Chapter 41
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 041
Chapter Title: Start
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Right after writer Go Ji-sook decided to cast Shin Yi-han as well.
"We'll contact you as soon as the contract is ready! See you then! Got it?! Actor Shin Yi-han, you're perfect for Geum Seong-je! Absolutely!"
"Yes, I'll let my agency know."
The meeting with Shin Yi-han had gone down more or less like that.
"Just so you know, you absolutely can't back out! If you change your mind after just a few days, I'll cry, wail, get on my knees, and make a huge scene!"
Director Gil Mi-jin, who clung to him with near-obsessive fervor.
"No way I would. It's way too fun—Others' Hell."
"...!"
"...Approved."
Writer Go Ji-sook had no choice but to shout her approval again at Shin Yi-han's playful remark about how fun it was.
"Apprroooved—!"
Even the way he burst out laughing at her words was flawless.
"Thank you for the kind words. I've really wanted to play Geum Seong-je."
"Oh my goodness! What are you saying? I'm the one who should be thankful!"
The guy was just... so nice in every way... handsome beyond belief... and his acting was insanely good... Sigh.
"Sorry for opposing you at first sight, actor Yi-han."
"Not at all. Thanks to your opposition, I got to watch episode one and chat with you. It was great."
"Ugh...! Wow, perfect!"
His manners were impeccable. Go Ji-sook couldn't help regretting her earlier self.
That Choi-gyeol jerk was already whining away...
Why hadn't she recognized this actor sooner? She must've been crazy.
And even after barely holding back her urge to keep him longer and sending Shin Yi-han off, it was the same.
"Wow..."
Go Ji-sook couldn't stop gushing excitedly about Shin Yi-han.
"Mi-jin, I... I almost made a huge mistake."
"Right?!"
"Who else could be Geum Seong-je if not him?"
Her soul seemed drained one moment, then alert the next.
"In all my years as a writer... I've never seen an actor embody my vision of a character so perfectly. No, he acted even beyond that— isn't that too much?"
"Exactly! That's what I've been saying!"
Director Gil Mi-jin nodded vigorously at Go Ji-sook's words, repeated time and again. She couldn't hide her joy at landing Shin Yi-han.
"Gasp...!"
But Gil Mi-jin had no choice but to check the time urgently.
"Writer, this isn't the time for this."
Time was tight.
"Yeah...? Oh."
Go Ji-sook nodded at Gil Mi-jin's words.
Right. This wasn't the time to chat idly.
Since Others' Hell was a Newflix original drama, they needed to contact them to officially confirm actor Shin Yi-han's casting.
And discuss the contract and advance payment...
"Let's go watch Murder's Delusion first!"
Discuss...?
"Perfect timing—I just snagged premiere tickets! There's one more this afternoon!"
At Gil Mi-jin's words, Kim Yu-ri, the assistant director who got the tickets, flashed a V-sign.
Go Ji-sook, on the other hand, tilted her head.
Wait, weren't we supposed to prepare the contract with actor Shin Yi-han...?
"Starts in exactly ten minutes! We have to hurry or we'll be late!"
"Suddenly? Wait, what's Murder's Delusion?"
"The indie film starring actor Shin Yi-han!"
"...!"
Go Ji-sook shot to her feet at the mention of Shin Yi-han. She grabbed her bag and dashed out of the meeting room.
"Mi-jin! Yu-ri! What are you doing? Come on!"
"Ah! Coming!"
"Yes! Finally going to see it!"
Director Gil Mi-jin and assistant director Kim Yu-ri followed behind Go Ji-sook, who had prepared to leave faster than anyone.
And about two hours later, the three of them.
At the fact that they now had that insane monster in their own project.
"Mi-jin, why'd you only show me this now...? You should've shown it sooner. I would've welcomed him with open arms, not opposed."
"But... it's the premiere today. How could I?"
"He's insane. Actor Shin Yi-han."
Chaos erupted once more.
Around the same time, in the CEO's office at Winter Entertainment, Shin Yi-han's agency.
Choo Gyeo-ul, who was both his manager and the CEO, was in the middle of a hectic afternoon.
