Chapter 15
“I had about three or four meetings with the director. Fortunately, he seems to view me favorably… but we need the production funding resolved before we can start the film or not. They’re probably trying to use Director Kang’s film to elevate me to A-list while things are going well these days.”
Hongseo paused, resting her arms on the railing. Her gaze was directed downstairs, but she didn’t seem to be looking at the scene before her. Chewing her lower lip while staring into space, she opened her mouth like someone possessed.
“If this works out, this life of being dragged around will be over. Who knows, Choi Hongseo might even walk the red carpet at Cannes? Haha…”
After her self-deprecating laugh, Hongseo firmly closed her mouth.
Hongseo’s desire or obsession with success wasn’t just due to personal ambition. Her parents were alive and well, and Hongseo was the third of four siblings—three sons and one daughter. Yet since debuting in the entertainment industry, she had been acting as the family’s financial provider.
Hongseo’s parents, who had no fixed income for a long time, hadn’t given any help during the four years Hongseo prepared for her debut, saying she was wasting time on something that wouldn’t make money. Those same people were now buying houses, driving cars, and covering living expenses with Hongseo’s support. Still, she never once complained or expressed resentment toward her family.
Eating side dishes sent by other members’ parents to the dorm, eating pork belly and ribs bought by their parents at meat restaurants… what Hongseo must have felt… Having watched it all from beside her, I couldn’t carelessly comfort her by telling her to ease up on her determination and relax.
Suddenly turning toward me, Hongseo forced a light expression.
“I don’t know why he called us today either… but maybe the director wanted to see you too, hyung? The CEO knows you’re not the type to go around to these events looking for work. They probably wanted to see you from their side.”
It would be nice if we ended up working together. Right?
Adding that with a smile, Hongseo’s smile was truly idol-like. I just awkwardly pulled up the corners of my lips.
Another loud cheer erupted from the swimming pool in the garden.
■
Inside the reception room where music was blocked out, a solemn atmosphere prevailed like a conference room where business meetings were taking place. It was a space completely separated from the festive party atmosphere happening in the same mansion.
The vertically long reception room with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the garden was filled with furniture by famous designers, and befitting Director Kang Woohyeon’s reception room as a known art lover, the walls were decorated with artwork of consistent taste.
The six or seven people gathered around the large sofa table were drinking whiskey with serious expressions.
Besides Director Kang Woohyeon, the CEO of UB Entertainment, and the senior actress who had been at Director Hwang Sooyoung’s table at the L brand party, the faces were unfamiliar.
Among people who mostly appeared to be in their fifties or older, there was one man who seemed to be in his late thirties. Despite being the youngest member, he stood out even more as he sat on the single-seat sofa at the head position.
“Director, this is actor Jung Jiin from our UB. Jiin-ssi, please greet him.”
The CEO, looking more tense than usual, introduced me to Director Kang Woohyeon. The CEO usually spoke casually, but always used formal speech in official settings.
“Hello, Director. It’s an honor to meet you.”
Director Kang Woohyeon, with a thin build and delicate, sensitive atmosphere, looked up at me with eyes mixed with puzzlement and cautious wariness, extending his hand for a handshake from his seated position.
“Mm, yes, nice to meet you. But this is an actor I’m seeing for the first time.”
“Yes, like Hongseo, he doesn’t have film experience yet. He’s only appeared in dramas so far.”
The CEO answered.
Holding an on-the-rocks glass, Director Kang scrutinized my face carefully.
“Good looks. Any work done?”
“No. He’s clean.”
Again, the CEO answered.
Both the direct question about plastic surgery experience and the answer that I was ‘clean’ because I hadn’t had surgery were irritating, but this wasn’t the place to show it. Standing next to Hongseo in front of several people, I lightly clenched my fist with hands that had been clasped behind my back as if at attention.
“I’ve seen him in passing a few times, so he was one of CEO Myung’s kids.”
