Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 121

Former Hero is a Million-Dollar Actor – Episode 121 (121/199)

Rising Rockets (3)

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“Who the hell are you?”

“Cut! Let’s take a short break!”

Director Na Jong-mo shouts, and suppressed sighs leak out from everywhere.

The intense scene between the two just now sucked the energy out of everyone watching.

“Those two, their chemistry is insane whenever they’re together.”

“Right? Maybe it’s because he’s playing the final boss, but it feels different from Gu Shin-seung or Choi Pil-rip.”

From the start, ‘ThugReg’ was famous for its cynical and realistic dialogue, befitting a corporate management drama.

The boardroom battles between the half-blooded Eun brothers over the group’s interests, and each performance in the hotel resort scenes, were considered masterpieces.

However, the scenes that made everyone hold their breath were the confrontations between Chairman Eun Ki-hak and Eun Han-seom.

A staff member from the directing team craned his neck.

“Look, just sitting there makes a picture. Whether the camera is on or not, it’s like a movie.”

After asking who he was, they got an okay on the entire sequence of tense exchanges in one take.

Seok Pil-ho, after taking a sip of water, said,

“Well done. You’ve worked hard.”

“It’s all thanks to you, sir.”

Park Gun also bowed his head in response. Unlike other actors who immediately get up when an okay is given, these two are particularly relaxed.

There had been talk among the staff for a while about how the veteran actor, past his sixtieth birthday, and the rookie, not even thirty, had many similarities.

“Every time I work with you, I feel it, but it’s always relatable. How can I not be immersed?”

“Relatable, you say…”

“To my role, Chairman Eun Ki-hak. I don’t know who the person in front of me really is.”

“I don’t quite understand what you mean.”

Park Gun’s way of speaking is simple. He says he knows what he knows, and he says he doesn’t know what he doesn’t know.

Seok Pil-ho smiled and elaborated.

“I mean, I don’t know where such a monster popped out from. I’ve lived in front of the camera my whole life, and I wonder if that’s even human acting.”

Park Gun met his thickly gray eyebrows. Two or three times, they had dinner together with the main actors after filming.

He had sent interesting glances back then, and it seemed he had been holding back his curiosity until now.

“You flatter me. Gu and Choi are better than me.”

“Those friends are excellent too. But how should I put it, there’s still a feeling that they’re acting a defined role. On the other hand, Park drags even the people he’s acting with into the work. Watching you reminds me of Kim Hwan when I was young.”

“It’s an honor. I also think of an old acquaintance when I act with you, senior.”

“Hmm? When you see me?”

Seok Pil-ho chuckled, as if wondering who it could be.

Of course, he couldn’t tell the truth. His white hair tied back to suit the role, his grand physique, and his booming voice resembled a nobleman from another world.

‘I thought I’d seen him somewhere before…’

Ern, the fallen Margrave of the Frontier.

The grandfather of his colleague Erhan, the upright old man who was torn to pieces by demons.

He had only seen him a couple of times throughout the episodes and had forgotten, but he remembered because Seok Pil-ho’s appearance as Eun Ki-hak was so similar.

‘Still, it’s so strange. Anyone would think Yoonbal25 [pen name of a web novel writer] was also transferred with me.’

Thinking about the web novel writer with many things in common, a subtle voice was heard.

“By the way, can you tell me just between us?”

“What are you referring to?”

Thinking that the actors were talking about acting, not only the staff but also their managers were far away.

Seok Pil-ho, looking at the overwhelming night view through the tinted glass windows of Hanjo Tower, said,

“Those writers of this work. Like the rumors going around these days, did you really reconcile them?”

Looking at his eyes, it seemed he was asking knowing half the answer. Since there was no one around to hear, Park Gun coolly admitted it.

“Yes. I thought it would negatively affect the work if it continued.”

“I knew it. How?”

“I called them to an escape room, thinking they might get up and leave as soon as they saw each other. Talking face to face, they were able to communicate.”

