146: Chapter 146 Film Launch Press Conference

The press conference for the movie "dark light" was held in the banquet hall of a five-star hotel in Gangnam District, Seoul.

At 10:00 AM, dozens of media reporters had already gathered outside the hotel, their cameras aimed at the red carpet.

The security team had been doubled from the original plan; they wore black suits, maintained order with serious expressions, and vigilantly scanned everyone trying to approach.

Song Tianhao sat in front of the floor-to-ceiling window of the second-floor lounge, holding a cup of coffee that had already gone cold.

"President, the people from CJ Entertainment have arrived," Jang Se-hoon said as he pushed the door open to report.

"Chairman Lee Jae-hyun came in person, bringing four people, including Director Jeong. They entered the venue directly through the VIP entrance and are seated in the left side of the second row."

Song Tianhao set down his coffee cup, a faint, barely perceptible arc curling at the corner of his mouth. "They are certainly giving us face. Have the main creative team arrived?"

"They have all arrived. Director Lee Chang-dong, Son Ye-jin, and Han Hyo-joo are all in the backstage lounge, and they look to be in good condition. The director is doing final checks with them."

"Good." Song Tianhao stood up and straightened the cuffs of his dark gray suit jacket. "Let's go down, too. It's time for the show to begin."

At 10:30 AM, the press conference started on time.

The banquet hall was brightly lit, and the backdrop was a huge main visual poster for "dark light," which was the "gaze in the mirror" shot taken at the styling room that day.

The white "light" and black "shadow" intertwined in the mirror, and below it was the suspense-filled title, "Who is in the mirror?", with the font designed to look like a shattered mirror.

The audience was filled with media reporters, and the sound of camera shutters was incessant.

The first row was occupied by representatives of investors and producers, and on the left side of the second row, Chairman Lee Jae-hyun sat calmly with his four-person CJ Entertainment team, his expression as calm as if he were attending an ordinary business event.

After the host's brief opening, Director Lee Chang-dong took the stage first.

This famous South Korean director, known for his art-house films, wore a simple dark jacket today; his hair was a bit messy, but his eyes were sharp.

He didn't engage in much small talk and went straight to the inspiration behind the creation:

"The story of 'dark light' stems from my curiosity about the complexity of human nature. Each of us has light and shadow in our hearts; there is a side we want to show the world, and a side hidden deep within. What happens when these two sides are torn apart and forced to exist independently? That is what I want to explore through this film."

His remarks were short and powerful, carrying the stubbornness and sincerity unique to an artist. Polite applause erupted from the audience.

Next was the speech by the producer's representative, followed by the screenwriter. The whole process went according to plan, but the reporters in the audience were clearly looking forward to the next segment.

"Next, let us welcome the two leading actresses of 'dark light'," the host raised his voice, "Ms. Son Ye-jin and Ms. Han Hyo-joo!"

The applause suddenly became enthusiastic.

On both sides of the stage, two spotlights turned on simultaneously.

On the left, Son Ye-jin walked out slowly. She wore the off-white knit sweater and long skirt from her final fitting, her makeup was clean, her long hair was loosely pinned up, and she wore those gentle pearl earrings on her earlobes.

She walked to the center of the stage, nodded to the audience with a smile, her eyes gentle, yet carrying a touch of well-measured distance—that was the aloofness of the "Yoon Soo-ah of Light."

On the right, Han Hyo-joo walked out at the same time. She wore a pure black suit, her makeup was cold, and her eyebrows were sharp. Her pace was slightly faster than Son Ye-jin's, but every step was firm.

When she stood beside Son Ye-jin, she didn't smile, just nodded slightly. When her eyes swept across the audience, the coldness made several reporters in the front row subconsciously sit up straight.

One white, one black, the two stood side by side.

The sound of shutters from the audience became as dense as rain in an instant, and the flashes almost merged into one.

A reporter whispered in surprise, "This look... is perfect."

Song Tianhao sat on the far right of the first row, watching the stage calmly. His gaze lingered briefly on Son Ye-jin and Han Hyo-joo, then turned to the left of the second row.

Chairman Lee Jae-hyun was picking up the water glass in front of him, drinking slowly, his expression unchanged.

But the corners of Director Jeong's mouth, who was beside him, curled into a faint, mocking sneer.

The Q&A session began.

The first few questions were relatively mild, mainly focusing on the film's theme, character understanding, and shooting schedule.

Director Lee Chang-dong answered steadily, Son Ye-jin's answers were gentle and appropriate, and although Han Hyo-joo didn't say much, every sentence was thoughtful, showing the attitude of a professional actor.

It wasn't until the host called on a male reporter with black-rimmed glasses in the middle of the fifth row.

"I am a reporter from 'Entertainment Express,' and I would like to ask Director Lee Chang-dong." The male reporter stood up, his tone was still polite, but the question was sharp. "Does 'dark light' use a dual-female lead setting because you had difficulty choosing between Ms. Son Ye-jin and Ms. Han Hyo-joo, so you compromised?"

