Chapter 326
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 326
Chapter Title: The First Day of Filming
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Kim Sangwoo chuckled again, and Kim Jongho brushed off his clothes. His eyes were dazzled by the dark orange outfit, accented with fluorescent orange.
“It's been a while since I've worn such a bright color, hasn't it?”
“Hyung, you always wear monochrome clothes. Your image on screen is usually like that too, so you're always in dark colors.”
“What kind of image is that?”
“A villain?”
Seojun and An Daho couldn't hide their admiration for Kim Jongho, who had completely transformed into Korean Tourist #1.
He looked perfect from every angle. It was the kind of outfit you'd see on the subway.
“Wow… I never thought I'd see hiking clothes like this in an American movie, maybe in a Korean one…”
“Isn't there a Korean on the costume team or something?”
Seojun nodded at An Daho's reasonable suspicion.
“Still, the clothes really suit Lee Hyunwoo's father.”
“I agree.”
'Lee Hyunwoo', the character Seojun was playing, had come to LA on a trip with his father and mother. It was a group package tour, filled with Koreans. Moreover, the age group of the fellow travelers was on the older side.
“Seojun. Come over here.”
At Kim Jongho's call, Seojun walked over. There, he found the supporting actors wearing the clothes and shoes prepared by the costume team for the shoot.
'I can tell what their roles are at a glance.'
A group of middle-aged actors, who would play the couples on the package tour with Hyunwoo's family, were gathered, standing out in their colorful hiking gear.
Kim Jongho, who seemed to have exchanged greetings while they were finding clothes in the right size, introduced the actors.
“These are all people who auditioned for the role of your parents, Seojun.”
The actors, who had anticipated their elimination early on with the appearance of an overwhelming rival like Kim Jongho, had immediately accepted Bear Round's offer to appear in other roles after the audition. The actors who did well in the audition even had lines, albeit just one.
“Hello. I'm Lee Seojun.”
As if Kim Jongho wasn't surprising enough, the arrival of Seojun Lee left everyone unable to hide their astonishment. They stopped searching for shoes that fit and greeted Seojun with bright smiles.
“Oh my. To meet you here!”
“I really enjoyed your drama!”
“I'm a fan!”
Seeing the adults speaking Korean in their dazzlingly colored hiking clothes, Seojun felt as if he had accidentally joined his dad's hiking club for real.
“/Nice to meet you, Lee./”
From Korean-American actors who were more comfortable with English,
“My daughter is a huge fan… could you give me your autograph?”
to actors who had immigrated from Korea not too long ago.
A variety of actors welcomed Seojun.
Feeling like he had really come to a hiking club meeting, Seojun couldn't help but chuckle.
“Hello. I'm Jae-eun Joo, and I'll be playing the mother.”
If Hyunwoo's father was the Korean actor Kim Jongho, who was comfortable with Korean, then Hyunwoo's mother seemed to be a Korean-American actress who was more comfortable with English.
“Hello. I look forward to working with you today.”
Seojun greeted her with a wide smile.
“Oh my. The son doesn't resemble his father at all, he's the spitting image of his mother.”
Everyone burst into laughter at someone's cheerful joke.
Indeed, the elegant Jae-eun Joo resembled Seojun's overall image more than the rugged-looking Kim Jongho.
A making-of film camera was capturing the scene. One of the actors spotted the camera.
“What's that camera for?”
The red light on the camera indicated it was recording, but filming for [The Survivors] hadn't even started yet.
“Ah, that's a making-of camera for Korean promotions.”
“For Korean promotions?”
“Yes. Everyone is curious about how Samchon Jongho will do during filming.”
Lee Seojun was used to it, having had making-of films released for his other works, but Kim Jongho was different.
Knowing the immense interest of the Korean public in Kim Jongho's Hollywood debut, Bear Round decided to create a making-of film centered on him, solely for 'Korean promotion'.
It was a moment that revealed just how important the 'Korean market' was to Bear Round.
