Busan International Film Festival
After I finished my call with Kwon Hyeon-bin, I scratched my chin at an unhurried pace.
"Things are getting interesting."
To think Kwon Hyeon-bin’s first schedule after joining Baekhak would be the Busan International Film Festival...
This unexpected turn gave me a new idea.
"In that case, should I put Choi Go-eun and Kwon Hyeon-bin on the red carpet together?"
It was an amusing picture.
On one side, a Hallyu star. On the other, an unknown actress.
The stark contrast between the two as they walked the red carpet together already stirred up a delicious sense of anticipation.
'Choi Go-eun’s side is going to get a lot of attention.'
That was only natural, considering she’d be walking the red carpet alongside Hallyu star Kwon Hyeon-bin.
Of course, there would be no avoiding accusations that I was forcing them into a package deal.
"Just walking the red carpet with Hallyu star Kwon Hyeon-bin will be enough to draw attention, and if the actress beside him happens to be an unknown from the same agency, people are bound to start making noise."
But right now, for the unknown actress Choi Go-eun, even that kind of controversy was precious attention.
'These days, it’s not enough for an actor to become famous just by acting well.'
If you wanted recognition, you had to do whatever it took. From that perspective, the package-deal controversy would actually make for decent viral marketing.
"And if Choi Go-eun wins the New Actress Award, that package-deal chatter won’t spread very far anyway."
Having thought it through that far, I nodded.
"Worth doing."
Looked at another way, there was no reason not to.
Once I made up my mind, I had Choi Go-eun and Kwon Hyeon-bin enter the red carpet together.
And up to that point...
"Huh? Who’s that girl next to Kwon Hyeon-bin?"
"Wait, does that actress know Kwon Hyeon-bin?"
"I’ve never seen her before. Is she a rookie?"
"She looks a little too young to be a leading actress. Could she be a child actor?"
Everything was going exactly as I’d calculated.
Fans and reporters who had come to see Kwon Hyeon-bin were showing interest in Choi Go-eun, who stood beside him.
As I watched the crowd reaction in real time from the side of the red carpet, a familiar back came into view.
Seo Ji-hun, team leader of TP Entertainment.
A man who worked for one of the most credible entertainment outlets in the business, easily top three in the field.
'Seo Ji-hun’s here at the Busan International Film Festival?'
Well, well.
I raised my eyebrows and tapped Seo Ji-hun lightly on the shoulder.
"Reporter Seo."
Seo Ji-hun jumped and turned around.
He stared at me blankly for a moment, then belatedly lost his composure.
"Whoa? Why are you here, Chief Kwon?"
"What brings you here, Reporter Seo?"
"I came to cover the festival, of course. Kwon Hyeon-bin’s first official schedule after moving to Baekhak, right? But..."
His voice trailed off, and Seo Ji-hun’s eyes widened.
"...No way. Kwon Hyeon-bin is one of your actors, Chief Kwon?"
Watching that reaction, the corners of my mouth lifted.
'Well, this is one I didn’t see coming.'
Seo Ji-hun had come to cover Kwon Hyeon-bin, and this coincidence was turning into another amusing scene before my eyes.
Apparently I wasn’t the only one who felt it.
Glancing back and forth between Kwon Hyeon-bin on the red carpet and me, Seo Ji-hun let out a sleazy little laugh.
"...Heh. So it’s our Chief Kwon~"
"Hm."
"Wow, that suit really changes a man."
After the banter, Seo Ji-hun leaned in and whispered to me.
"You know I’m crazy about you, Chief Kwon, right~?"
"Oh? Really?"
"Come on! Don’t act hurt like that! Let’s keep this clean and simple, clean and simple!"
Seo Ji-hun went straight for the point.
"Kwon Hyeon-bin’s first schedule after joining Baekhak, right? We’ve got to get at least one interview piece out of this, so give that interview exclusively to TP Entertainment."
I let out a quiet laugh to myself.
'This is why I like Seo Ji-hun.'
There was just enough trust between us that we could start business without spending time feeling each other out.
What a comfortable, good relationship that was.
I folded my arms and shot back.
"And what do I get?"
"Our friendship?"
"That friendship is over as of today. I’ll find another reporter."
"Ah, I’m joking, obviously."
Seo Ji-hun grinned.
