I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 11

Monday morning, the 17th. Kang Woo-jin’s studio apartment.

Over the weekend, the dozens of staff members of ‘Profiler Han-ryang’ and various entertainment agencies were in an uproar over the appearance of an unknown actor, but the protagonist, Kang Woo-jin, was…

“Hmm-”

Completely unaware. He was simply sitting cross-legged with messy hair, staring at his laptop. It was a little past 9 AM. As soon as Woo-jin woke up, he checked a movie community link his friend Kim Dae-young had sent him a few days prior.

Kang Woo-jin had actually done some searches over the weekend.

Now, he was rereading the information he had gathered. Since it was a community with even random information, there was quite a bit about the short film ‘Private Investigator.’

However.

“This stuff isn’t verified either.”

It was hard to believe everything posted in this community was true. There were so many communities these days, and just as much nonsense. So, Woo-jin focused on the most reliable posts rather than the random information.

-Movie Information: Title: Private Investigator (Short Film) / Blue Vision Film Company (Independent Specialist) / Director: Shin Dong-chun (Unknown)

-Production confirmation news is circulating! A theater actress I know is auditioning, so it seems almost certain.

It was a fairly detailed post with the most views and comments. But there wasn’t much information. Not even a phone number. Well, it’s a community, so should I be satisfied with this much?

Kang Woo-jin, muttering to himself, moved the mouse.

-Swish.

First, he searched for ‘Private Investigator’ and Director Shin Dong-chun on the search engine, but nothing came up.

“Then will the film company show up?”

Next, Woo-jin searched for Blue Vision Film Company. Fortunately, something came up. But there wasn’t much information here either. Just the location of the film company and an introduction that they specialize in short films.

“Usually, they’d at least put a phone number, right?”

Perhaps because the film company was small, there was no number here either. Woo-jin had heard similar things from Kim Dae-young before. The reality of independent, short, or art films was very harsh. Anyway, the only things he got were the company address and a tiny bit of information.

“Hmm- there’s no point in sitting around doing nothing. I guess I’ll just have to go to the film company.”

Even though Woo-jin’s joining ‘Profiler Han-ryang’ was confirmed, the reason he was interested in the short film ‘Private Investigator’ was simple. The scenario itself was quite interesting, but it also included experiments related to the subspace [a fictional space for training]. While dramas had viewership ratings and other measurable metrics, ‘Private Investigator’ was a short film that wouldn’t even be released.

Nevertheless, it was marked as ‘B-grade’ in the subspace.

-[4/Scenario (Title: Private Investigator), B-grade]

In other words, curiosity was the biggest factor, as well as the production environment of the short film ‘Private Investigator.’ Additionally, the fact that it was a short film made it less of a burden.

‘When top actors are interviewed, they all say they started with very small projects.’

Woo-jin vaguely recalled an interview with an actor, and this was also close to the truth. There were actors who rose to stardom as flashes or rising stars, but they were like fireworks. Their lifespan was short. As proof, there were many actors who were once a sensation but have now disappeared without a trace.

On the other hand, actors who built their filmography solidly from the bottom had deep roots and lasted longer.

It was close to intuition or instinct, but Kang Woo-jin was trying to take the path of longevity.

‘Since one big drama is confirmed, I can proceed with ‘Private Investigator’ casually. Well, if there’s no spot in ‘Private Investigator,’ there’s nothing I can do.’

There was also plenty of time left. Most actors would be buried in the script of ‘Profiler Han-ryang’ at this time, but Kang Woo-jin didn’t need to do that. At the extreme, he could enter the subspace hundreds of times the day before filming.

Whatever it was, Kang Woo-jin was absorbing the industry he was experiencing for the first time like a sponge.

Around this time.

-Swish.

Kang Woo-jin, who was looking at his laptop, turned his head. There was a copy of the ‘Private Investigator’ scenario, and next to it, there was, of course, a black rectangle. Kang Woo-jin silently picked up the bundle of papers that was the ‘Private Investigator’ scenario.

“······”

He had read the ‘Private Investigator’ scenario, but he hadn’t directly experienced or rehearsed it in the subspace. He had been distracted by recent subspace experiments and the ‘Profiler Han-ryang’ project. He must have been mentally fatigued to some extent.

However, now that things were somewhat settled, there was no problem.

Therefore.

-Swish.

Just as Woo-jin raised his index finger to poke the black rectangle.

-Vrr, vrr.

His phone vibrated. When he checked the caller ID, a curse word was displayed.

