A few days later.
Opening day.
Lee Junseong periodically savored the critics’ evaluations of <Space Vagabond> from a few days earlier.
Sitting in Seonghyeon Production’s office, sipping cold iced coffee and savoring the reviews with his eyes.
At that peace, which could not have been better, a smile naturally spread across Lee Junseong’s lips.
[Lee Dongju ★★★★★: A masterpiece that can lead the new wave of Korean cinema. A film only Gyeong Chanhyeon could make.]
A single line from a critic famous for being strict.
That critic also added this in a famous magazine.
[You know how people say things like this kind of blockbuster is usually something Hollywood originated. But <Space Vagabond> is different. I think it can be called a spark of hope that can revive the space opera genre, which had been dying in the film world. Director Gyeong Chanhyeon. He is a director whose future I look forward to even more.]
Lee Junseong could only nod after hearing his words.
The space opera genre was definitely a genre Hollywood had long since taken its hands off.
But critic Lee Dongju’s words, that Gyeong Chanhyeon’s film might revive the space opera genre again, seemed to raise people’s interest even more.
[Park Pungsik ★★★☆: A famous feast worth 25 billion won. There is a lot to eat. But isn’t there a bit too much seasoning?]
“Ha. Seriously.”
He had already seen it several times, but when Lee Junseong saw Park Pungsik’s rating, he let out a snort as if dumbfounded.
It was hard to tell whether it was praise or criticism, but since he was known for being notoriously stingy with ratings.
A three and a half star rating was practically an evaluation calling it an outstanding masterpiece.
And because of this review, he was getting cursed out with an enormous amount of notice.
“He could at least phrase it more nicely. He’s making karma for no reason.”
Other than Park Pungsik, most critics only drew out admiration.
[Jeong Seongil ★★★★★: Gyeong Chanhyeon, who drew a bold new line in the CG of Korean film history. A tribute to him.]
[Gim Yeri ★★★★★: Spectacle full of dazzling things to see. Even so, the content is not weak! Strong inside! Strong outside!]
[No Yeonghun ★★★★★: No words are needed. A masterpiece lacking nothing.]
“Hehe…”
The critics’ reviews never got old, no matter how many times he saw them.
At this point, how many times a day had he already gone back to them.
It should have grown tiresome, but to Lee Junseong it felt fresh and thrilling.
And it was not just the critics.
[Gyeong Chanhyeon’s new work <Space Vagabond>. Strikes Korea’s summer!]
[Critics overflowing with praise, what kind of movie is <Space Vagabond> exactly?]
[No seats here either? Already sold out! Even making a reservation is difficult for <Space Vagabond>!]
The headlines in the fresh newspapers that came out today talked about <Space Vagabond> and amplified people’s interest in the film.
The entertainment section was the same.
[British actor Andrew. Blooms in Korea.]
Stories about Andrew, whom people did not know well.
It seemed Andrew, who came over from England, had done quite a few interviews too.
It looked like he had gained quite a few fans in Korea as well.
And the appearance of him crying while holding a child at the audience preview drew even greater attention.
No one could know the reason he cried, but that in itself was so moving that it was enough to end up on magazine covers.
And finally, he best way to immediately check people’s reactions, to see if word of mouth was really spreading well in real time.
When he checked the film industry community Film Makers, the corners of Lee Junseong’s mouth lifted even higher.
[How did Gyeong Chanhyeon even think to bring in Andrew? Isn’t this seriously a godlike move?]
As expected, it was hot with talk about <Space Vagabond>.
┗Seriously. <The Lord of the Rings> totally flopped. And Gollum there was especially garbage.
┗Gyeong Chanhyeon is seriously crazy. Is reviving washed up people his hobby? Same with Kwak Yeonji…
┗I wish he’d take me too…
┗Me too…
In the film industry community, Gyeong Chanhyeon was already a star among stars.
The only film director in Korea who could pull in 25 billion won to make a film.
A film director who rehabilitates failed actors.
