Chapter 215
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 215
Chapter Title: The Lee Seojun Division
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Three weeks into *Escape*'s theatrical run.
The 'Escape Making-of Film' was released on Plus+.
It told the story of how the script was sent to Evan Block and Richel Hill. The fact that Seojun had translated it himself. And even the fact that they were now secretly in Korea.
-Ahhh. I used to work at that convenience store!
=lol I saw your post.
=That must really suck.
Viewers burst into laughter at the sight of the staff's shocked reactions when the three actors appeared on set.
-That was my reaction too.
-Same. I was so surprised I couldn't even scream.
The film showed Evan Block and Richel Hill acting, and scenes of Park Dohun, Lee Jiseok, and Evan Block acting together. Korean staff and the director could be seen working diligently around them.
-…How should I put this? The actors and staff are all Korean, but those two are foreigners. I wonder if this is what it feels like when our actors go to Hollywood?
=I doubt it's the same. Their name value is different.
=22 We’d be lucky not to get ignoredㅠㅠ
=It's amazing that Seojun won an award there.
-But having Evan Block and Richel Hill there is so… surreal.
There were scenes of the cast of *Escape* eating together, and shots taken by Evan Block and Richel Hill themselves as they explored various places in Korea. Seojun also appeared frequently, showing up with black plastic bags dangling from his hands, full of snacks.
-Tteok-twi-sun, lol. He’s like my little brother, always buying tasty things.
-They must be really close, for Seojun's grandmother to send them food.
-I know, right? I thought the awards ceremony party was just because they were all actors, but seeing this, they must be genuinely close.
The making-of film continued even after Evan Block and Richel Hill left Korea.
In the film, Seojun shot an arrow, hitting a zombie in the left eye from the third floor. The staff around the camera could be seen looking surprised and checking the script.
-Ten! Ten! X-ten!
-Even the staff were all shocked.
-My god. Did he hit it exactly as scripted?
It was also revealed that the highlight scene of the movie wasn't edited; Lee Seojun had actually made the shot. The arrow stuck in the third floor of the theme park's center was the one from the shoot. The fire, of course, was CG.
-Wow… Seojun is really incredible. The distance was shorter than in the movie, but still! Amazing!
-He should do archery. Seriously, do archery.
=Acting is Lee Seojun's true calling. He probably wouldn't have learned archery if not for the movie.
After the making-of film was released, *Escape* caught fire once again.
The incredible cameos by Evan Block and Richel Hill, the bone-chilling zombies created by a Hollywood special effects team, and the captivating performances of the actors that caught everyone's eye.
Among them, the most noticeable was, of course, the young but remarkable superstar who had made it all possible.
[You could call this the Lee Seojun Division!]
Someone said it jokingly on a broadcast.
The entertainment industry was a world built almost entirely on connections and friendships, unless one possessed a talent so sharp it couldn't be hidden. With a film's success on the line, it was only natural to choose a known actor over an unknown one.
Renowned writers and directors often had their own preferred and trusted actors to ensure the success of their next projects.
This group of acquaintances that these star writers and directors frequently worked with was collectively called a "division."
[The Lee Seojun Division! I definitely want to be a part of it!]
After that comment, everyone's attention turned to the "Lee Seojun Division."
Who, from whom to whom, would be part of the Lee Seojun Division? It was an interesting topic, and everyone added their own opinions.
-The Lee Seojun Division. Who do you think would be in it?
-Lee Jiseok, for starters.
=22 No matter what anyone says, number one is Lee Jiseok.
-Kim Jongho, Park Dohun, Lee Dajin. Director Choi Daeman.
-Judging by their cameos in Escape, Evan Block and Richel Hill.
-The director and writer of Naeuiwon will probably be in it too.
=The director of Yeok too.
-Do the idols from his agency count?
=Let's include them. It feels like they'd all come if Seojun called. They could be used for the OST.
=+) Brown Black. White. Red Crown.
-Wow… so if you get Lee Seojun, all of this comes with him.
-++Incredible box office success, incredible profits
-This is why everyone is after Lee Seojun.
It was a clear demonstration of just how far 'Lee Seojun's' influence reached if you could secure him.
What was even more terrifying was the fact that there were still many candidates left.
[Title: Let's Look at the Connections of Your Average 8th Grader!]
Marine Company/Whale Studio
Plus+ Korea Branch Manager (a fan of Seojun)
Director Ryan Will/Director Sarah Rothe
Music World: Benjamin Morton/Jayden Moore
Everyone! These are the connections of a second-year middle schooler!
