Top Star By Luck [EN]: Chapter 161

Star Top with Luck – Episode 161

That’s right.

Lee Minki was attending the Blue Dragon Film Awards.

Sitting in one of the best seats, Lee Minki wore a proud smile.

‘Director Hwang Euiseong’s influence is really something.’

Director Hwang Euiseong’s name is synonymous with art films in the Korean film industry.

He’s recognized for his artistic merit to the extent that he’s seen as focusing on art while still maintaining some commercial appeal, so naturally, an invitation to the Blue Dragon Film Awards followed.

‘Ha, exciting.’

An awards ceremony.

And I’m here.

Originally, the Blue Dragon Film Awards were something I couldn’t even dream of, no, I couldn’t even imagine attending.

‘Is this real? Wow, the chandelier is gorgeous.’

As I was admiring the sparkling interior and exclaiming in admiration, Director Hwang Euiseong, who was sitting next to me, spoke.

“Come to think of it, Minki-ssi hasn’t received any awards so far.”

“……”

“I don’t think you’ve ever even been invited.”

His words are blunt.

But Lee Minki is already used to Hwang Euiseong’s way of speaking.

He managed to interpret those words using his brain’s internal algorithm.

[You haven’t received any awards so far. You haven’t been invited either.]

Oh, come on.

That’s not right.

Even when I try to interpret it differently, the same answer comes out.

I’ve been away filming other projects; how long has it been since the translator’s performance has dulled?

“There were some issues with the choice of projects,” Lee Minki sighed and said.

“My debut work was a youth romance, but in fact, that genre isn’t really known for winning awards.”

“*Whenever Green* wasn’t filmed with the intention of winning awards either.”

“Yes, it’s a movie focused on entertainment. It’s incredibly fun, though.”

“What about *Cafe del Dia*?”

“Hmm, wouldn’t it be because works with food as the main theme are inherently less favored at awards ceremonies?”

It was a common sentiment.

That the Blue Dragon Film Awards evaluation committee doesn’t really like movies centered around food.

So, when someone considered filming that kind of project, these words would follow.

[Do you not want to receive an award?]

That’s how unfavorably they’re viewed.

Thanks to that, I was a little bothered by the fact that I hadn’t received a single award, but I was smiling slightly because I had an opportunity this time.

“The evaluation committee members are blind.”

“……”

“They always think their standards are the only right ones. They’re people who haven’t escaped from black and white movies, even in the 21st century.”

Oh dear.

To say such harsh words.

‘Come to think of it, he really hated critics.’

This person hated critics pointing fingers at his work.

He hated nitpicking even more.

What’s fair is that the critics hate Director Hwang Euiseong as well.

[If someone hates you for no reason, give them a reason to hate you.]

Lee Minki smiled wryly at Director Hwang Euiseong’s actions, which perfectly embodied those words.

‘If he had come to Neutral Zone, would the work filmed in Neutral Zone not have received an award either?’

It’s possible.

In Korea, the director’s brand is often more influential than the studio’s name.

But I still regretted not inviting him to Neutral Zone.

To be exact, I was rejected.

[I don’t really like getting involved in relationships.]

For such a simple reason.

Even as Lee Minki silently swallowed his disappointment, Director Hwang Euiseong, the person in question, continued to say what he wanted to say, whether Lee Minki spoke or not.

“I think it’s a problem with their upbringing. They were taught to hate everything from a young age, so it wouldn’t have been their choice.”

“……”

Parental abuse, really?

When did the level of intensity get so high?

Even so, this is the awards ceremony venue.

As I was about to quickly look around, there were people who quickly turned their heads.

“Ahem.”

“The weather is warm.”

They’re people who subtly sympathize but can’t openly show it.

Because there’s no benefit in being targeted by people who are considered authorities.

Oh well, I don’t know.

This person is my director; what can I do even if I disagree with him?

‘Ah, I hope the results turn out well.’

Lee Minki sighed softly.

I always tell myself that my goal is the Oscars, but if I say I’m going to win an Oscar without winning a single award at a domestic film festival, that’s a bit much.

‘If possible, I want to shake off my regrets this time.’

It was in the midst of Lee Minki clutching his chest as if it would burst.

“Oh my, it’s so noisy. I came to see what’s going on, and it’s you again.”

A man scoffed and said, looking this way.

“Aren’t you our resident art-house [referring to films with artistic value rather than commercial appeal] patient?”

“……”

Who is he to talk like that?

The back of his head is facing Lee Minki, so I can’t see his face.

But the voice sounds familiar.

