Chapter 154
The main MC, Jeon Hyunggyu, and the panelists were already seated on the set.
“Welcome!”
Jeon Hyunggyu guided us to the center seats at the oval table.
Baek Seonghan and Cha Seungjoon remained below the set, watching us from offstage.
Once I sat down, I quickly looked around.
Several HD ENG cameras stood in front of me, and on the large PDP monitor across the studio was my own face, visibly tense.
Until the moment I entered the studio, I hadn’t really felt nervous.
But the second I sat down, my heart started pounding.
The tension was finally hitting me.
Ha... calm down.
There’s nothing to be nervous about.
I steadied myself and glanced to the side.
Director Song Jaehyun didn’t look much better than I did.
Even a veteran director who had commanded countless film sets was clearly nervous when standing in front of the camera rather than behind it.
Seeing that made me chuckle.
Strangely enough, some of my own tension eased.
Then...
“All right! One minute until recording!”
The director’s booming voice instantly silenced the studio.
“Everyone, standby!”
“Please check your phones one more time and make sure they’re off!”
Right.
There’s nothing to be nervous about.
Since I’m doing this anyway, I might as well enjoy it.
My fist tightened without me realizing it.
“All right, we’re starting.”
“Five, four, three, two, one... cue!”
At the director’s cue, bright opening music began playing.
Then the energetic voice of main MC Jeon Hyunggyu broke through the silence.
“Last week, unbelievable news came to us from Cannes, France, the heart of world cinema!”
“That news was that Kingdom of Crime, a film created by one of Korea’s genius directors, had won the Palme d’Or!”
From that opening remark, Jeon Hyunggyu and the panelists launched into lively banter.
“Honestly, I still can’t believe it.”
Film critic Lee Sungwoo exaggeratedly placed a hand over his chest.
“The Palme d’Or at Cannes!”
“I was so overwhelmed and proud that I almost cried.”
Director Go Jinseong immediately responded.
“To be honest, I already knew they were going to win, so I was calmer than I expected.”
“You already knew?”
Singer-songwriter Woo Jonghyun stared at him.
“How?”
“You didn’t know, Jonghyun?”
“No, I didn’t.”
Woo Jonghyun looked genuinely confused.
“It’s not like the jury results leaked in advance, so how could you possibly know?”
Go Jinseong shook his head as if disappointed.
“My goodness.”
“Don’t you remember what the world-famous master Jean Dumont said after watching the gala screening of Kingdom of Crime?”
He dramatically raised his voice.
“If Kingdom of Crime fails to win the Palme d’Or, then it will be a trick of God!”
“Ah!”
The other panelists finally understood and burst into laughter.
“That was the moment I knew.”
Go Jinseong nodded solemnly.
“Ah, Kingdom of Crime is going to win the Palme d’Or this year.”
“Oh, come on.”
Woo Jonghyun laughed.
“If that’s what you mean, then I had a pretty good idea too.”
Jeon Hyunggyu smoothly took over again.
“All right, then!”
“Let us finally welcome the stars of today’s show, the people who elevated not only the status of Korean cinema, but perhaps even the prestige of Korean culture itself!”
“Director Song Jaehyun of Kingdom of Crime, and producer CEO Min Kibaek!”
“Welcome!”
The panelists erupted into applause and cheers.
For a moment, I froze.
I had no idea how I was supposed to react.
Then Song Jaehyun spoke beside me.
“Hello. I’m film director Song Jaehyun.”
He smiled comfortably at the camera.
“Thank you for inviting us, and thank you even more for such an enthusiastic welcome.”
“Director Song, this isn’t your first time on Movie Talk, is it?”
Jeon Hyunggyu continued naturally.
“No.”
“I appeared once before for my previous film, Timeless.”
“If I remember correctly, there was a different host back then.”
“That’s right.”
“At the time, Noh Hansik was probably the MC.”
Jeon Hyunggyu smiled.
“In any case, it’s an honor for us to have you back.”
Song Jaehyun waved it off.
“Oh, what honor?”
“I’m the one who should feel honored. Thank you.”
What the hell?
Just because he’s been on once before, he’s this relaxed?
Song Jaehyun was making eye contact with the camera naturally.
He looked almost experienced.
Then Jeon Hyunggyu turned toward me.
“All right, shall we ask the gentleman beside him to introduce himself to our Movie Talk viewers as well?”
I snapped back to reality.
“Ah, yes.”
“Hello.”
“I’m Min Kibaek.”
“I’m the co-CEO of the film company New Wave together with Director Song Jaehyun, and I served as a producer on Kingdom of Crime.”
“Wonderful. It’s a pleasure to have you.”
Jeon Hyunggyu smiled.
“We’ve invited plenty of directors, actors, cinematographers, and other staff members before.”
“But I think this may be the first time we’ve invited the head of a production company like this.”
“Ah... really?”
I smiled awkwardly, trying to hide my nervousness.
Woo Jonghyun spoke next.
“I looked into your background, and apparently you’re also currently the head of the planning team at production company Big Picture.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I originally worked in the planning team at Big Picture.”
“Then later, Director Song and I founded New Wave together.”
“Wow.”
Woo Jonghyun leaned back dramatically.
“You’re only thirty years old by international age, right?”
“You’re handsome, capable... honestly, that’s impressive.”
“What? Ah... thank you. Ahem.”
The excessive praise made me smile awkwardly.
Jeon Hyunggyu smoothly redirected the conversation.
“We’ll come back to CEO Min’s unusual career later.”
“For now, shall we watch a short clip?”
His hosting was seamless, exactly what you would expect from a veteran MC.
“Most viewers have probably already seen this footage.”
