Cold Reading (2)
The filming of Echoes of a Family had already been underway since August. It was a shoot designed to establish the film's sense of space and season by showcasing the lives of the supporting characters, excluding the leads. The weather, which turned biting cold just as the main story began, was a crucial element symbolizing the transition of the protagonist's father, Bob, into his twilight years.
"Cut!"
Robert Benton—the director and writer behind masterpieces like Kramer vs. Kramer, Places in the Heart, and Bonnie and Clyde.
Known for pouring immense effort into every project, he was meticulously capturing each frame of Duluth's landscape, striving to bind the mise-en-scène and the narrative into a singular, cohesive whole. As he stood there, worn out from the grueling work, an actor sporting a thick beard approached him.
"Great work, Director!"
"Ah, that was a wonderful take, Frederic."
"Hehe, thank you. Man, it was actually a bit warm during the day, but it gets chilly the moment night falls."
"That is the charm of this town, isn't it?"
Robert felt that the changing of the seasons—occurring as naturally as human life, aging, sickness, and death—was somehow deeply connected to the core of this film. Human aging is as inevitable as the turning of the seasons. He wanted to capture that poignant, yet ultimately accepting truth of life in this work.
"I think it's going to be a magnificent film."
For now, however, there was one thing that weighed heavily on his mind.
It was the lead actor who would carry the entire film: Sion Lee.
When he first took on the project and heard that Sion Lee was slated for the lead role, Robert, being the meticulous type, immediately began reviewing the young actor's filmography. From the romance films at the start of his career, to the indie film he suddenly shot in Chicago, and the various projects that followed—Robert watched almost all of them.
And the conclusion he reached was simple:
‘A typical Hollywood actor's success routine.’
Many actors start their careers focusing on grounded, everyday dramas. But as their filmography grows and they gain fame, they tend to transition into action-heavy roles that rely more on physical performance. When you spend too much time doing that kind of acting, you inevitably grow distant from roles that require deep emotional nuance.
Yet, Echoes of a Family was a piece that required carving away at those emotions to their absolute limit. Reflecting reality and the characters, it was a process of stripping away everything else to leave only the bare essentials, rather than using overt emotional displays to explain the story. He wanted to expose the cold, raw side of reality that way.
‘So, as the lead, he has to deliver. I'll need to have a serious talk with him before we start shooting.’
While the self-proclaimed critics of the world constantly tried to downplay Sion's acting ability, as if desperate to prove no one could be perfect, Robert disagreed entirely.
‘Watching his films, Sion is an incredibly smart actor who captures the fine details to suit each project. I don't know how much preparation he'll bring to the table himself, but the more thorough my directing is, the greater our synergy will be.’
Therefore, Robert resolved to pour as much effort as possible as a director into Sion, starting even before he set foot on set, all the way through rehearsals. After all, that was simply Robert's style.
When night fell, Robert called Sion. After a long, winding conversation, they reached a conclusion.
"So, basically, I just need to lose some weight, right?"
"Yes. Just make sure it's within limits that won't harm your health."
And Sion proved to be a conversational partner who was surprisingly easy to communicate with.
"Great. I'll give it a shot."
Robert found himself eagerly anticipating what Sion would look like when they met on set a month later.
Time marched on, and soon it was September 7, 1998.
In the glamorous world outside, the season finale of Sion Lee Takes You Out was airing. The guest for the final episode was none other than...
Standing before the camera, Sion Lee began to carry the entire broadcast solely on his own shoulders.
Legendary stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Olga Asimov, Jim Carrey, Tom Cruise, and Jack Nicholson, followed by rising new talents, and even cultural icons like Michael Jackson and Oprah Winfrey had graced this talk and variety show. Yet, in terms of pure entertainment value, none of them could match Sion standing alone in the finale. His antics were truly on another level.
When the producer stepped in, saying, "Uh, that's a bit...", Sion retorted:
Even while running wild like that, Sion also showed a more serious, introspective side.
Like losing a piece of your mind. Or no longer being able to find satisfaction in the ordinary.
Fitting for a season finale, the broadcast wrapped up by looking back at the core concept of Sion Lee Takes You Out. As Sion, who had shined as the host, cheerfully and calmly laid bare his own daily life, the audience went wild.
With the shifting tide of the era, it was an inevitable reaction. As the world transitioned into the 2000s, media would expand exponentially, and people would become far more obsessed with gossip than ever before. The future rise of Paris Hilton—a figure "famous for being famous"—would prove exactly that. In a way, Sion had shown the precursor to that phenomenon through this very broadcast.
