Chapter 203
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 203
Chapter Title: A Perfect Shot
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The day after the Blue Dragon Film Awards.
In consideration of the actors who attended the ceremony, there was no filming for *Escape* today.
Seojun, who had been replying to the flood of congratulatory messages from acquaintances since last night, settled in a corner of the living room once his phone fell silent, not moving an inch.
Trophies that made his heart pound no matter how many times he looked at them.
Gazing at the trophies lined up from left to right, Seojun chuckled as he looked at his favorite one. It wasn't the Golden Globe or Oscar trophy that had caused a worldwide sensation.
[WTV Film Festival / Noteworthy Actor Award]
This trophy, shaped like a red popcorn box, was the very first one Lee Seojun had ever received in his life, and it was superstar Lee Seojun's absolute favorite.
‘No, it’s the first award I’ve ever received in all my lives.’
Seojun reminisced as he looked at the WTV Film Festival trophy, then turned to the new Blue Dragon Film Award trophy and chuckled again. The new one was just as wonderful.
“Mom. Doesn't this feel like holding a gold medal?”
“It does. It looks just like an Olympic gold medal.”
Seo Eunhye and Lee Minjun smiled softly at the sight of Seojun beaming, his eyes glued to the display case that now held the new trophy. As he gazed at the Blue Dragon Film Award trophy with a proud expression, something occurred to him.
“Dad. Should I post a picture on the fan cafe? To say thanks and everything.”
“Good idea. I'll take the picture for you.”
“Okay!”
Seojun took the Blue Dragon Film Award for Best Actor out of the display case and beamed at the camera.
* * *
A photo of Seojun holding the trophy was uploaded to his fan cafe, [From the Sprout]. A brightly smiling Seojun and the golden trophy sparkled.
[Thank you for all your support! I won an award!]
Along with a stream of fans' comments, Seojun's photo was quickly turned into a news article.
Seojun’s Best Actor award and his next project.
Among the endless stream of articles about Lee Seojun, this one garnered a huge number of views.
[Actor Lee Seojun, “I received a Blue Dragon Award!”]
-The Blue Dragon himself received a Blue Dragon Award!
=That's right. He was the Blue Dragon!
-That display case in the background. So dazzling lol
=WTV Film Festival, KBC Rookie Award, SBC Entertainment Award haha
=And the Golden Globe and Oscar that look so out of place there haha
=Now he's got a Blue Dragon Award too!
-All that's left are the Grand Bell Awards and the Baeksang Arts Awards.
=Killing three birds with one stone lol
=Getting three things done at once lol
=But wait, doesn't Lee Seojun have another movie next year?
-...The film industry must be having a tough time. He's basically a natural disaster. The damage is immense, and there's no way to stop it.
=They'll have to rethink their release schedules lol
=But it's better to avoid him. I'm only going to watch *Escape* anyway lol
=^^^ I'm gonna watch it N times.
=^^^ Me too, I'm gonna watch it so many times.
-Now I know why *Escape* didn't do any promotion. With ‘Lee Seojun’ in it, the reporters promote it for them.
=Nah, I think surprising everyone was their marketing plan lol
=I agree with the comment above. I was genuinely surprised.
They were people who had no idea that more surprises were yet to come.
* * *
The day of the *Escape* shoot.
Hearing that Kim Jongho had arrived, Seojun headed to the parking lot.
“Samchon. Hello!”
Kim Jongho grinned at the sight of Seojun waiting for him as he got out of the car. He then reached back inside and emerged with a massive bouquet of flowers.
“Seojun. Congratulations on the award.”
Seojun took the large bouquet from Kim Jongho and smiled brightly.
“Thank you, Samchon. Is this for me?”
“I couldn't give it to you at the ceremony. I made sure to buy one bigger than the one that punk Jiseok got you.”
Kim Jongho smiled fondly at Seojun's delighted face, then shook his head at the name that had slipped out. Unlike Seojun, who was perfect in every way, that other one was irritating in every way.
Seojun laughed at the rivalry between Samchon Jongho and Hyung Jiseok.
“Did Jiseok-hyung say something again?”
“He wouldn't shut up about how his actors won ten awards. I thought my ears were going to fall off. And he didn't even win one himself.”
Seojun burst out laughing as Kim Jongho pretended to clean his ear with his pinky. Kim Jongho smirked and said.
“Let's make sure we win one next year. A Blue Dragon.”
