thenovelthief Chapter 253: Storm (3)
Chapter 253: Storm (3)
Chapter 253: Storm (3)
Director Kwon Ki-taek, with a head full of grey hair, began to enter the stage in the hall along with the actors from ‘Island of the Missing’. Kang Woojin, Ryu Jung-min, Ha Yu-ra, Kim Yi-won, Jeon Woo-chang, and two other supporting actors.
A total of eight people.
Soon, the lights in the hall dimmed slightly, and a grandiose music began to play.
-♬♪
As expected from a production announcement by the great director Kwon Ki-taek, the prepared direction was a bit over the top. It was probably the distributor’s idea. Regardless, the hundred or so reporters started clicking their shutters enthusiastically.
Flashes erupted on the stage every second.
-Pabababababak!
The lights were so dim that the flashes were almost overwhelming. At this point, among the actors entering in a line, the first one, Kang Woojin in a beige trench coat, had a silent expression, but.
‘What kind of entrance direction is this... And why are there so many reporters! Huh? and why am I first?’
He realized he was the first to enter only then. He had been waiting by the door before entering according to the staff’s signal, and somehow, he ended up being first.
Because of that,
– Swoosh.
Woojin lowered his voice to Ryu Jung-min, who was right behind him.
“Sunbae-nim, I’m sorry. This way, please.”
Then Ryu Jung-min, wearing a brown blazer, chuckled softly. His short hair had grown slightly longer.
“Does it matter where we sit? You can just sit anywhere.”
As Ryu Jung-min, who was about to transfer to bw Entertainment, gestured with his hand, Kang Woojin kept a nonchalant face but was slightly flustered. What? But still, isn’t it strange for me to sit in the first seat? However, neither director Kwon Ki-taek nor the other actors seemed to mind at all.
Then.
“Yes! The main cast of ‘Island of the Missing’ is all here!”
The female host made her announcement. The production announcement had begun. With no choice, Woojin sat in the first seat next to director Kwon Ki-taek. Then the female host continued the event.
“Although everyone here might already know, let’s start with introductions from the director.”
The renowned director Kwon Ki-taek, in a slightly thick jacket, brought the handheld microphone to his mouth.
“Hello, I’m Kwon Ki-taek, the director of ‘Island of the Missing’.”
“Yes! Hello, director~nim! Next-”
The female host’s eyes met Woojin’s. Naturally, Woojin picked up the microphone. Flashes exploded crazily in front of him. The scale was more overwhelming than he had expected. Furthermore, considering Kang Woojin’s filmography, ‘Island of the Missing’ was his first leading role in a movie.
In other words, this was his first production announcement as a lead actor.
He was seated alongside the top actors in the country. Or more accurately, Kang Woojin was in the first seat. The significance of it made him suddenly nervous. He felt a bit of pressure. But it was fine. Woojin had already experienced production announcements before, and dealing with a hundred reporters wasn’t new to him.
‘Hoo- Stay calm.’
Woojin lowered his voice even more.
“Hello, I’m Kang Woojin, playing Corporal Jin Sun-cheol in ‘Island of the Missing’.”
The name of Woojin’s first leading role spread throughout the spacious hall. The shutter sounds rapidly increased, and the reporters typing on their laptops doubled their speed. The atmosphere felt different. Specifically, it was the scent of the hall that Kang Woojin was sensing. The gazes of the hundred or so reporters were sharp. A peculiar pressure.
Yes, this was it.
The movie directed by the master director Kwon Ki-taek. The lead role in that movie.
It was indeed different.
‘Is this... how top actors who only take lead roles feel? Damn! It’s heavy as hell.’
This seat carried responsibility. Therefore, even though Woojin was freaking out inside, he had to maintain his cool demeanor several times more on the outside.
Meanwhile, the handheld microphone was passed to Ryu Jung-min.
“Hello. I’m Ryu Jung-min, playing First Lieutenant Choi Yu-tae in ‘Island of the Missing’.”
Next, Ha Yu-ra, Kim Yi-won, and Jeon Woo-chang introduced themselves in that order, and the female host directed the next question to Kang Woojin.
“Woojin-ssi, who is very popular these days! What is the unique charm of ‘Island of the Missing’?”
Heh, I already received the questionnaire. This much is not difficult. Woojin answered nonchalantly.
“I think it’s the plot twist. ‘Island of the Missing’ has many unexpected twists in various parts, making it hard for your eyes and ears to rest.”