‘What is he up to right now?’
‘He's surprisingly grounded on the inside.’
Lately, people were consuming Sion not just as an actor, but as a "celebrity." A figure whose every move sparked curiosity, who was deeply envied as an individual, yet whom people also harbored a strange desire to tear down. And Hollywood took notice of exactly that.
"What is Sion Lee up to these days?"
"Get me some files on him right now. Anything will do."
Media outlets everywhere were desperate for news of him, trying to dig up information on his next project, but they couldn't easily find anything beyond the vague detail that he was "filming a movie elsewhere." Left with no other choice, they dug up his past achievements and plastered them across magazines and newspapers, which triggered a massive sensation.
"...He made twenty million dollars from Titanic?"
"Holy crap, that's practically top-tier even among Hollywood A-lister guarantees!"
Even while doing absolutely nothing, Sion Lee's fame continued to snowball on its own momentum. And at that very moment, the man himself...
"Hello."
When Sion arrived on set and stepped out of the makeup trailer, the entire crew was left utterly dumbfounded. The supporting actors and extras were no exception. He looked so radically different from his usual self.
In just one short month, Sion's appearance had undergone a shocking transformation. First and foremost, he had shed nearly ten kilograms. Compared to his usual muscular physique, wearing loose, baggy clothes made him look astonishingly frail and pitiful. On top of that, with his hair dyed brown and a pair of glasses perched on his nose...
"Who the hell are you?"
"Whoa... how did you change like this? Are you okay? You're not going to collapse during filming, are you?"
Even Frederic and Susan, who were close to Sion, could barely recognize him. As if his very personality had shifted, Sion merely offered a gentle smile and greeted the director, Robert.
‘What the hell? What's wrong with him?’
‘Ugh, it's giving me goosebumps. It's even more annoying because he's still handsome!’
Frederic and Susan stood behind him, their faces pale. Sion completely ignored their disgruntled reactions.
"Director, I've prepared exactly as we discussed."
"It's... truly astonishing. You look so different from the broadcast from a few days ago."
"Well, that was filmed a while back. I've been up here getting into character since then."
Although it was something they had agreed upon, Robert had never imagined Sion would show up looking so "perfectly" transformed. He realized that Sion, as expected of an actor who had recently had to build up his body for action roles, was thoroughly professional in this regard.
Sion's transformation injected a quiet wave of energy into the set. Seeing the lead actor—the face of the film—go to such lengths made everyone feel that this movie was going to be something truly special.
Finally, Jack Nicholson, who arrived last on set as befitted a legendary actor, walked out of makeup. Seeing the completely emaciated Sion, he let out a dumbfounded laugh.
"You're serious, kid."
"I always have been, Father."
Having had their own private conversation in Duluth beforehand, the two looked at each other with knowing smiles.
The scene they were shooting today—the first time the two leads would share the frame—was one of the most emotionally intense sequences in the entire film. Bob, whose dementia is rapidly worsening, and Dan, who doesn't realize it yet and finally snaps, venting his anger. Seeing his once-formidable father shrink back in a way he never would have in the past, Dan is overcome with a complex storm of emotions.
"You understand, right? He is completely different from the father in your memories. The house that used to be grand is now run-down and on the verge of collapsing. Focus on the emotions Dan feels in that situation. The sudden outburst of anger is actually a mistake... and while he feels a sense of relief, the core of the scene is his self-loathing and hatred for this entire situation."
"Yes, I understand."
Even during the director's briefing, Sion appeared deeply focused on tapping into his emotions. Watching him lightly warm up his voice and body, Robert still felt a lingering trace of worry and was about to add more direction when...
"Director."
Jack Nicholson, standing across the kitchen island, called out to him in a low voice.
"I think it wouldn't hurt to just try a take first."
"Shall we, then?"
Robert didn't stubbornly insist and stepped back. It was the first shoot. Which meant, above all else, it was crucial to start with a good atmosphere. And Robert was well aware that he might just be worrying needlessly. Though Robert was a director who preferred to thoroughly plan and decide everything before rolling, since this was their first time working together, it wasn't a bad idea to first gauge the state of his "primary ingredient."
How would the main dish, Sion Lee, bring to life the elements Robert had been painstakingly preparing since before August?
"Alright. Everyone, take your time to get into character... and let's roll."
Dozens of crew members held their breath, watching in absolute silence. On top of that, most of the supporting actors who didn't even have scenes today had shown up on set. The reason for this phenomenon was simple: everyone wanted to witness the acting of the legendary Jack Nicholson with their own eyes.
