How a Loan Shark Survives as an Actor Chapter 76

Chapter 76

 

“You’re pretty tall, aren’t you?”

Director Seo Jinki looked me up and down.

“My protagonist wasn’t written to be tall, hmm… what should we do about that?”

We hadn’t even exchanged proper greetings yet.

I couldn’t help but laugh at the way he stood there appraising someone to their face.

Yeah, what should we do indeed?

‘How should I deal with this kid?’

Looking at him acting all tough with that stubborn expression, I found myself pondering.

No matter how immature a rich brat he was, a director was still a director.

Making the director cry during an audition wouldn’t benefit me in the slightest.

‘Hmm.’

After a moment’s thought, I smiled brightly.

“Then why not try imagining a tall protagonist this time? Nice to meet you, Director. I’m Yoo Seulho.”

At least for the first greeting, I bowed politely.

Funny thing was, the moment I moved, the man sitting in his chair flinched.

‘Why? Think I’m going to hit you?’

Seriously, it was astonishing.

It had been so long since I’d seen someone this openly pathetic that it almost felt nostalgic.

‘The textbook strong-against-the-weak, weak-against-the-strong type.’

The kind of personality that’s only acceptable when you’re an immature teenager.

After getting beaten up by your classmates a few times for acting like that, people usually grow out of it.

But seeing him still like this as an adult…

Money really was everything, huh?

“Ahem.”

Clearing his throat, Director Seo straightened up and glared at me.

“I don’t have much time, so let’s make this quick.”

“Sure. Should I start acting right away?”

“Hah, no? We need profile shots first. Face forward.”

Damn, he’s prickly.

But honestly, I wasn’t that annoyed.

‘If someone like Woo Junseo acted this way, I’d probably want to beat the hell out of him right away.’

But with this guy…

I somehow felt sorry for him.

“You memorized the script, right?”

“Yes. Just tell me which scene you want.”

“Hah, pretty confident, aren’t you?”

Director Seo sneered, lifting one corner of his lips.

“Apparently you haven’t heard how many actors stood where you’re standing before you, Yoo Seulho. This isn’t such an easy–”

“Director.”

I cut him off with a smile.

“Should I just go home?”

“…Excuse me?”

“If you tell me to go home, I’ll turn around and leave right now. I wouldn’t want to waste your precious time.”

And then I shut my mouth.

Director Seo only made meaningless sounds like “Ah, uh…”

And I deliberately didn’t ease the atmosphere.

A few awkward seconds passed.

“No. Go ahead…”

Director Seo muttered while lowering his gaze.

I knew what he meant, but deliberately asked again.

“Pardon?”

“I said go ahead. Act.”

Now visibly irritated, Director Seo snapped in a small voice.

“Which scene would you like first? Is there one you’d like to see, Director?”

Smiling brightly, I gently soothed him.

‘I understand wanting to throw your weight around once you’ve got some authority.’

But just because I felt sorry for him didn’t mean I wanted to indulge all his nonsense.

What am I, your mother?

“Let’s start with Junho’s conversation with the pension owner.”

“Yes. Will you read the pension owner’s lines, Director?”

“I suppose I have to.”

“I’d appreciate it if you do a good job. It’ll help me immerse myself.”

His brow furrowed at my smiling request.

I heard him mutter under his breath,

“Immersion is something he should do himself…”

But I ignored it easily.

The fact that he mumbled it instead of saying it to my face meant he’d already lost the battle for dominance.

“Then let’s begin.”

 

***

 

Act One.

Junho and his group of college friends arrive at a mountain pension.

While the others unload the luggage, Junho is the first to spot the owner.

He asks the old man, who silently hands him the key,

“There’s a barbecue area, right? Until what time can we use it?”

I delivered the line in a lazy, dry tone.

There wasn’t even a hint that I was trying to sound polite.

“Ten.”

“Ah~. Is it okay if we go a little past that? We’ll keep it quiet.”

No answer came.

Ignoring it, I looked around.

“There’s no convenience store nearby, right? Feels like there’s nothing around in the mountains.”

“……”

“Is there a walking trail behind the place? We might do some courage-testing at night.”

Even after trying to chat, the old man didn’t respond.

The script said, ‘Junho frowns here.’

But I didn’t change my expression.

“The view’s damn good, though…”

I ignored the old man treating me like I was invisible.

The Junho I envisioned wouldn’t get angry in a situation like this.

‘Guess he’s old and can’t hear.’

Thinking that, I leisurely admired the scenery when I finally got a response.

“Don’t go outside after sunset.”

“Huh?”

I raised my eyebrows and looked at the old man.

“Ah~. Don’t worry. We’re just hanging around nearby. We won’t climb the mountain. We didn’t come here to see mountains.”

“The mountain can come to see you.”

“…?”

What the hell is he talking about?

