Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 168

Let’s Go to New Zealand (1)

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December.

In a cafe in Insadong, two writers met as winter firmly took hold.

“What? Do they rent Hanboks here too?”

“No, that’s probably Gyeongbokgung….”

While other cafe customers glanced over curiously, Yong Ryubaek, dressed in a modernized Hanbok, raised his teacup.

“It’s gotten colder.”

The writer Eun Hee-wook, sitting across from him, nodded. He was the writer behind ‘Soul of the Hunt,’ a well-received thriller he had recently started with PD [Production Director] Na Jong-mo at JNBC.

“They say this winter will be the coldest in 20 years. We must take good care of our health.”

“I envy Actor Park. It must be very hot over there.”

“Ah, you said the seasons are reversed there, right?”

“Yes. Summer is just beginning.”

Yong Ryubaek put down his teacup.

Park Gun had left.

He had taken the entire ‘Park Gun Division,’ the team he had assembled over the past three months, and flown to New Zealand.

Eun Hee-wook said with a touch of nostalgia in his eyes.

“He finally left. I heard the set construction will take even longer.”

“From the very beginning, even before all the staff were gathered, he packed his bags and visited the production company and investors. I heard he easily secured cooperation from the local authorities as well.”

After the official announcement of ‘The Chronicle of the Gods’ project, the past three months had been a whirlwind.

The three major OTT [Over-the-Top media service] platforms were fiercely competing for the rights, renowned directors were sending their proposals, and they were finalizing the cast through unofficial auditions.

Numerous meetings took place, and even more were being scheduled. It was the next project for an actor who was a pillar of the company. Park Gun himself, of course, but also CEO Noh Joong-man and all the employees were incredibly busy.

[Park Gun X The Chronicle of the Gods, heading to Wellflix… Expected ‘Highest Level’ Treatment]

[Wellflix, “No Disclosure of Investment Amount but Will Not Spare Any Expense”… Decides to Fully Support the Protagonist of Cannes]

In the end, Wellflix was chosen as the platform, and Peter Shawn as the director. Until the final decision was made, everyone was on edge.

Eun Hee-wook smiled and added, “It couldn’t be helped. Park Gun is Park Gun, but the original work has become incredibly popular… Wellflix must have been very eager as well.”

“I thought it was a work that would do well in the overseas market too. It was a worthwhile adventure to try.”

“Most of it was handled by Writer Yong. If you hadn’t personally stepped up from publication to translation, things wouldn’t have progressed this quickly.”

Yong Ryubaek only smiled silently. In the first place, it was his publishing company that had printed Kang Young-il’s newly completed ‘The Chronicle of the Gods’ as a revised edition.

But it didn’t end there; he had even personally translated it and promoted it overseas. He had done everything he could for his junior’s comeback.

Thanks to this, ‘The Chronicle of the Gods’ was receiving favorable reviews not only as a domestic bestseller but also from fantasy novel enthusiasts in the Asian market and the English-speaking world.

“By the way, I never thought Peter Shawn would actually come. He had practically declared his retirement.”

Peter Shawn, known for his work on ‘Spirit of the Wind,’ ‘The Dwarf Trilogy,’ and more, was a leading fantasy expert in Hollywood.

Everyone was surprised when he suddenly contacted them after declaring that he would no longer touch fantasy after the end of the Dwarf Trilogy.

“The director’s favorite thing is a new story. It’s not just an ordinary Eastern-style fantasy, and it’s not the medieval stuff they’re tired of dealing with… It must have been appealing.”

The setting of ‘The Chronicle of the Gods’ is the Katamutra continent.

The people of the empire built there are described in the novel as being similar to medieval Westerners.

The foreign powers and monsters gnawing at the empire are also Western-style, but the names, culture, and magic of the main characters are Eastern-style, which is an attractive element.

Therefore, casting was also conducted internationally.

There are dozens of supporting characters in the book, but the important roles are narrowed down to five.

The protagonist and wanderer of dimensions, Ido.

The emperor of the empire, Kaldmon Airas.

His daughter, Raywen Airas.

The fallen legion commander, Emit Ro.

