I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 394

Chris Hartnett was a superstar in Hollywood, on par with Miley Cara. In terms of recognition, impact, and influence, he was a top name. Yet, this Chris humbled himself endlessly, thinking of the Korean actor Kang Woo-jin.

“It’s a shame about all the preparation, but—well, when I thought about performing a ‘child’s play’ in front of the ‘real thing,’ my mind went blank.”

He was treating his own acting as ‘child’s play.’ No, in fact, Chris now thought of all the Hollywood actors of similar caliber who had come to that audition as being the same as him.

‘Whether I performed before or after Kang Woo-jin, the result wouldn’t be different. To that man, it would have looked like children playing in the dirt.’

That arrogant monster would just scoff. Chris, who could have shown his acting because he had prepared quite a bit, couldn’t move his body after seeing Kang Woo-jin’s ‘Joker.’

It was his last bit of pride, perhaps?

He was usually a man with high self-esteem and pride. A personality that would turn jealousy into poison and charge head-on. That’s why he had expectations even in the small conflict with Woo-jin. About what kind of fight he could have with him. But no matter what, a competition with the ‘real thing’ was impossible.

‘I couldn’t bring myself to perform a child’s play.’

They say giving up is also a form of courage? Chris, having witnessed Kang Woo-jin’s immense acting, eliminated the possibility. Because hope, like ‘If I just try a little more, a little more, I can do it,’ sometimes withers people away. Anyway, Chris looked out the window and let out a long sigh.

“Giving up doesn’t feel so bad.”

He gave a slightly bitter smile. Then, the team members around him looked at him cautiously, and Chris, noticing this, shrugged his shoulders and gestured that he was okay.

“I’m fine, and I mean it when I say I don’t feel bad. Today’s events will also work to my advantage someday.”

To Chris, who was equipped with a positive mindset, his chubby manager said,

“If you say so—okay. You’ve worked hard. Let’s forget about it quickly and look for other projects.”

Chris turned his gaze back to the window.

“How was Kang Woo-jin’s acting, or rather, his performance, in your opinion?”

“…Honestly, I still can’t believe it. He won the Best Actor award at Cannes [a prestigious film festival], but I didn’t expect it to be that level—I’m embarrassed by how I looked down on him when you had that trouble with him before.”

“Haha, tell him to apologize when you meet Kang Woo-jin next time.”

“I didn’t say it directly! Okay, we need to think about the next step. Look through the other scripts we’ve received again, and I’ll prepare for meetings for the projects we’ve put on hold.”

Chris turned his head to the manager who was taking out his phone.

“I gave up on ‘Henry Gordon,’ but I haven’t given up on ‘Pierrot.'”

“Huh?”

“Don’t you want to see it? The ‘Joker’ with everything perfectly in place. I’m dying to know.”

“You… don’t tell me.”

Chris, with a deeper smile, crossed his legs.

“Contact ‘Columbia Studios’ again. Tell them I want a different role besides ‘Henry Gordon.'”

“A different role? ‘Pierrot,’ other than ‘Henry Gordon,’ would at best be a supporting role?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

For the record, Chris had never stepped down from a leading role since reaching the top in Hollywood. So, as a manager, it was a decision that made his jaw drop. But Chris Hartnett’s expression now was quite refreshed. Of course, he was thinking of Kang Woo-jin.

“I want to join ‘Pierrot’ no matter what role it is. Even if it’s just a minor role.”

Meanwhile, at the ‘Pierrot’ audition site.

Among the vans that were leaving the huge ‘Columbia Studios’ one after another, Kang Woo-jin could be found in a van that was moving almost last. He was the last because he had finished the ‘Pierrot’ audition and screen test, exchanged greetings with the officials, and had a short conversation with Director Ahn Ga-bok.

“…”

Woo-jin, with a deep indifference, was checking his phone. He had a lot of accumulated messages. Even so, he was replaying the audition he had just had in his mind. He had done something quite crazy, so his excitement hadn’t subsided.

‘It was pretty fun, wasn’t it?’

There were no regrets. He had done everything he could.

‘My presence was the most prominent, and the CEO and Director Ahn also said so. I might have overdone it a bit—but who cares.’

Although Woo-jin had crushed the audition, his acceptance wasn’t 100% certain. Hollywood always has twists. Moreover, Kang Woo-jin had heard things here and there. That Hollywood doesn’t just pick actors based on their acting, but also on their recognition and surrounding rumors. They thoroughly analyze everything from head to toe before making a decision.

