Chapter 10
Looking back, it was just a scene that was nothing particularly special.
Princess Yeonhwa merely turned to face the boy’s call.
It was just that simple action, yet…
“Acting.”
Producer Hae Tae-oh’s mind naturally drifted to the concept.
Acting isn’t simply spewing out lines.
It’s every act of expressing emotion.
From facial expressions to glances.
Even movements of the body.
All of it is expressed through the act of acting.
“You were looking for me, weren’t you?”
The actual dialogue hadn’t even started.
Yet, the quiet presence of Princess Yeonhwa turning around made everyone hold their breath.
The princess was leaving the palace, heading off to faraway lands.
Those portraying her expressed their emotions with palpable sorrow.
And Jo Seo-hee successfully channeled that sorrow, her eyes glistening with tears.
But the Yeonhwa before them wasn’t crying.
Sorrow was indeed felt.
However, it was a fury beyond that which sparkled in her eyes.
Her once sunset-red gaze darkened, seeming more intense.
A fury that could not be buried beneath sorrow.
She was alone, evading the strife, yet the culprit loomed over her.
All of her anger seemed to pour forth.
Young Yoon Seo-il, facing her head-on, couldn’t utter a word.
His mind went completely blank.
He was supposed to speak. He had memorized all the lines.
Yet, only thoughts swirled in his mind.
“Why… are you so quiet?”
Usually, this would be where the scene ended.
But as she looked at the silent boy, Princess Yeonhwa opened her mouth.
“Or are you saying I’m not even worth saying anything to?”
This was nearing venting her frustrations.
It was a reprimand directed at the boy who called out while she was swallowing her own grief.
“…Hic.”
That cutting voice finally brought out a hiccup from young Yoon Seo-il.
Looking closely, tears seemed to well up in his eyes.
It felt as if royalty was standing right before him.
Daring to speak here felt like committing a major sin.
“Cut! Cut! That’s enough! Your acting is just fine.”
Thanks to the shout from the filming director, Gong Jeong-tae, the previously tense atmosphere evaporated like magic.
The Princess Yeonhwa just moments ago was replaced by Seo-yeon, blinking in confusion.
However, no one could ridicule the demeanor of Seo-yeon as they had before.
‘…Is she a parachute?’
Is that what they call a parachute?
More like an air assault force.
Disappointment filled the faces of the child actors who had been vying for the Princess Yeonhwa role.
After Jo Seo-hee, they didn’t expect to see another child show such great acting.
‘No way.’
Among the shocked crowd, the most surprised was undoubtedly Jo Seo-hee, who had been smiling confidently.
‘They said she just did a CF.’
Is that the level of someone just doing a CF?
Annoying, yes, but that scene was an interpretation Jo Seo-hee could never have considered.
‘No, that’s wrong. The script clearly stated that Princess Yeonhwa should shed tears over her sorrow.’
The script required Yeonhwa to weep, seeking comfort from Seo-il.
Yet Seo-yeon’s performance felt more chilling than sorrowful.
So, it must have been a wrong interpretation.
She firmly convinced herself of that.
“…I’ve heard that child actors these days are scary.”
“It really deserves the recommendations.”
“Regardless of anything else, her emotional delivery is on another level compared to most actors.”
Hae Tae-oh glanced at Jo Min-tae, who had come to the set.
The son of Jo Bang-woo, the CF director.
‘Is it sheer luck? Or perhaps a discerning eye?’
No one conducting the audition could shake off the memory of Seo-yeon’s performance.
‘She was clearly looking at the sunset at first.’
‘She was staring straight at the sun; of course, her eyes must have been blinded.’
‘And then she turned at the call of Yoon Seo-il…’
Naturally, the sun was situated above them.
It wouldn’t be dusk for quite a while.
But viewing Seo-yeon’s acting felt like having the sunset in front of them.
It evoked the image of a moon standing with its back towards the light.
“But that was an improvised line.”
“It was an ad-lib. Though it felt incredibly natural.”
“Her emotional performance differed from what was in the script too. Director Gong, how did you feel about it?”
It was essential to weigh the opinion of Director Gong, who was orchestrating the shoot.
As he was the one leading this drama’s direction and acting.
“The acting was truly fantastic… But honestly, it might not appeal to a sensitive director. It’s too marked with personal interpretation.”
“That’s true. I’ve never seen a child actor do this before. Usually, they follow directives.”
“Right, that’s how it should be… But…”
Interpreting the script and acting based on it is typically an action displayed by experienced actors.
However, Seo-yeon naturally executed this at such a young age.
Could this be talent?
“Oh, wait. Could it be she performed according to the original material?”
Someone chimed in with that remark.
Original material.
Thinking about it, this production, Taesumdahl, was a drama based on a novel.
“In the original, Princess Yeonhwa gets angry at Yoon Seo-il. She lashes out, engulfed in pity and rage for herself.”
Yet, the drama’s Princess Yeonhwa highlighted a more subdued aspect of her character.
This approach suited the scene, allowing Yoon Seo-il to shine.
