I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 306

Inside the plane.

About an hour after the LA-bound plane took off from Incheon Airport, the cabin was quiet, likely due to the night flight. The lighting was generally dim, with over 70% of the passengers asleep and the rest occupied with their personal lights on.

The atmosphere was similar in the business class section.

Choi Sung-gun, almost buried in his seat, was particularly noticeable. His ponytail was undone, and he was in such a deep sleep that he looked almost lifeless. He had been on a grueling schedule recently. Kang Woo-jin, on the other hand, was in the window seat of business class.

“······”

Perhaps it was due to the misaligned air conditioning, but he wasn’t sleeping. He wore a black cardigan, and while most passengers were asleep, Kang Woo-jin’s expression was serious and focused. He was looking at a tablet with his personal light on.

Foreign news articles were displayed.

『Miley Cara’s new post on SNS, “Looking forward to working on the album with Kang Woo-jin”』

『Miley Cara starts working on a new album with a Korean actor』

Compared to the frantic Korean media, the coverage was minimal, but Kang Woo-jin found it strange to see his name in foreign news.

‘It feels so awkward to see my name in English articles. Did Cara leak this article??’

He was used to seeing his name in Korean and Japanese media, but seeing it in English felt unfamiliar. Some articles even included his Instagram.

‘As expected of Miley Cara, her influence is amazing.’

Kang Woo-jin’s popularity was soaring, but in Hollywood, he was still relatively unknown. He had made some inroads, as evidenced by the increase in English comments on his ‘Kang Woo-jin Sub-Character’ channel and social media.

Still, his overall recognition was small.

However, just by Miley Cara mentioning him, foreign media was taking notice. They were talking about Kang Woo-jin’s name, investigating, and introducing him. This was solely due to the power of the global superstar, Cara. After checking foreign news articles for a few minutes, Woo-jin checked the time.

It was past midnight.

Even though the time would change when he arrived in LA, Kang Woo-jin drank some water while tilting his neck left and right, trying to stay awake. It was also preparation for adjusting to the time difference, but he wasn’t particularly sleepy.

‘Is it because I rest often in the subspace?’

Soon, Woo-jin put wireless earphones in his ears and played a sound file saved on his tablet.

-♬♪

A song quickly filled Woo-jin’s ears. It was Miley Cara’s guide version of a new song, one that Kang Woo-jin would be participating in. He had already listened to it enough to be familiar with it, but listening to it more wouldn’t hurt. At the same time, Woo-jin manipulated his tablet with his index finger.

-Swish.

The music video storyboard he had often seen was displayed. This was also sent by Miley Cara’s team. The music video storyboard was similar to the movie and drama storyboards that Woo-jin was used to. However, it was clear that music videos were a completely new area for him.

‘It’ll be fun, but it’s kind of nerve-wracking.’

When Woo-jin first received the storyboard, he was indifferent. But as soon as he boarded the plane, his heart rate slightly increased. It wasn’t so much that he was nervous about filming his first music video, but rather that he was excited. Moreover, he was working with Miley Cara, a star who commanded the world as both an actress and a singer. No, Miley Cara? Is this real? Woo-jin felt a sense of unreality.

‘······Damn, I can’t believe the day would come when I’d be in a Miley Cara music video.’

He was even participating in the album. This news had already spread widely in Korea, and countless calls were pouring in to Kang Woo-jin’s acquaintances. His close friends were especially excited. Woo-jin himself was amazed, so they must be even more so. Woo-jin lowered his gaze back to the tablet. Looking at the displayed music video storyboard, he murmured inwardly.

‘But—it’s a shame the subspace isn’t showing up.’

Of course, a black rectangle did not appear in the music video. That meant that this music video shoot would be without the subspace, and Kang Woo-jin would have to face it raw.

‘There doesn’t seem to be any problem since there’s not much acting—’

Still, there was some acting involved. Come to think of it, it was almost the first time he was doing a shoot that included acting without the subspace. Woo-jin, lost in thought for a moment, was filled with a determined spirit.

‘I don’t know, damn it. If necessary, I can just pull up any role.’

10th, Saturday morning. Japan.

Around the time Kang Woo-jin’s plane was approaching LA, a promotional war was unfolding throughout Japan.

『「Start of 3rd Quarter Anime Promotion」Many anticipated works are drawing attention this year!』

These were materials that numerous animation production companies were distributing. It was a common scene every quarter in Japan. This time it was the 3rd quarter. Since at least 30 works were released each quarter, it was natural to promote heavily to catch the attention of the Japanese public.

Otherwise, they would be buried without a trace.

Of course, some anime were popular without much promotion, particularly those based on manga with high original popularity. Every year, best-selling manga were adapted into anime, and this 3rd quarter was no exception.

