Chapter 186
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 186
Chapter Title: Hollywood's Reply
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-Evan! Are you in?
Richel Hill's voice came through the phone. Evan Block pulled the device away from his ear. From her bubbly, excited tone, he could tell what her decision was.
“Did you talk to Jun?”
-I did! And I read the whole script. A zombie movie! It looks like it'll be so much fun. You read it too, right?
“Yeah.”
-And you’re analyzing the character right now?
Evan Block flinched at Richel Hill's words. He instinctively looked down.
Spread across his wide desk was a printed copy of the script.
It was the script for the Korean film, *Escape*. He had only received it today, but it was already colorfully marked up with notes.
He had used a bright highlighter to mark the lines of the character he would play if he took the role, analyzing the stage directions and building the character. He imagined the character's past, thought about his habits, and conjured an image in his mind.
And just like that, a character was born.
‘Am I really that simple of a person for Richel to have me figured out?’
As Evan Block was at a loss for words, Richel Hill's cheerful voice filled his ear.
-Right? I knew it! You can never pass up a good script.
“...Yeah. I was analyzing it.”
-Ahahaha.
It wasn't the first time Richel Hill's laughter had gotten on his nerves, but today it was especially grating. Putting his pen down, Evan Block rubbed his face with his hands and spoke.
“Are you going to be in it too?”
-Of course! I’ve been studying Korean really hard!
“But there are no Korean lines…”
-That’s a bit of a bummer, but there’s the director’s direction! I finally get to use my Korean in a real situation!
“You talk to me, don’t you?”
-You’re not Korean.
Evan Block wore an ambiguous expression at Richel Hill's blunt reply.
-I’m going to surprise him when I get to Korea.
Richel Hill said, imagining Seojun’s surprised face at her fluent Korean.
-So, are you in or out?
“I’m in. It seems like it’ll be fun.”
The part was small, so filming probably wouldn't take long. It also felt refreshing to act with Seojun in a project other than the *Shadowman* series.
-When are you going? I’ve already packed.
“...Already? They said the script was just finished, and they haven't even cast the other actors yet.”
That meant filming was still a long way off. At Evan Block's words, Richel Hill scratched her cheek.
-Hmm. Too early, maybe?
Richel Hill looked at the pile of luggage she had packed. Half of it was gifts for Seojun.
“Yeah. We still have to sign contracts, and they need time to prepare on their end.”
-Well, I should text Jun back then.
Richel Hill excitedly tapped on her phone.
***
On the first day of school at Yeoul Arts Middle School.
Good news arrived from America.
>Richel: Okay! I’ll do it!
>Evan: Me too. Looks like fun.
Just as he finished getting ready for school and was about to leave, Seojun received the messages from Evan Block and Richel Hill and broke into a wide grin. He quickly told his parents and called An Daho.
“Daho hyung! Evan and Richel said they’ll do it!”
-I… see.
An Daho accepted the news of the two Hollywood actors' participation with composure.
Others might have thought it was impossible, but for some reason, An Daho had a feeling this would happen from the moment Seojun mentioned the two actors.
-I guess I should let the others know. I’ll handle it.
“Okay!”
An Daho decided to only inform a few key personnel until a more concrete plan was established.
Cocoa Entertainment, 5th-floor conference room.
It was close to the president’s office and used for the most important meetings.
The employees of Team 2, who were in the 5th-floor conference room for the first time, sat with their shoulders hunched.
Soon, PR Team Leader Kim Sooryeon and President Seo Eunchan entered the room. The matter was related to ‘Actor Lee Seojun,’ which was reason enough to summon the company president himself.
Once everyone he had called was present, An Daho stood up.
“You said this was about Seojun?”
An Daho nodded at Seo Eunchan's question.
“Yes. It seems Evan Block and Richel Hill will be appearing in the movie Seojun is filming next.”
“...What?”
