Superstar From Age 0

Chapter 335

“This won’t do.”

It was a different tone of firmness than before.

The director, Jeffrey, was startled by the rough voice of the planning team leader.

Wasn’t this the same planning team leader who had assured him that he could even blow up a building if the director wanted?

The planning team leader who had obediently accepted Davis Garrett’s revisions.

Jeffrey had not worried about him at all.

He had never expected him to oppose his idea.

‘As expected.’

He knew it.

Not only Seo-jun, but the other actors also seemed to agree with the planning team leader’s opinion.

The enthusiasm that had been burning in Jeffrey’s eyes was half-diminished by the awkward and uncomfortable atmosphere.

The planning team leader sighed as he saw Jeffrey’s confused expression. 

He looked tired, as if he had aged ten years while reading the script.

He let out a heavy sigh and opened his mouth.

“This won’t sell.”

Sell.

As much as they spent a huge amount of production cost, they had to think about the profit. 

Wasn’t that the role of the production company?

As the representative of the production company in this place, he had no choice but to oppose this content.

Seo-jun, of course, and the other actors who had appeared in many works and seen many works, had noticed long ago that this script was not a very profitable one.

Wasn’t there an audience who was shaking their head here?

Seo-jun smirked at Andrew Walker, who was reading the script again with a surprised expression.

‘It would be fun, but… it would be hard to sell.’

It was bad news for the staff, actors, and Bearound employees who had worked hard for the filming. 

He couldn’t go on like this.

Seo-jun looked at the script on the table.

“With these actors, how can it fail?”

Jeffrey’s eyes turned to the actors.

There were actors with ticket power that would make anyone envious.

The eternal hero, Davis Garrett of Redbone.

The most loved villain, Seo-jun Lee of Jin Natra.

Milan Chellen, who was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor.

Jeffrey looked at them with a desperate expression. Davis Garrett, who had the most influence, scratched his cheek and said,

“It’s nice that you trust us, but… no matter how great an actor is, if the work doesn’t support them, they fail. Director.”

Jeffrey’s eyes shook as he read the hidden meaning in his words. His bright eyes slowly darkened.

“But the script is fine…”

“That’s from an actor’s perspective. I think it might be a bit awkward for the audience.”

Seo-jun nodded at Milan Chellen’s words.

“I think it’s an interesting story, but it’s hard to sell.”

When Seo-jun said that too, Jeffrey looked at [Survivors-Revision 2] in front of him with a disappointed face. 

His mind, which had been clear until a moment ago, became cloudy as if dark clouds had covered it.

‘…as expected.’

He should have gone with a safe script.

That director was right.

“Ah… I see… yes… I’m sorry. I wasted your time.”

The actors felt sorry for Jeffrey, who looked completely dejected. 

He looked weaker than when they first met. 

The planning team leader was about to sigh, but swallowed it.

“Then tomorrow’s filming will be according to the original revision…”

It seemed that Jeffrey’s rampage was over here.

Seo-jun, who was looking at the script while thinking about something, opened his mouth.

“What about a director’s cut?”

Director’s cut.

Director’s edition.

Unlike the movie (regular edition) that contains the intention of the production company, it is a movie that is re-edited according to the director’s intention after release.

It was a way of recreating a movie that was edited and deleted according to the intention of the production company for various reasons such as box office success, movie running time, or censorship according to the director’s intention.

The actors slowly repeated Seo-jun’s words and changed their expressions.

Usually, they didn’t think about it because the director’s cut was decided after filming everything and clashing opinions between the production company and the director in editing.

“That sounds good.”

“Since it’s a director’s cut, it doesn’t matter much about box office success.”

The actors reacted positively to Jeffrey’s desperate eyes. The planning team leader also raised his head at Seo-jun’s words.

“A director’s cut?”

“Yes. Since it’s a director’s cut, can’t you make it as you please, director?”

Seo-jun smiled brightly and looked at the planning team leader.

“I don’t know much about business.”

He smiled awkwardly as if he was embarrassed. The planning team leader thought about it.

“A director’s cut…”

When he opened his mouth, everyone listened carefully.

“It’s a different situation than usual, but… it seems possible. It’s just my guess, so I can’t guarantee the release, but you can make it as you want, director.”

“What if it can’t be released…”

Wouldn’t there be no one to watch it?

Unlike Jeffrey, who was worried, Seo-jun smiled brightly.

“What about uploading it on Plus, director? I’m a little close with the head of Plus Korea. I’ll ask him!”

Andaho, who was sitting far away, chuckled at Seo-jun’s words.

What kind of favor is that?

If he just casually mentioned that there was a ‘director’s cut’ movie starring ‘Lee Seo-jun’, they would come running with their eyes on fire.

And looking at the faces of the actors here, they might get offers from here and there, and maybe even be able to screen it in theaters, contrary to the planning team leader’s worries.

“Then let’s go with the director’s cut. Director.”

“It sounds fun.”

The actors looked happy. The planning team leader sighed.

“Everyone. Don’t forget about ‘Survivors’.”

Seo-jun and the actors laughed at the planning team leader’s reminder.

“I hope you focus more on ‘Survivors’. Even if the director’s cut is confirmed. Of course.”

“Don’t worry about the filming.”

Seo-jun’s reliable words made the planning team leader smile more comfortably.

Who wouldn’t trust the actors who showed amazing acting on the set?

“And director Jeffrey.”

It seemed that the ‘director’s cut’ story was half-confirmed.

Jeffrey, who was listening blankly, answered in surprise at the call of the planning team leader.

“Yes, yes?”

