I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 342

-[“What? Mother?”]

-[“That’s what she told me to call her. Mother did.”]

Enraged, Yoon Ja-ho grabbed Kang Woo-jin by the collar. Woo-jin wore a mysterious smile.

-[“Mother will be sad.”]

Yoon Ja-ho told him to live like a leech if he was going to act like one. He told him not to even think about stepping into his world. Not to get confused. Soon, Kang Woo-jin’s face was captured largely on the giant screen. He was looking at his reflection in the living room window of a huge house.

It was the same space as Yoon Ja-ho. The same setting.

Woo-jin, reflected in the window, wore a faint smile. His image grew larger. Then, the angle suddenly shifted. It wasn’t a reflection; the actual Kang Woo-jin was shown. He, who had been looking at the window, was now looking at Yoon Ja-ho in front of him.

The smile was gone.

Expressionless. And lies. Conviction.

-[“We’re together, aren’t we?”]

At this point, every single one of the 3,000 audience members in the ‘Lumière Theatre’ realized it.

That ‘Park Ha-sung’ was deeply affected by Ripley Syndrome [a psychological condition where a person believes they are someone else].

The term ‘Ripley Syndrome’ had never appeared in ‘Leech.’ However, everyone recognized it. Soon, most of the audience glanced at Kang Woo-jin in the front row. The difference between his appearance in the film and his appearance just now was striking.

Among them, the 10 official judges of the Cannes Film Festival couldn’t take their eyes off Kang Woo-jin on the giant screen.

‘To control emotions so freely with his eyes.’

‘His expression is amazing. Just that alone is enough to convey Ripley Syndrome. Did he really ever suffer from it?’

‘Is this acting??’

‘He either has experience or practiced like crazy. If he did that through practice – I can’t even imagine how much time he must have spent.’

Compared to the beginning, Kang Woo-jin’s acting in ‘Leech’ shone from the early to mid-point. The spotlight that had been on Shim Han-ho had shifted completely. It was proof that the 3,000 audience members were immersed in ‘Park Ha-sung’ in ‘Leech.’

It wasn’t clear exactly when that had started.

While watching the movie, everyone was only looking at Kang Woo-jin at some point. However, his acting didn’t feel like acting. Starting with Miley Cara, who was covering her mouth while looking at the giant screen.

‘I have goosebumps. And it’s scary.’

All the audience members.

They all shared a common, clear thought while watching ‘Leech.’

This movie doesn’t feel like a movie.

It wasn’t that the quality of the work was low. On the contrary, the quality of ‘Leech’ was beyond imagination. However, the acting of Kang Woo-jin, one of the actors leading ‘Leech,’ was too realistic.

‘It’s almost like a documentary…’

‘Kang Woo-jin’s acting is too vivid. It’s a movie, right? Why does it feel like I’m watching a documentary?’

‘It even feels like I’m observing a real person. Damn, how can he act like that?’

Because of that, ‘Leech’ was going beyond the category of a movie. It was at the level of broadcasting the story of a real Park Ha-sung who entered a conglomerate family and experienced Ripley Syndrome.

It became more intense as time went on.

The ‘Lumière Theatre’ was filled with a heavy, uncomfortable, hot air. One actor’s performance was affecting the breathing of 3,000 audience members.

By the mid-to-late part.

When the audience was watching the screen with bated breath, Kang Woo-jin’s tension in ‘Leech’ was completely different from the beginning. He was a completely different person. He was covered in lies, but he was living a truth.

-[“Don’t laugh, before I shove a cigarette in your mouth.”]

-[“Hyung [older brother].”]

-[“You son of a bitch! What? Hyung??!”]

It was full of sincerity. Kang Woo-jin was calm and composed.

-[“Why are you so wary of me?”]

-[“You think I’m wary of the likes of you? You’ve really gone crazy.”]

-[“Ah- is that so? I think I understand.”]

And he was free-spirited. There was no one in the story who could stop him anymore. Woo-jin, whose face was reflected in a family photo frame on the large screen, was shown. The truth, forgetting the lies, was fully captured in the frame.

Director Danny Landis, who was thoughtfully stroking his chin, was inwardly impressed.

‘This cut is a masterpiece, even after seeing it again.’

The direction was one thing, but the actor’s expression filling the screen was astonishing.

