Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 146

Former Hero is a Superstar-146

A Perilous Location (1)

* * *

The wonder of acting is limited.

Think of those who can memorize dozens of digits without error, or artists who meticulously create drawings on slender matchsticks.

Surprisingly… or not so surprisingly.

Admiration dulls with frequent exposure, and humans always seek newer stimuli.

This is why staff working with so-called ‘great actors’ often become desensitized to most performances.

“Method acting? Oh, I’m tired of it now. I see great performances every day, and the amazement wears off after a while. Eventually, you just take it for granted.”

Surprisingly, the above interview came from a 6-year assistant director.

On the other hand, what about magic?

The great magician, David Romlet, said:

-Magic is not about the audience admiring something they already know, but about truly shocking them. We must strive for magic.

Park Gun’s action is, therefore, special.

*

Clang, clang!

“Just a moment, Director.”

“Oh, yes.”

During a break, cinematographer Josh approached with a dazed expression, holding his camera.

Among the stuntmen, Park Gun, holding a longsword, began explaining while marking lines of movement on a small storyboard with a pen.

“If captured in a long take from this angle, the composition is likely to collapse. The stuntmen rotating in the back won’t be visible either.”

“That’s right. We didn’t realize it, but that’s definitely the case with this kind of cold weapon action.”

One of the veteran stuntmen nodded, listening intently to the explanation.

The others murmured in agreement.

“Right, Master Park’s opinions have never been wrong.”

“You can trust Master Park. Josh, discuss it well with our boss since he says so. I recommend listening to him.”

Master Park.

It’s a somewhat humorous nickname that Park Gun acquired upon starting the Turkey shoot.

The meaning of Master, not Mister, is simple. He is a master of weapons… action… everything.

At that moment, Gwyn Raymon, who had approached unnoticed, tapped the script against his palm.

“What are you all 고민들 [agonizing] about? You can blindly believe, no, you can worship that friend’s words when it comes to the details within the sequence. He’s not just a master, but a god of martial arts.”

“It’s not that 정도입니다만 [to that extent].”

Park Gun сухого сухого [dryly] 반론했지만 [rebutted], Raymon snorted as if he didn’t care.

“It’s impossible for an ordinary person to be proficient in kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, CQB (Close Quarter Battle) at a level that rivals experts, and even handle cold weapons. I’d believe it if you told me he spent his whole life as a mercenary.”

“Weaponry was a hobby. I was always interested in it, so I learned it in the military.”

At Park Gun’s answer, not Raymon, but the stuntmen in the back 감탄했다 [were impressed].

“역시 [As expected]··· Countries at war are different. Didn’t I hear that Korea has conscription?”

“That’s right. Then it makes sense that he became such a human weapon. If Kill Thorn is just an actor who has trained for a few years at best, this guy is the real deal who has experienced all kinds of hardships.”

Raymon, who was listening, let out a hollow laugh. At this point, he’s not Master Park, but Holy Park.

That’s because they don’t know about Park Gun’s achievements in Korea.

They don’t know that the protagonist of that Cannes film 잠재웠다는 촬영현장부터 안방극장까지 [captivated everyone from the film set to the home theater] with the impact of his action alone, even before the 흡인력 [attraction] in his acting.

“…Does the Korean special forces learn longsword swordsmanship instead of knife fighting?”

Here in Turkey, Park Gun has handled three main weapons.

One is a longsword, another is a 철퇴 [mace],

And the last is a pair of combat tomahawks.

The concept of the action scene is that ‘Gode,’ without a single bulletproof vest, defeats Endo’s killers in a museum filled with weapons.

And Park Gun perfectly reproduced the German longsword technique… Lichtenauer swordsmanship, which few people even train in in its homeland.

Bang, bang!

Just as a skilled fighter slips punches with head movement, bullets can be avoided if you move in advance.

Dodge Thorn’s bullets with a slight nod, and as Gode rushes in like the wind and swings his longsword, blood spurts from the split chest.

“Cough, cough…”

넘어지는 적을 넘어 다음 상대 [Over the falling enemy to the next opponent]. Before the gun can even be fired, the hazy blade slits the 목젖 [throat].

“Shoot! Kill him!”

“What can he do with just one sword…”

One of the greatest strengths of the longsword is the length of its blade, which can reach up to 160 centimeters.

After several people fall in an instant, the newly arrived reinforcements aim their pistols. This is for the 미리 맞춰 놓은 [pre-arranged], so-called ‘protagonist buff’ 방어 연출 [defense choreography].

Bang, ting!

The bullets that fly by graze the sword’s blade as Gode lays the longsword flat next to his face.

If hit properly, the blade could have been broken or embedded. In that short moment, he calculated the enemy’s trajectory and deflected the bullet.

“…”

A brief moment of silence flows at the unbelievable 신기(神技) [divine skill].

Gode rushes at the masked men who are about to start shooting again.

