Chapter 320
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 320
Chapter Title: A New Challenge
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“Oh? Seojun, you were here?”
“Hey, Ideun. Eunseong. Hello, hyungs.”
The trainees, exhausted from dance practice, came up to the first floor and spotted Seojun sitting in a corner of the lobby. Their tired faces lit up at the sight of him. Seojun chuckled at their reaction.
“Is it that tough?”
“Yeah. But our debut schedule is set for next year, so I’m feeling at ease.”
Park Ideun, a first-year music student from Mirinae Arts High School, said with a smile as he grabbed a sports drink.
As Park Ideun and another first-year music student, Jung Eunseong, took their seats, the other trainees gathered around Seojun. The desperate look of treasuring every single second of their break time vanished, replaced by relaxed expressions as they sank into the sofas.
‘This is a familiar sight.’
The old tradition of Brown Black slacking off from practice to hang out with Seojun whenever he visited Cocoa Entertainment was still being carried on. After their debut, White would use the excuse of playing with Seojun when he occasionally stopped by during their intense practice sessions, and Red Crown had practically used Seojun as a shield to catch their breath since their trainee days.
‘I wish Seojun would come every single day!’
Seojun giggled, recalling the words of his Red Crown nunas.
It wasn't as if they played for an hour or two; it was just ten or twenty minutes.
Knowing that their current practice would be invaluable, they only used the trump card named ‘Lee Seojun’ when they truly needed a breather. The staff, aware of this, often turned a blind eye.
“I heard your next project is a Hollywood movie?”
“Yes.”
Seojun nodded in response to one of the older trainees.
An article about the casting for *Bear Round*’s movie had been released.
Although only two actors had been cast in the very early stages, it seemed to pique the public's curiosity even more.
“What’s the reaction from Marine Company?”
At Jung Eunseong's question, the other trainees perked up their ears. Being an affair from across the ocean, they couldn't help but be more curious. As all eyes gathered on him, Seojun spoke.
“From what I’ve heard through the grapevine, they’re busy wrapping up *Assemble 4* and working on a new hero movie.”
Just as Seojun said, Marine Company was relentlessly busy, aiming to perfectly conclude *Assemble 4* and open the curtain for a new season. They seemed to have no time to spare for anything else, focusing solely on box office success.
Park Ideun nodded at Seojun’s words.
“That makes sense. They succeeded so brilliantly with Season 1, everyone must have high expectations for Season 2.”
“It’ll be hard to satisfy them, that’s for sure.”
“There aren’t many works where Season 2 or 3 does better than Season 1. It’s even harder when the entire cast changes.”
Everyone nodded in agreement with the trainee’s remark.
“But what brings you to the company today?”
“A guest is coming.”
“A guest?”
As the trainees tilted their heads in confusion, Seojun’s head turned toward the entrance.
The person he was waiting for had appeared.
Seojun broke into a wide smile and stood up.
“Welcome! Jongho samchon.”
Kim Jongho's appearance caused a stir in the Cocoa Entertainment lobby.
It was rare enough for Seojun to occasionally visit the company, so it was only natural for all eyes to be drawn to an actor they had only ever seen on television.
The trainees who had been chatting with Seojun stared at Kim Jongho with trembling, nervous eyes. Seeing Kim Jongho, whom they had watched in dramas and movies since they were young, felt like looking at someone through a TV screen.
Seojun gently nudged the trainees, who were staring blankly in astonishment, and introduced them to Kim Jongho.
“These are the hyungs who will be debuting next year.”
At Seojun's words, the trainees sucked in a breath and greeted Kim Jongho with stiff, disciplined posture.
“Hello, sir!”
Kim Jongho smiled. The trainer, who had come to fetch the trainees who were using Seojun as an excuse to take a break, was so surprised to see Kim Jongho and Seojun that he froze on the spot.
***
After sending the trainees off, Seojun and Kim Jongho went up to Seojun’s practice room.
“This is your practice room, Seojun?”
“Yes!”
Kim Jongho looked around Seojun’s practice room.
One entire wall was covered in mirrors, and in a corner, cameras on tripods were lined up. Additionally, a rail system was installed on the ceiling, with more cameras attached to it.
