'What sin did I commit in my past life?'
Kim Si-yoo, the actress wedged between Hwang Min-hwa and Joo Seo-yeon, was on the verge of crying.
Her number was 35.
She was perfectly sandwiched between Hwang Min-hwa, number 34, and Joo Seo-yeon, number 36.
How could this happen?
She was an actress who was treated like a leftover even at her agency.
Even for this audition, she only came to gain some experience and add at least a single line to her empty resume.
'Is there any reason for such prominent actresses to appear in Director Jo Bang-woo's film?'
Honestly, it was just absurd.
Her agency, of course, and she herself didn't expect much from this film.
Just to get some audition experience.
If she was lucky enough to pass, that was fine.
What if it fails?
Right now, it was important for her to just show her face in any movie at all.
Anyway, if she appears in it, they'll give her a contract fee, won't they?
Just with that level of expectation.
But the actresses in front of her felt different from the very beginning.
Hwang Min-hwa has a strong impression.
Someone once said, she's like walking luxury.
She is a woman that phrase fits perfectly.
An actress who gives off a luxurious vibe even just standing still.
When facing her, the pressure naturally emanating from her body made it hard to even breathe.
'And then, Joo Seo-yeon.'
The actress who turned this year upside down.
The genius child actress who made a comeback after 10 years.
To be honest, seeing her up close, she was so pretty it lacked a sense of reality.
Joo Seo-yeon was such a beautiful girl with a calm aura that it felt embarrassing to be lumped into the same category of actress.
She didn't have the haughty elegance of Hwang Min-hwa.
But there was something that made it impossible to take your eyes off her.
Should I call it immersion?
It wasn't simply because her appearance was beautiful.
Even before seeing her face, she naturally drew your gaze.
'You want me to act between these actresses?'
Naturally, from Kim Si-yoo's standpoint, she couldn't help but be on the verge of tears.
Would she even be able to deliver her lines properly?
"The scene is S# 27."
The judges sitting in a row.
Among them, Director Jo Bang-woo spoke in a low voice.
Director Jo Bang-woo, who used to have a bold impression in the past.
But now, his face had thinned out, and his complexion looked haggard in many ways.
However, his eyes were strangely shining for some reason.
Why?
"Since it doesn't seem like any of you brought the script separately... I can assume you've all memorized the scene."
He gave a signal to the actor Park Jung-woo sitting next to him.
Because this scene was a part that had to be acted out with Park Jung-woo.
"S# 27 is right after the disaster occurs. An unidentified terrorist group attacks a research institute in Gangnam, causing a gas leak."
And coincidentally, the female lead Shin Seo-yoon, who came to make a delivery to the hotel, and the male lead Ha Hyun-jin, happened to bump into each other at that moment.
In that state, they hear the disaster warning and get trapped in the hotel.
The beginning of the full-scale disaster, and the beginning of the movie.
It's a scene where the female lead's decision-making shines in an urgent situation.
"Then, Actress Hwang Min-hwa."
The first to start was Hwang Min-hwa, number 34.
She walked slowly and stood facing Park Jung-woo.
'She's definitely not an ordinary kid.'
Modifiers like 'the son of a great actor' had followed him since he was young.
And he had produced results worthy of that modifier so far.
Therefore, from Hwang Min-hwa's perspective, Park Jung-woo was quite a coveted figure.
Her goal was to eventually join the agency he belonged to.
But not right now.
Hwang Min-hwa calmly took a deep breath.
"E-Everyone, hurry up and go upstairs!! Quickly!!"
The luxurious atmosphere she had exuded until just now vanished in an instant.
At that dramatic change, Kim Si-yoo, the 35th actress watching her act, felt goosebumps rise on her skin.
Is this a top actress's acting?
She's a completely different person from just a moment ago, isn't she?
Hwang Min-hwa, who was tall and felt like a model, now felt like a mere part-timer.
At that transformation, the judges' eyes also lit up.
Should I say, worthy of the name.
Although she had achieved a somewhat disappointing result this year, she was the actress of
There was not a single flaw in Hwang Min-hwa's skills.
"What is it?"
At Hwang Min-hwa's words, Park Jung-woo.
No, the male lead Ha Hyun-jin now, spoke irritably.
