TLICO 10

Chapter – 10

“I’m going to fix that part today. Let’s film it. Together.”

“Ha, now of all times?”

“If you don’t want to, then fine.”

“Hey, hey! Why are you like this? Then I’m the one filming, and it goes up on my account, right?”

“Yes.”

“Sweet!”

The cinematographer finished setting up the equipment with an excited face. Soon, filming began again. And naturally, Ha Eun-rae soared through this shoot as well.

‘Wow… a lot of crazy things happened today.’

I felt more mentally drained than physically exhausted, so I slumped face-down onto my bed. Yeoreum had said she’d be late today because of plans to go out drinking.

‘I’ll probably have to go pick her up when she gets drunk…’

As I pulled my phone out of my pocket to text Yeoreum, a business card tumbled out.

[Naru Stage]

This business card—of all people—Seo Kyung-bin gave it to me.

“U-um… so… I heard… y-you don’t have an agency yet…”

“Ah, yes.”

“Well…”

Then, he tossed the card at me.

“We’re looking for… a rookie actress.”

…It was a line with many parts omitted, but the message was delivered. It meant Naru Stage was eager to cast a new actress. Come to think of it, Seo Kyung-bin was under Naru Stage.

“If you’re interested in an audition, call…”

He couldn’t quite finish the sentence with “me.” Regardless, for someone as introverted as Seo Kyung-bin to show this much kindness was significant.

“Your acting… was really great.”Seo Kyung-bin, who had just finished filming the first meeting scene with me, spoke with a look of excitement. I had worried he might see me as a threat because I stood out too much, but instead, he seemed fired up, saying he needed to come even better prepared in the future.

“I-I will also try not to be a b-burden…”

It was hard to tell if he had finished his sentence or not.

“But you are already doing so well.”It was true. Seo Kyung-bin became a completely different person the moment the camera rolled. However, since his neck retreated into his shoulders like a turtle the moment he heard a compliment, I decided to hold back on praising him further. Anyway, seeing as he even offered an audition, it seemed he thought well of me.

“It’s mostly thanks to me, client.”

It was frustrating, but Hong Jong-ho’s social skills had also been a help. I looked at the Naru Stage business card and smirked. If Jegal Se-yeon was the first button of my new acting life, Naru Stage would be the second. And now, it was time to use my search credits for the third button.

‘Something that can get an immediate reaction at my current level. A project that can earn me even more search credits.’

This time, it’s a music video.

Heo Kyung-hoe, the CEO of Naru Stage, cracked his neck with a tired expression. He carried the title of CEO, but in a small company of about ten people, he was out on the field himself, pounding the pavement to find talent. Sometimes he went to the theater district at Daehak-ro, watched small and large films until his eyes were dry, and personally reviewed every application that came in. Since the company was still small, gathering actors was the most urgent priority.

Especially after a successful mid-tier actor left last year, causing the company to falter significantly, he had no choice but to pour his heart and soul into discovering rookies.

“I know you work hard, CEO Heo. I said I’d join because you treated me well when we worked together before. But you know. I’m older now, and drama casting is all about connections. But Naru Stage is…”

He didn’t need to hear the rest to know what it meant.

‘We don’t have any “real” actors, so we don’t have any clout.’

It was heartbreaking because it was a breakup with an actor with whom he had a long history, but he couldn’t hold on to them. He understood their situation. And Heo Kyung-hoe realized through this:

‘I can’t rely on established actors anymore.’

It was time to discover and raise rookies. Recently, Seo Kyung-bin had been gaining recognition as a “star of the independent film world,” but he hadn’t landed any profitable commercials yet. It seemed like a fandom was building up on social media, but as for variety shows…

‘He can’t even hold a conversation.’

No matter how much buzz variety shows generated, sending Seo Kyung-bin out was impossible for his conscience.

‘Besides, if our Kyung-bin collapses from hyperventilation, our agency will have zero actors left…’

Because of that, he had been keeping his eyes peeled for rookie actors lately, but none met his standards. Whenever he found someone decent, another agency was already in contact. And most of those actors’ rejection lines were similar.

“Naru Stage is still too new, so I think it wouldn’t be good for either of us if a rookie like me went there…”

Well, from their perspective, they weren’t wrong. The “push” from a large agency is crucial for a rookie. In fact, agencies with lead actors can easily slot one or two of their other actors into a project.

However, there are downsides to an agency having that much influence. Just as idol groups from a specific agency all tend to feel the same, actors can’t help but grow into the agency’s “planned-type actor.” Especially in the case of low-quality agencies, they might force actors to forge their resumes or fabricate their pasts.

Heo Kyung-hoe had left his previous company because he was disillusioned by these practices. Kim Byung-ho, who had worked at the same company and then started the agency, didn’t seem to care much about such things.

Heo Kyung-hoe looked at an actress in a web drama video on YouTube.

‘Her name is Kang Ye-ji.’

Looking at her personal social media, she had the typical feel of a managed rookie. She wore clothes that gave off a calm and intellectual image, paired with slightly expensive-looking accessories.

‘It’s all a setup.’

He immediately recognized the strategy his former company often used. Even the tactic of gathering followers by pretending to live in an affluent neighborhood was the same.

‘Kim Byung-ho’s habits haven’t gone anywhere.’

He shook his head at the thought. In cases like this, she was perfect prey for Kim Byung-ho. He would likely use all sorts of flashy words to make her do whatever he ordered. He might force her into excessive skin-showing scenes or push her into an unreasonable concept for variety shows. Once she hits it big, he might tarnish her reputation to ensure she remains tied to the agency forever. These were all the things Kim Byung-ho learned at their old company.

However, in large agencies, these things were often done according to industry standards. Heo Kyung-hoe started Naru Stage because he hated that. He wanted to be a company that acted as a true “stage” for actors.

But right now, Naru Stage only had Seo Kyung-bin to push, so even when he worked hard at meetings, he always heard the same thing:

“Seo Kyung-bin is great. But we’re currently in a situation where there are no actresses. You know how it is. There’s a drought of actresses in their 20s these days. You should have discovered a rookie by now.”

As if I don’t know that!

The fact that production CEOs are calling agencies because there are no usable actors lately.

I’m doing this precisely because I know that!

It was then, as Heo Kyung-hoe closed his eyes and cracked his stiff neck.

“CEO!”

Director Jang Hee-ja walked in.

“CEO, you haven’t checked the email I sent, have you? It’s a new rookie actor for an audition.”

“A rookie? Why did you send it via email? We only take paper applications.”

Because many applicants sent edited videos, they usually only accepted written auditions with profile pictures.

“It’s because Seo Kyung-bin recommended this actor.”

“Kyung-bin? Kyung-bin has an actor friend?”

With that personality?