Chapter 363
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 363
Chapter Title: The Light Stick Design Contest
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“An audition, you mean?”
“Yes.”
As Director Min Heekyung answered, a little tense, the planning team leader stroked his chin with a reluctant expression. The employees blinked, looking at each other.
After a moment of thought, the planning team leader spoke.
“The reason we mentioned actor Lee Seojun… was to say that since the script is good, there's a possibility. It's not confirmed. If you'd like an audition, we could hold one if actor Lee Seojun isn't cast, but…”
“There's that, but…”
Director Min Heekyung was worried about what would happen if, by some chance, actor Lee Seojun suddenly agreed to star in it.
It wasn't that she disliked the idea.
What director would say no to a genius actor like Lee Seojun performing in their work? She was simply concerned that such an outstanding actor might overshadow the image she had in mind for the protagonist.
As Director Min Heekyung sighed inwardly, the planning team leader's voice reached her ears.
“There's a big difference between having actor Lee Seojun in the film and not. From the production budget to the promotion.”
The employees nodded repeatedly at the planning team leader's words.
Unlike other movies where success was only known after release, projects starring Lee Seojun were always box office hits. Director Min Heekyung was well aware of this fact.
“So, I think it would be best to make him an offer first.”
Director Min Heekyung's shoulders slumped.
“…Then I suppose there's no other choice.”
Good grief.
Seeing the director's dejected look, the planning team leader and the employees exchanged glances.
It seemed Director Min Heekyung had another actor in mind for the lead role besides Lee Seojun, but she wouldn't say the name, which was frustrating. The planning team leader, who never imagined that Director Min Heekyung might not know the actor's name, thought for a moment before speaking.
“Hmm. Then how about we use it for promotion?”
“…Promotion?”
“We'll ask Cocoa Entertainment if he'd be interested in auditioning for a script like this. If he likes the script, he'll attend the audition. If not, then there's nothing we can do.”
The planning team leader continued with a grin.
“But from what I've seen, actor Lee Seojun is very ambitious about his projects, so even if there's an audition, he'll participate if he likes the script.”
Frankly, among actors his age, there was no one better than Lee Seojun. Even if he auditioned, it was a ten-out-of-ten certainty. Actor Lee Seojun would pass.
An employee's face lit up as they spoke.
“That sounds like a great idea! If actor Lee Seojun participates in the audition, that alone will create a buzz. Who would have thought the Lee Seojun would participate in an audition!”
While everyone was chattering excitedly about the promotion plan, someone spoke up.
“But if actor Lee Seojun is in the audition, wouldn't he naturally be seen as the pre-selected candidate?”
With a superstar among ordinary actors, that's what anyone would think.
“That's true. If actor Lee Seojun is participating, some actors might give up early on.”
The planning team leader shrugged at the employees' comments.
“That's just how this industry is. It's common to have a more skilled actor as your competitor. It's like running into actor Kim Jongho at an audition. Though there's the difference between Hollywood and Korea.”
“Ah…”
Right, there was that incident.
The employees and Director Min Heekyung nodded unknowingly.
“Weren't the actors who auditioned with him back then cast as tourists? If actor Lee Seojun participates, we could also cast others for different roles during the audition. We should announce that in advance.”
“And we wouldn't need to hold two separate auditions.”
“Anyone who participates even with actor Lee Seojun there must be pretty confident in their acting skills.”
Of course, all of this was based on the premise that Lee Seojun would like the script.
Listening to the Danhong employees cheerfully counting their chickens before they hatched, Director Min Heekyung drifted into another thought.
‘It wouldn't matter if actor Lee Seojun doesn't participate… but would that kid still audition even if he was there?’
Even if the audition went ahead, that was the problem.
Even if he liked Min Heekyung's script, he might be intimidated by the name Lee Seojun and not participate.
*‘What would that kid do?’* Wondering for a moment, Director Min Heekyung tilted her head unconsciously.
‘…Why do I feel like he'd obviously participate?’
Recalling the sparkling black eyes that seemed like they would burn with determination no matter what amazing actor showed up, as long as it was a script he liked, Director Min Heekyung couldn't help but smile.
