Chapter 274
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 274
Chapter Title: A Star from the Sky
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To be honest, both writer Yoo Cheonga and PD Gong Heechan knew that casting Lee Seojun was next to impossible. It was just that Lee Seojun was the first actor who came to mind who could perfectly embody the role.
Writer Yoo Cheonga smiled and shrugged.
“I plan to send the synopsis to Cocoa Entertainment as soon as it’s finished. Not that I think it’ll actually happen. The difficulty level is about as high as plucking a star from the sky, right?”
“With superstar Lee Seojun, it really is like catching a star.”
PD Gong Heechan smiled back. Half-serious and half-joking, the atmosphere had become quite comfortable as he spoke.
“Then let’s prepare a Plan B.”
They called it Plan B, but it was, in fact, the original plan. The probability of Plan A—casting actor Lee Seojun—being chosen was 0.0001%. The probability of Plan B being chosen was 99.9999%. Writer Yoo Cheonga, who had been full of laughter, nodded with a serious expression.
“The other roles are fine, but should we hold auditions for the male lead’s child actor?”
“Auditions will take time. I don’t think it would be a bad idea to just make offers to potential candidates.”
“That’s true. Shall we draw up a list of candidates, then? Any up-and-coming child actors come to mind?”
Writer Yoo Cheonga and PD Gong Heechan were working well together. Yoo Cheonga’s eyes sparkled. Having seen writer So Eunjin and PD Choi Minseong’s working style up close, she could tell just how in sync the two of them were right now.
‘Maybe we can become a great duo like the writer and the PD!’
Writer Yoo Cheonga beamed.
* * *
Two days later.
So Eunjin’s studio.
Yoo Cheonga decided to work here, as it was more familiar than any other place. And just a moment ago, she had finished the synopsis.
> Gong Heechan: This is great!
> Gong Heechan: I think you can send it right away.
With PD Gong Heechan’s okay, Yoo Cheonga smiled brightly and sent the synopsis to Cocoa Entertainment’s Team 2. Watching Yoo Cheonga press the send button, So Eunjin was amazed by the audacity of both her and PD Gong Heechan.
“You’re something else, but that PD is no joke either.”
At her words, Cheonga smiled brightly.
“I think PD Gong and I are really on the same wavelength. The synopsis came together so smoothly. I think I’ll be able to write the script quickly too.”
“Still, you should have a Plan B ready. The chances of Seojun being cast are incredibly slim.”
Cheonga nodded.
“I already talked it over with PD Gong. Since casting actor Lee Seojun is a one-in-a-million chance, if we don’t hear back within a week, we’ll start sending offers to the child actors right away.”
During the week they waited for Cocoa Entertainment’s response, they planned to finish all the preparations so they could start filming as soon as casting was complete.
A star in the sky.
So Eunjin nodded at Cheonga’s metaphor and said.
“Well, it’s winter break, so you’ll find a child actor in no time.”
“Right? The child actor also has to resemble the adult lead, so I’ve already found a lot of candidates.”
So Eunjin smiled at the sight of Cheonga, who was now starting to look like a proper drama writer.
* * *
The office of Cocoa Entertainment’s Team 2 was, as always, bustling with a flood of synopses, scripts, and casting offers. The aftereffects of the play *The Mirror* and the graduation performance were still going strong.
The Team 2 employees expertly deleted talent donation emails from various associations, printed out synopses and scripts sent as file attachments, and added casting offers made over the phone to a list. Once that flurry of activity was over, they moved on to the next step.
“I heard that director’s reputation isn’t good.”
“Ah, I heard that too. They say he works his actors to the bone.”
“It’s a shame for the screenwriter.”
And just like that, one project was rejected.
“Isn’t this one pretty good?”
“The director and writer have good reputations, and the production company is decent.”
“The script is quite interesting, too.”
And so, one project went into Seojun’s script box.
“This one is…?”
An employee who was flipping through a new synopsis stopped. With a look of disbelief, they skimmed the front page, then the back, read through the script in a flurry, and then checked the director, writer, and broadcast station on the front page again.
Having done this job for a while, they knew more directors and writers than most actors and industry insiders, but these were names they had never seen before. It wasn't unusual. Rookie directors and writers often sent their work, hoping to cash in on Seojun’s name value.
The employee was supposed to pass it on to the next person but kept holding onto it, drawing the attention of others one by one. An Daho, who was doing a final review of the projects, also looked up.
