Chapter 126
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 126
Chapter Title: The Road to the Oscars
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About a month and a half had passed since *Over the Rainbow* was released.
When December arrived, a sense of tension filled Cocoa Entertainment. It was because they'd received a call from King's Agency, which supported Seojun in the United States.
King's Agency's call, which began with, "It's not certain yet, but according to sources here...", made everyone at Cocoa Entertainment excited.
The staff of Team 2, dedicated to actor Lee Seojun, and the PR team chattered with flushed, excited faces.
"It's really nice having people working in the States. Last time, it was something we never imagined, so we were just flustered... but now we have people who can tell us before the announcements."
"Well, that was truly unexpected. I didn't even know the WTV Film Festival existed back then."
"Me neither. But this one, anyone with even a slight interest in film festivals would know about it, right?"
Unable to wait anxiously in his office, CEO Seo Eunchan, along with Lee Seojun's manager, An Daho, came down to Team 2's office. They kept their mouths shut, staring at the lone phone on the table.
"Even if you're not interested in film festivals, you've probably heard of it at least once."
"Didn't everyone expect this? Its success made waves all over the world!"
"That's right. It's a movie that completely changed people's travel patterns for a month. From international to domestic travel, it was a total frenzy."
"And the concerts and donations, too. The movie's influence is really incredible."
"...The fact that it's still just a rumor is bothering me, though."
Everyone burst out laughing at An Daho's worried comment.
"Come on, Team Leader An. A rumor of this magnitude is practically a confirmation."
"I bet they'll call in a bit and say, 'It's confirmed!'"
Just then, the phone rang.
Silence fell over the Team 2 office, which had been filled with a joy that felt like walking on clouds.
The CEO, Seo Eunchan, picked up the phone. As his expression brightened while he nodded a few times, the staff of Team 2 and the PR team let out silent cheers.
"They said the articles will be out in two days."
At Seo Eunchan's words, An Daho immediately picked up his phone to call his actor.
"Also, Whale Studio is starting the Academy campaign."
Another round of cheers erupted at Seo Eunchan's words.
* * *
While the songs from *Over the Rainbow* remained at the top of the music charts despite comebacks from famous singers, a stir began on the internet. It started with a single comment.
-Don't you think he could get *that*?
=*That*?
=It's a movie made in the US, it screened in LA theaters for more than 7 days, and it was such a huge hit that almost everyone has seen it. It got so much attention that it even hit number one on the Billboard Classical chart. Don't you think he could get it?
=So what is *it*?
=...The Oscar Award.
An entertainment reporter, who had been browsing the internet for story ideas and writing replies, unconsciously stopped his hands that were tapping on the keyboard.
"Uh..."
"What are you spacing out for? Weren't you writing an article about Lee Seojun?"
"No... senior... look at this..."
As the junior reporter pointed at the screen with a trembling finger, his senior tilted his head and read the comment. As he read, his mouth fell open without him realizing it.
"...Really?"
"How would I know?"
"I feel like we'd jinx it if we write an article for no reason."
But they couldn't just not write it.
Lee Seojun, Hollywood, and the Oscars.
It was a combination they had never imagined, one that sent a thrill through them just thinking about it.
The senior reporter mentally reviewed the movies released that year. It seemed there was no film more impressive than *Over the Rainbow*, and the timing felt right.
"First, let's contact Cocoa Entertainment."
"Yes, sir!"
"And lay some groundwork."
"Groundwork?"
The senior reporter grinned at his junior's question.
[Let's Learn About the Academy Awards!]
[The Reason the Academy Award is Called the Oscar.]
[Films Worthy of This Year's Academy Awards!]
[A Look at Past Korean Winners and Their Works!]
-Why the sudden award show articles?
-Isn't it because it's the end of the year? It's awards season.
-But date-wise, these award shows are next year.
-I think it's about *that*...
=*That*?
=Over the Rainbow lol
=...Oh?
While Cocoa Entertainment's PR team's phones and inboxes were blowing up with calls from reporters, people interested in film festivals began to post one by one.
Just a few hours after the sensational comment was posted, the comment sections of articles about *Over the Rainbow* and film festivals were filled with anticipation.
-Is there... a possibility?
-So the Oscars are the Academy Awards. A Korean was nominated for the Best Animated Short Film award once.
-Really? Will he really get it? I hope he does! If he wins, he'll be the first Korean!
=Winning seems like a long shot. Just getting nominated would be huge.
-As expected of our Grand Prince! An acting genius is on another level!
-Hey, let's not put pressure on him. Seojun is still young, and not a single adult Korean actor has received one yet...
Amidst the comments expressing hope, one particularly stood out. It was written by a fan of actor Lee Seojun.
People who were scrolling through the comments, intending to add their own hopeful remarks, paused at that one.
=Yeah, that's true. They hype you up when they think you have a chance, and then if you don't win, they're immediately disappointed. Imagine how much pressure that puts on the actor.
=And all the talk about being overhyped...
=Whether he wins or not, Lee Seojun is a great actor. A really great one.
=I'm just going to keep my mouth shut until the nominations are announced.
Anyone who had seen even one of Lee Seojun's works agreed with this sentiment. How many geniuses had withered under pressure? In the end, some people even gave up on writing comments. It felt like anything they wrote would just add to Lee Seojun's burden.
-Film Critic, what do you think?
After finishing his movie review, during a chat session with his viewers, the topic came up. The Film Critic, lost in thought for a moment, smiled.