***
After greeting the Korean-American actors, Seojun changed his clothes and returned to find the studio bustling with people. Seojun looked around for a bit before heading toward Kim Jongho, who had finished his preparations and was waiting.
“Samchon Jongho. Are you checking the blocking?”
“Yeah. A moment ago it felt like an empty shopping mall with no one around, but now it feels like a real one.”
Just as Kim Jongho said, extras were walking around on the set.
There were pairs who looked like couples or spouses, and extras who seemed to be families with young children. Centered around the staff managing them, the extras all looked busy figuring out their movements.
Even then, there were people who recognized Seojun Lee after he returned from makeup. Seojun smiled warmly and gave a small wave to the people who occasionally glanced his way.
Kim Jongho smiled proudly at the sight of the foreigners who looked delighted by superstar Seojun Lee's response.
“Our Seojun is so popular.”
“Hahaha.”
An Daho and Kim Sangwoo also smiled warmly.
“/Lee family! Korean tourists! We'll check the blocking!/”
At the staff member's call, Seojun, Kim Jongho, Jae-eun Joo, and the Korean-American actors in their flashy hiking clothes stood up.
***
Director Jeffrey and the planning team leader watched Seojun Lee and the Korean-American actors as they checked their blocking on the set.
“It's Korean-language acting. Do you think you can film it well?”
Including a foreign language in a film is more difficult than one might think.
Even if they cast a famous Korean-American actor from Hollywood, foreigners who don't know Korean wouldn't be able to tell how that actor's 'Korean pronunciation' sounds to 'Koreans'.
It was different from a 'native language', where one could point out issues with intonation or feeling.
'That's why it's also difficult for the director to give directions.'
The planning team leader was worried because even if they managed to write the script somehow, filming was a different story. In response, Director Jeffrey chuckled softly.
“It's fine. We have Jun and Kim.”
Director Jeffrey looked at the two actors he had asked in advance, who could evaluate the 'Korean acting' better than he could.
***
“Is it not good?”
Jae-eun Joo asked, looking at the two actors with a nervous expression. With two powerhouse actors right in front of her, she couldn't help but ask about her performance. She didn't want to speak with clumsy pronunciation in a movie that Koreans would surely watch.
“No. It's good.”
“It's good.”
Jae-eun Joo beamed at the two actors' words.
It wasn't just Jae-eun Joo; whenever a Korean-American actor with lines asked for an opinion, Seojun and Kim Jongho would answer. They all put their heads together to figure out not just the lines, but the gestures as well.
That scene was captured just as it was by the making-of film camera.
***
“/We'll start filming!/”
At the assistant director's shout, a silence fell over the set, which had been bustling with a variety of voices. Even with so many extras and staff members, it became frighteningly quiet.
Standing on the set, Seojun looked around.
Many people stood in their positions in the shopping mall built for the shoot. Their unmoving figures made it seem as if time had stopped.
Seojun truly loved this time when so many people were focused solely on filming.
“/Ready,/”
Only Director Jeffrey's voice could be heard across the large set.
Seojun took a deep breath,
“/Action!/”
and became 'Korean tourist' Lee Hyunwoo.
***
[Galleria Mall]
[South Shopping District]
Into a place filled with the laughter of children, the chatter of lovers, and cheerful music, a group of people suddenly appeared.
“Hahahaha. That's right. My son won first place in the national English speaking contest!”
“The grand prize. It was the grand prize, dear.”
“Thaaat's right. The grand prize!”
The man's joyful voice echoed through the south shopping district. Passersby occasionally glanced in their direction. A crowd of middle-aged men and women in brightly colored clothes was moving together.
It was a familiar scene at the Galleria Mall, a place tourists in California always visited before finishing their trip and heading home.
Besides, they weren't the only ones being loud. When the sound of a child throwing a tantrum was heard from somewhere, everyone just shrugged and turned their attention back to their own families and partners.