"The actress who was beside Kwon Hyeon-bin just now, she’s one of yours too, right?"
"Right."
"Doesn’t look like someone I know, so she must be an unknown. I’ll get an interview with her too."
"Hmm..."
Pretending to deliberate, I took a step back.
Seo Ji-hun, growing impatient, started massaging my shoulder.
"Come on now! Chief Kwon, you know TP Entertainment’s reach!"
"I do. TP is one of the top three entertainment outlets in this industry, isn’t it?"
"And that means not just anyone gets a TP interview piece. You know we only run interviews if the subject is really top class, right? Think carefully, Chief Kwon. An unknown actress landing a 100,000-view interview slot, that’s what this is!"
Seo Ji-hun was pressuring me and making an offer at the same time.
Watching him, I snorted.
'Yeah, TP really is a good opportunity.'
For an unknown actress, even a third-rate tabloid interview would be hard to get, so a solo interview from TP was the kind of chance you had to accept with both hands.
But I decided to let him sweat a little longer.
"Let’s talk after the opening ceremony, then."
Choi Go-eun’s interview, as things stood now, had no story.
And of course the public wasn’t going to care about a story with no real meat on its bones.
'No harm in doing the interview after the story is in place.'
At my attitude, Seo Ji-hun puffed out his lips.
"Hey now, why are you doing this to me, Chief Kwon?"
"Reporter Seo, let’s take it slow."
"Slow?"
"Yeah. The festival’s only just begun."
A faint smile touched my lips.
"The intro has barely started. What’s the rush? The Busan International Film Festival starts now."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Bathed in glamour and anticipation, the opening ceremony of the Busan International Film Festival shimmered under the night sky, and Haeundae Beach was packed with people gathered to celebrate the event.
At the center of it all, Hallyu star Kwon Hyeon-bin greeted director Na Jun-hu.
"Actor Kwon. You must have had a hard time making the trip."
Na Jun-hu, the master of commercial cinema who had achieved back-to-back ten-million admissions, took Kwon Hyeon-bin’s hand lightly.
"How have you been, Director Na?"
"I’ve been well enough. What about you? I saw the article saying you moved to Baekhak. Are they treating you well?"
"I’m not sure yet. I’ve been on a break right after the transfer."
A warm smile appeared at the corner of Na Jun-hu’s mouth.
"Really? Is that why? You look better, Actor Kwon."
"Do I?"
"Yeah. Much better. Going to a huge agency must have eased your mind some."
At the words of a director who had known him for ten years, Kwon Hyeon-bin fell into thought for a moment.
'I have been feeling better lately, that’s true.'
But was that because he had moved to Baekhak?
After thinking it over, Kwon Hyeon-bin shook his head.
'It was Chief Kwon’s suggestion.'
After joining Baekhak, the advice from Team 5’s Chief Kwon Chan had been to be cautious and choose his first project carefully.
Kwon Hyeon-bin had accepted that advice and naturally started resting.
'Has it been almost ten years since I was discharged from the military?'
Probably.
He had never really rested properly since becoming an actor.
The moment he opened his eyes, he acted; the moment he closed them, he thought only about acting. Every scrap of spare time beyond that was swallowed by personal schedules.
Maybe it was because of that murderous schedule.
Before he knew it, he was suffering from terrible insomnia.
Once the insomnia began, reading scripts made him feel nauseous, and even commercial shoots became difficult, let alone proper acting work.
It was around then that Kwon Hyeon-bin realized it.
The slump senior actors always warned about had finally arrived.
That was why he had decided to move to Baekhak.
'When a slump hits, changing your environment matters too.'
He had chosen Baekhak because he thought that if the environment changed and he was placed under a new agency, his exhausted mind and body might ease up a little.
Yet strangely enough, the person who ended up curing his crippling insomnia wasn’t the agency called Baekhak, but his new manager.
'Why don’t you take a break this time, Actor Kwon?'
As he slowly recalled the proposal from Baekhak Team 5’s Chief Kwon Chan, who shared his surname, Kwon Hyeon-bin answered.
"I think I really do feel better these days."
"Good. People should rest when they need to rest. If you don’t, burnout will come for you."
"I’m not there yet, Director."
"Then why don’t you work with me on the next project?"
"I’ll have to think about that."
Na Jun-hu laughed heartily and slapped Kwon Hyeon-bin’s shoulder.
