episode_0269

‘Crescendo From Tomorrow’ Filming Location

“NG!”

“NG!”

“NG!”

Director Go Tae-min kept shouting NG.

At first, everyone laughed it off, but the atmosphere gradually became serious. No one had expected so many NGs.

And amidst all that, one person was biting her lip.

“…”

It was Yang Ha-rin.

Yang Ha-rin was the cause of the NGs.

Go Tae-min said with a troubled look.

“Ha-rin-ssi, are you not feeling well today?”

“…No. It’s not that.”

“If you’re not feeling well, it’s even more of a problem? If you’re not sick, why are there so many NGs?”

“I’m sorry. Please, just one more time.”

“It’s already too late today. We’ll have to set up the equipment again next time. This will delay the schedule…”

“…I’m sorry.”

The delayed schedule and Yang Ha-rin, who hung her head low.

Seeing that, Soo-ah thought.

‘…Hiss, something seems to be wrong?’

Something was wrong, and she needed to find out for sure.

◈◈◈◈◈

Two days later.

A very luxurious studio. So much so that there was even a Western-style fireplace on the wall. In the middle of that space sat a very chubby man.

It was a strange thing.

His chubbiness wasn’t a disadvantage, but rather made him look relaxed, and at the same time, even with all that fat, his eyes were incredibly bright.

In fact, his job was as a director.

At that moment, a man beside him asked.

“Director, is there a specific reason why it has to be the Venice Film Festival?”

“Of course, there is.”

The man nodded.

“What are the three major film festivals?”

“Cannes, Venice, and Berlin. Those are the three.”

“That’s right. But the Berlin Film Festival is very political, and I’ve already experienced Cannes. So, what’s my last remaining goal? Of course, it’s the Venice Film Festival.”

“…The Venice Film Festival is very difficult, though. How about just making Korean movies comfortably? With your name and skills, Director, the results would be stable.”

“Hey.”

The director stared at the man.

“Do you think I’m directing because I’m short on money?”

“That’s not what I meant…”

“Okay, then be careful what you say. I don’t need things like stable ‘results’. I need to do something that will remain as my legacy.”

“Okay, I understand. I understand why you’re aiming for the Venice Film Festival, but there’s still a problem.”

The man took a breath and continued.

“That’s about who to cast as the Korean actor. Wouldn’t it be okay to just use foreign actors?”

“No, I’m going to make it work with a Korean actor.”

“But it’s too difficult to find someone.”

“Then how about I show you an actor I’ve had my eye on? I happened to discover a gem a while ago.”

“Yes. I’ll take a look.”

Soon, the director put his phone on the table, and the man focused his gaze on it. The program playing on the screen was Japan’s national variety show, ‘Celebrity Zoo’.

The man immediately recognized the white-haired actress.

“Ah… You were talking about Soo-ah-ssi?”

“Yes, Lee Soo-ah.”

The chubby director nodded in affirmation and continued.

“How important do you think an actor’s actual character is?”

“I don’t think it’s very important? As long as they do a good job acting in their assigned role, that’s enough.”

“There was a time when I thought that way too.”

The chubby director chuckled.

“But that’s not it. Only when their own character and the role they play are in harmony can perfect acting be born. It fits perfectly with the role I had in mind.”

“Hmm, is that so.”

“Yeah, I was hooked as soon as I saw her. Looking at your reaction, it seems like you already knew Lee Soo-ah? Why haven’t you mentioned Lee Soo-ah to me all this time?”

“Well…”

The man scratched his head as if he was troubled.

“…First of all, it’s because Lee Soo-ah is a rookie. Although she’s gained popularity in Korea and Japan, aren’t you aiming for the Venice award, Director? It’s still too uncertain.”

“Is that all?”

The chubby director tilted his chin.

“If that’s all, I’m disappointed? If you’ve seen Lee Soo-ah’s acting, you can put those worries aside.”

“Yes. Of course, there are other reasons too. Actually, I wasn’t confident that I could scout her. You know how busy Mystic is these days? It’s basically a year-long wait to even start.”

The man clicked his tongue.

