Chapter 48: In Fribourg
Early March.
Two days before his flight, Geonwoo stopped by TS ENM.
The production schedule for The Night the King Died lay open across the meeting-room table.
The producer turned one page of the calendar.
“We’ve kept trying to coordinate the date for the full table read.”
Geonwoo looked at him.
“It isn’t working?”
“No.”
“It’s difficult once we try to include the major supporting actors too.”
Nam Giheon had advertisement schedules.
Han Eunchae and Min Jaeha also had filming already booked.
The same went for the actors playing the King and Chief State Councillor.
The producer pointed to several marked dates.
“We could force a single day into spring.”
Geonwoo thought for a moment.
“Our shoot isn’t until November.”
“How about we schedule the reading for later than spring?”
“If you’re okay with that, I think it would be better.”
“Then let’s postpone the reading.”
“Understood.”
The producer erased the tentative reading dates from the calendar.
Geonwoo checked the art department materials beside it.
The set layout and costume concepts would continue as planned.
“If anything urgent comes up while I’m at the festival, call me.”
“We should make sure nothing does.”
The producer laughed.
“You’re traveling all the way to Switzerland because you were invited.”
“You should focus on the festival while you’re there.”
“While you’re at it, you might casually mention that you’re preparing a new film too.”
“Haha. Understood.”
Geonwoo laughed and closed the documents.
At that moment, his phone vibrated.
It was the Before the Light Reaches group chat.
Kang Taejun had posted first.
[Kang Taejun: Everyone packed your passports, right?]
[Kang Taejun: Especially Director.]
Geonwoo replied immediately.
[Baek Geonwoo: Why especially me?]
Han Yura followed.
[Han Yura: Taejun is checking everyone else because he’s scared he’ll forget his own.]
[Kang Taejun: Hey!]
Geonwoo laughed.
A moment later, Lee Dogyeom posted.
[Lee Dogyeom: I really wanted to go tooㅠㅠ]
Dogyeom had already begun filming his new drama.
His first shoot overlapped exactly with the festival schedule.
Yura immediately answered.
[Han Yura: Dogyeom, don’t be too disappointed.]
[Han Yura: Noona will take lots of pictures and send them.]
[Han Yura: Do well on your shoot too. I’ll buy you a souvenir!]
[Lee Dogyeom: Oh! I knew I could count on Yura noona ㅠㅠ]
Taejun joined in.
[Kang Taejun: What about me? Buy me a souvenir too.]
Yura’s reply was short.
[Han Yura: You’re coming with us.]
[Kang Taejun: I can still get a present even if I’m going.]
[Han Yura: Buy one yourself.]
[Kang Taejun: This discrimination is severe.]
Dogyeom posted several laughing emojis.
Geonwoo laughed while looking at the screen.
The day of departure.
When Geonwoo reached the departure hall at Incheon Airport, Team Leader Yoon Jihye was already there.
Beside her large suitcase was another bag containing the screening master and festival materials.
“You’re early.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Great.”
Jihye looked once at Geonwoo’s suitcase.
“That’s all your luggage?”
“Yes.”
“We’re going for a whole week.”
“I packed everything I need.”
The sound of someone running approached from a distance.
Geonwoo turned.
It was Kang Taejun.
He pulled a suitcase with one hand and carried a drink carrier holding four coffees in the other.
“Director!”
Taejun rushed over.
“I’m not late, right?”
“We still have plenty of time.”
“Good.”
Taejun caught his breath and offered coffee to Geonwoo and Jihye.
“Here.”
Geonwoo accepted one.
“Oh?”
“What brought this on?”
“It’s so we can start the morning with energy.”
“Thanks.”
A book rested on top of Taejun’s suitcase.
When Han Yura arrived a little later, she immediately noticed it.
“That’s your new movie script, isn’t it?”
“Yeah.”
Taejun picked it up.
“I’m going to read it on the plane.”
“You’re going to sleep.”
“I’m not.”
“You said you’d read a script in the car on the way to Busan too, then immediately fell asleep.”
“That’s different from a fourteen-hour flight.”
“I’ve always had this fantasy of listening to music and reading on a plane.”
Yura extended the handle of her suitcase.
“I somehow feel like you’ll sleep even better on the plane.”
Yoon Jihye burst out laughing.
Yura bowed slightly to Geonwoo and Jihye.
“Hello.”
“Good to see you.”
Geonwoo asked,
“Your drama schedule okay?”
“Yes.”
“My next shoot is the day after the festival ends, so I have to go straight there once we come back.”
“That’s tight.”
“It’s fine.”
Taejun added from the side,
“I’m filming two days after we return too.”
“You’re all busy.”
“Thanks for making time to come anyway.”
Taejun grinned.
“How could I miss our first international film-festival invitation?”
“I’ve never been to Europe.”
Yura nodded.
“Me neither.”
Geonwoo smiled at them.
“Me neither.”
Jihye spoke after hearing the three.
“That’s why I made a very careful schedule for everyone.”
Taejun immediately turned.
“What schedule?”
“We have two days left after the festival.”
“No way.”
“You weren’t planning to see only Fribourg before going back to Korea, were you?”
Taejun’s face immediately brightened.
“Team Leader, you truly are an educated person.”
Yura laughed and asked,
“Where are we going?”
“I’ll tell you once we’re there.”
“You can look forward to it.”
A smile appeared on Geonwoo’s face too.
Jihye looked satisfied.
“It would be a waste to come all the way to Switzerland and only work.”
Taejun adjusted his suitcase handle.
“Let’s go.”
“I already like Switzerland.”
Jihye pointed toward departures.
“First, let’s actually get on the plane.”
The four rolled their suitcases into the departure area.
After the long flight, all four became much quieter by the time they reached Zurich Airport.
Taejun stretched the moment they came out into arrivals.
“Wow. That was really far.”
Yura pulled her suitcase.
“I don’t think the guy who slept ten hours on the plane gets to say that.”
“It wasn’t ten hours.”
“Did you finish the script?”
“I’ll finish it at the hotel.”
Meanwhile, Jihye checked the transportation guide sent by the festival.
“Once we get to Fribourg, today’s schedule is finished.”
“Registration is tomorrow?”
Geonwoo asked.
Jihye nodded.
“Yes. The official schedule starts tomorrow.”
After leaving the airport, the four traveled to Fribourg.
Every time the scenery outside the window changed, Taejun raised his phone.
Mountains.
Low buildings.
Even the old rooftops visible in the distance.
Yura looked outside with him a few times at first, then opened the festival schedule.
“The audience talk is right after the first screening.”
“Yeah.”
Geonwoo checked his own schedule too.
First screening.
Audience Q&A.
Second screening the next day.
Several press interviews were also scheduled.
Jihye said,
“We may get additional interview requests locally.”
Taejun turned from the front seat.
“Me too, right?”
“Probably.”
Jihye laughed.
Taejun looked satisfied and returned his attention to the view.
The next morning.
Many languages mixed together at the Fribourg International Film Festival registration venue.
Directors and actors wearing festival badges passed back and forth.
A long wall displayed posters of the films invited to the competitive sections.
When it was Geonwoo’s turn, he approached the registration desk.
The staff member confirmed his name and handed him a badge.
Geonwoo accepted it.
BAEK GUN-WOO
Director
The English title of Before the Light Reaches was written underneath.
Geonwoo put the badge around his neck.
Beside him, Taejun accepted his own.
“We get to keep these, right?”
“Why?”
