[Limelight] An Audition Where Dreams Grow, When Acting Becomes Life...

by Lee Jonggil

Published 23 Apr.2020 13:01(KST)

Updated 23 Apr.2020 13:02(KST)

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Kakao M Newcomer Audition Passers' 7 Unique Impressions and Aspirations

E&T Story Actor Shin Hyun-seung

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jong-gil] Street casting actors are now a thing of the past. You must pass auditions with meticulous preparation. The competition rate keeps rising. Acting majors, office workers, and even preschool children dream of becoming stars.

About 5,000 applicants flocked to the 'Kakao M Actors Audition' that ended last January. It was the result of full support promised by major domestic agencies such as BH Entertainment (Lee Byung-hun), Awesome ENT (Park Seo-joon), ENT Story (Kim So-hyun), Management Soop (Gong Yoo), J-Wide Company (Kim Tae-ri), and King Kong by Starship (Lee Dong-wook).

The seven promising talents who passed through a competition rate of 700 to 1 were Park So-myeong (23), Shin Hyun-seung (22), Ahn Soo-min (28), Lee Seung-heon (22), Joo Jong-hyuk (29), Cha Jeong-hyun (18), and Cha Seok-ho (17). They do not expect immediate Cinderella syndrome-like popularity. Their only mindset is to survive somehow in the fierce survival competition jungle called the entertainment industry.

- What kind of acting did you perform in the four rounds of auditions?

Cha Seok-ho: A scene where I was trembling with fear. When I practiced alone, it didn’t go as I intended. But when facing the judges, I naturally felt fear. It greatly helped my acting (laughs).

Ahn Soo-min: I expressed the lines of the virgin ghost (Kim Seul-gi) from the drama 'Oh My Ghost' in both standard Korean and Gyeongsang-do dialect. I think adding variations to the original lines earned me good scores. The separately prepared English and Chinese acting also seemed to help.

Shin Hyun-seung: I tried to express familiar acting better. I also polished the sword-fighting action I learned briefly. I entered the audition hall with a solemn heart, but the ceiling was low. One judge said, "I’ll assume you’re good at swordsmanship," so I didn’t even draw the sword (laughs). In the improvisation, I delivered the lines as entertainingly as possible. I could have gotten angry or shouted, but I maintained a bright and comfortable tone of voice.

J-Wide Company Actor Park So-myeong

Joo Jong-hyuk: I acted out a confession of a man who wants to become a singer from the movie 'Delta Boys,' adapting it to my situation. The desperate feelings of the role were similar, so the sincerity was well conveyed.

Lee Seung-heon: In free acting, I expressed the dark feeling I am most confident in. In improvisation, I showed the opposite bright energy. It was a confession line. I expressed various emotions with a shy tone, nervous voice, and flushed face.

Park So-myeong: I deliberately chose lines from works I hadn’t watched and practiced them. I wanted to express them in my own way.

Cha Jeong-hyun: I memorized lines from dramas I enjoyed and analyzed each emotion. I thought a lot about how to convey each line’s feeling. I tried my best to show the situation the character was in.

BH Entertainment actor Joo Jong-hyuk

- Many major domestic agencies participated in the audition. Was there anything special?

Joo Jong-hyuk: It was a place to select actors, not just suitable roles. I showed myself as I am. It was a time to be honest with myself.

Cha Seok-ho: Right. It felt like a place to show the one and only 'me' in this world without any embellishment.

Lee Seung-heon: It was my first agency audition. Instead of ordering me to act suitable for a role, they asked a lot about me. The atmosphere was so friendly that jokes were exchanged. There was no time to feel burdened.

Ahn Soo-min: I also liked the warm atmosphere. From the staff who greeted me at the entrance to the encouraging looks they gave, even if I had failed, it would have remained a good memory.

E&T Story Actor An Su-min

Park So-myeong: I felt special that I could introduce myself in front of representatives from six companies.

Cha Jeong-hyun: Me too. It was a good opportunity to let several agencies know me. The audition was exciting. I was secretly curious about which company the questioning judges belonged to.

Shin Hyun-seung: It was my first audition ever. Except for university entrance exams, it was the first time I was judged by others. Everything was fascinating, so I entered every time with a smile. It wasn’t an attempt to look good. I was so excited and happy that I couldn’t control my expression (laughs).

- What do you think was the reason you passed the audition?

Cha Seok-ho: Acting without special packaging. There were many applicants. I thought the judges might be tired, so I immediately expressed whatever they asked. I couldn’t help but show my true self.

