Top Star By Luck [EN]: Chapter 158

158

[All Against All] has been raking in money at the box office for three weeks.

#1 – The war of all against all

#2 – [SPEAR]

While still dominating the box office in the United States and pushing [Spear] into second place, its release on Netplay is only a few days away.

Director Shim Sung-bo was enjoying a rare moment of leisure.

‘Now I can finally catch up on my reading and eat delicious food.’

He had been working hard for months, his joints aching.

Doesn’t he deserve to rest as much as anyone else?

Besides, he had something he was preparing for.

But.

Unfortunately, his rest period didn’t last long.

“William Lockhart?”

Lee Min-ki brought him a new job.

Lee Min-ki, using the excuse of a housewarming party, visited Director Shim Sung-bo’s home with a bundle of gifts and broached the subject.

“Yes, I thought it would be perfect for your style, Director.”

“……Are you talking about a new movie featuring William Lockhart’s music?”

“No, a movie made entirely with William Lockhart’s music.”

“Pardon?”

“All the songs.”

Lee Min-ki’s expression wasn’t entirely relaxed as he said that.

‘I went ahead and committed.’

Lee Min-ki had enthusiastically accepted William Lockhart’s proposal.

The more he looked into it, the more he wanted to participate.

But.

Apart from that, it wasn’t a work he could create alone.

‘I definitely need the director’s cooperation.’

Thanks to [All Against All], he was known to the world as a genius director, but in reality, about 97.8% of that credit belonged to the two directors he’d worked with.

Lee Min-ki knew how to objectively assess his own abilities.

‘It’s better not to shoot it than to shoot it alone.’

He thought that if he couldn’t participate with them, it would be better to scrap the proposal altogether.

‘If I get greedy and act recklessly, I’ll fail.’

There’s a reason why experts exist in modern society.

Director Shim Sung-bo. Director Jin Joo-yeon.

There is no new work without these two.

So, of course, this was a visit to persuade them.

“Why me for such a work?”

“You’re the right person, Director. And this isn’t just me saying that.”

“You mean…”

“William Lockhart directly requested your involvement.”

“……!”

As Director Shim Sung-bo widened his eyes in surprise, Lee Min-ki calmly added a word.

“Furthermore, I have no intention of appearing in a work that you don’t direct.”

“Hmm.”

“I’d rather not shoot at all than shoot the same material with another director.”

It was overwhelming.

Faced with a huge sense of trust that felt like a solid foundation, Director Shim Sung-bo let out a deep sigh.

‘Are they evaluating me that highly?’

Honestly, as a director, he was grateful.

He was even humbled.

It was the consistency that Lee Min-ki, a big-name actor, had shown since his early days, even before he became famous.

‘He’s been looking at me like that since the first time he saw me.’

It’s easy to flatter someone who’s made it.

But there was always something consistent about Lee Min-ki’s attitude.

‘His eyes don’t change.’

There was no difference before and after he became famous.

Of course.

From the first meeting, he had been looking at someone who was already successful, so it would be stranger if his gaze changed.

But in any case, that’s what Director Shim Sung-bo thought.

And as much as that judgment, Lee Min-ki actually completely trusted Director Shim Sung-bo’s abilities.

It wasn’t for nothing that he brought a Korean beef gift set weighing a whopping 3kg [approximately 6.6 pounds] today.

It was as heavy as a pink dumbbell.

‘But a music movie. And with William Lockhart.’

Director Shim Sung-bo stroked his chin, unable to answer immediately.

Director Shim Sung-bo’s chin, which had recently enjoyed a vacation in Switzerland, was covered in a rich beard.

‘If it’s a work that the actor wants to shoot, I should accept it because of the favor I received.’

That’s what he thought in his heart.

Lee Min-ki was the one who saved the failing studio.

But.

He had a reason why he couldn’t readily accept Lee Min-ki’s proposal.

“I’m afraid I can’t give you a definite answer.”

* * *

“Pardon?”

