I Was Mistaken As A Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 267

The film industry’s media was on the verge of exploding with talk about the summer blockbuster season. No, the bombardment had already begun.

『’Island of the Missing’ Starts at Number 1 in Reservations, Surpassing Other Tentpole Films!』

The peak season in theaters brings a new wave to the media and the entertainment industry as a whole. New movies appear every week, and they wage war against each other. What a delicious spectacle! It might be hell for the movies, but for the media and the public, there’s no better show.

『[Movieis] “The Theater Scene is Fierce During Peak Season,” ‘Island of the Missing’ is in First Place, but Reservation Rates are Expected to Fluctuate』

People watch the movies they’re interested in and observe the state of the movie war. Which movie is gaining momentum, and which is falling behind.

The most fun part of watching is, of course, watching the fight.

So, the eyes of the public, as well as the entire entertainment industry, are focused on the theaters. This means there’s a lot of demand, and news from articles and various media outlets flooded in as time went on.

And right now, the hottest new movie was ‘Island of the Missing.’

It was number one in reservations amidst a massive release of movies. Of course, this number isn’t the whole picture, and it could be temporary, but for now, it was a sufficiently positive situation.

‘Tentpole movie.’

A term for commercial films focused on box office success, involving famous directors or actors, or huge capital investments. In other words, it’s the same as saying it’s a highly anticipated film. If it’s a hit and becomes the flagship movie for the film industry, film companies, and distributors, like a tent’s support pole, it can earn the title of a tentpole blockbuster.

But there are many obstacles.

Even if a movie starts with high expectations as a tentpole film, if it fails at the box office, it’s simply forgotten. Even if more than 10 movies are considered tentpole films, if they all fail, none of them will receive the title.

That’s how cold the audience, the public, is.

Even during the peak season of the film industry, the directors, film companies, distributors, and actors who presented the movies were walking on thin ice. They were hoping for a tentpole blockbuster but also facing the possibility of the long hours and hundreds of billions invested going up in smoke.

『’Island of the Missing’ Has a Good Start, Word-of-Mouth from First-Day Audiences is Key』

Considering that, ‘Island of the Missing,’ currently number one in reservations, was definitely showing a green light. It wasn’t just media hype for promotion. In fact, theaters showing ‘Island of the Missing’ across the country were packed with viewers. Woo-jin’s close friends, who had just entered a theater to watch ‘Island of the Missing,’ were so surprised they were speechless.

“Whoa, there are so many people. Isn’t this crazy?!”

“Yeah, I’ve never seen so many people before. ‘Island of the Missing’ is on fire.”

“It’s still so weird that Woo-jin is the lead in this movie.”

“Even though it’s a holiday and peak season… I didn’t expect it to be this crowded.”

Regardless of seat location, the several-hundred-seat theater was full. At the front entrance, in front of the large screen, viewers were still entering. Kim Dae-young, with wide eyes, Lee Kyung-sung, holding a popcorn bucket in one hand, and Na Hyung-gu, clinging to his girlfriend. The three close friends were stunned by the massive crowd before somehow finding their seats.

A bit closer to the front than the middle.

As soon as they sat down, advertisements started on the large screen, as if they had been waiting. At the same time, Lee Kyung-sung, chewing popcorn, opened his mouth.

“Even in this situation, you managed to get good seats? Kim Dae-young, you’re awesome? And they’re all together.”

“I told you I bought them as soon as the tickets opened. Hye-yeon told me to. But looking at this now, if we were just a little late, we would have been screwed.”

The conversations of the viewers sitting around them reached the ears of the close friends.

“OMG! Honey, we would have been in big trouble if we hadn’t made reservations, right??”

“Yeah, wow- it’s been a while since I’ve seen a sold-out movie.”

“Ha, I’m excited. ‘Drug Dealer’ was so much fun last time. Since Kang Woo-jin is in this one too, it’ll be at least decent, right?”

“Who knows? But the reviews from the previews are really good. And it’s directed by Kwon Ki-taek, so I don’t think we have to worry about it being a flop??”

