Top Star By Luck [EN]: Chapter 154

Episode 154

With a faint breath, Lee Minki repeated, as if stamping a seal on a contract.

“Thank you for joining the Neutral Zone.”

Neutral Zone.

It was the name of the label he created.

At first glance, it was nothing special, but the concerns contained within Lee Minki were surprisingly profound.

‘Everyone is swayed by a hostile world, unable to unleash their potential due to external factors.’

This was what he had keenly felt in recent years.

Was the success he had enjoyed recently entirely his own?

Or was it a success he achieved because he had truly and fundamentally changed from the ground up, growing as much as a towering tree as an actor?

‘Partly, yes.’

It’s hard to deny.

There was Kim Ah-sung’s training.

There was competition with fellow actors, seniors, and juniors.

There was Director Kwon Joon-yong’s strict training.

It would be a lie to say that he didn’t grow while experiencing these things.

But.

At the same time, Lee Minki also thought this.

“I am here because I was able to meet you all.”

The very fact of meeting them was luck.

The environment itself, where he could enjoy opportunities for growth enough to be full and hard to swallow.

This was the greatest luck he had obtained in this life.

“It’s a very cliché thing to say, but honestly, I don’t think I came this far just because I’m good.”

Lee Minki began to say something that might sound like a pretense.

“We’ve all come this far helping each other. CEO, Director, Director Kwon, Trainer, Director, Seon-ah, Tak… Everyone is a benefactor to me. I mean it. If it weren’t for the trainer, I would have been a frog in a well [an ignorant person], and if it weren’t for Director Kwon, I wouldn’t have gained the healthy image I have now.”

Watching Lee Minki’s speech, not a speech, the audience’s expressions changed subtly.

‘He knows it well.’

‘It doesn’t seem like he’s saying something he doesn’t mean.’

‘He cries every day because he doesn’t want to exercise.’

‘It would be nice if other actors had even a little bit of that mindset.’

He’s not usually someone who gives long speeches, so it’s kind of funny.

It’s fun to watch, you could say.

He’ll probably kick his blanket later [a Korean expression for regretting something embarrassing].

That’s how they were waiting for Lee Minki’s next words.

“But not everyone can enjoy the same luck as me.”

Lee Minki’s voice grew heavier.

Like pressing a low key on a piano with a fist, the emotion in his voice changed in an instant.

“Some are not recognized by the market.”

His gaze briefly turned to CEO Yoo Gyu-eon.

“Some are caught by paparazzi.”

The gaze that turned back reached Joo Ha-na.

“Some are about to make the wrong choice because they’re impatient.”

It reached Yoo Seon-ah.

“Some are deceived by fraudulent contracts.”

Lee Minki’s eyes looked at the empty air, or rather, at himself reflected in the distant mirror.

Lee Minki, who bit his lip once, repeatedly opened his mouth.

“They will be moving away from the happiness they should have fully enjoyed.”

Happiness.

It was also the only word that pierced through a person’s life.

Not everyone can live a life with luck.

You can’t get the same results even if you put in the same effort.

“Success is often said to be the mother of failure, but because of that, in some families, failure has been supporting success for 32 years.”

Small laughter flowed through the audience.

It was a joke, but it’s a bit sad because it’s my story.

It’s a little strange because they’re laughing.

‘Kim Tak, I’ll remember this.’

Lee Minki promised himself for the future in a corner of his neurons and continued speaking.

“When a child born into a wealthy family is patting his stomach while receiving gifted education in Daechi-dong [a wealthy district in Seoul known for its private education], someone equally bright on the other side of the world is rummaging through bread crumbs in a trash can, and it’s fortunate if they don’t receive criminal education.”

It’s extreme.

But the world is originally extreme.

Ironically, Lee Minki, who succeeded by luck, knew this fact very well.

“But a small connection can change a person. I hope that I can at least be that kind of person to others.”

That realization has come to this.

“That’s what the Neutral Zone is for.”

Helping people.

Helping others, and that help becoming a mutually beneficial relationship rather than a free favor.

“I hope our relationship becomes luck for others, and that luck returns to us as well. Thank you.”

When Lee Minki’s short speech ended, small applause followed.

Applause that came from genuinely empathizing.

They were just going to listen for fun, but they were already immersed in listening.

‘That’s what people are like.’

