Top Star By Luck [EN]: Chapter 124

124. How Much Will It Draw?

This was a topic that no actor could ignore. Lee Min-ki perked up his ears, listening to the audience’s conversation behind him.

“Well? Since it’s Lee Min-ki, I think it’ll surpass at least 3 million?”

It seemed they were discussing the potential success of the movie.

A man exclaimed confidently, “I’m betting on 5 million.”

*5 million… that might be tough.*

If it were a blockbuster made by a commercially successful director, maybe, but this is a semi-art film by Director Hwang Ui-seong.

He was confident in the movie’s quality, but box office success was another matter.

*‘Still, if things go really well, it might hit 5 million.’*

Just thinking about it was enjoyable.

Lee Min-ki smiled faintly.

“I’ll raise you and bet on 10 million.”

“……!”

Lee Min-ki couldn’t help but chuckle at the unexpected rebuttal.

*10 million?*

*10 million was a bit much.*

No matter what, only two or three movies a year reach that milestone.

A movie like [Fashion & Fashion], which wasn’t exactly geared for commercial success, hitting 10 million was a stretch.

“Come on, 10 million is an exaggeration.”

“Really?”

“If you watch enough movies, you get a feel for box office numbers. To reach 10 million, the movie has to be good, but you also need luck.”

*Luck, huh?*

He was a little confident in his luck.

Well, 10 million was considered a number bestowed by the heavens among industry insiders.

“Hey, it’s Lee Min-ki and Hwang Ui-seong. The potential is definitely there.”

*Thank you for seeing it so positively.*

If he weren’t in a movie theater, he would have thanked them.

“Lee Min-ki is a top-tier actor these days. A top-tier actor should hit 10 million viewers at least once.”

*Wow.*

Lee Min-ki was secretly thrilled as he eavesdropped on their conversation.

“But usually, when actors reach a few million viewers, they do some kind of event, right?”

A new topic emerged.

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“Why isn’t Lee Min-ki doing anything?”

*That’s true.*

Since he was thinking about it, maybe he should do something.

Lee Min-ki’s brain started spinning at lightning speed.

No, just as it was about to start.

[Click]

[Thud! Thump!]

The lights went out with a few sounds, and the movie began.

And a few minutes later.

The scene where the protagonist [Lee Jong-ho] throws off his worn-out clothes and changes into proper attire.

“……Wow.”

Exclamations of admiration came from the back seats.

It was an exclamation that was impossible not to feel proud of as the person hearing it.

* * *

[Fashion & Fashion] finished its early morning screenings nationwide with great success.

At the same time, reviews began to appear on internet communities one after another.

[Spoiler x) I just watched Fashion & Fashion.]

[No spoilers) What did Lee Min-ki even film?]

[Fashion & Fashion is actually surprisingly amazing?]

The reaction was, of course,

[I understand what they meant by Lee Min-ki’s fashion pictorial. I checked how many outfits he changed into, and I gave up counting after about 17. He kept changing, and they were all amazing.]

The reviews were good.

[They said a designer named Yoo Gyu-eon collaborated with him? I wondered why they were even promoting that, but I totally understand now. I really want to buy those clothes.]

Consistently good reviews poured in.

[He changes completely when he puts on different clothes. Every time, it reminded me of Jekyll and Hyde, and I got chills.]

[While watching, I wondered if Lee Min-ki really had a split personality.]

[ㅋㅋㅋㅋ You guys really need to go see Fashion & Fashion]

[I went to see it with my younger sibling who’s studying fashion design, and I thought their eyes were going to shoot lasers ㅎㅎ]

In fact, there was little mention of the script itself for Director Hwang Ui-seong’s movie.

That’s because the plot of [Fashion & Fashion] was quite simple.

The tragedy of a genius.

From Mozart to Leonardo da Vinci, it was a constantly refined subject, so was there any need to prove it further?

Strictly speaking, the plot was quite ordinary.