Whatever the case, the Japanese animation market was a battlefield with a fierce fight, just without weapons.

『「Strongest Spy」First Anime Adaptation! Can it continue the popularity of the original manga?』

『「Spy Daddy」Holds a Large-Scale Event in Akihabara! Voice Actors’ Fan Signing Event』

『Finally, Season 2 is out, 「Magic Rotation」Fans are already buzzing about the news of Season 2 airing』

『「Kang Woo-jin」Participates in ‘Boyfriend: Remake’, Ranked 1st in SNS Searches!』

Of course, there were also quite a few articles about ‘Boyfriend: Remake’.

『The only Korean drama adaptation, 「Boyfriend: Remake」, the only rom-com anime among the 3rd quarter works』

Among many anime, ‘Boyfriend: Remake’ was the only one whose original work was not a manga. Moreover, the original work was ‘Boyfriend’, a Korean work, and a rom-com, which had been performing poorly in the Japanese anime market recently. Therefore, the production company ‘A10 Studio’ had to double their promotional spending.

In a way, it might have been the weakest among dozens of anime works. However, ‘Boyfriend: Remake’ also had a weapon to wield.

『‘A10 Studio’ says about voice actor 「Kang Woo-jin」, “He is skilled enough to switch to voice acting without any problems”』

The key was Kang Woo-jin. He was the only breakthrough, having risen to the top of recognition in Japan with his numerous topics of conversation. In addition, the challenges that ‘A10 Studio’ had undertaken also played a part: animating a Korean work, unexpectedly hiring a Korean actor as the male lead voice actor, and entrusting the OST [Original Sound Track] to Kang Woo-jin, etc.

Thanks to that, ‘Boyfriend: Remake’, which was two days away from its first broadcast, was the most talked about on various Japanese social media and communities.

『「Boyfriend: Remake」 is the most talked about on SNS and communities, currently ranked 1st in terms of buzz』

Of course, not all of it was positive.

-Boyfriend: Remake!! I’m looking forward to it!

-www I’m curious because Kang Woo-jin did the voice acting www

-I don’t really want to watch it, Kang Woo-jin probably didn’t do the voice acting properly anyway

-This anime… is finally coming out…. I would have watched it if the original work wasn’t Korean….

-There are many things I don’t like, but it’s a rom-com after a long time, so I’m planning to watch the first episode

-There are so many popular male voice actors in Japan, why did A10 use a Korean actor?ㅠ

-Boyfriend: Remake will be watched by many people, because people who are looking forward to it or have a negative reaction will watch it out of curiosity

If you looked closely, there were more negative comments. But this was also attention. Therefore, ‘A10 Studio’ did not let go of the reins of promotion, no matter what the public said. As time went on, they poured out more and more advertisements on social media, YouTube, and communities.

The recent trend in the Japanese anime market could be seen as stagnant.

The average viewership rating was in the 3% to 5% range, and if it reached 10%, it was considered a huge hit. Two years ago, an anime that achieved a 15% viewership rating was released, and the Japanese media called it a super hit. A 3% viewership rating was around 10th place in the viewership rankings. No anime work reached 10% in the 1st or 2nd quarter of this year.

That’s why the Japanese media also focused on the 3rd quarter anime market.

『Will there be a 「10% viewership rating」 work in the 3rd quarter?』

Because there were many anticipated works. The fact that there were many anticipated works meant.

『Many anticipated works in the 「3rd quarter」, at least 10 works! Who will be the winner?』

That ‘Boyfriend: Remake’ had more than one or two competitors.

Meanwhile, in Korea. Incheon Airport.

It was morning, but the airport departure hall was overflowing with people. It was the July vacation season, so several times more people than usual had gathered. Among them, dozens of groups with enormous luggage stood out. They looked like a filming crew at first glance, and some of them included foreigners. Looking closely at the foreigners, they were familiar faces.

It was Ethan Smith with the big nose and the stunt team.

There were many familiar faces in front of them as well. Especially the man with the thick beard.

“Make sure each team takes care of their luggage! If something is missing when we arrive in Bangkok, it’s an accident!”

It was PD [Production Director] Song Man-woo. Of course. These dozens of people were the ‘Beneficial Evil’ filming crew. Of course, not everyone was moving, only the teams that would participate in the overseas location in Bangkok, Thailand, had gathered.

The goal was to scout locations in Bangkok.

A line PD was already waiting in Bangkok to take charge of the overseas location. This trip to Bangkok for ‘Beneficial Evil’ was a very important schedule. It was the last schedule during pre-production and right before the script reading, and they had to finalize the ‘CQC’ [Close Quarters Combat] martial arts storyboard, which would be the core of episodes 1 and 2.

That’s why.

