The Haunted Monster Actor - Chapter 58



Only Krnovel

Episode 58

Cheongryong Studio building.

The main cast of Torso on the Blue all gathered together at the director’s sudden call.

Although they were actors who had met for the first time in a long time, they were too busy trying to figure out what was going on with each other to even think about properly greeting each other.

“Do you know what’s going on with Bae? You’re pretty close with Director Maeng.”

Bae Geum-sik shrugged his shoulders at Seo Yeo-ok’s question.

“We’ve both been busy these days, so we haven’t even seen each other’s faces.”

“Really? Then you don’t know either. What could possibly cause the release date to be postponed… …”

“By the way, Seo hasn’t come yet.”

“… … Did something happen to the former actor?”

“Hey, no way. That can’t be it.”

The faces of the actors listening to the conversation between the two people were dark.

Summer and winter of last year.

There was no actor who could feel at ease in a situation where a work that he had put all his passion into filming was facing difficulties before it was even released to the world.

After some anxious time passed like that.

Soon, the person everyone was waiting for entered the conference room.

“Huh? Sir?”

However, Director Maeng Jong-ho was not the only one who showed up in the conference room.

Along with the key executives of Cheongryong Studio, there were also employees from distribution and agency companies, and even representatives and managers of some actors’ agencies.

Among them was Woo Ji-yoon, CEO of Piorum.

‘What on earth is going on…?’

I didn’t know what was going on, but it was clear that it was more serious than I thought.

Even though he entered the conference room, Maeng Jong-ho hesitated for a while and couldn’t open his mouth.

“I… …speak?”

The CEO and employees standing behind Maeng Jong-ho nodded with stern faces.

Bae Geum-sik, who felt frustrated at the sight, could not hold it in any longer and opened his mouth.

“The movie release has been postponed. What do you mean?”

“That’s it, that is… … .”

“It’s okay, just tell me what’s on your mind, Director Maeng!”

Maeng Jong-ho nodded and continued speaking.

“Torso on the Blue has been invited to Cannes.”

“Cannes? Phew, what did I say… … You bastard, I thought something big had happened, so you know how surprised I was… … .”

ok?

Bae Geum-sik, who had been speaking, suddenly got up from his seat with his eyes wide open.

“Cannes? Cannes? Did I hear something wrong?”

Cannes.

Its more widely known name in our country is the ‘Cannes Film Festival’.

Cannes, which is considered one of the world’s top three film festivals along with the Berlin International Film Festival and the Venice International Film Festival, is known as the ‘Mecca’ of the international film industry.

Literally a holy place for all filmmakers.

Even Bae Geum-sik, who has been acting for a long time, was surprised by this, so naturally the other actors were dumbfounded and did not understand what they had heard.

Looking at that scene, Maeng Jong-ho opened his mouth again in a loud voice towards the actors with a face full of smiles.

“Our work… was invited to the Critics’ Week at the Cannes Film Festival!!”

phut!

phut!

phut!!!

With those words, the staff and studio employees behind them set off firecrackers they had hidden behind their backs.

“Kkannurani… … What the heck is that… … !”

Soon, Seo Yeo-ok and Bae Geum-sik, who realized what was going on, were the first to come to their senses and congratulated Maeng Jong-ho.

“Congratulations, Director Maeng.”

“Kkannurani… … Huh, this isn’t a dream, right?”

Maeng Jong-ho nodded with a happy face and continued speaking.

“After completing the film and submitting it to various film festivals at home and abroad, I thought this film would be something. But I never thought I would get a call from Cannes… I really never expected that.”

“Who could have predicted that?”

“Although we were not nominated in the competition category, we wanted to celebrate the fact that we were invited to Cannes, so we created this event.”

The ‘Critics’ Week of the Cannes Film Festival’, hosted by the French Film Critics Association, is a section that focuses primarily on discovering new talent, and selects only the first or second films of directors from around the world.

Although it is not a non-competitive category, one of the official categories or competitive categories that compete for awards, it is nonetheless.

That I received an ‘invitation from Khan’.

That fact alone proves the film’s artistic quality and creativity.

Maeng Jong-ho is a director who has just made his feature film debut.

