”
“I’m concerned because I’ve never seen a case like this before, and whether we can bring it out again… But if it does come out, we might be able to create the ideal Lee Bang-won that exists in my mind.”
Director Son’s arms trembled as he gripped the desk.
“For the role of Lee Bang-won at the beginning of the film, we’ll have to use a child actor. Can you still be present on the set during that time? Even if it’s just for a few shots a day, it would be good to see them act. The more you’re at the set, and the more you watch them act, the higher the chances that ‘it’ might come out.”
“Yes. I understand, Director.”
“The detailed conditions and terms should be negotiated between the film company and your agency, but let’s consider it confirmed between us.”
“Yes, sir. I don’t care what the terms are. I’ll do it.”
Director Son burst out laughing at Yoomyeong’s words.
It was actually considered a gain if a rookie actor received a supporting role in Director Son’s film, even on a low payment.
If he said that while knowing that, then he was a clever guy.
But if he didn’t, then he was truly passionate about acting.
“Can you decide that as you please? You still belong to an agency.”
“My agency won’t object if it’s a role that helps improve my acting. By the looks of it, it will definitely be such a role.”
There seemed to be no ulterior motive in his sparkling eyes.
Director Son wore another satisfied smile.
“Let’s discuss the script next time we meet. You did a great job today.”
“Yes. Thank you so much, Director!”
He bowed and left, and the director patted Hansung on the back.
“I owe you a debt, actor Yoon.”
“No, Director. That guy won’t disappoint you. Thank you.”
It would have been nice if it had ended on such a heartwarming note.
On his way back, Yoomyeong heard a rather surprising piece of information.
{I briefly enhanced your presence earlier.}
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