Chapter 136: Chapter 136

I Will Live as an Actor Episode 136

“Puhaha!”

A hearty laugh echoes. The stone on the board where they were chatting was shaking so much. Ahn Jung-hyun wipes away his tears and says.

“Britain really got stabbed in the back!”

“It’s because I like this guy called Uncle so much…”

“No, I can’t help but think of Young-Kuk’s embarrassment, and it’s funnier than most sitcoms. He’s basically like a young old man, so there are many times when I feel like he’s my age.”

White stones and black stones are separated from each other and constantly placed. A rough storm rages on the quiet checkerboard. It was an instant for all the upper left ears to turn white. An expression of triumph appears on Ahn Jung-hyun’s face after he has won.

“Where is the baduk player?”

Baek Jang-hoon’s eyes staring at the checkerboard are sharper than ever.

“Brother, why don’t you stop throwing rocks? I’ve been confident in ball games since I was young, so I’ve never once ordered jajangmyeon with my own money at a billiards hall.”

Because the baduk stones are round, it is said to be a ball game and people even make fun of it. I try to find the trick, but I can’t see it. Isn’t he truly an outsider? The wrinkles of reading numbers only deepen. In the end, Baek Jang-hoon glances back and looks for someone. At that look.

“Oh, this is a foul. Don’t call England.”

“Hmm.”

“When I think about the last time, I still jump up from my sleep. No matter how much I look at him, he must have taken baduk lessons without us knowing. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to play with Ahn Jung-hyun, the representative of Chungmuro Baduk, in the palm of my hand. And England was there earlier. “I’m out. I mean the bus has already passed.”

How come I couldn’t see the counselor? Baek Jang-hoon shakes his head. But you can’t throw stones right now. After all, if you’re a man, shouldn’t you see the end?

widely!

The war that seemed like it would end easily shows no sign of ending. It was a trick created by Baek Jang-hoon’s honesty. As Heukdol continued to fight tenaciously, Ahn Jung-hyeon finally spoke in tears.

“True brother. Then do you have an actor in mind who would fit the script?”

Baek Jang-hoon, who is looking at the checkerboard, shakes his head. I looked at the script and had a detailed conversation with the writer, but no clear actor’s face came to mind.

This may be because the images of the roles are so diverse that it is difficult to think of just one person. At times it was comical, at other times it was serious and even vicious.

“I thought you already had a few people on your list. Most actors in Chungmuro don’t know anything.”

“The puzzle is complicated, so it’s rather difficult to put it together.”

“Why don’t you say that? How about me? I think it would be nice to work together with my brother after a long time and reminisce about the old days.”

I laugh at an untimely joke. Of course, if Ahn Jung-hyun is there, there is no reason to reject Baek Jang-hoon as well. Isn’t he a famous actor who has played a variety of roles? After all, the business card of being a national actor is not something you can get for free. However, the traces of time are already evident on my face.

“You bastard, then you have to rip up and rewrite the entire script. I know how old you are.”

“Oh my, why are you doing this? I’m still so cheerful.”

“It’s a breeze.”

“By the way, if there is no actor worth meeting.”

At that moment, Ahn Jung-hyun moves forward and asks.

“Are you sure you’re going to audition?”

* * *

Is this what it feels like to be stabbed in the foot by an ax you believe in?

no.

Shouldn’t public and private life be certain? That I was arrogant. Is there any guarantee that a batter who hits home runs in consecutive hits will hit home runs again next time? The works I have been in charge of for several years have been so successful and praised by the media that I seem to have boarded the plane without realizing it.

After all, in his past life, he was an unknown actor who played minor roles. Back then, how hard did you try to take on at least one project? If he could have appeared in even a small role, he would have grabbed the director by the pants.

“England, is this true?”

CEO Seonghwan Kim comes in holding a newspaper and unfolds it.

[Director Baek Jang-hoon’s rumors of an actor for the next film are on the rise in Chungmuro!]

As the saying goes, birds hear what you say during the day, and rats hear what you say at night, it seems that the rumors have already started due to quick-moving reporters. That’s because Baek Jang-hoon’s division is accelerating the pre-production of his next film, even as my grandfather postponed his scheduled sabbatical year.

“CEO, I think I should stop moping.”

“What? Could it be that you were contacted about director Baek Jang-hoon’s work!?”

“No, I wish I did too.”

He explained the past respect he had with his grandfather. From meeting writer Go Gwang-tae to director Baek Jang-hoon reviewing the script. In the end, when it was said that Director Baek had him in mind as a lead actor candidate, CEO Kim Seong-hwan let out a sigh.