In fact, it was no different from starting at the peak of one’s career as a commercial debut director.

“Congratulations, Director Maeng!”

“Congratulations, Director Maeng Jong-ho!”

“It is something to be celebrated, not just for me, but for all of us.”

So the reason the release date was postponed was simple.

The Cannes Film Festival opens this coming May.

The name ‘Cannes’ is a more powerful promotional tool than anything a film can utilize.

After the film festival ended, adjusting the release date was a very natural choice.

Now, the golden silk road was spread out before Maeng Jong-ho.

And maybe that’s the way.

‘I won’t be walking this path alone.’

Maeng Jong-ho’s gaze turned to Hyun-soo, who had a blank expression on his face in front of him, the ‘main character’ of Torso on the Blue.

As I said before, movies are not an art that the director does alone.

There are probably many reasons why the Cannes judges chose Torso on the Blue, but Maeng Jong-ho thinks it’s probably this.

‘Actor Kim’s acting must have put an emphasis on that.’

The reason why the beautiful emotions of Torso on the Blue could be fully expressed on screen was thanks to none other than Kim Hyun-soo’s ‘Lee Gun-hoo’.

So maybe it was not he but Kim Hyun-soo who was chosen by Khan.

“Come to think of it, this was actor Kim’s debut film, right?”

“Ah… … Now that you mention it, that’s true.”

Maeng Jong-ho sincerely congratulated Hyun-soo, who had a bewildered look on his face.

“I sincerely congratulate you on being invited to Cannes for your debut film, actor Kim Hyun-soo.”

The Silk Road, embroidered with golden leaves, lies in front of Torso on the Blue.

Actor Kim Hyun-soo will also walk along that path.

* * *

On a day like today, a celebration cannot be missed.

Since it was not yet at the stage to be announced to the public, it was held as a private small party in the Cheongryong Studio cafeteria.

“Once the Cannes Film Festival announcement is made, we will treat you properly again.”

Kim Seok-jin, CEO of Cheongryong Studio, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the director and cast.

He, who has mainly planned films by discovering independent films or unknown directors, was very happy with the honor that Torso on the Blue gave him.

And that goes for everyone who worked hard to make this film.

The director, actors, staff, and everyone else who worked behind the scenes to make the film a success were incredibly happy about today’s event.

“But, why doesn’t the actor come?”

In response to Bae Geum-sik’s words, Hyun-soo answered by holding up his smartphone.

“I spoke to you on the phone earlier, but it looks like you’ll be late due to your schedule.”

“Did you get the news?”

“No way. It can’t be just us who suffers from this. We just said that something big happened.”

Bae Geum-sik smiled sinisterly(?) after hearing Hyun-soo’s answer.

“Hehe, that’s right.”

Bam!

They say even a tiger will come if you call it.

Lee Seo, who arrived late, opened the door in a hurry and appeared.

“Oh, sorry I’m late!”

As soon as he entered, Bae Geum-sik said something sharp(?) to Jeon Yi-seo, who kept bowing.

“No, I’m an actor. How is it that an actor hasn’t changed at all since the script reading? Huh? They said something big happened, but what if the youngest one is this late?”

As Lee Seo fidgeted under the harsh reprimand from her senior, Bae Geum-sik, who was as good as the sky, the surrounding actors all covered their faces and burst into laughter.

“I, that… … the schedule was delayed more than expected… … I’m really sorry… … .”

“No, how can an actress who was selected by Cannes be so late for an appointment? Please be more careful in the future!”

“Yes… …! I won’t be late again! But, what on earth is the big deal… …?”

“Didn’t you hear? I just said it.”

“… … ?”

“She is an actress chosen by Cannes.”

“……huh?”

“ok?”

“yes?!”

Hahahahahahaha!

Soon, everyone in the room burst into laughter.

Seo-i, with a puzzled look on her face, asked Geum-sik again.

“What, what do you mean?”

“Don’t be surprised. Our Torso on the Blue… … has been invited to Cannes!”

“… … .”

“Haven’t you heard? Cannes! Cannes, Cannes!”

“… … .”

“Former actor? Hey, former actor! Wake up!”

For a while, Lee Seo remained frozen, unable to open his mouth, like an ice statue standing on the border between life and death.

