I will live as an actor Episode 161
: Master.
Italy has long been a country of bridge. It served as a road connecting Islam and Western Europe, sparking a commercial and artistic revival.
Of course, Italy is not the only country with these geographical characteristics. Although there are many countries, including Lebanon, it is safe to say that its meaning has faded due to multiple civil wars.
Italy, which has experienced a cultural revival since the Renaissance, has produced many artistic masters, and in modern times, when it comes to the most famous artists in Italy, Giovanni Sponzaâs name always appears.
The Baroque architectural style building located in the center of Rome, the capital of Italy, is so grandiose that one might think it may have religious significance. There were many people standing in line in front of it.
âWow, all these people came to see Sponzaâs exhibition?â
Lee Bong-chun stuck out his tongue. If you didnât know the situation, it would look like you were standing in line to buy tickets to a famous pop singerâs concert.
Peopleâs ages also vary. From the old man with white hair to the little boy with bright eyes shining while holding his parentsâ hand.
I had already heard that Giovanni Sponza was famous, but I had no idea that he was an artist so loved by the public.
Anyway, in my past life, I was only interested in art works and was completely ignorant of photography.
From the corridor leading into the exhibition hall, works of art that capture peopleâs attention are displayed to the left and right.
It was a portrait photo, but none of them were famous people. These were photos taken all over the world, including Italy.
From a picture of a young mother breastfeeding her newborn child to a picture of an old man yawning while playing chess to a picture of a slum child holding a model rifle with a look of defiance.
The more I walked, the more I felt like I was walking into a world he had created.
âGiovanni Sponza is considered one of the most influential artists in Italy. His reputation went beyond the commercial realm and grew further after he won the Pulitzer Prize for journalism. The work you are seeing now shows soldiers from both countries crying and pointing guns at each other during the Gulf War. Giovanni Sponza, who jumped into the battlefield to raise awareness of the horrors of war, was shot once in the thigh and once in the clavicle.â
On behalf of the curator, Alfredo personally explained the work in Korean.
Giovanni Sponza focuses on the world you face without any addition or subtraction. The photos of assistant photographers accompanying him are also included.
From the sweat of the youngest photographers moving heavy filming equipment to the smiles of everyone at the end of the shoot.
You can feel his wrinkled gaze capturing everyoneâs lives in a simple photo.
Murmur.
It was a quiet exhibition hall. But the closer we get to the end, the louder the people are. As Italy has a large number of Catholics, some people even appear to be praying with their hands folded.
What they are looking at is not the shepherd or the cross. It was a photo that shined alone even without a beam of light.
Stalactites decorated like pipe organs shine with the light of the blue coral reef.
In the photo, he is sitting alone on a rock with his eyes closed, as if he is watching everyone.
Someone said the man in the photo was a pure white angel, while another said he was a saint. What you see doesnât matter. They only move based on their own beliefs.
* * *
âMr. Jang, today is your last night in Italy, right?â
It was a long journey. We arrived in October and were already in the beginning of December.
We filmed with Sponza in a small city on the southern coast of Italy, and once we arrived in Rome, we filmed commercials without stopping.
Monica wanted to throw a big farewell party, but I declined. Because I wanted to spend the remaining time leisurely.
âI guess Mr. Jang isnât that interested in socializing?â
This was a restaurant we arrived at after walking for about ten minutes from the Travis Fountain. I was puzzled by Monicaâs question as she moistened her mouth with wine. She elaborates as if she read my thoughts.
âThere were many agency and corporate officials who wanted to meet Mr. Jang. This is proof that Mr. Sponza is already making a name for himself thanks to his exhibitions. You may not know it, but Mr. Jangâs agency in Korea must have also been inundated with calls. Usually, in cases like this, models want to raise their name level. âI believe that the higher the status of the person I meet, the higher my name value will be.â
âIâm not really interested in that kind of thing. I didnât come to Italy to build connections. I just wanted to spend my last day as leisurely as possible. âTo be honest, Iâve been crazy for the past two months.â
âFor something like that, you handled it very well. Jordana, who had a negative view of Mr. Jang, even apologized directly. Whatâs more, he even captured the heart of the prickly Chairman Rossellini. âUnder the current situation, if Mr. Jang puts his mind to it, it will not be difficult for him to advance into Hollywood.â
Hollywood.
This is a place that any movie star would dream of. Many Asian actors have tried their hand at it, but only a handful have established themselves so far.
The United States was at the forefront of abolishing racial discrimination, but ironically, Hollywood was also a place where racial barriers were higher than anywhere else.
Even though I was crazy about acting in my past life, I never crossed the threshold of Hollywood.
âThere is a saying that each personâs prime is different. I want to go on my own. If I were to ride on the back of my current fame, I would definitely be able to get even a small role, but I only want to be recognized for my acting. âI think thatâs the life of an actor.â
Monica gives me an interesting look.
âAs expected, my insight was not wrong. Mr. Jang is a mysterious person. I have lived a life full of work until now. I always had to think only of Desiderio and live as Desiderioâs successor. âYou are the first person to give me this kind of attention.â
The classical music playing in the restaurant can be heard all the way to the outdoor tables. The steps of a child who makes a wish at the Trevi Fountain and walks away are more powerful than ever.
