Superstar From Age 0

Chapter 243

Seo-jun took his notebook where he wrote his impressions during the discussion. 

Now, all he had to do was organize his notes and the recording, and one of his summer homework assignments would be done.

We finished earlier than I thought.

Thats because we all prepared well.

But what was that book concert you mentioned earlier?

The kids looked at Seo-jun curiously at Jukyungs question.

I was looking at books in a bookstore when a publishers employee asked me if I wanted to see a book concert. It sounded fun, so I went. There was no time for lunch, though.

Why did they have a book concert at that time?

That was because the book was on the verge of flopping, and it was hard to find a place at any other time, but Seo-jun and the kids didnt know that.

Jaehan, who loved books, sparkled his eyes.

Who was the author? Do I know them?

It was their debut work.

Seo-jun took out [Mirror] from his bag. 

The cover had Choi Dayes signature in black pen. 

Jaehan quickly took the book and examined it.

A rookie author, huh? How was the book?

It was interesting. I got a signature too.

Seo-jun said he enjoyed reading it, and the other kids became interested too. 

While they were looking at the book, Jinho quickly searched for Mirror on his phone.

There are no reviews on the internet.

I guess its not a very popular book.

Hmm. But the plot seems interesting. Seo-jun, can I borrow your book?

Jaehan seemed intrigued by the plot that Jinho showed him.

Sure.

He was planning to buy another copy anyway, since he wanted to keep the signed one and use the other one for adaptation. 

Besides, he had to show it to Dahohyung first, who had to talk to the publisher.

Jaehan smiled brightly and put [Mirror] in his bag.

So what do you want to do now?

The reading discussion, which was the reason they gathered today, was over, but it was too early to go home. 

Juhee asked, and Jinho raised his hand.

Lets go to an escape room. Theres a new one nearby. They have various themes.

He must have searched it already, because Jinhos phone screen showed the escape room website. Among the many themes, one stood out.

Uh this one?

Hahaha. What is this?

Lets try this one!

A zombie-themed escape room game.

The name was [Escape].

Seo-jun and the kids burst into laughter at the familiar name.

***

After the weekend, on Monday.

Seo-juns manager, Anh Da Ho, visited Seo-juns house earlier than usual since it was summer break.

Dahohyung. Do you want to read this?

As usual, he put down a box with scripts and received a book from Seo-jun.

[Mirror]

[Author: Choi Daye / Publisher: Hero]

The signed copy he got from Choi Daye was lent to Jaehan, and the book he gave to Anh Da Ho was a new one he bought after parting with his friends.

I never imagined there would be only one copy left in stock.

If there were no books in the warehouse or they were sold out in the meantime, he wouldnt have been able to show it to Dahohyung today.

Whats this book?

While Anh Da Ho examined the book, Seo-jun took out the synopses and scripts that Anh Da Ho brought and put them on the table.

He smiled contentedly at the six scripts and picked one of them.

I applied for a graduation performance.

Right.

Anh Da Ho and Team 2 were also helping Seo-jun find a work to perform for his graduation, so they knew well.

I want to do this one.

This book?

Yes. It was interesting.

Anh Da Ho looked at the book with mixed feelings.

He and Team 2 had been looking for it so hard, but Seo-jun found it first. 

He felt sorry for not doing his job as a manager and an agency, but also relieved that they found it anyway.

Hold on. I need to call Team 2.

He had to let the poor staff who were wandering around Daehakro return as soon as possible.

-Yes. Team Leader An.

Seo-jun found a work for his graduation performance, so tell everyone to come back.

-Oh? Did you find it?

-Wow!! You found it!

-Team Leader An is different! How did you know Seo-juns taste and find it?

-Should we have a party today?

The noisy cheers of Team 2 staff over the phone reached Seo-jun as well. Anh Da Ho said in a heavy voice.

Seo-jun found it.

-Ah, I see. Okay.

The noise died down in an instant at Anh Da Hos words. Seo-jun laughed and said.

What does it matter who found it?

No, it does. This is a matter of pride as a manager and a dedicated team. You dont know how happy Team 2 was when they recommended Escape and the role and you chose them.

Really?

Thats true.

Seo-jun scratched his cheek in embarrassment. 

He felt sorry for Dahohyung, who was working hard as a manager, but he still had something to say.

You know what, Dahohyung.

Yeah?

I asked the author and the publishers employee. The author agreed, but the publisher said they had to discuss it.

Anh Da Ho, who was about to read [Mirror], put down the book and lost his words at Seo-juns words, who took away Team 2s job of getting the authors permission.

He looked at Seo-jun, who was rolling his eyes on the opposite seat, and opened his mouth.

Do I have to thank you for not getting the publishers permission? Are you trying to do Team 2s job too?

Ahahaha.

Half sorry, half unbelievable.

Anh Da Ho couldnt help but laugh along with Seo-jun, who laughed awkwardly at his emotions.

So when did you go to the publisher? When did you meet the author?

I didnt go to the publisher.

Seo-jun told him what happened at the bookstore. 

Anh Da Ho looked at the book and Seo-jun alternately and exclaimed sincerely.

It seems like the works are coming to Seo-jun themselves.