“Yes! Let's work hard and win an award, Jongho Samchon!”
If any other film industry professionals had heard them, they would have begged them to take it easy, but the two powerhouse actors said it without a second thought.
* * *
The rehearsal began.
This shoot was scheduled to take place in two locations simultaneously.
Lee Seojun and Director Choi Daeman would be on the third-floor hallway, while Kim Jongho, Assistant Director Park Jaemin, and the camera director would be filming on the ground.
A zombie appears, and Detective Im Jangwoo evacuates a civilian. Go Joowon spots them from the third floor. As Im Jangwoo fends off a zombie attacking the civilian, another zombie appears behind him. Go Joowon shoots his bow, hitting the zombie.
“Of course, we'll use CG for this part. Just act out drawing the bowstring.”
Seojun nodded at Director Choi Daeman's words. The rehearsal started, and the two actors' performances flowed seamlessly.
Seojun spotted the zombie and drew the bowstring taut.
The sharp arrow never left the bow, and the rehearsal ended.
Director Choi Daeman was lost in thought.
'The shot up to that point is good, but it would be even better if we could include the release...'
Seojun spoke to the disappointed director.
“I think I can shoot it from here, Director.”
Seojun wasn't too keen on just pretending, either. He had practiced archery a lot, and he even had an elf's ability.
Director Choi Daeman and the staff stared wide-eyed at Seojun's words.
“All the way there?”
“To where Jongho Samchon is.”
Director Choi Daeman and the staff looked through the window at Kim Jongho standing outside the building. Kim Jongho, who was talking with Assistant Director Park Jaemin and the camera director, felt their gazes and looked up at the third floor. Seojun waved, and Kim Jongho waved back.
“You can shoot from here to there?”
If Seojun could actually shoot an arrow that far, it would make for a great scene. It would be fine even if the direction was just roughly correct.
“Aren't you pushing yourself too hard?”
Director Choi Daeman's gaze shifted from Seojun to An Daho, who was standing behind him. An Daho, who knew of Seojun's archery skills, smiled gently.
“It's fine. The distance is quite short!”
“...Short?”
“He shoots from 70 meters during archery practice. This is closer than that.”
70 meters.
Director Choi Daeman stroked his chin, estimating the distance between the third floor and the ground compared to that long range. He was starting to lean in one direction.
“But archery is done on flat ground. Can you shoot downwards?”
“Yes!”
For an elf who hunted from the treetops, it was a piece of cake. Sensing that he might get permission, Seojun's eyes sparkled.
When an actor was this eager, a director couldn't refuse without at least trying. Completely swayed, Director Choi Daeman nodded.
“Alright, let's start with a practice shot.”
“Okay!”
Director Choi Daeman contacted Park Jaemin below. He explained the situation and gave him instructions.
“Jaemin. You have the mannequin, right? The one without makeup. Put it where the zombie is supposed to be.”
The mannequin had been specially prepared by the production company, Movie Dream. Its surface was softer than a regular mannequin's, so it wouldn't shatter, and its joints were articulated, making it easy to pose.
Once the full-scale fighting began, this mannequin, transformed into a realistic zombie with special effects makeup, was scheduled to take the full force of the lead actors' attacks.
-Yeah. Got it.
Assistant Director Park Jaemin headed to the first-floor storage room. Kim Jongho and the camera director, who had been listening in, smiled faintly at the sight of Seojun in the third-floor window and cleared the people nearby.
In the meantime, Park Jaemin brought out the mannequin and carefully positioned it where the zombie attacking Kim Jongho would stand. Then, worried about getting hit by a stray arrow, he scurried back inside the building.
Seojun stood in Go Joowon's position.
A large window was wide open in front of him, and in the middle of the parking lot stood the mannequin. That was Seojun's target.
He's going to hit that from here?
Word about what Seojun was about to do spread quickly. Staff and extras alike, intrigued by the exciting event, began to look out the windows one by one. Of course, no one actually went outside.
“Should I shoot, Director?”
“Go ahead.”
Seojun raised his bow.
It was the real bow he used for archery practice, heavy unlike the prop bow. The heavy bow and the distant target. The elven senses etched into Seojun's body danced.
One target.
Seojun's gaze sharpened.
[(Good) Elf Archer's Intermediate Archery is activated.]
Even the special effects makeup artists gathered to watch the unexpected event. Seojun's face was reflected in Jenna Tride's eyes. It felt as if the refreshing scent of a forest was wafting from somewhere.
