Chapter 341
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 341
Chapter Title: The Internal Screening
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After applying for his national ID card, Seojun was spending his days as usual, going back and forth between school, home, and Cocoa Entertainment, just waiting for the day it would be issued. Then, news arrived from the United States. Upon hearing it from An Daho, a bright-faced Seojun quickly picked up his phone to call Kim Jongho.
“Uncle Jongho. Did you hear?”
-I did. The rough cut of Survivors. They said it's finished?
The news was that the rough cut of [Survivors] had been completed two days ago.
Seojun chattered excitedly.
“It seems both the theatrical cut and the director’s cut are done. I think it finished faster than expected.”
-I heard about the director's cut, but I'm curious to see how it turned out. The internal screening is on a weekday. Will you be able to make it, Seojun?
Hearing the concern in Kim Jongho's voice about him missing it due to school, Seojun smiled brightly and said.
“It’s fine. I don’t have any filming scheduled for the first semester, so I still have plenty of attendance days left.”
-You do? That’s a relief. Then we can go together next week.
“Yes! See you next week, Uncle Jongho!”
***
A week later, on a Tuesday.
Seojun and Kim Jongho, who had arrived in the U.S. on Sunday, were on their way to Bearround to attend the internal screening of [Survivors]. The car, driven by a King's Agency employee, carried Seojun, An Daho, Kim Jongho, and his manager, Kim Sangwoo.
Kim Jongho asked with a surprised expression.
“You’re leaving on Thursday? Can’t you go on Saturday? You said you were planning to miss a whole week since the screening date is so awkward.”
“I’m planning to go to the local government office on Friday.”
“The local government office?”
“Hehe. My national ID card is ready.”
At Seojun’s somewhat shy demeanor, Kim Jongho and his manager Kim Sangwoo’s eyes widened. It seemed that everyone who had known him since he was young had the same reaction.
“You’re already getting one?”
“It’s been so long since I got mine, I can’t even remember.”
Kim Jongho nodded as if he agreed with Kim Sangwoo. Seojun burst into laughter at the two adults.
“The office is only open on weekdays, so I’m planning to arrive in Korea on Thursday and just pop in on Friday. Applying took a little while, but they said picking it up won’t take long.”
“Since you have to go to school on weekdays, that sounds like a good plan. You can rest well over the weekend.”
While Kim Jongho was contemplating an early return to Korea himself, Kim Sangwoo suddenly thought of something and spoke up.
“But it would be a huge problem if you lost your ID card, Seojun.”
It was a big deal for ordinary people to lose their national ID card, let alone a celebrity.
At Kim Sangwoo’s words, Seojun and An Daho’s eyes widened.
‘I’ve never even thought about that…’
He had never lost his phone or his cards before, so the thought hadn't crossed his mind.
Besides, unlike a phone or a card, where you could easily change the numbers, a national ID card had a fixed resident registration number that would remain the same even if reissued.
There was a lot one could do with just a name and a resident registration number.
An Daho pulled out his phone with a serious expression.
“I wonder if you can change your resident registration number…”
It seemed they needed to come up with a countermeasure before he actually lost it.
***
The Bearround internal screening room.
The planning team leader and Bearround employees were bustling about, as this was a crucial event to gauge the box-office potential of a project. A poor evaluation here could mean re-editing or a delay in the schedule.
‘Well, I’m not worried.’
The planning team leader, who had been looking proud for a moment, suddenly frowned and massaged his temples.
No.
He had no worries about [Survivors - Theatrical Cut], but he was concerned about the reaction to the [Director’s Cut].
‘There’s nothing I can do about it now.’
Sighing, the planning team leader raised his voice.
“Double-check the seating!”
Since [Survivors], starring Davis Garrett and Seojun Lee, was a highly anticipated work for Bearround, more people were in attendance than usual. Not only Bearround's executives but also the main actors who participated in the filming, employees from the investment companies, and staff from Plus+ who came to see the director's cut were present.
A short while later.
As the time for the internal screening approached, the audience began to arrive one by one.
“Hello! Director Jeffrey!”
“Welcome, Jun. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Kim.”
Director Jeffrey, who was greeting people in Bearround's internal screening room, welcomed Seojun and Kim Jongho with a broad smile.
The other actors who had already arrived also greeted Seojun and Kim Jongho.
“Jun!”