The Galleria Mall was the kind of place where a little noise could be generously overlooked for the sake of happy times spent with loved ones.
Behind that colorful group, a boy was walking alone, keeping his distance.
Lee Hyunwoo, a high school student wearing sunglasses he'd bought online, excited for his first trip abroad before coming to America, let out a deep sigh and slowly distanced himself from the group.
“He won the grand prize and got us this family trip voucher!”
“Oh my, Mr. Lee. I've heard that a hundred times already. But Hyunwoo really is a good kid.”
“You raised a fine son!”
His parents' faces grew even brighter at their friends' compliments.
“Hyunwoo! Son!”
Lee Hyunwoo, who had been walking as if to say, 'I don't know these people,' sighed again and walked toward his parents. He knew his parents, who had never really traveled domestically, let alone abroad, would be happy, but their joy was a bit excessive.
“They were spreading the news all over the neighborhood back in Korea, too…”
They had almost thrown a neighborhood party.
Still, knowing his parents were doing it out of genuine happiness, Lee Hyunwoo just smiled it off.
“What? Do you need me to interpret?”
“Nope. Your dad has this thing called 'body language', so I'm fine!”
As everyone burst into laughter at his dad's ridiculous gestures, Lee Hyunwoo wiped his face with his hands. I didn't know before we came on this trip, but I guess this is what my dad's personality is really like.
“…Just call me.”
At Lee Hyunwoo's words, his dad chuckled and grabbed his right hand, prying it open. A white envelope was placed on Hyunwoo's open palm. Hyunwoo tilted his head at the unfamiliar white envelope.
“Here, spending money.”
“I have my own. The money I saved up.”
“Use that too. We're going back to Korea tomorrow. Buy presents for your friends, and for your teachers!”
His dad chuckled and whispered.
“You have to buy a present for your girlfriend, too.”
Lee Hyunwoo's face instantly turned bright red.
“I don't have a girlfriend?!”
“Huh? Your mom said…”
“Mom!!”
As Hyunwoo called out to his mom in embarrassment, she just smiled and turned her head away. Fuming, Hyunwoo slumped his shoulders and said.
“…She's not my girlfriend. It's just a one-sided crush.”
“Aigoo. My son lacks courage. You have to be bold like your dad to catch a beauty like your mom.”
“That's not what Mom says.”
“…You heard that?”
Lee Hyunwoo and his dad met eyes and chuckled. His dad, who had been smiling playfully, switched to a gentle smile and said.
“Son. You worked hard looking after your mom and me during this trip.”
“Well…”
He couldn't deny it.
It was a package tour, but the travel agent couldn't solve everything. There were times when the American food didn't suit their palate, or they got hungry late at night, or felt sick.
Still, while he was young and could travel a lot in the future, he knew his parents—who had aches in their legs and backs and couldn't easily take vacations—wouldn't have many chances to travel like this. So, even before the trip, Lee Hyunwoo had resolved to dedicate himself to taking care of them.
The piece of advice, 'When you travel with your parents, you have to give up on your own trip,' had been a great help.
Lee Hyunwoo, feeling awkward, averted his father's gaze, his eyes darting around.
His dad smiled warmly and wrapped his hand around Hyunwoo's still-open palm. He could feel the thickness of the white envelope.
“Your mom and I will be looking around inside with our friends, so you go have some fun on your own, Hyunwoo. I heard there's an amusement park here too.”
“…When did you find that out?”
It seemed his dad knew that Hyunwoo had been disappointed about not being able to go to a famous amusement park because the package tour was tailored to his parents' tastes.
“I asked the travel agent. You know what time the bus leaves, right?”
“…Yeah.”
“See you then, son.”
His dad's palm felt hot as he patted Lee Hyunwoo's shoulder. Lee Hyunwoo knew the calloused roughness of that palm well. For some reason, Lee Hyunwoo felt his eyes welling up.
“The trip was really fun. Thank you.”
“…I'll send you on another one next time.”
