Chapter 116: The Weight of Consecutive Glory

The Academy Awards.

The Academy Awards, or the Oscars, is an award ceremony hosted by AMPAS, an organization composed only of filmmakers working in the global media industry and the most elite film professional organization.

Furthermore, the Academy Awards is the most prestigious film awards ceremony in the United States and the most famous ceremony in the world.

Fundamentally, the awards have targeted Hollywood films, so it was historically rare for films made in countries outside of the United States—especially those from countries of different races—to be awarded.

Cases where films made in Asian countries were awarded were changes that had only occurred recently as the international situation shifted.

In such a prestigious, traditional, and extremely conservative ceremony, news broke that a Korean director had won an award for a Korean film.

For the people of the Republic of Korea, the three syllables of Director Bong Chan-ho's name were etched deep into their hearts, on par with an Olympic gold medalist or an idol with 18 million fans.

Furthermore, since the news reached South Korea that he had achieved the feat of winning such a great Academy Award for two consecutive years.

It was no exaggeration to say that Director Bong Chan-ho had now joined the ranks of the greatest figures in South Korean history since the legendary founder, Dangun.

To put into perspective how incredible this was, there had only been four instances of winning two consecutive Academy Awards in history, and even three of those occurred in the early days when the film industry was monopolized.

The fact that a modern Korean director won two consecutive Academy Awards was a shocking event.

It was as if a Black rapper had won the grand prize two years in a row at a traditional Korean Pansori singing competition.

Imagine if that Black rapper, while giving his acceptance speech, started with a fantastic, patriotic comment like, "I grew up listening to the voice of Master Jeong Sun-im, a National Intangible Cultural Heritage of Korea."

Then, imagine if he followed it up with a future-oriented statement like, "It's a shame that Pansori awards are given mostly to Asians. We Black people are good at Pansori too."

Then, a hero would inevitably be born, one whom the whole world cheered for, the United States paid attention to, and Japan felt bitter toward.

And Director Bong Chan-ho had actually achieved such a feat in reality—a feat that was difficult for a Korean to even approach—along with a perfect acceptance speech.

Setflix, already satisfied with having a director whose value was peaking at the perfect time, could only scream with joy as Director Bong's value rose even more sharply.

This inevitably led to the execution of an additional budget for the production costs of The Rose of Sharon Has Bloomed.

The filming site of The Rose of Sharon Has Bloomed, backed by the financial support of Setflix and the current top hero of South Korea, was always filled with laughter.

"Extras, please come get your meals."

Perhaps the positive atmosphere of the set had reached the background actors as well, for everyone crowding to receive their meal distributions had a smile on their face.

"Sweet! We have spicy pork lunchboxes today."

Extra Number 124, wearing a green tracksuit with a number tag on his back, took his lunchbox and headed to the tent set up for meals.

"Number 124, over here! Over here."

Number 124 quickly ran and took the seat next to the familiar voice of Number 350.

The two of them had met on set for the first time and had recently become acquaintances.

"What do you have? I have spicy pork."

"I have tuna mayo."

Number 124 asked as he looked at Number 350, who was holding a brand-name lunchbox, unlike his own, which had no brand because it came from a local cafeteria.

"What? Isn't that tuna mayo from Hansot? Where did you get that? I didn't see it."

"Ah, this is a lunchbox that Senior Yang Hee-ju's fans sent this morning. They said there were some left over, so I was told to take one."

"Actress Yang Hee-ju was your senior?"

"Did I not mention it? I graduated from KNUA. Senior Hee-ju was the Class of '18, and I was the Class of '20."

Number 350 shrugged his shoulders as he looked at Number 124, who sent him an envious look, asking why he hadn't said so sooner.

"Well, we aren't super close; we just greet each other when we pass by. But it's still nice to see her on set like this."

"Actually, if you think about it, I'm a junior to Actor Song Jang-ho as well."

"Really? Where did you graduate from?"

Since his school wasn't an acting major, Number 124 sniffled awkwardly and spoke hesitantly.

