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Translator Note:
Just wanted to let you know that sometimes I won't translate calls(?) like 'oppa, hyung, eonni, nuna, etc.' and suffixes like '-ssi, -nim, etc.'
So...... Bear with me, please (/▿＼ )
Thank You!
***
Chapter 12 – That's a Good Joke
'As
expected, it's a masterpiece even if you watch it again.'
Lee
Seowon left the movie theater with a sad face. Today was the last day that
<Children> would be in theaters. Even though it was a re-release, he
watched it three times.
'What
a waste. Such a waste.'
He
chose <Children> as his life movie, and he was one of the people who was
especially fascinated by the appearance of the lead actor, Yoon Jae-hee.
If
he didn't disappear so suddenly, he was the number one person that he wanted to
recruit to his company.
'Where
and what are you doing now?'
If
he comes back, he is willing to support him. Now, he is fully capable of doing
so.
'Come
to think of it, that bodyguard also came to the premiere, right?'
He
was going to pay attention to the production for the time being, but he
automatically took out his business card when he saw someone who created an
unusual atmosphere in Cho Yoo-kyung's behind.
Later,
it turned out that he was quite famous on the Internet. He only worked as a red
carpet bodyguard for a while, but he even had a small fan.
'For
some reason, I couldn't stop looking at him.'
With
that much presence, it's understandable. Cho Yoo-kyung must have recognized
that and carried him around.
The
actor's acting skills are important, of course, but you can boost it with
effort. Or you can supplement it with editing, production, and directing.
However,
eye-catching images and unique atmospheres are not created by themselves. They
needed to have something natural. And the bodyguard was born with it.
"Seowon
Hyung."
"Hyung
-nim!"
"Lee
Seowon, here."
Lee
Seowon walked into the restaurant and was greeted by those already seated.
"Hey,
it's been a while. Is everyone doing well?"
"What
are you doing so late?"
"I
came here after watching a movie. Is Young-chang Hyung here today?"
"Since
you're talking about Director Lee, I'm guessing you've been watching <Children>
again."
They
were all people whose faces had been seen or whose names had often been heard
somewhere. Lee Seowon can feel the restaurant staff glancing over us, and the
boss is looking for paper and pen to get their autographs.
"Man,
Yoon Jae-hee, he's a real piece of work."
"What's
he doing now?"
"Didn't
they get in touch with him when they re-release the movie?"
"Director
Lee said no."
Naturally,
the topic turned to <Children>. Lee Young-chang was a frequent
participant in these meetings, but he was loyal to Yoon Jay; he would keep the
secret until Yoon Jay revealed it himself.
"Shin-woo,
don't you know anything?"
"No,
because he and I never filmed together."
If
I had known things would turn out like this, then I would have flown a
turbocharged kite. Park Shin-woo made a joke.
T/N:
I'm sorry, I didn't know what this joke meant. Maybe it's a joke from a meme
or something(?) I've tried to find out about it, but I didn't find anything.
"Now,
here's, my new business card."
As
they continued to talk about <Children>, the industry, and their recent
work, Lee Seowon jumped up and turned the business card around.
"Hey,
what's the name of your company, 'Astra'? Is it a drug name? I'm going to go to
the company, so make a good name."
"It
means stars in Latin. Sungho Hyung -nim, you are the star that will light up
our company."
"I'm
not a star. Isn't it the sun?"
"The
sun is also a star."
T/N:
They talked about the meaning of Sungho's name.
A
few people burst into laughter at the two people’s comical conversation.
This
is the gathering of famous actors, writers, and directors, along with producers
and investors. It was an immensely influential gathering.
This
gathering is unofficially called the "Coke Club" because they toast
with coke instead of alcohol.
Everyone
was a powerhouse in their respective fields, and the group was so wholesome and
non-controversial that many actors wanted to be a part of it.
"So,
Hyung, what happens to your old company?"
"Well,
it's just over."
Lee
Seowon was the CEO of E-West Pictures, a content production company that
produced many hit movies. He made headlines when he sold his stake to a
conglomerate and made a huge profit.
"I
had no intention of exiting. I just got annoyed that they kept changing their minds,
so I backed out."
"That's
what happens when a big company comes in. What are you going to do? It's not
going to work without you."
"It'll
work itself out."
He
didn't have any regrets about the company he had already left. He should think
about producing good work with the money.
'I'll
also try to develop a rookie after a long time.'
