Top Star By Luck [EN]: Chapter 145

145.

[The War of All Against All] was entering its mid-production phase.

Maiyar Pictures undertook a major revision of the project.

Specifically:

“Now that the investment has increased, let’s scale things up.”

It was a quality upgrade.

The release date was pushed back by two months.

That meant they had plenty of time to spare, but how would they use it?

Would they play around, or focus on marketing?

‘Of course, we have to work.’

It was work.

They had been recognized by a global company, hadn’t they?

As a director, it was thrilling enough to send shivers down your spine.

Maiyar Pictures decided to reinvest the goodwill shown by Netplay entirely into the project.

“Aren’t you disappointed? It was a chance to get a lump sum.”

At Lee Min-ki’s words, Director Jin Joo-yeon scoffed and said,

“It wasn’t just my decision; Sung-bo and the actor also agreed.”

“Well, yes, but still. It’s a considerable sum from the company’s perspective.”

Lee Min-ki licked his lips.

Seeing the budget that Netplay had additionally invested, it had nearly doubled the originally promised production cost.

If they had taken that money, each person would have received several hundred million won at least.

Maiyar Pictures was saying they would refuse this.

“It’s business.”

Director Jin Joo-yeon said cheerfully.

“Originally, every company works hard to create sample products. That’s how you work together for longer.”

“…Is ‘War of All’ a sample product?”

This, though you guys might not know it, is a global hit?

As he was about to retort with a disgruntled voice, Director Jin Joo-yeon replied as if it were obvious.

“Of course. We have a mountain of projects to make in the future.”

“Joo-yeon is right. Of course, ‘War of All’ is a great project, but we’ll only make better projects from now on.”

“Our Sung-bo has grown a lot, hasn’t he? So bold.”

“I’m in front of the actor. I have to score some points at times like this.”

“Really?”

“…Honestly, I do feel bad about the money.”

The two of them had already started chuckling.

“You can earn money later, but you can’t buy the actor’s trust with money.”

“Joo-yeon is right, Director Min-ki.”

“Haha…”

Before they knew it, they were even exchanging jokes without hesitation.

These two people.

Their confidence had skyrocketed.

‘Well, the director needs to be confident.’

Confidence has a trickle-down effect.

A director who believes in themselves can make the staff believe, and a work made by such a staff can persuade the public, they say.

‘For me, it’s a thank you if they produce a good work.’

Lee Min-ki smiled faintly.

They continued additional filming for another month.

With only about two weeks of additional filming left, the general schedule was coming to an end.

Lee Min-ki, along with Maiyar Pictures, faced an unexpected situation.

“You’re telling us to take a break?”

“Yes.”

Director Shim Sung-bo looked around as if feeling stiff, then said,

“The weather is so bad that it will be difficult to proceed with filming tomorrow.”

The weather was the problem.

“The waves are too choppy, and the sky is gloomy. Even sailors stay home and eat scallion pancakes [a popular Korean comfort food] on days like this. It’s perfect for someone to die.”

Since it was a project with frequent outdoor shoots, bad weather meant losing an entire day.

Moreover, the later scenes included a naval battle scene, making it even more so.

“It’s best to step back today.”

There was also the option of working in an indoor studio and using CG to correct it, but that was only possible for projects that were filmed under such a design from the beginning.

Suddenly proceeding with indoor work that they hadn’t done before wouldn’t match the previous footage.

‘Well, the director must have his reasons.’

Lee Min-ki thought about it for a moment and accepted it.

‘Come to think of it, it was strange that the weather had been so good until now.’

Usually, on set, if the weather goes bad, you end up waiting indefinitely, but until now, they had been proceeding comfortably without wasting time.

“Let’s take two days off while we’re at it.”

Director Shim Sung-bo said, sounding refreshed.

“Two days?”

“The actor must be very tired from running non-stop until now.”

Not really.

Not at all.

‘It was more comfortable because Director Kwon Joon-yong wasn’t chasing after me.’

