297. #54 – All I Have Is Acting (1)
Two days before filming began.
I headed back to action school, pushing myself despite my still-recovering body.
Action practice had resumed as soon as my initial recovery period was over.
Even though the action scenes were scheduled for the latter half of filming, I couldn’t afford to skip practice.
The opportunities to practice action on set would be significantly limited.
“Coach, can we work on wire action today?”
I felt wire work was what I’d practiced the least.
I asked the coach, but his answer was the same as yesterday.
“No. It’s still too much strain on your body. It’s not good for your wound recovery.”
“Ah…”
He wasn’t wrong, so all I could do was sigh.
The thought of needing a stuntman because I wasn’t ready made me frustrated.
The coach, noticing my expression, frowned slightly and tried to reassure me.
“Hee-sung, you’re recovering quickly, but we still need to be careful. If you strain your stomach, it might affect not just the action scenes, but your acting scenes too.”
I nodded in agreement.
“Okay, then after filming starts, when I have breaks in Seoul, I’ll practice the wire scenes then.”
“Yes, I think that would be best. Today, let’s warm up lightly and focus on ground action.”
“I’ll go change.”
The coach nodded, offering encouragement.
“Hee-sung, your recovery is remarkable. Keep it up, and we’ll get you back to wire work soon.”
“Understood.”
“If you keep progressing like this, I’m confident you can handle the wire scenes in the latter half without a stuntman.”
“Thank you, Coach.”
I quickly changed and, once again, threw myself into action practice until my training clothes were soaked through.
I was putting as much effort into action scenes as I was into acting.
I didn’t want this injury to negatively impact the production.
‘Undercover’ is a movie packed with action.
I had already overcome a near-death experience with this injury, but I didn’t want to let it—or the person who caused it—ruin my future and my acting career.
I had to practice and practice, filling the days until filming started.
* * *
The first day of filming was more nerve-wracking than usual.
I couldn’t sleep at all on the drive to the countryside.
“Hee-sung, try to get some sleep. We’ll be acting as soon as we arrive,” Kim, my manager, said, looking at me worriedly in the rearview mirror.
I shook my head.
“I’m afraid my condition will worsen if I sleep. I’ll just practice.”
I picked up the script from the seat next to me and started rehearsing.
My condition was improving daily, but I still wasn’t fully recovered.
The knife wound in my stomach still caused sharp pains at unpredictable moments.
Because of that wound, I couldn’t always hide the discomfort on my face.
I wasn’t wasting time blaming the criminal who stabbed me.
Instead of resentment, I wanted to quickly overcome this wound and pain.
Every moment was too precious to spend on blame.
After hours of driving, we arrived at the set.
I took a deep breath and rubbed the wound with my hand.
Then, focusing my gaze, I got out of the car and headed to the set.
“Hello!”
The first person I greeted upon arriving was Director Park.
“Oh, Hee-sung, you’re here?”
He immediately came over and shook my hand, his gaze going to my stomach.
“Yes, Director.”
“Hee-sung, how’s your body?”
There was only one answer I could give.
“I’m fine!”
“That’s a relief. Let’s have a great day of filming.”
“Yes.”
The set was bustling with activity.
Numerous staff members were in their places, working diligently.
The actors were also dedicated to their roles.
Seeing them, my determination rekindled.
If I, the lead actor, couldn’t overcome this pain, all these people’s efforts would be in vain.
After changing clothes and finishing makeup, I headed to the set to shoot the first scene.
And then the pain hit.
“Ugh…”
The pain started in my stomach, but quickly spread into a throbbing headache.
It was like the day the memories of 10,000 years flooded in [referring to a past event in the story].
I stopped walking, the severe headache overwhelming me.
I grabbed my head with both hands.
“Haa… Haa…”
But I couldn’t postpone filming on the first day.
So many people were gathered, waiting for me.
I couldn’t let this pain stop me from acting.
I gritted my teeth and forced myself to take one step at a time towards the set.
Director Park looked at me standing in front of the camera and made eye contact.
We nodded to each other, signaling the start of filming.
“Ready, action!”
As soon as Director Park gave the signal, I became completely immersed in the role, as if I had never felt any pain.
“Then I’ll go undercover.”
The other actor frowned.
“Can you, who has only ever lived as a police officer, really do this without getting caught?”
“Yes, please trust me.”
“How…”
Despite his worried tone, I gave him a determined look.
“We have to catch them. South Korea is no longer a drug-free country.”
Then, I looked at the photos of the criminals in front of me and recited my line.
“To catch a tiger, you have to go into the tiger’s den [a common Korean idiom meaning to take great risks for great rewards]. I’ll be the one to go into the tiger’s den.”
The camera captured my face, full screen.
I stared fiercely at the photo until I heard Director Park’s voice.
“Cut, okay!”
With his voice, the quiet set was filled with noise again.
Director Park gave directions to me and the other actor.
“The acting was good. This time, we’re going to do a bust shot, so let’s do it again just like that.”
We both responded in unison.
“Yes.”
So the camera was repositioned.
Again, I tried to suppress the headache by hitting my throbbing head with my fist.
The severe headache was almost unbearable.
In my mind, I was complaining about the pain, but I smiled to hide it and looked at the other actor.
‘Ah… I feel like I’m going to die…’
I tried to control my mind and suppress the headache.
Again, Director Park’s voice rang in my ear.
“Ready, action!”
Once again, my eyes turned fierce.
* * *
As soon as it was break time, I quickly got into the car and lay down.
Kim, my manager, came over and spoke with concern.
“Hee-sung, are you okay?”
