I Will Live As An Actor - Chapter 88

I Will Live as an Actor Episode 88,

first week of release.

In Chungmuro, it is commonly said that the first week of release is the time when the compass of box office success is determined. This is because the cumulative number of viewers is tallied. However, just because the number of audiences is large does not necessarily mean it is good.

No matter how good the first week of release is, if it doesn’t get word of mouth among audiences, it’s obvious that things will go downhill from there. In that sense, ‘Confession of a Priest’.

“Sir, the goosebumps still don’t go away. Are you completely crazy?”

AD As Kim Young-min said, it can be seen as crazy. In the first week of release, the number of viewers nationwide exceeded 1.5 million, making an overwhelming difference from second place, and the word of mouth from the audience was also unusual. From the story that you will regret your whole life if you don’t see Confessions of a Priest in the theater, to the prediction that it will be Korea’s first movie with 10 million viewers.

If we look at the public’s reaction, what the picky critics at the press screening said was a milestone for Korea’s green-light films was rather lacking. It’s so bad that it’s become popular among students to get a resident registration card to watch movies.

‘It’s beyond my imagination.’

The famous producer wipes his dry lips. While watching a movie in the theater, my hands were so sweaty that my hands and back were damp, like someone suffering from hyperhidrosis, but my lips were dry. The cola next to it is useless; all the ice has already melted and the only water left is the Han River. The immersion in the movie was so great that I couldn’t even think about drinking cola.

‘This thing has gone up too high.’

He was an actor whose stock was rising after the Korean Theater Festival. Anyway, Baek Mu-yeol’s performance at the Korean Theater Festival was so great that it surprised everyone. However, the movie ‘Confessions of a Priest’ was very different, even if its trajectory was different.

It is often said that actors have thousands of faces. Yoo Myung keenly realized what those words meant as he watched the priest ‘Kim Moo-jin’ on the screen. As if reading that thought, AD Kim Young-min elaborates.

“I saw him act at the Korean Theater Festival before, but seeing him in the theater gave me a different feeling. How can a person change like that? The scene where the priest escapes his responsibilities as a priest reminded me of Anthony Hopkins, who played a passionate role in The Silence of the Lambs, in a good way. “I still think about that scene where he’s reciting Latin. Look, he’s got skin on his arm.”

“Youngmin, you said how many theaters are currently showing Confessions of a Priest.”

“Most of the time slots had at least one ticket available. If you don’t reserve in advance, you can’t even get a ticket.”

It is not a screen monopoly. It is said that the number of screenings was increased in theaters due to strong opposition from the audience, but this is not common when considering movies that are usually approved for purchase. At that moment, Kim Young-min elaborates in a low voice.

“If we hadn’t been able to reserve tickets, we would have been like those people over there. Did you listen to me and reserve tickets in advance?”

On one side of the theater, it is common to see people sitting down as if they are sleeping on the street, as AD Kim Young-min said. Even this was like a new syndrome that occurred after the priest’s confession.

Just as people who had not booked train tickets for their homecoming in advance waited for their train tickets to be cancelled, they were also waiting to see if a seat would be available at the screening of Confessions of a Priest.

“I’m going crazy.”

“It’s amazing. It makes me want to see it one more time. At the end of the movie, he says his thoughts about the wicked and says,

‘I will be arrogant until the end. So, Lord, punish me.’

The scene still sticks in my mind. But is it okay for you to lie and say we were on a business trip and stay in the theater like this? I heard the director was pestering me about when he was going to cast cast members.”

“If you say stir-fry, I’ll make a sesame oil restaurant. We must have come to see a movie because we were bored. This isn’t a preliminary search for a drama, it’s a preliminary search. This isn’t England, so if you want to meet actor Jang, you have to watch the movie properly and talk about it. We couldn’t even go to the preview screening because we were too lazy to do it. . And it’s not something else that’s driving me crazy.”

“Then what is it?”

“Youngmin, can’t you hear?”

Kim Young-min makes a puzzled expression at Yoo Myung’s sudden words. And then he appears to be listening. The only sounds you can hear in front of the ticket booth are stories related to the priest’s confession.

There are people like Kim Young-min who cannot escape the deep lingering feeling after watching the movie, and even the sounds of excitement and excitement from those who are looking forward to the movie. At that time, the famous PD licks his dry lips again and elaborates.

“I hear the price of actor Jang soaring.”

* * *

In rural areas, movie premieres tend to be held later than in the metropolitan area. It was already released soon after, but because it had to tour the country, it took at least a week or up to 15 days.

