Top Star By Luck [EN]: Chapter 191

There’s a saying about trends.

Trend.

It suggests a harmony between timing and luck, a moment when the world embraces something as mainstream.

Music trends.

Comics trend.

Movies trend.

Songs trend.

Electronics trend.

The word ‘trend’ is adaptable, like a nose ring or an earring. All sorts of things trend, but why? There’s a certain lightness to the word itself.

Is it because it’s used so casually?

[Clothes marketed as ‘trendy’]

[Why is this trending? It feels forced, like viral marketing.]

Modern people sometimes grow weary of this constant pursuit of ‘trends’.

[I’ve never heard of it, but they say it’s trending every day.]

[They accept it as a trend because they see it on TV.]

We live in an era where the trend itself has become a marketing strategy. These skeptical reactions are, in a way, a natural consequence.

But.

There’s something beyond mere fashion, a trend in its purest form. A true trend that simple viral marketing can’t even touch.

We used to call it this:

“It’s a syndrome!”

Autumn was fading, slowly giving way to winter.

In the studio of an internet broadcasting station, reaching audiences worldwide, a man held a microphone and spoke with excitement.

“I can say this with my entire cinephile [a lover of cinema] life on the line: ‘Turns Out He’s a Musical Genius’ is, without a doubt, causing a syndrome!”

That’s right.

Syndrome.

This was the true meaning of a trend, the real deal that towered above countless imitations.

“People are flocking to see it from all over the country. Movie tickets are being sold on the black market, and if you haven’t seen it, you’re excluded from conversations. Buskers [street performers] around the world are singing the OST [original soundtrack].”

The man’s voice vibrated with fervent excitement. It was an inevitable reaction.

As a cinephile, how often would he witness such a phenomenon?

“I don’t know how long it’s been since there’s been this much of a hot reaction since the Odin Universe!”

Because one work might change the course of an era.

‘Turns Out He’s a Musical Genius’ was now the epicenter of a cultural syndrome.

As mentioned earlier, it’s still too early to tell if it will change the world right away. But even that seemed like a matter of time.

In the plaza in front of Busan Station, a couple rubbed their reddened cheeks and spoke.

“I barely got the last ticket for tonight. Why have movie tickets been sold out for the past two weeks?”

It was incredibly difficult to get tickets.

Sensing his frustration, his lover responded, as if he was being ridiculous: “Hey, two weeks is good. I heard that in places with limited screenings, like China, you can’t even see it if you’re willing to pay.”

“China? Why there?”

“I don’t know, they said that some scenes had censorship issues and the number of theaters showing it was reduced. They said they have to review it again.”

Of course, that’s just an excuse.

In China, the culture itself has become cautious. A society where the immense popularity of one person or one work isn’t always viewed positively.

So, while Korea was experiencing winter, a different scene was unfolding in Brazil, which was welcoming summer.

“You’re waiting in line for six hours in this weather just to see a movie?”

It was a battle against the heat wave.

People waiting for a special screening on a street square screen were lined up for a long time on the street.

Sweat dripped from their bodies because of the intense heat. But the smiles never left their faces.

“Six hours? It’s not bad if you think of it as creating a memory after waiting that long.”

Because ‘Turns Out He’s a Musical Genius’ was already a phenomenon.

Waiting six hours to see a movie is hard to understand. But what if you wait six hours with friends and loved ones to participate in this cultural moment?

“Oh, they’re selling beer over there.”

Even grumbling becomes a part of the experience.

The time spent laughing and chatting was valuable in itself. They were participating in something special. Even for that reason alone, their wait was worthwhile.

Oh, and one more thing.

“I heard that AST is considering making the new movie a musical?”

The audience isn’t the only one affected.

Movie companies were also showing signs of willingly participating in this trend.

“The first musical movie in the Odin Universe?”

“I’m not expecting much. What’s been happening with the Odin Universe lately? All the originality is gone.”

“Still, you never know. Anyway, it’s better than just making similar things. If you try something, you might get lucky.”

“Is that so?”

“Even if it’s so bold that you can’t understand it right now, it’s good to just go for it and get lucky. I heard that’s how ‘The Godfather’ was made.”

‘The Godfather’ is also a work that sparked a cultural syndrome. In other words, it changed the world.

It was a work that used the mafia as a subject but had little to do with their actual behavior. When the movie succeeded, the mafia began to emulate the organization in ‘The Godfather’.

And on the other hand.

“…… Can we catch up with that?”

“We have to catch up.”

There were also those who were burning with a sense of competition rather than simply admiring Lee Min-gi’s success.

Kim Tak said, puffing out his nose.

“Min-gi hyung [older brother/male friend] took first place in the world, so I, who used to be his rival, have to follow him.”

In response to that confident tone, Yoo Seon-ah asked, dumbfounded: “What’s with that ‘have to’? What kind of tone is that?”

“This? I’m trying to create a character. To be imprinted on the public.”

“Don’t do it. It’s bad.”

“Eek-tta [a childish expression of annoyance].”

“Don’t do that either. Please.”

“Why are you trying to control my actions, Seon-ah? Isn’t this emotional manipulation?”

That’s how the two were bickering.

“Come to think of it.”

Yoo Seon-ah muttered, as if she had come up with a profound question.

“Min-gi, doesn’t he not answer calls these days?”

* * *

Four months.

Almost half a year had passed since ‘Turns Out He’s a Musical Genius’ was released.

