The Haunted Monster Actor - Chapter 65



Only Krnovel

Episode 65

Cannes, a city in southern France, bordering the turquoise-hued beaches of the Cote d’Azur.

Cannes, normally a quiet resort town, becomes more glamorous than anywhere else in the world at five o’clock in the afternoon in May.

The black tuxedos and gorgeous dresses that decorate the red carpet sparkle like stars under the ceaseless barrage of camera flashes.

May 2024.

Hyunsoo was one of those stars.

“Director Maeng Jong-ho! You were invited to Cannes with your first feature film only three years after your independent film “Youth, Adrift” was nominated at Sundance! Please tell us how you felt about this!”

“Actress Jeon I-seo! How do you feel about entering Cannes with your debut work, following actor Lee Tae-rin last year?”

“Actor Kim Hyun-soo, you look so cool today! Look here, look here!”

Whenever the voice of a Korean reporter is heard among the press corps from around the world, Hyunsoo waves his hand in that direction and greets them.

Maeng Jong-ho, who has experience participating in leading independent film festivals overseas, responded to interviews with foreign reporters with fairly fluent English skills.

Jeon Eui-seo, dressed in a beautiful white halter-neck dress, smiled at the camera with a slightly nervous expression.

A total of five Korean films were invited to this year’s Cannes Film Festival, including “Torso on the Blue.”

In addition to the work “Happy Hell” by master director Yoo Chan-jong, which was invited to the competitive section, one work was invited to the non-competitive section, and two works were invited to the midnight screening.

South Korea has once again achieved the feat of being invited to five works, following seven last year.

It was perhaps natural that foreign reporters would be interested in Korean films, which can now be called the greatest film powerhouse in Asia.

An unusually large number of foreign reporters and critics flocked to the theater where Torso on the Blue was being screened.

Maeng Jong-ho’s face as he looked at them was overflowing with confidence in his work, and the response was also overwhelmingly positive.

[A movie that made me realize that the beach in winter can be warm.]

[The discovery of two actors like pearls found in the dark deep sea!]

[When Gunhoo melted, my heart melted too.]

Surprisingly, one of them was Mikhail S. Homer, a world-renowned film critic and one of the jurors at last year’s Cannes Film Festival.

[Loss was, in fact, part of the feeling of love.]

“Torso on the Blue,” which had its world premiere at the Espace Miramar theater, received a standing ovation for about 5 minutes along with such a buzzy wording.

A moment of ultimate glory.

As he spent that moment, Hyunsoo thought.

‘I… … dream every night.’

But today, every waking moment feels like a dream.

A red carpet on the steps leading up to the Palais des Festivals.

The Lumière Grand Theater, which can show films to thousands of audiences.

And, the golden leaves (Palme d’Or) embroidered on it.

“Senior… … How can you not move at all?”

“Huh? What do you mean? I was shaking so much?”

That’s a lie.

Throughout the unrealistic day, Hyunsoo didn’t tremble even a little.

Jang Gi-chun and Lee Jun-hyeok.

The presence of musicians made it so.

That may be why Hyunsoo feels this moment even more like a dream.

‘I’ll accept it for now.’

I admit it.

The glory we have had until now was possible because of your presence.

‘But someday.’

… … Someday, definitely, it won’t be your dream.

―Congratulations on the Palme d’Or at the 76th Cannes Film Festival!

‘I, ‘Kim Hyun-soo’ will climb those stairs with my dream.’

On the flight back, Hyun-soo fell asleep while reading the script.

It was the first dream in a long time in which he appeared as the main character.

In his dream, Hyunsu was holding a golden leaf in his hand.

* * *

Throughout the Cannes Film Festival, media outlets around the world began to compete to report news about the world’s most prestigious film festival.

Of course, it was the same in our country.

but.

[Director Yoo Chan-jong’s Happy Hell, unfortunately ended in an indifferent ending.]

[The search for Khan’s second Bong Jin-woo was a failure this year as well.]

[Cannes in May, the golden leaves did not fall.]

Woo Ji-yoon clicked his tongue as he read articles with provocative titles.

“It’ll probably be two weeks at most.”

The public will probably lose interest surprisingly quickly in the activities of Cannes’ films that ended up not receiving any awards.

“Only two weeks? Didn’t you say it was a month last year? Five years ago, when Director Bong Jin-woo won the Palme d’Or, it felt like a year had passed.”

“That was possible because it was literally the Palme d’Or. Well, it’s starting to lose its footing now. As a fellow filmmaker, it’s truly regrettable, but as a representative of Piorum, it’s not such a bad situation.”