"Also, Ms. Han Hyo-joo was a signed actor of CJ Entertainment not long ago. Suddenly transferring to Sky Entertainment and getting such an important role has caused quite a few rumors outside. There is even a claim that this is related to President Song's 'late-night script discussions.' What is your response to this?"

The question was like a stone thrown into a calm lake.

The scene went quiet for half a second, and then low discussions erupted. Everyone's eyes turned to Han Hyo-joo on the stage, then secretly glanced at Song Tianhao and Chairman Lee Jae-hyun in the audience.

Director Lee Chang-dong's brows furrowed; this director, known for his direct temper, was clearly a bit annoyed.

The smile on Son Ye-jin's face faded a little; she subconsciously looked at Han Hyo-joo, her eyes filled with worry.

Han Hyo-joo's fingers holding the microphone tightened, and her knuckles trembled slightly from the force. She pursed her lips into a straight line, and her body looked even thinner under the black suit, as if she would be crushed by this question the next second.

In the audience, Song Tianhao still sat straight. His complexion didn't change at all, but his hand resting on his knee was slightly clenched into a fist. He looked at Son Ye-jin and shook his head slightly, signaling her not to speak.

Just as Director Lee Chang-dong was about to speak, Han Hyo-joo suddenly raised the microphone.

Her hand was shaking, and the microphone trembled slightly in her hand, but she held it very steadily.

"This question," her voice came through the speakers, tight at first, but soon became clear, "I will answer it."

Everyone's eyes were focused on her.

Han Hyo-joo took a deep breath, her eyes first looked at the reporter who asked the question, and then, slowly and firmly, turned to the left side of the second row in the audience, where Chairman Lee Jae-hyun and Director Jeong were sitting. Her gaze lingered on Director Jeong's face, which was full of sarcasm, for a second, then moved away and looked back at the press row.

"I left CJ Entertainment," she said word by word, each word sounding like a polished stone hitting the ground with a clear echo, "because I want to be an 'actor,' not anything else."

The audience was silent.

"I joined Sky Entertainment because they give me the respect of an 'actor,' and the opportunities of an 'actor.'"

She continued, her voice becoming steadier, and that coldness spread from her eyes into her voice, like a frozen lake in winter. "I can stand here, on the stage of Director Lee Chang-dong's movie press conference, because the director saw my potential as an actor, and because President Song is willing to give an actor who just wants to Acting seriously, a clean opportunity."

She turned her head and looked at Son Ye-jin beside her.

Son Ye-jin smiled at her slightly, a smile that was gentle and firm, as if to say: Go on, I am here.

Han Hyo-joo returned a very shallow, almost imperceptible smile, then turned back to the media, her tone resolute: "As for the 'late-night script discussions'..."

She paused, and this pause made everyone's heart jump.

"That was a purely professional discussion between me and Senior Son, under the guidance of the director and the president, in order to understand how 'light' and 'shadow' coexist, confront, and depend on each other in the same body."

Her voice rose, carrying a stubbornness and anger after being insulted. "If normal exchanges between actors for roles, in professional venues, with seniors and directors present, are to be distorted and stigmatized, then this is not only an insult to me and Senior Son, but also an insult to all filmmakers who work seriously and love this profession!"

After speaking, she bowed deeply to the audience.

The moment she bent over, her fingers holding the microphone trembled because of the force, but her back was straight.

One second, two seconds.

The scene was so quiet that one could hear the sound of the air conditioner.

Then, someone started clapping.

At first, it was sparse, then the applause spread like a tide, getting louder and louder, finally merging into one. Some reporters even stood up and applauded towards the stage. It was applause filled with recognition, praise, and even a little admiration.

Son Ye-jin raised the microphone at the right time and took over the conversation. Her voice was gentle but powerful: "Hyo-joo said it very well. As actors, we cherish every opportunity to deeply explore characters and polish our Acting skills."

"'dark light' is a work that requires a high degree of tacit understanding and profound understanding between the two leading actresses. Every minute we spend on this is worth it."

"Please also focus more on the film itself, on the story we are about to present, rather than some unnecessary speculation and rumors. Thank you."

She and Han Hyo-joo stood side by side, one gentle yet firm, the other cold yet stubborn, but they strangely formed a complementary aura, completely shattering the malicious question just now.

In the audience, the reporter from "Entertainment Express" who asked the question looked ugly, seemingly wanting to say something, but the host had already quickly picked up the microphone: "Thank you, Ms. Son Ye-jin and Ms. Han Hyo-joo, for your sincere sharing! Please also turn your attention back to the film itself. Next reporter, please!"

The microphone was quickly passed to another media outlet with a better relationship.

The fist that Song Tianhao clenched on his knee loosened at this moment. He glanced at his phone screen, which had a message just sent: [Play short clip].

Almost in the next second, the huge screen at the press conference venue suddenly lit up.

Passionate and suspenseful music played, and a carefully edited short clip began to play on the screen.

