Chapter 35
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: The Star Arrives
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A barbecue restaurant near the set of the movie 'The Evil Spirit'.
Lee Jiseok, playing the lead role of Kim Soohyuk, was treating everyone to dinner. They were heading out of town for filming the day after tomorrow, so they had the next day off. Everyone was in high spirits, drinking enthusiastically.
Director Choi Daeman and the assistant director were sitting with the lead actor, Lee Jiseok. The three of them were all discussing the shoot, so the staff and other actors who didn't want to talk shop even at a company dinner had slowly drifted away from their table.
“The atmosphere is great.”
Lee Jiseok commented. The three of them, who had been deep in conversation about the film, smiled as they watched the boisterously laughing staff.
“It's rare to find such a good group of people.”
Director Choi Daeman smiled as well.
“It's been a while since I had a lead role, so I'm putting a lot of pressure on myself. I look forward to your guidance.”
“Not at all. The pleasure is all mine. This is my first feature film, so I'll be needing a lot of your help, Jiseok.”
Lee Jiseok grinned and raised his glass. Choi Daeman and the assistant director also raised their glasses.
Clink!
“By the way, when do we get to meet the child actor?”
“You'll be able to meet him at the next shoot.”
“I'm curious to see what he's like.”
Beside them, the assistant director looked like he was itching to speak. *I want to tell them. I really want to tell them!* But with Director Choi Daeman watching him from right next to him, he had no choice but to quietly drink his soju.
“How was the audition for the child actor?”
“He was great! Unbelievably so!”
*As long as I don't reveal his identity, it should be fine, right!?*
In the end, the assistant director couldn't hold it in any longer and opened his mouth. Director Choi Daeman gave his silent permission, figuring two months was long enough to keep it under wraps. The excited assistant director spoke in a voice loud enough for the other staff members to hear.
“Whoa! I thought I was going to burst! Director, I won't reveal his identity! Just the audition!”
Like children listening to a story from their grandfather, all the staff members' eyes gathered on the assistant director.
“When I first saw him, he was incredibly handsome. Just a little kid, but he spoke so maturely for his age and had memorized the entire script. Well, we'd seen a few kids like that in previous auditions.”
As the excited assistant director dragged it out, the staff booed him playfully.
“So, the director said he wanted to see him act. He just stood up. And from that moment on, it was just... chills. He had this charisma. It was like he wasn't human, like an aura was billowing out of his small body.”
Everyone swallowed hard. Lee Jiseok, who would be acting opposite the baby shaman, also listened intently.
The assistant director got goosebumps just thinking about it. He could clearly understand what Director Choi Daeman had meant by the feeling of an 'inner god'.
“He looked the director right in the eye, lifted his head, then lowered it, and it was like he was a real shaman peering into your soul. The director shouted 'You're in!' at that gaze, but honestly, anyone who saw that audition would have thought the same. I seriously thought he must have been possessed by a spirit in the past week.”
“So, who is this child actor?”
Someone asked. The assistant director grinned.
“None of you could ever imagine. This movie is going to be a massive hit!”
* * *
“Is this the first time it's just you and me, Samchon?”
“Yeah!”
Kim Heesang drove carefully. Seojun was sitting in his car seat in the back. He was hugging a bag shaped like a goblin doll.
“The goblin dolls from your drawings are super popular, you know. We're getting so many orders, you and I are going to be rich.”
“I'll draw more for you next time!”
The two of them were currently on their way to the movie set. Seo Eunhye was originally supposed to go, but two days ago, his maternal grandmother had a fall. It wasn't a serious injury, but given her age, she was hospitalized for a few days, and Seo Eunhye decided to stay and care for her.
*What about the shoot?* As Seo Eunhye and Seojun worried, they remembered the day before.
-I signed a contract with a factory! It was so hard finding one that would do a good job! I've cleared all the backlogged doll orders! I'm free now!!
