I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 292

In the DM Production’s conference room, where the key staff for ‘Beneficial Evil’ had gathered, the words ‘Bangkok, Thailand’ came from Song Man-woo PD, the general manager with the beard. It was naturally in reference to overseas filming locations.

“Instead of doing things halfway, we should go all-in and make a definitive decision,” Song Man-woo PD stated.

The production department head, among the dozens of key staff, nodded in agreement. “Yes, I understand. I’ll contact Line PD right away.”

Song Man-woo PD, with his beard, and the dozens of key staff put down their tablets and unfolded a stack of moderately thick papers. It was a collection of materials for the overseas locations of ‘Beneficial Evil.’ In fact, the discussion about overseas locations for ‘Beneficial Evil’ wasn’t new. It had been brought up earlier when planning the large domestic sets.

Therefore, the stack of papers contained several options, up to number 5, including Bangkok, and included places suitable for filming. Naturally, it also contained scenes to be used for overseas locations. Just as the production meeting based on these was getting lively, the martial arts director, a man with solid muscles, asked Song Man-woo PD, “Is the car chase scene a go or no-go?”

Song Man-woo PD, stroking his chin, answered without hesitation, “If the overseas location is confirmed, we have to go for it. This part is important, so tell Line PD to thoroughly check the local situation.”

“If we’re going for this, what about the explosion scenes?”

“Of course, we have to go for it.”

“Looks like we’ll be blowing things up for a while.”

“We’ll also include the gunfight scenes we were planning, so everyone, check the storyboards we initially pulled out and prepare well.”

The hands of dozens of key staff from the props team, martial arts team, filming team, equipment team, special effects team, and so on, moved faster. This time, the art director asked Song Man-woo PD, “If we do this, we’re also reviving the protagonist’s setting and direction that we cut from the script. Does this mean there will be script revisions?”

“There will be revisions, but it shouldn’t take too long since it’s a part we prepared initially. Writer Choi has already started on the research. It’s just a slight addition to the beginning, so please pay close attention.”

After speaking, Song Man-woo PD turned his gaze to the martial arts director. “The combat techniques included in the overseas location aren’t easy, so let’s review the action storyboards we made before and finalize them as soon as possible for a briefing. We need to pass it on to Woo-jin as well.”

“Okay, but will Woo-jin handle all these scenes himself?”

“Well, that’s a part that needs adjustment—we’ll have to talk to Woo-jin and consider using a stunt double.”

The production meeting gradually became more intense. ‘Beneficial Evil’ was a project with a large budget, and it was a pre-production work aimed at the global market with Netflix, so the atmosphere was naturally charged. Just looking at the overseas locations being discussed, the scale was considerable.

Just listening to the conversations, it felt like a blockbuster movie. If they were going to capture the eyes of the overseas public anyway, Song Man-woo PD decided that something unconventional was the way to go. Of course, this was an impossible picture for a typical mini-series that was filmed live.

Anyway, amidst the heated production meeting, Song Man-woo PD changed the topic. “The interview shoot with all the actors, organized by Netflix, I think we should get that done before we go on the preliminary survey for the overseas locations.”

“That would be better.”

“Then, let’s coordinate the schedule based on when Woo-jin returns, and the order should be—after the interview shoot with all the actors, then the preliminary survey and location scouting for the overseas locations, finalize the sets and script storyboards including the overall martial arts check. And in between, we should also have a script reading.”

“Wow~ that’s tight.”

Some of the key staff sighed quietly at the future that resembled a trip to hell, and Song Man-woo PD brought up Kang Woo-jin again to the production manager. “Kang Woo-jin’s schedule is key, so keep in contact with him beforehand and try to match the time as much as possible.”

“Yes, PD-nim. I also spoke with CEO Choi Sung-gun earlier. After Woo-jin’s few days of rest, we can adjust the schedule except for the trip to LA.”

“LA?”

“You know—the one he’s doing with Miley Cara.”

“Ah, yes.”

Soon, small exclamations of admiration poured out. “Amazing—it’s amazing that an actor from Korea is working on an album with Miley Cara.”

“At this rate, isn’t Kang Woo-jin going to become a world star before our project is even launched?”

“Hahaha, that would be great for us. We wouldn’t have to start from scratch.”

“But Woo-jin’s schedule is usually impossible, but seeing it somehow work out is just unbelievable.”

At the same time, Song Man-woo PD with the beard refocused the topic. “Anyway, share the details with the actors, including Woo-jin, who will be filming at the overseas locations.”

The ‘actors’ he mentioned were mostly unknowns and rookies.

