Top Star By Luck [EN]: Chapter 38

38. Always Green

At [Always Green] studio.

“Director.”

“…….”

“Director?”

“…….”

“Director!”

“Ah.”

Director Yeom Gwang-ho barely snapped out of it at Choi Yu-chang’s repeated calls.

“You’re spacing out again.”

“I’ve been out of it lately.”

“Come on, if you can’t even hear us, isn’t it about time to retire?”

It was a statement that could be taken as somewhat rude. But Director Yeom Gwang-ho just chuckled and replied.

“Hey, I’m still going strong.”

“Director, really?”

“Director, my foot. Ugh, makes me cringe. Just call me what you used to, you punk.”

“Oh, should I?”

Actor Choi Yu-chang casually pulled up a chair and straddled it, saying.

“Hyung [older brother or close male friend], have you eaten?”

That’s right.

Actor Choi Yu-chang, who drew ten million viewers to his films, and Director Yeom Gwang-ho, a master of directing, were closer than people thought.

Since way back when.

‘Even after knowing this guy for decades, he’s still a handful.’

Though he was slowly getting used to the boisterous voice.

When was it?

Director Yeom remembered the first time he discovered Choi Yu-chang.

‘He was the type to say whatever he wanted to anyone, regardless of their position.’

Choi Yu-chang was completely different in his early debut days.

“Ah, I’m telling you, there’s this kimchi stew place in front that’s seriously good. And not just good? It’s huge. Best kimchi stew in Bucheon, or BCB for short, you know?”

Unlike his current smooth and even sly personality, he used to be a rookie who would stand up to his seniors on set.

That image was so vivid in his memory that he couldn’t forget it.

[I’m just saying you can’t act because you can’t. Am I wrong?]

They fought often.

His prickly personality caused problems, and he was even kicked off set.

His temper mellowed when he began to realize that his relationships with fellow actors were reflected in his acting.

‘So, he’s someone who can change even his core for the sake of acting.’

The current Choi Yu-chang had grown into someone who knew how to handle the atmosphere on set.

Amazing.

To think a person could change so fundamentally; how great is the world of acting?

“Hey, you used to fight a lot back in the day.”

“Ah, I was immature.”

“Still are.”

“But I do lift a bit, you know?”

While exchanging jokes and reminiscing, another person came to Director Yeom’s mind.

“Come to think of it, that friend.”

“Ah, you mean Min-ki?”

The name Lee Min-ki popped out at the word ‘friend’ as if he had been waiting for it.

No, he probably was waiting for his name to be mentioned.

Both Director Yeom and Actor Choi Yu-chang were.

“Yeah, that rookie.”

Director Yeom nodded and asked.

“I’d like to hear your opinion on his acting. What do you think?”

“I see. Well, this is a bit difficult.”

Actor Choi Yu-chang scratched his chin as if he was pondering deeply, unlike his usual self, and said.

“I think he’s going to have a hard time?”

“Hard time? What kind of hard time?”

Director Yeom raised an eyebrow at the unexpected word and asked back.

“There’s something that all the good rookies go through, right? Something that you and Do-won hyung both went through.”

“Hey, my head hurts, so stop beating around the bush and just say it.”

“Why, you know what I’m talking about. Being ostracized wherever you go.”

Actor Choi Yu-chang chuckled and continued.

“Rookies should be moderately mediocre to have some appeal. If they’re too good, it’s tough. The higher-ups don’t like it, and the mediocre guys get jealous.”

“You’re saying he might get bullied?”

“What kind of bullying is there between adults? It just means they might be uncooperative.”

“Even if I try to stop it?”

“Is the set a place that runs according to the director’s wishes?”

“Well, if it were, I would’ve already made five ten-million-viewer films [referring to films that sold over 10 million tickets, a major box office success in Korea].”

Just as the topic was about to drift off course again due to another joke, Actor Choi Yu-chang grabbed the steering wheel and said.

“From what I’ve seen, there are some guys who are whispering because they’re annoyed.”

“Really? Can’t you do something about it?”

“If I step in and protect him, it’ll cause more problems. They’ll say I’m showing favoritism and criticize him even more.”

“Hmm…….”

As Director Yeom’s mood was about to turn serious, Actor Choi Yu-chang opened his mouth.

“Especially that guy. The one who used to be a stuntman.”

“Kim In-gwon?”

“Yeah, he’s definitely skilled, but he has this weird jealousy and keeps harassing the rookies. He gets a bit too aggressive in the action scenes. Maybe he wants to stand out on screen?”

