Chapter 335
âThis wonât do.â
It was a different tone of firmness than before.
The Director, Jeffrey, was startled by the rough voice of the planning team leader.
Wasnât this the same planning team leader who had assured him that he could even blow up a building if the director wanted?
The planning team leader who had obediently accepted Davis Garrettâs revisions.
Jeffrey had not worried about him at all.
He had never expected him to oppose his idea.
âAs expected.â
He knew it.
Not only Seo-jun, but the other actors also seemed to agree with the planning team leaderâs opinion.
The enthusiasm that had been burning in Jeffreyâs eyes was half-diminished by the awkward and uncomfortable atmosphere.
The planning team leader sighed as he saw Jeffreyâs confused expression.
He looked tired, as if he had aged ten years while reading the script.
He let out a heavy sigh and opened his mouth.
âThis wonât sell.â
Sell.
As much as they spent a huge amount of production cost, they had to think about the profit.
Wasnât that the role of the production company?
As the representative of the production company in this place, he had no choice but to oppose this content.
Seo-jun, of course, and the other actors who had appeared in many works and seen many works, had noticed long ago that this script was not a very profitable one.
Wasnât there an audience who was shaking their head here?
Seo-jun smirked at Andrew Walker, who was reading the script again with a surprised expression.
âIt would be fun, but⦠it would be hard to sell.â
It was bad news for the staff, actors, and Bearound employees who had worked hard for the filming.
He couldnât go on like this.
Seo-jun looked at the script on the table.
âWith these actors, how can it fail?â
Jeffreyâs eyes turned to the actors.
There were actors with ticket power that would make anyone envious.
The eternal hero, Davis Garrett of Redbone.
The most loved villain, Seo-jun Lee of Jin Natra.
Milan Chellen, who was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor.
Jeffrey looked at them with a desperate expression. Davis Garrett, who had the most influence, scratched his cheek and said,
âItâs nice that you trust us, but⦠no matter how great an actor is, if the work doesnât support them, they fail. Director.â
Jeffreyâs eyes shook as he read the hidden meaning in his words. His bright eyes slowly darkened.
âBut the script is fineâ¦â
âThatâs from an actorâs perspective. I think it might be a bit awkward for the audience.â
Seo-jun nodded at Milan Chellenâs words.
âI think itâs an interesting story, but itâs hard to sell.â
When Seo-jun said that too, Jeffrey looked at [Survivors-Revision 2] in front of him with a disappointed face.
His mind, which had been clear until a moment ago, became cloudy as if dark clouds had covered it.
ââ¦as expected.â
He should have gone with a safe script.
That director was right.
âAh⦠I see⦠yes⦠Iâm sorry. I wasted your time.â
The actors felt sorry for Jeffrey, who looked completely dejected.
He looked weaker than when they first met.
The planning team leader was about to sigh, but swallowed it.
âThen tomorrowâs filming will be according to the original revisionâ¦â
It seemed that Jeffreyâs rampage was over here.
Seo-jun, who was looking at the script while thinking about something, opened his mouth.
âWhat about a Directorâs Cut?â
Directorâs cut.
Directorâs Edition.
Unlike the movie (regular edition) that contains the intention of the production company, it is a movie that is re-edited according to the Directorâs intention after release.
It was a way of recreating a movie that was edited and deleted according to the intention of the production company for various reasons such as box office success, movie running time, or censorship according to the directorâs intention.
The actors slowly repeated Seo-junâs words and changed their expressions.
Usually, they didnât think about it because the directorâs cut was decided after filming everything and clashing opinions between the production company and the director in editing.
âThat sounds good.â
âSince itâs a Directorâs Cut, it doesnât matter much about box office success.â
The actors reacted positively to Jeffreyâs desperate eyes. The planning team leader also raised his head at Seo-junâs words.
âA Directorâs Cut?â
âYes. Since itâs a Directorâs Cut, canât you make it as you please, Director?â
Seo-jun smiled brightly and looked at the planning team leader.
âI donât know much about business.â
He smiled awkwardly as if he was embarrassed. The planning team leader thought about it.
âA Directorâs Cutâ¦â
When he opened his mouth, everyone listened carefully.
âItâs a different situation than usual, but⦠it seems possible. Itâs just my guess, so I canât guarantee the release, but you can make it as you want, director.â
âWhat if it canât be releasedâ¦â
Wouldnât there be no one to watch it?
Unlike Jeffrey, who was worried, Seo-jun smiled brightly.
âWhat about uploading it on Plus+, Director? Iâm a little close with the head of Plus+ Korea. Iâll ask him!â
Ahn Da Ho, who was sitting far away, chuckled at Seo-junâs words.
What kind of favor is that?
If he just casually mentioned that there was a âDirectorâs Cutâ movie starring âLee Seo-junâ, they would come running with their eyes on fire.
And looking at the faces of the actors here, they might get offers from here and there, and maybe even be able to screen it in theaters, contrary to the planning team leaderâs worries.
âThen letâs go with the Directorâs Cut. Director.â
âIt sounds fun.â
The actors looked happy. The planning team leader sighed.
âEveryone. Donât forget about âSurvivorsâ.â
Seo-jun and the actors laughed at the planning team leaderâs reminder.
âI hope you focus more on âSurvivorsâ. Even if the Directorâs Cut is confirmed. Of course.â
âDonât worry about the filming.â
Seo-junâs reliable words made the planning team leader smile more comfortably.
Who wouldnât trust the actors who showed amazing acting on the set?
âAnd Director Jeffrey.â
It seemed that the âDirectorâs Cutâ story was half-confirmed.
Jeffrey, who was listening blankly, answered in surprise at the call of the planning team leader.