Instead,

[This is a pictorial indeed]

As a result of pouring all capabilities into the visuals, the overwhelming direction and video quality overwhelmed everything else.

It wasn’t a hexagon [a figure with six sides, often used to represent well-rounded skills].

It was a triangle, but the triangle pierced through the corners and extended into space beyond.

There were so many things that had to be shown visually.

[There’s no time for your eyes to rest]

[I was scared to go to the bathroom]

[ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Every time the scene changed, I looked forward to seeing what clothes he would wear next]

This part, combined with Lee Min-ki and Yoo Gyu-eon, created a definite chemistry.

Of course, that doesn’t mean there were only good reviews.

[The story is a bit dark]

[I felt uneasy the whole time ㅜ]

[Shouldn’t the genre be called fashion thriller?]

[The poster is bright, so I was a little taken aback]

It was possible to mention preferences.

However,

[It’s really well made…]

Completeness.

The completeness of the movie itself was undeniable.

Even the audience members who expressed strong dislike for [Fashion & Fashion] agreed that this movie would be a success.

[It’ll probably hit 5 million]

[It might even reach 10 million]

[10 million is difficult. It’s the genre]

[But the quality supports it]

[The quality alone is comparable to a 10 million-viewer movie ㅇㅈ [Korean slang for ” 인정,” meaning “I acknowledge/agree”]]

[Of course, it’s Hwang Ui-seong ㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

In fact, no matter how much effort the production team puts into making a movie, they say that they can’t predict the box office success at all until it’s put on the theater screen.

Even the audience doesn’t know.

It was even more so for the producers.

Everyone does their best in their own work.

There was no such thing as a director who filmed their work carelessly.

But you can’t be sure of the results.

Because at some point, you become intoxicated with your own work.

A person who is intoxicated cannot see what is in front of them.

It’s hard to even distinguish between right and wrong in the words they utter.

You can only cautiously open the objective report cards of those who are not intoxicated.

Report card.

The report card for [Fashion & Fashion] was.

[Fashion & Fashion draws 450,000 viewers on its first day]

It could be said that it was a record-breaking number from the first day.

[Lee Min-ki x Hwang Ui-seong effect works]

[Does spring come to art films too?]

[Leaving the major, targeting the niche market]

* * *

The day after [Fashion & Fashion] achieved a sufficient opening day score.

On the way to [Star Magazine] for an interview to promote the movie.

Manager Park Han-mo, who was holding the steering wheel, looked at Lee Min-ki through the rearview mirror and opened his mouth.

“As the actor is probably aware, the current trend, limited to the first day, certainly indicates a big hit.”

It was a positive nuance.

But Manager Park Han-mo always left room for interpretation in his words.

As if posing a question.

Lee Min-ki pondered the true meaning hidden behind those words and opened his mouth.

“The ‘limited to the first day’ part is a bit concerning. And the ‘current trend’ part too.”

Manager Park Han-mo said nothing.

Lee Min-ki felt that he was getting closer to the answer and continued.

“You mean it could plummet afterward.”

“Yes.”

Manager Park Han-mo turned the steering wheel sharply and opened his mouth.

“After all, on the opening day, marketing plays a much bigger role than the quality of the movie itself.”

“Hmm.”

It was a negative nuance.

It felt like he was suppressing expectations.

Just as he was feeling that it was like Manager Park Han-mo, who usually gave realistic advice, he smiled faintly and said.

“Of course, it also means that Lee Min-ki’s value has grown that much.”

“My worth?”

“Director Hwang Ui-seong’s movies have low expectations for profit, so naturally, distributors often put less effort into promotion. So, the number 450,000 means…”

Squeak.

The car, facing a red light, stopped on the crosswalk.

Only then did Manager Park Han-mo turn his head to look at Lee Min-ki in the back seat and said.

“It’s probably the result of Lee Min-ki becoming a giant billboard himself.”

