Lord Of Dying Smoke - Chapter 181



Only Noblemtl

The King of Dying Smoke Episode 181

Bloody Audition (7)

The atmosphere of the second audition was different from the first in many ways.

First, there were judges’ seats overlooking the stage, and on the other side were the audience seats.

The audience who won the fierce ticket battle cheered every time they were photographed by the camera. Some openly waved national flags or flags with faces on them, showing that there were people there to cheer them on.

And, the host was also slowly getting a sense of how to handle this unprecedented audition show.

-Honestly, there has never been an open actor audition before! I didn’t even think about trying it! That’s because it wouldn’t be fun for anyone to see!

-Didn’t all of you gathered here think that too? Grown adults are on the phone saying, “Oh, honey…” .” I mean, who wants to see this with red eyes! Old President William S. Paley must have done the same when he heard about the plan. “Oh, that sucks. “Never do that.” “Rather than that, play one more denture advertisement.”

A faint laugh broke out.

The host waited until the laughter stopped and then turned his head in an exaggerated manner.

“But here, a master planner who surpassed Old Man Paley, a famous actor who made high-ranking people in Hollywood pull their hair out, and above all, a man who made Santa Clauses across the country sigh and put Richard I, carrying an anti-tank rocket, in their bundle. There is! Introducing Min Kang!”

A light laugh quickly turned into a huge roar.

When Kang Min, who was sitting at the judges’ table, greeted me absent-mindedly, it almost became a scream. In particular, those who came with cheering flags were almost jumping up and down and yelling.

Kangmin, who barely managed to straighten his crumpled expression, spoke softly to Penelope next to him.

“Wasn’t it like this in the first round?”

“I guess that’s how big the board has become. As a result, the dignity of the person who started the planning would have also increased.”

“Even so, there’s no need to write such a terrible introduction, right?”

“What should I do? “Everyone likes it.”

“… I hope that Director Penelope receives an introduction that everyone will like.”

Eventually, the host caused even more frenzy by telling the audience that 150 ‘anti-tank rocket Richards’ would be given away through a lottery.

The plan was that it would be popular as a gift for children and nephews as Christmas approaches, but somehow the people who cheered the loudest were those with bushy beards.

To be honest, Kangmin had no idea what the stinger missile had hit them with.

Penelope, whose expression was crumpled, whispered in her introduction – “The returned fairy?”

“Anyway, it’s a figure, but the atmosphere is going crazier than I thought. “You’d better be careful.”

“What the fairy said is right.”

“… Are you really going to come off as childish as that?”

The joke didn’t last long.

This was because the people holding the national flag could already be seen fighting in the audience.

Audience members holding flags of Greece, Turkmenistan, India, Pakistan, etc. secretly glanced disapprovingly at each other, while their Southeast Asian neighbors turned their backs and were gossiping openly.

I jokingly compared them to hooligans, but at this point, there really was no difference. Penelope’s expression became serious.

Due to its popularity, increasing the number of spectators to 1,500 seats may have been a hasty decision… .

‘It seems like they are slowly realizing the situation.’

The WMA director, who was in the audience with his arms crossed, chuckled.

‘But it’s already too late.’

After much consideration, the high-ranking officials of WMA decided that the benefits CAE would gain through , that is, the damage they would suffer, were too great to ignore. Now that expansion within the United States has run out, it was natural that falling behind in terms of reputation abroad would mean falling to second place.

The higher-ups agreed to the conclusion that the current situation is one in which all efforts must be made to overturn the plan beyond checks.

Director Dusk’s somewhat lax plan was sharpened, and the level of buy-in that attracted critics and influencers extended not only to real celebrities but also to the internal production team of .

They will open fire simultaneously the moment even the smallest explosion explodes. It was as if preparations had been made to collapse the entire building in an instant.

Even the small explosion that would act as a trigger was planned to be created ‘artificially’.

‘All you have to do is create trouble somehow. Even if it sounds ridiculous, the moment it catches fire, the atmosphere changes.’

The corners of his mouth turned up sinisterly.

All plans were working perfectly.

* * *

Naturally, the actors who participated in the audition were not unaware of the strange uneasiness in the audience.

It was often said that it would not be a good idea to choose a script as intense as the first one.

But, well, it was just a story.

They really had no choice.

“We need to act in a more unconventional way than in the first round!”

“Well, in the current situation, that might be a bit…” .”

“This is especially true given the current situation!”

One participant spoke passionately.

“What is the reason why the project of auditioning actors has not spread so far? Because it’s basically static and uninteresting! “If the conflict in the script itself isn’t clear and easy to reveal, no one in the audience will recognize your acting skills!”

