Chapter 127
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: The Oscar Campaign
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[Over the Rainbow, Academy Awards Campaign, Best Actor Poster Revealed!]
<Whale Studio has released the poster to be used for its Academy Awards campaign. It shows Gray playing the violin in shabby clothes, with a faint glimpse of Gray in a tuxedo behind him.>
-So, Whale Studio is actively pushing for Lee Seojun to be nominated for Best Actor?
=Looks like it?
-For a studio the size of Whale Studio, isn't that, uh, you know?
=Why can't you say it! Say it!
=No, I'd feel bad if it doesn't happen.
-The Golden Globes, the Academy Awards... Lee Seojun is going to be busy.
An Daho handed Seojun the script along with a document from King's Agency.
It was a document from Whale Studio's dedicated Oscar team, an easy-to-understand summary of the "typical schedule for winning an Oscar," also known as the Oscar season and the Oscar race.
The nominations and winners at the Academy Awards are all decided by the votes of thousands of film industry professionals, including directors, writers, and actors.
Since the selection is made from films released between January 1st and December 31st, movies released in January and February have a hard time getting chosen by voters unless they are exceptionally impressive.
Thus, an unspoken rule was established in the film industry: films with artistic and production value should be released starting in September.
"So this is called the Oscar season."
It was Oscar season.
Seojun nodded as he read through the document. He knew that an immense amount of marketing went into releasing a single film, but he hadn't realized there was such a public method for winning awards as well.
"It seems like movies aiming for an Oscar are usually released in the second half of the year. Hmm. Is that why Over the Rainbow was released in October?"
It had taken a long time for the actors to learn the violin, but from filming to editing, *Over the Rainbow* had been a non-stop sprint.
Unlike typical movies that wait after filming and editing are complete, it was released immediately after the final cut. Considering that releases could take anywhere from a few months to a year or two, it was incredibly fast.
An Daho agreed with Seojun. As Whale Studio was a subsidiary of the Marine Company, they wouldn't have chosen the release date carelessly.
"That must have been part of it. And there weren't many outstanding films this year."
The document from Whale Studio confirmed this. Among the potential nominees predicted internally by Whale Studio and the Marine Company, no film had been more successful than *Over the Rainbow*.
'Well, the awards aren't decided by box office success alone.'
Seojun nodded and read the next page.
"Since directors, writers, and actors are the ones voting, the usual strategy is to attend various film festivals starting in September for promotion. But *Over the Rainbow* was still filming then, so they couldn't. Box office success is as important as the awards, so they couldn't do it during the release either. It seems like they're starting now that things have quieted down a bit."
An Daho, who had read the documents at Cocoa Entertainment beforehand, explained. He had also asked King's Agency about anything he didn't understand.
"This part did surprise me."
The document contained an interesting story.
After the movie's release, the [RAINBOW] channel uploaded two videos.
One was a video of the LA School of Music students, and the other was a video of Seojun playing "Gray's Piece" on stage before filming began.
"Right. I played a few other pieces on stage back then."
The performance of one song was short, and the audience had been disappointed by the brief concert. Seojun, of course, felt the same.
Even after filming ended, Seojun had played several more classical pieces on stage. Of the several performance videos filmed that day, Whale Studio had only uploaded the one of "Gray's Piece."
"Since it's the same song, it's easy to compare."
The difference between the week 1-7 busking, the week 8 busking, and the stage video.
A completely different presence and violin performance, just from a change in atmosphere!
Behold the acting prowess of our movie's lead, Seojun Lee!
By uploading the week 8 video and the on-stage video, Whale Studio made Seojun's distinct on-and-off-character switch even easier for anyone to see.
Not only that, but Whale Studio also permitted all editing and compositing of the videos on the [RAINBOW] channel.
They hoped that through N-tubers and N-tube viewers, the genius acting of the actor Seojun Lee would become known all over the world. And they hoped that fame would reach the voters.
Whale Studio's Oscar campaign was already underway.
An Daho continued.
"An Academy campaign is basically an election campaign to convince the voters that our movie is brilliant and our actor is the best. Both Whale Studio and King's Agency are confident about the first round of voting."
"So the second round of voting is the key."
"Right. The competition this year is pretty favorable."
Countless movies had been released, but none had achieved greater box office success than *Over the Rainbow*, nor had any garnered as much public interest.
"If you go by visible success, our film is at the top. The problem is its artistic and production value. Different people value those things differently."
"You mean it's subjective."
"Exactly. Still, *Over the Rainbow* received good reviews from critics, so it looks like Whale Studio is getting ambitious."
"So what do I need to do?"
At Seojun's question, An Daho handed him the materials he'd received from King's Agency.
"They said you just need to do some interviews and a talk show appearance before the Golden Globes. You, Catherine, and Paul are too young to be running around to events, so they'll handle it. This is a list of interview questions, and this is a list of talk shows. Let me know if there's a program you like. Of course, you don't have to do a talk show if you don't want to."
Seojun first looked at the list of talk shows. The very first one listed was a show he used to watch with his mom and dad when he lived in the U.S.
*This program is still on the air.* He felt a sense of wonder. To think he would be appearing on a talk show he had only ever seen on television.
Slowly reading down the list, Seojun said.
"I have fans in the U.S., so they'd probably be happy if I went on a talk show, right?"
"Not just your American fans. As long as there are subtitles, fans all over the world will love it."
Seojun nodded at An Daho's words.
"Then I'll go on this one."
"Really? Alright."
Putting down the list of talk shows, Seojun picked up the interview questionnaire.
"There are more questions than I thought."
Seojun read the first of about thirty questions. An Daho, who had already looked it over, chuckled.