Fascinated by the cameras mounted everywhere, Kim Jongho glanced all around.
‘Back in my day, all you needed was one camera and a script, and you could practice anywhere.’
“It moves like this, too.”
Seojun controlled the ceiling camera with a remote. Kim Jongho marveled again as the camera moved, adjusting its height with a soft whirring sound.
“It can film front, back, and both sides. You can also make it move along the rail.”
“That’s incredible.”
After examining the ceiling-mounted camera for a moment, Kim Jongho tilted his head.
“This camera… isn’t this the new model the broadcasting stations just got?”
“Yes! Producer Choi Minseong said this camera was good, so I switched to it.”
Kim Jongho nodded at the mention of the *Naeuiwon* producer, who was famous for his cinematography. Then, another camera caught his eye.
“And this one is for movies?”
“Director Ryan Will recommended that one.”
As technology advanced, so did cameras. The feel of an actor on screen differed depending on the camera and the lens used.
‘Of course, the final edit is what sets the mood.’
That was in the director's hands, so Seojun couldn't do anything about it. Thus, he decided to practice what he could control before the editing process, which was out of his hands.
“So I’ve been upgrading whenever a new camera comes out. I thought I could act better if I knew how I would be filmed by it.”
He donated the cameras he no longer used to places that needed them.
Nodding at Seojun's words, Kim Jongho’s gaze fell upon a familiar-looking camera.
“This one looks very familiar.”
Seojun smiled and replied to Kim Jongho’s question.
“I figured I wouldn’t always be filming with the best cameras. So I’m also practicing being filmed with the most commonly used one.”
“…You’re incredibly thorough.”
Kim Jongho was genuinely impressed by the grinning Seojun.
***
Although there were many cameras for dramas and movies, Kim Jongho chose the single, most commonly used camera.
“They said only a front-facing camera can be used for the audition video.”
“Really?”
At Kim Jongho's words, Seojun set up the front-facing camera with a disappointed look.
From his familiar movements, Kim Jongho could tell that this wasn't the first or second time Seojun had practiced while adjusting the cameras.
After finishing the camera setup, Seojun asked Kim Jongho.
“Samchon. Did you print the script? You can print it here if you need to.”
Seojun pointed to the printer set up next to the rest area.
Kim Jongho shook his head and showed a few sheets of paper he was holding. A quick glance revealed short lines written in various colored pens on the inner pages.
“I brought it with me.”
“Ah, I see. Do you need any water, then? I have juice, too. Are you hungry? I have cookies and bread, I can get you some.”
Kim Jongho let out a laugh as he watched Seojun, who had been about to head to the refrigerator on one side, turn to get cookies and bread instead. It was very clear how restless Seojun was.
“Why are you more nervous than I am, Seojun?”
“Ugh. I know, right? I don’t know why I’m so shaky.”
“Are you worried I’ll fail?”
To be honest, yes.
Jongho samchon’s acting was phenomenal, but he didn't know how Hollywood would receive it.
‘I’d be more at ease if it were Marine Company.’
He felt Director Jeffrey would be fine, but he wasn't so sure about Bear Round.
After hesitating, Seojun opened his mouth.
“…A little?”
Seeing Seojun like this, the veteran actor, who had experienced all sorts of things in a career longer than Seojun's age, smiled warmly.
“Well, I’m not certain I’ll pass either… but whatever the audition, an actor just has to do their best in the role.”
It wouldn't be easy, but he just had to deliver a performance that would make the director or the production company subconsciously think, ‘We have to cast this actor.’
“Hoo.”
Kim Jongho let out a light breath.
A slight tension circulated through his body. It had been a while since he felt this. It somehow felt like he had returned to his fresh-faced rookie days, going from one audition to another.
“Alright, let’s begin.”
“Okay.”
A red light on the camera turned on.
Actor Kim Jongho’s gaze fixed on the camera lens.
***
A few days after Kim Jongho submitted his first audition video.
The name of a newly confirmed cast member for *The Survivors* was announced.
“…Milan Chelan?”
Park Sungwon thought the name in the article sounded strangely familiar.
“I’ve heard it somewhere… Who was it again?”
He pondered for a moment, then recalled a certain two-shot.
Seojun and a Black actor shaking hands on the red carpet.