"There’ve been a lot of good films this year, so enjoy yourself, Actor Kwon."
"Thank you, Director."
Turning, Kwon Hyeon-bin walked toward his assigned seat.
With his tall frame, he stood out wherever he went, and the actors and directors around him kept sneaking glances and tossing him subtle smiles.
But Kwon Hyeon-bin, who wasn’t particularly social, ignored the attention with cool composure and headed for his seat.
Across from him, straight ahead, he spotted a girl who still seemed too young to call an actress.
Kwon Hyeon-bin’s eyes widened slightly.
'Wasn’t she the rookie Chief Kwon manages?'
Her name was Choi Go-eun.
She was an unknown actress, but she was also a complete newcomer he had never even heard of before.
Choi Go-eun was sitting alone at an empty table, looking uneasy.
After a brief moment of hesitation, Kwon Hyeon-bin walked over to her.
"It looked like there were too many empty seats."
"...?"
"Would you mind if I sat here?"
Startled by Kwon Hyeon-bin’s sudden appearance, Choi Go-eun hesitated before bowing her head belatedly.
"Uh... yes, you can sit down, senior."
Kwon Hyeon-bin sat down beside Choi Go-eun without a word. A few entertainers who had been watching him tilted their heads and muttered.
"Huh? Why is Kwon Hyeon-bin sitting there?"
"More importantly, who’s that actress sitting with him?"
"Never seen that face before."
"Is she one of the agency’s actresses?"
Hallyu star Kwon Hyeon-bin, whose mere presence drew everyone’s attention.
Thanks to him, Choi Go-eun began attracting attention as well.
Kwon Hyeon-bin clicked his tongue inwardly.
'Maybe I shouldn’t have sat down.'
He had come over because he was worried about Chief Kwon Chan’s actress sitting alone, but instead of helping, he’d caused uncomfortable attention to gather around her.
'For an unknown actress, this kind of attention probably isn’t welcome.'
As he began wondering whether he should move seats after all, Choi Go-eun suddenly shouted from beside him.
"Chief Kwon!"
Snapped out of his thoughts, Kwon Hyeon-bin turned his head.
Choi Go-eun, who had risen from her seat, was hurrying toward a man.
Watching her, Kwon Hyeon-bin’s eyes widened a little.
Her face, which had been clouded with anxiety only moments ago, was suddenly bright.
'...So she wasn’t uncomfortable because she was alone, but because of Chief Kwon Chan?'
Just then, as Kwon Hyeon-bin’s expression shifted, Baekhak Team 5 manager Kwon Chan, whom Choi Go-eun had met, answered in a slightly startled voice.
"Oh? Choi Go-eun, you were with Kwon Hyeon-bin?"
"Yes, but where did you go just now?"
"I had some business. Did the interview go well?"
Choi Go-eun shrugged.
"I did it, but it felt like I was just standing next to Kwon Hyeon-bin senior."
"Still, you got an interview, didn’t you?"
Choi Go-eun giggled.
"Chief, you’re suddenly doing Wonyoung-style thinking."
"This is Wonyoung-style thinking?"
"I taught you last time! Positive thinking mindset!"
"I didn’t know you were using it like that."
After brushing aside Choi Go-eun’s complaints, Kwon Chan looked at Kwon Hyeon-bin.
"Actor Kwon, this is your first schedule after joining, so how is it? Are you okay?"
"Yes, I’m fine."
"I saw you when you came onto the red carpet earlier, and you looked great. The fans were absolutely losing it. How did that feel?"
Kwon Hyeon-bin answered slowly.
"Not bad."
"Glad to hear it. Still, it’s your first official schedule in a while, so take good care of yourself."
With that, Kwon Chan smiled faintly and started talking to Choi Go-eun again. Watching them quietly, Kwon Hyeon-bin’s expression turned strange once more.
'The attention’s all on Choi Go-eun.'
That was unusual.
Wasn’t it normal for a manager to pay more attention to a Hallyu star than to an unknown actress?
But Chief Kwon was different.
Even though he was a Hallyu star, he didn’t show him much attention.
That didn’t mean he was being neglected, though.
It was the right amount of attention and care.
He kept people hanging, like he was deliberately playing hard to get.
Kwon Hyeon-bin’s lips curved slightly.
'Interesting.'
