Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 14

On-Set Debut (3)

* * *

Even after the cut sign, Malchin kept asking.

[What was that? It seemed like a hook, but I felt chills even before it came. It was like a sonic boom right in front of my eyes.]

Park Geon brushed it off casually.

[It’s just a grab.]

[Could I possibly learn it? I’m curious about the gym you work out at.]

[I don’t work out separately.]

[That’s impossible! You must be a martial artist who has trained for at least ten years!]

Even without understanding Russian, one could guess the atmosphere between them. The assistant director clicked his tongue at PD [Production Director] Na Jong-mo.

“He’s a real charmer. How does he manage to seduce everyone he shares a scene with?”

“Hey, watch your words. Did our Park actor seduce them? They’re just naturally drawn to a strong man. Isn’t that right, Mr. Park Sun?”

Park Sun, who was proudly taking commemorative photos of his brother and Malchin, chimed in.

“It’s all thanks to the production team. Thank you for taking such great photos.”

“Oh, that golden touch runs in the family. Anyway, this shoot is over… let’s move to the next location and start when Seo Hee-do arrives.”

“Yes, should we have lunch in the car…?”

“Ah, just come as you are.

PD Na Jong-mo squinted his eyes.

“Today is the day we receive the fandom power. From an idol, that is.”

*

“Eat up, everyone. Eat a lot and have strength today!”

“Thank you for the meal, Actor Seo Hee-do!”

“Wow, thank you!”

The outdoor filming set on the Han River embankment.

Two large food trucks entered the scene where the set was installed and cranes were moving.

One was a catering truck, and the other was a coffee truck.

A fandom culture commonly called ‘tribute,’ where fans gather funds and send them to the set. This is often done to show support for the actors and crew.

Today’s menu is Korean snack food. Actors, extras, and staff line up to receive food and coffee.

Seo Hee-do is already surrounded by fans who came to see the filming.

“Idol fandoms are really active.”

As Yong Jun-sang muttered, his manager responded.

“Let’s be accurate, Actor Yong. Our fans also wanted to do it, but you said no, right?”

“How old am I to have fans buy me a food truck with their money? Ask the company to do it next time we film.”

“Team Leader Kang will throw a fit again, saying you ate it all up last time we filmed a movie.”

“Then I’ll swipe my card. They like it so much.”

Yong Jun-sang dismissed it and gestured with his chin. There, Park Geon was walking over with a plate in each hand, stacked high with tteokbokki [spicy rice cakes] and fried food.

“Wow, can you eat all that?”

“Yes. I tend to eat a lot.”

“Is there something about eating like that that makes you work out better? I can’t move if my body feels heavy.”

“I think it varies from person to person.”

Park Geon is more popular with the staff and extras than with the other actors.

As people gathered and said a word each, Seo Hee-do, who had been surrounded by fans, approached.

“Wow, this hyung [older brother/male friend] is doing a mukbang [eating broadcast] again.”

“Ah, Hee-do.”

“I told you to drop the formalities. Everyone, you know our hyung, right? He’s carrying my acting by the collar.”

It’s natural for Seo Hee-do to introduce Park Geon to his fans. The president of Seo Hee-do’s fan club quickly responded.

“We know. He’s the hottest topic among fandoms right now. They say every scene with this oppa [term of endearment for older brother/male figure used by females] comes alive, so they’re even begging to film with him.”

Apart from the staff’s praise, viewers evaluate actors based on the footage they see on screen.

In fact, Seo Hee-do was perfectly embodying his character in every scene with Park Geon, to the point where people were calling it his ‘best villain role’.

The vice president, who was in charge of the general affairs of the fan club, chimed in.

“It’s really crazy these days. They’re asking where the actor playing Choi Seung is from, what his real name is, even coming to our main base to ask. They keep asking because he’s always with Hee-do oppa, so they think he must be close to him.”

Seo Hee-do, who was the center of attention, blankly said.

“Oh, I don’t know this hyung very well either.”

“I knew it. Does he not have SNS [Social Networking Service] by any chance?”

“I didn’t apply for SSU [Special Sea Warfare Unit].”

“…What’s that?”

Instead of her brother, who only knows about special forces, Park Sun, who had been waiting in the back, hurriedly explained.

“My brother doesn’t use social media at all, so I’m planning to create one and manage it for him soon.”

“That won’t do! Striking while the iron is hot is crucial!”

As the vice president screamed, the president, who appeared to be in her mid-twenties, skillfully gave a briefing.

