I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 429

Kang Woo-jin, who had appeared, stood next to Choi Sung-gun. Naturally, the gazes of Director Ahn Ga-bok, producer Nora Foster, and the foreign key staff were fixed on him. However, there was no change in Woo-jin’s expression, and he spoke again in a cynical tone. Kang Woo-jin’s eyes were fixed on Nora.

‘It might be seen as a spoiler, but it’s not like we’re showing everything about the ‘Joker.’ Of course, if it’s directed poorly, expectations could wane, but I don’t think that’ll happen. Given the stage, I believe expectations will only amplify.’

‘……’

Nora, who had been quietly watching Kang Woo-jin and was clearly impressed, opened her mouth.

‘But Woo-jin, when you do something, there are always consequences. If there’s a possibility of failure, whether high or low, there’s no reason to deviate from the norm. If you do nothing, nothing happens.’

In other words, there was no need to stir up trouble.

‘If you go to the ‘Emmys’ as the ‘Joker’, it will definitely be a big issue, but it’s hard to predict what will happen after that. As a producer, I’m against it.’

Nora expressed her strong opinion. However, Kang Woo-jin didn’t back down either.

‘She’s coming on strong? Honestly, I was just going to give up if she opposed, but now I feel a bit of defiance. I’m good at arguments.’

Almighty Kang Woo-jin answered from the perspective of an audience member, which he had been for most of his life, not as an actor.

‘What you’re saying isn’t wrong. However, ‘Pierrot: The Birth of a Villain’ is being too secretive. They announced the ‘Cinematic Universe’ [a series of interconnected films], but there’s no information, and ‘Pierrot: The Birth of a Villain’ is also just the beginning, but there’s nothing after the title and the actor reveal.’

‘……’

‘Nora. The reason why ‘The Beast and the Beauty’ became a bigger topic than ‘Pierrot: The Birth of a Villain’ is because the public had information to imagine.’

Director Ahn Ga-bok slowly nodded, and Woo-jin continued.

‘Simply put, there are many topics to talk about, but there are few for ‘Pierrot: The Birth of a Villain’.’

Once the floodgates were opened, Kang Woo-jin was just spewing things out. In fact, at first, it was all just for fun. While speaking, Woo-jin even praised himself. ‘Good job, Kang Woo-jin.’

At this point, Director Ahn Ga-bok, who had been listening the whole time, interjected.

‘Hiding things is old-fashioned. If we exclude the makeup and just show the costume and hair, it’s not a spoiler but more like a teaser, so it should be appropriate.’

Nora, who sighed softly, seemed a little less forceful.

‘……This is not a matter to be taken lightly. It’s even harder to make a decision here. The film company itself has to give permission for it to be possible.’

Director Ahn Ga-bok spoke again.

‘I know that, so let’s talk to the film company. Whether Columbia refuses or allows it, that’s the cleanest way to do it.’

‘Haa… okay.’

‘But the higher-ups at the film company will also predict this promotional power.’

‘I don’t know. They’ve bet their lives on the ‘Cinematic Universe’, so I don’t think they’ll gamble. Anyway, this is impossible unless ‘Columbia Studios’ allows it.’

Nora muttered, took out her phone, and left her seat for a moment. Director Ahn Ga-bok, watching her, turned his head to Kang Woo-jin.

‘You’re trying to reveal the core content of ‘Pierrot: The Birth of a Villain’ along with the ‘Joker’ costume at the ‘Emmys’? The appearance of ‘Henry Gordon’ and the ‘Joker’. You want to present that by becoming a teaser yourself.’

‘……’

Inside Kang Woo-jin, who had been silently quiet, was full of question marks.

‘What core content? What is this old geezer talking about?’

At that moment, Nora, who had been on the phone, returned.

‘The film company wants to have a meeting tomorrow morning, please attend, Director.’

Soon, she made eye contact with Kang Woo-jin.

‘I don’t know how long it will take, but I’ll contact you when a conclusion is reached.’

The next day, New York.

A fairly large recording set inside a major broadcasting company building. On the stage where several foreign staff and cameras were focused, there was a desk and a single sofa. On the sofa, Kang Woo-jin, dressed in a suit, was sitting with his legs crossed, looking indifferent.

The reason he was here was simple.

He had appeared on ‘The Jamie Show’, which was the number one of the three major talk shows in the past, and today he was recording another talk show program with similar popularity to ‘The Jamie Show’. The name was ‘The Tonight Show’. This talk show also boasted a long history and high viewership.

