A silent hush came and went.
Ma Yeon-woo, the idol from JustX, who was said to have great momentum recently at RY.
Adding to that, Ju Seo-yeon's successive appearance brought about a quiet silence.
Everyone who participated in today's audition was secretly nervous without exception.
Especially the female idols and actresses.
‘It’s, it’s different from theater.’
Recently, Ju Seo-yeon announced her splendid return through the play
She had also appeared on variety shows a few times, raising her awareness significantly, but she had yet to achieve results in dramas or movies.
So they tried hard to think that way, but.
The recently released trailer for
‘She appeared as a part-time convenience store worker.’
Seo-yeon's appearance time in the trailer was barely over 10 seconds out of the nearly 2-minute preview.
It really wasn't much, but even with that short appearance, one could gauge her acting skills to some extent.
‘If she's aiming for the role of Song So-ha with a firm resolve…….’
It meant she would become one of the strong competitors.
Above all, even if she only showed average acting, considering the buzz surrounding her and Park Jung-woo, the probability of her being cast was high.
And apart from that.
‘Wasn't she the one who appeared in Warrior Survival this time?’
That was all Ma Yeon-woo thought about Seo-yeon.
Princess Yeon-hwa, of course he knew about her.
When she appeared on
‘Her impression is different from back then.’
As if finding it fascinating, Ma Yeon-woo looked at Seo-yeon.
Accordingly, Seo-yeon's eyes gradually furrowed.
‘Ma Yeon-woo.’
The core member of the popular idol group JustX.
He also challenged acting and achieved fairly decent results in Dream Future.
Subsequently, he also appeared in a war movie and proved his acting skills…… a somewhat talented individual.
Of course, apart from that, Seo-yeon was the type of person she didn't want to get close to.
That was because.
‘The other members of JustX are a bit…….’
Ma Yeon-woo himself had several issues regarding his character.
But leaving aside those character issues, the other members had a lot of talk surrounding them for this and that.
Drunk driving, drugs, assault.
Anyway, their record was quite impressive.
It was expected to blow up within the next 3 years, so she didn't have the heart to get close to them.
In the first place, Ma Yeon-woo himself also had various controversies about abusing his power.
“I'll pass by.”
“Ah, yeah.”
Ma Yeon-woo was slightly flustered by Seo-yeon's lack of reaction to his appearance.
As an idol, he always received admiring gazes, and especially from women, this was the first time something like this happened.
‘Is it because her own looks are no joke?’
Actor.
There is such a saying.
No matter how handsome an idol is, their light fades when they stand next to an actor.
Seo-yeon was that kind of person.
Walking among the other actresses, it felt as if she naturally swallowed the light around her.
Naturally, the people beside her subtly moved away from Seo-yeon.
‘Why here of all places.’
‘No, there's plenty of space.’
Thanks to that, only the actresses next to her were close to tears.
Meanwhile, Seo-yeon pondered over the script for today and surveyed her surroundings.
The role she came to apply for today was none other than Jo Ha-rin.
Honestly, there were parts that made her nervous for various reasons.
Then.
‘Ah, there he is.’
Seo-yeon spotted Park Jung-woo and slightly bowed her head in greeting.
Park Jung-woo, whose eyes met hers, relaxed his furrowed brows and likewise nodded.
There was no need to conspicuously acknowledge each other.
However, just with that, the actors who were watching them clicked their tongues.
‘As expected, she's aiming for the role of Song So-ha.’
‘Isn't it already pre-determined? Ah, this isn't good.’
Amidst such a peculiar tension, the audition began.
***
“Na-hee. The role you prepared for is ‘Song So-ha’, right?”
“Yes.”
A woman with a pure, innocent look answered with a tense face.
She's not…… the actress who appeared as a supporting role in a recently popular cable drama.
She's an idol.
‘Her acting is really good for an idol.’
Casting Director Shin Yoon thought, tapping a ballpoint pen against his chin.
