Chapter 204: Softness Overcomes Hardness (2)
Chapter 204: Softness Overcomes Hardness (2)
The fact that Seo-yeon, the lead of Gyeongseong Lady, had gained significant recognition in Japan acted as a massive boon for the film.
Director Baek Min’s unique artistic style usually made commercial success difficult. However, he was already a director with a certain level of prestige, and while the cast consisted mostly of unknowns, the involvement of Jo Seo-hee and Ju Seo-yeon had bolstered the lineup considerably.
Now, with love calls coming in from Japan, the original investors had every reason to be beaming.
"Actually, we have one more secret weapon up our sleeve."
Hwang Tae-sang, the Cultural Industry Manager of Best One, spoke with a wide grin to Park Hoon, a director at the same company.
"Actor Lee Sang-soo."
He was the secret weapon of Gyeongseong Lady, currently being kept strictly under wraps. A representative actor of South Korea who hadn't appeared in a single project since his failed venture into Hollywood.
"I’m not sure if he’ll still live up to his name, though."
"He certainly will. Director Baek Min, of all people, compromised on his own vision and said okay."
Park Hoon had heard that Lee Sang-soo was participating in the film, but since he hadn't heard the full details, he couldn't help but be surprised.
"Is that true?"
"It is. Director Baek Min relayed the information himself."
"That’s quite unexpected. For Director Baek to compromise on his vision..."
"I thought so too. He’s a man of talent, but he’s also incredibly stubborn, isn't he?"
Ability over experience. Director Baek Min was a filmmaker who knew exactly what he wanted to portray in his movies. If an actor didn't fit the composition he had in mind, he wouldn't cast them, no matter how talented they were.
"But how did Lee Sang-soo end up joining the film? I heard he wouldn't budge for any offer."
"From what I’ve heard, Ju Seo-yeon brought him in personally..."
"Ju Seo-yeon did?"
How did a young actress, who had returned to the industry less than a year ago, manage to move a man like Lee Sang-soo? Was it a connection formed during the filming of Star Fisherman? It didn't seem like that alone would be enough to sway him...
"At any rate, there’s a lot of good news surrounding Director Baek’s film this time."
"Perhaps it’s thanks to Jo Seo-hee. Ju Seo-yeon seems to be close with her as well."
Since her days as a child actor, Jo Seo-hee was an actress who had never experienced failure. There was even a saying that she could save someone destined to fail. Some jokingly called her a "good luck charm."
"It’s a stroke of luck that Jo Seo-hee is a fan of Director Baek."
"Hmm, thinking of it that way, it’s actually strange that New Like hasn't made a move."
"Isn't it an open secret? Jo Seo-hee herself doesn't want to rely on their power."
To be honest, Hwang Tae-sang considered Jo Seo-hee’s behavior to be nothing more than childish rebellion.
"She’s young, so she might feel embarrassed about getting help from her parents."
Or it could simply be pride. Every single project Jo Seo-hee participated in became a hit. It was hard to imagine how much profit there would have been if all of those had been films invested in by 'New Like.'
"Who knows? Jo Seo-hee is a very sharp girl."
"You sound like you know her quite well."
"Well, wasn't that the company I used to work for? I saw her a few times."
Park Hoon, the director of Best One, looked out at the Gangnam landscape visible below the high-rise building and thought to himself.
"So, she must have her own reasons."
For example, a problem related to her mother.
Or, she might purely think it would have a negative impact on her.
If she used the power of New Like, Jo Seo-hee’s acting career would become incredibly easy. Directors and PDs alike would be busy walking on eggshells around her. But once she started using that power, would she ever be able to stop?
She would stop being the actress Jo Seo-hee and simply become the young lady of New Like—a third-generation chaebol for whom acting was just a hobby.
Perhaps that was the perception Jo Seo-hee wanted to avoid. To protect her identity as an actress.
Either way, it was a path an ordinary person wouldn't choose.
"Of course, it’s a very good thing for us."
The great actor Lee Sang-soo. Jo Seo-hee, who, along with Park Jung-woo, was considered the best among young actors. And finally, the rising star of the year.
'Ju Seo-yeon.'
Currently, the interest in Seo-yeon in Japan was extraordinary. Was it simply because of her looks? No, that couldn't be it.
There were three main things Seo-yeon had shown in Japan: her fearless performance as a ghost on a variety show, her one-minute cameo in a drama, and finally, a minor event related to Dream Future.
She had become a hot topic with just that.