*Is that so?*

*My name value was a big part of the number 450,000?*

He was happy to be evaluated so positively, but he wasn’t sure if he could be purely happy.

Because Manager Park Han-mo was that kind of person.

He was about to choose his words, thinking there might still be a trap card.

“Looking at the box office trends of Director Hwang Ui-seong’s works so far, the initial box office is weak, but the sustainability is excellent. You can look at it positively. This time, the initial box office is unusually good.”

Manager Park Han-mo finished the story in an unusually positive direction.

He usually gave advice focused on harsh criticism, but he wasn’t so cold-hearted as to maintain that attitude even on such a good day.

Also, the results were actually good.

*‘If the current trend continues, the results will be… no, it’s better not to say it out loud.’*

Positive words were, in some ways, irresponsible words.

Just as excessive expectations can hurt the heart, too positive words can also become a jinx by a hair’s breadth.

*‘I don’t say words I can’t take responsibility for.’*

He was holding back his words to avoid putting pressure on Lee Min-ki.

“So, I’ve been thinking about something.”

Lee Min-ki nodded and replied.

“I was wondering if we should make a pledge [a public promise to do something if a goal is achieved].”

“A pledge, you say?”

“Yes, you and JC said that my strength is buzzworthiness, right?”

“That’s true, but.”

*Did he remember something?*

While Park Han-mo waited for his words with a puzzled expression, Lee Min-ki continued the topic.

“So, I’m saying we should make a pledge. Like, if we surpass a certain number of viewers, we’ll do something. Like, if we surpass 5 million, we’ll hold a fan meeting or donate to a hospital.”

These were common occurrences.

The actors appearing in the work make pledges to do something if they surpass a certain number of viewers to promote the movie.

“Hmm, it’s not bad, but. Why did you think of that?”

“You told me. Director Hwang Ui-seong has good sustainability.”

“Yes, that’s true, but.”

“The better the sustainability, the more power it will have if we can somehow get the audience to come to the theater. It’s a pledge for that purpose.”

He wanted to help with the box office, even if only a little.

He had done enough in the movie.

He was confident that he had done his best.

So, what if he played a role outside as well?

Of course, in Lee Min-ki’s case, the issue of personal interest was greater than the issue of box office success.

*‘A pledge, I wanted to make one too.’*

That’s right.

Back in his no-name days, he was envious of successful actors making pledges.

What is a pledge?

Isn’t it an act of appealing to the audience to watch the movie by using one’s actions as bait?

*‘That’s all possible because you’re confident in your recognition. That’s what I’m saying.’*

What is needed to add weight to a pledge?

That’s right, recognition.

And that was absolute recognition.

Recognition enough to make the public rush to the theater with just the actor’s name.

That was what Lee Min-ki had recently obtained.

“Hmm, the driving is terrible… bad habits.”

Manager Park Han-mo frowned, turned the steering wheel, and said.

“I apologize. I didn’t turn on the blinker [turn signal] before coming in. It almost became a big deal.”

“Do we have insurance?”

“We have insurance. But the problem is over there rather than that.”

“Why?”

“If the actor is injured, even in the slightest, they will have to compensate based on the actor’s income from last year.”

“…….”

“It would probably be difficult to handle with the income of an ordinary person.”

*Has my value risen that much?*

As Lee Min-ki was chuckling to himself, Manager Park Han-mo turned the steering wheel as if it were nothing and said.

“Anyway, it’s not bad. I understand. So, what about the pledge?”

“Well, about that.”

He had already thought about it.

Rather, he had thought about it too much.

There were so many things he wanted to do.

Something a bit daring, yet sure to be a hot topic.

Lee Min-ki opened his mouth, feeling even a small mischievousness like a prankster.

“How about a fan meeting in Gwanghwamun [a large public square in Seoul]?”

“In Gwanghwamun?”

“Yes, so that as many people as possible can see it.”

He added a little more here.

“I have a fan club now, too.”

If he has it, he should use it.

Also, there was one thing he had to take care of.