Superstar From Age 0

Chapter 585

The screen went completely dark as Minhan’s narration ended.

Haa…

The audience and the guests relaxed their bodies on the chairs as if they had lost all their strength. They came to watch the opening film with a light heart, but they didn’t expect to feel such a storm of emotions.

The quiet but bright background music filled the theater, and the sound of wiping tears started to be heard here and there.

Some people wiped away the tears that had welled up in their eyes, and some people had already soaked their sleeves from crying silently.

Then, white letters started to appear on the dark screen. The audience reflexively lifted their heads. Was it a cookie video?

No, it was the ending scroll of [Hwa].

They were disappointed that it wasn’t a cookie video, but the audience applauded the [Hwa] team for showing them a wonderful film.

[Director Hwang Jiyoon]

Clap clap clap!

The audience recalled the female student who had grabbed the microphone on the podium just before. They remembered her words that she hoped the film would stay in their hearts for a long time. This would definitely stay for a long time.

Hwang Jiyoon.

They looked forward to her next work.

[Minhan role Hwang Doyoon]

Clap clap clap!

Minhan was good too.

He came to work without knowing anything, met the lord, learned the truth, and changed. His acting was good. His narration, which flowed calmly, also touched people’s hearts.

Hwang Doyoon.

They hoped he would show them a great performance in his next work.

[Nameless painter (lord) role Na Jin]

Clap clap clap!

The lord was beyond words.

He was shocking from his first appearance, his crying under the moonlight was impressive, and the scenes where he read the Declaration of Independence and drew a picture on the snow made their hearts sink.

No, they couldn’t take their eyes off him in every scene he appeared. They marveled at his acting skills, which seemed like the lord himself had appeared.

As expected, Na Jin.

…Na Jin?

Enveloped in sadness and emotion, they had forgotten everything else and focused only on the film. One by one, they widened their eyes.

…Uh?!

A strange sound came from the seats.

But no one paid attention. They all looked like they had lost their souls, with their mouths wide open. They remembered the name or the face of the lord who had appeared in the film.

The actor who appeared in [Hwa] was who they realized once again.

Lee Seo-jun.

It was Lee Seo-jun.

They heard the sound of inhaling breaths here and there.

Some people talked to the person next to them, whether they believed it or not. Even if they were strangers. Hey, that’s right, right? Lee Seo-jun. Yes. That’s right. It seems right. Lee Seo-jun!

The sound of conversation grew louder.

His face, his acting skills, there was no way he wasn’t actor Lee Seo-jun, but they still had doubts. It was too sudden and surprising, and their brains didn’t work properly.

They needed confirmation.

They saw the actors sitting in the VIP seats, looking surprised, asking the actors of Lee Seo-jun’s troupe, who they were acquainted with.

“Mr. Dohoon. Lee Seo-jun… is that right?”

The ordinary audience sitting near the VIP seats stretched their necks and listened. There seemed to be a strange silence, as if they were focused on Park Dohoon’s answer. Park Dohoon and the three actors smiled slightly.

“Yes. That’s right. Actor Lee Seo-jun.”

The theater exploded.

“Wow…”

Kim Soohan exclaimed as he came out of the theater.

“I thought they extended the event because of my work… but it wasn’t.”

“…Where did you get that confidence?”

“Really, baseless confidence. As expected, Kim Soohan.”

The friends who came to watch the opening ceremony with Kim Soohan teased him. Kim Soohan, who had his film screened at the closing ceremony of the Korean Independent Film Festival, scratched his neck awkwardly.

“No. I thought I made a good work this time. You guys said it was good too. But I didn’t know Seo-jun would come out.”

“Right. Lee Seo-jun was too strong.”

The friends nodded their heads. They didn’t know how surprised they were when Seo-jun came out.

Among them, there was one man who didn’t agree and scratched his cheek.

“Hmm. Of course, the actors’ acting skills had some influence, but… even without Lee Seo-jun, the work was good, wasn’t it?”

Cough.

Kim Soohan clenched his chest at the words of his friend, who was an actor and the main character of his film (closing work).

“Critical hit.”

“HP 1 left.”

Friend or foe.

They teased Kim Soohan, who stopped talking. He thought the basic work was good too.

“That’s true. The work was good. The director was a college student, right?”

“The staff must have been college students too. About thirty people?”

“That’s amazing, right?”

The friends shrugged their shoulders at the conversation between the director and the actor.