“…”

“They seemed to be exchanging contact information, and now they seem to be working together, cooperating with each other. I’m grateful that you listened to my request.”

Rarely, Seok Pil-ho was speechless.

The old actor, who had been gaping for a while, sent praise with an admiring expression.

“You really are a nice thug.”

*

As ‘ThugReg’ passes the midpoint of the drama, the scale of filming also increases day by day.

-Oh, Gun. It’s me. There will be some stunt scenes next week. I’m not worried, but I wanted you to know. It seems the female writer put a lot of effort into it.

As it was originally a chaebol drama [drama about the lives of the wealthy], there were quite a few spectacular elements in the original work. And writer Yeo Jin-joo made the most of those advantages in the video.

Park Seon even barged into his brother’s officetel [a combined office and residential space] while reading the newly received script.

‘Wow, are you really filming this in the middle of Seoul? Can the scenes in the novel be reproduced this much?’

‘That’s why PD [Production Director] Na had a hard time. He said he’s been getting filming permits for a month.’

Currently, the main storylines of ‘ThugReg’ are three.

First, Eun Han-seom’s domination of the political and business world.

Second, confirming the culprit behind his mother Eun Jae-young’s death.

Third, dealing with internal traitors and preparing for an all-out war with external groups.

With the drama packed with two tracks… no, three tracks, viewers have no time to take their eyes off the screen, no matter which main or supporting character appears.

-Young Master, we’ve secured most of the subcontractors who were struggling with unpaid bills. From now on, the roots supporting the defense industry will be on our side.

-Good, we’ve eaten up this side, and next is our idiot second brother’s side…

At Sunhwa Shield, they successfully complete the wearable robot and combat suit that were being secretly developed, with the cooperation of the current president, Song Se-woon.

They have gained power and recognition, but there is still a long way to go. As Eun Han-seom enters the heavy industry sector of his second brother Eun Seon-chang, he faces numerous enemies.

-Geez, why are there so many stray dogs?

Seonwoo Hee’s Daeyang Group, Kangryong Group within the top 5 of the business world, Songil Group, the family of his sisters-in-law, and Youngseo Group…

All are powerful rivals.

He is competing with his brothers inside, fighting wolves trying to divide the group outside, and must find out the truth about his mother from his grandfather.

It is difficult and arduous, but he cannot stop.

Only he knows the future now, and the moment he lets go, Sunhwa will collapse again.

Returning to the penthouse at dawn… Eun Han-seom, holding a pistol instead of a wine bottle, faintly sneers.

-Coming back and making my own life difficult.

As the protagonist’s actions become rougher, the action also increases with each episode.

In Sorae Port, they arrested the Italian mafia who entered Korea, and Sunhwa Shield’s own PMC [Private Military Company], ‘Silver Defense,’ stopped a runaway artificial intelligence robot from a rival company.

In the process, it is revealed that Eun Han-seom directly wore the suit and fought, an episode that earns him tremendous fame among the public.

-What? Not Songil Group?

Meanwhile, information different from his memories of his past life comes from the informant he planted.

-Yes. We have been tracking Eun Seon-in’s wife, Yeo Mi-joo, but she was clean. There was no connection to Songil at all.

-That can’t be… Then those bastards who tried to throw a bomb at us, are they forces from a different side than Songil?

-That’s highly likely. It seems to be related to Youngseo Group or Kangryong Group instead.

-Damn it, it’s different from my memories.

In a way, it is natural. Eun Han-seom changed many things by returning, and accordingly, the landscape of friends and foes is also different from the past.

The future has changed due to the butterfly effect of the returnee. He can no longer rely solely on the information in his memory.

Meanwhile, Chief Wang calls.

-Young Master, the aide who was with Eun Jae-young when she passed away has returned to Korea.

Thus, what they are filming today is a chase in the middle of Seoul after the former aide.

“We have to finish it in three takes, no matter how long it takes, and definitely no more than four. The time we got permission for this is incredibly short, so we can’t just bulldoze through it like other sponsorships. I know it’s a burden, but please do your best.”

