Chapter 6. Audition Preparation
Rustle.
The only sound in the director's office after Chul-min left was the rustling of pages as Yeon-woo turned them. He was completely absorbed in the script.
The script Yeon-woo received contained only three episodes out of sixteen, along with fragmented scenes from the latter part of the story where the supporting role he was auditioning for first appeared. Even this was subject to change before filming began.
The original webtoon was about a fashion design student, Jung Yeo-reum, who, to earn money for her dream trip to Paris Fashion Week, teams up with her classmates to renovate an unused storage room in their department and open a clothing store called "Summer's Closet."
From what he read of the first three episodes, it seemed like the drama adaptation emphasized the love triangle between the female lead, the male lead, and the second male lead.
"This part needs to brighten the mood, so I should be as cheerful as possible…" Yeon-woo scribbled notes all over the script, immersing himself in each character and analyzing their motivations.
"Wow, imagining myself acting these roles, I honestly covet the main characters."
Due to the light and fast-paced nature of romantic comedies, the supporting characters couldn't be too prominent. Their roles mostly involved reacting to the main characters' actions or providing comedic relief to lighten the mood.
On the other hand, the main characters, with their vibrant personalities and detailed backstories, felt so alive that Yeon-woo couldn't help but feel a surge of ambition.
'Still, I'll get to play roles like these someday, so I'll consider this practice.'
After finishing his character analysis, he turned on a camcorder in the practice room, stood in front of it, read his lines, and delivered them as he had imagined.
"What the, Jung Yeo-reum? You started it first? You started it first, hmm. You started it first?"
He experimented with different intonations, searching for the right tone to fit the situation.
-"What the, Jung Yeo-reum. You started it first?"
Yeon-woo repeated the process, rehearsing his lines and reviewing the recordings.
Hours passed.
"Yeon-woo! You're still here?" Chul-min returned after finishing his lessons in the next room.
"Oh, sir. If this audition goes well, it could be my debut, so I'm fired up." Yeon-woo smiled brightly, genuinely happy.
"Still, it's almost 11 pm. Your parents must be worried. I'll help you properly after school tomorrow, so let's go home today. I'll give you a ride."
"Thank you!"
As Chul-min gestured towards the door, Yeon-woo gathered his script, tidied up, and joined him, locking up the academy and getting into Chul-min's car.
"Yeon-woo, I had so many lessons today that I couldn't help you at all. How was the script? Did you finish reading it?" Chul-min asked apologetically as they drove out of the parking lot.
"There are only three episodes so far, and the stage directions are rough, but it's interesting!"
"Any characters you're interested in? I called my senior during my break, and he said the audition will involve free acting based on the script, with assigned acting on the spot if needed."
Chul-min had been worried about Yeon-woo and had taken the opportunity to inquire about the audition format.
"Among the supporting roles, I like Hwang Jae-il, who has a relatively larger part, but I'll do my best in any role, as long as I get cast."
"Well, with your looks, you're definitely leading man material. Let's use this opportunity to get your face known. Even a small role will open up more opportunities for you in the future, once you're on screen."
Having trained Yeon-woo himself, Chul-min was confident. Confident in this audition and in Ryu Yeon-woo's future as an actor.
"Yes, I hope so," Yeon-woo replied with a light laugh, resolving inwardly, 'I'll work really hard in this life and succeed as an actor.'
For the next four days, Yeon-woo rushed to the academy after school, practicing relentlessly.
"It's tomorrow already. I'm sure you'll nail it, Yeon-woo. There's no way Director Kim Han-soo will miss a gem like you."
"Aw, sir, aren't you being a bit biased because I'm your student?" Yeon-woo chuckled, slightly embarrassed by Chul-min's blatant praise.
"No, I'm serious. I'll drive you tomorrow, so let's go together and come back together."
"It's okay, sir. I've already booked my train tickets, and I can go by myself," Yeon-woo replied, waving his hands dismissively.
"You can cancel the tickets. Do you think your mother will be at ease letting you go to Seoul alone? I'll call and tell her."
"Ah, then I'll be imposing on you tomorrow. Thank you, sir."
Yeon-woo, who had navigated war zones alone in his past life, felt awkward being treated like a child, but he accepted Chul-min's kind offer, considering his warm heart and his parents' concerns.
The next day arrived. The audition was scheduled for 1 pm, but Chul-min, believing it was better to be early than late, picked Yeon-woo up early in the morning and escorted him to Seoul.
Chul-min's car arrived in front of a building in Gangnam.
"Yeon-woo, I'll stay here. There might be people I know there, and I don't want it to seem like I'm pulling strings. Go up by yourself. It's on the 8th floor. Call me right after you're done."
"Yes, sir. I'll do a fantastic job!"