Lee Min-ki spat out a short syllable in surprise.

‘This is a bust.’

If Director Shim Sung-bo doesn’t accept, this is going to fail.

Director Shim Sung-bo, feeling a sense of guilt at Lee Min-ki’s transparent reaction, opened his mouth.

“There are some concerns about the filming process.”

“What kind of concerns?”

“It’s a chronic risk when shooting these kinds of music movies.”

Director Shim Sung-bo continued, as if he was concerned that he didn’t agree with Lee Min-ki’s opinion.

“I’m sure it will be a work that fits well with the actor’s style. The topic will be enough, as will the name value of William Lockhart. But I’m concerned that they contacted us first.”

“Why is that?”

Rather, isn’t it a good thing since they looked at us favorably?

Just as Lee Min-ki asked back with a puzzled expression, Director Shim Sung-bo brought his hand to the teacup and said.

“I don’t know if it’s about matching music to a movie, but isn’t it about making a movie based on music?”

He took a sip of Earl Grey tea in his hand.

The finest product bought from England.

The words that followed from his mouth after throwing out that topic and lightly wetting his throat were quite plausible.

“William Lockhart could interfere with the production process.”

“……!”

“There’s an old saying that a ship with too many sailors goes up the mountain [meaning too many cooks spoil the broth], but if someone who isn’t even a sailor interferes with the movie, it wouldn’t be strange for it to go to the mantle [meaning to be ruined].”

Director Shim Sung-bo elaborated.

“To put it bluntly, it’s like a blind child grabbing the helmsman. That’s what I mean.”

It was a reasonable point.

That the direction of production could be shaken.

Why is it that only in the movie production environment does the director have such overwhelming power that it is expressed as an absolute power?

That’s right.

“Will William Lockhart really not interfere with the content of the movie?”

It was to eliminate any room for meddling.

“From the perspective of the person involved, even demanding a very minor modification of just a few lines of dialogue can have a significant adverse effect on the overall completeness of the film.”

Why don’t production teams overuse the guaranteed hit card called a music movie?

Because it was unstable.

‘Even the criticisms of film companies, who can be regarded as experts in the film industry, are often difficult to manage, let alone the music industry, which is on a different level.’

Let’s say you’re shooting a musical movie.

The production companies that hold the IP [Intellectual Property] interfere.

The original composer who owns the copyright to the song interferes.

In the worst case, even the fans of the musical don’t stop pointing fingers.

“In most cases, it’s easier to create a work from the ground up than to create a work with an original source.”

It’s not just useful opinions like the ones Lee Min-ki gives that come flying in.

Usually, they were garbage, worse than hearing them.

They may seem pretty good to them, but from the director’s point of view, they are fragmentary criticisms that are made because they don’t know how to see the big picture.

‘I can’t even persuade them one by one.’

It has become customary to ignore them appropriately.

One person, the director, is enough to have a loud voice on the set.

“I am always grateful that the actor is considerate of me, but I would like to say that not everyone is like that. Especially among creators.”

“Um, I know it well. There are many times when you have emotional ups and downs and get into fights over minor details.”

“That’s right.”

Director Shim Sung-bo continued in a soft voice, not wanting to provoke Lee Min-ki’s emotions.

“I judge that the singer William Lockhart is such a person.”

I want to reduce the risk.

If you’re going to draw a story about a soldier with PTSD [Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder], would it make sense to exclude the war scene from the first half?

Even such a minor modification degrades the entire quality of the film.

It’s like providing a greasy lump of food that is unpleasant because you don’t like the sour taste of the salad.

This was the part that Director Shim Sung-bo was most wary of.

‘William Lockhart is a big shot, so he’ll try to get involved in the work a lot.’

But.

He didn’t know yet.

That this part was actually the part that Lee Min-ki had finished talking about with William Lockhart.

“Ah, if that was the reason, you should have told me in advance.”

Lee Min-ki, who had been listening quietly, raised his hand momentarily.

As if he had expected such a criticism.

‘What?’

