Possessed 10 Million Actors

 One Month After the First Shoot in Tokyo, Japan

In the late evening, on a bus heading home in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, a high school girl showed her smartphone to her friends, all dressed in the same school uniform.

"Kyoko, have you seen this?"

" Episode 3? You watched it, right… Huh? It's Episode 4? Did I miss it? Why didn't I know?"

"A girl who wants to be an actress can't miss this. It was uploaded yesterday. Let's watch it together."

What they were watching was Episode 4 of with Japanese subtitles. Like many popular Korean variety shows, was also available on Netflix.

[Hoo. Well, I don't know. The applicant, Lee Jinwook, seemed very confident, and he acted in his own way, but… He seems overly confident. His understanding of the role was lacking. I'd like to say he looks confident, but… Well, it's a bit hard to watch. Yes. Director Yeo Jaeyoon, how was it?]

Min Kyungsoo, who had watched the audition participant's performance, sighed deeply.

"Just now, the script that applicant Lee Jinwook acted in is the one actor Kang Jinseok performed during the audition. Right in front of me. When I saw actor Kang Jinseok's performance at that time, it gave me goosebumps… Now, Lee Jinwook's performance gives me goosebumps in a different way. How can he be this bad?"

The harsh evaluation from Yeo Jaeyoon echoed, and the face of the applicant was shown in a close-up. It was a face that seemed like it would burst into tears if touched.

In response to the applicant's reaction, Yeo Jaeyoon continued mercilessly.

"Acting is a process of convincing the audience… The acting Lee Jinwook showed us now lacks persuasion. I don't know what he was thinking while acting, but it's just cringe-worthy. He just said he was the post-Kang Jinseok, but it was the worst. I don't know how he survived until now."

As if not wanting to see anymore, Yeo Jaeyoon closed his eyes.

Continuing the severe evaluation, tears finally flowed from the applicant's eyes.

Seeing that, one of the high school girls commented, "Really, what the judges say is so scary. Saying it's the worst, isn't that too harsh for a Korean audition variety show?"

"You didn't watch Episode 3? This one is something else."

"Why? What happened in Episode 3?"

"He said that if he had done like Kang Jinseok, he would have done better than Jinseok-nim himself."

"Huh? Really? Even though their faces are so different?"

After gained immense popularity in Korea, it was released worldwide, extending its success to Asia, Europe, and the United States.

Unfortunately, it didn't gain as much popularity in English-speaking regions, but it became a huge hit in Asian markets.

At that time, with Netflix distributing worldwide, the show caught the attention of viewers around the globe.

In Japan, especially among the younger generation, particularly women, was receiving a lot of love.

The applicant displayed on the high school girl's smartphone screen bowed his head, shedding tears like small droplets.

[Hoo. How was Judge Kang Jinseok? Since you acted in the role you did yourself, you probably have a lot to say.]

Seeing this, Yeo Jaeyoon sighed and asked.

[Um… Lee Jinwook, in the first mission, showed the role ‘Oh Manho' that I played in . At that time, he did so well that I had high expectations this time too, but it's a bit disappointing. Nevertheless, your fundamental skills seem very solid. Although the other judges spoke very harshly, I didn't see it as that bad.]

As Jinseok comforted the crying applicant, the eyes of the high school girls sparkled.

"…He's so handsome. How is he so good-looking? And he speaks so kindly."

"Yeah. Ah~! Why don't we have someone like Jinseok at our school? If we did, I'd somehow get to know him."

"Even if we had someone like him, you wouldn't date him? Kyoko-chan, you might."

"What's it to me!"

"Why are you asking if you don't know? You only have to look in the mirror."

"What are you talking about?"

"Look in the mirror."

As the students bantered about, a middle-aged man in a worn-out suit observed them silently.

"Huh, I knew Kang Jinseok would become famous this quickly."

The person they were watching on their smartphones, or precisely in the reflection of the screen, was Katashiro, the director of .

He had wanted to cast Jinseok as the lead in his work for a long time.

Katashiro took a deep breath and thought.

‘Yet, the casting for is not over yet. But would he want to participate in a movie where I previously offered 2.5 million yen for his appearance?'

2.5 million yen, approximately 25 million won. Although considering that Jinseok was not as famous ‘back then' as he is now, it was still too little.

But Katashiro couldn't help but be grateful to the investors who had offered such a small amount.

That's how tight the money is in the current Japanese film industry. More accurately, spending was stingy.

‘From some time ago, good actors disappeared from the movie industry. Even talented actors go to dramas, and rookies don't even try to do movies. Directors are the same. Those who have some skills have all moved to animation or other industries.'

Perhaps the abnormal distribution of profits might be the problem.

Regardless of how it turned out, the conclusion is that the Japanese film industry is in a dark period. I heard that dramas and animations are still holding their own to some extent, but movies themselves are in a deep abyss.

‘In the midst of that, if they offered 2.5 million yen, investors probably considered my reputation. However, it's absurdly insufficient. There's no reason for me, as Kang Jinseok, to appear in a film right now.'

If it were a Hollywood production, he might have been able to bring Jinseok in with a lower appearance fee. After all, Hollywood has many actors who value international exposure.

However, "The Most Painful Predestined Relationship in the World" is a domestic production in Japan. Unless one is foolish, there's no reason for a highly valued actor in the prime of their career to appear in their own work.

"Hmm."

As Katahiro recalled the Japanese film industry, a sigh escaped from him. The female student who overheard glanced at him suspiciously.

"But the guy behind keeps looking at us and sighing. Is he a pervert?"

"Really? It's uncomfortable."

"Hey, be quiet. If he hears us…"

"Should I get off? I'm scared. What if he follows us?"

As the students spoke, Katahiro gave a wry smile, hearing their conversation.

