Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 43

Storming Through (2)

* * *

A staff member, who had been glued to his phone for two hours, waved his hand.

“I’ve got Lee Jang-mi on the line!”

The lead actress, who had been MIA [missing in action] for a full day, answered the phone. PD [Production Director] Han Sang-yoon breathed a sigh of relief.

“What did she say? Is she coming to film today?”

“Yes, she said she’s on the subway like nothing happened and will be arriving soon.”

Her professionalism in not canceling the shoot is admirable, but how could she act like nothing happened? She must be seething inside.

“What are we going to do about today’s filming…”

Behind the groaning Han Sang-yoon, a dark shadow swiftly passed.

*

Lee Jang-mi got off the subway.

“…Crazy bastards, how many missed calls did they leave?”

She had turned off her phone because reporters kept calling, somehow finding out her number. As soon as she hung up on an unknown number, a welcome name popped up.

[MyLoveYoung]

-Hey, Lee Jang-mi! Why did you turn off your phone!

“Sorry, reporters kept calling.”

-…Are you okay? Where are you now?

The voice, full of worry and anger, immediately softened.

“What’s not okay? I have filming today, so I’m going to the set.”

Her best friend, Kim Seo-young, knows her personality well. She also knows that a mere ordinary office worker is pathetically powerless in this industry.

After a moment of silence, Kim Seo-young made an effort to sound cheerful.

-How’s the atmosphere on set?

“It’s great, like a funeral. This movie is going to be a hit.”

-Yeah, suffer a lot. When was it that you were known as the method actress Lee Jang-mi? You must have lost all your acting skills while lazing around in that local theater group.

“Bullshit, am I you?”

They exchanged a few trivial words about this and that, before the conversation was cut off.

-…There’s nothing I can do to help. If I were in Seoul, I’d throw rocks at that son of a bitch.

“Help with what? You’ll end up at the police station.”

-So what if I go? Just thinking about what that bastard did to you still makes me….

“That’s enough. I’m almost at the set, so I’m hanging up.”

-Hey, Lee Jang-mi! Call me later! Make sure to call me tonight after filming, okay?

Hanging up, Lee Jang-mi smiled.

“Is she worried I’ll do something crazy? Really.”

The smile disappeared before she could take a few steps. Her thin lips trembled like a reed in the wind.

She had already seen the articles that had been posted. She didn’t look at the comments, but it was obvious what they would say.

“They must be having a field day, tearing me apart.”

Hwang Man-dong wouldn’t escalate things again. It must be a former colleague who holds a grudge against her… or someone trying to target Roman [the production company] through Lee Jang-mi.

What they want is obvious.

The actor’s ruin, and the movie’s downfall.

“…Assholes. If you’re going to stab, just stab me.”

It’s only halfway done, and the movie, which hasn’t even finished filming, has been splattered with shit.

It was already a precarious project. This article will shake its foundation even more.

Dropping out… is not an option. Not out of petty arrogance, but because there is no other actor to take on the lead role if she leaves.

‘If things continue like this, it’ll be like before….’

That’s right. You’re the problem.

The cult leader from the Salvation Society whispers in her ear, clinging to her again.

Jang-mi, what did I tell you? You should have just closed your eyes and done what CEO Hwang said.

“…Shut up.”

The theater group wouldn’t have failed, and your colleagues wouldn’t have had to suffer so much. See, everyone is suffering because of you again.

…That’s right. This movie will remain as a blemish on Park Geon’s dazzling career, an error named Lee Jang-mi. Director Kim Ryul will fail again, and the culprit, that wretched bitch….

As her self-loathing spiraled into the worst possible imagination, a sound came from her stomach.

—Growl.

Lee Jang-mi chuckled. Looking at the time, it was already past four.

“I’m hungry in the midst of all this, trying to survive.”

Even if I quit, let’s at least eat and speak confidently.

There was a convenience store in front of the station. She bought ramen and, after some deliberation, a hot bar as well.

‘My current balance is sixty-four thousand won, so….’

