Sophomore (1)
On his way out of the mansion, Sion looked once more at the statue of the Venus de Milo he had mentioned earlier. It was a life-sized replica. A shirtless upper body, a cloth draped over the lower half, and missing arms. Looking at it, Jack Nicholson's words naturally came to mind.
It was a fitting sentiment for a Hollywood character actor. Yes. In the end, it was all about money. Especially in Hollywood. Sion drove his car out of the massive estate, whose building alone must have been worth at least thirty million dollars.
Now, at the dawn of the 1990s, the flow of that money was shifting. As public fatigue grew toward the studio system that churned out nothing but family movies and superhero flicks, the changing times led people to demand entirely different kinds of films. In this climate, "indie films"—carrying a stamp of approval from critics—sparked a new boom. This fresh flavor was embraced as a new genre, gradually establishing itself as the film industry's new blue chip.
Miramax is the company that rose to prominence on that very boom. And I benefited from it this time, too. Quick-witted Hollywood investors, smelling money, began scouting for such films. It was only natural that Jack Nicholson, who was dead serious about cinema and acting, would ride this wave. Though Sion hadn't expected the man to invite him personally and make such an offer. Does he think highly of me? Even if they were both Hollywood actors, compared to Jack, who had been hitting career highs for over a decade, Sion—who had just succeeded with a single indie film—was like a tiny weed standing before a giant redwood. Yet, such a legendary actor had invited him to his home, offered words of encouragement, and even proposed a business deal. I've heard he's a bit of an eccentric, but... this feels like something out of a drama. On top of that, Jack had even said:
...I was thinking it was about time to consider my next project, but I didn't expect an offer to come this way. What kind of movie could it be? Knowing Jack Nicholson's tendencies from his past life, he certainly wouldn't be pursuing this half-heartedly. Given that they were currently casting and considering the production timeline, it would take at least a year, meaning they were likely aiming for an early 1992 release. A movie coming out around then... What on earth could it be? Pondering this and that, Sion headed to the office. He felt he needed to talk to Charlie about this meeting.
A small, run-down office located in the heart of Hollywood. When he opened the door and stepped inside, the person who greeted him was... the company's sole entry-level agent. Yes, not the boss Sion had come to see.
"Welcome, Mr. Lee."
"Is—is the boss here?"
Sion couldn't help but stammer slightly.
"He stepped out for a moment."
Chloe Arietta. She had a petite frame, standing in the low five-foot range. With the slightly tan skin characteristic of her Hispanic heritage, her dark hair tied back in a ponytail, and glasses, she possessed features striking enough that she wouldn't have looked out of place working as an actress herself. The reason Sion stammered in front of her was actually quite simple.
It's... uncomfortable.
Memories of contacting her after Charlie's death in his past life came flooding back. Chloe, who had taken over as the head of CK Agency after Charlie died suddenly from overwork, had become quite famous in Hollywood thanks to her exceptional business acumen. Although rumors often circulated that her seemingly cold personality made her unfit to run an agency, she was said to have an uncannily brilliant eye for selecting films. In any case, after he resumed acting in his past life, every time he saw her, his past troublemaking, Charlie, and feelings of regret and guilt would resurface. He had kept his distance back then, but those emotions had carried over even after his regression, making him feel awkward around her. Especially with that expressionless face of hers, we just don't seem to click...
But he had no intention of maintaining this awkward distance forever. Right, things are different now. He simply hadn't found the opportunity to redefine their relationship because they rarely crossed paths, but he undoubtedly owed her a debt of gratitude as well. Sion put on his trademark playful demeanor and approached her desk.
"What are you working on?"
His incredibly handsome face caught the sunlight streaming through the window, glowing even more brilliantly. But Chloe didn't even look at him, her fingers continuing to tap away at the word processor.
"I am working on the accounts."
"Is it tough?"
"It is not."
"You always work so hard. I'm always grateful."
"..."
Chloe glanced up at Sion.
"Do you need coffee?"
"Huh? Oh, no."
"Alcohol, then?"
"...I drove here."
"What do you need?"
"Nothing?"
"Then may I focus on my work?"
"..."
Sion mumbled a quiet, "Yeah, sorry..." and slumped into Charlie's empty chair.
Man, this is suffocating.
As he waited in awkward silence, Charlie returned to the office a short while later.
"Huh? Yi-siony? What brings you here?"
"...I met Jack Nicholson today. I came to talk to you about it."
"Ah, right! Great, I actually have a ton of things to tell you today too."
Humming a tune, Charlie pulled a few documents out of his desk.
"Kid, you hit the absolute jackpot."
"What do you mean?"
"Universal, Paramount, Warner, Disney, Columbia. They all want to work with you."
"..."
"They're all romance movies, but they're a bit different from your usual stuff. They're geared toward adults, not teens. The casting directors said everyone loved Swing in Chicago."
"Really?"