A man sitting diagonally from the director acknowledged knowing me while scanning me. The man, who appeared to be in his mid-fifties, had a well-maintained physique compared to his peers and a dignified, handsome face, but the moment he opened his mouth, his facial image collapsed instantly.
“The eyes and lips are sexy. How old this year?”
“Thirty-one, CEO.”
“What a shame. The age isn’t pretty, the age.”
At the UB CEO’s answer, the man clicked his tongue as if it was truly regrettable and swirled his on-the-rocks glass. Then, gesturing at me with his chin, he asked the woman next to him.
“Not the representative’s type either, right?”
“I prefer cute types like Hongseo-gun.”
“Hongseo is cute? You must not have seen him perform on stage. His flirtatiousness is no joke.”
As if to search for a video on the spot, the man picked up the phone on the table. Someone scolded him to moderate himself, but even that was just a joke mixed with laughter.
When the man’s commotion subsided, the director looked up at us again with a tired face.
“So… what brings you here today?”
The CEO couldn’t answer immediately and hesitated, moving his lips. Though he stood in front of me, he was bending his waist to the point where his eye level was almost the same as the director sitting on the sofa.
“This is really presumptuous of me… but I prepared Jung Jiin thinking he might be suitable for the role of the fellow doctor suffering from pet loss syndrome… to show him to you, Director.”
A flash of displeasure writhed in the director’s eyes. Though he didn’t show it immediately, his tightly closed, twisted mouth represented his emotions.
I felt equally mortified.
Director Hwang Sooyoung’s audition was just yesterday. Yet the CEO calling me to this kind of event today was essentially the same as saying he had no expectations for that audition result.
Of course, there are many cases of filming two or more works simultaneously. But both Director Hwang Sooyoung and Director Kang Woohyeon were directors who demanded that actors in major roles focus only on their work. The CEO couldn’t not know this.
Rather than hurt pride, it felt like facing my current reality bare-bodied.
“Jung Jiin’s looks are splendid and refined with a melancholic atmosphere… I thought it might match the image you’re looking for, Director…”
“CEO Myung.”
The director cut off the CEO’s words while suppressing his displeasure.
“I know you’ve worked hard for this film, and I do rely on you a lot… but that’s only regarding matters outside the work itself. If you try to intervene in the work like this, it really puts me in a difficult position.”
“Intervene? Director, how could I dare have such thoughts about your film? Not just because Jiin is our actor, but purely thinking he might really suit the role, as one possibility to show you, Director…”
“In my works, CEO Myung, I don’t do package deals even with actors from companies that invested 80% of the production cost. This behavior… aren’t you treating my work like a third-rate entertainment film? I feel greatly insulted.”
The CEO looked back at me, not knowing what to do. His face conveyed the meaning that I should actively appeal. It wasn’t an opportunity I had requested, nor was it my preferred method… but I couldn’t just preserve my pride while the CEO was sweating to create this opportunity.
Just as I was about to step forward to ask if he could at least watch me act once, someone spoke before me.
“Director, please calm down a bit. This isn’t an occasion created to show the guests this kind of scene.”
A gentle voice as if soothing a child. It was the senior actress who had been sitting next to Director Kang Woohyeon.
After affectionately stroking the director’s shoulder and arm, she stood up and approached the CEO and me.
The people visible behind her seemed to have no interest in this situation. That man from earlier was actually showing a video to the woman next to him, as Layered’s latest song was leaking out at low volume from his phone.
Only the youngest man seated at the head position was watching this side with a calm gaze, not mixing into either conversation.
“I understand CEO Myung’s intention… but since this is your first time working with Director Kang, there seems to have been a misunderstanding. CEO Myung, you need to make it clear that all decision-making authority related to the work, even the smallest parts, belongs to the director. The purpose of investing in Director Kang’s work isn’t profit-seeking, and the purpose of wanting to act in the director’s work isn’t for honor or fame, right? Aren’t we all people who cherish and love the director’s artistic world and want to be part of it?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
