Top Star By Luck [EN]: Chapter 109

109. Fashion & Fashion

If I had to describe the theme of this movie in one word, it would be this:

[What happens when someone who doesn’t value talent is given an abundance of it?]

In the story, the protagonist, Lee Jong-ho, was an ordinary commoner.

A person who gave up all the joys of life and lived only to work, just to take care of his mother, who was lying in the hospital after suffering a stroke.

He gave up the university he worked so hard to get into.

He worked four part-time jobs a day.

If he had his way, he would have gone to a factory that paid well.

Even a deep-sea fishing boat would have been fine.

But he couldn’t leave with peace of mind, worried that something might happen to his mother in the hospital overnight.

‘Of course, he’d be obsessed with money.’

In the meantime, he caught the eye of Noh Young-hoon, an employee of a shopping mall and talent agency.

[Have you ever thought about modeling?]

Not interested.

Saving every penny, grooming was a luxury for him.

What’s the point of clothes when he’s eating 500-won bundle ramen because he can’t afford 700-won bag ramen? [Ramen is a cheap, instant noodle dish popular in Korea. The price difference indicates the level of affordability.]

He had to wear even 3,000-won market t-shirts until they were worn out. [A ‘won’ is the currency of South Korea. 3,000 won is a very cheap price for a t-shirt.]

In other words.

Fashion was out of Lee Jong-ho’s realm from the start.

But there was a choice.

[Do you get paid a lot for modeling?]

Whether he gets paid a lot or not.

He had no interest in modeling, but he would do it if he got paid.

That was the reason and the whole reason why Lee Jong-ho became a model.

It was just a means.

A means to somehow hold on to the lifeline of his mother, who was lying in a coma in the hospital bed.

But he didn’t know.

That the modeling job he started would be a jackpot beyond imagination.

[Model of the Year]

[This man’s proportions are like a drug.]

[It’s gorgeous. The clothes, Lee Jong-ho, and us.]

In a word, he hit the jackpot in his career as a model.

In an instant, he snatched the position of a model who received all the attention.

In the meantime, many people approached him.

[Why don’t you come to our agency? We can pay you more.]

[Jong-ho, you have such beautiful eyes.]

[Why are you living in this shabby house? Here, take these car keys.]

In an instant, wealth and fame followed.

A glamorous life that ordinary people would never experience in their lives.

That’s what came to Lee Jong-ho, who had been struggling with poverty until just a moment ago.

[Aren’t you interested in changing the world?]

Even a leading designer in the fashion world declared him his muse.

But did Lee Jong-ho really welcome it?

‘It’s a headache.’

He had no interest in it.

He just kept doing his modeling job somehow because he had to take care of his mother.

The meaning of life was still miserable.

In the meantime, his father, who he thought was missing, even threatened him with his family history.

It’s a life I’m sick of.

[Mister, I want to quit this job.]

[……Jong-ho, you’re getting too big for your britches.]

[I guess so. I’m getting too big for my britches.]

[Don’t talk nonsense and go to the shop. There’s another big meeting tonight. You have to look good, so ask them to make you look pretty. Okay?]

I’m tired.

If he had his way, he would quit modeling or anything else and just leave.

In the meantime.

[Jong-ho, let’s go on a trip together. To the sea.]

He received an offer from an industry giant that he couldn’t refuse.

Just when he was wondering if he should go this far.

[Are you the guardian? The patient just passed away at 11 p.m…….]

Thud.

In the end, he lost the only meaning of his life.

Now, everything is ready.

What choice will Lee Jong-ho make at the end of this catastrophe?

What is life left for him?

Will he enjoy wealth and fame alone, freed from the burden of his mother?

Or will he collapse, having lost the pillar of his life, his mother?

“Hoo.”

Now, Lee Min-ki took a breath in front of that scene.

* * *

‘I’ve been waiting and waiting.’

It’s a masterpiece.

It was a masterpiece that represented [Fashion & Fashion].

If you were to pick the top 100 masterpieces in Korean film history, this scene would almost certainly be in it.

I remember.

The actor who originally played this role received critical acclaim from critics and a seal of approval for his acting skills from netizens with this one scene.

But now this scene has returned to Lee Min-ki, none other than him.

My heart is pounding like crazy.

‘Not many people on this set know the future of this scene.’

They won’t know until it’s released.

No, maybe Director Hwang Ui-seong knows.

One, two.

Lee Min-ki took a light breath in his mind, as if trying to shake off the tension.

“I told you. Mister, I don’t want to do this job.”

Lee Min-ki muttered, standing on a fake rooftop set surrounded by green chroma key [a visual effects technique], getting hit by fake rain.

“Why didn’t you listen to me?”

He was a person who had little emotion, as if he were a mannequin from the beginning.