“Content doesn’t have to be difficult. Actor-nim [term of respect for actors], your face is your weapon, so you can just upload photos, and a challenge to read scripts of other roles would also be good.”

“That’s right, your voice is like a cave. Will Choi Seung continue to have no lines in the future?”

“I’m not sure yet.”

“That’s a bit disappointing. If you search, there are tons of posts asking for oppa’s screen time to be increased. They’re saying they might not get to hear his voice at all.”

Even though the main store always wins over the branch store, people develop affection for those their favorite cherishes.

The enthusiastic vice president was about to show community reactions while searching on her phone when she suddenly tilted her head.

“…But are you really a former killer?”

*

‘Completely’ unknown actors are extremely rare.

Being unknown means that they have been desperately trying until now, and therefore, they usually have filmographies, even if they are unpopular works.

That’s why there were numerous speculations about the identity of the actor playing Choi Seung in ‘Seoul’s Dog’.

He’s a regular part-time worker, a model inserted by a large agency, from the Busan theater scene…

The rumors that had been circulating were put to an end by a post on a community forum the day before the 8th episode aired.

“Team Leader, it’s up!”

The JNBC public relations team employee who was monitoring the page urgently called her supervisor.

“Contact the PD right away, where is it?”

“It’s a community post. It seems to have been reposted several times, but the original is here.”

“Take a screenshot and secure it, and keep monitoring the reactions. If any strange rumors pop up, call them right away and have them taken down!”

The employees who received the order scattered busily.

On the monitor, there was a photo of Park Geon in military uniform and a short message.

Title: Identity of Choi Seung from ‘Seoul’s Dog’

Content: Name is Park Geon, class is XXX, a real special forces veteran. We served in the military together, and many people seemed curious, so I’m posting this. I won’t answer questions.

*

‘Seoul’s Dog’ was filming a scene between Park Geon and Seo Hee-do on an indoor set.

PD Na Jong-mo, who heard the news, asked with a relaxed expression as if he expected it.

“Can you guess who posted it?”

“I’m not sure. There are many junior classes… I don’t remember veterans very well.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter. We were going to release it if it didn’t come out until the week before the finale.”

Park Sun, who had been wearing a stiff expression all day as if a huge secret had been revealed, was surprised.

“T-The PD-nim?”

“It’s basic to attract attention. That’s why we didn’t upload the actor’s profile on the website on purpose, to make people curious and create buzz.”

PD Na Jong-mo explained casually, then added with a slightly uneasy tone.

“Well… I’m being careful, but was there anything that could be a problem? Like condoning or turning a blind eye to hazing in the military… Ah, I should have talked to the agency about this first, I’m sorry.”

“I’m not really sure.”

“…Oh, yes?”

“But I don’t think I did those things. If I had, it would have become controversial sooner.”

Na Jong-mo dramatically sighed in relief.

“Phew, that’s good then. Mr. Park Sun, please take good care of him. We’ll also respond on our end, but it’s difficult to care for him as much as a manager would.”

“Yes! I’m constantly looking for malicious rumors or false information being posted.”

Seo Hee-do, who had been staring at his smartphone with a serious expression, chimed in.

“Hyung, tell me if anything happens. As I said before, there are many people in this industry who want to tear you down. That’s why it’s important to have a core fandom… Did you create an SNS?”

“Yes, here.”

Park Geon showed the Instagram account that his brother had created for him last night.

Na Jong-mo and Seo Hee-do, who were looking at it with the expression of ‘how much could he have decorated it?’, widened their eyes.

“Oh, this is pretty good? It hasn’t been long, but why are there so many followers?”

“It has the typical celebrity Instagram vibe. It feels like an agency is managing it.”

Park Sun proudly shrugged his shoulders.

“I thoroughly referenced other actors’ Instagrams. I also subtly hinted in every community that Choi Seung had created an SNS.”

“This is enough. Now, just manage it well until you get an agency and keep promoting the drama.”

“Of course, of course. I’ll put Na Jong-mo’s name on the line and cover everything except for SMP.”

Seo Hee-do tilted his head.

“What’s SMP?”

“You’re from an idol background and you don’t know that? It’s sexual misconduct, drugs, and school violence.”

“Ah, PD-nim!”

“Just kidding, just kidding. I’m saying it because I think you’re going to rise a lot with this momentum. Park Geon’s flow has just come. By the time the show ends, everyone will be trying to scout you.”

Park Geon mumbled as he wiped off the blood makeup on his face.

“I hope so.”

*