Superstar From Age 0

Chapter 342

“Why don’t we have a meal together since we’re here?”

At Milan Chellen’s suggestion, the actors and director Jeffrey moved to a nearby restaurant as it was almost dinner time.

The table was full of food and they all started to eat while chatting about various things.

Kim Jong-ho, who was a bit nervous to meet the actors for the first time, also relaxed and joined the conversation with a smile.

“The final cut will be a hit for sure.”

“I hope so.”

Milan Chellen nodded at Vanessa Olson’s words.

“When do you think it will be released?”

At Davis Garrett’s question, everyone’s eyes turned to director Jeffrey.

This kind of schedule would be better known by the planning team leader, but both Bearound and Plus+ were busy with meetings because of the director’s cut, which was different from the final cut that everyone was satisfied with.

The planning team leader’s face, who seemed to have given up on the people’s cheers, came to Seo-jun’s mind and he smiled softly.

“We’re planning for around summer.”

Director Jeffrey answered, having heard from the planning team leader beforehand.

At his words, not only Seo-jun but also the actors looked surprised.

“That’s fast. I thought it would be autumn at least…”

“You saw the edited version earlier, but apart from a few places that need to be fixed, it’s almost done. It was faster than expected.”

Thanks to their efforts on the set, they were able to minimize the CG work and hire more people for the CG work thanks to Bearound’s financial power.

“I wonder how well it will do.”

“The final cut will be a hit, but…”

‘As for the director’s cut…’

Without saying anything, the actors and director exchanged awkward looks and eventually burst into laughter.

***

Seo-jun returned to Korea and headed to the district office the next day.

The civil servant who met Seo-jun again took out Seo-jun’s ID card from among the ones that had been made. 

He could find it easily by looking at the handsome photo.

Meanwhile, his colleague next to him, who had been poked in the ribs by the civil servant (it was a predetermined signal), looked at Seo-jun in a black hat with starry eyes.

“Here you go.”

“Thank you.”

Seo-jun bowed and went outside. 

He got into the car that was parked in the parking lot.

He came by his own car because he thought it would attract attention if he parked a big car in front of the district office. 

Anh Da Ho, who was sitting in the driver’s seat, smiled at Seo-jun who sat in the passenger seat.

“Did you get it?”

“Yes. Here it is.”

Seo-jun, who seemed a bit excited with his cheeks flushed, handed over his ID card with a photo taken at Noelle Studio. 

Anh Da Ho looked at Seo-jun’s ID card back and forth while Seo-jun fastened his seat belt.

‘The photo came out well.’

It was good that he took it at the studio.

Anh Da Ho handed back Seo-jun’s ID card and started the car.

“I’m starting to feel that you’re becoming an adult soon.”

“Haha. Really?”

When did he grow up so much?

Anh Da Ho felt both happy and sad that the little actor who led him to the entertainment industry had grown up so well.

‘I wonder if he’s amazed by his own ID card.’

He looked at Seo-jun who was examining his ID card here and there. But in Anh Da Ho’s eyes, he still looked like a young child.

***

Early June.

Bearound started to promote [Survivors].

Articles about [Survivors] poured out from not only America and Korea but also all over the world.

[Bearound, ‘Survivors’ scheduled to be released in July!]

[Davis Garrett x Lee Seo-joon! ‘Survivors’ to be released in July!]

[Lee Seo-joon x Kim Jong-ho! ‘Survivors’ to be released simultaneously worldwide!]

[Korean actor’s Hollywood debut?! Kim Jong-ho’s first Hollywood movie, Survivors!]

-Wow. I thought it would be winter at least…

=22 July? July?

=N I need to save money for multiple viewings!!

-Worldwide simultaneous release wow

=That’s Hollywood scale…

=Escape also had simultaneous release in some countries.

=Only about twenty countries.

=Only? It’s amazing that a Korean movie had simultaneous release in foreign countries!

-I wonder if more Korean actors will appear in Hollywood movies now?

=Lee Seo-joon, Kim Jong-ho went there, so why not Lee Ji-seok, Lee Da-jin, Park Do-hoon?

=It’s all thanks to Lee Seo-joon!

-But there are many actors who don’t make it to the final cut even after filming.

