Superstar From Age 0

“Ugh. I didn’t expect to audition with Seo-jun hyung…”

Kim Han-seok, who was a little excited about the possibility of being the first protagonist, held his forehead with both hands.

The silence that had frozen with Kim Han-seok’s words broke.

The classroom became more noisy than before at the unexpected news.

“Isn’t this the first time you audition with your senior?”

“Right. We’ve auditioned for his works before, but…”

“That was scary.”

The students who graduated from Yeoul Arts Middle School recalled the play ‘Mirror’.

Seo-jun, who sat in the judge’s seat and watched their acting with sharp eyes, was scary and cool.

It was unimaginable to audition with such a senior.

“We’re in different grades, so we never had practical classes together.”

Some of the students who were thinking about participating in the audition nodded.

“We might have taken the college entrance exam together if he repeated a year, but there’s no way he would. And even if we become adults and compete for the main role, he’s too good.”

Competing with Seo-jun.

It was something they had never thought of as students who grew up watching Seo-jun’s greatness since they were young.

Some of them became actors after watching Seo-jun’s acting.

“I don’t understand why the final boss is here.”

“I know, right? How did the second-year seniors take practical exams with him?”

The first-year students admired the second-year students who took practical exams with Seo-jun every year, as they were mentioned and received attention from the public more than anyone else because they were the same age as Seo-jun.

“Hmm. So are you not going to do it?”

The classroom fell silent at someone’s question.

The students pondered with serious expressions.

It was burdensome to have an audition with Seo-jun, but the audition was not only for the main role.

“He’s probably auditioning for the main role, right? I’m aiming for a supporting role, so I’ll give it a try.”

“Me too. I want to be in the same movie as him.”

One by one, they expressed their opinions, but there was still a student who was lost in thought. It was Kim Han-seok, who had been aiming for the lead role until a while ago.

“What are you going to do, Han-seok?”

“Ugh.”

It was too bad.

He didn’t intend to, but he thought he could empathize with the character and act well because he had experienced a similar situation as the character.

‘But I didn’t expect Seo-jun hyung to show up.’

He didn’t think Seo-jun hyung would be bad at acting just because he hadn’t experienced it in real life.

‘No. He’ll be great.’

He did well in acting as Prince Seongnyeong who was sick when he was an intern.

He did well in acting as Jin Natra who was suffering from the collapse of his body.

He looked like a madman as Lee Hyun-woo in Survivors.

That was his acting without real experience.

‘But even if I can’t do better than Seo-jun hyung… I think I can do well.’

Kim Han-seok lifted his head after wringing his head.

His firm expression looked like he had made up his mind.

The students waited for Kim Han-seok’s mouth to open.

“I’ll do it. The audition.”

“Wow!”

The students pounded their desks and clapped their hands, making a racket.

Then they heard a familiar voice.

“Class is starting.”

The students slowly turned their heads toward the classroom door, feeling a chill down their spines.

The teacher holding a textbook was standing there with a stern face.

The students’ eyes went to the clock.

They didn’t even know when class was starting.

“Sit down if you’re done playing.”

The startled students scattered like a flock of sparrows and sat down in their seats, opening their textbooks.

The teacher laughed at their sight.

“Be that quick when you present.”

Ah, ahaha.

The students avoided eye contact with the English teacher and smiled awkwardly.

***

“Should I try it too?”

Unlike the first-year students who needed a lot of consideration and determination, the second-year students who were used to competing with Seo-jun in entrance exams as well as midterms and finals every year decided to participate in the audition without much hesitation.

They were confident in their skills enough to be called the ‘golden generation’, and they were bold because they always competed with superstar Lee Seo-jun.

Except for those who really didn’t have time, most of them decided to participate in the audition. Yang Ju-hee, who stopped by class 2-2 and came back, opened her mouth.

“The kids in class 2-2 are also auditioning. Are we going to have only our school kids on the set?”

“That might happen.”

Seo-jun looked around.

Jeon Seong-min, Kim Joo-kyung, Yang Ju-hee, and his friends.

They were in the same school and took the same classes, so they knew how good each other was.

They were all good enough to deserve the name of the golden generation.

‘It sounds fun.’

It felt like a violin concours.

‘Of course, a violin concours has a score to follow.’

Acting was subjective.

Even if they acted the same sadness, the director liked different acting.

Showing their best acting with their own interpretation in front of the judges.

That acting would match the image of the director who would be the judge.

‘Or show an acting that would change the director’s image.’

The audition was like a concours of acting.

He felt a tickle in his heart as he thought so.

‘I can’t just sit still.’

