Chapter 335
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 335
Chapter Title: The Director's Cut
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“…This won’t do.”
His tone was firmer than ever before.
The planning team leader's harsh voice made Director Jeffrey's expression turn to one of surprise.
Wasn't this the same team leader who had boasted they could even blow up a building if the director wanted?
Since the planning team leader had readily accepted Davis Garrett's revisions, Director Jeffrey hadn't been worried about him at all.
That's why he never imagined the team leader would object.
‘I knew it.’
Just as I thought.
It wasn't just Seojun; the other actors also seemed to agree with the planning team leader's opinion.
The awkward and difficult atmosphere dampened Director Jeffrey's fiery enthusiasm by half.
Seeing Director Jeffrey's failure to grasp the situation, the planning team leader rubbed his dry face. He looked so tired, it was as if he had aged ten years just from reading the script.
With a heavy sigh, the planning team leader spoke.
“…This won't be a box office hit.”
A box office hit.
Weren't production companies supposed to think about profits, especially with such a massive budget?
As the representative of the production company in this room, he had no choice but to oppose it.
Seojun, as well as the other actors, having starred in and watched many productions, had already realized that the script before them was not likely to be a commercial success.
After all, there was one confused audience member right here.
Seojun gave a bitter smile as he watched Andrew Walker reread the script with a bewildered expression.
‘It seems like it would be interesting… but it'll be hard to make it a box office hit with this.’
Struggling at the box office would be bad news for the staff who worked hard on filming, the actors, and the Bearound employees. Knowing this, they couldn't just proceed as planned.
Seojun looked down at the script on the table.
“…Can't we make it work with these actors?”
Director Jeffrey's gaze turned to the actors.
There sat actors with box office power second to none.
The eternal hero, Davis Garrett of Redbourne.
The most beloved villain, Seojun Lee of Jin Natra.
Milan Chelan, nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor.
Faced with Director Jeffrey's desperate gaze, the most influential of them, Davis Garrett, scratched his cheek and spoke.
“It's great that you trust us, but… no matter how great the actors are, a project will fail if the work itself doesn't support it, Director.”
Reading the hidden meaning in those words, Director Jeffrey's eyes wavered. The sparkle in them slowly dimmed.
“But you said the script was good…”
“That's from an actor's perspective. From an audience's point of view, I think the content might be a bit perplexing.”
Seojun nodded in agreement with Milan Chelan's words.
“I also think it's an interesting story, but a box office success is out of the question.”
With even Seojun saying so, Director Jeffrey looked dejectedly at the [Survivors - Revision 2] script in front of him. His mind, which had been so clear just moments ago, now felt clouded and bleak.
‘…I see.’
I should have just stuck with the stable script.
That other film director was right.
“Ah… I see… Yes… Ah, I'm sorry. I've just wasted everyone's time.”
Seeing the completely deflated Director Jeffrey, the actors looked on with pity. He seemed even more fragile than when they first met. The planning team leader was about to sigh but swallowed it back.
“Then tomorrow's shoot will follow the original revised script…”
It seemed Director Jeffrey's rampage was coming to an end.
Seojun, who had been looking down at the script and thinking for a moment, spoke up.
“What about a director's cut?”
A director's cut.
Director's Cut.
Unlike the theatrical version, which reflects the production company's intentions, it's a film re-edited according to the director's vision after its release.
It's about recreating the film as the director intended, free from the edits and cuts made by the production company for the sake of box office success, runtime, or censorship ratings.
The actors, slowly mulling over Seojun's words, brightened up.
They hadn't thought of it because a director's cut is usually decided upon during editing, after all filming is done, when the production company's and director's opinions clash.
“That sounds like a good idea.”
“A director's cut doesn't really have to worry about the box office.”
Director Jeffrey blinked at the actors' reactions. The planning team leader also looked up at Seojun's words.
“…A director's cut?”
“Yes. Since it's a director's cut, wouldn't Director Jeffrey be able to make it however he wants?”