“If we want to submit to Venice, we can’t wait that long, can we?”

“That’s true.”

“If we want to contact her a little earlier, the only possibility is to go through Soo-ah-ssi’s personal connections…”

“Personal connections, huh.”

The chubby director thought about something for a moment.

“What is Lee Soo-ah filming right now?”

“‘Crescendo From Tomorrow’.”

“Ah, Go Tae-min’s work. Then it won’t be that difficult after all? I’m friends with that director.”

It wasn’t a lie.

No, in fact, if this chubby director set his mind on becoming friends with any Korean director, he could do it. He had accomplished so much over the years.

Director Lee Chang-wan.

He was much more of a senior than Director Go Tae-min, who runs the ‘Good Path’ club. Rather than playing in the well of Korea, he was always an eagle aiming for awards from outside.

Now, he had only one thing left. The Venice Film Festival.

The man cautiously asked.

“Shall I contact Director Go Tae-min today?”

“There’s no need.”

But Director Lee Chang-wan’s attitude was firm.

“I’ll call him myself.”

◈◈◈◈◈

The next day.

The workspace used by writer Lee Geum-suk and her assistant writers.

The scent of tea wafted gently.

Because Lee Geum-suk was welcoming a guest.

“Who is this? If it isn’t writer Hong?”

Lee Geum-suk smiled softly, and Hong Ye-ji, who was sitting across from her, was embarrassed. She used to be just Lee Geum-suk’s assistant writer, but now she was a writer in her own right.

Anyway.

They didn’t gather today just to chat. The thick stack of papers on the desk was proof.

“Okay, this is the new work that writer Hong wrote, right?”

“It’s embarrassing… but that’s right for now.”

Rustle─ Rustle─

Lee Geum-suk soon began to read it.

How much time had passed like that?

A little later.

“…Ye-ji-ya, what were you thinking when you wrote this?”

Writer Lee Geum-suk asked with wide eyes.

It sounded like a close-to-harsh critique, but Hong Ye-ji didn’t flinch. Because she was different from before.

“Writer Lee, do you remember a conversation we had in the past?”

“What conversation?”

“You said that you found a manuscript that was accidentally left in the studio and read it, and you said that I didn’t have confidence in my writing. I didn’t tell you, but that was actually my writing.”

“A manuscript that was accidentally left…? Ah…!”

Writer Lee Geum-suk reacted belatedly.

She remembered the situation at the time.

“You’re saying that was your writing back then?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

Hong Ye-ji nodded.

“I wrote this work from beginning to end with confidence. With my own hands, not someone else’s. To be honest, I wrote ‘Alien Game’ with help.”

“I see. No wonder.”

“…What do you think of it? Is it bad?”

Hong Ye-ji swallowed hard.

It was natural to be nervous since her writing was being evaluated. But fortunately, Lee Geum-suk smiled.

“No wonder, so that’s why it’s so interesting.”

“Interesting? Really?”

“Yeah. It’s full of confidence and a little rough, but that’s actually a good thing. There will be many people who find it charming because it doesn’t compromise.”

“I’m worried because I have no knowledge of action, but… I’m happy to hear praise.”

As Hong Ye-ji said, this was a work that specialized in the ‘action’ genre. Hong Ye-ji was secretly worried about that part.

But Lee Geum-suk smiled, as if telling her not to worry.

“Do you think I write that kind of thing because I have experience in the military? You’re the same. As long as it’s fun.”

Lee Geum-suk continued with a smile.

“This looks good at first glance? Let’s aim for a video adaptation right away. You have to proceed with things like this as soon as you get your hands on them.”

“A video adaptation? Can we proceed with that right away?”

“Originally, we can’t, but it’s possible if you have connections, right?”

Lee Geum-suk smiled and showed her her phone.

[ Choi Hee-won PD ]

That was the contact information currently on her phone.

◈◈◈◈◈

A week later.

The internet was heating up. Because of the bait that had been slowly burning like a bonfire for about three days.

What kind of bait was it?

