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Chapter 574

“Seo-jun! Hi!”

“Did you have a good time?”

It was his first day back at school after about four weeks. His friends welcomed Seo-jun warmly.

Most people thought Seo-jun had gone to the US, but his friends knew he had been filming for the movie [Fire].

“Yeah. It was really fun.”

His friends laughed at Seo-jun’s bright smile.

“This movie is going to be a hit.”

“I can tell how hard you worked. Show me.”

“I wish I could have joined you if it wasn’t for the filming…”

The kids started to get ready for class, chatting away.

The class they were about to take was a major course for the first-year acting students. It was a lecture on the analysis and criticism of the award-winning films from various film festivals, as well as the reactions of the public.

They learned what aspects of the films appealed to the judges and won them awards, and how the judging criteria changed depending on the judges.

They also looked at the films that received rave reviews from critics but did not do well at the box office, and the films that were not well received by critics but were hugely successful. Of course, they also studied the films that achieved both critical acclaim and commercial success.

The goal of this lecture was to sharpen the students’ eyes for films. As actors, they had to choose their works as well as the directors.

‘In September, it was Cannes. In October, it was Venice.’

Seo-jun flipped through the printouts and Kim Joo-kyung spoke to him.

“November was Berlin. This month is the Academy.”

The class was mainly focused on the three major film festivals and the Academy Awards.

There were many other film festivals, but since the films that won the three major film festivals and the Academy Awards often swept the awards from other film festivals, they proceeded in that way.

“The Academy…”

“Seo-jun’s movie will be out too.”

Kim Joo-kyung and Yang Ju-hee’s words made Seo-jun scratch his cheek. His friends smiled at his gesture.

“It was out at Cannes too. It was a sensation.”

It was a really fun and amazing thing to have a class with a movie that their friend was in.

As they talked, the class time came soon. The door of the classroom opened and the acting professor came in.

“Are you all here? Then let’s start the class.”

Seo-jun’s eyes sparkled at his first class in about four weeks.

***

“Is there really something going on between you and Working Man?”

“How did you manage to meet them so perfectly?”

Lunchtime.

At a nearby iron plate chicken galbi restaurant, Seo-jun and his friends sat at two tables with three people each. Sizzle! The chicken galbi with red sauce cooked deliciously on the hot iron plate.

“But you didn’t reveal your identity this time, right?”

“Yeah. I didn’t think it was necessary. It was winter, so I wore thick clothes, and there were a lot of team members, so they didn’t recognize me.”

Of course, it was also thanks to Seo-jun’s natural acting and the team members who unconsciously hid Seo-jun.

“Working Man will be so regretful when they finds out.”

“I wonder when he will find out. After the release of [Fire]?”

“Maybe some of Seo-jun’s fans will recognize him when it airs?”

The kids laughed at the thought of another commotion.

Jeon Seong-min, who was stirring the chicken galbi with a wooden spatula so that it wouldn’t burn, asked.

“So, do you have any other schedules now?”

“Well, I have a little bit of filming left for [Fire]. But it’s only one day of shooting, so it’ll be over soon.”

Seo-jun turned down the gas flame as he saw the cooked chicken galbi.

“And I have to take the physical exam. This year, it’s until December 10th.”

‘…Oh…’

The kids’ eyes widened as they stuffed their mouths with chicken galbi.

Physical exam, or more precisely, military service eligibility test.

This physical test divided people into seven grades, and determined where they would serve later.

Of course, the other kids who had turned 19 had taken it too, but it felt different when Seo-jun said he would take it.

“It takes a long time if there are a lot of people in front of you.”

“Right. It’s better to go early.”

Jeon Seong-min, Kang Jae-han, and Han Jinho, who had finished it early, added their comments.

“But won’t there be an article about Seo-jun taking the physical exam?”

“Right. Even if you act as usual, the computer will show that it’s Seo-jun.”

“Will there be an article because of the physical exam?”

“Maybe not for other people, but… it’s Seo-jun.”

Yeah, yeah.

The kids nodded their heads.

“When are you applying?”

“When are you going to enlist?”

“I’m applying in mid-December and enlisting in March next year.”

