269 - Masterpiece 6

< Masterpiece (6) >

As soon as the first day report card of 'Island of the Missing' was released.

1. Island of the Missing / Release date: May 19 / Number of audiences: 700,223 / Number of screens: 1159 / Cumulative number of viewers: 700,223

About 50 people gathered at the Oullim Film Studio suddenly started screaming.

"Wow!!"

"her!! "Is it true?!"

"Hahaha, it's true, really!!"

"Congratulations, Director!!"

"Oh, no!! 700,000?! Per day??!"

"and!! "This really doesn't make sense!"

"Wake! "It's reality!!"

They shouted at the same time, causing the studio to shake violently. The key staff, including the cinematographer and lighting director, were jumping around and embracing each other, and the CEOs and executives of the film company were also in an uproar, applauding. The staff at the distribution company were half running around and half busy making phone calls.

It was a worthy result.

700,000 viewers in just one day. Even though it was peak season on a red day, it would be enough to say that it was amazing. There were many movies that failed to sell more than 1 million units a year and sank. However, 'Island of the Missing' raised a figure close to 1 million in just one day.

If I stayed like this, I would be an idiot.

Promotion and marketing had to be sped up even more, and these absurd results had to be disseminated far and wide. Even if you stay still, the media will take care of it, but if you add a booster, word of mouth will spread even faster through numerous mass media, YouTube, SNS, and public opinion.

The power of increasing audience numbers derives from there.

Word of mouth.

Depending on how unconventional the power and speed of the word of mouth was, the flow was like heaven and earth. In fact, Kang Woo-jin experienced that disaster-level power in 'Drug Dealer'.

For reference, the first day performance of 'Drug Dealer' was 250,000 viewers.

It is about three times different from 'Island of the Missing'. Well, the 'drug dealer' was a request, so it was natural. Whatever it is, the first day results achieved by 'Island of the Missing' are legendary. This is clearly proven just by looking at the frantic shoulder dance of so many people in the movie version.

"Well, this is my first time seeing 700,000 posted in one day!!"

"me too! I saw up to 500,000! "650,000!"

"Director! "Congratulations so much!!"

"I'm really looking forward to this being a huge hit??!"

The current grades were also unfamiliar to them. No, it was safe to say that I had hardly ever seen it. It is no different for director Kwon Ki-taek, who is considered one of the top Korean master directors.

'······700,000 viewers per day – that's a ridiculous number.'

Director Kwon Ki-taek had already surpassed 10 million viewers, but even for him, the maximum was 600,000 viewers per day. This is my first time seeing 700,000.

"It's amazing."

At this time, the employee in front of the laptop shouted.

"It's not much of a difference!!"

Other members of the crowd gathered in confusion.

"what?!"

"You bastard! "What do you mean by cutting everything from front to back?"

The employee shouted again.

"The results of 'Naval Battle'! 'Battle of the Sea' was released on the first day and the number of viewers was 730,000! "It's 30,000 away with us!!"

Movie 'Naval Battle'. It was a movie released in 2014 and achieved an incredible number of viewers with a total audience of 16.75 million.

And that 'Naval Battle' was the number one box office movie of all time in Korea.

Even after 7 years, the record of 16.75 million has never been broken. Of course, there are quite a few similar works. 14 million, 13 million, etc. But it is not unique. 'Battle of the Sea' was a legend, from the number of daily viewers to the number of weekend viewers. There was no work that caught up to that huge achievement.

But now.

"30,000?? The difference is only 30,000?! 'Battle of the Sea' is the number one movie in Korea right now, right? "It's not broken yet, right?"

"It's not broken!"

"Wow, wow! If you do this well!!"

'Island of the Missing' has become closer to becoming a legend after 7 years.

It meant trying to surpass the top spot at the box office in Korea.

Meanwhile, Japan. The set of 'Unfamiliar Parasite'.

A busy space with dozens of staff and actors preparing for filming. Meanwhile, Kang Woo-jin is seen sitting in the waiting area, maintaining a poker face without hesitation. Currently, the first results of 'Island of the Missing' have been announced in Korea, but they have not reached Woojin. Well, soon Choi Seong-geon will come running to tell me or my cell phone will ring.

Anyway, Woojin's makeup is already Kiyoshi Iyota itself. He was looking at the 'Unfamiliar Gisaeng' scenario with a black square attached to it.

'Hmm-'

At first, I pretended to watch to hide my nervousness while waiting for the results of 'Island of the Missing'. But now I am very focused. The reason was simple.

'It's a bit strange as expected.'

