Translator: MarcTempest
Editor: AgRoseCrystal
Chapter 545
Cocoa Entertainment, 8th floor, actors’ practice room.
A week had passed, but the man still felt out of place in the unfamiliar practice room.
He looked around at the flawless floor, the spotless mirror, the bright lights, and the cameras neatly arranged on one side.
There was a monitor that showed what the cameras recorded, and snacks and drinks that seemed to encourage him to practice well.
He couldn’t help but marvel at the practice room that lacked nothing.
Bae Seung-won, a 10-year veteran actor who had never made a name for himself, felt awkward in such a nice environment.
He had never practiced in a place like this before.“Maybe I should take a break…”
He rubbed his neck and stepped out of the practice room.
There was a separate lounge next to the cafeteria on the 6th floor, but there was also a small one on the 8th floor.
“Oh, you’re here.”
“Hello.”
Like Bae Seung-won, the rookies and unknown actors who were still new to the spacious practice room were gathered there.
They all smiled as they saw each other holding scripts in their hands.
“The practice room is nice, but I feel restless.”
“Maybe it’s some kind of jinx?”
The actors’ team and Ahn Da Ho, who had worked hard to prepare for the actors, would have been a little disappointed if they heard that.
“But we’ll get used to it soon. It’s much easier and better with the cameras.”
“I’m already used to it! I even brought a folding bed!”
“Well, there’s a shower and a cafeteria, so we could live here.”
They all burst into laughter.
They had met for the first time just a week ago, but they got along well because they all loved acting.
The actors discussed whether they would take the acting class recommended by Cocoa Entertainment, or choose a work to film right away.
“I’m going to take the class first!”
“Me too. They must have a reason for telling us to take the class. Cocoa Entertainment knows better than us, right?”
The others nodded at one actor’s words. They thought that if they trusted Cocoa Entertainment, they would become great actors, even if not as good as Lee Seo-jun.
Bae Seung-won, the oldest among them, also nodded.
Then, the actors also shared their opinions on the works that their managers had chosen.
“They picked well. I’ve always wanted to try this role.”
“I was a bit worried… I’ve never done this role before.”
“But they said they won’t force us, so why don’t we look for something else?”
As they chatted, someone sighed lightly. It was a sigh that sounded a bit overwhelmed.
“Ha, I never thought I’d sign with Cocoa Entertainment.”
“My mom still doesn’t believe me. She thinks it’s a scam.”
“My parents were like that too.”
They were unknown actors who had never caught anyone’s eye, and rookies who had nothing to show.
Some of them applied to Cocoa Entertainment as a joke, some as a sincere attempt, and some as a last challenge.
Everyone who was here must have thought, ‘There’s no way.’
“But we got in…”
“The day we signed, I felt like I’d never forget it in my life.”
Bae Seung-won felt the same.
He started his acting career late compared to others. And he spent 10 years in obscurity. He felt sorry for his parents who lived in his hometown.
So he decided to give up if it didn’t work out. He thought, ‘Maybe I have no talent.’ He filled out the Cocoa Entertainment application with 90% resignation.
But he got accepted.
…Why? Why? How did this happen? He wondered.
He thought it might be a mistake, but he also had a small hope in his heart. He would never forget the day he headed to Cocoa Entertainment.
“But someone from the same academy said that. Lee Seo-jun is good, not Cocoa Entertainment.”
“That’s true. Even famous agencies have failed celebrities.”
“We have to work hard too! We have such a nice practice room!”
They all agreed.
“But…”
“Yeah?”
“Has anyone seen Lee Seo-jun?”
At that, they all blinked and quickly shook their heads.
“Maybe he can’t come because of the school opening?”
“Maybe. He’s still a student, so he must be busy. And Lee Seo-jun probably has a separate practice room somewhere else, right?”
“There’s a private practice room at the end.”
“Maybe they just made it for him.”
“Sigh. When will we get to meet him? I’ve been carrying a sign paper to get his autograph…”
“Do you want me to sign it for you?”
“Yes. Thank you very…?!”
The youngest actor, who was still older than Seo-jun, answered reflexively and turned around in surprise. Bae Seung-won and the other actors did the same.
…Wow…
Bae Seung-won and the actors couldn’t help but admire.
“Hello. I’m Lee Seo-jun. Nice to meet you!”
