Top Star By Luck [EN]: Chapter 164

164

Mayar Pictures’ new film.

They hadn’t decided on a formal title yet, but the working title was [Lockhart].

The basic premise of this movie was as follows:

[We will now begin the story meeting.]

It was still undecided.

To be precise, they hadn’t even started filming yet, so they decided to finalize the direction during this meeting.

Normally, they would spend months or even years refining the script first, and then find a studio or cast actors, which would be the standard procedure.

But this time, the situation was different.

‘There’s no time to take it slow.’

It was good that the media’s attention was focused on them.

So, to maintain that attention, they planned to pick up the pace, even if it meant pushing themselves a bit.

But it wasn’t all that bad.

Since it was an internally produced work by [Neutral Zone], the production environment itself was like a free sandy beach, without having to worry about outside opinions.

They planned to work together from the beginning, matching things one by one.

However.

[At this rate, it’s going to fail.]

Ultimately, it fell through.

Before the meeting, they each had some story ideas prepared.

[How about a bedroom musician conquering the indie scene step by step?]

[Well, it’s not bad, but it’s too classic. It doesn’t have that immediate appeal, you know? I don’t think it would become a work that could aim for Hollywood.]

[Then, how about a divorced man reuniting with his ex-wife through music? His ex-wife went to a rock star.]

[Hana, that’s good, but it’s plagiarism.]

Nothing really clicked.

[Ugh.]

[Hoo, headache.]

[Min-ki, how is story writing so difficult? How did you even make Manman2?]

[By freeloading off these people.]

At first, there was some discussion, but after just 20 minutes, it was filled with complaints and chatter.

If it were a work they were just going to film haphazardly, it wouldn’t have mattered.

But this work involved a collaboration with the big shot [William Lockhart].

Moreover, since it was publicly known that they were aiming for an Oscar, they had no choice but to film a work that lived up to that expectation, even if it was out of spite.

‘It’s blocked.’

They found a compromise here.

[It doesn’t seem like we’ll find an answer like this.]

Director Shim Sung-bo canceled the meeting and took a hard line.

[For the next month, let’s all clear our schedules and just think about the story. We’ll proceed with the rest after that.]

[A month?]

[If we don’t come up with a compelling story, it doesn’t matter what we make. It’s like building a building on a swamp. It’s better not to make it than to be sluggish like this.]

His words were harsh.

Director Shim Sung-bo had transformed the moment the production of the work began.

[We’ll hold a meeting every week, so let’s meet again at this time next week.]

And so, Lee Min-ki unintentionally found himself in a situation that was neither a vacation nor a business trip.

* * *

“Hoo, hoo.”

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

Rough breaths escaped from Lee Min-ki’s mouth as he ran in the early morning park.

His heart was pounding like crazy, as if it would explode at any moment.

But conversely, his mind was ice-cold.

‘Story.’

Whenever something bothered him, he always moved his body to organize his thoughts.

Of course, there are differences from the old days.

It’s just that he can now run instead of walk because he’s afraid of getting injured.

“Story, story, story, story, story……”

Lee Min-ki muttered the same word like a running slogan, caught in unintended worries.

‘Did I take it too easy?’

To be honest, he had a vague belief that Director Shim Sung-bo would do well.

Wasn’t he a genius director who had created the cosmic masterpiece [Manman2]?

Therefore, it was true that he had been relying on his abilities.

It wasn’t that Lee Min-ki was lazy or irresponsible.

He just thought it would be better to leave it to an expert with a lot of experience rather than giving clumsy advice and causing confusion.

But unexpectedly, Director Shim Sung-bo was also blocked.

“Story, story, story, story.”

What is a story?

Anyway, the specific script and synopsis will be refined with Director Shim Sung-bo & Jin Joo-yeon, so it doesn’t matter.

But he needed something usable as an idea.

It just wouldn’t come to mind.

The more frustrated he felt, the faster Lee Min-ki’s movements became.

“S, tory. Sto… ry! Heo, sto, ry! Heo!”

He kept chanting slogans and shouting out his steps for a long time.

When he came to his senses.

‘This is.’

Before he knew it, he was in front of his familiar neighborhood.

“I’m going crazy.”

That is, in front of the academy.

Jam Acting School.

This was the terminus that Lee Min-ki would unconsciously arrive at whenever he cleared his head and took a walk.

‘Is this place that important in my heart?’

Lee Min-ki looked up at the building with a strange feeling.

If he savored the memories like ripe grain, he might be able to forget the worries that were burning his head for a while.

But why is that?

“Huh?”

Is it because he came with a completely different thought than usual?

Or is it because he came after a long time?

A sign that he hadn’t seen before was hanging on the upper floor of the academy.

[Book Cafe Honey Flavor]

Book cafe.

That is, a comic book cafe [a cafe where customers can read comic books].

What difference would there be, other than the fact that it has been neatly trimmed in a modern style, away from the old atmosphere that seems like it would be dusty?

As the name cafe suggests, they also sell drinks and snacks.

The large private space that rivals multi-rooms is a bonus.

It has become more expensive, but it is also gaining popularity as a dating course these days.

In other words, it was a place that Lee Min-ki didn’t have much reason to go to.

