Top Star By Luck [EN]: Chapter 96

96

‘The director is enjoying it?’

It was Director Hwang Ui-seong.

Hwang Ui-seong, who always wore a blank expression like a sticker, exuding charisma simply by being present on set.

Hwang Ui-seong, who could silence even the most renowned actors with a single glance.

That Hwang Ui-seong was now.

Enjoying Lee Min-ki’s video.

‘He’s sharp. From start to finish, he took actions to thoroughly capture attention.’

The location of Gyeongbokgung Palace [a major royal palace in Seoul] is like that.

The attire of Hanbok [traditional Korean clothing] is like that.

The unusual combination of bringing a tall, fair-skinned foreign woman and a manager is like that.

The unconventional dance of the shuffle dance is like that.

Going viral is basic.

It’s likely the agency intervened to spread it beyond a simple trend to a challenge.

‘The details are good.’

Becoming the center of attention and raising awareness is good.

But if he were to recklessly appear in any advertisement or entertainment show.

‘It would be better not to do it at all.’

It becomes cheap.

It’s better to remain silent, as it creates an air of mystery.

Therefore, an actor must wisely choose every move, deciding how to present themselves to the public.

However, Lee Min-ki’s choice was different.

“He’s only gained attention without any image consumption?”

Smart.

Without going far, imagination blossoms even from the combination with a female singer who charted on Billboard.

‘Is he thinking of featuring in a song? Or is it a Korean debut?’

Imagination blossoms from the Hanbok.

‘Is he considering a historical drama?’

He made people imagine where the next steps of the actor Lee Min-ki would lead.

No, to be precise, he induced curiosity.

All sorts of calculations meshed together intricately like a precision process, creating a powerful reaction.

Of course, he didn’t calculate any of this himself.

He just picked a good topic to attract attention because he was appearing in Boyana Olsen’s music video.

But so what?

If it looks incredibly good to others, then it’s good.

In summary.

Lee Min-ki clearly possessed the qualities of a star.

‘Interesting.’

Director Hwang Ui-seong smiled faintly.

It was such a subtle smile that it would be difficult to discern unless you were a close friend of ten years.

But it was definitely a smile.

It was because he saw something beyond expectations in the actor Lee Min-ki.

‘This actor will be interesting to watch.’

There are many actors who are good at acting.

If it’s just actors with excellent skills, they’re as common as dirt.

But people with the potential to become stars are rare.

Overwhelming radiance.

Could the actor Lee Min-ki emit enough radiance to reach beyond his own country, to foreign lands?

‘And could he become a character in the dream I want to achieve?’

It was when his thoughts reached this point.

“Director Kim.”

“Ah, yes!”

Director Kim, who had been standing still, flinched at Director Hwang Ui-seong’s words.

Director Hwang Ui-seong spoke while still fixing his gaze on the monitor screen as if to pierce through it.

“From now on, keep a close watch on Lee Min-ki, and compile and report any news worth remembering.”

“…Yes! I understand!”

* * *

Did you know?

The Republic of Korea is more serious about fostering the cultural industry than commonly thought.

It may hinder the development of games and comics.

But surprisingly, it is quite generous with its finances when it comes to the video industry.

[Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Allocates an Annual Budget of 7 Trillion Won]

First of all, the amount is large.

It uses its massive size to directly distribute subsidies to film industry workers.

But more than that, how should I put it?

It often sponsors the film infrastructure.

[Incheon Cinema Town Project Launched]

[Daejeon Daedeok CG Special Zone Establishment Proposed]

[Busan Film Special City Presents 5-Year Development Plan]

Among them, the place that has shown the most recent results is.

The film shooting-specialized zone located near Expo Science Park in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon Metropolitan City, [Studio Cube] was just such a place.

‘Wow, I’ve come all the way here.’

Lee Min-ki looked around with admiring eyes.

‘That’s the one I saw in the pictures.’

Above the indoor space reminiscent of a gymnasium, countless lights were stacked in a dazzling layered structure on the ceiling.

Below that, green screens were laid out everywhere, and all sorts of ultra-expensive, ultra-large shooting equipment were busily moving around.

The scenery of an ultra-large video production studio itself.

‘Amazing. You could build an indoor soccer field here.’

Overwhelmed with emotion, Lee Min-ki closed his eyes and trembled.

‘I’m actually coming to Studio Cube in my life.’

A dream came true.

What kind of place was Studio Cube?

