Top Star by Luck

Chapter 81

[60-Second Acting]

A content where you perform impromptu acting for exactly 60 seconds.

Only a situation and a character are given, with no specific acting instructions at all.

The situation and character given to Lee Min Ki were as follows:

[A Studio Apartment/Living Alone]

It was a setting that couldn’t be any simpler.

The production team likely aimed at people in their 20s, who are the main audience of the Mitube variety show.

They probably didn’t have high expectations.

‘But it ended up being a huge hit.’

It was literally a massive success.

In the near future, it became customary for actors confident in their acting skills to appear on [60-Second Acting] for both promotion and acting skill verification.

So many actors participated that there were over 200 videos easily uploaded.

Lee Min Ki was a maniac who watched every episode of this show.

But do you know?

What an actor who wants to appear on such a show but can’t think while watching it?

‘If it were me, I’d try something like this.’

It was a simulation.

In Lee Min Ki’s case, he would think about how he would act in that given situation.

He practiced pathetically alone in front of a mirror, only to be caught by someone.

Although he never had the chance to use those polished skills, the situation was a bit different this time.

‘I can use everything. Without holding back!’

This acting session was no different.

The killer move Lee Min Ki prepared was exactly this:

“Wh-Who’s there?”

It was a delusion that anyone living alone would have at least once.

“I know you’re hiding there. Come out before I call the police!”

He imagined that there was a thief in the house.

Lee Min Ki tiptoed around the room, stealthily walking.

Sometimes, he stared at places where nothing could be seen, and other times, he waved his hand into empty space.

Producer Na saw that and had a shocked expression.

‘Is he searching the closet?’

Yes.

It was pantomime.

When it comes to impromptu acting, people often think of monologues, but in [60-Second Acting], pantomime played an important role.

It was because, in such a short time, you had to clearly imprint the situation on the audience.

“Don’t move. I’ve got a pretty good idea. You think I’m easy because I live alone? I’m a 9th-dan in Taekwondo and a 9th-dan in Hapkido. I even got a fully-paid vacation as a reward. You’re done for.”

Lee Min Ki continued to tiptoe around the empty room for a moment.

Then he opened an empty closet.

“…!”

He suddenly looked horrified, as if he had just seen a ghost, and collapsed right on the spot.

“…!! …!”

Without a word, he opened and closed his mouth while crawling across the floor with his arms, as if trying to escape.

Producer Na opened her mouth wide again in surprise.

‘There really was a thief hiding in the house.’

Exactly.

There really was a thief in the studio apartment.

What most would dismiss as delusional became a reality.

It was the moment when an impromptu act gained a storyline.

But it wasn’t over yet.

“Wh-why are you here, sis?”

The thief turned out to be someone he knew.

It was already ridiculous that there was actually a thief in the house, but even more absurd that the thief was someone he knew.

‘This is crazy. It’s so real.’

Producer Na burst out laughing.

This content, which was half a gamble, seemed like it might be a jackpot, filling her with excitement.

‘They said Lee Min Ki was good at acting, and he really is.’

It was nothing short of amazing.

She had met countless actors while working at the broadcasting station.

And she also realized that most of the work of those who were called talented came from the help of the directors.

Especially for rookies.

Even more so for actors who rose to fame in a short period.

But what about the scene unfolding in front of her now?

‘He’s carrying the entire scene by himself with no help at all? Lee Min Ki, are you really a genius?’

It was as if he was painting a vivid watercolor on a blank canvas.

“No, no? Me, cheating? With someone else? You think I would cheat on you, sis?”

This was driving her crazy.

The story took another step forward.

The thief, who he thought was a stranger, was someone he knew, and that person turned out to be his girlfriend.

On top of that, the actor portrayed the character as if it was his own fault.

‘Right, the girlfriend came here because she caught him cheating.’

It was absurd.

There was no realism in it.

But since it was a 60-second performance, it wasn’t the detailed nuances but the instant impact that mattered.

Lee Min Ki’s acting was perfectly suited to this content.

‘They said he was thorough in his preparation, but this can’t be explained by mere thoroughness. He could write scripts himself.’

Producer Na forgot to laugh, simply watching in awe.

Meanwhile.

Someone else was watching this unfold, feeling their blood dry up.

‘This crazy…’

That person was Kim Do Ha.

‘Did Lee Min Ki really prepare something like this?’

He was sweating profusely as he witnessed Lee Min Ki’s performance up close.

‘This isn’t just about good or bad acting.’

The entire concept was different.

Did JC E&M come up with this idea for him?

Did they put this much effort into just one interview?

No.

Kim Do Ha knew well that the company didn’t go that far.

Moreover, even the acting ability Lee Min Ki was showing made it impossible to deny reality.

All the assumptions in his head shattered like a classroom window hit by a soccer ball.

‘Method acting is supposed to be impossible for impromptu performances.’

Exactly.

If there was a weakness to Lee Min Ki’s method acting, it was that method acting is difficult in impromptu performances.

It takes a long time to become one with a character, to truly embody them.

That’s the huge downside of method acting.

There’s even a saying that method actors film half as many projects in their lifetime compared to classical actors.

‘Method acting can’t be done in a short time.’

Method acting involves aligning every detail, from mannerisms to breathing and blinking, with the character.