Director Na Jong-mo gathers the directors, staff, and extras and gives a long speech.

A battle against time.

Road filming is done with permission from the district office or police station, and with the area controlled.

Some broadcasting stations or large corporations occupy the roads recklessly, but… anyway, normally, you have to go through that route.

Of course, the permitted time is also tight, so everyone is sensitive at this moment.

That’s why not only the stuntmen and actors who are directly involved in the action, but also all the on-site staff are waiting with their hands together for it to end in one take.

“PD [Production Director], the actors are ready too.”

“What, didn’t you say it was ten minutes ago?”

Director Na Jong-mo frowns and turns around. The moment he sees Park Gun standing with the assistant director, his gloomy expression brightens.

“Well, with this side, it’s almost embarrassing to worry about Gun…”

Even monkeys fall from trees, but it’s a different story if it’s not a monkey but King Kong. You can just pull out the tree and swing it around.

“It’s not that level.”

“Hey, more modesty! I heard everything earlier, that Kim was trying to scout you?”

“I got some driving lessons from Seon. I’ve improved a lot in the short term.”

I wondered if it was just because he was good, but he was even skilled in car chasing.

For the sake of safety, they brought in a stuntman specializing in car action and even a professional car racer, but there was hardly any area to cover.

The car racer watched Park Gun’s rehearsal and shook his head with his mouth wide open.

“His understanding itself is not at the level of an ordinary person. There’s an celebrity car racing competition held every quarter, you know? If you come out there, you’ll win overwhelmingly.”

Just before filming, Director Na Jong-mo scratches the back of his head in front of the Benz prepared as a prop.

“This is… well, the director said a sports car would be okay, but our production costs are tight. I’m sorry, I would have liked to have smashed a Lamborghini or something to satisfy Gun’s personality.”

“It doesn’t have to be a foreign car… No, I don’t have to smash anything.”

“Hey, what are you hiding between us? I knew your tastes from that punch machine.”

“As I said, that was a mistake…”

“Oh oh, I should get going. Please do well today too!”

In an atmosphere mixed with tension, filming begins.

On the controlled six-lane road.

A Honda with a stuntman inside rushes forward at a furious speed, followed closely by Eun Han-seom’s Benz.

-Vroooom!

It’s not for nothing that the car racer was impressed. Gear shifting, cornering, and driving skills that snaked through complex alleys far surpassed those of ordinary people.

“Follow him, don’t let him get away! If we can’t get even one cut, we have to stop filming today!”

Shouts are constantly erupting from the camera director’s vehicle following behind.

The highlight is the tough scene where the black Benz passes through the narrow space between walls.

Bang, thud, crash!

Both doors are mercilessly scratched, and one side mirror is completely torn off.

The sparks of frictional heat pouring out from the car body illuminate the alley. As if the burning sun is driving away the darkness cast over Sunhwa.

And finally, the motorcycle cornered in a dead end stops, and the stuntman gets off.

-…

Eun Han-seom also opens the door of the wrecked Benz and gets out. When the opponent wearing a motorcycle helmet takes out a knife, a crack forms in his tightly closed mouth.

-Hey. Throw that away while I’m talking nicely.

A chilling warning is dropped one after another to the still silent opponent.

-If you really don’t want to die.

After a few seconds of silence, Director Na Jong-mo’s cut sign rang out loudly.

“Cut, that’s it!”

The staff check the time as if promised. There are still about 17 minutes left, which means they have pulled off an amazing scene in a short period of time.

Park Gun, who looked at his wristwatch, also nodded when a familiar applause was heard from afar.

Clap, clap clap…

Is that eccentric original author, that web novel writer, here again? But Yoonbal25 is not there, and only a tall, dark-faced man is clapping.

While people’s expressions are puzzled, Park Gun raised his voice, rarely.

“Director Kim Ryul!”

“Yes, actor Park Gun. Long time no see.”

A former comrade has visited the set for the first time in a while.

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