Seo-jun, who had no intention of losing to anyone, smiled brightly.

His smile, which shone more than anyone else’s, made Kim Joo-kyung scream.

“…Crazy! He looks like he’s serious!”

“You can take it easy!”

“Ahahaha!”

“Don’t laugh!”

***

-Seo-jun is auditioning.

=Seo-jun is auditioning? Our Seo-jun?

=Is it a namesake?

=No, no. It’s Lee Seo-jun from Jin Natra.

=Wow. What movie is it that Lee Seo-jun is auditioning for?

The news of Seo-jun’s audition spread slowly.

The reporters who heard the news asked Cocoa Entertainment to confirm the facts.

Cocoa Entertainment, who had already discussed with Dahong, answered that it was true.

And a few minutes later, articles came out.

[The audition of a superstar? Actor Lee Seo-jun auditions!]

[Why is actor Lee Seo-jun auditioning?]

[The next work of Dahong, the production company of the movie Rebellion!]

[Director Min Hee-kyung? Let’s find out about director Min Hee-kyung!]

[Actor Lee Seo-jun’s cheering stick contest ends! When will it be announced?]

-Wow. I thought it was a rumor, but he’s really auditioning.

=Last year Kim Jong-ho auditioned, and this year Lee Seo-jun auditioned???

=But Kim Jong-ho was a Hollywood audition.

=22 Kim Jong-ho, you are an actor who has no foundation or fame in Hollywood, so you auditioned, but Lee Seo-jun is not.

=33 He is a superstar in both Korea and Hollywood.

-Isn’t it predetermined? Of course Lee Seo-jun will be chosen.

=It would be better to just announce that Lee Seo-jun is confirmed to star in the movie.

=22 It’s not confirmed yet, so Plus+ is not investing either.

=Everyone thinks Lee Seo-jun will be selected, but… if the production company goes crazy and doesn’t pick Lee Seo-jun for the lead role, it will be a disaster haha

-But the competition rate must be insane.

=Why? If they can objectively judge their own skills, most of them would know that they are worse than Lee Seo-jun, right? Then there won’t be many applicants, right?

=No, no. If they only picked the lead role, it wouldn’t matter, but they are also picking supporting roles. I think everyone will aim for supporting roles and participate.

=That makes sense. If Seo-jun takes the lead role, it’s like a guaranteed hit, and if they have even one line or show their face on the screen, it will be easier to get recognized by people.

=The ones who appeared in Escape were like that too.

=They are doing well in dramas and movies.

=They are all good at acting.

=And the most attractive thing is that the viewers are not only Koreans. It’s amazing to make a movie in Korea and have it screened overseas haha

=It would also be a great achievement to say that I made a movie with Seo-jun later.

-But what is the movie about?

=I don’t know and I’m going to go.

=22 If you go to the audition site, there is a description of the characters they are looking for in the audition, but I’m not going to look at it.

=333 It’s more fun to go without knowing anything.

-(The audition is still left) I’m so happy that Seo-jun’s next work is coming out haha

=(It’s not confirmed yet) I wish the cheering stick came out before the next work.

=Now that the contest is over, it will come out.

-Hurry up! I want to take it to the theater! (Of course I’ll put it in my bag when the movie starts)

-I have to buy two for collection and practical use!!

=But there are so many types of designs that got the most recommendations, it’s hard to buy two of each haha I like that! I love that! I’m going to buy two of each!

=22 I also pressed recommend on that one, but I think I’ll spend a lot of money if it actually comes out (I look at my bank account that will be empty soon)

=33 There are too many things to spend money on for the movie and the cheering stick haha

=444 Let’s save money…!

***

Movie production company Dahong.

The planning team members were printing and sorting out the audition applications that came in by email.

There were also some applications that came by mail.

“What can I say… I thought there would be fewer applicants because Lee Seo-jun is participating, but is it just me or are there more?”

“No. There are a lot. A lot.”

Lee Yoon-ju, who was changing the A4 paper for several times today, nodded her head vigorously.

“It will take time to review them all.”

“Right. But Director Min said she would review the documents too, right?”

“Yes. She said she would look at them all.”

“…All of these?”

They saw the application forms stacked neatly in boxes divided by career.

Lee Yoon-ju sighed lightly and opened her mouth.

“Don’t you think Director Min has an actor in mind?”

“Of course she does. She never told us his name. It would be easier to pay more attention if we knew his name.”

Lee Yoon-ju collected and organized the application forms and put them in a box.

This box was now going to be delivered to Director Min Hee-kyung, who was refining the script.

“Is that what you posted?”