But why is that?

The moment he saw the keyword book cafe, there was one word that came to Lee Min-ki’s mind.

‘Web novel?’

Web novel.

Just three years later.

It was the birthplace of numerous movie, drama, and animation IPs [Intellectual Properties, referring to creative works that can be legally protected].

‘If I just slam a web novel-style material into a movie in this era?’

* * *

One week after the first story meeting at Mayar Pictures office.

“A new week has dawned. Have you been thinking hard about it?”

The first meeting began.

After Director Hwang Ui-seong, who would only intervene in directing, naturally dropped out, the meeting was attended by only four key members: the two directors and the two leads.

‘I wonder if the others have prepared well.’

I brought my own ideas.

While Lee Min-ki was cautiously observing the atmosphere, Director Shim Sung-bo, who naturally took on the role of moderator, cleared his throat slightly and opened the conversation.

“Fortunately, I had something that caught my attention.”

“……!”

“Yes, while watching various masterpieces of the past repeatedly with Joo-yeon, I was barely able to find a clue.”

No wonder his face looked bright.

As expected of a pro who has hit a world-class home run, he quickly broke through the wall.

Lee Min-ki asked, slightly surprised by the voice full of confidence.

“I thought you were blocked.”

“Yes, I was blocked. It wasn’t easy to find a way to make the most of the special genre of music film and the box office element of William Lockhart, but rather, the answer came when I abandoned William Lockhart.”

“Abandoned?”

“As originally planned, I was going to somehow include William Lockhart in the work. Because I needed box office success.”

Director Shim Sung-bo said firmly.

“But that was just my fixed idea. In the end, a movie is good if it’s fun. I only focused on the fun, and I saw the way.”

I don’t know well, but judging from what he’s saying, it seems like he had some kind of realization.

Well, Manman2 wasn’t much different.

Strictly speaking, wasn’t it a movie that was pushed with fun as the only tool before considering the design completeness of the work?

‘Overwhelming fun that makes other details like light bulbs in front of sunlight.’

I guess it’s going to be similar this time.

‘I had something I prepared.’

If Director Shim Sung-bo has come up with a good idea, is what I came up with just going to be blank?

It wouldn’t be bad, but it’s a bit disappointing.

It was the moment when Lee Min-ki was about to swallow his opinion.

“But.”

Director Shim Sung-bo opened his mouth.

“I’ll postpone my synopsis presentation for now.”

It was a word that he would take a step back.

Judging from what he’s saying, he seems to have come up with a very perfect story.

“Yes? Why?”

The moment Joo Hana asked back in surprise at the reason, Director Jin Joo-yeon opened her mouth as if to replace Director Shim Sung-bo.

“Yes, they say that a real masterpiece is born when you break a great idea with an even greater idea? If we take out our story first, the two of you might be swept away by it, so I’m going to listen to the ideas of the rest of you first and decide.”

It was to give consideration in its own way.

Lee Min-ki nodded at the remark that felt quite grounded.

‘Well, if you ask an undergraduate to present after a professor presents, the words won’t come out properly.’

But even so, it’s the professor’s opinion.

Even if there is an answer that he has found properly enough to have quite a conviction, is he going to respect the opinions of individuals?

‘He’s the director with the decision-making power, so there would have been no problem if he had just pushed it through.’

Isn’t he saying that he would gladly put aside his pride if someone else’s idea is better?

He’s surprisingly open-minded.

While Lee Min-ki was slightly admiring the unexpected move, Director Jin Joo-yeon continued.

“Well, shall we start slowly? Is there anyone who would like to speak first, anything is fine. Even a short line of text is fine. Let’s brainstorm together.”

It is a beginning.

Lee Min-ki, standing in front of the two directors, took a small breath.

Is this how a social freshman feels when going to a company interview?

The situation is that I have to beat the two star directors who brought out confident synopses with my synopsis.

‘I don’t know. Let’s try it.’

It was the moment when Lee Min-ki made up his mind and was about to open his mouth.

“Over there.”

There was someone who raised their hand first.

“Then I’ll go first.”

It was Joo Hana.

Did she prepare something?

Even Lee Min-ki was slightly surprised by the clearly felt confidence, and she took a breath and said.

“I thought a little differently. There’s no need to make it a music movie.”

“……!”

They invited someone as big as William Lockhart, but there’s no need for it to be a music movie?

What does that mean?

Director Shim Sung-bo asked back as if he was interested, thinking it was an unreasonable move.

“Hoo, why is that?”

“Because most of the movies that succeeded with music weren’t music movies.”

The movies that succeeded with music were mostly not music movies.

That word was provocative.

It’s possible that you don’t have to include the person himself just because you’re collaborating with William Lockhart.

Because it’s a common thing.

But what does it mean that there’s no need for it to be a music movie at all?

“I want to hear more details.”

In the next moment when even Director Jin Joo-yeon had a question mark on her face, Joo Hana said in her unique clear voice.

“Do you know Bollywood movies?”

Bollywood.

It was a word that meant Indian-specific movies produced in India.

The word unexpectedly flowed from Joo Hana’s mouth.

With such a sophisticated accent.

“I think it would be a good idea to apply a Bollywood plot to this work.”