At that moment, Monica looks at me as if making a wish.
âMr. Jang. Iâll ask you straight. âHow about meeting me?â
* * *
Salvatore Rossellini twitched his white eyebrows. His wrinkled gaze clearly showed his confusion as to whether he had heard wrong.
âYou refused?â
Monica, sitting across from him, nodded briefly with a faint smile.
Not because she is his eldest granddaughter, but because she not only looks good to the public but also has a great personality. I never imagined that I would be rejected outright.
âI heard you have a fiancé?â
âNo, I said I wasnât meeting anyone. However, he said there was no reason to meet me right now. âHe said he didnât know me very well and had no intention of dating long distance.â
âHmm, Mr. Jang is really a man you donât even know. âMonica, I know that you lack nothing because I have watched you from the side, and if you want to get to know someone, all you have to do is meet them and get to know them.â
âGrandpa, did you really want me to date Mr. Jang?â
âIsnât that what you wanted too?â
âActually, I was surprised when my grandfather first asked me about meeting Mr. Jang. âI thought you wouldnât want me to meet an Asian person.â
Although he was the chairman of the global company Desiderio, he was also the owner of the Rossellini family. As with age, stereotypes were also something that could not go away.
Italy has been a country where racism has been rampant since the past. but.
âMr. Jang is different, my old hunch was telling me. This man needs to be caught somehow. But even if the old man tempted him with money, he didnât seem like the kind of person who would come running. Besides, Monica, I was talking to you because you seemed interested in Mr. Jang. But I didnât know that Mr. Jang would refuse so harshly. âHe must be flying back to Korea by now.â
âIâm not going to give up just once.â
An interesting look appears in Chairman Salvatoreâs eyes at the unexpected remark. Indeed, she was the eldest granddaughter, full of a competitive spirit as challenging as herself.
âMr. Jang prepared a gift for you on your way back to Korea.â
âgift?â
âThe advertisement was released earlier than the scheduled date. âYou can probably find out from the airport.â
Monica smiles with interest, just like her grandfather.
âWhat kind of impact do you have?â
* * *
It was quiet on the plane returning to Korea. Because it was first class, I was satisfied with not only the comfortable bed but also the service.
Occasionally the stewards would glance at me or other passengers would glance at me, but it wasnât enough to make me uncomfortable.
In my mind, the conversation I had with Monica last night was flashing back to me.
-Sorry, I canât accept that offer.
To anyone, it would seem that he was refusing to conclude a business contract, but in reality, he was rejecting the womanâs confession. Monica asked hotly and honestly, as expected of an Italian woman. He asks if he doesnât like himself or if heâs already dating a woman.
To be honest, there was a woman that came to mind. Although the feeling as a younger sister was stronger than the feeling as a woman.
When I expressed my apologies again and a firm refusal, Monica nodded as if there was nothing she could do.
âWhat happened with your brother Eliana?â
Desiderio also provided a first class seat for Lee Bong-chun, so the two sat next to each other across the aisle.
Lee Bong-chun seemed to hesitate for a moment, then let out a deep sigh and spoke.
âIt didnât go well.â
âwhy? Eliana seemed very interested in you.â
âIf youâre interested, you have to have a conversation. As I stuttered while looking at the English dictionary, I realized I couldnât help but feel frustrated. âIn the end, it all ended in a haphazard way.â
They say that people who are close to each other resemble each other, but it is clear that they are both bad at dating.
âWhat did you and Monica talk about when you met separately yesterday?â
âWe just talked about work. âThey said it was unfortunate that it went so quickly.â
Lee Bong-chun seemed to be expecting something more, but there was no further explanation. Anyway, everything must have flowed like a midsummer nightâs dream.
At that time, Monicaâs words suddenly passed through my mind.
-I prepared a gift for Mr. Jang. Letâs go to Korea and check it out.
âNow that I think about it, Monica said she had prepared some kind of gift. âThey say they can confirm it when they arrive in Korea.â
âgift? âHasnât England already received a lot from you, Desiderio?â
As I became Desiderioâs exclusive model, I received many products that could be considered sponsorships and gifts.
At first, I declined because there were too many expensive lines, but Desiderio took a stubborn attitude, saying that I would become a member of the family if I received this.
When I asked Alfredo separately, he said that if you become an exclusive model, you can receive Desiderioâs high-level lines without delay.
âSo, what kind of gift have you prepared?â
Only after arriving in Korea was I able to confirm the gift Monica had mentioned. It was time to collect our luggage and walk with Lee Bong-chun.
After arriving in Korea, not many people recognized me because I wore a hat and sunglasses.
However, Lee Bong-chun, who walked out of the gate first, looked surprised. As I walked away, I was able to understand the cause of that expression.
how.
Clap la la rock!
Spotlights are pouring down like rain. It wasnât easy to walk. There were so many reporters lined up that it could almost be called an awards ceremony red carpet. I didnât even win a gold medal at the Olympics, so is there a reason why so many people are waiting?
It was a time when I suspected that they were reporters waiting for someone else. With the dazzling spotlight, the reporters recognized England and shouted his name.