Over a black screen that filled the whole theater, white letters were rolling.
Seeing your name in the credits was a nerve-wrecking feeling. Once the credits finished rolling, the theater lights came on and the stage in front, which had been dark, was visible.
Director Yoon Sung Ah, Park Hyo Won, and Do Wook went onto the stage one after another.
Since it was a press preview, it was a different atmosphere from the general audience. Nevertheless, there was occasional applause from the audience.
The reporters’ expressions were all serious. They looked like they had a lot on their minds.
It didn’t mean anything bad. < Blue Whale > was a movie that made people think a lot. It was hard to think of it as simply a movie about school violence.
It was about emotions that they hadn’t realized back in the day. If you look back on it after the fact, you understand it was jealousy, inferiority, and various emotions in the name of friendship.
For those who hadn’t had a chance to look back, the movie made them belatedly realize emotions they didn’t know they had. For those who had already known, the movie brought up a deep sense of sympathy.
The challenge was capturing such subtle emotions, but Director Yoon Sung Ah used a slightly extreme method called ‘violence’ and painted them in an explosive way.
As the three sat in the chairs that were prepared for them, the reporters’ questions began.
Today’s press conference was held as a free exchange of questions and answers after the screening.
“I’m Yoon Hee Yoon from Cinephil. Please share your brief thoughts on the movie.”
“I have a special attachment to it as if it were my firstborn child. I’m starting again from here, but I’m satisfied because the result was good even though I was not good enough in many ways. However, it is uncertain whether everything I wanted to express was conveyed well. It’s up to the audience to interpret it, so it’s out of my hands now. I’m very grateful to the two actors for going through this with me. If this becomes successful, it’s all thanks to the two actors’ hard work.”
Unlike her typical self, Director Yoon Sung Ah expressed her thoughts word after word.
“I’m honestly extremely nervous…it’s my first time behind a microphone, doing this. I’m sorry I rambled.”
When Director Yoon Sung Ah added that, the atmosphere in the room lightened up a little.
“You’ll have many opportunities to be behind the microphone starting today, so it’ll get better.”
Do Wook, who was relatively familiar with being on stage, encouraged Director Yoon Sung Ah. At the same time, he also implied that the movie would do well. Journalists were amazed by Do Wook, who was the youngest but behaved the most professional.
There was an implicit order to the questions so they hadn’t gotten to the topic yet, but among the movie reporters, Do Wook was a very fascinating being. They had a burning desire to get the scoop on him.
“I’m reporter Kim Kang Hyeon from Film 2000. Director Yoon Sung Ah, I understand this film is your first debut project. People are saying the overall level of completeness is higher than they expected. In particular, reviews say the mise-en-scène* is outstanding and it has a new direction that deviates from typical movies. What are your thoughts?”
(TL note: Per Webster’s dictionary, it means “the arrangement of actors and scenery on a stage for a theatrical production”.)
“My major was in movies, but I started working in advertising. After working in advertising, where I only had a few seconds to make a hit, I think I was able to bring out a different vibe than normal movies here and there.”
Another reporter asked a follow-up question,
“Despite being a female director, you depicted the world of men and lost boys very realistically. I’m curious how it was possible.”
“Ah…I think that whether it’s a woman or a man, they essentially feel similar emotions at that age. Also, Park Hyo Won over here helped me a lot all the way from when I was writing the screenplay. From the beginning, the role of Hyo Won was modeled after Park Hyo Won. It’s his image.”
Seamlessly, they moved on to questions about the actors.
After asking Park Hyo Won basic questions such as his feelings about acting and his evaluation of the movie, the reporters asked him about his co-lead Do Wook.
“Did you imagine that an idol-turned-actor would be your co-lead?”
“Of course, I never imagined that. Furthermore, I didn’t know that such a talented star would join an art film.”
