Ch.34Hmm, is that all you can do with our Donghu?

KBC Broadcasting Station Drama Meeting Room.

With PD Kim Youngmo at the center, all members of the <High Dream> drama team were gathered there, and currently,

“It’s real, he really stood out here.”

“The viewer forums are going crazy right now! Everyone’s asking who plays Lee J.”

“Since Donghu has a Facestorm account, I heard his followers increased by twenty thousand in just one day?!”

“People recognize it, you know—an impossibly handsome kid who can also act well.”

Everyone shared their impressions while analyzing the ratings for episode 2 of High Dream.

“A fan cafe was created in just one day, the enthusiasm is really incredible.”

“That ending shot focusing on Donghu’s face—was that intentional, PD?”

“Of course, with a national treasure face like that, it would be a waste not to use it.”

“From what I know, there was a chicken commercial running simultaneously with that final face close-up.”

“Oh, that’s right.”

“News reports say orders are flooding in, and they’re running out of chicken now.”

A sudden sail had appeared for High Dream, which was off to a smooth start.

PD Kim Youngmo hadn’t expected Kim Donghu to have this much impact either.

‘I thought ratings would only go up once the moonlight scene appeared at least.’

To raise the ratings by 2% just by appearing—unbelievable.

If things continued this way, the direction of the drama could change significantly.

Among those changes, the most notable one was…

SLAM!

“Hahahahaha! Our broadcasting station is killing all the others, isn’t it?”

The Drama Department Director entering the meeting room and happily eating cherry pie.

“From now on, it’s KBC Drama’s world! This is the signal flare! The dream of complete drama domination will never end!”

KBC Drama Director Kim Cheoldo sat down in any empty seat with a hearty laugh.

Munch munch munch.

Crumbs fell to the floor with each bite of cherry pie, but he didn’t care.

Because there were more important matters at hand.

“You were analyzing the ratings graph? Yes, it’s really good news, success is always welcome.”

While everyone was speechless, not knowing what to say, Kim Cheoldo continued talking.

His tone was like someone giving a prepared presentation.

Thud.

Instead of presentation materials, he placed a corporate card on the desk and passed it toward PD Kim Youngmo.

Kim Cheoldo laughed heartily again, thinking how good this was.

“Hahahahaha! You should have seen the faces of those SKS and MNC drama directors eating dirt!”

How difficult it had been all this time.

“Use that to buy expensive beef. Hanwoo, you know what I mean? If you buy anything less than Hanwoo, you’re dead to me.”

Drama Director Kim Cheoldo, smiling pleasantly, seemed to have finished his introduction.

His laughter was gradually subsiding.

And then came the quick main point.

“Increase Lee J’s screen time, you haven’t finished filming everything yet, right? You can increase it, right?”

“Ah, about that…”

“No, I may have said it gently, but I wasn’t asking—I was giving a gentle order.”

Definitely increase Lee J’s screen time.

Does it make sense for a face like that to only appear in 5 episodes? We need to use him more.

To Kim Cheoldo’s words, which sounded like he was announcing some grand plan:

“That was already the plan. We had already discussed it with writer Lee Minha…”

PD Kim Youngmo showed the KakaoTalk conversation history as if it had already been arranged.

Blink blink.

Yes, he’s definitely good at his job.

Drama Director Kim Cheoldo smiled awkwardly.

“…Youngmo, you certainly have a talent for embarrassing your superiors that matches your ability.”

“You came in and interrupted on your own… but thank you for the card.”

“…”

“Clean up all the cherry pie crumbs before you leave. Our team is exhausted from filming High Dream these days.”

“Oh, yes… I’ll clean it all up…”

+++++

-Is my son doing well?

“Yes mom, of course.”

-I saw the news article, my son is incredibly handsome?

“You’re stating the obvious.”

-I’ll recover quickly and come soon, probably around February.

“Yes, and please don’t worry too much. Seokho hyung is taking really good care of me.”

-Yes, he’s been so helpful, with scheduling reports and everything… I’m so grateful.

Some time after High Dream episode 2 aired.

Mom and I talked about various things over the phone.

‘I’m glad the cancer treatment ended safely.’

When I heard that the treatment had gone so well, which was truly remarkable,

I suddenly wondered if this might also be the power of the special privilege fast track.

“Oh right, can you put dad on for a moment?”

-Oh my, our son wants to talk to dad too? Alright, honey~

-Yes, son, it’s dad. What’s up?

A calm and indifferent voice.

I decided to slowly tell dad about one ridiculous mistake created by the Earth writer.

“Dad, do you know about Bitcoin?”

-Bitcoin? Never heard of it.

Despite knowing future information,

nothing could be more foolish than completely ignoring it due to lack of investment knowledge.