"It's fun to read through. There are a lot of small questions, like your favorite number or foods you dislike. The Golden Globes are in January, so you can take your time filling it out."
"Okay, Daho-hyung."
Seojun picked up a pencil and began writing the answer to the first question, then looked up.
"But Daho-hyung."
"Yeah?"
"How will Whale Studio promote the film without the actors?"
"Hmm, I'm not sure. Should I ask them later?"
"Yes. I'm curious how they're going to do it."
But the answer arrived before An Daho even had a chance to ask.
Not just for Seojun,
but for the entire world.
"...Can't you do our comeback promotion like this, Eunchan-hyung?"
"...We don't have the money."
Seo Eunchan replied to Hwang Yejun's question. Seojun and his hyungs' eyes were still glued to the television. He was having a meal with his Brown Black hyungs for the first time in a while, and the news playing on the restaurant's TV had made everyone stop in their tracks.
The television showed New York's Times Square. The multiple screens on the massive buildings all turned black at once, then lit up to show someone. It was Seojun Lee.
A busking video played, and then the news scene changed. It was London's Piccadilly Circus. Someone was on the screen. It was Seojun Lee. The news scene shifted to Paris, then Hanoi, then Seoul.
From outdoor advertisements on huge buildings to posters in the subways of every country.
Everywhere, there was Seojun Lee, there was Gray Vainie.
It was impossible not to know, with the news constantly talking about it.
The sheer, overwhelming volume of the campaign, just like before a movie premiere, left both Seojun and Cocoa Entertainment stunned.
"But Daho-hyung, wouldn't it be enough to do this just in the U.S.?"
"They said the awards aren't just in the U.S...."
It seemed to display Whale Studio's determination to devour not only the Golden Globes in January but every awards ceremony around the world.
***
The new year passed, and January arrived.
In January, Seojun, his parents, and An Daho departed for the Golden Globe Awards. A crowd of cameras and people saw actor Lee Seojun off at the airport.
-A short while ago, actor Lee Seojun headed for the departure gate. We wish him the best of luck at the Golden Globe Awards. The Golden Globes will be broadcast live on MBS on January 7th. We hope many of you will tune in.
Normally, the Golden Globes weren't broadcast, but because the movie *Over the Rainbow*, starring Lee Seojun, was nominated in multiple categories, it was scheduled to be aired live.
[Actor Lee Seojun Departs Today!]
[Actor Lee Seojun's Airport Fashion! His Love for Monsters is Still Going Strong!]
[The Golden Globe Awards to be Broadcast Live on MBS, January 7th!]
[MBS Completes All Preparations for the Golden Globe Awards!]
-It's not a Korean movie, but it feels like one lol.
=Haha, well, Lee Seojun is a Korean actor haha.
-I heard MBS is going nuts haha. They said they landed a huge one for the first time in a while and are digging into the entire history of the Golden Globes haha.
-There was a rumor that the other broadcast station that lost the rights to MBS by a narrow margin is also in an uproar...
=Whether he wins an award or not, it's going to be a broadcast that goes down in history lol.
***
On a cozy stage sat two plush sofas and a small table. When Valeria appeared from the side of the stage, the studio audience applauded.
"Oh, the welcome is even warmer than usual today. Yes, I know. I know just what an incredible person we've invited! He deserves the applause, doesn't he?"
-Yes!
-Bring him out already!
"No need to rush. I'm just as eager to bring him out as you are. The production team gave me a long list of titles to describe this actor, but he can be summed up in one phrase. Let's welcome our superstar!"
Valeria tossed her script aside and shouted.
"Korea's 'Grand Prince,' the genius violinist Gray, Seojun Lee!"
The production team, already resigned to Valeria's hosting style, gestured to Seojun, who was waiting backstage. Having seen Valeria's talk show before, Seojun chuckled and walked onto the stage.
-Jun!!
-I'm a huge fan!!
As Seojun appeared on stage, the audience screamed loud enough to bring the house down. For the fans he was meeting for the first time, Seojun unleashed his aura in full, and everyone was thoroughly bathed in the presence of a superstar.
"Welcome, Lee."
"It's a pleasure, Valeria. Please, call me Jun."
"Alright, Jun. It's so good to have you. Have a seat."
Valeria and Seojun sat down.
"How does it feel to be on your first talk show?"
"I never expected to hear the title 'Grand Prince' here."
"Oh, it's a must-watch drama for any of Jun's fans. I may not know other words, but I've definitely memorized 'Naeuiwon' and 'Grand Prince Seongnyeong.' Right, everyone?"
-Yes!
-Grand Prince!
Hearing "Grand Prince" from all corners of the room, Seojun burst out laughing. *Oh, my star is laughing!* Everyone, with looks of sheer delight, kept calling out his name.
"Alright, alright, settle down. If we keep this up, the only thing that'll air is Jun laughing. Of course, that would get huge ratings too, but we need to see a more diverse side of him."
At Valeria's words, everyone nodded and fell silent. Seojun, who had been laughing cheerfully, wiped away tears of mirth.
"Let's get the work out of the way first, then we can indulge our personal feelings."
Valeria seemed to genuinely mean it, as she wrapped up the talk about *Over the Rainbow* in a flash, before Seojun could even say more than a few words. She cleverly managed to include everything Whale Studio had specifically requested.
The employee from Whale Studio's promotion team, who had come to the broadcast station with Seojun and An Daho, buried his face in his hands. An Daho looked bewildered as well. He had monitored the talk show, but this wasn't how it usually went.
"Is this show always like this?"
"Sometimes. Very rarely. It happens when Valeria has a star she genuinely adores."
A producer shrugged. The promotion team employee muttered with a look of half-resignation.
"It was my mistake to hope Jun wouldn't be one of them."