Chapter 145: You don’t know me?
"Wait, why? Why go out of your way to make things harder on yourself...?"
Yu Seok waved a hand as if telling him not to say anything ridiculous.
"Even with the requirement that applicants have prior acting experience, this is America. The number of applicants is going to be enormous. It's not that I doubt you'll make it through, Yu Myeong, but why waste your energy for no reason?"
"Well... if you ask me, Team Leader."
Yu Myeong calmly explained his reasoning.
"Those foreign actors they're bringing in as seeded contestants... aren't they basically there to create tension?"
"That's right."
"In that case, who do you think viewers will identify with? The actor who appears from Episode One and climbs upward step by step, or the talented actor who shows up halfway through and knocks out the contestant they've been rooting for?"
"Hmm..."
Hearing that point, Yu Seok suddenly realized what he'd overlooked.
It was the sort of thing he normally would never miss. He must have been exhausted lately from spending so much time selecting scripts.
"You said it yourself, Team Leader. Being an Asian actor isn't exactly an advantage. If I receive a seeded placement on top of that, people will see me as a complete outsider. It might seem beneficial at first, but wouldn't it become something that holds me back as the competition goes on?"
"That's definitely... a valid point."
"Of course, I want to act well enough to overcome stereotypes and prejudice. And I'll work hard to make that happen. But not everyone in the world thinks the way I do."
Yu Myeong's voice remained calm, but there was unmistakable conviction beneath it.
"If the goal is to win, then I think it's better to eliminate as many disadvantages as possible before we start."
Listening to the quiet but unwavering proposal, Yu Seok finally understood.
He had known it intellectually before, but only now did it truly sink in.
"So you really... intend to win?"
"Of course."
It sounded obvious.
Yet somehow, it wasn't.
Even while making the suggestion himself, Yu Seok had never truly believed Yu Myeong would set his sights on outright victory.
Nor had he expected him to build a strategy that took even the surrounding circumstances into account in pursuit of such a simple, clear objective.
A tingling sensation ran through his body.
His actor.
The actor who always stimulated him far beyond his expectations.
For the first time in a while, a broad grin spread across Moon Yu Seok's face.
"Let's go together."
"...?"
"Let's go together. We should."
If he wanted to witness Yu Myeong's performance up close, then Yu Myeong needed to remain within reach.
That was why he'd felt so uneasy even while showing him TW's proposal.
But he had been looking at it the wrong way.
If Yu Myeong was going overseas, then all he had to do was go with him.
"Maybe it's time for the agency to enter the American market too. At this rate, you'll be famous enough over there to need a manager soon. Is there anyone more reliable than me?"
Yu Seok gave him a wink.
And just like that, their trip to America was decided.
"Oh? That's a shame."
Dennis Milton, producer of Casting Vote, nodded absentmindedly as he listened to the report from the manager in charge of seeded contestants.
The proposal had been sent to a Korean actor recommended by Joel Schumacher and who had even won an award at PIFF.
Dennis had selected him partly because the footage would look good in promotional trailers.
Still, there were plenty of other Asian actors who could fill that role.
Positive responses had already arrived from Hong Kong and Japan.
"[But... they said they'll give up the seed placement and participate anyway...]"
"What?"
Dennis frowned.
The sentence made so little sense that he immediately asked for clarification.
The seed manager handed him a sheet of paper.
Printed on it was the contents of an email.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
To the Casting Vote Seed Selection Department,
Hello. My name is Moon Yu Seok, and I am the representative of the agency managing actor Yu Myeong.
We reviewed your proposal with great interest and were deeply impressed by both the program's concept and its tremendous publicity potential.
Unfortunately, we have decided to decline the seeded contestant opportunity you generously offered.
Our actor has firmly stated that if he participates, he wishes to begin from the first round under the same conditions as every other contestant. I tried to persuade him that there was no reason to choose the harder path, but he refuses to listen.
Accordingly, we would like to inquire about the application process for general contestants and discuss the visa arrangements necessary for participation.
If you could provide the contact information of the relevant staff member and a suitable time for communication, we will contact your side directly.
Once again, thank you for the proposal. We wish your program great success.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Dennis stared at the paper for quite a while.
