Top Star By Luck [EN]: Chapter 108

108

“Pardon?”

Lee Minki flinched at Director Hwang Euisung’s sudden question.

Director Hwang Euisung, still with an expression devoid of any wavering, asked calmly, “I was asking if you, as an actor, think this collaboration will be helpful to ‘Fashion & Fashion.’ That’s what I meant.”

*I know.*

*I know that’s what you meant.*

Lee Minki glanced sideways at Director Seo Jungwoo.

And was surprised.

‘He’s flustered.’

Director Seo Jungwoo, usually so calm in everything he does, was clearly agitated at this moment.

‘Actor, you need to answer carefully.’

It was an expression Lee Minki could read, having met him several times.

“I think…”

Lee Minki opened his mouth, intending to put out the fire first.

“I think it will be helpful.”

But it didn’t end there.

Director Hwang Euisung asked in his still weighty voice, “Is that so? Why do you think that?”

“That is…”

“Specifically, tell me in detail.”

*This is difficult.*

A barrage of question marks floated in his head.

Lee Minki’s question was why he was being asked for his opinion.

‘No.’

*Is it worth asking?*

From observing Director Hwang Euisung on set, he surprisingly listened to the opinions of those around him.

[Why do you think that?]

[Haven’t you considered other methods?]

[Your consideration is still lacking.]

At first glance, it sounded like he was grilling them.

*Why did you do that, did you even think, did you act without any soul?*

Most of the time, that’s how it sounded.

Director Hwang Euisung was so taciturn that one might think he fundamentally lacked social skills, so it wasn’t strange to think that way.

But in the past month.

Lee Minki realized one thing while working with Director Hwang Euisung.

‘He’s really asking.’

Director Hwang Euisung’s questions were literally questions.

It was the same when he talked with Director Kim.

[Why did you place the camera here?]

[Didn’t you consider the light reflection?]

[Isn’t there a lot of wasted movement in the shooting path?]

Whenever that happened, Director Kim always answered with the steadfastness of a Ukrainian volunteer defending against the Russian invasion.

It wasn’t just Director Kim.

Just now, without going far, he had asked Lee Minki for his opinion several times.

[I’m watching you.]

Saying he was watching meant he was literally watching.

[Think about the runway yourself.]

It meant to act freely.

Following that question, Lee Minki often spontaneously devised and acted.

Hwang Euisung carefully evaluated it and even passed it in one go from time to time.

‘Though not often.’

In short, Director Hwang Euisung was someone who carefully considered the opinions of others more than one might think.

He was never dictatorial.

He was endlessly cautious and didn’t express his emotions well, which led to him being misunderstood as a tyrant.

Rather than trying to appease him with a half-hearted answer, it might be better to just pour out what he had to say.

No, this was the right way to deal with Director Hwang Euisung.

[You have no subjectivity, Actor.]

[Pardon?]

[An actor who only *matchweo* [adjusts] everything to others is not needed in our studio.]

In the past, Kim Doha was kicked out of Hwang Euisung’s team for that reason.

[If it’s a minor role, I don’t know, but if it’s a lead role, you need to have ownership of your work. You need to constantly think about how to make a better piece, judging the work yourself.]

[Wait a minute. I’m just respecting the director’s opinion…….]

[Is that so? I need a partner, not a subcontractor.]

Hwang Euisung hated people with weak subjectivity.

He avoided people who were only nice.

He hated people without dreams.

He loathed people who hid their goals.

He preferred people who could clearly speak their mind, even if it was somewhat reckless.

This was Lee Minki’s assessment of Hwang Euisung.

No, of the filmmaker Hwang Euisung.

‘Then.’

He made up his mind.

“Hoo.”

Lee Minki took a breath.

Depending on his answer now, Director Hwang Euisung might make a decision.

Maybe the collaboration would go over the Bermuda Triangle.

But at least.

‘I have to say what I need to say.’

If he hid his words and glossed over it, he would regret it later.

He’d rather be criticized than do that.

“Korea…”

Lee Minki, having steeled himself, opened his mouth.

