Still a Master of the Poker Face
Do Yoon-seop, seated at the negotiation table alongside Kim Kwang-woo, gazed at Lee Tae-gyu across from him and thought.
"So, have you decided on your next project?"
"No idea."
"What does that mean?"
"Most of the scripts are still rough drafts."
"Hm."
He still couldn't tell. What thoughts were churning behind that expressionless face.
Tap... tap... tap...
Just as Do Yoon-seop began drumming his fingers on the table, choosing his words—
"Tae-gyu. You know this already, right?"
Kim Kwang-woo spoke first.
"Anything else, I get. But the directors you met at the Arena Short Film Festival? Their scripts aren't gonna flop. From there on, it's just about the vibe."
"Still, I'd like to see the finished scripts."
"Can't trust their reputation alone?"
"No, it's not that, but..."
"Got it. We'll push them a bit. Get those completed scripts to you ASAP."
"Thank you."
Kim Kwang-woo and CEO Do Yoon-seop watched Tae-gyu. They saw this as yet another test for re-signing him.
But.
To Tae-gyu, it was different. For deeper immersion with his dokkaebi fire, he wanted scripts packed with the character's full backstory, didn't he?
"But really, nothing caught your eye? Not a single script?"
"Ah... there was one."
"Which one?"
"Director Yoon Chang-ho."
"Yoon? That Fiery Man or whatever?"
"Yes. It's still a working title, though..."
"Hm."
So far, just one. Director Yoon Chang-ho. His reputation for ad-lib scripts held true—the rough draft he sent had the highest polish.
·······I want to see more.
The more options, the better. Yoon Chang-ho's rom-com was decent enough. Working title: Fiery Man. Role? A guy scorching hot for love—solid, but.
Tae-gyu trusted DK Entertainment's efficiency to deliver the rest of the completed scripts soon.
"Rom-coms are perfect for your age right now—they blow up big. Yoon'll love it."
"But."
"I know, I know. We'll send every completed script as it comes."
"Yes."
"Still, from our side, we'd love if you locked it in quick. You know first shoot's next Monday, right?"
"Yes, I'm aware."
"You're up against Han Joo-hyuk from scene one, so prep well."
"Yes."
Next Monday. First shoot for Model Detective 3.
Until Tae-gyu's next project was set, they'd film his scenes first. DK Entertainment had scheduled around him for easy overlap later. Tae-gyu appreciated the consideration.
"Oh, about re-signing—"
"Tae-gyu."
Kim Kwang-woo raised a thick hand, cutting him off.
"Don't worry. We get exactly what you want now."
"······Pardon?"
"We know what you can do solo. So we've got something to show you too."
"That is—"
"We'll lay out what the company can offer. Think it over properly after that."
"Uh······"
"Oh, right!"
Not dreaming Tae-gyu had been about to say he'd re-sign, Kim Kwang-woo swiftly changed topics.
"You know about tomorrow's Hoshi-jeol internal preview, yeah?"
"Yes."
"Just go chill. I'll nudge the other directors on script speed too, besides Yoon."
"Thank you."
"No thanks needed. Head out."
"Yes. Excuse me."
Tae-gyu rose, bowed slightly, and left the conference room.
Clap.
Kim Kwang-woo and Do Yoon-seop high-fived after ages.
"Kid's still got that testing-the-waters face."
"We haven't sent our message yet."
"But—"
"Yeah, soon."
Where there's a will, there's a way.
Recalling Director Yang Yong-chan—they thought they'd summoned him.
"When he shows at set, poker face'll crack."
"100%."
"Safe to assume re-sign, right? Calling in Yang mid-shoot shows our scale."
"Barring surprises."
"Bro, you're the best."
"Cut the crap."
"For real. Pulling a shooting director back to Korea? Who else in the biz?"
"Anyway."
The two faced each other, grinning.
"·······With this, we've done all we can."
"He's re-signing for sure."
"Don't jinx—could disappoint."
"Don't grin saying that."
"Busted?"
"Jeez."
That ambitious smile they'd shared surmounting crises since founding DK.
Next day.
Movie previews come in various flavors. Among those that shift with release timing, one is non-negotiable for any film.
The preview where edit info like scene numbers overlays the screen.
Hoshi-jeol Internal Preview
Often called a "technical preview," it's where staff and investors view the first cut to decide on final tweaks.