A question formed on Director Shim Sung-bo’s forehead.

Lee Min-ki’s expression is strange.

Looking closely, his expression was even brighter than before he heard his story.

Why.

“If it’s that kind of story, it’s okay.”

Lee Min-ki had also considered such risks a long time ago.

“I wouldn’t like it if someone pointed fingers at the director and tried to shake him around. No matter how good he is, how dare he.”

“Yes? Not to that extent.”

“I told him everything in advance. If you want to ask the director for a work, please hand over all the rights as much as possible.”

“……!”

That’s right.

Lee Min-ki had sufficiently obtained the parts to be obtained through negotiation from William Lockhart in advance.

‘I was wondering if he would say he didn’t want to shoot because he wanted to rest, or that he wasn’t interested in music movies.’

I can’t help it.

I really can’t help it.

What can I do if the person in question says they don’t like it because of a matter of taste?

But if it’s a part that can be compromised, it can be solved with enough compromise.

“He says he won’t interfere with whatever you shoot. You can shoot whatever work you want, Director.”

Nevertheless, Director Shim Sung-bo asked as if he couldn’t believe Lee Min-ki’s words.

“It’s hard to trust. Not the actor, but William Lockhart.”

“Still?”

“It’s natural. What if he does that and says he won’t touch anything on the board he’s laid out?”

Ah, that part.

He might interfere and start with things outside of filming.

But.

‘This was also resolved well.’

That’s because William Lockhart’s personality was quite different from Director Shim Sung-bo’s expectations.

“He says he doesn’t care if you make SF [Science Fiction] with his song?”

Even in a direction that highly respects the director’s power.

“Um?”

Lee Min-ki, whose face was filled with embarrassment, burst into laughter and said.

“You can shoot a Western, you can shoot a romance, you can shoot a comedy, so just make it.”

“…….”

“This is something that shouldn’t be leaked outside, but he says he won’t say anything even if you shoot porn.”

Porn?

Even to that extent?

Isn’t there something wrong with this?

While Director Shim Sung-bo twitched his eyebrows, Lee Min-ki quickly continued.

“He says he only knows how to make music anyway, and he doesn’t know how to touch movies, so do whatever you want. Instead, he says he’ll take care of the song production himself.”

That’s right.

William Lockhart completely delegated all rights, including the story, to Lee Min-ki and the creative group [Neutral Zone].

Very perfectly.

[Let’s not be conscious of the song’s content. I don’t think a good work will come out if we do. This song is good, right? The main character can mutter it in his sleep, so please figure out the situation.]

Lee Min-ki recalled the conversation and continued.

“He said that he would not only say that, but also clearly express his will by stating in the contract that he would not request any revisions to the story.”

As expected of someone from Hollywood, the land of lawsuits, he even thought of writing a contract.

He thoroughly separated his area from other people’s areas that much.

“You can think of William Lockhart as just being in charge of the OST [Original Soundtrack]. But there will be about twenty OSTs.”

Director Shim Sung-bo, who had heard all the explanations, could only twitch his thickly bearded cheeks.

“……That person is a bit unique.”

I know.

He’s unique.

Lee Min-ki said with a bitter smile.

“Usually, that type is so confident in their abilities that they ignore other fields. You know that too, Director, right?”

“They often do.”

“Yes, they all think they’re good at it. Even things they haven’t done.”

William Lockhart didn’t, though.

He maintained a level of confidence in his field that was comparable to the world’s number one, and maintained the position of an amateur in other fields.

‘No, he is the world’s number one.’

He might be an infinitely objective person.

Lee Min-ki chuckled and said.

“Are you going to do it? Or are you going to drink?”

It’s a checkmate.

Faced with the choice of Yes or no, Director Shim Sung-bo burst into laughter without realizing it.

The moment Lee Min-ki’s heart became anxious because the laughter was somehow meaningful.

“It’s strange why you’re even asking.”

Director Shim Sung-bo said with a small smile.

“Do I have a choice?”