Just as Lee Minki was about to turn his head to confirm his identity, the man looked at his face as if to size him up.

“Hmm.”

After a moment, he turned his gaze back to Director Hwang Euiseong and said sarcastically.

“Come to think of it, Director Hwang, aren’t you still tormenting actors without feeling sorry?”

* * *

Lee Minki frowned for a moment at the man’s sudden, rude tone.

Soon, he recognized him and his eyes widened in surprise.

‘This person, he’s the god of commercial films, Oh Kyungwook.’

That’s right.

Oh Kyungwook.

Oh Kyungwook, one of the most famous star directors in the Korean film industry, was the one who made that rude remark.

As the three people, who are highly recognizable even within the chairman’s office crowded with industry people, were gathered, attention was greatly focused.

But Director Oh Kyungwook didn’t seem to care about the surrounding gaze.

No, he seemed to be enjoying it.

“Director Hwang, it must be a bit difficult to make art that isn’t recognized. Isn’t it?”

It was an obvious jab that scratched at Director Hwang Euiseong’s biggest insecurity.

That is, he is particularly unsuccessful at awards ceremonies.

It wasn’t because of his work.

Looking at the work alone, the degree of completion is so high, and it should be advantageous to win awards by taking the art route.

But there was another problem.

‘Come to think of it, Director Hwang Euiseong’s relationship with the critics was really bad.’

That he has consistently been at odds with the higher-ups in the industry.

In addition, with this person too.

A man with an air of nobility flowing down his cheeks as much as the tuxedo he was wearing, Director Oh Kyungwook.

‘People who watch movies a lot couldn’t not know the competitive dynamic between these two.’

Hwang Euiseong and Oh Kyungwook.

Both graduated from the same university and debuted in Chungmuro [the ‘Hollywood’ of South Korea] around the same time.

They were similarly famous as genius rookie directors.

But the work tendencies of these two people were as extreme as their personalities.

‘Director Hwang Euiseong mixes extreme artistry with minimal commerciality. On the other hand, Director Oh Kyungwook.’

Lee Minki looked at Director Oh Kyungwook’s frivolous expression.

‘He pushed for thoroughly commercial movies.’

A work that bets everything on attracting audiences.

Even if it’s hard to find auteurism [a director’s personal artistic vision] or mise-en-scène [the arrangement of scenery and stage properties in a play or film], a well-selling movie is Director Oh Kyungwook’s specialty.

Like a patriotic nationalistic movie that appeals to patriotism.

A master of melodrama who gets you hooked even when you know it’s coming, that’s Director Oh Kyungwook.

Of course, he was completely incompatible with Director Hwang Euiseong.

But why is that?

Ironically, the awards ceremony judges preferred Director Oh Kyungwook.

‘I heard that he is very good at reading the room among industry people. He is polite to the critics.’

Director Hwang Euiseong is the opposite.

He hated the very idea of others looking down on and evaluating his work.

Even so, I wonder what he’s expecting; he appears at the awards ceremony every year.

‘Is he stubbornly coming to see the faces of the judges who don’t give him awards?’

Since they are so different, it seems natural that they are enemies.

A person who silently walks his own path.

And a person who thoroughly calculates and targets the eye level of others.

These two are as different from birth as water and fire.

The latter, Director Oh Kyungwook, opened his mouth sarcastically.

“Director Hwang, you know well because you’re a first-class director, right? Art has meaning only when there are people who recognize it.”

Unlike his smooth tone, his inner thoughts were a bit different.

It meant that there is no awards ceremony in this world that recognizes your art.

“Ah, of course, it’s not that Director Hwang’s work has no artistry. There is definitely a dedicated fanbase. Such works are also needed in this market. I admit that.”

Director Oh Kyungwook poured out blatant ridicule in front of Director Hwang Euiseong, who remained silent.

He is shameless.

But it was also possible because he was a person in such a position.

“……”

Even though such rude words were poured out, Director Hwang Euiseong seemed to be just listening without any rebuttal.

Is he intimidated?

Or is he deeply contemplating what to say in response?

What is certain.

‘Good for him.’

Director Oh Kyungwook interpreted that as his perfect victory.

He snorted at Director Hwang Euiseong’s silent appearance, then turned his gaze to Lee Minki and said.

“Our actor, if you film with Director Hwang, you won’t be able to win an award in the future.”

“……”

“Why don’t you film with me in the next work?”

At those words, Lee Minki widened his eyes in surprise.

He crossed the line.

It was clearly an act of crossing the line.

