Superstar From Age 0

Chapter 389

[Actor Lee Seo-jun’s next work, ‘Flowing’, enters the Cannes Film Festival competition!]

[Lee Ji-seok x Kim Jong-ho ‘One Shot’ enters the Cannes Film Festival competition!]

[This year’s Cannes Film Festival invites four Korean films!]

-Wow. There are two Korean films in the competition section!

-Is this the first time?

-No, it’s not the first time. It happened twice before.

-But it’s been a few years.

-Isn’t it a lot to have two out of ten candidates?

-Yeah, it’s a lot. There are some years when there are none.

-There are none in the Un Certain Regard section.

-There are two in the non-competition section.

-Do you think they’ll win an award?

-Yeah, Lee Seo-jun, Kim Jong-ho, Lee Ji-seok… I’m looking forward to it

-Yeah, they’re so reliable

***

-This is how it turned out.

Unlike Seo-jun, Ji-seok had submitted his films to Cannes several times before, so it was not a special occasion for him. 

Kim Jong-ho, who had been active longer than Ji-seok, was even more so.

‘But being a candidate is different.’

Anyone who qualified could submit their films.

But being invited to the competition section, which only had about 20 films out of thousands submitted from all over the world, was a special occasion. 

Moreover, it was very rare for two Korean films to be invited.

-Are we rivals now?

“That’s right.”

Seo-jun laughed at Ji-seok’s voice full of humor.

He never thought of it until the end of the Busan shooting, but he became a rival who aimed for the same award in no time, but he didn’t hate it. 

Rather, he enjoyed it.

Seeing Seo-jun’s cheerful face, An Da-ho smiled and started the car. 

He glanced at his phone and saw that he had received a lot of messages from Team 2.

It was a phone that only had Cocoa Entertainment and Seo-jun’s phone number, so this was it. 

The business phone that had the phone numbers of reporters and broadcasters was turned off now, but it must have been exploding.

Team leader… Please save me…!

An Da-ho laughed at the message from Team 2. 

He still had time to joke around.

Well, since two Korean films were in the competition section, the issue doubled, but he thought it would be okay since they were prepared in their own way.

He didn’t know what would happen if they won an award.

‘How many interviews do I have to do before I go to Cannes?’

An Da-ho tapped the steering wheel and thought about the schedule ahead while Seo-jun and Ji-seok’s call was ending.

-Ah, the special lecture is in two weeks. It doesn’t overlap with the festival schedule, so that’s good. See you then, Seo-jun.

“Yes. Ji-seok hyung.”

After the call ended, Seo-jun read the articles that were posted on the internet. 

He definitely saw familiar names among the 20 candidates for the competition section.

[Flowing-Director Min Hee-kyung]

[One Shot-Director Kim Joo-hyung]

‘I wonder how surprised Director Min was.’

He imagined how surprised Director Min Hee-kyung was when she found out about the invitation from Cannes by hearing the employees shouting ‘Competition! Competition section confirmed!!’ as they entered the conference room. He couldn’t help but smile. 

Then he received a message.

Kim Han-seok: Aaaaaah!

Kim Han-seok: Seo-jun hyung!

Kim Han-seok: Are we really going to Cannes?!

Kim Han-seok: It’s my first time at an overseas film festival!!

Kim Han-seok: Aaaaaah!

Seo-jun laughed at Kim Han-seok’s messages pouring in.

***

The busiest place after the announcement of the Cannes Film Festival invitations was Danhong, the film production company.

“Yes. The production report meeting will be held as scheduled in a week.”

“The location is the same. Yes. The number of people entering and leaving is as planned…”

“The interview is still…”

Everyone at Danhong was busy dealing with reporters’ calls regardless of their team.

But that wasn’t all they had to do. 

There were also many things to do to attend the Cannes Film Festival.

“Check the actors’ schedules and ask when they plan to attend the festival. If you want to go with the director and staff, you have to adjust your schedule.”

“Yes!”

From opening ceremony to closing ceremony, about 14 days.

