Chapter 808: Sundance, and the Sun (4)

“I'm nervous.”

“Nervous about what?”

At Jiho’s question, I answered,

“I’ve done all kinds of schedules, but this is my first time attending a film festival... It’s kind of making my stomach churn and my heart race.”

“Are you really nervous? Your face isn’t changing at all.”

“A little?”

“Me too, hyung.”

The maknae rubbed his palms together and grinned.

“A film festival I’m attending as a celebrity... Back when I used to go to Busan International or Bucheon Fantastic and stuff, I really turned my life around, Wang Jiho.”

“As a trainee?”

“No. Since I was a kid, I really loved movies... I used to beg my older sisters and go to those festivals. I used to think if I ever attended as an actor, I’d have no regrets even if I died.......”

That was when Ri Hyuk cut in.

“Strictly speaking, we’re not attending as actors but as singers. It’s a documentary about us as a group.”

“I was happy until you said that, hyung.”

As Jiho scolded Ri Hyuk for crushing the maknae’s dream, I checked my reflection in the window.

My brown-dyed hair was neatly combed.

The tailored yellow suit fit my body perfectly, naturally outlining my frame.

“The color’s a bit disappointing though.......”

It was a suit sent by Jimmy Robbins, the head designer of Leblanc, specifically for the Sundance Film Festival.

I asked the members,

“How do I look?”

“I don’t like saying this, but it’s very safe and suits you well.”

“Wouldn’t it look better if the color were deeper? Right now it’s kind of... margarine or butter colored.......”

I felt like it would be more delicious if it had a thick, banana-like tone.

Well. Too bad.

As I smiled at the faces that looked like they had plenty to say, the maknae lifted his collar.

“Hyung, hyung, what about me?”

“You look good.”

All the members were wearing custom suits today as well.

For the Sundance Film Festival, the luxury brands they were ambassadors for had sent them tailored suits—and they looked incredible.

Among them—

“Junhyun. You’re seriously the best.”

“Haha.”

Wearing a suit that showed off his broad shoulders and elastic body line, Junhyun looked the sharpest of all.

After throwing compliments at the wriggling, jealous ones around him, I looked out the car window.

“It’s snowing.”

“Souffle shouldn’t get snowed on.”

Snowflakes drifted lightly in the dark outside.

The place we were heading to was a small city less than an hour from Salt Lake City.

A road sign flashed past.

[5 miles to Park City]

Park City.

The place where the Sundance Film Festival is held.

When people think of international film festivals, they usually imagine the “big three” — Berlin, Cannes, Venice.

But compared to those, Sundance is smaller.

“The population really is small.”

Ri Hyuk said, looking at Wikipedia.

“Berlin has 3.5 million, Venice 260,000... and Cannes about 70,000.”

“How about Park City?”

“Eight thousand.”

At the mention of 8,000 total residents, I searched my memory.

“Isn’t Ulleung Island around eight or nine thousand?”

“Probably.”

“So it’s like an Ulleung Film Festival. Since it’s Sun dance, maybe in Korean terms it’s like an Ulleung Sunrise Film Festival.”

The members burst into laughter.

The vague fear we had about attending a film festival began to feel strangely familiar.

I stared with interest at the images of Park City on the internet.

There are places like that in American movies or dramas. Small towns that look like Santa Claus might live there.

“There it is.”

“Whoa!”

Under the snow-covered mountain range lay a tiny town.

Behind it were slopes for snowboarding and skiing, giving off Winter Olympics vibes.

“Wow.”

While Junhyun captured the scenery with his film camera—

Our vehicle entered a town where a banner reading [Sundance Film Festival] fluttered in the wind.

Colorful lights were strung everywhere like long electrical wires.

Biju smiled brightly as he looked at a snowman standing in front of a brightly colored house.

“Doesn’t it feel kind of charming?”

“It’s romantic.”

Small and compact, yet lively.

The entire town had transformed into a festival ground.

People moving busily.

It felt like at any moment someone would shout, “Fireworks tonight! Don’t miss it!” and shoot them into the sky.

“Woooow.......”

Just as we were pressing our hands to the window in admiration—

“Hmm?”

Junhyun tilted his head.

“Hyung. I hear something weird.”

“What?”

“Like... wild animals or something.......”

“Wild animals?”

At first it sounded odd, but soon I realized what he meant.

Just as he said, there were faint beast-like sounds outside.

