When people think of the word trainee, they naturally think of young people preparing to be idols. “Produce 101” once drew attention for capturing the story from the aspect of idol trainees.
When people think of the word trainee, they naturally think of young people preparing to be idols. However, it is not just aspiring singers that have to go through the harsh trainee days. Those who dream of becoming actors also prepare to be able to appear in acting works under the solid management of their agency. Among them, only a few get to sign contracts as new actors and move toward their goals.
There are also different kinds of agencies. While there are companies that have mostly singers among their artists, there are some that have accumulated know-how related to acting activities by managing mostly actors. Some agencies, which have several entertainers who are mainly active in entertainment, also recruit singers, actors, and entertainers to support their various activities.
In many cases, the actor rookies, who seem to suddenly appear like comets and captured the hearts of viewers, have also been preparing for their acting activities with all they have for a long time in places behind what the public can see. Some agencies have introduced the actor trainee system. An insider from an actor’s agency shared, “In the past, there was no concept of an actor trainee. There was a time when it was possible to start acting easily without the need to learn anything. However, these days, the viewers are more strict, and when actors who are bad at acting appear, they are immediately flooded with negative reviews. We are preparing and conducting various training programs to create fully prepared rookies as we are in a situation where it is really difficult to get a role through auditions,” he described.
Until when they find an agency
Then, what kind of process will dreamers who want to become popular actors have to go through to find their agencies? A said, “I consider a lot of possibilities when selecting the trainees. As they have to match the company’s concept, we also check whether they have the image we are looking for.” Age is also one of the considerations for some companies. B from an agency that is managing various artists including actors, singers, and entertainers, also said they put into consideration both acting skills and images together. B’s company does not use a trainee contract separately. Instead, it signs a contract with the trainee as a new actor and conducts various training sessions.
As one of the basic conditions of a star is their personality, some agencies even go through a process to verify that. So is A’s company. A said their company went through verification of the aspiring trainees’ school days with his/her records. Of course, this process alone cannot accurately check the trainees’ personalities. A shared, “We experience, check, and watch if a trainee is a really good person during their trainee period. If they meet the standards of the agency, such as their skills and personality, they will get a chance to promote as a trainee.”
Variety of training and concerns
The training methods of different agencies can vary. B said that those who signed contracts for new actors at his company learn vocals and sports in addition to acting. The reason for going through exercise training is to prepare for sports program appearances. In addition, camera tests that evaluate image and acting skills are conducted every month. A said that while focusing on their acting training, trainees learn to taste the tension of the audition and get to know their external charms well. “Sometimes, we practice as if it was a real audition. We also take pictures of each other and take pictures by ourselves to figure out the best angles of our faces. It’s also important to practice tactics to get used to the camera, such as trying to connect with photographers and doing a lot of poses.”
Actors’ trainee life is shorter than that of aspiring idols. In A’s company, the trainee period is up to three years, and in some cases, an exclusive contract is signed within one year. Of course, a long preparation period doesn’t mean they all walk the flower path as actors. On the other hand, B expressed his regret, saying, “If you sign a trainee contract, even if you want to move to another agency, there are situations where you can’t. After a lot of time spent practicing, all that time and effort can go to waste if you can’t make your debut.”
The reason why the acting skills of new actors are being leveled up is that they practice and train a lot before playing an active part on the small screen or on the silver screen. The agencies are constantly thinking about nurturing new talents worthy of the status of K-content. However, many young people have lost their dreams and time without any rewards, leaving a feeling of regret.
Source: daum
