Chapter 139
Ha Sangdo.
Before my regression, he had been the head of the production company behind the final film I ever worked on.
Of course, the film hadn’t fallen apart because of Ha Sangdo’s mistake.
But that incident eventually became the reason I left the film industry.
And that choice, after winding through everything that followed, ultimately led to me regressing from 2024 all the way back to 2004.
So the thought of meeting Ha Sangdo again naturally stirred up complicated emotions.
While I was briefly lost in thought, our local coordinator Kim Jihoon began explaining tomorrow’s schedule.
“Tomorrow, breakfast is at nine.”
“After that, we’ll head to the convention center to get your badges issued.”
“Director Song has three interviews scheduled until three in the afternoon, so from then on I’ll move with him.”
“The rest of you can handle your own schedules, then we’ll all regroup for the opening ceremony.”
The group immediately grew lively at his explanation.
“Assistant Director Woo will move with Director Song.”
Ju Hanyoung continued.
“PD Baek and Team Leader Min, what are you planning to do?”
“I’ll take CEO Han and Executive Director Kim to the National Pavilion event first.”
“After that, we’ll either head to the Film Market or go straight to the opening ceremony.”
Baek Seonghan answered quickly.
“I’ll probably need to stay with Director Song and support him.”
Cha Seungjoon hesitated for a moment before looking at me.
“What about you, CEO Min?”
“Ah, I’d like to move around on my own tomorrow.”
“What?”
Cha Seungjoon looked betrayed.
“Then what am I supposed to do by myself?”
Baek Seonghan immediately cut in.
“What else? Manager Cha can just come with us and help Director Song.”
Cha Seungjoon’s shoulders sagged.
“Ah... interviews are boring. Ahem.”
Everyone burst into laughter at his reaction.
Baek Seonghan looked back at me.
“By the way, CEO Min.”
“You were asking where the Splendid Hotel was earlier.”
“Are you really meeting someone there tomorrow?”
“Me?”
I hesitated.
“Ah... well... nothing’s confirmed yet. Ahem.”
Seeing me dodge the question, Baek Seonghan tilted his head suspiciously.
Just then, actors Han Seokgu and Na Sungjoon arrived at the restaurant.
“Why didn’t Actress Yoo Seolhee come with you?”
“Oh, she said she has to diet for tomorrow’s red carpet.”
“She’s been starving since yesterday.”
“Oh dear, dieting...”
Baek Seonghan looked toward Han Seokgu.
“But why are you eating, Senior Han?”
“If anything, aren’t you the one who needs the diet?”
Han Seokgu wrinkled his nose for no reason.
“What weight do I have to lose?”
“The tuxedo I brought is already loose.”
“If I want the suit to fit properly, I should actually gain weight.”
At Han Seokgu’s shameless answer, everyone burst into laughter.
Then Na Sungjoon, who had been laughing with the rest of us, suddenly remembered something.
“Oh, right.”
“I saw Director Steven Berg in the hotel lobby around lunchtime.”
“Really?”
Cha Seungjoon’s eyes widened.
“Are you staying at the same hotel as Director Steven?”
“I don’t think so.”
Na Sungjoon shook his head.
“But he was sitting in the lobby talking with some people.”
“Wow.”
Cha Seungjoon looked impressed.
“This really is Cannes.”
“You get to see a world-famous director right in front of you.”
Assistant Director Woo Jungin also looked excited.
“They said he’s the president of this year’s jury, right?”
“I think I’d get nervous just seeing him in person.”
“Do you think we’ll see him at the opening ceremony?”
“Honestly, I’m more curious about Director Jean Dumont.”
“Do you think he’ll come to the opening ceremony tomorrow?”
At the name Jean Dumont, Executive Director Kim Eunkyung, who had quietly been listening to us, reacted.
“Kibaek, you like Jean Dumont’s films too?”
“I do as well.”
“Really?”
I looked toward her.
“I heard Director Jean Dumont attends Cannes almost every year.”
“Do you think he’ll come this time too?”
“I don’t know.”
Kim Eunkyung smiled faintly.
“Even if he does, I’m not sure we’ll get a proper look at him.”
“He’s far too famous.”
And so, over dinner, we talked excitedly about the film festival starting the next day.
Of course, I was excited too.
But my excitement was different from everyone else’s.
Right.
If I don’t get a chance to meet Jean Dumont at tomorrow’s opening ceremony, I may never get another chance.
Meeting Jean Dumont.
Meeting Ha Sangdo.
Could I really pull both of them off?
For some reason, my palms were already getting sweaty.
The next morning, after a simple breakfast, we arrived at the convention center to get our festival badges.
It was only around ten in the morning, but the badge center was already packed with filmmakers from all over the world.
Long lines stretched through the hall.
Coordinator Kim Jihoon calmly led our group into one of them.
Cha Seungjoon stared at the endless line ahead.
“Wow. There are seriously a lot of people.”
Song Jaehyun smiled at him.
“This is part of the festival too.”
“Doesn’t it make you excited?”
While we waited, I looked around.
Conversations in countless languages overlapped all around us.
People exchanged business cards.
Others received their badges with excited expressions and immediately hung them around their necks.
After about thirty minutes of waiting, our turn finally came.
The staff checked our passports and invitation letters before handing out the badges one by one.
The moment we received them, everyone instinctively put theirs around their neck.
“Coordinator Kim, where did you say Director Song’s interviews were today?”
“Ah, there are three confirmed ones for now.”
“Libération, Le Figaro, and Cine21.”
“Depending on the situation, two more might be added.”
