Chapter 31


    Dad was home before them today.


    The family enjoyed the curry with big chunks of potatoes and meat that dad had cooked for a long time.


    They talked about what happened at the movie set.


    It was his sons first movie shoot in his life, but Lee Minjun couldnt go with him. He felt sorry and asked him many questions.


    How was the shooting?


    It was fun!


    Did you get praised by the director? You did great, right?


    Yes!


    After the shooting was over, Ryan, the director, stopped by the tent and lightly patted Seo-juns head. He said he did well. Seo-jun smiled happily.


    I also took some pictures. Lets look at themter while eating strawberries.


    After dinner, the three of them ate dessert while watching the pictures and videos that Seo Eunhye had taken on the TV.


    The first picture that appeared was Seo-jun sitting on a chair and Ryan Will sitting on the floor, shaking hands. Seo-jun looked even smaller next to the huge Ryan in the picture.


    Seo-jun stopped eating the strawberry.


    Thats the director!


    Hes huge.


    They say hes over 190 centimeters tall in ournguage.


    Wow He would have been great as an athlete too.


    Then there were pictures of Seo-jun, Melissa, and Barren changing clothes. Seo-jun talking with Will Ryan in front of the chroma key. And then.


    This cant be leaked. But they allowed me to take it from afar since it was Seo-juns first shoot.


    It was Seo-jun acting.


    The video that Ryan Will, the director, showed them after the shooting, saying that actors should always monitor their performance, looked different from the one that mom took from afar.


    It was amazing to see himself from a distance. Sitting on the floor, getting up, stretching his arms. It felt like someone else was inside his body and moving.


    Lee Minjun also pped his hands, seeing Seo-jun disappearing into the chroma key with Melissas voice, which was faint but sharp. Especially Melissas acting made Lee Minjuns heart ache, who had a son.


    Melissa, the actress, shes amazing, right?


    I thought so too. I cant believe shes unknown until now.


    What about me?


    Seo-jun turned his head quickly and looked at his mom and dad, who only praised Melissa. Mom and dad opened their eyes wide and smiled brightly at their sons puffy face.


    Seo-jun did well too!


    You got an OK in one shot! You did really well!


    Seo-jun smiled and ate a ripe red strawberry.


    But when will it be released?


    They have to do more shooting and some post-production work like CG They say it will be released inte March or early April in ournguage.


    I have to see it in the theater.


    Lee Minjun, who was checking the schedule with anticipation of seeing his sons first movie, was poured cold water by Seo Eunhye.


    But since it was an audition and a shoot, I dont know if theyll use the scene with Seo-jun for sure.


    Seo-jun, who was eating strawberries deliciously next to him, was shocked. No, how hard did I work, how much did I suffer from not smiling all day?!


    Why?!


    Yeah. Why? You said you got an OK, right?


    Seo-jun and Lee Minjun asked Seo Eunhye.


    In the world of filmmaking, not every shot makes it to the final cut. Many scenes are edited out, unnecessary parts trimmed, and the movies duration adjusted for optimal viewing.


    This could exin why deleted scenes and directors cuts from various films frequently surface online.


    Nara had warned Seo Eun-hye of potential disappointment after watching the movie, to which Seo Jun responded by flopping onto the carpet.


    I worked so hard!


    Like a zombie doll, Seo Jun rolled around on the carpet. Despite his efforts, Seo Eun-hye and Lee Min-jun could only offer a smallugh at his antics.


    ***


    Two men in suits were walking somewhere, lightweight PinePads in hand.


    Shadowman, huh


    Marin Company, with its plethora of superhero characters, had Vice President Richard Bowen tapping on his PinePad. Phn, responsible for thepanys film division, shrugged his shoulders.


    Its inevitable. Recing Redbones actor would cause an uproar.


    True, thats a given.


    Redbone was a superhero movie produced by Marin Company with an enormous budget, yielding equally impressive profits.


    To maintain the poprity gained from the first installment, the original cast of Redbone was retained. More funds were poured into production, along with thetest equipment and a significant workforce. ns for a simultaneous global release and extensive promotion were underway.


    However, as filming for Redbone 2 reached its midpoint


    Damn paparazzi.


    Richard Bowen frowned.


    The lead actor of Redbone had been chased by paparazzi and met with an ident. Fortunately, his life wasnt in danger, but recovery to acting condition would take time.


    This put a significant dent in the meticulously nned schedule for Redbone 2.


    With equipment and personnel sitting idle, money was being wasted.


    Left with no choice, Richard Bowen and Phn decided to fill the gap with movies from two up-anding directors.


    Financial loss was eptable; it was an opportunity to test directors who had been on Marin Companys radar.


    Thepany sent out feelers to two promising directors.