"What do you mean what!! T-The breaking news just dropped! Breaking news!! L-Look. Hurry, this!!"
"Don't shove your phone in my face."
"Is that important right now?! Hey!!"
The two were originally classmates in college.
They were also friends who once worked together in a climbing club in college.
Unlike Shin Seo-yoon, who seriously pursued climbing with the goal of going pro, Ha Hyun-jin did it merely as a hobby.
Of course, he was serious about climbing too, but he had to inherit his family, so he couldn't aim to be a pro.
Still, they promised to participate in a competition together, but Ha Hyun-jin broke that promise unilaterally.
Shin Seo-yoon, who entered the competition alone, achieved good results, but overworking in practice became a problem and she retired.
She is fine now, but she had lost the confidence to challenge herself as a pro.
"What on earth is going to happen in the middle of Gangnam? I'm glad to see you after a long time, but this is crossing the line..."
As he said that, Ha Hyun-jin's pupils dilated.
A startled face, and then his gaze darted to his pocket.
That series of movements was so natural that Kim Si-yoo didn't even notice it was acting.
But.
"Look! Your phone is ringing right now!! Don't you hear this sound? Look!! The news is coming up that gas has leaked right in the middle of Gangnam!!"
Hwang Min-hwa immediately caught on to what kind of acting it was.
It was so fast that it didn't seem like she had simply memorized the script.
At her action of stubbornly shoving her phone in his face, Ha Hyun-jin pushed her away with a flustered face.
And their conversation went back and forth with a considerably raised voice.
Watching such acting, Director Jo Bang-woo exchanged glances with the casting director sitting next to him.
Probably, what the two were thinking was similar.
'The acting is heavy.'
'It indicates that the situation is that serious. Definitely, just with their acting alone, it conveys how serious the situation is right now.'
Hwang Min-hwa's acting is amazing.
Just with that urgent voice and expression, she is showing the audience how massive the incident that broke out is.
Tension.
Even the actress right behind her was completely immersed in the situation and watching the act, wasn't she?
She naturally makes the atmosphere of the play heavy, drawing the audience in.
'The work is in its early stages. Then, immersing the audience is more important than anything else.'
In that aspect, Hwang Min-hwa's acting is excellent.
She is completely different from when she first acted in his work in the past.
The clumsy rookie from back then had now become an actress who leads the play.
At the same time, Director Jo Bang-woo cast a fleeting glance at Seo-yeon.
What kind of reaction would Seo-yeon show to that acting?
Would she be flustered?
Or would she burn with competitive spirit?
"……."
But Seo-yeon was neither.
She just looked at Hwang Min-hwa with a calm gaze.
It was impossible to know what she was thinking.
"Well seen. It was excellent acting."
"Thank you."
"First, regarding the evaluation... I will tell you after seeing the other actresses' acting."
At Director Jo Bang-woo's words, Hwang Min-hwa nodded and looked at the other two actresses.
The frozen 35th actress, Kim Si-yoo, and the calm 36th actress, Joo Seo-yeon.
'I don't like it.'
Seo-yeon, sitting with a face that looked completely unbothered, she didn't know what she was thinking.
As if she wouldn't reveal any emotion.
Or is she purely immersing herself in the character?
"I have also seen Actress Kim Si-yoo's acting well."
"T-Thank you."
Eventually, the 35th Kim Si-yoo's acting also ended.
Just average acting.
No, to be honest, perhaps because she watched it after seeing Hwang Min-hwa's acting, it felt significantly lacking.
That was probably true for all the judges in this room.
'Since we're comparing her to Hwang Min-hwa, it can't be helped.'
Bad luck.
Kim Si-yoo thought so.
She was so nervous that she ended up acting like a robot instead.
The judges tried hard to manage their expressions, but their mouths twitched visibly.
But it couldn't be helped.
It was the turn right after an actress of Hwang Min-hwa's caliber.
If you watch that kind of acting and then try to do your own, you're bound to be influenced.
"Then, Actress Joo Seo-yeon."
Director Jo Bang-woo calmly watched Seo-yeon, who slowly stepped forward.
A connection that returned after 10 years.
An actress who came solely to appear in his movie.
If it were up to his feelings, he would like to decide on the role right here.
But the investor was sitting right next to him in this judge's seat.
