[03-03-10, 12:58] <Method Acting> Group 1 Script
[03-03-12, 20:42] <Method Acting> Group 1 Casting
Professor Lee Jae Pil checked the two emails that had arrived in his inbox.
The students this semester were exceptionally passionate, especially those from Group 1. Having formed their group the fastest, they submitted their script and casting results earlier than any other group.
Click—
He first opened the script email that had arrived two days earlier.
It was sent by that kid named Shin Yoomyeong, whose name had unintentionally engraved itself in Jae Pil’s mind.
The content was succinct.
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[We have completed Group 1’s script and are sending it to you. If there are any changes during rehearsals, we will send it again.]
[Attached File: Group 1_Love of His Life.hwp]
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The mouse pointer hovered over the attached file. He barely restrained the urge to press down with his forefinger.
As a critic, Lee Jae Pil had an ironclad rule.
— Do not read the script or the original work before seeing the performance.
The reason most fans who read the original novel before watching a movie or drama end up disappointed is due to preconceived notions. The conflict between the character imagined in their head and the actual portrayal reduces enjoyment.
While this might be slightly less of an issue with a script, for experts like Jae Pil, it becomes even more pronounced.
This was because his ideas about the most suitable actors, performances, and direction for the roles in the script would instantly emerge from his mental database.
‘I’m really curious about this group’s script.’
Suppressing his curiosity, Jae Pil hit the backspace key and opened the casting email instead.
The person who had sent the email was unexpected. It was neither the proposer, Shin Yoomyeong, nor ‘that’ Seo Ryu Shin, but a student named Lee Pil Sung from the class of ’99.
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[Hello, Professor!
This is Lee Pil Sung, majoring in Film and Theater, class of ’99. I will be directing Group 1, so I will be in contact with you from now on. Here are our finalized casting results and roles for the group members!
– Freddie Mercury: Shin Yoomyeong.
– Mary Austin: Seo Ryu Shin.
– Jim Hutton: Ban Hye Seon.
– Director: Lee Pil Sung.
– Sound & Narration: Kang Kyu Min.
– Costume & Props: Han Seo Won.
– Script: Shin Yoomyeong.]
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‘Hmm?’
Jae Pil thought there must have been a mistake.
He clicked reply and sent a brief response.
[The ‘Born Different’ limitation applies only to the main characters. Please check and send it again.]
They must have been online, because a reply quickly came back.
[We are aware! But the supporting characters also said they wanted to try it out. We’ll do our best!]
Jae Pil frowned.
When things were set up like this, they tended to turn into a comedy. But he couldn’t stop them when they were this enthusiastic....
Moreover, the lead was a second-year business student.
‘What on earth are they trying to create....?’
These days, the business school was buzzing about a certain trending individual.
“Wow. I just saw someone I’ve never seen in this building before.”
“Ah, that person. He’s a senior from the business department.”
“What? That stylish guy is from our department? It’s my first time seeing him.”
“Yeah, that seems to be the case. He served in the military for two years and came back this semester. But do you know the bigger news?”
“What, what is it?”
“Apparently, he used to be just an ordinary freshman. He changed in two years.”
“Really? Did he develop that sense of style in the military? What, did he serve in some fashion unit or something?”
As the two female students grew more excited, a nearby male student chimed in.
“Isn’t that a bit much?”
“What are you saying now?”
“Even Hyun Wook or Chun Hee is more handsome than that senior.”
“We’re not talking about his face, but his style. Style! Has there ever been a guy in our business department who dresses like that?”
“Even his face is a hundred times better than yours.”
Faced with a joint attack from the female students, the male student raised both hands in surrender.
The lunch group’s eyes widened when they saw him.
As they were seniors and didn’t share classes with Yoomyeong, this was their first time seeing his changed appearance.
“Wow, Shin Yoomyeong, what... what have you done?”
Direct and straightforward, Shinhee immediately voiced her curiosity, and Bora’s face turned red as she blankly stared at Yoomyeong.
Sang Jin, who had been subtly interested in Bora, felt displeased.
“Aren’t your clothes too flashy? They don’t really suit you.”
“Hey, Oh Sang Jin. Are you jealous? It suits him perfectly.”
“Yoomyeong... you look really good!”
Bora shyly complimented him, and Sang Jin’s expression soured even more.
