Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Movie Release
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Using actual accident footage in a movie without permission would obviously cause problems if it ever came to light later.
So THO Entertainment decided to reveal it at the premiere. Director Son Tae-min stepped up to take the lead.
The reporters were stunned when they heard the set collapse scene was real footage from an accident.
"Hold on. That scene was a real situation?"
"Director Son, have you lost your mind?"
"No matter how important the movie is, this is going too far!"
Son Tae-min gave the prepared response.
"We didn't intentionally cause the collapse. We just used the footage that was captured by chance."
"Still, that's..."
"Not a single person was injured—just the set collapsed. If anyone had gotten even a scratch, we wouldn't have used that scene in the film."
Even with that explanation, public opinion could still turn sour later. The film company's PR team would handle it then.
A reporter asked,
"Shin Eun-ha! Did you receive any treatment for that incident?"
Shin Eun-ha took the microphone.
"No. I'm perfectly healthy."
"Even if your body wasn't hurt, the shock must have been immense, right?"
"Honestly, I didn't even know what was happening at the time. When I saw the footage later, I realized how safe I was. That happened on the first day of reshoots, and I performed so well after that."
"We could tell from the movie that your acting was excellent, but..."
Shin Eun-ha in the film didn't look like an actress forcing herself to perform through trauma from the accident.
Another reporter raised a hand.
"Kim Yu-chan saved not just himself but Shin Eun-ha too in that situation?"
Lead actor Kim Yu-chan waved it off.
"Nah, if it was me, I'd be dead."
The crowd laughed, thinking it was a joke.
The reporter pressed,
"Then who did it?"
"The food truck uncle did it."
"Pardon?"
"I asked the food truck uncle to be my stunt double because he looks just like me, and it was a huge hit. Haha."
The reporters were thrown into confusion.
Shin Eun-ha lightly nudged Kim Yu-chan and whispered,
"Why bring that up here?"
"Huh? Oh, it just slipped out..."
A reporter asked,
"Who exactly is this food truck uncle?"
Kim Yu-chan glanced at Shin Eun-ha and Son Tae-min before answering.
"Officially, he's just a regular guy."
"What? You're dodging the question..."
"He's a really good friend. We even drank together. Haha."
Shin Eun-ha smacked Kim Yu-chan's arm again.
Kim Yu-chan quickly wrapped it up.
"Ah, he has a normal life as a civilian, so please leave him out of the articles."
Sunny Day had been a highly anticipated film from the start of production.
The director was famous for romances, the lead actors were stars, and the film company had invested over 10 billion won directly, fueling even more hype. Many believed the script was so good they had to fund it themselves.
But a week before release, a key supporting actor was arrested at a drug party. News broke that all his scenes would be reshot in just a week.
Expectations plummeted. Online movie forums lit up with comments.
That prediction wasn't entirely off. Son Tae-min often let minor issues slide.
As expectations dropped, refund requests for pre-sold tickets surged.
Then premiere articles hit the internet, full of rave reviews.
People commented:
Far more people dismissed the articles.
Debates raged in the comments.
Then a heavy hater declared:
The next day, the movie opened.
The declarer went to a morning discount screening.
There were barely any viewers. He smirked.
"Knew it. Total flop from the start. Done for."
Confident in his victory, he waited for the film to begin.
"Feels like the ads will be more fun."
That afternoon, the guy who'd vowed to see it posted his review on the community board.
He wrote a short review explaining why, sharing only his raw feelings to avoid spoilers.
Doubters emerged from the pure praise.
Reshoots and editing finished just before release, so new promo videos dropped on opening day.
THO Entertainment released them online that day.
The promos were half romance, half action. The PR team blended genres perfectly in one clip.
Then a new article dropped.
The scene rescuing Shin Eun-ha from the collapsing building was real, not acting.
It hit the movie forum, and it exploded.
Some had seen the article first and then the movie.
Not just action talk—the movie itself was stellar. The original romance version was good, but blending in action made it even better.
THO Entertainment President Lee Tae-ho knew the film was solid but still felt uneasy. He'd heard a flop would endanger not just the company but Iron Man Project too.
He waited anxiously for results.
Opening day was dismal.
"Our team scouted theaters—hardly any audiences. Lots of empty houses."
Lee Tae-ho sighed deeply in the meeting room.
"This can't flop. We need to at least break even."
The PR head said,
"Our team's giving it everything. Tomorrow will be better."
"I hope so."
Na Gang-in didn't care about box office success. He was at the PC bang as usual.
"This place is kinda iffy, huh?"
"Can we afford a new base on our budget?"
"Enough with that money?"
"Equipment, huh..."
"Didn't realize it was inconvenient without any."
"Earning that much from PC bang shifts would take forever."
Na Gang-in ignored the box office, but the PC bang trio was obsessed.
Yoon A-reum checked the forum during downtime.
"The movie's great, but theaters are empty. Oppa, what do we do?"
Na Gang-in asked,
"What can I do to fix it?"
"Of course not. But it's your debut. Wouldn't it be nice if it did well?"
"It will."
The worries were unfounded.
Day two saw word-of-mouth explode attendance.
By day three, sellouts appeared.
A couple grumbled outside a theater.
"Ugh, came because the internet hyped it—no seats."
The girlfriend asked,
"Didn't pre-book?"
"Lots of seats yesterday, figured walk-ins would work."
"Seriously? Now what?"
"My face?"
"You're dead?"
"Hey! You've changed! You used to call me cute!"
"Ah! Next show's got seats—grab food first!"
Lee Tae-ho threw his hands up after checking reports.
"We're saved!"
Director Son Tae-min lounged on the sofa in the president's office, smirking.
"Heh, told you it'd work out. No way our movie fails. Good promo and screens? Ten million easy."
Promo flopped, but screens were maxed via company pull. Too many risked disaster if unsold.
But many filled up. Day three results.
Lee Tae-ho grinned.
"Keep this momentum to ten million! Ten Million Director Son Tae-min!"
Son was top romance director but never hit ten million.
Still, he boasted big. That confident.
Son rubbed his nose with a finger.
"Heh. Next, a full action noir?"
"Director Son, it worked this time, but action's not your wheelhouse..."
Son leaned forward seriously.
"I've got a killer story I've wanted to make. Na Gang-in handles action, we start scripting immediately."
Na Gang-in's name flipped Lee Tae-ho.
"Then contract with us for that too. We make bank here, invest big next. Go full action blockbuster!"
"Haha, shall we?"
"But Director, Na Gang-in's on board, right?"
"Time to talk."
"Pardon?"
Son bellowed,
"He won't pass this up! Haha. Wanna call now?"
Son pulled his smartphone leisurely, Na Gang-in favorited.
He dialed.
Rang long—no answer.
"Uh... no pickup? Ha, ha. Must be busy."
Na Gang-in often ignored unknowns.
"If important, they'll text."
Yoon A-reum clapped at forum news.
"Movie's crushing! Lucky, oppa."
Na Gang-in said,
"Cast and crew win if it hits big. Not like I get running guarantees."
"You benefit too. Next one, maybe cast you properly, not stunt."
"Hm..."
Na Gang-in muttered,
"Acting could fund equipment base faster."
"Yeah. Inefficient."