Titles like these made Gyeong Chanhyeon shine even more.
“Seriously…”
Lee Junseong held the cup with droplets formed on the outside and sipped his iced coffee again.
Thinking about it, it was strange.
He probably had not aimed for it, but by casting actors whose asking prices were not that high, Gyeong Chanhyeon’s status rose even more.
Of course, one of the guaranteed draws, Kim Seunghun, did appear in this work, but even just looking at Kwak Yeonji, Park Junsik, and Andrew, it was at the level of Gyeong Chanhyeon rediscovering them.
Was it simply coincidence?
At that thought, he set down the cup for a moment and crossed his arms, when a newly uploaded post caught Lee Junseong’s eye.
[CG in the film world is divided into before and after <Space Vagabond>.]
“Oh…”
A post in the community with a nakedly eye-catching title.
When he clicked into it, the contents were interesting.
[I’m a current CG designer. <Space Vagabond> is a Korean film, but in effect it will become a film that influences CG internationally. Perfect use of motion capture, dazzling battles between spaceships, perfect props. With visuals lacking nothing and Director Gyeong Chanhyeon’s direction added on top, this is insane. It may be the work of a film director who is ahead of the world.]
He had written a long post copying photos from foreign films and directly comparing them to <Space Vagabond>, and Lee Junseong looked at that writing as if fascinated.
[I’m going to fill Director Gyeong Chanhyeon’s pockets, since he recognized Chief CG Director Taylor Jin’s ability and brought her from America.]
It was an atmosphere he had never felt before.
Chanhyeon’s earlier works had become hot topics too when they were released, but it did not feel like things were blowing up in every direction like this.
This definitely was not just opening week buzz.
Lee Junseong could be sure of that.
“This is insane… this reaction is seriously insane…”
While Lee Junseong was admiring all the <Space Vagabond> news pouring out from every kind of media, Gyeong Chanhyeon came into the office.
Lee Junseong, seeming not to notice Gyeong Chanhyeon coming in, screamed in shock when Gyeong Chanhyeon leaned his face in from the front behind him.
“Ack! You scared me. Make some noise when you walk around, punk. I didn’t even know you came in.”
“I greeted you while coming in, you know?”
Gyeong Chanhyeon checked Lee Junseong’s monitor and asked.
“What are you looking at, grinning like a pervert? I told you not to look at weird stuff in the office.”
“It’s not like that. And I’ve never done that.”
At Gyeong Chanhyeon’s nonsense, Lee Junseong answered with a snort of laughter.
Then he closed the Film Makers site open on the monitor and asked,
“Did you see the reaction? The newspapers?”
“I already saw all of it.”
“It’s a huge hit, right?”
“I told you it was obvious.”
Gyeong Chanhyeon did not look especially surprised by the pouring attention and just shrugged once as if it were no big deal.
It was not baseless confidence.
It was clear that right up until they got into the film, there had been a mountain of worries.
Seeing Gyeong Chanhyeon collapse calmly into the chair like that, Lee Junseong found it absurd how foolish all of that had been.
Then feeling mischievous, he smacked the back of Gyeong Chanhyeon’s head as he sat there.
“Ack! Why?”
“Because today you especially look like someone I want to hit. Punk. Did you see what critic Lee Dongju said? New Wave?”
Gyeong Chanhyeon shook his head and let out a sigh.
“My dad is a fan of critic Lee Dongju, right. He even recorded it at home. I’m telling you, he watches only that while eating.”
At Gyeong Chanhyeon’s answer, making a disgusted expression, Lee Junseong grinned.
Bang!
“Well hello there! Hard as hell to see your face, Gyeong Chanhyeon!”
It was the savory appearance of Kim Eunha, whom they had not seen in a while.
With a bright smile, she held her palm out to Gyeong Chanhyeon.
“Let’s do a high five. Mr. Korea New Wave.”
Smack!
When Gyeong Chanhyeon gave her a high five, Kim Eunha grabbed her hand and shouted.