“Don’t you know men’s fashion? That style isn’t trendy right now, and the pattern is too flashy. Would an ordinary person, not a celebrity, usually wear something like that? It’s unmasculine...”
Yoomyeong spoke quietly.
“A stylist who worked for WARM picked this out for me...”
“What? How do you know someone like that? Can you also....”
As Sang Jin immediately changed his tone to ask for a favor, the female students looked at him in disbelief, and Yoomyeong quietly ignored him.
Annoyed, Sang Jin abruptly stood up, but Bora and Shinhee didn’t even flinch.
“We agreed to eat quickly and work on our assignments, didn’t we~”
“We’ll manage on our own, so you can go ahead.”
“Yoomyeong, that color really suits you.”
Seeing that the female students were no longer paying him any attention and were only looking at Yoomyeong, Sang Jin gritted his teeth.
‘Just wait until this week’s MT...!’
The old, dilapidated station was so packed with university students heading to the MT that there was barely room to step.
‘Wow, this was before Cheongnyangni Station was renovated.’
Yoomyeong was there as well.
Once the Changcheon casting was over next week, there would be no free evenings or weekends until the performance.
He had been considering what to do on his last free day when Sang Jin contacted him and begged him to join the MT.
‘I’m not sure why he’s suddenly acting friendly. Does he have some hidden motive...?’
It wouldn’t be bad to enjoy his youth for a change. Yoomyeong decided to return to college life for two days and recharge.
“Ah! That looks like senior Yoomyeong.”
“Yoomyeong~ over here, over here!”
The business students gathered in a corner of the station turned their gaze toward Yoomyeong, who was walking over from the other side.
Today, Yoomyeong was wearing comfortable slacks and a white shirt under sky-blue knitwear. The sight of a handsome man with a strong spring vibe walking toward them made it impossible for the female students to look away.
And Sang Jin couldn’t take his eyes off those female students.
“Alright, those who have arrived, let’s move to the platform. We won’t wait for the latecomers~”
With a loud voice that drew attention away from Yoomyeong, Sang Jin started leading the group, and Yoomyeong followed at the back.
.
.
A pension in Daeseong ri.
After amicably sharing well-cooked rice and grilled meat, Yoomyeong had become quite friendly with the people from the department.
After dinner, it was recreation time.
They were divided into several groups, and light warm-up games began.
“Kung-kung Ddari kung-kung Dda~”
“Bunny Bunny, Bunny Bunny! Carrot, carrot!”
The noise that quieted the lively crowd was the sound of a ladle striking a pot.
At the sound, everyone grimaced and looked ahead, where Sang Jin, who was hosting the MT, was standing.
“Hello~”
“Hello!”
The students responded with a loud greeting.
“Oh, the ’03 class is so energetic. So lively!”
“Class of ’03!”
“Yes. In a bit, there will be drinking games divided by group, and it wouldn’t be fun if everyone just drank regular alcohol and ate regular side dishes, right? So, we’ve prepared a business~ talent show~ with prizes up for grabs.”
“Woaaaah!”
Yoomyeong watched the spectacle from a third-person perspective. Given his mental age of 38, it was natural for this culture to feel unfamiliar to him.
“Now, we will draw the talent show missions at random. Du-du Du-du Du-du—”
The sound of the students drumming on the floor filled the room.
“Now, Group 1, male students will dance following the choreography of BoA’s No.1!”
“Oh no~ our eyes will rot!”
“Group 2... let’s see, human pyramid!”
“Wow! We’re going to die!”
“Group 3... the ‘Oldest Student’ will dress up as a girl and do a fashion show!”
At that, all the group members turned their gaze toward Yoomyeong. Only then did Yoomyeong, who had been blankly watching the spectacle, realize.
“Eh...? Me?”
In fact, the note he was holding said ‘Everyone dance to Crayon Shin-chan.’ Originally, Group 4 had been selected for the drag fashion show. However, Sang Jin changed the content and announced it, even adding the nonexistent ‘Oldest Student’ option.
It was clear that he was targeting Yoomyeong.
‘That guy is such a dork. He’s still out of fashion, and his face is just plain. If he dresses up in weird clothes and puts on makeup, everyone will turn away from the new Yoomyeong, hehe.’
However, Yoomyeong, whom he thought would be flustered, stood up from his seat and boldly spoke with a sly grin.
