216. Hero (4)
Team leader Lee Dae-hyung felt Martin's sharp expression make his hands sweaty. If there were no major problems, in fact, even if there were some problems, appearing in 'Heroes' would benefit Do-wook unconditionally.
It was another matter for KK to be a world-famous idol group and for Do-wook to truly become a world-class actor.
Team leader Lee Dae-hyung looked at Martin's expression. Martin was both an old man and a virtuoso. Even though he looks like an ordinary old man when he passes by, the world he built, called Heroes, was never easy.
Of course, team leader Lee Dae-hyung also had a few things that bothered him, but it was very difficult to say them without hesitation in front of Martin, the creator. It was because he couldn't do anything wrong.
"There are several reasons...."
"Which one?"
He said there were not just one, but several, so Sarah asked quickly.
"David's mother works as a cashier at a Korean town mart, and his father works as a cleaning worker at David's university. He came to America for his studies."
"That's right. Americans are well aware that Koreans have an enormous passion for education. Thanks to that, there are many Koreans at prestigious universities such as the Ivy League. I was deeply impressed by the story of Choi's father. He said that he worked as a manager while starving himself for Choi."
At Do-wook's words, Sara explained the background of the setting.
"Yes. The story of David's family is understandable enough... In order not to betray his parents' sacrifice and expectations, David becomes a person who only knows how to study. He is also an introverted and passive person."
Martin nodded. Do-wook's interpretation of the character was accurate. And the character David, drawn by Martin, was all convincing from the background to the present. Considering that the heroes of <Heroes> have their own human agony, it was convincing in its own way as a setting given to the first Korean-American immigrant child character. But that was the problem.
'Americans' thought of Koreans... they are so the same.'
Although it was obvious that he had been thinking and researching in his own way, in the end, the image of an Asian that Westerners think was inherent. The part of meeting Billion Man, receiving the latest mask, and growing up while doing hero activities could actually be interpreted from the perspective of Western supremacy.
'I can't thank you for not reminding me of Koreans during the Korean War.'
Do-wook thought and continued.
"Of course, other heroes have flaws and struggles. But an introverted and passive personality study bug. I think that this only fixes the prejudice against Koreans or the negative image of reality."
Martin's expression darkened.
"If such an ordinary, universal character becomes a hero and changes, wouldn't that be meaningful as it is?"
Sarah objected.
"Of course. But the idea that introverted and passive characters are universal in Korea... I don't like it."
Dowook said with a serious expression. Sarah shuts up thinking she made a mistake.
"Actually, this part may be what I'm asking for too much. But..."
"Keep talking."
Do-wook looked at Martin's expression and was cautious. But Martin still wanted to hear the story.
"First of all... the reason I can't play this character is because of the changes in David's body."
A few generations above David. Perhaps his great-grandfather lived in the Korean Peninsula during the Japanese occupation. And he was a person who was mobilized for the Japanese medical experiment. At the time, he was released safely without any problems, but it was a setting that genetic modification had occurred in the body of the third-generation David.
Team leader Lee Dae-hyung nodded his head. Team leader Lee Dae-hyung also had a hard time understanding this part. However, it was not explained in detail, but it was handled as a line of dialogue, so I wondered if I should skip it.
During the Japanese occupation, Japan committed many atrocities. The Maruta experiment was one of them. However, the Maruta experiment was simply summarized in one line, 'Japanese medical experiment' for technological development.
If used well, it could be a revelation of the fact that human experiments were conducted during the Japanese colonial period, but the focus was not on such anti-humanity.
Rather, Do-wook's amazing abilities stemmed from the Japanese experiment, and as a result, like a colonial view, it helped him become a hero with amazing abilities.
It was an important issue at stake in the history of East Asia. It was right to leave no room for interpretation if it would not be summarized in one line and properly illuminated.
When Do-wook spoke about the parts that could be problematic at a glance, Martin and Sarah kept a long silence.
"This is a very sensitive issue."
Team leader Lee Dae-hyung added with difficulty in a heavy atmosphere. He wants you to understand why Do-wook had to come out so hard.
Of course, screenwriters including Martin wrote the scenarios with the historical backgrounds of Korea and Japan in mind. But to them, it was just material. Because of that, many things were overlooked. It was set after thinking deeply in its own way, but it was only 'concern as a material' for the work.
<Heroes> was also a field where experts in each field showed their expertise to the maximum. Even though such an expert said he would cast Do-wook, a Korean, it was nothing else that he made this mistake. It was because he thought it is too easy. 'This should be enough.' he had an idea.
Asians are made into heroes and Koreans are cast. That alone has already broken some mold and changed. He thought it was meaningful enough as a movie.
The movie <Heroes 2> was to have the significance of its existence with more free-spirited and progressive content than the original. Such clumsiness, unlike the producers of <Heroes>, was fully reflected in the script.
Do-wook felt that maybe he couldn't do this work anymore in that respect. If it was a discriminatory content without thinking about it at all, it was easy to say that it was wrong. Then, from then on, the troubles began.