Trying to poach the lead actor in front of the director was not much different from scouting an employee in front of the representative of another company.

‘Yikes.’

‘They’re going to fight.’

Even the people around him became nervous.

It was the moment when it was not Director Hwang Euiseong, nor the numerous industry people lined up around him, who refuted Oh Kyungwook’s rude remarks.

“Excuse me.”

It was Lee Minki.

He said, staring straight at Director Oh Kyungwook with a firm expression and direct eyes.

“I’m sorry, but I want to film with Korea’s best director.”

“……”

At those words, Oh Kyungwook blinked.

His mouth, which had lost its composure due to the unexpected answer, puckered for a moment.

“The best director? Not me?”

Is he saying that Korea’s best director is not him?

The moment a rebuttal that was not a rebuttal came out.

Lee Minki nodded as if he had been waiting.

“Yes, someone who will win an Oscar someday. For example.”

The moment Director Oh Kyungwook burst into laughter at the grand word Oscar, Lee Minki turned his head and looked straight at the person next to him.

“Like Director Hwang Euiseong.”

“……Ha, an Oscar?”

At those words, Director Oh Kyungwook laughed again and again.

“Not Hwang, who can’t even get a Blue Dragon Film Award?”

It was almost like watching a child’s play.

Director Hwang Euiseong is definitely one of the best directors in Korea in terms of his skills.

He doesn’t have award luck, but you can’t doubt his ability itself.

Director Oh Kyungwook knew this best of all.

But.

Even so, the Oscar was not something to be taken lightly.

‘Is he getting ahead of himself because he’s doing well abroad these days?’

I can only see him as a crazy guy.

But.

There was a man who endured all this and had a conviction close to faith.

“Yes, Director Hwang will definitely receive it someday.”

That was Lee Minki.

“……!”

Director Oh Kyungwook frowned, repeatedly trying to understand Lee Minki’s conviction.

The moment he was about to refute something, Lee Minki continued his words without losing momentum.

“I respect your personal taste. But the best in my heart is Director Hwang Euiseong. And objectively, too.”

This was not just a word to take Director Hwang Euiseong’s side.

It’s the truth.

Lee Minki sincerely believed that Hwang Euiseong was a person who had the potential to compete head-on with world-class directors.

Why?

Because I saw it with my own eyes.

‘Director Hwang was nominated for an Oscar.’

Although he was just a nominee, he was only one step away from winning the award.

That was Director Hwang Euiseong.

Lee Minki could be sure.

If he was given a few more years, if it was the Director Hwang Euiseong that he knew, he would have definitely taken another step.

I believed he would have.

Because I’m a fan.

If you’re going to talk carelessly in front of a fan, you have to be prepared beforehand.

‘Just because you’re a good director doesn’t mean you can talk carelessly about my director.’

A verbal fight broke out.

It’s an irreversible situation.

Then, if you’ve started a verbal fight that you can’t take back.

‘I have to win.’

It was the moment when Lee Minki opened his mouth with the thought of not losing to Director Oh Kyungwook.

“Director Oh.”

Director Hwang Euiseong, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke.

The moment the eyes of the two people, who seemed to be on fire at any moment, turned to Director Hwang Euiseong, he asked calmly.

“Were you the type who liked to show your parents your final exam report card when you were young?”

It was that moment.

“What?”

Director Oh Kyungwook’s expression was one of bewilderment.

School report card?

What is the intention of this remark?

While he was repeatedly moving his eyebrows up and down because he couldn’t grasp it, Director Hwang Euiseong opened his mouth again.

“Don’t read too much into it. I’m just asking.”

Minki’s head also popped up with a question mark.

I roughly understand Director Hwang Euiseong’s tone.

But this time, it wasn’t like him at all, so I couldn’t grasp the true meaning.

Director Hwang Euiseong threw out a word as if to put an end to it.

“I’m not really filming movies to be recognized by critics.”

Ah, the moment I heard those words, Lee Minki realized.

This is a metaphor.

It’s like saying, do you make movies to be evaluated by critics?

“It was the same when I was a student. Unlike you.”

That direct Director Hwang Euiseong made a metaphor.

‘It’s not that the director can’t refine his words, but it takes time to refine them!’

It was the moment when I felt the grandeur of the Grand Canyon in front of the rediscovery of humanity.

“Pfft.”

Laughter broke out softly from the surroundings.

“Puhuhu.”

“Hey, don’t laugh. I can hear you.”

“How can I not, puheup, laugh.”

A laugh with a very clear target.

Director Oh Kyungwook’s face turned as red as a well-ripened persimmon.