I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 470

Romain Ducret, a French actor, was a top star, known as the national actor of France. He was a frequent invitee to the Cannes Film Festival for Best Actor awards and a familiar face at the ‘Academy Awards.’ With a chiseled face, he projected an intense image. He primarily worked in France but occasionally took on roles in Hollywood.

Romain Ducret had become a member of the ‘Academy Awards,’ a position akin to a judge, about two years prior.

The ‘Academy Awards’ annually selects members from directors, actors, producers, key staff, and other industry professionals. Because the ‘Academy Awards’ is so globally prestigious, being selected as a member was a great honor. After all, they get to choose the best of the year with their own judgment.

Therefore, two years ago, French top actor Romain Ducret had celebrated with great joy.

And today, Romain Ducret, one of the members of the ‘Academy Awards,’ was watching a movie alone in a studio he had booked. He had to review several works, and the movie currently playing on the monitor was.

-[“Heh heh heh! Keh keh keh, ha ha ha ha!”]

The ‘Joker’ was laughing heartily. That is, he was watching ‘Pierrot: Birth of a Villain.’ About an hour had already passed, and Romain Ducret, watching ‘Pierrot’ with his legs crossed, had a look of deep shock on his face.

“······That actor, Kang Woo-jin-”

The quality of ‘Pierrot’ was remarkable, but what surprised the French top actor was, of course.

“He’s grown exponentially; he’s become a monster.”

It was because of Kang Woo-jin, the male lead of ‘Pierrot.’ In fact, Romain Ducret already knew Kang Woo-jin. While Woo-jin was a global sensation, the first time he saw Kang Woo-jin was at the Cannes Film Festival. There, Woo-jin had created a miracle by winning Best Actor, and Romain Ducret had been freshly shocked after watching ‘Leech.’

Perhaps that’s why Kang Woo-jin was familiar to Romain Ducret.

He also made sure to check most of the articles about his bustling activities in Hollywood. Therefore, when the works nominated for this ‘Academy Awards’ arrived, Romain Ducret had played ‘Pierrot’ without hesitation.

Then, he was left with his mouth agape in just 10 minutes, and after an hour, he felt awe.

“‘Leech’ was already absurd enough, but he could grow even more than that?”

The ‘Joker’ that Kang Woo-jin was portraying was more than a monster. Moreover, compared to ‘Leech,’ the density and meticulousness of his acting had further developed. The problem was that Kang Woo-jin at the Cannes Film Festival was also a monster. The monster had increased its destructive power. As ‘Pierrot’ progressed, Romain Ducret became deeply immersed in the enjoyment of the work and Kang Woo-jin’s acting.

‘Pierrot’ contains all the emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure, and it even leaves a message and lingering feeling for society.’

At first glance, ‘Pierrot’ had a slight image of a hero movie for a ‘Cinematic Universe’ [a shared fictional universe], a time-killer, but when the lid was opened, it was completely different. After ‘Pierrot’ ended, Romain Ducret was even clapping alone.

-Clap clap clap clap.

He even spoke to himself without realizing it.

“Amazing, how long has it been since I’ve watched a movie this intently?”

The power to hold one’s attention without allowing even a single second of distraction. ‘Pierrot’ was filled with that power. Even after the movie ended, Romain Ducret stared at the black monitor for several minutes. Kang Woo-jin’s acting was constantly replaying in his mind. After finally regaining his senses, Romain Ducret played another movie. This time, it was a work by a veteran Hollywood actor.

However.

“······This is.”

After 30 minutes, he realized.

“I can’t concentrate; I can’t even see the acting.”

His mind was full of Kang Woo-jin.

The peculiar thing was that Romain Ducret was not the only one experiencing this phenomenon. At almost the same time, ‘Academy Awards’ members distributed around the world watched ‘Pierrot’ first, just like Romain Ducret. The reason was simple. The buzz and hype surrounding it were the most prominent.

And almost all the members soon regretted it.

Kang Woo-jin’s ‘Joker’ was.

“I should have watched ‘Pierrot’ last.”

It was that intensely powerful.

March 4th.

The time was around noon when the sun was hot. A secluded road quite a distance from downtown LA. There, suddenly.

-Vroooom!!