“Yeah.”
“Your complexion is terrible…”
Kim frowned.
I closed my eyes tightly.
“Hyung [older brother or close male friend, a common Korean term of endearment], I need some medicine…”
“Ah, medicine. Just a moment.”
Kim hurriedly rummaged through his bag to find the medicine.
Soon, he handed me the medicine with water.
The medicine was primarily for the wound in my stomach, but it also contained painkillers, so I quickly swallowed it.
The pain in my stomach was minimal, but I had to take the medicine because of the throbbing headache.
Of course, I knew that this headache wouldn’t be completely relieved by the medicine.
This headache… I knew it wasn’t just an ordinary headache.
Nevertheless, to continue acting, there was nothing else to do but take medicine and try to rest.
How many minutes passed like that?
When I opened my eyes, I saw someone lingering near the car.
My head was still throbbing, but I had to get ready for the next shoot.
I got out of the car and headed to the set.
Just then.
“Um… Hello, senior [a respectful term for someone more experienced in the industry].”
The person who approached me was the actor who had been hovering around my car.
“Ah, yes. Hello.”
He stood carefully in front of me.
“My name is Jang Jun-woo.”
I smiled and held out my hand.
“Yes, I’m Jin Hee-sung. Please take care of me in the future.”
Jang Jun-woo shook my hand.
“Of course, I know you very well, senior. I’m the one who should be asking you to take care of me.”
We smiled and exchanged greetings.
“I’m shooting the next scene with you, senior.”
“Ah… Yes, let’s go together.”
So I headed to the set with Jang Jun-woo.
When we arrived, Director Park was already directing the actors, including me and Jang Jun-woo.
We all immersed ourselves in our roles and continued practicing.
Then, filming began.
“I’m going to shoot this straight through without cutting. Ready, action!”
With Director Park’s signal, my eyes changed.
As if I had never been sick, as if nothing hurt.
The other actor put his hand on my shoulder.
“Hey, I heard that Norangi [slang for someone with yellowish hair, often used to refer to a delinquent] was released this time. Did you know?”
I frowned and checked my schedule on my phone.
“Ah… That’s right. Norangi is being released today.”
“Go home carefully.”
“It’s okay. I heard that Norangi came to his senses after going to prison this time.”
He frowned and raised his voice.
“Hey, how can you still think like that while being a police officer?”
“Yes?”
“He’s not just a criminal. That bastard… can’t come to his senses. No, he won’t.”
“……”
He grabbed my shoulder and turned me around, staring straight into my eyes.
“Keep that in mind. That bastard is not human.”
Then he handed me a weapon for self-defense.
“Be careful. I heard you’re going to be cracking down on drugs starting next month.”
“Hey, senior. I don’t need this kind of thing.”
“Aren’t you going to crack down on drugs?”
“I will. Even without this, I can catch Norangi if he shows up.”
I said with a smile, and he slapped my back hard.
“No matter how good you are at catching that bastard with your bare hands, you can’t catch a crazy bastard.”
“Oh, senior, you’re so worried about me today. Don’t worry. I can do both—worry about me and the drug squad crackdown!”
I bowed to him.
“Go in carefully. I’ll see you at the station tomorrow.”
“Okay, see you tomorrow.”
“Yes.”
He turned and headed to his car.
I walked towards the dark alley.
After a few steps.
“Hehehe…”
A creepy voice and laughter.
It was coming from behind me, and I knew immediately who it was.
It was Norangi, the criminal targeting me.
I kept walking without saying anything, but I spoke loud enough for him to hear.
“Norangi, congratulations on your release. But are you planning to rot in there again so soon?”
As soon as I finished speaking, the sly laughter stopped.
I stopped walking too.
“Norangi, you need to come to your senses and live a normal life now. What will happen to your mother if you go back to prison?”
At my words, the guy in the alley revealed himself.
“Who are you to bring up someone’s mother?”
“Long time no see, Norangi.”
“If it wasn’t for you… I wouldn’t have had to go to such a place.”
His eyes were filled with murderous intent.
I answered him with a smile.
“Hey, you have to say it right. If it wasn’t for me? You’re still a criminal even without me.”
“You son of a bitch…”
“Even if it wasn’t for me, you would have gone to prison.”
“No? If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have been caught. No one knew, I was the one who committed that act…”
His words were full of anger.
I had no reason to be intimidated.
“Don’t overestimate yourself.”
I took a step towards him, staring into his eyes.
“You’re just a criminal, you can’t even be recycled, you trash bastard.”
His eyes trembled.
I glanced at his arm hidden behind his back, knowing he must have a weapon.
His facial muscles twitched as if he was disgusted by my words.
Then.
“You X-bitch bastard…!”
He took out the weapon hidden behind his back and swung it at me.
I dodged the knife.
But.
“Ugh…”
The cold knife pierced my back.
Damn it.
I was wrong to think he’d come alone.
Hot sweat ran down my spine.
I couldn’t tell if the hot sensation was sweat or blood.
Their laughter echoed in my ears.
“Hahaha, I guess you didn’t expect us to hit you from behind?”
“Nice. Norangi, did I come out just right?”
“Yeah, you did well. Hey, you police bastard. There are no CCTVs here. No one will know even if you die.”
They trampled on my police uniform as if mocking me, and then they left.
I clenched my fist and struggled, shaking.
“Ugh… People… don’t die easily… I’ll catch you with my own hands… and throw you in…”
But I was stabbed with a knife, and my eyes rolled back.
My lips and eyelashes were trembling.
“CCTV? Ha, you’re all caught on my eyes. You X-bastards…”