Not only handling backlog work,
but also checking reviews of Murder's Delusion in her spare moments—regretting not going to the premiere together—and even smiling brightly.
What's up with Shin Yi-han?! Seriously, what's his deal?! Why does he have such a thin filmography?! Even Murder's Delusion wasn't enough—I was dying for more!!!!
But if he'd had more screen time there, I'd have pissed my pants leaving the theater.
Lmao so gross but I get it lol
Flame was short too, Brilliant Sky was basically a side role... Murder's Delusion even shorter. Insane...
Making me cry with those few scenes is what's truly insane;;
Insane Shin Yi-han, you can do this too?
: As a movie noob speaking my mind. I get it's artistic and the theme's interesting, but honestly... it's kinda boring until the mid-point?
But every flashback scene snaps me awake.
And the flashbacks only fully reveal at the end... Shin Yi-han there was insane. Gave me chills, nearly died;;
Reactions to Shin Yi-han kept pouring in nonstop across small but influential online communities.
Choo Gyeo-ul couldn't stop smiling.
'Whoever this actor is, he's no joke.'
Not just Murder's Delusion—his other roles too. People were already recognizing his talent from these small parts. It was amazing.
This didn't usually happen.
The actors she'd nurtured before were the same.
They rose gradually; none had grabbed attention like this from the start.
And that's why Choo Gyeo-ul felt a twinge of regret.
Ah, now if only...
Just settle on the next project, and he'd blow up for real.
"Summer Confession... you're really turning it down?!"
"Yes."
"For real?!"
"Yes, please."
She'd just rejected the commercial film where he'd been offered the male lead.
"Actually, I have something I want to do."
"What is it?!"
"Something hellishly creepy."
"...?"
What? Shin Yi-han...!
Choo Gyeo-ul tilted her head at his cryptic words.
"Lately, all the decent thrillers suck! Ugh."
Honestly, her standards had gotten too high.
With the top-notch quality of Shin Yi-han's past works, it wasn't easy anymore.
And right as that thought crossed her mind.
Her phone rang.
[CEO Choo, are you at the office right now?]
"Yi-han? Oh. Yes, yes! I'm here!"
[Can I come over quick?]
"Of course!"
Shin Yi-han was coming over suddenly.
Wait...? But didn't Yi-han say he had a dinner with the Murder's Delusion team today?
Why was he coming?
Choo Gyeo-ul's questions didn't last long.
"Here."
Shin Yi-han, who zipped into the office, plopped a stack of papers on the desk.
"I want to do this."
His face was brimming with excitement.
...?
Choo Gyeo-ul, meanwhile, was baffled.
Wait, so.
Yeah?
Even if the actor had scouted the project himself instead of her as manager—that was secondary.
[*Newflix Original*
- Director: Gil Mi-jin
- Writer: Go Ji-sook]
"...?!"
Choo Gyeo-ul's jaw dropped at the contents of the papers Shin Yi-han handed her.
'What the hell is this.'
Gil Mi-jin, and now Go Ji-sook.
And a Newflix original drama?!
She'd vaguely heard Newflix was producing originals lately.
'But why is it here...!'
It was too groundbreaking.
"Actually, the director called me in for a meeting today to scout me."
Shin Yi-han's follow-up was even more shocking.
"W-what?! How?! No contact came through the agency at all!"
"Uh. Coincidence? I was out and ran into them?"
"... ."
Choo Gyeo-ul was speechless.
What, like casually strolling and coming back with a golden retriever carrying treasure in its mouth?
"Kidding. I ran into them at the premiere. It happened so suddenly, I was shocked too."
But you know that doesn't make sense, right?
Choo Gyeo-ul was still flustered.
Though in a good way.
Stunned, sure—but he'd basically won the lottery with high odds.
And after reading the synopsis Shin Yi-han handed her, Choo Gyeo-ul got even more chills.
Not just because it was intriguing.
Because it was real.
That thing Shin Yi-han had mentioned before.
'Hellishly creepy...!'
