At a pork belly restaurant near the filming location of the movie 'Evil Spirit.'
Lee Ji-seok, who played the lead role of Kim Su-hyuk, had offered to treat everyone. There was no filming scheduled for the next day as they were heading to a location shoot the day after. Everyone was in high spirits, sipping their drinks.
Director Choi Dae-man and the assistant director were sitting at a table with the lead actor, Lee Ji-seok.
The three were discussing the filming, so the staff and other actors, who didn't want to talk about work even during the dinner, gradually moved away from their table.
"The atmosphere is great."
Lee Ji-seok said, smiling as he watched the staff burst into laughter after a lively conversation about the movie.
"It's rare to have such a good group of people."
Director Choi Dae-man also smiled.
"I put a lot of effort into this lead role after a long time. I hope you can give me a lot of advice in the future."
"No, I should be the one to say that. This is my first feature film, so I need a lot of help from you, Ji-seok."
Lee Ji-seok smiled and raised his glass. Director Choi Dae-man and the assistant director also raised their glasses.
*Clank!*
"By the way, when will we meet the child actor?"
"Probably at the next shoot."
"I'm curious about who it is."
The assistant director, sitting next to them, had an itchy mouth. He wanted to speak, he really did! But with Director Choi Dae-man looking at him, he could only quietly drink his soju.
"How was the child actor's audition?"
"It was great! Really great!"
Just don't reveal his identity!?
Finally, the assistant director couldn't hold it in any longer and spoke. Director Choi Dae-man silently nodded, acknowledging that he had held it in for two months. The excited assistant director spoke loudly enough for the other staff to hear.
"Wow! I thought I was going to burst! Director, I won't reveal his identity! Just about the audition!"
The staff's attention, like children listening to an old story from their grandfather, focused on the assistant director.
"He looked incredibly handsome from the first moment I saw him. He's small, but he speaks well beyond his age and had memorized the entire script. Well, a few people in previous auditions were at that level."
The staff, who were excited by the assistant director's enthusiasm, started to boo.
"When the director said he wanted to see his acting, he stood up right away. From that moment, it was completely spine-chilling. He had some kind of charisma. It was as if he wasn't human, and an aura was rising from his small body."
Everyone swallowed hard. Lee Ji-seok, who would be playing opposite the child actor, also listened intently.
The assistant director shuddered just thinking about it. He could clearly understand what Director Choi Dae-man meant by 'inner god.'
"When he looked the director in the eye and nodded, it was like a real shaman seeing through his soul. The director shouted 'Pass!' Honestly, everyone who saw the audition thought he would pass. I really thought he had received a divine calling within a week."
"So, who is the child actor?"
Someone asked. The assistant director smiled.
"You won't believe it. Our movie is going to be a hit!"
* * *
"Is this the first time you're going out with just Uncle?"
"Yep!"
Kim Hee-sang drove carefully. Seo-joon was sitting in the backseat, holding a bag shaped like a goblin.
"The goblin character Seo-joon drew is very popular. We've received a lot of orders, so Uncle and Seo-joon are going to be rich."
"I'll draw more next time too!"
The two were heading to the movie set. Originally, Seo-eun-hye was supposed to go, but her grandmother had fallen two days ago. Although it wasn't a serious injury, she had to stay in the hospital for a few days, so Seo-eun-hye decided to take care of her.
What about the filming? Seo-eun-hye and Seo-joon were worried, but the day before, they remembered Kim Hee-sang boasting:
"I signed a contract with a factory! I worked so hard to find a good one! We've processed all the backlogged orders! Now I'm free!!"
Im Min-joon also nodded, thinking Kim Hee-sang would be fine. As a result, Kim Hee-sang, who had planned to read comics and relax, ended up coming to the countryside as Seo-joon's guardian and manager.
"Since Seo-joon's drawings are being made into dolls and the money he earned from his YouTube channel has been invested in Uncle's company, I should do something in return."
He planned to take good care of the design fees and profits, but he felt he owed Seo-joon for the opportunity to start his business thanks to Seo-joon's unofficial advertising.
"As you grow older, you'll have to go out with your manager instead of your parents, so let's get used to it slowly."
Seo-eun-hye and Im Min-joon had said they needed to find a good person for this, and Kim Hee-sang thought about whether there was anyone suitable in his circle.
Maybe Eun-chan would know? He thought of Seo Eun-chan, who was working hard with Brown Black.
Kim Hee-sang stopped the car. They had arrived at Ogye-ri. As the name "Crow Valley" suggested, crows were cawing and flying around the entrance of the village.
"Let's get out, Seo-joon."
"Okay!"
Seo-joon got out of the car, slung his goblin bag over his shoulder, and held Uncle Hee-sang's hand. The two headed towards a noisy, crowded area.
One of the staff, who was moving luggage, spotted a child who looked like the child actor and ran to the assistant director. The assistant director ran over with a bright smile.
"Welcome. Nice to meet you. I'm Assistant Director Park Jae-min."
"I'm Seo-joon's guardian, Kim Hee-sang."
"Hello!"
"Seo-joon, how are you? Was the trip okay?"
"Fine!"
The staff, who were setting up, turned their attention to the newly arrived child actor.
Who is it? Who is it? Do I know him? Where have I seen him?
The assistant director smiled widely, as if his mouth would split. He could understand the feeling of the person who shouted "The king's ears are donkey ears!" He shouted loudly.