Having finished his answer, Woojin praised himself. Good job, it was smooth with no mistakes. Likewise, the other actors continued to answer eloquently. Then, another question was directed to Kang Woojin.
“Woojin-ssi, you show different acting in every work, making it hard to see you as the same actor. What kind of character will you show in ‘Island of the Missing’?”
For a moment, Kang Woojin hesitated. What? Was there such a question? He couldn’t remember. Whether it was due to tension or not, Woojin’s mind went blank. What is it? What was it? In that brief moment, he struggled to come up with an answer. It was a fierce battle within himself that no one else would notice.
Ah- I don’t know.
His memory failed him. In a state of resignation, Woojin brought the mic to his mouth. I don’t know, let’s just answer appropriately. Anyway, the split personality was a secret, right? Fortunately, an answer flashed through his mind.
“I played the role of a timid piece of trash.”
“······What?”
“A timid piece of trash.”
“Ah- a timid piece of trash.”
『Finally opening the lid... ‘Sim Han-ho’, ‘Kang Woojin’, ‘Oh Hee-ryung’ gathered for the ‘Leech’ script reading』
The 6th had arrived.
On the morning of Saturday the 6th, at a luxury hotel in Seoul.
A suite room in a 5-star hotel located in Cheongdam. No, it was precisely the highest grade of suite room. Therefore, the view from the large windows and the furniture in the room were all breathtaking.
It was naturally spacious.
In one of these rooms, a giant man entered the area with a square table and grey sofa. A familiar black man. Recently in Korea for work, the famous Hollywood producer Joseph Felton. He was wearing dress pants and a tight-fitting black sweater, making his muscular upper body stand out.
Then,
-Swoosh.
With a coffee cup in one hand, he sat on the sofa and crossed his legs. Joseph’s giant frame made the coffee cup look particularly small. Anyway, while bringing the tiny coffee cup to his lips, Joseph started going through the many transparent files and tablets spread on the table.
At this time,
-Knock knock.
The sound of knocking echoed through the entire room. The giant Joseph got up casually and opened the door. Several foreigners, including the bald Robert, were standing outside the door, having arrived on time.
Joseph sat back on a single-seater sofa, and his team members lined up on the opposite sofa.
Only after everyone gathered did the real meeting start.
English flew around frantically.
The main content of the meeting was a summary of the discussions held over the past few days with the Korean branch of an overseas professional distributor and a Hollywood film company. Joseph and his team continued their morning meeting for over 40 minutes, and when the clock pointed to 10 o’clock, the bald Robert changed the subject.
“Joseph, what are your plans for today? Today is the script reading for ‘Leech’.”
As if he already knew, Joseph crossed his arms and let out a sigh.
“Hm- Well. I heard that Director Ahn Ga-bok said it’s okay to attend the script reading, but what I want to see is not the script reading, but Kang Woojin’s real acting.”
“······Then?”
“There will be a lot of people involved. If we occupy the space, unnecessary comments might arise. So let’s skip today’s script reading and visit on the 8th for the official filming.”
“Understood. Then I will move tomorrow’s schedule to today.”
“Sure. No need to overdo it. It’s okay to rest a bit.”
At that moment,
-♬♪
Joseph’s phone rang in his pocket. He naturally took it out. However, upon seeing the caller displayed on the screen, Joseph’s eyes widened slightly.
“Hm?”
Seeing this, the bald Robert tilted his head.
“What’s the matter?”
“······”
Joseph, who had been staring at the caller ID for a moment, answered in a low voice.
“It’s Miley. She’s calling at a rather odd time.”
The caller was the global superstar Miley Cara. Although Joseph and she were not without acquaintance, they were not in the habit of frequent calls. Since they both had influence in Hollywood, they greeted each other comfortably when they met? Occasionally, they contacted each other via DM.
Most of it was work-related.
Anyway, with a puzzled face, Joseph changed the direction of his crossed legs and put the phone to his ear.
“Hey, Miley.”
Miley Cara’s characteristic cold voice echoed from the other side of the phone.
“Joseph. Where are you right now?”
A question out of nowhere. Joseph responded with a small laugh.
“Ah- I’m not in LA right now, I’m in Korea.”
“I know.”
“Hmm?”
“That’s why I was asking where in Korea you are.”
“···Why are you asking that?”
Joseph’s smile faded, and he furrowed his brows. Then he heard Cara’s short and clear reply in his ear.
“Because I’m in Korea too right now.”
*****
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