Let’s go over the summary first.
The two individuals, who abruptly suggested discussing the next project, have brought their own desired works and are urging me to join forces.
However, coincidentally, the shooting schedules overlap, leaving me in a situation where I must choose one of the two.
While it is possible to simultaneously film both projects based on ability, it’s not a course of action I would recommend.
Not only is it problematic for a newcomer to make such an arrogant proposal, but realistically, it’s an incredibly demanding schedule.
After all, now that I’ve finally returned to the present era, I don’t want to repeat the grueling schedule from my days in New Religion (Shin Kyo).
Not even a Heavenly Demon (Cheon-ma) would dare ask such a thing from me.
“So, the bottom line is that we’re ultimately talking about a choice…”
The thought of choosing one of the two makes my head spin.
Selecting one person out of the two creates the implication that I must pacify the other, and it’s all turning into a bizarre emotional battle.
No, why is it coming to this? Weren’t things going well?
“Ah, well. I understand what you’re saying. Please calm down first.”
“Mr. Siwoo, please make the choice.”
“Yes, it’s up to you, Mr. Siwoo.”
“No, before we talk about choices, let’s review the works first.”
“Oh, you’re right. My apologies.”
“Yeah, it’s right here.”
This whole situation is rather strange, but I’ve decided to just go with the flow for now.
Both of them, as well as myself, have thought about the next project.
Didn’t my father mention something before?
He said that if possible, I should appear on terrestrial channels.
My father, who even donated bone marrow to the madam, certainly deserves that much from me.
Moreover, I want to appear in a drama that suits my father’s tastes as a way of filial piety.
My father’s taste leans toward slightly melodramatic romance dramas.
It might be better to appear in such dramas during my novice years.
After my price has gone too high, it often becomes difficult to appear in them.
They often suffer from budget shortages, so actors like Heavenly Yuah can’t even be considered.
You see, a production isn’t determined solely by hiring expensive actors.
This is business, after all, and efficiency must be considered.
At any rate, having set my own standards, I intend to evaluate based on those criteria.
If one of the two projects appeals to me, I will participate; if not, I will decline.
Given my father’s involvement, both parties would find it hard to object (rebel).
This creates a valid rejection, after all.
The problem, if there is one, is that I cannot predict how the other person will react when I choose a project from either side, but I’ll worry about that when the time comes.
The odds that either of them would select a work that appeals to me are almost none.
“So… the project Ms. Yoo-a desires is V-LoBByst, right? This is a movie, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it’s a movie. It’s probably about time we film one, don’t you think?”
“Hmm, a movie…”
There’s a couple where the husband is a secret FBI agent and the wife is a lobbyist.
But this lobbyist is no ordinary type who just deals in backdoor deals—they’re the type to seize what they want through force if necessary.
The ‘V’ stands for ‘Violence.’ So the everyday lives of this East Asian couple seem ordinary, but when trouble arises, they transform into undercover secret agents and lobbyists posing as terrorists.
Particularly for the female lead, she appears as a Westerner while working as a lobbyist, making it a somewhat suitable role for Heavenly Yuah.
“By the way, this is a Hollywood blockbuster, right?”
“No, it’s not exactly a blockbuster, but it will be filmed in Hollywood.”
Good heavens, flying all the way to the United States to shoot a movie.
It’s on a tremendous scale.
“…What? You two, Mr. Siwoo and Ms. Yoo-a, are flying to the U.S.?”
“No, it’s not just the two of us. The crew will be accompanying as well.”
“So it’ll just be the two of you if I’m not there?”
“Will it come to that?”
Even as OTT platforms flourish and the film industry declines, movies remain movies. (Note: This world does not include the existence of the coronavirus.)
Many older industry professionals still see movies as superior to dramas, and even with all the talk, it’s still relatively common to see one or two blockbuster hits per year drawing over 10 million viewers.
With the film industry declining, actors from 10-million-view films are increasingly favored.
The actor’s rank is probably elevated by at least one level, right?
So, I personally don’t have any particular aversion to films.
I’ve been thinking that if the opportunity arose, I’d try my hand at one.
It’s clear this film isn’t even being produced in Korea.
“It’s action-heavy?”
“Yes, if it weren’t for action, both Mr. Siwoo and I wouldn’t be able to star in a Hollywood movie.”
“The realism aside… is this really possible? A Hollywood movie with me and Senior Yoo-a as the main leads?”
“It’s not impossible. Not only in North America but also across Europe, Gold Rush, Joseon topped the Finesse charts.”
It looks like it will be a film with plenty of appeal.
It includes tons of action scenes, and while Korean action might feel underwhelming, it seems a little more enticing given that it’s set in Hollywood.
There are a few unnecessary kissing and bedroom scenes, but as actors, we must accept things like that.
But wouldn’t this be more challenging for Yoo-a, really? She hasn’t even done a kissing scene yet.
Regardless, it’s definitely a rare opportunity.
At first glance, it seems that Flame will handle the production investments, but the mere fact that such an offer is even possible is astonishing.
Hollywood is Hollywood, after all, no matter how the world changes.
This seems possible because Gold Rush, Joseon has garnered world-wide popularity.