‘The part where he can most clearly confirm that he has become a monster, he rationalizes himself with another lie even when faced with clear evidence of a lie. He expressed that with just his eyes and a single line of dialogue. The real monster is that actor.’

The 10 judges, Cara, and the rest of the audience all gasped involuntarily around this part. The ‘Leech’ team in the front row was also watching the completed ‘Leech’ with upright postures. Kang Woo-jin, with a solemn face, was the same.

However, he was muttering a completely different reaction inside, completely different from this solemn atmosphere.

‘My face looks so big.’

He was slightly embarrassed by his huge face on the giant screen. But no one realized the real Kang Woo-jin. There were many who glanced at him, but Woo-jin’s concept was rock solid.

Then, ‘Leech’ rushed towards the ending.

The monster he had become had to kill the truth to maintain his monstrous state. It was Madam Yoo Hyun-ji, the only one who could spread ‘Park Ha-sung’s’ lies, and at the same time, the one who believed in and cherished him the most.

-[“I’m confused, who am I?”]

However, ‘Yoo Hyun-ji’ was both the truth and the medium that would make ‘Park Ha-sung’s’ lies a reality. It was as if he had slit his own throat.

-[“So, I’m going to check.”]

‘Park Ha-sung’ cut off reality. The place where he was found was the living room sofa of the mansion. This scene was the only real one for ‘Park Ha-sung.’

Soon, as the angle moved away, Kang Woo-jin’s narration was played again throughout the theater.

-[“At first, it was envy. I wanted to have it. Your world. But now, I can’t find the real me anymore. I think I lost it on the way. It will be hard to find.”]

The giant screen went dark.

Soon.

-♬♪

The end credits began to roll with a strange movie soundtrack. ‘Leech,’ which lasted about 2 hours, was over. At the same time, a sudden, loud applause echoed throughout the theater.

-Clap clap clap clap clap clap!

As soon as the movie ended, 3,000 audience members stood up and applauded.

A standing ovation.

Hollywood master director Danny Landis, Miley Cara, the 10 judges, and everyone including Joseph and Megan, showered the ‘Leech’ team with genuine praise, not just out of courtesy.

-Clap clap clap clap clap clap!

-Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!

Kang Woo-jin was slightly surprised.

‘Oh wow- that startled me.’

It was his first time experiencing something like this. Moreover, this was Cannes, France, and those giving the standing ovation were thousands of foreigners he had never seen before. Woo-jin was surprised, but he also felt a thrill without realizing it.

‘This is awesome.’

The magnificent ‘Lumière Theatre.’ The pouring applause. Woo-jin and director Ahn Ga-bok, including the ‘Leech’ team, stood up in a daze and greeted the audience, and about a hundred journalists among the audience took pictures of the ‘Leech’ team. Dozens or hundreds also filmed this situation with their phones.

These videos would be spread on YouTube.

Whatever it was, the quiet ‘Lumière Theatre’ was transformed into a scene of frenzy. The heat didn’t die down. Kang Woo-jin thought the current scene was strange. It was a completely different atmosphere from the Japanese film in the ‘Competition’ section on the first day.

‘Were the movies on the first day like this?? Well, there was applause, but it wasn’t this crazy, was it?’

Woo-jin didn’t know Cannes well, but anyway, there was no standing ovation on the first day. Among the 3,000 audience members giving a standing ovation, Joseph asked his group of stunt team and executives from ‘Universal Movies.’

“What did you think?”

They had already witnessed the long takes of ‘The Righteous Evil,’ and they had also heard in advance that Kang Woo-jin was performing method acting. So, their expectations were very high. Of course, not a single one of them looked disappointed.

“It was amazing. As you said, Joseph, ‘action’ acting is just one of Kang Woo-jin’s abilities.”

“The main thing is his method acting, which makes it seem like they brought a real person.”

“Honestly, the long takes of ‘The Righteous Evil’ seem a bit pale now. That’s how absurd his acting was.”

At this moment, to Kang Woo-jin near the front of the screen.

-Swish.

A man with a half-bald head and round glasses approached. It was Hollywood mogul director Danny Landis.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a work that makes you forget about time.”

He offered a handshake to the calm Kang Woo-jin.

“And your acting was very impressive, enough to leave a lasting impression.”