Joo Jong-hyuk: I also think unembellished expression was effective.

Lee Seung-heon: I agree. Showing yourself as you are is important.

King Kong by Starship Actor Cha Seok-ho

Ahn Soo-min: Confidence. Even if you think you are perfectly prepared, variables inevitably arise in real situations. Especially in auditions, you get anxious or try to read the judges’ reactions from a single word. I steadied my nerves to avoid being shaken.

Cha Jeong-hyun: Same thought. I prepared hard to show a confident appearance.

Shin Hyun-seung: I think I was lucky. I still have a lot to learn. But I believe you have to take bold challenges to have luck follow. When an opportunity arises, it’s important not to hesitate and to be courageous.

Park So-myeong: I was the white puppy holding a flower. Who wouldn’t like a white puppy coming toward you holding a flower from afar? (laughs)

King Kong by Starship Actor Lee Seungheon

- What were you doing before participating in the audition?

Park So-myeong: I worked as a guide at department stores and model houses. I also sold cosmetics. Even though I was pushed around and it was tough, I worked hard thinking about the day I would act. While being faithful to the reality before my eyes, I never forgot the invisible dream.

Joo Jong-hyuk: I appeared in many independent films. I earned living expenses by working part-time at a cafe. The future was uncertain, but it was a valuable time. I believe it will be the driving force to move forward.

Cha Jeong-hyun: I think there is no job with a guaranteed future. Imagining and dreaming about the future is free. I wanted to envision a happy future. That’s why I insisted on being an actor since I was young.

Shin Hyun-seung: I’m similar. I thought acting suited me well, so I prepared hard. I leave the difficulties of an uncertain future to my future self. For now, I want to grasp the happiness in front of me.

Awesome ENT actor Cha Jeong-hyun

Ahn Soo-min: I worked as a freelance announcer for three years. I enjoyed broadcasting activities, but each time I wanted to achieve something beyond being a host. So I set the goal of becoming an actor and am running like a marathon.

Cha Seok-ho: I was an ordinary student. I was overweight and had many complexes about my appearance. While walking uphill, I suddenly wondered how slim friends felt walking. So I started dieting and lost 20 kg. I want to experience the sense of accomplishment I tasted then again as an actor.

Lee Seung-heon: I am majoring in acting at university. I believed that if I practiced hard, the day I achieve my dream would come someday.

- You must have high expectations for the agency you signed with.

Joo Jong-hyuk: There are many actors I respect at BH Entertainment. I never imagined I would be under the same roof. It’s a systematic system but also feels like family. I want to work hard to meet their expectations.

Lee Seung-heon: King Kong by Starship also has many actors active in various fields. I want to learn various know-how. Everyone pays a lot of attention. I think I can adapt quickly.

J-Wide Company Actor Park So-myeong

Cha Seok-ho: I agree as a family member. The practice environment is also good. I want to spend meaningful time.

Park So-myeong: J-Wide Company is a reliable supporter with excellent insight and a warm heart. I am confident they will make my charm and strengths shine. I want to communicate smoothly and create synergy.

Cha Jeong-hyun: Awesome ENT often has meal gatherings for exchange. Each time, they listen carefully to my opinions. I believe they will lead me on the right path.

Shin Hyun-seung: ENT Story also takes care of everything meticulously. They always surround me, who has many shortcomings, with warm advice and support. I think they will help me become a good person beyond being an actor.

Ahn Soo-min: I share the same thought as my agency colleagues. They share plans and constantly coordinate, which I like. They instill confidence that I can do well in any task.

King Kong by Starship Actor Lee Seungheon

- You will appear in movies, dramas, and digital short-form content planned by Kakao M...

Park So-myeong: I need to broaden my acting range. Regardless of the work, I will do my best moment by moment. I will also pay a lot of attention to communicating with the public.

Shin Hyun-seung: I want to gain various experiences in movies and dramas. It won’t be easy, but I will enjoy and accomplish it.

Joo Jong-hyuk: I want to become an actor who elevates Korea’s status in the world. I’m happy just to have the opportunity to act, but I want to dream big. I even imagine entering Hollywood in the U.S. (laughs)

Ahn Soo-min: I have a relatively diverse range of images and voice tones I can express. People hardly recognize me if I just change my outfit a little. I want to act in various roles accordingly. I especially have a desire for action. I learned kickboxing for about a year. I want to work hard and enhance the value of this audition.