"Hmm, Asher Baldwin?"
Jo Seo-hee crossed her arms upon hearing that name and fell into thought.
"Now that I think about it, I have heard of him. There was talk recently that Director Asher Baldwin was going to Japan."
"Is he doing a project there?"
"Probably. But who knows. Hmm, the Japanese side might have slipped him some money."
At Jo Seo-hee's words, Seo-yeon fell into thought for a moment.
The Japanese film industry is famous for not paying its directors much.
Even Seo-yeon, who didn't know much about industry knowledge, was aware of this.
'More than anything, there was no Japanese film shot by Asher Baldwin in my past life?'
If there was a movie he shot, there was no way Seo-yeon wouldn't know.
Although Seo-yeon was ignorant about overseas released movies, if it were an Asher Baldwin movie, it would definitely have been released in Korea.
If she didn't know, there was a high probability it wasn't released in the first place.
While she was having such thoughts, Lee Ji-yeon, who had been quiet, opened her mouth.
"So, Ju Seo-yeon. That great director wants to use you as the lead?"
"I'm not sure about that."
From what I heard, it's a Japanese movie in the first place.
A Korean playing the lead in a Japanese movie is probably almost... no. It would never happen.
'Especially if it's a movie invested in by Japan.'
The Japanese film industry would also be trying various measures to revive the recently frozen Japanese film market.
They might have made the bold move of bringing in a famous overseas director.
'If that's the case, maybe things didn't work out well in my past life, so the movie didn't come out.'
It was entirely possible.
It was clear that Asher Baldwin's recent movie had slipped a bit, tarnishing his reputation.
That didn't mean his career of winning the Academy Award for Best Director twice disappeared.
He was still one of the few great masters in America, and his name value was at a level that could easily crush any director in Japan.
No, not just Japan, but compared to Korea as well.
In particular, Asher Baldwin was a director who captured both artistry and commerciality.
There's a common saying about trying to catch two rabbits and losing both, but he was a director who could catch both.
"First, I'll have to listen to the details."
"Right, even if it's not the lead, even if it's an extra, it's good to participate. Asher Baldwin's movie is worth it."
Even Jo Seo-hee said so calmly, then seemed a bit concerned about something.
"Since it's a Japanese movie after all, I'm a bit worried about what the production environment will be like. Well, if Asher Baldwin requests it, people who want to work with him from the US will come over, but. Especially..."
"Especially?"
"Asher Baldwin has an adopted daughter. I think she came with him to Japan this time, too."
Asher Baldwin's adopted daughter.
Seo-yeon rummaged through her mind for a moment.
And, she could recall one person with a similar name.
"Stella Baldwin."
"Huh, you know? A lot of people don't know she's his adopted daughter."
"They have the same last name."
"Baldwin is quite a common surname... Anyway, if Asher Baldwin shoots a movie, there's a high probability she'll appear in it together."
Seo-yeon didn't know much about foreign movie actors.
She knew even less than she knew about directors.
She knew the directors because of the movies' fame, but she had almost never seen foreign movies or dramas.
'Because it doesn't help much with emotion mimicry.'
Originally, Seo-yeon had never watched movies or dramas 'for fun'.
She only saw them as material to mimic the emotions shown in the works.
Therefore, the movies Seo-yeon watched were all Korean movies and Korean dramas.
The emotional expressions or emotional lines expressed differ by country.
Because those things are different due to culture, watching them haphazardly would have a high probability of having a negative effect.
'In Stella's case, I know her for a reason separate from her work.'
Mostly in a negative sense.
"So, if they feature a foreign actress as the female lead, wouldn't it be her?"
"I see."
"I don't know either. Didn't you say they didn't even tell you what the role was in the first place?"
"They also seem confused in many ways, but it looks like they brought it up first. Because my schedule is so busy."
"That's true."
Anyway, it seemed she would have to listen to the details in Japan.
Coincidentally,
"But, Ju Seo-yeon."
"Yeah?"
"Did you see this?"
At Ji-yeon's sudden question of whether she saw this, Seo-yeon blinked blankly.
"What?"
"This."
Saying so, Seo-yeon casually looked at the smartphone screen Ji-yeon held out.
And there it was.
[I'm scared, Ramiel... A ghost is coming...]
"..."