Meanwhile, at the same time, in Jinju.

Kang Woo-jin, alone in his empty house after finishing his call with Choi Sung-gun a few tens of minutes ago, was lying in his room. He was still wearing his worn-out sweatpants and a faded print t-shirt. Although it was a short 2-night, 3-day break, he was trying his best to rest. Lying on his side, looking at his phone, there were no scripts or screenplays around him.

Only.

“Ah—seriously, relaxing is the best. It’s thrilling,” he said, enjoying being idle to the fullest as the original Kang Woo-jin. Of course, there was no concept acting or trying to look tough. The whole of Jinju was buzzing with his visit, but Kang Woo-jin alone was leisurely.

That Kang Woo-jin was currently watching a YouTube video. A video from a movie review YouTuber with nearly a million subscribers, which had already surpassed 3 million views. The content was related to Kang Woo-jin, as seen in the title. It was an edit of only Woo-jin’s acting from ‘Island of the Missing,’ which had turned the history of the Korean film industry upside down.

The thousands of comments were, of course, exploding with praise for Kang Woo-jin. “Hehe, good.”

Well, there were also comments here and there that cursed or criticized Woo-jin, but Kang Woo-jin ignored them lightly. After watching YouTube videos focused on himself for a while, Woo-jin opened a search engine. He was reminded of ‘Leech,’ which had recently wrapped up filming. “How’s the situation?”

Woo-jin had already grasped the actual progress rate from group chats, etc., but he was curious about the state of the press and public opinion. The search term was ‘Leech.’ The results, as expected, poured out quickly. The first thing he saw were articles. 『[Movie Talk] ‘Leech’ Enters Post-Production, Can It Set Off Fireworks at This Year’s Cannes Film Festival?』

Perhaps because of the mega-hit of ‘Island of the Missing,’ the expectations for ‘Leech,’ which was scheduled for the Cannes Film Festival, were also quite high. However, ‘Leech’ was not doing any promotional activities, since it wouldn’t be released in Korea immediately even after editing was complete.

Probably, ‘Leech’ would be shown at the Cannes Film Festival regardless of the outcome, and then it would be released in Korean theaters with that momentum. In terms of dates, it would probably be before the end of this year.

Whatever it was.

-Swish.

Woo-jin, who had been lying on his side, put down the phone he was looking at. Then he scratched his stomach. “I’m feeling peckish.”

It wasn’t exactly hunger or starvation. He needed something to cleanse his palate. Something like a snack. Then, he came out of his room and searched around the kitchen. There was nothing much. There was ramen and some leftover spicy chicken stew from the morning, but nothing to snack on. Kang Woo-jin checked the time. It was just before noon.

“······Hmm.”

Woo-jin, who had been standing blankly, thinking about something, went back into his room and grabbed a hat and mask. The reason was simple. He was thinking of going to the supermarket in the apartment complex. “Clothes—well, it’s better to go like this. It’ll be less noticeable.”

Should he change his shirt though? The worn-out sweatpants were fine, but the t-shirt with the faded print was a bit much to wear outside. As a result, Woo-jin just changed his t-shirt roughly, put on a hat and mask, and left the house.

Kang Woo-jin got on the elevator. Some people got on until the first floor, but they didn’t recognize Woo-jin. Well, some glanced at him. Woo-jin walked out of the apartment, dragging his slippers. The supermarket was near the entrance of the apartment complex. Two young-looking girls passed by Woo-jin, who was yawning.

“Did you see the banner at the entrance?”

“Yeah, daebak [amazing]! It seems like Kang Woo-jin is really in our apartment.”

“Can we see him??! Should we keep circling the apartment complex?”

“If I meet him, my heart will seriously explode!”

Looking at them, Woo-jin thought, why are they outside at this time? Don’t they have school? Then he realized that today was Saturday. But a banner? Come to think of it, Choi Sung-gun also mentioned something about a banner in the call earlier. ‘What banner are they talking about?’

Woo-jin decided to check the banner that the young girls had seen while he was going to the supermarket, and the young girls who had passed him began to whisper, glancing back. A few minutes later, Kang Woo-jin arrived at the apartment entrance where the supermarket was visible.

“······”

He stopped abruptly as soon as he checked the banner hanging above. ‘Crazy—what is that??!’ Embarrassment and something similar to shame washed over him. It was because of the banners hanging at the apartment entrance.

-‘The Pride of Jinju! Welcome the visit of the monster actor Kang Woo-jin!!’ / Jinju City Hall.