This
Since the story dealt with an ‘idol audition,’ singing ability was also somewhat important.
In that regard, idols had an advantageous position in this drama audition.
“This is your second time challenging acting, right?”
“Yes, that's correct.”
At her calm reply, Cha Na-hee nodded.
Her attitude was quite decent too.
If it weren't for the woman waiting right behind her, he would have thought it fine to hand the role of Song So-ha to this one.
“……Understood. Thank you for your hard work.”
“T-thank you.”
Cha Na-hee let out a sigh of relief and turned around.
And then she stiffened.
Because in the audition room, the next applicant to perform was waiting right behind her.
‘Ju Seo-yeon.’
Cha Na-hee felt her heart pounding.
Tension.
Anxiety.
It was a complex mixture of such emotions.
She knew the girl was a few years younger than her, but her presence was too immense to be taken lightly.
She barely has any career?
She already proved it once during her child actress days.
Moreover, she recently showed her wits on variety shows as well.
However, Cha Na-hee shuddered at the discrepancy between the image she saw on variety shows and the one before her now.
That lively high school girl and the girl looking at her emotionlessly right now didn't feel like the same person.
‘Could it be that the variety shows were acting?’
If so, how incredible would that be.
But if this was her usual demeanor, she couldn't help but think that her appearance on the variety show was just that—acting.
“……Seo-yeon is looking at Na-hee quite intently. Is there some issue between the two? It feels like she's quite wary of her…….”
At Seo-yeon's piercing gaze toward the departing Cha Na-hee, Shin Yoon asked Park Jung-woo.
Since they had some connection, he thought he might know the reason.
“She probably doesn't have any particular thoughts.”
“She's looking quite hard for someone who doesn't.”
“She's probably wondering where she saw her.”
“……Really?”
“Yes. She's not the type to think needlessly complicated things.”
In the past, Jung-woo would have also misunderstood.
When Seo-yeon looked at someone like that, she didn't particularly harbor any ill will.
She was just looking because she was intrigued.
Though he wasn't sure what was so fascinating.
‘It's the actress who took the role of Song So-ha.’
And Seo-yeon was really just looking because she was fascinated.
How could this be.
To think her turn right before her was Cha Na-hee.
She watched Cha Na-hee's acting with roughly that kind of feeling.
‘As expected, she was aiming for Song So-ha.’
She was one of the stars who received great attention through this Dream Future.
Cha Na-hee.
This was her second acting challenge, and her actual acting skills were a bit lacking.
However, her excellent singing ability caught people's attention.
Afterward, she made consecutive box office hits with movies and began her career as an actress in earnest.
‘Even though the girl group she belongs to will disband a year later.’
Although she solely took on the role of the breadwinner for the girl group, the other members couldn't accept Cha Na-hee who monopolized the popularity alone.
“Alright, then.”
While Seo-yeon was having such thoughts, a low voice was heard.
A man with a face full of black beard.
It was Kim Pil-seok, the filming director of this Dream Future.
This audition consisted of a total of five judges, and he was the one with the strongest voice among them.
“Ju Seo-yeon. You may come forward.”
“Yes.”
Feeling a pleasant tension flowing within her chest, Seo-yeon stood up from her seat.
At the sight of her slowly approaching, the judges inwardly admired.
‘As expected, she's different from idols.’
‘Her posture is straight, and definitely…… her aura.’
They knew she recently filmed
The release was still a while away, but timing-wise, it was highly likely to overlap with Dream Future.
‘If
Of course, the
So it was a mutually beneficial situation.
‘Very good.’
Kim Pil-seok didn't deliberately show it on his expression, but he was feeling good inside.
In the current situation of Dream Future, Ju Seo-yeon was a significant big catch.
Her career is lacking?
That didn't matter. Everyone who applied this time was lacking anyway.
Compared to that, this one had a mega-hit drama from her child actress days.
Plus, she showcased her skills on variety shows.
‘An actress whose acting skills, at least, are guaranteed by Park Jung-woo.’