They used to work in the film industry for a while to help Kim Soohan and do part-time jobs, but now they were thirty. They all found their own jobs, and the only ones left in the film industry were those two.

The friends who were walking out of the noisy theater because of Lee Seo-jun’s appearance saw a group of people.

“Huh? Those people… aren’t they those people?”

“What?”

Kim Soohan and his friend, who were busy sharing their opinions on the actors’ performances in [Hwa], lifted their heads.

“The college students who made the film.”

“Are they going home?”

There were not many people, but there were director Hwang Jiyoon and actor Hwang Doyoon, who had been on the podium at the opening ceremony. Kim Soohan’s eyes sparkled.

“Let’s go.”

“Huh?”

“Let’s go say hello!”

…What?

The friends blinked their eyes.

“No. You never know when you’ll work together in a film. You might work with director Hwang Jiyoon too. When else would you get a chance to talk to such talented directors and actors like this!”

Ah…

He’s the one who asked the theater staff to get Na Jin’s autograph.

As expected, Kim Soohan.

He had to give him credit for his drive.

***

The [Hwa] team, who had spent some time in the theater to avoid the reporters who surely had questions about Seo-jun, decided to part ways for today and meet later. They would be busy from today on.

“It looks like we’re the advance party, huh?”

“Right?”

They split up according to the direction they were going home, because they thought it would be conspicuous if thirty people walked together, and somehow the advance party consisted of Hwang Jiyoon, Hwang Doyoon, Park Woojin, two people from the stage art, and one person from the art team.

“It’s a shame. It would have been nice if Seo-jun was with us too.”

The advance party nodded at Hwang Doyoon’s words.

“But it felt different when I saw it in the theater.”

“Me too. I’ve seen it several times, but… it feels like the first time every time.”

They all had excited faces, as if the emotions from the film were still lingering.

“How about you?”

“…What’s there to say?”

Hwang Jiyoon, who had been giggling at Hwang Doyoon’s question, burst out laughing. Hahaha, she couldn’t stop laughing.

Her heart was still pounding. Her own film, which she watched while sitting in the audience and feeling their reactions, was the best. Every tear and every exclamation from the audience was like a compliment.

“Excuse me…”

The advance party, who had been chatting, turned their heads at the voice they heard. A man smiled awkwardly and opened his mouth.

“Hello. I’m Kim Soohan, a film director who had his work screened at the closing ceremony.”

Closing ceremony? Film director? Kim Soohan!

Hwang Jiyoon and Park Woojin, who were film majors, widened their eyes.

He was Na Jin’s first fan, and he was also a talented director who had won awards at various film festivals since he was a student. Didn’t he also go to the Cannes Film Festival as the co-director of [Suryeo]?

“I really enjoyed your film. Director Hwang Jiyoon. Actor Hwang Doyoon’s performance was also amazing.”

“Ah, thank you.”

That’s how they exchanged greetings with Kim Soohan and his friends, who had come out of nowhere.

***

“Yes! I’m a little late! I’m sorry!”

-You’re very late, aren’t you?

-Was the film long? It took quite a while, right?

-But you look very excited. Moviegoer-nim.

-22 He says he’s sorry with his mouth, but his expression is happy

He was a moviegoer who looked excited, as he said.

He didn’t need to look in the mirror to know what he looked like. Most of the people who came out of the theater looked the same. They all had a ticklish expression on their faces, with a bright expression.

-Was the movie fun?

-Was it worth watching?

“Yes. The movie. The movie, I mean.”

The moviegoer recalled [Hwa]. At the same time, the emotions of the film came back to life and his expression became faintly wistful.

-Oh. It must have been fun.

-His expression is genuine.

-22 This is a genuine expression that can’t be hidden…

-I have to go buy the tickets quickly.

The viewers quickly read the moviegoer’s expression.

“Yes. That’s right. The movie was really fun. I recommend it. I hope you all watch it too. And…”

He suddenly wondered if he should say this. Should he keep it a secret like [Escape]? But it wasn’t a cameo, but one of the main characters, so it seemed okay…

“Huh?! Crazy, Lee Seo-jun?!”

-What? Lee Seo-jun is there?!

-Is Lee Seo-jun there?!

-I’m going there now!!

Before the moviegoer could make a decision, he was half-exposed by the voice that came from somewhere. As the comments saying they were going to Apgujeong now poured out like waves, the moviegoer quickly raised his hand.

“Ah, no. Lee Seo-jun didn’t come, but…”

-[Lee Seo-jun appeared in the opening film of the Korean Independent Film Festival!]