The main character of the story, Seo-jun, was smiling brightly. He was so happy to have ‘fellow agency actors’ that he shone more than usual.
***
The frozen actors greeted Seo-jun one by one.
The youngest actor among them, who was still older than Seo-jun, hugged the sign paper that Seo-jun had signed with a touched expression.
The other actors also looked moved.
“My name is Bae Seung-won. Nice to meet you, Lee Seo-jun.”
Bae Seung-won looked at Seo-jun, who was smiling brightly, with a calm heart.
Lee Seo-jun was right in front of him.
He was a superstar who had been a hot topic since his debut, and an actor who had an unprecedented record of awards and excellent acting skills. He even admired him.
He thought that he would only pass by him once in a while after joining Cocoa Entertainment, but he didn’t expect to talk to him so closely.
“Please speak comfortably to me.”
Seo-jun’s words made them all sweat. They didn’t know if they would be able to do that anytime soon, but they didn’t have the courage to do it right now.
He could see their nervousness. Seo-jun smiled and changed the topic.
“What were you talking about?”
“Uh, well… Class! Class! Acting class!”
“Yes! That’s right. We were talking about whether to take the class or star in a work.”
“Oh! Acting class. That’s good. Ahn Da Ho said he brought a good teacher for you. I’m going to take it too.”
“Is, is that so?”
The actors nodded in admiration at Seo-jun’s words. Seo-jun smiled and continued.
“Starring in a work is also fine. Our company is very good at recommending works.”
“I saw the scripts that the managers picked. They looked like they put a lot of thought into it.”
“Right? They’re all good people.”
As they slowly continued the conversation, the tense atmosphere gradually eased.
The actors were nervous, wondering what kind of personality the actor Lee Seo-jun had in real life. They had only seen him through the media. They sighed in relief inwardly. He seemed to be really nice, just as they had heard.
That might have given Baek Seung-won some courage.
As he signed the contract with Cocoa Entertainment, he said something he had always wanted to say to Lee Seo-jun if they ever became friends.
“Um, if you’re not too busy, could you please watch my acting?”
Gasp!
The actors’ eyes widened.
Was that okay? Was that really okay?
He was Lee Seo-jun, the top star!
They wondered if it was appropriate to ask such a favor from him, regardless of his nice personality. ‘What if his manager or staff hear about it? Wouldn’t that be a big trouble?’ They looked at Seo-jun with surprised expressions, and then they were shocked again.
“Of course, that’s fine!”
Seo-jun was shining with joy, as if he couldn’t be happier.
Oh my!
There were other actors in Cocoa Entertainment!
And he wanted to practice with me!
“What role are you playing? What scene? Do you want me to be your partner? Have you practiced before? Then maybe we can try a different vibe! Oh, do you want to record it with a camera? It helps a lot to watch it later. Do you want to join us, everyone? We have a large practice room!”
…Somehow, the actors felt like they got to know a little bit about the person named Lee Seo-jun.
***
The next day.
Hwang Ji-yoon, Kim Seo-yeon, and four film students gathered for a meeting about [Fire].
“I thought we couldn’t do it because of Oh Seong-tae, but we did.”
“Huh. I’ve been waiting for this for so long.”
Hwang Ji-yoon chuckled at the words of Park Woo-jin, a senior in the film department who would be the director of photography for [Fire].
The film students here were the talented ones that Hwang Ji-yoon had been eyeing for a long time, and they all came to this place after hearing Hwang Ji-yoon’s words, ‘Let’s make a movie with me next year!’
Of course, there were some people who refused because they wanted to make their own movies, but the rest of the staff would be enough to recruit.
“What camera are we using? According to the script, at least… we have a Dall 3200 in our school, right?”
“Yeah. That would be the best.”
As Park Woo-jin and his senior, who would be the camera team, flipped through the storyboard and talked, Hwang Ji-yoon and Kim Seo-yeon giggled.
The students looked at the director and the assistant director with curiosity.
“Ahem. We’re not using a Dall camera.”
“Not a Dall?”
“What, they’re all rented out already?”
They wondered what they should use if not a Dall 3200, and Hwang Ji-yoon opened his mouth.
“We’re using a Kid 100. Two of them!”
“…Kid 100?”
Park Woo-jin, who would normally nod and move on, raised his voice in surprise. The other three were the same.
“The one that came out last year?!”
