Godsent Top Star [EN]: Chapter 392

392. Hit the Jackpot (2)

It was only the first day.

But everyone sensed it.

It was obvious, captivating not only the actors in the movie but also the audience who came to see it.

“There will still be people who want us to fail, right?”

“Of course. But we’ve already caught the wave, so it’s practically unstoppable.”

Even a huge opening day score could be a flash in the pan.

In fact, the first day’s score reflects the anticipation surrounding the movie.

But what comes next is what truly matters.

‘Word of mouth spreads. Whether it’s actually good or not.’

A star-studded cast and a massive production budget.

And a movie directed by a famous director.

These elements are sure to attract attention.

This anticipation naturally translates into viewers.

-Oh? This actor is in it? Sounds fun?

-I’ve seen a lot of promotion for this. It looks fun. Should we go see it?

This is how viewers are naturally drawn in.

But what follows is different.

-They seem to have spent a lot of money… but it’s surprisingly boring.

-It was boring and not fun.

-Boring:(

The audience’s evaluation is ruthless.

No matter how much money was poured into making the movie.

Even with a large number of famous actors appearing.

The audience doesn’t care about that.

The most important thing for the audience is entertainment.

The movie’s performance after the first day hinges on whether it’s fun or not.

“Word of mouth is already spreading. It’s a big deal on social media [SNS].”

“The Last Piece” was very much on the right track in that respect.

No, what’s with this momentum?

A powerful, rapid current was sweeping them along!

“It’s real. A hashtag has already been created?”

The first movie they debuted in is seeing a crazy reaction.

It would be strange if they weren’t excited.

The actors who quickly searched social media blinked as they looked at the number of posts with the hashtag.

“Well, it’s good that it’s going well, but it’s a bit unreal…?”

“Is an opening score of $100 million realistic?”

“You have to get it right. It’s not 100 million, it’s over 180 million.”

“I guess that’s why we’re getting contacted from all over the place, right?”

Most of them are rookie actors.

The majority of them didn’t even have an agency.

It’s unusual for most of the cast to be unaffiliated.

But in this case, no one seemed to care about that fact.

At the center of it all,

-Isn’t it enough for an actor to be good at acting?

There was an actor who asserted without hesitation.

A person with acting skills and a strong mind that everyone has to admit.

That’s Yeon-woo.

“So… has everyone decided where they’re going?”

I woke up and became Cinderella.

That story was not at all unfamiliar to them.

It was obvious.

Their reality now was exactly in line with that statement!

People who saw “The Last Piece” were curious about the actors who made a masterpiece.

And the agencies, who keenly noticed the curiosity of such people, were quick to snatch up the actors who had no affiliation.

An actor who has been recognized for both acting skills and talent in just one movie.

Isn’t it an attractive asset that you can’t help but covet?

“Where are we going?”

Someone answered indifferently.

I woke up and became Cinderella.

That phrase perfectly captured their current situation.

It was nothing more than a word that accurately penetrated their real situation.

“I don’t really have any intention of signing with another company.”

The people who were excitedly talking shut their mouths one by one.

I’m happy to be Cinderella overnight, but.

That’s it.

“That’s right. Where are we going?”

Surprisingly, everyone in this place had the same thought.

No one came forward and incited, ‘Let’s do this!’

Nevertheless, when it came to the contract, everyone’s attitude became lukewarm.

“Honestly, I feel good, but I’m not stupid enough to fall for a few sweet words now.”

“That’s right. What they want now is me that Yeon-woo has blossomed, so where am I going? I have to stick right next to Yeon-woo.”

Agreement rippled through the group.

“That’s right. Why would I go anywhere when Yeon-woo is here?”

“Right? Those guys are so funny, aren’t they? They thought that if we didn’t have an agency, we’d be in a hurry to say, ‘Oh, welcome!’ if they just put in an offer, right?”

“Honestly, being next to Yeon-woo is a hundred times better than going there, right?”

“I agree. It’s a lot better, even if it’s a little hard.”

The people here are all those who dreamed of becoming actors.

From those who just started acting to those who have been struggling in the acting scene for a long time, it was very diverse.

Of course, there were also people who came in late to find their dreams in other fields.

They had one thing in common.

They had been working hard all along, but they had not been able to seize the opportunity.

-I’m sorry. I don’t think you’re a good fit for our agency.

-Do you call that acting? My child in kindergarten seems to be better at acting than you?

-I’m sorry, but you’re out.

Most of them hadn’t even been given a fair chance to showcase their talents.

The reasons were varied and often disheartening.

Perhaps they didn’t quite fit the roles they auditioned for, or their looks weren’t deemed ‘up to par’ by casting directors. Maybe their acting took too long to ignite, or simply, the circumstances never aligned in their favor.

Over time, these external evaluations became shackles, binding their self-belief.

‘Am I truly not talented enough?’

‘Maybe acting just isn’t the right path for me after all…’

‘Am I destined to be stuck in dead-end jobs forever?’

Repeated failures and the accompanying frustrations gnawed away at their spirits, eroding their confidence.

In fact, Elliot, one of the rising stars now eagerly sought after by agencies, confessed:

“I was ready to give up everything, pack my bags, and return to my hometown to become a farmer if I failed that last audition. To make matters even worse, a well-known actor was auditioning at the same time, so I was certain I wouldn’t stand a chance… but then, they gave me an opportunity.”