The Team 2 employees, Team Leader Kim Sooryeon, and Seo Eunchan, whose faces had been filled with worry about some potential problem, were left speechless.
An Daho briefly recounted the first storm that had brewed at the hotel. Upon hearing that the two actors had decided to join on Seojun’s recommendation, Seo Eunchan covered his mouth.
His nephew, the Hollywood star, caused trouble on a truly massive scale.
***
The 'unimaginable news' was also delivered to Lee Hansol, the CEO of the production company Film Dream, and Choi Daeman, the director of *Escape*.
>Informing you by text first.
>Evan Block and Richel Hill have decided to participate.
>For now, we need to contact the two actors’ agencies…
CEO Lee Hansol and Director Choi Daeman, who had been looking over photos of potential filming locations from the location manager, forgot to breathe at the fresh-off-the-press news. It was so hot it felt like they would get burned.
How do you breathe again? When are you supposed to blink? Where does your tongue go?
It felt like their own bodies weren't their own. As if everything was moving separately.
“Gasp.”
Was this a dream or reality? The two were dumbfounded by the unimaginable turn of events. Lee Hansol called An Daho.
No matter how many times he asked, the answer was the same. Director Choi Daeman, who was listening in on speakerphone, got goosebumps on his arms.
It was real. It was really happening.
Those two actors were really going to be in his movie.
His stomach churned at the thought, and Director Choi Daeman bit his lip hard. He pictured the two actors in his mind. A better scene, a better backdrop.
His mind filled with the images that came to him.
Meanwhile, CEO Lee Hansol, who had ended his call, dialed another number.
“Branch Manager!”
It was the branch manager of Plus+ Korea, an investor in *Escape*. Lee Hansol laughed cheerfully and said, his voice more excited than ever before.
“Evan Block and Richel Hill are going to be in our movie!”
-...What?
“Evan Block and Richel Hill!”
The other end of the line went silent. Lee Hansol glanced at his phone screen, wondering if the call had been disconnected. But the call timer was still running. Director Choi Daeman also leaned in to listen.
-…!!!
Soon, the branch manager's intense voice erupted. He seemed to have lost his composure, as a torrent of harsh words, not in Korean but in English, poured out.
CEO Lee Hansol broke into a wide grin at the loud noise.
Yes! This was the reaction he wanted.
Lee Hansol continued with a triumphant smile.
“And about that special effects makeup team you said you’d help us with last time.”
-No! No! Wait a minute! Tell me about Evan Block and Richel Hill first. Is this for real? This is the kind of news people wouldn’t believe even if it were an official article!
Both Lee Hansol and Director Choi Daeman, who was sitting quietly beside him, agreed with the branch manager.
[Lee Seojun x Evan Block x Richel Hill to Star in Korean Film!]. It was obvious that dozens, no, hundreds of comments would ask if it was an April Fools' joke.
Laughing, Lee Hansol recounted the story of that stormy day. He also mentioned the Hollywood special effects makeup team. The branch manager, who had been listening quietly to Lee Hansol, finally spoke.
His voice was heavy, as if making a vow.
“We’ll prepare the best special effects makeup team.”
He sounded incredibly reliable.
***
After the massive storm had passed, pre-production for the movie *Escape* began.
“First, the main actors other than Lee Seojun.”
“We sent the script to the actors Director Choi Daeman mentioned, but we haven't heard back.”
“I got a reply, but they said they’re on a break.”
“I kind of get it. It’s a zombie movie, which is rare in Korea and has never been a box office hit.”
“But we have a terrifying secret weapon.”
The employees, thinking of the radiant Lee Seojun, let out villainous laughs, “huhuhu.”
CEO Lee Hansol and Assistant Director Park Jaemin, who were also in the meeting, chuckled as well.
The employees didn't know it yet, but they had a second secret weapon: Evan Block and Richel Hill.
Huhuhu.
The villainous laughter that filled the conference room subsided.
Someone sighed.
