Gentle Visual Acting Genius Chapter 6 - Only trust Seon Woohyun

#Only trust Seon Woohyun

 

The aftermath of the conversation filled with unexpected twists and turns with Ji Soyoung left quite an impression, and the contract process that followed was smooth and quick.

 

When she announced that he was the first to be cast in Director Jang Hangyeol’s <Fanatic>, Ji Soyoung’s reaction was still vivid in his mind. She was practically bubbling over with excitement, exclaiming what a huge deal it was as if she couldn’t believe such luck existed.

 

Woohyun was incredibly happy at this very moment.

 

It felt as if all the best scenarios he couldn’t enjoy in his past life were being realized right before his eyes.

 

After discovering that Ji Soyoung, who had appeared so composed on the outside, was actually brimming with intense passion, it would have been a lie to say he wasn’t looking forward and trusting just how earnestly she would work for him in the future.

 

After the contract was signed, Ji Soyoung regained her calm composure and, with an embarrassed smile, led Woohyun out of the office.

 

“Say hello. This is Ma Junseok, who will be working with you from now on.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“…?”

 

Standing in front of Ji Soyoung was a large man with a towering physique.

 

Woohyun’s eyes widened as he looked up at the man who seemed to be almost twice his size.

 

And for good reason—

 

The face before him was all too familiar, one that he had seen every day in his previous life.

 

‘Why is he here?’

 

In his previous life, during his third year in the industry as a supporting actor, he had been slowly gaining recognition for his villainous roles. From that time until the moment of his death, the man who had been his reliable manager, always by his side, was standing right there—Ma Junseok.

 

“Woohyun! Woohyun, snap out of it! Can you hear me? Woohyun, look at me!”

 

When he was bleeding profusely and losing consciousness on the red carpet, Ma Junseok’s voice, shouting his name over and over again to keep him awake, came rushing back to him. Woohyun almost called him ‘hyung’ without realizing it.

 

Noticing Woohyun’s unusual reaction, Ji Soyoung asked him curiously.

 

“Do you two know each other?”

 

“A-Ah, no. He just looks so much like my senior from the military, whom I was really close to. I almost called him hyung by mistake.”

 

“There’s another person out there who looks like Junseok? Somehow, I feel like the two of you are going to get along really well from the start.”

 

“Haha. Feel free to call me hyung anytime. Nice to meet you, I’m Ma Junseok.”

 

Quickly coming up with an excuse, Woohyun awkwardly accepted Ma Junseok’s handshake, his hand easily swallowed up by Junseok’s huge palm, and found himself overwhelmed with emotions.

 

To think the bond from his previous life would reconnect like this, and even earlier than before.

 

It made him feel incredibly grateful and fortunate.

 

Ma Junseok, whose rough appearance earned him the nickname ‘born-to-be-villain’, was a perfect partner and friend in his previous life, as well as the best manager one could ask for.

 

Meeting someone like him again, and at an even earlier stage, felt like an incredible stroke of luck.

 

“Woohyun, let’s rack up a bunch of awards overseas and act out amazing characters. Then let’s travel the world together. We still have a long way to go!”

 

Recalling Ma Junseok’s encouraging words and how he had worked tirelessly in the background to support him, Woohyun greeted the man standing before him with a vow in his heart.

 

“I look forward to working with you, Junseok hyung. Please, feel free to speak comfortably.”

 

“Wow, you’re a straightforward guy. Then should I? Let’s do this together!”

 

“I want to take on amazing roles and travel all over the world winning awards until we get sick of it. Let’s work hard together, hyung.”

 

“Your dream is really detailed, huh? I like it!”

 

Reuniting with Ma Joon-seok, a reliable partner for his acting career, and meeting the passionate Ji Soyoung. Woohyun was able to feel the conviction once again that his life was going better this time.

 

And so, a week passed since Woohyun settled into Tree Actors.

 

Woohyun’s week was busier than he had expected.

 

He met his new stylist who would be taking care of him, took profile photos that would be posted on the portal sites, and even the production of his first film debut, <Fanatic>, was proceeding rapidly.

 

The casting agreement between #365 and Tree Actors had been cleanly finalized, and now the only thing left for the <Fanatic> team to do was to boldly proceed with the auditions and prepare for the crank-in.

 

Since it was the last piece of Director Jang Hangyeol’s acclaimed ‘Faith’ series, the open auditions themselves received extensive media coverage.

 

Interestingly, along with the articles, Tree Actors took advantage of the buzz to reveal the identity of the ‘2-minute-19-second guy’ and announced his next project.

 

[‘Trustworthy Director’ Jang Hangyeol’s final work in the “Faith” series: <Fanatic>. All roles to be cast through open auditions.]

 

[Director Jang Hangyeol’s <Fanatic>: This time, it’s about a cult!]

 

[Who passed the first audition for <Fanatic>? None other than <The Punisher: Vigilante>’s “2-minute-19-second guy,” Seon Woohyun.]

 

[The 2-minute-19-second guy, Seon Woohyun, joins Nam Juwon at the same agency!]

 

The articles were trending in the top spots of entertainment news rankings, and the public’s reaction was quite heated.

 

The buzz surrounding Director Jang Hangyeol and his work <Fanatic> was one thing, but the revelation of the identity of the ‘2-minute-19-second guy’, who had been shrouded in mystery, was another major talking point.

 

-??? Isn’t that guy the 2 minutes 19 seconds guy?

 

-Wow, who would have thought to find the 2 minutes 19 seconds guy here? His name is Seon Woohyun? Even his name is handsome.

 

-I wonder what kind of role will he play in <Fanatic>. According to the article, it’s about rescuing a lover caught up in a cult, but his visuals look exactly like a tragic lover who has been kidnapped.

