Why Are You Here?
The space was filled with silence, punctuated only by the occasional rustle of turning pages. Kim Seonil and Seo Yeon-ju were reading the script for 'Sword'.
“I’m not doing it.”
“It’s just reading the script, right?”
“Then why did you underline the lines?”
“Hey, shut up. Close your mouth. Stop caring.”
At that moment, when they were chatting warmly as usual, both their heads turned toward the door at the same time. A third party had appeared.
“Uhm, it’s heavier than I thought.”
It was a small-statured woman muttering this, looking like a young girl.
Because she was holding a thick stack of documents, her belly button to her head was not visible.
She carefully placed the documents down. Along with wiping the sweat on her forehead.
“...Whew, I was worried it might spill.”
Finally, her figure was revealed.
Her light brown hair like a barley field, with two large hairpins in the front. Below, emotionless eyes like jewels.
Her appearance looked like a middle schooler at most, but the clothes she wore were all things reminiscent of professors or detectives, creating a stark contrast.
It looked like she had stolen her dad's wide shirt.
“What’s with the gentle reading of the script? Have you finally realized that fighting like siblings is childish?”
Now I see, it's not just the clothes. The way her lips stuck to her speech also had a mature feel. Truly a bizarre existence.
“...Gentle? That kind of low-quality joke.”
“Representative, stop spouting nonsense the moment you arrive.”
Kim Seonil and Seo Yeon-ju said at the same time.
The woman called representative just shook her head.
Surprisingly, this small woman was the representative of Mystic Entertainment who surrounded Kim Seonil and Seo Yeon-ju. Kim Iseo.
“Inappropriate remarks for spitting at the representative. Please be careful.”
The conversation was not very businesslike. Rather, it was something close to a friends' gossip.
However, no one found this bizarre situation strange. After all, in this 'Mystic Entertainment', it was just an extremely ordinary moment.
Kim Seonil, Seo Yeon-ju, Representative Kim Iseo.
Mystic Entertainment.
With only three people, each with very different personalities, but since they were doing their jobs well, it naturally became a family-like atmosphere.
“Okay. Anyway, focus for a moment.”
Representative Kim Iseo tapped the documents stacked almost to her chin.
Her expression was full of pride.
“I was thinking of organizing the schedule for next year in advance. Let's pick ones that suit your preferences from these. Ads, movies, dramas, variety shows... I only selected the good ones for me.”
“Um, representative. Of course these are good too.”
Seo Yeon-ju said while adjusting her headband.
“Do you know about the short film 'Sword'?”
“...Ah, are you doubting my ability as representative? I know. It's an unfortunate masterpiece I can't overlook.”
Kim Iseo smirked slightly, lifting her chin.
Moreover, she placed her hand on her waist and puffed out her chest.
Like a flying squirrel.
“Personally, I rate Director Park Jun highly, but since the situation is too bad, I excluded it. I can't put my precious actors in the fire.”
Her confident voice continued.
“...It seems you're worried I might have brought landmines, but I can assure you none of them are in this. I'm staking my position as representative.”
Then Kim Seonil said.
“Me and Yeon-ju, we're doing that. Keep it in mind.”
“Yes. Take your time and look. When you decide...”
But Representative Kim Iseo's words were cut off in the middle.
Her mouth stopped as if something was stuck in her throat.
She blinked a few times.
“...”
A moment of silence passed.
Then the flying squirrel-like body slowly shrank.
“...What?”
After a while.
“...”
Representative Kim Iseo had her two eyes gently closed, lying on the floor. Her two hands were politely folded over her chest.
Like a mummy.
“Have I not been treating you well lately? Yes, that's what happened. So you're betraying me like this...”
Her muttering was truly pitiful.
Like a matchstick girl on the verge of death.
“Humans can die, which is fortunate. Then I won't have to watch my actors jump into hell themselves. I will die. Don't stop me.”
“Finish it and then talk. Focus on the script.”
“...”
Kim Seonil's words made Kim Iseo's body twitch.
“...It's really too much.”
“You're not a kid, stop making a fuss.”
“What do you mean kid!”
Representative Kim Iseo shouted. Like a thunderstruck squirrel.
