Chapter 56
Chapter 56
First Time Doing Promotions
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It was his first time doing promotional activities.
(Sir, what happened?)
After Yu Yeon-seo left, CEO Han, who had finally reclaimed his seat, received an earnest call.
“I think it’ll work out.”
(Really? Wow! How did you convince him?)
“What do you mean, convince? The moment I mentioned a vacation spot, his whole expression changed.”
(Did it? Does that Yu Yeon-seo kid like vacation spots?)
“Seems like it. So, it has to be an island, the sea. Got it? I’ll try to persuade him for sure.”
(Of course. We’ve been scouting all vacation spots for locations. Do you know who we’ve already cast? You have to keep this a secret, sir.)
The PD chattered excitedly. CEO Han let the words go in one ear and out the other, lost in thought.
‘He pretends not to, but he’s been working nonstop…’
Even after establishing themselves, some actors, like Jin Su-ho, worked like oxen, but most took a long time choosing their next project. They would shoot commercials, manage their image, and take it easy, but as soon as one project ended, Yu Yeon-seo would immediately look for another. And he’d use his background to start filming right away. That’s why, while not as much as Jin Su-ho, Yu Yeon-seo had a surprisingly long filmography for his years in the industry.
Though he had made a name for himself with his terrible acting in all of them…
“It’ll be good for him to get a vacation out of this.”
(Uh… that’s not really our show’s concept.)
“What?”
CEO Han, who had been leaning all the way back in his chair, sat up straight.
(It’s definitely not a healing-on-vacation kind of thing. We’re going to be running a guest house for real.)
“Is that so?”
(Yes, we’re even putting a limit on their daily spending to make it a bit of a struggle.)
“Won’t he just say that’s frustrating?”
(I’ll have to edit it well.)
“Right, I’m sure PD Lee will handle that.”
A lineup of popular actors and idols, plus a chaebol heir actor whose very existence created a massive ripple effect, all gathered together to struggle pitifully? A smile spread across CEO Han’s lips.
“But are the other guests okay with doing a variety show with Yu Yeon-seo?”
He was so famous for his rotten personality that it wouldn’t take much digging to find someone who knew him.
(They’ve never run into him before, so shouldn’t it be fine?)
“Really? Just in case, try to get their understanding first.”
(Yes, sir. So, can I consider Yu Yeon-seo confirmed?)
“Sure, sure.”
Seeing how his eyes lit up at the mention of the sea, getting his confirmation shouldn’t be difficult.
After hanging up, CEO Han swiveled in his chair, lost in thought.
The person on the phone, PD Lee, wasn’t one of JSTV’s top producers. The guest house variety show they had just discussed was a slightly modified version of another PD’s program, making it more like a seasonal show.
Would it do well, given its overlap with other variety shows? Still, with Yu Yeon-seo alone, the buzz was guaranteed.
Putting everything else aside, Yu Yeon-seo suffering hardship? That…
“Sounds good.”
CEO Han had his own share of grievances with Yu Yeon-seo.
As Yu Yeon-seo’s midterms approached, White Tiger finally surfaced.
Movie [White Tiger] 1st Trailer
The production and distribution company logos appeared briefly, followed by solemn music.
On the rough sea, a warship, and an unknown monster attempts to tear it in two. The scene changes rapidly, showing Park Min-woo clutching a gun, sweating profusely, while Lee Han-gyeol calmly fires his weapon.
The grotesque monster lets out a loud roar, and Yu Yeon-seo grabs Park Min-woo by the collar, shoving him against a wall.
(Shoot them all dead. That’s how we survive.)
The video ended with Yu Yeon-seo’s grim voice.
└ Park Min-woo, Yu Yeon-seo, Lee Han-gyeol? This lineup is insane. The visuals are a pass, for starters.
└ Looks fun already.
└ Wow, is that really the Chunbaek I know?
└ Yu Yeon-seo and Park Min-woo? This ship is sailing lol.
└ Don’t know about the story, but I’m going for the faces. GG.
Since his last project was Dreaming, the stark contrast between the silver-haired, mechanical, and wistful image of Chunbaek and the intense special forces soldier seemed to have stimulated Yu Yeon-seo’s fans. Love Letter was already busy posting proof of their nth ticket reservation.
White Tiger officially began its promotional activities.
[White Tiger] Went to the Press Screening.
