Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 7

The Shark in the Bath (1)

* * *

Martial arts director Hyun Do-kyun had many complaints.

First, the action level of the actors seemed determined to provoke him. The young man he taught yesterday, a guaranteed box office draw in Chungmuro [the Korean Hollywood], was listless throughout the lesson and eventually lay down, claiming dizziness.

‘Incompetent fool, only obsessed with his celebrity.’

Second, the future of the new drama he was currently advising on and overseeing the action for. A few days ago, they brought in three actors who didn’t seem interested and had them rehearse together, and now they’re holding general auditions?

He was inwardly disappointed, even though Eun, the writer, was known for her attention to detail. How could they make actors like that play the role of a knife-wielding killing machine? They’ll probably just shake the camera skillfully to deceive the audience.

‘The old days were better. If only our action school had succeeded….’

Hyun Do-kyun tossed and caught a prop knife, mulling over the same thought he’d had for fifteen years. It looked like a knife, but it had no blade and was a harmless sponge sashimi [a type of Japanese food, here referring to a soft, harmless prop].

“Have you ever rehearsed before?”

The man, who was also staring at the sashimi given to him by the production team, replied.

“No, but it doesn’t matter.”

“It matters to me. Now, take a stance.”

Hyun Do-kyun frowned and demonstrated a few basic moves.

“Like this, high stance, then middle stance, block, dodge, and then swing at me again. Make sure the knives don’t clash, strike hard on one, two, three.”

“Yes.”

The man in the baggy suit, like a father’s clothes, just nodded. He didn’t ask to go slower or to see it again.

“Next is like this….”

“Yes.”

‘Well, if he messes up, it’s his own embarrassment.’

Hyun Do-kyun didn’t particularly like actors, so he didn’t offer any unnecessary kindness to this unenthusiastic suit-man. He just showed him all the moves roughly and then went back to his thoughts.

‘Still, he looks decent holding a knife.’

*

is a noir drama featuring two male actors in the lead roles.

The drama begins by examining Seoul, where a gang war has broken out.

The protagonist is Ma Dae-hwi, a violent crimes detective. While investigating recent violent incidents, drug deals, and victims of loan sharking, he discovers a new organization and realizes someone is behind it. That someone is Jung Yeon-woo, the president of ‘Jung International,’ Ma Dae-hwi’s antithesis and another protagonist. Jung Yeon-woo expanded his power by integrating gangs from Busan, Pohang, Daegu, and other southern regions, and a full-scale battle erupts as Ma Dae-hwi begins to pursue him. And Choi Seung, the character Park Geon will play, is Jung Yeon-woo’s bodyguard and chief enforcer.

#S42, C1.

The violent organizations in Seoul were quickly brought under ‘Jung International,’ but several major organizations still remained. One of them is the Black Dragon Clan, which engages in organ trafficking and is based in Chinatown. Ma Dae-hwi infiltrates a brothel located deep within Chinatown. He received intelligence that Jung Yeon-woo was at this establishment managed by the Black Dragon Clan, but his identity is exposed, and he is chased by yakuza [Japanese organized crime members].

ㅡBack off, you bastards!

Ma Dae-hwi releases the safety and fires blanks, but it’s no use.

ㅡYou need to get out of there now, it’s swarming with Black Dragon Clan bastards!

ㅡI wish I could. If only I could.

Ma Dae-hwi removes the earpiece with his colleague’s voice. It’s a solo operation, so no support will come. Six bullets, and an estimated forty enemies. The heat of the hot tub blurs the detective’s vision, and water droplets slide down the revolver’s barrel. The moment the Black Dragon Clan members, wearing only thin underwear and holding long hooked sickles and sashimi knives, close in.
In the middle of the sauna’s hot tub.
From the water, where he thought no one was,
‘He’ appears.

*

Strong lighting erases the shadows on his face. When Park Geon, playing Choi Seung, lifted his lowered head, a sticky silence settled. The scene was originally supposed to be filmed in the tub. Even though it was an audition room with no water, the people there clearly felt the humidity. It was as if they were in a scalding bath, making it hard to breathe.

“······.”

Martial arts director Hyun Do-kyun, who was standing in front of Choi Seung, widened his eyes. The atmosphere changed the moment that ordinary man lifted his head. What was in front of him wasn’t just an aspiring actor with a good physique. Choi Seung, who lifted his head and shook off the blood—no, the water—was walking towards him.

‘Where did that bastard get a real knife….’

Fight or die. The uncooled blood of a martial artist forced his hardened body to move. Hyun Do-kyun swung the sponge knife like lightning, and Choi Seung easily dodged it and thrust it along the agreed trajectory. Defense, attack, then defense again. Originally, he was supposed to be stabbed by the knife and fall after three moves. Was it because he was too immersed? Hyun Do-kyun inadvertently twisted his body to avoid the incoming blade.

