Top Star By Luck [EN]: Chapter 101

101

I seriously contemplated.

‘What is a great runway?’

A runway is a series of actions: calmly walking onto the runway stage, showing off a great look, and then returning.

The time given to a model is only about 20 to 30 seconds.

How can one show off ‘style’ within that time?

This was the task initially given to Lee Min-ki.

‘It’s difficult.’

It was difficult.

It was difficult even in the old days when he briefly aspired to be a fashion model, and it is still difficult now that he is standing on the runway as a full-time actor.

I looked for someone to help, but it wasn’t easy.

It seemed like he needed a different kind of walk, one that could overcome his physical disadvantage compared to professional models.

I even subtly asked Director Hwang Ui-seong.

[I have a method in mind, but first, I’ll leave it to the actor’s interpretation.]

He said he would concede the first move to Lee Min-ki.

He gave me freedom, as if his earlier statement about wanting to see it first was to test his creativity.

Painful freedom, that is.

So, I walked and walked until my feet were blistered, pondering.

How can I show a runway that rivals professional models, overcoming my lacking physique?

What can I do?

After much deliberation.

After much analysis.

‘This is it.’

Lee Min-ki found the answer in the runway of a Southeast Asian model.

It may not be the right answer, but it was the best answer he could come up with.

“……!”

The moment Lee Min-ki appeared on the runway, the atmosphere in the studio changed.

On the stage.

A flower was blooming brilliantly.

No, the word ‘flower’ is far from enough to describe the scene before my eyes.

‘It’s a garden.’

It was a garden.

With every step Lee Min-ki took, the flowers developed from bouquets to flower beds, and flower beds into gardens.

Just as the flowers in a garden each boast their own diverse beauty, Lee Min-ki was showing off a profound sense of style.

‘He’s turning like that here?’

The staff all exclaimed in admiration.

Step, step.

Lee Min-ki moved his feet calmly.

With each step, it was as if flowers were blooming in his wake.

The expression is refreshing yet soft.

The lines flowing gracefully from his shoulders to his hips to his toes felt almost seductive.

‘It’s the complete opposite of what Heo Su-oh showed on the runway.’

It’s different from a walking style that excludes emotions like a mannequin.

What should I call it instead?

‘A thousand faces.’

It was a walking style that constantly exuded endlessly diverse emotions from the whole body.

‘This is the answer I’ve found.’

What kind of character is Lee Jong-ho, whom Lee Min-ki is playing?

He is usually ordinary.

But wasn’t the setting that he reveals almost demonic talent when placed on the runway?

At first, I envisioned a scene where a bland character presents a runway as perfect as if cut with a knife.

That is, the model completely kills his personality and becomes a mannequin for the clothes.

You could say it’s the epitome of high fashion.

Because that would be the runway that the public commonly thinks of when they think of a model.

But there was one miscalculation here.

‘Do I have to do the runway like everyone else?’

Exactly.

‘Yes, that’s right. A genius doesn’t need to be the same as others!’

The character [Lee Jong-ho] didn’t need to present a textbook runway.

Because he is the main character.

And this work is not reality but a creation.

‘That looks closer to a commercial model.’

‘Wow, even though he’s doing that much facial acting, the clothes aren’t overshadowed?’

Lee Min-ki’s runway is not that of a high-fashion model.

Even among commercial models, he was quite distinct, with a very strong personality.

But Lee Min-ki didn’t think his judgment was wrong.

‘The walking of models from Southeast Asia was different.’

More radiant.

They showed off their emotions flamboyantly, as if they had no intention of hiding themselves.

Despite their small stature, they overwhelmed the audience with the force that emanated from them.

‘Is there any reason why I shouldn’t do that?’

I’m an actor.

The strength of an actor is emotion.

Is there any need to throw away what I’m good at?

If you do well in either one, there is bound to be a use for it.

Lee Min-ki decided to make the most of his strengths as an actor, his expressiveness.

One more thing.

I even added a spoonful of character interpretation.

‘Lee Jong-ho is originally a mannequin-like, bland character, so he needs to be radiant on the runway to bring out the charm of the reversal.’

That’s right.

It’s not a twist if someone who seems like they’d be good at it is good at it.

At least, you have to be good in a different direction to be a twist.

This was also someone’s intention.

‘He’s been doing well.’

The person in charge, Director Hwang Ui-seong, wore a soft smile.

‘It’s different from the answer I had in mind, but if that’s also an answer, there’s nothing wrong with it.’

The walking that Director Hwang Ui-seong had in mind for Lee Min-ki was the opposite.

It was to do ordinary walking, but to make the most of it through the power of directing.

‘I thought that was the best option, but now it’s the second best.’