I can’t write much because of the embargo, but it’s quite a masterpiece.
I heard a lot of money went into the production, and indeed, the CG quality was better than expected.
And what was quite surprising was the actors’ chemistry. Park Min-woo, who is rising as a new star of Chungmuro, goes without saying, and Lee Han-gyeol was also decent, but Yu Yeon-seo, truly amazing. I’d heard rumors that his acting had improved, but he was so good it made me wonder if this was the same person from <Emergency>. You can look forward to it.
I heard he performed the desperate action sequence in the latter half, ‘that scene,’ without a stunt double, and he did it so incredibly well it was hard to believe.
I think I’m going to post spoilers if I keep this up. I’ll write a detailed review once the embargo is lifted.
<White Tiger> Quick Screening Review
A variety of human archetypes and spectacular action unfolding in the confined space of a warship.
I would rate it as a ‘pretty decent entertainment movie.’
-The press and blind screening reviews for White Tiger are all good.
└ Aren’t there only positive reviews?
└└ No, there are plenty of negative ones too.
└ You should ignore the blind screenings. They could be using them as a gimmick for promotion.
-Anyone watching White Tiger tomorrow?
└ Me.
└ Me, I booked an early morning ticket.
White Tiger D-2, No. 1 in Overall Ticket Reservations… What are the Key Points to Watch For?
White Tiger Director Park Ho-jin, “Yu Yeon-seo Performed Action Scenes Without a Stunt Double… Please Look Forward to It.”
The day before White Tiger’s release, the director, Park Ho-jin, and the main actors, Park Min-woo, Yu Yeon-seo, and Lee Han-gyeol, were preparing to appear on an entertainment program to promote the movie.
“Hyung, this is your first time doing this kind of promotion, right?”
“Yeah.”
Park Min-woo looked at Yu Yeon-seo with anxious, trembling eyes.
“They said this will be live-streamed. You can handle it, right?”
“Yeon-seo. If the question is weird, just stay quiet. I’ll cover for you.”
What am I, a child? This is just treating me like a kid. Yu Yeon-seo glared at Park Min-woo and Lee Han-gyeol with dissatisfaction.
“You caused a huge mess when you went out for comeback promotions back in your One Seven days.”
“…Did I?”
“You told the MC he was pathetic. You snapped at the writer, asking if they really call this a variety show… Don’t you remember? The trouble we went through to clean that up…”
“Ah, ah…”
Was it just his imagination, or did Lee Han-gyeol’s eyes look a little teary? Yu Yeon-seo pretended to vaguely remember and let it go. A rookie idol badmouthing a senior in the industry and the production staff… It sent a chill down his spine.
And every time he heard stories like this, he felt a significant disconnect with the original owner of this body.
‘Was he just a psycho…’
Or a psycho with a sob story.
In any case, Park Min-woo and Lee Han-gyeol were the same as ever.
The excessive media play and the hyping up of Yu Yeon-seo, which had started after the ‘virtual reality’ incident was revealed, had intensified after Dreaming’s success. It had reached a brainwashing level where even industry people who hadn’t met him yet were starting to believe it.
CEO Han or Manager Park wouldn’t engage in this kind of media play for him, which left only one person.
‘Did Mother have a hand in this?’
Choi Yu-jin was quite the doting parent.
‘I should tell her to stop next time I see her.’
But he didn’t think his mother would be this obvious about it. The question arose but didn’t last long.
“But you two seem to get along well?”
“There was a misunderstanding between me and my boys.”
Lee Han-gyeol quickly answered. Why answer like that? Yu Yeon-seo shot him a glare.
“Your group? A misunderstanding? What was it?”
“It’s nothing.”
Park Min-woo’s eyes sparkled with curiosity, but Yu Yeon-seo answered for him, cutting off any further questions. Park Min-woo was dying to know but held his tongue after seeing Yu Yeon-seo’s expression.
“Hello.”
“Director.”
Director Park Ho-jin also took his seat, and after a brief introduction from the MC, the broadcast began.
The MC lightened the mood with a cheerful voice, and the director and actors smiled at the camera.
“Director! Please introduce the movie!”
“Yes, hello. White Tiger is a well-made action film…”
Yu Yeon-seo maintained the same posture and expression, regardless of whether the cameras were on or not. It was an attitude that could seem somewhat arrogant, but it was possible because it was Yu Yeon-seo.