Moreover, even the preview of The Priest’s Confession was reminiscent of buying tickets for an ordinary concert. Some people stayed up all night in front of the theater building to get tickets for the preview screening, and ticket scalping was so rampant that it was so outrageous.

“I’m bored.”

England is sitting alone in the waiting room provided by the theater. I was touring the countryside on a chartered bus with other actors. Normally, after the stage greetings, it was customary to immediately move to another area, but since it was the last preview, the actors decided to watch the movie together with the audience as fan service.

“At times like this, it’s really inconvenient to be a minor.”

It might be a sound that would make an old man full of wrinkles burst out in anger, but from Britain’s perspective, there was nothing they could do. Even though it’s a movie he starred in, it’s a contract movie so you can’t intuitively see it. England feels his body a little sore and glances back.

As they are in the midst of touring the countryside, manager Lee Bong-chun also seems to be tired and dozing off. At that moment, England smiles and stands up.

“Director Shin, what does Youngkuk do when he’s bored alone?”

“That’s right. It’s a pity that it’s a movie that wasn’t approved. That actors can’t watch the movie they’re in in theaters.”

“That’s why I said let’s lower the level. No matter how much I think about it, even if we lowered the level and made it suitable for ages 15 and up, it would have already surpassed 2 million in the first week of release.”

“Because of the number of viewers, I have to rearrange the pictures to make sense. You bastard.”

“I’m kidding. I’m kidding.”

Assistant director Kim Seok-cheol and director Shin Seong-hyun are arguing. Actor Kim Hyeong-seop is looking at this with a happy smile.

He is a movie star who has experienced numerous premieres, but this was his first time having such fun days. The movie came out really well. Not only the directing, but also the music in the background. Moreover, with the passionate performance of a famous actor, there is no flaw.

‘If this continues, Ahn (actor Ahn Jung-hyun)’s joke might turn out to be true. By the way, England will overtake me first.’

This is something he always said out of habit whenever he had a drink with actor Ahn Jung-hyun. He said that England might surpass him. Actor Kim Hyeong-seop couldn’t hear that as if it were a joke. Although it was a movie I had already seen many times, the more I watched it, the more I couldn’t hide my surprise at England’s acting. It was then.

“What does this mean?”

Assistant director Kim Seok-cheol pricks up his ears at the noisy noise coming from the ticket booth. Director Shin Seong-hyeon and the actors were escorted by bodyguards as they walked toward the ticket booth. They can’t keep their mouths shut at the sight they see there.

“her.”

“completely.”

“A fan meeting has been held.”

England is signing autographs, smiling, and taking pictures with fans who were unable to attend the preview. There were adults among them, but there were also many children. I don’t know how I became a fan of England. I can only guess that he became a fan of England after watching the drama ‘Youth’ with his parents.

The bodyguards are assisting British guerrilla autograph signings as if they were staff. Before we know it, a small child is in England’s arms, looking infinitely happy. Looking at that scene, other people think the same thing at the same time.

A heart for the fans.

‘That’s what you learn.’

* * *

“Oh well, you shouldn’t do this.”

“Just let it go for a moment. I told you to let it go.”

“No, what should I do if you are so reckless and come to me without making a prior appointment? No matter how much you say you are the producer of a broadcasting station, you cannot do anything. Outsiders are prohibited from entering right now. You must make an appointment in advance or go back.”

A fight is in full swing in the lobby of Songwon Entertainment. Isn’t there a saying that ants are attracted to where there is sugar? As the saying goes, with Confessions of a Priest ranking first at the box office every day, Songwon Entertainment had no choice but to increase the number of security company employees.

This is because the number of Sasaeng fans coming to England to see the show is increasing day by day. Not only that. Starting with broadcasting stations, the advertising industry, and even officials in Chungmuro, all come face to face without making an appointment. PD Kim Jin was one of them.

“I want to make an appointment in advance, but they keep saying that they don’t have time. How can I make an appointment? I’m only going to see if there’s a UK location. Just leave it alone for a moment. I’m not the kind of person you should treat like this. Don’t hold my shoulder too hard. I have a habit of dislocating it. If you keep doing this, you’ll hit the bottom. “I can’t be held responsible if you pick and fall. I told you to take your hands off me.”

It was a time when security company employees were having a hard time. PD Kim Jin sees a person walking across the lobby and quickly waves his hand.

“Director Cha!”

This is Director Cha Min-seok, who got into a fistfight, or rather a one-sided beating, with manager Lee Bong-chun once. He also turned his head once when he saw PD Kim Jin’s face and his expression became distorted, but he soon corrected his expression and ran away.