Sion, who had picked up on this atmosphere early on, slowly gathered his emotions and thought to himself:
‘Like I care.’
He was simply feeling the "decay" of the past here—something he had lived without paying much attention to. Dan had grown up in Duluth. Once, he had dreams and tried to live vibrantly here in his own way, but due to his overbearing father, he ultimately achieved nothing and fled to the city alone. And even there, he failed to find his dream and wandered.
He was, so to speak, an incredibly ordinary, realistic man. He had to be strong. He had to shut down his emotions, work, and earn money. Because that was what it meant to be the breadwinner, living as a cog in the machine of society. Just as his father had.
Thus, he had slowly come to understand his father, yet he couldn't accept this change in himself... and he was a man who still carried the wounds his father had inflicted on him in the past. To play this unremarkable man in a remarkable way, Sion quietly focused on his emotions.
The cue was given, and the camera began to roll.
Jack Nicholson, his hair a disheveled mess, began making coffee. No, he was Bob now. He brewed the coffee from the machine, placed a mug on the table, and began to pour.
With the mug turned upside down.
"Uh, uh..."
The raspy voice of an old man. A single gesture, a single utterance—that was all it took to feel the immense depth of a master. Everyone marveled at Jack Nicholson's performance. Now in his sixties, his acting was less explosive than in his youth, but his ability to convey raw emotion had grown infinitely richer.
There was no way coffee could go into an upside-down mug. Yet Jack merely tilted his head in confusion, trying to pour the coffee again and again.
As the director quietly signaled, Sion Lee stepped into the kitchen and caught sight of him.
"What are you doing?"
A scowling face. A blunt, incredibly low voice. Yet the sheer weight it carried was immense.
‘What the...?’
‘Wait, something feels different...’
Everyone watched Sion, their eyes wide with surprise. The superstar who drove flashy cars and played around with women in Hollywood, who looked like he would casually engage in petty banter every single day, was nowhere to be found.
Behind his glasses, his gaze held a faint trace of contempt—and yet, a deep self-loathing born from the fact that the target of that contempt was his own flesh and blood. It was just a look. An expression. A twitch of the lips. An eyebrow. It was a manufactured reality. Yet, it carried a profound narrative. The stance of someone who wanted to flee the room, yet couldn't help but speak up anyway.
‘...Damn it.’
Robert realized he had been dead wrong. He understood everything from just that brief moment of Sion's acting.
‘He's gotten even better.’
He had worried that Sion's edge might have dulled slightly due to his recent focus on action films, but that wasn't the case at all. After the final broadcast shoot, Sion had stayed alone in Duluth for a while to ground his emotions. After discussing it with Jack, he had continuously refined it, reaching an even higher plane of acting.
But in the midst of performing, Sion forgot all of those trivial processes. He simply became Dan, slowly stepping toward his father. Toward the father who didn't exist in his real life, but existed in this fictional one.
"I asked what you're doing."
He tried to keep his voice soft, but...
"What do you think I'm doing? Drinking coffee. Are your eyes just for decoration?"
"No, I mean... why the hell are you pouring it with the mug upside down?"
It wasn't easy.
Bob raised his eyebrows as if only just realizing it. But it was only for a moment. The old man refused to acknowledge his own decay and stubbornly dug in his heels.
"This is how we drink it in Duluth."
"Mom was always the one who cleaned up after you."
"Why bring up a dead woman? Bad luck."
"..."
A brief silence. He bit his dry lips. The emotions he had bottled up for so long because he had never been acknowledged began to seep out.
"Does talking like a dog make you feel better?"
"What?"
"A dead woman? She was your wife, but she was also my mother. Don't talk about her like that."
"And you're my son. Don't tell your father what to do."
"Every single time...!"
His voice was on the verge of exploding, but then it suddenly deflated like a punctured balloon.
‘He's handling it like this?’
Originally, this was a scene where he was supposed to raise his voice and snap. Yet, even here, Sion sculpted Dan's personality, choosing not to let his anger explode completely. And as if responding to Sion's "interpretation," Jack puckered his lips and began to set the stage to match him. Like a father nudging his son forward.
"Can't a grown man even finish his sentence?"
Beneath the harsh words lay a mutual consideration that only the two of them could understand. Somewhere between character and actor, savoring the emotion, the son cried out:
"Please, just stop...!"
Hearing that suppressed cry that seemed to pierce the very soul, Robert thought to himself: this movie is a "reality" being forged by those two men.