177. Wasn’t it okay to say…?

The main auditorium on the second floor of the UK E&M Sangam office building.

Today was the day of the press conference for ‘Survival Of The Fittest’.

Sitting side by side on the hardwood floor were Song Kyu-ha, Cha Gyeong-seok, Jeong Seol-ah, Maseok-do, Eun-ha, and Min Bong-gi.

On the back, the phrase ‘Survival Of The Fittest’ and the faces of the performers were hung.

In the seats, many people who seemed to be reporters were sitting with notebooks and laptops spread out.

Soon, a man in a neat semi-suit appeared on the stage.

“Hello. It’s a topical work ambitiously prepared by UK E&M, right? I’m Song Joon-seop, a comedian in charge of hosting the SOF production presentation.”

clap clap clap

“First of all, we will have a brief greeting before the start.

Those who were called took turns holding the microphone and giving brief self-introductions and greetings.

“Hello. I’m Yang Seong-il, who was in charge of directing SOF. Thank you for coming to the production briefing.”

“The following are the performers who will show the best laughs and chemistry in SOF.”

“Hello. I’m actor Song Kyu-ha. Nice to meet you like this.”

click click click

When Kyuha lifted the microphone, a deafening shutter sound rang out.

In fact, it would not be an exaggeration to say that most of the reporters here came to cover Kyu-ha.

After a brief greeting, the real question and answer period began.

“Among the reporters in front, if you have any questions for the cast and director, feel free to raise your hand.”

At the words of host Song Joon-seop, reporters raised their hands as if competing.

Finally, a reporter picked up the microphone.

“Hello. I’m Sports Hwacheon reporter Park Sang-heum. I’d like to ask PD Yang-il Yang. I’m curious about the SOF’s planning intention and how it was formed with these members.”

Yang Seong-il stood up from his seat.

“First of all, SOF started with the idea of going back to the primitive nature remaining on earth, reflecting on ourselves in the complex modern civilization, and trying to regain the pure nature we forgot in our busy daily lives. Most of the cast members must have been in a remote area like this for the first time. I thought there would be many episodes in it, and I wanted to show the process of bonding with each other in extreme situations.”

Yang Seong-il looked around the faces of the members once.

“And the composition of the members was really… There were a lot of difficult points. First of all, actor Song Kyu-ha, who was in front of me, readily agreed to appear on the show. I’m just talking about it now, but after Song’s appearance was confirmed, I received a lot of calls from all over the place. I’ve never received a phone call like this from my lover.”

“Ha ha ha ha ha”

Laughter broke out at Yang Seong-il’s joke.

“The part I valued the most was ‘balance’. It was going into the backcountry of the jungle, not anywhere else. I knew that if there were people with angular personalities, it would be difficult for everyone, so I selected only those with good personalities through inquiries. I can’t help but pay attention to the viewership ratings. The last thing is the position. The members are composed so that each role can be divided as much as possible.”

Yang Sung-il’s direct and clear explanation made the reporters’ keyboards become busy.

“I am OSPE reporter Kang Jae-gwan. I have a question for Mr. Song Kyu-ha. To be honest, it would not have been easy to appear in a variety show if you had become a world-recognized actor. Was there a particular reason for accepting the role?”

After receiving the microphone from Yang Sung-il, Kyu-ha opened her mouth.

“To answer, I don’t think I’m a special actor. There are a lot of great and great actors seniors and juniors. I was just a little bit luckier than them. And you said ‘acceptance’, but that seems wrong. Strictly speaking, PD Yang Seong-il I was grateful that I had made an ‘offer’ to appear in SOF. I really wanted to appear on the show after seeing the plan.”

Gyuha’s humble yet praising comment put a hearty smile on everyone’s lips.

After that, questions began to come to several members.

“I know Ms. Seok-do is from a special forces unit, but was there anything difficult in the jungle?”

“It was very difficult. To be honest, I thought I learned a lot of survival skills while serving in the military, but when I went there, there were many cases where I was useless. Because it is completely different from the Korean ecosystem. To be honest, if it wasn’t for Kyuha hyung, we would all starve to death.”

Freesia’s galaxy also helped Maseokdo.

“That’s right. As you’ll know if you watch the broadcast, Kyu-ha oppa catches unimaginable things after he goes hunting. Are you curious? Are you curious too? If you’re curious, watch the live broadcast!”

“Ha ha ha ha ha”

Smiles bloomed in the seats at Eunha’s witty reply.

“Have you ever been in danger while filming?”

A reporter’s question made the faces of the production team and cast harden for a moment.

Yang Seong-il took up the microphone for an answer.

“It was a remote area where no matter what happened, it was a trembling moment, but fortunately it ended as an incident without any casualties.

male voice

The reporters were curious, but they didn’t ask after seeing Yang Seong-il’s tightly closed mouth.

“Lastly, I would like to ask you a question. Are you planning to watch the first broadcast together?”

The couple looked at each other alternately in response to the reporter’s question.

“I don’t have anything planned, but if there’s nothing going on that day, we can get together… It doesn’t matter, right?”

“It must be fun, right? I don’t think I’ll have anything that day either.”

At that time, Kyuha scratched his head as if embarrassed.

“Ah! I don’t think we can see each other that day. It seems to overlap with attending the Cannes Film Festival.”