Sion gestured for him to continue, his interest piqued.
"It's hilarious how they were dragging you through the mud during the Golden Raspberries, only to completely flip their tunes once the movie blew up. But I get it. No one expected this movie to do this well."
"Well, from filming to promotion, I did a pretty good job of drawing attention."
"From the moment your casting was announced, every single step defied the standard Hollywood playbook. Dammit, thinking back on it, it's still absurd. You reckless punk. What possessed you to go all the way to Chicago to audition? Now that the box office numbers have proven you right, all the criticism has turned into praise, but I went through hell trying to clean up your messes. You have no idea, kid."
"It was only because our great Mr. Charlie Kang supported me that I held out until the movie was released. Otherwise, I would've been blown to dust by the media's firing squad long ago. I'm truly grateful for that."
"Bwahaha! You, expressing sincere gratitude? This feels weird!"
"Of course, Chloe must have worked hard too."
"Oh, Yi-siony! Look at you saying things like that! Have you finally grown up?!"
Charlie let out a hearty laugh, a wide grin plastered across his face from all the good news. But his laughter ground to a halt in an instant.
"Reject all those offers for now."
"Right? Here are the synop—wait, what?"
"I received a movie offer from Jack Nicholson."
"What, him too? No, wait... wouldn't it be better to look through all of them before making a decision?"
"It's not time to work with the major studios yet."
"Which production company is it, then?"
"Who knows? Since Jack is investing, maybe something like 'Joker Studios'?"
"...Are you serious? You're going to reject invitations from the biggest studios in the industry to go there? And where on earth is Joker Studios?"
"I didn't know the name, so I just made something up."
Sion offered a sheepish smile, caught in the miserable position of having to explain a failed joke. "I'll have to see the script first, but I think I'll go with whatever they're proposing for my next project."
"Without even knowing what the project is or what studio is behind it? Why?"
"Just a feeling."
"..."
Charlie was left speechless by Sion's nonchalant response. But by now, he simply accepted it, figuring this was just the kind of actor Sion Lee was.
For a while, the American film industry was abuzz with talk of Swing in Chicago. Audiences, bored of the cookie-cutter films churned out by the Hollywood studio system, went wild for a movie shot on a micro-budget that portrayed the characters' emotions and reality in a raw yet meticulous manner. As the film continued to dominate the box office day after day, a rough outline of the "numbers" generated by its success began to take shape about two months after its release.
At Philip Studios in Chicago.
"It looks like the total ticket sales will wrap up around 6.3 million."
Fred Rocks, the CFO, beamed a wide smile at the two men sitting before him. As Swing in Chicago soared, his standing within the company naturally rose with it. He looked at the two of them with the gentle eyes of someone admiring a rare, prized vintage bottle of wine kept safely at home. When he had first invested in his friend's son's movie, he had taken a lot of flak, but all those voices had now been completely silenced. It was an absolute blockbuster.
"You both worked incredibly hard."
"Sion worked much harder than I did," Daniel replied, still looking a bit dazed.
6.3 million tickets for a debut film, and an indie one at that. Even as he felt the heavy weight of the crown he would have to carry forward, he was simply overjoyed that he had been able to show the world his vision. Of course, some critics dismissed this success, claiming it was entirely due to the presence of an actor like Sion Lee. But since it was the truth, Daniel had no desire to deny it. If anything, he was deeply grateful to Sion for understanding his deeply personal world, expanding upon it, and bringing it to life on the screen to the absolute fullest. He believed it was the most perfect relationship a director and an actor could ever forge.
"We've reaped over three hundred times our investment! And that's just from the box office! We've broken the record for the highest-grossing indie film in history! When Sex, Lies, and Videotape finished its run the year before last, I wondered who could ever top it, and to think it would be us!"
"With international releases and home video sales coming up, the profits will only climb. It might just be my greed as a director, but I can't wait for the VHS tapes to come out so I can actually hold one in my hands."
"When I get back to California, I'll have to buy my agent a massive steak dinner. We have that running guarantee contract, after all."
"Haha, your agent certainly had foresight. A 7.5% cut must be quite a tidy sum, isn't it?"
Fred gave Sion a playful wink. Sion mentally calculated the numbers. Even with a conservative estimate of thirty million dollars, his payout from the domestic box office alone would be around 2.25 million dollars. It wasn't just a tidy sum—it was more than all his previous movie salaries combined. During this era, a teen heartthrob starring in a movie typically commanded around $250,000 to $500,000. His first three films had been in that range, and his previous project, Deadly Summer Camp, had been signed at $750,000. That figure had factored in his transition into adult roles, his star power with the target demographic, and his image makeover across genres and characters. But with this movie, he had earned more than double that amount from the box office alone. And since it was a running guarantee, a portion of the film's ongoing profits would continue to be deposited into Sion's bank account.
"Mr. Lee."
As the excitement wound down, Fred addressed him with a serious expression.