Thwack, thud!

The enemies also draw knives or respond with close-range fire, but from the beginning, Lichtenauer swordsmanship includes ‘sword wrestling,’ which neutralizes approaching opponents.

He repeatedly cuts the opponent within range like a propeller with both edges of the sword, and grabs and twists the wrist of a close enemy with his guard.

Soon, various 유술 [martial arts techniques] such as throws, grabs, twists, and sweeps were 펼쳐지며 담겼다 [unfolded and captured] inside the camera.

“Cut, okay!”

After the whirlwind longsword action ends, a sigh-like 탄성이 [exclamation] flows from the people on set who were captivated by the 몰입감 [immersion].

After that, filming continued 끊임없이 [incessantly].

Kim Yang-ho and other weapon experts have nothing more to add. As if trying to show the essence of medieval 무기술 [martial arts], Park Gun 도륙했다 [massacred] the enemies while handling 철퇴 [maces], tomahawks, and even katanas.

“Is that Korean swordsmanship?”

“Well, it seems like a mix of 검도 [kendo] and 조선검술 [Joseon swordsmanship]…”

The 칼질 쇼 [swordplay show], which was so 화려한 [spectacular] that the experts watching from the side were 넋을 잃을 만큼 [mesmerized], changed its concept again as it moved to the next filming location.

This time, instead of cold weapons, it’s modified flamethrowers and 백린탄 [white phosphorus grenades] with reduced power.

Whoosh, poof!

A drone camera flies above Park Gun, who is fully armed with a bulletproof suit and high-powered weapons, capturing a top-down angle.

In line with Raymon’s requirements for ‘unprecedented action direction,’ cinematographer Josh showcased all kinds of camera 워킹 [workings/movements].

In the action scenes that require 현장감 [realism], the point of view of Gode and the enemies alternated in the scene of 휘두르는 예의 대검 [wielding the polite greatsword], increasing the 속도감 [sense of speed].

On the other hand, in this flamethrower scene, which is more 볼거리가 풍부한 [rich in spectacle], the actors are filmed from a top view like a 종스크롤 [vertical scrolling] shooting game.

In addition, existing 촬영 기법 [filming techniques] such as classic long takes and hand-held cameras close to the actors were also utilized.

The story so far is just before the mid-point.

It has arrived at the point where Gode assassinates an association executive in a huge bathhouse in Istanbul, a setting reminiscent of ‘Seoul’s Dogs.’

The proportion of Turkey in the total running time is about 30 minutes, and the filming to fill that time has been 쌓였다 차곡차곡 [piled up neatly].

*

Last night.

A short strategy meeting was held in the 숙소 [lodgings] of Konya (Iconium), a city in Turkey.

As always, the location is the director’s room. Those who had finished dinner near the hotel came in one by one and sat down 아무렇게나 [however they liked].

“Is everyone here?”

“Almost. Josh just said he’s going to the bathroom.”

“That friend shouldn’t be holding a camera. How does he usually 참는 건가 [endure it]? I mean, what if the 신호가 [signal] comes during… important filming?”

Cinematographer Josh was famous for having a bad stomach. After a light laugh spread at the joke of Marquez, the head of the lighting team.

Raymon, who erased the laughter, said.

“Everyone worked hard. We’re leaving after overcoming the 돌바람 [whirlwind] of Turkey.”

Anton, a supporting actor who joined from Singapore and played the association’s killer chasing ‘Gode,’ playfully wrinkled his nose.

“Well, what did we do? I just followed that friend’s 꽁무니 [tail], and the rest was all done by the stuntmen and our 주연 [lead actor].”

“Oh, do you know how difficult that is? The 촬영팀 [film crew] is about to break their wrists chasing after someone who is not like a person.”

Cinematographer Josh, who opened the door and entered in the meantime, 끼어들었다 [interjected].

Kim Yang-ho, who sat down as the representative of the stunt team, also cautiously raised his hand.

“We have no complaints.”

“Of course you wouldn’t. You’d be surprised if you knew how much the 촬영 일정이 당겨졌는지 [the filming schedule has been pulled forward]. This is the first time I’ve ever been on a 현장 [set] with so few NGs [no-good takes].”

Even in the same movie, the side that is 치명적인 [critical] by one NG is definitely the blockbuster & action.

In the first place, the 품 [effort] that goes in is different, and if you use real explosives instead of CG, the number that can be filmed in a day is 정해져 있다 [limited].

Action is the same, although not a blockbuster.

In this 판 [situation], where stuntmen are 달고 다니는 줄부상을 [dragging around a string of injuries] from the beginning to the middle of the movie, it is an amazing ability for an actor to lead and reduce NGs to a handful.

“I still have that 칼질 [swordplay] in my eyes. When I found out, I thought he wasn’t an 동양인 [Asian], but a 현신 [reincarnation] of the old sword masters?”