-Jerk.

The contact saved as ‘Jerk’ was Woo-jin’s only blood relative, his younger sister. She hadn’t called in years, and now she was calling out of the blue?

‘She must have heard the news from Mom.’

Kang Woo-jin’s sudden bombshell. That he was going to become an actor. Clearly, if he answered that call, a barrage of teasing from his sister would pour out. So, Woo-jin lightly ignored the call. However.

-Vrr, vrr.

The vibration rang again. Another call. Soon, Kang Woo-jin got annoyed thinking about Jerk. No, his sister.

“Ah, is she really crazy?”

The interesting thing here was.

“Huh?”

The number displayed on the phone screen was not ‘Jerk.’ An unsaved number was displayed. Did his sister borrow someone’s phone to call? Woo-jin thought, but he put the phone to his ear anyway.

“Yes, hello.”

Then, a familiar yet unfamiliar female voice was heard from the other end of the phone. It was definitely not his sister.

“It’s me, Hong Hye-yeon.”

“······”

Huh? Who did she just say? Ho, Hong Hye-yeon? The top actress Hong Hye-yeon was calling Kang Woo-jin directly. At this moment, Woo-jin jumped up from his seat. He almost shouted, ‘Is this real?!’ But he barely managed to hold it in.

Stay calm, Kang Woo-jin. You have to maintain your concept right now. After chanting a few times in his mind, Woo-jin’s cold tone was back in place.

“Hello.”

His voice was even colder because it was morning and his throat was still hoarse. It wasn’t intentional. Anyway, Hong Hye-yeon on the other end of the phone spoke again.

“…Isn’t your reaction a bit lukewarm?”

“Was I supposed to be surprised?”

“W, well, it’s not that, but.”

“I was surprised.”

“Okay, whatever. Anyway, I heard you’ve been confirmed for the role of ‘Manager Park,’ Woo-jin.”

“Yes.”

“It seems quite noisy among the staff. It’s probably because it’s an unexpected addition to the cast. There are also quite a few rumors spreading. Everyone seems very curious?”

For a moment, Kang Woo-jin blinked. That kind of thing happened? Woo-jin didn’t know anything about it, but he continued the conversation calmly.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. The role of Manager Park was a hot potato and a big issue. Anyway, at this rate, you’ll be a star at the first script reading, Woo-jin?”

“······”

“But then, a completely unknown actor is sitting there? It’ll be interesting.”

Hong Hye-yeon’s soft laughter was heard from the other end of the phone.

“I’ve been watching you from the beginning, so I called to share the issue. See you at the script reading.”

“Take care.”

“What’s with the last greeting? Don’t force me to work. I’m resting right now.”

The call ended with Hong Hye-yeon’s gentle laughter. Then, Woo-jin slowly lowered his phone and muttered to himself in a low voice.

“Wow… damn.”

Just a few days ago, it was just an ordinary phone for Woo-jin. But now, the number of top actress Hong Hye-yeon was saved. The goddess he had only seen on TV until yesterday had called him by his name in a friendly way.

Kang Woo-jin’s life was gradually turning into a mess.

“If I sell this phone to Kim Dae-young, I could get hundreds of millions.”

Woo-jin, with a smile on his face, poked the black rectangle next to the ‘Private Investigator’ scenario.

-Thwack!

Kang Woo-jin was sucked into the subspace.

Later that day, late afternoon. A building.

The building itself felt old, with the corridors showing their age. At the end of such a corridor, there was a slightly worn nameplate on an iron door.

-Blue Vision Film Company.

The office inside was also small, and two men were sitting facing each other at the desk in the center of the office. One was a man with small eyes, and the other was a man with a square jaw. Both were somewhere in their 40s.

Looking at their expressions, both were very dark.

The conversation seemed to be already in progress, as the square-jawed man sighed deeply and scratched his head.

“Ha- so you’re saying you want us to cast him as the male lead after all. And also use some of their rookies for the supporting roles.”

Then, the small-eyed man across from him nodded with a firm face.

“That’s right. Well, we expected it, didn’t we? But let’s think positively. They liked the director’s scenario, so we’ve come this far.”

The small-eyed man, who was muttering, tapped the bundle of papers in front of him with his index finger. The cover of the bundle had a large title written on it.

-‘Private Investigator’

Regardless, the square-jawed man, who was called the director, ran a hand over his face, and the small-eyed man continued to speak with a troubled expression.