When to depart and when to return, how long to stay in Cannes. 

There were too many things to adjust, from plane tickets to accommodation, to the schedule at the Cannes Film Festival.

“And we have to find out the screening date and photo call of [Flowing], and the official press conference at Cannes. We have to contact the Cannes Film Festival office for that.”

“Thank goodness there are few actors.”

Lead actor Lee Seo-jun. Supporting actor Kim Han-seok. Minor roles Kim Ho-young and Choi Hyun-hee.

There were only four actors with significant roles, so it should be easy to adjust their schedules.

He sighed lightly and turned his head.

“Where is Director Min?”

“She’s still in the conference room.”

Director Min Hee-kyung, who came to Danhong for a simple meeting before the release at the end of May, found out about the invitation to Cannes by the employees who came in shouting ‘Competition! Competition section confirmed!!’ in the conference room.

She was so surprised that she froze with a smile on her face.

He recalled her expression and scratched his cheek.

He went into the conference room.

Director Min Hee-kyung was looking at all the articles on her phone. 

She seemed to not believe it even though she saw it with her own eyes. 

He smiled and said.

“It’s true that you’re invited to the competition section. We thought it would be Un Certain Regard at best, but I guess it matched the taste of the judges perfectly.”

It was a happy and surprising event for Danhong as well. 

He sparkled his eyes and opened his mouth.

“Director Min. Now that you’re invited to the competition section, let’s aim for more.”

“More?”

Director Min flinched at his serious voice.

“The competition section of the Cannes Film Festival has the Palme d’Or for the best film and the Grand Prix for the second best film. And there are also awards for best director, best actor, best actress, jury prize, and best screenplay.”

Director Min swallowed her dry saliva as he listed the names of the awards. 

It felt more real as she heard it. 

She felt a heavy burden on her shoulders.

“At least five out of 20 films, up to seven films can win an award. That’s a higher probability than thousands out of 20.”

Director Min took a deep breath at his words.

“There’s nothing more we can do now, but we can attract people’s attention through interviews or official press conferences. The more favorable reviews we get from one of the judges, the higher our chances will be.”

He said calmly.

“Your role in the interview is very important, Director Min. I understand that you feel pressured by this sudden situation, but this is a rare opportunity. It’s your precious work, isn’t it?”

Precious work.

Director Min’s face relaxed a bit as she felt the pressure. Seeing her like that, he smiled brightly and said.

“Just show me the same courage you had when you requested an audition with actor Lee Seo-jun.”

Director Min Hee-kyung smiled faintly at his half-joking, half-serious remark and nodded brightly.

“Yes. I will.”

***

Seo-jun received a flood of congratulatory messages when he arrived home.

He replied one by one to his friends and acquaintances who seemed to be happier than him. 

Then he received a new message.

Rachel: I thought I’d see you in the summer!

Rachel: But I’ll see you in Cannes!

Evan: Yeah. Are you attending from the opening ceremony?

<I haven’t decided on the schedule yet… I’ll let you know as soon as I do!

Rachel Hill and Evan Block also said they would attend the Cannes Film Festival, perhaps because it had a friendly Hollywood style and many Hollywood actors attended. 

He sent a reply to the two and sent a message to his friend in France.

<I’m going to France

Charlie: Cannes?

Charlie guessed it right away. Seo-jun laughed.

<Yeah, the movie I filmed was invited.

<Do you want to come?

Charlie: I want to go too, but…

Charlie: Cannes is hard for ordinary people to get in:(

Seo-jun scratched his cheek at Charlie’s message.

‘That’s true.’

The Cannes Film Festival, which every actor or director wanted to go to at least once, was difficult for ordinary people to participate in.

<I’ll send you an invitation!

It was an invitation that was given to the actors and directors who applied, and the staff. 

Anyone who had that invitation could easily enter even if they were not participants.

Charlie: Then thank you!

Charlie: But can I only watch ‘Flowing’ with that?

<Yeah, that’s right.

Charlie: Then I’ll have to apply for a 3-day pass.