“It was actually good.”

“……?”

“It’s because I’ve walked a path that was like a dream for me. It wasn’t because I was good at acting, but because I was able to distill my experience well. Now I think I know what I should pursue as a real actor. That’s why I told you, I need to stop hesitating.”

“I don’t understand. England, you’re good at acting, even though all Koreans already know this.”

CEO Seonghwan Kim does not know me from my past life.

‘If I hadn’t had that experience.’

His acting skills may have been limited to minor roles.

“I want to try.”

“If England is an effort, you are still doing it right now, right? There is no one your age who studies acting by reading scripts as much as you do.”

“What I’m saying is that I want to go back to the beginning. To the days when I was crazy about acting.”

CEO Seonghwan Kim’s face is full of puzzlement. Anyway, I wouldn’t have understood what was being said. A faint talent that was like a firefly. He said he put in a lot of effort to develop that talent.

However, the reason he worked so hard, even being called a crazy person for acting, was probably to break the cycle of poverty. It is no exaggeration to say that the experiences of those days were the foundation that made me who I am today.

Rather, my grandfather’s firm words awakened my spirit. It feels like I’ve been flying through the sky on a plane and now I’ve finally landed in the right place. I want to go crazy about acting again. Of course, this is not to break the cycle of poverty as in the past. It means that I want to be crazy about acting itself.

* * *

“Thank you for your effort!”

There is no excitement at the filming site after an all-night stay. Not only was the filming carried out without any film, but it was a script, so everyone, including the staff and actors, had dark spots under their eyes. However, even in the midst of all this, there is an actor who walks around the filming set and bows with a bright smile to everyone, regardless of rank.

“Hwa-won, aren’t you tired? The waiting time was long and it must have been very difficult to film all night while receiving faxes of the script.”

After walking around the drama filming site and saying hello, the manager asked him. The manager swallows his admiration at the sight of Son Hwa-won answering with a faint smile. After all, it was nothing short of a blessing that the actor he was in charge of was so polite. Son Hwa-won, who is in the van, asks the manager.

“Brother, but is that true?”

“what?”

“What I’m saying is that director Baek Jang-hoon is looking for an actor for his next film.”

Thanks to the news I accidentally learned while filming the drama, I never felt tired even though I stayed up all night.

“I heard that rumors have already spread widely in Chungmuro. Since Baek Jang-hoon’s division is directly involved, there must be a lot of actors willing to apply.”

At that time, a man passes through Son Hwa-won’s mind. A person who always gave honest advice.

-Just as a chrysalis molts and becomes a butterfly, so does acting. Don’t try to be too bound by the limits you set for yourself. In my view, Hwa-won is an actor who is more valuable than the limitations she has set for herself. One day, I will be able to break that shell.

Even while filming the drama, that person’s advice kept lingering in my mind. I heard that actor Jang Young-guk and director Baek Jang-hoon have been living together in the same house for a long time and are like grandfather and grandson.

“Hyung, I heard actor Jang Young-guk is also appearing in that work?”

“There was no such thing, but it was only known that casting for all roles had not yet been decided. Because of that, there are many agency representatives who are trying to show their faces at Baek Jang-hoon Productions these days, but they were wondering if they would at least show their actors’ faces. It’s all useless.”

The manager clicks his tongue and elaborates.

“But is it as easy as it sounds? Director Baek Jang-hoon is such a strict person. He is famous for not even being able to set foot on a filming set if he is not good at acting even if he is pushed with money.”

Director Baek Jang-hoon’s selection of actors was famous from the beginning in Chungmuro. No matter how famous an actor was, he couldn’t even appear in a small role if it didn’t fit the picture he was painting.

Moreover, it cannot be solved even with money. In the past, there was already a famous anecdote where even an investment company that offered to provide full financing for movie production declared that no interference in the filming was possible.

This was possible because he was a master. How many film directors are there in Korea who can pursue their own creative activities without being restricted by money? Moreover, each piece of work is recognized for its commercial and artistic value. How dare you call him a living legend of the film industry?

Therefore, all the actors in Chungmuro used to envy the opportunity to appear in director Baek Jang-hoon’s work. Because it was literally about appearing in a master’s film.

“They say the script hasn’t even been released yet, but there are already a lot of people who want to subscribe even before they see the blueprint. It’s amazing.”

The manager’s words linger in the car. Son Hwa-won’s face reflected in the car window is full of determination instead of fatigue. Of course. Because he was also an actor from Chungmuro who wanted to appear in director Baek Jang-hoon’s movie.