“It’s still rare to sell movies and related merchandise as a collaboration. But in Japan, China, and even the United States, all movies use merchandise to cover production costs and use it as a marketing tool in itself.”

“Just because other countries do that, does ‘Fashion & Fashion’ have to do that too?”

“Yes.”

Lee Minki answered with a firm voice in the face of the still stiff question.

“Not doing it when we can is wasting potential, I think.”

*Oops.*

He went a bit too far while speaking.

It was the kind of thing that a director with a strong *kkondae* [꼰대 -꼰대 refers to an older person who is condescending or uses their age to justify giving unwanted advice] tendency might laugh at.

But Director Hwang Euisung still.

“What if the quality of the work is compromised in the process?”

He only asked the question.

Like a professor asking the opinion of an undergraduate.

Lee Minki, having regained his breath, composed himself and answered.

“That won’t happen. JC, me, and the director, everyone involved in the production knows that. We have to improve the quality of the work first to recoup the marketing costs.”

“The quality of the work is the top priority in any way. Is that what you’re saying?”

Hwang Euisung nodded and asked again.

“But the important thing is whether the collaboration product can actually help improve the quality of the work.”

“Production costs……”

He was about to throw out the first reason.

“Let’s pretend I didn’t hear that.”

Hwang Euisung cut off Lee Minki and said.

“Our studio isn’t so strapped for production costs that we need to receive special investment.”

Ah.

This guy has a lot of money.

He’s only going to listen to the story from a purely artistic point of view.

Then there’s a Plan B.

Lee Minki, having refocused his thoughts, cleared his throat and opened his mouth.

“There are other reasons too. Collaboration products can be a great help in the process of improving the quality of the work.”

“For example?”

Lee Minki, now completely in control of the flow, nodded and continued.

“The way people enjoy a work is diverse, and I think they can feel ‘Fashion & Fashion’ more deeply by purchasing, collecting, and wearing our products. Right now.”

At that moment.

A scene flashed through Lee Minki’s mind like lightning.

That was.

‘That watch.’

The green watch hanging on Hwang Euisung’s wrist.

The extremely thick watch.

The rugged metal watch, as if showing off its presence, tightly constricted his thick wrist.

There was.

The most perfect example was right here in this place.

Lee Minki opened his mouth with a refreshing smile.

“Like 007 fans enjoying the feeling of James Bond while wearing a Submariner!”

That’s right.

The watch hanging on Hwang Euisung’s wrist was a Rolex Submariner.

A product that remained in film history as a symbol of James Bond.

Beyond a simple sponsored product, an item that had become a symbol of a movie was shining proudly on Hwang Euisung’s wrist.

And today, Hwang Euisung happened to be wearing a suit.

‘He didn’t think of 007 when he combined these two? A self-proclaimed film director?’

That was dereliction of duty.

But even though he confidently blurted it out, a small doubt remained underneath.

‘Just because he’s an art director doesn’t mean he hates commercial films, right?’

If not.

Hwang Euisung resolved that question a few seconds later.

“Rolex is definitely a good watch. It looked great in 007 too. I bought this watch after watching that movie.”

“……!”

It was the right answer.

Hwang Euisung stroked the watch on his wrist and said.

“Listening to the actor, I think it would be nice to have such a symbol in ‘Fashion & Fashion’ as well.”

Lee Minki’s eyes widened at those words.

*Did I hear correctly?*

Did Director Hwang Euisung positively mention collaboration products with his own mouth?

He resolved this question as well.

“In addition, it would be great if the audience who saw our movie could feel like they became Lee Jongho by buying the actor’s clothes.”

It was clearly an expression of affirmation.

“Director, then.”

Director Seo Jungwoo, who had been holding his breath and listening to the story, finally opened his mouth.

“Are you agreeing to sell the clothes appearing in this movie as collaboration products through our JC Entertainment and CEO Yoo Gyueon’s YU?”

*Unnecessarily detailed.*

He felt that he wanted to get a definite answer, and Hwang Euisung nodded and said.

“Yes, I agree. Now that we’re talking about it, I hope you can bring a prototype with you next time.”