However, in this script, he could see the parts he's worried about in his own way, so he thought that it would be difficult for the other person to understand what the problem was. He felt that it would be unreasonable to ask for a script revision because the result of his contemplation would be this script.
"Umm... I see."
It was a short time, but there was a silence that felt like a long time. After a long silence, Martin spoke.
'Is this the end of the refusal?'
Team leader Lee Dae-hyung swallowed his saliva in regret. It was then that Sarah and he met eyes. However, there was a small smile in Sarah's eyes, which had not been good before.
'What??'
It was when team leader Lee Dae-hyung had a moment of doubt. Do-wook was facing Martin, so he couldn't see Sarah's expression. Martin's expression was very solemn. It was definitely a different feeling from when Dowook saw it at the casino.
"...that won't work."
Martin said. Do-wook did not regret his choice. He thought that it would be a bigger mistake if he played a part in making people around the world have wrong thoughts about Korea or Asians. However, even through his own words, Martin or <Heroes>. He hoped that the production team of <#101> would lead the first Asian character more in-depth and meticulously.
"Thank you very much for giving me this opportunity. <Heroes> is a movie that has a tremendous influence on the world more than any other movie. In particular, young people develop their own dreams while watching <Heroes>. Real Man. If the character is completed and he joins <Heroes>, it will be very meaningful."
Do-wook smiled lightly and said. However, his eyes were serious because he really wanted such a thing.
After the birth of <Heroes>, Dowook was talking about the part Martin thought the most, enjoyed the most joy and felt burdened, and at the same time talked about the driving force behind the production of <Heroes> for a long time.
Looking at the dark eyes that seemed to be sucked in, Martin thought. His own eyes were not mistaken. It may have been Do-wook who caught the pickpocket, but it was he who discovered 'The real man' named Do-wook.
"I know. I know. So this script..."
Martin relaxed his expression and said.
"I can't do it. At this rate."
"...Yeah?"
Do-wook looked at Martin with a bewildered expression. Sarah smiled as if she knew what was going on.
In fact, there was only one question raised when setting up a character, whether it was already too old-fashioned, whether there were only preconceived notions about Koreans and no elements to break those prejudices.
It was even by Martin. The Korean that Martin met, so Do-wook, was never introverted or passive.
However, there was an image that the majority thought of, and following the image was an easy way to buy sympathy from many people. He has only the image of a Korean that many people think of, but he is worried about what he is like in reality because he will become a hero anyway. It was true that he didn't do more than he thought he did.
It was true that he didn't have much time to spend since he wasn't even the main hero of <Heroes> yet.
In any case, the fact that he was trying to go easily was properly understood by Do-wook. He didn't even think of the part about the Japanese experiment to the extent that he wondered if he should apologize to Do-wook. He did not properly understand the pain of the Japanese colonial period.
"The Real Man character will be completely revised."
"that ······"
"Anyway, Do-wook is a real man that needs to be completed. There's no way that Do-wook would want a real man he doesn't want just because they're other Koreans. I am a commercial cartoonist and commercial film maker. This level of modification to be seen by a wider public is nothing."
Martin said firmly. Do-wook, who assumed that he would be quite stubborn as a master, had to admit that this was also his prejudice.
As a commercial writer, Martin was always ready to accept the opinions of others. Because of that, he was able to build the world of Heroes> by transforming his work to keep up with the times.
"Is it still a rejection? Was the revised script so messed up that you didn't want to accept it?"
"Oh, no! It's just Mr. Martin's work..."
"Can you say no and say the wrong thing so bitterly?"
When Martin jokingly threw a half-bones word, Do-wook had no choice but to laugh.
"Thank you. For being honest. It's a fun-oriented commercial movie anyway, so everyone doesn't expect much, but I still thought it would be nice to have depth."
Do-wook nodded at Martin's heartfelt words.
After such a long meeting with Martin, Do-wook and Lee Dae-hyeong left the mansion together after dinner together. Sarah saw them both off.
"How did you know?"
Team leader Lee Dae-hyung asked Sarah.
"That Martin will accept Mr. Do-wook's words......"
Sara looked at team leader Lee Dae-hyeong as if she was saying something, but she smiled as if she understood. The fact that when Sarah smiled earlier, she had an expression of total incomprehensibility to team leader Lee Dae-hyung, was because she left a deep impression on Sara's memory.
"Martin never responds to an opinion he does not acknowledge by saying, 'That's right.' Because there are many people who distort and understand even his short words."
"Oh, I see."
"Yeah. okay."
Team leader Lee Dae-hyung and Sarah looked at each other and smiled. There was a long discussion time, including connecting with the general director of the <Heroes> film team via video call, but it was fortunate that the work was completed well anyway. Do-wook and Lee Dae-hyeong, team leaders, could not hide their expectations about how the revised script would come out and how Do-wook's 'Real Man' would ultimately turn out.
***
Three months later, General Comics Studios, USA. In the huge studio, Do-wook entered for the first shot. It was also Do-wook's first appearance scene.
It was a character that Do-wook studied for quite a long time, going through several script revisions. Do-wook was confident that he could play Real Man, who was now a new character completely different from the draft.
That was until he arrived at the studio.
..........