“Ah! The Cannes Film Festival is happening then. Hmm?”

The reporter who asked the question became dumbfounded for a moment.

“Did actor Song Kyu-ha get invited to the Cannes Film Festival?”

“Yes. An invitation came… Ah! Can’t we talk yet…?”

“It’s a scoop! Song Kyu-ha goes to Cannes!”

click click click

Suddenly, where did so many cameras come out, crazy flashes and shutter sounds exploded.

“I’m going to get scolded by a manager.”

Kyu-ha’s mutterings, filled with embarrassment, were drowned out by the sound of the camera’s shutter that spread like a melody.

***

[Actor Song Kyu-ha invited to the Cannes Film Festival with ‘The Waves and Dancing Melody’. The first Korean to challenge for the Best Actor Award.]

“Stop talking…”

“You were very knowledgeable.”

Scratching his head as if he had no face, Kyuha apologized.

“If you ever find yourself in an awkward situation because of me, I sincerely…”

“No! You did a really good job. I wasn’t sure when to spray it, but you did it at the right time.”

Contrary to expectations, Han Jeong-hee’s expression looked very bright.

“Thanks to that, I think the promotion of SOF went well, so it worked well because there was a synergistic effect.”

“Then I’m glad.”

“Isn’t Team Leader Han Jeong-hee going to Cannes as well?”

“Of course! I have to go unconditionally. A lot of great people will come.”

Han Jeong-hee looked at Kyu-ha and cautiously opened her mouth.

“But I’m telling you just in case, it’s probably going to be difficult to win the Best Actor Award.”

“I wasn’t expecting much. But I guess there’s a reason?”

“It’s because of the uniqueness of the Cannes Film Festival. There is a rule that one film cannot win multiple awards. As expected, the film festival will first give any award to director Jean Dumont, who is returning after 20 years. If that happens, no doubt. It will be difficult for Kyuha to receive an award.”

In fact, after [The Violinist] won three awards including the Grand Prix, Best Actor and Best Actress in 2001, the Cannes Film Festival revised its rules so that winning films in the competition category could not win multiple awards.

Kyu-ha smiled at Han Jeong-hee, who was worried that Kyu-ha would be disappointed.

“I’m not greedy for awards. I’ll just think of it as a place to celebrate director Jean Dumont’s receiving the award. I’ll continue to receive awards, but what’s the problem if I don’t receive one?”

Han Jeong-hee’s mouth fell open at Kyu-ha’s unexpected ambition.

“That’s right. Kyu-ha is still young and there will definitely be more opportunities. Oh ho-ho. I was worried for nothing. What kind of person is Kyu-ha, who would have thought that he would be happy with a prize like that? I guess I’m still lacking, too. I should look at the wall and reflect. Oh ho ho”

Han Jeong-hee, who was in a good mood, let out a high-pitched laugh.

***

Cannes Film Festival.

In fact, the beginning of the Cannes Film Festival was not so beautiful.

The beginning of the Cannes Film Festival was made in France as a rival to the Venice International Film Festival, which was full of politics due to the intervention of the Fascist government in Italy in the 1930s.

But now, along with the Venice International Film Festival and the Berlin International Film Festival, it has become a world-renowned film festival called the world’s top three film festivals.

As the emblem of the film festival is the leaf of a palm tree, the award recognized as the most prestigious award in the competition section was also the ‘Golden Palm Award’.

Some have even said that the status of the Cannes Film Festival is equivalent to winning the Nobel Prize or the Man Booker Prize.

Because of its authority, just being invited to a film festival was tantamount to actually proving its cinematic quality, so it was also a stage that many filmmakers dreamed of.

***

The opening day of the 75th Cannes Film Festival.

Croiser street in a sunny day in May.

The venue was already crowded with many people.

Hotels and lodgings near Cannes were all sold out, and long lines were forming to get tickets for the film festival.

About 20 films invited to the Cannes Film Festival were screened at the Lumiere Theater for the Palme d’Or.

A signboard occupies a large corner of the theater building.

Along with the title of [The Melody Dancing with the Waves], Kyu-ha’s face was hung wide open.

Han Jeong-hee diligently explains something to Kyu-ha in the car prepared in advance before entering.

“Gyuha-san, here in Khan, there is a rule that must be followed. First of all, even a foreigner must learn basic greetings, but since he speaks French well, he must pass!

Well, there are other small things, but it doesn’t seem to apply to Kyuha-san.”

“But team leader Han also put a lot of effort into the clothes and hair?”

“Of course. The film market here is also the largest. Except for the major production companies that directly distribute, almost all the business of importing or distributing movies is done here. I have to get something.”

Looking at Han Jeong-hee, who clenched her fists with strong aspirations, Kyu-ha asked.

“How did you decide to enter?”

“Ah! I set the time with the director Jean Dumont and the other actors. If I get a call soon, we’ll gather together and step on the red carpet and enter.”

Han Jeong-hee’s cell phone rings just in time.

After finishing the call in fluent English, Han Jeong-hee’s eyes twinkled.

“Okay. It’s a call saying everyone has gathered. Shall we go out now?”

“Yes. You do.”

The black van door opened and Kyu-ha appeared, and at the same time, tremendous cheers and camera flashes erupted from the surroundings.

“Kyaahhhhh!

It was a huge response that far exceeded expectations.