Charlie: I want to watch other movies too:-D

He felt proud of his friend who had come to love movies without knowing it.

***

-Moviegoer-nim. Are you going to Cannes?

-Moviegoer-nim. If you have connections, can’t you go?

A short chat time after a three-and-a-half-star movie review.

As it was a movie review channel, it was inevitable that they would talk about the topic that was stirring up Korea these days. 

Moviegoer answered the viewers’ questions.

“I’m glad that two Korean films were invited to the competition section, but it’s a pity that it’s Cannes.”

-Why?

-Isn’t Cannes good? It’s one of the three major film festivals in the world!

“Cannes is a good film festival for actors or production companies, but it’s a difficult film festival for people like me who just love movies. It’s not like the Busan International Film Festival where ordinary people can buy tickets and watch freely. It’s hard for ordinary people to participate.”

-Can’t ordinary people watch at all?

“Not at all. First of all, there is a system called Cinephile for students. But to use this system, you need a school certificate in English or French and a self-introduction letter. You also need a passport copy. And there is a deadline for applying.”

-…Do I have to take the college entrance exam again?

-Taking the college entrance exam to go to a film festival??

–

Moviegoer also laughed.

“It’s too late to apply now. The deadline has already passed.”

-Is there any other way?

“The second way is to get a 3-day pass that you can use for three days. You also need a self-introduction letter for this. You have to appeal sincerely why you love movies and why you have to participate in the Cannes Film Festival. Because there are more movies you can watch with this pass than with Cinephile, the competition rate is not easy.”

-Writing a self-introduction letter just to watch movies;;;

-Failing here too. Life…

-Busan International Film Festival is the best!

“You can apply for the 3-day pass until the end of April, so it might be worth trying. But you have to check carefully and buy it because the hotels and accommodations near where the Cannes Film Festival is held might be already full. The flights too.”

-Aren’t you going, Moviegoer-nim?

-Moviegoer-nim, if you write a self-introduction letter, you can get a 3-day pass!

-Let us see Cannes!

“…I forgot to tell you… There is an age limit for the 3-day pass… It’s 28 years old.”

-Ah…

The viewers who had been looking at the distant mountain stopped their hands and covered their mouths. The chat room became solemn for a moment.

“So unfortunately I can’t…”

Then the screen of Moviegoer’s phone, which was not visible on the camera, turned on. 

It was silent, so the screen only turned on when a text arrived. 

He was going to ignore it because he was live, but he was surprised by the letters on the screen.

-???

He looked away from the screen, somewhere outside. The viewers raised question marks as Moviegoer disappeared from the screen.

“Just a moment!”

Then they heard the sound of the door closing.

The viewers who were left behind shrugged their shoulders and started playing with other viewers.

A little later, the door opened and Moviegoer came in.

“Everyone!”

He leaned his face into the camera with a wide smile. 

The viewers moved away from the screen without knowing it.

-You scared me!

-Pressure. Moviegoer-nim. Face. Pressure.

-Can’t watch…

Moviegoer quickly backed away from the screen.

“Isn’t it too much to say you can’t watch?”

-It’s not that it’s not (serious)

–

-But what’s going on?

“Ahem. Everyone. Do you know the movie ‘Flowing’?”

They couldn’t not know the movie that was invited to Cannes, which they had been talking about until a while ago.

-Yeah, Lee Seo-jun’s next work.

-Why are you suddenly talking about that?

“‘Flowing’ production company Danhong invited me as a publicity reporter, so I can attend the Cannes Film Festival!”

At his excited words, the chat room that had stopped for a moment started to rise in an instant.

-Wow!!

-He’s going like this

-He became a film company official in the blink of an eye

-The publicity effect must be good.

-22 I’m curious about Cannes too.

-33 Moviegoer-nim will promote other movies too

-That’s why it’s better!

-Please show us the red carpet too!

-Lee Seo-jun! Lee Seo-jun!

Moviegoer smiled broadly and said.

“Then I’ll see you in Cannes soon!”