Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 19

The Drama’s Legacy (1)

* * *

Today is Choi Seung’s last day of shooting. The main scenes have already been edited, and due to the nature of the location schedule, the later scenes are being filmed in order.

Yong Joon-sang and Seo Hee-do, the lead actors, didn’t seem to mind when they filmed.

Movies and dramas rarely align the filming schedule with the story’s progression. It’s common to shoot scenes for episodes 3, 7, and 12 all in one day, and if you can’t capture the emotional through-line, you’re not a professional.

“Oh, Mr. Baek, you’ve arrived! If I had known, I would have come to pick you up…”

“Don’t say things you don’t mean. I can’t stand seeing you waste time.”

Today, another guest has arrived. Before and after Ji-yu’s appearance, ‘The Dogs of Seoul’ featured various cameos to add to the drama’s fun.

The writer is known for having many connections, but it’s also because the drama is successful that casting is easy.

“I’m Park Geon. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you. So, you’re the famous Choi Seung I’ve been hearing about.”

The white-haired actor, with the aura of a Taoist, firmly grasped Park Geon’s hand.

He’s a renowned actor from the theater world in his 60s, making a special appearance as the corrupt police chief, Ji-yu’s father.

Baek Jang-hyeop put his hand on his forehead with an exaggerated gesture and pretended to look around.

“By the way, PD [Production Director] Na, where’s my daughter?”

“I’m afraid… Ji-yu’s episodes have already finished filming. You know Eun Writer’s style; she sends them off as soon as they’re done.”

“Just kidding, just kidding! I came because of this friend anyway. I’ve heard nothing but praise from the minor actors these days.”

Baek Jang-hyeop chuckled amiably, then looked at Park Geon with covetous eyes.

“Seeing you in person, I get the feeling. If you’re this good on the small screen, you’ll dominate the film industry.”

“You flatter me.”

“So… how about it, any interest in theater or independent films? It’s good to strike while the iron is hot, but you should build up your career before taking on major works…”

“Teacher, we’re here too!”

A booming voice was heard from afar.

Baek Jang-hyeop, who was trying to subtly introduce his junior directors, turned around as if startled.

“Ahem, Yong is here?”

If Seo Hee-do gained attention early in the project for her stability, Yong Joon-sang carried the drama by showing off his improved acting skills throughout the project.

The role was also his first time playing a detective in a long time. Thanks to this, he was breaking away from his previous villainous image, and new advertisers were pouring in with offers.

“I’m disappointed. No matter how popular Park Geon is, you can’t just leave out the leads and scout him.”

“What are you talking about? You’re always my top priority. Didn’t you get the text I sent yesterday?”

“My manager said he didn’t receive any contact from you either.”

Na Jong-mo PD, who was watching the actors’ banter while holding a script, egged them on.

“Why don’t you just scout them all? Park Geon, Joon-sang, and Hee-do, if you bring all the leads together, wouldn’t that be the first film to break ten million this year?”

“Should I? It’s a blessing, but the production company’s back will break, hahaha.”

While they were laughing and joking, Yong Joon-sang asked Geon.

“Today’s the last day, right?”

Na Jong-mo PD tends to shoot scenes in order unless it’s unavoidable.

There are a few flashback scenes and other scenes left, but this is the end of the highlight scene between the two of them.

“Yes, that’s what I understand.”

“Thanks to you, this project has been fun to film. Hee-do and I are the leads, but I was very stimulated by Park Geon.”

“Thank you for seeing it that way.”

“I saw it that way because you did well, so there’s no need to thank me. Let’s do well together until the end.”

His straightforward eyes, unusual for a popular actor, held undisguised competitiveness as he looked this way.

Park Seon told me that Yong Joon-sang and Seo Hee-do are relatively free of ‘actor disease’ [a term for actors who are difficult to work with due to their ego or demands].

Feeling a sense of rivalry rather than jealousy towards a rising supporting actor is proof that he’s a pretty decent human being.

Geon shook his hand.

“I look forward to working with you too.”

*

S#.1 Seoul Downtown

Black smoke covered the Seoul sky.

JS Corporation’s body had collapsed, but Jeong Yeon-woo’s action team were setting off improvised bombs all over the city.

Not stopping there, Jeong Yeon-woo had Choi Seung kidnap the police chief’s daughter. Broadcasting the hostage video live, he mocked that all of this was the fault of the police.

Lee Cheol-jun: Those sons of bitches, from now on, it’s all-out war. Sweep them all away!

The enraged police chief mobilized the police special forces, and Jeong Yeon-woo confronted them with gang members armed with guns.

Soon, a shootout reminiscent of South America’s Harlem was taking place in Seoul.

Jeong Yeon-woo, who had hijacked a truck, sped down the main street and poured illegally modified rifles into police cars, was the highlight of the second half.