“You think he’ll do that to Min-ki too?”

“I don’t know. But I hope he doesn’t cross the line.”

“Hmm.”

Director Yeom blinked at the subtle clue.

He might be weighing his options.

He even considered revising the script a little.

But he couldn’t do that based on suspicion alone.

In the end, there was only one thing he could do.

“I’ll have to keep an eye on it.”

He would have to watch with greater interest and from a closer distance.

But Choi Yu-chang knew very well how scary the director’s attention could be.

Especially Yeom Gwang-ho’s attention.

That’s why he could finally say with relief.

“A drink?”

“Sounds goo… no, I’m busy.”

* * *

There’s one scene that’s indispensable in a crime movie.

And that is.

‘Finally, it’s the chase scene.’

The chase scene.

Especially the scene where a detective chases a criminal. Catching them in the middle of a drug deal at the crime scene, climbing walls, and then getting into a fight.

The number of action moves that can be included is countless.

In short, the chase scene was a scene that could be seen as the flower of crime films.

“The camera will follow from the side, so don’t run too fast. If it doesn’t work out, we can just reshoot a few times, so focus on getting the movements right. And safety is the top priority. Got it?”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s practice just five times. If you don’t pass, there’s no real thing. Safety. Safety again.”

“Yes!”

Lee Min-ki’s heart began to pound as he received instructions from the martial arts director.

It was new to him, but he had a longing for chase scenes.

Why?

‘Because I haven’t been able to film many scenes with running in them.’

Because it involved running.

Who is Lee Min-ki?

A man who trips over electrical cords at home, slips on marble at the department store, and falls on mud on rainy days.

If he tries to run even a little vigorously, he’ll sprain his ankle first.

It’s not just running. It was the same with most aerobic exercises.

It had been like that since elementary school.

During gym class.

When his classmates were skillfully skipping rope, doing double unders [skipping rope twice in one jump], triple unders [skipping rope three times in one jump], and crisscrosses, all he could do was.

[You fell again?]

Just falling.

[How can you get your body tangled in the rope when you’re doing single unders [skipping rope once in one jump]?]

[It’s a miracle.]

[A miracle? Lee Min-ki is more than a miracle.]

In short, aerobic exercise was a complex and a symbol of misfortune for Lee Min-ki.

But over the past few months.

Lee Min-ki realized.

That humans don’t sprain their ankles just by running lightly!

‘Now I can film chase scenes too.’

Expectations rose.

Moreover, this scene wasn’t just any chase scene.

A fairly important chase scene in [Always Green].

The character Lee Min-ki plays, [Detective Gu Hak-jin], chases and arrests a fleeing criminal, but the protagonist tries to kill that criminal.

In the process, [Detective Gu Hak-jin] becomes fully involved in the murder case.

In other words, it was the start of Lee Min-ki’s performance.

Moreover, the person playing his opponent in this chase scene seemed to be quite good.

“Min-ki, please take it easy on me.”

Kim In-gwon, he smiled refreshingly and asked Lee Min-ki for a handshake.

Lee Min-ki accepted the handshake and replied in an embarrassed voice.

“It’s my first time filming a stunt scene, so I don’t know if I’ll be able to do it properly. I might make mistakes.”

“Oh, it’s okay.”

Kim In-gwon smiled again as coolly as peppermint.

“I used to be a stuntman. I can handle most things, so feel free to do whatever you want. Feel free.”

“……!”

“Rather, be careful not to get hurt, Min-ki. Especially your face.”

Lee Min-ki’s eyes widened at the kind tone that went straight to the bone.

‘Are the people on set all nice?’

From Director Yeom Gwang-ho to Actor Choi Yu-chang and Actor Kang Do-won, they were all full of kind people.

Lee Min-ki even felt a sense of overwhelming emotion and replied.

“Senior [term of respect for someone older or more experienced], thank you! I’ll do my best!”

“Haha, it’s not good to be too pumped up. Don’t be nervous, be comfortable, be comfortable. Relax. You’ll get hurt if you tense up your body.”

“Yes!”

“I should go over there and warm up too. Min-ki, I’ll see you in a bit.”

Kim In-gwon turned around and went to one corner of the studio, where he began to stretch with all sorts of flashy movements.

Then he grabbed a horizontal bar and flew into the sky.

‘That’s the class of a former stuntman.’

Lee Min-ki’s eyes shone even brighter as he watched it.