“You are right… .”

“First of all, the script itself must be enjoyable to read. Unless it’s a story that can grab the audience’s attention at a glance—”

“There is no way.”

Everyone sighed at the same time.

Going on stage and singing is different from acting.

Compared to singing, acting is much more static, ambiguous, and above all, unexpected. No one will be able to sympathize with you if you suddenly play the role of someone who has suffered a tragic heartbreak without any build-up.

The public quickly gets bored with something that isn’t flashy.

Of course, it was the judges, not the audience, who passed them, and they would be able to capture the standard even in static acting.

However, the recent tremendous support was weighing on their shoulders.

“If you pass the exam with acting that the audience cannot sympathize with, it will definitely make a statement.”

“At least, I’m scared of my home country’s reaction… .”

“… “The same thing happens.”

After much deliberation, most of the participants chose a script with much sharper content than the first round.

A life-threatening confrontation between the criminal and the detective.

A murder follows an argument during divorce proceedings.

Then, there was an incident that resulted in suicide after a fight within the military.

Most of them involved intense nervous warfare or action, and were the kind that gave wings to WMA’s plans rather than blocking them.

As soon as Penelope received the application list, her expression became even more worried.

“The problem is, these are scripts that seem impossible not to explode… .”

She noticed and asked Kangmin in a whisper.

“Is it really okay to just stay still?”

“We will do well in the spring.”

“… You seem to be very friendly. “I believe that.”

“sure.”

Kangmin smiled.

“He has a bit of an impatient personality, but he’s also intelligent and deep-thinking.”

“… Do you know what pathetic parents say? “I will never be that kind of mother.”

“yes?”

“I just tried some nonsense.”

Penelope sighed but decided to trust Kang-min, who was boasting.

It’s always been like that.

“It’s Seo Bom’s turn… .”

“It’s the ninth time.”

“Luckily it’s fast.”

At that level, I didn’t think I needed to use any extra effort.

Penelope was relieved for now.

But that feeling of relief disappeared without a trace as soon as the first stage started.

“This is Rawi Thanat from Thailand!”

“This is Le Huyen Linh from Vietnam!”

The two who showed strong performances in the first round were selected as the first batters this time. Cheers erupted from the audience.

However, the two actors’ faces showed signs of nervousness.

Apart from the cheering, the native language that only the two of them could understand was spoken everywhere.

-Give me a black bowl like Tannat!

-Don’t lose to that despicable Huyenlin guy!

“… … .”

“… “Umm.”

The script the two chose was one in which a detective and a criminal confront each other and discuss the truth of the case. The two had agreed to earn points through suspense-style acting that emphasizes the tension hidden in words and actions.

However, the audience, who were already fascinated by all of WMA’s work, was not satisfied with such lukewarm acting.

-What are you doing, Huyenlin! Why don’t you punch me!

-Tanat, are you scared?! What is it!

The commotion was calmed down by the surprised staff, but there was no way the planned postponement would be possible under these circumstances.

The two engaged in a useless fight, almost as if they were being pushed around.

And, the audience cheered.

-Tanat’s victory!

-What nonsense! Huyen Lin had the upper hand!

The production crew moved quickly, and those who were fighting did not listen to attempts to stop them, so they were politely ejected.

But at this point, we couldn’t just pass it off as the barbarism of some ‘hooligans’.

The participants who were watching this scene immediately began to whisper uneasily.

“The atmosphere… .”

“It wasn’t the kind of acting that was pushed around like that… .”

Of course, an embarrassed tone came from the judges’ seats, but that couldn’t ruin the heated atmosphere.

In the end, a few of the judges cleared their throats and gave their usual compliments.

“It was a great performance.”

“It was more powerful than last time.”

“thank you!!”

“thank you!!”

It was a no-brainer.

Although it was unreasonable, Penelope felt a bit ominous about this decision.

That premonition was right.

In fact, the next contestant’s performance immediately led to boos from the audience.

-Oooooh!

-What is that!

-do it properly!

‘no… ! This is not… !’

Looking at the stiff actors on stage, Penelope finally fully grasped the situation.

At this point, it wasn’t just a reaction to waiting for something hot. Some more detailed and direct manipulation was taking place.

The judges hastily exchanged glances.

“How did you select the audience? Could it be that a trick came in?”

“It won’t be possible because it’s all a lottery. However, there may be a few wind catchers… .”

“There’s no way a few windbreakers would get that kind of reaction!”

“That’s enough, as unfounded rumors have been spreading recently. “We were complacent.”

“What should I do? Should we stop filming for a moment?”

“How can you come all the way here? “Nonsense!”

“Isn’t the atmosphere itself normal right now!”