Initially, he was bewildered.

Suddenly, someone thrust a script into his hands, instructing him to memorize the lines and recite them immediately.

He noticed someone sitting nearby, their eyes sparkling with an intense focus.

Strangely, at that moment, all his anxiety and tension seemed to dissipate.

Later, after discovering that he had passed the audition and speaking with the other successful candidates, he understood.

That person was Yeon-woo.

And remarkably, 90 percent of the people who made it through shared similar experiences.

“If it weren’t for Yeon-woo, we probably wouldn’t have made it this far in our careers.”

For them, Yeon-woo represented a last-ditch effort, the hope they had barely managed to cling to.

How long had it been since they had landed a substantial, meaningful role?

The catalyst for their sudden transformation, their ‘Cinderella’ moment, could be attributed entirely to one person.

‘Although the person in question doesn’t seem to care much about the recognition…’ they thought.

Initially, some harbored suspicions and anxieties.

‘I heard he’s a pretty famous actor, right? Why did he single me out? Does he just need a supporting cast?’

They now understood that wasn’t the case.

But at the time, they couldn’t shake off the feeling that the opportunity was too good to be true, sparking their doubts.

However, that initial misunderstanding quickly vanished.

-I didn’t pick you.

The savior who had lifted them up had stated firmly.

-All I did was recognize your potential and create an environment for others to see it too. Who ultimately chose you? The judges did. Not me.

Yeon-woo shook his head resolutely, insisting that he had done nothing special.

At first, they assumed it was just empty platitudes, but they soon realized he meant every word.

Yeon-woo consistently demonstrated the sincerity of his words through his actions.

He never adopted a condescending attitude, implying that he had handpicked them.

Nor did he try to assert himself as the ‘king’ of the set.

Yeon-woo was always the first to arrive on set and the last to leave.

“And he practiced his acting the hardest…”

He was a sensation, a nine-time Grammy winner.

And he was also incredibly talented at acting!

Yet, Yeon-woo consistently poured his heart and soul into every performance.

No one on set could deny his unwavering dedication.

“That’s right. His script was so worn and tattered that Mac [likely a crew member] had to print out new copies seven times…”

“He didn’t even take breaks during scenes where he wasn’t directly involved.”

When it’s not their turn to film, most actors typically retreat to their trailers to rest.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with that.

Given the often-grueling hours of filming, adequate rest is essential to conserve energy.

But Yeon-woo never retreated to his trailer when he wasn’t actively filming a scene.

-Um… Aren’t you exhausted from being present for every single shoot?

Someone had once asked him, voicing their curiosity.

As the main character, enjoying the director’s complete trust, he could easily have been aloof and detached.

Yet, he showed no such signs, remaining on set from the earliest call time to the very end of the day.

When they inquired about his reasons, this was his response:

-I need to keep all the scenes fresh in my mind so that the overall flow remains consistent. The nuances of breathing, the subtle shifts in emotional lines – I need to have everything within my sight and grasp so that the flow doesn’t become disjointed or feel unnatural when it’s my turn to perform.

Yeon-woo’s words resonated deeply with the other actors, leaving them in awe.

‘This person is the real deal…!’ they thought.

It’s technically possible to seamlessly connect scenes through editing in post-production.

However, even with meticulous effort to piece together the emotional lines and subtle breathing patterns that fluctuate slightly in each scene, subtle traces of dissonance inevitably remain.

When these minor inconsistencies accumulate, they can unknowingly disrupt the audience’s immersion in the movie.

-I can’t quite put my finger on it… I don’t fully understand it, and it’s just not as enjoyable…

The reason why audiences sometimes struggle to connect with a movie can be surprisingly simple.

Often, the performers themselves don’t possess a comprehensive understanding of the entire narrative and their place within it.

Yeon-woo’s expressed desire to understand every scene, coupled with the tangible evidence of his sincere dedication to memorizing every part of the script, only served to amplify the already burgeoning admiration they felt for him.

“That’s why we were able to perform so well.”

“That’s absolutely true.”

Acting alongside Yeon-woo, immersing themselves in the scenes, and enduring the challenges together, the actors’ skills inevitably improved at an accelerated pace.

Of course, it wasn’t always a walk in the park.

“It was a bit tough, but I felt like I was constantly growing and evolving as an actor.”

“Ah, let’s be honest here. It wasn’t just ‘a bit’ tough; it was incredibly challenging.”

“To be even more honest, it felt like I was trapped in hell. It was as if someone was constantly whispering in my ear, ‘Welcome to hell.'”

Suddenly, the atmosphere in the room shifted, becoming noticeably somber.

“…Why are you all staring at me like that all of a sudden?”

Yeon-woo, sensing the change in mood, addressed the actors who were gazing at him with a melancholic expression.

“No… It’s just… I was just reflecting on the hardships we endured together.”

“Hardships? What hardships are you referring to?”

In Yeon-woo’s perspective, what he had done wasn’t particularly remarkable.

‘The most effective approach is to practice relentlessly.’ he thought.

If you push them hard enough to the point where they’re on the verge of collapse, they’ll naturally absorb the necessary skills and knowledge.