Top Star By Luck [EN]: Chapter 167

The New Project Meeting at Maiyar Pictures.

The discussion progressed as quickly as roasting beans in a flash of lightning.

“Excuse me? I’m writing the script?”

The request was for Lee Minki to take on the role of screenwriter.

‘Me? A script?’

Wasn’t I the acknowledged figurehead director? It’s not something to say while I’m already being marketed as a genius, but I thought I’d be pushing forward with this concept.

Unable to calm his surprised heart, Lee Minki waved his arms as if whipping something.

“No, even so, important tasks like screenwriting should be handled by experts.”

“Actor, why do experts exist? The bigger and more important the task, the more it needs to be divided and specialized; hence, the existence of experts skilled in that area.”

“…….”

What is he even saying?

Lee Minki blinked, faced with Director Shim Sungbo’s utterly serious voice.

‘Director, that sounds plausible, but what does that expert have to do with me?’

Still, he’s the director. Better hold my tongue. Lee Minki was struggling to suppress the words he wanted to say.

“No, I’m asking because I don’t understand, but what does that expert have to do with me?”

Oh, shoot.

The words slipped out.

Director Shim Sungbo chuckled and said,

“It’s not necessary for the actor to be involved in every story detail as a screenwriter. After all, Director Hwang Uiseong is like that too, and this project doesn’t necessarily need to conform to the Korean film production style, does it?”

“So…….”

“Like in Hollywood, we’ll have multiple scriptwriters, but among them, the actor can oversee the major plots and minor details.”

At those words, Lee Minki exclaimed, “Ah.”

I see. He wants me to oversee the main storyline like the original author. So, it’s closer to reviewing than writing the script.

“Directing the film, composing the scenes, and arranging them will all be done by Jooyeon and me.”

Director Shim Sungbo continued his explanation.

“So, the actor can dedicate himself to the overall storyline and provide generous feedback. That’s enough.”

An expert in that field.

Come to think of it, there’s no rule that an expert must be skilled in all aspects of film production. You can simply pass on the tasks you can’t do to an expert without hesitation.

‘Maybe I was taking it too seriously.’

Was he already half convinced by his words? Or was Lee Minki secretly hoping for it?

Lee Minki nodded slightly, his heart already leaning towards the role of reviewer, and said,

“I’ll try it for now.”

Then, before Director Shim Sungbo could seize the opportunity, he quickly added,

“But if it doesn’t work out, there’s nothing I can do.”

“That won’t happen. There’s hardly anyone who knows movies as well as the actor does.”

Lee Minki exchanged an uneasy smile at Director Shim Sungbo’s laughter, which seemed to have more confidence in his abilities than he did.

Then, as if waiting for it, Director Jin Jooyeon added another comment.

“The actor definitely has a broad perspective. It seems like you could be a director instead of a screenwriter.”

“Jooyeon, I’m directing this project.”

“Why? In America, they often have 공동체재 [joint] directors.”

“……Never mind.”

“So, Actor, please take care of us.”

In the conversation of the two spouses, who seemed to have already come to a conclusion among themselves as if they weren’t a couple, Lee Minki lost his mind.

‘I’m doomed.’

Oh, well.

I’ve been dreaming about it since a long time ago.

Participating in the film’s story as an actor and producing it together.

‘When I think about it, the script side seems more in line with the actor’s role than controlling the sales routes.’

Let’s not think about it.

It was the moment he was about to suggest wrapping up the meeting and going out for a meal.

“Um, about the movie title.”

Joohana threw out one agenda item that she almost forgot.

“How about going with a web novel-like title? Like, ‘Turns Out I’m a Genius Singer.’ Or ‘I Woke Up and I’m a Genius Singer’ would also be good.”

It was that moment.

“Ah.”

Even so, that’s a bit too much.

“Hana, this is a project to be sold in America, and it’s also a project that values artistic merit, so wouldn’t it be better to have a slightly more plausible title…….”

