In the meeting room, Seo Jun tilted his head in confusion upon meeting the president of the Galaxy Center.
“Yes. Musicals and plays are often made into DVDs and sold. It would be a waste to keep it just for us, so I want to make it into a DVD. And VOD as well.”
DVD.
Seo Jun fell into deep thought. The characteristic of a play was that no two stages were the same. Even with the same script, stage, and props, the actors' moods and synergy varied with each performance. There was a clear difference even during rehearsals. Seo Jun found this both interesting and regrettable.
When the older members delivered outstanding performances, he thought it would be great to film it and make it into a movie. And when someone burst into laughter during the next rehearsal, turning the stage into a sea of laughter, it was also very enjoyable.
The stage really felt alive and vibrant. The more they practiced, the closer the performance date approached, the more he looked forward to the stage he would create with his seniors and in front of the audience.
To record such a stage on video! Seo Jun nodded repeatedly.
“I'm fine with it, but what about the seniors and the older members?”
The president smiled brightly at Seo Jun's question. As soon as the idea of recording the DVD was mentioned, all the actors and their guardians agreed without a single objection.
“Everyone agreed.”
“Then I'm fine with it too.”
As Seo Jun agreed, Andaho nodded. If Seo Jun was doing it, Kocoa Entertainment would definitely be involved, but discussions on contract terms and profit distribution were necessary.
“Then I'll contact you soon.”
“I'll be waiting. By the way, we need the name to be put on the pamphlet, you know, the stage name. Do you have one decided?”
The performance was approaching. They needed to create promotional materials and pamphlets to distribute to the audience.
“I plan to use the blue dragon drawing from the last rehearsal stage. We just need to decide on the stage name.”
The president's words made Seo Jun smile a bit shyly. He, his parents, Uncle Hui-sang, and Uncle Chan gathered to discuss the stage name. Among several candidates, Seo Jun chose the one he liked the most.
“Please use Na Jin as my stage name.”
The president blinked. The name, which sounded like a place, made him think of a specific character when paired with Seo Jun.
“That’s...”
“Do you know it?”
Seo Jun chuckled.
* * *
From the day the DVD contract was discussed, the stage became even more spectacular. As if to show the power of a generous budget, stage devices and moving props that one would only see on famous foreign stages appeared, making the children's rehearsals even more perfect.
Choi So-young looked at the stage in amazement. She had already appeared in six plays by the time she was in the second year of middle school, including a musical for children. But this was the first time she had seen a stage with such effort put into it. Her acting school friend, Lee Da-jin, who had appeared in two works, felt the same way.
“This will make it easy to get into character.”
“Exactly. But, getting into character is the best part.”
“Are you talking about Seo Jun?”
“Really, he's amazing. I don't know how he can do it just with his voice.”
Choi So-young recalled the rehearsals. The scene-by-scene rehearsals over two weeks were impressive, but the group rehearsals were decisive.
“Do you need that level of acting to make it in Hollywood?”
“Maybe.”
“I don't think I can do it in my lifetime.”
Lee Da-jin laughed at Choi So-young's dejected look.
“Still, he is amazing. We all made a wish once, didn't we?”
“Da-jin, did you really make a wish then?”
“Yeah!”
Without hesitation, Lee Da-jin nodded at Choi So-young's question. The absurd answer made both of them giggle.
* * *
After a few group rehearsals.
Lee Da-jin, who was eating a snack, suddenly raised her hand. She couldn't hold back her curiosity.
Her friend Choi So-young's acting was no different from usual, but when the blue dragon appeared, her performance became truly amazing.
It was as if she was genuinely making a heartfelt wish. And the blue dragon responded with an incredible atmosphere. Watching that scene, it felt like the blue dragon would really grant the wish.
Just like when you visit a temple or church and make a wish even if you don't believe in the religion or have doubts, Lee Da-jin wanted to make a wish to the blue dragon.
“I want to make a wish too!”
“What?”
Director Park Ji-soo, puzzled by Lee Da-jin's words, asked. Realizing she had spoken her thoughts aloud, Lee Da-jin quickly added various reasons.
“Seo Jun's acting is so realistic, I'm curious about how it feels to act with him! So-young has also improved a lot!”
The children raised their hands one after another, and the guardians gave silent applause to Lee Da-jin's words.
Director Park Ji-soo looked at Seo Jun, who was eating pizza. Seo Jun, who had been enjoying his meal, also looked up when he heard his name.
Honestly, Director Park Ji-soo was also amazed by Choi So-young's acting, which made her seem like a child who truly believed in the blue dragon in the scenes with the blue dragon.
‘But in the previous scenes, it was her usual level. If Seo Jun's acting can elevate So-young's acting, how will it be with the other children?’
Director Park Ji-soo put down the pizza slice and looked at Seo Jun and the children with sparkling eyes.
“What do you think, Seo Jun?”
“Sure.”
Seo Jun answered and looked at the children. Hmm. There are fifteen of them, so fourteen if we exclude So-young. Fourteen times is too much.
Seo Jun, who was checking the remaining time and doing division, asked.
“Can we do it in groups of four?”
“Sure!”
“Let's do that.”
Everyone nodded. Soon, the stage was set. The blue dragon appeared on the stage. The blue dragon, which the stage director had put the most effort into and completed first but was still being modified, looked like it had been taken directly from a theme park parade.
Its long beard stretched to both ends of the stage, and its large, sharp eyes looked down at the stage and the audience.
A long, wavy body appeared on the screen.
The stage darkened, and Seo Jun, standing behind the board, grabbed the microphone. The stage director pressed the switch he had put a lot of effort into.
Blink,
The blue dragon's eyes closed and opened.