I should be able to last for two weeks. While blankly waiting for the ramen to cook, Lee Jang-mi dozed off.

“Welcome.”

The part-timer’s voice sounded distant, almost admiring. “Wow, are you by any chance… Can I get your autograph…?”

“Lee Jang-mi.”

“Yes, yes!”

Startled awake, she was surprised to see a pile of convenience store food stacked in front of her. A familiar, handsome man was sitting across from her, looking at her.

“Park Geon… What are you doing here?”

“I was passing by and saw you through the window.”

There are no windows inside this convenience store. It’s ridiculous to say such nonsense so brazenly; it’s almost funny.

“I’ll eat with you.”

“Ah, yes, please do.”

“Don’t misunderstand. I didn’t come looking for you.”

“…I didn’t say anything.”

Then, a brutal mukbang [eating broadcast] began. Park Geon devoured three triangular rice balls in an instant and asked,

“I’m curious, how many times has Lee Jang-mi failed so far?”

How many times? I can’t even count them all with both hands.

“Um… I’ve failed over a hundred auditions. I got the part but couldn’t seize the opportunity about twenty times, and if you add up all the minor failures, it would be twice that.”

“That’s not even half of mine.”

“What did you say?”

“No, half of half of half of half.”

Waking up completely, anger rose. Lee Jang-mi barely suppressed herself from lashing out.

“Look, I’m not in a good state right now. If you’re going to tease me, do it another time….”

“I’ve seen people die.”

Lee Jang-mi’s lips froze open.

“Not just once, but many times. Continuously watching several people die. I’ve saved them sometimes… and sometimes I couldn’t, and there were times when I didn’t save them.”

While Lee Jang-mi couldn’t say anything, Park Geon tore open the next rice ball wrapper.

“As I kept seeing that, I gradually became desensitized. I became able to eat without a care in the middle of a battlefield because people’s lives were like trash, just like these wrappers, to be torn open and thrown away.”

“Are you talking about your time in the military?”

Park Geon didn’t answer and continued speaking.

“That’s why acting is precious to me. Especially our film set.”

Lee Jang-mi recalled the past. She took a leave of absence from the theater and film department and worked 20 hours a day at a logistics center and a study room in her hometown.

It was a difficult schedule even for men, but she made a lump sum of money and went up to Seoul without a plan.

She experienced all sorts of abuses, from audition power trips to theater director’s slave play, and being swindled out of her security deposit, until she met Hwang Man-dong, who was the CEO of a small agency at the time.

‘Jang-mi, I’ll take responsibility for raising you. Let’s just wear the mask [pretend to be someone else] for three years.’

After months of arguing, Hwang Man-dong eventually sent Lee Jang-mi to a reception for officials.

‘Let go, let go, you crazy bastard!’

She tried to endure it, but when the hand of a film executive entered between her thighs, she couldn’t hold back. She ended up swinging a beer bottle and smashing the guy’s head.

After that, it was a series of obvious events.

The agency disintegrated, the theater group she was in fell apart, and she suffered from severe depression and self-harm impulses due to the trauma of that time.

It was around that time that her acting changed. She immersed herself in the roles even more than usual, becoming someone other than herself because that was the only way to forget reality for longer.

How many cheap porn films tried to film only bed scenes while pretending to be movie auditions, and how many crazy guys treated actresses like concubines while pretending to be web drama directors?

Compared to that… this is a real film set.

“…Me too. Everyone is good at acting, and the staff and actors are all so kind.”

Park Geon nodded as if he expected it.

“It’s too early to collapse yet. There are too many obstacles for our movie to fail.”

“Obstacles?”

“First of all, there’s me. There’s Lee Jang-mi, a great director, and good actors. Enough not to be held back by past history.”

Park Geon, who spoke casually, fluttered his priest’s robe sleeve.

“As you can see, well, it’s not like I can fly like someone else… At best, I’m just a little stronger than others and good at action scenes.”

“Doing the work of three male staff members alone is just being a little strong?”

“Actually, I can do more than that. I’m holding back because I’m afraid people will look at me strangely.”

