Chapter 323
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 323
Chapter Title: A Perfect Performance
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From 0-Years-Old to Superstar Chapter 323
“All of it. Can’t we build it all?”
“...Excuse me?”
The planning team leader blinked, staring at Director Jeffrey. At his reaction, Director Jeffrey, who had bravely spoken up, shrank back again.
“...We can’t?”
Seeing him like this, the team leader wondered if he had imagined the director's chilling gaze from a moment ago. Looking at Director Jeffrey’s usual meek demeanor, the team leader spoke.
“No, we can. I’m just not sure what you mean by ‘all of it.’”
*Survivors* was a disaster movie, and like most disaster films, more than one or two locations were set to be destroyed. Just as spectacular destruction scenes were the lifeblood of the genre, *Survivors* was slated to have them as well.
“If you want to film a scene where we demolish a real building, we can probably manage one or two.”
It was possible to buy an unused building, remodel the exterior to match, and then actually tear it down.
‘Of course, once the building is demolished, that’s it, so we’d have to get the shot right in one take.’
Lost in thought, the team leader recalled a particular movie—one where a villain spectacularly blew up a building, and it wasn’t CG but a real explosion.
“There was a movie where they actually blew up a building... Should I look into it?”
The team leader’s mind raced. They would need to find an unused building and an expert who could demolish it according to plan. They might even need cooperation from government offices.
“No!”
Director Jeffrey, who had never had such a large budget for his independent films or his first commercial movie, shouted, his face pale at the ‘scale of Hollywood.’
“What I want to build are the sets where the actors will perform.”
“The sets?”
“Things like more realistically crumbled walls, protruding rebar, and flickering emergency exit signs. I want to minimize the use of green screens for backgrounds, to make the actors feel like they are really in that place. From the first scene to the last.”
Not demolishing a building...
Director Jeffrey’s last words were barely audible.
Aha.
The team leader scratched his chin.
The disappointed look on his face was likely no illusion. The team leader, who had been planning to create another promotional angle with a building demolition, spoke up.
“That’s easy enough. You can just mention it during the meeting with the art team. Of course, for the actors’ safety, even if the appearance is convincing, the materials will be light and soft enough not to cause injury—things like styrofoam or special materials.”
“Yes. As long as the exterior is well-decorated, it’s fine.”
At Director Jeffrey’s nod, the team leader pictured the sets that would be recreated exactly from the script. With a highly skilled art team on board, they would create sets that looked more real than any actual location.
“With sets like that, the actors will be able to immerse themselves well.”
If actors who delivered outstanding performances even in front of a green screen were to act on such a set, it would create an even greater synergy, and the footage captured by the camera would be incredibly vivid.
As the team leader wore a satisfied expression, Director Jeffrey carefully began to speak.
“...And I was hoping we could install some kind of shaking mechanical device in the floor of the set.”
“Oh. That would add to the realism. Sounds good.”
At the team leader’s exclamation, Director Jeffrey’s face brightened slightly as he began to talk about the set he had envisioned.
* * *
A rare day off.
The doctor, visiting an entertainment agency for the first time in his life, looked around the lobby with a slightly excited expression.
Cocoa Entertainment seemed to be advertising to the whole world that it was ‘Lee Seojun’s agency,’ as the entire right wall of the lobby was covered with posters from the works actor Lee Seojun had appeared in. From *Shadowman 1* and *The Evil Spirit* to memorable scenes from *Spring Has Returned*. Gathered together like this, the posters seemed to glitter and shine.
After looking over Seojun’s posters, the doctor moved to the left wall to see the photos of the idols. Brown Black, White, and Red Crown. Even the doctor, who had little interest in idols, had heard of these names.
Seeing them all together, it was clear that despite the small number of artists on their roster, this was a truly impressive company.
As he was looking around the lobby, Seojun and his manager appeared.
“Welcome, Doctor.”
“Hello, Seojun.”
After greeting Seojun and An Daho, the doctor followed them to Seojun’s practice room.
“This is my practice room.”
“It’s my first time in an actor’s practice room, so I’m a bit nervous.”
“Haha. There’s nothing that special about it.”
Contrary to Seojun’s words, as soon as the door opened, the doctor hesitated to step inside.
The Hollywood star’s practice room was surrounded by cameras. Everywhere he looked, there were only cameras, and even the doctor, who was not camera-shy, felt a little intimidated.
‘This place would be hell for someone with a fear of cameras.’
Seojun guided the dazed doctor to a seat and, with a cheerful grin, brought out a box.
It was a pristine white cake box.
“I wasn’t sure what to get you, so I bought a cake from my favorite bakery. It’s really delicious here.”
After saying that, Seojun smiled shyly and took out a paper bag.
“These are posters from the projects I’ve been in. They have my autograph. There are also albums and autographs from the Brown Black hyungs, the White hyungs, and the Red Crown nunas.”
At Seojun’s words, the doctor beamed. It seemed Seojun had remembered him mentioning in passing that he had enjoyed his work.
“Thank you. I’ll enjoy this. And I’ll hang the posters in the most prominent spot.”
Receiving the cake and autographed posters gave him a sense of responsibility.
Besides, the doctor now understood. All the questions Seojun was asking were for his next project, *Survivors*. The idea that his opinions would influence a Hollywood movie... it was something he had never imagined would happen in his lifetime.
“But I don’t know much about acting... Will that be okay?”
“Yes. You can just watch and tell me if anything seems exaggerated, or if there are any strange parts as I act out the symptoms worsening over time and then being overcome. As if I were a real patient.”
