Papa is a solitary work about hiding one’s inner self.
It’s lonely yet sticky.
Sticky yet requiring suppressed emotions.
To convey those emotions properly, an actor with extensive experience would be ideal. Someone who’s taken on many roles and can fully immerse themselves in a character.
“A rookie actor… Why?” I asked.
“If it’s too familiar an actor, the work’s quality won’t shine,” André replied.
Sometimes, an actor becomes entirely synonymous with a character.
Especially with renowned actors, their image can solidify too much.
The lightning scar boy or Benjamin’s superhero, for example.
The lightning scar wizard, who started acting young, tried every kind of role to shed that image.
From filthy homeless characters to corpses, psychopaths, and cruel roles.
But no matter what, the lightning scar wizard image never faded.
Benjamin has that superhero image.
Benjamin, who drew the attention of reporters at the hotel, had one issue.
His superhero image.
Though he’s retired from superhero roles, he remains an eternal superhero in people’s minds.
That’s why he wants my works even more.
Since his rookie days, Benjamin had been in several of my projects.
My works have strong character identities, which slightly diluted his superhero image.
“My daughter once said something about an actress she saw,” André said.
“What was that?”
“She said the actress, tired of living as a killer, became a pediatric doctor, only to be demoted and turn to drug trafficking.”
A character too distinct, lingering long in people’s memories.
The synergy of these two reduces the audience’s focus on the work itself.
“The meat’s here,” the server announced.
“Oh, thank you.”
As we talked, the meat arrived.
André, who seemed to have grilled a few times, swiftly grabbed the tongs and started placing meat on the grill.
I thought about grilling but decided to watch André do it.
“Every market’s in a slump these days. Maybe that’s why it’s hard for actors to break in. It creates a vicious cycle,” he said.
Directors need box office success.
Not just decent performance, but significant success to maintain their reputation.
André knew this well, so he kept casting famous actors.
But since this project was based on the work of the genius Adele Louis, he wanted to take this gamble.
“Hmm… But hasn’t that happened before?” I asked.
“Sure, but back then, there was no OTT. And media wasn’t as pervasive. Have you seen people going to theaters these days?”
“Well… True.”
There’s no need to go.
With time, OTT platforms buy the rights, and you can watch it.
Or you can just buy it to watch at home.
“The biggest issue is SNS and comments,” André said.
With easy access to media, the internet has become a meme-driven world.
There were review sites in the past, but it wasn’t like this.
Inevitably, seeing those memes or comments shatters the illusion.
“Hmm…”
At André’s words, I nodded.
Honestly, casting famous actors for box office success was fine.
No need to make things complicated.
He wasn’t an unskilled director.
With Papa’s quality and fanbase, I wasn’t too worried.
“So, at tomorrow’s audition, should we focus on rookies?” I asked.
“No way. If there’s no satisfying rookie, we’ll have to cast a veteran.”
“Hmm. I heard Benjamin’s coming to the audition.”
At that, André shook his head.
“Anyone but Benjamin. I won’t cast him.”
“Why not?”
“He’s done too many of your works. His superhero vibe hasn’t faded, and now he’s got your projects too? The guy’s got so many nicknames.”
“Well… That’s true.”
His most memorable role was the superhero, but Benjamin had countless nicknames.
Enough to create stories from them, with memes circulating online.
“Here, eat,” André said.
Once the meat was grilled, André piled it all onto my plate.
Not just a piece or two—he dumped all the grilled meat in front of me.
“No, wait… Loony and your manager need to eat too.”
“My love comes first!”
Loony smiled and said, “I’m fine, Writer-nim.”
“Oh… Okay.”
Looking at the pile of meat on my plate, I sighed inwardly.
I’m grateful he loves my work, but this is overwhelming.
With no choice, I shared the meat with Loony and André’s manager.
André glared as his hard-grilled meat went to others, but I ignored it.
What are the kids up to?
I wanted to escape this place.
To get away from this whispering uncle and be with the kids.
—
Last night, I talked to Chrissy again on the phone.
Thankfully, she agreed to send her manager again, so the kids went sightseeing with Chrissy’s manager, Jenny Song.
Who are these kids that Chrissy cares so much about?
Jenny usually fulfilled Chrissy’s requests.