A clear NG [no good, meaning a failed take]. But the knife, drawing a strange trajectory, cleanly cut Hyun Do-kyun’s right carotid artery.

Splat!

Hyun Do-kyun fell, scattering imaginary blood. Choi Seung, having cut down his enemy, didn’t stop and continued forward. One, two, four, seven. It was a knife strike that tore through the air, but it seemed like he could see the yakuza screaming as their fatal arteries were severed.

Step… Thud.

Soon, Park Geon arrived in front of the desk where the production team was sitting. Eyes filled with fear, confusion, and shock followed him. The set was no longer an audition room filmed by cameras, but a brothel covered in blood and water. The human butcher, who had torn through the play, wiped the red water that had splashed on his chin and flicked the kitchen knife.

Crash!

Finally, someone’s chair fell over.

*

“Cut, cu-u-ut!”

The person who jumped up was PD [Production Director] Na Jong-mo. Belatedly shouting cut, he rushed over and hugged Park Geon.

“This is it, this is exactly it! Isn’t that right, writer Eun?”

Writer Eun Hee-wook was frozen with her mouth open, forgetting to answer.

“Look, Park Geon-ssi [an honorific title]. Our writer is completely out of it. Cinematographer, did you get that well? Martial arts director, you’re not really dead, are you? I was so creeped out that I stood up.”

A torrent of effusive praise poured out, but Park Geon remained calm. The staff, who had been frozen like stones until the cut was called, looked at each other as if the spell had been broken. Hyun Do-kyun, who stood up awkwardly, came over and extended his hand.

“I’m martial arts director Hyun Do-kyun. Thank you for, uh, covering for me in the middle. The atmosphere was so realistic that I made mistakes.”

“It’s alright.”

“But did you learn knife fighting… or do you practice any martial arts separately?”

He had been acting like he was annoyed to death earlier, but now he was using honorifics as if he were serving a distant senior. Park Geon hesitated for a moment before answering.

“I’ve done a little of everything.”

“Then maybe a school or something….”

PD Na Jong-mo pulled the persistently asking martial arts director away.

“Alright, alright, you can find out about that later. We’ll be seeing our actor Park more than once, right? I was originally going to shoot a few more cuts… but at this rate, I can’t wait. Let’s watch the footage and talk.”

Soon, the PD and writer took Park Geon to the cinematographer. The three of them started excitedly whispering while watching the recorded video.

“Yeah, that’s it. When he lifted his head, I really thought Jaws was coming out of the tub.”

“What did I say? It was worth waiting until four in the morning to bring him in, right?”

“Aigoo [an expression of surprise or frustration], who would I trust if I didn’t trust writer Eun, who moved me from a back room in Jongno [a district in Seoul] to an apartment in Seongsu [another district in Seoul]. Director Kim, make sure you capture that scene of him coming out of the tub perfectly. I think it’ll definitely be in this year’s legendary entrance scenes.”

In the middle of the chatter, PD Na Jong-mo called over a staff member who was hovering nearby.

“Oh, Hee-young-ssi. Contact those guys.”

“Yes? Who?”

“The actors who auditioned for the role of Choi Seung. Tell them they don’t have to wait.”

*

“He got it?”

“Yeah.”

“…The audition?”

“That’s what I’m saying. I was held up by the PD until just now.”

Park Seon blinked blankly. Their mother was asleep, so only their father and Park Seon were out in the darkened living room.

“So you’re really going to be in writer Eun Hee-wook’s new work? As an extra, or a minor role?”

“I think so. It seems like there’s a significant part for a few episodes.”

Park Yeol-ho boasted as if he was extremely proud.

“Yeah, our son looks better than most actors. When you were a kid, Geon-ah, there were even offers to be a diaper model. We couldn’t do it because of your mother.”

“Ah, what about Mom?”

“She came home late and is sleeping now. She’ll be really happy when you tell her tomorrow. When does the filming start for that drama or whatever?”

“I think it’ll start soon. They said they’ll contact me separately about the schedule.”

Park Yeol-ho nodded, stroking Geon’s back several times with his only hand.

“You couldn’t even rest after being discharged… Anyway, do your best, and tell me if you need anything.”

“Yes, Dad, you should go to sleep too.”

Since it was late, the family briefly shared their joy and returned to their rooms. A few minutes later, there was a knock. It was Park Seon, who seemed to have something to say.

“Hyung [older brother], I have a favor to ask.”

After hesitating for a while, Park Seon finally spoke.

“Can you take me with you as your manager?”

*