But now, he has far surpassed that level.

Lee Jong-ho, played by Lee Min-ki, felt so eerie that he didn’t feel any emotion at all.

It was like looking at a doll with nothing inside.

Looking at Lee Min-ki, Kang Se-hwang, who plays [Noh Young-hoon], said in a trembling voice.

“Jong-ho. Calm down, huh? Think about it one more time. Huh?”

“Until when?”

“I’ll try to persuade you somehow. Yeah! Let’s go on vacation. Eat delicious food and relax in a good place for a month or two. See good things! Then you’ll be okay. Right?”

[Noh Young-hoon]’s persuasion was desperate.

His wealth and fame came from being the manager of [Lee Jong-ho].

A successful model planner.

But the truth was that he only wanted him to work, gaslighting him without thinking about taking care of [Lee Jong-ho] mentally.

Good woman.

Good wine.

With such things as bait.

“We’ve been doing well so far. Jong-ho, if you work a little harder, you’ll be the best! You can have everything you want, you know?”

None of them were even worth [Lee Jong-ho]’s attention.

Rather, it would have instilled cynicism.

The next moment.

[Noh Young-hoon], who sensed a change in [Lee Jong-ho]’s expression, smiled brightly.

“Yeah! You know it too, right?”

A faint smile appeared on [Lee Jong-ho]’s face.

[Noh Young-hoon] thought that [Lee Jong-ho] was recalling good memories and had finally changed his mind.

“Oh, our Jong-ho. You’re going to catch a cold. Let’s go down first. I have something good…….”

“Mister.”

[Lee Jong-ho] interrupted [Noh Young-hoon]’s words.

Then he asked in a self-deprecating voice.

“If you make a lot of money, can the dead come back to life?”

“……What?”

“Money. If you make a lot of money, can you save people?”

“Ha, haha, Jong-ho. If Jong-ho wants to do something, I’ll find a way.”

“Then save me too.”

The next moment.

[Lee Jong-ho] threw himself off the rooftop.

As if throwing a soda can into the empty air, he flew into the air with a refreshing movement that didn’t feel like any regrets.

“Hey! Lee Jong-ho!”

[Noh Young-hoon] chased after him and shouted.

But.

Thud.

[Noh Young-hoon], who looked down over the rooftop, could only open and close his mouth with a shocked expression.

That was the moment.

“Cut.”

With a heavy voice, the heavy atmosphere of the scene was brightly lit.

The rain stopped.

The lights got brighter.

Like [Demian] [a novel by Hermann Hesse] claiming that he had to break out of his shell and go outside, the world in the movie that had been covering the set was shattered.

Instead.

Complete reality replaced it.

Step, step.

Hwang Ui-seong, who walked expressionlessly under the rooftop set, opened his mouth.

“Are you okay?”

“Ah, well. Yes. I thought my heart was going to run away.” Lee Min-ki coughed dryly and said with a playful smile.

“I don’t think anything’s broken. I might have bruises.”

That’s right.

Of course, Lee Min-ki jumped over the rooftop, but it was only the rooftop of the set.

Underneath it, a special filming net was installed to catch the body.

“That’s a relief.”

Director Hwang Ui-seong nodded and said.

“I think I’ll have to shoot it a few more times, but I’m glad you’re not hurt.”

“Yes?”

Lee Min-ki’s eyes widened at the words.

Shoot it again?

Even jumping once was scary enough to die.

I have to do this one more time?

My hair is all wet from the artificial rain, and I have to reset everything?

A dizzying sense of fatigue swept through Lee Min-ki’s mind in the face of repeated reshoots.

“I’m just kidding.”

Director Hwang Ui-seong said slowly.

“…….”

“I think this one time will be enough.”

Oh, you were kidding.

You can joke too.

I hope you don’t joke in the future.

* * *

A few days later.

“Thank you for your hard work!”

Officially, the filming of [Fashion & Fashion] came to an end.

After finishing a work, it is customary to have a dinner to commemorate the wrap-up (end of filming), but Director Hwang Ui-seong was a little different.

“Meet and eat on your own.”

The director is missing.

He hates having a wrap-up dinner itself, and more than that, he wants to work more, so if you really want to have a wrap-up dinner, he tells you to get together on your own.

He’s such a maverick.

No, he’s my way [a Korean expression meaning ‘doing things one’s own way’].

What’s the point of a wrap-up dinner without the director?

“Then…… shall we just call it a day?”

I have to read the atmosphere and disperse appropriately.

“Ahem, I think there will be opportunities to meet again soon, such as the presentation and the press preview, so let’s have a proper get-together then.”

“Ah, that’s great. Then let’s go home early and rest today.”

Naturally, the decision was made to leave work early.