Glancing briefly, Kim Pil-seok looked at Park Jung-woo.
He seemed to be trying not to show it, but it was visible that he was feeling quite pleased.
Park Jung-woo, having a long career compared to his age, was an actor who highly valued an actor's acting skills.
Should one call him a young stickler for hierarchy.
In fact, it was him who had just given harsh criticism to Cha Na-hee.
Ruthless criticism even to someone older than him.
That Park Jung-woo had said about Ju Seo-yeon's acting that ‘there was no flaw he could point out.’
‘Rather, there are many parts that are better. He mentioned that several times.’
Wasn't this an indirect statement asking them to cast her as Song So-ha?
That was the feeling he got.
In fact, the judges were inwardly taking it that way.
That if Seo-yeon just properly showcased her skills in this audition, the role of Song So-ha was hers.
“Yes, good.”
After a brief round of simple questions and self-introductions.
“Is there a role you want? A role you're applying for in this audition.”
“There is.”
As expected, there is.
When everyone met Park Jung-woo's eyes and expected Song So-ha.
“I really want to play the role of Jo Ha-rin.”
“Ah, as expected, the role of Jo Ha-rin…….”
Director Kim Pil-seok, who had been muttering nonchalantly, soon trailed off.
“……What?”
Jo Ha-rin.
One of the six main cast members who participates in the in-drama audition of
Among them, Jo Ha-rin was the character with the least weight.
She had some significance up to episode 8, but after that, her appearance frequency dropped sharply.
She was a somewhat bouncy character, but…… that was all there was to the role.
“…….”
Naturally, the judges lost their words for a moment and looked at Seo-yeon.
At their reaction, Seo-yeon merely tilted her head.
***
The audition for
Surprisingly, I was secretly nervous about this audition.
‘Um, yes. We saw it well. Are you sure it's the role of Jo Ha-rin?’
I heard such questions several times, but I think it was fine enough.
Instead of showing deep emotional acting, I acted mainly based on the bouncy character trait, and it was quite a good bluff.
“If it goes well this time, I should get vocal training.”
“Whaat……?”
At my words as we walked home together after a long time, Ji-yeon frowned.
“Why again? You did it before too.”
“If I pass this drama audition, I have to sing too.”
“Ah, you said it was an idol drama.”
At Ji-yeon's words, I nodded.
Singing.
Actually, this was also a necessary item for a VTuber, so I had practiced it consistently since I was young.
“Ju Seo-yeon, you can't sing.”
“…….”
At Ji-yeon's words, I slightly glared at her.
It's not that I can't sing.
The reason it sounds like that is because I can't put emotion into my singing.
Because of that, whatever I do is dry and bland.
It only reached the level of a karaoke room.
“Still, it's gotten a bit better now.”
“Really?”
Going through puberty, it was somewhat compensated.
I could put a little emotion into my singing.
At least it's at a level where it's not strange.
‘But it's a bit lacking to appear in an idol drama.’
Should I find a new academy? As I was pondering such things.
“Then should I help you a bit?”
Lee Ji-yeon suddenly brought up such a thing.
“Huh?”
“I have an acquaintance I received help from for various things. She studied vocal music and is a former idol, so she sings well.”
At Ji-yeon's words, I felt a strange feeling.
‘Did Lee Ji-yeon have such an acquaintance?’
Feeling a bit odd, I asked casually.
“Wh-who is it?”
“A senior I met at the voice acting academy. I've received a lot of help from her in various ways. It's a good opportunity to introduce her to you.”
At Ji-yeon's words, I suddenly thought of a person.
Coincidence.
Or maybe it's just a far-fetched idea.
‘Magician!!’
Since Seo-yeon had already subscribed to and watched that VTuber several times, she couldn't think otherwise.
Because the Magician was a VTuber whose main focus was singing.
In fact, Lamiel's singing skills in her past life were also at an outstanding level.
‘If she learned singing from that person.’
And only now, Seo-yeon was barely able to understand the reason.