“Director, honestly, I’m pissed too. But the situation itself isn’t bad. We were about to give up, but we were miraculously able to produce it.”

“…Still, huh- Representative, if I could somehow raise more funds.”

“You said that a few months ago too. Usually, independent or short films are abandoned after saying that.”

“······”

“Let’s think positively, Director. It’s common in this industry to push actors with money, and ‘Private Investigator’ is a short film, not a commercial one. They said they’ll take full responsibility for the investment as long as we confirm the actor conditions. This kind of opportunity is rare.”

Soon, the director clenched his teeth tightly.

“But the actor they’re pushing for the male lead has a past scandal.”

“Yes. Park Jung-hyuk. He had a pretty big assault case in the past. He took about two years off because of that, and now he’s looking around for short or independent films. That’s how he contacted our project.”

“Isn’t this obviously a whitewash?”

“That’s right. Park Jung-hyuk is planning to launder his image with ‘Private Investigator.’ ‘I’m going to start over from the bottom.’ Something like that. But Director, is this the time for us to be picky about clean or dirty water? We have to film the movie, even if it’s in the mud.”

However, the square-jawed director covered his head with both hands, looking complicated.

“Still… I don’t think this is right.”

“What’s not right? The short, independent film market is originally like this. You must have heard about it when you were a drama PD [Production Director], right? Now, Director, calm down and let’s think positively. The investment and the actors will be settled in one go.”

The small-eyed man, who was muttering, tapped the bundle of papers with ‘Private Investigator’ written on it again.

“They, GGO Entertainment, want to proceed with the production immediately if you, Director, say okay. They said they’ll send the investment right away.”

“······”

The director remained still, covering his head. He seemed to be deep in thought. The small-eyed man, who was watching him quietly, let out a small sigh.

“There’s not much time to think, Director. A few days at most. You have to make a decision within that time. And around tomorrow, the GGO Entertainment’s Manager Park, you saw him before, right?”

“…Yes.”

“That guy will bring some rookies they’re pushing for supporting roles here. They’ll show their acting. You’ll see Park Jung-hyuk after your decision. For now, please just handle the appointment tomorrow while you’re thinking.”

“Huh-”

Soon, the square-jawed director with messy hair slowly nodded his head.

“I underst···and.”

10 minutes later.

The square-jawed director, who had left the shabby Blue Vision Film Company, walked down the corridor with a stiff face. He sighed every few seconds, as if reality was harsh in many ways.

Then.

-Swish.

It was when the director was going down the gloomy stairs.

-♬♪

The ringtone of his phone rang from the pocket of his long padded coat. Thanks to that, he stopped on the stairs and took out his phone to check the caller ID. His face brightened slightly. The director answered the phone right away.

“Yes, hyung [older brother or close male friend]. I was going to call you, but I didn’t.”

A man’s voice answered from the other end of the phone.

“Why, why didn’t you?”

“No, hyung, you’re busy these days, right? You must be very hectic?”

“Even so, don’t you know it’ll be even more hellish later? Where are you?”

“I’m near Sinsa Station.”

“That’s good, I have a meeting tomorrow, so I can’t stay long. Let’s have a simple soju [Korean distilled spirit].”

Then, the square-jawed director nodded as he left the building and walked towards the subway.

“Okay. The usual chicken feet place?”

About an hour later.

The time was past 9 PM. The square-jawed director could be found at a chicken feet restaurant near Yangjae Station. The chicken feet restaurant was popular, so there were quite a few people even on a Monday night.

Meanwhile.

“······”

The director, who had arrived early, was drinking soju alone. The side dish was kimchi. The scene was very pathetic. His stiff expression was too.

Then.

-Swish.

The director checked the time. He thought the hyung he was waiting for was quite late.

“No, why is this hyung so late?”

Fortunately, around this time.

“Hey- Shin Dong-chun.”

Someone called the director from the entrance of the chicken feet restaurant. Thanks to that, the square-jawed director chuckled and got up from his seat.

“You’re late, you’re late. Is this how you are, hyung?”

“Sorry, sorry. I think there was an accident in front of here, it was terribly congested.”

The man called hyung scratched his beard and smiled awkwardly.

“And the ‘Profiler Han-ryang’ script meeting also took a bit longer.”

The man the director called hyung was a big-shot PD of the drama ‘Profiler Han-ryang.’

“But you crazy bastard, why are you eating kimchi with soju? Pathetically.”

It was the bearded Song Man-woo PD.

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