Life, Once Again!

After Story 61

Seoksoo clenched his right hand before loosening it. He felt sore as it had been a long time since he last held a pen.

“Okay, that’s that.”

They decided on the ten films that would go on screen. It took some time due to a clash of opinions right at the end, but it still ended earlier than he had expected.

After writing the list, he sent the email to the organizers. That was it for the melo section.

“Now that we actually filtered them, there’s quite a lot of decent pieces. The last two were especially good. The judges’ prize might actually be from the melo section this time,” Lee Sooae said.

“We’d have to open the lid to see how it goes. I heard from a director doing recent affairs, and apparently, they got a great film. The directors who watched it all said that it was worthy of the grand prize.”

“Really? If they’re blatantly complimenting it, I guess it must be really good. Otherwise, at least one or two people would have objected to it.”

“We’ll watch all the pieces recommended from each genre, so we’ll see whether it’s fake or not at that time. Well, then, since we’re done, shall we go for a light drink?”

Just as he stood up, Lee Sooae grabbed the mouse after telling him to wait. The beam projector spat out white light and put on a video on the screen. It was ‘The Form of Love’ which they watched at the end.

“Any problems?” Seoksoo asked.

“No, it’s not that there’s a problem. I just need to check something.”

The mouse pointer moved. After scrolling back and forth through the timeline, the video stopped. Seoksoo also put down his luggage and looked at the screen. The face of the actress who played the role of Mijin was on the left of the frame.

“I didn’t mention this since the whole video was focused on the male actor, and I was focused on him as well, but… doesn’t she look really good?”

“I also had my eyes drawn to that actress. I like that abstract gaze and also her totally expressionless acting. Heck, not to mention her face,” Choi Jaehan said. Now that the video was paused, indeed, the woman was quite a beauty.

The reason her appearance didn’t stand out and could dissolve into the film so naturally was thanks to her splendid expressionless acting. The direction played a part, but the actress herself was suppressing herself. She looked like she had zero desire to look pretty. She only functioned as the director intended, as someone who represented the main character’s psychology.

“I quite want her. I’ll have to ask her to do other things to be sure, but I really like her face.”

Lee Sooae looked for the director’s contact info. Her eyes gleamed. It was just the nature of directors to put their dibs when they found good actors. Lee Sooae seemed to have taken a liking to the ‘Mijin’ inside the screen.

“Are you going to meet her?”

“If possible. If she has a face like that and is interested in working as an actress, it’s highly likely that she has an agency right? I just want to keep her in mind for my next work.”

“How passionate.”

Lee Sooae put her pen down with a smile. It seemed she had written down the contact info on a piece of paper.

“If you’re done, then turn it off. We should go before it gets crowded.”

“Okay. You’re the one buying, right, senior?”

“Fine, I will.”

Before the screen turned off, Seoksoo looked at the two actors. He felt like there were a lot of interesting people this year. He picked up his stuff and left the room.

* * *

-Hyung! We did it! We did it!

He got a call from Yoonseok when he was wiping his table with some cloth. There was a lot of noise, as though he was jumping around as he called. Only after he told him to calm down several times did Yoonseok's voice calm down a little.

-Hyung, do you think we should wear a full suit when we go to the screening? With a vest and everything?

"Please don't do that. Just wear something casual."

-But it will be the first time I'll be meeting my audience. I should at least look formal.

"What if no one comes?"

-No way, I'm sure there will be one at least.

"Don't be so sure. I looked it up, and there were many screenings that didn't have a single person. If we're unlucky, we'll end up with the same fate."

-Really? Is that true?

His excited voice rapidly plummeted. He was so gullible that it was worth teasing. Maru smiled.

"I can't go any further since you react so seriously. There won't be a single empty seat, so don't be so depressed."

-Dammit, is it that fun to tease a younger person? I'm already nervous as it is.

"I'm sure you are. And you must be. Anyway, don't worry about people not visiting, and just think about answers to potential questions. There will be a talk with the audience once the screening is done. If you don't want to look dumb after getting asked questions, you should think about various things."

-What if people ask sharp questions? I'm not good at talking in front of people.

"Everyone is bound to do it when it's in front of them, so just think about what to say. Well, there's also the possibility that they won't ask you anything."

-That might be better.

"Now go boast to your friends and family. Whatever happens, your film will be going on a big screen. This might be the last time, so go boast about it."

-Who says it's the last one? Just look at me later. I'm going to create a masterpiece and monopolize a cinema for myself.

Before he hung up, Yoonseok asked one last time,

-But hyung. What are you going to be wearing?

"Me? Of course, I'll be going in a suit. With a vest and everything."

-Forget it. I was the fool for asking you. Don't you dare come looking strange.

"Mind your own business."

This wasn't like any other film festival, but the Short Film Festival, in the competitive section. It was a great opportunity to receive feedback from various judges and members of the audience. Maru looked forward to what kind of assessment he would receive.

As soon as he put the phone down, it started ringing again. It was a text message from Miso.

-Your audition is set. It'll be on the 6th of January next year. It was originally going to be in November, but everything got delayed. But it didn't flop, so do your best. The details about what to prepare will be sent to you by email as soon as it's decided.

At the end of her message was a small cheer up emoji. Miso really looked out for him in a lot of things, even though they were supposed to be a light acquaintance who just came across each other on the street.