They recalled Kim Heesang boasting about it. Lee Minjun had also nodded, thinking Kim Heesang would be fine. Thanks to that, Kim Heesang, who had planned on lazing around reading comics, ended up coming down to the countryside as Seojun's guardian and manager.
“You let me make dolls with your drawings, and you even invested the money you earned from N-tube into my company. The least I can do is this.”
He intended to pay him well for the design and profits, but it was a matter of the heart. He'd been able to start doing what he loved thanks to Seojun's unintentional advertising.
“When you get older, you'll have to go around with a manager instead of your mom and dad, so let's get used to it slowly like this.”
Seo Eunhye and Lee Minjun had also wondered if they should start looking for a good person now, and Kim Heesang had thought about whether he knew anyone like that.
*Maybe Eunchan would know someone?* He thought of Seo Eunchan, who was busy working with Brown Black.
Kim Heesang, who was driving, stopped the car. They had arrived at their destination, Ogyeri. True to its name, which meant Crow Valley, crows were cawing and flying around right from the village entrance.
“Let's get out, Seojun.”
“Okay!”
Seojun got out of the car. He slung the goblin bag onto his back and took his uncle Heesang's hand. The two of them headed toward the noisy area where people were gathered.
One of the staff members moving equipment spotted the child, who looked like the child actor, and ran to the assistant director. The assistant director came running over, his face lit up with a bright smile.
“Welcome. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm the assistant director, Park Jaemin.”
“I'm Seojun's guardian, Kim Heesang.”
“Hello!”
“Seojun, good to see you again! Was the trip okay?”
“I'm fine!”
With the long-awaited arrival of the child actor, the gazes of the staff who had been organizing equipment all focused on one spot.
*Who is that? Who is he? Do you know him? I've seen him somewhere...*
The assistant director beamed as if his mouth would tear at the corners. He felt like he could finally understand the man who shouted, 'The king has donkey ears!' He shouted at the top of his lungs.
“Director! The Hollywood child actor who starred as William in the Marine Company movie, 'Shadowman'—Seojun Lee! Has arrived!!!”
*'ved—' 'ved—'*
Hearing the assistant director's voice echoing, Choi Daeman, who had been walking over to greet them, slapped a hand to his forehead. *That idiot?*
Kim Heesang and Seojun stared at the assistant director, bewildered. *Was such an introduction really necessary?*
The assistant director looked as proud as if he himself had gone to Hollywood. The staff members who heard the assistant director's words stopped what they were doing and stood there dumbfounded. As if pouring out all his pent-up frustration, the assistant director continued.
“It's Seojun Lee! The hottest child actor right now! The one who's getting synopses from Hollywood! Just announcing his casting will make our movie a blockbuster! The next project everyone has been waiting for from Seojun Lee is our movie! 'The Evil Spirit'!”
“That's enough, you punk!”
Finally, Choi Daeman smacked the assistant director on the back. His back hurt, but he felt immensely relieved. Bwahahaha! The assistant director burst out laughing. Overwhelmed by the incredible introduction, the staff couldn't seem to pull themselves together. *What? Is it for real? This isn't a hidden camera show, is it?*
Seeing the commotion among the staff, Director Choi Daeman cleared his throat and introduced Seojun.
“This is Seojun Lee, who will be playing the role of the baby shaman in 'The Evil Spirit.' Please take good care of him.”
“Hello! I'm Lee Seojun!”
As Seojun gave a deep bow.
“Aaaahhh!!”
“Eeeeeek!”
Screams erupted from the staff as they finally faced reality.
“I've seen 'Shadowman' three times!”
“Three times!? I've seen it ten times!”
Everyone crowded around Seojun in a circle. They all just twitched their hands, unable to get any closer with Kim Heesang and Director Choi Daeman standing beside Seojun.
They all looked at Seojun with expressions of awe. The child actor from that Marine Company movie was going to be in *their* movie! It felt surreal.
Seojun, too, was excited to see everyone looking at him with sparkling eyes. He had only been going between home and preschool, so he hadn't realized all these people knew who he was and liked him.
