Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 25

Drifting Scenario (3)

* * *

“Thank you for coming so far. I’m Tae Jong-beom, CEO of Bigbeom.”

“I’m Kim Ryul, the director who wrote the scenario.”

“My brother drove me, so I came comfortably. I’m Park Geon.”

After the introductions, CEO Tae Jong-beom asked with shining eyes.

“Excuse me, but how did you come across the ‘Black Priest’ scenario? We’ve never sent it to Roman, so we were surprised to receive your call.”

Park Geon exchanged glances with his manager for a moment and then answered.

“I happened to read the scenario that came to actress Seo Hee-do. I don’t have an agency.”

“Oh… Excuse me? You don’t have an agency?”

“Yes.”

CEO Tae’s expression changed. The assistant director, feeling a sense of crisis, hurriedly interjected.

“But, the article said that the actor is under Roman…”

The manager sitting next to him smiled and corrected.

“Ah, there were a few misreports. I guess you saw one that hasn’t been taken down yet.”

The fantasy of casting an actor from a large entertainment company in the lead role and squeezing everything dry, from investment to auditions, went down the drain from the start.

‘…This is a dead end.’

Without the backing of Roman, he’s just a handsome and promising rookie actor. It’s almost a disadvantage externally, even if he’s good internally.

Sensing the changing atmosphere, the affable manager quickly stepped forward.

“You don’t have to worry. There were no problems with actor care during ‘The Dog of Seoul,’ and the contract and schedule proceeded without a hitch.”

“This is… not that kind of problem. It’s embarrassing to say, but this movie has a tight budget. The scenario is good, but investors haven’t been interested. So, we have to rely on the actor’s star power…”

Director Kim Ryul cut off CEO Tae’s capitalist remarks.

“This is an audition, not a movie production meeting.”

“Director Kim, what are you talking about again?”

“Let’s do what we need to do first. Mr. Park Geon, can we see your acting?”

“Yes. I’ve prepared.”

He must know that he’s become an unwelcome guest in just a few seconds, but his attitude is bold for a rookie.

He’s not intimidated or uncomfortable, just sipping his coffee. Does he look down on this kind of movie because he has so many other offers anyway?

Park Geon put down his coffee cup and added.

“Oh, and I have one more request.”

“What is it?”

“I’d appreciate it if you could set up a camera. I don’t need lighting, just equipment for actual filming.”

Some actors can’t immerse themselves unless the environment is set up like a real shoot.

Big-budget projects even film audition videos for marketing purposes, so it’s not a bad idea to have one.

When Director Kim Ryul nodded, the assistant director quickly left the office.

“You don’t have to do it so elaborately…”

CEO Tae muttered, but no one paid attention. Only the manager, who seemed more anxious than the actor, fidgeted in his seat.

“Hyung [older brother/term of endearment], should I give you the script?”

“No. I’ve memorized it all.”

He seemed quite confident, but Director Kim Ryul lowered his expectations somewhat.

He saw that the script the manager had been holding was a crisp, new paper.

‘A clean script means naive acting skills.’

It’s not a 100% accurate formula, but in his experience, it’s more of a minus than a plus.

But he can’t back out now. If this actor doesn’t work out, he’ll have to use C&J cards [likely referring to connections or favors] without fail.

Leaving aside the sincerity of the audition, at least Park Geon’s acting skills in ‘The Dog of Seoul’ were at a level incomparable to Yoo Ho-joon.

“Should I install it here? It doesn’t look like a single angle will work because of the sofa… If you zoom in from this side, it’ll come out roughly.”

“That would be good. It’s not like we’re going to make a making-of, and he said he only needs a camera.”

Still, being a production company, they quickly set up the filming equipment.

It’s a mid-angle that focuses only on Park Geon, sitting around the table in the CEO’s office.

The assistant director, checking the shot, sent a signal, and Director Kim Ryul called out.

“Ready, cue!”

*

‘Black Priest’ is an occult thriller.

The protagonist, Seo Yo-han, works at a logistics center during the day and at a bar at night, receiving exorcism requests.

His job is to save people suffering from demons, evil spirits, or nasty spirits that harm humans.

In the meantime, a new religion, ‘Salvation Society,’ spreads in the outskirts of Seoul, and horrific murders targeting young women occur.

The Korean Vatican branch also moves to the crime scene, which clearly shows traces of demonic acts, but Yo-han senses that a larger conspiracy is lurking.

The reason why such diverse characters and a bold and dynamic scenario couldn’t find an owner was simple.

It’s difficult to pull off.

The character, who repeatedly goes through possession, multiple personalities, restraint, and explosion, has complex and demanding emotions to express.

The days when you could just sneak in a popular idol member and plaster PPL [product placement] all over the place to make a profit are over.

The public’s expectations have become higher, and the critics’ tongues have become sharper.

In today’s movie scene, where even big-budget projects often fail, few actors want to take on new filmographies while suffering.

Besides, Kim Ryul wasn’t a famous icon of misfortune in Chungmuro [Korean Hollywood]?

‘I’d rather he not do well, so I can cut him off.’

‘Please do well. I can’t have an actor already decided.’

While the production company CEO and director watched with their respective wishes, Park Geon remained silent.

“······.”

Literally silent.

Even though the cue sign was given, he just stared at a point in the air without saying anything.

‘What, did he forget?’

If he came to the audition and forgot the lines he practiced, it’s a professional disqualification.

It would be bad enough if he stuttered for a moment because he was nervous, but he forgot the whole thing at the audition? There’s a high probability that he’ll repeat NG [no good/mistake] thousands of times during actual filming.