While the actors went back to the waiting room for a while, the staff tried to calm the audience down, but it was not easy.

It seemed clear that some breath had touched it.

And, it was far beyond what the production team had prepared for in advance.

‘A person named Seo Bom is the ninth?’

Penelope bit her lip.

‘If this continues, trouble will erupt before we even get to the ninth!’

Naturally, the person in charge of WMA was smiling leisurely.

It’s already too late to panic about the audience’s reaction.

The WMA was already preparing to bomb simultaneously the moment the order was given.

‘< An audition centered on violence and stimulation, which ultimately leads to an accident… A title like “Isn’t CBC responsible?” would be a good title. 'If that's the case, public opinion will change in an instant!'

Penelope also bit her lip.

'No matter what happens, once it happens in front of the audience, it can never be resolved! 'We have to stop filming first!'

But, well, it was unreasonable to stop filming just because there was no clear evidence and the audience's reaction was a bit uneasy.

At least Penelope insisted that filming stop, and CEO Jaylen, who highly values ​​his nephew's 'eyes', agreed.

And, those two were the end.

“Isn’t that a bit of an overreaction?”

“Nothing has happened yet. Just quitting because you have a bad feeling… .”

“As a director of a broadcasting station, I have no choice but to oppose it.”

“For me too… .”

Penelope was going crazy and jumping around, but there was no way around it.

Originally, this broadcast was a CBC project, and was created and managed by the CBC production team. Even if you express your opinion, if the other side doesn't listen, it's okay.

Of course, they didn't know that things were going strange, but it was even more terrible to ruin a popular broadcast.

Naturally, an argument could not help but arise.

“If we don’t do it now, bigger problems may arise!”

“It’s not there yet!”

“Once it happens, it will be an uncontrollable situation!”

“It’s all just talk!”

The judges began to lose control of their facial expressions.

It felt strange in the audience.

Penelope finally closed her eyes tightly.

"hmm."

It was then.

Kangmin opened his mouth.

“I think we can continue.”

“Are you serious?!”

Penelope looked back with eyes full of shock and betrayal.

“If this continues, problems that cannot be resolved will arise! “It couldn’t be otherwise!”

“I guess so.”

"then… !”

“If it doesn’t explode, it’s okay. As you know, I have prepared something.”

“Getting there itself is the problem!”

Kangmin quietly looked around the audience.

And then he shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, I guess I’ll just have to endure it with a moderate amount of individual skill.”

“… yes?"

“?”

The judges looked at each other with bewildered faces.

skill… ?

* * *

After a few minutes of delay, filming resumed.

'Foolish. I guess I finally decided to continue.'

The head of WMA clicked his tongue and sneered.

'If filming had stopped, it would have ended with minimal damage. 'It's all done.'

The third participant who came out hesitantly showed signs of being intimidated. The audience reacts coldly as they watch and hesitate.

The script they chose seemed to be a copy of the 1992 movie A Few Good Men. The story was that Code Red – beatings and scolding – was activated against new recruits who failed to adapt to the Marine Corps, and the new recruits ended up committing suicide.

It was stimulating enough on its own, but the atmosphere was the atmosphere.

The actors began acting exaggeratedly, almost as if they were being pushed around.

[Why on earth are you doing this to me?]

[You were dishonorable as a glorious U.S. Marine Corps.]

[that is… Does that mean I should be treated as less than human? I was trying to get out! I'm going to leave because I don't fit in… !]

[That means passing your dishonor on to us.]

[that… !]

The beatings and cruel treatment that were only meant to be fake were exaggerated on stage.

The audience began to cheer.

The head of WMA was delighted and said, ‘This will be a good picture,’ and Penelope bit her lip.

That was the time when the situation was getting steadily worse.

An opportunity arose.

This was the first time Kangmin opened his mouth for review.

“I’ll ask the actors.”

“Yes, yes… .”

“There was a pretty violent scene. Why was that?”

"yes? Well, in order to express the injustice of the victim, Private Santiago, it is necessary… .”

“Do you think that was the best way to express Private Santiago’s resentment and despair?”

“Yeah, yeah… “I don’t think there is any other way.”

“Hmm.”

The actors shrugged their necks but made an expression that they had no choice.

The audience did the same. It was cool and okay, but a voice came out asking what was the complaint.

Kangmin put down the microphone for a moment. He then asked the staff member next to him to do something.

The staff looked confused, but then ran over with a puzzled expression and brought something.

“I don’t think there was any need for that.”

A perfect net woven by WMA.

Kangmin accepted a shabby snack worth 40 cents as a tool to break through it.

It was a pie covered in chocolate.