As everyone watched Seojun in silence, An Daho noticed something odd. It was different from how he looked at the archery range. What was different? As he mulled it over like a spot-the-difference puzzle, he realized.
‘Ah, the stabilizer!’
The device that balanced the bow was missing. That meant the bow would shake, and the vibration could send the arrow flying off course.
“Seo—”
Before he could even call out "—jun!" the arrow was loosed. It flew without the slightest waver and *thwack!*—it hit the mannequin.
“Wow! He really hit it?!”
“That arrow was so fast!”
A round of applause erupted. Park Jaemin, who had been observing the situation, went outside again. The mannequin had fallen over onto the asphalt.
Park Jaemin, thinking how impressive it was to hit the mannequin from up there, examined it and gulped. Incredibly,
“No way...”
“What's wrong?”
When Park Jaemin, who was supposed to report where it hit, remained silent, Director Choi Daeman asked.
“It hit...”
“What?”
“It hit the left eye!”
The left eye.
The eyes of Director Choi Daeman and Kim Jongho widened. The staff members who remembered the script also stared in disbelief.
In the script, Go Joowon shoots the zombie in the left eye at this exact moment.
Everyone looked at Seojun with astonished faces. Seojun just chuckled.
While everyone else was applauding his amazing skill, An Daho, the only one who knew he'd achieved that perfect shot without the stabilizer that every other archer used, thought for a moment before speaking.
“Seojun.”
“Yes?”
“Let's keep archery as a hobby and stick to acting. Got it?”
“? Yes.”
Seojun tilted his head at the obvious statement, then smiled and nodded.
* * *
“This way!”
Detective Im Jangwoo shouted quietly. A dazed couple choked back their sobs and followed him.
'What the hell is happening!'
He had just finished threatening a mobster and his gang who were admitted to this hospital, and in the short time it took to leave, the situation had turned bizarre.
Cars trying to leave the hospital were crashing into each other. Smoke billowed up. Sensing something was wrong, Im Jangwoo had tried to step in and direct traffic, but traffic was the least of his problems.
“Grraaaahhh!!”
“Ah!”
The woman screamed, and Im Jangwoo kicked away a lunging zombie. The man quickly helped the woman up. Beating, pushing, and knocking down baring-teethed zombies was one thing, but he was running out of stamina.
“Let's get inside the building. I can't guarantee these monsters won't be in there, but...”
“Okay...”
Distracted by the despairing civilian couple, Im Jangwoo failed to notice the zombie approaching from behind him.
Perhaps it was because this one had been a patient with a severe neck injury. The zombie approached without a single guttural growl and was about to sink its teeth into Im Jangwoo's shoulder when—
“Mister! Behind you!”
Startled by the sudden child's voice, Im Jangwoo understood and was about to shield the couple and drop to the ground when something whizzed past him.
*Thwock!*
A gruesome, piercing sound was heard.
“Cut! OK!”
At Director Choi Daeman's shout, everyone started moving. Seojun, who had shot the arrow, lowered his longbow, and people applauded his incredible archery.
Amidst the bustling crew, the civilian couple and Im Jangwoo remained motionless. They were frozen in the exact pose they'd held while dodging the zombie, as if time had stopped for them. No one paid the three of them any mind.
Park Jaemin went to check on the zombie that had been hit by the arrow and fallen backward, and he marveled.
The arrow was lodged in the left eye again.
“He's really good, that Seojun.”
“Seojun is good at sports.”
Im Jangwoo—no, Kim Jongho—said with a smile.
Two Im Jangwoos.
The one who was still motionless, and the smiling Kim Jongho.
The staff moved to prepare for the next shot. The frozen Im Jangwoo and the civilian couple were unceremoniously picked up and carried away by the crew.
Seojun and An Daho watched the scene from the third floor, fascinated.
Before Seojun shot the arrow, Im Jangwoo and the civilian couple had been replaced with mannequins in special effects makeup. Even though Seojun was a good archer, you could never know what kind of accident might happen.
“It looked just like Jongho Samchon. Doesn't it look like a figure? A big one, though.”
“They do make figures of actors these days.”
Seojun had received quite a few offers himself. They said they'd be happy to make one of 'Lee Seojun', or Jin Natra, Grand Prince Seongnyeong, the werewolf, or Gray Vainie. He had turned them all down because he wasn't satisfied with the quality.
While An Daho was briefly lost in other thoughts, the next shot began.