“······”

Ethan and the stunt team’s expressions were firm.

At this time.

“Entry! Entry procedures! Let’s go in order!”

Starting with the assistant director’s shout.

-Swish.

The ‘Beneficial Evil’ team departed for Bangkok.

LA International Airport.

Kang Woo-jin and his team arrived in LA. It was night when Woo-jin stepped into the incredibly wide arrival hall, teeming with people of many races. To be exact, it was the night of the 9th, a day before. With an indifferent face, Woo-jin stared at the dark sky visible through the airport window.

‘Damn, I left at night and arrived at night.’

Kang Woo-jin praised himself inwardly for somehow enduring without sleeping on the plane. It was his first time in LA since filming ‘Our Table’. Behind him were Choi Sung-gun and a dozen other people. Woo-jin’s YouTube channel ‘Kang Woo-jin Sub-Character’ team was also included. After completing immigration, they passed through the vast lobby and exited the airport. Outside, two large vans were waiting on the side of the entrance.

No, large? They were even more gigantic cars.

‘Did the CEO prepare this?’

Woo-jin naturally thought that Choi Sung-gun had prepared it, but it wasn’t. The answer was murmured by Choi Sung-gun with his ponytail.

“Wow—Miley Cara is really treating us like guests. They even sent a car this late at night.”

It was sent by Miley Cara, and of course, it was a car that Woo-jin could continue to use while he was in LA this time. Soon, a burly foreigner who got out of the driver’s seat of the car helped organize Kang Woo-jin and his team’s luggage. Kang Woo-jin, Choi Sung-gun, Han Ye-jung, and a few others got into the front van. When they actually got in the car, the interior was wider than expected.

‘Wow—damn, this car is really huge??!’

Woo-jin maintained his poker face, but inside, he was startled. At the same time, Choi Sung-gun, who was sitting next to Kang Woo-jin, smiled wryly and said.

“You know that Cara’s side also booked our accommodation, right? A 5-star hotel in downtown LA. They’re all suites. Well, it’s natural since they invited us.”

Then, the burly foreigner who had finished organizing the luggage got into the driver’s seat. Another giant got into the passenger seat as well. They were guards. Choi Sung-gun leaned towards the foreigner in the driver’s seat among the two. He was showing his phone and saying something. Woo-jin tilted his head inwardly but didn’t ask.

Like that.

-Vroom!

Two huge vans left LA Airport side by side. Woo-jin began to look at the LA night view visible outside the window.

‘I saw it when I filmed Our Table before, but the night view is definitely amazing in LA.’

At this point, Choi Sung-gun, who was tying his ponytail again, yawned and chimed in.

“First, let’s go to the accommodation and rest, and we’ll meet Miley Cara for a meeting around noon tomorrow. She’s coming to the hotel?”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. And let’s stop by one place before going to the accommodation.”

Where to this late at night? Kang Woo-jin only asked inwardly and nodded with a composed face.

“Yes, CEO.”

After that, the van carrying Woo-jin entered a downtown area with many tall buildings. Although it was late, there were many cars on the road, and the brightly lit buildings made it feel like daytime rather than night.

After driving for about 5 minutes in that state?

-Squeak!

Two cars stopped side by side on the side of the road. Choi Sung-gun got out right away. Woo-jin also got out of the car following him. Right in front was a beige-toned rectangular building. Choi Sung-gun gestured towards the entrance of the building. There was a smile on his face.

“Let’s go in.”

As a result, about 6 people, including Choi Sung-gun, Kang Woo-jin, and the foreign guards, got on the elevator. Choi Sung-gun, who got off the elevator that was full of LA vibes, walked along the hallway. Soon, Choi Sung-gun with his ponytail, who arrived in front of an office, turned his head back and said to Woo-jin.

“This place, and the one next to it, and the one next to that.”

What? Choi Sung-gun pointed to the office right in front and the two offices next to it. Then, he suddenly opened the glass door of the office in front. Then he turned on the lights. There were no people, but dozens of desks were arranged, and the tops were empty.

Overall, it felt like they had just moved in.

-Swish.

Among Choi Sung-gun and Kang Woo-jin, who had stepped into the office, Choi Sung-gun pointed to one wall of the office with his index finger.

“Look over there, Woo-jin.”

Following his index finger, Woo-jin’s head turned.

‘Ah.’

A familiar face was visible. To be exact, it was a large pictorial poster. A poster of Kang Woo-jin in a suit, striking a stylish pose, was proudly hung on the wall. Choi Sung-gun, whose smile deepened at Woo-jin, who was both embarrassed and questioning, said.

“This is the overseas branch of BW Entertainment, and of course, you’re the main one.”

This was the starting point of Kang Woo-jin’s Hollywood base.

End