Feeling a lump in his throat at his dad's heartfelt words, Lee Hyunwoo sniffled and spoke.
“Okay. Mom said she wants to go to England. I want to go to Russia. I've always wanted to do a transcontinental trip.”
Lee Hyunwoo burst out laughing at his parents, who had already planned their second and third trips. His dad, smiling warmly along with him, said.
“Go have fun.”
“Okay. You too, Dad.”
After patting Hyunwoo's shoulder, his dad returned to the group. Lee Hyunwoo looked at the spending money in his hand. Finding it strange that the money was in a white envelope, he opened it and found a larger sum than he'd expected.
When he looked toward his dad with surprised eyes, he saw the adults smiling brightly.
“Hyunwoo! Buy whatever you want!”
“You said you wanted a smartwatch!”
“You've worked hard!”
Lee Hyunwoo had ended up on a package tour with only middle-aged couples, so he had spent his time idly by himself. His parents were happy to have made good friends, but Hyunwoo, while being doted on, also had to run small errands for the adults from time to time. It was only for really urgent things, so it wasn't that hard.
Lee Hyunwoo bowed his head at the adults' words. The adults smiled and waved their hands dismissively. As Lee Hyunwoo walked a little further away, the adults also took out their Korean-language pamphlets to look for places to visit.
“/Cut!/”
Director Jeffrey's call of "Cut!" echoed across the set.
The set, which had been quiet except for the chattering extras and the mall music, quickly became noisy again.
Director Jeffrey called Seojun and Kim Jongho over.
“/It looked okay to me, but I wanted to know what you two think./”
Director Jeffrey was satisfied with what was captured on camera, but he deferred to the two actors regarding the 'Korean acting'. After reviewing the take, Seojun glanced at Kim Jongho.
“Here. It stands out a bit, right?”
“Yeah. It could be a bit stiffer.”
For a Korean tourist who was supposedly not accustomed to English, the pronunciation of 'smartwatch' sounded a little too 'American'. At Seojun and Kim Jongho's suggestion, Director Jeffrey nodded and called for a retake.
While the staff prepared for the retake, Seojun and Kim Jongho taught the Korean-American actor the Korean pronunciation of 'smartwatch'.
***
“/Ready, action!/”
Before going to the amusement park, Lee Hyunwoo wanted to pick out the presents for his parents that he had decided on back in Korea.
Clutching the wallet containing the allowance he had saved up, he headed to a store he had looked up in advance from Korea. It was a shop he had diligently researched by searching for 'parents' gifts'.
His plan was to first check if the items were in stock and what they looked like in person, then go have fun and buy them about 10 minutes before the bus departure time. Since carrying luggage around while having fun would be inconvenient, he decided to buy his friends' presents then as well.
The store was not far from where his parents were.
As he occasionally looked back to check on his parents, Lee Hyunwoo burst out laughing at the sight of his dad earnestly attempting body language.
“/Welcome./”
An employee greeted Lee Hyunwoo with a smile.
Picturing his parents' happy faces upon receiving their gifts, Lee Hyunwoo opened his mouth, his face full of excitement.
“/Do you have…./”
Just then,
KABOOM!!
A massive sound erupted.
The deafening roar, so loud it made their ears ring, startled Lee Hyunwoo, the employee, and everyone nearby, causing them to freeze instinctively. The cries of startled children could be heard. He could feel the ragged, panicked breathing of the people around him.
People looked around, trying to grasp the situation. Parents soothed their children, and someone raised their phone.
Facing this situation for the first time, Lee Hyunwoo looked around with trembling eyes. His mind went blank, completely white.
“/…An earthquake?/”
“/No. This is…./”
There was no shaking of the ground like in an earthquake. The displayed products were still sitting neatly on their shelves.
But,
a subtle vibration could be felt.
Someone swallowed hard.
“/…It's an explosion./”
A peaceful day. A happy moment.
Something no one could have ever imagined,
KABOOM!!
a bomb attack, had occurred.
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