This was actually real? Choo Gyeo-ul even thought everything Shin Yi-han said was coming true.
Shin Yi-han... nailed the ratings down to decimals for Brilliant Sky.
And now casually brings a jackpot project...
"Oh! What, what role?!"
Shin Yi-han grinned at Choo Gyeo-ul's urgent question.
"Geum Seong-je. Sub-villain."
Choo Gyeo-ul was even more shocked.
Hell, he'd hit the jackpot.
A near-lead role, and a key villain from the synopsis at that.
'Just what is Shin Yi-han.'
He clearly had a knack for drawing people in.
It was astonishing.
They hadn't even circulated his profile properly, yet projects rolled in on their own...
Wait a sec.
As Choo Gyeo-ul's thoughts continued, Shin Yi-han's profile photo suddenly popped into her head.
That crappy one taken haphazardly at the acting academy he attended before signing with the agency.
That was the only photo of Shin Yi-han they had.
If they'd considered him, they'd have at least made a proper profile...
'No way... is that old photo circulating right now...?'
No!
Choo Gyeo-ul's mind went blank.
"F-first! Then!"
This was a disaster.
"Let's take photos! For the profile to send them!"
"Huh? But I'm already cast..."
"What are you saying? Confirmed makes it even bigger! Soon Newflix will circulate that profile everywhere!"
It was all because Shin Yi-han had delayed profile shoots, saying he was busy submitting to the film festival.
"That horrific photo won't do!"
"Horrific..."
It wasn't that bad, was it?
Shin Yi-han tilted his head, but.
"It's bad!"
Choo Gyeo-ul was firm.
This is why agencies exist, huh.
Ever since the casting for Others' Hell was locked in, Shin Yi-han kept marveling.
Their drive was unreal.
"Kyaa! What are you doing with that face right now?!"
"Relax your face!"
They turned the profile photoshoot into a total shake-down.
"Stop giving me chills...! No scary, sad, or pitiful expressions!"
"We have plenty of emotional shots already?! Just one killer neutral shot at the end, please?!"
The photographer was so passionate. The press photos from Brilliant Sky's finale were child's play compared.
Thanks to that, they got a variety of emotional shots plus.
"Uh... is this really me?"
"Yes. Totally."
"Actor... you don't know your own face. You're even more handsome than this..."
A sleek, actor-worthy profile photo was done in a snap. Shin Yi-han was impressed.
"Seriously, actor, how do you not know how good-looking you are? You look in the mirror every day, right? Weird."
He ended up laughing at the photographer's half-joking question.
"Ah, well. I've lived not knowing for a long time."
"...?"
Shin Yi-han gave a playful reply as he saved the profile photo to his phone.
He was still more used to his burn-scarred version, apparently.
Anyway, with the stellar profile ready.
Things started progressing smoothly after that.
"Gasp...!"
"Right! That's Shin Yi-han! We were agonizing over which photo to send Newflix...!"
"Thank you! Ugh!"
"We almost sent drama captures!"
"Jackpot! Now this is the real Shin Yi-han!"
When he and Choo Gyeo-ul visited to deliver the new profile as a courtesy greeting, the staff welcomed them like heroes.
Wait, was the old photo that bad...?
"Please take care of us!"
"No, you take care of us!"
And the next visit sealed the contract in a flash.
Newflix had some reservations about suddenly using a rookie for a sub-villain, per the writer and director's insistence.
But they relented thanks to the duo's forceful push.
The reactions weren't great, apparently...
Whatever.
Shin Yi-han shrugged.
"Now you're the second actor confirmed for Others' Hell."
"Ah. First is the lead, Baek Eun-won."
But production had only just been greenlit.
"So officially, we'll see you again at the script reading."
"We'll prepare hard until then! Just wait a bit!"
Lots of roles to cast, locations to secure.
So, standby until then.
Of course, that didn't mean Shin Yi-han had nothing to do.
[Seoul Independent Film Festival (51st) Kicks Off!]
Right after wrapping Innocent Boy's casting.
[We look forward to many submissions!]
Shin Yi-han was at Red Film. For the freshly posted Seoul Independent Film Festival submission notice.