Park Hyo Won answered honestly. Do Wook, who knew Park Hyo Won’s way of communicating well, just laughed, because he knew that he literally meant he had never imagined it and that it had no other meaning.
“How did it feel to work together?”
“I think it’s not necessary to refer to him as something-turned-actor. He’s a good actor and…he’s also a rival actor. It’s true that I really felt the same jealousy as what’s portrayed in the movie.”
It was his first time hearing this, so Do Wook was a little surprised. He didn’t know that Park Hyo Won was feeling competitive with him, a hubae.
It meant that Do Wook’s acting was just that charming.
Do Wook was asked how he felt about his first attempt at a movie and how he got cast. Director Yoon Sung Ah interjected after Do Wook, who simply answered that he was introduced through a school professor, answering instead.
Director Yoon Sung Ah explained the story of when she received help from Do Wook during her days of working on billboards.
Journalists began to type faster as they listened to Director Yoon Sung Ah’s story. Journalists holding recorders were also listening intently.
Continuing on, they got to the topic of acting.
“The scenes where Jung Hwan assaults Hyo Won in the classroom are very real. I was completely surprised because it is very different from your usual image. Have you ever had a conversation through fists with your friends in real life…?”
The question was meant as a joke. However, Do Wook didn’t feel like it was something to laugh about, so he adjusted his microphone without changing his expression.
“I’ve never used my fist, not once, not even as a joke. So a point of concern was whether it would come across as realistic or not. It was my first time playing a role that’s very different from me…I struggled, and I was confused, but if those watching can accept me as Jung Hwan instead of Kang Do Wook, I would be grateful.”
The reporters nodded their heads at what Do Wook said.
Entertainment reporters were present too, not just film expert reporters. They could easily feel how confusing playing the role was. It was because it was very different from what they knew of Do Wook’s personality.
“This guy really gave it a lot of thought. Watching him, I thought his passion was amazing and his sincerity can definitely be seen in his acting too.”
The film expert reporters were surprised by what Park Hyo Won said. Although he was not yet well known to the public, those people familiar with Chungmuro* knew Park Hyo Won well.
(TL+PR Note: An avenue in Seoul known as the street of culture, artistry and the film industry)
Currently, he was getting more acknowledgement from top actors and art film directors. He was now more recognized by actors and artistic film directors. It was rare for that very Park Hyo Won to outright praise a hubae actor like this.
They were surprised but, at the same time, they had already watched the movie so they were able to accept everything Park Hyo Won was saying.
“I don’t know if you know, but currently the Internet is ablaze now over the issue of school violence. It’s suspected that an unknown idol committed school violence. Coincidentally, Blue Whale is also a movie about school violence, you know? What do you think about this case?”
All the reporters looked at the reporter who asked the question. Some of them were curious because they didn’t know what was happening on the Internet yet, but most of them seemed to be thinking, “what the heck kind of question is that?”
Anyone could see it was an attention-grabbing question asked to Do Wook, who is an idol group member.
If he talked about it as if it were only suspicion for now, he would obviously become associated with the idol who was pointed out as the perpetrator and it would grab people’s attention. On the other hand, even if he spun it as violence is not ok, there was a chance he’d get attacked by Seo Jun’s fans.
Do Wook’s eyes shone a little fiercely, then went back to normal.
Do Wook had absolutely no intention to avoid it.
He didn’t care if it became known that he was behind bringing down Seo Kang Jun. No, honestly even the word ‘behind” was laughable.
It wasn’t as if Do Wook was manipulating anything behind the scenes to drag him down. They were all incidents Seo Kang Jun had caused, and Seo Kang Jun was bringing himself down.
“I’m not sure. In what situations would violence be acceptable? I believe it’s never acceptable. Unilaterally inflicted violence has neither justification nor vindication.”
Do Wook’s resolute voice rang throughout the theater.
“The same goes for Jung Hwan in Blue Whale in that regard. What he did cannot be forgiven for any reason.”