“Please make the director’s cut using the footage of ‘Survivors’ as much as possible, and when you film a different scene from ‘Survivors’, please try to film it within the scheduled time of the actors and staff. If you say you’re going to extend the filming schedule for the ‘director’s cut’, there will be resistance.”

Jeffrey’s eyes widened at the planning team leader’s words.

“If you say you’re filming within the original schedule to the top, they’ll probably give you a positive answer.”

The director Jeffrey nodded his head with a stern face at the sight of the planning team leader working hard for the director’s cut.

“Then I have to revise the script.”

“We can’t postpone tomorrow’s shooting.”

“Yes. Don’t worry.”

Jeffrey, who seemed to have regained his motivation, or rather, his passion, gathered the actors and discussed the shooting for tomorrow.

It was now the time for the actors and the director.

***

“Are you not going to give us more time?”

“What?”

The planning team leader turned around at the voice that came from behind him. 

It was Seo-jun Lee’s manager.

“I thought Jun’s schedule would be extended because of the director’s cut, but you seem to be reluctant to do that.”

Seo-jun Lee’s manager, Anh Da Ho, asked the planning team leader, who nodded his head and looked at Jeffrey, who was enthusiastically talking about the script.

“There are often directors like him among them. The artist type, I guess. I had no idea he was that type since he agreed to Davis’s revision so easily.”

Something had bloomed between them for some unknown reason.

“Usually, they vent out their desire to make their own movies in independent films and then compromise with commercial films for their popularity.”

Anh Da Ho nodded his head at the planning team leader’s words.

He understood what he meant.

Unlike independent films that show various topics from various perspectives, commercial films are mostly similar for the same reason: to attract audiences.

“Of course, there are also genius directors who make their own works and achieve popularity at the same time. But those cases are very rare.”

Anh Da Ho made a face as if he realized something.

“Director Jeffrey is the opposite.”

“Yes. I checked his works before signing the contract, and I didn’t see any signs of that in his independent films or his first commercial film. But I didn’t expect him to explode here…”

He couldn’t imagine it.

He felt dizzy again when he remembered the thrill he felt when he read the director’s cut script.

If there was no such thing as a director’s cut or if Jeffrey didn’t give up his stubbornness, what would have happened to [Survivors]… He couldn’t even imagine it.

In the worst case scenario, the movie could have been canceled.

‘But before that, we would have replaced the director.’

The planning team leader pressed his forehead and opened his mouth.

“Director Jeffrey must have a lot of things he wants to do now that he has found his art. When that happens, they usually redo their scenes until they are satisfied. If Director Jeffrey shoots all the scenes he wants, neither the actors nor the staff will be able to endure it.”

The schedule would be extended.

That was not a good news for Anh Da Ho, who had contracted Seo-jun Lee until the end of February, or for Bearound, who had planned everything ahead.

“And people usually perform better when they are under pressure.”

Anh Da Ho finally understood why the planning team leader didn’t extend the schedule.

The planning team leader smiled like a villain.

“Time is tight, money and inspiration are abundant. That’s probably the best way for Director Jeffrey right now.”

The capable planning team leader knew how to deal with people.

***

And the next day.

A meeting was held at Bearound.

They left behind a script that guaranteed popularity and chose a new one.

And when they read the content, they didn’t see any possibility of popularity. But Bearound had to think hard about it because it was a ‘director’s cut’.

“It might be good for publicity?”

“If it’s not a separate shooting time but within the current shooting period… well…”

“Will it affect the shooting of the release version?”

Everyone looked at the planning team leader at that question.

“I’ll show you the edited version of [Survivors] that we’ve shot so far.”

Darkness fell on the white screen.

It was an edited version that collected the best scenes of the actors, excluding the scenes that needed CG work.

Everyone held their breath at Seo-jun and Davis Garrett’s brilliant performances.

They didn’t think that the actors who showed such amazing acting would lose their energy and act poorly for the ‘director’s cut’.

Everyone sitting in the meeting room nodded their heads.

“Then let’s have an internal screening and then decide whether to upload the director’s cut to theaters or not.”

The planning team leader clenched his fist.

The approval for [Survivors]’s director’s cut was granted.

***

“That’s it for today’s shooting. Director.”

To prevent the schedule from being extended further.

The assistant director, who had heard enough from the planning team leader, told Director Jeffrey.

Jeffrey shivered at that.

The production cost from Bearound was beyond imagination, and he had so many ideas from watching the actors’ amazing improvisations…

Time was tight.

“How much time do we have left?”

“Three weeks, two days, and 14 hours.”

Do you want me to tell you the minutes?

The friendly voice of the assistant director seemed to have a hint of the planning team leader’s malice.

Those three weeks, two days, and 14 hours were not entirely for shooting. There were also breaks for the actors and staff.

Ahhhhhh!

Jeffrey pulled his hair and screamed silently at the tight shooting schedule.

He had no choice but to squeeze his brain and come up with the best scenes. 

Even if he came up with the best scenes, the two actors would turn them upside down with their amazing improvisations, so he had to come up with new ones.

His head hurt.

His head hurt so much…

But it was fun.

It was so much fun.

He enjoyed being hit by the two actors’ improvisations that he couldn’t even imagine, and he also enjoyed seeing Davis Garrett and Seo-jun Lee shut their mouths and act according to his script after being hit by his script.

He was looking forward to who would win in tomorrow’s shooting.

“Oh. This is too much.”

Even in the midst of such revisions, the two actors and the director did not forget their work.

Jeffrey deleted all his poor lines with the backspace and looked at the laptop monitor again.

Hehehe.

The staff who were cleaning up the set moved away from Jeffrey’s laughing face.

‘That gentle guy…’