Above all, a director shouldn't decide on a role simply based on emotions.
He has to choose the actress who fits the role better.
"Please start."
Director Jo Bang-woo thought.
Rather, he himself was more tense.
No matter how much Seo-yeon had grown.
Even if she was a genius actress.
Hwang Min-hwa was by no means an easy opponent.
She was undeniably a top actress.
She was too formidable an opponent for young Seo-yeon to face.
'...Let's think.'
Receiving the gazes of such judges, Seo-yeon looked at Park Jung-woo.
He was also looking at her with a cold, objective gaze.
Whether that was the actor Park Jung-woo, or he was already immersed in 'Ha Hyun-jin', she didn't know.
'Actress Hwang Min-hwa focused on the disaster of this movie.'
That's why her acting is heavy.
It was indicating how dangerous this incident was.
'The female lead is stubborn and lively.'
Acting as a dirt-spoon part-timer, nothing could be more suitable than this.
A template that female leads with such settings frequently show.
It's common, but nothing is more appropriate than this.
Saying it's safe is a roundabout way of saying it has few flaws.
That potentially common acting was transformed into intensity by Hwang Min-hwa's acting skills.
"E-Everyone, I think we sh-should go upstairs... H-Hurry!"
Seo-yeon came out like that.
No, the female lead Shin Seo-yoon said so.
Seo-yeon thought anew.
That this female lead's name was similar to hers.
"What is it?"
The same line.
But the atmosphere was completely different.
The Seo-yoon that Seo-yeon acted as was full of doubt in her words.
A somewhat flustered feeling. But it was a face that seemed to have instinctively felt something.
That contrasting atmosphere was strangely comical.
Above all, the way she flinched at Ha Hyun-jin's words asking what it was.
And the sight of her repeatedly glancing sideways was really funny.
It was a petty bourgeois action, but rather than feeling burdened by him, it was closer to an uncomfortable gaze facing a connection she didn't really want to meet.
"A-Are you going to talk like that? L-Look! This. T-The breaking news is coming out too!"
"Certainly, a disaster warning has been issued, but what does that have to do with going upstairs?"
"Geez! H-Hey! C-Can't you see this? You ran away so well back then, and n-now you're asking me what I mean by let's run away?!"
"What? Are you done talking?!"
The sight of her stuttering yet enunciating clearly was really funny.
The Shin Seo-yoon that Seo-yeon acted as was rather light than heavy.
Rather than focusing on the disaster, it was closer to concentrating the situation on the relationship between the characters.
Shin Seo-yoon's attitude speaks of that question.
'When acting, she doesn't properly make eye contact with Ha Hyun-jin.'
'When their eyes meet, she stutters.'
'It seems to tell us that there is something between the two.'
Park Jung-woo must have noticed it too, as the tone of his acting was different from when he was with Hwang Min-hwa.
If back then his vocalization was heavy and his expression was stiff.
Now his expression was more exaggerated.
His face was basically expressionless, but his eyes were constantly moving.
"It feels like a sitcom?"
The casting director inadvertently said so.
It's an acting tone that can't be seen in typical disaster movies.
"Anyway, it seems Actress Joo Seo-yeon has caught on properly."
"……."
Director Jo Bang-woo watched Seo-yeon's acting.
Unlike Hwang Min-hwa's acting, Seo-yeon lacked stubbornness.
She was more girlish.
'The reaction of a woman who bumped into her first love while delivering.'
Yes, she was doing that kind of acting.
Thinking about it, it's true.
Ha Hyun-jin is handsome and good at everything, a golden boy.
Even his family is rich.
If they had a normal college life, if they were active in the same club, from Shin Seo-yoon's perspective, she couldn't help but be drawn to him.
Above all, weren't the two planning to go to a competition together?
However, Hwang Min-hwa focused on the disaster rather than the relationship between the two.
Seo-yeon focuses on the relationship between the two.
So the disaster, which should be heavy, feels light.
'...When I saw Seo-yeon in
Whatever happened in the meantime, she was showing so well the bewilderment and emotions a woman who had a crush could show.
And Park Jung-woo, who became the target of it, was also flustered.
'Did she act romance this well?'
It didn't even show obviously.