“Then we'll discuss the audition details further in a meeting and get back to you.”
At the planning team leader's words, Director Min Heekyung smiled brightly and nodded.
***
Seojun's fan cafe, [From the Sprouts], was buzzing with excitement.
The light stick design contest, which had been talked about since last year, had finally begun.
Cocoa Entertainment had posted an advance notice about the contest, so as soon as it started, everyone began posting on the [Light Stick Design Contest] board within [From the Sprouts].
Reporters, never missing a hot topic involving Lee Seojun, also published articles the moment the contest began.
[Actor Lee Seojun's Light Stick Design Contest Begins!]
[An Actor's Light Stick? Let's Look at Actors Who Have Them!]
[Prizes and Awards for Actor Lee Seojun's Light Stick Design Contest?]
[How to Participate in the Light Stick Design Contest?]
-Finally…!
=They're picking the design now, so it'll take a while for the actual product to come out, but still!
=It's finally happening!
-A light stick for an actor, that's new. When would we use it?
=Fan meetings? While watching his dramas?
=I wonder when Seojun will have a fan meeting lol
-Oh… The prize money is pretty high, isn't it?
=Right? They're giving prizes for more than just first place. That's Cocoa Entertainment for you.
-There's a participation prize too.
=A poster of Seojun's profile picture! I grabbed a pen right away lol
=Same here. I can't draw, but I have to participate.
=Same. I already printed his profile picture as soon as it came out haha, but getting one from the company is different.
-How do you enter the contest?
=Go to [From the Sprouts] and post on the [Light Stick Design Contest] board :)
Many posts related to the contest were also uploaded on [From the Sprouts].
-If I submit 10 designs, do I get 10 posters!?
=Nope. Only one design per ID is accepted, so you only get one.
=ㅠㅠㅠ I guess so. There are so many Sprouts aiming for the poster that judging would be difficult.
=I wanted two copies, one for display and one for my collection ㅠㅠ
-I've been waiting since last year! I just posted my entry!
=Oh, I saw your design! I hope you win first place!
=Thank you!
-Wow… the quality of these designs is no joke.
=International Sprouts are submitting a ton of entries. Western fans are truly on another level… lol
=Since there are so many Sprouts, there are also a lot of talented artists. It's so much fun just to look at them.
=(Link) Did you see this? This person seems to have actually made it with a 3D printer ;;;
=…Wow… It even lights up.
-In this flood of talented artists… one with clumsy hands cautiously raises a hand. I drew this for the poster ㅠㅠ
=Me too. I hope the Cocoa Entertainment staff just glance at it and move on lol
=Same here. They don't have to look at it;;; It'll just hurt their eyes.
=Huh.
=What's wrong?
=The light stick design judging. Seojun is participating too.
=…It's too late to start taking art classes now, right?
=lololol
Designs from Sprouts who had been working on them since the light stick was first mentioned last year, and from Sprouts who picked up an unfamiliar pen just for the poster, began to fill the board one by one.
From light stick drawings made with crayons and colored pencils by young fans who love the Blue Dragon, to 3D models that sparkled and came with 360-degree rotation videos.
The world was wide, and talented artists were many.
In a practice room at Cocoa Entertainment, one of the judges, Seojun, smiled at a crayon drawing of a light stick as he slowly reviewed each design on his FinePad.
The light stick designs, filled with cute ideas unique to children that would be difficult to produce in real life, brought smiles to both Seojun and the Sprouts.
“Daho hyung. This one says it flies like a boomerang.”
“A flying one is too dangerous, so no.”
An Daho replied with a serious face, imagining light sticks flying around like boomerangs at a fan meeting. Seojun burst out laughing at the sight of him.
“There are a lot of physical mock-ups.”
“After the contest started, a lot of 'making-of' videos were uploaded to N-tube. They're getting a lot of views, too.”
It was likely because many Sprouts were curious about which design would be chosen, and many others were interested in the novel topic of a light stick contest for an actor. The fact that the actor was Lee Seojun certainly played a part.
“Daho hyung, is there a specific criteria for choosing?”
“There are no set criteria, so take your time and pick the designs you like. We'll decide on the first-place winner from those in a meeting.”
