10 When a Man Says Such Compliment to a Man…

“To some extent, yes,” Radosz admitted glancing towards the man sitting next to him, “but that was not the decisive point. You see, in Poland there are a lot of people famous for being famous, but nobody gives them a chance to play the main role. Do you watch k-dramas or c-dramas?”

"Er," Brylski hesitated, and then helplessly admitted, "I'm afraid I don't know what it is."

“These are series produced in South Korea and China. There are also J-dramas produced in Japan, but we are not talking about those yet. Have you seen any series of this type?”

“I don't remember seeing anything like that...”

“I am not surprised at all, because no Polish television shows them and people watch them primarily on the web, on internet platforms. In addition, these dramas rarely have Polish subtitles, so they are watched almost exclusively by people who are good with the English language” Radosz explained further. “I am telling you about it because there are very often people who do not have an education in acting, and drama, or series with their participation, are very popular and earn a lot of money. Not only that, they are of really good quality. Not all, of course, but more and more.”

“And you want to bring it to our country?”

Damian glanced at Brylski. The guy was not stupid, he quickly caught what Radosz meant. Well, not only is he handsome, with a very nice personality, but also intelligent enough to actually keep up with his plan.

Rafał Brylski was an excellent material for a star, but this star had to be shown to the world.

Previously, however, it was necessary to draw the potential of this amateur actor, and The Fifth Capital was perfectly suited for that.

Yes, Brylski will be a star and Radosz will help him become one. He will help him get the full potential out of him. Both of them will win.

"That's right," admitted Damian. Rafał should learn about the entire production ideology that Radosz wants to introduce, because this is the only way he will be able to adapt to it. “It's not like everyone on the set are amateurs. The older generation is already experienced actors, mostly graduated from film academy, some of the younger generation are also graduates of relevant universities, one, sometimes more people, are amateurs who have potential and talent. Instead of sitting in lecture halls, they get their education in the field. It's such a fast-track course with lots of hands-on lessons and with one student for a dozen or so professors.”

"That sounds… interesting," Brylski admitted. He sounded really interested. “Experience always teaches more than theory.”

“Just like that. You can go to college for five years and learn nothing, and you can spend half a year on the set and learn everything. It all depends on your potential and motivation. Viewers who have seen you, and I too, think you are good enough to want to see more of you now. There is no point in sending you to college now to learn acting, because viewers may expect something completely different in five years' time. They just won't wait for you or even forget you and you will have to start from scratch. There is no point in waiting. You must strike while the iron is hot. You know best how much you learn each day.”

"But I'm still not good enough," Brylski admitted, lowering his eyes again. There was something in his voice that squeezed Damian's heart. Radosz was not the type to succumb to emotions too easily, especially to other people (his emotional intelligence was quite low), but Brylski was tugging at something in his heart. It was a strange feeling, disturbing, but also enjoyable.

“Do you think so, or Różycki?” Damian asked, wanting to know Rafał's sincere answer. He wondered if the actor really had such a low opinion of himself.

“I think we're both of the same opinion.”

“And your older, experienced colleagues say something about it?”

“The oldest actors just want to be nice.”

“Or are they experienced enough to see the best? Not every compliment is empty. Not all praise is just politeness. Don't you think?”

“Yes, I know, but I also know that my friends want to be nice. So sometimes it's hard to tell if their words are completely sincere or if they just want to maintain good relationships with others. If I were to say now that you are very handsome, you would not know if I am saying what I really mean or if I want to win your kindness.”

Radosz choked. He coughed.

“Well, well, you gave a good example. Normally I would have believed you because most people find me handsome, but I don't know your taste. Still, I take a risk and ask: if you said I was handsome, would you say what you think, or would it be an empty compliment?”

Damian absolutely did not plan to ask a similar question, but Rafał provoked it himself by giving such an example. Now the young actor felt pressed up against the wall and looked like he was about to start to panic, which was interesting and disturbing in its own way at the same time...

“All right, do not answer” Radosz laughed, sincerely amused. “I know we call each other by name, but we don't know each other closely enough yet to talk like this. Let us assume that the question was not...”

“You are handsome” Brylski suddenly cut in his word and his voice was determined, self-confident. “I'm not an expert, but I think you are very handsome.”

Damian felt his cheeks and ears burn. Probably it was because the sun that was shining through the car windows, because he couldn't have felt intimidated hearing the compliment from the man's lips.

True, men rarely commented on another man's beauty, but it's not that they didn't see and judge them at all. Men often compared their appearance to that of their colleagues or famous people, and even more often had complexes about it - after all, Damian had experienced such self-criticism more than once himself. So men found other men handsome, they just didn't say it out loud...

“I also think that you are handsome” interjected Anita Janiszek sitting in the back seat. “Although Rafał is more handsome.”

“That is why he is an actor and I am a producer” replied Radosz, taking this way out. “But thank you both. It's nice… to hear words like that.”

Yes, even very nice, although at first the surprise was too great. Now, however, along with embarrassment, Damian's body was spreading with satisfaction. If a man as handsome as Rafał Brylski said that Radosz is handsome, and he really thought so, it was hard not to feel satisfied with it.

Brylski was quite an original and daring guy if he just told the producer of the series he was playing in those words.

So much for Brylski's shyness.

The whole situation, however, had nothing untrue, no calculation or falsehood, and Radosz once again decided that he liked this actor more and more.

And there was absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Nothing at all.