Couples, friends, families, and so on.

“Hey, if this is boring, you’re dead?”

“Ugh, stop whining. If you’re sitting, just shut up and watch. The cast is amazing, and seriously, none of the works Kang Woo-jin has been in have flopped, okay?”

“Damn, I wanted to see ‘Secret Mission 5.’ That was a huge hit overseas.”

“Watch this and then watch that, you idiot.”

Everyone was filled with anticipation before the movie started.

“Did you see Ryu Jung-min and Kang Woo-jin in military uniforms in the trailer? It was so cool.”

“Yeah! Ha- I’m really watching this movie because of Kang Woo-jin. I fell for him in ‘Boyfriend’ Han In-ho… I’m really looking forward to this one too.”

That’s when it happened.

-Sss.

The advertisements ended, and the theater lights turned off. It meant that ‘Island of the Missing’ was about to begin. At this, all the hundreds of viewers filling the theater fell silent.

A brief moment of quiet.

Only the sounds of a few people coughing, shuffling, and chewing popcorn could be heard in the theater. That lasted for a few seconds. Then, a powerful sound effect spread throughout the theater.

-♬♪

Crunch, crunch. The sound of someone running through the woods. A man’s rough breathing. The sound came first, and then the video was projected onto the large screen.

-[“Ugh! Cough! Huff! Damn it- Damn it!”]

The appearance of Private Kim running through the dense forest. Here, the concentration of hundreds of viewers shot up. Everyone stared at the screen. Woo-jin’s close friends did too. Then, Private Kim in the screen screams. The rifle he was holding trembled. The angle showed Private Kim’s half-crazed face, then followed his gaze to the forest. A silent but eerie atmosphere.

And.

-Bang bang bang! Bang bang bang bang!

The sound of gunfire filled the theater. After that.

-[“Gurgle- Private Kim.”]

A strange voice was heard. About half of the hundreds of viewers tilted their heads.

At that moment.

-Thud!

A powerful sound effect echoed in the theater. Most of the viewers were startled.

“Eek!!”

“Ah!”

Private Kim’s head was smashed by a long object that suddenly flew in. The debris spread across the large screen. When the tension reached its peak, the title appeared.

-‘Island of the Missing’

The screen went dark again and the scene changed. The place was a morgue. A man in military uniform was standing there. The angle slowly showed his face from behind. It was Kang Woo-jin. No, it was Corporal Jin Sun-cheol. As soon as his face filled the screen, small movements could be seen among the hundreds of viewers.

Whispering quietly.

“Wow- his image is completely different.”

“Is that really Kang Woo-jin?”

The close friends felt strange emotions.

‘Awesome. He comes out right away from the beginning? The lead is killing it.’

‘……That guy had that kind of look. He’s so cool but also unfamiliar, damn.’

‘So amazing.’

Was it admiration or joy? Maybe it was vicarious satisfaction.

-[“Ah- uh.”]

Kang Woo-jin in the screen was looking around. Embarrassment and shyness. Timidity and awkwardness. Low self-esteem. It was all over his face. His actions were minimal. Lacking and thin. His indecisiveness was clearly visible. Woo-jin’s first impression on the hundreds of viewers was.

‘What? Is he a bit of a frustrating character?’

‘He’s unique, but- he seems like someone I’ve seen before.’

‘His acting is good as always. But I’ve seen the timid role too often.’

‘He’s more boring than I thought?’ It was because, although his acting seemed good, he was playing a character they had seen before. At this time, the conversation between the morgue worker and Kang Woo-jin continued.

-[“Would you like to… confirm?”]

-[“……”]

-[“What would you like to do? If it’s too difficult…”]

-[“I, I’ll see.”]

Kang Woo-jin, or Corporal Jin Sun-cheol, kept mumbling. He was looking around. He was anxious. He lacked confidence. He succumbed to fear. But as soon as he saw his mother lying in the morgue.

-[“……Mom. Mom.”]