Lee
Seowon remembered the synopsis he'd been eyeing and spontaneously matched Yoon
Jay with a role that would leave a strong impression, even if it wasn't a major
one. It would be a good match.
"It's
a good time to start fresh, and I've got a good gem."
"Already?
I thought I was number one."
Many
actors moved to Lee Seowon's company after their contracts with their agencies
ended. The company was only a few months old, but it was about to get big.
"So,
who is that gemstone? Do we know him?"
"Do
you know the bodyguard that Cho Yoo-kyung used to carry around these
days?"
"I
think I know......"
"I
know."
Cho
Yoo-kyung is a big shot. With investment, production, and distribution rights,
she's a force to be reckoned with.
"Is
he the one who's been in the news lately?"
"Yes.
Come to think of it, Minjae, you must have had a hard time too."
"I
have to endure that much."
Kwon
Minjae was also a child actor who was often taken around by Cho Yoo-kyung and
made his mark in the industry. Naturally, the rumors surrounding him were not
good.
However,
those who don't know anything believe that dirty and blatant rumors, but then,
when the dice were thrown on the table, the thought would change to, 'If Cho
Yoo-kyung had chosen them, then they would have been popular, right?'. That's
why Lee Seowon wanted to recruit Yoon Jay in advance.
Kwon
Minjae overcame the rumors and became a top actor in his 30s.
"So,
did you talk to him in detail?"
"No.
I just gave him my personal business card."
"Oh,
then maybe he won’t contact you? If he only worked as a bodyguard, I think he
wouldn't know how influential you are."
Those
who don't know the industry wouldn't know the value of Lee Seowon's name. While
running E-West Pictures, he was secretly called the pinnacle of casting
top-tier male actors.
Since
he was so good at recruiting actors, his company was only in charge of actor
management. When word got out that 'Lee Seowon was involved', investors would automatically
come knocking on the company's door with money in their hands.
"I'm
lucky if he recognized me. It's fate."
"This
guy, he's at his wits end again."
But
now, he had set up a new production and management company and was preparing
for a new start. There is nothing to regret even if he doesn't know about Lee
Seowon. There are already many people who want to come to his company.
However,
despite his thoughts, he kept checking his phone more and more frequently.
He
smiled when he saw his phone blink at the right time. He doesn't recognize the
number, but he has a good feeling.
"......I
must be a lucky guy."
***.
'After
I looked again, he was really good.'
After
making the appointment, Lee Seowon looked at Yoon Jay, who was sipping his
coffee with a straight posture.
His
posture is straight, is it a habit? I also like his complex eyes which make me
wonder about his story. It would be nice to see it through the camera.
"I
know you've gotten a lot of agency castings, how many people did you contact
before me?"
"You're
the first."
"Really?"
It's
surprising. I thought he contacted me after contacting a few big agencies.
"It
was unique because it was a personalized business card from the CEO himself, and
it was recommended by someone I know."
"An
acquaintance...... Looks like that person knows the industry, huh?"
"Yes."
It
was a bit steamy, but I was lucky he had someone who knew about the industry
and got help.
"What
have you heard about me?"
"I
heard you have a lot of connections, and you're good at casting."
Yoon
Jay had heard from Park Hyun-ah that his biological father had a reputation for
seeing work and that Lee Seowon had a reputation for casting.
This
was exactly what Yoon Jay wanted. A company that can put in pieces of artwork
well. A production company with investors and connections.
"I
don't know who your acquaintance is, but it seems they knew me well."
Yoon
Jay's attitude made Lee Seowon remember someone who looked similar to him in
the past.
'He's
probably a senator now......'
That
kind of person has a clear goal and they are confident enough to accomplish
anything. If it is business-related, it will be a good relationship to rise
together.
"I'm
saying this because you already know a little about me, but Yoon Jay -ssi, I'm
confident that I can put you in a viable project right away. Your own abilities
will determine that, are you confident in that?"
"I'll
try."
Yoon
Jay himself still can't tell if he still has a camera phobia. But he'd already
decided to tackle his comeback head-on.
"It's
nice to be confident. 3 years. Let's sign a contract for just 3 years with
me."
"That
gives me time to convince you."
"Yeah.
Well, I'm not going to drop you off a cliff, but I'm going to give you all the
basic lessons."
First
of all, chances are high. However, if Yoon Jay does not show as much talent as
he expected, he will be left without mercy.
It's
worse to give hope and then take it away, but Yoon Jay signed with Lee Seowon's
new company, Astra, without hesitation.