If Jo Seo-hee is a good luck charm, what should I call her?
She was different. Whether it was her presence or her aura. It was understandable why Jo Seo-hee followed Seo-yeon around so much.
A supernova.
As if she were instinctively chasing a starlight that resembled her own mother.
*
The full-scale filming of Gyeongseong Lady, which had been delayed time and again, was finally beginning.
To be honest, Seo-yeon hadn't given it much thought. For one, she had been incredibly busy, and Gyeongseong Lady was a movie she didn't really need to worry about. Even with various ups and downs in her past life, the movie had managed to successfully premiere with a much weaker cast than this.
With a far superior cast now, there was no way anything would go wrong. If anything, New Like, the investor for this film, had struck gold.
So, she had just been waiting for the filming date without much concern, but...
Now that I’m actually looking at the script, this is...
She had received the script quite a while ago. She hadn't thought much of it then, either. But now, facing the reality of filming these scenes with Jo Seo-hee or Ji-yeon...
How should she put it?
I... I can’t really picture it.
Gyeongseong Lady had quite a few romance scenes. Originally, the script was aimed at an adult rating, but as the average age of the cast dropped, the level of maturity had decreased significantly.
For the record, this wasn't particularly different from her past life. Back then, they couldn't find the right actors, so the script was changed to an all-ages rating as well.
However...
Romance... acting.
And with the same sex, no less. Seo-yeon had already managed to gloss over things and fool the viewers during Dream Future. But in Gyeongseong Lady, there were many parts that were quite shocking to just gloss over.
It’s... difficult.
One thing was for sure: she couldn't do method acting. Of course, it had been a long time since she’d done method acting anyway, as she didn't feel the need for it. She was just a bit worried about whether she could bring out the right emotions.
Still...
Seo-yeon closed the script and fell into thought. Many eyes were fixed on her.
Today was the day of the script reading for Gyeongseong Lady. She had thought about coming with Ji-yeon, but she decided to come ahead of time. She had a lot on her mind.
The script was one thing, but now that they were actually filming Gyeongseong Lady, she had to think about its impact.
They said there’s interest in Japan too.
This was something that hadn't happened in her past life. While it was true that Gyeongseong Lady was highly regarded abroad, it wasn't exported to Japan until about two years after its Korean release. Of course, it had been released in other foreign markets much earlier. Only Japan was late.
But now, Japan was the one most eager for its release. It was quite ironic.
...How will it turn out?
Seo-yeon had joined Gyeongseong Lady because of Jo Seo-hee’s suggestion. Of course, she didn't accept it simply because she couldn't refuse the offer. It was purely because it was such a great opportunity.
Recognition as an actress.
A golden opportunity to raise her profile. Gyeongseong Lady, which received high praise abroad, provided the actors involved with a chance to leap forward. Of course, most of them disappeared after getting into trouble or having a string of failed projects.
Regardless, the fact that the opportunity was given was what mattered. Especially for Seo-yeon, the fame she could gain from Gyeongseong Lady was more important than anything else.
It’s impossible for an actor to secure investment with just average recognition.
Of course, it wasn't that Seo-yeon wanted to become a film director or anything like that. But she did have plans to make a movie. It was still just a vague plan, but...
Graduation.
The word "graduation" held a very special meaning for Seo-yeon.
Commonly, VTubers use the word "graduation" when they retire. This graduation doesn't simply mean ending their activities. In a way, it might be like death. Like an eternal farewell.
So, the graduation Seo-yeon aimed for might be similar in some sense. In a way, she felt like she had dragged it out for too long.
Because I learned from Masked Singer.
Meeting her mother from her past life. Seeing her, who had given birth to an ordinary daughter instead of her. And finally, hearing the question from her current mother, Sua.
—Seo-yeon, why did you start working so hard at acting?
At those words, she had realized it. The reason she hadn't been able to do what she had wanted to do since she was young.
Being a VTuber was a dream from her past life. She felt that if she did it now, she would be forever bound to the past. She had realized that she still had lingering regrets.
And once she realized that, doubt began to creep in. Perhaps her becoming an actress was also a trace of that. Perhaps she was acting because she wanted to let her mother know she was okay.
The suspicion that she might have wanted to convey herself indirectly through the TV and movies. Because of a regret she hadn't even properly recognized.
I have to graduate from my past self.
Of course, that graduation didn't mean retiring from acting. Rather, it was an indispensable step to live as the actress Ju Seo-yeon. It was also the preparation to fulfill the dream she had held since childhood as 'Ju Seo-yeon.'
