Chapter 219 (1/2)

“Yes.”

“To think that they’ll only hold one round of auditions… they’re quite evil. Even though they know how many people will flock to it.”

“What can they do about it? They’re the ones making the decisions. Rather than that, have you heard? I heard that one person from every nearby acting school is taking a jab at it.”

“It’s not just one. There are many places who have sent profiles of two to three people. Sheesh, how many people are flocking to just a side character role?”

“Since there’s delinquents 1, 2 and 3, they’re picking three right?”

“It’s not for sure. They can adjust the number to their liking after all. Also, there’s no mention of that in the notice. It’s pretty much decided that they’re looking for people for the thug roles, but it’s not like that’s the only side character role available. I can kinda get a grasp on the number from the novel, but it’s hard to get a concrete number since scenes may be taken out or added.”

“Who are you going to send, mister Choi?”

“Me? I told everyone to send their profiles if they want to do it. It’s quantity over quality. The net must be fine, but a fish should get through if I stuff enough of them inside the net.”

“I heard they’re holding the interviews first this time.”

“Jeez, they’re taking unnecessary steps. They might as well be Broadway.”

“You’re going to tell your students to participate anyway, aren’t you?”

“I can’t help it. Rather than that, who did you decide to send, mister Lee? You sent some of your students to create promotion materials, so you don’t have anyone, do you?”

“I had everyone else go.”

“What the heck? You’re not that different from me.”

“Well, isn’t this audition mostly related to luck? Though, the free acting does nag me a little.”

Mister Choi drank some coffee. The acting schools in Gangnam became active after quite a while. This movie was fully created by JA productions, from investment to production. JA company mostly dealt with the production of dramas until now, but this time, they were trying their hand at the movie industry. Rumors about that spread around wide amongst the acting schools, and not long later, visible results started coming out.

“It seems like Lee Junmin, that guy is trying to do something big.”

“I heard that Yoon Moonjoong and An Joohyun were confirmed to be main characters. That’s half a big issue in itself.”

“JA was holding on to them since last year?”

“Yeah! That’s when the rumors started spreading. Moreover, with the addition of rumors that Yoo Chulmin fella was talking to JA, everyone knew that something was going to happen.”

“Yoo Chulmin? You mean the president of the Acting Association? Didn’t he take his hands off work altogether? As far as I know, his only job nowadays is to mediate between the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the theater troupes.”

“Who else do you think called the retired Yoon Moonjoong back to the scene? Everyone knows that the two are on close terms.”

“Then Yoo Chulmin, Lee Junmin and Yoon Moonjoong - these three formed a team? I didn’t know that much.”

Mister Choi took a bite off his donut. Mister Lee also leaned back on his chair and took a deep breath.

“Getting a role in that movie will be harder than a camel going through the eye of a needle. The ones backed by Lee Junmin and the ones backed by Yoo Chulmin will get all the major roles.”

“Then this audition might be just to tell everyone that they aren’t keeping everything to themselves?”

“You figured out just now? Most commercials movie auditions are split into several stages, aren’t they? Because that many people audition for it. On top of that, they will at least have to give a chance to the ones backed by popular schools. They don’t have much time. But the fact that they’re only having one stage audition this time means that they pretty much have all the roles sorted out already and the ones remaining are merely dregs.”

“Does anyone you know get a script, mister Choi?”

“There are some who got the script. They even did an unofficial audition. But they all failed to make it. It seems like they’re respecting the original author’s opinion a lot.”

“What does a writer know about movies?”

“Well, that was supposed to be the condition or something. Anyway, I need to get someone in there, even if it’s just a minor character. It will help promote our school.”

“I heard the principal of Star Academy is going to send food trucks using his own money.”

“That dude is quick when it comes to things like that. He’s trying to make a good image of himself.”

“We should send blankets or something.”

Mister Choi nodded. Although the scenario made him feel that not a lot of money was needed to make the movie, the confirmed actors alone were super expensive to cast. Moreover, the ones participating in the production of the movie were all people that were well-known in the movie industry. It would definitely help if his name was known to them.

“But I heard that the actors for the minor roles will have to completely empty their schedule for three months.”

“For three whole months?”

“Yes.”

“They can’t take other roles elsewhere?”

“They can’t.”

“Wow, that’s just crazy. Just how many times are they planning to reshoot each scene? But the fact that people chose to remain means that the pay is good?”

“Probably.”

“Now I want to have a look at that contract. Just how much are they paying?”

“More than enough, probably.”

“More than enough, huh.”

“If I can contact them in the future, I should ask them if they need any staff. It would be profitable if I can get a connection with them.”

“I should do that too.”

These days, many movies stopped in the pre-production phase, but now a movie with super popular actors was about to kick off. The acting schools were all on their edge, and the theater troupes should also be busy as well. Once the concrete details about the audition comes out, it would be a war. Mister Choi thought back to a few of his students with potential as he looked outside the window. At that time, mister Lee brought out an interesting topic.

“Oh yes, I heard that an interesting kid entered Film.”

“Film?”

The acting school, “Film”, was well known for its sturdy infrastructure even amongst the acting schools in Gangnam. It was to the point that their ‘special lectures’ were held by famous actors. They did not hold classes for students aiming for college, and only held classes for people who are aiming to be real actors. As such, it wasn’t easy to get into. Some even said that it was more helpful in an acting career to enter Film than to drama departments of famous universities.

“An interesting kid? What do you mean?” Mr Choi asked.

“It’s a kid Lee Junmin had his eyes on, but there’s a rumor that Film poached him. Apparently, he’s so good at acting that the principal there is willing to support him.”