The doctor nodded at Seojun’s words. That much, he felt he could do.
As Seojun positioned himself in the center of the practice room, facing the doctor, An Daho adjusted the cameras. The lenses of several cameras turned toward Seojun. He marveled at how the actor seemed completely unfazed by the cameras.
“I’ll start now.”
As if those words were a switch, the atmosphere in the practice room slowly settled. The lights embedded in the ceiling were bright, yet it felt as though darkness had fallen only where Seojun stood.
Seojun stood in place.
He just stood there, perfectly still.
He couldn't move an inch, as if he were in a cramped, confined space rather than a wide practice room.
Soon, Seojun’s hands began to move, as if grasping at the air. His steady breathing quickened, and beads of cold sweat began to form on his face. Seojun’s gaze couldn’t find a focus, darting erratically through the empty space.
The doctor, sitting in his chair, almost shot to his feet but stopped himself.
These were all symptoms he and Seojun had discussed, and since the manager, who would know the actor’s condition best, remained silent, it meant that everything he was seeing was an act.
‘But...’
What if it’s real?
Seojun’s complexion was pale as he gasped for breath, seemingly in a state of panic.
‘That’s acting?’
At that moment, Seojun collapsed as if his legs had given out.
He pulled his uncontrollably trembling limbs close and curled up. The tremors that started in his hands and feet spread through his entire body. The way he shook seemed involuntary, not a trembling he could consciously produce.
On top of that, his harsh breathing filled the practice room. Seojun's ragged breaths, as if he could pass out at any moment, echoed through the room and burrowed into the doctor's ears.
Finally, the doctor, who had been enduring it with his right leg trembling, shot up and rushed toward Seojun.
“Seojun!”
“Yes?”
The moment his name was called, Seojun’s pale complexion changed in a flash. Seeing Seojun's face, full of life as if he'd never been in distress, the doctor was at a loss for words.
“Uh... was the trembling too exaggerated?”
At Seojun’s question, posed as if nothing at all had happened, a chill ran down the doctor’s spine.
He had heard Seojun was an acting genius and had thought so himself, but it seemed he hadn’t truly understood what ‘acting genius’ meant. Seeing Lee Seojun’s acting in person was on a different level. It was beyond imagination.
Seeing the doctor’s shocked face, An Daho scratched his cheek.
He had stayed quiet, thinking that seeing it once would be better than a hundred explanations, but it seemed that ‘once’ had been a little too effective.
* * *
“...It’s perfect.”
“Really?”
Seojun beamed at the doctor’s words. The doctor, who looked a bit drained after an hour, couldn’t help but smile back at that bright expression.
“That’s how I see it. I don’t know about other doctors, though.”
“That’s more than enough!”
Now, Seojun would use this as a base for his performance, and if there were any parts that were lacking or overdone, Director Jeffrey would point them out.
“Thank you for today, Doctor. I’ll send you complimentary tickets when the movie comes out.”
“Okay, thank you. You worked hard today too, Seojun.”
“Haha, not at all. It was really fun.”
Seeing the actor genuinely say he had fun, the doctor couldn’t help but recall Seojun’s test results once again. Such talent combined with that kind of tenacity... He could only think of it as incredible.
“You did a great job today.”
An Daho’s words made the doctor shake his head.
“Seojun worked harder than I did. I definitely learned how an actor performs today. I think I’ll be able to offer better advice to any actor patients I have in the future.”
He, too, seemed quite satisfied with his profession.
* * *
After the doctor left Cocoa Entertainment with a pleased expression, carrying the paper bag with Seojun’s posters and the cake box, An Daho asked Seojun.
“Seojun, should I take you home?”
“No, I’m going to watch the recordings for a bit before I go.”
He would watch them again at home anyway, but he wanted to see the first and last recordings right now.
“Then I’ll be in the Team 2 office for a bit. They said King’s Agency called.”
“Okay.”
Both Seojun and An Daho went about their tasks with practiced ease.
After An Daho left, Seojun sat on the plush sofa and was quickly absorbed in his own performance. He reviewed his acting with a sharp gaze, recalling the doctor’s advice.
A short while later.
An Daho, back from the Team 2 office, called out to Seojun, who was so focused he looked like he might merge with the monitor.
“King’s Agency called. They said filming will start on December 4th.”
Oh.
Seojun’s eyes sparkled.
“Then we’ll have to go to the US around the end of November, right?”
“Right. Before that, we have to explain it to your school and get your attendance approved. It was the experiential learning application form, right?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Still, from what I looked into before, Yeoul Arts Middle School is pretty generous with the number of days you can get approved for outside work. I think you’ll be able to film comfortably.”
Seojun smiled brightly at An Daho’s words.
“And they’ve cast the child actor, too.”
“Really? Who is it? How old are they?”
“His name is Andrew Walker, and he’s nine years old.”
Seojun thought of the potential child actors he had considered, but the name ‘Andrew Walker’ was not among them. He blinked a few times, his eyes widening.
“Wow. Is this his debut role? If this is his first project, he must be a great actor...!”
“Could be. Or he might have been on theater stages that haven't been filmed.”
At An Daho’s words, Seojun nodded with an “Ah.”
It made sense. Even though Seojun tried to watch many productions, he couldn’t see every play in Korea, so it would be even more difficult in America, with its vast land and large population.
“I can’t wait to meet him.”
Andrew Walker.
Seojun repeated the name to himself.
* * *
Late November.
Actor Lee Seojun and actor Kim Jongho departed from the country.
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