It’s almost impossible to achieve that in a short amount of time.

This is why method actors are rare in drama productions and often disregarded for the same reason.

In contrast, Kim Do Ha’s ‘classical acting’ was different.

He approached his roles from a thoroughly technical standpoint.

As long as the right situation was given, he could usually deliver a performance above average.

Because of that, he thought today would show a clear difference.

‘But what is this?’

The truth was as follows.

Lee Min Ki’s acting…

‘Good, there’s a reaction. Maybe I should twist my body a little more here.’

…wasn’t method acting from the start.

To pull off method acting, an actor must have absolute confidence in their character and performance.

They must believe that even if they ad-libbed on set, others would support it.

Without that confidence, method acting falters like a shaky bridge.

Arrogance that is close to overconfidence.

This is something that a mere extra couldn’t have.

‘There’s almost 60 seconds left. How should I wrap this up? A proposal? Or should I break the window and escape?’

Lee Min Ki was now calculating his next move.

He was calculating every possible scenario and placing himself like a chess piece in the scene.

In truth, Lee Min Ki was a classical actor down to his bones.

In [Cafe del Dia], he only calculated and acted out the emotions typical of method acting because it was required.

“…Sis, the chicken has arrived… Shall we talk while eating?”

That’s how Lee Min Ki’s performance ended.

He perfectly delivered the content suited to the [60-Second Acting] format, along with the acting skill to match.

“Awesome.”

“Wow, seriously.”

“That was crazy.”

Soon, applause erupted from the surprised staff in the studio.

“We’re not done filming yet.”

With Producer Na’s mediation, it was now Kim Do Ha’s turn.

And his performance was…

“Mom, I’m out of kimchi.”

A typical monologue performance.

It was a textbook example of a monologue that you could see anywhere.

It wasn’t suitable for [60-Second Acting], but more like an audition performance.

‘He’s good.’

He was good.

As expected of one of the top-paid young actors of this era, he was good.

But that was all.

“A scholarship? I know, I’ll take care of it. I’m your son.”

It wasn’t fresh.

“Okay, I’ll call you back tomorrow.”

Moreover, his acting wasn’t at a level that could overshadow Lee Min Ki’s.

Click.

Kim Do Ha closed his phone with a small, pathetic motion that hardly counted as pantomime, and muttered in a voice full of sighs.

“…I’m going crazy.”

He was, literally, going crazy.

As much as he hated sensationalism in acting, his performance wasn’t sensational at all.

* * *

By the time both the interview and the performances were over.

“Sir, I learned so much from you today!”

Lee Min Ki shouted loudly towards Kim Do Ha.

“As expected, seeing you in person is on a different level than on-screen.”

“…H-ha, I’m glad it was helpful.”

Kim Do Ha responded with a trembling voice.

It hadn’t even been an hour, yet Lee Min Ki was starting to feel burdensome.

It was obvious.

Though he wasn’t sure exactly what it was, he could feel an overwhelming pressure.

That, in turn, became a

small source of anxiety for Lee Min Ki.

‘Did I go too far?’

It’s best to be seen as a junior at a similar level, just a little below, so that the senior feels comfortable helping you.

But had he worked too hard?

He did intend to win, but he didn’t expect to actually win.

Since his opponent was the famous Kim Do Ha, he thought he had to give his all just to compete.

‘Maybe I overdid it.’

He thought he had done too well.

‘What if he starts avoiding me because I made him uncomfortable?’

Actually, that would be great.

…Except, not really.

He had approached Kim Do Ha hoping to get closer, maybe share a meal and gather some evidence.

But instead of getting closer, they were on the verge of not wanting to even make eye contact with each other.

Kim Do Ha felt the same way.

‘Ugh, it’s embarrassing to keep him close after this. But Kim Do Ha, since when did you care about that?’

He had come intending to bring Lee Min Ki into his circle, but things had turned out completely different.

It was instinctual.

‘I can tell just by looking. This guy hates messing around.’

How could one describe Lee Min Ki?

He was like a human sculpted in the shape of the word ‘diligence.’

Sometimes, you meet people like that in life.

‘The kind of guys who act like they’re the protagonist of a shonen manga.’

They are unreasonably positive and excessively passionate.

They can’t stand not being seen as pure.

And without realizing it, they make those around them feel dirty.

In Kim Do Ha’s eyes, Lee Min Ki was exactly that kind of person.

‘Annoying bastard. I bet if he saw an old lady struggling with a cart on a hill, he’d help out of pity.’

The ironic part was, Kim Do Ha was seen by the public as that very kind of person.

The difference between the two was one thing.

Whether the inside matched the outside, that was all.

‘Ugh, even if I try to recruit him, he probably won’t budge. What should I do?’

If he tried, Lee Min Ki would fall for it right away.

In fact, he was waiting for Kim Do Ha to say something.

But the one who prided himself on his sharp judgment was unaware and left struggling in confusion.

Ring-ring.

“Ah.”

Suddenly, a phone call came in.

‘Who the hell calls at a time like this?’

Kim Do Ha grumbled as he picked up the phone.

[Hey! I heard you went to film something with Lee Min Ki!]

The person on the other end was none other than…

Lee Heul.

[Let’s grab a drink.]