[ Nekflix Lands in Korea! The flagship work ‘Alien Game’ is finally released today. ]

[ Netizens’ interest in the soon-to-be-released ‘Alien Game’ ↑ Will it be able to capture the hearts of overseas viewers as well? ]

Of course, it was the ‘Alien Game’ bait.

The fact that Nekflix, an OTT that didn’t exist in Korea before, was coming to Korea, the fact that Lee Soo-ah was participating as the main character, the fact that it was an attempt to launch simultaneously overseas…

There were more than enough elements to attract people’s attention.

[ ‘Alien Game’ is just a big, immature baby? A grotesque creature with only messy content and a lot of investment? ]

[ ‘Alien Game’, success or failure? Rampant speculation ]

The Korean community was naturally in an uproar.

【Korean Community】

─I’m going to watch it while eating chicken today, and I don’t want much. I just hope it’s good enough to enjoy the chicken.

─The trailer was too chaotic… But I’m a fan of Lee Soo-ah, so I’ll give it a shot even if I get fooled.

─Still, there must be a reason why they’re pushing it so hard as a flagship, right? I’m going to watch it anyway.

─You’re saying you can resist after seeing Lee Soo-ah in the trailer? That’s not right. How can you resist a Lee Soo-ah with a dumbfounded expression lol

─I wonder if it will remain as a meme because it’s such a black history lol I’ve seen so many works that are pushed so hard like this and then fall to hell as soon as they’re released.

─There are only a few hours left now. Let’s go~~~~

◈◈◈◈◈

That night.

Fifteen minutes before the release of ‘Alien Game’, people everywhere were running Nekflix, but the scenery in front of them was the same.

[ NEKPLIX ]

[ Online Connection Waiting Guide ]

[ … ]

[ Number of Waiters Ahead of Me: ─ People ]

[ If you refresh, press the back button, or close the popup window and reconnect, your waiting time will be reset. ]

The fact that a large OTT that didn’t exist before came to Korea, and the existence of ‘Alien Game’. Because so many people had gathered, a waiting queue had even been created.

At this time.

The ‘Alien Game’ production team was also gathered, waiting for a reaction. Nekflix officials, writer Hong Ye-ji, and so on. Everyone felt the same trembling feeling.

Even Soo-ah’s friend, Deer─Shikarinn, was like that.

‘Is it really soon? Even I, as a supporting actor, am trembling like this, how are the main actors holding up?’

Meanwhile, Soo-ah’s other acquaintances were also running Nekflix.

Kim Sun-ah from Starcatch and Monkeying, who manages the fan cafe, met at home. They were going to watch while eating late-night snacks.

“Unnie, how much time is left?”

“1 minute! It’s really starting soon!”

“…Why am I so nervous about this.”

“It’s done! It’s done! It’s started!”

People who had been waiting to connect to Nekflix in all kinds of spaces finally began watching ‘Alien Game’.

『Hmm…?』

The first scene is Lee Soo-ah.

The camera only shows Soo-ah’s face.

The viewers don’t know what Soo-ah is doing, and they don’t know what she’s looking at. Only one thing is visible.

『Heeeuuuuuum.』

Just the fact that Soo-ah is agonizing like crazy.

That’s all.

Soon, the camera turns, and what Soo-ah was staring at intently and agonizing over is revealed.

[ Attempt to enhance? ]

A single line of notification.

At the same time, the title of ‘Alien Game’ is revealed.

─Alien Game─

It was natural for viewers to have questions. For example, Monkeying and Starcatch’s Kim Sun-ah were like that.

“Oh? What is it? What are they enhancing?”

“I can’t predict it.”

How long did they watch like that? 10 minutes?

“…?”

“Huh…?”

Monkeying and Kim Sun-ah widened their eyes at the same time.

Suddenly, Sung Si-hyun (Lee Soo-ah) started agonizing over whether or not to use the enhancement window in front of people’s faces.

No way? Really? It’s not what I’m thinking, right?

[ Enhancement failed. ]

[ The target will be destroyed. ]

Bang─!

Sung Si-hyun’s husband explodes from the start.

“??????”

“What?????”

“What the heck???????”

The viewers’ heads were covered in question marks.