He broke down. He sobbed. He knelt down weakly. But even this sobbing was tinged with timidity. He swallowed his cries. For a moment, his restrained wailing spread throughout the theater. The viewers thought he was amazing.

‘His acting… is really good.’

Putting aside the fact that the character was boring, the changes in emotion were natural and quick. With the addition of the directing, the level of concentration increased rapidly.

At that moment.

“……Huh?”

Most of the viewers had question marks in their eyes. It was because of Woo-jin’s face that filled the large screen. His head was buried on the floor, and the angle was showing him from below. Kang Woo-jin’s eyes. His pupils were timid, then erratic, then constantly changing.

It was changing very frequently and rapidly.

The hundreds of viewers had goosebumps on their arms as they wondered.

‘What is it? What’s going on all of a sudden.’

‘Damn, but his expression is creepy.’

‘Crazy. Is he a split personality or what?’

Kang Woo-jin’s appearance on the screen was so different. It even changed every second. There were no lines, but it was clearly felt what state he was in. From here, the viewers began to realize one by one.

“He’s crazy.”

“He’s not just timid, does he have some kind of mental illness?”

There was something about Corporal Jin Sun-cheol.

That’s when it happened.

-Swoosh.

The sobbing of Kang Woo-jin on the screen suddenly stopped. His trembling body also stiffened.

Did the atmosphere change?

Another Kang Woo-jin suddenly appeared in the eyes of the bewildered hundreds of viewers. The weakness that had been maintained all along was nowhere to be seen. He was fierce. That was the look in his eyes. Half of it was filled with madness. Kang Woo-jin, cracking his neck this way and that as if he was stiff. And then the line. The tone of his voice was also cold as ice.

[“Shut up. It’s my time now.”]

The angle was a bust shot. Corporal Jin Sun-cheol was smiling faintly. He was a completely different being. In an instant, the close friends of the actor on the screen felt their legs go numb.

‘……I, I almost peed. Wow- seriously, that guy’s acting is so good?’

‘He killed it. Does his acting get better every year?’

Na Hyung-gu was troubled as he looked at his girlfriend’s infatuated face next to him.

‘Damn, as a friend, he’s amazing, but it’s not good that my girlfriend is falling for him. I’m going crazy.’

The viewers filling the theater were instantly captivated by Kang Woo-jin on the screen.

-[“Cover it.”]

It wasn’t announced by Corporal Jin Sun-cheol’s line or subtitles. But by this point, all the viewers realized.

That guy, he’s a split personality.

Woo-jin, whose personality had changed, came out of the morgue. The angle followed him, showing his military boots as he walked. His stride was confident. He arrived at the bathroom. Kang Woo-jin looking at his phone. His lips stretched into a wide grin as he looked at something.

[“Hehe, you bitch. How much is this insurance money?”]

At the same time, the reactions of hundreds of viewers spread throughout the theater. Almost everyone exclaimed in unison.

“Ooh-”

“Woah……”

“Kuh!!”

This was the charm of the movie theater. It shouldn’t be disruptive, but when everyone is of one mind, they enjoy it together.

In just 10 minutes, Kang Woo-jin had taken control of hundreds of viewers.

But this was just the starting point.

The next day, morning.

The storm or tsunami of yesterday had ended, and the morning of results had dawned. Of course, it was all about ‘Island of the Missing.’ In fact, the talk about the performance of ‘Island of the Missing’ had been hot in many places since early dawn.

From movie-related communities to social media, YouTube, various media outlets, and the press.

In numerous areas, people were curious about the winner of this movie war. Of course, it wasn’t just online, but offline as well.

People who went to work.

“Mr. Kim, did you see ‘Island of the Missing’? It was released yesterday.”

“Ah- no? I’m going to see it on the weekend. But I’m not really looking forward to it.”

“Why?? It was so much fun!”

“Well, it’s a thriller, and I don’t really like those.”

“OMG! You have to see it, it’s seriously fun! Even though it was a weekday yesterday, the theater I was in was packed. Sold out, sold out.”