"It's not that we went to the same school... I'm currently in the Solip Theater Company. You know that's where Actor Song Jang-ho used to work, right?"

"Oh, you're from a theater company. No wonder your vocalization was so solid."

"You heard me let out my death rattle when I got shot earlier!"

In a typical filming set, these background actors were usually just ordinary people who came out for a part-time job since they would barely be caught on screen for a few seconds, and actual majors were rare.

However, on the set of The Rose of Sharon Has Bloomed, even the simple extras were often unknown actors from theater companies or acting majors from prestigious universities.

That was how great the performers' admiration was for the actor Song Jang-ho and the master director Bong Chan-ho, both appearing in this work.

"By the way, how many pages does the script you received this time have?"

"The one I got this time is from page 12 to page 14. I know they give out scripts by the page because of spoilers, but isn't it just too teasing?"

"I know, right? But the script seems interesting. I asked some people I know and read all the way up to page 40."

"Oh, really? Who was the writer who wrote this?"

"Ah, I forgot the name. I think they're a rookie."

As they were eating and chatting pleasantly, Number 350 pointed toward a corner of the filming set and asked Number 124.

"By the way, do you know that person?"

"Who? Ah, that guy."

Number 350's finger was pointing at a blonde youth sitting in a corner, eating comfortably while looking at his phone.

"I don't know. He doesn't seem like an actor, but he's too young to be considered staff."

"Right. Usually, staff members of that age are the youngest, so they wouldn't be sitting like that; they'd be running around busily."

"Huh? But it looks like what he's eating is also a Hansot lunchbox."

"You're right. What's that? Isn't that the most expensive Hansot Young Master's Set?"

Just as Number 350's curiosity about the identity of the blonde youth, who was picking at a rather luxurious lunchbox set alone unlike the other extras or staff, was growing.

"The Director is here!"

One of the staff members announced the arrival of Director Bong Chan-ho.

"Oh, wow. It's my first time seeing Director Bong Chan-ho in person."

"The Director is here? Where, where?"

Normally, on a day like today when the main roles weren't appearing, it was rare for Director Bong to come to the set himself.

It was because his personal schedule was overflowing due to his recent consecutive Academy Award wins.

Because of this, everyone stopped eating and stood up to greet Director Bong, who had rarely shown his face to the background actors.

"Hello!"

"Hello, Director!"

Bong's face, as he waved his hand with a bright expression while receiving people's greetings, wore his characteristic kind smile today as well.

"Oh dear, you were eating. Please eat comfortably. Don't mind me. Hahaha."

Director Bong was holding a large shopping bag, and as he slowly surveyed the background actors who were eating, he discovered the corner seat and waved happily.

"Oh, so you were tucked away over there. Writer Park! What are you doing there alone?"

The person Director Bong was looking for was the blonde youth who had been eating the Young Master's Set, Park Ra-el.

However, Park Ra-el was wearing wireless earbuds and could not hear what Director Bong was saying.

Director Bong had no choice but to go to the seat where Park Ra-el was sitting while carrying the heavy shopping bag himself.

Only after Director Bong set the bags down next to him did Park Ra-el notice him and slowly take the earphone out of his ear.

"Now, what are you watching that's so interesting?"

"Congratulations, Director."

Park Ra-el held up his phone to show the scene of Director Bong's second consecutive Academy Award win and offered his congratulations in his characteristic dry and soulless voice.

At those words, Director Bong let out a chuckle, unpacked the shopping bag he had brought, and placed it on the table.

"Congratulations, my foot. Anyway, are you trying to finish lunch with just a lunchbox?"

"It was delicious. And Actress Yang Hee-ju set this aside for me, saying it was an expensive menu item."

"Well, I wonder if you'll still say that after seeing this."

What Director Bong pulled out was a lunchbox set with the VIP logo of a high-end family restaurant.

When he opened the lunchbox container, which was made of luxurious wrapping even on the outside, a three-tier restaurant set menu was inside.

"Our Writer Park likes Western food more than Korean food, doesn't he?"

"Oh, thank you."