“What’s that?”
“Hollywood? Is it from Hollywood?”
The office would buzz whenever a script from Hollywood arrived.
While the impact was far greater than filming a Korean project, which made the aftermath a bit daunting, they were truly happy to see the actor they supported active on a global stage. In the end, though, they were never chosen by Seojun and ended up in storage.
The employee in the next seat, who had craned their neck to peek at the synopsis, shook their head.
“It’s not a Hollywood script. It’s written in Korean.”
“Then what is it?”
As everyone showed interest, the employee finally came to their senses and placed the synopsis on the table. Even the team leader, An Daho, took an interest and read the words written on the second page.
Among the empty slots, only one was filled with a name.
[Male Lead (Child Role): Lee Seojun]
“…What the?”
The gazes of An Daho and the Team 2 staff were fixed on that spot.
“Seojun… as the male lead’s child version?”
“Our Seojun, a child role…!”
They couldn’t believe it, even seeing it with their own two eyes.
“Seojun is a child actor, but… we actually got an offer for a child role.”
“Isn’t this the first time in a long while?”
“You’re right. There haven’t been any child role offers since he filmed *Over the Rainbow* and won the Academy Award…”
That was in February of his 6th-grade year.
The staff marveled anew at Seojun’s career—winning the Oscar for Best Actor as an elementary schooler (he had filmed *Over the Rainbow* in 5th grade)—and counted on their fingers.
“One year of 6th grade, plus three years of middle school… it’s already been four years.”
“I expected his roles to diversify now that he’s about to be a high schooler, but I never thought it would be in this direction…”
“Me neither. It seems like such a waste to cast Seojun in a role with so little screen time.”
The Team 2 employees nodded in agreement.
“Who are the writer and director?”
An Daho, who was reading the synopsis, tore off the first few pages and handed them to a staff member.
“The broadcast station is MBS, the writer is Yoo Cheonga, and the director is Gong Heechan.”
The drama information was also listed. The fact that it was a 4-episode drama left the Team 2 staff speechless.
“What in the world is going on?”
“Four episodes? Did you say four episodes?”
Meanwhile, one employee called MBS to ask about PD Gong Heechan.
“PD Gong Heechan, he exists.”
“Really?”
“There’s an article here, too. A 4-episode drama in April. It’s his directorial debut.”
Another employee found a buried article with barely any views, let alone comments. The employee next to them began searching for information on writer Yoo Cheonga. The Team 2 staff moved in fluid harmony, a skill honed while supporting Seojun.
“There are no articles at all on writer Yoo Cheonga. It doesn’t seem like she has any other works. It looks like it’s her debut work as well.”
Hearing that both the writer and PD were making their debut, the Team 2 staff were impressed.
“That’s the audacity of a rookie for you…”
“Even for a rookie, to think of casting Seojun as a child actor… Both the writer and director have some serious guts.”
An Daho, who had been reading the synopsis, nodded.
“The plot is pretty good.”
“Oh, it is? Even though it’s a child role?”
An Daho shrugged.
“Child role or a minor part, if Seojun says he wants to do it, he’ll do it.”
“In that case, should we look into the writer and director?”
“Let’s. It might be their debut, but there must be staff or actors who know what they were like as assistant directors, so it should be easy to find out.”
“What should we do about writer Yoo Cheonga?”
A drama writer.
An Daho thought of a drama writer he knew.
* * *
Even with winter break, Seojun’s routine didn’t change.
He would read scripts at a more leisurely pace than usual and watch newly released movies and dramas, and before he knew it, time would fly by and An Daho would arrive at his house.
“Welcome, Daho Hyung.”
An Daho smiled warmly at the sight of Seojun, who now met his eyes when they stood face to face. It felt like just yesterday he could see the top of his head when they stood like this, but he had already grown so much. Still, the way Seojun’s face lit up as he accepted the box of scripts was the same, making An Daho’s smile widen.
“It was snowing outside. Did you see?”
“Yes. It was coming down pretty hard.”
Through the living room window, he could see the snow falling. It fell like soft, white fluff. Seojun put down the script box and went to the kitchen to prepare warm citron tea. An Daho took off his coat and hung it up.
“This winter has been so warm, I thought it wouldn’t snow at all.”
“I saw on the news that spring is expected to come early this year.”
Seojun and An Daho sat at the living room table, sipping warm citron tea and chatting amiably.