“…Ahhh!”
The one who everyone predicted would be nominated, but in the end, didn't make the list.
The Black actor who had been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor alongside Seojun, Milan Chelan!
[*The Survivors* Davis Garrett × Lee Seojun × Milan Chelan!]
[How is this combination possible?! Curious about the work that captivated these three actors!]
[The most anticipated movies, *Assemble 4* and *The Survivors*]
- Milan Chelan! I remembered him!
= I watched the video of his daughter telling him he was nominated again ㅠㅠ
= 22 I cry every time I watch it ㅠㅠ
= When I saw him at the awards ceremony, I thought it would be great if he worked with Seojun, and now they’re meeting like this!
- Bear Round is insane. How did they cast these three actors?
= 22 For real. They seem dead set on this.
- So when is this movie coming out?
= They haven’t even started filming yet ;;;
- This is amazing… The only things that have been announced are the title and three actors, but everyone’s posting about how excited they are lol
= Because those three actors are no joke.
= At this point, I don’t think anything else could be more surprising.
***
A few days later.
While the public's attention was focused on *The Survivors*, starring Davis Garrett, Lee Seojun, and Milan Chelan, actor Kim Jongho was on a plane bound for LA.
> Lee Seojun: Good luck, Jongho samchon!
> Lee Seojun: When you arrive at the airport, an employee from Kings Agency will be there!
> Lee Seojun: They speak Korean well, too!
<Thanks, Seojun.>
> Park Dohun: Samchon! Just show them what you always do!
> Lee Jiseok: If you pass, it’s Korean beef lol
> Lee Dajin: Go turn that audition upside down!
> Lee Dajin: (Cheering bear emoticon)
Kim Jongho smiled warmly at the flood of messages.
[The flight to LA will be taking off shortly. Please fasten your seatbelts…]
After fastening his seatbelt, Kim Jongho gazed out the window.
Hollywood.
Perhaps for today's young actors, Hollywood felt close, thanks to an actor named ‘Lee Seojun’ who was active there.
This was even more true now that Korean productions were being released simultaneously worldwide and gaining overseas fans through the streaming service Plus+. That was likely why more actors were readily taking on the challenge of Hollywood.
But Kim Jongho's generation was different.
Back then, Hollywood was an object of aspiration, a time when every actor dreamed of appearing in a Hollywood-made film at least once. Kim Jongho, too, had dreamt such dreams in his youth while watching Hollywood movies fill the screen.
“Let’s do a good job.”
Kim Jongho resolved to himself, just as he did in his rookie days when he was always nervous before an audition.
***
“Should I set out a bowl of sacred water and pray?”
Lee Jiseok's words made Seojun and the other two burst into laughter.
After seeing Kim Jongho off, the four actors headed to Park Dohun's favorite dumpling hot pot restaurant for lunch. They had a private room, so they could talk comfortably.
“Someone of Jongho hyung’s caliber isn’t likely to fail… but you could have bad luck, like being in poor condition on the day of the audition, or some incredible, hidden actor could show up.”
Lee Jiseok, who had sent the lighthearted message ‘If you pass, it’s Korean beef lol,’ anxiously bounced his leg. Seojun, Park Dohun, and Lee Dajin burst out laughing again at the sight.
“Anyone who’s seen *Escape* knows… foreigners can’t really tell Asian faces apart, right? It’s the same for us.”
Park Dohun said as he placed a large meat dumpling onto the plates of Seojun and the other two actors.
“But people can tell Evan Block and Richel Hill apart. It’ll be the same for Jongho samchon. The kimchi here is delicious, they make it fresh every day.”
“Thanks, Dohun hyung.”
“Oppa, should we order kimchi dumplings too?”
“…Am I the only one who’s anxious?”
Lee Jiseok asked in a bewildered tone, looking at the three relaxed actors.
“It’s Jongho samchon we’re talking about. He’ll do great in Hollywood, too.”
“And for some reason, I can’t imagine Jongho samchon failing, can you?”
Park Dohun and Lee Dajin said with a smile.
“He’ll be fine.”
With Seojun saying so as well, Lee Jiseok's trembling leg gradually came to a stop.
“Yeah. Jongho hyung will do great.”