Park Ra-el dipped the tenderloin steak inside into the sauce and continued speaking while chewing a mouthful.

"Oh, right. I asked the cinematographer to show me the footage from yesterday's shoot earlier, and I watched it."

"Really? How did it look to you, Writer Park?"

Director Bong thought Park Ra-el was a rookie with a very promising future, so he had previously told the staff to give Ra-el whatever materials he wanted.

Director Bong, who had the pride of being a master who shone with two consecutive Academy Award wins, asked in an expectant voice.

"I understand that it hasn't been edited yet. But it was a bit disappointing."

"Hmm, could you point out which scene was disappointing?"

"Scene 56 here. It's the scene with Actor Park Sung-min. I think it would have been better to use dark green lighting when filming this to give off an eerie atmosphere."

Director Bong pulled out his script book and sat close to Park Ra-el, pointing out the revision points in detail.

"Hmm, is there a reason why using that kind of lighting would be good?"

"This scene is from the perspective of the protagonist who has entered this arena for the first time. I wanted to see if we could produce it with an atmosphere that is completely detached from reality."

"So you're saying we should use dark and alien lighting to make it look like a cruel fairy tale."

"Yes, that's right. And if you look at Scene 72 here..."

All the background actors who were watching their conversation from a distance put down their chopsticks and pricked up their ears.

Number 124 spoke to Number 350 with a dazed face.

"What? That guy was the writer who wrote this series?"

"No, I mean, how good must he be for even the great Director Bong to accept his feedback?"

As everyone, including the staff and cast, was stunned to see the two of them more focused on production feedback than eating, oblivious to the eyes around them.

Director Bong felt inwardly pleased as he looked at Park Ra-el, who was expressing his opinions to him.

'He's admirable. To give feedback like usual without being bothered by the fact that I won two consecutive Academy Awards.'

Looking at Park Ra-el, who displayed stubborn genius even at a young age, Director Bong Chan-ho thought that he too should not settle for the achievements he had made now but move further forward.

Meanwhile.

At the same time, the filming set of Lee Junghyuk's Traveler had a vastly different atmosphere from Director Bong's side.

Of course, this set also had the star writer Lee Junghyuk, whose value was currently the highest in Korea.

Also, since Director Kim Seung-pyo, who had returned with new filming techniques and experience from the United States, was leading, there were no factors that were significantly lacking.

Even the lead actress was Grace Kim, an actress who was among the top few in Hollywood, so the atmosphere on set should have been good.

"Cut! Let's go again."

The filming time was getting longer and longer because of An Yoo Seok, who could not adapt to the unfamiliar filming set and could not perform with his usual skill.

Gradually, questions began to arise among the staff and the cast regarding An Yoo Seok's acting ability.

Of course, in the scenes where Grace Kim was being filmed, the shooting continued smoothly without any NGs, and Kim Seung-pyo was also satisfied with her acting.

'Every time there's a shot with An Yoo Seok, the screen is ruined.'

Unlike Grace Kim, who acted naturally like a fish in water, An Yoo Seok seemed to be having quite a hard time.

"Phew."

Grace Kim was also starting to get tired from the repeated reshooting, but there was nothing she could do to help him right now.

'That actor is probably struggling because of this.'

What they were wearing was green chroma key full-body tights, which were good for adding CG processing, and sensors that detected movement were attached to every major joint.

In addition to the discomfort of the unusual costume, the fact that each sensor was extremely expensive and should not be broken by moving carelessly also became a hindrance.

"Pant, pant... I'm, I'm sorry."

"It's okay. Let's try again once you catch your breath."

An Yoo Seok's face was already drenched in sweat.

This scene had to capture the two lead actors jumping precariously across a broken bridge.

An Yoo Seok looked clearly exhausted by the high-difficulty filming that required wire action as well as CG.

However, even when filming resumed, the same NG continued to occur in the situation where he landed on the ground after the wire action.

An Yoo Seok felt resentful toward himself.

'Why can't I focus?'

For the first time in An Yoo Seok's acting career, a crisis of inadequate acting ability had arrived.