“Huh? What is that… …?”

“Look, now the remaining firepower is naturally concentrated on our side.”

[‘Khan’s Choice’ Torso on the Blue, grand opening on May 28.]

[Choi Ui-jeong’s foresight? What kind of appearance will Kim Hyun-soo, an actor from Cannes, show in “Nineties Dive” scheduled to air at the end of next month?]

The article about Hyun-soo with the modifier Khan overlapped with the news about Choi Ui-jeong’s drama, so it didn’t show any signs of being taken down easily.

Needless to say, this was also a collaboration between Pieroreum and the Nineties Dive marketing team.

“The drama will air the month after the movie releases. What better timing could there be?”

The reason Woo Ji-yoon called in reporters on the day of the script reading was to further maximize this effect.

“It would have been better if actor Kim had taken care of everything from the press preview to the press conference… … .”

“The schedule has already been adjusted due to the Khan schedule. It cannot be delayed any longer.”

Jiyoon nodded with a helpless expression at Gogun’s words.

As previously mentioned, Torso on the Blue will be released around the time the Cannes Film Festival ends.

And that was the case with the filming of Nineties Dive.

April and May are particularly busy with film industry events, so many drama filming schedules begin around June.

So, coincidentally, the release date of Torso on the Blue and Hyun-soo’s first filming date for the drama overlapped.

“But I think I can somehow make it to the morning press screening and stage greeting. My brother said he really wanted to go, even if it meant pushing himself. There’s one thing that’s on my mind.”

“What’s wrong?”

“What if the reporters tease me for not coming, hyung?”

Jiyoon shook her head in response to Gogun’s worried question.

“You don’t have to worry about that part. In the current atmosphere, there will probably be promotional articles about the drama, not to mention the news. Anyway, I’ll take care of the reporters, so Manager Ko, please coordinate your schedule so that you can arrive on site on time after finishing your morning schedule.”

“Yes, don’t worry.”

Gogun answered forcefully and left the office.

Woo Ji-yoon, left alone, knocked on the table and looked at the two posters of his work attached to the front.

Torso on the Blue, and Nineties Dive.

The timing and the surrounding circumstances are both perfect.

“Everything revolves around actor Kim.”

Woo Ji-yoon had a feeling that this year might be a big turning point in Hyun-soo’s acting career.

* * *

Yeongdeungpo Cinebox VIP screening room.

The person fidgeting and stamping his feet in front of the entrance is none other than actress Jeon Yi-seo, chosen by Khan.

But for some reason, she looked even more nervous than when she walked the red carpet in her dress.

Maeng Jong-ho burst into laughter as he looked at her.

“No, you’ve already done well with your schedule at Cannes, so why are you so nervous about a stage greeting?”

Lee Seo opened her mouth with a look of disbelief at Maeng Jong-ho’s words.

“I was really nervous at Cannes, Director! And showing the movie to the audience for the first time is a hundred times more nerve-wracking than walking the red carpet!”

“Haha, I guess that’s true. Anyway, I’m an actor too, so don’t be so nervous… … .”

“It would have been better if Senior Hyunsoo had been there.”

“No, I have it too… … .”

“Even without senior Hyunsoo, we can still do a good stage greeting, right?”

“No, so me?”

“Huh? What did you say, Director?”

“… … It’s nothing.”

Hyunsoo, who had been on stage greetings all morning, unfortunately could not participate in the last stage greeting of the day.

“The on-site schedule has been pulled up, so there’s nothing I can do about it. Actor Kim is the main character, so he can’t be late.”

“Eek, I guess so.”

So, today’s last remaining stage greeting was done only by the remaining actors, excluding Hyunsoo.

“I guess the movie is over. Let’s go in.”

The last stage greeting of the day began after the movie screening.

As soon as you enter the theater, you hear the actors’ voices.

Bang!

Sniff sniff.

Sniff sniff, groan!

One of the staff members, as if he had been waiting, begins to pass out tissues he had been holding to the audience.

“Yes… … That’s right. Even though it was a movie I starred in, I cried a lot during the last scene… … . Now, I cry automatically just by listening to the ending credits music.”

Before we know it, Seo Lee, who has the microphone in her hand, starts joking with the audience.

The audience, who had been holding back tears at Lee Seo’s joke, began to laugh one by one.

“Hello, I’m actress Jeon Yi-seo! This is my third time doing a stage greeting after a screening, and as always, everyone is crying like this. I guess that means they enjoyed our movie?!”

At Lee Seo’s words, everyone in the audience answered ‘yes’ as if they had made a promise.