Director Ahn Ga-bok’s eyes widened. The surrounding actors and audience members were whispering, as well. It was a bonus.

“That, that’s Director Danny praising the acting.”

“Isn’t he known to be quite picky in Hollywood??”

It was a side of Danny Landis that had never been seen before. On the other hand, Kang Woo-jin maintained a stiff face, but muttered inwardly. There was no excitement.

‘Why- am I so popular with old men??’

After that.

After the screening of ‘Leech,’ the ‘Lumière Theatre’ was noisy for a while. The 3,000 audience members who had watched the movie didn’t leave their seats right away, and they watched the ‘Leech’ team, including Kang Woo-jin, who were caught by reporters.

That lasted for about 30 minutes.

For 30 minutes, the ‘Leech’ team had to take countless interviews and photos. Of course, Kang Woo-jin was the one who received the most questions and poses. They barely escaped, but the rush didn’t end.

“It was the best!”

“It was a truly memorable movie!”

People from all over the world. That is, the audience members rushed to the ‘Leech’ team. Again, Kang Woo-jin was the one who received the most attention.

His popularity exploded.

Acting-related, sign language-related, French-related, and so on. An enormous number of questions were thrown at Woo-jin, but Kang Woo-jin calmly maintained his composure and answered appropriately. It was thanks to his concept. Meanwhile, Director Danny, Cara, Joseph, and Megan also briefly greeted the ‘Leech’ team.

The theater was so chaotic that it wasn’t a situation for a long conversation.

Finally, the 10 official judges of the Cannes Film Festival approached. However, since they were judges, they couldn’t give detailed evaluations or deep questions. It was just a brief greeting.

Even as those judges left the theater.

“Hmm-”

“······”

Their faces were full of deep thought. It was natural since they had to decide many things the day before the awards ceremony, and ‘Leech,’ which they had just seen, was enough to give them something to think about.

About an hour passed like that.

It was 10 PM when Kang Woo-jin returned to his hotel room.

“Ugh- I’m going to die.”

He threw himself onto the bed without even taking off his suit. Of course, Choi Sung-gun, whom he had met before entering the room, had asked him several questions. He had heard the rumors, too. That Kang Woo-jin had used French at a native level. Well, it wasn’t a big problem.

Choi Sung-gun was already prepared to accept everything.

Soon, Kang Woo-jin let out a long sigh. He felt like things had rushed by without even having the mental capacity to use the subspace. Woo-jin buried his face in the bed and recalled the events of a few hours ago. He had experienced it himself, but it didn’t feel real.

“It’s this chaotic with 3,000 people, it’s going to be even crazier at the awards ceremony.”

He was talking about the closing and awards ceremony. It was natural since tens of thousands of people would gather. Whatever it was, this was the end of ‘Leech’s’ official schedule. Now, Kang Woo-jin was relatively free, except for minor interviews or schedules until the closing and awards ceremony in a few days.

Around this time, Kang Woo-jin recalled Director Danny’s face. No, to be exact, the words he had said at the end.

‘Let’s meet soon and talk in detail.’

Woo-jin tilted his head.

“About what?”

Two days later, the 4th. Korea.

While the festival was in full swing in Cannes, France, the 5th day was already beginning. Of course, things related to Kang Woo-jin were also progressing smoothly in Korea. For example, ‘The Righteous Evil.’ Producer Song Man-woo and Kim So-hyang, the general director of Netflix Korea, etc., gathered at DM Production.

It started with Kim So-hyang, the general director.

“PD, it’s confirmed. We’re moving up the launch schedule for ‘The Righteous Evil.'”

“Can we proceed without any issues?”

“Of course. Whether it’s this year or early next year, there’s no problem moving up the schedule. However, we need to set the launch date in advance and prepare for it.”

“That’s obvious.”

Then, Kim So-hyang smiled at Producer Song Man-woo.

“Focus on Part 1, from episodes 1 to 6. For now, it’s best to launch as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile, numerous issues were breaking out in the domestic media. Among them, an article that was frequently seen from this morning caught the eye.

『[Cannes Film Festival] Closing and Awards Ceremony can be seen live from Cannes on October 10th at 7 PM, and in Korea at 3 AM… YouTube live broadcast confirmed!』

The closing and awards ceremony of Cannes will be broadcast live.

End