CHAPTER 057: GV
CHAPTER 057: GV
The theater, where the shocking aftertaste of the film had not yet faded.
The auditorium, waiting for the GV (Guest Visit, a talk with the audience) that would begin shortly, was filled with scorching heat.
People started chattering about the movie they had just watched in excited voices.
“Wow… I never imagined that twist.”
“So there was a reason they went that hard with the marketing. It’s easily one of the best films in the last few years, isn’t it?”
“The trailer didn’t even capture one quarter of the actual movie.”
“But Ryu Sunho’s acting was insane too… Now I get why Bae Seonggeon praised him like that.”
“Seriously. At the end his eyes just changed, and he started pouring out words like he was possessed—I got chills and couldn’t look away.”
“If he’d acted it half-assed, it would’ve floated and fallen apart, but he pressed it down hard with pure acting.”
In the middle of all that, the presence of Quentin Marino sitting in the center of the audience was pouring oil on the fire.
“Hey, Quentin’s sitting there too?”
“Huh? You’re right. Is he going to stay for the GV too? Guess he really liked the movie.”
“Crazy. Today’s GV is going to be legendary.”
The anticipation surged even higher.
There had been sightings that Quentin had watched other films, but there hadn’t been a single story of him attending a GV.
As the rustling atmosphere swelled and it became time, the director and actors of Vacuum State came up on stage.
The audience poured out thunderous applause toward the people who had just dominated the screen.
Director Ji Seongwoo, standing on stage, spotted his idol sitting in the crowd, and his face went pale.
“Huh… h-huh…!”
“What is it?”
“Over there—Quentin…!”
“Huh?”
Ryu Sunho, standing beside Director Ji Seongwoo, also found Quentin and looked somewhat surprised.
He had thought it might be possible Quentin would watch the film, but he hadn’t expected him to participate in the GV too.
But then he smiled.
If Quentin was still sitting there until the end, it had to be a positive sign.
“H-hello. I’m rookie director Ji Seongwoo.”
“Hello, I’m rookie actor Ryu Sunho, playing the role of Jeong Dogyun.”
“And I’m veteran Park Juwon.”
At Park Juwon’s slick greeting, laughter burst from the audience.
The host took the microphone and opened in an excited voice.
“Wow, Director—really… I think there are a lot of audience members who still haven’t escaped the shock of that ending. Was there some trigger that led you to conceive such a bold story?”
Director Ji Seongwoo, as if nervous, fidgeted with the hand holding the mic and answered.
“Uh… I started from the question of what the end of a world with severed communication would look like. These days we’re connected more than ever through SNS, but I kept feeling we’re actually more isolated.”
“Then did the title, Vacuum State, also have a special reason like that?”
“Yes… I wanted to translate isolation not as a simple social problem, but into a physical problem.”
Director Ji Seongwoo’s voice trembled, but his eyes were full of certainty.
“I added the quantum-mechanical concept that existence is only given meaning when it’s observed and recognized by someone… and imagined from there…”
A low murmur of admiration flowed from the audience.
As if gaining courage, Ji Seongwoo continued.
“And… it expanded into the philosophical assumption that all of this might be a simulation. The ending is the result of visualizing that assumption in the most cinematic way… Rather than giving an answer, I wanted to throw the question itself directly to the audience.”
For a moment, the host couldn’t continue and just stared at Director Ji Seongwoo.
As if impressed by his deep answer, he nodded several times.
“That’s a really deep, packed answer… It really feels like we’re receiving how much Director Ji Seongwoo wrestled with this film.”
With a voice full of admiration, the host refreshed the mood.
More questions followed.
They talked about the production process.
Character setups, behind-the-scenes stories on set, and more.
After interesting stories went back and forth, the host looked toward the seats and said:
“Alright, then we’ll pass this hot energy to the audience. If anyone has a question for the director or the actors, please raise your hand.”
The moment the host finished, hands shot up all over the auditorium like they were competing.
But everyone’s gaze was aimed at one place.
The direction was, of course, Quentin Marino.
He had his hand raised too.
With an excited face, the host handed Quentin the microphone.
Quentin pointed to none other than Ryu Sunho and asked his question in English.
“Actor Ryu, who played the lead! Yes, I want to ask you. How did you construct a character so empty, yet so filled with tragedy?”
The interpreter sitting beside Quentin Marino took the mic to relay it, but there was no need.