Seojun said with a bright expression, his gaze turning to the planning team leader.
“Though I don't know much about the practical side of things.”
Seeing Seojun's slightly sheepish smile, the planning team leader fell into thought.
“A director's cut…”
When the planning team leader began to speak, everyone listened intently.
“The situation is different from the usual… but it should be possible. I can't guarantee a theatrical release since this is just my guess for now, but since it's a director's cut, you should be able to make it as you wish, Director.”
“If it can't be released…”
Doesn't that mean no one will see it?
Unlike the worried Director Jeffrey, Seojun smiled brightly.
“If it can't get a theatrical release, how about putting it on Plus+, Director? I'm on pretty good terms with the head of Plus+ Korea. I can ask him!”
An Daho, sitting a little ways off, smirked at Seojun's words.
Asking would be an understatement.
Just a subtle hint that there's a 'director's cut' of a movie 'starring Lee Seojun' would have them rushing over with their eyes lit up.
Besides, just looking at the faces of the actors here, offers would pour in from all over. Perhaps, contrary to the planning team leader's worries, a theatrical release might even be possible.
“Then let's go with the director's cut, Director.”
“This sounds like it'll be fun.”
Seeing the delighted actors, the planning team leader let out a sigh.
“Everyone, please don't forget about ‘Survivors’.”
At the planning team leader's reminder, Seojun and the other actors chuckled.
“For now, the director's cut isn't confirmed, so I'd appreciate it if you'd focus more on ‘Survivors’. Even if the director's cut is confirmed, of course.”
“Don't worry about the filming.”
Seojun's reliable words brought a more relaxed smile to the planning team leader's face.
If he couldn't trust the actors who had shown such brilliant performances on set, who could he trust?
“And Director Jeffrey.”
Somehow, the 'director's cut' discussion already seemed semi-confirmed.
Director Jeffrey, who had been listening blankly, was startled by the planning team leader's call and responded.
“Yes, yes?”
“For the director's cut, please try to use the footage from ‘Survivors’ as much as possible. When you need to shoot scenes that are different from ‘Survivors’, please do so within the existing schedule for the actors and staff. If you ask to extend the schedule just for the ‘director's cut’, there will be backlash.”
Director Jeffrey's eyes widened at the planning team leader's words.
“If we tell the higher-ups that we'll be filming within the original schedule, we'll likely get a positive response.”
Seeing the planning team leader working to make the director's cut happen, Director Jeffrey nodded with a determined expression.
“Then I'll have to revise the script.”
“You can't postpone tomorrow's shoot.”
“Yes. Don't worry.”
His motivation reignited—no, burning even brighter—Director Jeffrey gathered the actors to discuss the next day's shoot.
From now on, it was time for the actors and the director.
* * *
“You're not going to give him any time?”
“Pardon?”
The planning team leader, who had stepped back, turned around at the sound of a voice. It was Seojun Lee's manager.
“I thought Jun's schedule would be extended because of the director's cut, but you seem reluctant to allow that.”
At the question from Seojun Lee's manager, An Daho, the planning team leader nodded and looked over at Director Jeffrey, who was passionately discussing the two scripts.
“There are often directors of that type. The artist type, you could say. I had no idea Director Jeffrey was one of them, since he so readily accepted Davis's revisions.”
It seemed some unknown trigger had caused it to blossom.
“Usually, that desire to make their own film is fully expressed in the independent film scene. When they start making commercial films, they tend to compromise with marketability.”
An Daho nodded at the planning team leader's words.
He understood what he meant.
Unlike independent films, which explore various themes from multiple perspectives, commercial films were mostly similar for the sake of box office success. It was the same logic.
“Of course, there are some genius directors who create the works they want and achieve box office success at the same time. But those cases are very rare.”
An Daho's expression showed a flicker of understanding.
“Director Jeffrey is the opposite, then.”
“Yes. Before signing the contract, I reviewed Director Jeffrey's filmography. Neither his independent films nor his first commercial film showed any such signs, so I thought it was unusual. But for it to explode here…”
I never imagined it.
