After the rehearsal ended.
Gotanda Taishi could clearly feel one thing.
That was almost everyone lowering their voices and discussing.
Yes.
Filming, clapperboard, crew management…
even makeup, which had nothing to do with it, was discussing.
And almost uniformly discussing one person—Yuji.
“This…
wasn’t this acted too well?”
“After all, was that really Acting?
That look in his eyes…
I was really startled.”
“After all, which agency does that child actually belong to?”
“…”
Almost uncontrollable, whispering discussions.
Originally the director was supposed to maintain discipline at the shooting location.
But right now, this veteran director didn’t know how to calm the commotion on the scene for a moment.
For no other reason.
Yuji really acted too well!
That kind of Acting…
there was no need at all to use those particularly obscure and difficult professional terms to explain it.
To put it bluntly——it was just good.
No extra other rhetoric was needed.
Even ordinary laymen who didn’t understand plays at all could probably come to this conclusion when looking at it.
After all, when it came to Acting, the most important thing was to touch people’s hearts.
Then, how could he, who was likewise moved by the other party’s Acting, go and stop the production crew from whispering?
With truly no other way, Gotanda Taishi could only turn his head back.
Saitou Miyako, with an upright posture, was standing right behind him.
“How unexpected, Miss Kyoko.”
As he spoke, he also sighed, full of emotion on his face.
“To be honest, just now when I heard you say you kicked Aqua away and gave the role to that child, I found it a bit incredible, feeling that you might have purely acted on hot-blooded impulse.
After all, in my view, Aqua is already quite an outstanding actor.”
However…
He turned his head back, looking at Yuji on the stage, who was generously and smilingly greeting other actors and staff, behaving completely unlike a child.
“But ‘that one’ is different…
He is a ‘freak of talent’ in the true sense…”
Gotanda Taishi muttered to himself, his gaze fixed unblinkingly on Yuji.
He could feel it.
That certain “trait” on the other party that surpassed ordinary people.
Completely different from the impression of Hoshino Ai shining brightly and perfectly displaying her charm to everyone.
This child actor was like a black hole, unreasonably pulling your gaze over, and then using that superhuman demonic charm to make your eyes unable to look away from him.
Thinking up to here, he didn’t continue to put on airs, and apologized very generously.
“It seems I completely misunderstood Miss Kyoko.
You must have completely anticipated this situation, right?
I’m really sorry for saying things like ‘kick Yuji away’ to you before.
Please forgive me.”
As he spoke, he even bowed to Saitou Miyako.
Gotanda Taishi was muttering random exclamations over there.
Saitou Miyako on this side only just recovered from her shock.
Listening to Gotanda Taishi’s exclamations.
The corners of her mouth couldn’t help but twitch.
As if she had expected this!
Although she had made a mental estimation of Yuji’s performance beforehand and felt that there was definitely no major problem with his Acting…
But Yuji’s Acting was much more than just “no major problem”!
It was simply perfect, okay?!
This expressiveness was really a bit exaggerated, wasn’t it…?
And she didn’t know if it was her imagination.
She always felt that Yuji’s Acting seemed even better than what she had seen at the audition a few days ago…
A genius…?
A freak…?
Where on earth did Yuji acquire this experience value?
She shook her head, temporarily casting aside the miscellaneous information in her mind.
Because at a time like this, as a manager of [Strawberry Pro], she should…
“In that case…
then Yuji’s scenes…”
“Of course we’ll use them!”
Gotanda Taishi nodded without hesitation.
If there’s an actor who performs well, use them!
Don’t hesitate!
This was his aesthetic as a director.
It’s just that…
Gotanda Taishi let out a hiss.
Because he thought of a certain precocious child surnamed Hoshino.
How on earth was he supposed to explain this to him…
His originally slightly relaxed head…
at this moment, started aching again.
Just at this moment, Saitou Miyako gave a proposal, temporarily easing his headache.
“Since it’s a rare opportunity, how about I have that child Yuji come over to meet you first?”
“Oh?
Not bad.”
Gotanda Taishi’s eyes lit up.
After all, after witnessing an actor with such incredible Acting, what director could resist meeting him?
About a minute later.
Yuji appeared before him wearing special effects makeup.
The so-called “special effects makeup” was actually a look created to fit certain unrealistic images, such as vengeful spirits, zombies, and so on.
And because the child vengeful spirit Yuji was going to play had pale skin all over, a lot of effort had to be spent on the makeup and styling—truly a lot of effort.