A colleague who was sorting out the application forms with Lee Yoon-ju opened his mouth.

“That?”

“The cheering stick design with the most recommendations.”

At that, Lee Yoon-ju giggled and nodded her head. The colleague smiled back.

“Buy me something delicious if you win first place.”

“Of course! I’ll treat you to a full course!”

***

A few days later.

The audition application deadline was over.

The boxes sorted by Dahong were delivered to Director Min Hee-kyung’s studio.

It was a studio provided by Dahong because Director Min Hee-kyung’s house was small.

“Please put the reviewed applications here.”

Director Min Hee-kyung, who was exhausted from improving the script, nodded at the words of the planning team leader.

“Take it easy.”

“Yes. Don’t worry.”

The planning team leader left and Director Min Hee-kyung picked up the application forms from the box with the least experience.

Even though there was an article that Lee Seo-jun was auditioning, there were more applications.

Maybe they submitted their resumes with a feeling of trying their luck, hoping to appear as supporting roles or extras.

Whatever the reason, Director Min Hee-kyung was thinking of calling for an audition if there was an actor who matched the image he had in mind.

Director Min Hee-kyung picked up an application form.

She looked at the photo first.

She glanced at the profile photos attached and put them down next to her after checking if there was anyone who looked similar to the character in her mind.

She looked and put them down, looked and put them down.

As one sheet after another of the application forms in the box decreased, Director Min Hee-kyung’s hand slowed down.

It was almost over.

That’s how one box was completely emptied.

“There’s none…!”

She looked at the empty box and despaired.

She thought he would be in this box marked ‘Experience 0’ because he was an actor she had never seen before, but she couldn’t find the boy in the black hat he met at Han River.

‘Didn’t he see my name?’

Or maybe he didn’t think that the script he saw a few months ago at Han River would change.

The audition announcement only had a short character introduction, not the whole script.

She couldn’t reveal the script for a movie that was scheduled to be released. She briefly recalled the boy who said he would choose based on the script and washed her face with dry water.

“No. I just didn’t know.”

She had done her best by putting Lee Seo-jun on hold and proceeding with the audition.

“I’ll be able to film with him someday, even if it’s not this work.”

But she sighed heavily with a frustrated feeling and started to sort out the actors who matched the images of supporting roles or extras in [Working Title: Travel].

“Ugh. I didn’t expect to audition with Seo-jun hyung…”

Kim Han-seok, who was a little excited about the possibility of being the first protagonist, held his forehead with both hands.

The silence that had frozen with Kim Han-seok’s words broke.

The classroom became more noisy than before at the unexpected news.

“Isn’t this the first time you audition with your senior?”

“Right. We’ve auditioned for his works before, but…”

“That was scary.”

The students who graduated from Yeoul Arts Middle School recalled the play ‘Mirror’.

Seo-jun, who sat in the judge’s seat and watched their acting with sharp eyes, was scary and cool.

It was unimaginable to audition with such a senior.

“We’re in different grades, so we never had practical classes together.”

Some of the students who were thinking about participating in the audition nodded.

“We might have taken the college entrance exam together if he repeated a year, but there’s no way he would. And even if we become adults and compete for the main role, he’s too good.”

Competing with Seo-jun.

It was something they had never thought of as students who grew up watching Seo-jun’s greatness since they were young.

Some of them became actors after watching Seo-jun’s acting.

“I don’t understand why the final boss is here.”

“I know, right? How did the second-year seniors take practical exams with him?”

The first-year students admired the second-year students who took practical exams with Seo-jun every year, as they were mentioned and received attention from the public more than anyone else because they were the same age as Seo-jun.

“Hmm. So are you not going to do it?”

The classroom fell silent at someone’s question.

The students pondered with serious expressions.

It was burdensome to have an audition with Seo-jun, but the audition was not only for the main role.

“He’s probably auditioning for the main role, right? I’m aiming for a supporting role, so I’ll give it a try.”

“Me too. I want to be in the same movie as him.”

One by one, they expressed their opinions, but there was still a student who was lost in thought. It was Kim Han-seok, who had been aiming for the lead role until a while ago.

“What are you going to do, Han-seok?”

“Ugh.”

It was too bad.

He didn’t intend to, but he thought he could empathize with the character and act well because he had experienced a similar situation as the character.

‘But I didn’t expect Seo-jun hyung to show up.’

He didn’t think Seo-jun hyung would be bad at acting just because he hadn’t experienced it in real life.

‘No. He’ll be great.’

He did well in acting as Prince Seongnyeong who was sick when he was an intern.

