After Story 113

Senior, what do you mean by that all of a sudden? Manhunting?

You said RBS used an idol, and the response was good.

That I did, but are you going to look for an idol? You said this needs to sound heavy.

Im going to look for an actor instead. Im not completely sure yet, so just come here for a sec.

Jaehyun sat down at the desk and moved the mouse. The screensaver feature went away and the desktop appeared. He opened a browser.

Who are you going to look up?

Im going to play the fool and try trusting my daughter.

You mean Sinhye?

Jaehyun typed Han Maru into the search window. A profile with his photo and major career came up.

I havent seen him before. Hes an actor?

Sinhye told me that hes an acting genius.

An acting genius? Theres no way someone I havent seen before is an acting genius. If he was a real genius, Im sure he wouldve made it big already.

The broadcast industry doesnt always revolve around talent.

The junior brought a chair from the next desk over and sat down next to him.

Rather than that, youre quite doting on your daughter. Youre actually looking up someone your daughter recommended.

Im not doting. Its just a special case. You know my daughters personality, right?

Of course I do. She has such a high pride, that little one. I went over to your house once, and if I think about what happened when I tried playing hangman with her, it still makes my hair raise to this day. I think she was ten back then? She said she will do it until she wins, and geez.

Shes my daughter, but shes not quiet at all. Shes rough and stubborn and her pride reaches the skies. Shes someone who doesnt acknowledge and praise others easily, yet shes calling him a genius, so Im sure theres something about him.

The junior nodded.

Thats true. Im really envious of your family. You have a good relations.h.i.+p with your daughter. My daughter isnt even in middle school yet, but shes already hit p.u.b.erty and wont even talk to me. When she was young, she would cry whenever daddy wasnt there, but now its awkward to even eat together. Im not sure if I changed or she changed.

Treat her well. Its up to the parent. Or you can get divorced. Youll focus on your kid more and will treat her well.

Thats a scary thing youre saying there.

Jaehyun smiled and moved the mouse.

The grand prize at the Short Film Festival, huh? He had no idea how the film industry worked, so he didnt know what kind of great prize it was.

Do you know about the Short Film Festival?

Its a film festival with many named directors. I think its a pretty authoritative film festival in the film industry.

If he got the grand prize from a place like that, its not that much of a stretch to call him an acting genius, right?

No way, thats not right. Honestly, film festivals like that one are about preferences, arent they? It should be about artistic films rather than commercial ones. Ive looked at an art film that supposedly won a prize before, but I really didnt understand how it won. I dont think winning the grand prize there means that hes good at acting.

Are you sure you just didnt understand it because it was too profound?

Maybe. Thats why I dont like art films. I dont really get those things where they only care about each other. There are much cooler and more interesting movies in cinemas, so I dont really need to go out of my way to watch them.

Thats true for me too. Some Rambo action is definitely better than elegant movies.

Leaving aside his career, they had to listen to his voice. He then looked at the video search results.

He came out in The Witness?

The Witness?

You dont know about it? It was a drama that came out at the beginning of the year, and it had good reviews.

You had the time to watch something like that?

I watched it from time to time.

Jaehyun clicked on the video at the very top. The views were pretty high. He turned the volume up and played back the video. As soon as it started playing, the junior looked like he recognized it.

I know this scene. Its the scene where the criminal kills a crime investigator kid, and its terrific. Im sure the producer that shot this was called to the KCC.

Why?

Because its too cruel. The production is raw. Its a drama, but this scene felt like a movie. The people acting there werent the lead actors either, but their skills were really good.

Jaehyun focused on the video. The expressions on the actors were vicious to the point that it made him absorbed even without knowing what the story was about.

Its good, isnt it? the junior asked.

Yea, it was really well taken.

Jaehyun found out the investigator that died was played by Han Maru through the video description. It was rather fresh that a 22-year-old young actor created such immersion. It seemed that his daughter wasnt completely ungrounded when she said that he was an acting genius.

But the sound was all breathing, so I dont know if his voice will fit our narration or not. Even if hes good at acting, we cant really use him if his voice doesnt fit our video, can we?

Isnt there anything else?

Unfortunately, that was the only video that came up when he looked up Han Maru. He searched the drama by the t.i.tle, but most of the clips consisted of the lead actors, so Han Maru couldnt be seen.

Wait a sec. I think theres something on my phone.

The junior took out his phone.

Here it is. But hes a little jumpy. His voice itself is quite heavy, but the characters so jumpy that even his voice feels like its up in the air.

He received the juniors phone and watched the drama. He couldnt believe that the young actor was the same as the one dying just moments ago. He couldnt grasp what his normal tone would be like. According to his daughter, his voice was a pleasant deep one.

Should we just use a voice actor instead? Jaehyun asked, giving his junior back his phone.

He did look it up just in case, but he didnt want to gamble since he had prepared a long time for this doc.u.mentary. A heartfelt voice was the biggest priority; a young voice was only secondary.

As the doc.u.mentary pertained to the pains of the times, it would definitely be better if a young person did it, but he did not plan to be stubborn about it. Emotional and information transmission had to be prioritized.