I see it when I see Lee Min-ki’s walking.

That’s the answer.

Director Hwang Ui-seong couldn’t help but smile.

Of course, even within the studio, his smile was so faint that only one or two people could barely notice it.

Even those few chosen ones would have to enter within a 3-meter radius of Director Hwang Ui-seong to distinguish it.

In other words, to others, it was still a stiff expression.

‘Wow, he prepared so hard, but he’s still not satisfied.’

‘Lee Min-ki is also pitiful.’

‘Does blue blood flow under Director Hwang’s skin?’

Someone was satisfied, and someone was impressed.

Overall, the atmosphere brightened.

But even in the midst of that, there was also someone writhing in anger.

“…… Keuk!”

Heo Su-oh, the man who had performed on the runway one turn before Lee Min-ki, was like that.

‘What is he going to do with those crude personal skills?’

He fully lived up to his career as a high-fashion model, presenting a high-fashion runway.

That is, a runway where he erases himself and becomes a mannequin.

But Lee Min-ki went in the opposite direction.

The expression on his mask is more radiant than ever, and his light steps are as graceful as if he were dancing.

‘That kind of thing is a runway?’

As a traditional model, he was grinding his teeth.

No, if it’s Lee Min-ki, he can do that.

I didn’t expect it because he wasn’t a proper model in the first place.

At best, he’s just a fitting model at a public-oriented shopping mall.

But.

“Wow, did you see that just now?”

“So cool.”

“I want to buy those clothes too.”

“Is this why people go to see runways?”

The fact that the production team openly admired Lee Min-ki was an unacceptable part for Heo Su-oh.

It doesn’t matter how unacceptable he is, but nothing will change.

‘Is the level of the film industry only this much?’

Crack.

Heo Su-oh clenched his molars fiercely.

* * *

“Hoo.”

One scene ended.

Surprisingly, in one take.

A short break in the studio.

As befits a studio that has poured a lot of money into it, Studio Cube has a lounge-style break room, and Lee Min-ki was sitting on a bench there, catching his breath.

“Actor, you worked hard.”

A person spoke to me.

Lee Min-ki turned his head at the voice that had become familiar.

“Ah, director.”

Standing there was Director Kim.

Commonly known as Director Kim or Kim-gam, Kkingkkang on set [a playful nickname, suggesting he’s always bustling around].

Director is Hwang Ui-seong, so Director Kim became Kim-gam for convenience.

“Heot, tea.”

He sat next to Lee Min-ki and said, unwrapping a sandwich.

“To be honest, I was surprised to see the actor’s acting.”

“Yes?”

“The completeness is different. In fact, the actor is already famous among industry people. He’s really good at acting for a rookie. But now you can remove the first four letters [referring to ‘rook’ in ‘rookie’].”

Kim-gam, who had already peeled off all the skin, took a big bite of the sandwich, mumbled, swallowed it, and continued.

“Rookie. Let’s take this off. Now you’re just good.”

“Haha, thank you for your kind words. But I still have a long way to go.”

Lee Min-ki scratched the back of his head, feeling embarrassed yet happy.

I’m happy.

It’s also happy to be well-received by the public, but it was especially happy to be recognized by people in the same industry.

The two are a little different.

What should I say?

Wouldn’t it be a little different for an employee of a company that develops electronic products to be recognized within the company and for the product to be recognized by customers?

Lee Min-ki also felt the same way and opened his mouth.

“I was also surprised. Especially in this runway shoot.”

“Hmm? In what way?”

At Kim-gam’s question, Lee Min-ki coughed and said.

“I was very nervous, but the filming ended in one go.”

That’s right.

The runway part just now ended in just one take.

Director Hwang Ui-seong cut it off as if it was meaningless to film more.

“This was unexpected. Excuse me, but it’s completely different from the Director Hwang Ui-seong I heard about.”

“Did you hear something?”

At the director’s words, Lee Min-ki hesitated and replied.

“Well, that’s because Director Hwang Ui-seong is famous for his perfectionism. Even if you shoot one scene, you shoot it dozens of times.”

There was a famous anecdote on the Internet.

I had worked with a Japanese actor, but because I kept shooting the same scene from morning to evening, the actor was exhausted and said this.

[Don’t Koreans know the extent?] (T/N: Meaning, don’t they know when to stop?)

It was a joke.

It was a happening that occurred when Director Na Hong-jin repeatedly filmed because he didn’t like the angle of the light on set, even if he kept filming.

“Among the three major Korean directors, Director Hwang Ui-seong is said to have the strongest perfectionism, so I was worried that I would be filming and correcting dozens of times.”

“Ah, that’s it. I have to explain this again.”