It was an advantage of being trapped on an island.

No matter how much Director Kwon Joon-yong ambushes my house and invades my company, he couldn’t come all the way to the end of the Korean Peninsula.

‘There’s no way my body can be tired if I’m resting my lower body.’

Thanks to that, I was itching every day.

I wanted to tear some muscles, but there was no way to do that while filming.

[Actor! You’ll get hurt!]

The Maiyar Pictures side also tried to protect his body in every way possible.

‘Great. I should go work out for once.’

Is it normal to be excited about going to the gym on a rare day off?

Probably not.

But Lee Min-ki had become a somewhat distorted human being to the point where he couldn’t even recognize such obvious common sense.

Though he vehemently denied it.

[Member, the fatigue from exercise is relieved by exercise.]

Just like someone else.

[…I don’t think so?]

[When your lats hurt, doing lower body exercises will relieve it?]

[Huh?]

[You’ll know once you try it.]

That’s how they started filming [War of All] in Sinan County, and now it was entering its fourth month.

Drrrrrrr.

“We’re departing.”

The way out of the island wasn’t so boring.

“I learned a lot this time thanks to you, Actor.”

Because there was quite a bit of time to talk with one of the extras who participated in the shoot.

“Haha, I don’t know if the actor remembers me…”

“I remember. You played Shim Gyeon-woo. You died from an arrow yesterday.”

“Gasp.”

The man’s mouth dropped open at Lee Min-ki’s words.

He never expected that he, who had never even rehearsed with him throughout the filming, would remember the details of an extra’s role.

“Your acting was amazing. The way you rolled your eyes back when you fell, it was so natural.”

“Wow…”

Standing in front of the man who looked like he was about to faint from emotion, Lee Min-ki smiled and asked.

“I don’t think you’re just an extra who applied after seeing a public notice. Are you affiliated with any agency?”

“Ah, me?”

The man fidgeted at the lightly curious question.

It was like watching a private giving his name and rank to a general in the army.

‘This guy’s reaction is funny.’

As Lee Min-ki was inwardly chuckling, the man stammered and opened his mouth.

“You probably wouldn’t know the name even if I told you. It’s not a very famous company, so… cough, that’s probably why I was able to pass the audition.”

“Now I’m even more curious since you say that.”

“Ugh… you really wouldn’t know.”

A moment later.

The man coughed awkwardly as if he was too embarrassed, and reluctantly opened his mouth.

“I’m from Media Future Company.”

Lee Min-ki was so surprised by the name that suddenly popped out that his mouth hung open.

“Ah.”

How did he interpret that? The man said, stammering as if he was embarrassed.

“Right? I told you. I said you probably wouldn’t know. It’s a really small place.”

It was that moment.

Lee Min-ki blinked for a moment, then slowly opened his mouth.

“…No. I know it.”

“Yes?”

Media Future Company, how could he not know that name?

No, could he ever forget it?

Lee Min-ki smiled bitterly and said.

“I know it. I know it well.”

It was a name he didn’t want to be involved with.

A name that even caused a small trauma.

He had worked hard to distance himself, but in the end, it came back to his ears.

As if it were an honor, Lee Min-ki smiled slightly at the man who had widened his eyes.

“Since we’re on the topic, would you like to tell me a little about life in an agency?”

* * *

He got off the island.

Even though he had received a vacation, Lee Min-ki was not someone who had any special hobbies from birth.

[I saw Lee Min-ki at a club. With proof photo]

[It’s just someone who looks alike]

[That shoulder isn’t Lee Min-ki’s]

[LOL, you can identify Lee Min-ki by his shoulders]

He doesn’t particularly enjoy entertainment.

Since he inherently prefers a quiet life, he avoids even walking on streets where clubs are located, let alone going to clubs.

Then does he like sports?

‘Weight training is enough for exercise.’

He doesn’t like exercising while fiercely bumping into others.

Does he like watching it then?

‘Movies are art.’

He is someone for whom movies alone are enough, that was Lee Min-ki.

