Top Star By Luck [EN]: Chapter 44

44. The Press Screening

The press screening.

As the name suggests, it’s a screening held for the press before a movie’s official release.

However, this particular screening wasn’t open to just anyone.

[Before the premiere, it’s standard to invite individuals whose presence alone can promote the film effectively.]

In distribution, every step requires publicity.

Therefore, it’s common practice to feature only the director, lead actors, and supporting actors with significant recognition.

That was certainly the case here.

‘Who is that?’

Someone instantly captured the attention of the reporters present.

‘Incredibly handsome?’

‘And a great fashion sense too.’

‘Was there someone like that in the cast?’

It was Lee Minki.

He radiated a dazzling aura, making him stand out even from dozens of meters away.

Like a white heron among crows, a swan among ducks.

Lee Minki stood out regally, etched into the reporters’ minds.

‘I’ve seen a lot of celebrities, but he’s in the top 30%… no, at least the top 20%.’

‘He’s so handsome.’

‘Wow. Is he an actor?’

Not only passersby but also the reporters’ eyes widened.

They didn’t immediately recognize Lee Minki.

Was it because they didn’t know who he was?

Or were the reporters simply unprepared?

No.

Even with the cast list memorized, Lee Minki’s real appearance was simply extraordinary.

[People usually see actors in their finished on-screen personas.]

There’s a common saying among industry insiders:

[The screen image changes depending on the director’s vision. They can make someone appear unattractive or small if they want to, or larger than life. They can even transform a dwarf into a giant if they set their mind to it.]

The point is:

There’s a significant difference between how someone looks on screen and in real life.

Some individuals have a particularly large gap between their real appearance and their screen presence, and Lee Minki was one of them.

[You have to meet people with striking proportions to truly understand.]

[You’re immediately impressed upon seeing them.]

[Especially if their features are distinct.]

[Even in a crowd, you can’t help but focus on that one person.]

Not exceptionally tall, but with an excellent physique.

Distinct features.

And a coat that accentuated all these advantages, elevating him to a new level.

Lee Minki’s real appearance was beyond comparison with any photograph.

Of course, even knowing his real appearance didn’t negate the surprise.

‘I knew Minki was subtly handsome, but seeing him dressed up intentionally, it’s unbelievable.’

The production team was also astonished.

‘His shoulders were already broad, but with that coat, wow…’

‘His face is so innocent, but his shoulders are like the Pacific Ocean. How does that even work?’

‘It reminds me of my debut?’

Even those who knew him were surprised.

Even while watching, they were in awe.

Even after a close look, they’d glance again after a few seconds.

That was Lee Minki’s presence.

Of course, the man himself…

‘The attention is a bit intense. The reporters’ eyes are sharp, as expected.’

…was slightly off the mark.

* * *

The full-scale press screening began.

In the dimly lit theater, Lee Minki sat in a row with the cast in the back.

Sitting still and staring at the screen, his heart pounded.

‘Finally, I get to see the result.’

It was his first time seeing the edited version.

It had been two months since filming ended, and Lee Minki hadn’t had a chance to check the editing process.

This was common.

Actors often don’t see the final product until the press screening.

“Are you nervous?”

“Ah, yes.”

Lee Minki scratched the back of his head in response to Joo Hana’s question.

“Since it’s my first role, I’m a bit nervous. I’m also curious about how it turned out.”

“Me too.”

Joo Hana smiled brightly.

“I’m surprised to hear you say you’re nervous, Minki.”

“Really? Isn’t it normal to be nervous?”

Lee Minki asked, puzzled.

“You seemed so comfortable during filming, Minki. Very mature.”

“Ah.”

“So, I wondered if you’d be calm even at the press screening, but it’s nice to see you have a human side.”

“Ahem, it’s really my first time.”

It couldn’t be helped.

Such a thing had never happened in Lee Minki’s past life.

He’d been called to sets many times.

But being invited to a proper press screening, not just a small presentation, was a first. What could he do?

The nervousness he felt was that of a rookie.

“Minki, Hana, enjoy this moment.”

Actor Choi Yoochang, sitting next to them, leaned in and said, “The first shoot and the first screening – they all become familiar over time, and eventually, everything becomes just another boring event. When that time comes, you’ll reminisce about how fun the first shoot was, using it as a topic for drinks. That’s what stays with you.”

Everything feels touching now, but if you film too much, does it all become dull?

“I think you must have received attention from your first project, *sunbae* [senior colleague].”

It was a spontaneous comment.

“Hey, Minki, what are you talking about? When I think about my first role, I’m too embarrassed to even lift my head.”

“Yes?”

“It was a minor role, and I bragged to my friends that my face would be all over the movie, but when I went to the theater, guess what? They cut it all out.”

Actor Choi Yoochang chuckled.

It was hard to tell if he was trying to comfort them.

“Of course, I still can’t sleep the night before a screening. I’m still excited about how I’ll look.”

“……”

“I’m so nervous I could die. Minki, if my heart stops, you have to perform CPR on me. Don’t forget.”

Actor Choi Yoochang was indeed a seasoned middle-aged actor.

But looking at his face now, he seemed like a boy.

Lee Minki learned something from this.

‘Never losing your initial enthusiasm – that’s the key.’