“Really?? There are a lot of movies that were released this time. Will ‘Island of the Missing’ be number one?”

“100%!”

“We’ll see.”

Or conversations between friends, and so on.

It was as if the public was excited because it was a bumper year for the film industry. There were many movies to watch, and the war between the released movies was also a point of interest. It was even more so because a popular Hollywood series movie was also involved.

The entertainment industry was even more intense.

The atmosphere was quite heated, with bubbling tension. Entertainment companies, production companies, film companies, broadcasting companies, and countless actors.

“Which one do you think will be number one? Is it ‘Island of the Missing’?”

“It feels like it, but there might be a surprise twist. There are so many strong movies right now.”

“That’s true. There are so many blockbusters that it’s almost too much. It’s definitely peak season.”

“I have a feeling that something big is going to happen this time.”

“Something?”

“Yeah, like a 10 million viewer movie coming out for the first time in a while.”

“Ah- anyway, I’m betting on ‘Island of the Missing’!”

But it wasn’t time yet. There were still tens of minutes left until the results were announced. Therefore, Kang Woo-jin, who was currently in Japan, moving to the ‘Naughty Gisaeng’ set in a van, also had a dry mouth.

‘Agh- damn it, is the result announcement not out yet?? I’m so nervous, seriously.’

Even though he was acting tough, so he couldn’t show it on his face, he was anxious inside. His butt kept twitching slightly.

The other actors of ‘Island of the Missing’ were the same.

Ryu Jung-min, who was doing a photoshoot, Ha Yu-ra, who was in a meeting, Kim Yi-won, who was resting at home, Jeon Woo-chang, who was lifting dumbbells at the gym, and Hong Hye-yeon, who made a cameo appearance, and so on.

Everyone was doing their own thing, but they were also looking down at their phones or glancing at their managers. They were eagerly waiting for the results.

And.

-Click!

The sound of a mouse click echoed in a medium-sized studio. It was the studio of Eoullim Film Company, which produced ‘Island of the Missing.’ It was the place where they had the test screening before. In that studio, the affable director Kwon Ki-taek was seen.

Of course, the key staff, the film company’s president and executives, and the distribution company’s employees were also gathered. About 50 people.

“……”

Including the silent and serious director Kwon Ki-taek, everyone’s eyes were fixed on the screen in front of them. Of course, what was being displayed now was not a movie. The laptop screen of the employee standing next to the screen was showing.

-[KOPIC Integrated Computer Network for Movie Tickets] [Korean Film Council’s official box office tracking system]

The official site where you can see the domestic box office results, which can determine the numbers for the entire domestic film industry. However, it had not been updated yet.

5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes.

As time went on, the expressions of the people gathered in the studio darkened. Director Kwon Ki-taek, who had his arms crossed, was the same. That’s when it happened.

“It’s up!! It’s up!!”

The employee in front of the laptop shouted. At the same time, director Kwon Ki-taek and all 50 people turned their heads to the screen in front of them.

The results were immediately displayed on the screen.

[Audience Count for May 19, 2021]

[Daily Domestic Box Office]

1. Island of the Missing / Release Date: May 19 / Audience: 700,223 / Number of Screens: 1159 / Cumulative Audience: 700,223

2. Rebellion / Release Date: May 19 / Audience: 141,781 / Number of Screens: 1001 / Cumulative Audience: 141,781

3. Secret Mission 5 / Release Date: May 12 / Audience: 110,059 / Number of Screens: 955 / Cumulative Audience: 2,435,578

4. Smuggling Team / Release Date: May 19 / Audience: 80,155 / Number of Screens: 910 / Cumulative Audience: 80,155

700,000 viewers in one day. ‘Island of the Missing’ was a monster.

Even.

『[Official] ‘Island of the Missing’ Hits a Massive 700,000 Viewers on Opening Day, Same Speed as the All-Time Number 1 Movie ‘Naval Battle’··· Will the Ranking Change in 7 Years?』

It was on par with the current number one movie in total audience in Korea.

End