People felt like they understood what it meant that words have power. Listening to Do Wook’s low voice, Do Wook looked like a stern judge.
And what he said was all true.
Question time was coming to an end. The last question asked was, “How many viewers do you expect when it is released next week?” Director Yoon Sung Ah gave a realistic number.
Afterwards, congratulatory greetings were given.
“It was nominated in the New Releases category at the Jeju International Film Festival. Congratulations.”
Director Yoon Sung Ah’s face lit up.
“Thank you.”
Do Wook and Park Hyo Won also bowed to them, who were reporters but also audience members. Using the new investment from HIT Entertainment as an opportunity, Director Yoon Sung Ah entered < Blue Whale > in several international film festivals, including the Jeju International Film Festival.
Starting with getting nominated for the New Releases category at the Jeju International Film Festival a few days ago, they were currently waiting for the results of the Toronto Film Festival competition and the Cannes Film Festival non-competition section.
Hoping for good news from the remaining two film festivals too, there were people who gave flower bouquets to Do Wook, Director Yoon Sung Ah, and Park Hyo Won right before the three of them came off the stage.
The president of the production company of < Blue Whale > personally delivered a bouquet of flowers to Director Yoon Sung Ah and said she did a good job. The person who delivered the flower bouquet was his long time girlfriend.
Then, when it was time for Do Wook to receive flower bouquets, the stage became crowded. He also had the most flashes go off. It was because all the KK members had come.
***
After finishing at the premiere event, Do Wook had dinner with the members for the first time in a while.
They were all busy with their individual schedules, so it had been a long time since they had eaten together like this.
While Do Wook was filming the movie, OKAY’s second album became a success. It wasn’t as much of a success as the last album, but it was an opportunity to do the music they wanted to do to their hearts’ content.
It was well received too. They, of course, showed their strength on the music chart, and their album sales was at least as much as any half-decent group’s, showing off their power as a unit of KK.
As for Suk Ji Hoon, he would continue to have to be away every two weeks for ‘Camping 48 Hours’, but he had ended all individual activities except for that.
It was because of the overseas tour that was coming up.
The members, Manager Oh Baek Ho, and Gu Chul Min, who were gathered in a private room at a Chinese restaurant, each ordered a noodle dish and ordered other dishes such as sweet and sour pork.
The members cheered when Do Wook said he’d pay.
“By the way, about that incident earlier. The internet is seriously a sea of fire right now. A sea of fire! It has several thousand comments.”
“Yeah, it does. Is Seo Jun able to do activities…?”
Once Ahn Hyung Seo brought up the topic, he nodded his head like he also knew about the situation. Manager Oh Baek Ho stole a glance at Do Wook.
“Anyways, I knew he was that type of person. Ever since he tackled me!”
Ahn Hyung Seo said, getting worked up. He seemed to have suddenly recalled the time when he was tackled and injured his leg. It so happened that there were comments on the Internet scrutinizing Seo Jun’s various actions. One of them was Seo Jun’s tackle during a futsal game.
It wasn’t noticeable at the time so it was glossed over, but going back and taking a close look, there were many opinions saying it looked deliberate.
“Hey, it’s not certain yet. Be quiet.”
It was Jung Yoon Ki who stopped An Hyung Seo. Jung Yoon Ki had also seen the contents of the letter and felt uncomfortable, but it wasn’t something over which they could jump to conclusions easily.
Do Wook didn’t have much more to say. When their dishes were starting to come out, Do Wook’s phone rang.
It was Reporter Choi Sung Jun.
Quietly leaving the room, Do Wook answered Reporter Choi Sung Jun’s call in the hallway.
“Hello? Yes, Reporter Choi. Where are you?”
When Reporter Choi Sung Jun responded, his voice sounded like he couldn’t believe what had happened.
—
Next chapter: Do Wook called Seo Jun a beast, not human. Will the world no see Seo Jun for how he really is?