Suddenly, Director Seo Jung-woo thought.

‘Most management businesses start with that idea.’

Lee Minki’s idea was not that original.

That’s how every management is.

They all want to do honest business and earn a lot of money.

But is that easy?

If you try to do business altruistically, you can’t survive in the competition and mold tends to grow.

‘If you come to your senses, you’re being called a villain.’

Few places are built from the beginning to make a quick buck and run away.

Even JC, who is said to give a lot to its affiliated celebrities, often operates selfishly in some ways.

But.

‘If the actor wants to do that, I have to help him.’

He had no intention of laughing at that will.

Director Seo Jung-woo, who put the actor Lee Minki in his eyes, continued to applaud silently.

While thinking that he wanted to see the end of that young actor.

He continued to applaud.

‘There’s something to learn from you, hyung [older brother or male friend].’

‘As expected, Minki.’

Kim Tak and Yoo Seon-ah also.

‘We were the same rookies, but the difference has become so great.’

Kim Tae-yang also.

‘I still remember the days when I hired him as a part-time pay model, but we’ve come this far.’

CEO Yoo Gyu-eon also.

‘As expected, big shots look at different places.’

‘I wish Seong-bo would develop that kind of values.’

Director Shim Seong-bo and Jin Joo-yeon also.

‘Is that what the Neutral Zone meant?’

Song Woo-dang, who joined by chance, also.

‘Looking up while sitting, his lower body is surprisingly weak. Tsk, I should make him do a set of lunges when I clean up later.’

Director Kwon Joon-yong also.

* * *

Immediately after the creation of the creative group disguised as a label called Neutral Zone.

Lee Minki’s actions were simple.

“Hoo, my nose is clear as soon as I arrive.”

It was to visit the United States right away.

Shouldn’t you watch the movie that’s being released on the same day?

Of course, it was the story of [Manman-tu].

Lee Minki pursed his lips slightly with a slightly regretful feeling.

‘If it had been released in Korea, I wouldn’t have had to come all the way to the United States.’

That’s right.

Manman-tu was not released in Korea.

I don’t know what the inside story was, but the schedule was too tight.

There was also competition between existing theaters and OTT [Over-the-top media service, like Netflix].

It is said that it was not released in all regions in the United States either.

Securing theaters in some areas was the limit.

[There is a rumor that AST put subtle pressure, but rumors are rumors, so you can’t blindly believe them.]

There was a commentary from Two-park of Netplay.

‘He was throwing a champagne party, saying that he was guaranteed to succeed thanks to this work.’

Lee Minki smiled bitterly and headed to the theater.

After a while.

“Ah.”

Suddenly, he realized one thing.

‘That’s right, the release dates overlapped around this time.’

AST’s new Odin Universe work.

It was the time when [Sphere] was launched.

The release date was set earlier in the United States than in Korea, so he was 은연중에 [eunyeonjunge, subtly/vaguely] confused.

Lee Minki’s brow furrowed at the poster in front of him.

‘Sphere.’

As Lee Minki, who knows the score of even the smallest movie, perfectly knows the work of the Odin Universe, Sphere.

‘This one, it hit 800 million dollars in world score.’

800 million dollars.

It was a truly astronomical figure.

Usually, the benchmark for a super hit movie in Hollywood is 1 billion dollars, and the benchmark for a hit movie is about 500 million dollars.

In other words, Sphere was a truly hit work beyond the framework of the Odin Universe, and was located at a crossroads to becoming a super hit work.

‘The story of an ancient superhuman fighting with a single spear who woke up in modern times. It was very interesting.’

The sight of him cutting off all kinds of modern weapons while fighting.

Even that famous line seemed to be heard in his ears.

[My spear will not be broken by anyone except my lord.]

The AST Universe, which had been strong in action from the beginning, praised it, saying that it had completely attained enlightenment.

The disadvantage is that the unique framework of the Odin Universe is felt somewhat strongly.

That [Sphere] has now become the competitor of [Manman-tu].

Can it be broken?

No, can it even be 비빌 [bibil, compete/compare] ?

‘Even if it goes to OTT, I don’t think it can ever win in terms of box office share.’

Honestly, I don’t have high expectations.

“Tsk.”

The first screening day of the movie, which should be the most enjoyable.

Lee Minki tasted a little bitterness and stepped into the alley where the movie theater entrance was located.