That’s why Lee Min-ki had one hobby.

That is.

“Phew, all done.”

Reserving all the movie theater showtimes from early morning to late night, and then watching the released works one after another.

‘This is how you spend a holiday.’

Lee Min-ki grinned as he opened the reservation screen.

[She’s Got A Boyfriend]

[Chemical Explosion]

[I’m Leaving Now]

[Arari]

In addition, the screen was filled with the titles of movies currently playing in theaters.

In fact, there wasn’t a single work that he hadn’t seen before.

Among them, there were quite a few works that he had seen several times.

At the very least, it was a second viewing, and the most-watched one was up to the tenth viewing.

But it didn’t matter to Lee Min-ki.

‘Movies are always best on repeat viewings.’

He was someone who deeply believed that the more he watched a movie, the more new impressions would be added.

No, it was good to see it as a religion beyond absolute certainty.

Why, it’s like that.

Just because you’ve tasted ramen, doesn’t mean you won’t eat it again.

If it’s delicious food, you keep eating it.

He was someone who applied this logic to movies as well, that was Lee Min-ki.

It’s better to watch it in the theater if possible.

“…I thought you were joking, but you’re really going to do it.”

That wasn’t the case for the other two people who came with him.

“You’re going to watch seven movies in one day? Dude, you’re a real movie buff.”

“I don’t want to agree with Tak, but Min-ki, this is a bit scary.”

It was Kim Tak and Yoo Seon-ah.

They coaxed him to go out and play together on his day off, and he said okay, but it turned out to be a marathon from morning to night at the theater.

‘That’s probably why your skills are improving so quickly.’

Yoo Seon-ah twitched her eyes.

Come to think of it, Kim Tae-yang made an excuse that he had a schedule and skipped out.

Kim Tak suddenly opened his mouth.

“I don’t like it.”

“Why? We’ll just watch two movies in the morning, eat and rest, and then watch the afternoon movies.”

“No, that’s not the problem.”

Kim Tak shook his head.

Oh, is he going to make some plausible rebuttal?

Is he expressing his will?

It was the moment when Yoo Seon-ah was expecting Kim Tak’s actions for once.

“I like regular cola better than zero cola.”

Ah.

That was the reason.

Is he complaining about that at the movie theater?

Yoo Seon-ah was dumbfounded, but Lee Min-ki said in a calm voice.

“Should I throw it away?”

“I’ll drink it well.”

“Be careful in the future. I’m only letting it slide this once.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Yoo Seon-ah’s expression became more and more dumbfounded.

Is that really a conversation that needs to be taken so seriously?

It’s just a drink.

You can just go to the counter and buy a new one for 3,000 won [approximately $2.50 USD].

But somehow, it seemed to be a very sensitive topic for the two of them.

“Well, then, I think we should go in now.”

The movie screening time was already approaching.

It was just the right timing to go in.

“Ah.”

Lee Min-ki’s steps stopped.

That is, he stopped as if he had seen something he shouldn’t have seen.

Like a child who stopped in Red Light, Green Light [a children’s game].

The next moment, when his eyes were filled with embarrassment.

The man just a few meters ahead turned around and said to Lee Min-ki.

“Lee Min-ki?”

“…”

In normal times, it was a situation that he would have ignored as something he often heard.

But Lee Min-ki couldn’t do that this time.

Before he could even recognize the situation, his vocal cords betrayed his head and let the three letters of his name flow out of his lips.

“Mr. Ham Chi-hyun?”

Ham Chi-hyun.

He was someone he never wanted to encounter in his life, but also someone he wanted to encounter at least once.

The moment he put that face in his two pupils, Lee Min-ki felt the saturation of the world fade slightly and smiled faintly.

‘Is this how we get involved.’

Media Future Company.

The president of the company whose name he didn’t even want to think about was now standing in front of him.

No, rather than standing.

Lee Min-ki, who had come full circle and was standing in front of him once again, slowly blinked his eyelids.

‘What is luck, really?’