Yeon-woo's enthusiastic reply brought a smile to Chul-min's face.
"What kid these days says 'fantastic?' It's 'fighting!'"
"Fighting!"
Yeon-woo turned and entered the building with a spring in his step.
"Senior, I'm sending you a monster. Consider yourself blessed," Chul-min muttered to himself, watching Yeon-woo's retreating figure.
Ding! 8th floor.
As Yeon-woo stepped out of the elevator, he saw a sign with an arrow.
「Summer's Closet – Audition Room This Way」
"Finally."
Yeon-woo opened the door and entered the audition waiting area.
Meanwhile, inside the main conference room on the audition floor, which had been in an uproar since morning, sighs filled the air.
"I knew it. I had a bad feeling about him from the start," screenwriter Choi Mi-hyun, responsible for adapting and writing the drama script, said with a sigh.
The casting director, looking troubled, offered an excuse, "His reputation in the industry wasn't great, but we cast him solely based on his looks and popularity."
"I heard he left his idol group because his previous agency found out about it," the assistant director added.
Director Kim Han-soo spoke, "What's done is done. What can we do? We have to find someone new. It's a relief it happened before the press conference, at least."
Despite his usual calm and meticulous nature, even Kim Han-soo couldn't help but sigh.
That morning, they had received a call from the agency managing the actor and former idol Jung Min-hwan, who had been cast as the second male lead, the third most important role.
'He's been charged with drug use, and it's going to be in the news soon, so he can't join the project.'
'Since we haven't signed a formal contract with his agency yet, and the press conference hasn't happened, we can't demand a penalty.'
The casting director, recalling the conversation, said, "The penalty isn't the issue. The problem is we don't have a backup list."
"It couldn't be helped. Who knew the broadcast date would be moved up so quickly? This darn cable channel…" Everyone's faces darkened at Kim Han-soo's words.
"Summer's Closet" was initially planned for a summer broadcast next year and was intended to be pre-produced, giving them ample time. However, the current variety show airing in the same time slot had been abruptly canceled due to the host's infidelity scandal. This had pushed up the broadcast dates of all subsequent programs, creating a domino effect that forced "Summer's Closet" to air early next year.
Since the drama was based on a webtoon, script development wasn't an issue, as screenwriter Choi could quickly adapt and write the episodes.
However, since it was autumn, the ideal season for filming, many dramas were already in production, and there was a shortage of available young actors suitable for leading roles. Moreover, this project required actors who could convincingly portray twenty-year-olds, further narrowing their options.
So, despite having a sufficient budget, they were unusually holding auditions for supporting roles, and now, with the second male lead dropping out, they were in a difficult situation.
"Alright, let's stop sighing. Filming is just around the corner, so please, casting director, prepare a list as soon as possible. I'll also use my connections and do my best to find someone before we start shooting."
Everyone nodded at Kim Han-soo's words.
"Everyone, since it's time, let's finalize the supporting roles in today's audition and consider the second male lead as the last button to button up."
The assistant director tried to lighten the mood, then left the conference room to inform the staff to begin the auditions.
"Alright, let's go."
As Kim Han-soo stood, everyone followed him to the audition room.
In the audition waiting room, about thirty people were gathered, preparing for their auditions.
"Oh, Hye-soo, it's been a while."
"Senior, how have you been?"
Established actors greeted each other with smiles.
"Hey, did you hear? Jung Min-hwan got busted for drugs."
"Whoa, what about the drama he's filming?"
"I don't know. There are so many drug scandals in the entertainment industry these days."
Aspiring actors from academies or university departments huddled together, gossiping and sharing rumors.
Among them, Ryu Yeon-woo sat alone. But everyone was stealing glances at him.
"Hey, where did that guy come from? His visuals are insane."
"I know, right? I've never seen him before. He's the best-looking actor I've ever seen."
"The only actors you've seen are our professors."
"Whatever! We see actors on TV. Anyway, he's incredibly handsome."
The students from the top acting department in the country nodded in agreement.
However, one of them, who had been looking at Yeon-woo with disapproval, said coldly, "He's not going to pass this audition."
His friends looked at him, surprised by his definitive statement.
"Why?"
"This is Director Kim Han-soo's project. He doesn't cast people just because they're pretty. I heard from a senior that you have to show charm that matches the character. He looks like a total newbie; how can he show any charm when he'll be struggling just to act?"
Among aspiring and unknown actors, it was rare to encounter someone they didn't recognize, even those who had started as child actors and had been in the industry for a long time. The fact that they were seeing Yeon-woo for the first time meant he was a rookie. He was probably just a pretty boy trying his hand at acting.
"We'll begin the auditions. Contestant number 1, Na Sung-jin, please come this way."
At the staff member's announcement, the whispering contestants stopped their side conversations and began to focus.