Life is Easier If You're Handsome novel Chapter 39

What makes acting awkward?

Why does acting become awkward?

There are several reasons for this.

It can be due to overly dramatic or insufficient emotional expression,

awkward delivery of lines, gestures, facial expressions, or breathing,

misinterpretation of the character, leading to actions that don’t fit the context,

or even being overly conscious of the camera, among other factors.

A combination of these elements can lead to the label of "awkward acting" for an actor.

So, what does it take to act well?

Only one thing:

'Perfect character interpretation.'

If you simply become the character you are playing, everything falls into place.

You’re no longer acting as a person;

you become that person, so you don’t even notice the camera,

and everything becomes natural, without crossing any lines.

Perfect mastery.

Everyone on set felt a strange disconnect watching Kim Dong-hoo.

He should have just been acting, like everyone else on set.

Yet here he was, alone, truly embodying the role of a cadet soldier, practically devouring the camera.

There was nothing to say other than to offer praise.

'Meeting actor Kim Dong-hoo was a stroke of luck for me.'

Director Kang genuinely believed that, and he wasn’t the only one who felt this way.

"How can you act like that?"

Han Tae-gun, still looking at Kim Dong-hoo with teary eyes, asked him sincerely.

"Honestly, I knew Kim Dong-hoo was amazing from the first time he acted, but this is just..."

The fact that Kim Dong-hoo was young didn’t affect how Han Tae-gun spoke to him.

In fact, he almost felt like calling him "teacher" or "mentor."

He had just witnessed the pinnacle of acting right before his eyes,

especially that single tear that fell at the end.

It captured the despair of dying without achieving anything,

the longing for a sister, and the misery of dying in war at a young age,

all condensed into that single tear.

It was impossible not to be in awe.

"...I can’t even find the words right now. I’ll talk to you more after we finish shooting."

With that, Han Tae-gun got up to remove his makeup.

'I can still grow.'

Han Tae-gun felt a sense of exhaustion about being called a top star.

Sure, he admitted he was fairly good-looking and competent at acting, but

was he really worthy of the title "top"? That was something he questioned.

Looks are relative,

but acting ability is absolute.

How should he handle these two things?

He had wrestled with and studied this question relentlessly.

Now, he had his answer.

'I just need to study someone who’s better-looking and a better actor than me.'

He stopped in his tracks and looked back at Kim Dong-hoo.

Watching him finally get up slowly, he thought,

'I will definitely learn.'

His passion ignited,

'...Why is he looking at me like that?'

Kim Dong-hoo felt overwhelmed by Han Tae-gun’s intense gaze.

+++++

After finishing the filming, where they shot the climax with the cadet soldiers and received enthusiastic applause,

I, being 15, was able to head straight to the van thanks to my minor status.

'...I still can’t believe it.'

Sitting there, I fiddled with my phone contacts.

Han Tae-gun, Go Chang-shik, Seo Myung-woo, Director Kang Sang-hoon—

the phone numbers of all these famous people were saved in my phone.

No matter how much I looked at it, it didn’t feel real.

"Dong-hoo, you really did a great job today."

No matter how many times I see it, you’re truly unbelievable.

As always, I awkwardly smiled at Seok-ho hyung’s compliment and thanked him,

and he handed me a file just as he had been waiting for that moment.

"Dong-hoo, you’re getting a ton of ad offers."

"What?"

But, isn’t High Dream the only thing that’s been publicly released?

Already getting ads just from that?

"Yeah, right. You must know that. I mean, a guy like you wouldn’t be clueless about it."

I reacted with surprise, which Seok-ho hyung seemed to misinterpret.

"Wait, hyung, what do you mean?"

"There’s a ton of low-end ads we’re turning down, honestly. We’re not exactly strapped for cash, are we?"

You can go as high as you want, Dong-hoo.

There’s no need to associate with lowballers.

Seok-ho hyung continued speaking as he smoothly drove the van.

"So, we’re passing on most of them, but a school uniform brand came through with an offer for an exclusive modeling contract."

The file was labeled Brilliant.

"They’re one of the weaker brands right now."

He added that in order, the brands were Premier, I Love Club, School Kingdom, and then Brilliant.

"But when you look at the terms, they’re incredible. The exclusive model contract alone..."

"...?!"

Hearing the contract fee almost made me gasp.

This is money that would be going directly into my bank account?

And that wasn’t even all.

"They’re also giving substantial sales incentives, and there’s no hard obligation for things like attendance fees. Plus, there’s a nice bonus for any additional shoots."

"Sounds like a great deal."

I tried to stay calm,

and Seok-ho hyung explained why he chose this ad.

"School uniform ads are a measure of popularity among teens, so I think it’ll be great for raising your profile."

We can do other ads any time, but

you only get to do a school uniform ad while you’re at this age.

"And with the short one-year contract period, it’s flexible if your rate changes."

If you’re okay with it, I think setting up a meeting is a good idea.

I nodded without hesitation.

"Sounds good to me."

So, if this goes well, my face will be on display at a school uniform store?

Just imagining it was a little embarrassing, but,

'My parents are going to be so shocked when I tell them.'

I felt a wave of happiness.

"Oh, and High Dream has an additional shoot scheduled. Looks like they’re making a lot of edits to the script. It’s pretty urgent."

"When is it?"

"Next Wednesday. Is that okay?"

"Yes."