I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 26

It was a fleeting moment. Kim Ryu-jin realized he was stumbling on the uneven grass. His body naturally tilted towards the ground. His movements were so smooth and fluid, it was the very image of Kim Ryu-jin from ‘Errand Agency.’

However.

“Ugh.”

It was Kang Woo-jin, not Kim Ryu-jin, who inwardly sighed deeply after struggling to regain his balance.

‘Damn it, how embarrassing.’

It was a mistake. Mistakes happen to everyone and lurk everywhere. That mistake had latched onto Kang Woo-jin at this crucial moment. That damn thing. Was it the pressure of his first leading role’s first shoot? Was it the tension? Was it because he was a newbie at actual filming? Or maybe there was no reason at all.

Of course, even a 30-year veteran actor makes mistakes.

Whether it’s bursting into laughter or messing up lines, mistakes are very common for actors. However, mistakes are a step towards an OK, not the final result. But Kang Woo-jin didn’t quite grasp this concept yet. To others, he might seem like a colossal acting prodigy, but in reality, he was just a month-old, toddling newbie.

Therefore.

‘Is this a disaster?’

Kang Woo-jin, slowly straightening his bent knee, became slightly serious. The character he was embodying also came to mind. How did I get here? Is everything going to be ruined because of some grass? That’s a bit unfair.

Woo-jin looked down at his knee indifferently. Then, he raised his head and looked at the villa.

His heart trembled slightly, like someone caught stealing, but for now, he put a suitable amount of tension on his face. Because there were cameras right next to him and behind him. It felt like there were CCTV cameras everywhere.

‘What should I do? I fell so hard, will the director give me a sign? Should I wait?’

The funny thing was.

“……”

No shouts were heard from anywhere. It was just calm without any reaction. Only the unique, lingering atmosphere of the filming set remained. Huh? That’s strange. Why is it so quiet? It was a movement not in the script. However, Director Shin Dong-chun didn’t shout “NG” [No Good, meaning a retake]. The two cameras also didn’t stop filming Kang Woo-jin for some reason.

The reason was simple. Director Shin Dong-chun was currently.

‘Kim Ryu-jin is looking at the villa, his eyes full of worry. The part that was briefly touched upon in the script… I didn’t expect him to express it so intensely.’

He was swallowing hard and showering praise on Kang Woo-jin in the monitor. Of course, Kang Woo-jin didn’t know this. But he sensed it. He had no idea why, though.

‘I guess I’ll find out if I keep going.’

He wondered if the scolding would come later. So, Kang Woo-jin.

-Swish.

Brought back the ‘Kim Ryu-jin’ he had briefly lost. Now, this process was quite familiar to Woo-jin.

The lines, as clear as if he had memorized them thousands of times thanks to the subspace, also came to mind. Kim Ryu-jin’s emotions and senses spread through his veins. It was probably the power of the subspace, but it was getting easier and easier. The more he repeated the role’s reading (experience), the more solid their world became, and the shorter the time it took to draw out everything about them as he acted.

The world of the role that the subspace gifted was becoming Kang Woo-jin’s possession.

Kang Woo-jin was suddenly assimilated into the imprinted, transplanted Kim Ryu-jin. The ordinary villa in front of him quickly looked like a sinister haunted house. The chill spreading throughout his body, the faint fear subtly permeating, the terror mixed in his exhales.

It was after seeing the body being carried out.

Kim Ryu-jin’s quiet breathing turned into a deflated noise. That noise was like a piston movement. His inhales and exhales were getting faster and faster. Kim Ryu-jin felt his body was heavy. It felt like he was nailed to the grass floor.

His body was rejecting it.

“Hoo-”

A short deep breath. At that moment, the camera filming Kim Ryu-jin’s side moved in front of him. The focus changed to a front bust shot. Because of this, Kim Ryu-jin was shown closer on the monitors that Director Shin Dong-chun and Hong Hye-yeon were watching. His face was full of anguish.

His facial muscles were flat, but his eyes were darting around rapidly.

Hong Hye-yeon slowly covered her mouth with one hand while looking at Kim Ryu-jin on the monitor. It wasn’t admiration or exclamation. It was awe.