A very worn-out gray pickup truck appeared, emitting a loud exhaust sound. Although there were few cars passing by, the pickup truck was somehow speeding fiercely down the road. The reason was soon apparent.

-Woo woong!!

Behind the pickup truck, a line of clean black vans appeared. The rear vans had a more luxurious feel compared to the pickup truck in front. Judging by the speed, it was clear that the three black vans were chasing the pickup truck in front. One black van in the lead. It stuck to the trunk of the pickup truck.

-Vroooom!!!

The pickup truck accelerated even more. The black van quickly caught up. Eventually, the van.

-Wham!!

Hit the pickup truck. It was on the trunk side. The swaying pickup truck spun around. Suddenly, from the pickup truck that had gotten closer to the black van.

-Bang bang bang!

Three gunshots rang out. The driver’s side window shattered. Of course, on the black van’s side. Inside, a man in a suit had his head slammed into the steering wheel. The van, uncontrollably skidding, veered off the road.

-Crash!!

It disappeared over the cliff. The pickup truck barely managed to regain its balance. In the driver’s seat, Kang Woo-jin was seen driving expressionlessly, now turning the steering wheel like crazy. He glanced at the rearview mirror. He stepped on the accelerator hard again. The chase resumed. One van overtook again. Woo-jin slammed on the brakes.

-Screeeeeech!

He fired at the black van that had moved ahead. The target was the rear tire. The van, which had been shaking for a moment, flipped over with a whoosh. A cracking sound was heard, but there was no change in Kang Woo-jin’s expressionless face. He drove again. But this time.

-Thwack!!

The remaining one black van was faster than Kang Woo-jin. With a sudden burst of speed, it forcefully pushed the rear of the pickup truck. Kang Woo-jin quickly turned the steering wheel, but because the pickup truck was in such bad condition.

-Screeeeeeeeeech!!

It rolled about two times, losing its balance left and right, before stopping upside down. The area around the road became quiet. The black van stopped nearby. The pickup truck in the dust cloud was still. Three men in suits got out of the black van. They held pistols in their hands, looked at each other, and then.

-Swoosh.

Approached the pickup truck. They had to confirm if he was alive or not. When they were about three steps away.

“Hey! To the side!!”

A shout hit the leading man. Realizing it, he quickly turned his pistol and head. It was in vain. Kang Woo-jin, covered in dust, was.

-Whack!

He struck the man’s neck.

“Eeeek!”

With a strange sound, he twisted the man’s pistol-holding hand backward and fired twice. Bang bang! With the gunshots, one of the suit-wearing men in the back fell with a thud. His head and face were blown apart. The remaining man frantically shot at Kang Woo-jin. However, all the bullets hit his colleague’s back.

Using the limp man as a shield.

-Whoosh!

Woo-jin ran towards the remaining man. Gunshots continued to fire. All missed. Woo-jin threw the corpse at the man. The man dodged to the side. Woo-jin moved the same way. The gun was extended. But Kang Woo-jin was faster. He grabbed the gun and the man’s hand in an instant and kicked the man’s groin.

“Ugh!”

In that moment of weakness, Kang Woo-jin twisted the man’s wrist. Now the gun was pointed at its owner.

-Bang bang!

The man with his head shattered fell. In an instant, three men were taken care of. But Kang Woo-jin was not even panting.

“······”

After wiping the blood off his face, he searched the men’s belongings. Expressionlessly. Woo-jin, who had taken the cell phones and other items that came out, got into the intact black van in front. The van drove off as it was. But the camera didn’t move.

Right at that moment.

-KABOOOM!!

The overturned pickup truck exploded.

Still, about 10 seconds of silence. Then.

“······Cut!!”

Danny Landis, the director of ‘John Persona,’ who was sitting among hundreds of staff members, jumped up.

“OOOK!!”

His smile was broad as if he was satisfied. Soon, dozens of staff members rushed to the scene and cleaned up the burning car. Kang Woo-jin, the male lead playing ‘John Owen,’ also returned. Director Danny Landis, who was right next to him, gave feedback to Kang Woo-jin.

“The action was more than perfect; it was beyond satisfactory—but the explosion was a bit lackluster, shall we say?”

“Is that so?”

“Hmm, let’s increase the firepower and go again.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Kang Woo-jin answered solemnly, but inside he was quite surprised.