It boasts the largest scale as a video production studio in Korea.

As an infrastructure established by the state to make Daejeon the mecca of the video industry, there is no studio larger than this.

There is even a single studio with a size of 1,500 pyeong [approximately 5,340 square yards].

It has secured a large number of rare shooting equipment even in Hollywood, and allows resident companies to use them freely.

But the important thing is not the quality of the facilities themselves.

‘This is where the Korean video industry swallowed the world.’

History.

It was the history that Studio Cube would build.

World No. 1.

Works that achieved the world’s No. 1 spot on global streaming platforms came out three times in a row only from Studio Cube.

Korea is world No. 1.

Moreover, No. 1 in a row.

It is even difficult to imagine.

Even if someone tells it, they will not believe it.

But the actual history was like that.

Since then, Studio Cube has perfectly established itself as the mecca of the Korean video industry.

‘I wanted to film at Studio Cube, even if it was a minor role.’

For some reason, the opportunity did not arise.

It was as if the place called Studio Cube was putting up a barrier and refusing his entry.

But now he has done it.

He has done it.

Even as a lead role.

‘Yes!!’

It’s Hwang Ui-seong.

If there is a chance, wouldn’t it be possible to share movie stories?

Lee Min-ki was clenching his fist with anticipation.

“Who is it?”

He flinched.

From behind, a voice that was extremely blunt was heard.

A heavy voice that made one doubt whether emotion even existed.

But at the same time, it was also a familiar voice.

With a feeling of ‘no way,’ Lee Min-ki turned around.

“……!”

As expected, it was that person.

It was Director Hwang Ui-seong.

* * *

After facing that face that felt so indifferent that it was almost apathetic for a moment.

“Director, hello!”

Lee Min-ki, regaining his senses, bowed his head and shouted.

“I’m actor Lee Min-ki! I look forward to working with you on this shoot! It’s an honor to meet you, Director!”

“There’s no need for a long greeting.”

“……”

He’s like a knife.

Director Hwang Ui-seong cut off Lee Min-ki’s words as if he didn’t have any particular interest.

At first glance, his tone is so cold that he doesn’t seem to have any humanity.

‘I heard his personality is a bit difficult, so that must be true.’

But if you think of that pickiness as a character trait, the feeling is a bit different.

‘It’s really the real Director Hwang Ui-seong.’

Lee Min-ki was realizing his presence.

Director Hwang Ui-seong opened his mouth.

“You’ve come a bit early.”

“Ah, yes! I wanted to look around.”

Lee Min-ki said, turning his gaze around.

“I’ve seen the name Studio Cube a lot in articles. And I heard it’s starting to operate in earnest this year. I really wanted to experience it once.”

“Hmm.”

Director Hwang Ui-seong narrowed his eyes.

Was he simply interested in the studio facilities?

But there was a somewhat strange aspect in Lee Min-ki’s actions.

That’s because.

‘There are still 4 hours left until the start of filming, and he came early because he wanted to look around the set?’

Lee Min-ki arrived a bit too early.

Of course, there are many people who arrive early to give themselves time.

Time flies by when doing makeup and adjusting their condition.

But 4 hours.

‘It remains to be seen.’

At least he’s diligent.

Director Hwang Ui-seong looked at Lee Min-ki with an expression that was still emotionless.

In fact, this was a lucky situation for Lee Min-ki.

Director Hwang Ui-seong is a workaholic.

That the director is a workaholic means that there is no time to have a one-on-one conversation.

Because, due to the nature of the managerial job, the director is always surrounded by many people.

Coincidentally, he also had something he was curious about regarding Lee Min-ki.

“Let me ask you something.”

Director Hwang Ui-seong opened his mouth.

“Actor, what is your goal?”

“Excuse me?”

Lee Min-ki asked back at the question that came in without any warning.

“What do you mean by goal?”

“If you’re an actor, you must have a goal. Like wanting to become an actor who attracts ten million viewers, wanting to earn a lot of money, wanting to act with someone, wanting to film a work under a certain director.”

“Are you talking about a dream?”

“No.”

Director Hwang Ui-seong corrected Lee Min-ki’s question.

“It’s a goal.”

It was literally the actor’s goal.

A goal is different from a dream.

It’s not just something you want; you have to sincerely believe that you can achieve it for it to be a goal.

If the dream of an aspiring actor is to debut, the specific goal would be which agency they want to enter.

Then what would be the goal of an actor who has become a professional?