‘Not that I want to do it myself.’

If I had been interested in that area, I wouldn’t have become an actor in the first place.

But it seemed wrong not to use this knowledge, so I decided to share investment information with the person I trusted most.

“Yes, it’s like this…”

The investment genius who bought buildings with World Cup betting,

Kim Jeongryeol from Kim Donghu’s hometown—I planned to tell him about future value.

‘It sounds funny when I put it that way.’

Like I’m speaking with too much certainty?

Most people would be suspicious if I talked like this, but…

-I understand.

Dad believed me immediately without much doubt.

Silent but more trusting than anyone else—a pillar of support.

That was my father.

After that, while talking with dad, I glanced at the calendar.

Two weeks from now.

That is, the end of January.

‘So I’ll be filming my first leading role.’

The first shooting of <The Real Hero> was scheduled.

+++++++

<The Real Hero>

Evil that punishes evil,

A lawbreaker who performs righteous actions,

The story of a boy who wants to become a hero.

It all began with killing a stray dog that was threatening neighborhood children.

Stab!

When the knife pierced the neck of a leather dog doll painted with muddy water and ink,

The artificial blood inside splattered everywhere.

“Are you okay? Don’t worry too much now that I’ve killed it.”

As Kim Donghu delivered his lines calmly, director Lee Seongdeok barely suppressed the goosebumps all over his body.

‘I felt it when I watched him on video, but this is truly unbelievable acting.’

First day of shooting, cold weather, filming with insufficient budget that they had to get investments for,

And whatever else—all the distracting thoughts that had been floating around before the first shoot completely disappeared.

‘He has everything I wanted.’

The reason Lee Seongdeok decided to shoot <The Real Hero> in black and white film was for one reason only.

Intensity.

He wanted to express the protagonist who belonged somewhere between the world divided into black and white,

And that’s why he even named the main character “Hero.”

But there was a major problem when planning this scenario.

Acting ability.

‘I needed an actor with good enough acting skills to win an award at the Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival.’

Needless to say, the most important thing in a film was the actor’s performance.

But how easy was it to find a good actor for an independent film?

The current situation was truly a blessing for Lee Seongdeok.

“I clearly saved you, so why are you running away?”

Whirrrr.

More than five cameras capture Hero’s face from different angles.

Originally there would have been only one, but thanks to Veritas’ investment, they could film from multiple angles.

The miracle of solving both investment and casting at once.

Experiencing this sacred event firsthand, Lee Seongdeok became increasingly immersed in the filming.

The <The Real Hero> scenario itself wasn’t complicated or difficult at all.

It simply continued to pose questions to the audience.

Can we really condemn the struggle to punish evil as bad?

If the process was intense but done to achieve good, couldn’t the outcome be considered good as well?

After all, a hero exists to carry out justice.

Can you call a hero evil while watching him?

Constantly asking these questions was the core of The Real Hero.

He learned swordsmanship to protect the weak,

And killing the loan shark was also to protect his family.

And the director’s continued questioning reaches its climax

When Hero finally confronts the police.

Gulp.

Even though they hadn’t filmed that scene yet,

Lee Seongdeok’s mouth went dry just thinking about shooting it.

The question of whether he could perfectly capture Kim Donghu.

From assignments to graduation projects, he prided himself on having filmed quite a bit, but…

‘Even so, I can’t guarantee I’ll capture Donghu perfectly.’

Lee Seongdeok burned with passion for this seemingly unreachable level of talent.

To ensure the name of actor Kim Donghu wouldn’t go to waste,

By perfectly capturing every moment in the film…

‘I’m aiming for the Mise-en-scène Film Festival award!’

He would make Kim Donghu’s name spread widely not just on TV but on the big screen as well.

++++++

While everyone was excited about High Dream’s huge success,

There was one man who frowned while watching Kim Donghu’s performance in High Dream.

“…Hmm, is that all they can do with our Donghu?”

It was director Kang Sanghun of the film <Endless Frontline>.

Despite having such perfect material, they focused merely on face close-ups.

Don’t they know that Kim Donghu’s true talent is his acting ability that matches his face!

“This is why dramas are, tsk tsk…”

The filming of Endless Frontline was progressing smoothly.

Or more precisely, the actors’ performances had risen to a fierce level.

‘It must be because of Donghu.’

Seeing such acting at such a young age,

The senior actors couldn’t just stand by and watch.

To show that their experience wasn’t for nothing,

The actors of Endless Frontline were giving passionate performances in every moment.

And about two weeks later.

‘I will be the first director to truly reveal actor Kim Donghu’s true value!’

The climax scene of the student soldier was scheduled to be filmed.