Recalling the dizzying feeling of reading the director's cut script, the planning team leader touched his forehead.
If not for the director's cut option, or if Director Jeffrey hadn't backed down… just imagining what would have happened to [Survivors] made his head spin.
In the worst-case scenario, the movie could have been scrapped.
‘Though we would have replaced the director before that happened.’
The planning team leader pressed the bridge of his nose and spoke.
“Director Jeffrey, having just found his artistic voice, must have a million things he wants to do right now. At times like these, it's common to scrap the final cut over and over because it's not satisfactory. If we were to shoot every single scene Director Jeffrey wants, neither the actors nor the staff would be able to handle it.”
The schedule would drag on.
That wasn't good news for the manager of Seojun Lee, who was contracted to film until the end of February, nor for Bearound, which had planned everything for the future.
“And people usually perform better when they're pressed by a deadline.”
An Daho finally understood why the planning team leader hadn't offered to extend the schedule.
The planning team leader let out a villainous 'heh heh heh'.
“Tight on time, but plenty of money and inspiration. That's the best method for Director Jeffrey right now.”
The capable planning team leader certainly knew how to handle people.
* * *
And the next day.
A meeting was held at Bearound.
A new script, when they already had one that guaranteed box office success.
Moreover, reading the content, there seemed to be no chance of it being a hit. However, the fact that it was a 'director's cut' made Bearound hesitate.
“It could be good for promotional purposes, though.”
“If they're not taking extra time to film it but doing it within the current shooting period… well…”
“Won't it affect the filming of the theatrical version?”
All eyes turned to the planning team leader at that question.
“First, I will show you an edited version of the [Survivors] footage we have so far.”
Darkness fell upon the white screen.
It was an edited compilation of scenes where the actors shone the brightest, excluding those that required CG work.
Everyone held their breath at the powerful performances of Seojun and Davis Garrett.
It didn't seem likely that actors who delivered such brilliant performances would slack off just because they were filming a 'director's cut'.
Everyone sitting in the conference room nodded.
“Then let's hold an internal screening and decide afterward whether to release the director's cut in theaters.”
The planning team leader clenched his fist.
Approval for the director's cut of [Survivors] had been granted.
* * *
“That's a wrap for today, Director.”
To prevent the schedule from extending any further.
The assistant director, who had been thoroughly briefed by the planning team leader, spoke to Director Jeffrey.
At those words, Director Jeffrey's leg started to shake.
The production budget from Bearound was beyond imagination, and ideas were overflowing from watching the actors' brilliant improvisations, but…
Time was tight.
“How much time is left for filming?”
“Three weeks, two days, and fourteen hours left.”
Should I tell you the minutes as well?
The assistant director's kind voice somehow seemed to carry the planning team leader's spite.
And those three weeks, two days, and fourteen hours weren't entirely for filming. There were also intermittent breaks for the actors and staff.
Aaaaaah!
Faced with the tight filming schedule, Director Jeffrey tore at his hair and let out a silent scream.
With time being so tight, he had no choice but to rack his brain to come up with the best possible scenes. But even when he did, the two incredible, amazing actors would turn it all upside down with their chilling improvisations, forcing him to think of new scenes.
His head ached.
His head ached so much, but…
It was fun.
It was so much fun.
It was fun to be outdone by the two actors' unimaginable improvisations, and it was also fun to watch Davis Garrett and Seojun Lee, bested by the script he'd presented, shut their mouths and act out his script exactly as written.
He looked forward to seeing who would win in tomorrow's shoot.
“Ah. This is going too far.”
But even amidst all the revisions, revisions, revisions, the two actors and the director never lost sight of the work itself.
After deleting the lines he'd written himself but found lacking, Director Jeffrey stared back at his laptop monitor.
Eheheheh.
Seeing Director Jeffrey smiling as he revised the script, the staff cleaning up the set shook their heads and slowly backed away.
‘He used to be so gentle…’
#