But Director Hwang Ui-seong believed that he could gauge the actor’s capacity here.

‘He’s filmed three works, so it’s about time he has a big goal.’

Anyway, he had been asking every actor he met as a greeting.

It was Director Hwang Ui-seong’s unique way of speaking, as he lacked social skills.

‘He might aim for about 5 million viewers. Or the Blue Dragon Film Award [a prestigious film award in South Korea].’

This time as well, he asked out of curiosity, 겸해서 [gyeomhaeseo – as a greeting], without any particular significance.

“Ah, my goal is.”

Lee Min-ki cleared his throat lightly and said.

“It’s to win the Academy Award for Best Actor and for the work I appear in to achieve the world’s No. 1 spot.”

“……”

An incredibly huge goal appeared as if a kid appeared in a neighborhood alleyway.

‘Is he saying that sincerely?’

Director Hwang Ui-seong blinked his eyes, unlike himself, at the unexpected answer.

It’s not the Blue Dragon Film Award, and it’s not No. 1 in Korea.

The Academy Award and the world’s No. 1 spot appeared.

A goal that even a world-class star in Hollywood would have difficulty mentioning came out of the mouth of an actor who had filmed only three works.

‘Is it a rookie actor’s bravado?’

Director Hwang Ui-seong captured Lee Min-ki’s tense expression in his eyes.

Is he the type who thinks it’s all good if you just call out high numbers?

If so, this is not a goal.

Director Hwang Ui-seong asked again as if correcting himself, thinking that he might not know.

“I asked for a goal, not a dream.”

“Ah, yes. A goal.”

That’s right.

It’s a goal.

Tell me the goal.

While Director Hwang Ui-seong focused his ears again, Lee Min-ki opened his mouth again as if shouting his ambition.

“My goal is really the Academy Award for Best Actor! I don’t know how long it will take, though.”

Is he serious?

This time, even Director Hwang Ui-seong was slightly taken aback.

But Lee Min-ki’s words were also true.

‘I really want to film the world’s No. 1 once.’

He felt it after seeing Boyana Olsen.

The person who can achieve the world’s No. 1 spot is the person who ran with the goal of becoming the world’s No. 1.

He felt it in the conversation he had with her.

[I’m thinking of hitting No. 1 on Billboard with my next album.]

Wasn’t it because she aimed for No. 1, even though she was a rookie, that she later hit No. 1?

Boyana Olsen’s appearance, saying that, was not as arrogant as he thought.

Rather, how should I put it?

‘It was cool. Confident.’

He was almost captivated.

So, Lee Min-ki also thought.

I also have to think that way sincerely, even if it’s arrogant.

Let’s speak more confidently about our ambitions.

“I think Korean movies have enough quality. If there is an opportunity and a place, they can compete proudly with world stages, no, with Hollywood masterpieces.”

“Which works are like that?”

“Director’s works.”

“My works?”

“I’ve watched all of the director’s works over and over again, and I think they’re as great as Hollywood masterpieces. Especially Fashion……”

No, it’s not.

He almost said his true feelings too much.

How can he say that a work that hasn’t even started production will be the beginning of a work that will be recognized overseas?

Lee Min-ki continued, thinking that it was a confession close to self-confession.

“Ann Fashion was too good from the synopsis. First of all, my goal now is to do my best in this work.”

Originally, the goal is to squeeze in and take a seat among globalization.

But since he’s aiming for it, he’s thinking of aiming for the world’s No. 1 spot.

Lee Min-ki’s words, which would not be strange if anyone laughed at them, scattered into the empty air and a moment later.

“You said your goal is to appear in the world’s No. 1 work?”

“Yes.”

“And your goal is to do your best in my work.”

“Ah, that’s also yes.”

“If so.”

It was the next moment.

Director Hwang Ui-seong said indifferently.

“You’re saying that appearing in my work is equivalent to the world’s No. 1 work.”

“Ah.”

That’s not what I meant.

Where did the words get twisted?

But it seemed like the picture would only get stranger if he refuted it, so it was his turn to examine it first.

“I understand.”

Director Hwang Ui-seong nodded with an expression that was still emotionless and said.

“We’re going to proceed with the reading as soon as it’s time to film, so go and prepare.”

“……Yes!”

It was just as Lee Min-ki was about to step back.

“I’ll watch closely.”

Lee Min-ki blinked his eyes at the back of Director Hwang Ui-seong, who left after leaving a word.

He said he would watch closely.

What?