Chapter 548: Chapter 548:

Translator: MarcTempest

Editor: AgRoseCrystal

Chapter 548

“Maybe. That could happen.”

“But can they do whatever they want?”

Kim Haun said sarcastically to Kang Jae-han, who tilted his head.

“Just look at the news…”

“Ah…”

Every organization had some dirty secrets, but the military was almost inaccessible to the public, so there must have been more things buried quietly than what was known.

“In a place where such incidents happen without any reason, they might even make a movie with Seo-jun as the lead actor under the pretext of military promotion.”

Everyone nodded at Yang Ju-hee’s words.

“It wouldn’t cost much, right? There must be writers, aspiring directors, actors, and wannabe actors among so many people.”

“Extras would be everywhere.”

“And props, well, they don’t need to be made separately.”

The more they talked, the more plausible it sounded.

“War movies would be hard, so maybe they would go for terrorism suppression or hostage rescue?”

“That sounds likely.”

They were all actors, so they already came up with plausible scenarios.

“New weapons would also appear.”

“There would definitely be a sacrifice scene, right?”

They could already see the scenes of strong camaraderie, powerful military, and splendid battles with excellent weapons, and the scenes of sacrificing themselves for their comrades.

“It would be insane if the air force and navy were added too.”

The fast-flying fighter jets and the huge warships cutting through the sea.

“And with Seo-jun there…”

And in the center of the camera, Seo-jun with his intense eyes.

They knew well that it would be soaked with propaganda and clichés, but Seo-jun himself was the plausibility, wasn’t he? They could imagine him convincing the audience with his face and acting skills.

“…It doesn’t sound bad?”

Even their friends seemed to be persuaded.

“You guys shouldn’t do that either.”

Seo-jun and the kids laughed at Kim Haun’s incredulous face.

“Well, if it happens, it might be like that.”

“Even if it’s not a movie, they might shoot a video or two, right?”

“They might take some photos, even if it’s not a pictorial.”

“They might also show their faces at some external events.”

Famous actors, singers, and idols did such things, so Seo-jun had a high chance of doing them too. Maybe, since his popularity was worldwide, he would be called more often.

“Hmm.”

Seo-jun groaned with a serious expression. The kids also became serious. It was a joke, but it was a big deal for him.

Seo-jun’s serious voice came out.

“I don’t like boring scripts.”

“That’s it.”

The kids tapped their foreheads.

At their reaction, Seo-jun shrugged his shoulders with a chuckle.

“I have to go secretly as much as possible so that it doesn’t happen.”

***

After having lunch with his friends and finishing his afternoon classes, Seo-jun headed to the acting department’s practice room. Hwang Do-yoon, who was waiting in the practice room, greeted Seo-jun.

“Hello, Do-yoon senior!”

“Ah, you’re here? Just call me hyung. Seo-jun.”

“Should I? Do-yoon hyung?”

“You’re fast!”

Hwang Do-yoon laughed at Seo-jun’s words.

“Is the director okay? Her voice sounded like she was dying when I talked to her last time…”

“She’s a total zombie. The shooting is only a month away, you know. Props, furniture, costumes… She’s busy preparing, you know.”

No matter how independent the film was, it would be busy as the shooting day approached.

“Are the team members all decided?”

“Yeah. The actors are all set and the staff are all gathered. There are also some first and second year students from our department among the staff.”

Well. It would be helpful to see the shooting in person.

“It’ll be a mess when we meet on the shooting day.”

“That’s right.”

Seo-jun and Hwang Do-yoon giggled.

“What about the music team?”

“Music team. The music team leader is special.”

Seo-jun tilted his head at Hwang Do-yoon’s words.

“She’s only 17 now.”

…Oh.

He had a feeling that he knew her.

“Her name is Kwon Se-ah, she was a violinist, but she said she was interested in film music, so she applied this time.”

“Of course.”

“Huh? Do you know her?”

Seo-jun smiled brightly and answered.

“Yes. I took the same class with her in the first semester.”

He had also given her some career advice.

‘I thought I would meet her someday since she said she wanted to do film music, but I didn’t expect to meet her so soon.’

Hwang Do-yoon nodded his head in admiration.

“Have you heard her original songs?”

“No. I haven’t heard them.”

“Then let’s listen. Ji-yoon told me to let you hear it too.”

Hwang Do-yoon tapped his phone with his finger.

“She’s not going to use this exactly in the film, but she’s going to compose something similar to this.”

Seo-jun nodded his head.

Soon the music played. He listened quietly.

A tense music with jagged sounds came out. It was probably a song that would be used in the scene where the ‘unknown painter’ and ‘Min-han’ fought.

The other songs were good too.

“She said she hasn’t been composing for long, but she’s good, isn’t she?”

“Yes. I can quickly think of what scene it is.”

He could tell how hard and diligent Kwon Se-ah had been studying and practicing since she decided to do film music.

Seo-jun felt proud of her.

“I don’t have to worry about the music. How about the art team, hyung?”

“The art team leader is a third year student. Her name is Yu Seo-young, she was the most popular and had a lot of articles at the exhibition last year. She’s going to study abroad in Europe as soon as he graduates.”

“Not a fourth year student?”

“Fourth year students are busy making their graduation works.”

Ah…

Seo-jun nodded.

“This is the kind of painting I’m talking about.”

Hwang Do-yoon showed him Yu Seo-young’s painting on his phone.

On a large canvas, a rainy lakeside scenery was reflected on a window.

The raindrops on the window glass were clear and vivid, while the lakeside view beyond the glass was blurry because of the moisture. The two parts blended harmoniously, creating a realistic and dreamy effect.

Seo-jun’s eyes sparkled as he admired the painting.

