“That’s right. Film,”
Department Manager Oh Baek Ho said again.
At that moment, Director Jean Luke, who had finished talking with the staff, approached Do Wook and the KK members.
“Oh! KK! I didn’t know that I’d get to see the group KK here.”
Daniel, who had been next to Do Wook, volunteered to translate. In response to Daniel’s translation, Department Manager Oh Baek Ho strung together all the English he knew to give Director Jean Luke a light greeting and shook his hand.
“Wow…I had no idea I would be able to come here either! It’s exhilarating just thinking about it! Thank you, truly, for the invitation, sir!”
Kim Won stepped up and spoke on behalf of the members.
“If that’s the case, that’s a relief,” Director Jean Luke said as he looked at Kim Won. From behind, the members were looking at Director Jean Luke with flushed expressions.
The members had a dumbfounded look as they looked around the studio that was bigger than any studio they had seen before.
Park Tae Hyung in particular looked like he was on the verge of tears.
They were always in the position of a celebrity, but, at least here, Park Tae Hyung was in the position of a fan.
Do Wook still didn’t understand what was going on and had a confused expression, unsure whether he should laugh or cry.
Director Jean Luke, who knew the inside story, said with a smile,
“I guess Do Wook isn’t happy to see the members here? Your expression is odd.”
“Ah! That’s not it!”
The members’ gazes all fell on Do Wook too.
Do Wook waved his hands, extremely embarrassed.
“It was just so sudden. I didn’t even properly greet them yet, and…filming…”
“Haha! I’m joking too. Anyway, it seems like everyone arrived safely, so I’ll get going now. I’ll see you all tomorrow! Good work today, Mr. Kang.”
Seeing Do Wook embarrassed, Director Jean Luke laughed playfully and said goodbye.
“Yes! We’ll see you tomorrow!”
The members, including Kim Won, nodded their heads and said goodbye to Director Jean Luke. Do Wook also said goodbye to the Director first.
Ahn Hyung Seo, who had been looking at the still dazed Do Wook, said after Director Jean Luke left,
“I see even Do Wook gets really surprised at this kind of surprise visit!”
“I know, man. You’re not still taken aback because you actually aren’t happy to see us, are you?”
Do Wook responded to Jung Yoon Ki that of course that wasn’t the case. Kim Won chuckled and said,
“Hehe. We kept it top secret from you since Korea so we could see you get flustered.”
“No wonder…you guys suddenly went radio silent since yesterday so I thought you were all busy.”
Do Wook had been puzzled because no messages had been posted in the KK group chat, where conversations had been exchanged several times a day.
“Because we were all on the plane!”
Do Wook grinned at Suk Ji Hoon’s cheerful response.
“What the heck do you mean by filming…?”
“They said all of us will appear on Heroes as KK.”
“KK…?”
“Though, we’ll be a KK without Kang Do Wook. They’ll be filming our outdoor performance tomorrow.
At Jung Yoon Ki’s words, the eyes of Do Wook, who thought he couldn’t get any more surprised, grew wider and wider.
Daniel, who was in charge of marketing in America, had also hidden this fact from Do Wook for the members’ surprise visit.
“Do Wook. You know that in one of the scenarios, there’s a part where a message is broadcast on the city’s electronic billboard saying that North Korea has joined forces with enemy Alpharon, right?”
“Yes, I know.”
“If you look at that scene, they show the peaceful lives of New Yorkers first, and when the news breaks Billion Man appears from the tallest building and takes off through the sky, right?”
“Yes. You don’t mean…?”
“Within that peaceful scene, there will also be a glimpse of a concert taking place in Central Park.”
“Then, that concert…!”
“That’s right! I think the Director originally planned on having it something like a quartet orchestra performance, but they changed it to KK appearing for that concert.”
As Daniel’s explanation continued, a proud smile spread across the KK members’ faces.
Kim Won’s chest swelling with pride to the point that his chest was puffed out, making his chest look like it was ready to burst.
Do Wook looked at the members, then at Daniel, alternating his gaze to see if it were true.
It meant that all the KK members were going to have a special guest appearance on Heroes.
“Uh….”
“The Music Director wanted to add powerful rock or pop music to the scene where Billion Man breaks through the sky…It seems ‘Continue’ was one of the candidate songs too.”
‘Continue’ definitely was a powerful song that suited the scene perfectly.
Still, the fact that ‘Continue’ was one of the candidate songs was surprising.
‘Continue’ was the first of KK’s songs to enter the Billboard charts, and it was a song that greatly contributed to KK becoming a world-famous group.
At the time, just entering the Billboard charts was enough to make them emotional, but now the song ‘Continue’ had become so famous that it could be mentioned anywhere like this.
“Meanwhile, it was confirmed that you were cast, and it was Director Jean Luke’s idea to have a scene where KK themselves is performing. It was also very sensational when KK actually performed at Central Park…It’s a scene in the movie where citizens are enjoying the concert of superstar KK, just like in real life.”
After hearing Daniel’s full explanation, Do Wook nodded his head.
It was easy to imagine going from the concert scene to the song ‘Continue’ playing louder and Billion Man flying through the sky.
It definitely would turn out to be a cool scene.
It was quite a plausible thing outside of the movie as well, in the film. From both the perspectives of the ‘Heroes 2’ production team and KK’s, it was a mutually beneficial opportunity that was well-suited for promotional use.
There was no longer any doubt that KK had firmly established themselves as a global star, but a special appearance in ‘Heroes 2’ would seal that label.
In Korea, Do Wook was already being treated as an unprecedented superstar just with him appearing on ‘Heroes 2’.
Now, rather than ‘Korea’s star’, he was an ‘international star’.
However, it wasn’t just Do Wook who was in that position.