Before they knew it, the chicken galbi on the iron plate had decreased and the crispy rice had appeared. Seo-jun and Yang Ju-hee, who had a Korean food certificate, picked up two wooden spatulas and started to fry the rice on the iron plate.

The white rice grains mixed with the red sauce and the small pieces of chicken galbi here and there. They didn’t forget to press the rice grains with the wooden spatula to make them a bit crispy. The savory smell of sesame oil and seaweed powder spread.

“Do you want some cheese on it?”

“Yeah!”

Soon, cheese was added on top of the fried rice. The cheese started to melt and the six kids exclaimed in admiration.

They ate the fried rice, the Korean dessert, and chatted with Seo-jun.

“So, what’s next after the physical exam?”

“I have to watch some movies.”

“Movies?”

The kids tilted their heads at Seo-jun’s answer.

“You watch movies all the time.”

“Right. You always watch them carefully.”

“Oh, are you going to watch the ones you missed in November?”

“Well, you didn’t have much time to watch them properly because of the filming.”

Seo-jun scratched his cheek and answered.

“That too, but… I have to vote this time.”

“Vote?”

“Yeah. Academy Awards vote.”

‘…!!’

The spoons that were heading to their mouths stopped in mid-air. The kids, who looked genuinely surprised, had their mouths and eyes wider than ever as they looked at Seo-jun.

“…Academy?”

“…Oscar?”

“Yeah. I became an Academy member this time.”

“…Wow!”

The kids’ pupils trembled. They didn’t notice their spoons still floating in the air.

Seo-jun smiled and put some fried rice in his mouth. The kids also unconsciously followed Seo-jun and put their spoons in their mouths. They slowly started to process the information.

“…But don’t you think it’s too late?”

“Right! Seo-jun received the Academy Award when he was in elementary school!”

“Shouldn’t he have voted sooner?”

He was the winner of the Best Actor Award, so he must have become an Academy member right away, and he could have voted from before, not just this time.

“Why did it happen now?”

Seo-jun answered Han Jinho’s question.

“I had enough qualifications, but it was delayed because of my age. There are movies that teenagers can’t watch, right? Then I could only vote for movies that are rated for all ages or 12 and older. I guess they thought it was unfair.”

Of course, it was just one vote, but there could be cases where the winner was decided by one vote difference.

“So only adults can vote.”

“Well, that makes sense.”

The kids nodded and looked at the Academy member who joined them in choosing the winners this year.

“Wow. I think I can see the halo…”

“He’s really amazing. Isn’t he the youngest Korean member?”

“Right. He could do it as soon as he was old enough.”

“Doesn’t he also become a film festival judge later?”

“He really seems like it.”

Kang Jae-han, who was admiring with his friends, suddenly looked at Seo-jun with a thought.

“Then you can vote for that too, right?”

“That?”

“[One]. The movie that Kim Jong-ho sunbae-nim and Lee Ji-seok sunbae-nim starred in.”

“…Oh!”

The kids’ eyes sparkled.

***

“Please give me your precious vote, Member Lee Seo-jun.”

The supporting actor who appeared in the Hollywood movie [One], Lee Ji-seok, spoke politely.

“This is a bribe, no, a gift.”

Lee Ji-seok, who put down the well-cooked beef on the plate, spoke playfully.

“Well, the movie was fun, but…”

“Right? It was fun, right?”

“But the acting of the actor who played the cop was a bit…”

Seo-jun, who shook his head slightly with a serious expression, made Lee Ji-seok, who played the cop, make a exaggerated sad face. Kim Jong-ho, Park Do-hoon, and Lee Da-jin burst into laughter.

“Hey. I’m kidding. Kidding. You did great, hyung. Absolutely the best!”

Seo-jun raised his thumb and said, making Lee Ji-seok smile.

“Then please give me your precious vote.”

Lee Ji-seok’s words, which turned into a plea for votes, made everyone laugh. Lee Ji-seok, who nodded his shoulder, put the beef on the grill and said.

“Well, I’m kidding. Vote with your conscience. I want the title of being nominated for the Academy Award, but if I don’t get it this time, I’ll do it next time.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll vote with my conscience.”

Seo-jun, who said he would vote with his conscience without a trace of greed, made Lee Ji-seok correct his words.