‘He’s scared. But he can’t turn back. He’s clumsy, but his curiosity is strong. He even managed to capture the character’s charm because of the realism of the moment after he fell.’

It was acting that the director had asked for, to realistically portray fear. The current Kim Ryu-jin was.

At that moment.

-Shuffle.

Kim Ryu-jin, who had been still, barely took a step forward. He had made a decision. The reason he does ‘Errand Agency’ is because he finds pleasure in ‘observing instead.’ Humans surprisingly reveal secrets to strangers.

Especially, if a profession is involved, trust is amplified.

Kim Ryu-jin enjoyed seeing this other side of people more than money. But murder. This time it was murder. He didn’t know the exact method, but how many times in his life would he see such a scene and site? That became the driving force that made Kim Ryu-jin move forward.

Being a ‘witness’ is a surprisingly rare experience.

Before he knew it, Kim Ryu-jin’s pace quickened.

-Shuffle, shuffle.

It was quick to reach the front door of the villa, and Kim Ryu-jin, slowly raising his hand, muttered softly.

“It’s tempting, damn it. How can I resist this.”

However.

-Clunk.

The front door was locked. Damn it. Soon, Kim Ryu-jin glanced at the camera right next to him. Of course, he wasn’t looking at the camera. He was checking the whereabouts of his wife who had driven away. Fortunately, it was quiet. Kim Ryu-jin instinctively checked the large windows.

And.

-Slide.

He found an open window. At the same time, the smell of the house inside the villa wafted into Kim Ryu-jin’s nose.

“It smells unnecessarily good, damn it.”

It was fragrant for a place where people had died. It was as if the villa was saying it was not at fault. Kim Ryu-jin clicked his tongue briefly and stopped as he was about to climb through the window. Inside and outside. The boundary line of this window felt like the line between life and death. Kim Ryu-jin moved his mouth. He felt his tongue was dry.

But he entered.

The moment the boundary of his life became blurred, one camera followed Kim Ryu-jin and one remained outside the window. Bust shot and full shot. Kim Ryu-jin quietly scanned the living room of the villa. Except for the leftover dishes, it was an ordinary atmosphere.

Director Shin Dong-chun, who was watching this on the monitor, made a decision in his mind.

‘Originally, we should cut it here, but going on like this has several times more vitality. Let’s try a long take.’

Kim Ryu-jin in the villa found the basement. There was another body there. No, was it alive? At that moment, a sound was heard from upstairs. To be exact, no sound was heard, but it was clearly audible to Kim Ryu-jin’s ears now.

In fact, audio is a post-production process.

So, the current Kim Ryu-jin had to act based on imagination and delusion. Moreover, ‘Errand Agency’ itself was a drama that focused on sound. The horror of sound. The form is not visible, but the sound was tightening Kim Ryu-jin, and the key point was Kim Ryu-jin’s claustrophobic acting that occurred here.

Soon, Kim Ryu-jin hid among the broken furniture.

At the same time, the basement door opened again. The sound of a conversation between a woman and a man followed. No, there was no one in the basement right now, but Kim Ryu-jin could hear it.

“What are we going to do with this bastard?”

“Why is he still alive?”

“We can’t leave him alive since he’s a witness.”

A man’s voice like scraping metal. And it included the word ‘witness.’ There was another witness in this basement.

The camera zoomed in on the face of that witness, and Kim Ryu-jin, who was curled up, forcibly held back his trembling breath. The fingers that touched the ground were tense. The muscles in his calves and thighs that supported his body twitched slightly. His whole body wouldn’t stop shaking. It was as if his body was mocking Kim Ryu-jin.

No matter how much he commanded, his body trembled on its own. It looked like he was severely sensitive to the cold.

Stop, please stop. He couldn’t make a sound. Even a sign of life was a problem. The fear of silence that rushed in for a moment. Kim Ryu-jin rolled his eyes incessantly. The dull gray floor had nothing to see, but he moved his eyes like crazy.

Damn it, damn it, damn it. Just go.