“Korea New Wave touched my hand! Ooooh!”
“Oh! I didn’t think of that either. Let me get one hit too!”
Lee Junseong joined Kim Eunha’s one woman act and played along.
Their own little performance ended with the two of them high fiving last, and Gyeong Chanhyeon said with a playful frown,
“Did you two miss the time for your meds?”
“I just came after taking <Space Vagabond>. Seriously, how did you make that?”
Kim Eunha stared straight at Gyeong Chanhyeon’s face, then lifted her thumb.
As her thumb, seemingly full of respect, wriggled, the corner of Junseong’s mouth beside her rose, and the space between Gyeong Chanhyeon’s brows deepened.
“This time I became even more certain. I don’t think I can even feel inferiority toward you. What kind of thoughts do you have to make a movie like that?”
“Maybe because I have an excellent producer?”
At his words, Kim Eunha shook her head.
“That is definitely not it.”
“Why! We were getting along so well just now.”
Lee Junseong stuck his lips out as if hurt and grumbled.
“This isn’t a quality you can make just by solving the money problem. No, how does a movie like this come out of our country? I’m telling you, this is a mystery.”
Maybe Kim Eunha still had too much left to praise, because she snatched the iced coffee Lee Junseong had been drinking and gulped it down, then continued.
“Being fun is the default! This is insane! I’m telling you, I watched it with my mouth hanging open the whole time. What kind of scale is that, slapping Hollywood in the face… the budget that went in was Hollywood low budget!”
“Hey, hey, you’re going to lose your breath like that.”
Lee Junseong shook his head while pouring instant coffee into the emptied iced coffee cup Kim Eunha had drained.
“Oh, me too, one cup! This place makes good coffee!”
“What are you talking about. Mix it yourself.”
“Come on, make me one, PD sir.”
Kim Eunha said it in a savory tone completely unlike when she gave interviews on TV.
“What are you even doing in interviews usually? What, do you have split personalities?”
“What are you talking about? That’s the real me, and this is just a concept to make you two laugh.”
“It’s not funny.”
Smack.
At the immediate answer, Lee Junseong let out a scream when Kim Eunha’s hand flew at him.
“Ack!”
“Now is it funny?”
“Uh… heheh. It’s funny. Funny.”
When Gyeong Chanhyeon laughed at that, Lee Junseong frowned and said,
“Tsk. This is all because of you.”
Even while grumbling as he looked at innocent Gyeong Chanhyeon, Lee Junseong handed the iced coffee to Kim Eunha first.
“Hm? Why me?”
“Tsk. My status dropped because of you.”
“Hm…?”
When Gyeong Chanhyeon tilted his head and asked, Kim Eunha said to Lee Junseong,
“You punk. Is that something to say to Korea New Wave?”
“Ah, right.”
“How dare you! To our Korea New Wave!”
Looking at Kim Eunha and Lee Junseong, Gyeong Chanhyeon frowned playfully.
“You’re starting to feel like you’re mocking me now.”
“We were mocking you from the start. You’re slower on the uptake than expected. Haha!”
Kim Eunha drank the iced coffee Lee Junseong had made once again.
“Kheu… geurk.”
At Kim Eunha’s refreshing burp, Lee Junseong frowned and said,
“Geez, do you have any thoughts of getting married? I’m going to tell your future husband all of this later.”
“Go tell him all you want~.”
Kim Eunha deliberately twisted her tongue and teased Lee Junseong, and Lee Junseong frowned before sitting back down in his chair.
“Hey, should we go eat? To celebrate the release of <Space Vagabond>, how about a meal bought by Korea New Wave? Feels like even the rice would be extra firm, and the seasoning would somehow fit better, that kind of feeling kind of feeling?”
“Ah, sounds good! A meal bought by Korea New Wave is the real best meal!”
“You little…….”
Gyeong Chanhyeon said it with a snort of laughter, and just then the phone rang from Lee Junseong’s seat.
Ring.
“Yes, hello?”
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