Ryu Sunho immediately began answering on the spot in fluent English.
“I didn’t think emptiness meant ‘having nothing.’ It’s a space created by an immense loss. I tried to fill that space with Jeong Dogyun’s memories of what he lost.”
In an instant, the hall stirred.
“…What, he heard it and answered right away… without interpretation?”
“Why is his English this good?”
“His pronunciation is really good too… Quentin looks like he understood everything.”
Even Park Juwon stared at Ryu Sunho with shocked eyes.
The interpreter belatedly interpreted their exchange, and the audience marveled at the in-depth Q&A.
“He acted while thinking about things like that…?”
“I thought it was just talent, but maybe he’s the type who researches deeply.”
“With that kind of effort, that talent would shine.”
“Wow… damn. I heard it in Korean and I still don’t understand what he’s saying.”
Quentin, too, nodded with a satisfied smile at Ryu Sunho’s answer.
After that, a few more questions went back and forth to Ryu Sunho and Director Ji Seongwoo, and Quentin applauded, delighted.
“So this good film didn’t just happen.”
Then other audience members asked questions, answers went back and forth, and the GV was nearing a successful close—
when Quentin suddenly went up onto the stage.
“…!?”
The crowd rustled.
The on-site staff hesitated, wondering if they should stop him or not.
Quentin walked straight up to Director Ji Seongwoo and asked for a handshake.
“Good director.”
Quentin’s hand, as big as a pot lid.
Director Ji Seongwoo, dazed, shook the hand of the director who was like his idol, his own hand trembling.
For an instant, Director Ji Seongwoo’s expression looked more blissful than ever.
Leaving that expression behind, Quentin immediately turned and walked up to Ryu Sunho.
This time, he didn’t hold out his hand.
Instead, he took off the red hat he was wearing and placed it on Ryu Sunho’s head.
“Good partner.”
At that sight, the hall stirred even more.
The more a fan was interested in film, the greater the shock.
“Quentin took off his hat and gave it to him…?”
“Isn’t that the hat he didn’t even take off at Hollywood awards shows?”
“He gave that hat to Ryu Sunho…?”
Of course, audience members who didn’t know Quentin well reacted like this too.
“Is he Shanks or what…”
Quentin left them with a line about seeing each other in Hollywood soon, then coolly exited.
People sat there blank, stunned.
In that middle, only one person muttered with a gloomy face.
“Me…?”
It was Park Juwon.
On the night of the opening ceremony,
reporters who had finished their schedules gathered in a hotel room and started sharing thoughts about the films they’d watched.
“I liked My Little Encyclopedia.”
“Oh, for me personally, it felt kind of childish…”
While opinions split across various films, there was one work everyone agreed on.
Vacuum State.
“Out of today’s screenings, Vacuum State was the best.”
“Totally agree. Not just today—if you look across the whole year, it was the best for me.”
“It’s a movie that makes no sense. The ending credits rolled and nobody left—everyone just sat there blankly, I’m telling you.”
“But I heard from someone that there were some parts that were a bit shocking?”
“Ah, I know what you mean. You mean that CG part, right?”
“I do think that part could split likes and dislikes, but overall, I don’t think it’ll split that hard. It hits just about every emotion and tears it open.”
“I’ve been a film reporter for twenty years, and I truly think this won’t just be a good film—it’ll be a masterpiece that will remain in Korean film history.”
“If Reporter Song is saying it to that extent…”
“Oh, right—speaking of which, I heard Quentin Marino watched that film too?”
“Watched it? He even attended the GV.”
“What? Quentin did a GV?”
When one reporter showed photos taken on site, a huge reaction erupted.
“Wow! What the hell! It’s real!”
“Look at the photo after that. Quentin took off his hat and gave it to Ryu Sunho.”
“Huh? You’re right? Wasn’t that his total favorite hat?”
“Looks like the object of attachment changed. Like, ‘I place my favorite hat on you and recognize you as my favorite actor.’ Something like that?”
“But it makes sense. In Vacuum State he acted like he was possessed. He basically carries the work alone—almost a one-man show.”
“Exactly Quentin’s type. Not holding back, expressing emotions raw.”
“The film’s emotional line is all over the place, and the genres switch fast. And he keeps up with all of it… How is that a first-year actor’s skill?”