Banners with phrases like ‘The pride of Jinju,’ ‘A dragon has risen from Jinju,’ were fluttering proudly. There were several, not just one. Roughly, phrases with the feeling of ‘welcoming Kang Woo-jin’ were printed, and one of the banners even had Kang Woo-jin’s poster or face printed on it. ‘My face! Why did they even insert my face!’

Woo-jin, whose embarrassment had doubled, turned around, forgetting to buy snacks. What kind of fuss is this? It was then.

-Vrr-vrr.

Woo-jin’s phone in his worn-out sweatpants vibrated briefly. It was a text from his mother. Kang Woo-jin’s embarrassment increased several times after checking the message. -Mom: Woo-jin, there are so many banners around the store? The Jinju officials must be very happy that you came. I saw so many banners when I came to the store too.

-(Photo attachment)

Currently, banners with Kang Woo-jin’s face were exploding all over Jinju. ‘Stop! Stop putting them up! I don’t want them!’

As Woo-jin was screaming inwardly, a woman’s voice penetrated his ears. “Excuse me—”

Looking ahead, the two young girls he had passed earlier were approaching hesitantly. The girl with glasses asked Woo-jin, “A-are you perhaps Kang Woo-jin?”

“······”

After a brief silence, Woo-jin spoke. Not in his usual solemn tone, but in a light tone close to flippant. “No, I’m not??”

“…Oh, I see. Sorry.”

‘I see?’ What ‘I see?’ The two girls bowed to Kang Woo-jin and turned around. The sound of their small conversation was faintly heard by Woo-jin. “See, I told you it wasn’t him? Why would a super popular actor wear worn-out sweatpants.”

“Yeah, compared to the picture on the banner, he looks a bit shabby.”

“He’s just a resident who came out to buy cigarettes, 100%.”

“Yeah, yeah. Let’s go somewhere else, somewhere else.”

The girls gradually moved away. Then, Kang Woo-jin, who had been standing blankly for a moment, let out a long sigh and muttered softly, “Coming out was a mistake.”

He quickly returned home. When he came back, he heard a sound in the empty house. It was his younger sister, Kang Hyun-ah, who appeared from the kitchen with a water glass in her hand. She, who hadn’t been seen since morning and was wearing a white hat, widened her eyes as soon as she saw Woo-jin. “Crazy! Oppa [older brother]!! You went out like that?!!”

“Yeah.”

She rushed over and hit Woo-jin on the shoulder, and Kang Woo-jin took off Kang Hyun-ah’s hat and threw it far away. Kang Hyun-ah, with her long brown hair revealed, nagged at Woo-jin. “Oppa! Right now, you’re being treated like a hero in Jinju, how can you go out like a defeated soldier?! What if someone recognized you!”

“Be quiet, you.”

“Are you going to talk like that to the president of your fan club?”

“Ah—the president of the fan club. Okay, fan club president, go buy some snacks. Buy some of what you want too.”

Kang Hyun-ah smiled brightly at her brother, who casually handed over his card. “Can I buy some clothes with this too?”

“If they sell that kind of clothes at the supermarket.”

“Ugh!”

Kang Woo-jin, who had silenced Kang Hyun-ah with pocket money, flopped down on the sofa. Kang Hyun-ah spoke to him again. “Oppa, you don’t look like Kang Woo-jin when you’re like that.”

“Are you crazy?”

“There’s a charity event tomorrow, can you come? ‘Strong Heart’ is also donating, so I’m attending.”

“You do that kind of thing?”

“There will be articles about it tomorrow! It’s not just me, a lot of people related to the local children’s center are coming. The mayor of Jinju might come too.”

Woo-jin, who thought it was a good cause but felt it was awkward for him to attend, shook his head. “I don’t think I can go.”

On the same day, at night.

The location was a studio in the form of an apartment. Or, to be precise, it was the studio of writer Choi Na-na, who wrote ‘Beneficial Evil.’ It was late at night, and since she had already written the final episode, there were no assistant writers at the desk in the center of the living room. The lights were also off.

However, the light was bright in the largest room. And.

“······”

Choi Na-na, a slender writer wearing round glasses, was staring intently at her laptop. Around her, numerous papers were scattered. They were clearly some kind of research material, and what Choi Na-na was looking at was a YouTube video. Two burly foreign men were showing intense action.

Choi Na-na, wearing a headband, replayed the same video repeatedly. “Good, this video. It’s helpful.”

On her memo pad next to the laptop, a word with several circles around it caught the eye. -CQC/Close Quarters Combat, System

It seemed to be a setting she would use for ‘Beneficial Evil.’

End