"Director! The Hollywood child actor who played William in Marine Film's Shadowman, Seo-joon, is here!!!"
'Daah!' 'Daah!'
At the assistant director's echoing voice, Director Choi Dae-man, who was walking over to greet them, put his hand to his forehead. That kid?
Kim Hee-sang and Seo-joon looked at the assistant director, bewildered. Was it really necessary to introduce him like that?
The assistant director looked proud, as if he had been to Hollywood. The staff, who heard his words, stopped what they were doing and stood there in a daze. The assistant director, as if releasing all the pent-up frustration, said:
"It's Seo-joon! The hottest child actor right now! The one Hollywood sent a synopsis to! Just announcing his casting will make our movie a hit! Everyone has been waiting for Seo-joon's next project, and it's our movie, Evil Spirit!"
"Stop it! You idiot!"
Finally, Director Choi Dae-man hit the assistant director's back. It hurt, but it felt good. Hahaha! The assistant director laughed. The staff, overwhelmed by the grandiose description, couldn't believe it. What? Really? Is this a hidden camera?
Seeing the commotion, Director Choi Dae-man cleared his throat and introduced Seo-joon.
"Seo-joon, who will play the baby shaman in Evil Spirit. Everyone, please take good care of him."
"Hello! I'm Seo-joon!"
When Seo-joon bowed, the staff let out screams.
"Ah!!"
"Kyaah!"
The staff, who had just realized the reality, shouted.
"I've seen Shadowman three times!"
"Three times!? I've seen it ten times!"
They all gathered around Seo-joon. They wanted to touch him, but they couldn't get any closer because Kim Hee-sang and Director Choi Dae-man were standing next to him.
They looked at Seo-joon with awe. The child actor from that Marine Film is in our movie! It felt surreal.
Seo-joon, seeing the people who were looking at him with bright eyes, felt excited. He didn't know that everyone knew and liked him, as he had only been to his house and kindergarten.
He felt like he was finally walking the path of a star. It felt real.
Then, Seo-joon noticed some staff members holding something. They were frantically looking for paper, even using the back of the script, white scraps, and crumpled paper.
There was paper and pens, but they were all looking at Director Choi Dae-man. Director Choi Dae-man, sensing their thoughts, looked at Kim Hee-sang, Seo-joon's guardian. Even if the staff said it was fine, wouldn't it be too much for Seo-joon to sign for everyone?
Kim Hee-sang, however, didn't mind. Seo-joon would handle it.
Seo-joon remembered the practice he had done with his parents.
- Seo-joon, be sure to do it for the people you like!
- Okay!
"Um."
When Seo-joon spoke, everyone fell silent.
"Would you like me to sign for you?"
"Yes!"
Everyone answered in unison. One of the staff ran between the boxes and brought a stack of clean paper and a thick pen. Another staff member brought a table and chair.
The assistant director, who couldn't get a signature during the audition due to the director's stern gaze, and the lead actor, Lee Ji-seok, also joined the line. Everyone was delighted to get Seo-joon's signature. Director Choi Dae-man sighed and spoke.
"Please keep it a secret that Seo-joon is in this movie."
"Why? It would be great for promotion!"
Director Choi Dae-man shook his head at the staff's confident response.
It had been a month since Shadowman was released, and the issues surrounding Seo-joon were gradually decreasing. However, if it was announced that he was preparing for his next project, it would immediately trend on real-time search engines. The title was predictable.
[Hollywood Actor Chooses Korean Movie!]
"If it's announced now, reporters will flood the set, and filming will be delayed. No one wants to have their schedule delayed and end up doing all-night shoots, right? We only have a few scenes left to shoot."
"Understood!"
"Also, the production company is preparing the promotion, so please keep it a secret. Everyone signed a confidentiality agreement, right?"
They remembered signing a contract a month ago. They thought it was about the movie's content, but it was probably about Seo-joon. The staff, who were planning to post on social media, gave up.
"Please don't tell your families either. If you keep the secret well, there will be a bonus when the movie is released!"
"Wow!"
Indeed, the bonus. The assistant director suggested a bonus, saying that the contract wasn't a perfect solution. The staff, following the assistant director's advice, pretended to zip their lips.
Meanwhile, Seo-joon continued signing. He held the black pen with his small hand and wrote his name diligently. Finally, it was the last one.
"Hi, Seo-joon. I'm Lee Ji-seok."
"Hello, senior! I'm Seo-joon."
Seo-eun-hye and Im Min-joon had discussed the appropriate form of address. Since Seo-joon was so young, everyone he met was older.
If they called him 'brother' or 'sister' from the start, some might be offended. Calling him by his name seemed too informal.
They asked Seo Eun-chan for advice. Seo Eun-chan said 'senior' was the most convenient.
It was a place where experience mattered more than age. Calling someone 'brother' or 'sister' could complicate things if their age was revealed later. The couple and Seo-joon laughed, guessing it was Kevin's story.
So, Seo-joon decided to call people 'senior' if they were around his age and 'teacher' if they were older.
Lee Ji-seok laughed. It was funny to hear the small boy call him 'senior.'
"Just call me 'brother.'"
"Okay! Ji-seok brother! Should I sign in Korean or English?"
"You can already write in English? You're only six?"
"I can read the script with my parents' help."
"Great! Then, please sign in Korean."
"Okay. Just a moment."
Seo-joon, with his small hand, wrote the characters neatly.