Some celebrities, once famous, ask their agencies to replace managers they don’t like.
When Chrissy left her agency, she took Jenny with her and offered generous incentives.
Well, the kids are cute, at least.
The kids were strikingly beautiful.
Passersby would turn their heads, their appearances so adorable and charming.
Even with their baby fat, their looks were exceptional.
Are they child actors Chrissy’s pushing?
No way.
The kids were Asian, and Hollywood still wasn’t keen on Asian actors.
Plus, Chrissy wasn’t the type to push anyone.
“Hey, kids. Are you sure you wanted to come here?” Jenny asked.
“Yes! Definitely!” they replied.
Raised by a Korean father, Jenny couldn’t write Korean but could speak it.
Not fluently, but enough to talk with the kids without awkwardness.
Why a department store?
Kids usually prefer fun places.
Jenny had picked out a few entertainment spots for them.
Though they canceled the first day’s outing, scrapping the plans.
“Are you here to buy clothes for yourselves?”
“No, for our uncle.”
“Uncle?”
“Yeah.”
Jenny tilted her head.
Don’t kids usually shop for their parents?
She shook off the thought.
Why bother thinking about it?
Overthinking would just complicate things.
She was here as a guide, so she decided not to dwell on it.
“Oh, right. Unnie, do you know any men’s clothing stores with items under $100?”
“$100?”
“Yeah! We can’t spend more than that!”
At Yuri’s words, Jenny paused to think.
“Well… What kind of style does your uncle like?”
“He doesn’t care. He’d wear something off the floor if it’s fine.”
“…”
Who is their uncle?
Jenny started to piece it together.
Their uncle must be really poor and lazy.
If the kids were saying he couldn’t even dress properly, he must be extremely laid-back.
“So… You’re buying casual clothes for everyday wear?”
“No! He’s meeting his girlfriend, but he doesn’t have anything to wear, so we’re here to buy something!”
At that, Jenny felt a pang in her heart.
How poor must their uncle be if the kids were pooling their allowance to buy him clothes?
To think he didn’t have anything to wear to meet his girlfriend, and the kids were using their money.
Poor guy…
A look of pity crossed Jenny’s face.
She began to understand why Chrissy wanted to help these kids.
“Okay! Trust your unnie! I’m great at picking clothes!”
It was true.
She wasn’t a celebrity stylist, but being around them had sharpened her eye for fashion.
“Unnie…?” Yuri said skeptically.
“I mean, I’m dressed casually now, but I can hold my own sitting next to Hollywood actors!”
At Yuri’s doubtful tone, Jenny quickly shook her head.
She tended to dress down for work.
“Come on, let’s go.”
As she led the kids to the men’s clothing section, Jiyu suddenly spoke up.
“Auntie, I’m hungry.”
Jiyu clutched her stomach and tugged at Jenny’s pants.
At that, a vein popped on Jenny’s forehead.
“Hoho… Jiyu, it’s not auntie, it’s unnie, okay?”
“Auntie?”
“Hoho…”
To kids Jiyu’s age, any adult was an uncle or auntie.
Jenny knew why she was called that, but hearing it still stung.
“Say ‘unnie.’ If you do, I’ll buy you something tasty.”
“Mmm… What?”
“I’ll get you a cupcake. One with lots of chocolate topping.”
“Chocolate! Auntie, you’ll really buy chocolate?”
“Hoho… Not auntie, what did I say?”
“Unnie!”
“Right. Call me unnie from now on, okay?”
“Yes! Jiyu will call you unnie from now on!”
“If you add ‘pretty’ before it, I’ll buy you something even tastier.”
Jiyu narrowed her eyes, scanning Jenny up and down with a pure, honest gaze.
“…Jiyu just wants chocolate.”
“Just say it once, and I’ll get you a jelly donut too.”
“Jiyu’s fine with chocolate!”
Unable to lie, Jiyu’s words made Jenny lower her head.
She didn’t even break even.
“Fine… Okay.”
Jenny looked at Hye-yeon and Yuri.
“Want to eat cupcakes and then shop?”
It wasn’t dinner time yet, but there was enough time for dessert and dinner.
“I’m in.”
“Me too!”
“Then let’s go.”
Jenny remembered a place nearby with delicious cupcakes.
She led the kids to the dessert café.