After listening, one reporter’s eyes gleamed as he said:
“Then is the star of this year’s festival Vacuum State? Quentin praised it that hard—there’s no way it ends with no awards.”
“Probably. With Quentin making it this obvious, if they gave awards to some other film, who wants to hear the backlash?”
“I’m looking forward to the closing ceremony. I’m definitely bringing my camera and attending.”
Two days later, at the JTBN building.
The awards ceremony for the ContentTrinity X JTBN Drama Screenplay Contest was held.
It felt a bit late, but there was no helping it.
Originally they were going to end it with just an online announcement and no ceremony, but Han Seungwoo insisted, so they hurriedly put together an awards event afterward.
With all the relevant people seated in the main auditorium,
Han Seungwoo of ContentTrinity personally came out to present the awards.
Encouragement Award, Excellence Award winners, one after another.
Han Seungwoo handed them their plaques.
“Be thankful.”
“Thank… what?”
The awards for the other writers flew by quickly, without emotion—
and finally, it was time for the grand prize.
Even though the contest results had already been announced, the MC shouted in an excited voice to raise the atmosphere as much as possible.
“And the grand prize goes to… Writer Joo Hanbit’s Doctor Princess!”
Even though it was a result she already knew, Joo Hanbit’s face was overwhelmed with emotion.
As she stepped onto the podium, tears that wouldn’t dry pooled in her eyes.
Han Seungwoo walked up to her and handed her a huge board that read “Prize Money: 50,000,000 won” and the plaque.
Just as reporters’ flashes popped for photo time, Han Seungwoo stopped the shoot for a moment.
“Hold on.”
He rummaged in his pocket, then pulled out a glittering object.
A small golden toad.
“This is a special bonus prize I’m giving.”
Han Seungwoo casually set the golden toad on top of the plaque Joo Hanbit was holding.
“I put a tracker on it, so if the script doesn’t come out on time, I’m coming to find you myself.”
“Really?”
“Fake.”
Then he lifted one corner of his mouth and added,
“The gold is real.”
After that, they took the proper group photos and the ceremony ended.
But Han Seungwoo took Joo Hanbit with him to the office of the JTBN drama bureau chief.
“Director Park, can I talk with this person here for a bit before I go?”
“…Pardon? Ah, yes. Yes! Of course!”
“No. You come too, Director Park. Let’s talk together.”
The three of them sat on the bureau chief’s office sofa.
Han Seungwoo told Joo Hanbit the news that Doctor Princess was officially greenlit for production.
Joo Hanbit’s eyes widened as if she couldn’t believe it.
“M-my script is going to be made into a drama?”
“Can’t it?”
“N-no!”
It was the dream she’d wanted so badly—there was no way she didn’t want it.
But because she’d spent day after day worrying it might get overturned because of Choi Jeongin, the news that production was confirmed came to her as a huge joy.
“I’m someone who values creators’ rights. Do you have someone in mind as the lead for this script?”
Joo Hanbit hesitated, then carefully spoke.
“I have a few people in mind for the female lead… but for the male lead, I’ve already singled out one person.”
“Who?”
“Actor Ryu Sunho.”
Then Han Seungwoo clapped and replied:
“You’ve got an eye. That’s why you’re the grand prize writer.”
Four days later, July 16.
The office of PlayT, the distributor for the film Vacuum State, was thrown into chaos.
“Fix the trailer and the poster right now and redistribute everything!”
The film marketing team lead ran around the office shouting, eyes bloodshot.
The staff moved frantically.
You’d think something had gone wrong, but strangely, their faces were lit with a thrilling exhilaration.
“This is insane… seriously.”
After giving orders, the team lead returned to his seat and stared at the monitor again as if he still couldn’t believe it.
The screen was plastered wall-to-wall with articles about Vacuum State.
[Ryu Sunho-led Vacuum State wins three crowns in Bucheon Choice Feature Film category]
[Even Quentin Marino was captivated… Vacuum State sweeps Best Film, Best Actor, and Audience Award]
[Vacuum State receives both the audience’s choice and the jury’s praise at BIFAN]
That was why everyone had rushed in and was causing this uproar.
A designer, having been told to revise, moved his mouse like crazy, adding laurel logos to the poster,
and the video team dragged the trailer timeline forward, busy inserting award subtitles: “Three-time winner at the Bucheon International Film Festival.”
“If it releases tomorrow, it’s going to explode…”
It was D-1.
.