But in the lines, in the gaze, that nuance kept emanating.
It's fun.
Looking at Shin Seo-yoon, such a feeling naturally arose.
"Well seen."
Soon, Director Jo Bang-woo nodded after watching Seo-yeon's acting.
Watching Seo-yeon bow and return to her seat, the judges whispered among themselves and exchanged glances.
"…It's not easy, is it?"
"If we focus on the disaster, Actress Hwang Min-hwa's acting might be the right fit."
"But in terms of immersion and fun, Actress Joo Seo-yeon is..."
And, this
If you only look at the script, it can be confusing, but as Seo-yeon acted, it's a movie that definitely has romance elements in it.
A disaster, but not heavy.
A disaster movie that can be watched lightly.
That was the
But, if they request acting like that...
'Hwang Min-hwa could do the same too.'
Of course, she wouldn't be able to give as fresh a feeling as Seo-yeon.
But even so, in the current acting, Seo-yeon was clearly at an advantage.
Hwang Min-hwa also knew that fact, so she just crossed her arms and frowned.
The color of the character.
If you look only at the color of the actress, the acting just now was clearly much better for Seo-yeon.
But it was a shame to miss an actress like Hwang Min-hwa.
It was clear that Seo-yeon was the actress who made the biggest splash this year, but Hwang Min-hwa's career built up so far was hard to ignore.
"…First, shall we test the athletic ability together?"
"Yes?"
"Anyway, there is a climbing scene, isn't there? If she lacks physical coordination..."
The one who brought that up was the casting director.
Park Jung-woo at those words.
'Should I stop this?'
Hesitated for a moment.
Certainly, in the audition room, equipment to test athletic ability was prepared.
Park Jung-woo knows what Seo-yeon can do.
'Look, she's excit... no?'
When the words athletic ability test were heard, Seo-yeon's ear twitching was visible.
He thought she would definitely like it, but Seo-yeon had a strangely troubled look.
On the other hand, Hwang Min-hwa had a confident attitude.
"Good. Certainly, athletic ability is important for this role too. I've prepared for it."
Hwang Min-hwa smiling broadly.
Seo-yeon with a troubled face.
'Huh? Does she lack confidence?'
Hwang Min-hwa noticed Seo-yeon showing a strangely troubled look.
She was flying around on entertainment shows... I guess it was fabricated after all?
Hwang Min-hwa raised her hand and spoke to the hesitating judges.
"If we just test it, it'll take a long time, so how about we do it lightly like a game since we're at it?"
"…Like a game?"
"Yes, climbing, competing to see who goes up first? Of course, winning and losing isn't particularly important, but... wouldn't it boost motivation somewhat? We can save time too."
"Hmm."
Certainly, there was a wall that would be fine for three actresses to climb at the same time.
The wall prepared for the climbing test.
'If we make the three go up and down one by one, that would definitely take a long time too.'
'If it's a match, the side that wins has better athletic ability.'
It is easy to determine superiority.
It's hard for the judges to say it, but if the actress proposes it herself, there's no particular reason to refuse.
'Is she out of her mind?'
Park Jung-woo looked at Hwang Min-hwa with a flustered face.
It wasn't a problem that she made such a proposal, but the fact that she was having that match with Seo-yeon was important.
"Actress Joo Seo-yeon was quite confident in this area on entertainment shows, right? I'm quite confident too."
"Is that so?"
Seo-yeon answered with a still troubled look.
At that attitude, Hwang Min-hwa was convinced.
She's definitely not confident in sports, unlike in entertainment shows!
"Wait."
At the sight of the two, Park Jung-woo quickly intervened and said to Hwang Min-hwa in a low voice.
"Actress Hwang Min-hwa, Actress Joo Seo-yeon is quite confident in sports. By any chance, didn't you see the entertainment show Actress Joo Seo-yeon appeared in?"
"Yes? I saw it. But it's an entertainment show, right?"
"Yes?"
"Piercing a coconut with a finger, dodging paint bombs. This has to be somewhat reasonable for me to believe it."
"……."
"Next time she'll even fight a bear. The entertainment show PDs are going too far, aren't they? Putting such an image on an actress."
"……."
Park Jung-woo couldn't say anything to Hwang Min-hwa, who let out a hollow laugh while saying that.