I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 391

The audition method, as stated by the imposing general producer of ‘Pierrot,’ was simple. They would skip the designated performance and go straight to the free performance, but the character they had to portray in that free performance was designated.

The confirmed character was ‘Henry Gordon,’ the male lead of ‘Pierrot.’

The candidate actors gathered today could show any appearance or performance they wanted. However, the guise had to be ‘Henry Gordon.’ This was something ‘Columbia Studios’ had not shared with the candidate actors beforehand.

Therefore.

‘That’s sudden.’

The Hollywood actors didn’t show it outwardly, but they were slightly dumbfounded.

‘All the things we prepared are now useless. How can they change it so suddenly?’

‘Your voice is loud.’

‘But what I’m saying is true.’

They were told to prepare designated and free performances, but then the rules were suddenly changed, so it was understandable that they would grumble.

‘I didn’t expect this. What should we do? Should we mix what we prepared?’

‘Focus. ‘Columbia Studios’ probably wants to see your and the other actors’ quick thinking.’

‘Hmm.’

‘It’s not that big of a deal, is it? After all, ‘Henry Gordon’ was prepared as a designated performance, and as you said, you just need to overlay ‘Henry Gordon’ onto the free performance.’

‘Is it that easy? Anyway, be quiet, let me think.’

This was the same for Chris Hartnett. Still, compared to the other actors, he was calm.

‘Chris, are you okay?’

‘I’m fine. There’s no need to panic. I was a little surprised, but this kind of thing happens often in Hollywood.’

‘That’s true.’

‘In times like this, it’s better to be aggressive.’

‘What are you going to do?’

Chris Hartnett, not answering his manager’s question, suddenly turned his head to the left. He saw Kang Woo-jin sitting a little distance away. Soon, Chris’s eyes widened slightly. Woo-jin was so calm. No, maybe he was just resting his chin with a nonchalant face.

‘…Is he not bothered at all? Or does he not have any thoughts? He’s a man who’s hard to gauge. What is he thinking? Hmm—still, given the situation, he must be serious, but he’s pretending not to be.’

Wrong. Currently, Kang Woo-jin was truly unconcerned. He didn’t have many thoughts either.

‘So, when are they going to start?’

To him, whether it was a designated performance, a free performance, or a free performance with ‘Henry Gordon’ on it, it didn’t matter. Both the designated performance and the free performance he had prepared were ‘Henry Gordon.’ And even if there was a problem.

-Swish.

He had the ‘Pierrot’ scenario with a black rectangle [a prop or script] in his hand, so there was nothing to worry about.

Around this time.

‘Since there was something a bit sudden.’

The general producer at the table on the stage informed the actors.

‘We will start in 10 minutes.’

This wasn’t giving them time to prepare, but rather giving them time to take a deep breath. There was nothing much they could prepare in 10 minutes.

In fact, 10 minutes passed in an instant.

Soon, the producer moved again. She checked the status of the monitors in front of her and then called out one of the actors.

‘The order was decided by us. Tom Brando. Please come up.’

A moderately built actor with a masculine face, rather than handsome, stood up. His name was Tom Brando. He was a famous top actor in Hollywood, known for his acting skills. He was also wearing a suit like ‘Henry Gordon,’ but the colors were simple. Gray, black, and brown were mixed. He didn’t have any makeup on. That Tom Brando was the first to step onto the stage with cameras all around.

-Swish.

For reference, the stage didn’t just have cameras. In one corner, there were various props, and single sofas and chairs were also placed. It was up to the actors how they used them. When Tom Brando stood in the middle of the stage, director Ahn Ga-bok, sitting in the judges’ seat, looked at the various monitors. Full shots of the actor, as well as front, side, and back views, were being displayed. Director Ahn Ga-bok stroked his wrinkled cheek.

‘Indeed, he’s a Hollywood top. The aura he gives off on camera is extraordinary.’

Including the female producer, all the judges were watching the monitors. The audition was an audition, but the screen test captured on the monitors was also important. Then, the general producer nodded to Tom Brando, who was on stage.

‘You can start when you’re ready.’

As soon as the words were finished, Tom Brando changed his expression and posture. He put one hand in his pocket and straightened his back. His face was slightly tilted. There was a subtle smile on his lips. It was as if he was showing the awakened latter part of ‘Henry Gordon’ in ‘Pierrot.’

The judges’ faces became serious at the sight of Tom Brando, who had transformed his image in an instant.

‘He’s an actor whose acting is beyond reproach. He transforms into the image we want right away.’