“If spring comes early, this summer will be scorching hot.”
“Filming in the summer is going to be tough.”
No matter what, it always came back to filming.
An Daho burst out laughing at Seojun, who couldn’t think of anything but acting and filming.
Having blurted out the words reflexively, Seojun gave an awkward smile as An Daho laughed, and eventually, he couldn’t help but laugh as well.
After a good laugh, An Daho, who was taking scripts and synopses out of the box, spoke up.
“Speaking of the news, I heard there’s a meteor shower tonight. Did you see?”
“Yes. So I’m planning to go stargazing with Eunsu and Subin tonight. My whole family decided to go together.”
“Really? Have fun. I heard there’ll be a lot of them.”
“Okay. I’ll take some cool pictures and send them to you.”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
Seojun smiled brightly at An Daho’s words.
* * *
Flip, flip.
Time passed peacefully, as it always did.
Putting aside the synopsis he had just finished, Seojun picked up the next one.
[Tentative Title: Spring]
[Director: Gong Heechan]
[Writer: Yoo Cheonga]
[Broadcast Station: MBS]
‘MBS. It’s a drama.’
Come to think of it, it felt like it had been a very long time since he’d filmed a drama. Seojun tried to recall the last one he had done. Hmm?
‘There’s only *Naeuiwon*?’
*Re-Investigation* was just a cameo, so *Naeuiwon* was the only one.
‘I’ve filmed more movies than I thought.’
Scratching his cheek, Seojun turned the first page and searched for his name among the cast. His eyes widened when he saw one particular spot.
[Male Lead (Child Role): Lee Seojun]
“It’s the male lead’s child role?”
“Ah. You’re reading that one? Yeah. It’s a child role.”
“It’s been a really long time since an offer for a child role came in, hasn’t it?”
“It has. It’s been four years.”
“It’s been four years already.”
It had been four years since he received an offer for a child role, but Seojun had never actually played someone’s younger version before.
‘I never found a child role I liked.’
Recalling the projects that had come his way in the past, Seojun’s eyes sparkled as he read through the synopsis.
He read the female lead’s lines, the male lead’s lines, and the lines of the character he was to play. The synopsis was short, but it was enough to make Seojun fall in love with the project.
An Daho, manager to actor Lee Seojun, quietly watched the actor read the synopsis.
The initial flicker of interest on Seojun’s face at the fact that it was a child role gradually grew. Seeing his sparkling eyes and twitching eyebrows, An Daho smiled to himself and waited for Seojun’s answer.
After finishing the synopsis, Seojun looked up at An Daho. An Daho already knew what Seojun was going to say. It would have been strange not to, with how brightly Seojun’s eyes were shining.
“Daho Hyung. I want to do this.”
“You do? Alright. Oh, by the way, Seojun.”
“Yes?”
Seojun, who was about to read the synopsis again with a greater focus on the role, looked up at An Daho’s call. An Daho said with a playful expression.
“The writer of that synopsis, she’s Writer So’s assistant.”
“…Really?”
Startled by the appearance of an acquaintance, Seojun stared at the writer’s name on the synopsis with wide eyes.
* * *
So Eunjin’s jaw dropped at the words coming from her phone.
“You decided to do it?”
-Yes. It was interesting. I think it’ll be a lot of fun to act in.
“Cheonga is going to be so surprised when she hears. Alright. Seojun, can you tell your manager that I’ll pass on the message?”
-Yes. But this is really amazing.
“I know, right? I’m realizing just how small the world is these days. To think that Seojun’s teacher was the lead in my first work, and the next project Seojun chooses is by my assistant writer.”
So Eunjin’s words made Seojun burst out laughing over the phone.
As So Eunjin chatted with Seojun, she remembered something when he mentioned he was going to see the meteor shower, and a smile formed on her face.
“Okay. Seojun, send me a picture too.”
-Okay. I’ll take a cool one and send it to you.
After ending her call with Seojun, So Eunjin called Yoo Cheonga, who was probably in a meeting with PD Gong Heechan.
“So you could catch a star from the sky after all.”
If it was too hard for a person to climb up to the sky, then all the star had to do was come down on its own.
Just like a meteor shower.
“Come to think of it, meteorites are expensive, too.”
-Hello? Writer-nim?
Pleased by the voice of the writer who had created a work that captured the heart of a superstar, So Eunjin said in a voice full of laughter.
“Cheonga. A falling star has granted your wish.”