Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 145

Former Hero is a Top Star – Episode 145

To the World Stage (8)

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‘Passionate Prosecutor Lee Hyun’ filming set.

“Cut! Let’s take a ten-minute break!”

The director calls cut, and the tense atmosphere on set eases for a moment.

It’s just a normal cut from the new drama, but no one takes it lightly.

That’s because their lead actress in the middle… Baek Ha-ni, who plays the role of a female prosecutor, is practically performing a superhuman feat with her fiery acting in every episode.

“You worked hard, senior!”

“You too.”

She’s become much milder these days, but her nickname ‘Ice Princess’ hasn’t gone anywhere.

Even the senior actors find Baek Ha-ni difficult, so the junior actress couldn’t even breathe properly, afraid of offending her, and quickly left the scene.

Section Chief Yoo Joon-il, who was watching with his arms crossed, clicked his tongue.

“Smile a little. How long are you going to stick to that concept? Woo-joo can’t even spread his wings.”

Baek Ha-ni didn’t even turn around and opened her water bottle.

“Not my problem. Why don’t you get rid of that guy over there?”

“That guy?”

“Over there, the person who came to interfere with other people’s business. He’s been bothering me, not leaving since a while ago.”

At the spot where Baek Ha-ni pointed with a twitch of her chin, a handsome man with long hair grinned.

Goo Shin-seung, who came to visit because he had a filming schedule nearby, has been sitting there for thirty minutes, watching directly.

“My lady, what outrageous words are those? I have no hobby of cutting off my family’s livelihood.”

“He’s doing that again, a concept that’s not even funny.”

Even after hearing harsh words to his face, Goo Shin-seung scratched his cheek with a grin.

He’s been growing a beard lately for a historical drama, and there were rumors that his speech had also returned to the Joseon era, making Team Leader Yang cringe.

Unable to watch any longer, Section Chief Yoo stopped them.

“…Stop it, you two. Shin-seung, stop bothering her. With a *chuno* [slave hunter] and a prosecutor together, the visuals are quite intense.”

He said that, but Goo Shin-seung is the actor who gets along well with everyone at Roman, second only to Park Gun.

Baek Ha-ni, who was scanning her colleague up and down, raised one eyebrow.

“*Chuno* Bongmyeong, that’s a remake. What’s with someone who’s not interested in original stories?”

“My lady, you only know one thing and not two. Originally, I act to revive forgotten figures.”

“Ah, so you took a good rest after Manghoedol ended.”

“A gentleman knows how to wait for the right time. I waited until a powerful adversary left Joseon.”

It was obvious who that ‘powerful adversary’ was. Baek Ha-ni snorted.

“Anyway, you’re good at reading the room.”

Goo Shin-seung also smiled.

“It’ll take about a year or two… I have to make as much as I can before he comes back, right?”

Two-year agency colleagues.

Park Gun’s moves, which cause ripples every time he makes a move, are now too tiring to even be surprised by.

“Ah, Actor Park? Recently, the Singapore still cuts were released and it’s a big deal among overseas fans. They say the production team is playing with the playback speed, doing everything they can to catch the Kill Thorn series.”

“Let him be disgraced. What would people who haven’t even seen Butcher General know?”

A meaningful nod spread among the three who knew Park Gun well.

From what they’ve seen, this actor had a talent for inflating and exploding noise marketing [using controversy to generate buzz].

It was the same even in the early days of the movie. Only the director was presumed to be a European newcomer, and there was a lot of talk because the detailed scenario and investors were not disclosed.

[Park Gun, Son of Cannes, Suddenly Leaves the Country in Secret… Unintelligible New Work Path?]

[Director Kang Pyong-hwa, “Hollywood is Still Not Tolerant of Eastern Challenges.”]

[Independent Film Director and Action Movie Filming, ‘Peak Audacity’ or ‘Reckless Challenge’]

The rumors that Park Gun made a dangerous choice, participated in scenario production and investment, and other miscellaneous rumors disappeared in a few days.