“Did she also paint the climax scene?”

He was curious about the painting since his role was an artist, and the only scene where a complete painting appeared in [Fire] was the climax scene.

It had to be more intense, more memorable, and more surreal.

“That’s what I heard.”

“I wonder what kind of painting it will be.”

As Seo-jun spoke, Hwang Do-yoon hesitated.

He thought about Hwang Ji-yoon’s passion for [Fire] and doubted that the climax scene’s painting would be easily decided.

‘But they’ll have to decide before the shooting.’

He scratched his cheek and opened his mouth.

“Shall we start practicing then?”

“Yes!”

Seo-jun nodded enthusiastically.

***

Early October.

Actor Kim Jong-ho returned to Korea.

[Actor Kim Jong-ho, back in Korea!]

[The second Hollywood actor of Lee Seo-jun’s group! Kim Jong-ho!]

[ONE, will there be a sequel?]

[Actor Kim Jong-ho to star in a series movie?!]

“It’s noisy.”

“Well, it’s understandable! ONE is doing great at the box office.”

Lee Seo-jun’s words made Lee Ji-seok smile and put down his phone.

A private room in their favorite barbecue restaurant.

The actors of Lee Seo-jun’s group gathered together.

Park Do-hoon greeted Kim Jong-ho with a smile.

“Good job. Uncle.”

“Yeah. Thanks.”

“Your next work is also a Hollywood movie, that’s amazing!”

Kim Jong-ho and Lee Ji-seok smiled happily and then met each other’s eyes. They both sighed at the same time.

“We’re in the same movie again…”

“What if we end up doing the next one together too?”

“Don’t jinx it.”

The sincere conversation made Seo-jun, Lee Da-jin, and Park Do-hoon laugh.

“But did you know you were auditioning for the same movie?”

“No. I really didn’t. When I auditioned, Jong-ho hyung was filming, so we didn’t have time to talk. We never discussed it even after he finished filming.”

Lee Ji-seok shook his head and answered Seo-jun’s question. Kim Jong-ho added.

“I guess it’s because of the movie. There were more Korean roles than other movies.”

“What kind of movie is it?”

“It’s about Korean immigrants.”

Lee Ji-seok put down his beer glass and said.

“It’s a story of a family, but there’s a generational gap between the first and second generation immigrants and the people around them. The protagonist is the second generation son.”

“The background is Korean, but they didn’t limit it to Koreans. They put in a lot of elements that other immigrants could relate to.”

Oh.

The interesting plot made Seo-jun, Park Do-hoon, and Lee Da-jin’s eyes shine.

“Then you’ll have a higher chance of meeting Korean actors in that movie.”

Seo-jun’s words made Kim Jong-ho nod.

“Right? The main actor is a Korean-American, but there could be other roles cast by Korean actors.”

“How about it? Do you want to audition too?”

Lee Ji-seok’s question made Park Do-hoon and Lee Da-jin widen their eyes.

“Huh? Isn’t the audition over?”

“The shooting is next year, so the audition is still going on.”

“I’m also recommending it to our agency’s actors.”

Kim Jong-ho thought of his noisy agency. He didn’t know how many of them would pass, but he hoped it would be a good opportunity.

“Hmm. Then maybe I’ll give it a try.”

As Park Do-hoon and Lee Da-jin pondered, Lee Ji-seok’s gaze turned to Seo-jun.

“But is there a role that Seo-jun can do?”

“Ah, I don’t think I can do it.”

Seo-jun’s words made the four actors’ eyes widen. Seo-jun refused a role, that was unheard of.

“Why? Why? What’s wrong?”

Seo-jun laughed and said.

“I’m going to the army next year.”

…!!

The actors’ mouths dropped open.

“So I’m clearing up my schedule now.”

Well, not that he had much of a schedule.

He was planning to refrain from reading scripts to avoid postponing his enlistment because he wanted to film.

‘I don’t know if I can really do that.’

He could almost see himself groaning over a script in front of him.

Next to him, Kim Jong-ho, who was recovering from his surprise, blurted out.

“…When did Seo-jun grow up so much?”

“…I know, right.”

The sincere exclamation of the actors made Seo-jun laugh.

***

While Seo-jun was having a fun October with his school classes and practice with Hwang Do-yoon, Hwang Ji-yoon and the [Fire] team were also busy every day.

“This is not it either…”

In despair.

Hwang Ji-yoon’s words made the art team leader Yu Seo-young sigh. Around the table where Hwang Ji-yoon was sitting, there were white papers that had been rejected.

“No, this is not bad, right?”

Yu Seo-young pushed forward the painting that had been unanimously approved by the art team members. Hwang Ji-yoon scratched her head and nodded, but soon shook it.

“It’s okay. It’s okay, but… something… something is missing.”

“What is that something… explain it to me…”

The two, who had become close while preparing for the project, looked at each other with frustration and sighed. As the shooting day approached, their hearts became more anxious.

“Maybe, something like, using the terrain and features to paint?”

“…I majored in painting.”

“But can’t you do it somehow?”

Yu Seo-young sighed again at Hwang Ji-yoon’s earnest eyes. She felt like she had met a difficult client.

‘But the problem is that I understand him.’

When she read the script of [Fire], Yu Seo-young knew how important and impressive this climax scene was in this work. She wanted to see this scene as a movie.

If she wasn't in the art team of that movie.

She had a heavy responsibility to create that intense scene. She looked down at the paper.

Does this painting suit that scene?

It was a painting that she had drawn with all her heart, but as Hwang Ji-yoon said, it was lacking something.

Yu Seo-young rubbed her head with a complicated mind.

“The problem is that none of us, including me, have ever painted on snow.”