All he could do was roll his eyes. Kim Ryu-jin thought he might pee. If he relaxed his lower abdomen, it felt like he would pour it out. Hold it in, you have to hold your breath right now. Kim Ryu-jin’s facial muscles twitched subtly. It was the process of stiffening.

He focused only on the sound. Only on listening to the sound.

All of this process was vividly captured by the camera. The actors who were watching Kim Ryu-jin on the monitor slightly opened their mouths.

“……”

“……”

But no one could speak. Because it wasn’t acting that they could dare to evaluate. Just seeing it with their eyes and understanding it with their heads was overwhelming. No, there were actors who couldn’t even understand it.

They said he was an unknown like us?

But what was this unbelievable gap? Meanwhile, Director Shin Dong-chun, who was smiling a maniacal smile while looking at the monitor, said quietly.

“This dream… it might not be a dream. No, it will be. It definitely will be.”

Hong Hye-yeon, who was right behind him, whispered.

“The ‘Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival’ is going to be turned upside down. If they give an award to something else after seeing this, they must have taken money.”

She laughed as she looked at the actors who had become like mannequins.

“If we do well?”

At the same time, in writer Park Eun-mi’s studio.

Writer Park Eun-mi and PD [Production Director] Song Man-woo, who had finished the script meeting a few tens of minutes ago, were sitting side by side on the sofa. Both were looking at the large TV in front of them. The TV was showing the script reading scene from a few days ago.

At this moment.

“Hmm-”

Park Eun-mi, who had her arms crossed, took off the headband she was wearing and clicked her tongue.

“It was like this on set too, but it’s even more obvious when I see it like this. Tae-san, say something. You’re the furthest behind.”

PD Song Man-woo, who was stroking his beard, answered while keeping his gaze fixed on the TV.

“I already called him. He said he’s gone into seclusion for training.”

“Seclusion for training?”

“Yeah. He said he’s been removing schedules after the reading and working hard. Even Manager Kim was surprised. He said he’s been fired up for the first time in a while.”

“Hmph, you have to see it with your own eyes to feel it. Tae-san has good energy, but his details are a bit lacking.”

At this moment.

“Ah.”

Park Dae-ri appeared on the TV. That is, Kang Woo-jin. After watching his acting for a while, Park Eun-mi, who had leaned her body slightly forward, murmured.

“I felt it on the reading day. That oddball. His voice is good too. Not to mention his diction, which is like he’s chewing and spitting out each word. I always just looked at the overall acting balance, but that day I dissected it a bit and saw that it was real…”

“Isn’t that just a case of being blinded by love?”

“Didn’t you feel it too, PD? Ah, look at that! The way he controls the intensity of his expression! The pacing!”

“I saw something else.”

“What is it?”

At the question, PD Song Man-woo, who had leaned his back deep into the sofa, crossed his legs.

“That he’s improving even at that moment.”

“Ah.”

“The Park Dae-ri I saw for the first time and the Park Dae-ri of that day were definitely different. He’s gradually taking out more and more, shedding the baby fat. I don’t know for sure, but he must be practicing and repeating like crazy. That’s why he looks a bit dangerous.”

“Since there’s no one around him, he’s still self-taught… PD, you should keep a close eye on him, directing isn’t just about filming the picture.”

“For now, we should just watch. He’s a strong-minded friend, so interfering might be more harmful.”

PD Song Man-woo, who let out a small sigh, changed the subject.

“Anyway, all the actors are on fire because of Woo-jin. When I contacted them, they all seemed to be trying to improve their acting quality like Tae-san.”

“The public’s eyes are so accurate. If you’re next to Woo-jin, it’s obvious if you’re acting carelessly.”

“It’s a funny situation. An unknown who just showed his face is playing the role of the main pillar of the work, not the main or supporting roles like Ryu Jung-min and Hong Hye-yeon, right?”

“What’s so funny about it? How strong is a tree that has grown steadily for over 100 years?”

“Are you saying Kang Woo-jin is a 100-year-old tree?”

Park Eun-mi shrugged her shoulders without denying it.

“That’s a metaphor. He appeared out of nowhere after walking silently and solitarily, that’s what I mean, Woo-jin.”