It finally felt like he was properly walking the path of a star. It felt real.
Just then, Seojun noticed several staff members holding something. In their rush to find paper, some had the back of a script, a white napkin, or even a crumpled piece of paper.
Even those who had paper and pens were just glancing nervously at Director Choi Daeman. Director Choi Daeman, sensing the staff's desire, glanced at Seojun's guardian, Kim Heesang. *There aren't that many staff members, but would it be too much for him to sign for all of them?*
Kim Heesang, however, wasn't really thinking about it. *Seojun will handle it.*
Seojun remembered what he had practiced so diligently with his mom and dad.
-Let's always do this for the people who like you, Seojun!
-Okay!
“Um.”
When Seojun opened his mouth, everyone fell dead silent.
“Would you like an autograph?”
“Yes!”
They all answered in unison. One of the staff members ran between some boxes and came back with a stack of clean paper and a thick pen. Another staff member brought a desk and a chair.
The assistant director, who hadn't dared to ask for an autograph under the director's piercing gaze during the audition, and Lee Jiseok, the lead actor of 'The Evil Spirit,' also got in line. Everyone was delighted to receive Seojun's autograph. Director Choi Daeman sighed and spoke up.
“For now, please keep the fact that Seojun Lee is appearing in this movie a secret.”
“Why? It would be great promotion!”
At the staff's confident remarks about publicity, Choi Daeman shook his head.
It had been a month since 'Shadowman' left theaters. The buzz around Seojun was also starting to die down. Still, if it became known that he was preparing for his next project, it was obvious his name would shoot to the top of the real-time search rankings. He could even predict the headlines.
[The Korean Film Chosen by a Hollywood Actor!]
“If this gets out now, reporters will swarm the set and delay filming. None of you want the schedule to fall behind and have to pull all-nighters, right? We only have a few scenes left to shoot here.”
“Understood!”
“Besides, the production company is handling the movie's promotion, so I'm asking you to please maintain absolute secrecy. You all signed non-disclosure agreements, didn't you?”
Come to think of it, they remembered signing a contract about a month ago. They had just assumed it was about the movie's plot, but it must have been about Seojun Lee. The staff members who had been planning to post on social media obediently gave up the idea.
“You can't even tell your families. If you all keep this secret well, there will be bonuses after the movie is released!”
“Woooah!”
A bonus, of course. The assistant director, knowing that contracts weren't a perfect solution, had suggested the bonus. Just as the assistant director intended, the staff members each made a zipping motion across their lips.
All the while, Seojun continued signing. He gripped the black pen with his tiny hand and diligently wrote his name. Finally, it was the last person.
“Hi, Seojun. My name is Lee Jiseok.”
“Hello, Sunbaenim! I'm Lee Seojun.”
Seo Eunhye and Lee Minjun had thought hard about what titles he should use. Because Seojun was so young, every actor he met was his senior.
Calling them 'Hyung' or 'Nuna' from the start might displease some, while calling them '[Name]-ssi' might seem disrespectful.
The couple had asked Seo Eunchan for advice. Seo Eunchan said that 'Sunbaenim' was the most comfortable option.
It was a field where experience mattered more than age. He had given them advice born from experience, saying that getting too familiar with 'hyung' and 'dongsaeng' could get complicated later when ages were revealed.
The couple and Seojun, guessing it was probably a story about Kevin, had laughed.
So, Seojun decided to usually call people 'Sunbaenim', and 'Seonsaengnim' if they were much older.
Lee Jiseok laughed. It was funny hearing such a little kid call him 'Sunbaenim'.
“Just call me Hyung.”
“Okay! Jiseok Hyung! Should I sign it in Korean or English?”
“You can already do English? But you're only six.”
“I can read scripts too, if my mom and dad help me.”
“That's amazing! In Korean, then, please.”
“Okay. Just a moment.”
Seojun began to write the letters quite skillfully with his tiny hand.