Chapter 37: Risk and Conditions

༺ Risk and Conditions ༻

“Hello, my name is No Seonyoung. I’m from the <University Tomorrow> editorial team!”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Shin Yoomyeong.”

Seonyoung was surprised when she saw his face up close. His face was so plain that it was hard to associate with his intense acting. If you added his style, he seemed like the type who would be popular.

“I’m preparing a feature article on the theme of ‘college students leaping towards their dreams,’ but I was so impressed by your performance in the Oedipus performance last weekend that I submitted a draft to the editorial team on Monday and got it approved.”

“I see. Thank you for that.”

The man smiled shyly.

The camera journalist behind them snapped a photo.

“Don’t mind the camera. Just have a natural conversation with me. When did you start acting?”

“I started seriously less than a year ago.”

“Whew~ That’s unbelievable! When you say ‘seriously’, does that mean you were preparing even before that, but not so intensely?”

“I’ve always dreamed of becoming an actor. I didn’t have the circumstances to act seriously, so I spent time reading scripts and practicing roles that I liked.”

“How long ago are we talking about?”

“Um… 15 years ago? Oh, should it now be 16 years?”

“16 years ago? Wow, so from when you were 7 years old? You must have been a precocious child.”

“I suppose… that’s one way to put it?”

Yoomyeong gave an awkward smile.

“Wow! So, what led you to become interested in acting 16 years ago?”

“Well… I was a very quiet and unnoticeable person.”

“Looking at you now, it’s hard to imagine that. There are cases where introverted children change as they grow up.”

“However, I had the opportunity to stand on a ‘stage’ that I thought would never suit me. I never expected to be chosen, but I was very excited. Looking back, I think I was given the role because being passively inadequate was less noticeable than being actively inadequate.”

“Like a kindergarten talent show? It must have been thrilling for a young heart.”

She completely misunderstood, but the conversation continued smoothly.

“When I stood on the stage and the lights shone on me, everyone was forced to pay attention to me, even those who never glanced my way before. It was an intense experience.”

“You seemed to have quite complex thoughts for someone so young. If the experience was so intense, why didn’t you pursue acting immediately?”

“No matter how hard I tried… I wasn’t given any roles.”

“…? I thought you said you started this year?”

“Ah, I misspoke. I felt like even if I tried my best, they wouldn’t give me a role.”

Yoomyeong corrected his words.

“You seemed quite timid. You don’t look like that at all now. Was there a turning point?”

“Yes, I had a friend.”

“I see. A good friendship can indeed change a person! Who was this friend?”

“They’re a very clever and cute friend. Sometimes their intentions were inscrutable and it made me uneasy, but I couldn’t help but cherish them as they opened the path for me to become an actor.”

“Wow! You really had a wonderful friend. I hope your friendship lasts forever!”

After that, various questions and answers continued.

The interview and questioning finally ended two hours later. The first-ever interview was much more exhausting than he had anticipated.

{You didn’t tell a single lie, kyung? They conveniently misunderstood on their own.}

‘Exactly, hehe.’

{You used to dislike taking modeling photos. What’s different now?}

‘This is an interview with the actor Shin Yoomyeong. I don’t plan on declining activities that can boost my recognition as an actor.’

{I see.}

‘Cherished and revered friend…’

The spirit fox looked at him for a long time with a complex expression.

*

A week after the performance, Yoomyeong met with Ki Do-han.

The location was a study café in front of the school.

In the small space where quiet conversations were possible, Yoomyeong and Ki Do-han sat face to face.

“Would you like to start with the script first?”

“That would speed things up.”

Ki Do-han took out a script from his old bag and handed it over.

[Phantom Of The Ballet.]

– Written by Yoon Seryeon.

‘An homage to Phantom of the Opera…’

Yoomyeong flipped to the first page.

The introduction of the script began as a cruel fairy tale.

[Karen wanted to wear her red shoes so badly that she even wore them to church. A red-bearded soldier cast a curse, and Karen began to dance. Even as the tired Karen tried to stop dancing, the shoes continued. Day and night, through rain or snow, across fields, thorns, and barriers, she danced on…

In the end, she sought out an executioner and begged him to cut off her feet. Even though Karen’s feet were gone, the severed feet continued to dance.]

It was Andersen’s ‘The Red Shoes.’

The female protagonist, who had just read the fairy tale, asked with an expression of complete bewilderment:

[Why did she cut off her feet when she could still dance? If it were me, I wouldn’t give up my dancing feet just because I was tired or got pricked by thorns.]

The female lead was a ballerina, a regular member of the National Ballet Company.

She dreamt of becoming a prima donna, but there were far too many talented competitors.

Practicing repeatedly even in the middle of the night, she met an entity only rumored about at the National Theater: the Phantom of the Ballet.

Up to this point, the development was the same as Phantom of the Opera.

However, the subsequent development was changed in a completely different direction.

It was closer to an antithesis than homage.

Yoomyeong read the entire script in one go.

‘It’s not wrong to say that the script is good. I feel like I’m being drawn into the story.’

Although he wanted to play the role of the Phantom in <Phantom of the Opera>, the Phantom in this script was also quite captivating.

“How is it?”

“It’s intriguing. The setting is quite detailed. Is the writer from this field?”

“Yes, she’s a former ballerina. A significant part seems autobiographical, and I think she intends to play the leading role herself.”

“Is this her first time writing a play?”

“Yes. I heard that she hired a professional writer to smooth out some awkward parts, but the overall storyline is entirely her own creation.”

“It’s one of the two, then. Either she has the talent, or she’s playing her ‘once in a lifetime’ card.”