It was over.

Director Seo Jungwoo, who had received an extremely firm agreement, leaned back on the sofa as if he was exhausted.

With this, Lee Minki was able to work more broadly as an actor.

‘I did it. I got a collaboration from Director Hwang Euisung’s work.’

If there were no prying eyes, he might have clenched his fist tightly and trembled.

Who is this thanks to?

Director Seo Jungwoo, who felt that it was all thanks to Lee Minki, glanced sideways at Lee Minki.

‘You’re really lucky. No, is it inevitable that you’re lucky?’

He has good judgment.

Is it because he avoids actions that will be harmful and takes actions that will be beneficial that he looks that way?

As he tried to smile faintly, Director Hwang Euisung said with a still expressionless face.

“JC seems to be very lucky.”

“Yes?”

“I’m talking about having Actor Lee Minki affiliated with them.”

“Ah.”

*I can’t stand this.*

Director Seo Jungwoo finally couldn’t stand it and said with a smile.

“I completely agree.”

* * *

After the negotiation result of the official collaboration product release of Fashion & Fashion was announced.

“How did you do that?”

CEO Yoo Gyueon, who had been overwhelmed and went into hiding before returning after his vacation, exclaimed.

“Jungwoo, what are you? You’re the hardest person to negotiate with I’ve ever seen in my life, and you did it?”

“I didn’t do it.”

Director Seo Jungwoo smiled awkwardly in the flood of surprised words.

“Actor Lee Minki did it.”

“The actor?”

“Don’t you know? The actor doesn’t usually show it, but he’s *eungeunhi* [은근히 – subtly, secretly] good at talking.”

“Ah, I know that.”

“Hmm?”

“He’s almost a sage? He never makes a mistake.”

“…….”

After silently looking at each other for a while.

They came to an agreement without knowing who said it first.

“Jungwoo, I don’t think Actor Minki is in his 20s when I see him talking.”

“He’s like an old man who’s been through all sorts of hardships.”

“Hmm, an old man who’s *banrohwandong* [반로환동 – returning to youth]?”

“Stop reading martial arts novels.”

That Lee Minki was not a normal person.

In a good way.

“I heard that the actor was almost going to Daon at first, but it’s a blessing that he signed with our company.”

“That’s right, it’s a blessing to work with him. Someone came all the way from Gothenburg to see our brand’s clothes this time.”

“Gothenburg?”

“I heard it’s a city in Sweden.”

Lee Minki himself may not be aware of it, but he was not only overflowing with luck for himself, but also spreading that luck to the people around him.

“Anyway, he’s very easy to work with.”

And just in time.

It became a little easier for Lee Minki himself to work on the [Fashion & Fashion] set.

“What were you thinking when you acted like that?”

Lee Minki answered with a confident voice in response to Director Hwang Euisung’s seemingly grilling question.

“I thought that the character Lee Jongho would rather laugh it off than be shocked by people who ridicule his plight as a slave to money.”

He was saying everything he had to say.

He knew that Director Hwang Euisung was far more receptive to other people’s opinions than he appeared.

Then there was no need to trim his words to read his face.

Of course.

“Your interpretation is wrong. Acting like that will ruin the emotional line.”

“…….”

“Act according to the script.”

That didn’t mean he would accept all opinions without exception.

But after talking a bit, I understand.

‘Is he smiling now?’

Lee Minki, as well as Director Kim, was able to feel a little that there was clearly an expression on Director Hwang Euisung’s face.

‘Hey, I must have seen it wrong.’

Of course, being able to feel it and being convinced that you can feel it are two different things.

“Then let’s proceed with the next scene.”

While filming little by little like that.

Finally, the order to shoot the most important scene in [Fashion & Fashion] came.

Why did the main character [Lee Jongho] become a slave to money?

It was to pay for the hospital bills of his only family.

Now, Lee Jongho received a call informing him that his family had succumbed to illness in the hospital.

Then.

How will a genius who has lost even the only meaning of life while feeling cynical about his life react?

“Actor, let’s get ready.”

Now, it’s time to shoot that scene.