PD Song Man-woo, who then chuckled, looked at Kang Woo-jin on the TV again. How much bigger would that arrogant monster become if he went through our work and ‘Errand Agency’? He was curious again. All the characters that the solitary man was creating while carving away at himself.

There are sometimes actors like that.

Actors who give the director a desire with the power of their acting. What would a thriller, a comedy, a romantic comedy, or an action film that that monster would film be like? PD Song Man-woo was imagining Kang Woo-jin in every genre that existed in the world.

‘…I want to film all of them.’

He wanted to have at least one of them if possible.

“That’s why I can’t quit directing.”

“Huh?”

Soon, PD Song Man-woo, who shook his head, checked the time.

“The filming must have started by now, ‘Errand Agency.’”

“Ah, right. I’m curious. What kind of crazy things will he be doing there?”

“I’m also curious about his senses.”

“But you know. If our work or ‘Errand Agency’ does really well… what will happen?”

“What do you mean what will happen? That oddball Kang Woo-jin will become a totem [a symbol or emblem].”

PD Song Man-woo pictured the future in his head.

“Not to mention his crazy acting, if he joins, the fighting power of the other actors will also increase. Then the quality of the work will improve. But if everything he films does well? He’ll immediately become the number one casting choice. Realistically, everything can’t be successful.”

“Then a Kang Woo-jin cult will be formed. Hearing it like this, he’s a character that breaks the balance.”

Park Eun-mi, who was slightly impressed, smiled wryly.

“Well, it’s okay. We’re connected to that balance-breaking character.”

PD Song Man-woo, who was infected by the laughter, nudged her shoulder.

“What is it, Writer Park? Are you already thinking of using Kang Woo-jin in your next work?”

“Didn’t you also think of using Woo-jin in your first directorial work after starting your own production company? Or not?”

Kang Woo-jin was deeply imprinted in the future of the two giants.

“How can I resist a totem?”

Of course, it was a future filled with delusions.

Meanwhile, in a meeting room of a large film company.

Two men were seen in a meeting room with a round table. One was in his 40s and short, and an older man was sitting in front of him. The older man had white hairs mixed in his eyebrows.

Anyway.

“Director! I went to see another guy and found a madman!!”

The short man shouted to the older man while standing.

“He’s so amazing! Even while watching, I wondered, is that really acting?”

The older man rested his chin on his hand.

“Really? How great was he that Manager Choi is so excited?”

“It wasn’t just me, everyone who came to the ‘Profiler Han-ryang’ reading said the same thing. He was playing a sociopath called ‘Park Dae-ri,’ and it was the clearest I’ve ever seen… no, he was just Park Dae-ri! He devoured all the actors there.”

“Hmm-”

“I felt it as soon as I saw him! He’s perfect for the role that the director is considering!”

“He’s perfect for the role I’m considering?”

“Yes! A light bulb went off in my head, really!”

The older man, who was watching the short man who was excitedly agitated, let out a small groan.

“Okay. I know how picky Manager Choi is. What’s his name?”

“Kang Woo-jin!”

“But he’s an unknown.”

“But he’s really going to make it! He’s cold and has a strange vibe, but the aura he emits was something special. He’s strangely arrogant, but I understand it?”

“I’m not talking about making it, I’m saying he might lack experience. An unknown is an unknown even if they struggle.”

“Ah, how should I explain this… he was like a veteran actor with a lot of experience. He was acting smoothly in front of a hundred people. But he also learned acting on his own.”

“This guy is really crazy. How can you learn acting on your own? Don’t play with words.”

The older man snorted slightly. In fact, he was one of the few master directors in the country. He continued.

“So, did you check his agency?”

“Ah- he doesn’t have an agency yet.”

“Yet? What’s that? It feels a bit off?”

“Let’s just have him attend the audition! Trust me, the production PD!”

“…Hmm, did you give him a business card?”

“Yes! He saw our film company’s name, so he’ll definitely contact us. If he doesn’t, I’ll try to get in touch with PD Song!”

Soon, the older man slowly got up from his seat and nodded slightly.

“Okay, then bring him in.”

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