He sat at the computer with Kwak Hoon.
"Looks like..."
Time to submit the completed Innocent Boy to the festival.
The deadline was generous.
But no more edits needed; Innocent Boy was plenty solid.
"We'll be the first to submit, right...?"
"Yeah. Feels like it. Submitting on day one and all."
Shin Yi-han chuckled softly at Kwak Hoon's question while downloading the entry form. His voice was already shaking—what to do.
"Oh, right."
But as Kwak Hoon filled out the form, he had to look up at Shin Yi-han.
- Title: Innocent Boy
- Director: Kwak Hoon
- Screenplay:
The blank for writer. Time to fill it.
"Yi-han, what's your pen name gonna be?"
Kwak Hoon asked naturally.
"Can't leave it blank forever."
"True."
He'd insisted on anonymity as a faceless writer. If he hated his real name, they needed a pen name at least.
"Hm..."
Shin Yi-han pondered briefly, then.
Tap tap. Started typing in the name field himself.
"This should do."
He pulled his hands from the keyboard with a smirk.
?
Pfft. Kwak Hoon burst out laughing.
"For real?"
What a ridiculous name. Too on-the-nose.
- Shin Il-han
Shin Yi-han, Shin Il-han. Such a pun.
He'd begged to keep it secret at first, then pulls this. Kinda deflating.
"Isn't it too close to your real name?"
"Who'd guess it's the lead actor?"
Shin Yi-han laughed at Kwak Hoon's question.
"And even if they do, it'll be fine soon enough."
It started as a secret just to live and be judged as an actor purely.
But lately, Shin Yi-han felt like.
When people went nuts wondering about writer Shin Il-han.
Somehow.
Actor Shin Yi-han would be soaring too.
"Okay."
Kwak Hoon nodded. Half-revealing, half-hiding— not bad.
He finished the form.
And soon after, with the form and film attached perfectly, Kwak Hoon.
"Sh-should I...?"
"Yes!"
Clicked the mouse with a trembling voice.
Click!
The sound of submission.
Of a work sure to stun everyone.
Now it was up to the judges and audience.
Seoul Independent Film Festival.
Right after submissions opened.
Ding!
The sudden email chime made the staff member tilt her head.
"Huh?"
Already?
Most waited till the deadline; early birds like this were rare.
"Who submitted already? This quick?"
"Yeah. Day one and all. Deadline's generous too."
Other staff gathered at the computer curiously.
"Ooh... for real?"
Last year the festival tanked hard... Wonder if this year'll be okay.
Welcoming news, at least.
"Problem is... submitting this early means one of two things. Either they're so confident no more tweaks needed."
One staffer said, arms crossed.
"Or they've half-given up."
Everyone nodded.
"Usually the latter..."
"Nah. Filmmaking's tough; they must've done their best!"
"Question is the quality?"
Click.
"Shall we check it out?"
One clicked the entry form as rep.
"Let's see."
All eyes went to the title and details.
"O. Innocent Boy? Decent indie title."
"Ah. Separate director and writer."
"Kwak Hoon, Shin Il-han? New names. First film probably... Sent quick to get it over with."
The staff chuckled pityingly.
"Well, let's watch once. Gotta sort basics anyway."
"Okay. Quick peek."
Before prelim judging, organizing entries was their job.
No harm checking the vibe.
"~Hope this debut makes main comp quality!"
"Yeah."
"But... will it? Main slots are scarce."
Chatting, they waited.
Click click. Downloads done.
Soon, Innocent Boy started playing on the monitor.
No synopsis check, zero expectations.
But.
That was a mistake.
Too heavy to watch casually without prep.
Innocent Boy hit like a brick.
And soon, as it played on...
The staff sensed something wrong.
Should they stop and rewatch properly?
But they couldn't stop.
'W-wait.'
Insanely curious now.
'Can we really watch this for free...?'
The ending. The message.
'What is this.'
'Why is something like this here.'
Yeah. Prelims? Who cares.
Not the time.
This one film alone.
Would turn the festival upside down...!