“And… Yu Yeon-seo-ssi!”
“Yes.”
Yu Yeon-seo picked up his microphone. The MC, whose eyes met his, felt strangely shy and kept lowering and raising her head. Finally, hiding her gaze behind the script, the MC spoke.
“Yeon-seo-ssi, your acting transformation has been causing quite a stir lately. Is there a secret to your changed acting? A change in mindset, perhaps…”
“There’s nothing like that.”
When Yu Yeon-seo answered in his characteristically blunt tone, jeers came from both sides.
“Aww, hyung. That’s no fun!”
“Right.”
“Yeon-seo-ssi is new to promotional activities…”
Only Director Park Ho-jin tried to smooth things over. The MC had been slightly flustered ever since making eye contact with Yu Yeon-seo. She had seen countless celebrities, but Yu Yeon-seo’s looks were just too striking… and even more so in person.
“That’s right. Don’t be like that, tell us in detail. The chat is flooded with reactions like ‘Did he get a girlfriend?’ and ‘What kind of drugs is he on?’”
And so, the MC blurted out a question she should have filtered. The PD frantically gestured, drawing a line across his neck. It was a signal not to push it too far in front of Yu Yeon-seo.
But Yu Yeon-seo said nonchalantly.
“Well… maybe it’s because the world looks different after I came back from the dead.”
“Ah, White Tiger was filmed after last year’s accident, right? How was the accident, and are you fully recovered now?”
“They called it a miracle. They said I would either die or, at best, end up in a vegetative state if I recovered… It turned out well, I guess.”
The mood instantly turned cold. Yu Yeon-seo put down the microphone and looked around.
“…What’s with you all? What?”
“Was it that serious?”
Lee Han-gyeol asked, looking even more serious, and Yu Yeon-seo tilted his head.
“Wasn’t it in the news?”
“It wasn’t, hyung.”
It wasn’t. A few articles had come out about him losing consciousness and being taken to the ICU after the accident, but they were deleted shortly after. Juseong had blocked all detailed reports. It wasn’t good news, after all.
‘Will the fans be heartbroken if they see this?’
Yu Yeon-seo spoke again.
“Yes, anyway, that’s what happened. I’m fine now.”
The MC pulled herself together and changed the subject.
“Then you must not have had enough time to build up your body, right? The character, Sergeant Kim Woo-jin, is a special forces soldier.”
“Yes, I tried to bulk up, but I couldn’t reach my target.”
He was in decent shape now, but to be faithful to the special forces setting, he needed to build an almost excessive amount of muscle. Yu Yeon-seo was still dissatisfied because he just couldn’t get there.
“So if you look closely, there are some scenes where my body was enhanced with CG…”
“Ah, Director, that hurts my pride.”
“What does it matter? You look great as you are, hyung.”
Yu Yeon-seo lowered his head slightly as if to say he couldn’t be helped.
“In that case… the key point of White Tiger! Finding Yeon-seo-ssi’s CG-enhanced body!”
“Ah…”
This was a bit humiliating. Yu Yeon-seo furrowed his brow but relaxed when Lee Han-gyeol nudged him.
“And we heard you did 100% of your action scenes without a stunt double. Is that true?”
“I asked him to do it without a stunt double, and I was surprised myself.”
“You were, Director?”
“Yes, that’s right. Thanks to Yeon-seo hyung, we also put a lot of effort into our action scenes. It was… a bit tough, though.”
The director and Park Min-woo answered, and then Lee Han-gyeol also took the mic.
“He was doing everything himself, so we couldn’t not do it.”
“Ah, because you felt pressured?”
“That’s right. I felt like I had to do better, too…”
“Han-gyeol hyung is right!”
Was that so? It was the first Yu Yeon-seo was hearing of this, so he looked back and forth between Lee Han-gyeol and Park Min-woo. Their eyes met, and they nodded seriously.
In reality, using a stunt double and sparing one’s body is, in some ways, the best option. They had other schedules besides White Tiger, after all. But when Yu Yeon-seo, the one least expected to step up, did everything himself, they were naturally motivated.
“With everyone saying this, I’m getting curious about the release! Yeon-seo-ssi, you’ve become the public enemy, please say a word!”
“Hmm… You’ll know when you watch the movie.”
He had been a soldier since before he was born. Surely he could satisfy his ancestors from the year 2019. Yu Yeon-seo smiled confidently.