“Oh my, PD Kim! What’s going on here? Did you come to meet me?”

“I always want to see you, Director Ai Cha. But today, I came to see you briefly because I had something to talk to you about. I tried to make an appointment a few days ago, but you always said that you don’t have time. I’m not some kind of random dealer, so I can’t stop you like this.” “There is no reason.”

“I don’t know how I don’t know that Producer Kim is the most popular producer at SBC these days. I heard that he asked for a big project this time. Is that because of that? But the CEO is currently talking to Actor Jang, so it will probably be difficult to meet him.”

“That’s good. I feel more comfortable having the person involved.”

“Wait a minute. PD Kim!”

Despite Director Cha Min-seok’s call, PD Kim Jin moves quickly. Director Cha Min-seok is following behind him and repeatedly saying to himself, ‘You’re a miscellaneous merchant.’ At that moment, CEO Kim Seong-hwan and England meet PD Kim Jin, who were walking out of the representative office together. Seeing this, Director Cha Min-seok hurriedly hides behind the corner of the hallway.

“Producer Kim?”

In response to England’s puzzled question, PD Kim Jin grabs his hand and smiles brightly. Then, he soon comes to his senses and bows deeply towards CEO Kim Seong-hwan.

“CEO Kim, do you have a moment?”

* * *

After the uninvited guest leaves, CEO Kim Seong-hwan puts down the cooled tea cup and says.

“What do you think England?”

CEO Kim Seong-hwan’s theory is that the selection of a work must be based on the actor’s subjective perspective. Of course, from a manager’s perspective, he cannot help but be more interested in highly profitable works. In that sense, the proposal made by Kim Jin, producer of SBC Drama Department, is very unconventional.

There is a joke that if you take on a luxury drama, the lead actor will get the Gangnam building. Not only is the production pie that big, but the appearance fee allocated to the lead actor is also beyond the criminal’s imagination.

Moreover, the appearance fee proposed by PD Kim Jin exceeds the appearance fee of top actors, which is called a rating guarantee check in dramas.

“If Producer Kim appears in such a low-key manner, it means that the UK is very eager for you at SBC, but honestly, I didn’t expect Producer Kim to apologize that much. No matter how much I think about it, did you think you wouldn’t meet me because of the excellence award at the last acting awards? look.”

“I didn’t feel that way.”

“Now that I see England, you too are greedy. Yes, if you are an actor, you must be greedy. You always talk like an old child, so I thought you didn’t have any greed.”

“I’m kidding. How did you get an excellence award at this age? And we really didn’t have time to meet. Even now, I have to attend a preview screening for a film that is being released late in a local area, and interviews are also delayed. How do I review my next project when I don’t have enough time for even two bodies? Meanwhile, I feel sad when I see PD Kim today. Still.”

England looks down at the script that Producer Kim Jin left behind and smiles firmly.

“I won’t do it.”

CEO Seong-hwan Kim nods briefly as if he had expected it. Seeing that, England scratches his head and asks.

” Is this all CEO Eolae’s reaction? Nod your head once and you’re done? “If you pay the per-episode appearance fee suggested by PD Kim, you’ll probably be tempted.”

“If you don’t want to do it, it’s the end. When I read the script, it was a story about a second-generation chaebol named Ahn Ha-mu, who awakens after his father’s death and swallows up the company among his hyena-like brothers. It’s not that the content isn’t good, but England doesn’t have enough talent as an actor for you to take on the role. And the appearance fee may rise further over time. If things continue the way they are now, it’s not impossible. Have you heard what the cumulative number of viewers is?”

Usually, for commercial films, the number of audiences is divided starting from the first week of release. While most daily audience numbers drop after the first week of release, Confessions of a Priest exceeded the break-even point within the first week of release. Of course, as if gaining momentum, the number of audiences was skyrocketing through word of mouth.

“If you look closely, England says you have an extraordinary eye.”

“Suddenly, what kind of plane are you on? Don’t talk about your acting fee.”

“You’re so pretentious, England is now you.” Do you know what it is called in Chungmuro? There are so many nicknames that I can’t even count them. He went from being a 10 million cameo to being a blue chip to now being the king of manners and the most promising actor to reach 10 million actors. “In particular, I heard that this nickname is used in the film investment industry.”

In that sense, the UK can be seen as having already made a fortune. Confession of a priest, they have a considerable stake as early investors, so the bank account balance in the UK will change from time to time depending on the number of viewers in the future. .

“Hand of Midas.”