Seo-yeon knew the answer. That was why she had asked Writer Min Se-hee about it and had tried to move a bit prematurely out of impatience.
But through Aunt Yeo-hee, she had calmed down a bit. She felt as if she had been told there was no need to be impatient about moving toward her dream.
Anyway.
Let’s not be impatient. Let’s take it step by step. That was what she had decided.
Anyway.
The reason she was suddenly having such sentimental thoughts was all because of the acting she saw in the script. Romance. In other words, acting out 'love.'
It was a subject far too difficult for the current Ju Seo-yeon. To Seo-yeon, emotions were like paint. Her weapon was using them to act as if she were painting a picture. Naturally, the more she understood those emotions, the more vibrant the colors became, resulting in a better work.
In that sense, the emotion of love was honestly difficult. It required more self-understanding and rapport with others than any other emotion. In other words, for Seo-yeon, who hadn't graduated yet, faking it was her limit.
I definitely want to understand it like other emotions someday, but...
For now, she had to find a way to fake it...
And with Lee Ji-yeon, of all people.
She had listed many complex excuses, but to put it simply, that was it. She had to film a romance with a close friend. Furthermore, her character, Kasugayama Yuina, was a villainess who harbored a one-sided love for the female lead.
Realizing that fact anew made Seo-yeon feel like she was getting a headache.
"I’m looking forward to the acting, aren't you?"
Unaware of Seo-yeon’s feelings, Jo Seo-hee spoke with a beaming smile. Naturally, Seo-yeon was about to give her a cold glare... but she stopped herself.
"Yes, I suppose so."
After all, there were certainly parts she was looking forward to as well.
*
To start with, Jo Seo-hee was in a great mood. She hadn't even been able to sleep properly at the thought of the script reading today. So, she had played YouTube sleep music and tossed and turned all night. She finally managed to fall asleep and arrived at the set in peak condition.
Is she worried about the acting?
She noticed that Seo-yeon was quieter than usual. It was quite rare for Seo-yeon to be scrutinizing the script like that right before a reading.
As for Ji-yeon, who had just arrived...
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
She spoke cynically as soon as she arrived. Her eyes were sharp, and her words were sharp. She was sitting in a polite posture because of the senior actors present, but Jo Seo-hee felt suspicious every time she saw Ji-yeon.
She won't get into a school bullying controversy later, will she?
Gyeongseong Lady was a very important project for Jo Seo-hee as well. Of course, she knew from their meetings that Lee Ji-yeon wasn't that kind of person... but she was still suspicious. Her face just screamed "delinquent"...
"Well then, let’s get started. You’ve all greeted each other, right? Should I call out your names one more time?"
At Director Baek Min’s words, the somewhat heavy atmosphere of the set brightened. In fact, there had been an unusual lack of conversation for a script reading. The reason was simple.
The actresses these days have quite the presence.
It’s a bit much with the three of them sitting there like that...
Ju Seo-yeon, who was examining the script, and Jo Seo-hee, who was sitting next to her and stealing glances. And Lee Ji-yeon, who was also stealing glances at Jo Seo-hee and Ju Seo-yeon while pretending not to.
Since all three of them had looks that made it difficult to strike up a conversation for different reasons, it was truly hard to talk to them. Since the leads of the film had such an aura, the supporting actors naturally kept their mouths shut. With such an atmosphere formed, the set had naturally become quiet.
"Then, to freshen up the mood, let’s start lightly. First..."
The moment Director Baek Min scanned the room, wondering who should start first.
I should go first.
Jo Seo-hee sent a look toward Director Baek Min. Her eyes sparkled intensely, signaling that she wanted to go first.
Seo-yeon seems to be having a hard time deciding whether to go first.
Knowing Director Baek Min’s personality, he would surely ask Seo-yeon if she didn't step up. It would be better to take the initiative. As she signaled fervently with her eyes...
"For the start, we’ll begin with a scene between Actress Lee Ji-yeon and Actress Ju Seo-yeon. Since you two meet first in the sequence of scenes. Seo-hee, since you seem so eager to do it, I’ll save you for later."
Director Baek Min spoke with a smile toward Jo Seo-hee. It was more of a small joke, as he recognized her eagerness.
Thanks to that, Seo-yeon, who suddenly had to do the reading first, narrowed her eyes at Jo Seo-hee.
I... I’ve been wronged.
Of course, Jo Seo-hee felt truly wronged.