"Thank you. This movie's success is entirely thanks to you. From the filming itself to film festival participation, distribution negotiations, and all the promotions... you filled in every gap where we fell short in terms of show business. You've shown us that a true Hollywood actor is on an entirely different level."
"I believe in using every tool at my disposal. Besides, it was a wonderful film, and we got this result because everyone did their best until the very end," Sion replied with a gentle smile. He didn't deny his contribution, yet he possessed the grace to praise others.
Roughly five hundred movies were produced in Hollywood each year. Including independent films, that number rose to about fifteen hundred. Amidst such a vast sea of films, the easiest way to make a project known and entice people to watch it was the name value of those involved. And in that regard, an actor's fame was paramount. Unless they were hardcore cinephiles, most people treated movies as a form of cultural consumption to pass the time. Rather than paying attention to the endless names scrolling through the credits, they naturally remembered the actors whose faces left a visual impression.
"And I gained a lot from this as well, so I consider it a win-win."
Sion's image as an actor had shifted dramatically through this film. People no longer saw him as just a pretty face. While some dismissed it as a fluke or a lucky match with the role, the general public had been deeply moved by the acting prowess Sion displayed in the film. From a troubled actor on the brink of ruin to a highly anticipated star who had captured the spotlight through a stunning transformation—that was how Sion Lee was now perceived.
"Do you have your next project lined up?"
"I've received a few offers, but I'm not quite sure yet."
"Haha, as a fan now, I'll make sure to watch whatever you do next."
After exchanging pleasantries, they left the office.
Inside the elevator.
"You did a wonderful job, Danny."
Daniel Summit replied, unable to hide a tinge of sadness. "Not at all. I really learned so much thanks to you."
"I feel like I stepped out of line a few times, so I'm just grateful you put up with me."
"For a rookie holding the megaphone to survive, it was crucial to listen to the advice of veterans. And among everyone, you gave me so much inspiration, Sion. Yes, truly..."
Daniel recalled the days spent with their tiny crew. It had been a shoot driven by sheer grit, with Sion at the center, making do with whatever they had. Though he was sad to see it end, it only made the experience feel like a beautiful story that would remain etched in his memory forever. Daniel resolved to never forget this feeling and to keep striving to become a better director.
Sion responded with an easy smile as he looked at the visibly moved director. Knowing exactly what style of films Daniel would make in the future, it was fascinating to watch him evolve so rapidly during their time together. It felt as though two people who had lived their lives with entirely different perspectives had merged into a single creative vision. That was why Sion was glad he had done this movie. He, too, had gained so much from Daniel.
Before they knew it, they had reached the lobby.
"Aside from the wonderful results, I really enjoyed working on set with you, Danny. It'll be a great memory for me too."
"...If the opportunity arises in the future, let's definitely do another one."
Sion extended his hand first, and Daniel shook it warmly.
"I'll be looking forward to your next project."
"Hmm, I'm not sure if you'll like it."
"Why? Oh, is something already decided?"
"Do you want to know?"
"O-of course! I mean, if you can't say, that's fine, but..."
"Even if it's supposed to be a secret, word always gets around among people you can trust in this industry."
Sion smiled, deciding that Daniel was trustworthy enough. He shared the genre of his next project, which he had heard from Jack Nicholson just a few days ago.
"It's a romance."
"Oh... So, the usual kind of project you do?"
"It's a bit embarrassing when you let your disappointment show that obviously."
"N-no! It sounds incredibly interesting!"
He really is terrible at lying, Sion thought with a chuckle. Yes, just as the director thought, a "plain" romance would be boring. But there was a twist.
"It's a sci-fi romance."
"...Sci-fi?"
"Makes it a bit more interesting, doesn't it?"
"W-what's it about?"
Daniel's eyes finally lit up, his breath quickening with excitement.
"I'll stop there."
This was as much information as he could safely share even if it leaked.
Deciding it was the perfect moment, Sion handed over a paper shopping bag he had been carrying.
"Danny, could you hand these out to the crew who worked with us?"
"Huh? What is this?"
"I prepared a little gift for everyone. To commemorate making a great movie together."
"Oh..."
"Well, see you around."
Leaving behind the gifts and a brief farewell, Sion coolly departed the studio building.
Daniel, left blinking in surprise with the paper bag in his hands, soon let out a warm smile. I don't know if all Hollywood superstars are like this... but Sion has always been so confident from the moment I met him. Maybe that's why his clean-cut departures feel so natural.
In that moment, he suddenly understood why Sion drove both his fans and his haters absolutely wild.
"Seriously, he didn't have to go this far..."
Thinking he should have prepared some famous Chicago dessert as a return gift, Daniel peeked inside the bag—and froze solid. Despite his shock, his hands couldn't help but tremble.
"H-how much did this cost...?"
Inside were five Rolex watches, meticulously prepared for the director, director of photography, lighting director, sound mixer, and costume designer.