‘There’s also the fact that Korean actors have no foothold in Hollywood. I don’t know, whatever. If I fail, I can do something else.’

It would be a shame to miss out on the EX+ level of ‘Pierrot,’ but even if he didn’t get accepted, Kang Woo-jin wouldn’t be too concerned. There was also ‘The Beast and the Beauty,’ and since Hollywood was so vast, there would be plenty of projects. Kang Woo-jin easily brushed off the slight anxiety that was rising. Meanwhile, his team members, except for his stylist team, were making a fuss.

“Oppa? How did it go??!”

“Yeah, yeah! Right! You haven’t said anything, so I’m dying of curiosity! Did your audition go well?”

“Of course! Oppa! You completely crushed those Hollywood actors, right??”

“Wow—but how was Chris Hartnett in person?”

“I saw Tom Brando earlier? He was seriously insane.”

It was natural since no one except Choi Sung-gun had seen Woo-jin’s audition. Soon, Choi Sung-gun, who was sitting in the passenger seat and looking at Kang Woo-jin’s expression in the rearview mirror, turned his body back.

“Woo-jin.”

The force of Kang Woo-jin that he had witnessed was enormous. That was Choi Sung-gun’s thought. He had devoured all those so-called Hollywood actors. Chris Hartnett had even declared his surrender. So, Woo-jin’s chances were high. His heart was pounding. After three years, Woo-jin’s entry into a leading role in Hollywood was faintly beginning to appear.

Then, Choi Sung-gun asked Kang Woo-jin.

“What do you think?”

What do I think? What would I know? Woo-jin didn’t know either. He had also considered the possibility of failing. But first, he acted tough.

“You should start thinking about my price.”

Choi Sung-gun chuckled.

“Hehe, I knew you’d say that.”

The price he had set for Kang Woo-jin was

“Don’t worry, that part is already settled.”

It would be on a different level than before.

Later.

Around lunchtime in LA, it was early morning in Korea. In Korea, where the ‘Evil Benefactor’ issue, which had recently confirmed its launch date, was full of buzz.

『’Evil Benefactor’ on the verge of launch, teasers and trailers surpass millions of views… Overseas public interest explodes』

Slowly, news of Kang Woo-jin began to spread.

『[Star Talk] Kang Woo-jin leaves LA, ‘Pierrot’ audition and screen test seem to be over, what’s the result?』

『’Pierrot’ audition ends… What kind of fight did Kang Woo-jin have with Hollywood superstars other than Chris Hartnett?』

Because the domestic media had received information that the ‘Pierrot’ audition had ended.

Therefore, the media as well as public opinion gradually stirred. What was the audition like, what kind of competition did Kang Woo-jin have with the renowned Hollywood actors, when would the results come out, and so on. Numerous question marks rapidly spread from social media to communities.

Of course, rumors and nonsense also began to creep out.

-I heard from an audition official that Kang Woo-jin’s audition was a total mess hahaha. FYI, I work at a production company in New York.

As it was a sensational topic, the rumors spread like wildfire. What was interesting was that these rumors were also prevalent in Hollywood. To be clear, the rumors spreading in Hollywood were quite credible.

“I heard there was an actor who overwhelmed the judges at this ‘Pierrot’ audition?”

“Oh—really? Well, the lineup of actor candidates was impressive. But what happened to Kang Woo-jin?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t heard about that. But if it’s quiet, it probably means he didn’t stand out much.”

The reason was simple.

Because the people like the key staff who attended the ‘Pierrot’ audition and screen test were the starting point of the rumors. The details were top secret, so there were no facts, but still, rumors about the audition spread vaguely in LA.

“I heard there was an actor who gave up on the audition.”

“Gave up? On the audition? Was he not in good condition? But who gave up?”

“I don’t know the name, but my guess is Kang Woo-jin.”

“Hmm. The possibility is high, it’s a large-scale movie that would be a burden for him, and it’s his first time in Hollywood.”

About two days passed like that.

Friday, the 28th.

As soon as morning broke, the large conference room of ‘Columbia Studios,’ one of Hollywood’s ‘Big Five’ [major film studios], was bustling. The U-shaped table, which could easily accommodate up to 50 people, was full. The faces of the foreigners sitting in their seats were quite familiar.

It was understandable.

All the foreigners gathered here were the production staff of ‘Pierrot’ and executives of ‘Columbia Studios.’ People who had attended the audition were also mixed in. Of course, Director Ahn Ga-bok and the general producer as well.

