Return of the Genius Photographer

“What kind of poster are you planning to make?”

Director Kim Yong-deok asked with sparkling eyes, his curiosity piqued by Woojin’s confident response.

What kind of poster could he possibly make that would surpass even this photo?

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t wrap his head around it.

“Well, I think it’s better to show you the final result than explain it with words.”

But Woojin didn’t seem eager to reveal his plans just yet. He answered simply, then stared at the photo again, as if lost in thought.

“And when do you think it’ll be ready?”

Yong-deok, anxious about waiting for a poster with no set deadline, asked again with a sense of urgency.

Woojin, who had been deep in thought, didn’t answer right away. Instead, he asked about the production schedule.

“When is post-production scheduled to start? The schedule I received didn’t include the post-production dates.”

“Oh, that’s because it’s not decided until the filming is complete. We can’t plan it beforehand.”

“Then…”

“But since we’ve just wrapped up the key scene we postponed, we’ll begin in a few days. Will you be joining us for that as well?”

Woojin nodded in response to Director Kim’s question.

That gesture left Yong-deok puzzled.

‘What does he plan to do there…?’

Come to think of it, he remembered Woojin asking about the post-production schedule during their first meeting too.

While it made sense for someone to want to watch a film shoot, the post-production phase—filled with tedious editing work—was not something a non-professional would usually want to witness.

It was hard for Yong-deok to understand why Woojin was so keen on observing such a process.

Curious, he wanted to ask again but knew that Woojin likely wouldn’t give him a clear answer, just like before.

“Well, I’ll have the staff relay the details of the time and place. We’ll see you then.”

Leaving his curiosity to evolve into anticipation, Director Kim decided to end the conversation. He figured it was only a matter of time before everything became clear and shifted his focus back to his own work.

****

Post-production, simply put, is the final stage of film-making. It’s the phase where all on-set work is completed, and the editing, music, sound, and CG are checked and refined. This is where the final cut of the film is created and polished, elevating its overall quality through meticulous edits and adjustments.

A few days after his conversation with Director Kim Yong-deok, Woojin arrived at the editing room to observe the post-production process.

“We’ll start by cutting out unnecessary scenes. If there’s anything you need, just let us know and we’ll pause.”

“Okay.”

The spacious editing room had a large screen at the front. As the editor gave instructions, Woojin quietly nodded in response, while Director Kim observed them with curiosity.

‘Looks like he plans to capture some screenshots as he watches the footage… Is he really going to sit through the entire editing process?’

Editing is the most significant part of post-production. It involves categorizing and reorganizing long clips into individual cuts, scenes, and sequences, creating a seamless flow in the film.

Just reviewing all the footage takes considerable time, and when you add the editing work on top of that, it becomes a lengthy process.

It’s a task that no one without a genuine passion for film would voluntarily undertake.

Today, fortunately, was a session based on pre-assembled rough cuts, so the amount of footage was less than usual. Still, Yong-deok couldn’t help but wonder why Woojin had decided to follow along for such a demanding process.

“Alright, let’s start editing.”

With that, the post-production work began under Director Kim’s watchful eye.

The editing process moved along in a solemn atmosphere. The editor skillfully cut away unnecessary parts of the film, while Director Kim reviewed each scene before making final decisions.

Woojin, on the other hand, quietly observed the whole process.

Time passed, as expected, and the length of the session started to weigh on everyone. It was at a point where fatigue was creeping in when Director Kim happened to glance at Woojin.

What he saw surprised him.

‘Has he really been watching this whole time without saying a word?’

Despite the long hours, Woojin hadn’t lost focus. His expression remained serious as he stared intently at the screen. He was so still that for a moment, Yong-deok had mistaken him for being asleep. But the intensity in Woojin’s eyes radiated unmistakable energy.

A chill ran down Director Kim’s spine.

The editing process is notoriously dull for outsiders. Watching footage being pieced together might seem interesting at first, but maintaining focus for hours on end is no easy feat.

Even Director Kim, despite being the one overseeing it, would find his concentration wavering after a while. How could someone stay so focused on work that wasn’t even their own?

‘This kid is serious about everything he does… I think I understand why Photographer Jung Woong took him on as his apprentice.’

Enviable.

Seeing Woojin’s eyes fixed on the screen, Director Kim couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration. The way Woojin approached everything with such sincerity left a strong impression on him. His sharp insight during the shoot, and now this relentless focus, made him stand out.