Maru was once again reminded of fatalism. Even if that god did not intervene, is fate bound to make people run into each other?

Maru responded with a thank you message.

-Good luck. If it goes well, we're going to put your name and your face in our acting school. Let's benefit from each other.

It seemed that the power of capital was at play instead, not fate. The tips of Maru's lips curved upwards. This was just like Yang Miso. He asked her to put up a life-sized poster of him if he managed to debut.

-Only A-tier actors will get large-sized posters. Newbies will just have their faces hung up in the corner.

She really didn't back down.

From June to November, the seeds he had scattered were sprouting. Whether they would wither immediately or become the beanstalk grown by Jack, he would have to wait and see.

He did not feel any urgency, nor did he feel uneasy. When he first tried to become an actor, he did not play a named role a single time for eight years. Compared to back then, things were working out so smoothly that he might as well be on the highway.

Experience was truly a great asset. Even if he did stumble, he would be able to rise up easily. Not only that, he even had his reassuring wife.

Maru put the news on TV before heading back to the kitchen. It was time to clean the fur that the cat had shed everywhere.

* * *

He undid the button on the collar of his shirt and stood in front of the mirror. It definitely looked better undone than buttoned.

After taking off the shirt, he grabbed a hair dryer. He split his hair in a 7:3 part and pressed down lightly with a comb to tidy up his hair.

Today, he was going to style himself in a classic fashion. He created the basic form with some hair wax and did the finishing touches with some hair spray. There was no hair that protruded out.

Now that he was done with his hair, the only thing remaining was his glasses.

He took out a few glasses that had round frames. These were things he had bought for cheap when a local glasses store went out of business.

He tried out various 5,000-won frames for a while before finding one he liked. It was a light-brown frame.

He put on his shirt and his watch. It wasn't bad, considering that he styled himself. His hair was slightly lacking, but he felt like he would mess it up if he tried any further, so he just let it be.

He was reminded of the hair shop that he frequented. He used to be great friends with the owner there.

-Hyung, you left the house, right?

This director kept messaging him since morning, as though he was uneasy. Maru did not respond on purpose.

He put on some casual-style dress shoes and left the house. It was the 4th of November. The air of late autumn couldn't be more refreshing.

He got on the bus and basked in the warm sunlight. Until now, Yoonseok had sent five messages. A series of bear characters throwing a tantrum popped up on the screen.

-It's not the end of the world. I'm on my way there so don't worry.

He went to Thintech Mall which was in Apgujeong, Seoul. There were a bunch of posters plastered on the front of the mall, promoting the Short Film Festival.

He took the elevator and went to TC Cinema, which was on the 6th floor.

The Short Film Festival store was occupying more than half of the large waiting room. Helpers who volunteered to act as staff for the festival gave them leaflets.

"Please line up this way."

People lined up according to the helpers. They were lining up in order to buy merchandise related to film. Among the numerous film festivals that occurred throughout the year domestically, there was nothing that received more interest than the Short Film Festival. The tickets to the films that were screened would also be sold out every year.

"That's director Lee Jeongdong."

"You're right, that's him."

A middle-aged man who walked out of the elevator greeted the people and walked off to the staff office.

Director Lee Jeongdong was someone who received an award at the Cannes festival last year. Being able to see famous directors and actors was also a part of the charm of the Short Film Festival.

Maru bought the official pamphlet from the store. There were figures of directors and actors who challenged various different genres.

In the middle was Yoonseok's face. There was an introduction to his film and some words from him.

I wanted to talk about people and love — was what Yoonseok said as his own introduction.

He walked past the ticketing office with the pamphlet in hand. The works that received awards at the last festival were introduced. Next to them were the works that came in this year.

He slowly walked and read all of them. As an actor, and as someone who loved film, he was able to relate to all the sentences written there. This was a festival for the people, and by the people who loved film; and in some cases, by people slightly crazy about it.

"They look better than last year, right?"

"There's nothing that catches my fancy. I'm someone who likes melo, but none of them speaks to me."

The words of the audience flew into his ears. Those people were critics, as well as people of culture who were thirsty for film. They were those that looked for that strange niche that commercial film could not fulfill.

Would there be any film that satisfies them? Maru wondered as well.

He turned his wrist to check the time. It was almost time to go inside. As there were no preroll ads, he had to sit down beforehand.

"Hyung?"

He heard a voice call out to him from behind. He turned around to see Yoonseok. Next to him were Jiseon and the others who contributed to creating the film.

"You were causing a ruckus, yet you came just in time?"

"We were looking around. But, hey…."

"Hey?"

"Hyung, you're totally an actor when you suit up. You're even wearing glasses, huh? Are those prescriptions?"

"No."

He put his finger through the frame to show that there was nothing in it.

Just then, he heard a camera sound. Maru turned around. Jiseon was taking a photo of him with her phone.

"Your clothes are your wings, huh? Or is the cherry of fashion the hairstyle? You look like a totally different person."

"That's a compliment, right?"

"Of course. You have a sexy beauty about you."

"I can be sexy at times."

"And your mouth has to ruin everything. I wonder why you remind me of my dad every time you say something."

Maru smiled and pointed at the theaters. People were heading inside.

"Let's go."

He lined up at the end with the invitation card that he received beforehand.