* * *

“Didn’t you say, actor, that you have a schedule starting tomorrow morning? Just drink half a glass, just half a glass.”

“Hehe, no, senior! If you don’t drink on a day like today, then when will you drink again?”

“I feel a little drunk already… … Seriously, if I keep doing this and miss tomorrow’s schedule… … .”

As Bae Geum-sik was hesitating while holding the bottle of soju, Lee Seo’s manager appeared and spoke quietly.

“Sister Lee, you don’t have any schedules tomorrow, so don’t worry, senior. The CEO adjusted his schedule today so that you can enjoy yourself without worrying.”

“Oh, really? Then you should drink it.”

Gulp gulp gulp gulp―!

“Hehehe, thank you! And everyone, everyone… … congratulations!!”

Seo Lee, holding a glass in one hand and giving congratulations to everyone.

The glass that had been filled with her powerful fighting spirit became half empty again.

“Former actor, why are you wasting alcohol! Are you pretending to be drunk on purpose and wasting it?”

“Huh, how did you know… … Hehe.”

Wink

Bae Geum-sik was left speechless by Lee Seo’s sudden wink attack.

The actors’ faces burst into laughter as they watched the scene.

“Hahahahaha, I didn’t know because I only saw him restraining himself during filming, but now that I look at it, the actor becomes really cute when he drinks?”

“Are you just full of aegyo? I wonder if anyone would say I’m not an idol. This is my stage, my stage!”

Yes, that’s right.

Jeon I-seo had been hiding his identity by disguising himself as the youngest… …the god of drinking and dancing!

“Stage?! Should I sing a song for you?!”

“I called you earlier!”

“Then shall we dance this time? Dance? Raise your hand if you want to see it!”

Hyunsoo timidly raised his hand, but unfortunately(?) Seo-i, who didn’t see him, sat down again.

Just sitting there like that.

No one seemed willing to stand up.

The time spent sharing joy with everyone was a more enjoyable moment than ever.

Hyunsoo also poured himself a glass of wine today without any regrets and congratulated himself and everyone present.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

“Oh, and here’s one more thing to celebrate.”

The person who stood up from his seat and captured everyone’s attention was none other than Woo Ji-yoon, the representative of Piorum.

A slightly drunken face with flushed cheeks.

The affectionate eyes that could be seen through the glasses were(?) directed at Hyun-soo.

“Our Hyun-soo, oh, no. Our actor Kim Hyun-soo has been cast as the first leading role in a drama this time!”

Wow – clap clap clap clap clap!

Everyone’s surprised gaze turns to Hyun-soo at the sound of Go-geon’s clapping that matches the rhythm from the side.

Soon, elasticity bursts in the intestines.

“No, you’re the main character in a drama! Why didn’t you tell me earlier!”

“Let’s see, is this your second time in a drama? You’re the main character in your second work? I wonder… … Is this someone that Cannes would be jealous of?”

“Senior! What’s the title of the drama? Huh? Tell me!”

“Ah, it’s called “Nineties Dive”… … .”

“No way! Are you talking about writer Choi Ui-jeong’s script? I heard that the competition rate for the lead role auditions was no joke! Oh, well, given your acting skills, maybe that’s only natural… … .”

“Hey, you shouldn’t say that with such a serious face… … .”

“Shall I give you a congratulatory performance?”

“huh.”

Hyunsoo nodded timidly.

As everyone was congratulating Hyun-soo, a comment that poured cold water on the situation was heard from somewhere.

“A drama protagonist? Hey, why is something like that worth celebrating?”

“… … ?”

The person who grumbled and spoke as if he did not like it was none other than Torso on the Blue director Maeng Jong-ho.

“Hey, Director Maeng, are you drunk? What are you doing all of a sudden?”

“No. That’s right, senior!”

At Bae Geum-sik’s embarrassed question, Maeng Jong-ho raised his voice in an unusual way.

“The fact that actor Kim, who played the lead role in our movie, is also playing the lead role in the drama, that’s just… … .”

I raised my glass.

“Isn’t that a given!”

The toasts in everyone’s hands didn’t go down all night long.

Continued in the next episode