Lee Minki was about to quickly cover it up.

Stop.

“Ooh.”

Director Shim Sungbo’s eyes sparkled.

“That’s quite a good idea.”

“…….”

Isn’t this person surprisingly gullible?

Lee Minki was at a loss in his bewildered heart for a long time, and then he gave up.

Whatever will be, will be.

* * *

The overall direction of the film has been set. However, that doesn’t mean we can start filming right away.

[The script is a blueprint. Just because the plan is set doesn’t mean it’s the end, it’s just the beginning. Just as you can’t build a building spontaneously without a detailed blueprint, the script must be completed first. Actor casting, location scouting, and investor search too.]

[Don’t Japanese animations often improvise?]

[That’s why the quality varies.]

Because the time is not yet ready.

Why, isn’t there a famous line from a demon character in a certain game?

[You are not prepared!]

That’s right.

Galbi-jjim (braised short ribs) is ruined if you rush it, so waiting is the first thing to do.

‘I’ll be free for a while.’

Still, since I have some free time, Lee Minki made a lot of plans to take advantage of his vacation.

Overseas travel or gourmet tours.

Or even mountain climbing, which he was too afraid to even dream of in case he got stranded.

But.

Ironically, his plans always seemed to go slightly awry from the start in this life.

“A cameo appearance?”

“Yes.”

A small side job rolled in.

Seo Jungwoo, the director, took a sip of black tea with a very familiar scent, which he had brought from somewhere, and continued.

“I’m sure the actor is aware that the new actor who joined our agency is filming a new project.”

“That…… I’ve heard about it. Was that actor’s name Cheon Geonju?”

“Yes, he’s from an idol group. We have high expectations for this project.”

Lee Minki nodded slowly.

‘What was it? Was the title of that work “Male Friend from Space”?’

A love comedy about a friend he had known for years who was actually an alien prince, and the story of the female protagonist involved with him. One of the fantasy fusion dramas that has recently become popular.

Having enjoyed it, Lee Minki naturally knew the ending.

The moment when the alien race, disappointed in the humanity of the Earthlings, finally tries to destroy the Earth by shooting a laser beam.

[Hey, can’t aliens date Earthlings?]

The female protagonist succeeds in protecting the Earth by getting engaged to the male lead.

‘I bet no one would believe it even if I said it was a spoiler? There was even a joke that the female protagonist gets kidnapped by an alien organization whenever she’s bored, so the genre is Taken.’

Frankly, it was cheesy. Every line was so sweet, as if watching a 2000s love comedy. It was suspicious that the screenwriter was deliberately trying to break the viewers’ hands and feet.

But why?

‘It sold like crazy.’

That became a huge hit.

It was only an average success in Korea, but it sold like hotcakes in Southeast Asia and became a trendy work overnight.

Apparently, tens of thousands of people came out to the streets and watched it together on a projector during the final episode. That cheesy yet delicious sensibility struck a chord in the Southeast Asian market.

[Will you observe with me?]

There’s no need to say more, as there was even a trend of confessing with famous lines from the drama in the local area.

But the important thing was the actor.

‘Was this originally a work that Cheon Geonju was going to film?’

I don’t think so.

The lead actor of this work, Cheon Geonju, was an idol-turned-actor who made it to the top 8 in a public broadcasting acting audition and was scouted into an idol group, but he was buried after that.

A typical water rocket type [someone who rises quickly but falls just as fast].

He was also a bit unlucky.

‘He didn’t originally intend to become an idol, but the agency president told him that being an idol was the best way to make money.’

He couldn’t even sing, but was it because he was reasonably handsome? Cheon Geonju was in charge of rap in the group.

But the end was not good. In the end, the group disbanded before the contract expired, and he transferred to JC. Moreover, he said he would return as an actor.

‘It’s really twisted a lot.’

I met him once at a JC internal gathering a while ago. However, I didn’t have a proper conversation with him, so it’s hard to say that we’re close.