Just as there was a group called KK before Do Wook reached this height as an individual, all the KK members were on that level with Do Wook.
It was good news for KK as a whole. Do Wook felt even more emotional than when he first received the casting offer.
“Goodness…that’s so great. You didn’t tell me such big news, when it’s such wonderful news…Wow…I’m so happy. We’ll all appear in the same movie…and Heroes no less…”
Uncharacteristically, Do Wook rambled on with overwhelming joy when he learned the full story. The members also felt a sense of pride at Do Wook’s genuine joy.
Besides the joy Do Wook felt about the fact that KK would not only appear in ‘Heroes 2’ but also have their song in the movie, he was finally able to properly feel the joy of seeing the members again after such a long time.
Today was the first day of shooting, but Do Wook had been in America for 3 weeks already to prepare for the shoot.
Daniel had been a good friend, and the movie company General Comics supported Do Wook, one of their leading actors, in every way so that he would have everything he needed.
Still, living alone in America, which was different from the life he had shared with the members, even Do Wook inevitably couldn’t help but feel lonely.
From that situation, now that he had met up with the members, who were no longer colleagues but his friends and family, his joy in seeing them was multiplied.
“They said the shoot is tomorrow. We came here immediately after getting off the plane and we’re really hungry, so let’s talk on the way. Let’s hurry and go eat hamburgers!”
“Wouldn’t Do Wook have had hamburgers already? Korean food would be better.”
“Is that so? Do Wook, what do you want to eat? I’m hungry so I’m fine with anything.”
Ahn Hyung Seo and Jung Yoon Ki said. Now that the members had gathered, the atmosphere definitely became instantaneously lively. It was putting Do Wook’s mind at ease.
“I went to a Korean restaurant yesterday so I’m ok with hamburger. But, aren’t you tired?”
“That’s not problem!* I slept a lot on the plane. Yoon Ki even snored.”
(TL Note: This was said in English with incorrect grammar)
“Man, what do you mean I was snoring?”
“Yoon Ki…it was really fortunate that we were in business class. If the fans heard it…”
At Kim Won’s remark and the sharp critique from the youngest, Jung Yoon Ki just opened and closed his mouth as if he had nothing to say.
Department Manager Oh Baek Ho, who had been watching them, shook his head and led them all.
“Then let’s go to a hamburger place. Daniel, could we ask you to guide us?”
“Of course.”
Daniel answered gladly.
And so, Do Wook and the members all left the filming site together, heading toward the hamburger restaurant.
“It’s unfortunate we didn’t get to see Do Wook film.”
“I know. The timing didn’t work out. When did you say you’re filming again?”
Even on their way out, the members continued the conversations they hadn’t been able to have because they had been apart. Do Wook’s face was very bright as he talked with the members.
***
[All KK members confirmed for a special appearance in ‘Heroes 2’!]
[KK performing at Central Park again, this time for filming ‘Heroes 2’?]
[Kang Do Wook, filming ‘Heroes 2’ going smoothly…KK cameo appearance]
[KK’s song will be included in ‘Heroes 2’! Their popularity continues…]
.
.
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[The world’s most popular boy band, KK, is appearing in ‘Heroes 2’?!]
The next day, along with the shoot at Central Park, countless articles poured out in Korea. It wasn’t only Korea. It was the whole world, including China and Japan. Wherever there were KK fans, articles were published.
There were as many articles as when Do Wook was first cast.
Both sides had clearly achieved the promotional effect they had set out to get.
Even in the Americas and Europe, areas where you could say there were still more fans of ‘Heroes’ than of KK, there were many articles.
Although the article was written out of anticipation for ‘Heroes 2’, there were also many fans who were delighted by the news that they could briefly see KK’s performance in a new way within the movie.
“There was even an article in the culture section of the New York Times. They even came in person to cover today’s shoot. Did you see it?”
“Yes. I checked the article right now.”
Do Wook smiled contentedly as he replied to Daniel.
The KK members’ shoot today only required them to perform as usual, so they were able to wrap up quickly after a total of two takes.
It wasn’t a live performance anyways so the members divided Do Wook’s empty spot evenly among them and performed the choreography without any gaps.
Watching the members perform from offstage felt very strange, Do Wook cheered on the members from the set with a joyful heart.
“We arrived.”
Daniel said as he stopped the car.
After having a light dinner with the members, who had finished filming, Do Wook just arrived at the venue of the party Herbert had invited him to yesterday.
If they built up familiarity at this party beforehand, it would definitely help at their next shoot where they had a lot of action scenes together.
“Thank you Daniel.”
“Let me know when you’re done. I’ll come pick you up.”
“No, you don’t have to do that. I can just call a taxi…”
“There’s more things to be cautious about in America than in Korea, and this is my job, so don’t feel too burdened.”
“Ok. Then I’ll call you when I want to head back home.”
“Ok, Call me anytime if something happens during the party.”
Do Wook nodded his head.
Except for Herbert, everyone would be an actor he had never met before, and since he had never attended a gathering like this in America, it was true that he felt nervous.
However, since it was truly a ‘private’ party hosted by the actors appearing in Heroes, it was difficult to be with a manager.
“Well, it’s you so I don’t think I need to worry much. Even Herbert likes you…In comparison, aren’t the other actors a bit lower in difficulty?”
“Haha. Yes.”
Do Wook agreed with what Daniel said. They were fellow actors that would be in the same movie anyways.
That thought in mind, Do Wook got out of the car. Just then, a familiar face arrived in front of Herbert’s Hamptom cottage where the party was being held.
(TL comment: Low-key I thought it might be Seo Jun.)
Next chapter: Spoiler alert, it’s not SKJ
6 chapters left!!!