* * *

Sillim-dong has a unique scent. Not only the smell of old textbooks flowing from used bookstores, but also the cigarette smoke exhaled from the sighs of those who have passed the civil service exam contain the joys and sorrows of life that intertwine success and failure. It hovers around the gosi village like the scent of pine trees that have been rooted in one place for a long time.

“Whew.”

I am confident that I have been exercising for a long time, but steep hills are still difficult. Occasionally, a placard flutters in the gosi village villa announcing that a test taker has passed the test.

It seems as if their land is clamoring for a good place. But even that cannot be seen as you climb the steep hill. Just as the air becomes thinner the higher you climb, the success of passing the exam also seems to fade away.

“Are we here?”

It is a place reminiscent of the Sageulbang of the past in Namhang. The old iron gate is open at an angle with a shoulder missing, making you wonder if anyone is actually living there, let alone whether there is a deposit or not. There must be a lot of high school graduates living here too. But they are not interested in visits from outsiders. Like a Buddhist who has cut off ties with the secular world.

“The late author—!”

When I call my name outside the front door and there is no answer for a long time, I have no choice but to step in. Then, a person is seen hesitantly walking out of the back room with the broken doorknob. Writer Go Gwang-tae is leading a life like a heretic among those who have cut off ties with the secular world.

“Actor Jang?”

Artist Ko Gwang-tae, holding a roll of toilet paper in one hand, looks on with wide eyes. He must have never imagined that I would appear here.

Mold grows among the wallpaper that has deteriorated as if it was originally yellow. The fan attached to the ceiling has its neck bent halfway, making it look like a scene from a horror movie.

There are blankets that you would only see in the military and soju bottles lying around, which shows that people are living here. Artist Ko Gwang-tae rubs the bridge of his nose as if he is embarrassed.

“When I’m writing, I have to drink once in a while. It’s lonely. If you’re writing a script with no promises, no one will recognize you. But don’t mistake me for an alcoholic. Even after looking like this, I wonder if I should drink a bottle every two days or not.”

“…….”

“Actually, it’s because money is tight.”

That’s when it occurred to me. Director Go Gwang-tae, who was called the madman of Chungmuro in his past life, was a drunkard known even in the film industry. The fact that it was. He scratches his head sheepishly and says,

“It’s late to say thank you. In fact, I was planning to go to Hankuk University next week to see Dongjin together. If it weren’t for Actor Jang, how would Director Baek Jang-hoon personally take charge of my work? Actually, it’s still a long time ago. I wonder if I’m dreaming. Thank you so much.”

At that moment, Go Gwang-tae grabs my hand. I’m sure I saw him scratching his butt as he came out of the back room just a moment ago.

“But what’s going on here? “How did you know the address?”

“I asked senior Dongjin. “I really want to meet the writer.”

“Me?”

For screenwriters, a screenplay is often like their own child. Parents are the ones who know their children best. Just like the process of conception and birth, they spend a long time looking after themselves. “I would like

to appear in the writer’s work.”

“Hmm, if that’s the case, wouldn’t it be better to visit director Baek Jang-hoon? “I only wrote the screenplay, but I’m completely ignorant of movie directing.”

“That’s why I came here. Actually, I felt like I didn’t like director Baek Jang-hoon. Even though I read the script several times and tried to think about it on my own, I couldn’t figure it out.” The only

person who knows the details of the script is the creator. “What does Actor Jang think is the synchronization between

the role and the actor ?”

Assimilation is something that is difficult to express in words. No matter how good an actor is, he or she cannot play every role. It can be cumbersome, like wearing clothes that do not fit the body, or sometimes it can make the viewer feel uncomfortable due to excessive coordination. “In principle,

the value of an actor’s name cannot be ignored when it comes to measuring the success of a movie. But that doesn’t mean that all movies starring famous actors are successful. To be honest, I’m still so clueless about movies that I don’t know if it’s right for me to say this.” “Please speak

without hesitation.”

“Actually, the day after I met director Baek Jang-hoon, I went to a video rental store and looked at the filmography that actor Jang had appeared in. I skimmed through everything. After all, as a writer, I was the first actor to submit a manuscript that was no different from a baby. But the more I looked at it, the more surprising it became. “You were much more famous than I thought. Watching the video, I wondered how on earth he could act like that at that age. But now that I’m here, I think I vaguely understand why director Baek Jang-hoon didn’t choose you.”

Go Gwang-tae, who had been quiet for a while, raises his head. Beneath his tangled hair, his bright eyes look at me.

“The texture is different.”