“If you need the script…”

The moment Director Kim Ryul, who couldn’t stand it any longer, opened his mouth, Park Geon’s facial muscles moved.

His trembling cheeks twitched, and thick blood vessels popped out on his temples.

After a while, his limbs, including his arms, neck, and waist, twisted on their own. It’s as if a giant hand is forcibly grabbing and bending a ball-jointed doll.

“······.”

Kim Ryul suppressed the shock that was about to burst out.

That scene is S21 #3. A powerful demon enters, and Seo Yo-han fights to avoid being taken over.

‘There definitely wouldn’t have been any detailed directing there.’

He knows because it was a scenario he had revised hundreds of times. There, it would have only said, ‘Seo Yo-han fights the demon without dialogue.’

With only one camera filming, that simple narration unfolded as a highlight.

Perhaps tens of seconds passed. The body, which had been severely bent like a patient with epilepsy, suddenly stopped.

The bulging veins on his forehead all disappeared, leaving only profuse sweat.

Park Geon… no, some being who had taken over Seo Yo-han’s body opened his mouth.

“Priest, I can see your fear.”

Director Kim Ryul felt goosebumps all over his body.

It’s not the low voice he heard earlier. A higher, scratchier voice, like scraping metal, spoke again.

“You have good reason to be afraid because your fragile and pitiful faith has been exposed.”

The eyes, distorted with pain, flowed through the air and pierced CEO Tae Jong-beom.

The upper part of his face belongs to the priest, but the corners of his mouth, which twitch as if about to laugh, are the cunning and treacherous demon itself.

‘I have to call the police…’

CEO Tae gaped. He would have cursed if he could have made a sound, but only the sound of wind hissed from his parched mouth.

“Get out of here, you devil!”

“Are you looking for your god? Are you calling on a cunning and treacherous false idol?”

“Lord, protect us from the pursuit of the devil, and keep us from traps, deceptions, and atrocities.”

“Blood is flowing! The goat’s neck is torn and hung, and lewd prostitutes gouge out their eyes!”

“That we may serve the Lord… We pray that you grant safety and freedom to the church…”

The desperate priest’s prayer and the hideous demon’s laughter burst out alternately.

Seo Yo-han, judging that he would be deprived of his body if this continued, soon began to strangle his own neck.

Even as his face turned white, the demon left behind a final sneer.

“The brothers are coming back. You half-wit who couldn’t become a servant of God or a sword of the church, you will face the most miserable death!”

“······.”

Silence flowed.

The assistant director froze in front of the camera, and Director Kim Ryul stiffened with his mouth open.

Tae Jong-beom was halfway off his seat, as if he was about to run out at any moment.

Park Geon, who had instantly shed Seo Yo-han, returned to his expressionless face and bowed his head.

“That’s all for here. Thank you for watching.”

No one could open their mouths. Park Geon’s chin tilted slightly.

“The scene is over, should I do another one?”

Only then did CEO Tae, who had come to his senses, vehemently waved his hand.

“No, no! This is enough. I want to see more, but if I did, I think I’d call the police first.”

“Why the police…”

“Because you, Mr. Park, look like you’re really possessed by something! Was that acting just now?”

“Yes. I chose a part that I enjoyed reading.”

“Look at all this sweat. If it was fun twice, I’d catch someone; how on earth did you do that…? PD [Production Director] Han, did you film everything?”

“Yes. Even the part where the CEO was getting up to run away.”

“What are you talking about, when did I!”

CEO Tae, flaring his nostrils wildly, asked.

“That… I’m sorry if this is a rude question, but does your family have shamanic blood? Do you have a wise shaman among your relatives?”

The audition hall had already been blown away by the actor’s performance. The manager, with a brighter expression, smiled and answered.

“No, not at all. Neither of my parents has any divine powers.”

“What’s going on here? Were they brothers [referring to shamans]?”

“…CEO, the actor said it earlier.”

“Ah, that’s right. Come to think of it, your outfit today has a priestly feel. Did you wear it on purpose?”

“I didn’t have similar clothes at home. I bought one in a hurry on the way here.”

While friendly small talk was going on, Director Kim Ryul, who had recovered from the shock, asked calmly.

“Mr. Park Geon, it was S21, right? The scene that started with the facial expression just now. Seo Yo-han is injured while saving a victim and is in danger.”

“Yes. I skipped the beginning and started from the middle.”

“I want to ask you just one thing. Why did you want to film this scenario?”

Park Geon casually picked up the scenario.

“First of all, I was interested in the fact that it was occult and that demons appeared because the protagonist isn’t just a faithful human figure.”

Seo Yo-han’s character is unique.

While ordinary occults try to win with thriller elements, exorcism, and possession acting, ‘Black Priest’ lays out dramatic elements as tenaciously as possible.

Seo Yo-han wears a priest’s robe all year round and goes to work at a logistics center, and he doesn’t recite prayers unless he’s performing an exorcism.

It’s the fun of the unique character and the script that completely twists the occult clichés.

“And then?”

“And the fact that he’s a priest who exorcises evil spirits, but in reality, he’s a cold-hearted person who doesn’t believe in God, also felt realistic.”

He was completely back to his original self now, but the shock from earlier didn’t easily fade away.

Director Kim Ryul, who wiped the sweat from his forehead, asked in an excited voice.

“So why? I’m curious as to why the disbelief of the exorcist felt realistic to you.”

“Because…”

CEO Tae and the assistant director were also concentrating as if they were about to be sucked in.

Park Geon looked around and suddenly wore something like a smile.

“It’s hard for someone who hates demons to revere God.”

*