"Whatever I say might put pressure on actor Lee Seojun, so I'll just say one short thing."
The Film Critic glanced at the framed ticket on his wall, then looked at the camera.
"I really enjoyed the movie, actor Lee Seojun."
There was probably no other phrase an actor would want to hear more.
Seojun sensed a subtle shift in the atmosphere at school. Was it because winter break was approaching? Or was there some other event?
He kept seeing classmates who would start to say something, then gasp and cover their mouths, and teachers who would give him awkward smiles. Seojun scratched his cheek.
"Does anyone know why the mood is so weird?"
So Seojun asked his closest friends. In response to his question, Jio rolled his eyes and opened his mouth.
"...Am I allowed to say?"
"What is it?"
"My mom said not to talk about it because it would be pressure..."
"Aha."
Pressure. With that one word, Seojun understood everything. Of course he knew. He frequently visited his own fan cafe, [From the Sprout], and occasionally looked up articles about himself.
'I thought it was just an online thing...'
It seemed the kids at school had also heard about it from their parents or siblings.
'The kids at my school are so considerate.'
Jihu nudged Jio in the side.
"Ow! Why'd you hit me!"
"I told you not to say anything."
"What? Mom said not to talk about the award show."
At Jio's words, Jihu, Mina, and Jiyun buried their faces in their hands. *Oh, you idiot.* Seojun burst out laughing at that.
"It's okay. You can talk about it."
"Really?"
"Yeah. The articles will be out soon anyway."
"Articles are coming out?"
The timing was perfect. He'd heard the articles were supposed to come out today, so shouldn't they be out by now? While the kids were tilting their heads at Seojun's words, the news broke in the United States.
The junior reporter, who had been constantly refreshing a US news site, snapped his head up at the changing screen.
"It's up!"
The junior's eyes quickly scanned the article. His flushed face turned puzzled as he read on.
"But... it's not the Academy Awards?"
"It's the Golden Globes! That's important too! Translate it and post it right away! And you call yourself an entertainment reporter and you don't even know the Golden Globes?"
As soon as the nominations were announced, the media immediately published their articles. Since they had prepared multiple versions in advance—'Actor Lee Seojun Nominated,' 'Failed to Secure Nomination,' etc.—the entertainment news was soon filled with stories about Seojun, to the point where he topped real-time search queries and even appeared on television news.
[Over the Rainbow Nominated in 5 Categories at the Golden Globes!]
[Over the Rainbow: Best Actor, Best Original Score, Best Original Song, Best Picture, Best Director!]
[Actor Lee Seojun, Youngest Nominee for Golden Globe Best Actor!]
[The Golden Globes, a Prelude to the Oscars. Could Actor Lee Seojun Win?!]
[Golden Globes, Best Actor Nomination, A First for a Korean Actor!]
[Let's Learn About the Golden Globe Awards, Created by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association!]
...Not the Academy Awards?
People who only knew about the Oscars and were hearing about the Golden Globes for the first time blinked as they read through the flood of articles.
The Golden Globe Awards.
The Golden Globes is an awards ceremony created by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, with winners decided by the votes of about 90 foreign journalists.
And because the Golden Globes ceremony is held just one month before the Academy Awards, it often influences the Oscars.
Therefore, being nominated for a Golden Globe meant a higher chance of being nominated for an Academy Award.
These articles ignited the hearts of those who had been holding their breath.
-AHHHHHHHH! A nomination! He got nominated!
-It's an award show I wasn't expecting, but getting nominated for this one is incredibly difficult too!
-Forget Koreans, there are hardly any Asian actors!
-A prelude to the Oscars... my heart is pounding...
-It's really happening!! It's on the news!
-Can I, uh, get my hopes up a little now?!
-As expected of Over the Rainbow, it got nominated for all the music-related awards lol
-If you listen to this and don't nominate it, you must be tone-deaf.
"Seojun, congratulations on the nomination!"
"They say even a nomination is a huge deal!"
His teachers and friends said with bright smiles. Seojun scratched his cheek. Before, they couldn't even speak to him and just watched him cautiously, and now their praise felt awkward in a different way. They were being so considerate that he was starting to feel sorry.
There was a reason why his friends and teachers couldn't congratulate him wholeheartedly even though he was nominated. It was because of articles stating that, since it was an American awards show, the chances of him winning were slim.
Right after those articles, others came out saying that it wasn't entirely impossible, as a Korean-American actress had won Best Actress before, but the prevailing opinion was still that he wouldn't win.
-My best movie of the year is Over the Rainbow.
-No matter what anyone says, Best Actor is Seojun Lee.
-Agreed. It makes no sense if he doesn't win after showing that level of acting!
-Well, I don't know about the February awards, but the Golden Globes seem possible.
The international opinion regarding Seojun's chances of winning was similar.
While everyone was abuzz with the news of Seojun's Golden Globe nomination, reporters who had received a press release from Cocoa Entertainment uploaded their articles.
[Whale Studio Begins Academy Awards Campaign!]
[Whale Studio Pushing 'Over the Rainbow' for 6 Categories in Addition to Best Picture!]
[Whale Studio Pushing for Seojun Lee as Best Actor Nominee!]
Whale Studio has submitted its October release, *Over the Rainbow*. The desired categories for consideration are Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Original Score, Best Sound Editing, Best Original Song, and Best Actor.
The name of actor Lee Seojun (12) was, of course, put forward for the Best Actor nomination.
The list of nominees for the Academy Awards is scheduled to be announced at the end of January, after the Golden Globe Awards ceremony.>
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