‘Crazy, as expected of Hollywood! They’re filming a car explosion again?? Then they’re going to smash those BMW cars too??’

Soon, Kang Woo-jin moved to the staff for makeup touch-ups. Director Danny Landis, who had been quietly watching Woo-jin’s back, even though he was a big shot in Hollywood, thought.

‘We asked for a simple, understated action, but he performs action that is cold and dry, yet full of impact.’

Kang Woo-jin was an alien beyond special.

‘There are few in Hollywood who can produce that level of action quality, and he even deeply expresses the character’s mental issues. Seeing him in person, he’s an absurd actor.’

Of course, the surrounding staff were busy praising Woo-jin’s action and acting. Around this time, Joseph Felton, a giant [a powerful figure], approached Danny Landis.

“Director, how is Kang Woo-jin’s ‘John Owen’?”

A question about Woo-jin on set, not during the script reading. In response, Director Danny, while taking off his round glasses, answered quietly. It was a tone filled with sincerity.

“The word ‘control’ suits him so well. Restrained action, shooting. And yet, his body is flexible······”

He trailed off and made eye contact with Joseph.

“You saw the ‘Pierrot’ situation, right? Like the ‘Joker,’ Kang Woo-jin is the character itself. ‘John Owen’ of ‘John Persona’ will be the same.”

“Yes, I got goosebumps just from a brief look.”

“‘John Persona’ is considering a series, right? If so, we need to start working on securing Kang Woo-jin for the entire series right now.”

Danny Landis, a Hollywood big shot director, who had spoken with conviction, looked at himself.

“If he does it, I’ll take on the role of director for the entire ‘John Persona’ series.”

After that.

With the start of March, Kang Woo-jin began filming ‘John Persona’ in earnest. And March in Hollywood was.

『CNM/Kang Woo-jin, ‘Universal Movies’ new work ‘John Persona’ begins filming!』

『LA TIME/Kang Woo-jin, who started filming ‘John Persona,’ the new work of ‘Universal Movies,’ one of Hollywood’s ‘Big Five,’ filming site spreads on SNS』

It was truly a bumper crop of issues.

『ABY/Kang Woo-jin’s girlfriend Miley Cara, and Chris Hartnett’s ‘Guest’ script reading is imminent』

The issues that had been building up or recently erupted were either blooming or growing. Of course, the fact that paparazzi were attached to Kang Woo-jin and Miley Cara several times more also helped. The photos they took were all sold to news outlets.

『NT/Kang Woo-jin and Miley Cara, spotted on a date at a restaurant!/Photo』

In addition, with other figures in Hollywood joining in, excluding Woo-jin, Hollywood was experiencing an unprecedented boom in issues.

『ABY/Veteran actor ‘Ethan Ford’ sharp criticism towards Kang Woo-jin “I acknowledge Kang Woo-jin’s skills, but he is not humble”』

Time, a day, was deleted from the world at a rapid pace.

Kang Woo-jin, as well as all the works and people related to him, did what they had to do. They repeated it. As people’s clothing gradually became lighter, the ‘Academy Awards’ side, with their schedule approaching, made an announcement.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) confirmed two things.

One was.

『LA TIME/AMPAS, which started selecting official nominees for the ‘Academy Awards,’ “Nominee announcement on April 3rd”』

The official nominations for the ‘Academy Awards,’ the announcement of actors, would be broadcast live on April 3rd.

The other was.

-[“······Our ‘Academy Awards’ will grandly open on April 24th.”]

The ‘Academy Awards,’ the most prestigious in the world, which ‘Pierrot’ had boldly challenged, would open on April 24th.

In other words, the lineup announcement on April 3rd, and the opening on April 24th.

Everything would take place in April, and Kang Woo-jin, who had confirmed this announcement, was outwardly calm, but inside, tension was rising.

‘Aish—damn, just get nominated! Then at least I’ll save face!’

But for now, it was March, so he had to focus on filming ‘John Persona.’

Such a March passed in the blink of an eye.

『[Hollywood] April Start! Two days until the official nominee announcement for the ‘Academy Awards’ on April 3rd, Hollywood is in a state of high tension』

April had begun.

『[Issue Check] ‘Pierrot: Birth of a Villain,’ which is highly praised for its pre-release, will Kang Woo-jin’s name be called at the ‘Academy Awards’?』