"This is gonna be good, huh?"
"Soon! Soon!"
"Congrats on the blockbuster."
This time was different.
"·······We trust only you, Director. You know that, right?"
"Haha."
Director Gu Jeong-hwan, the ten-million director. Staff and investors, swayed by his passion since filming, trusted him blindly now—their eyes fanatic.
Two and a half months to release. They'd unleashed first posters pre-preview, accelerating promo—and they egged him on.
"Strike while the iron's hot."
"Exactly."
"Summer's prime time. Pull hard while we can."
"Can't bump lineup higher?"
"This is max."
"Still, if possible—"
Staff and investors. They were primed.
—Bang-won—!
Ready to savor Tae-gyu's screen performance 100%.
"······Whoa, damn!"
"······Holy shit!"
"······Insane, fucking insane!"
"······Argh!"
Madness.
Insiders fought urges to scream, frozen.
Ultimate chill—raw, inhuman ferocity pouring from the screen left them petrified.
The film rolled on.
"Whoa."
"Film's a masterpiece···"
"Damn."
"This is it."
Two hours of awed murmurs and gasps nonstop.
Thus, first-cut Hoshi-jeol ended.
Preview over.
"·······Done! Blockbuster confirmed!" Staff and investors leaped up.
"It's gold! No cuts needed! Release as-is, ASAP!"
"Great work, Director!"
"Nah, Tae-gyu did it all."
"Great work, Tae-gyu!"
"Gave me chills, for real."
Investors rose, applauding him.
Clap clap clap clap—
"Man, killer acting. No wonder you're hot now, Tae-gyu. Looking forward to this one too."
"Th-thank you."
Tae-gyu stood, dazed, clapping along.
·······Hm?
My... screen time too much?
Something's off.
How the hell...
Cause? Probably Director Gu Jeong-hwan.
That ten-million director staring at him with cult-leader eyes.
"·········Everyone, hold up."
Seol A-yoon's voice cut in.
"This ain't right, is it? Director! Director!"
"Sigh."
Gu Jeong-hwan, annoyed, rising from his seat in the aisle.
Amid shocked staff and investors, Seol A-yoon boldly stated her case.
"You know Hoshi-jeol's a historical romance, right? But this plays like straight romance."
"A-yoon."
"Narrative flow and tension are off."
"I get what you're saying. But genres aren't black-and-white. Hollywood shifts mid-shoot sometimes. And if it's fun—"
"No, Director."
Seol A-yoon, frustrated.
"Adding unrecorded history? Fine, artistic license. Final edit blurring genres? Your call, I get it. But!"
She pointed between herself and Cheon Yoo-seong.
"You know we're the leads in Hoshi-jeol, right?"
"······"
"Supporting roles eating the leads' presence? That's not okay!"
She came locked and loaded.
·······Block this no matter what.
Hoshi-jeol is historical romance. Her as heroine, Cheon as hero— their emotional arc is core.
Lee Tae-gyu.
No grudge. But wrong is wrong.
Director's fault. She'd clocked it from those unscheduled reshoots and weird directions on set.
"Director!"
"·········"
"It's internal preview—time to fix! This needs changes!"
Gu Jeong-hwan clamped shut. Murmurs rose around him.
Did they not know? Knew but bought his pitch? Brainwashed? Scared to speak? Varied faces swapped views.
"Yoo-seong, am I wrong? We're the leads. Leads gotta lead."
Seol A-yoon singled out Cheon Yoo-seong.
"That screen time right? Speak. I'll own it—no backpedaling, no eyeing Director."
Spotlight on Cheon Yoo-seong.
Damn, why me···
Cornered to speak. Tough to smile through now.
As he pretended to mull, head down—
Ding.
Notification lit his half-open eyes on his phone screen.
·······!
DK Entertainment's official SNS post he'd set alerts for.
Hm. A shot of Tae-gyu, bigger than Han Joo-hyuk's...
"Hey, Cheon Yoo-seong! Say it!"
"Hm."
Eyes shut at Seol A-yoon's prod.
Factoring the fresh intel, he crunched numbers.
"My take."
His instincts squirmed.
"··················Boosting Tae-gyu hyung's screen time? Kinda works, actually? Fresh, artsy vibe too."
That shallow opportunist drive—always climbing higher branches—