“What are you talking about? He’s not just good at handling longswords. Didn’t you see him 날뛰는 [running wild] like a samurai with a katana?”

“Samurai is what… Even when you make 비유 [comparisons], you always use such a 머저리 집단 [foolish group].”

“Okay, let’s do it.”

The 무기전문가 [weapon expert] who came for 자문 [consultation] and the 조연출 [assistant director] who is 자신하는 조예 [confident in his knowledge] in swordsmanship started to 다투기 [argue].

While listening to the historically 카타나가 우월하네 [the katana is superior], the 논쟁 [argument] that the longsword has better 범용성 [versatility] than that kind of 한손검 [one-handed sword], Gun thought.

‘I got too 신을 냈어 [excited]. It’s been a long time since I’ve held a sword.’

That’s because it’s the first Western-style 장검 [longsword] he’s held since returning to the modern era.

The 성검 [holy sword] used in the Iron Kingdom had a large 검신 [blade] and 앞날 [edge] and 뒷날 [back edge], which was 생김새 중간쯤 되는 [somewhere in between] between a longsword and a bastard sword.

The problem is that it made me feel good. I was doing a 검술 시연 [swordsmanship demonstration] in front of the 조연 배우들과 스탭들 [supporting actors and staff], and I even 꺼내고 말았으니까 [ended up taking out] the 잡기 [trick] of 쳐내는 에어건 총알 [deflecting airsoft gun bullets].

‘I didn’t intend to do that 정도로 [to that extent]…’

While Gun was 고심하는 [pondering], the 나머지 사람들 [remaining people] 떼어 놓았다 [separated] the two 검술 덕후 [swordsmanship enthusiasts].

Raymon, who 편 [took the side of] the 지도 [map], clapped twice.

“Okay, 집중들 해 [everyone focus]. Now we’re about halfway there.”

“Oh, already halfway?”

Someone 넣었지만 추임새 [added an interjection], Raymon 딱 잘랐다 냉정하게 [cut it off coldly].

“John, it’s not because of you. The actor made it all by himself, and we just 휘둘렀지 포크 [wielded the fork].”

“Hey, those 이탈리아 촌놈들은 역시 과격하군 [Italian bumpkins are violent as expected]. How hard is it to 휘두르는 포크 [wield a fork]…”

“Ahem, ahem!”

Park Sun, who was 붙어 있던 옆에 형 [stuck next to his brother], 괴상한 소리를 내며 고개를 숙였다 [made a strange noise and lowered his head].

Raymon, who 치켜올린 한쪽 눈썹 [raised one eyebrow], 동그라미를 쳤다 몇 군데에 지도 붉은 펜으로 [circled a few places on the map with a red pen].

“Let’s leave the 멍청이는 못 드는 포크 내버려두고 [leave the fork that the idiot can’t lift alone]. In terms of 일정 [schedule], it’s much 당겨졌어 [pulled forward] than the 기존의 계획 [original plan]. We’ve 절약했지 [saved] almost 1/3 of the 예상했던 시간 [expected time].”

The 고개가 오르내렸다 이들의 둘러앉아 있던 [heads nodded of those sitting around]. Everyone knows that it is much 빠르다는 지금 [faster now] than the 시일 [date] that was 말했던 처음 브리핑 촬영 전 [said in the first briefing before filming].

The 튀르키예의 씬 [Turkey scenes] that I thought would take until this spring… late summer, or even after that, was 마무리됐으니 해를 넘기지 않고 실로 어마어마한 속도다 [finished without crossing the year, it’s truly an amazing speed].

“Then are you going to 좀 쉴 거요 [rest a bit]? If we 일찍 가면 [go early], we might not be able to 협조를 받을 수 현지 당국의 [get cooperation from the local authorities].”

The 무기전문가 [weapon expert] 말했지만 [said], 딱히 쉬고픈 마음이 있는 얼굴은 아니었다 [it wasn’t a face that particularly wanted to rest].

That’s because there’s no one here who came to 여행이나 하려고 어차피 [came to travel anyway]. Once you start a 작품 [project], it’s much better to 끝을 내고 쉬는 편이 [finish it and rest].

Raymon also 가로저었다 고개를 [shook his head].

“I’ve already 넣어 놨어 연락은 [put in contact]. He said it doesn’t matter when we come.”

“That’s 다행이지만 [fortunate]… 잠깐 [wait], If it’s 튀르키예 다음 [after Turkey], wasn’t it 거기 [there]?”

The 시선이 스탭들의 나머지 [gazes of the remaining staff], 무기전문가 말하던 [the weapon expert was talking], 모여들었다 손으로 레이먼의 [gathered at Raymon’s hand].

The 쥔 감독이 붉은 펜 찍는다 점을 한 지도 위 [the director holding the red pen marks a point on the map].

“Yes, it’s Colombia.”

* * *