While they were chatting.

Click!

The remaining lights in the theater went out, and complete darkness took hold.

And a few seconds later…

‘Ah, it’s starting.’

The video slowly began to appear on the screen.

And…

‘Oh…….’

The screening continued.

‘Oh?’

Continued.

‘Uh oh?’

As it continued.

‘Uh? Uh oh? Uh?’

Lee Minki began to be shocked by the unexpected results.

That result was…

‘Why is my screen time so long?’

The frequency of his face appearing was unbelievably high.

[Are you saying all cops are just tax-thieves? I studied for years to become a cop. Ptui. Ugh, I’m getting dizzy.]

The character [Detective Gu Hakjin], played by Lee Minki, kept appearing.

Almost to the point where the balance as a supporting role was threatened.

‘His acting is good?’

‘The character is charming. Provocative.’

‘That’s the actor I saw earlier.’

From the perspective of the people inside the screening theater, it was an appropriate frequency of appearance.

But from Lee Minki’s perspective, it wasn’t.

‘Detective Gu Hakjin wasn’t originally such a significant character.’

The content was different from what he remembered from [Always Green].

Much more.

10%, no, 20%, no. The proportion increased to almost 30%.

The power of [Detective Gu Hakjin] itself had changed.

If he said he was a supporting actor, they would believe him, but if he said he was a lead actor, they might have been fooled.

‘Is this okay?’

He was happy.

To be honest, as an actor, he couldn’t help but be happy.

How many horror stories were there about actors enduring hardships on set, only to have everything cut out in the edited version?

Even Choi Yoochang *sunbaenim* had experienced that as a rookie.

So, the opposite had happened to him, and he should be celebrating.

But only to a certain extent.

If the direction deviated this much from the original he remembered, what should he say?

‘Will it sell well?’

He was seriously worried about the movie’s performance.

Of course, [Always Green] wasn’t a work he chose solely based on its potential performance.

If he had to say, it was a matter of taste.

But as a commercial actor, there was no way he could completely ignore the financial outcome.

After worrying for a while.

Lee Minki shook his head and brushed away his 잡념 [japnyum – idle thoughts].

‘No, what’s the point of worrying about this? If it does well, it does well, and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t.’

Since he had returned, there was no need to dwell on the past.

Unless he was going to spend the next 7 years twiddling his thumbs, wouldn’t the same thing happen no matter what work he appeared in?

Let’s approach this coolly.

‘In the first place, the fact that my screen time increased means that Director Yeom thought it was right.’

Director Yeom is a professional.

Even if it’s just 1 second in a movie directed by a professional, there must be a reason.

There was no reason to put himself down.

Rather, he should have confidence.

‘Because it’s my screen time that I earned with my own efforts.’

While Lee Minki was resolving his internal conflict…

What were others saying?

‘It’s good?’

At least the atmosphere wasn’t critical.

‘Director Yeom Gwangho didn’t cast a rookie in a supporting role for no reason. He’s skilled.’

‘The action is quite outstanding too.’

‘Looking at the completeness of his acting, he could be a lead.’

‘Hmm, this is troubling. How should I write the article?’

‘It’s a twist. I thought Kang Dowon and Choi Yoochang would be carrying it all the way, but an unexpected rookie is adding another dimension.’

And so, the movie rushed towards its climax.

In the scene where [Detective Gu Hakjin] is finally chased and killed by the criminal…

“Ah.”

A sigh flowed out from inside the theater.

As the proportion increased, the impact of his death also became greater.

He didn’t remember much after that.

“I’m Lee Minki, and I’m greeting you for the first time in a movie with this work. Please look kindly on me.”

During the Q&A session after the screening, he was spaced out and answered as things flowed.

“Actor Lee Minki, please look over here more!”

“Please smile!”

During the photo time, he took pictures feeling like a wooden doll.

The posing skills he had developed while working as a model shone, but Lee Minki himself had no time to be conscious of it.

And so, that evening…

[Yeom Gwangho’s new work, Always Green, I’ve seen it!]

[Went to see two people, but saw three.]

The reporters’ full-fledged reviews began to be posted online one by one.

* * *

[Director Yeom Gwangho’s well-made crime thriller.]

[There were no twists.]

[A plain setting, a plain plot, a plain character. But high completeness because it’s plain.]

Reviews poured out as soon as the press screening ended.

As with all press screenings, the reviews mainly consisted of subjective evaluations without specific content.

But there was a consistent story that emerged.

[The rookie actor is handsome.]

[Director Yeom Gwangho’s eye for talent is noteworthy.]

[Women will like it. Ah, of course, men too.]

[One actor is worth noting.]

It was a story about one actor.

A story that was invariably included among the reviews.

This was truly strange.

What kind of movie did they make that a rookie actor’s story always followed like a bonus in reviews that should be filled with just the story of the work?

[Did they pay for this?]

[I’m getting curious at this point.]

[Who is Lee Minki?]

[The male actor who was on Campus Story last time.]

[What’s Campus Story?]

[I saw that, but he was just ordinary?]

[So, what about his acting skills?]

Among netizens who claimed to know a thing or two about movies, a debate ensued.

While all sorts of stories were going back and forth…

Lee Minki’s coat-wearing photo taken at the photo time was uploaded late.

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