“After that day, the children's skills really improved.”
“Well, it's limited to this play.”
“This experience forms a foundation.”
The guardians and the school staff quietly conversed. As the school staff said, the children in this play became much better at getting into character. They moved as if they were real residents of a fairy tale.
“When I asked how they could do it, they said the blue dragon felt real, and on stage, it felt like they were living in a world where the blue dragon existed.”
“My child was staring at the prop box the other day.”
“The prop box?”
“Yes. It contained the pieces of the magic pearl the protagonist collects.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Yes. It felt like if you took it and made a wish, it would come true. He was even considering making a wish.”
“Children sometimes have trouble distinguishing between reality and imagination.”
“Honestly...”
Someone laughed shyly.
While discussing how to maintain secrecy and taking turns to buy snacks, the guardians also became closer to each other.
“I also make a wish when I watch So-young make a wish during the group rehearsals.”
“Well, the atmosphere of the blue dragon is quite impressive.”
The guardians' stories reached the president through the staff. The president's eyes sparkled again.
* * *
“Hey, are you really going to watch this?”
“This was the cheapest. Let's go to a PC room with the leftover money.”
“Really, it's embarrassing.”
At Kim Su-han's words, his friend made a face. They had a summer vacation assignment to watch a play or musical. The school provided a subsidy, so they could watch an appropriately priced production for free.
“No matter what, we're high school students now. Isn't a children's play too much?”
“All the others were sold out. We need to watch it quickly and enjoy our summer break.”
It was a valid point, but the friend sighed again.
“You know you have to write a report, right?”
“I know. I'll just write that I found my childhood. The teacher won't know the ticket price since it's not a well-known play.”
“Alright, I get it.”
They were already in front of the Galaxy Center, so it was too late to turn back. Kim Su-han and his friend entered the Galaxy Center.
“...Is this a children's play?”
“Yes, but...”
There were more adults than expected. There were groups of guests who seemed to have come in groups, and many family guests. Half children, half adults. The friend, who had been blinking, nodded.
“It's probably because the children are performing, and their families and friends came to watch.”
“Oh, that makes sense.”
“Well, it's better than just the two of us feeling awkward.”
There was a particularly noticeable group among the audience. It consisted only of adults, with no children.
Seo Eun-hye and Lee Min-joon held the pamphlet. Kim Hui-sang and Seo Chan were also there, and the grandparents came to see their grandson's first play.
“This must be Seo Jun.”
Under the well-drawn dragon picture, it said “Na Jin / 8 years old.” While everyone was focused on the pamphlet, Seo Chan looked around.
“But, there are more people than I expected.”
“They seem to be from the acting school, sir.”
Andaho suddenly appeared from somewhere. Seo Chan, startled, clutched his heart. It felt like it had dropped!
Ignoring his brother, Seo Eun-hye asked.
“Acting school?”
“It seems Seo Jun mentioned he would be performing to a few people.”
Andaho's eyes turned to the people who looked like the school's directors and instructors. They had a subtle expression, as if they knew who was performing. They were all looking at each other, keeping their mouths shut as if in meditation.
Would they gain from Lee Seo-jun's name or become prey for journalists? They clearly chose the former.
“Fortunately, they seem to have taken the advice well. There are no articles or rumors. The children who came with them don't seem to know either.”
The children they brought to see Seo Jun's performance were bored, some even looking at their phones.
Did they have to come in a group just because a fellow student was performing? I didn't have to do that when I was a student. Such comments were also heard.
Seo Chan, who had just calmed his racing heart, asked.
“Is that okay?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Mr. Andaho, how about Seo Jun?”
Lee Min-joon, who had greeted Andaho when he and Seo Jun headed to the Galaxy Center that morning, asked. Andaho pointed inside.
“He said he needs to focus and asked us to stay away if possible.”
“I see.”
“This DVD is also coming out. When will it be sold?”
The grandmother, who wanted to keep a record of her grandson's play, asked. Andaho answered.
“We plan to sell the recording of the best performance out of the eight shows. So, it will probably be sold after the play ends.”
“It's still two months away.”
Lee Min-joon and Seo Eun-hye counted on their fingers, thinking of people to gift the DVD to. They needed to send it to the Brownblack kids and to the United States.
[The play 'Spring' will begin shortly. Please take your seats.]
With the announcement, the staff opened the theater doors wide.
People holding a child's hand in one hand and a pamphlet in the other moved into the theater.
Although they thought only family and friends would come on the first day, the wide audience seats were only slightly filled.
The only audience members not related to the actors were the two male students who came for their assignment.
While the actors' parents looked at the empty seats with regret, the children were a bit nervous to see people in the audience, which had been empty during rehearsals.
As the children, who had been laughing and chatting energetically until a moment ago, quieted down, Director Park Ji-soo gathered their attention with a clap, as usual.
“Are you all ready?”
“Yes!”
The children, dressed in well-fitted hanboks, answered.
With the generous budget, the children's costumes had also changed. Initially, they just wanted the play to end smoothly, but at some point, they started to strive to make it a 'real' story.
“Let's do our best, then?”
At Director Park's words, the protagonist Choi So-young extended her hand. Seo Jun and the children gathered in a circle, placing their hands together.
The staff took photos of Seo Jun and the children, who were smiling widely. It was for the making-of video on the DVD.
“Spring!”
“Spring!”
“Let's do our best!!”
A thrilling shiver ran through them from their toes. The stage was about to begin.
Seo Jun, holding the microphone that was turned off, looked around. Everyone's faces were tense and full of anticipation, but no one looked worried.
Seo Jun smiled at the sight. Seo Jun and the children knew how great the stage they had created, the work they had made, was.