Anyway, Kim Seonil's provocation was effective. The representative who hadn't moved while lying suddenly sat up.
“You guys are busy as hell right now. Plus, 'Sword' is already a dead project, so if you just show interest, articles will pour out.”
Her plea was quite earnest.
“Articles are hard to gather once they come out. After articles come out, it's embarrassing to retract by saying you won't do it, and it's troublesome in many ways.”
At that moment, Seo Yeon-ju said subtly.
“We have to do it. The one who took the Wi Ji-hye role is amazing.”
“You have to tell who took it.”
“I can't tell the name?”
“...Are you joking? You're not even convincing me enough.”
“But I can tell you this one thing.”
Seo Yeon-ju said with confident narrowed eyes.
“The one who got the role of Kim Yu-han in Special Task Force 808.”
“...?”
Kim Yu-han from Special Task Force 808.
It was a bait that even Kim Iseo, who had been expressionless, couldn't ignore. But soon a question hit her from behind.
Kim Iseo's head tilted slightly.
“...The Wi Ji-hye role is for a woman, and the Kim Yu-han role is for a man. Did I miss something I heard? It's beyond common sense understanding.”
After that, Kim Seonil and Seo Yeon-ju's explanation session continued.
“The first meeting was 'I became an actor like this'—
“I declared to quit out of nowhere because acting was a hobby—
“The first meeting with Lee Sua, the sudden resignation, the process until casting in a drama, the lukewarm reaction, the action that was too bold for a rookie...
By explaining, there were quite a few.
The two poured out all the details, including that Lee Sua had no career and no agency in the middle.
“...So that's what happened.”
When Seo Yeon-ju nodded and finished her explanation.
“...”
Only silence.
“...”
After that, it was silent for a long time.
Eventually.
Kim Iseo's bewildered gaze turned to the two actors.
“You want me to believe this?”
But soon she shook her head alone.
“No, no. There's no reason to lie. Rather.”
Representative Kim Iseo focused on other elements.
“...A rookie like that, without an agency yet?”
◈◈◈◈◈
Meanwhile, Sua was on the phone with Park Joon today as well.
Was she feeling great gratitude for taking the Wi Ji-hye role?
Park Joon wanted to report every small change and called to report whenever there was a change. Like a graduate student.
Of course, from Sua's perspective, it wasn't unpleasant.
She felt like she was receiving top treatment from the other party, and above all, since she wasn't actually meeting, there was no burden.
'If I actually meet, expressing expressions would be really hard.'
But when talking on the phone, just lowering the voice a bit is enough. Easy.
Sua muttered to herself.
Image management, image management...
A woman who acts diligently but is difficult in private. A crazy woman who bites back if they try to do bad things to me. A cool older sister who gets respect because of her charisma...
Sua brainwashed herself with all these and spoke in a voice.
“What's the matter today?”
A cool tone gradually stabilizing.
“Ah, sorry. I've been contacting you too much lately. Have you been quite uncomfortable? From now on, only in report form?”
“Not at all. Plus, why reports for this...”
“I have to do anything for Miss Sua. Anything.”
Park Joon emphasized with a serious tone and continued.
“Miss Sua, the story I want to tell you today is simple. Since Miss Sua is of the same type as me, you will definitely understand.”
“Same type?”
“Yes. Humans like us have no compromise or tolerance the moment we get hooked on one thing. We have to finish it no matter what. Even if it's ourselves!” Isn't that right!”
“...”
Sua briefly recalled her past.
Even in games, she surrendered quickly...
“I have artistry like that. I know that giving popularity warmly is also true for me. But I can't compromise. After all, I chose the path of director because I wanted to be recognized by artistry.”
“I see.”
Sua nodded her head first.
It was a story she couldn't understand at all, but there was something that made Sua nod her head.
It was none other than the perk change.
Short Film 'Sword'
▶ Sufficient Implementation Elements
▶ Experience Completed / Grade 1
'Is the grade not just about viewership ratings?'
There were several speculated reasons.
'Is it because Director Park's will is burning? Or because Yang Ha-rin is gone, so there's no more fighting with me? Well, anyway, it became advantageous for me. I should find out in detail later.'
Even as Sua was pondering, Park Joon's passionate words continued.