“So, we haven't cast any actors yet.”
“I think lowering the age range of the characters might be a good idea.”
“Or raising it.”
The employees nodded.
“And we also need to find extras to play the zombies.”
“The zombie movements are unique, so it’ll be hard to act them out on the spot during filming.”
“It would be good to gather them for practice separately, even if it’s not for a full month.”
“But is there a teacher who can teach the zombie movements?”
Park Jaemin answered the employees’ question.
“There’s a type of dance called bone breaking.”
A screen slowly descended on one wall of the conference room.
Bone breaking. The name itself was terrifying.
The employees’ eyes widened as they watched the video play. A person's joints moved in bizarre directions.
My god… there’s a dance like that?
“Wouldn’t that… be difficult for the extras to do?”
“We’ve hired members of a bone-breaking dance team. They will be playing the main zombies.”
The employees nodded.
“Then the filming locations that will serve as the backdrop…”
The employee who was speaking trailed off as he looked at an empty seat. It was where Director Choi Daeman was supposed to be sitting. The other employees nodded without much comment.
This was his third film with them.
Director Choi Daeman was still someone who scouted locations himself.
CEO Lee Hansol said with a smile.
“Director Choi will find some great locations. What’s next?”
“The friends in the archery club with Go Joowon. Since they’re middle schoolers in the movie, we need to cast child actors.”
“Let’s do that through auditions.”
“Yes. Understood. I’ll post the notice today.”
The meeting continued after that.
***
After first period, the kids slumped over their desks. Every one of them looked exhausted. The aftereffects of summer vacation hadn't worn off yet.
“Doesn’t vacation feel like it goes by way too fast?”
“I know. I didn’t even get to enjoy the break because I was preparing for an audition, and then I didn’t even get the part.”
“I never thought even Jukyung would get rejected.”
At Jaehan's words, Jukyung, who had been sprawled on her desk, shot up. The memory still made her so angry she couldn't sit still.
“To think it was a rigged audition! I hope it fails spectacularly!”
“I think it already did. There’s only one article about it.”
Juhee, who had managed to find the single article, said with a sneer. Jukyung, who had laughed triumphantly at Juhee’s words, sat back down.
“What’s the point of this? It’s all in the past. What now?”
At Jukyung’s words, Jaehan said.
“I think I’ll just help with the graduation performance. The competition for auditions is too fierce…”
“It’s the second semester, so we can do that now.”
“Let’s go see the bulletin board after lunch.”
“Okay.”
After another delicious lunch, Seojun and his friends headed to the bulletin board.
Someone was standing in front of the Yeoul Arts Middle School bulletin board. Recognizing who it was, Seojun and the others quickly greeted them.
“Hello, teacher!”
“Hello. Are you all here to see the bulletin board?”
“Yes!”
The teacher smiled brightly at the students. She had just been about to post a new notice.
“This is an audition I just found.”
“What kind of audition is it?”
“It’s for a zombie movie.”
At the teacher’s words, the friends’ eyes widened.
“Zombies? They’re making a zombie movie in Korea?”
“Wow! That sounds fun.”
At the mention of ‘zombies,’ Seojun’s eyes also sparkled.
He had heard they would be holding auditions for child actors soon, but he hadn't expected the notice to be up on the school bulletin board already.
‘Seeing it like this is really strange.’
To think he would see the audition notice for a movie he was starring in at his own school.
Feeling a sense of wonder, Seojun’s eyes twinkled as he read the audition notice the teacher had posted.
“If you’re playing a zombie, no one will recognize your face.”
“True. But isn’t playing a zombie a really rare opportunity?”
“It is. A zombie movie in Korea… that’s interesting.”
“The movements are unique, so it would be a good learning experience…”
The three friends' eyes shone as they read the audition notice.
Looking at them, Seojun hoped that good news would come their way.
***
A short while later, rumors began to circulate that a ‘Korean-style zombie movie’ was in the works.
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