Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 120

Former Hero is a Top Star-120

Rising Rockets (2)

* * *

There’s a term called a three-stage rocket.

When launching a satellite, the engine compartment is jettisoned once it reaches a certain altitude.

The same goes for any flying object.

The first-stage rocket separates first, followed by the ignition and separation of the second-stage rocket, and finally, the third-stage rocket ignites to ascend to the target orbit.

To gain propulsion, you must discard the unnecessary. Only then can you break through the atmosphere, make a soft landing in space, and become a star.

And the current ‘Reroll Idol’ is a rocket just before reaching the third stage.

“Seriously, how did it come to this?”

KBC Building.

Among the PDs [Production Directors] holding coffee, one shudders. He’s the PD in charge of the Monday-Tuesday drama buried by ‘Reroll Idol,’ with viewership ratings plummeting.

“It was wrong from the start that people were even watching web novels, such childish content. Logically, how does it make sense that a dead guy comes back to life?”

“So, magicians and Superman make sense? These days, all that matters is fun.”

A fellow PD scoffs at his agitated friend.

The victory of web novels, the defeat of broadcasting.

Some say this, but in reality, it’s not a defeat or collapse, just a different genre. Everyone had the opportunity to buy the original work and create a massive hit.

“The work is one thing, but what about the actor? Look at the viewership ratings for everything he takes on these days. Is 20% some dog’s name?”

Even though viewership ratings have become stingy, good works come out by the dozens every quarter.

With outstanding masterpieces or a good combination of top-tier actors, you can easily surpass 10% with a mid-tier hit.

However… it’s the actor’s ability to directly unleash the potential of those projects.

“Hey, anyone who goes up against Park Gun in the next project is dead. You’ll end up like me and Byung Seo-han.”

After the destruction of ‘Hyperion,’ Park Gun is known as the Grim Reaper at KBC. Another PD shakes his head.

“Nah, he won’t do it anymore. The agency will manage his filmography, trying to maintain his home-run hitter image.”

“Choi PD doesn’t know anything. That guy has so much ambition for his work; I heard he’s a runaway train. He’ll probably tour the broadcasting stations to sweep the awards this year?”

“That’s true. I heard he’s obsessed with awards.”

While those who know Park Gun express their agreement, one PD with a good sense scratches his nose.

“Well… he’s already achieved everything; will he even film more dramas in Korea?”

*

Yang.cHoi_

20% viewership rating pledge! #Reels #CoupleShot #FilmingTogether with my oppas [older brothers/male friends] #AnyoneWhoDoesnt #MyHousesTroublemaker

Choi Yang-young’s SNS is updated with proof shots.

The pose is the trendy finger heart. The eldest and second sons of the Eun family pose next to her, but the youngest is nowhere to be seen.

These days, actors immersing themselves in their roles is fan service on SNS. In the comments section, displayed in order of recommendations at the top of the post, Goo Shin-seung and Choi Phillip are having an ad-lib festival.

999_godsin: Where’s our youngest?

Feelip2: He flew to Bangkok on his private jet

On the same day, Park Gun’s SNS also featured several behind-the-scenes photos. Below a photo of Choi Yang-young pouting, a cool tag evokes laughter.

#WhyMe #YourHousesTroublemaker

When filming together, actors with similar interests and age groups quickly become close.

This is even more true for agency colleagues who only knew each other by face.

Goo Shin-seung and Choi Phillip’s SNS, as well as the filming site’s making-of films, feature videos of the actors receiving guidance at ‘Park Gun’s Action School.’

-It’s difficult; how can I fall as smoothly as Park Gun? The splash doesn’t burst out that much for me.

-Youngest, take care of the second one. He only knows how to act and doesn’t know how to use his body.

-Just do it. Should I help you?

-Uh, uh, wait a minute…!

Splash!

In particular, the behind-the-scenes cut of the hotel pool scene, where Eun Han-seom throws Eun Seon-chang into the water, recorded more views than the main broadcast’s highlights.

Most importantly, peace has been restored to the writing team. Yeo Jin-joo is secluded, focusing solely on adapting the work, and Yoonbal25 has stopped SNS activity and resumed writing new serials.

After more than a week of silence, PD Na Jong-mo nags the assistant director in the corner of the set.

“Did you find out what I asked you to find out?”