In fact, I just got a hunch.

Hunch?

Its quite common for actors to do the narration. The voice of an actor with experience has a different tone from that of a voice actor too.

But this guys a rookie. He doesnt sound that suitable either.

That we just have to find out for ourselves. Since we came this far, why dont we get a sample at least? As you said, Sinhyes not an ordinary kid, is she? If she went as far as to talk to her dad about it, I dont think shes doing it as a joke.

Since when were you so knowledgeable about my daughter?

The junior waved his hand in the air in denial.

You know that sometimes you got better results by listening to my opinion when we had split opinions.

The problem is that it only happens once in ten times.

That once might be now. I think this fellows pretty good. This doc.u.mentary is supposed to be a challenge. Its like were going against the government too. So I think a young voice is crucial here. We also cant have someone too famous. This is supposed to be about youths in harsh environments, but if its someone doing too well, that would be too ironic.

Jaehyun looked at Han Maru inside the monitor. His eyes contained a strange mix of indifference and kindness.

As you say then. I guess we can at least receive a voice sample.

Since were doing it, lets get some from a few young actors. If they have learned acting properly, there shouldnt be a problem with p.r.o.nunciation and style.

Lets invest just one week then. If we cant find anyone, then we can just pick one of the voice actors from the list weve made.

I think we can go like that. Ill have the others contact some agencies. Oh, does this fellow have an agency too? the junior asked while pointing at the monitor.

Wait a sec.

Jaehyun scrolled down a little. Below his profile was his agency.

JA? He was a bigshot, huh?

If hes there, I guess I can make the call.

You?

He took his hand off the mouse and got his phone out. One of his few contacts in the broadcast industry was in JA.

While the signal beeps could be heard, his junior kept asking questions: who are you calling, is it an actor, is the person famous? And the like.

He found it noisy, so he pushed away the chair his junior was sitting on. The wheeled chair slid off.

Its not an actor, so dont cause so much of a fuss.

Then who is it?

Who else? Someone who works in JA.

Not long later, the person on the other side picked up.

Yes, head manager Choi. Is it okay for you to speak on the phone right now?

-Yes, producer. Im okay.

Its been a long time since we last called.

-Thats true. Has it been about a year? Whats up for you to call me at this time?

You have someone named Han Maru at JA, right?

-Yes, we do. I wonder why youre looking for actor Han.

Jaehyun nodded before speaking,

Were creating a doc.u.mentary, and we still have the dubbing left to do. I was thinking that we could use a young person instead of a veteran voice actor for it.

-Really? Wed love to have an opportunity. Your doc.u.mentaries are always a hot topic, arent they?

Theyre not that great. I was just lucky. Rather than that, how is he? I was wondering if I could listen to your a.s.sessment since you have great eyes, head manager Choi.

-My eyes arent that good. But dont you think our presidents eyes are trustworthy? Hes not someone who will raise a sapling that wont grow big in his own yard.

Looks like Ive asked something unnecessary. Can I get in contact with him? Id like to listen to his voice. Or we can send you a script and you can send back a sample.

-If its like that, could you wait a second? Since youve contacted us directly, producer, we cant make you wait.

We can wait however long it takes. Most of the stuff at the station consists of waiting.

-Youll soon get a call back to you.

You can take your time.

He put his phone down.

Unlike the way he spoke, head manager Choi was rather cautious and meticulous in the way he did work. That was probably why JAs CEO had him close by.

According to some rumors, Taeyang Corp tried to recruit head manager Choi as the head of their directing team, and apparently, he flatly refused.

It meant that he chose JA, nay, Lee Junmin over Taeyang Corp.

Did they say theyll call us back? His junior asked.

They did tell me to wait just a moment.

As soon as he said those words, his phone started ringing. It was a number he didnt know. He received the call just in case.

h.e.l.lo?

-Excuse me, but is this producer Nam Jaehyuns phone number?

Yes. Youre speaking to him.

-h.e.l.lo. I called you after head manager Choi reached out to me. Im Han Maru.

Oh, Mr. Maru. I didnt know youd call so quickly.

-The company motto is that were to s.n.a.t.c.h work that comes our way as soon as possible.

There are mottos like that?

-I was surprised when I first visited as well. It was actually there.

Jaehyun tapped on the desk while listening to Marus voice. It was hard to judge based on the phone call alone. Although phone call quality had supposedly increased a lot, there was still a lot of minute noise.

Have you heard the explanation?

-Yes.

I dont think I can give you a concrete answer based on our phone call alone. Do you have a voice recorder at home? Or you can ask your agency to borrow a recording room for you.

-Recording is fine, but should I just go visit the TV station instead?

Thatll make things easier for me.

-If you could allow me, Id like to go to the dubbing room and work with the video itself.

Oh? Jaehyun liked his att.i.tude at least.

There was no reason to refuse when he said he would be coming. Jaehyun asked when it would be okay. Maru responded right away,

-I can go right now.

That was a refres.h.i.+ng answer.