To be honest, if Woojin weren’t already a photographer, Director Kim would have been tempted to bring him into the film industry.

“You’ve been quiet all this time—aren’t you bored?”

Naturally curious, Director Kim decided to break the silence.

“You were so quiet, I thought you’d fallen asleep.”

“I’m fine. I didn’t want to interfere with the work.”

Woojin’s calm response to Director Kim Yong-deok’s question reflected his considerate nature. Once again, Kim couldn’t help but be impressed.

‘Ah…’

How could someone be so likable?

At their first meeting, he had assumed Woojin was just another headstrong individual. But the more he saw, the more he found himself wanting to keep him around. It was especially astonishing that all this behavior came from someone who wasn’t even an adult yet.

But the surprises didn’t stop there.

“The work is almost done now. If there’s anything you need, let me know. I’ll make sure it’s taken care of first.”

Feeling pleased with Woojin’s attitude, the director asked gently. Woojin nodded slightly, seeming to think for a moment before recalling the specific scenes he needed.

“31 minutes 25 seconds, 1 hour 45 minutes 15 seconds, 2 hours 10 minutes 27 seconds. Could you please capture those frames and send them to me?”

“What? You remembered all that?”

“Yes, I was planning to mention them all at once after the session ended.”

“Wow…”

Director Kim was left speechless by Woojin’s matter-of-fact reply.

So he had been maintaining focus all this time while keeping those scenes in his memory?

It was simply astounding.

“Since you already know the timestamps, capturing them won’t take long. I’ll email them to you shortly.”

Director Kim chuckled in disbelief, but there was a genuine admiration in his voice as he continued.

“So, when do you think the poster will be ready? I’m really curious.”

What kind of poster could he possibly create from these images?

The anticipation was killing him. Like a child waiting for a gift, Director Kim could barely contain his excitement.

Perhaps sensing this, Woojin smiled faintly before responding.

“You’ll probably be able to see it by tomorrow.”

*****

“Alright, let’s get started.”

Having gathered the necessary images from the editing room, I returned straight to my studio.

Everything was ready. It was time to bring to life the poster that had been forming in my mind.

I booted up my computer and opened Photoshop, loading the captured images from earlier today. Each image showcased the protagonist in a different emotional state.

The first photo was from the early part of the movie, where the protagonist still believed they could achieve their dreams, never losing their smile.

In the second, the protagonist, lost in anger, had strayed into a dark path.

And in the final image, taken from the film’s conclusion, they had lost everything, sad and utterly alone.

While the backgrounds and compositions varied, the expressions and emotions of the protagonist were clear in each shot. I carefully cropped out the character’s figure from each scene, leaving just the three images of the protagonist.

After saving those, I brought up a photo I had taken myself—one of the protagonist sitting on the ground, staring blankly ahead. I separated the figure from the background, which depicted a rundown alley in a poor neighborhood.

With all the images split apart, I began piecing them together like a puzzle. I merged the protagonist’s different faces into the backdrop of the slum.

‘I can fine-tune the details later. For now, I’ll focus on creating a draft.’

Now, the four images of the protagonist, each depicting a significant change in character, were placed against the same background. Although the rough cuts still had a jarring, pasted-together look, I was satisfied.

‘Yes, this is it.’

This was the poster concept I had envisioned.

What is the value of a movie poster?

Is it just a promotional tool? A visual summary of the film?

If that’s all a poster amounts to, does it lose its value after the movie is released?

I had been pondering how a poster could retain its significance even after the film ended.

The four images I created represented the key transformations of the protagonist. Each one could stand alone as a striking poster, but when viewed together, they created an emotional impact that could only be fully appreciated after watching the film.

Before watching, one might not grasp the significance of the contrasting emotions depicted in the poster. But after seeing the movie, the audience would recognize the arc of joy, anger, sorrow, and grief woven into the images.

In short, this poster was designed to offer a different experience before and after the movie. It wasn’t just a promotional tool—it was a piece of the story itself.

‘Now, all that’s left is to smooth out the details.’

With the initial layout complete, I checked the time. It was well past 8 p.m. I had promised Director Kim he could see the poster tomorrow, so I had to finish it tonight.

‘I’ll need to be meticulous. I can’t rush the final touches.’

But even with the deadline, I couldn’t afford to cut corners. It was almost midnight by the time I finally completed the poster.

When I presented the finished poster to Director Kim the next day, the first words out of his mouth were:

“What the hell…?”

His reaction was filled with astonishment.