‘He changed the atmosphere in an instant. Is he trying to play the Joker?’

‘Hmm, that’s the image of the latter part of ‘Henry Gordon’ that I imagined.’

Tom Brando, a skilled actor, looked around at the cameras and chuckled.

‘These damn gazes. They’re all just scared and terrified. Don’t force that on me. Your kindness is just a defense because you don’t want to die. I’ll do as I please?’

The words Tom Brando was uttering. A figure no different from the real thing. It was ‘Henry Gordon’ without any sense of incongruity. The reason was simple.

‘Psychotherapy? What are you going to treat? Go fix your rotten brain.’

Tom Brando, who was the first to audition, chose the direct approach. Right now, he was playing ‘Henry Gordon’ from the ‘Pierrot’ scenario. Well, it was a free performance, so it didn’t matter. Moreover, this might be a more effective method.

‘…Good, he’s doing well as expected.’

‘He’s acting out the scenario, so I can picture it.’

Tom Brando’s ‘Pierrot’ scenario performance, chosen as a free performance, gave the judges, including director Ahn Ga-bok, the feeling of being on an actual film set. Since his acting was also top-notch, the impact was doubled, and it satisfied the judges’ fundamental curiosity.

An unexpectedly aggressive choice.

By showing the scenario performance first among the gathered candidate actors, he solidified his position.

Moreover.

‘He chose a cut that will be the core.’

The scene Tom Brando chose was a scene of high importance in the ‘Pierrot’ scenario. So, it was bound to be more memorable. His performance continued for about 10 minutes. No one spoke during that time. The ‘Columbia Studios’ executives in the audience had very satisfied faces, and the Hollywood actors secretly wore expressions of crisis.

The judges were busy writing something while looking at the monitors.

That’s how Tom Brando’s performance ended.

‘I’ll stop here.’

He quickly shed the persona of ‘Henry Gordon.’ In terms of speed, Woo-jin was slightly ahead, but they even felt similar. It was natural since he had over 20 years of experience. Tom Brando, who had been talking with the judges for a while, went off the stage. There wasn’t much evaluation in the conversation just before. This wasn’t a place to evaluate the actors, but rather a place to decide which actor would be a better fit for ‘Henry Gordon.’

Anyway, the level of the audition rose sharply after the first actor’s turn.

‘Next, Jack Gable.’

The second Hollywood top actor was called. Jack Gable, who looked somewhat frail but had a sharp jawline. An actor with an atmospheric mask [a face that conveys a lot of emotion]. He was also one of the top actors in Hollywood.

Jack Gable also went on stage and showed a relaxed performance.

He unfolded a half-crazed appearance.

‘Heh! Hehehe. Uh-uh- Huh!’

Was he in a mental hospital? Crawling on the stage floor or suddenly shouting, Jack Gable was no different from a truly insane person. It was realistic and vivid. And in his deranged appearance.

‘Let go! Let go of me!’

‘Henry Gordon’ was desperate. It was because he copied his habits. Jack Gable easily implemented the subtle things that ‘Henry Gordon’ had in the scenario, besides his hunched back and shoulders, his way of speaking, and his eyes.

His acting level was also above that of a veteran.

It was a different flavor from the previous Tom Brando, but he still showed a strong presence. Director Ahn Ga-bok looked back and forth between him in the monitor and Jack Gable on the stage and felt it.

‘I see, he’s creating and showing the future of ‘Henry Gordon’ now.’

He was showing the end of ‘Henry Gordon’ that he had imagined and created himself, which was not expressed in the scenario, as a free performance. It was like, both Tom Brando before and Jack Gable this time were beyond imagination. Director Ahn Ga-bok was a little confused.

‘I was prepared, but it’s a headache since the levels are all so high.’

Who should he choose among these monsters? Even in Jack Gable’s turn, the eight executives of ‘Columbia Studios’ nodded in satisfaction. The 20 or so key staff members of ‘Pierrot’ also admired quietly. The actors’ expressions were subtle. They couldn’t be happy that their competitors were doing well.

But there was one person.

‘…’

The only actor in this hall who had no change in expression. It was Kang Woo-jin. Woo-jin had been unwavering in his poker face from the start of the audition until now. He was just watching the other actors’ performances with a firm face.

Then.

‘Thank you for your hard work.’

Jack Gable’s turn was over. He also had a brief conversation with the judges and then went off the stage. Jack Gable had a smile on his lips, as if he thought he had succeeded himself.

Then.