It would be a shame for those who like to drink, but thanks to that, the employees under him also had a good side to leaving work early.

That was also what Director Hwang Ui-seong intended.

His motto is that work should only be done in the studio.

‘He’s so unique.’

Lee Min-ki was watching the footsteps of Director Hwang Ui-seong, who had already left to smoke a cigarette.

“Actor!”

Kim Gam trudged towards him and said.

“I really enjoyed filming with you this time. Let’s shoot another work together. As soon as possible.”

“Haha…… if I have the chance.”

“Opportunity is an opportunity if you make it. Let’s shake hands.”

Lee Min-ki accepted his handshake.

He was one of the few bright people in the desolate Hwang Ui-seong division.

He was also a rare talent who could face Director Hwang Ui-seong’s nagging head-on.

‘I learned a lot from this person.’

Lee Min-ki gratefully accepted the greeting, and Kim Gam also slightly lit up his eyes.

‘Lee Min-ki, this person, will definitely be more successful in the future.’

I felt it instinctively while working.

He knows how to lead and how to develop himself.

There are many people who work hard everywhere.

But no matter how hard you try, you don’t always develop.

‘Effort without development is meaningless, I’m sorry.’

What really matters is the final result.

Kim Gam instinctively felt that Lee Min-ki would become a huge figure in the future.

“You said you’re going to win an Academy Award? Let’s win it together.”

“Ugh, who said that?”

“Who else would it be besides the guy who went to smoke a cigarette?”

That was the moment when the two people’s chatter was about to go off on a tangent.

“Hey, Kim Gam, look at this guy.”

The lighting director, who had already slipped to the side, nudged him and said.

“It’s only been a few dozen seconds since the end of filming one work, and you’re already drooling over it. You’re going to sign a contract.”

“No, don’t make people misunderstand.”

“Misunderstanding? You said it well. The actor’s value will go up so much after this work that you’ll have to bring a lot of money. Will you be able to make a dinner appointment then?”

Anyone who watched it on the set had one common thought.

Lee Min-ki will succeed.

He’s already successful, but he’ll be more successful soon.

“Don’t think about monopolizing it.”

Kim Gam scoffed at the lighting director’s joking words and said.

“That’s why I’m drooling over it now. So that you can’t say anything different later.”

“…….”

Lee Min-ki twitched his face at the words that were being said so openly while leaving the person involved alone.

These people, there’s a reason why they hang out with Director Hwang Ui-seong.

I’m sure because they don’t care about what other people think.

But in any case, Lee Min-ki also learned a lot from this attitude.

‘For sure, I think I worked harder without knowing it because I was working with people who had a sense of ownership in their work.’

The level was high.

There are talented people who know how to make their own voices.

Watching them come up with all sorts of ways to voluntarily improve the quality of the film, Lee Min-ki, he had no choice but to do so as well.

And it was fun too.

‘Is it like this in other divisions?’

Maybe not.

Studios are all different.

But if there’s one thing I’ve realized for sure, it’s this.

‘An actor is not just a part [of the production].’

He is a creator comparable to the director.

I will take what I learned this time and keep it for a long time.

Lee Min-ki paused to reflect on his realization and said, bowing his head.

“Thank you so much for everything I learned while filming the work! I look forward to working with you in the future!”

Kim Gam smiled at the sight and said.

“Oh, we should be asking you. We’re not going to see you just once.”

“Kim Gam, stop it.”

* * *

Although the main filming of the movie is over, the post-production process is still a long way off.

It may take several months to properly post-edit (post-production), release, and market it.

In the meantime.

Lee Min-ki decided to start a new job.

“You’ve finally made up your mind.”

“Yes.”

Right.

“It’s the beginning of Lee Min-ki’s official account.”

It was to officially open an SNS account.

He didn’t want to be distracted, so he postponed it while filming [Fashion & Fashion].

But now that’s over.

Director Seo Jeong-woo smiled faintly as he watched him trying to hold back his pounding heart.

“You’ll get 1 million followers in 3 months.”

That word.

Manager Park Han-mo also repeated it until his mouth was worn out.

It was also a word that he repeated several times as if trying to brainwash Lee Min-ki recently.

“I’d be happy if I could get half of that.”

“Half is not possible. 1 million in 3 months is the minimum. JC [the agency] is expecting up to 1.5 times that.”

Ugh.

The wish is too much.

If a CEO of a corporation made such a bold claim about his portfolio, investors would be horrified and would even impeach him.

‘That’s subtly becoming a jinx.’

It’s not supposed to happen if you say it will happen.

‘Wait.’

Did you say jinx?

Why?

Lee Min-ki, who suddenly recalled a scene from the movie, said with a half-doubtful heart.

“Then. Director, do you want to bet?”