Top Star By Luck [EN]: Chapter 196

196. A Controversial Work

Kim Ah-seong, the trainer, chuckled softly at Lee Min-ki’s confidently delivered words.

“……Min-ki, do you have to smear mud on my debut work to be satisfied?”

“I wish I could pave a flower path for you, too.”

“Then just pave the flower path.”

“I don’t want to.”

Lee Min-ki shrugged and said.

“You’re an actor. If you’re going to be an actor, you should at least aim for one of the ‘Big Four’ film festivals.”

That’s right.

The goal of the movie Lee Min-ki is filming this time is to win an award at an art film festival.

He reached the pinnacle of commercial success with $1.5 billion in sales and four Academy Awards, so he has no regrets.

So, he meant he wanted to explore the art side as well.

‘Fashion & Fashion surprisingly didn’t win an award.’

It only got nominated. This remained a surprisingly big regret in Lee Min-ki’s mind.

So he prepared. He decided to make one with the intention of making an art film.

“It’s a social exposé film. I prepared it with a lot of determination.”

That was this work, [Memorandum].

It will delicately depict how environmental protection groups, when corrupted by money, can coldly destroy the very environment they should protect.

Moreover, it is based on a true story.

It was created based on a certain incident in which a group, under the influence of a company, pointed to another company as an environmental destroyer and created public opinion.

Of course, I also prepared a disclaimer to avoid being sued, just in case.

[All characters, organization names, and place names mentioned or depicted in this work are fictional. The events and developments that appear are also works of creation and are merely imitations of reality.]

It was a common line for film producers.

I’m also planning to use the case of animals dying on farms.

A movie exposing the ugliness of some environmental groups. The thought of how controversial it would be already sent shivers down my spine.

Perhaps the name Lee Min-ki will attract a million anti-fans in the future.

“Before it’s released, I’ll be criticized as self-righteous, and after it’s released, I’ll be criticized for slandering environmental groups.”

“Min-ki, aren’t you going to get stabbed for real?”

Lee Min-ki shrugged at Kim Ah-seong’s giggling words.

“Still, I have to say what I have to say.”

“You’ve become bolder.”

“Someone has to take the lead. Someone who won’t be hurt as much if they lose.”

I slowly started to think about society.

Lee Min-ki began to think that Korean creators were too concerned about the public’s opinion, and that it restricts the freedom of creation.

Perhaps it was because the film production costs had increased exponentially. Recently, this tendency has become more pronounced.

Paying too much attention to the audience’s eyes.

To pursue only stable choices so that there is no criticism, let alone likes or dislikes.

‘This is also repeating the evils of the Odin Universe.’

The two are different but the same.

Creating works according to stable formulas for commercial success. Holding back for fear of public criticism.

What is the difference between these two in essence?

“If a creator can’t create what they should because they are too conscious of outside perspectives, that’s another problem.”

“Hmm, even if the public doesn’t understand Min-ki’s intentions?”

“Yes, if that happens, it’s my lack of ability, right? Because I couldn’t persuade them with my work. People might say I’m trying to lecture the audience.”

“Isn’t it too dangerous?”

“I’m willing to take the risk.”

Creators can create the creations they want to create. Consumers can consume the creations they want to consume.

If criticism is born in the process, this is something we must both endure.

“It’s okay as long as you don’t fail because it’s not fun and then blame it on the public’s level.”

I have to break their heads.

How dare they.

The public is God.

Just because evaluation is everyone’s responsibility does not mean that it is an excuse for a boring movie!

It’s about making a worthwhile work first, then talking about the message.

It was the moment Lee Min-ki came to that conclusion.

“Ah, Min-ki, that’s it.”

Kim Ah-seong said, laughing as if she had realized something.

“Seon-ah won an award at the Turkey Film Festival for a social exposé film, so you were jealous of that.”

“…….”

No.

* * *

Another 20 years have passed.

A lot happened in between, and a lot of time passed.

In the meantime, Lee Min-ki.

“Director! Everything is ready!”

He switched his route to being a director as well.

Lee Min-ki, who learned the fun of being a producer in [Turns Out He’s a Musical Genius], began to work as a director as well, like a two-way player, with [Memorandum] as an opportunity.

He had already reached the top class as an actor.

“Thank you for your hard work. What about the actors?”

“They’re waiting. I think you can go right now.”

“Um, a few coffee drones will be coming a little later, so please receive them when they arrive.”

“Yes!”

Lee Min-ki, who gave simple instructions to the staff, strode down the waiting room hallway.

In the hallway with mirrors neatly lined up, Lee Min-ki glanced at a mirror.

‘I can’t hide my age.’

He was once known as the symbol of a handsome actor. But could he not beat age? As he passed fifty, his face had many wrinkles.

But I wasn’t too disappointed.

[The epitome of a middle-aged flower man, Lee Min-ki]

[Perhaps because his T-zone stands out, he seems to be able to play more masculine roles than before.]

[Lee Min-ki is cool both when he was young and now]

It was because the roles he could play had become wider.

When I was young, I only played handsome roles. But now I can even play the role of a neighborhood hardware store owner. I’ve also played the role of Yeonguijeong [a Chief State Councilor] in historical dramas.

‘Um, not bad.’

Above all, because my shoulders are still the same.

I would like to emphasize once again that other than my face, my physical is still the same. When I take off my clothes, my body is not much different from when I was in my 20s.

‘I think my pumping has died down a bit lately, should I add a set to my routine? Or should I increase the weight?’

It’s not something I can decide alone.

Come to think of it, it’s been a while since I’ve seen Director Kwon Jun-yong, so I should visit him soon with a protein shake.

As I was thinking about random things and walking, there was a sight in front of Lee Min-ki’s eyes.