The leader of the rebels from a commoner background, Nikert.

After the director and production company were decided, requests for appearances from the best actors of the time flooded in.

Some sent acting videos, but more passionate ones flew to Korea.

Thanks to this, Incheon International Airport was bustling with unexpected media coverage for the past few months.

And finally, all the roles were cast.

“There was a lot of support from domestic actors this time.”

“There wasn’t really an official audition, but it was held in Korea, so that’s probably why. It’s not an easy opportunity to go abroad with Park Gun.”

Once, when Korean films were triumphing at international film festivals, the roles of domestic actors who advanced to Hollywood were insignificant.

At best, they were samurai characters or muscular giants… Even then, they were just background characters with a few cuts, which was disappointing.

In a situation where even stars with established reputations have difficulty landing a role, what about a blockbuster OTT series starring Park Gun?

“At least there’s no chance of embarrassment, that’s what everyone must be thinking.”

Three domestic actors won supporting roles.

Seo Hee-do, a descendant of a clan who assists the protagonist ‘Ido’ and plays the role of a comical porter.

Hong Chang-guk, a veteran actor who plays a swordmaster who has hidden his identity and a mysterious old prosecutor.

Jin Ji-yu, who plays the tyrant Kaldmon Airas’s daughter and the princess who loves Ido.

Eun Hee-wook turned on his smartphone and clicked on the actress’s story at the top of SNS [Social Networking Service].

ZIN_YOU

3 hours ago

New Zealand, finally going!

“…I really didn’t expect it to be Jin Ji-yu.”

Was it because the protagonist was Asian?

Among the roles, the most competitive was Princess Raywen Airas.

Dozens of domestic actresses applied, and the leading icons of Hollywood in their 20s and 30s also jumped into the casting competition.

In the first place, Princess Raywen is a character who is only described as a great blonde beauty in the original work.

How many actors would give up the ‘key point’ that contains everything from the beginning to the last chapter?

‘Hello, this is Jin Ji-yu. I’m here to audition for the role of Raywen Airas.’

And at the unofficial audition attended only by the director, the original author, and key members, Jin Ji-yu appeared with bleached platinum blonde hair and bright blue colored lenses.

Is it a wig? No, it looks like dye?

While those who knew Jin Ji-yu were stunned and stammering, she performed about 15 minutes of English acting on the spot without a script.

‘…Good job. Is your hair a wig?’

‘No, I bleached it as soon as the official announcement came out.’

‘Then the eyes….’

The short bob from her ‘Dog of Seoul’ days was already past her shoulders. Jin Ji-yu swept back her platinum blonde hair, which was brighter than real blonde, and raised her white chin.

‘These are circle lenses, wearable for 24 hours.’

According to those present afterward, the producers, including Peter Shawn, unanimously chose her.

Her British accent was worthy of an imperial princess, and her blonde hair blended in seamlessly, as if she had just jumped out of the novel.

‘No, is this even possible? If that was possible, I would have dyed my hair and gone to the audition!’

There was an incident where a certain actress from the same agency caused a commotion, but there was no way the already decided casting would be reversed.

Thus, two people from ‘Dog of Seoul,’ one self-proclaimed charismatic veteran actor, and a manager and support team to take care of them flew to New Zealand.

“Are you talking about Actress Jin? She’s really good. It was an uncertain role, but she even dyed her hair and practiced separately to learn the appropriate vocabulary.”

“That friend’s obsession… no, her sense of purpose is quite famous. I couldn’t work with her even though I did two specials together, so she must have been determined.”

Yong Ryubaek, who had only known Park Gun for a relatively short time, blinked.

“Yes? What do you mean by that….”

“It’s nothing. Anyway… it looks like it’s starting soon.”

Eun Hee-wook pushed his smartphone forward so that Yong Ryubaek could see it too.

As if they had heard the two talking, a photo of the sunset sky had just been uploaded to Park Gun’s SNS.

*

South Island, New Zealand.

The ‘Chronicle of the Gods’ expedition team unpacked their luggage at the filming location where they would be staying for the next few months.

Two months and ten days prior to this moment.

