The Face Genius Actor

Episode 008

What caught my eye was the name “W Acting Academy.”

As if entranced, I accessed the W Acting Academy website.

The more I looked into W Acting Academy, the more certain I became.

‘This is it… Here, I’ll be able to get proper advice.’

W Acting Academy was run by an active actor, though not a famous one.

Perhaps because of that, its reviews weren’t particularly good.

After all, it lacked the close connection to the field compared to academies run by broadcasting stations, agencies, or production companies.

But that didn’t matter.

My goal wasn’t to debut quickly by any means necessary anyway.

From my perspective, getting expert advice was more important.

I knew all too well how poorly unprepared actors are treated on set.

‘So improving my skills is more important than an immediate debut or past connections.’

In that respect, W Acting Academy was just the right place.

I also remembered that in the near future, actors from W Acting Academy would achieve great success.

That’s right.

W Acting Academy was soon to become, in name and reality, Korea’s top actor training institute.

I couldn’t understand why I hadn’t thought of this name earlier.

‘Good. I’ll enroll in this academy.’

So, without hesitation, I called W Acting Academy.

“Hello, this is W Acting Academy.”

The enrollment process wasn’t complicated.

They asked several questions like whether I aspired to be an actor, whether I was interested in film or drama acting, etc.

Then they took my name and possible start dates.

“On your first day, you’ll take a level test after completing the registration paperwork.”

“Is it an audition?”

“It’s a similar format, but don’t be too nervous. It’s to conduct classes according to your skill level.”

“I see.”

A level test.

It felt just like enrolling in an English conversation school.

But I wasn’t particularly nervous.

Not only was it not a pass-or-fail test, but I had been through so many auditions that I was sick of them.

After the big failure of my first leading drama role,

I tried to secure leading roles through auditions.

It wasn’t just because I wasn’t getting as many casting offers as before, but I thought this was the only way to prove my skills.

In that process, even after my agency contract expired, I didn’t give up and continued going to auditions.

‘Compared to those desperate times, it’s natural not to feel nervous.’

As I was organizing my thoughts like this,

The staff asked for my email address to send the audition script.

Shortly after, the script that arrived was for the movie “Line 7.”

* * *

One week until the level test.

I read through the “Line 7” script once.

“Line 7” wasn’t a very familiar script to me.

It was a movie that had a decent box office of 3 million viewers 7 years ago, but it was missing from my practice list.

It wasn’t that I didn’t like “Line 7” and excluded it from my practice list.

‘There were just too many hit works at the time to cover them all.’

At that time, there were two domestic films that surpassed 10 million viewers.

In addition, there was a flood of famous foreign films, and numerous dramas worth noting.

For this reason, “Line 7” was inevitably undervalued relatively.

I too had missed “Line 7” while looking at other works.

‘I probably didn’t even write a work analysis note. I only remember watching it once in the theater.’

So I examined the “Line 7” script more carefully.

I thought it would be a good opportunity to compare how different the feeling from the script was from the vividly implemented world of the Method Mask.

After reading the entire script for an hour, I put on the Method Mask.

“I want to practice the lead role of Jo Kyung-il in the movie ‘Line 7’.”

As usual, text appeared on the completely darkened background.

[Loading content from work analysis notes]

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[Starting practice for movie “Line 7”]

But unexpectedly, the world of “Line 7” implemented by the Method Mask was strange.

The setting of “Line 7” was structured like Mangwon Station, which I frequently use.

‘What? Was the first scene of “Line 7” set in Mangwon Station…? No, it wasn’t. It was Myeonmok Station.’

As I was thinking this, I turned my head towards the sign with the station name.

I saw the text that said Mangwon Station distort and change to Myeonmok Station.

‘W-What?’

But the setting of “Line 7” still had the same structure as Mangwon Station.

Only the name on the sign had changed to Myeonmok Station.

‘Why is the Method Mask doing this?’

I looked around busily to grasp the situation.

Then I thought the people around might look at me strangely.

Sure enough, a couple waiting for the subway with me muttered.

“What’s wrong with him?”

“Did he come to take the subway in the wrong direction?”

I looked towards the couple.

At the same time, I wondered, ‘Was there a scene in “Line 7” where a couple had a conversation?’

‘No. There wasn’t such a scene.’

Then the couple, who had been frowning while looking me up and down, suddenly turned their heads.

And then they put on expressionless faces as if nothing had happened.

It was a Udyr-level change of attitude that couldn’t help but feel scary.

‘Why is this happening? Why is the Method Mask’s reality implementation so crude?’

It felt like the work analysis was incomplete.

‘Wait? Work analysis?’

Then suddenly, I remembered that I hadn’t properly analyzed “Line 7.”

With that, I thought I could understand why the world of “Line 7” was implemented like this.

I immediately stopped practicing “Line 7” and looked for another work.