“Yes, both sides are in a truce. Yoonbal25 even posted on his fan cafe a few days ago, asking people to support the Reroll Idol drama a lot.”

“What? That guy himself?”

The assistant director, nodding, whispers secretly.

“Judging by the tone, it’s almost certain. And this is what I heard from Yeo Writer’s informant… don’t be surprised. There’s a rumor going around that Yeo Jin-joo and Yoonbal25 are collaborating.”

“What did you say!”

PD Na Jong-mo shouts, and the assistant director quickly covers his ears.

“Don’t say such scary things… there must be forces trying to undermine our drama.”

“No, it’s not really undermining…”

“Don’t talk back, just listen! Even if the sky falls, that won’t happen, so keep a close eye on them. If the writers fight again, the atmosphere on set will be ruined, got it?”

Amidst the bickering writers, the director has developed a neurosis. The assistant director clicks his tongue at the sight of Na PD walking away, fuming.

“…He wasn’t originally like that, but he’s starting to resemble Goo Actor more and more.”

While the production team is deep in thought, the actors waiting on one side of the set chat.

The atmosphere makers of Reroll Idol… that is, the ‘insiders,’ are definitely the Roman 3. Among them, Goo Shin-seung, and when Goo Shin-seung isn’t there, people gather around Park Gun.

“I went to see ‘Road of Fire’ again. This morning, the early show!”

“You said you saw it yesterday?”

“Heeing, how can I only watch Han-seom oppa’s work once? Even on my fourth viewing, tears were streaming down, and my mask almost got soaked.”

Choi Yang-young makes a sniffling sound, fluttering the movie ticket in her hand. It’s quite contrived that she brought the ticket she saw in the morning all the way to the set.

Choi Phillip, the discipline officer of the Roman 3, replies nonchalantly.

“Ah, yes. You’ll probably post it on Instagram again.”

“Of course, I’ll post it! Saying it like that makes it seem like I’m just selling my oppa. By the way, since we’re both Chois, should we start dropping the honorifics…”

“Sorry. I’m from Gangneung Choi.”

“Gun oppa! Second oppa is teasing me!”

If Choi Phillip is openly indifferent, Park Gun is the type to bombard with facts in a kind tone.

While skimming through the script with Park Seon over there, he mutters without even looking this way.

“Why did you watch it four times? If you had that time, you shouldn’t have been late the other day.”

“……”

Choi Yang-young’s eyes dart left and right, cornered.

She’s out of luck. Goo Shin-seung, who is good at accepting any words, doesn’t have filming today, and the other two are serious about teasing her.

Then… there’s only one left.

“Teacher Seok!”

“Yes, our Yang Actor.”

Since two of the lead actors share the same Choi surname, those who know them call Choi Yang-young by the affectionate nickname ‘Yang Actor.’

Choi Yang-young, sticking close to Seok Pil-ho, acts cute.

“Teacher… no, Senior, have you seen it too? Gun oppa’s documentary film.”

“Of course. Actor Park did a great job. At times like this, the lead must hold the center to keep the play going, and our youngest did just that. Thanks to him, the viewership ratings here have soared.”

Although Park Gun received the praise, Park Seon’s lips twitched as he listened next to his brother.

Seok Pil-ho is the oldest on the current set and the original veteran actor who has crossed between Chungmuro [Korean Hollywood] and the small screen since the tough 80s.

As such, the weight of his words is extraordinary.

“I was just doing my job as an actor. Thank you for seeing it favorably.”

On the other hand, Park Gun is indifferent, as if he has received an expected report card. Seok Pil-ho, who was smiling contentedly, said.

“Yes, it seems like the young friends these days don’t know that job well. When I was young… I was a little younger than these three brothers here. I was filming a movie, and the writers and directors got into a fight on that set. The lead actor’s mentality was completely shattered, and the staff also got caught up in the atmosphere, making mistakes one after another…”

And the chairman of Sunhwa Group transforms into a terrible over-talker when the camera is off.

No matter how famous the actor is, blood flows from the ears of those listening once the ‘latte’ [old-fashioned꼰대] stories begin. Sensing the crisis, the actors slowly distanced themselves.

‘He was so cool at first…’

‘Ugh, why does someone who lives so young change so much when old stories come up…’

Choi Yang-young also took a step back with a horrified expression, but the old stories that had been triggered showed no signs of stopping.