Do-han looked over at Yoomyeong. His young friend had an extraordinary intuition.

In his opinion, the writer didn’t possess a natural talent for writing.

Everyone had a theme in their life.

They had a piece that could only be written once because it extracted and captured the essence of one’s soul.

To describe that as a ‘once in a lifetime chance’ was both ingenious and precisely on point.

“Why didn’t you choose a ballet major for the role of the Phantom?”

“The writer is adamant about that. She says that she didn’t mind for roles other than the Phantom, but the Phantom has to be an actor. She believes that the role is ‘more about acting than ballet.'”

“I see. So I’ll need to get in shape?”

“…Yes. Of course, we’ll use a body double and then superimpose the face for the dance parts, but you’ll need to handle shots like the tight close-ups… You’ll also need to study ballet to some extent.”

“Will there be an audition for the role?”

Inwardly, Yoomyeong wasn’t an inexperienced newbie actor.

He knew that he was currently a rookie and so was Ki Do-han, who was merely a novice director, even with the constraints of a self-directed film.

Trusting the director’s vision and blindly going with this actor? That couldn’t be taken for granted.

“Well, it’s a bit unique… It’s more like a competition than an audition.”

“A competition?”

“In fact, there’s another director who’s expressed his interest in making this film. He’s an established director, so he’s likely a stronger contender than me if we’re going based solely on name value.”

“So?”

“Ms. Yoon Seryeon stipulated that she would hand over the project to the director who can bring a more suitable actor for the role of the Phantom.”

This wasn’t good.

It was close to a dictatorship.

As Yoomyeong was lost in thought, Do-han, feeling anxious, added an explanation.

“The other director has already chosen his actor. He has the advantage of being a former ballerino, but I believe he won’t match the depth with which you’d portray the role of the Phantom. There’s a good chance for you.”

“It’s not about the chances. The situation’s complicated, especially with factors other than acting…”

Yoomyeong posed another question.

“Does Ms. Yoon Seryeon, who will be playing the lead female role, have any acting experience?”

“She’s a novice, but if you consider ballet as a form of acting, then she’s experienced. Even if I had the authority to cast the leading lady, I would’ve chosen her for this role. I hope that explains it.”

“…Hmm.”

“She’s very charming. As a director, she’s the kind of person I’d want to film.”

“Even if we assume that’s the case before the competition, are you confident that you won’t be swayed by the lead actress who’s also the writer and investor after everything’s settled?”

At this direct question, Ki Do-han flinched.

After a brief thought, he replied.

“In terms of the work itself, I have absolutely no intention of compromising.”

Though he spoke with firm conviction, Ki Do-han broke into a cold sweat.

Despite being a talented actor, Yoomyeong was still a young and relatively unknown actor. Ki Do-han had assumed that he would be thrilled by the offer of such a significant role. But surprisingly, he wasn’t that easy.

The actor calmly considered his reply and laid down a condition.

“If I pass the competition but feel that I’m not the right fit, I want the freedom to step down.”

“Yes? But it’s decided the moment you pass. Retracting that would be problematic.”

Yoomyeong drew a line with a gentle smile.

“In that case, it’s unfortunate, but I guess it can’t be helped. I hope you produce a great film.”

“No, Mr. Yoomyeong… I’m a novice director, too. It’s a competition where the condition is to bring in the actor for the Phantom role. If the Phantom actor resigns, where would that leave me?”

“My career is just as important as your position as the director. Taking on the role without firsthand knowledge of Ms. Yoon Seryeon’s appeal as the lead or the atmosphere on set seems too risky.”

This actor was truly no pushover.

It was unusual for a newcomer actor to confront a director so assertively. Was it because he knew he was also dealing with a rookie director?

No, that didn’t seem to be the case. His tone was polite, but his expression was firm. His nature of not accepting what he deemed unfit was clearly evident on his face.

Sigh—

Ki Do-han sighed.

After all, he was in a bind.

In Ki Do-han’s mind, the image of the movie with Shin Yoomyeong as the Phantom was already fixed. He couldn’t even imagine another actor playing that role.

“…Alright. Please stay.”

At his slightly defeated plea, Yoomyeong, who was about to leave, sat down again.

*

From then on, Do-han and Yoomyeong met almost daily.

By the time of the competition arrived, the two were a team. Do-han did his utmost as if he had invested all his stocks in Yoomyeong, and Yoomyeong was already deeply immersed in the role of the Phantom.

“The competition is on December 23rd. It’s about 20 days away. It will probably consist of an interview about the interpretation of Phantom, assigned acting, and free acting.”

“It doesn’t sound much different from an audition.”

“The difference is that there’s also an interview with the director. But in the end, I think the decision will be heavily based on the actor.”

Yoomyeong marked the date in his scheduler.

“Is the female lead doing the female lead’s ballet scenes herself?”

“For most of the tight shots, yes. But for moves like jumps, we’ll have a professional ballerina as a stand-in.”

“Why? Has she been retired for a long time?”

“More than that, she retired because of a foot injury.”

Ah, that explained it.

— Why did she cut off her foot when she could dance?

The female lead’s interpretation after reading ‘The Red Shoes’ must have been her own feelings…

Only then did he feel that he had understood the source of the sorrow that pervaded the entire work.

Yoomyeong stood up from his seat.

“I’ll end it here for today. We’ll meet again tomorrow. I have a place to go.”

After parting ways with Ki Do-han, Yoomyeong stopped by a location near his home.

Ding—

“Welcome… Huh?”

A woman who was at that location was taken aback by the ‘man’s’ visit.

It was because it was a place that didn’t quite fit with young men.

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