It was because I was reminded of a question I had had for a long time. What he sees is the end of the 'Unfamiliar Parasite' scenario. As expected, it's disappointing. Compared to the original, many things in the film version of 'The Strange Stranger' were adapted or modified, but the beginning and ending still followed the original.

The original 'Familiar Gisaeng' was a fairly old work.

So is this ending correct? I personally didn't like Kang Woo-jin. When I first received the 'Unfamiliar Parasite' scenario, I didn't think much of it, and if you think about it, it was only recently that I had this question. It was not a concept, but the sincerity of a small citizen.

Kiyoshi Iyota's final moments were a matter of retribution.

Or karma, or you reap what you sow. The smell of persecution and punishment was also present. If there is a process for anything, there will be a result. Bear with it. Kiyoshi leaves with that message. In a way, it was a stereotypical result and something the public was familiar with. Especially in Japan, most movies and content are like that. It is difficult to find works that are not like this. It's a cause and effect retribution.

One way or another, the protagonist takes responsibility for what he or she has done. If he kills, he will be killed, and if he takes revenge, he will suffer corresponding damage.

'That doesn't mean it's bad. That's right.'

Kang Woo-jin did not deny it. Well, there are plenty of similar stories in Korea.

but.

'But is this true for Kiyoshi? No, it's okay for me to just act – but isn't it a bit disappointing? Yes, it's a shame.'

Kiyoshi Iyota of 'The Stranger' was Woojin, who felt that following the same path was wrong. No, rather than the concept of right or wrong, I think it is a deviation. It was uncomfortable. It keeps bothering me. Kang Woo-jin didn't know it himself, but what he was thinking about right now was the affection of the character in the play. Something that ordinary actors usually have.

That's why we look back on causal retribution in 'The Unfamiliar Gisaeng'.

What is wrong with that world? What moment can you call a mistake? Existence? Is there evil? Who is evil? So what about the line? Is there any point in sharing this?

What judges everything?

Kang Woo-jin gave a vague answer.

'It's up to me to make the decision.'

Not the director, not the writer, not the audience. Kang Woo-jin is the judge regarding those numerous question marks. No, it is correct that 'Iyota Kiyoshi' is coming down. Because 'unfamiliar parasite' is Kiyoshi's perspective.

However, Kiyoshi does not make biased judgments throughout the work.

Just do it.

This is because Kiyoshi is a 'stranger'.

'Oh, my head hurts. But I don't know, but I think it's okay for a 'stranger' to remain a 'stranger' until the end.'

In the end, instead of reaching any kind of retributive conclusion, you end up just returning to being a 'stranger'. Kiyoshi in 'Unfamiliar Gisaeng' has never done his 'homework' with his own hands. Everyone moved 'the other'.

But what kind of retribution? What karma?

Where is that for a 'stranger'?

Kiyoshi is truly the one watching over himself. In other words, did they want to inform the audience or onlookers of the boring conclusion that 'revenge has no meaning'? Do you want to send that kind of message?

Let's reveal the real Kiyoshi's heart.

no. Probably not. Probably not. I wouldn't even think about that.

Woojin, with a silent face, slowly shook his head. I don't know, I don't know. There is no way to know the thoughts of huge figures like Director Kyotaro Woojin or Writer Akari.

'I don't know if it's a message or something. 'That's just what I think.'

However, the only person in the world who knows 'Kiyoshi Iyota' best is Kang Woo-jin. Because he actually lived his life and had it. Kang Woo-jin in real life denies Kiyoshi's ending in 'Familiar Parasite'.

In Woojin's opinion, Kiyoshi was just a rock.

Although the situation may change over time, the essence of Kiyoshi remains the same. He does not tarnish. Why do you say that? People repeat the same mistakes.

Change and growth may seem similar at first glance, but they are different contexts.

This was especially true for Kiyoshi. Kiyoshi is clumsy. So there can be emotional growth. But it won't change. Kiyoshi was calm and quiet even after seeing numerous deaths in front of his eyes, and dismissed human death as homework.

It's a stone.

But will he repent everything and accept the consequences? Do you calmly handle retribution?

'I'm craving a different direction.'

Homework is literally homework. Nothing more or less than that. Kiyoshi does not have the concept of fault itself and does not think about it seriously. Revenge is not a fleeting thing, but a process that returns everything to its origin. From the beginning, Kiyoshi Iyota's mindset was different from that of ordinary people.

In addition, it is agile and meticulous.

To put it all together:

'As expected, Kiyoshi, this guy will have planned his life carefully until the very end, and I don't think it would be wrong if he was beaten to death.'

The end of 'unfamiliar parasite' requires surgery.

but.