The scenes switched rapidly: artistic conceptual art, retro-style scenes being built, the silhouette of Director Lee Chang-dong explaining the play to Son Ye-jin and Han Hyo-joo, the two practicing expressions in front of the mirror in the rehearsal room, discussing the script seriously in the styling room, and the long shot of Song Tianhao watching quietly outside the rehearsal room window...

All the scenes were well-lit, the environment was open, and the interaction between the characters was professional and focused. It finally froze on that "gaze in the mirror" fitting photo.

The appearance of the short clip perfectly shifted the focus, and a burst of admiration sounded from the audience. Reporters took out their cameras to take pictures of the wonderful scenes on the big screen.

Song Tianhao stood up at this time and walked to the stage calmly.

He ignored the small disturbance just now, and did not look in the direction of Chairman Lee Jae-hyun in the audience, but walked directly to the host and took the microphone. His voice was transmitted through the speakers, steady, powerful, and carrying a natural sense of control.

"Thank you all media friends for coming today." Song Tianhao's gaze swept across the audience, and every reporter who met his eyes sat up straight unconsciously. "'dark light' is the most important film project of Sky Entertainment this year, with a total investment of 12 billion won, directed by Director Lee Chang-dong, and starring Ms. Son Ye-jin and Ms. Han Hyo-joo."

"The shooting cycle is expected to be four months, and we will be filming in various places including South Jeolla Province, Jeju Island, and Seoul. We are committed to presenting a work that explores the depth of human nature and has both artistic value and commercial potential."

"Next, the crew will enter the closed shooting stage. We look forward to seeing you all again with the complete work in a few months."

His speech was concise, professional, and full of unquestionable confidence. The little unpleasant episode just now, after he appeared, seemed to turn into insignificant noise, quickly drowned by the mainstream narrative.

The press conference ended in a seemingly harmonious atmosphere.

Backstage lounge.

As soon as Son Ye-jin and Han Hyo-joo came in, they were surrounded by staff, some handing water, some handing towels. Han Hyo-joo took the water, her hands were still trembling slightly, and she drank half a bottle in one breath before she felt her heartbeat slowly calm down.

"Just now, that was cool."

Song Tianhao's voice sounded behind her.

Han Hyo-joo turned her head and saw Song Tianhao and Director Lee Chang-dong walking in together. Song Tianhao looked at her with no special expression on his face, but there was a faint praise in his eyes.

"Especially you, Hyo-joo." Song Tianhao walked up to her, his voice lowered so that only the three of them could hear. "You've grown up."

Simple words, but they made Han Hyo-joo's eyes suddenly heat up. She bit her lower lip hard, suppressed the sudden sourness, and then nodded heavily, wanting to say something, but her throat was choked.

Director Lee Chang-dong patted Song Tianhao's shoulder with a smile on his face: "Tianhao, you made the right move. This girl Hyo-joo, she looks quiet, but at critical moments she has backbone and spirit. That stubbornness, that's right, that's what 'shadow' should look like."

"It's thanks to your guidance, Director, and for giving her a chance." Song Tianhao said politely.

"The chance was given by you." Director Lee Chang-dong waved his hand, looking at Han Hyo-joo with more appreciation. "Act well, don't let this play down, and don't let down what you just said."

"Yes, Director! I will definitely work hard!" Han Hyo-joo bowed quickly, her voice still trembling, but her eyes were already shining.

At this time, Song Tianhao's assistant hurried in from outside, walked to his side, and whispered: "President, Chairman Lee Jae-hyun says he wants to 'have a private chat' with you before leaving."

The atmosphere in the lounge froze subtly for a moment.

Son Ye-jin and Han Hyo-joo both looked at Song Tianhao, with worry unconsciously revealing in their eyes. Director Lee Chang-dong also restrained his smile and looked at Song Tianhao.

Song Tianhao's face didn't change, but his eyes were slightly colder.

He said to Son Ye-jin and Han Hyo-joo: "You performed very well today, go back and rest well. We will enter the group in a few days, keep your state." He nodded to Director Lee Chang-dong again: "Director, I will handle this."

He straightened the collar of his suit jacket, his movements calm and unhurried, then turned and followed the assistant out of the lounge.

The VIP lounge was at the other end of the corridor, with two people in black suits who were obviously bodyguards standing at the door. Seeing Song Tianhao, the two bowed slightly and pushed the door open.

The room was not big, and it was tastefully decorated. Chairman Lee Jae-hyun sat alone at the tea table by the window, making tea with a set of exquisite celadon tea sets.

The water vapor was curling, and the tea fragrance was faint. His movements were skillful—warming the cup, placing the tea, brewing, and pouring the soup—every step was unhurried, as if the disturbance at the press conference regarding the former actor under his banner had nothing to do with him.

Hearing the sound of the door opening, Chairman Lee Jae-hyun looked up, a perfect smile on his face, and raised his hand to signal the seat opposite: "President Song, thank you for your hard work. Please sit. Try the tea I brewed, authentic West Lake Longjing, to calm your shock."