Peter Shawn, the director called the father of fantasy blockbusters, said this at the first meeting.

“Location? Damn it, it has to be New Zealand. There’s no other choice. To capture the overwhelming scenery of this world, we need everything from the North Island to the South Island.”

Eventually, a rough concept was established even before the lineup was complete, the art director joined, and the framework for the set began to be erected.

It was a filming request from the actor of the work that had been holding the top spot in the US box office until recently, and a director who was no less famous.

The New Zealand authorities also easily granted permission, and Wellflix’s overwhelming capital began to build drama sets in various parts of the South Island, including Mount Sunday.

Those who first arrived at Mount Sunday and saw the set that was about 70% complete exclaimed in their respective native languages.

“Wow, crazy….”

“Oh my god, is that not a hologram or CG [Computer Graphics]?”

“Wellflix, those bastards. How much money did they pour in….”

“Jo, get the telescope. I think it’s twice the size of the Spirit of the Wind set?”

Wide plains, mountains that suddenly rise, and sunken brown basins.

Beneath the majestic peaks stood the white, shining castle of Airas.

The empire in the setting was once as rich as the gods, but it was gradually rotting into a huge mass of meat.

The mad emperor, Kaldmon Airas, was hiding in the silver castle, which stood tall despite the approaching destruction.

“Our director’s form is crazy, it’s done in three months?”

It’s winter in Korea, but it’s summer in New Zealand. Seo Hee-do, who threw off his coat and changed into an Aloha shirt after getting off the plane, gaped.

The manager next to him closes his open jaw and explains the secrets of the set.

“That’s not all stone. There are sparsely filled parts inside, and the whole bird’s-eye view is taken with miniatures unless we’re shooting scenes where everything is destroyed at the end.”

“Oh, there’s such a method.”

While the two are talking, numerous filming staff are busily moving and setting up a base camp on the plain.

They are currently in the eastern part of the South Island of New Zealand.

Christchurch, one of the major cities in the Canterbury region, is nearby, but it takes too much time to keep going back and forth.

If they’re going to be filming day and night anyway, it’s better to set up a base camp and shorten the schedule by eating, sleeping, and working.

“I’ve never seen such a spectacle in my sixty years of life. I’m glad I postponed my retirement.”

“Ah, senior!”

Seo Hee-do and the manager, who hurriedly turned around at the hearty laughter from behind, bowed.

Hong Chang-guk, a veteran… now closer to the ranks of elders, who had once set foot in the Venice Film Festival in his younger days, waved his hand.

“Don’t do that. I’m already an old man in the back room, so if you treat me uncomfortably, it’ll be more difficult for each other. How nice would it be if you treated me like a neighborhood uncle like Gun.”

“Um, that hyung’s [older brother] heart is originally made of steel….”

Even if they are a team, people miss their fellow countrymen when they come abroad.

Moreover, it’s not even the start of filming yet, so people from Korea naturally gathered around the two actors.

Seo Hee-do, who was shading his eyes and looking down at the plains, asked.

“By the way, where are Gun hyung [older brother] and Jiyu noona [older sister]? I heard they went on a preliminary survey with the director first.”

The New Zealand sun is hot until just before it sets. Hong Chang-guk, narrowing his wrinkled eyes even more, pointed to one place as he looked around the hills.

“Isn’t that two people coming up there?”

The people who turned around had to cover their eyes for a moment. In the sunlight, white figures were climbing a low hill.

A black-haired man wearing heavy armor even in this hot weather. He wore a huge sword without a scabbard on his back, gauntlets, and greaves.

The silhouette next to him is wearing light armor. Long platinum blonde hair, absorbing the sunlight and sparkling, waves like a wave and steals people’s attention.

“…….”

The reality that had disappeared for a moment returned only when the two leads in ‘The Chronicle of the Gods’ stood before them.

“The weather is very hot. I think the temperature is higher than in the Korean summer.”

As Jin Ji-yu wiped the sweat from her forehead, Park Gun took out a handkerchief from somewhere and handed it to her.

“Wipe it off. The real heat will be from the afternoon.”

Perhaps at last,

Filming has begun.

* * *