In the meantime, the past craze felt like a very distant memory, but Lee Min-gi, who could be said to be the main character of the craze, disappeared.

[Where did Lee Min-gi go?]

[No interviews, no SNS [social networking service]. No commercials.]

[Not even a paparazzi photo?]

[JC doesn’t say a word, saying it’s his private life.]

Disappeared.

As if he had briefly visited this world and returned, he disappeared without a word.

If you’ve had a global hit, isn’t it time to capitalize on it?

[I thought Lee Min-gi was famous for being a workaholic.]

It was the opposite.

Lee Min-gi, on the contrary, was spending more leisurely time than ever at the moment of recording an unprecedented hit.

That’s right.

Literally, he was spending so much free time that he was getting bored.

“Hoo.”

On a mountain trail in Switzerland.

Lee Min-gi muttered, holding his cell phone in his hand.

“Ah, resting is something only people who have the luxury to do can do.”

That’s right.

Lee Min-gi came to Switzerland to take a break from his busy schedule.

“Director Shim Seong-bo kept telling stories about how good it was to go somewhere and rest, but I don’t know how people can do that.”

He had been working non-stop for several years and came to rest as he had always dreamed of.

Even a month had passed.

[Bullshit.]

“…….”

Lee Min-gi, unable to overcome his boredom, grabbed his cell phone and muttered at the nagging on the other end of the phone.

“Teacher, can’t you sympathize with me a little?”

That’s right.

The person on the other end of the phone was Kim Ah-seong.

Originally, he was a person who taught a lot of people, saying that he didn’t refuse anyone who came, but because he had raised a talented person named Lee Min-gi, he became so busy that it became difficult to take a class.

[Sympathy my ass. Min-gi, if you say pizza is bad for you in front of people who are starving to death, will they sympathize?]

“No, that’s a bit extreme. Anyway, it’s really quiet here. There’s no one to meet.”

[It’s a disaster you brought on yourself. You have to endure it with evil and tenacity.]

“The wording ‘disaster’ sounds a bit strange. It’s peaceful? I like that. But I’m so bored.”

[Someone is busy to death, but you’re being arrogant. You’re addicted to acting like an arrogant person.]

“No, teacher, I don’t mean that.”

[Stop calling. If you have anything more to say, come see me in person.]

“I’ll buy you a gift.”

Click.

The phone connected to trainer Kim Ah-seong was cut off without hesitation.

Lee Min-gi burst into a hollow laugh.

‘You should have said what you wanted before hanging up.’

So ruthless.

No matter how world-renowned an actor he was, he seemed to be just one of the common students in front of trainer Kim Ah-seong.

Beep- Beep-

Lee Min-gi held the phone that was only ringing with a beep for a while, then smiled.

“Everyone must be worried.”

He hardly exchanged contact with even some very close people, so much so that there were rumors of his disappearance.

But it was necessary.

It was a moment when I wanted to look back on myself for no other reason.

What should I say?

‘I’m so over it.’

Was it because I had done such a huge job?

The fatigue that had been piling up all this time seemed to come all at once, so much so that a burnout so big that I couldn’t even let it flow out broke out.

[Turns Out He’s a Musical Genius]

[#1]

[Rotten Pomato – 98/100]

[IMDB – TOP 10 in]

[Worldwide Box Office – 1,375,128,150$]

$1.375 billion.

It was the number recorded in the past four months.

It was the number one among the works released last year. Maybe you should look for it in the entire history of the film industry.

That’s right.

Lee Min-gi finally took first place in the world.

“Ugh.”

As if trying to relieve his stiff body, he stretched out greatly, and the fresh air of the Alps filled his lungs.

At the same time, the world, so blue that it was dazzling, filled his vision.

‘At this point, should I say that I’ve climbed as high as I can as an actor?’

It’s thrilling.

He succeeded in decorating a page in the film industry with ‘Turns Out He’s a Musical Genius’.

Even before its release, there were already signs of success. It’s only natural that critics poured out favorable reviews.

But do you know this?

Since ancient times, critics have tended to give stingy reviews to mediocre movies and praise innovative works in some way.

The general public is the opposite.

In other words, if we look at ‘Turns Out He’s a Musical Genius’, which has a relatively cliché plot according to critics, from the perspective of the general public.

[It’s really crazy and exciting]

It was the best commercial film beyond the best.

[I think I knew a little about what a live show meant]

[It’s not bad to watch a 2-hour concert for 12,000 won for a ticket]

[Be sure to watch it in a sound-specialized theater. Watch it twice. Watch it three times. I’m going to see it for the fourth time today.]

[I haven’t slept for two days. Every time I lie in bed, I keep hearing the song in my head.]

Did it take first place in 40 countries?

Even in nearly half of them, 19 countries, it still ranked first even after two months of release.

But is this all?

[Netplay Global Chart = #1]

Of course, it took first place on Netplay, which was released late with a gap of two months from the theater release.

In a way, it was predictable. The grades themselves were so good.

At this point, Maiyar Pictures emptied its greed.

[We’ve been eating for two months. Once it’s released on OTT [over-the-top media service], everyone will watch it on OTT, so it’s unlikely that we’ll expect more from the theater. Actor, thank you for your hard work.]

But.

A syndrome is about breaking common sense. ‘Turns Out He’s a Musical Genius’ broke one common sense here as well.

[Why are the grades going up again?]

Reverse driving.

That which would only happen on the music charts covered the film industry.