I’ve Become a Genius Actor
Chapter 69:

Gu Chanik shook hands with the man, showing a pleasantly surprised recognition.

【Philippe Sciamma. A French film director. He won the Screenplay Award at the Berlin Film Festival two years ago.】

‘…!’

Yooil, taken aback by the new information, briefly paused before Philippe naturally wedged himself into the conversation between the three, beginning to show tremendous affinity.

“I remember seeing you in Berlin before.”

“Yes, that's right! It’s an honor to meet like this.”

Philippe shook hands with Hwang Yiwon, speaking cheerfully.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Philippe Sciamma. …I was very impressed by <Preparatory Work>.”

With slightly widened eyes, Hwang Yiwon nodded and replied in fluent English.

“You've seen that? It’s quite an old movie.”

“Looking for good movies is my only hobby.”

While chatting with Hwang Yiwon, Philippe kept glancing at Yooil and eventually started staring at him. Yooil felt a bit flustered under his penetrating hazel eyes.

Philippe stepped forward towards Han Yooil and spoke.

“Sorry… but how exactly should I pronounce your name? Wi, Il… Wueil?”

“It’s ‘Yooil’.”

Yooil quickly added,

“But feel free to call me whatever is comfortable for you.”

“Oh… I see. Sorry. Yool.”

【It’s a nickname now.】

‘…Don’t say unnecessary things.’

“Are you all attending the after-party tonight?”

Philippe’s question prompted Brion to add an explanation.

【It seems to refer to the Berlin Film Festival after-party starting this evening at Bar Jeder Vernunft.】

The party was known for its unique sophisticated design and sponsored by the high-end fashion brand GuX.

Catching Yooil’s gaze, Director Gu Chanik shook his head and muttered,

“Flashing lights and noise, not really my cup of tea.”

‘…Hmm.’

“The director prefers a quiet rest,” Han Yooil diplomatically conveyed Gu Chanik's sentiments, to which Philippe exclaimed disappointedly,

“No way. DJ Niki and Lyn Kim will be there tonight!”

“…I heard that person was retiring.”

Surprisingly, it was Hwang Yiwon who responded.

“Wow, you know about Lyn Kim? But she didn’t retire! Kim started releasing albums again last year. They’re really cool… wait, let me show you.”

【Lyn Kim is a Korean DJ and electronic music producer with a career spanning about 20 years.】

As Brion explained, Hwang Yiwon and Philippe Sciamma were already sharing their favorite Lyn Kim tracks, seeming quite close.

The sun, which had been high in the sky, was now gradually setting. It was due to the long walk they had taken, covering places like Berliner Dom and Checkpoint Charlie.

“We better not be late.”

Hwang Yiwon’s comment was met with a nod from Yooil. Philippe seemed reluctant but soon smiled.

“Well then, it was a pleasure.”

“See you at the party.”

“Salut!”

With a bright smile, Philippe waved his hand, watching the backs of the three filmmakers from Korea until they disappeared from sight. The faint smile on his face gradually deepened. 

Just then, Philippe's phone rang.

– A.B: How's it looking? Think it'll work out?

Receiving the text, Philippe replied with a smirk.

– Of course. Don’t you trust me?

– A.B: (sigh emoji)

Philippe casually brushed off the response and continued on his way.

* * *

Meanwhile, in a Seoul boarding house.

HM, forced into a semi-mandatory SNS detox due to impending exams, could only indulge in the modern marvel of a smartphone once a week. That was why HM was belatedly catching up on Han Yooil’s online fan meeting.

‘I missed it…’

HM clenched her fist tight enough to pop a vein. Eyes moistening with regret, HM was seriously considering attending Han Yooil’s offline fan meeting if it ever happened.

‘Even… they talked with Harang… and played speed quizzes…’

HM should have been there to see it live!

Swallowing tears, HM joined the newly created ‘YooilMui' (Only Yooil) fan cafe. But soon, they hit an unexpected roadblock.

‘I have to visit for ten more days to see the posts.’

At this rate, HM wouldn't be able to become a regular member until after the exams.

Resigned, HM started scouring the internet, hoping to grasp any scrap of information to alleviate the frustration.

– Han Yooil in Berlin yesterday (photos included)

[(Photos) (Photos) (Photos)

It was the day of the first screening of <The Mysterious Garden>]

┗ That cobalt blue suit, damn; it suits him so well.

┗ I’ve never seen anyone pull off that color so well… any other celebs who can?

┗┗ True

┗┗ Twinkie Hyena

┗┗ Jung Suho… he wore cobalt blue for his recent play

┗┗ All famous white as snow

┗ The vibe is unreal crazy…ㅠㅠ even the slightly overcast weather is a perfect match

┗ At this point, isn’t Berlin Han Yooil’s personal color?

Deep into reading the comments, HM stumbled upon another post.

This time it was a thread with a Shasta screenshot from someone who met Han Yooil in person at the Berlin Film Festival.

– The actor who talked to and signed autographs for each Korean fan on the red carpet

[(Photos) (Photos) (Shasta screenshot)

= Han Yooil]

┗ Crazy… look at that close-up shot

┗ Wow, the selfie and this feel totally different…? Maybe the rear camera suits him better

┗┗ No.. it’s because Yool's a selfie godㅠ

┗┗ Ah……

┗ What's with this red carpet vibe, suddenly feeling flustered;;

┗┗ True.. I only saw him acting in school uniforms, thought he was a baby

┗┗ He’s a 23-year-old veteran, not a baby..

