Chapter 18: Additional Screenings
As soon as breakfast ended, Geonwoo and Hyunsoo headed to the festival office.
The place was busier than expected.
Phones rang constantly, and staff members switched between laptop screens and printed schedules.
The entire festival timetable was posted across one wall.
The person who greeted them worked on the screening team.
"Director Baek Geonwoo, thank you for coming."
"Not at all."
The staff member led them to a small meeting table.
A laptop and printed schedule were placed on top.
The staff member got straight to the point.
"Since yesterday's GV, we've received many inquiries asking for additional screenings of Before the Light Reaches."
Hyunsoo's eyes widened.
"Additional screening inquiries?"
The staff member nodded.
"The regular screenings ended yesterday, but after checking internally, we believe we can open several small-theater slots during the latter half of the festival."
Hyunsoo looked at Geonwoo.
Geonwoo silently watched the staff member.
The schedule was turned toward them.
"There are three available screenings."
Hyunsoo swallowed.
"Three?"
"Yes. The theaters aren't large, and there won't be any GV sessions. They'll be ordinary screenings. But because we've received so many requests, if the director and your team agree, we can officially announce three additional screenings."
Geonwoo looked down.
[Before the Light Reaches - Additional Screening 1]
[Tomorrow 15:30 / Busan Cinema Center Small Theater]
[Before the Light Reaches - Additional Screening 2]
[Day After Tomorrow 15:10 / Busan Cinema Center Small Theater]
[Before the Light Reaches - Additional Screening 3]
[Following Day 15:40 / Busan Cinema Center Small Theater]
Hyunsoo stared at the schedule, then stopped.
"Wait."
The staff member looked at him.
Hyunsoo pointed toward the bottom.
"These overlap with Low Ceiling."
Geonwoo followed Hyunsoo's finger.
[Low Ceiling - 1st Screening]
[Tomorrow 15:20 / Busan Cinema Center Grand Theater]
[GV after screening]
[Low Ceiling - 2nd Screening]
[Day After Tomorrow 15:00 / Busan Cinema Center Grand Theater]
[Low Ceiling - 3rd Screening]
[Following Day 15:30 / Busan Cinema Center Grand Theater]
Hyunsoo's expression stiffened slightly.
"And they're in the Grand Theater while we're in the Small Theater."
"Yes. Low Ceiling was already scheduled as one of the major anticipated films of the latter half of the festival, so it received the Grand Theater."
Grand Theater and Small Theater.
The number of seats was completely different.
If they screened at the same time, the audience would have to choose one.
And one of those movies was playing in the Grand Theater.
It starred top actor Seo Jiwan.
Moon Taeseok's name was attached to it.
It was already being called the Vision section's major anticipated film in articles.
The staff member carefully said,
"That's why we needed to confirm this with you. The additional screenings are a sign of strong response, but because the time slots overlap, it could also create pressure."
Hyunsoo looked at Geonwoo.
"Hyung."
That one word contained many things.
Extra screenings were an amazing opportunity.
But they were also dangerous.
They would be directly competing against Low Ceiling in the Grand Theater.
Comparisons were inevitable.
"They have a huge advantage. Even the theater size is completely different."
Geonwoo raised his head.
"I know."
"You're still going to do it?"
The meeting area became quiet.
The staff member added nothing.
Geonwoo answered.
"We made a good movie, and additional screenings mean we can meet more audience members. Of course we're doing it."
Hyunsoo stared at him.
Geonwoo looked at the festival representative.
"We'll take the screenings."
The staff member confirmed,
"All three?"
"Yes. That's fine. No... thank you for giving us this opportunity."
"Then we'll announce that ticketing opens at ten tonight."
The staff member added,
"We still need to register it in the ticketing system and confirm the announcement copy. The final notice will probably go up late this afternoon. We'll contact you first."
"Understood."
Another schedule was printed and handed to Geonwoo.
"We would have preferred not to overlap the screenings, but the latter half of the festival is completely packed. I hope you can understand."
"Of course. Again, thank you for giving us the opportunity."
"We're the ones who should thank you. There were genuinely a lot of inquiries after yesterday's GV."
Hyunsoo immediately raised his head.
"How many?"
"I can't give you an exact number, but it's very unusual for a Vision film whose regular screenings have already finished."
The corners of Hyunsoo's mouth rose.
The staff member continued.
"Since we're the ones asking you to stay for additional screenings, do you need your hotel rooms extended too? If you'd like, we can extend them until the closing ceremony."
"Can the actors stay too?"
Geonwoo asked immediately.
"Of course."
"That's a relief."
"Was your original checkout date today?"
"Yes."
"Then we'll arrange for you to remain in your current rooms."
As they left the office, people with festival passes moved through the hallway.
Some rushed past while talking on the phone.
Others stood in front of the timetable, circling screenings with pens.
Hyunsoo walked several steps, then stopped.
"Hyung."
"Yeah?"
"This is good, right?"
"Of course it's good."
"But aren't we going up against them too directly?"
Geonwoo didn't answer.
Hyunsoo unfolded the schedule.
"They're in the Grand Theater. The first screening even has a GV. Seo Jiwan is coming too, right?"
"Probably."
"We're in the Small Theater with no GV. Even for the audience award, they're way ahead. They have more seats."
Geonwoo let him finish.
Hyunsoo folded the schedule, then opened it again.
"But people have to choose one of us. That means we'll be compared. No matter how good our movie is, that's Seo Jiwan. Moon Taeseok's name is attached to it too. And Kwon Taeoh already has tons of articles."
Geonwoo looked through the glass door at the end of the hall.
Sunlight stretched across the floor.
"Hyunsoo."
"Yeah?"
"They're definitely in a better position. But our movie had already finished its run, and now it's being screened again. That's enough for me."
He smiled slightly.
"Let's not focus too much on Low Ceiling. We made a good movie. You know that, right?"
"Of course I do."
"Then that's enough."
Hyunsoo finally nodded.
"Fine. I won't complain anymore."
Geonwoo smiled.
Hyunsoo shook his head.
"You're seriously strange."
"What?"
"Smiling in a situation like this."
Hyunsoo pulled out his phone.
Notifications from the group chat were already on his lock screen.
[Kang Taejun: Is the meeting over?]
[Kang Taejun: What did they say?]
[Han Yura: Should we keep packing for checkout?]
Hyunsoo immediately replied.
[Jung Hyunsoo: ADDITIONAL SCREENINGS CONFIRMED!!]
Replies came almost instantly.
[Kang Taejun: ???]
[Kang Taejun: WHAT?]
[Kang Taejun: EXTRA SCREENINGS????]
[Han Yura: Really?]
Taejun called immediately.