‘Originally, someone else filmed this drama.’

Where did that person go…….

Ah, he went to jail.

‘Wow.’

As Lee Minki was realizing the subtlety of the world, which was turning like a cogwheel, Director Seo Jungwoo continued.

“You don’t have to refuse, but our company wants to make the most of the actor’s fame.”

“Utilization?”

“Isn’t it the duty of an entertainment company like ours to handle its resources as efficiently as possible? Especially since I understand you don’t have much to do these days.”

It was a remark that even felt somewhat sly.

“Um, I’m embarrassed because you’re being too honest. Director, you’re a bit more.”

“A bit more?”

“I had the image that you were overflowing with sophisticated speech.”

“Yes, I’m not lacking in speech anywhere I go. Like the actor.”

Director Seo Jungwoo smiled slightly and said,

“But what good is it to beat around the bush? A person with many words is a con artist. When running a company, you have no choice but to beat around the bush, but that’s only for people you don’t know well.”

“So, am I someone you know well now?”

“Slowly but surely.”

“The CEO was overly honest from the first time I met him.”

“That’s why I’m suffering extra for the CEO’s share.”

Director Seo Jungwoo chuckled.

Has the need for trivial formalities disappeared between the two of them?

As they had been working together for several years, they were gradually peeling off like the scales of a fish, and they were now able to open up to each other.

Because he knew that just because the words coming out of his mouth were rough, it didn’t mean that his inner thoughts were rude.

“Well, that’s right.”

He sighed briefly and said,

“Actor Cheon Geonju is currently in a situation where he has lost a lot of confidence due to repeated failures. Maybe he’s thinking of this project as his last…… But if a senior actor like you goes and encourages him, the result will probably be very different.”

Encouragement.

Can the atmosphere be reversed just by me participating in a cameo? Lee Minki sat down and pondered that possibility for a moment.

‘Well, it doesn’t really matter whether it works or not, does it?’

He made a decision easily.

“Male Friend from Space” is a blockbuster work.

It wouldn’t particularly damage his image to appear as a cameo there, and he’s a junior, isn’t he?

I know how it feels to have your confidence eroded by repeated failures.

It’s absurd to take responsibility for and restore that confidence.

But there was nothing he couldn’t give if it was just a small help.

“Okay.”

Also, JC has given me so much so far, so I have to give back.

Lee Minki said, folding his hands together as if clasping them.

“I’ll do it.”

Oh, and I’ve always wanted to do a cameo. A cameo, isn’t that the symbol of a successful actor?

“It’s the privilege of actors with a career that can become a hot topic with just one face. I’ve always wanted to do it.”

Now I’ve reached that area. I feel like I’m breaking one of the actor’s challenges, and honestly, I want to do it. I want to do it even if you tell me not to, I want to do it voluntarily.

Moreover, they’re even feeding me a good excuse to take care of my junior like this.

‘Then there’s no choice.’

I have no choice but to reluctantly accept it.

“I have to sacrifice this body for my cute junior.”

Director Seo Jungwoo smiled at Lee Minki’s readily uttered words and said,

“I believed that the actor would say that.”

* * *

“Male Friend from Space.”

A typical low-budget love comedy.

However, since the subject matter was captured in a stimulating way, the director’s nerves were bound to be as sharp as freshly harvested asparagus, and even more so in the atmosphere of the filming set.

“It’s Lee Minki! Lee Minki!”

It was because the big-name actor Lee Minki was coming.

It was a situation that was half ruined.

But such a successful person is coming to help with the topic.

“Wow, Lee Minki is the kind of person who refuses to come as a cameo even if you ask him to, right? But he’s coming to our drama? JC is good.”

Director Moon Hyoseong laughed heartily.

However, the person who received those words couldn’t just laugh.

“……That’s right.”

Cheon Geonju.

He was feeling the pressure.

‘What am I? I’m afraid I’m just causing trouble for the actor.’