As I imagined wolves or coyotes threatening a town of eight thousand—

“Huh?”

The sounds grew closer.

And clearer.

“Grrr!”

“Grrrrrr!”

“Raaah!”

We smiled warmly as we realized it wasn’t animals, but people.

‘It’s Souffle.’

Hundreds of them had surrounded the premiere theater to greet us.

In front of Eccles Theater, where NewBlack’s film premiere would be held.

A TV reporter standing before the camera smiled brightly.

“Yes, I’m here in Park City ahead of the opening of the Sundance Film Festival. The energy here is absolutely incredible!”

Cheers erupted behind her. Fans waving banners reading “NewBlack.”

“And the film opening this year’s Sundance Film Festival is none other than global superstars! NewBlack returns with their NetPlus documentary film!”

“Waaaaaa!”

“This is arguably the largest crowd in Sundance history. Souffle, known as NewBlack’s strongest allies, are here on site......”

As the excited fans and reporter chatted—

The cheers suddenly turned into shrieks.

“W-what’s happening? Is something arriving?”

“NewBlack!”

“NewBlack!”

Security rushed to block the fence as news spread that NewBlack’s vehicle was approaching.

The reporter holding the mic began to get swept away in the crowd.

“Ah! Lisa!”

“Jamie!”

The cameraman and reporter reached toward each other desperately.

“W-wait!”

Like a carp caught in a rapid current, reporter Lisa Weatherly hopped frantically, trying to escape.

She finally stumbled free of the laughing Souffle—

But she wobbled.

‘Oh—!’

Her boots had slipped on the icy ground.

As she began to fall, someone caught her from behind.

“Are you okay?”

A refreshing scent of mint brushed past her as a charming voice spoke.

Like when you accidentally bump into an attractive stranger and your mood instantly lifts.

Dazed, she turned her head.

‘Oh?’

A man in a pale yellow suit—handsome beyond reason—was smiling at her.

Before she knew it, NewBlack members were already stepping out of the vehicle nearby.

He looked at her kindly.

“Be careful. Falling on ice really hurts.”

“Ah... yes.”

With a gentle smile, Wooju handed her over to security and waved toward the fans.

“This way.”

The guard escorted her inside the fence.

She kept turning her head back.

“Wow.”

Still dazed, she watched the handsome figure.

As fans asked for autographs and the boy band chatted with them, reporters’ questions flew in.

“How does it feel to attend Sundance?”

“It feels great.”

Wooju, smiling like a painting, suddenly began dancing.

A strange little dance that looked like a sunflower bouncing.

The reporter, who had been staring dreamily, felt oddly cooled down, while the members and Souffle flushed in embarrassment.

American reporters burst into laughter.

“What does that dance mean?”

“Sun dance.”

Sun dancing at Sundance.

Laughter erupted everywhere at the wordplay.

Even before the film began, the red carpet atmosphere was at its peak.

It was our first film festival, and I had been nervous—but once we arrived, it wasn’t so different.

Greeting Souffle lined up behind fences, taking selfies.

Catching a reporter who nearly slipped.

“Red carpet... is kind of simple.”

Ri Hyuk’s comment made me nod.

“It really is.”

After taking photos in front of a sponsor photo wall and entering the building, that was it.

I had imagined a massive theater, but it was about the size of the 1,000-seat venue where we held fan meetings as rookies.

As we entered, hearing it was Sundance’s symbolic space—

“There you are.”

A young man waiting in the lounge greeted us.

Sharp, sensitive-looking—like someone who’d meticulously choose coffee beans at a café.

Director Yoo Geon.

He directed our documentary and first worked with us back in 2014 for a magic school uniform commercial.

“Have you been well, Director? I wanted to see you as soon as we arrived.”

“Our schedules just didn’t match. And there wasn’t much to discuss ahead of time anyway.”

“I heard you were busy with meetings.”

“Yeah.”

After greeting assistant directors and staff, he said,

“Since it’s independent film-focused, I know most people here. Friends and acquaintances from my study-abroad days in the States... There’s also a joint project underway here.”

“Oh.”

“This is actually my third Sundance. I’ve come a lot as a World Cinema nominee.”

He had always been influential in the indie scene.

He suddenly looked at me.

“Wooju.”

“Yes?”

“About your father’s film... Actually, never mind.”

“What is it? If I get curious, I can’t sleep.”