At that moment, Choi Phillip, who had been looking at Park Gun with an interesting gaze, casually threw out.

“The documentary was well-made. The writers might have been impressed by Park Gun’s acting.”

“This is a real professional! They might have thought, ‘It’s not time for us to fight,’ right?”

“Uh… that’s a valid point. The discord has completely disappeared since Actor Park’s documentary aired. What about Yoonbal25? The original author hasn’t said anything.”

Even the other supporting actors add a word each. Amidst the rampant speculation, Park Gun rarely opened his mouth.

“In my opinion…”

“Alright, everyone! Now that we’re all gathered, let’s start energetically today! Let’s raise the tension and get started. Teacher Seok, Gun-ssi, Actor Choi, and Yang Actor, are you all okay?”

It’s a crime to be this oblivious.

Complaints pour out on PD Na Jong-mo, who happened to interrupt the conversation.

“PD-nim, that was an important part!”

“Oh, huh? What’s wrong, what was our Gun-ssi talking about?”

“…You still did well today.”

*

What determines the rise and fall of a play?

Overwhelming capital, extensive marketing, the writer’s ability, and the actor’s performance?

There are various opinions, but one of the most important is consistency.

In that respect, ‘Reroll Idol’ steadily accumulated viewership ratings with solid internal strength, even though external pressures were strong.

In particular, the scenes where Eun Han-seom acquires companies based on information from his past life, purges traitors, and builds power provide intense catharsis in each episode.

Everything is according to the regressor’s plan.

The mafia appearing in the city are subdued by Sunhwa Shield agents, and the identities of those who were eating away at the Ministry of National Defense and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration’s budget are revealed one by one.

And who was behind all of that is belatedly revealed.

-Eun Han-seom? That troublemaker from Sunhwa Group?

-That’s right, he wasn’t just doing crazy things. I don’t know where he got the information, but… it’s all matching up.

-I heard he changed from some point; did he really see the future?

The competitors, with fire on their feet, run around frantically, but the media is already on Eun Han-seom’s side.

[Eun Han-seom, ranked #1 as the ‘chaebol owner’ [owner of a large conglomerate] preferred by the public… overwhelming support from those in their 20s and 30s]

[Sunhwa Shield’s sales jump compared to the previous year… is the reason the changed vice president?]

[The troublemaker has changed… from ‘troublemaker’ to ‘competent,’ Sunhwa Group’s third grandson who hid his claws]

The public both envies and reveres chaebols [family-owned conglomerates]. Originally, a hero can only become one by receiving both admiration and envy, aversion and cheers.

The youngest of the Eun family rises to stardom in one fell swoop with his handsome face, unconventional remarks, and actions unlike a chaebol.

-The Republic of Korea is rotting. I will personally root out all the bugs eating away at this country, the political, business, and legal circles. Even if it’s a knife aimed at my own bloodline.

Was the bombshell declaration at Sunhwa Shield’s 30th-anniversary event the trigger?

In the car returning after the speech, Eun Han-seom receives a call from Chief Woo.

-Chairman Eun wants to see you.

The top floor of Sunhwa Tower,

Grandfather and grandson meet again.

PD Na Jong-mo reveals the change in the situation between the beginning and the present with the details of the angle.

If Eun Han-seom was hidden by Chairman Eun Ki-hak at first, now it is a completely equal horizontal angle.

End to end of a long wooden table like a scale.

Two men face each other. One is an old man in his late seventies… the other is a young man hiding the age of forty within a youthful exterior.

“Why did you call me? I didn’t drink or cause any accidents this time. Ah, if you’re finally going to tell me about my mother, I’ll listen.”

Park Gun, as Eun Han-seom, draws his sword first. In preparation for any situation, his suit is fully armed.

Before coming here, Chief Wang’s repeated requests lingered in his mind.

‘As you said, Young Master, Chairman Eun Ki-hak was involved in the death of former Sunhwa Corporation President, Eun Jae-young. Please be especially careful.’

He is a ruthless old man who would harm even his own daughter for the sake of the group. If cornered, he might try to silence his own flesh and blood first.

“That day… from the morning of my appointment as Vice President of Defense, I’ve been curious ever since.”

Finally, Chairman Eun Ki-hak’s question falls.

“Who the hell are you?”

To the grandson who is not a grandson, the regressor.

* * *