At those words, Kim-gam chuckled and said.

“It’s a misunderstanding about Director Hwang Ui-seong. He’s never going to be that kind of person.”

“Yes?”

“The word perfectionist can also be said to mean that if it was filmed perfectly, there is no need to film it again, right?”

“Ah.”

I think I know what you mean.

Does that mean that the scene I acted in earlier was perfect?

Lee Min-ki guessed, but he hesitated to say it himself because he was embarrassed.

“That’s how much the actor’s acting didn’t need to be seen separately [meaning, it was already perfect].”

Kim-gam completely confirmed it.

“The director has a picture in his head, and he repeats it until he shoots a scene that is close to that picture. Did you reach that level in one go? Then there’s no need to shoot more.”

Is that so.

Lee Min-ki, who finally realized Director Hwang Ui-seong’s intentions, nodded and said.

“The rumors that spread were a bit of a rumor. The director called the actors and made them act in one scene all day long, and then sent them home in one day.”

“Ah, that’s not it.”

“……?”

Why is there a rebuttal here?

Lee Min-ki raised a question mark, but Kim-gam paused as if recalling the past.

“Let’s see. On the day we started filming, we were filming only one scene for two days, but in the end, we sent the actor back because the picture didn’t match.”

“…… A minor role?”

“No.”

“Then a supporting role?”

“It’s the main character.”

Lee Min-ki was speechless at the terrible words.

Still, if it’s the main character, he would have gone through the audition and been selected with difficulty, but he didn’t like it when he went to the set, so he sent him back?

It’s hard to believe, but Kim-gam continued.

“Actor, have you seen [Please Wear a Mask Indoors]?”

“Ah, yes, the infectious disease movie.”

I’ve watched it about 10 times.

I remember that the male actor’s acting was fantastic, but Kim-gam said calmly.

“That former actor was Kim Do-ha. The person who went home in two days.”

“Heop.”

“He sent him back because his acting was too nice [meaning, it didn’t fit the character].”

Lee Min-ki was speechless.

He sent Kim Do-ha back after filming with him?

Anyway, he ruined his personality and ruined it, but if you only look at his acting, he was one of the top three young men recently?

What about the contract?

‘Director Hwang Ui-seong is doing this because he’s about that level, but if he did this elsewhere, there would have been a fuss about abuse of power.’

The darkness of the industry is deep.

Who would believe it if I went somewhere and said it?

“Kim Do-ha…… well, that trashy bastard also respected Director Hwang Ui-seong’s will and ended well. At worst, the production of the work itself was in danger of being shaken from the foundation.”

“……Then I might get kicked out too?”

Lee Min-ki was about to sweat cold, but Kim-gam laughed and patted him on the back.

“Of course, Director Hwang likes the actor so much that that won’t happen. That’s what’s happening right now. He kept smiling while filming.”

“Director? Did you smile?”

“Yes, quite often.”

Did that happen?

Lee Min-ki’s eyes widened.

Director Hwang Ui-seong, that person had a constantly stern face on set.

So did his voice.

Wasn’t it like that since I met him at Studio Cube in the early morning?

He even warned me, saying, ‘I’m going to see if you’re doing well.’

‘No, do you even know how to make a face other than that expression?’

I can’t think of it.

It was as if you couldn’t imagine a taste you’d never tasted before.

How can someone who has never felt the citrus scent of Thai food imagine the taste of Tom Yum Goong [a famous Thai soup]?

‘I wouldn’t believe it.’

Kim-gam also expected this much.

I only acquired it because I was a director who had to act like one with the main director.

He also knew that reading Director Hwang Ui-seong’s expression was a very unique ability.

So, he chuckled and said.

“You can believe it. The actor is doing well. If you continue like this, there will be no problems in the future.”

“……Thank you.”

It’s meaningless.

Lee Min-ki, who had already inserted the possibility that he would be fired if he made a mistake, did not hear any clumsy comfort in his ears.

‘I need to practice more.’

It’s practice.

It’s not the time to be relieved that I’ve been selected as the lead actor, but I need to practice more, thinking that I can go home at any time if I’m not careful.

That was the moment Lee Min-ki made up his mind.

“Ah, I was wondering where you were.”

A person appeared in front of him.

A very tall person, and a handsome person.

He was a handsome man who would make you look back at him at least once wherever you saw him on the street.

‘Model Heo Su-oh?’

Heo Su-oh.

He, who had no chance to talk to me since the runway shoot a while ago, appeared in front of Lee Min-ki.

No, to be exact, he appeared in front of Lee Min-ki and Kim-gam.

“Hiss.”

He took a deep breath as if he had something to say, and then opened his mouth.

“I can’t accept that scene.”