‘Next—’

The female producer among the judges, who picked up the next actor’s profile, turned her gaze to the audience.

‘Kang Woo-jin.’

Kang Woo-jin was called for the third turn. Soon, the eyes of the Hollywood actors changed. Chris Hartnett and a few other actors turned to look at Woo-jin’s face as he sat. The team members of the Hollywood actors, the dozen or so key staff members of ‘Pierrot,’ the executives of ‘Columbia Studios’ in the front row, and the judges on stage.

Everyone in the hall, over 50 people, stared at Kang Woo-jin.

He was so hot and the least verified among the actors. He was also the actor who aroused the most intense curiosity.

Choi Sung-gun, with his ponytail, let out a long breath.

‘Hoo—I’m going crazy, Woo-jin. Do well.’

He made a motion as if his heart was about to explode. On the contrary, Kang Woo-jin was full of composure.

‘I’ll be back.’

Perhaps because he was so calm, he even looked cynical. Kang Woo-jin, wearing a red jacket and pants, a yellow vest, and worn brown shoes, stood up leisurely.

-Swish.

It was the moment when his first step in the Hollywood lead audition began, but there was no tension in Woo-jin’s appearance as he moved. Step by step. As Kang Woo-jin headed to the stage without hesitation, the eyes of over 50 people in the hall followed him. Each with their own gaze. Prejudices, doubts, expectations, curiosity, disregard, and more.

Choi Sung-gun, who had tied his ponytail tightly again, swallowed hard.

‘Ugh—damn it. My heart is going to explode. Woo-jin will do well on his own, but why am I so nervous?’

He had never been given a hint from Woo-jin about how he would audition. But as always, Choi Sung-gun entrusted everything to Kang Woo-jin.

At that moment, Kang Woo-jin, with a nonchalant face, stepped onto the stage where several cameras were placed.

Soon, Woo-jin was displayed on the monitors in the judges’ seats, and director Ahn Ga-bok let out a tense breath without showing it.

‘What kind of appearance will you show this time?’

It wasn’t just him. The general producer sitting next to director Ahn Ga-bok also.

‘Let’s see what kind of performance this Korean actor, who has shaken Hollywood in various ways, has prepared?’

The caddy [a person who assists an actor], the two executives, the actors in the audience, and dozens of other people. They were all muttering similar words to director Ahn Ga-bok in their minds.

‘Show me what you’ve got.’

But it wouldn’t be easy, that was implied in their hearts. The performances of the two previous Hollywood actors were so great. Anyway, as soon as Kang Woo-jin went on stage, as soon as his appearance was displayed on the monitor, the general producer was about to open her mouth.

But.

‘Huh?’

Her words were cut off. The reason was simple.

-Swish.

Woo-jin showed an unexpected action. All the previous Hollywood actors had stood in the center when they went on stage. The place where all the cameras were focused. But now, Woo-jin brushed past the center of the stage as if he didn’t care about that. Then, as soon as he reached a single sofa in a slightly secluded area, he sat down with a thud.

It was ‘no backing down’ without prior notice.

Thanks to that, the foreign staff attached to the cameras quickly turned the cameras. Kang Woo-jin, who sat down on the single sofa as he pleased, and the cameras filming him from all sides. The picture had changed. Until now, it was a structure where the actor stood to be filmed by the cameras, but now it was a picture where all the cameras were filming only Kang Woo-jin. It felt like the audition had turned into a one-person talk show.

At that sight, director Ahn Ga-bok narrowed his brows slightly for a moment.

‘…Did he intend this?’

On the contrary, the general producer, including the Hollywood actors, and over 50 foreigners had faces that said they didn’t know what was going on. Half of them blinked their eyes.

It was that moment.

‘Agh—’

Woo-jin, who was receiving the attention of the cameras and everyone in the hall like a main character, while crossing his legs.

‘Living with a mask is damn hard.’

He began to speak fluent English. What stood out here was.

‘From now on, shall I talk as the real me? Wow, how long has it been since I showed my real self in front of people?’

It didn’t feel like acting at all.

‘I actually lived with a mask. For about a few years. I hid my real self, but people misunderstood me as they pleased, you know?’

Even the concept he had always worn was stripped away.

‘That includes you guys here and even the representative who came with me back there. I can just say everyone, right? I’m confessing now, the situation just went as it pleased, and somehow I ended up here. I feel so relieved now—huh? But why do you all have that expression? You don’t believe me? I’m telling you, that was a mask, and this is the real me?’

The minds of all the big shots in the hall went blank.