    One was Ryan Will.


    A short film director known for his sharp portrayal of social issues like racial discrimination. His direction wasmendable, but his talent for casting was particrly noteworthy. The actors he chose brought their characters to life, leaving asting impression on the audience.


    Im curious to see how his casting skills will trante to selecting actors for Marin characters.


    The actors for Shadowman are mostly unknowns. Just looking at their portfolio photos, Im not sure if they fit.


    Phn flipped through Ryan Wills resume and the resumes and portfolios of the actors he cast for Shadowman with a flick of his finger on the PinePad.


    Actors who performed well butcked charisma. Extras who appeared briefly.


    What did Director Ryan Will see in these actors? Phns expression wasnt optimistic.


    Richard Bowen, seemingly indifferent to Phns words, kept tapping on his PinePad, disying Ryan Wills resume. He spoke in an annoyed tone.


    I never liked the choice of Shadowman to begin with.


    Well, Shadowman isnt popr, after all.


    Phn nodded in agreement.


    Redbone was among the most popr characters of Marin Companysics, which is why it was turned into a movie and achieved global sess.


    In contrast, Shadowman was virtually unknown, and Phn wouldnt have even been aware of its existence if not for Ryan Will.


    As Phn skimmed through the portfolio, he shook his head. No matter how he looked, he couldnt predict what kind of movie would emerge from the coboration between Director Ryan Will and these actors.


    What about Sara Roth?


    Richard looked down at the resume that had just popped up. Phn opened the Sara Roth folder on his FinePad.


    Another director. Sara Roth.


    She was a director who had swept the short film festival awards with her action scenes that blended beautifully with the screen and music.


    Especially, her action scenes that matched well with the music reminded people of music games.


    She was a director who was perfect for a super hero movie with thrilling action scenes. This movie was also her first feature-lengthmercial film.


    The actors that Sara Roth cast are quite well-known. They also have good acting skills. I wonder how her Greenwing will be.


    Greenwing.


    A character with incredibly fast speed, and one of the most popr heroes in Marinesa. Marinesa also rmended him, and Sara Roth agreed right away. They looked forward to the world of speed that she would direct.


    The two men arrived at the huge door. Phn grabbed the door handle. The big door opened slowly and they heard a buzzing sound. Arge screen installed in the center and people sitting in their seats.


    It was a preview screening of the edited movies that was held inside Marinesa.


    Richard and Phn sat in their seats. Soon, the host came up and exined about the two movies and the two directors and went down.


    The inside of the conference room darkened. Soon, the logo of Marinesa appeared on the screen, and the faces of two super heroes looking at each other appeared on the screen.


    [Greenwing VS Shadowman]


    Well, at least the promotional slogan is decided.


    With such a confrontation, the public would surely be interested.


    Then, lets watch Shadowman by director Ryan Will.


    The apuse sounded at the hosts words and the screen that Ryan had seen dozens of times appeared.


    Ryan, who was sitting in his seat, was a Marinesa employee, but he couldnt focus on his own movie that he was showing to the audience for the first time and was lost in his thoughts.


    Ryans dream was to make a hero movie. Justice that defeats the evil of the world.


    He had no one to invest in him, so he made a short film at first. It was a short film that showed social issues such as racial discrimination and ie inequality bluntly.


    Then, he finally got a chance. He got an offer from Marinesa.


    [Shadowman]


    It was Ryan Wills first feature-length hero movie.


    The protagonist, Mac, was an alien child who crashnded on Earth. The other alien who crashnded with him died quickly and the baby who couldnt even walk grew up in an orphanage and went out to society.


    It was a cold society for an orphan, but he liked this country, this world, thanks to his friends who loved him. One day, a ne came into Macs hand.


    The aliens invaded the Earth to find the ne. Mac, who wore the ne around his neck, used his power to protect the Earth. But some people went missing while Mac was fighting the aliens.


    And at that time, there was one person among the missing who was the rival of Shadowman.


    Thats William.


    Ryan Will wanted to make Shadowman a series, but it didnt go as he wanted. So he wondered whether to put this scene as a foreshadowing or not, and eventually decided to put it. Because Ryans super hero, Shadowmans enemy was only William.


    Ryan thought of a boys face. The ck-haired, ck-eyed boy stood with a cold expression, looking at Shadowman who wore a ck mask.


    Before he made the movie, Williams face was a white man with ck hair, but after he saw Juns face, he only thought of Juns grown-up face.


    I hope this movie seeds so I can make the next movie.


    But even the rational Ryan couldnt help but be optimistic about the sess of this movie.


    Uhuhuhuhu.


    Because Richard Bowen, the vice president who crossed the line between illegal and legal for thepanys profit, was crying like a child who lost his mother.