“You’ve arrived!”

“Director!”

“Act… Director!”

It was the streets of Nampo-dong, Busan.

No, if you look closely, you can see some noise in the air.

‘Is it dusty? I should tell them to fix the equipment later.’

In fact, it was a studio.

A huge studio the size of a dome baseball stadium with ultra-expensive hologram equipment lined up. In this one place in Songdo, it became possible to simulate and film all the environments in the world.

‘Technology is good.’

Desert too.

Medieval Europe too.

Sungkyunkwan [Korea’s oldest university] too.

The middle of New York Street can all be handled here.

It was simple because it was covered with a hologram once and filmed, and then touched up a second time in the post-production editing process, making it quite plausible.

‘It’s worth the money.’

The production crew can greatly reduce filming fatigue, and the actors also don’t have to feel the alienation unique to CG green screens, so it’s good.

Of course, some people still insisted on location shooting, saying that hologram studios still can’t keep up with reality in simulations. But Lee Min-ki is one of those who actively introduces new technologies.

‘We should use the technology we have.’

Wouldn’t it develop even faster if the people at the forefront actively used it?

Moreover, there was one more reason why Lee Min-ki liked this place.

“Hey, it’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

Because all the acquaintances from Maiar Pictures and Neutral Zone were gathered.

“Mr. Tak, you’re not late today.”

“Who’s late?”

“Mr. Tak was late. Don’t you remember? You used to buy coffee every day when we were in school.”

Kim Tak, who was quite old, shouted at Lee Min-ki’s words.

“No! I came 30 minutes early every day! Min-ki came 2 hours early! I wasn’t late!”

The faces of the cast members turned pale at the sight that looked like elementary school students fighting.

They are two people who have long since reached world class as actors. You could say they are living legends.

But what does the actual appearance look like?

“How long are they going to fight over that?”

“Until they win.”

“Ah, if they fight until they win, they’ll win.”

Except for some very famous faces, aren’t they not much different from what rookie actors do?

“I wish they would grow up soon.”

Kim Ji-hwan’s sighing voice, who came as a cameo, made Kim Tae-yang nod.

“They must have grown up a lot, but they haven’t taken other iron [idiom for ‘matured’].”

“We have to understand, what can we do?”

They were two people who got along so well that they started hanging out together. These days, they are even tied together as a set in entertainment shows with the nickname Ichon-dong couple.

As they were looking at Lee Min-ki and Kim Tak, there was a person who jumped in and added a word.

“That’s what I’m saying. You should act like adults on such an important day.”

It was Yoo Seon-ah.

“What are you fighting about? Fighting. You’re not kids.”

At her appearance of shaking her head as if Lee Min-ki and Kim Tak were pathetic, the two people’s mouths stopped.

“…….”

“…….”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

I wondered if you were the one to say that.

How many times have you matched the release dates to compete with Lee Min-ki and try to win with a movie?

No, if you think about it, aren’t you worse than Kim Tak?

“Tae-yang, your eyes look a little rotten?”

“I’ve been getting presbyopia lately.”

Kim Tae-yang’s unwavering eyes shone brightly there.

Yoo Seon-ah turned her head away as if her excitement had subsided, walked towards Lee Min-ki, and said.

“Min-ki, where is Hana?”

“She’s on a business trip to the United States, so she can’t come today and will join us in the middle.”

“Then what about Director Shim Seong-bo and his wife?”

“Ah, CEO Gu In-mo… no, my brother and I went on a business trip to Gangneung for a while.”

He became brothers with JC CEO Gu In-mo, transcending age.

In fact, I still want to call him CEO, but he raises his fist when I call him CEO, so I can’t help it.

“They said they would arrive here in about 30 minutes. They said they would pick up the manager and director when they come.”

“Wait a minute. 30 minutes from Gangneung to Songdo?”

“Um? Seon-ah, didn’t you hear? They recently bought a drone.”

“Ah.”

Thanks to the development of the times, personal unmanned aerial vehicles have become widely available.

Now, the entire Korean Peninsula has been unified into a 40-minute commuting zone.

Lee Min-ki counted his fingers.

“I think everyone who’s coming has come roughly when those two come. No. Senior Choi Yu-chang and Senior Kang Do-won haven’t come yet either. Gun-joo is.”

“I’m here!!! Here!!!”

“He’s here.”

He’s still like a kid even when he’s old.

Come to think of it, I think that’s how others see me too.

Lee Min-ki, who exercised meta-awareness at the right timing, stretched out with a yawn and said.

“I miss it.”

“What?”

“This sight. Everyone gathered. Especially, gathered in the studio.”

“Is that so? I guess so?”

Yoo Seon-ah also smiled and said.

“It’s been a while since the original members have all gathered like this.”

That’s right.

Today is the day when the original members of Maiar Pictures and Neutral Zone all gather to film a short drama as a promotional video.

It’s been 25 years since the meeting was formed.

‘Ah-seong is sleeping over there… Huh? How can you fall asleep here? Even if this is a hologram, it’s still Nampo-dong Market?’

Yeah, I should see when she wakes up.

Anyway, everyone has gathered enough. I think we can start soon.

Lee Min-ki clapped his hands and said.

“Okay, let’s go to rehearsal.”

– Author’s Note

Hello.

I would like to bow my head and thank all the readers who have been with me until the end of this work.

Top Star with Luck was a work that I enjoyed writing myself.

I always wanted to write a work with luck as the subject, and I feel relieved that I have achieved my bucket list with this work.

How was it for you readers?

Thank you again to those who enjoyed reading it and those who felt disappointed.

The main story ends here, but it’s not completely over yet. I’m going to write a few more side stories!

I look forward to your continued support.