“I want to practice the lead role of… who was it? Ah, Lee Jong-soo in the drama ‘Stars of Seoul’.”

[Loading content from work analysis notes]

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[Starting practice for drama “Stars of Seoul”]

Once again, the screen changed and a new world unfolded before my eyes.

But this time, even the background wasn’t properly implemented.

Even the outfit of my character, Lee Jong-soo, was just a short-sleeved T-shirt and sweatpants.

If it was just any T-shirt and sweatpants, it would be understandable, but Lee Jong-soo’s outfit was identical to what I was wearing while using the Method Mask.

‘”Stars of Seoul” is a drama that aired in the early 1990s. But I’m wearing the latest sweatpants with an Adidas logo?’

As soon as I thought this, the Adidas logo on the sweatpants disappeared.

And with that, I could be certain.

The Method Mask was implementing the world of the work based on my analysis of it.

‘I’ve never been to Myeonmok Station in my life.’

So earlier, the setting of “Line 7” maintained the structure of Mangwon Station with only the name changed.

For me, when thinking of a subway station, the first place that comes to mind is Mangwon Station, the closest to my home.

‘I don’t need to look far. The text “Loading content from work analysis notes” explains everything.’

Thus, I could understand why the Method Mask couldn’t properly implement the world.

However, this didn’t solve all the problems.

It would be troublesome if works I hadn’t analyzed couldn’t be implemented by the Method Mask.

‘I could gradually learn the emotions, expressions, and actions of characters while practicing other works.’

But it wouldn’t be as fast as directly experiencing the work in question.

This disappointment was unavoidable.

I took off the Method Mask and sighed deeply.

‘As expected, not everything can be solved easily. If it doesn’t work like this, there’s nothing I can do. Let’s analyze the work for now.’

The good thing was that it didn’t take me too long to analyze a work.

While my acting skills were stagnant due to my innate physical limitations, my analytical skills weren’t.

I could complete a rough analysis of a movie in 3 days, and a drama in 5 days.

‘Of course, if you dig deep, there’s no end to work analysis…’

Anyway, in the case of “Line 7”, I could finish the basic work analysis in 3 days.

It seemed easier since it wasn’t just imagining everything about the work based solely on the script.

I could directly watch the completed movie by purchasing the VOD on the app.

‘Work analysis is like destiny for an actor anyway… Okay. Let’s watch the movie 10 times and read the script again. I hope it goes well.’

So I purchased the VOD of “Line 7” through the app.

After 3 days of work analysis, there would only be 4 days left for practice, but

I hoped I could utilize the Method Mask.

* * *

A week passed in an instant.

I took the subway to go to the acting academy.

Although it wasn’t Line 7, riding the subway reminded me of all the practice I’d done so far.

As soon as I finished the work analysis, I spent all my time practicing with the Method Mask, but time flew by quite tightly.

The good thing was that once the work analysis was complete, the world of “Line 7” started to be properly implemented.

Not just the background, but the expressions, gestures, and emotions of the characters were perfectly expressed.

Thanks to that, although time was tight, I could proceed with the practice smoothly.

It was a moment when I could realize anew how useful the Method Mask was.

‘I’ve become able to handle the role of Jo Kyung-il to some extent. I wonder what evaluation I’ll receive in the level test?’

While I was lost in these thoughts,

I was able to get off at Hwajeon Station where W Acting Academy was located.

Since I started from Mangwon Station, Hwajeon Station wasn’t too far.

However, considering that most acting academies are gathered around Hongdae Station or Sinsa Station, the location was a bit unexpected.

‘It’s not too far from DMC Station where the broadcasting stations are, so it’s not completely out of place…’

Thinking this, I headed towards the building where W Acting Academy was located.

After walking for about 10 minutes, I could see a newly constructed building standing tall among somewhat shabby villas.

It wasn’t an enormous scale, but it looked perfectly suitable for an academy.

As I opened the automatic door and entered, someone who looked like a receptionist asked,

“How may I help you?”

“Hello. I’m here to register for the academy.”

“Ah, are you Lee Si-joon?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Would you come this way?”

The receptionist led me to a small room located behind the desk.

There, I filled out the registration documents as instructed beforehand.

Then I was guided to the audition room for the level test.

It was a room with a sign that read ‘Conference Room 3’.

Click.

As I entered Conference Room 3 following the receptionist, I saw one person with a familiar face and two people with unfamiliar faces sitting side by side.

It had exactly the atmosphere of an audition room.

The person with the familiar face spoke.

“Lee Si-joon?”

“Yes, hello. I’m Lee Si-joon.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Seo Myung-hee, the director of W Acting Academy. You’ve received the information about the level test, right?”

“Yes, I have.”

“Good. Then please start acting whenever you’re ready.”

* * *

A moment later.

Seo Myung-hee asked with a furrowed brow,

“Why did you register at this academy, Mr. Lee Si-joon?”