A crack appeared in Seo-yeon's expressionless face.
Who on earth was the person in the video?
Is it me?
In the first place, she wouldn't speak like that, nor does she have a personality that clings to others.
O-of course, Lee Ji-yeon isn't a stranger.
What the heck is that!
"I-is it a composite?"
"How could it be? You were hugging me all day yesterday, I thought I was going to die."
No, not all day.
At best, it was while sleeping and waking up.
However, Seo-yeon couldn't bring herself to deny it.
It seemed that was her appearance after she blacked out.
Right, drunken antics.
Seeing herself babbling while drunk, Seo-yeon felt a throbbing headache.
'A-am I weak to alcohol?'
Seo-yeon had confidence in this invincible TS body.
Not simply the external parts, but the internal parts as well.
Actually, even when she ate spoiled food, it didn't show on her body, and she had never been sick.
But why alcohol.
"W-who took this?"
"Huh?"
"You were caught by me, so the person who took it must be someone else."
Seo-yeon's eyes quickly turned.
Well, given that Ji-yeon and Seo-yeon were here, there was only one person who could take such a video.
Jo Seo-hee, who was now quietly avoiding their gaze.
"Looks like our cat took it."
"We don't have a pet at home."
"..."
If I knew this would happen, I should have raised a cat.
Seo-hee broke into a cold sweat under Seo-yeon's stare.
However, she didn't feel unjustified today.
Because if she got the chance to film it again, she would film it again.
'...Anyway.'
Seo-yeon deleted the video on Seo-hee's phone first and thought.
Asher Baldwin.
And, Stella.
The important ones were these two.
Simply put, aside from the movie's casting, there was something that bothered her in many ways.
***
"Looks like you found a good actor? You seem to be in a good mood."
A luxury hotel prepared in Japan.
Asher, who had just entered the main gate, sighed at the murmuring sounds around him.
He wondered if he should warn his daughter, who had appeared out of nowhere in front of people.
Did she think there would be few people who knew him in Japan?
"Didn't you say there were no actors you liked in Japan?"
"If you say it like that, it sounds like you're belittling Japanese actors."
"Huh? Isn't it the same thing? Papa, you hate Japanese-style acting."
At those words, Asher casually looked around.
It wasn't really a significantly different statement, but it was still not something to say in Japan.
Fortunately, aside from the interpreter and a few bodyguards he brought, there was no one around who could understand the girl's English.
"It's not a Japanese person. It's a Korean."
"Aren't they similar?"
"You're naturally being racist."
"Eh? It's not really like that?"
Chuckling, her smiling figure looked just like a fairy.
Only eighteen now.
Considering it's the time when Western actors usually grow significantly, she looked quite young.
"Well, I'm half Asian too."
Whether she's Chinese or Japanese.
Or Korean, I don't know, but.
At her words, Asher sighed once again.
In fact, Stella didn't really like Asians.
So, when he said he was going to Japan this time, she practically threw a fit.
'Originally, I wanted to use Stella as the lead in the next movie I shoot, but.'
It's a Japanese movie from the start, so it's difficult.
Besides, since his momentum had been dampened recently, he wanted to take some time.
A movie in Japan was, in fact, a challenge for him too.
A movie attempted in a new cultural sphere, tinged with the colors of others rather than himself.
'If it's this girl, it might be possible to win the Academy Award for Best Actress at the youngest age.'
Asher hadn't changed since the moment he first encountered Stella on the street.
But, honestly, it might be difficult right now.
Because Stella was too much of a genius, she had never met anyone who could be compared to her.
'But.'
That Korean actor would be a stimulus for her.
'Appearance, atmosphere. And that immersion.'
He felt the same shock as when he first saw Stella.
He felt regret and joy at the fact that such an actress was in Japan.
Of all things, she had to be Korean.
"What are you thinking?"
"It's nothing."
"More than that, I asked if you found a good actor? Are you not going to answer?"
As Asher gathered his luggage and walked to the hotel lobby, Stella chattered and chased after him.
At his daughter's reaction, Asher smirked.
"Yes, I found one."
Of course, it went without saying that Stella's face crumpled at those words.
***
"Director Baldwin?"
Director Baek Min became a little surprised at Seo-yeon's words.
Today, before the next shoot, Seo-yeon needed to convey what had happened recently.