“Really?!”
It seemed like they could hear the sound of someone panting heavily.
Nothing could make the aspiring directors’ hearts flutter more than a good camera.
“How did you get a Kid 100?”
“There aren’t many places that lend them out!”
At the enthusiasm of their friends, Hwang Ji-yoon and Kim Seo-yeon laughed and said that there was a place that would invest in this independent film. The students were amazed.
“I don’t know where it is, but it’s a very grateful place.”
“And Ji-yoon, you made a great script to get the investment.”
“Ji-yoon, can I use the Kid 100 before the shooting? I think I need to practice a bit since it’s my first time using it.”
“Sure. That’s fine.”
Hwang Ji-yoon nodded at Park Woo-jin’s question. The film students’ eyes sparkled and their breaths became rough.
“Me, me too, let me touch it once. Kid 100. It was my lifelong wish to shoot with a Kid 100!”
“It came out last year.”
“That’s how much I want to try it!”
The meeting started with the camera talk and went smoothly.
There were occasional gossip about Oh Seong-tae and his gang, and some professors who might be fired because of this incident.
Hwang Ji-yoon smiled contentedly. It was a good atmosphere.
“We’re done with the camera team. How are we going to get the other teams?”
“We’re going to post notices in front of the stage art, art, and music departments, and also on the internet.”
“What about the actors?”
“We got the unknown painter.”
Hwang Ji-yoon’s words made Park Woo-jin and the three students nod.
“You got him? That was fast.”
“Then we can use the staff for the minor extras. Except for Min-han, everyone else is older, so the acting students won’t fit, so we’ll have to use outsiders.”
“But who’s the actor for the unknown painter role? Where did he appear?”
At their friend’s question, Hwang Ji-yoon and Kim Seo-yeon grinned.
“There is. An actor who’s really good at acting.”
Park Woo-jin thought of someone.
“Is it Hwang Do-yoon?”
“Ah! Senior! No way!”
***
The festival day of Korea National University of Arts.
KNUA was bustling from the morning.
“Se-ah!”
Kwon Se-ah turned around at the sound of someone calling her. There was a familiar face there.
“Unni!”
She was a senior who graduated from the music department, and also the person who made Kwon Se-ah interested in film music.
She was currently working on something related to film music.
Kyaaak! They hugged each other and then walked.
“You chose film music as your career path, right?”
“Yes. I’m trying to challenge myself and study. I think piano is more basic than violin for composing, so I’m learning piano too. But I get scolded every day.”
The senior looked at Kwon Se-ah with a worried face. She wondered if she had dragged in a successful violinist for nothing. Kwon Se-ah noticed that and smiled brightly.
“Composing is so fun! I have a song I wrote, do you want to hear it?”
“Sure!”
The senior listened to Kwon Se-ah’s original song through the earphones and opened her eyes wide.
“This… it would go well with a calm movie like Flowing Away.”
“Right? I made it with that as a motif.”
Although there were many flaws, it was a well-made song for someone who had not learned for long.
“You could make it right away with this level.”
“…Right away?”
“Didn’t you see the notice earlier?”
The senior grabbed Kwon Se-ah’s hand and headed to a nearby bulletin board. There were a lot of people next to the bulletin board that announced the festival.
“There are project team notices here. How about picking one and making it? I did that too.”
“…Me?! Already?!”
Kwon Se-ah’s eyes shook.
“Isn’t it too early? What if I make it wrong and cause trouble?”
“Independent films are fun because you make mistakes and learn step by step. Besides, if you look at this work, the director is a third-year film student, so they must be a complete novice too.”
The senior said with a smile.
“And they’ll test you too, so you don’t have to be Se-ah.”
“Ah… I see.”
Kwon Se-ah finally sighed in relief.
“Come on, pick something that looks fun.”
With a slightly trembling heart, Kwon Se-ah’s gaze turned to the bulletin board.
There were quite a lot of notices.
Most of them were fourth-year film students, and some were third-year students.
Among them, there was a notice that caught Kwon Se-ah’s eye.
[Title: Fire]
[Director: Hwang Ji-yoon, third-year film student]
First of all, she felt a little more comfortable with the word ‘third-year’.
Kwon Se-ah read the synopsis written on the notice of [Fire], and next to her, Hwang Do-yoon, who was lost in thought with his arms crossed, was standing.
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