At “can’t sleep,” all the members’ heads snapped toward me.

‘You’re not sleeping?’ Biju smiled chillingly.

“I meant it metaphorically.”

“Ah~”

I looked back at the director, but he waved it off.

“Not important. You should focus on your film now.”

Our film.

Our eyes sparkled.

The documentary had followed us since last year’s concert, through world tours, international awards, and the finale concert.

Every time we did interviews or filmed practice scenes, we’d wondered how it would turn out.

Jiho couldn’t hold it in.

“How is it? Did it come out well?”

“Hmm....”

The director stroked his chin.

“There were some minor regrets... but overall, it turned out pretty well.”

“Overall....”

Seeing our worried faces, everyone laughed.

“No, no. It’s good. I was being modest.”

“So it’s good!”

“Director!”

“We trusted you!”

As we crowded around him, he chuckled.

“NetPlus has been aggressively promoting to your fans, and your agency and record label helped, but fundamentally—opening at a festival like this means...”

He smiled confidently.

“It means the judges acknowledged the film’s quality beforehand.”

“Then.......”

“You can look forward to it. We made it fun.”

Just as he trailed off—

A festival staff member with a badge entered.

“Are you ready to meet your fans?”

We straightened our ties and stepped out.

Inside the theater.

Souffle stared blankly at their laps.

‘What is this.’

Before they knew it, their arms were full of merchandise.

‘I fell for marketing again.’

Smiling staff had awaited them inside.

Premiere T-shirts with the documentary logo.

Mugs printed with members’ signatures.

Photo cards.

A documentary poster.

‘......I was going to save money.’

But the moment they saw the cute illustrated members on the poster, Souffle lost all rationality.

Clatter. Clatter.

As boxes were set down with resigned smiles—

“Nice to meet you. I’m Owen Cassidy.”

The festival director introduced the film briefly and encouraged neighbors to greet one another.

After cheerful hellos—

1,200 audience members erupted.

“Waaaaa!”

NewBlack entered in suits to watch the film with fans.

‘Those empty seats were for them!’

Fans seated beside members looked ready to faint.

Phones rose everywhere.

The lights dimmed.

‘Finally.......’

The NetPlus documentary wouldn’t be released for another week.

Watching it early made Souffle’s hearts pound.

[Thud!]

The familiar “N” NetPlus logo appeared.

Then another studio logo.

“Oh.”

Before films, studio logos usually play.

Earth spinning. Stars gliding over lakes.

Then—

[Giggle! Giggle!]

Silhouettes of laughing boys.

Five shadows running playfully until they found a lemon tree.

A single yellow lemon in a black silhouette world.

One boy squeezed it.

[Squeeze—]

Yellow letters spread across the monochrome screen.

Lemon juice dripped, forming text beneath five running boys.

[STUDIO LEMON]

Souffle stroked their chins at the Studio Lemon logo.

‘Very philosophical. It means our boys squeeze the company dry.......’

‘Wow. I feel tears in that logo.’

‘The company staff are sending us an SOS.’

Without explanation, everyone understood the meaning of the five boys and lemon.

The screen faded to black.

Music began.

“Whoa!”

“Waaaah!”

Footage from last year’s Seoul concert, the first of NewBlack’s world tour.

Wooju’s broad back walking beneath the stage.

Cheers exploded.

‘No way.’

They looked like athletes heading into battle.

Waves of audience.

Lights rippling across stage and seats.

The opening title appeared.

[The New Black : Making Waves]

Black screen.

[Crash—whoosh—]

A beach at sunrise.

A male narrator spoke.

[Everything has a beginning.]

Like a nature documentary voice.

After commentary about beginnings—

[Q. How did NewBlack begin?]

Members in an interview room.

Subtitles appeared.

[The beginning?]

[Do you mean how NewBlack started?]

“Yes.”

The screen split into five individual interviews.

[The very beginning would have to be... then. We have to start from that time.]

[From when Wooju hyung came.]

Bold text filled the screen.

[Prologue : Year 2013]

Souffle’s eyes widened.

‘This feels different.’

Not like a typical idol documentary.

More like a chaptered, pulp-fiction tone.

“Hmm?”

The first scene appeared.

Some recognized it.

Many blinked at the grainy footage.

‘What is that?’

[SEOUL, 2013]

It was archival footage from five years ago—

From the incident on the day of the college entrance exam.