'Is this going to change just because I'm a bastard?'

Woojin had a hard time imagining how this huge plate could be turned upside down with just one word. Then just leave it alone? Anyway, the level of 'unfamiliar parasite' is already high. This means that you can achieve great results without even having to scratch.

It was then.

"Mr. Woojin! "Standby please!"

The staff shouted in Japanese. This means that preparations for the first scene have been completed. Let's start with Kang Woo-jin. No, it was Kiyoshi. Before hearing the results of 'Island of the Missing', Woojin woke up and put down the scenario of 'The Unfamiliar Parasite'.

-Sigh.

Then he moved into the set. The concept is deep. Summon Kiyoshi Iyota, who is waiting. By the time the slate was prepared in front of Woojin, he was already no different from Kiyoshi.

"······"

An expressionless face. Shaved emotions. Once everything was ready, the sound of slate hitting spread throughout the set. Several cameras were aimed at Kang Woo-jin. About a hundred staff members also looked at him and kept quiet. Director Kyotaro shouted while looking at Woojin reflected on the monitor.

"action."

After a while.

This cut was Kang Woo-jin's solo scene that continued from the previous scene. It's a difficult scene that doesn't have any lines, but requires a lot to be captured in an expressionless face.

Kang Woo-jin looks down at the floor.

Although it was not present, I was looking at a lifeless body. It was a body that felt cold even at a glance. But there is no change in Woojin's face. Just a few seconds. Then he slowly raised his head. The front camera slowly captures Woojin or Kiyoshi riding the rail.

Close-up from bust to face.

gap.

The quiet set was like that and Woojin's calm expression was like that. However, Kang Woo-jin's stiff mask strangely contained many things. The concentration gradually becomes thicker. Director Kyotaro, his nose pressed into the monitor, moistened his lips.

'Yes, that's right. This subtle inflection point is the point. It's the key.'

Calm breathing. Reckless behavior. Compared to that, his spirit is lacking. Revenge that makes sense. Simple homework. A compelling past. All those recognizable things were captured in Kang Woo-jin's eyes. There was a frown on his face. It was included in the expression.

'Eyes that have no expectations whatsoever from people. It's amazing, I'm getting goosebumps.'

The scene ends here. However, Director Kyotaro enjoys the thrill of the moment and signs a little more.

Roughly about 10 seconds.

"······Chorus!!"

Director Kyotaro stood up in front of the monitor. At the same time, the surrounding Japanese actors and staff burst into laughter. Some people take long, heavy breaths. I was hooked by Woojin's acting, but I'm only now coming out of it.

Following.

-Sigh.

Director Kyotaro, who put the filming storyboard in the back pocket of his jeans, quickly walked up to Woojin inside the set.

"Mr. Woojin. There's no need to go further with this. I am more than satisfied. Instead, let's change the composition a bit and take a few more shots."

"Understood, Director."

Kang Woo-jin answered lowly. He calmly looks at the gray-faced Director Kyotaro. He appeared cynical on the outside, but on the inside, he was suffering alone. A little violently. Then, Woojin made a rough decision in keeping with his original old man personality.

'Ah, I don't know. Just tell me first. If it doesn't work, don't do anything.'

He called Director Kyotaro.

"Director."

Director Kyotaro tilted his head at the low level of Japanese, and Kang Woo-jin typed a prepared comment.

"Isn't 'Kiyoshi Iyota' thinking about returning to his normal daily life like the original 'stranger'?"

"······hmm?"

"Kiyoshi's ending. I think I will show Toka Misaki, 'I am doing well with this stranger.' "Everyone has to check their homework, and for Kiyoshi, that would probably be Toka."

Kang Woo-jin deepened his voice.

"To put it bluntly, I don't think retribution suits Kiyoshi. Eating well and living well is the right color. "No damage."

At that moment, Director Kyotaro's eyes widened slightly.

'······Becoming a stranger from all causes and effects.'

And several scenes involving Kiyoshi flashed through his mind.

"!!!"

It was quite common for the content or dialogue in the play to change during the filming of numerous contents such as movies and dramas. In most cases, it is due to the ad-libs or actions performed by the actor who thoroughly analyzed the work script, or the surrounding filming environment.

Of course, this is only possible if the director or writer likes it.

However, it is rare for the ending itself to change.

This becomes especially difficult if production has already begun. This was especially true for works that had original works, such as 'The Unfamiliar Parasite'. Having a different ending from the original means quite a challenge.

But for some reason, the current director Kyotaro's eyes were shining mysteriously.

'In the end, he becomes a 'stranger'-'

There was a light of change at the end of 'Familiar Gisaeng'.

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