He did well in acting as Jin Natra who was suffering from the collapse of his body.

He looked like a madman as Lee Hyun-woo in Survivors.

That was his acting without real experience.

‘But even if I can’t do better than Seo-jun hyung… I think I can do well.’

Kim Han-seok lifted his head after wringing his head.

His firm expression looked like he had made up his mind.

The students waited for Kim Han-seok’s mouth to open.

“I’ll do it. The audition.”

“Wow!”

The students pounded their desks and clapped their hands, making a racket.

Then they heard a familiar voice.

“Class is starting.”

The students slowly turned their heads toward the classroom door, feeling a chill down their spines.

The teacher holding a textbook was standing there with a stern face.

The students’ eyes went to the clock.

They didn’t even know when class was starting.

“Sit down if you’re done playing.”

The startled students scattered like a flock of sparrows and sat down in their seats, opening their textbooks.

The teacher laughed at their sight.

“Be that quick when you present.”

Ah, ahaha.

The students avoided eye contact with the English teacher and smiled awkwardly.

***

“Should I try it too?”

Unlike the first-year students who needed a lot of consideration and determination, the second-year students who were used to competing with Seo-jun in entrance exams as well as midterms and finals every year decided to participate in the audition without much hesitation.

They were confident in their skills enough to be called the ‘golden generation’, and they were bold because they always competed with superstar Lee Seo-jun.

Except for those who really didn’t have time, most of them decided to participate in the audition. Yang Ju-hee, who stopped by class 2-2 and came back, opened her mouth.

“The kids in class 2-2 are also auditioning. Are we going to have only our school kids on the set?”

“That might happen.”

Seo-jun looked around.

Jeon Seong-min, Kim Joo-kyung, Yang Ju-hee, and his friends.

They were in the same school and took the same classes, so they knew how good each other was.

They were all good enough to deserve the name of the golden generation.

‘It sounds fun.’

It felt like a violin concours.

‘Of course, a violin concours has a score to follow.’

Acting was subjective.

Even if they acted the same sadness, the director liked different acting.

Showing their best acting with their own interpretation in front of the judges.

That acting would match the image of the director who would be the judge.

‘Or show an acting that would change the director’s image.’

The audition was like a concours of acting.

He felt a tickle in his heart as he thought so.

‘I can’t just sit still.’

Seo-jun, who had no intention of losing to anyone, smiled brightly.

His smile, which shone more than anyone else’s, made Kim Joo-kyung scream.

“…Crazy! He looks like he’s serious!”

“You can take it easy!”

“Ahahaha!”

“Don’t laugh!”

***

-Seo-jun is auditioning.

=Seo-jun is auditioning? Our Seo-jun?

=Is it a namesake?

=No, no. It’s Lee Seo-jun from Jin Natra.

=Wow. What movie is it that Lee Seo-jun is auditioning for?

The news of Seo-jun’s audition spread slowly.

The reporters who heard the news asked Cocoa Entertainment to confirm the facts.

Cocoa Entertainment, who had already discussed with Dahong, answered that it was true.

And a few minutes later, articles came out.

[The audition of a superstar? Actor Lee Seo-jun auditions!]

[Why is actor Lee Seo-jun auditioning?]

[The next work of Dahong, the production company of the movie Rebellion!]

[Director Min Hee-kyung? Let’s find out about director Min Hee-kyung!]

[Actor Lee Seo-jun’s cheering stick contest ends! When will it be announced?]

-Wow. I thought it was a rumor, but he’s really auditioning.

=Last year Kim Jong-ho auditioned, and this year Lee Seo-jun auditioned???

=But Kim Jong-ho was a Hollywood audition.

=22 Kim Jong-ho, you are an actor who has no foundation or fame in Hollywood, so you auditioned, but Lee Seo-jun is not.

=33 He is a superstar in both Korea and Hollywood.

-Isn’t it predetermined? Of course Lee Seo-jun will be chosen.

=It would be better to just announce that Lee Seo-jun is confirmed to star in the movie.

=22 It’s not confirmed yet, so Plus+ is not investing either.

=Everyone thinks Lee Seo-jun will be selected, but… if the production company goes crazy and doesn’t pick Lee Seo-jun for the lead role, it will be a disaster haha

-But the competition rate must be insane.

=Why? If they can objectively judge their own skills, most of them would know that they are worse than Lee Seo-jun, right? Then there won’t be many applicants, right?

=No, no. If they only picked the lead role, it wouldn’t matter, but they are also picking supporting roles. I think everyone will aim for supporting roles and participate.