The main investor was 42 Pictures, the distributor was Warner Mount, and the production company was Jack & River… Hollywood’s top-tier lineup was announced.

“Park *hyung* [older brother/male friend] doesn’t fight a losing battle. He’s a man with the bravery of a lion and the cunning of a snake.”

As Goo Shin-seung stroked his beard, Section Chief Yoo snapped his fingers instead of answering.

“That’s right. Did you hear? They said something interesting will happen on our side around the time that filming ends.”

“Who, did His Majesty say that? Or is it a message from Chief State Councilor?”

His Majesty obviously refers to CEO Noh Joong-man, and the Chief State Councilor refers to Head Director Lee Seong-cheol.

Instead of Section Chief Yoo, who was shaking his head, Baek Ha-ni replied.

“Of course, it’s the Head Director. Have you ever seen the CEO tell those things to the section chiefs?”

“That’s true. If it’s something interesting…”

“I guess they’re going to pour sewage on DG [another entertainment agency]. Carrying several tanks with a helicopter.”

This summer, starting with Park Gun’s departure, the artists of Roman and DG will once again compete.

The fields are drama and film.

The broadcasting station lineup also includes KBC, MBS, JNBC, and even YTS.

However, unlike last time, when it was an open alliance between DG and Joinus, this time many actors from major agencies have joined Roman as well.

“It means they can do it without Actor Park. DG’s status has been continuously declining, too.”

‘Passionate Prosecutor Lee Hyun,’ starring Baek Ha-ni, is still only on its third episode, but it has already reached 8% viewership, and ‘Chuno Bongmyeong,’ starring Goo Shin-seung, has exceeded 11%.

It’s not an unconventional hit like ‘Dog of Seoul,’ ‘Butcher and General,’ or ‘Necromancer Regressor Returns,’ but it’s a good start.

“I wish they would all fall and fail miserably. Considering what they used to do…”

As Baek Ha-ni muttered harshly, the assistant director’s sign to resume filming was heard.

Goo Shin-seung, who glanced at his wrist without a watch, also prepared to get up.

“I’m going. Good luck with filming.”

“…You’ve become a little less sincere with your concept these days?”

Achoo! Goo Shin-seung sneezed and wiped the tip of his nose.

“My nose is itchy because of the beard. By the way, Section Chief, please let me make a cameo appearance. Seeing Ji-yoo and Park Gun, it seems to have a good effect.”

“Not bad. I think PD [Production Director] Seo and PD Nam would like it too.”

Listening to the words exchanged between Section Chief Yoo and Goo Shin-seung, Baek Ha-ni muttered with a dumbfounded expression.

“They’re playing the *janggu* [Korean drum] and *kkwaenggwari* [Korean gong] all by themselves [doing whatever they want without considering others].”

“Ha-ni, don’t be like that, let’s decide this time. Are you going to go to Shin-seung’s side? Or should we call Shin-seung over here?”

“…Forget it, let’s just do our jobs well.”

*

Until a movie is made and released, the expectations for the work vary.

Fans waiting for the release, the staff on set, the actors who are acting every day.

If there’s a group that has as much expectation as them, it’s those who put in their own money.

“It’s amazing. No matter how I look at it, he doesn’t seem like the same human as us.”

Los Angeles, California, far from Korea and even Singapore.

In the middle of a concrete forest filled with towering buildings, two men drink tea in a high-rise with a spire.

The red-haired man who put down his teacup smiled at the other person watching a video on his phone.

“I can see why you’d say that. I thought the frame was manipulated when I first saw it.”

“There’s still a fake film controversy, but it’s not bad for us. Gwyn, that friend, must be grinning from ear to ear.”

“Damn, I’m afraid I’ll see that face in my dreams.”

Loud laughter fills the office. This is the headquarters of 42 Pictures, the largest investor in ‘Gode: Guardian of Wrath.’

The two men talking are Jang and Rodin, once called the wolves of Wall Street, the co-presidents of a legendary investment firm that has built a myth of investment.

