Lord Of Dying Smoke - Chapter 210



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The King of Death Smoke Episode 210

The Second Masterpiece and the $400 Million Love Story (20)

Hopper Dusk didn’t do anything stupid like putting himself at the forefront of the conspiracy.

While the media was racing to report on the young actors flocking in like clouds, Director Dusk was looking behind the scenes.

Kang Min was so big. So big that other actors of the same generation even gave up on being jealous.

‘then.’

Of course, it would be too much for the older generations as well.

“Okay. So the advertising side is decided. The short-form side is….”

“ would be better. It was irrelevant last time.”

“I agree.”

“me too.”

“Okay. Then next─”

The Primetime Emmy Awards judging panel convened a month in advance as usual. The William White scandal of two years ago had caused quite a stir, but the lineup was still fairly well-known.

They quickly sorted out the programs and winners.

Variety.

Documentaries and non-fiction.

animated movie.

Even short-form (short story)─

After arguing about the technical categories like art direction and editing – which most viewers don’t care about – what really matters is three things.

“It’s almost finished.”

“yes.”

“Phew, then let’s get started for real.”

Comedy series.

Drama series.

Limited series.

Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actress are awarded only in these three categories. Needless to say, viewers are on edge and nitpicking.

Sometimes discussions lasted for hours, often through the night.

But, well, this time the answer was relatively clear.

“What is there to worry about? We have no choice but to start by giving it to and .”

“hmm….”

“That’s true, but….”

TV show awards shows are different from film festivals.

No matter how authoritative the judges may be, they cannot challenge the authority of the public.

literally set the second half of the year on fire, and , despite being a problematic piece, hung on to Kang Min’s trouser leg until the very end.

The overwhelming viewer ratings and popularity are in themselves sufficient qualifications for the award.

“Even so, isn’t a bit like that? We’re not looking for class like the Oscars, but even so, there is a degree…”

“But what can we do?”

However, Director Dusk’s masterpiece, which gradually expanded to include a twelve-sided relationship, had many problems for the judges to shout, “Okay! Award!” In the first place, it was at a level where they couldn’t even tell which actor should receive the award.

But I had to give it anyway… .

“… Well, on the other hand, is easy to understand. Just give it actors Kang and Olsen.”

“Let’s say Kang is okay with giving the Best Actress award, but Olson is….”

“Wouldn’t Best Supporting Actress be enough? Excluding the movie that’s being released this time, the importance would be about that level. Since it’s a comeback film, I don’t think they’d expect anything grand from that either.”

“I agree.”

On the other hand, Kang Min’s side came to a conclusion easily. However, despite that, his expressions were not very good.

The judges were silent for a moment.

In particular, those with a background in acting openly frowned.

‘I guess I should give it. That’s true, but… .’

‘Is this right from the start? The first time, he filmed a commercial and won the short film award, and this time, he held an audition and won the best actor award?’

‘I don’t like it.’

‘It’s really annoying to be so reckless and rely on someone else’s support…’

‘Tsk.’

One of the more common misconceptions about acting is that it requires an open mind.

This is a misunderstanding that arises from grouping singers, comedians, etc. who are at the forefront of trends into the category of ‘celebrities’. In the first place, how can a person who delves into acting as a profession be open-minded?

On the contrary, the proportion of old farts and stubborn people in the acting profession is very high.

“… It’s a good piece of work, .”

“Yes, that’s right… .”

Still, what,

By the time you get to the Emmys judges, most of them know how to hide their old-fashioned tendencies.

Most people tried to suppress their feelings and just laughed it off.

To be exact, I tried to pass.

It was around this time that Hopper Dusk’s heart began to shine.

“Well, that’s the truth.”

One of the judges opened his mouth, taking note.

“I met that guy, Hopper Dusk, a while ago.”

“yes?”

“Ahem, aren’t you familiar with the judging panel’s regulations? It’s against a judge having personal contact with a candidate─”

“No, we just met as seniors and juniors… Dusk said that he thought shouldn’t receive an award.”

“…?”

Director Dusk’s plan was simple.

Meet the judges.

And he goes on to degrade itself, saying that while it happened to have good ratings, it shouldn’t win any awards.

─And at the same time, is mentioned.

“There are many film festivals for movies, but aren’t TV programs ultimately all about our Emmys? Isn’t it problematic for the Emmys to award something that has so many problems in terms of format? That’s what I was talking about. Perhaps it was an indirect expression of intent to refuse the award, that’s what it seemed.”

“… … .”

“……hmm.”

Silence fell.

The judges glanced at each other.

The worries didn’t last long.

Soon, they came to the conclusion Hopper Dusk had predicted.

“Ahem, if you think about it, has a lot of problems. Giving an award to something like this would be questionable to the dignity of the awards ceremony.”

“I agree.”

“… And that, as a bonus, also has many problems. This is an audition genre, which means it started as a reality show. The format of the third audition is an omnibus that combines short plays, so interpreting it as a series is problematic.”

“Ahem, I just thought so too. There was so much talk about William White in the short story section two years ago.”

“There is clearly a potential problem with the format of the awards!”

There is no such thing in particular.

In fact, the Emmy Awards themselves have gone through dozens of upheavals since their inception in 1949.

The Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards were split in 2006 and merged in 2009, the News & Documentary Emmy Awards were split in 2019 and merged in 2022, and there was even a time when awards were given by combining genres.

But what our judges needed now was just an excuse to give them a whack.

They exchanged glances, then cleared their throats and agreed.

“Let’s lump Streets of Los Angeles and Gang Special together and say there’s a format problem and exclude them from the award.”

“I agree! If it were just , it would be something to talk about, but if you put it together with , everyone would be speechless!”

“Well, that doesn’t mean I can’t give you a prize at all….”

“Isn’t there a reality category? You could give awards to competition programs!”

“Oh, there was that number.”

“Did that Hopper Dusk guy say anything else?”

“That─”

“Hmm…? Well, I guess it would be okay to give Penelope Olsen the Best Supporting Actress award. Unlike Kang, since the audition itself wasn’t held, the picture is much better─”

Instead of giving up on the award for , which would be noisy anyway, is also being dragged down.

Director Hopper Dusk’s calculations paid off perfectly.

-Congratulations!!!

A month later, at the Emmy Awards, Penelope blinked as she held the Best Supporting Actress trophy to applause and cheers.

Kang Min was not seen in the audience.

She opened her mouth blankly.

‘What is this…?’

Why?

* * *

“This is it, I didn’t expect it to turn out this well.”

Hopper Dusk, who was watching this live, was very satisfied.

The result was truly beyond expectations.

I thought it wouldn’t be so bad if both sides just ended up being indifferent, but the picture turned out to be much better than that.

“At this point, the relationship between Kang and Olson will inevitably crack. Planning from here on out will be quite difficult, Henry.”

“And, the most important thing is the movie side.”

He leisurely looked at the data placed in a corner.

This was a rough cut of the film before it went through the final mixing process as a DCP (Digital Cinema Package).

It was a very messy mess before even digital watermarking, and it cost a lot of money to remove it, but it was worth it.

A director like Hopper Dusk could easily create a finished image even from this mess of data.

“Not bad, Henry. Not bad, though.”

His eyes sparkled.

“You should have made something better to deal with me.”

Everything was perfectly prepared.

Hopper Dusk was convinced that this was the time for redemption.

* * *

The news that Kang Min did not win an Emmy did not create as much of a buzz as expected.

There were many who complained, but in the end, I somehow accepted that was also eliminated for the same reason. They said it was a format issue, but what can you do?

I thought that might be the case because the Emmy Awards gave Kang Min a separate award for reality TV.

After the third audition, there was also lip service that the real season would be different.

‘That can’t be the reason!’

The only one gritting her teeth was Penelope.

‘Even if you were to give in and believe that nonsense, you should have left me out too!’

‘We have to find out who’s behind this! This is clearly intentional!’

A group of staff members cautiously greeted and passed by Penelope, who was grumbling like that.

Penelope’s strength drained away for a moment.

That was because I felt suspicious glances passing by among the staff members passing by.

‘There is an intention, but… .’

They tried not to show it, but they couldn’t help but notice. Everyone passing by was giving them that look.

In fact, it was a very natural suspicion.

In the current situation, wouldn’t it feel suspicious to anyone that Penelope received the award?

‘… I can’t help it. Anyone would think it’s strange.’

First, Penelope needed a reward.

There is an absurd gap between actors who make a splendid comeback and win trophies at the end of the year and those who don’t.

Second, Penelope was not powerless.

Her maternal grandmother was a legendary actress, her maternal uncle was the head of one of the top three agencies, and she herself was an actress with quite a reputation. Who would believe that such an actress alone ‘luckily’ received an award?

There were even sarcastic opinions online that Kang Min was the one who showed off his talents while the other person earned the money.

‘furthermore….’

Lastly, Penelope had been a bit estranged from Kangmin recently.

It may seem like the crow fell as the pear fell, but if you look at it a little differently, it also seems like the pear was slowly distancing itself from the crow because it was used.

To be exact, the melody was said to be hesitant, but it was also said to be a popular opinion among the filming staff.

-I’m in that situation… .

“…okay.”

– I wish I could find a way to explain it, but I don’t think it’s possible for the time being. The picture is too bad. I think the CEO is embarrassed too… .

Penelope nodded silently.

Of course, Kang Min will also have his own feelings.

No, in the first place, it is impossible for a person not to feel betrayed.

They say that misunderstandings between people can be resolved, but in this world, there are often misunderstandings that can never be resolved.

Penelope knows that well.

‘… … .’

How long did you hesitate?

Penelope finally bit her lip and picked up the phone.

The lock screen that randomly changes the photo in the camera app printed a photo. It was a photo taken by the staff of Kang-min trying to secretly put a Captain Hook hat on his head, getting caught and running away, and Penelope chasing after him.

‘… … .’

He was a strange person.

But come to think of it, I didn’t even realize we were quite close.

It’s such a shame that I’m worse off than others.

‘… … .’

You won’t believe me, and you can’t possibly believe me, but it would be polite to at least make an excuse.

Penelope dialed the number with slightly trembling hands.

* * *

“Oh, I see. Okay, I understand.”

“……yes?”