“If she viewed the original material, it’s possible her performance was not incorrect.”
“Hmm.”
Regardless, it was undeniably a good performance.
Natural ad-libs.
Rich emotional acting.
The problem was that it deviated from the acting demanded by the script.
“Comparing her with Jo Seo-hee…”
Jo Seo-hee, the princess of a daily drama.
Everyone referred to her by that title.
There was no doubt she’d become a great actress in the future, a title honoring her talent.
“Honestly, it’s hard to compare when looking purely at the acting.”
“There’s a significant gap in emotional conveyance. Skill-wise… Jo Seo-hee was undoubtedly impressive too—she had many stronger moments.”
When it came to mere acting, Jo Seo-hee was at the top of her class.
She was the straight-A student, having scored perfect marks.
Yet Seo-yeon was like a wild horse.
Her interpretation and natural ad-libs were something else entirely.
This could easily lead to a trainwreck if the other performer wasn’t on top of their game, like in this instance.
‘Yoon Seo-il’s role is easy…’
‘Who would have thought I’d hit a wall with the role of Lee Hye-wol.’
After a moment of conflict, they all lifted their heads to take a look at one another.
“Well, this is just one scene, and we have more to see, so let’s review everything.”
“Yes. There’s no need to rush.”
They spoke among themselves as the auditions continued.
After all, the roles would be decided later in a meeting.
But even they knew the truth.
They knew who the child actor for Princess Yeonhwa, Lee Hye-wol, was going to be.
*
‘Did I overdo it?’
The sharp reactions I felt when I looked back at the audience post-performance lingered in my mind.
Crossing my arms and reflecting on that moment sent shivers down my spine.
Wondering if I accidentally created a scene so cringeworthy it might earn me an embarrassing past.
If only there was a blanket in front of me, I would have certainly kicked it.
“Seo-yeon.”
While I was lost in those thoughts, Jo Min-tae spoke up as we exited the audition space.
“I must say, I was truly surprised by your performance today.”
“Huh?”
“Honestly, since it was your first drama, I was worried, but it turns out this is what you were born for. I honestly thought the real Princess Yeonhwa stood before me.”
‘Is this just lip service?’
No, judging by his expression, it seemed genuine.
‘Thank goodness.’
I feared I might have overperformed and was collecting an embarrassing history, but it seemed I was received well enough.
As I exhaled in relief, my mom, who had been quietly beside me, tightly grasped my hand.
“I was really surprised too! As someone who frequently watches sageuks, your acting was just as good as the child actors on those shows. No, I think it was even better!”
“Really?”
“Of course! My daughter is a genius!”
Perhaps feeling guilty for stating this in the audition room, Sua embraced me tightly as she said it.
‘Sua, you’re squeezing too hard.’
While grappling with the heavy flesh covering my face at that moment,
Jo Min-tae spoke again, calmly.
“If I have the chance, I’d love for Seo-yeon to play the lead in my first drama or film when I eventually get to that point.”
“Me?”
“Absolutely. But by then, you’ll be a big-time actress who’ll have everyone on edge just to speak to you.”
He chuckled softly as he said this.
“Oh, no. If that happens, I’ll make sure to take that role.”
“Really? No turning back then.”
“Certainly! It’s a promise.”
I replied, raising my arms and extending my thumb in a spark of childish excitement.
Then, we dramatically locked thumbs, sealing our playful contract.
“You know, sometimes Seo-yeon, you act so much like a boy. It’s rather charming!”
“R-Really?”
The comment about being boyish caught me off guard for a moment.
It makes sense since I was a man in my past life.
Though my behavior has changed significantly, my mindset hardly has.
‘Ahem, anyway.’
Perhaps Jo Min-tae viewed this contract as a joke, but I was being quite serious.
‘If Jo Min-tae is directing, then it must be “The Thief.”’
A fun-filled action movie.
The genius director’s exhilarating action flick!
Something along those lines were how it had been promoted.
Should he cast me, I would be extremely grateful.
So many actors have risen to fame through that opportunity.
After all, wasn’t this the film that launched Kim Jung-ha into the stratosphere?
‘Ah, but I still need to do the Vtubing.’
It was hard to even imagine sharing a story about being in a blockbuster.
Saying I was an extra felt inadequate.
Claiming I was the lead could lead to revealing too much.
The red pill!
This was something to be cautious about as a Vtuber.
‘Well, let’s not worry about that now.’
That’s a problem for the future.
Today’s performance actually satisfied me.
It was my own unique act, unlike the ones in the ads.
A moment where I transformed into another version of myself.
Just like being a Vtuber.
‘Let’s hope for the best.’
Of course, that would be wishful thinking.
Jo Seo-hee acted impressively.
I felt pressured, having been overwhelmed by Seo-hee’s performance.
It was a gamble I took because I believed I couldn’t win if I just played it straight.
Whether or not that gamble paid off with the judges, I had no clue.
‘But still…’
And so, a week later, the results of the Taesumdahl audition were announced.
Publicly revealed through the making-of video.
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