‘Who says they’re nervous… … Now that actor Kim is here, it’s completely his stage.’

Not knowing what Maeng Jong-ho was thinking next to him, Lee Seo, whose seal had been released(?), took the lead in actively greeting the audience on stage.

“Then let me introduce our director and our fellow actors!”

Soon, the actors who appeared in the movie introduced themselves one by one and greeted the audience.

The stage greeting of Torso on the Blue is decorated with cute questions and answers about the movie and small stories.

Meanwhile, someone’s regretful voice is heard from somewhere in the audience.

“Isn’t actor Kim Hyun-soo coming?”

As soon as he heard that, Lee Seo’s lips curled up and he made a regretful expression.

“That’s… … He was with us until the stage greeting just before, but he had no choice but to go because of his drama filming schedule… … ”

A regretful cheer erupts from the audience.

“but!”

“… … ?”

“But wouldn’t it be so sad if I couldn’t even see your face? Please, show me the screen!”

Immediately afterwards, Hyun-soo’s face appears on the screen.

-Hello, audience, this is actor Kim Hyun-soo!

First of all, I would like to thank the audience who came to our Torso on the Blue premiere.

Unfortunately, I cannot attend this stage greeting due to a sudden schedule change.

I sincerely apologize for greeting you only through the screen, which was unintentional.

Did you enjoy the movie? We had a really fun and happy time filming it.

I hope that this happiness reaches the audience as well.

Once again, I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who joined me in sharing the story of Gunhoo and Yuseol. Bye!

Although the video was taken hastily with a smartphone camera, the image quality on the screen wasn’t great, but Hyunsoo’s eyes were filled with sincere gratitude toward the audience.

“No, Gunhoo! Come back!”

The audience burst into laughter at the shout of a female audience member, and the actors also burst into laughter.

Despite Hyun-soo’s absence, the stage greeting came to a close thanks to Seo-i’s skillful hosting.

The host, who had forcibly(?) taken the microphone from Lee Seo, opened his mouth toward the audience.

“Now, for the last part, it’s time for the fan service that everyone has been waiting for! Through a raffle, the owner of the seat number that appears on the screen will have time to receive a light hug and autograph from the actor! Who will be the lucky winner… … !”

Maybe it was because they had just watched Torso on the Blue, but the actors and audience members shyly hugged each other like Gun-hoo and Yoo-seul.

And now, with Lee Seo’s turn, today’s stage greeting schedule comes to a close.

The audience member standing in front of Lee Seo was a middle-aged woman.

As male spectators who had been eliminated in the lottery let out sighs of disappointment, a middle-aged woman shook her head and waved her index finger toward the audience.

The middle-aged woman who had calmed down the male audience with such witty behavior spoke to Lee Seo.

“Oh my, when I look at you up close, you’re even more beautiful than you were in the movies! I really enjoyed the movie. From today on, I’m going to be a fan of actress Jeon I-seo!”

“Hehehe, yes, thank you, mom!”

“Mother?”

“… … Sister?”

“yes.”

The middle-aged woman, who had an impressive presence from the first impression, approached Seo Yi-seo step by step and hugged her gently.

Just like the end of Gunhoo and Yuseol.

“… … Actor, what happened to Yoo Seol after that? The ending where she went to Siberia wouldn’t have been so bad. Do you think she really lived the rest of her life happily like Gun Hoo wished?”

After listening to the woman’s question while holding her gently, Lee Seo thought for a moment and then answered.

“Um… … I don’t know what kind of life Yuseol lived after that, but at least in the last scene… … I think she was happy!”

Before she knew it, Lee Seo had become immersed in the emotions of ‘Yuseol’ and nodded as she continued to answer.

“No, I was definitely happy. Even though it was just acting, at least for that moment when I was walking with my back to the sea… … I was able to move forward thanks to Gunhoo’s warmth. So maybe, it wasn’t the same after that, too?”

“And since then… … ?”

“Couldn’t we have continued on?”

A middle-aged woman nodded with a faint smile after hearing Lee Seo’s words.

“Now that I think about it, yes. I think that’s what happened.”

“……yes?”

“No, thank you for making such a great movie. I’ll have to recommend it to my friends, haha!”

“Yes, thank you for watching and having fun! Oh, and where would you like me to sign it?”

“Can I get this on a pamphlet? Here, avoiding our actor Kim Hyun-soo’s face as much as possible!”

“Hehehe, don’t worry! What’s your name, sis?”

She answered Seo’s question with a big smile.

“Hayoung, it’s Yoon Hayoung.”

Continued in the next episode