Jeong Yeon-woo: (Laughing maniacally like a madman) Come on, you bastards. This is the tax you ate up, how does it taste!

But the guerrilla is just a guerrilla. In the end, Jeong Yeon-woo and the ‘Jeong International’ remnants were suppressed by the police special forces.

After the shootout, they retook the abandoned factory they used as a hideout, but the kidnapped police chief’s daughter was not there.

Jeong Yeon-woo’s arm was pierced by Ma Dae-hwi’s bullet. With a distorted sneer, he ridiculed the public power.

Jeong Yeon-woo: Already gone, you idiots. (After spitting out blood-mixed cough) Fifty kilograms of bombs… and your chief’s daughter, Chief Choi took them on a business trip.

Ma Dae-hwi: You bastard, where did you hide the hostage!

Jeong Yeon-woo: He’s gone to the place he needs to go. Maybe it’s near our Detective Ma’s hometown, Wonju… Hehehe.

Ma Dae-hwi: (Feeling an unknown sense of foreboding, grabs Jeong Yeon-woo’s collar) How do you know that?

Jeong Yeon-woo: Choi Seung, that guy, is your brother.

Ma Dae-hwi: What…?

Jeong Yeon-woo: (To Ma Dae-hwi) Are you deaf? Your mother and brother ran away to live on their own, and your younger brother, Ma Dae-seung, lived with a drunkard and criminal father before entering the orphanage.

Ma Dae-hwi’s eyes wavered. Jeong Yeon-woo, not missing this opportunity, smirked like a devil,

Jeong Yeon-woo: Our Chief Choi, no… Dae-seung, has suffered a lot. Do you remember your father? After Ma Young-gwang died, he was raised as a pickpocket in a gangster’s den, and I took him out and made him a person. So that he can avenge the family and the world that abandoned him.

Ma Dae-hwi: …Lies, don’t talk nonsense.

Jeong Yeon-woo: (Laughing) Then go and check. Ah, hurry up, or you might explode with the chief’s daughter.

*

Tension flows through the set.

The background is in front of a run-down apartment elevator. Choi Seung, who had single-handedly taken down several teams of police special forces without a single gun, was panting.

The oversized suit he always wore was already soaked with his own blood. He had been shot more than five times with fatal gunshot wounds.

The number of police he killed today exceeded ten, but Choi Seung would also breathe his last here.

And Ma Dae-hwi, who ran to him, appears in front of him.

This is where it gets important. The cinematographer, lighting director, and other staff swallowed nervously.

Until now, everything had been covered by overwhelming action, but in this scene, he had to express the emotional through-line.

Na Jong-mo PD simply took Park Geon out separately and went into mental care.

“You’ve never made an NG [No Good – a filming term for a failed take] before. Think of it as if you used your savings in advance, and let’s go without pressure. The filming time that Park Geon has reduced is only a week. Do you know what I mean?”

“Yes, I know.”

Na Jong-mo PD hesitated for a moment.

If he likes it, he likes it, if he doesn’t like it, he doesn’t like it, the rookie in front of him doesn’t have that kind of pickiness.

No matter what direction he gives, he says okay. He only pulls out the best results in a given situation.

‘Indeed, from a PD’s perspective, he’s a good actor…’

Yes-men fall harder when they fall. Na Jong-mo was 까탈스럽지만 [fastidious] but he took good care of his people, so he sincerely hoped that Park Geon’s acting would be okay.

“Okay, let’s go in. Two, three, cue!”

*

S#.22 In front of a run-down apartment emergency staircase

Ma Dae-hwi, covered in sweat, ran.

But the chief’s daughter and the bomb were nowhere to be found, only the fallen police special forces members and Choi Seung were there.

Ma Dae-hwi: (In a calm voice) Where’s the hostage?

Yong Joon-sang, who played Ma Dae-hwi, perfectly embodied the professional detective acting even in front of his brother, whom he had parted ways with decades ago.

While Choi Seung was only panting without answering, a report came through Ma Dae-hwi’s earpiece.

Situation Room: Team Leader Ma, we have secured Lee Seo-hee and the bomb in the villa where Choi Seung was! The hostage is safe!

For some reason, Choi Seung seemed to have disobeyed Jeong Yeon-woo’s order to explode together.

Ma Dae-hwi, relieved, slowly examines the face of the butcher he had been chasing.

There will be no melodrama to squeeze out the tears of the viewers. Even when editing later, it will flow plainly without narration or background music.

Because tragedy is most brutal when it is conveyed itself.

Ma Dae-hwi: (Making a face that foreshadows the tragedy, hoping it’s wrong) You, are you perhaps Dae-seung?

In Choi Seung’s eyes, which were losing light, a faint glimmer passed.