After a long silence, the seed manager cautiously spoke.
"How... should we handle this?"
"Do you think this is really the actor's idea?"
"Well, that's what the email says..."
"Hmm. There's a rather cunning calculation hidden in this."
Dennis tapped the paper.
"The part where he goes out of his way to emphasize that the company opposed it but the actor insisted on it, for one thing..."
The manager only blinked blankly.
Seeing he didn't understand, Dennis waved a hand dismissively.
"Reply according to their request. Then go bring Susan."
"Yes, Producer."
A few moments later, a bright-looking woman entered after knocking on the door.
Her hair had been slicked back neatly and tied high behind her head.
"Hi, Producer. You wanted to see me?"
"Come in, Susan."
Dennis had divided the Casting Vote production department into Team A and Team B.
Team A handled the main audition broadcasts.
Team B focused on individual contestant interviews and insert footage involving related industry figures.
Ordinarily, the audition team would have been the main unit, with the interview team serving as a subordinate branch.
But Dennis believed interviews were one of the most important elements of reality television, so he had chosen to operate them independently.
And Susan Laycock, who headed Team B, was a trusted staff member who had worked alongside him for years.
"Susan, you remember that Korean actor we offered a seed placement to?"
"The one Joel recommended?"
"That's right. He rejected the seed placement and says he wants to enter through the regular application process."
"Wow. That's pretty cool."
Susan's eyes lit up.
"Follow him from the regional preliminary screenings onward. Get detailed interviews. We might have a use for them later."
"Are we giving him the elevator ride straight to Round Three?"
A contestant who rejected a seed placement and entered as a regular applicant.
If packaged correctly, it could become an excellent story.
Susan was asking whether they should simply wave him through the early rounds and treat the evaluations as formalities.
Reality shows often found ways to keep interesting contestants alive.
"No."
Dennis shook his head.
"If he's just an arrogant fool who rejected a seed placement without having the ability to advance on his own, then he isn't even worth turning into a story."
"Fair enough..."
"But if it isn't arrogance—if it's genuine ability—then the footage from the early stages will become extremely valuable later. Keep a close eye on him."
"Okay, boss."
Susan snapped a playful salute.
"Yu Myeong! Wow, how long has it been?"
A woman with a wildly permed hairstyle bounced excitedly when she saw him.
It was Yuk Mi Young.
This was their first meeting since Entertainment Studies had finished airing.
"You read the script, right?"
"I did. I enjoyed it. You really poured your soul into this one, didn't you?"
"Right? You love it, don't you? I wrote it while thinking about you. So? We're doing this together, right? Deal?"
"Well... actually..."
Yu Myeong smiled awkwardly.
Through Yu Seok, he had already declined the project.
Still, he felt it was only polite to tell Yuk Mi Young personally.
After all, she had worked with him before and had played a major role in introducing the name Yu Myeong to the public.
"I'm sorry, but I don't think I'll be able to do it."
His refusal was gentle, but firm.
The strength immediately drained from Yuk Mi Young's body.
"I knew it. You kept putting off giving me a definite answer and insisted on meeting in person. I should've guessed it was a rejection. Ah, what am I supposed to do? If it isn't you, who could possibly play this role...?"
Yu Myeong swallowed the words You don't need to worry.
The drama would become a massive hit next year after Kim Hyun Tae was cast.
It had been one of the defining dramas of 2007.
The script he'd just read wasn't much different from the original, aside from a few additional scenes that would be difficult to perform.
"So what beat us out? A movie? Don't tell me you've become one of those people who think films are superior to television."
"Uh... it's a variety show."
"What?"
Yuk Mi Young nearly spat out her drink before barely managing to swallow it.
She stared at him in complete disbelief.
"Did I hear that correctly? What kind of variety show?"
"It's not public yet... you'll keep it confidential, right?"
"Of course!"
After Yu Myeong briefly explained the audition program taking place in America, Yuk Mi Young tilted her head.
"Hmm... I can see why you'd be tempted. The Kylie Unshaw connection is definitely attractive. But... isn't it such a waste?"
"A waste of what?"
"Your position right now is awkward. You're already an enormous star. But you still haven't had a true solo lead role."
She leaned forward.