“…Pfft.”

“I think you just laughed.”

“Ah, it hurts my pride. You never laugh either.”

“It’s image management.”

Hey, Lee Jang-miiiii…

Lee Yu-won’s whispering voice tickled my ear.

…I’m not sure, but the present is real. And I’m sharing it with the strongest colleague in my acting career.

Biting into a triangle kimbap [a common convenience store snack in Korea, similar to an onigiri], Lee Jang-mi smiled brightly, just like on her first day at the theater.

“Eat something. Today is going to be brutal.”

*

When Lee Jang-mi returned with Park Geon, the staff were relieved but also concerned.

The scandalous article hadn’t been taken down yet. It was fortunate that the lead actor had reappeared, but as human beings, their acting could be affected.

“Shall we rest a bit before starting?”

Director Kim Ryul asked, but Lee Jang-mi shook her head.

“No, today is the last scene. I think we can go straight in; I’m in good condition.”

Lee Jang-mi proved her words.

Within five seconds of the shoot starting, she dispelled everyone’s worries.

“Why… the divine power…”

“Why are you hesitating? Aren’t the priest’s enemies right in front of you?”

The sharpness of her acting hadn’t dulled at all. No, it was sharper than ever.

“Die, you foolish servant of Christ!”

A thick voice, like scraping metal, burst out, revealing another key clue.

This would also give the audience watching in the theater a twist and a shock.

“Hyung [older brother or close male friend], Jang-mi’s acting is amazing! Look at this!”

When the intense filming paused briefly, Park Seon ran to the two leads who were resting.

“PR Team Leader Gong sent this; our side has started responding, too. From CEO Hwang of Ozrose’s misdeeds to the list of film company and entertainment officials who lost their jobs due to bribes at the time. There’s even a copy of the judgment for attempted sexual harassment!”

Lee Jang-mi’s eyes widened.

“Then the articles…”

“They’re all being taken down. They’ve released a statement saying they’ll be taking strong action against those spreading false information and malicious comments. If the company’s legal team moves, they’ll quickly turn tail and run away.”

The entertainment industry’s fight is a race against time. Size, justification, and reaction speed determine victory or defeat.

They picked a fight thinking it was a child, but a fully armed giant appeared, so there’s no way it could be a fair fight.

Han Sang-yoon PD [Production Director], who was frantically searching for articles, also raised his voice and shouted.

“It’s the same with other portals; correction reports and our statements are pushing out the spam articles!”

Cheers erupted. While the staff were rejoicing,

—There was a sound of something collapsing.

“…Director?”

All eyes were on Kim Ryul, who had collapsed.

Kim Ryul got up nonchalantly and brushed the dirt off his pants.

“I’m okay. I guess the ground was uneven.”

*

“Director, here’s some coffee…”

“Shh, just leave it and go.”

The staff member who opened the door and came in was ushered out by Han Sang-yoon PD.

An office-cum-temporary headquarters attached to the filming site.

On a leather sofa with cotton sticking out, Kim Ryul was curled up like a discarded rag, snoring.

It was the 46th day of filming, the result of a forced march that drastically reduced filming time.

If you were to find someone on set who was carrying as heavy a burden as Park Geon, it would definitely be Kim Ryul.

The daily schedule was so harsh that words couldn’t fully describe it.

When filming ended, he did a rough edit of the day’s footage, grabbed a nap in the car without a blanket, washed up at a nearby sauna, and then back to the set for filming, editing, and repeat.

It was fortunate that CEO Tae brought an electric blanket and a winter blanket by car; otherwise, he would have collapsed long ago.

The staff might think of it as the passion of an unknown director, but Han Sang-yoon PD knew what was behind it.

Kim Ryul intended to finish it.

The budget had been spent, and the die had been cast. Due to the curses, demons, and provocative scenes, a 15+ rating was a foregone conclusion.

Since they couldn’t release a movie that wasn’t for all ages at the end of the year, they were trying to bring the release date forward by even one day.

By doing editing in parallel throughout the filming, they planned to release it within a few days of finishing filming.