No, it was the moment he was about to step in.

“Wait!”

Someone looked at him and shouted in a loud voice.

“There.”

“Wait a minute, did I see it right?”

It was three young men.

Three tall men who made the alley feel cramped.

If you average their height, it would be about 190cm [approximately 6’3″],.

Because they were wearing leather jackets, their already large bodies felt even larger.

Before Lee Minki could react, three threatening young men approached him as if surrounding him.

‘What is it?’

Lee Minki flinched at the grim atmosphere.

It was a threatening situation where it wouldn’t be strange if a jackknife popped out of his pocket.

Ike [slang for “Wow” or “Oh my God”].

Even though California has good weather and a lot of people, was I too careless?

Still, the United States is not as safe as Korea.

East Asian discrimination crimes are also common.

‘It would be better if they asked for money.’

Thinking that it was better than getting hurt, he swallowed his saliva without realizing it and prepared for the moment.

“Who is it, I can tell when I look closely.”

Do they know me?

The man in the front, a young man with his hair slicked back with a lot of oil, looked deeply into Lee Minki’s face.

And then for a moment.

He smiled brightly enough to make dimples and shouted.

“Are you Diving Lee?!”

“…….”

Diving Lee?

Lee Minki’s expression was dyed with absurdity at the word that was his nickname and meme.

But then, the two young men lined up on the left and right also said with admiration.

“That’s right.”

“Wow, I didn’t know I’d see Diving Lee in person.”

“I told you. It’s Diving Lee.”

So what.

I am Diving Lee, but so what.

Lee Minki couldn’t choose an answer, and the stern-looking skinhead-style young man standing behind him walked forward and brought his face close to Lee Minki’s nose.

And then.

슥 [seuk, sound of something sliding].

He put his hand in his leather jacket pocket as if trying to take something out.

‘Gun? Knife?’

Lee Minki was about to run away thinking that he might not know.

“We’re your fans.”

The young man handed out a movie ticket.

It was a ticket with the title [The war of all against all] printed largely on it.

In other words, it was a [Manman-tu] ticket.

“Can you take a picture with us?”

“Yes?”

Picture?

What are you talking about.

Am I not listening well and did I hear something wrong?

While the reality in front of him and Lee Minki’s terrible imagination were not matching, the slicked-back young man opened his mouth.

“……Can’t I? I even took a vacation today to go see it on the day it opens.”

At that, the bald young man next to him said as if grumbling.

“So what. You’re on vacation, but I closed the store completely. I’m in big trouble if my wife finds out.”

You were married.

I came all the way here at this early hour to see [Manman-tu].

There were still 30 minutes left until the screening, so I was killing time in the surrounding alleys.

‘Wow.’

Lee Minki muttered in vain.

“It’s good to take pictures.”

I have to get something in return, even if it’s unfair that my heart was pounding.

“Shall we just take a 인증샷 [selfie for proof] that will be uploaded to my SNS [Social Networking Service]?”

* * *

[Manman-tu] was officially released in the United States a week earlier than in Korea.

It is difficult to expect great results.

Even if the quality of the movie is very good, a difficult fight was expected due to the nature of the offline movie market, where distribution networks are important.

Isn’t the opening day a weekday right away?

If it’s a movie, it’s 정석 [jeongseok, the standard/orthodox way] to release it on the weekend to pump up the first day’s score, but [Manman-tu] was ignored even this.

[It would be good if it achieves 50 million dollars in the end.]

[Is 50 million a joke? How many Korean movies have 찍은 [jjigeun, made/earned] 50 million.]

While everyone, including Americans and Koreans, didn’t expect much.

[Manman-tu]’s first-day sales were very poor.

[1.2 million dollars]

Sales of 1.2 million dollars.

The scores of American hit movies are usually tens of millions of dollars on the first day of release.

Considering that the first weekend’s revenue, which is the benchmark for success, is close to or exceeds 100 million dollars, it was an infinitely poor figure.

1. 2 million dollars.

It was a number that would not be strange to say that it was just one of the 망한 [manghan, failed/ruined] works.

It was a number that seemed like it would be taken down from theaters in just two weeks due to poor sales, let alone a month.

But.

There was one very big difference between those works and [Manman-tu].

[Achieved 81% occupancy rate in theaters]

It was quality.