The atmosphere was a bit heavy.

Because everyone, over 50 people, was watching the video being displayed on the screen in front. The screen was playing the footage of the ‘Pierrot’ audition and screen test. In other words, they were gathered to gauge the results after the audition ended.

Several Hollywood actors appeared on the screen.

Clearly, they were showing high-level acting. They had seen it at the audition site, but it was still good acting even when watching it again. At least, the people who had attended the audition thought so. Normally, it would be the time to talk a lot while watching their good acting. Because they had to have a discussion to decide on the actor.

But everyone had an unimpressed expression and didn’t open their mouths.

“…”

“…”

“…”

They were just staring blankly at the audition video on the screen.

Around this time.

-[“Next—Kang Woo-jin.”]

After the female producer’s voice rang out, Kang Woo-jin, wearing a red jacket, appeared on the screen.

In an instant, the atmosphere in the conference room changed drastically.

Faint exclamations and admiration could be heard here and there, mixed with various noises. Some were covering their mouths in surprise, and others were laughing in bewilderment. Soon, Kang Woo-jin, grabbing the bald executive’s head, was displayed on the screen. At this, the bald executive among the 50 people rubbed his head. It was because the shocking emotions from the audition a few days ago came to mind.

‘I can still see it clearly, his eyes mixed with madness and violence.’

This chaotic atmosphere intensified as time went on, and as soon as Kang Woo-jin’s turn on the screen ended, it suddenly cooled down. Well, there was a slight buzz when Chris Hartnett’s statement of giving up was heard.

About five minutes passed like that?

The conference room, where many Hollywood bigwigs had gathered, was still silent. It was a sight that ‘Columbia Studios,’ which had produced numerous works and had countless hits, was experiencing for the first time. Not a single person expressed their opinion while watching the audition video.

It was like, everyone had faces that said, ‘Is there any point?’

In fact, everyone in this conference room was thinking similarly.

‘There’s no way opinions would be divided.’

‘Probably—everyone is thinking of the same conclusion.’

‘Has there ever been a situation like this, just two days after the audition?’

‘I was there on site, but seeing it again in the video gives me goosebumps again, there’s no point in discussing this.’

‘Honestly… I can’t even remember the other actors’ performances.’

Director Ahn Ga-bok, with a wrinkled face, looked at the expressions of the foreigners gathered in the conference room.

‘I was bewildered by the sight of a monstrous creature I had never seen before. It’s understandable, I was the same.’

It was natural since there had never been a case where an actor was decided so quickly without any discussion or conflict. Usually, in Hollywood, deciding on an actor takes quite a long time. Pre-verification, several meetings, auditions and screen tests, more meetings, and then the contract. It was a process that took at least a few weeks, and sometimes up to a month.

If an actor was decided in this state, it could be considered a record-breaking event.

At this moment.

“Hmm-”

The female producer, who had her arms crossed and was watching the screen where the video had stopped, and who generally had a strong impression, opened her mouth for the first time.

“It’s an audition video, but it turned into a one-person talk show, with the ‘Joker’ running wild.”

A few days later, on January 30th, at Kang Woo-jin’s house in LA.

Kang Woo-jin, who was staying in LA for this schedule, woke up in bed in his second-floor room.

“…Augh!”

He immediately stretched. He hadn’t gotten used to the big house in LA yet, but it seemed like he had slept well. Woo-jin, with his hair disheveled, yawned and swept his hands across the bed, as if flapping his wings.

-Thud.

Something caught on his left hand. His phone. Yawning again, Kang Woo-jin turned on his phone. When he checked the time, it was past 9 AM. One good thing about being in LA was that he hadn’t had to wake up at dawn.

At this moment.

-Vroom, vroom.

The phone screen suddenly changed. He was getting a call. When he checked the caller, it was Director Ahn Ga-bok. What was it? It was after the ‘Pierrot’ audition. This call was obviously related to that. Soon, Woo-jin cleared his throat and adjusted his voice, then put the phone to his ear with a deep tone.

“Yes, Director. Hello.”

Director Ahn Ga-bok’s old voice was heard over the phone. For some reason, he sounded slightly excited.

“Um, sorry to bother you from the morning. But I thought I should let you know right away.”

“It’s okay, please tell me.”

Then, Director Ahn Ga-bok declared through the phone.

“The ‘Joker’ of ‘Pierrot’ is yours.”