The first meeting between Kim Soo-ha, played by Han Tae-geon, and the Student Soldier, played by Kim Dong-hu.
As they watched the scene unfold, the other actors felt their mouths go dry.
Just fourteen years old.
They clearly weren’t a generation that had experienced war, yet the look in their eyes was anything but ordinary.
“Is this guy living his second life or what?”
When Director Kang explained why the Student Soldier needed to be there, the actors wondered how on earth a child could pull off that role.
A kid who lost his sister in war, consumed by her last words.
Living solely with the thought of survival.
Expressing emptiness and longing at the same time—what a ridiculous expectation!
That was not something a young child could gain from experience.
But still, how could he pull it off so effortlessly?
“He’ll be a lead in no time.”
“True that.”
Playing the comic relief were Ko Chang-sik and Seo Myung-woo, who were surprised for different reasons.
“Presence isn’t something that can be easily created.”
“And being born with it is even rarer.”
Having supported countless leading roles while being praised as top-notch supporting actors, they knew.
Leading roles were a territory you were born into.
Just having a script with a lead role or possessing good looks doesn’t make you a lead.
The strength to carry an entire production on your own.
The presence that devours everything when captured on camera.
That was the biggest factor in deciding who the lead would be.
“When this movie releases, it’s going to be chaos.”
“Chungmuro is always thirsty for new faces.”
Sure, actors with box office power guarantee success, but that also means their price tag keeps soaring.
After hitting it big together in one film, the next project often resulted in price tags that were hard to manage.
So, the arrival of fresh leading talent was always welcomed.
Moreover,
“Imagine how much handsomer he’s going to get as he grows!”
“I can’t even say my son is more handsome than him!”
“Hey now, don’t even think about talking like that.”
Comparing someone with that kind of looks just doesn’t make sense.
The two actors slowly watched the ridiculously handsome actor finish his performance.
He had the looks of a god and could act superbly too.
Where on earth did this guy come from?
+++++
After finishing filming the Student Soldier scenes,
The shoot wrapped up smoothly and quickly.
“Great job today.”
“Not at all, it was possible thanks to the good script.”
“Hehe, our Dong-hu really knows how to speak so beautifully.”
Even if it was just flattery, it was appreciated.
Thank you.
Director Kang was so excited about editing the film he had already shot.
He waved me off while stroking his Guan Yu mustache.
I heard that the other actors stayed in Gangwon-do to stay together.
“I guess I dropped out when I was young.”
I had to graduate from school for sure.
I might not know about college, but I at least wanted to finish high school.
Besides…
Buzz buzz buzz.
“Hey Dong-ho, sorry for suddenly contacting you. It’s cold, are you doing well?”
“The thing is, our Korean Arts High School pamphlet has come out, and I thought you might want to see it.”
“You don’t have to feel any pressure, just read it comfortably, and if you have any questions about admission…”
“You must tell me, Edward Park. I’ll definitely help you sincerely.”
“And we have a graduate concert in February next year, so if you get the chance…”
Someone had become very interested in my high school entrance.
“It’s the first time someone has shown more interest in my entrance than my mom.”
Usually, parents look into these things.
But here was the principal of a top-notch arts school in Korea directly explaining the admission process to me.
Acting is great, but did he suggest I learn piano seriously and become a master?
He was really interesting and nice, and just thinking about it made me burst into laughter.
“Dong-ho, you worked hard today.”
As I smiled and headed towards the van, Seok-ho opened the car door like he had been waiting.
“Thank you.”
“Thank you? It’s nothing, what can’t I do for our Dong-ho, the actor and landlord?”
As he said that, the moment I got in the car, Seok-ho piled several scripts beside me.
“What’s this?”
“I was thinking, it’s great that you’re currently acting, but your part is relatively small, right?”
It can leave a strong shock in the viewers’ minds, but it doesn’t carry the whole play.
I nodded at Seok-ho’s words.
He was definitely right.
But that didn’t mean I could just land supporting or lead roles easily.
I was a newbie.
So, Seok-ho said he changed his perspective.
“Why not make an independent film?”
“An independent film?”
“Yes, and I’ll invest in that film and expand our reach.”
If you make an independent film, you can lead the project and even aim for festival awards.
“And that way, our goal is to target the Best Newcomer Award at the 2011 film festival.”