"I'll
pay you better than other rookies."
"Then,
I'll have to work hard."
Since
right now, Yoon Jay was the only actor in the company, things went smoothly.
The
day after signing the contract, he went to a studio that Lee Seowon knew to
take his profile picture.
"Your
skin is so clear that it's easy to work with."
"You
have quite a few scars on your body, what did you do?"
"I
was a soldier."
The
stylist, who was working on his outfit, wondered how a soldier could have scars
like that, but she didn't have time to ponder it as the shoot was imminent.
"Why
don't you pose naturally first, like you're sitting on the couch at home."
"Sure."
The
photographer looked away from the camera, surprised by the naturalness of the
pose, which usually takes a lot of effort from the beginner.
"Are
you good at taking pictures?"
"I
don't need to direct you, do I?"
Astra's
CEO, Lee Seowon, who followed the filming, and Kwak Dohyun, who will be in
charge of Yoon Jay in the future, watched Yoon Jay's photo shoot with
interesting faces.
"Have
you ever done anything like this before?"
"I've
worked briefly as an amateur model."
"Oh.
Good. I guess the shoot will be over early today."
When
Yoon Jay lived in New York City for a while, he worked as an Asian model for a
designer brand...... And walked the runway.
He
was paid well, and if he hadn't gotten rid of his phobia with his father's
help, he would have had to find another job to pay the city's murderous rent.
"Wow......
This is just a picture, but once you become the model, it turns into a
painting."
With
Yoon Jay expertly following along, the mood of the photoshoot improved.
After
the shoot ended ahead of schedule, the CEO, the Manager, and Yoon Jay had
dinner near the agency's office.
"So,
Jay -ssi, what have you been doing so far?"
"Manager
Kwak, don't you think that's a little too straightforward?"
"Oh,
don't get me wrong. There has been a lot of controversy, with all the bullying
and stuff, so I'm just trying to get a head start."
"Right.
And I also need to know some of the special details of our affiliated
actors."
Since
the contract has already been completed, Yoon Jay is aware of this to protect himself
if any controversy arises.
Yoon
Jay gave an ambiguous look. He doesn't know where to draw the line. How much
should he be honest?
"I
was born in Korea, but something happened when I was younger and I moved to the
United States."
"What's
your education?"
"I
graduated from high school and just went to school normally. I didn't bully
anyone or anything."
"By
any chance, the name of your school is......"
They
don't know if it's true or not because they only confirm it with Yoon Jay's
mouth, but it's better to have an accident in a foreign country where it's hard
to verify the facts than in Korea.
Manager
Kwak wrote down the name of Yoon Jay's high school on a piece of paper.
"If
your former workplace is Wings Company, you must be from the special forces,
right?"
"I
was in the Navy SEALs for a little less than 10 years. It's not a dishonorable
discharge."
"Oh.
Isn't that a unit that's been in a lot of movies and games?"
"You
must be good at action."
This
has many advantages. The CEO and the Manager nodded in satisfaction. Manager
Kwak continued.
"Did
you often engage in social media activities?"
"I
have one social media, but it's private because it's for contacting
acquaintances."
"Do
you mind if I check it out?"
Yoon
Jay casually held out his phone to the two. There were no posts on the default
profile picture.
"Good,
good."
"You
haven't been active in any online communities, have you? These days, they find
everything you post on foreign sites."
"No,
I haven't."
A
muggle who doesn't do much online. That's good. There are plenty of celebrities
who get into trouble on social media, so the company doesn't have to worry
about this for now.
He
doesn't drink much, and his military background means he keeps fit, so he'll be
in good shape.
"Is
there anything else unusual about you? Do you speak any languages other than
English or Korean, or do you have any health issues we should know about, like
allergies......"
"Well......
Aside from English and Korean, I speak probably eight languages."
"What?"
"I
don't have any allergies, but maybe I have a camera phobia. I'd have to go in
and check this out to find out......"
"What?"
If
you speak 10 languages, shouldn't you be in the Foreign Ministry or the
National Security Agency, not the entertainment industry?
Also,
a guy who's supposed to be an actor has a camera phobia? Is he such a strong
man from a special forces unit? He's already taken good profile pictures,
right?
After
a pause, Lee Seowon and Kwak Dohyun burst out laughing.
"Haha!
You're good at jokes."
"It's
funny because he doesn't look like that, right?"
I
guess I'll just let them misunderstand. Yoon Jay laughed along with the two.
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