“The oldest students should make fools of themselves to liven up the mood~ I want to share this joy with my beloved classmate Sang Jin!”
Whoaaa—
The atmosphere soared at Yoomyeong’s bold comment, showing his willingness to make a fool of himself together with Sang Jin without backing down.
“But there is only one set of women’s clothes we’ve prepared...”
“We’ll share. The ladies will sponsor whatever we lack, right?”
“Yes!”
In the end, it was decided that Sang Jin would also participate, and soon the 30-minute talent show preparation time began.
“Hey, why are you using a water ghost strategy!”
“Hey, you’re the one who ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) included the drag show to liven up the atmosphere. Don’t you see how well it’s working now? Think of it as a sacrifice for the juniors~”
Seeing Yoomyeong pat his shoulder and walk away, Sang Jin was at a loss for words.
‘Was his personality always like this...?’
“Hey, I’m tall and big, I can’t wear stuff like this!”
The prepared outfit consisted of a sparkly miniskirt and a sleeveless top with straps. It seemed to be prepared in a large size, but it still looked too much for Sang Jin to wear. Yoomyeong picked up the clothes.
“Then I’ll wear this. The girls will help you.”
“Hey! There are no clothes that fit me—”
Before he could finish, Sang Jin was dragged away by the girls and taken into the girls’ room.
Yoomyeong also moved to another room with a few girls who were going to help him.
“Wow. Why is your skin so good, brother?”
A second-year female student marveled at his fair skin without a single visible pore.
Yoomyeong recalled what Miho had said.
— Your good skin is also due to your lack of vitality. In teenagers, overflowing energy and heat erupt as acne, but you had so little vitality that it was surprising you were even alive, tsk tsk.
‘There was at least one good thing about lacking vitality...’
The female student dabbed powder on his face, saying there was no need for skin correction. The way she drew his eyebrows in a curved shape and applied thick mascara to his eyelashes was professional.
“Wow. You’re really beautiful, brother...”
After finishing the makeup and putting on a wig, the female student was at a loss for words as she stared at Yoomyeong. His face, which had a simple and fresh feeling like a watercolor painting, transformed into a glamorous look like that of another person after makeup.
“Would you like to step out while I change?”
At Yoomyeong’s request, the female students, their faces turning red, stepped outside the room. Sounds of excitement like “This is amazing—” or “I’m going to faint when he comes out—” could be heard from outside the door.
He didn’t feel awkward.
He had 15 years of acting experience. There was no way he didn’t have any cross-dressing experience.
‘If I’m going to do it, I might as well do it properly.’
Yoomyeong slowly undressed and picked up the distasteful clothes.
“Wow~”
The second-year student who had taken over as MC instead of Sang Jin announced the start of the fashion show as upbeat music played in the background.
The sound of applause mixed with the pounding beat.
“First, the king of the business department! A very manly man, but afraid of the military! The man who said he turned into a woman because of that, Oh~Sang~Jin~”
Hahahaha!
The students burst into laughter at the MC’s humorous introduction.
Listening to the introduction from behind the door, Sang Jin felt his insides boil. However, if he lost his temper here, he would just look like a bitter senior in their eyes.
Stagger—
Hahahaha!
Everyone collapsed in laughter as they saw Sang Jin walk out awkwardly.
A large female student had lent him a hooded tee and a flare skirt. The clothes themselves were ordinary, but they looked extremely awkward when paired with Sang Jin’s thick thighs and tightly muscled calves.
“Bro, oh bro~ hehehe.”
The short yellow wig, sponsored by the sticker photo booth in front of the school, reminded people of Hulk Hogan because of Sang Jin’s build. His face was smeared with red blush, lipstick, and blue eyeshadow.
The students rolled around clutching their stomachs. The reaction was incomparable to the previous groups.
Sang Jin gritted his teeth and, after barely making one round on the runway set up in a circle through the crowd, nervously tore off his yellow wig.
Whew, whew—
Ragged breaths escaped him.
Sang Jin managed to suppress his anger, looking forward to Yoomyeong’s turn.
‘I’m naturally good-looking, so it’s fine. Now everyone will see just how pathetic Shin Yoomyeong is.’
As soon as his turn ended, the MC raised his voice again.
“There’s never been a twist like this before! This time, the twist is cross-dressing?! The man who is the hot topic these days, Shin~Yoo~myeong~”
The door to the other room slowly opened.