-If we're talking about acquaintances, isn't Davis Garrett possible too? He came to the after-party.
-Swalyn Enum too. They'll probably get close while filming Shadowman 3.
-So much for 'average,' lol.
It was an astonishing network of connections, no matter how many times you looked at it.
***
>Park Dohun: Jiseok hyung and I were completely overshadowed ㅠ
>Lee Jiseok: Tell me about it ㅠ
Seojun burst out laughing at the Banana Talk messages. Thanks to the overwhelming cameos of Evan Block and Richel Hill, the two of them had been completely buried.
>Kim Jongho: lololol
Jongho samchon was laughing at them, while Dajin nuna was too busy with a university assignment to even read the messages. Something about a liberal arts group project? Unaware of the horrors of group projects, Seojun just shrugged.
>Lee Jiseok: What about me?
In response to Seojun’s message, Kim Jongho and Park Dohun spammed ‘lol’. As they laughed and talked about the making-of film and the Escape theme park, a message from Park Dohun popped up.
>Park Dohun: Ah. Seojun. Did you see this?
>Park Dohun: (Photo of sparrows sitting on the Go Joowon model)
>Lee Jiseok: What is this? lol
>Park Dohun: (Photo of magpies sitting on the Go Joowon model)
>Kim Jongho: Why all the birds?
>Park Dohun: (Photo of a crested lark sitting on the Go Joowon model)
>Park Dohun: This bird is a Class 2 endangered species.
>Park Dohun: There are many others besides this. They say eagles and eagle-owls sometimes show up too.
>Kim Jongho: The filming location was near a mountain, but this is strange.
>Lee Jiseok: What's the cause?
>Park Dohun: They say the cause is unknown.
Seojun, who knew the cause, scratched his cheek.
As their reputation suggested, Jenna Tride and the Mirror Team were highly skilled.
'Too skilled, in fact.'
Jenna Tride and the Mirror Team had said they were inspired after first seeing Seojun shoot an arrow and, after much trial and error, created the model of Go Joowon.
They said they had smelled a refreshing forest scent from Go Joowon's form. That they wanted to recreate it.
Director Choi Daeman, the actors, and the staff tilted their heads at Jenna Tride's sparkling eyes as she spoke, but only Seojun understood what she meant.
'I knew they were good, but I didn't think they could express even Go Joowon's aura.'
In particular, they had perfectly replicated the image of Go Joowon using [(Good) Elf Archer's Intermediate Archery], and so traces of the elf were slowly seeping out of the model. They were very faint traces that humans couldn't feel, but Seojun could.
'I didn't know those faint traces would affect birds, though.'
Looking at the photos of the birds flocking to Go Joowon's model, Seojun was once again in awe of Jenna Tride's talent.
>Park Dohun: So, a lot of people who study birds come to see it too.
Well, isn't that something.
The power of an elf was incredible.
>Park Dohun: The plants? Hmm. I don't think there's anything strange about them…?
Seojun let out a sigh of relief at Park Dohun's reply. Fortunately, the power seemed insufficient to affect plant growth. With an elf's power, the grass and trees would have become overgrown in less than a week.
'Just birds is a relief.'
It was a bit unsettling that they were endangered species, but if their population increased thanks to the elf's power, it would be a good thing.
'…It would be a good thing, right?'
With a strange expression, Seojun gazed at the picture of the crested lark on his screen.
***
[Escape Theme Park. N-tubers flock to the zombie experience zone!]
[This is the best horror experience! Escape Theme Park!]
[Not the pamphlet order? A new Escape experience route!]
[Birds strangely hovering around Go Joowon. What is the cause?]
-Reservations here are tough;;;
-Still want to go. I saw it on N-tube, it looks fun.
=222 I'm excited to take pictures and try the zombie experience!
-But will it be scary if you can only hear sounds?
=They say the doors shake now too. So it's gotten scarier lol.
=I heard they're going to hire zombies to scare people later.
=Ooh! That sounds fun!
-They say if you do the zombie experience first and then tour the Escape theme park, it's 100% immersive.
=22 It really feels like you've stepped into the movie. You even flinch at shadows lol.
=So that's why so many people were doing the zombie experience first!
-(Photo of an eagle flying around the Go Joowon model) I worked hard to get this shot!
=He really looks like a hunter, lol.