Andrew Walker, who had just entered, called out to Seojun with a flushed face, happy to see him after a long time. As he trotted over, Andrew Walker stopped in his tracks upon seeing the man standing next to Seojun. He had a rugged face, but that made him all the more unforgettable.
“...It’s the detective!”
Andrew Walker, who had watched [Escape] several times, had sparkling eyes as he looked at Kim Jongho. Kim Jongho also smiled, recognizing the child actor Seojun had often talked about.
***
After everyone had arrived, the internal screening began shortly thereafter.
The first to be shown was [Survivors - Theatrical Cut].
Kim Jongho, sitting in his seat and watching the screen, blinked in confusion.
‘…This is different from the script.’
Although it had been a script cut into short segments to prevent leaks, Kim Jongho knew the general plot.
The script had begun with Raymond Wish, played by Davis Garrett, and his family. From start to finish, the true protagonist was supposed to be Raymond Wish.
‘The scenes with me and Seojun were supposed to be flashbacks…’
But for some reason, the finished movie started with Seojun and Kim Jongho.
‘It’s not uncommon for things to change during editing, but…’
Even as he watched the events unfold on screen, question marks kept popping up in Kim Jongho's mind. He had heard from Seojun that a lot of 'ad-libbing' had changed the story, but he had no idea it would be this unfamiliar.
‘Hmm. I should just watch for now.’
Kim Jongho, who had been comparing the movie to the script and noting the changes, decided to just watch it as if it were a new film and focused back on the screen.
Like Kim Jongho, those who knew the original script tilted their heads at the changed structure before getting absorbed in the movie, while those who didn't, like the staff from Plus+, were captivated from the very beginning.
A moment later.
The screening of [Survivors - Theatrical Cut] ended, and the lights in the screening room came up. After a short break, they were scheduled to screen [Survivors - Director’s Cut].
The planning team leader stood up and looked around the room. He knew how high the standards were for everyone present, as they all worked in the film industry. He was more nervous than he would be for an ordinary audience's evaluation.
‘Director Jeffrey seems satisfied, though.’
Director Jeffrey, seeing [Survivors] on a big screen for the first time today, was talking with the actors sitting next to him with a flushed face. The actors’ reactions were also positive.
The investors and the Plus+ staff also seemed satisfied, chatting with the people beside them. Positive reactions could be felt from all around.
The planning team leader clenched his fist in delight.
“The movie was fun, but… Seojun. Didn't you say it was ad-libbed? This is way beyond ad-libbing. It looks like they rewrote the whole thing.”
Seojun burst into laughter at Kim Jongho’s first reaction after the movie.
“Right?”
“It’s not a ‘right?’ situation. Wasn't Lee Hyunwoo supposed to be the first of the survivors to get isolated? Why is Raymond Wish, who’s supposed to escape at the end, the first one to be isolated?”
At Kim Jongho's question, Seojun chuckled and said.
“Director Jeffrey said that progression suited Raymond Wish’s character better.”
Seojun and Davis Garrett, having seen Director Jeffrey's script, had no choice but to deliver their lines exactly as written. Director Jeffrey had been ecstatic watching the two actors perform the script verbatim.
Hearing the stories from a set he'd neither seen nor heard about, Kim Jongho let out a small laugh.
“Well, now I’m curious about what went on at the filming location.”
“It was a lot of fun. Ah, Uncle. I have the scripts, want to see them?”
“The scripts?”
“Yes. I have everything from ‘Revision 1’ to ‘Final Revised Version.’ There are unused scripts and the ones we filmed.”
He had all the scripts, from [Revision 1] to [Survivors Director's Cut_Revision7_8_Final_Wrap-up_Wrap-up2_FinalFinal_End_Really the End_Completed Version]. Of course, there were just as many for the [Theatrical Cut].
“Alright. Let’s have a read.”
At Seojun’s words, Kim Jongho nodded with a tempted look on his face.
Nothing revealed the atmosphere of a film set better than the script.
***
The break flew by, and it was time to watch [Survivors - Director’s Cut].
People who had stepped out returned to their seats one by one.
“If the director’s cut turns out better, do you think Bearround will release it in theaters?”
A Plus+ employee whispered to his team leader.
Plus+ was more curious about the [Director’s Cut] than the [Theatrical Cut].