Jang muttered.

“I remember when Raymond first came to us. He suddenly kicked open the president’s office door, saying he was going to make a movie.”

“Yeah, it was even a phone call at first. Do you know what the first thing he said when I answered was?”

“Did you sleep well?”

“No, he asked if I had any money.”

Jang Renault, who was listening with a curious expression, burst into laughter.

Rodin Muzkel continued.

“I thought he was crazy. How is that the dignity of a Sundance winner?”

“But there was another crazy bastard. It seems like a monster comes out of the East every half century.”

After Gwyn Raymond forcibly presented the scenario and casting board and got the production cost, the two giants of 42 Pictures were somewhat taken aback.

First, the money they took as production costs was less than half of a normal Hollywood commercial film,

Second, the protagonist of the scenario that he would catch ‘Kill Thorn’ in two years was some Easterner.

‘Hey, are you crazy? You can’t catch the stronghold of a completed series just by using a Cannes winner.’

‘What do I care, just watch your money grow. 42 Pictures’ reputation will jump once again.’

The director, who was burning with a madman-like conviction, was now actively promoting his movie with the official Twitter account he created.

“Come to think of it, he was also an Easterner. I don’t remember if he was Korean or Chinese.”

At Jang’s words, Rodin also nodded. It was 40 years ago that Johnny Ryu, a legendary stuntman-turned-actor, left a big mark on Hollywood.

The first and last case of a Hong Kong movie action star succeeding in Hollywood.

After he retired, countless Eastern movies and actors poured in, but at least in the action genre, no one surpassed his stronghold.

However, this work, was it called ‘Gode’? The lead role of that movie with an unnecessarily long subtitle is…

Jang Renault, who replayed the smartphone video as if he would never get tired of watching it, asked.

“That’s right, you get reports from Gwyn regularly. What is he doing now?”

“Well. He’s finished all the Singapore scenes… He’s probably on a plane right now. If the filming schedule was faster, he might have already landed.”

Jang tilted his head.

“He said he doesn’t like obvious places, especially France, he doesn’t even come close?”

“That’s right. So he seems to have set the next location in the middle of Europe and Asia. He said he’ll show what cultural box office success is.”

If it’s in the middle of Europe and Asia, there’s one country that everyone can think of.

Jang’s eyes also lit up with understanding.

“It’s Turkey.”

*

Turkey, formerly known as Turkey.

At a huge set in Ankara, the second largest city after Istanbul, Kim Yang-ho muttered.

“Um, is this right?”

“What is it again?”

Their director, Gwyn Raymond, who was already being called ‘that damn Italian guy’ by the stuntmen, asked back with a sullen expression.

Kim Yang-ho carefully added.

“Um… Even so, wouldn’t sword wrestling be dangerous without practice? Weaponry and martial arts are okay because the actor is from a special forces unit, but…”

It’s natural for this good-natured stuntman head, the man who plays the main role in the team, to worry.

That’s because Park Gun was swinging a longsword weighing 1.8kg without any protective gear.

The biggest goal and highlight of this Turkey location, the scene where ‘Gode’ pulls out cold weapons from the weapon exhibition hall and defeats the enemies.

On the other hand, the stuntmen in the back were fully armed with bulletproof vests, helmets, and even firearms.

Raymond, who glanced at the back, waved his hand nonchalantly.

“Just watch once.”

“…Yes?”

“It seems that the Korean special forces teach longsword swordsmanship instead of knives. There’s no need to worry because the actor himself put in the action.”

Kim Yang-ho blinked. Come to think of it, the manager who would run over in a hurry even in the middle of the night if something happened to his *hyung* [older brother/male friend] was yawning.

‘…Was it discussed with Seon-i?’

The set work is already in its final stages.

While they were talking, Park Gun, who was swinging his arm playfully, suddenly threw his sword into the air.

Looking at the light shining out like an arrow, Raymond added.

“In Korean… yes, he’s an experienced person.”

* * *