 

-His face is just like a lamb to be sacrificed.

 

-It’s like they kidnapped him to worship him as a god.

 

-If he tried to recruit people with that face, I’d agree to make it the state religion.

└ㅋㅋㅋSh*tㅋcrazyㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ But I agree.

 

-Can he even act, though? If Director Jang chose him first, his acting must be decent, right?

└ Yeah, Director Jang is known for his sharp eye for talent;; I guess we can look forward to it?

– There’s been a shortage of good 20-something male actors, so 30-year-old actors were getting cast in 20-something roles, which felt weird. I’m so glad ㅠㅠㅠㅠ I hope more talented young actors emerge soon ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

 

“I can’t believe I’m the one getting this kind of media hype.”

 

The entertainment section, filled with articles featuring director Jang Hangyeol’s face, also prominently displayed another face–his own. The comments on the newly taken profile picture of him, used as the main image for the article, were fascinating enough to keep Woohyun glued to the screen with a satisfied smile on his face.

 

Then, there were the endless articles about the open auditions for <Fanatic>. The production process, which gained momentum, was moving incredibly fast. Holding auditions just a week after releasing promotional articles, was almost unbelievable. If it were in the past, he’d be just as busy as the other rookie actors, scrambling to put together application forms and audition videos, but here he was, lying at home and reading the news instead.

 

“Ah… I really can’t wait to start shooting.”

 

He couldn’t contain the excitement welling up in him, yearning to stand in front of the camera right away. How should he look to play a saintly character? Maybe he should suggest to the director that he completely bleach his hair white for a more divine vibe? Where would they film? Since it was about a cult, maybe it would be in some remote mountain village?

 

While his mind was consumed with such joyful thoughts, his phone vibrated, showing Ma Junseok’s name.

 

“Yes, hyung.”

 

“Oh, Woohyun. Have you eaten?”

 

“Of course. What’s up? Do I have a schedule?”

 

“Um… yeah, kind of. But you need to come to the office and talk to Team Leader Ji first. I’ll be there soon, so get ready.”

 

Woohyun couldn’t help but press for details, his curiosity piqued by Ma Junseok’s vague response.

 

“I’ll get ready right away. But… what kind of schedule is it? Is it a secret?”

 

“No, it’s not a secret… It’s more of a surprising request, I guess? #365 reached out to us, saying they want you to attend the open audition.”

 

“The open… audition? They don’t mean for me to be a judge, right?”

 

“That’s what we thought at first, so we were about to refuse. But that’s not it. They want you to come and act. As a scene partner for all the roles.”

 

‘Wait, what? They want me to act at the audition as a scene partner?’ 

 

The thought stunned Woohyun at first, but then it dawned on him what director Jang Hangyeol’s intentions might be.

 

Borrowing from his memories of his past life, the <Fanatic> Saint character had at least one line exchange with every major role in the script. So, the director probably wanted to use him to see which actors had the best chemistry.

 

He imagining himself constantly exchanging lines with countless actors auditioning under the guise of a regular audition.

 

‘That sounds fun.’

 

The confusion and questions that had filled Woo-hyun’s mind were replaced with intrigue and anticipation.

 

***

 

The first day of the much-anticipated open audition for <Fanatic>.

 

A black van sped towards the audition venue.

 

Inside, a young actress, Min Sooah, muttered her designated lines, preparing for the audition. Meanwhile, her stylist, who was arranging her outfit, grumbled.

 

“Unnie, I heard that Seon Woohyun is coming today. That 2-minute-and-19-second guy.”

 

“Ah, I heard too. But he’s not coming to audition, is he?”

 

“Exactly! He’s not auditioning, but attending the audition with the director. Isn’t that a bit too much? He’s a total rookie, yet he’s there to help judge? It’s just not right.”

 

Despite the stylist’s reaction, Min Sooah remained calm and nonchalant.

 

“Aha… well, I’m sure the director has his reasons. They say his acting is no joke. Just the fact that he out-acted Yoo Donghyuk during Punisher is enough for me to vouch for him.”

 

Min Sooah was also a former idol turned actor, much like Yoo Donghyuk. Having been active in the same era as him, she harbored a lot of resentment towards him because of his chronic ‘actor syndrome’ and arrogance that stemmed solely from having started his acting career slightly earlier.

 

The rumors that Seon Woohyun had put Yoo Donghyuk in his place with his acting skills? They were music to her ears, and she had felt a vicarious sense of satisfaction just from hearing it.

 

That alone made Seon Woohyun a confirmed ‘favorite’ in her book.

 

As if in agreement, her stylist nodded lightly but soon seemed worried as she voiced another concern.

 

“I heard many experienced actors turned down the audition because all the main roles are being cast through an open audition. If they don’t get the part, word will spread, and that could damage their reputations. Unnie… are you sure you’re okay with this?”

 

“Oh, come on. How can you worry about me getting eliminated before it’s even started? Don’t you trust me? Weren’t you the one saying I’m good at acting? And what if I don’t make it? Then I just have to pray that the actor who did get the part is amazing and wins an award. At least people will say, ‘She fought well even if she lost.’ And I’ll just have to win an award with a better project next time.”

 

“B-but you need to get this role too, unnie!”

 

Watching herself in the mirror as she applied lip balm, Min Sooah calmly looked at her stylist, who seemed more nervous than she was, and responded firmly.

 

“Of course. I really want this role, you know? I’m planning to completely crush the audition, so don’t worry. Actually, it would be even better if that guy reads lines with us instead of the staff. That way, I can give my best performance.”

 

She picked up her script again and started quietly rehearsing her assigned lines. Not long after, the van made its way through the crowd gathered in front of the audition building and finally pulled into the parking lot.