“My film 'Sword' is not a work aiming for popular success. It's a work that exists to win awards.”
“Awards?”
“Yes. Therefore, we are aiming for the Busan International Short Film Festival.”
“International short film festival...?”
At that moment, Sua unknowingly squeezed the bunny ears tightly. International? Then does that mean all works from around the world are gathered?
“Yes. Anyway, isn't the Busan International Short Film Festival the largest in our country? Well, this is something Miss Sua knows better.”
For the first time, she learned.
Busan only meant Haeundae...
“Of course, we are not aiming for the international competition category. Since the situation is so bad, we plan to aim for the Korean competition category first.”
“Ah.”
So, it's not competing with all the works in the world. The tension slightly eased.
“Winning an award is the best, but in fact, even just breaking through the finals is great. It becomes a stepping stone to challenge the international category, and it also becomes a big spec inside Korea.”
“I understand perfectly.”
Actually, she didn't understand at all.
'Anyway, even if just the finals pass, it's a gain?'
Park Joon's words were that. First, if somehow they break through the finals, a very solid line will be added to the filmography.
“But, if it's that much, breaking through the finals will be quite difficult, right?”
“Yeah, probably. This year, they said they gathered master judges, and their eyes are very sharp. They evaluate by digging deeply into the acting, for example overseas—
Park Joon's explanation dragged on for a while after that, and Sua listened with some attention.
Anyway, there was only one thing Sua had to say.
The grade of the short film 'Sword' keeps rising!
“I think Director Park should just do it as is.”
Yeah, even if I don't know well, Director Park is doing very well.
“Haha, thank you, Miss Sua.”
◈◈◈◈◈
In the representative's office of CT Entertainment.
“Director Park, you've finally gone crazy?”
A mocking smile on the representative's lips.
The reason was simple. The 'Sword' side by Park Jun had uploaded a job posting, and they had just discovered it.
“Director Park, it seems you have quite a lot of attachment to this work. Now even peeking at sites recruiting for beginners? Are you trying to save it too much?”
“Not to mention mistaking it for recruiting an intern.”
Yang Ha-rin joined with a cynical voice.
She was sitting on the sofa today, staring at her phone. Her hand was very busy indulging in the posts related to her.
“Where would good guys gather if you look there? You'll make a video at the university club level.”
“That's right.”
Of course, CT Entertainment's reaction didn't stop at mockery.
They were steadily biting into every action of Park Jun distancing themselves from them. They had no intention of letting go until the work completely collapsed.
“By the way, representative.”
Yang Ha-rin opened her mouth at that time.
“I'm suspicious.”
“What?”
Ha-rin raised the phone screen showing the recruitment window and held it out.
“This announcement.”
“It's just a normal announcement.”
“Look closely. It's not recruiting for the Wi Ji-hye role.”
“...Um?”
The representative's eyebrows twitched.
“I dropped the Wi Ji-hye role. That means Director Park has no choice but to recruit for the Wi Ji-hye role... .
“They didn't recruit at all, that's what it means.”
The representative reacted as if she realized immediately.
“...So they already casted it. Did they sleep with that rookie, whatever her name is? This is insane!”
A moment of silence passed.
The silence was soon affirmative. There was no other possibility.
“This guy has lost his nerve.”
Soon, the CT Entertainment representative relaxed her shoulders with a fierce face.
The situation of desperately trying to save the work and the situation of seating Lee Sua as the lead were different by heaven and earth.
...To someone's eyes, it might look like Yang Ha-rin was just pushed aside by a rookie.
The representative gritted her teeth.
“I need to release more articles. I have to put pressure on the topic of who they sat instead of Yang Ha-rin. It's going to drive me crazy? The actors will be tense and can't perform acting.”
Actually, Ha-rin had no answer.
“Why, Harin, is this not enough? Want to look into something else?”
“...No, wait.”
But she raised one hand as if something came to mind.
Then she put on a confident expression.
She shook her head slightly as if she had made a decision.
“It seems there's no need for that. Rather, let's just let Director Park produce the short film.”
“What? Then are we just watching without doing anything?”
“Of course not.”
Her eyes flashed.
“I will also go to another work. The short film festival.”