It wasn't anything special for Katahiro to be treated this way. Although he was a somewhat respected film director in the industry, the reality of being a ‘Japanese film director' was not so favorable.

With such an attitude, whenever he used public transportation, there were always people who looked at him with disdain, thinking he was not worthy.

He just wanted to draw inspiration from the mundane stories of people. "I'm sorry, but I have to get off. Could you please step aside for a moment?"

"Huh? Oh, yes."

The female student, holding a smartphone and wary of Katahiro, moved aside with her friend. Katahiro nodded slightly in thanks and got off the bus.

Watching the departing bus, Katahiro quickened his pace. The meeting was imminent, and there was no time to delay.

***

Presenting his ID at the first-floor lobby, Katahiro took the elevator. As he walked through the familiar corridor, the conference room came into view.

"I'm a bit late. I apologize."

Katahiro opened the door to the conference room and spoke. The people inside, who were in the middle of a conversation, stopped and looked at him.

"Oh, the director is here. Please take a seat. We might have a lot to discuss."

A man with short hair offered him a seat and said, "Yes, thank you."

As Katahiro sat in the middle of the conference room, the surroundings became even quieter. In the atmosphere where everyone was delaying who would speak first, Katahiro asked.

"What's going on? What happened?"

Breaking the silence, the man with short hair responded.

"Director, have you seen ‘Absolute Unlicensed Counselling' by any chance?"

"Of course. It's the film I recommended featuring Kang Jinseok, the actor I supported from his unknown days. Even if not, it gained so much popularity."

"Well… yes. I thought about it, considering it was Director Katahiro. You recognized his talent even when he was an unknown actor."

"Yes. But why that film all of a sudden?"

When Katahiro asked, the man let out a sigh of distress.

"Do you know which distribution company brought in that film?"

"I believe it's Shoshukura. It's a competitor of Toho Corporation, our sponsor."

"That's right. I assumed it must be Director Katahiro behind it. You knew the value of that film since Kang Jinseok was an unknown actor."

"Yes. But why suddenly bring up that work?"

Katahiro asked, and the man sighed as if in pain.

"The company that imported that film, do you know where they are?"

"I'm aware of it. Shoshukura. They are a competitor of Toho Corporation."

"Yes, they are. I don't know how they managed to bring in that film, but there have been quite a few stories about it."

"What kind of stories?"

"Well… I won't go into details. Since ‘Absolute Unlicensed Counselling' is gaining such enormous popularity, we decided not to make a work centered around ‘romance.'"

‘Not make a work?’

At the shocking news, Katahiro's eyes widened.

"Oh, no. What do you mean? What's the reason…"

"Um. Well, I won't beat around the bush. Since ‘Absolute Unlicensed Counselling' is attracting so much attention, we decided not to create a work with a ‘romance' theme to avoid diminishing the popularity of the later work. If the work supported by Toho Corporation, under Director Katahiro, receives worse reviews than ‘Absolute Unlicensed Counselling,' it would damage our reputation."

"Just for that reason… my work?"

"It's not just for that reason. As Director Katahiro knows, our decision to support the director's work was out of respect. After all the time we've spent together."

"…"

"But the situation has changed, so there's nothing we can do. Since it hasn't gone into production, you can simply cancel it with a reasonable penalty, considering it's already cast."

Katahiro, looking dumbfounded, stared at the man. The man forced a smile and said, "Haha, it's not like our connection is completely severed. If Director Katahiro wishes, we can introduce you to our company's animation department or the drama production company that has a close relationship with us."

"That's enough."

"What?"

"I said that's enough."

With an air of bewilderment, Katahiro kicked his bag on the floor and stood up.

"A year ago, when I came here with this project, all of you made a clear promise to me. ‘For the revival of the Japanese film industry, let's bring out that unique, poignant emotion we can create so well. Let's help once again introduce Japanese films to the world.' That's what you said."

"…"

"But to just abandon a project for such a reason… ha. Is it difficult to produce a work because a similar one is popular? Won't you do it to avoid losing a competition with a rival company? It's just too sad to think that your distribution and confidence at the forefront of the Japanese film industry are only at that level."

As Katahiro was about to leave the room, he paused. After taking a deep breath and organizing his thoughts, he bowed.

"Thank you for everything until now. Goodbye to the Japanese film industry."

Thud!

With that, Katahiro left the conference room without any regrets. If they had decided not to create the work, there was nothing more to see.

A few minutes ago, Katahiro retraced his steps through the corridor he had walked. No one came to stop him.

Outside the company, Katahiro headed towards the main road. In the midst of busy traffic, he hailed an empty taxi.

"Welcome. Where would you like to go?"

"Doesn't matter, just go anywhere."

"Really?"

"Just go anywhere."

The taxi driver assessed the passenger through the rearview mirror. Despite his neat suit, he didn't seem to have much money.

‘Seems like something bad happened.'

"Alright. We'll get going then."

From the driver's perspective, as long as he got paid, it didn't matter where they went. He started driving silently.

After about 20 minutes of driving through the city, the passenger's mobile phone rang. The driver paid no particular attention and continued driving in silence.

"Hello? Wh-who is this? How did you get my number, no, more importantly… Yes? No, really? All of a sudden, how… No, no, I'm fine. Sorry? No, I'm good. I'll go to Korea right away. No, I have plenty of time."

The passenger, who had been staring out the window as if the world had collapsed just a moment ago, regained his vigor after a phone call.

"Huh."

After ending the call, he sighed in wonder.

Observing the sudden change in the passenger, the driver, who had been silently watching, hastily averted his gaze when the passenger looked at him intently.

"Driver."

"Yes, yes."

"How long does it take to get to the nearest airport?"

"Um…?"

TN: Ghaddd I wish I could watch Jinseok movies in real life.