Not only did he have to apply a layer of putty-like “powder” from head to toe, but he also had to draw grayish-blue eye makeup similar to dark circles around his eyes.
And because filming was going to take place shortly after, the makeup on his body wasn’t removed at all, and he came to meet them directly.
This look was a bit scary.
But Gotanda Taishi’s eyes lit up.
Because even this intentionally “uglified” special effects makeup could not conceal Yuji’s near-perfect facial foundation.
At a glance, he could see the handsome appearance of the child actor before him beneath this exaggerated makeup.
This facial foundation…
probably wouldn’t lose to Hoshino Aqua in the slightest, right?
While sizing up Yuji here, he heard Saitou Miyako’s voice, which could not suppress her excitement.
“Yuji-kun, calling you over is mainly to notify you of some good news!”
“Good news?”
Under Gotanda Taishi’s gaze, the child actor before him tilted his head: “What good news?”
“That is—Director Gotanda in front of you is going to cast you, you know.”
Saitou Miyako raised her hand and introduced without hesitation.
Gotanda Taishi also gave a light cough, revealing a smile, wanting to use an approachable image so that Yuji wouldn’t be too nervous.
After all, he was a serious powerhouse director, and most child actors would lose their composure to some extent when meeting him.
However—
“Huh?
Cast me?
Isn’t that a matter of course?” Yuji said.
“Cough cough cough!!!”
The other party’s natural words choked Gotanda Taishi, who was just adjusting his mindset, into coughing uncontrollably.
“You…
cough cough, Yuji-kun, aren’t you a bit too confident?”
He couldn’t help but complain.
No other way, Yuji was indeed too confident.
This…
starting with “matter of course”, gave off the vibe that if Gotanda Taishi didn’t cast him, it would be as if the director was senile and blind.
Could this child in front of him be the second Kana…?
Another child actor who relied on good Acting and felt they could order people around and do whatever they wanted on set?
If that were really the case, Yuji’s evaluation in his heart would drop by several points.
But what he didn’t expect was—
“Isn’t an actor supposed to be like this?”
Yuji in front of him said this while raising his eyes: “I am confident in my Acting, and likewise, I am confident in Director Gotanda’s vision as a director.”
“This…” The sudden words left Gotanda Taishi speechless.
“Is there anything wrong with that?” Ignoring Saitou Miyako’s anxious posture of “silence”, the little child actor just stared blinkingly at Gotanda Taishi in front of him.
Silence…
A long silence.
Then—
“No…
you’re right.”
Gotanda Taishi suddenly smiled and nodded.
Because just as Yuji said.
The most important thing for an actor is confidence.
An actor, if they didn’t even have the confidence to play the role in their hands well, then that actor’s Acting would inevitably be soulless.
It seemed…
he had completely overthought it.
Looking at Yuji, who exuded an aura completely unlike ordinary people even off stage.
Gotanda Taishi was now completely sure.
The child actor in front of him was truly the “real deal” that could be “sold”.
On the other side.
Regarding Gotanda Taishi valuing Yuji so much, Saitou Miyako actually felt very happy.
But…
Her originally bright expression dimmed slightly.
“That child Aqua…
I wonder how he is doing now…”
She muttered softly unconsciously.
She knew that her adopted son, Hoshino Aqua, had the ambition to become an actor for the two years since Hoshino Ai died.
But that ambition, today…
was shattered by her own hands.
She felt a little uneasy and even shaken because of this.
Gotanda Taishi was still sizing up Yuji, so he didn’t notice the situation on Saitou Miyako’s side.
But Yuji was different.
While dealing with Gotanda Taishi’s various questions, he also noticed the change in Saitou Miyako’s expression.
Sigh—
The reliable adult sighed inwardly.
Saitou Miyako could now be considered his chief utility person, and she also had the grace of discovering his talent.
If she couldn’t focus on work, he would also feel quite uncomfortable.
Fine then.
The reliable adult shook his head.
It seemed it was time to have a chat with a certain gloomy blond hair who had completely gone down a dead end.
(Very good!
Another chapter!
Ah, six thousand words a day during the new book period, so diligent, how about some recommendations, collections, and monthly votes?)
(Likewise!
I wonder if brothers grabbed the treasure chest I sent out?
Um!
Anyway!
Thank you all for the tips!
Monthly votes!
Recommendations!
Thank you very much!)