“Okay.”
Seojun nodded and turned his gaze back to the FinePad.
Perhaps because Seojun was an actor, there were many designs related to his past projects.
[I got the idea for this design from the children's play, Spring.]
Inside a round Yeouiju bead at the end of the handle was a blue dragon with a flowing mane.
An added description explained that you could choose between the different dragons that appeared during the eight performances—the adult dragon, the young dragon, the mischievous dragon, etc.—and that it would also produce sounds.
-Kids would love this lol
-It would be even better if Seojun did the voice acting!
-It would be cool if the blue dragon inside the Yeouiju moved.
[This is the Jin Natra light stick!]
The design featured a small, black sphere in the center, from which light burst forth from thin white cracks. Surrounding it, pitch-black shadows extended outward as if in an explosion. The jagged, pointed ends made it look like a black crown.
-This is so cool! It looks just like a crown!
-Of course, you can't talk about Seojun without mentioning Jin Natra!
-I guess that small black sphere is Jin Natra. The light must represent his body collapsing.
-The William (teddy bear) light stick below was so cute, but this one is so dark lol. It fits well with Shadowman 3.
[My favorite drama, the Naeuiwon light stick!]
Inside a round globe, with Grand Prince Seongnyeong's residence as the background, a small doll that looked like the Grand Prince and a larger doll that looked like Royal Physician Heo were holding hands affectionately. The next picture showed white snow falling from the sky, just like in a snow globe.
-A snow globe…! A snow globe…!!
-Ugh. I want to buy this!
-How about selling it even if it's not a light stick?
=Probably not possible because of copyright issues ㅠㅠㅠ
=Get to work!! Cocoa Entertainment!! KBC!!
-I wish there were other characters too ㅠㅠ Taejong and Grand Prince Chungnyeong ㅠㅠ
“This one has such a great idea that we're discussing making it into merchandise with KBC.”
There were so many new and cool ideas that the production companies and broadcasting stations related to his works were also taking an interest.
“I want one too.”
Seojun's eyes sparkled at An Daho's words.
[This is for Over the Rainbow.]
Inside a transparent globe, a violin and bow were placed as if crossed. Below them was a pile of small papers that looked like tickets. When shaken, golden tickets would flutter like snow in a snow globe. The description also said you could personally mark the countries you've been to or want to go to on the transparent globe.
-It really feels like a world tour!
-I don't know if it's technically possible… but I want this one.
=Oh. Hello, Moviegoer!
=I enjoy your reviews.
=lol Thank you.
[This is the Escape light stick.]
Inside a transparent box.
A doll could be seen aiming an arrow at zombies trying to climb up. The indispensable Bluetooth speaker from Escape was also dangling from the ceiling. But what caught the eye more than anything were the zombies, looking like they were about to crawl up and grab your ankle at any moment.
-OP: I designed this at the Escape theme park. The zombie experience is still scary lol
-This would be scary to look at at night ;;;
-How about making it into a figurine? I'll reserve one.
=Same here, I'll reserve one.
Besides those, other unique light stick designs kept being posted, like one for [Spring is Back] featuring a yellow umbrella, and one for [The Survivors] that depicted the scene of Lee Hyunwoo's rescue.
The light stick design contest was becoming a hot topic not only within [From the Sprouts] but outside of it as well.
Even people who weren't dedicated enough to join [From the Sprouts] but had enjoyed Seojun's works took an interest. The most impressive designs spread to other sites.
Among them, one particular light stick design drew a lot of attention.
[[The Survivors (Director's Cut)] Light Stick is up!!]
From the Sprouts - Light Stick Design Contest board, The Survivors! And it's the Director's Cut!! The light stick is up!
(Link)
-Director's Cut lolol a light stick lolol
-…A light stick for the Director's Cut… I never would have thought.
-Looks like everyone feels the same way lol Even Lee Seojun's fans are commenting before reading the post lol
-To see or not to see, that is the question…
=I don't even have to look to know it's going to be full of chaos, despair, and blood lol
-…This damn curiosity… I'm going to look!
=Same here, I'm so curious ;;;
#