=That makes sense. If Seo-jun takes the lead role, it’s like a guaranteed hit, and if they have even one line or show their face on the screen, it will be easier to get recognized by people.

=The ones who appeared in Escape were like that too.

=They are doing well in dramas and movies.

=They are all good at acting.

=And the most attractive thing is that the viewers are not only Koreans. It’s amazing to make a movie in Korea and have it screened overseas haha

=It would also be a great achievement to say that I made a movie with Seo-jun later.

-But what is the movie about?

=I don’t know and I’m going to go.

=22 If you go to the audition site, there is a description of the characters they are looking for in the audition, but I’m not going to look at it.

=333 It’s more fun to go without knowing anything.

-(The audition is still left) I’m so happy that Seo-jun’s next work is coming out haha

=(It’s not confirmed yet) I wish the cheering stick came out before the next work.

=Now that the contest is over, it will come out.

-Hurry up! I want to take it to the theater! (Of course I’ll put it in my bag when the movie starts)

-I have to buy two for collection and practical use!!

=But there are so many types of designs that got the most recommendations, it’s hard to buy two of each haha I like that! I love that! I’m going to buy two of each!

=22 I also pressed recommend on that one, but I think I’ll spend a lot of money if it actually comes out (I look at my bank account that will be empty soon)

=33 There are too many things to spend money on for the movie and the cheering stick haha

=444 Let’s save money…!

***

Movie production company Dahong.

The planning team members were printing and sorting out the audition applications that came in by email.

There were also some applications that came by mail.

“What can I say… I thought there would be fewer applicants because Lee Seo-jun is participating, but is it just me or are there more?”

“No. There are a lot. A lot.”

Lee Yoon-ju, who was changing the A4 paper for several times today, nodded her head vigorously.

“It will take time to review them all.”

“Right. But Director Min said she would review the documents too, right?”

“Yes. She said she would look at them all.”

“…All of these?”

They saw the application forms stacked neatly in boxes divided by career.

Lee Yoon-ju sighed lightly and opened her mouth.

“Don’t you think Director Min has an actor in mind?”

“Of course she does. She never told us his name. It would be easier to pay more attention if we knew his name.”

Lee Yoon-ju collected and organized the application forms and put them in a box.

This box was now going to be delivered to Director Min Hee-kyung, who was refining the script.

“Is that what you posted?”

A colleague who was sorting out the application forms with Lee Yoon-ju opened his mouth.

“That?”

“The cheering stick design with the most recommendations.”

At that, Lee Yoon-ju giggled and nodded her head. The colleague smiled back.

“Buy me something delicious if you win first place.”

“Of course! I’ll treat you to a full course!”

***

A few days later.

The audition application deadline was over.

The boxes sorted by Dahong were delivered to Director Min Hee-kyung’s studio.

It was a studio provided by Dahong because Director Min Hee-kyung’s house was small.

“Please put the reviewed applications here.”

Director Min Hee-kyung, who was exhausted from improving the script, nodded at the words of the planning team leader.

“Take it easy.”

“Yes. Don’t worry.”

The planning team leader left and Director Min Hee-kyung picked up the application forms from the box with the least experience.

Even though there was an article that Lee Seo-jun was auditioning, there were more applications.

Maybe they submitted their resumes with a feeling of trying their luck, hoping to appear as supporting roles or extras.

Whatever the reason, Director Min Hee-kyung was thinking of calling for an audition if there was an actor who matched the image he had in mind.

Director Min Hee-kyung picked up an application form.

She looked at the photo first.

She glanced at the profile photos attached and put them down next to her after checking if there was anyone who looked similar to the character in her mind.

She looked and put them down, looked and put them down.

As one sheet after another of the application forms in the box decreased, Director Min Hee-kyung’s hand slowed down.

It was almost over.

That’s how one box was completely emptied.

“There’s none…!”

She looked at the empty box and despaired.

She thought he would be in this box marked ‘Experience 0’ because he was an actor she had never seen before, but she couldn’t find the boy in the black hat he met at Han River.

‘Didn’t he see my name?’

Or maybe he didn’t think that the script he saw a few months ago at Han River would change.

The audition announcement only had a short character introduction, not the whole script.

She couldn’t reveal the script for a movie that was scheduled to be released. She briefly recalled the boy who said he would choose based on the script and washed her face with dry water.

“No. I just didn’t know.”

She had done her best by putting Lee Seo-jun on hold and proceeding with the audition.

“I’ll be able to film with him someday, even if it’s not this work.”

But she sighed heavily with a frustrated feeling and started to sort out the actors who matched the images of supporting roles or extras in [Working Title: Travel].