The Best Newcomer Award.
In a way, it’s an award that has less chance than the grand prize.
You have to shine like the brightest gem among the countless newcomers.
Aji must become the brightest gem beneath the newcomers, after all.
Seok-ho started unfolding the scenarios one by one.
“So, I’ve narrowed it down to a few decent ones? About five or so.”
“You’ve narrowed them all down?”
“Uh? Uhm.”
At that moment, I suddenly saw Seok-ho’s face again.
His eyes looked hollow, unlike before.
To exaggerate a bit, he looked like he was friends with a panda and could jump rope with his dark circles.
From what I roughly understood, several hundred to a few thousand scripts are released every year.
That meant he had read them all.
“These five are what I consider A-level, and there are about twenty B-level ones. If you look through them and feel uncertain, let me know.”
With that, Seok-ho rushed to the driver’s seat.
‘Wow, he really went out of his way.’
I felt grateful, but at the same time, one worry crept into my mind.
‘But I have no eye for scripts, you know?’
In the case of Hydream and Endless Frontline.
Using the information from my past life, I could gauge the success scale, but…
Independent film scripts were an entirely different realm that I knew nothing about.
‘Why is it quiet at a time like this?’
If everything’s smooth sailing, shouldn’t someone tell me these things?
Just as that thought crossed my mind, it was as if the awaited words came right on cue.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
Messages from The Sims – The Real Life kept pouring in.
– [One of the most important things for an actor is their career.]
– [What kind of career you’ve built is also a measure of how successful you are as an actor.]
– [How wonderful would it be if you could just pick and choose only those scripts that would succeed among countless options?]
– [We’ve prepared something for you!]
– [Download the application “There Has Never Been a Script Like This” now.]
– [You will be able to check the movie’s box office success by the grade next to the script from now on.]
Though the flood of messages was overwhelming, their meaning was clear.
‘I can know about its box office success?’
What could they mean by a grade next to the script?
With that thought, I randomly picked up any script.
I Might Forget That Day, C
Indeed, a grade was attached right next to the title.
‘What level is B?’
Wanting more specific information, I immediately pulled out the Endless Frontline script.
Endless Frontline, B (grade currently rising)
‘Grade currently rising?’
I was trying to get an objective grasp on the information, but now it felt even more unclear.
‘As far as I know, Endless Frontline wasn’t exactly a blockbuster film.’
It was an enjoyable movie, but it wasn’t anything spectacular.
So, there’s a movie that’s currently getting a rating boost, huh?
The only stark difference between my past life and this movie is just one thing.
‘Me.’
My existence is making a noticeable impact on the movie’s rating, apparently.
‘So even if the current rating is low, I can definitely raise it with my presence.’
Swish swish.
Next, I looked at two more scripts, but they were both rated C.
‘Must be the limitations of independent films, right?’
I was hoping for at least a B rating.
Thinking that, I examined the last script.
[Hero, B]
A simple title with a rating I had hoped for.
‘Thinking I could feast on the first course is just absurd.’
I mean, sure, wouldn’t it be great to debut with a blockbuster hit?
But for me, I’d rather steadily build my foundation from the ground up.
‘Successful people always had a strong foundation, didn’t they?’
Anyway.
In that sense, this level of script was quite excellent.
Moreover.
Swoosh.
[Hero, B (rating boost expected)]
As soon as I touched the script, the words “rating boost expected” lit up.
There couldn’t be a more suitable script for me right now.
‘Thank you, Seok-ho hyung.’
After sending my gratitude to Seok-ho who was working hard day and night.
‘In I go.’
I immediately dove into the script.
+++++
The first thing I stabbed and killed was a wild dog charging at me.
In this quiet hill neighborhood, wild dogs were always around.
Since they can’t go over to the apartments on the other side, they probably settle in the empty houses.
Such wild dogs were always an object of fear.
And I was the hero who had stabbed and killed that wild dog.
No, I thought I was a hero.
Drip drip.
Blood drops fell.
“Uwaaaaaah!”
The kids were running away.
I was clearly the hero who had defeated the villain,
stabbing that wild dog with my righteous sword,
so why were they afraid of me?
“Hey, why are you running away?”
I didn’t get it.
What’s going on? I’m a hero, right?
I brutally slayed the villain,
and in the end, triumphed.
A hero.
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