‘I shouldn’t cause any trouble either.’

Feeling touched, he was about to hurry and warm up when the martial arts director said to him.

“Hmm, the more I see you, Min-ki.”

“Yes?”

“You have a good physique and a good sense, so if you practice a little, you’ll become a great stuntman.”

“Haha…….”

“You’re a rare talent. A talent.”

Lee Min-ki couldn’t tell if that was a compliment or a sarcastic remark.

* * *

A little later.

Filming began in earnest.

As with any action scene, the atmosphere on set was somewhat heavy.

Even if it seemed like a light action scene, a major injury could occur with even a small mistake.

There was even a case where someone fell lightly, blood gushed from their head, and the entire role had to be replaced.

Moreover, there was another reason.

‘I wonder what that person will be like in an action scene.’

‘His body line is definitely good.’

They wanted to see Lee Min-ki’s physical acting skills.

‘He looked pretty good when he was practicing earlier.’

‘He just needs to not make any mistakes.’

‘His lines are good.’

While some people had positive expectations like that.

‘Let’s see how good he is.’

‘He’s going to embarrass himself properly.’

‘It’s a rule that rookies kick their blankets [a Korean expression for feeling ashamed] on the day they film an action scene.’

There were also people who had negative expectations.

With all sorts of expectations resting on Lee Min-ki’s shoulders.

“Ready, action!”

Director Yeom’s thick voice rang out, and Lee Min-ki kicked off the ground.

Thud thud thud!

Lee Min-ki ran through the narrow alley with somewhat exaggerated movements. His arms and legs moved in a much wider range than a normal run.

The run might seem funny at first glance.

Even if it’s the same movement, it can look small when captured on camera, so they deliberately asked for that kind of movement.

‘Good, I’m not falling!’

Lee Min-ki’s heart was racing like crazy.

It was fun.

It was so hard to suppress the rising smile.

Lee Min-ki was overjoyed that he had finally done something that everyone else did as naturally as breathing.

Thud thud!

A man busily chased after him.

It was Director Yeom Gwang-ho.

He went directly to the set, holding a camera in one hand, and chased after Lee Min-ki, one step behind.

Hand-Held Camera.

A filming technique in which the camera is held in the hand while following the screen.

The screen may shake a little, but it can capture the sense of realism and urgency.

It was a technique that was especially perfect for chase scenes, and it was like Director Yeom Gwang-ho’s signature in Korea.

‘His movements are more stable than I thought?’

Director Yeom Gwang-ho was slightly impressed even as he chased after Lee Min-ki.

At first, he was going to make up for the lack of action acting with details.

But what was it like in practice?

Running, which is the most basic of action.

Although it’s basic, people with weak lower bodies often don’t have a sense of excitement.

But.

Lee Min-ki’s action had a sense of stability as if it was stuck to the ground.

‘There’s nothing he can’t do. And he’s not intimidated.’

Amazing.

Could a rookie really do this much?

What can’t he do?

It was the moment when he keenly noticed Lee Min-ki’s potential even in small movements and was slightly impressed.

“Hup!”

While Lee Min-ki was running, a person jumped out from the side of the road.

With a surprised expression as if he had taken the wrong turn.

It was Kim In-gwon.

His body was about to collide with Lee Min-ki at a perfect 90-degree angle.

Just a few centimeters.

A scene where Lee Min-ki would definitely collide and bounce off if he went just a few centimeters further.

The moment he approached that limit.

‘Is he supposed to stop here at the last minute?’

‘His speed isn’t slowing down?’

The hairs on Director Yeom Gwang-ho’s skin stood on end.

It was dangerous.

It was definitely a dangerous moment.

His years of experience told him that an accident was about to happen on set.

‘No way.’

But it was already too late to stop.

Lee Min-ki’s startled expression.

Kim In-gwon’s shoulder, which came out a little further than his initial calculation.

A collision occurs.

It can’t help but happen.

It was the moment he judged that.

Tock.

With the sound of a pebble bouncing off the floor, Kim In-gwon’s body floated up slightly.

“Huh?”

A small groan rang out.

And then Kim In-gwon flew into the sky.

Thud!

Kim In-gwon, who had flown all the way to the outer wall of the building, fell spectacularly with dust.

A situation where he had to be prepared for at least minor injuries, or even serious injuries.

‘Wow.’

Lee Min-ki was startled and stood there blankly, unable to do anything, and thought.

‘You have to be that good to be a stuntman.’