=It's a model, but it's not clumsy at all. The gaze is good too.
=22 It's a model, but there's nothing awkward about it.
-It's huge, but so well-made. As expected of a Hollywood special effects team!
-I want a miniature version of this for my room.
=Won't someone make one! The company that starts with 'Mon' and ends with 'ter'!(shouting)
=22 MonsXer Co., you can do it!! (While you're at it, do his previous works too!)
=333 MonXter Co., I believe in you! My money is ready! (Bear emoticon shaking a house deed)
"Hmm."
Summoned by the fervent comments, the CEO of Monster Co., Kim Heesang, stroked his chin.
***
Cocoa Entertainment was bustling as usual today.
With *Escape* still in theaters, there were many inquiries from broadcast stations for variety show appearances. While An Daho was working in the Team 2 office during Seojun's school hours, an email arrived.
[Marine Company]
"It's here."
An Daho's expression became complicated as he looked at the monitor. The end of the movie series that had drawn him into the entertainment industry was approaching.
The beginning of everything.
The filming schedule for the final installment of *Shadowman*, the movie that contained Lee Seojun's growth in its entirety, was finally out.
***
After class, Seojun checked his phone. His eyes widened for a moment before returning to their normal size.
"It's out."
>An Daho: Shadowman 3 schedule is out.
>An Daho: Let your teacher know.
After replying to An Daho, Seojun looked at the schedule again. Filming, starting in November, was scheduled to end in early February. Considering it was currently July, it felt far away, but it was only seven months from now.
Early February.
It was the end of the *Shadowman* series.
With the end right before his eyes, Seojun felt a mix of emotions.
He was happy to be filming *Shadowman 3*, but also sad to think that this would be the last in the series. It was probably because he had been with it since he was a child.
Shaking off the bittersweet feeling, Seojun headed to the teachers' office.
"Teacher."
"Oh, Seojun. What's up?"
The homeroom teacher's eyes widened at the unexpected face. The students rarely came to the teachers' office unless it was a major issue.
'Ah. A variety show filming?'
Or they would come when a new schedule came up.
The teacher recalled Seojun's school attendance days. With the *Shadowman 3* filming, he would miss many days in the second semester, so it was important to save even a single day of attendance.
"The filming schedule for Shadowman 3 is out."
"…Is that so?"
So it's here.
The Yeoul Arts Middle School teachers' office instantly fell silent.
Feeling the bittersweet emotions contained in that silence, Seojun smiled. It seemed others were feeling the same mix of disappointment and joy as he was.
'I guess that's how much everyone loves Shadowman.'
"Filming starts in November, but I think I'll have to go two or three weeks early for the action scenes. The departure date isn't confirmed yet, but I thought I should let you know in advance."
They had been thinking about Seojun's attendance days all year, but it hit home in a new way.
The teacher remembered watching *Shadowman 1* in college and doing a crying challenge with friends, and then as a teacher, watching *Shadowman 2* and being more surprised and happy than anyone at the emergence of a Hollywood star named 'Lee Seojun'. And the story that continued with *Assemble 1* and *2*.
Feeling the end of it all approaching, the teacher's nose tingled for no reason.
"Ahem. Then it'll be around early October… You won't be able to take the second-semester midterms and finals."
Since Seojun's enrollment, Yeoul Arts Middle School had been discussing with the Office of Education to diligently prepare alternatives for his attendance days.
The homeroom teacher had Seojun sit next to him and explained everything step by step.
First, they would fill his attendance days with 'special activities' as much as possible, and the remaining days would be substituted with homework assigned by each subject teacher.
He explained that the teachers would send homework to Seojun's email, and he had to submit it within the deadline.
"If you think you'll be late because of filming, send me an email. We can extend the deadline."
"Yes."
Seojun nodded.
"The teachers will also take your situation into account when giving performance assessments. And for the midterms and finals… unfortunately, only 80% of your first-semester exam scores will be reflected. But since your first-semester scores were perfect, 80% is still 80 points, which should be enough to get into an arts high school."
"Yes. Thank you."
It was a school rule that applied to other students as well, but,
'Are there any other child actors besides Seojun who would film abroad for several months?'
The teachers thought as they watched Seojun's back leaving the office.
***
And in early October.
A few days after *Escape*, which had achieved unimaginable success not only in Korea but also overseas, was taken down from theaters and uploaded to Plus+.
Seojun, along with Seo Eunhye and An Daho, boarded a plane bound for the United States.
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