"You act so well that it feels like you've already headlined multiple projects. But Phantom and Yi Bang Won were both supporting leads."
She sighed.
"If you could just land one massive success as the sole lead and firmly establish yourself as a leading actor, wouldn't entering Hollywood become easier? And if things didn't work out, it'd be easier to come back. For that, our drama is perfect..."
In the end, it was another attempt to persuade him.
But her concern was sincere.
Shin Yu Myeong's market value was absurdly high for someone with his level of experience.
She believed much of that was due to Moon Yu Seok's management.
Right after Entertainment Studies introduced him to the public, Ballerina High exploded in popularity.
Then came Director Son Chi Uk's retirement project.
Only one commercial—and even that had been a story driven advertisement designed to showcase his acting.
Then, seemingly out of nowhere, he had performed in theater.
The theater production became a documentary.
The documentary ignited nationwide interest.
And just as public attention reached its peak, he announced a six month hiatus.
The push and pull had been masterful.
As a result, a second year actor now possessed a market value that seemed to climb endlessly.
And now he was planning to leave for America?
It would generate headlines, certainly.
But it was an enormous gamble.
If he failed to achieve a respectable result in the audition program, everything Yu Myeong had built under Yu Seok's guidance could collapse.
At least, that was what she believed.
The fact that most of it had never been planned in the first place was a misunderstanding on her part.
"You're right, Writer. You really are."
Yu Myeong smiled mischievously.
"And thank you for the generous assessment."
Then his smile softened.
"But I don't think another opportunity like this will ever come."
And I don't think I have that much time left.
He swallowed the words he could never say aloud.
"And in the end... isn't the solution simply to win?"
"You're seriously aiming for first place?"
"Of course. That's why I'm going."
She stared at him.
He sounded completely sincere.
It was absurd.
And yet...
No, if it's him... maybe he actually could do it.
This time, the sigh that escaped Yuk Mi Young carried a completely different meaning.
Even if he wins, that's a problem. What on earth will his asking price become then?
Either way, she felt like crying.
"...Who are you?"
"Huh? You don't know me? I know who you are."
As Yu Myeong headed toward the parking garage on the second basement level of the agency building, someone suddenly called out to him.
A man with curly hair hanging slightly over his eyes hopped down from the railing where he'd been squatting.
The bright smile on his face carried a strangely androgynous quality.
Yu Myeong searched his memory, but he couldn't recall seeing the face in either his current life or his previous one.
"I'm sorry, but I don't think we've met. May I ask your name?"
"My name's Do Hyo Jun. Nice to meet you!"
Ah.
Yu Myeong immediately realized who he was.
Moon Yu Seok's first hobby.
"I've watched all your dramas and movies! I really want to be friends with you, Hyung."
"Ah. Thank you."
Yu Myeong cautiously shook the hand he offered.
Contrary to Eun Soo's repeated complaints about him being a completely uncontrollable troublemaker, he seemed cheerful and personable enough.
But just yesterday, Seol Su Yeon had been grumbling about him.
"Classes are fun and all... but there's one person I can't stand."
"Who?"
"Do Hyo Jun. Apparently he used to skip classes all the time, but ever since I joined, he's attended every single one."
"Uh huh."
"And whenever we get an assignment, he finishes it so effortlessly it's infuriating. Then he comes over and asks why I'm struggling with something so easy. He's unbelievably annoying."
"Is he really that good?"
"Your acting is way more moving, Oppa! But whatever you throw at him, he figures it out instantly. Ugh."
Even Seol Su Yeon had solid fundamentals thanks to the foundation he and Ryu Shin had built for her, not to mention her natural immersion ability.
The fact that she admitted feeling inferior so easily made him curious about what kind of actor Do Hyo Jun actually was.
"Hyung, I heard you're entering an audition show in America."
"Ah, yes. Word travels fast."
"I want to go too! I asked Hyung Yu Seok to send me as well."
Calling Team Leader Moon "Hyung"...
So they knew each other personally.
Yu Myeong still had no idea what kind of actor he was, but judging by the way he'd approached a complete stranger like this, his personality was definitely unconventional.
"If I prove that I'm a better actor than you, then Hyung Yu Seok will think I'm the best again, right?"
Very unconventional, in fact.