“Still, this is premature considering the timing. First, my English is lacking. Movies don’t even use subtitles in the U.S., right? That might work for dramas, but dubbing in films feels a bit off.”
“The language part can be worked out. The roles themselves are Korean.”
“Come on, that just doesn’t feel right. And right now, I have something else I want to film.”
But why resort to this risky move?
My dream isn’t to make it in Hollywood, so why bother?
After all, ‘leaving home means suffering.’ Rather than flying over there and struggling, I feel I’ll gain more by focusing on the projects I truly want to do here.
Ambition and reputation… do they even have much meaning?
It just adds to the unnecessary stress.
“Mine is a Korean production.”
“Yes, fine. Let me take a look first.”
As Yuah’s proposal was rejected, the tension in Suyeon Moon’s face heightened.
She seems to think her proposal has a higher chance of being selected.
Still, does this woman have a keen eye for projects?
Even though I rejected it, the project Yuah introduced seemed quite interesting.
Considering the often oddball tendencies of Moon Suyeon compared to Yuah, it’s hard to trust her choices.
“The title is… Cicada? Though it’s a working title.”
“Yes, Mr. Siwoo, you know Director Sun Juhong, right?”
“Ah, yes. What? Everyone who’s Korean doesn’t know Director Sun Juhong?”
“It’s Director Sun Juhong’s film.”
“Hmm… Director Sun Juhong… ”
Director Sun Juhong is quite renowned.
She’s famous for dominating prestigious film festivals such as Sundance, Cannes, and Venice.
But this director is especially famous among men.
That’s because this director’s films…
“This is, er, too provocative, isn’t it? Should I even call it a Sun Juhong film?”
“No, what’s so provocative about it? There’s no nudity.”
“… There is no nudity, but everything else is there, right? Ms. Suyeon, are you really serious about this?”
She’s quite famous for being extremely provocative.
And this work is wildly intense.
Moon Suyeon says there’s no nudity in it, but honestly, with this level of content, it might be better if there was nudity.
For example, consider this scene:
The female lead is wearing a loose boxy t-shirt, the male lead wraps his arms around her from behind.
The female lead turns her head back for a deep kiss with the male lead.
The male lead slips his hands inside the t-shirt, grabbing the female lead’s chest.
Then one of his hands moves down, slipping into the underwear…
The screen only shows the kiss between the two protagonists and the hands moving inside the t-shirt, but the actors…
Yikes, just thinking about it feels uncomfortable.
Moreover, Director Sun Juhong is quite conservative when it comes to physical contact in her movies, believing it enhances the emotional realism of actors.
She’s managed to keep working despite all this because her scenes are seen as artistic rather than obscene, partly due to her being a female director.
Still, if someone inserts their hand into the underwear, how can that not be considered obscene?
No matter how acclaimed a director’s scenes may be globally, to me, this is just pure obscenity.
Despite all that, I’ve watched all of Director Sun Juhong’s works.
Oh my, she truly excels in shooting scenes that are provocative without nudity.
No matter what else, when it comes to intimate and thrilling scenes, she’s unmatched.
But there’s a difference between simply watching them and starring in them myself.
And the co-lead being Moon Suyeon? Are you insane, human?
“…Ms. Suyeon, you actually intend to film this with Mr. Siwoo?”
“Yes, what’s wrong with that, Ms. Yu-a?”
“No, how can you even…”
“Isn’t it more reasonable than flying to the U.S. alone with Mr. Siwoo to shoot something?”
“But even so, isn’t this excessive?”
As Yu-a reviews the synopsis, she lets out an eagle-like scream.
Even to her, this seems too much.
When Yu-a criticizes the excessive physical intimacy while poking at the trip to Hollywood, it’s such a ridiculous juxtaposition.
It’s a whole other level of self-contradiction.
These women are really something else.
“I decline. And, Ms. Suyeon, please don’t star in projects like this.”
“Why not? It’s a thriller. Sure, the romance might be more intense, but…”
“Thriller or not, let’s just agree this isn’t happening.”
Surprisingly, the content itself was actually decent.
It’s a thriller about a widow who seeks out a private detective to catch the killer who murdered her husband.
The male lead follows the deceased husband’s trail to find the killer.
It turns out the actual killer is the widow herself, i.e., the female lead.
All the detectives who investigated the case before the male lead ended up being trapped and eliminated by the female lead.
Hence, the working title Cicada.
However, even amidst this, it gets extremely provocative.
So, the female lead who has somewhat intimate relations with the male lead is a sultry and exhausted femme fatale widow?
It made me understand why men talk about Director Sun Juhong so much.
Of course, I have absolutely no intention of starring in this drama.
“So, what about our next project?”
“Since neither of the projects you both brought forward appeals to me, I’ll have to search elsewhere.”
“…Is that so?”
“This time, I intend to star in a drama. A movie can wait. Ideally, I’d prefer terrestrial TV, given how my popularity has grown lately, some scripts should start coming in, don’t you think?”
“That’s true. I’ve also heard that numerous scripts have been sent your way.”
“It might be time to start reviewing them.”
So, that’s goodbye to both of you.
If they had picked something even somewhat appealing, I might have reconsidered, but since these projects were far-fetched, I comfortably declined them.
After all, Hollywood and Sun Juhong together? These women are truly something else.