It seemed like the works were finding the actor who would make them shine the most.

How lucky you are. How did you meet them?

Ahahaha.

Seo-jun thought so too.

Im glad I found the ability in the Library of Life.

If it werent for [(Pre)Dandelion Fluffs Fate], he might have thought they were weird and passed them by.

But Im glad you found it.

The later he found it, the less time the actors who would share the stage with Seo-jun had to practice. 

He remembered how Seo-jun was worried about that.

So you have to find the actors, the stage props, and the music too?

Im planning to find the actors as soon as the second semester starts. There arent many roles, so I think I can choose them quickly.

Anh Da Ho smiled awkwardly at Seo-juns words.

That wont be easy, will it?

He didnt tell Seo-jun, but Cocoa Entertainment received several calls asking what Seo-juns graduation performance work was.

They must be parents of second or third graders in Yeoul Arts Middle School, right?

Or maybe academy staff.

They heard that Seo-jun applied for a graduation performance, but they didnt know what work it was, so they wanted to study the roles early and secure a spot for their son, daughter, or student.

There were about 80 students in Yeoul Arts Middle Schools acting departments second and third grades. 

Probably at least half of them would apply for Seo-juns graduation performance, according to Team 2s opinion.

Its too early to tell him now Ill have to tell him before school starts.

Thinking that, Anh Da Ho listened to Seo-juns plan with sparkling eyes.

Theres no set background, props, or music for the stage, so I have to choose everything from scratch. I have some music in mind that I thought of while reading the book, but I dont know if it will suit the play.

Except for the original work, this play was like a blank sheet of paper that Seo-jun had to decide from start to finish. 

It was a disadvantage and an advantage that he had a lot to think about and decide.

It will be hard, but fun.

He was happy just thinking about how to decorate the stage.

Will you adapt it yourself?

He had to change the novel into a script for a play.

He had to separate long sentences into narration and dialogue, change and compress the story to suit the play, cut out unnecessary parts, and arrange them to fit the play.

Seo-jun nodded at Anh Da Hos question.

Yes. I want to try it myself during summer break.

It seems like you have plenty of time.

Ive seen a lot of scripts and I have the original work, so it should be easier than creating something from scratch. And I have a lot of people to ask for advice.

There were directors and writers. If necessary, he could ask Baram Theater Group too.

Okay. Let me read it first.

Okay.

While Anh Da Ho read [Mirror] slowly, Seo-jun read down the six scripts.

Hmm.

His perspective changed when he thought about directing the stage play.

He would have closed some scripts right away if they had boring plots or awkward dialogues, but he paid more attention to the direction of each scene than the story.

Wouldnt this be better than that?

Seo-jun drew a line on the first page of the script with his pen.

He could picture the scenes in his head with the movies and dramas he had seen so far.

He changed a full shot to a close-up shot, hid an intense characters emotion, and hinted at the culprits identity faintly.

After modifying fifteen pages like that, he read them from the beginning and smirked.

Its a mess.

He laughed when he saw how messy it was. It felt like he scribbled on a picture that was already completed in its own way.

Well. I didnt expect it to be done in a day.

He relaxed his tense muscles with a laugh. It was harder than he thought to apply what he knew right away.

Hmm.

Is it not going well?

Anh Da Ho asked with a smile as he watched Seo-jun while reading his book.

He must have seen a lot of works and scripts by now, but it was still difficult to put them into practice.

Seo-jun scratched his cheek and smiled sheepishly.

Well, I didnt think it would be done in a day.

Right. Take your time. You have plenty of time.

Yes.

Seo-jun started writing something on his script again. He spun his pen around as if his head was complicated. He flipped through some pages and then opened the first page again.

He realized that this was a script for a movie, not a play.

Shooting from right to left, full shot to close-up shot, cutting and pasting scenes after shooting them all, movies and plays that had to be performed from start to finish on stage in front of the audience had different directions.

Dahohyung.

Yeah?

Do you have the scripts for the plays you showed me?

Yeah. Theyre in the companys warehouse.

Anh Da Ho nodded at Seo-juns question.

He had collected a lot of scripts for the graduation performance, except for a few that Seo-jun liked, they were all in Cocoa Entertainments warehouse.

Can you bring them to me?

All of them?

No, just the ones based on novels.

Okay. Got it.

While Anh Da Ho contacted Team 2, Seo-jun went into his room and looked through the scripts on his bookshelf. 

It was a bookshelf with scripts of movies, dramas, plays, and other works that Seo-jun found interesting and cool. 

Seo-jun took out the scripts of the plays that he liked the direction of.

He could do a better job of adapting [Mirror] if he analyzed how they adapted novels into plays, and what kind of direction suited the plays he liked.

Seo-juns eyes sparkled as he picked out one script after another. 

He thought this play would be really fun too.

Four days later.

Considering the secondary rights, legal issues, positive and negative effects of YouTube exposure, and the promotional effect of the play on the book, Team 2 of Cocoa Entertainment dedicated to Lee Seo-jun was able to draft a contract.

Only after a rough contract was made did Anh Da Ho, Seo-juns manager, contact Kim Hyungwon, an employee of Hero, the publisher of [Mirror].