=22 Or they appear very briefly.

=333 I guess we have to watch the movie to find out.

Ring.

Phones rang everywhere.

The staff of Kim Jong-ho’s agency had to run around to answer the ringing bells and incoming casting offers.

“Worldwide simultaneous release. That’s Hollywood for you.”

“Right. Escape also had simultaneous release in some countries, but Survivors is going to be released in more than 100 countries.”

They were amazed by the enormous scale.

“Is it okay to promote it like this a month before the release? It must cost a lot…”

“I don’t think they have to worry about money. They must have confidence that they can recover it all with this much promotion.”

They all nodded unconsciously.

“Kings Agency called!”

At the staff’s shout, the team leader of Team 1 quickly answered the phone.

Kings Agency.

Lee Seo-joon’s American agency and also the place that helped Kim Jong-ho a lot while he was appearing in a Hollywood movie.

Manager Kim Sang-woo only had good things to say about them.

From clothes and daily necessities to accommodation and food.

They were so well prepared that it felt like they went on a trip rather than filming, and Kim Sang-woo came back with a glowing face.

Just by looking at that, they could tell how well Kings Agency cared for their actors.

‘Maybe they’ll get some scripts from Hollywood after Survivors is released.’

And maybe Kim Jong-ho would be interested in some of them.

If Kim Jong-ho decided to appear in another Hollywood movie, it would be difficult for his agency to open a branch in America, so they would have to find a new partner among the agencies in America.

‘The best one would be Kings Agency.’

They already worked together once and knew each other’s working style, and they probably had some information and know-how from taking care of Hollywood star Lee Seo-joon, so working with Kings Agency would increase the chances of success.

‘The problem is that Kings Agency only has Cocoa Entertainment actors as their clients.’

He was good at his job and had a lot of information, but he only had three Korean singers and one actor as his clients.

According to a rumor that only those who knew knew, one of the members of Brown Black made it for his American activities, but… As a team leader, he had no way of knowing whether it was true or not.

‘Well. I have to do my best to look good…’

And then, if he sent Kim Jong-ho and other actors one by one, maybe his agency would have an actor who could make a name for himself in Hollywood.

“Seo-joon is our lucky charm!”

The bright voices of the staff reached the team leader’s ears.

‘…I don’t even hope for someone like Seo-joon.’

He sighed lightly and listened to the words of the Kings Agency staff on the other side of the phone.

***

[Kim Jong-ho x Lee Seo-joon! ‘Survivors’ making film released!]

[Survivors, making film released! Wait, why is this here?]

[The Korean hiking fashion that is spreading to the world?]

The making film of [Survivors] was released on YouTube.

Kim Jong-ho’s audition scene, which was kept for record purposes, was also edited very briefly, and Kim Jong-ho’s greeting with director Jeffrey Rodeks was also shown.

-Where did all the comments saying that Kim Jong-ho was edited out go!!

=22 They even made a making film centered on Kim Jong-ho?!

=333 They should have promoted it as <Actor Kim Jong-ho will definitely appear!>

-Kim Jong-ho auditioning… It feels weird;;;

=Right. He should be sitting on the judging panel;;;

=I remember when the audition article came out. If it were me, I would have seen Kim Jong-ho and just said he got in

-They’re all foreigners, so it really feels like Hollywood.

-It’s amazing that there’s Kim Jong-ho

=But it’s familiar that there’s Seo-joon

=

They all laughed again when Seo-joon joined the group of middle-aged men and women in hiking clothes.

-It’s like me stuck between my mom and dad’s friends.

=222 It was so embarrassing back then…

=But if they give me money, I can show some social skills

The making film ended with a view of the set of [Survivors] and Seo-joon, Kim Jong-ho, and Korean-American actors going up on the set.

-Wow. The set is no joke.

-I thought it was a shopping mall ad when I saw it.

=22 The shopping mall is so cool that I forgot what I was watching.

-They made it with CG, right?

=They probably did for the collapsing scene.

=…Maybe they really collapsed it in Hollywood.

-But what are those machines next to the set?

=Are they supports for the set?

=They look weird for that.

=That’s Hollywood for you.

=Aha.