“…Well… A little bit of greed is okay, I think. Seo-jun.”

Uhahaha.

The living room was filled with laughter again.

This was Lee Ji-seok’s house.

The Lee Seo-jun squad gathered after a long time.

“Did you do well in the shooting?”

Seo-jun nodded his head at Kim Jong-ho’s question.

“Yes. It was fun. It was different from commercial movies, so I helped out with the sound team, the lighting team, the props team… I did that.”

“Independent movies are like that.”

They recalled the times when they filmed independent movies. There were times when it was fun, but there were also times when it was so hard that they didn’t want to remember.

“When we were unknown, we did it because it was a precious opportunity, but now we can’t do it.”

“Right. Right.”

Lee Ji-seok nodded at Kim Jong-ho’s words. Park Do-hoon asked Seo-jun.

“Seo-jun. When and where is the movie you filmed this time showing?”

“The first screening will probably be at the Korean Independent Film Festival, I think.”

“Is it not showing in theaters?”

Seo-jun answered Lee Da-jin’s question.

“There is no distributor yet, so there is no fixed schedule.”

“Ah, right. I participated as Na Jin, right?”

Na Jin.

Lee Da-jin, who was very related to that name, giggled. Park Do-hoon also thought of Cheongryong and said with a smile.

“But after the film festival, everyone will know that it’s Seo-jun, so it will be in theaters soon, right?”

“Right. Even if it’s not in theaters, it could be on Plus+.”

“Other streaming sites are also expanding these days, so… Maybe it could go there?”

“Then wouldn’t Plus+ spend more money? Saying, take my money!”

Seo-jun, who was talking with Park Do-hoon and Lee Da-jin, thought of the Plus+ Korea branch manager, whose scale was Hollywood-level. It seemed like he would really do that.

“Is the Korean Independent Film Festival in April?”

“Yeah. It should be.”

Meanwhile, Kim Jong-ho and Lee Ji-seok were looking at their schedules on their phones.

“Luckily, we can go after the film festival is over.”

“Right.”

At Kim Jong-ho and Lee Ji-seok’s words, Park Do-hoon asked.

“Do you two have something to do?”

“There’s a movie we auditioned for in Hollywood, remember? That one starts shooting at the end of April. But the film festival ends in mid-April, so I think we can see it.”

“We have to see Seo-jun’s movie on the screen.”

“Then let’s all go together!”

Lee Da-jin’s words made Lee Ji-seok nod his head and open his mouth.

“You too, Seo-jun… Ah, are you going to move with the shooting team?”

“Ah, I might not be able to go.”

‘Huh?’

The four actors opened their eyes wide.

“I’m thinking of enlisting in March.”

Then he wouldn’t be able to attend the Korean Independent Film Festival in April.

The four actors sighed at Seo-jun’s words.

“I heard you were going next year, but it feels real when I hear it like this.”

“Right. He’s really going.”

“But Seo-jun. Why don’t you go in January or February, not in March?”

Seo-jun answered Lee Ji-seok’s question with a smile.

“March 10th is my birthday, right? I want to reply to the [Sprout] fans who wish me a happy birthday and then enlist.”

The annual event of actor Lee Seo-jun’s birthday.

It was an event that had been held every year without fail since the day [Sprout] was created, although the scale had increased and decreased.

Just as the [Sprout] fans congratulated him on his birthday, Seo-jun also never forgot to reply with gratitude.

‘I have to come out on vacation on my birthday next year.’

That way, he would be able to reply.

Seo-jun smiled and continued.

“And there’s also the Academy vote. It’s my first vote, so I want to do it until the second round.”

“Ah, right. The second round of voting is in February.”

Everyone nodded at Seo-jun’s words.

“By the way, there’s no article yet, when are you going to tell the fans that you’re going to the army?”

“I’m just going to go quietly without telling them. Maybe the [Sprout] fans will think it’s a break?”

It would be a long break, but he thought it would be okay since he had worked hard until then.

“And there’s a movie showing in April.”

“Hmm… But I don’t know if it will be hidden if you hide it. Won’t it be revealed as soon as you enter the training center?”

At Park Do-hoon’s words, the actors nodded their heads, and Seo-jun, who had a skill that ordinary people didn’t know, smiled.