"He's a great master. Well, if he saw Ms. Seo-yeon's acting, he'd have no choice but to be interested."
Director Baek Min said so, thought about something for a moment, and then opened his mouth.
"Director Baldwin is someone who captured the commercial aspects on top of the acting style I originally pursue. He is a director with a lot to learn from."
At Director Baek Min's words, Jo Seo-hee, who was beside him, looked like she wanted to say something.
Her face seemed to say, 'I like Director Baek Min's movies better,' but when it came to someone like Asher Baldwin, it was hard to easily bring that up.
There was a high probability Director Baek Min would treat those words as lip service rather than a compliment.
"But it's a bit disappointing that it's a Japanese movie. If they were filming in Hollywood instead, even appearing as an extra would have much higher value."
"That part isn't certain yet."
"Is that so. Then, if I were to guess a little..."
Since it's a Japanese movie, it would probably be difficult to use Seo-yeon as the lead.
Then, an extra?
Of course, Director Baek Min also thought it was an extra at first.
But from what he heard, it didn't seem like that.
If he had seen Seo-yeon's acting by chance, which role would Director Baek Min use Seo-yeon for?
"Actually, it goes without saying."
"Yes?"
"Wouldn't it be a villain?"
"Pfft."
At Director Baek Min's words, Jo Seo-hee, who was beside her, inadvertently laughed.
She even bit her lower lip hard, but it seemed she couldn't hold it in.
'She does the same thing herself.'
Seo-yeon glared piercingly at Jo Seo-hee.
More importantly, did she delete the video properly?
She hadn't checked properly since, so she didn't know.
As expected, she should have confiscated it and confirmed it was deleted properly back then.
Seo-yeon felt belated regret.
"...Villains are comfortable, I admit."
No, really.
The funny thing is, perhaps because of her past life, she had that tendency.
Because she had faced many discriminatory gazes or looks that treated her as an alien, she was the type who could empathize with villains.
Villains mostly start their acting from such negative emotions.
That said, she didn't want to only take villain roles.
'Miss Butterfly is rather better.'
Kasugayama Yuina.
At first, it was honestly burdensome, but the more she played it, the more the role grew on her.
Especially after understanding the emotional line to some extent, she also felt a bit of pity.
If she had acted like this from the beginning, better scenes would have come out more often.
"First, since there is a little time left before the Japanese shoot, it seems like we need to film the scenes Ms. Seo-yeon appears in first."
"Ah, did the filming schedule change because of me...?"
"No, it didn't. But, there's a possibility Ms. Seo-yeon will get busy, so there's no harm in filming quickly."
The schedule is the schedule, and it's better to shoot Seo-yeon's acting quickly in one go.
Director Baek Min came to that conclusion after seeing Seo-yeon's acting.
Since emotional acting is her main strength, shooting it all at once before the emotion fades produces better scenes.
"How about you, Ms. Seo-hee? Is it okay?"
"Ah, yes. I'm fine."
Director Baek Min nodded.
If there are many scenes with Kasugayama Yuina, the ones who suffer the most are the lead actors.
In the parts where Yuina appears, Michiko and Yeon Seon-ye are invariably entangled.
Next is, without a doubt, Goto Isamu.
"An American director showing interest..."
However, after hearing Seo-yeon's words, Lee Sang-soo wore a worried face.
Since he had experienced a major failure in Hollywood, he seemed worried about Seo-yeon.
Of course, even if Seo-yeon were to shoot a movie, it would be in the Japanese film industry, not Hollywood.
"First, let's think about that later... Ms. Seo-yeon, and Ms. Seo-hee, are you ready?"
"Ah, yes."
Seo-yeon nodded with a tense face.
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At her appearance, Director Baek Min looked a bit puzzled.
"So Ms. Seo-yeon does get nervous when acting."
"Well... yes. I'm human too."
Seo-yeon smiled awkwardly.
Actually, the reason she was nervous about acting today was for a different reason.
'The scene where I grapple and fight with Michiko.'
Jo Seo-hee, who didn't pay much mind to Seo-yeon's physical abilities, just tilted her head.
However, Seo-yeon, who already had a track record of sending two actors to the hospital during the filming of
Because, once she immersed herself in the role, mistakes would sometimes occur.