-Article is out!!

-Huh! Is it true? Moviegoer-nim?

-It’s really Lee Seo-jun!?

-Is this Lee Seo-jun’s next work?!

…That was fast.

The moviegoer scratched his cheek.

Well, there were reporters in the VIP seats, so it would have been strange if there was no article. It seemed like it was okay to talk about it, since the film festival didn’t stop it.

“Yes. That’s right. Lee Seo-jun appeared in the opening film, Hwa, or rather, Na Jin.”

-Hul!!! Crazy!!!

-Suddenly an independent film…! A next work!!

-How can you be so unexpected?! Thank you so much

-22 I’m going to watch it now.(serious)

-But why Na Jin?

-It’s been a long time since I heard that name

-Is this his first appearance after One Step?

-That was already 8 years ago…!

-But why not Lee Seo-jun?

-Right?

“I was a bit puzzled too, but maybe it’s because it’s an independent film.”

The moviegoer recalled the names that appeared on the ending scroll.

About thirty names.

Except for ‘Art Advisor Matteo’ (he didn’t know who he was, but he probably was an art expert) and ‘Cocoa Entertainment’, it was really a film made by students.

“Lee Seo-jun has a good eye for films, right?”

-That’s true.

-Box office invincible

-Trustworthy Lee Seo-jun.

“If Lee Seo-jun chose the film, I would want to invest in it too. I mean, I do, but if I were a film investor, I would definitely want to invest in it.”

-That makes sense.

-22 Me too.

-33 There’s probably no other investment that’s so reliable.

“But once you get an investment, it’s not an independent film, but a commercial film. Of course, the filming equipment, props, and backgrounds might improve, but… if you have an investor, you have to prioritize the box office, and then there will be interference.”

-When you have a client… well…

-???: I’ll fix it and come back×100

–

The moviegoer thought of [Hwa].

He wondered how it would have changed if there had been any interference. Would he have felt the same emotion as he did now? He felt glad that it was an independent film.

“That’s why I think actor Lee Seo-jun didn’t reveal his name. He wanted to make it a pure independent film.”

-My name is Na Jin, which is not very common either.

-But it’s been eight years already, so some people don’t remember well.

-The 22-year-olds might not know.

-They don’t show One Step nowadays? That textbook-like work of fire evacuation?!

-No, they do show it, but they think of it as Lee Seo-jun.

-???: Na Jin? Was there an actor like that?

-T_T Back in my day… you don’t know how amazing child actor Na Jin was…!

“That’s right. With Cheongryong’s voice, and One Step… he was amazing. I can’t believe I met him again in an independent film after such a long time…! I thought he had quit acting!”

-Lol

-Overreacting lol

The moviegoers and the viewers laughed.

“Ahem. Anyway, I can’t tell you much right now because it’s a spoiler, but the movie Hwa, starring Lee Seo-jun, or Na Jin, is a very cool movie. I really recommend it. I hope you all watch it too.”

-But they only have six screenings left T_T T_T

-…The tickets are all sold out. I couldn’t buy any.

-The person who said they bought a ticket earlier is the winner. The winner of life T_T

The moviegoer, who watched the people who saw the movie in the theater and the people who heard about it through the articles, felt sorry for them as they looked for the tickets for [Hwa].

“But I think it will be uploaded to the OTT site soon. Like Plus or Add or Plus Plus.”

-Now I’m just waiting for Plus to buy it lol

-Lol I’m collecting Lee Seo-jun collection on Plus lol

-Please review it when it’s uploaded!!

“Of course I have to! Oh, but it’s a shame. The movie was so good that I wanted to interview the director and the actors and the staff of Hwa. But when I came to my senses, they were gone.”

The moviegoer said with a regretful face.

“I’ll try to contact the students of Hanye University later and try to include the interview of the filming team in the review. By the way, Lee Seo-jun is also attending Hanye University, right? It would be nice to hear some stories from him.”

-Yeah, they must have met because they go to the same school.

-That’s how fate works.

“…Huh?”

The moviegoer, who was moving to watch the next movie, stopped abruptly, as if he was broken.

-What’s wrong? Why are you like that?

-What happened???

-Did you leave something behind?

“…No. It’s just…”

The moviegoer’s eyes shook.

“If the students of Hanye University and Lee Seo-jun filmed together… then doesn’t that mean Lee Seo-jun was on Working Man? And…”

The moviegoer swallowed his dry saliva.

“The incident where he avoided the tunnel accident right before it happened.”