Only now did he feel like he was beginning to understand it.
The style of management Kwon Chan used.
Then Kwon Chan, who had been talking with Choi Go-eun, muttered,
"Oh? The opening ceremony’s starting."
Kwon Hyeon-bin turned his head.
-Bang!
As the fireworks began, the host appeared on stage.
Taking the microphone, the host declared in a bright, powerful voice, "Hello, everyone! Welcome to the opening ceremony of the 34th Busan International Film Festival!"
The Busan International Film Festival, the finest film festival in Asia.
At last, its opening ceremony had begun.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After checking the condition of the two actors, I returned to my assigned seat.
By then, the Busan International Film Festival had launched its prelude with fireworks.
"Then, from this moment on, we’ll begin the grand opening of the 29th Busan International Film Festival!"
To the sound of explosive applause and the cheers of fans.
As the excitement lifted the corners of my mouth, I heard a strange murmur from the seat beside me.
"Wow... this year’s New Currents Award nominees are fierce."
"The short-film pre-selection is pretty intense too, isn’t it? There are a few shorts made by directors who’ve even shot commercial films this time."
"Still, the New Actress Award feels like a lock, doesn’t it?"
When I glanced over, I saw people who looked like reporters talking among themselves about the festival.
"A lock? Who’s in it?"
"Jo Ju-eun from BIG Entertainment! She’s starring in an independent film this time!"
"Oh, that Jo Ju-eun who played the daughter lead in that KBN weekend drama?"
"Her acting was so sharp that most PDs had already been eyeing her for supporting and lead roles, but she turned down all those offers because she wanted to focus on her craft and came out through an indie film instead."
My eyes widened slightly.
So Jo Ju-eun was here at this Busan International Film Festival?
"Wow... she turned down supporting and lead offers in this climate? She’s already showing real promise."
"Right? She’s clearly trying to build her filmography from the ground up."
"And the indie film she made this time is getting good reviews too, so they’re screening it at the opening ceremony. BIG Entertainment finally caught a real rookie."
"Exactly. If she wins even one award this time, she’ll become a rising star in no time."
The reporters kept talking about Jo Ju-eun of BIG Entertainment.
Listening in silence, I scratched my chin.
"So Jo Ju-eun is the front-runner for this year’s New Actress Award..."
Well... yes.
Jo Ju-eun from BIG Entertainment.
She was a good actress, with solid skills and a filmography she’d built carefully since her child-actor days.
But unfortunately, her luck wasn’t good.
'The main character of this year’s Busan International Film Festival New Actress Award is someone else.'
My personality usually kept me from speaking with this kind of certainty about anything, but this time there was no helping it.
Multicultural had been included in the opening ceremony lineup for the Busan International Film Festival.
"The Busan International Film Festival seeks to showcase the richness of cinematic art through films of diverse forms and genres. As part of that, we’d like to introduce a special short film."
The fact that a film was being screened at the opening ceremony of the Busan International Film Festival carried serious weight.
'Being chosen for the opening ceremony itself is proof the film is a strong contender for an award.'
But in the case of short films, no matter how good they were, they weren’t easy to get into the opening ceremony.
Since the opening ceremony marked the start of a weeklong festival, the films selected were usually bigger-scale independent or feature-length works.
Yet Kim Jun-su’s Multicultural was the only short film chosen among those independent and feature-length films.
"The title of the film is Multicultural, a work by Director Kim Jun-su. To briefly introduce it, this film..."
That meant I could afford to be relaxed.
It meant the acting of Choi Go-eun, the face of the short film chosen for the opening ceremony, had already captured the judges’ hearts.
With a snort of laughter, I turned and looked at the screen.
"It is a film that shows a problem our society has long ignored through the beautiful youth of one girl. We ask for your great interest and support. Thank you!"
All right, now it begins.
Monster rookie Choi Go-eun, whose acting had shown the most intense color of any actor I had ever seen.
The time for her to emerge into the world had finally arrived.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Right after the twenty-minute screening of the short film Multicultural ended, Na Jun-hu, the master who had reexamined the history of Korean commercial cinema, muttered slowly,
"Who is that actress?"
The master’s voice trembled with excitement.
"The girl who just appeared in that film, what agency is she with?"
With that single question, everyone in the industry attending the festival began searching for the actress named Choi Go-eun.