“I doubt it. If that were the case, there would have been no reason to invite us.”
To be precise, the proposal had come from their Korean branch.
When the team leader turned his head, his eyes fell on an Asian boy among the actors on one side of the theater. It was Seojun Lee, the actor Plus+ was keeping an eye on.
“Still, aren’t director’s cuts usually just a bit longer or slightly re-edited? I’m starting to think we came for nothing.”
“...The child actor is gone.”
“Sorry?”
At the team leader’s sudden remark, the Plus+ employees’ eyes shifted toward the actors. The child actor who had been glued to Seojun Lee’s side just a moment ago was gone.
A chill inexplicably ran down their spines.
Either the child actor had an emergency, or—
“The theatrical cut we just saw seemed to have a lot of the graphic scenes cut out to lower the rating. The director’s cut probably has a lot of those scenes. Since Lee is still a minor… I guess it means it’s acceptable for his age group to watch.”
“Hmm.”
“Let’s talk after we’ve seen it.”
The employees nodded at their team leader’s words.
As the screening room darkened, everyone fell silent one by one.
Soon, [Survivors - Director’s Cut] lit up the screen.
Two hours later.
Only silence filled the internal screening room.
“…”
The Bearround executives, who had been more than satisfied with the [Theatrical Cut] and had been contemplating a theatrical release for the [Director’s Cut] if it turned out well, were now staring blankly at the screen.
…They had no idea what they had just watched.
“OMG…!”
Hearing the groans coming from all around, the planning team leader, who had already seen an edited version of the [Director’s Cut], laughed in resignation and made the sign of the cross, touching his shoulders and forehead.
‘Just as I thought. A theatrical release is out of the question.’
***
Like the others, Kim Jongho and his manager Kim Sangwoo looked utterly shocked. Even after the movie ended and the lights came up, they couldn’t take their eyes off the screen.
“The edited version is better, isn’t it?”
Davis Garrett now sat in the seat next to Seojun, which young Andrew Walker had left with a disappointed expression. Seojun smiled and replied to Davis Garrett's words.
“Right? The music was great, too. It was similar to the theatrical cut, which I think made it even more impactful.”
“See? I told you our director has good taste.”
At Davis Garrett's words, Director Jeffrey, who was sitting in the front row, laughed cheerfully.
“Haha. Thank you.”
In the screening room filled with shock and horror, the only peaceful ones were the actors and a few others who had been part of the filming until the end and knew the contents of the [Director’s Cut].
“I expected it, but seeing it in its edited form is even more shocking.”
Vanessa Olson, sitting next to Director Jeffrey, nodded repeatedly at Milan Chelan’s comment.
“There’s no way this can be released in theaters, right?”
“I don’t think so. It looks like they’re in chaos over there…”
At Milan Chelan’s words, the actors’ gazes turned to one side.
They could see the Bearround executives talking with the planning team leader, the Plus+ employees having a serious meeting, and the investors, after a moment of hesitation between the [Theatrical Cut] and the [Director’s Cut], shaking their heads as if they had firmly decided on the theatrical version.
It was a scene of chaos.
“Are you going to be okay, Director?”
Seojun asked Director Jeffrey.
Wasn’t he Director Jeffrey Rodox, the man who had desperately wanted to get his film into theaters?
“I’m fine. I’m completely satisfied.”
When he first started making the [Director’s Cut], he had desperately wanted it to be screened in theaters, but his perspective had gradually changed during filming.
Why it couldn't be released in theaters, why it wouldn't be a box-office hit.
‘I was too greedy.’
He should have balanced his own ambition with the demands of the public.
‘I’ll do better with my next project.’
Looking genuinely satisfied, Director Jeffrey smiled and continued.
“Do you know what stained glass is?”
“The kind in cathedrals?”
“Yes. A single piece is just a sharp, irregularly shaped shard of colored glass, but when they come together, they form a beautiful picture, don’t they?”
“They do.”
Seojun and the other actors nodded.
“Doesn’t our movie feel just like stained glass?”
Davis Garrett’s improvisations and Seojun Lee’s improvisations.
When combined with the scripted performances of the three actors who polished them so well, and with Director Jeffrey’s overall editing, a magnificent work of art was completed.
“So the theatrical cut is heaven, and the director's cut is hell, then.”
Laughter erupted at Davis Garrett's deadpan delivery.
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