┗┗ Just a passerby in their 2n's getting hurt

┗┗ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

┗ But really, the styling makes such a difference

┗┗ ㄲ Amazing

┗ Anyway, the guy who got the autograph looks so happy

┗┗ Jealous,,

┗┗ ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ I went into his Shasta, and Han Yooil kept asking if they were cold,,

┗┗ Guilty as charged

┗┗222222

After spending a while chasing after Han Yooil’s updates, HM clenched her teeth. Determined that if she passed the civil service exam, she would devote herself to fandom with all her might.

* * *

While Yooil and Hwang Yiwon were exploring Berlin with Gu Chanik, Min Woojin, Haeyeon, and a few JJ Entertainment staff members, along with Hwang Yiwon’s dedicated team and <The Mysterious Garden> production staff, were spending their time resting and meeting at the hotel.

As soon as they returned to the hotel, the hectic makeup session began.

Min Woojin grabbed Yooil’s arm and exclaimed,

“Yooil! Stand tall, never let your spirit falter!”

After shouting, Woojin let go of his arm. The area where his hand had been was damp with sweat. Haeyeon, seeing this, tried to punch Woojin in the solar plexus, causing a minor commotion.

Yooil looked at his reflection in the mirror. This time, he wore a deep green jacket with a logo pattern and an ivory shirt underneath.

“You look good in anything… but you’re a perfect match with GuX, Actor!”

With encouragement from Haeyeon and Woojin, Yooil left the room after a brief interview with Hwang Yiwon in the hotel and headed to the location of the after-party.

The front of the bar was already swarming with reporters and fans.

‘…It’s noisy.’

It was a glamorous and chaotic space. Faces familiar yet nameless, and people whose names were known but faces unfamiliar, mingled together.

Hwang Yiwon, along with the head of the production company, headed somewhere, leaving Yooil with a reminder not to drink too much.

‘Probably going to talk about the next project.’

Yooil sipped a sweet cocktail, surveying the surroundings.

He had never been to a club before, so his only impressions were from snippets in movies and dramas. The thumping beat that made his head ring, the intense light from colorful strobes, and the fog machines.

Even without being intoxicated, he felt slightly dizzy.

He intended to be a wallflower, but he unintentionally kept receiving inquiries.

“Are you an actor?”

“Ah, perhaps from Director Gu’s…?”

“Wow! You’re the boy from <The Mysterious Garden>, aren’t you?”

Brion kept adding brief explanations about the people Yooil’s gaze met.

【Ellen Garel. A sought-after cinematographer in Hollywood recently.】

【Nacho Patino. A film director from Spain, awarded a special mention three years ago.】

As he was absorbing this information, a familiar nickname was called out.

“Yool…!”

Turning his head, Philippe, whom he had met just a few hours ago, was there.

But the people accompanying him… were extraordinary.

【Amy Baumbeck. A director and screenwriter from NYU, who won the Screenplay Award at the Academy Awards 5 years ago with <The Sea Where the Pearl was Lost>.】

【David Ferguson. An actor and singer, and the lead in Amy Baumbeck’s <The Sea Where the Pearl was Lost>.】

"…Philippe."

"Wow~ I almost didn't recognize you, Yool!" Philippe, who had been in casual denim and a hoodie earlier, was now dressed in a neat purple shirt and a black jacket.

"You're the lead in this latest film by Director Gu, right?" Amy Baumbeck, with her long Rasta hair, extended her hand towards Yooil. Her white teeth sparkled as she smiled under the lights. After briefly introducing Amy and David, Philippe led Yooil away from the speakers to a quieter spot.

It was only then that Yooil's head started to feel a bit clearer.

"I was surprised at the screening yesterday. Your performance was impressive."

This was the first thing David said to Yooil after the introductions.

"Thank you."

"Have you been acting for long?"

"Two years… I see. So, have you studied acting at an academy or something similar?"

"Was the shooting period long?"

A confusing mix of ice-breaking and interviewing passed by.

"…Anyway, it's nice to meet you. I really enjoyed <The Sea Where the Pearl was Lost>."

"Oh, thank you."

Amy chuckled lightly and then gestured towards Philippe and David.

"We've become close after working together a few years ago. These two helped me a lot when I was in a tough spot."

She playfully grimaced and wiggled her fingers.

"…Actually, we're currently scouting candidates for a project." Sᴇaʀch* Thᴇ NøvᴇlFirᴇ(.)nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

"Candidates?"

"We're planning to shoot a short film during the festival! It's A and my idea."

Philippe quickly interjected, and Amy added,

"It'll only take a day or two at most. We're doing it just for fun."

Philippe mentioned he had a camera and Amy had recording equipment, implying they could shoot a short film. A camera and a recording device. It was a light and minimalistic shooting setup, completely different from the sets Yooil had been on.

"Have you decided on the ‘candidates'?"

"Well, we have to convince them now."

Yooil, watching Amy, Philippe, and David exchange glances, furrowed his brows in puzzlement.

‘…Is convincing actors that difficult?'

Yooil slowly spoke up.

"Wouldn't anyone in acting be interested in trying it at least once? It sounds like a fun project."

"Really?" Amy's face lit up. As he thought her expression was overly bright, she spoke up.

"Then let's do it together, Yool!"

"…?"

Amy extended her hand towards Yooil.

"I'd really like you to be the lead for it."

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