Even at my bewildered expression, the old man remained steadfast.

“If someone calls your name at night, don’t go out.”

I stared at him for a moment before slowly curling my lips upward.

“Ah, I see… so this place is haunted? Wow, who would’ve thought?”

“Not just this place. Ghosts are everywhere.”

I suppressed my laughter at the stiff voice.

Wow.

‘Didn’t know people could keep up chuuni roleplay even when they’re old.’

Seeing all kinds of strange things today.

“Then I’ll spend a wonderful day with the ghosts. You can go inside.”

“They aren’t beings to be taken lightly.”

“Yes, yes~. Got it~.”

I raised both hands and stepped back.

Turning toward my friends, who were still unloading the car, I finally let out the laugh I’d been holding in.

“Pfft.”

What a load of bullshit.

 

***

 

“That’s it.”

As soon as I finished the prepared scene, I turned back toward the director.

Director Seo sat with his chin propped up, deep in thought.

“Director?”

“…It’s a bit different from the script. Your expressions and some details in the dialogue.”

“Yes. If I were to play Junho, I adjusted things to suit the role better.”

The Junho in the script had been written without a specific actor in mind.

Which meant his dialogue and expressions had been designed to fit most actors.

So if I became the lead…

‘Then of course Junho should be changed to fit me.’

But for some reason, those words seemed to bother Director Seo.

He frowned deeply.

“Isn’t a true actor someone who perfectly brings the character in the script to life? Actors should adapt to the character. This is the first time I’ve ever heard someone say the character should adapt to the actor.”

Really?

Maybe because I wasn’t a “true actor,” but I couldn’t understand why that mattered so much.

‘As long as the final result is good, isn’t that enough?’

After considering my answer, I simply asked,

“So you didn’t like it?”

“……”

Director Seo swallowed.

Unable to say no, he hesitated.

I smiled brightly.

“You thought it was good too, didn’t you, Director?!”

“No, that’s…”

“It’s not like I completely changed Junho. I have no intention of ignoring the script, so please don’t misunderstand.”

I even put on a cute act, saying I’d worked hard thinking about the project.

Of course, calling it “cute” was generous.

It was closer to a half-threat.

As expected, Director Seo sat speechless before finally speaking.

“Let’s move on to the next scene…”

“Yes!”

And so we went through several scenes from the script.

 

***

 

The official profile for Junho, protagonist of the horror film:

– 21 years old.

– Sophomore in college.

– Physical Education major.

– Only son of a taciturn father and a busy mother.

Personally, I added one more thing.

‘Didn’t grow up close to his grandparents.’

If he had, it would’ve been hard for him to act like that around old people.

He wasn’t especially polite or warm, but he also didn’t cross the line.

If he judged an elder wasn’t behaving maturely, he wouldn’t treat them like one either.

‘There are plenty of athletic guys like that.’

Men with some physical confidence tend to be like that.

They don’t easily get intimidated and always say what’s on their minds.

Acting according to that image, it was impossible to follow the script one hundred percent.

“So, what did you think?”

After showing the performance I’d prepared, I asked Director Seo.

If he wanted someone who’d perform the script exactly as written, I’d tell him to find someone else and leave.

‘Honestly, the Junho I made is better than the one in the script.’

Fortunately, Director Seo seemed to think similarly.

He didn’t criticize me anymore.

“Hmm… not bad.”

He merely pouted and muttered.

‘Look at the way this bastard talks.’

If I ended up doing this movie, I fully intended to fix the way he spoke.

And it wasn’t just for my own sake.

‘You should correct him while he’s still young.’

Sure, if you’ve got money, you don’t really need to adapt to others.

You can just stay home alone, order delivery, and do whatever you want.

‘But you can’t make movies alone.’

No matter how rich a director is, there’s a limit to how much others will tolerate.

His previous two films had failed.

If he truly wanted this one to succeed, he needed to learn how to communicate properly with people.

‘The casting director was right.’

Someone like him needed a role model.

The hallmark of a pathetic man is that he’s weak toward men stronger than himself.

No matter how intelligent or capable a woman might be, guys like him often underestimate her simply because she’s a woman.

‘An immature director who ignores investors, staff, and even the casting director.’

I couldn’t treat him too gently.

Nor could I be overly domineering.

‘I need to use his psychology.’

Not make him fear me.

Make him secretly admire me and want to imitate me.

In other words, I needed to become not an actor who had to obey him, but an older brother he’d want advice from.

‘Then I should build goodwill first.’

What kind of words would make this guy happy?

Having finished my calculations, I spoke.

“Director, there’s something I’ve wanted to tell you.”

“What?”

Ignoring the sulky tone, I said softly,

“Junho really reminds me of you, Director.”

“…Really?”

His eyes wavered.

I smiled gently at the expression of disbelief.

As if that were true.