âYes, yes?â
âPlease make the Directorâs Cut using the footage of âSurvivorsâ as much as possible, and when you film a different scene from âSurvivorsâ, please try to film it within the scheduled time of the actors and staff. If you say youâre going to extend the filming schedule for the âDirectorâs Cutâ, there will be resistance.â
Jeffreyâs eyes widened at the planning team leaderâs words.
âIf you say youâre filming within the original schedule to the top, theyâll probably give you a positive answer.â
Director Jeffrey nodded his head with a stern face at the sight of the planning team leader working hard for the directorâs cut.
âThen I have to revise the script.â
âWe canât postpone tomorrowâs shooting.â
âYes. Donât worry.â
Jeffrey, who seemed to have regained his motivation, or rather, his passion, gathered the actors and discussed the shooting for tomorrow.
It was now the time for the actors and the director.
***
âAre you not going to give us more time?â
âWhat?â
The planning team leader turned around at the voice that came from behind him.
It was Seo-jun Leeâs manager.
âI thought Junâs schedule would be extended because of the Directorâs Cut, but you seem to be reluctant to do that.â
Seo-jun Leeâs manager, Ahn Da Ho, asked the planning team leader, who nodded his head and looked at Jeffrey, who was enthusiastically talking about the script.
âThere are often directors like him among them. The artist type, I guess. I had no idea he was that type since he agreed to Davisâs revision so easily.â
Something had bloomed between them for some unknown reason.
âUsually, they vent out their desire to make their own movies in independent films and then compromise with commercial films for their popularity.â
Ahn Da Ho nodded his head at the planning team leaderâs words.
He understood what he meant.
Unlike independent films that show various topics from various perspectives, commercial films are mostly similar for the same reason: to attract audiences.
âOf course, there are also genius directors who make their own works and achieve popularity at the same time. But those cases are very rare.â
Ahn Da Ho made a face as if he realized something.
âDirector Jeffrey is the opposite.â
âYes. I checked his works before signing the contract, and I didnât see any signs of that in his independent films or his first commercial film. But I didnât expect him to explode hereâ¦â
He couldnât imagine it.
He felt dizzy again when he remembered the thrill he felt when he read the Directorâs Cut script.
If there was no such thing as a Directorâs Cut or if Jeffrey didnât give up his stubbornness, what would have happened to [Survivors]⦠He couldnât even imagine it.
In the worst case scenario, the movie could have been canceled.
âBut before that, we would have replaced the director.â
The planning team leader pressed his forehead and opened his mouth.
âDirector Jeffrey must have a lot of things he wants to do now that he has found his art. When that happens, they usually redo their scenes until they are satisfied. If Director Jeffrey shoots all the scenes he wants, neither the actors nor the staff will be able to endure it.â
The schedule would be extended.
That was not good news for Ahn Da Ho, who had contracted Seo-jun Lee until the end of February, or for Bearound, who had planned everything ahead.
âAnd people usually perform better when they are under pressure.â
Ahn Da Ho finally understood why the planning team leader didnât extend the schedule.
The planning team leader smiled like a villain.
âTime is tight, money and inspiration are abundant. Thatâs probably the best way for Director Jeffrey right now.â
The capable planning team leader knew how to deal with people.
***
And the next day.
A meeting was held at Bearound.
They left behind a script that guaranteed popularity and chose a new one.
And when they read the content, they didnât see any possibility of popularity. But Bearound had to think hard about it because it was a âdirectorâs cutâ.
âIt might be good for publicity?â
âIf itâs not a separate shooting time but within the current shooting period⦠wellâ¦â
âWill it affect the shooting of the release version?â
Everyone looked at the planning team leader at that question.
âIâll show you the edited version of [Survivors] that weâve shot so far.â
Darkness fell on the white screen.
It was an edited version that collected the best scenes of the actors, excluding the scenes that needed CG work.
Everyone held their breath at Seo-jun and Davis Garrettâs brilliant performances.
They didnât think that the actors who showed such amazing acting would lose their energy and act poorly for the âdirectorâs cutâ.
Everyone sitting in the meeting room nodded their heads.
âThen letâs have an internal screening and then decide whether to upload the directorâs cut to theaters or not.â
The planning team leader clenched his fist.
The approval for [Survivors]'s directorâs cut was granted.
***
âThatâs it for todayâs shooting. Director.â
To prevent the schedule from being extended further.
The assistant director, who had heard enough from the planning team leader, told Director Jeffrey.
Jeffrey shivered at that.
The production cost from Bearound was beyond imagination, and he had so many ideas from watching the actorsâ amazing improvisationsâ¦
Time was tight.
âHow much time do we have left?â
âThree weeks, two days, and 14 hours.â
Do you want me to tell you the minutes?
The friendly voice of the assistant director seemed to have a hint of the planning team leaderâs malice.
Those three weeks, two days, and 14 hours were not entirely for shooting. There were also breaks for the actors and staff.
Ahhhhhh!
Jeffrey pulled his hair and screamed silently at the tight shooting schedule.
He had no choice but to squeeze his brain and come up with the best scenes.
Even if he came up with the best scenes, the two actors would turn them upside down with their amazing improvisations, so he had to come up with new ones.
His head hurt.
His head hurt so muchâ¦
But it was fun.
It was so much fun.
He enjoyed being hit by the two actorsâ improvisations that he couldnât even imagine, and he also enjoyed seeing Davis Garrett and Seo-jun Lee shut their mouths and act according to his script after being hit by his script.
He was looking forward to who would win in tomorrowâs shooting.
âOh. This is too much.â
Even in the midst of such revisions, the two actors and the director did not forget their work.
Jeffrey deleted all his poor lines with the backspace and looked at the laptop monitor again.
Hehehe.
The staff who were cleaning up the set moved away from Jeffreyâs laughing face.
âThat gentle guyâ¦â