=Don’t understand

The making film of Bearound was broadcast not only on YouTube but also on television.

The Hollywood set with familiar Korean actors was enough to arouse the curiosity of the viewers. 

And the ratings went up accordingly, so there was no reason for the broadcasters to refuse.

-I don’t have to worry about Korean acting with Kim Jong-ho (relieved)

=222 I like that there’s Korean, but I hate it when the pronunciation is so bad that even Koreans can’t understand.

=333 Finally, I can hear some proper Korean!

-I wish they showed some filming scenes too.

=You have to watch that in the movie.

-I’m waiting for Survivors!!

=It’s perfect for summer vacation and multiple viewings!

***

And in mid-July.

A few days before the start of summer vacation, Bearound’s [Survivors] was released.

They took their final exams early,

“Yoo-jung. What about your report?”

“…It’s okay. It’s due in two days.”

…and headed to the movie theater to enjoy their vacation. Song Yoo-jung and Im Ye-na had excited faces.

There were a lot of people because it was the first day of release, or because it was Lee Seo-joon and Kim Jong-ho’s movie. 

It was lucky that they booked in advance.

Im Ye-na read articles about [Survivors] on her phone. She cared about every article and comment because her actor was in the movie.

[Survivors, pre-sale rate, 80.7%!]

[Survivors, released today! What is the opening score?]

[The movies that were postponed because of Survivors!]

“Some movies were postponed.”

“I would postpone them as much as I could too.”

Im Ye-na read the article further.

“They say that Survivors already released the making film, so if there’s no big issue, other movies might be released in two weeks?”

“Really?”

[Kim Jong-ho’s first Hollywood debut! How is it?!]

[Father and son, Kim Jong-ho x Lee Seo-joon’s chemistry?!]

“What chemistry? You can tell by just looking at the poster. They already confirmed their chemistry as Tae-jong and Seong-nyeong.”

“Right.”

Im Ye-na said proudly, looking at the eye-catching article.

Song Yoo-jung also nodded and carefully picked up one of the posters of [Survivors].

It was a shopping mall that collapsed in the background, and five actors were standing with their backs turned. 

They all looked terrible.

“I can guess what kind of story it is, but…”

At Song Yoo-jung’s words, Im Ye-na shrugged. 

Even if they didn’t want to know the story, anyone who had watched a lot of movies or dramas could guess how it would unfold with some small pieces of information.

A collapsed shopping mall.

An extra father and a main character son.

“I can’t watch it without tears.”

“I brought tissues.”

Im Ye-na smiled and handed Song Yujung a tissue from her bag after hearing her words.

“Wow, you’re well prepared.”

“I always carry tissues with me since I cry so much watching Seojun’s movies. And this one is a disaster movie, so I think I’ll cry even more.”

Song Yujung nodded in agreement and put the tissue in her bag.

“Do you think the previous show is over yet?”

“There’s still some time left. But it’s a shame. The exit of this theater is on the other side, so we won’t be able to see the reactions of the people who watched it.”

“I like watching without knowing anything. Oh, I should avoid the internet too.”

Then they had to wait.

Song Yujung and Im Ye-na chatted while looking at Seojun’s profile picture that they had downloaded and set as their phone wallpaper.

They sometimes argued about which Seojun was the coolest, but it had been two months since the profile picture was released. 

After a fierce fight, Song Yujung and Im Ye-na decided to respect each other’s preferences.

“My taste is Seojun.”

“Seojun is cool no matter what he looks like.”

The fans of actor Lee Seojun, Song Yujung and Im Ye-na smiled at each other.

A few moments later.

“Screen 6! Those who are going to watch Survivors, please enter!”

The staff shouted.

The people who were scattered around the theater checked the location of screen 6 and got up from their seats. Song Yujung and Im Ye-na also got up and headed to the theater.

“Here it is.”

“We have a good view!”

Song Yujung and Im Ye-na sat down with excited faces and waited for the theater to darken.

Soon the theater darkened and ads started to play on the screen. 

Song Yujung and Im Ye-na, as well as the other audience members, checked the location of the emergency exits and escape routes on the screen as usual.

And then on the center of the screen.

The logo of Bearound, the production company, appeared.