‘How can a person be so ruthless, really?’

A few days ago, while going to Geunbeom together, he suddenly lost consciousness.

Kim Ryul, who regained consciousness after getting an IV drip in the emergency room, immediately asked about filming.

‘Filming site… what time is it now…’

‘Director, it’s still night. There are more than six hours left until filming.’

Kim Ryul, who was muttering about sound editing or something, lay down again at Han Sang-yoon’s stubborn dissuasion.

‘Please… keep it a secret from CEO Tae.’

The reason for hiding it is obvious. He doesn’t want to worry his longtime partner just before reaching their goal.

“Hyun-joong, move more inside the frame there…”

Kim Ryul, who had turned over, was talking in his sleep. In a little while, the alarm will go off 30 minutes before filming.

Pulling the fallen jumper back over him, Han Sang-yoon prayed inwardly.

‘Please take care of your health, Director.’

*

“Director, good morning.”

“Ah, yes. Did you eat breakfast?”

“Yes…?”

It’s seven in the evening now. Leaving the staff, who were looking at him worriedly, behind, Kim Ryul walked on.

‘My head hurts a little.’

How long has it been since I slept? A day, two?

…I can’t remember well. My concentration flickers and scatters, and only the rough cut of the filming floats around in my head.

Yesterday, I got a call from my father. I couldn’t answer because I was filming, but the pathetic thought that it was better that way came to mind.

A son who only causes worry, what’s the point of bringing up a story that even I’m not sure about….

“Director.”

“Ah, Park Geon.”

Kim Ryul pushed up his heavy eyelids. Park Geon, who had approached unnoticed, was holding out a water bottle.

“What… is this?”

“It’s a special nutritional drink. I made it for my younger sibling today too.”

The taste was terrible, but since there was sincerity, he couldn’t refuse it. When he barely emptied it, Park Geon suddenly said.

“Director, you resemble someone I know.”

“Someone like who?”

“He was a passionate, stubborn friend who overcame any hardship and moved forward. Like coal burning in a fire.”

“Was that friend also an actor?”

“No, he wasn’t Korean.”

A bitter taste lingered at the end of his words. Probably a foreigner, and someone he can’t see anymore.

Kim Ryul nodded seriously.

“I’m honored that you compare me to him.”

“That friend had a habit of saying something.”

“What…?”

Park Geon stared blankly into the air, then muttered as if someone was there.

“A human who does not pursue their aspirations is no different from a corpse.”

A short shiver runs down his spine. Turning around, Park Geon held out his hand hidden by his cassock [a long, close-fitting garment worn by clergy or members of a choir].

“I believe in those words. Director, you will be able to do it.”

“……”

Two eyes, as deep and black as the abyss, stare this way.

Park Geon’s heroic deeds are well known. He not only takes care of the actors in every corner of the set, but also helps the staff with their work as if it were his own.

An actor is doing what a director should do. If it weren’t for Park Geon, he wouldn’t have been able to meet the production schedule even if he had worn out his body dozens of times more.

‘Why, this much for this movie….’

In fact, you don’t have to go this far.

Unlike himself, who is at the end of his rope, Park Geon belongs to a large agency and has a promising future. Even if one work goes wrong, he can just appear in the next blockbuster.

But Park Geon rushes in without a single complaint.

As if everything happening here, on the set, is his karma.

‘What did you see in me? No, what are you here to see?’

There are many things I want to say, many things I want to ask, but it’s too early to bring them out in this battlefield.

Someday, when that time comes….

Kim Ryul forced himself to shake hands as if nothing was wrong.

“That’s a saying that makes you feel like you’re going to die, but you can’t help but put in the effort.”

The director and actor’s harmony pushes towards the end.

*

That night, Geon dreamed of the Iron Kingdom.

It was somewhere on a white beach, not a field or a demon realm. He heard the sound of waves… and a longing wind blew.

The saintess, Aria, who appeared stepping on the sand, curved her eyes with the same face as before.

ㅡAre you doing well, Hero?