In fact, ‘The Tonight Show’ wasn’t the only offer Woo-jin had received.

All the talk shows in the United States were sending love calls. Kang Woo-jin was the hottest man in Hollywood right now. However, due to Woo-jin’s busy filming schedule, he couldn’t accept all the offers, and he was only appearing on programs that barely fit his schedule.

‘The Tonight Show’ also had a similar format to ‘The Jamie Show’, but there was a corner in the middle where they played entertainment games.

Anyway, Kang Woo-jin’s recording in a suit had already exceeded 30 minutes. It was mostly in the form of an interview. The other person was a bespectacled MC who was famous throughout the United States.

‘Haha, I see. Then, let’s talk about ‘The Beast and the Beauty’ to this extent – shall we move on to the ‘Primetime Emmys’?’

‘Yes.’

‘Oh oh? Are you perhaps a little bored? Your expression looks serious.’

‘Well, honestly, yeah.’ Kang Woo-jin nodded inwardly.

‘The ‘Jamie Show’ was like this too, not very fun. Talk shows just aren’t my thing.’

Outwardly, he was calm and composed. The coldness was a bonus.

‘That’s just how I usually am.’

‘Hmm – if it’s not fun, please tell me, I’ll stop immediately.’

‘Yes. It’s not fun.’

Kang Woo-jin slowly got up from the sofa. The bespectacled MC, slightly flustered, hurriedly grabbed Woo-jin.

‘Wait, just a moment! Just like that??!’

At his excited English, Woo-jin sat back down on the sofa with an indifferent face.

‘I’m joking.’

‘……Why do you joke so seriously?’

‘I tend to be like that with everything.’

The production staff, who had been slightly agitated, breathed a sigh of relief, and the bespectacled MC asked with a hollow laugh.

‘You surprised me, you have an unexpected side. First of all, I have to congratulate you. Congratulations on being nominated for the ‘Emmys’ Best Actor Award.’

‘Thank you.’

‘‘The Benevolent Evil’ was also nominated in 10 categories at the ‘Emmys’, right? That’s amazing.’

‘……’

‘You also won the Best Actor Award at Cannes [a prestigious film festival]. I heard you swept the Korean film festivals as well. And then, right away, the ‘Emmys’ Best Actor Award, no matter how you look at it, these are things that you absolutely can’t achieve in three years – your life is literally a movie.’

For a moment, the MC looked at the camera and recited the crazy moves of ‘The Benevolent Evil’ and the issues related to the ‘Emmys’. Then, he turned his gaze back to Kang Woo-jin.

‘Do you know the other actors nominated for the ‘Emmys’ Drama Best Actor Award?’

Of course, Woo-jin knew. As soon as he heard he was nominated for Best Actor, he had checked right away.

‘I only knew their faces, but everyone around me was going crazy. They said the competing nominees are amazing Hollywood actors.’

Woo-jin, who was briefly reminiscing about the past, silently nodded.

‘Yes, of course.’

‘What do you think of them?’

‘I think they are amazing people.’

‘That’s right, they are world-famous actors in movies and dramas. They all have more than 10 to 15 years of experience. Among them, only you have three years of experience.’

The bespectacled MC kept emphasizing the three years, as if he was amazed by Kang Woo-jin’s three years of experience. Then, he changed the topic and asked something else.

‘I want to ask you honestly, even though it hasn’t started yet. What will be the result of the ‘Emmys’ Best Actor Award? Do you think you can win in the competition with the other nominees?’

‘……’

It could be a very sensitive question, but famous American talk shows were known for throwing out these kinds of questions without much thought. You could either pass it off with wit or take it seriously. Kang Woo-jin, who had a strong concept, pondered for a moment. Of course, inwardly.

‘Is this bespectacled guy trying to provoke me? Hmm – I could just ignore it or say I don’t know, but that seems a bit weak, right?’

Woo-jin already had a strong image of an arrogant monster actor in Hollywood. He was also known for being ‘unyielding’ and ‘my way’. In other words, his concept was spreading in Hollywood and worldwide. So, he had to come up with a somewhat interesting answer.

‘Something that maintains a moderate weight while mixing in ambition. Is it worth a try? Go straight ahead, whether it’s a hit or a miss? Is there a way to say something like that concisely and coolly?’

He wanted a subtle charisma. If he thought about it for a long time, he might come up with a good answer, but he didn’t have that much time. Woo-jin, who had been racking his brain, decided on something that had roughly come to mind. There was also a slight hint of annoyance.

-Swoosh.

Kang Woo-jin, who had changed the direction of his crossed legs, answered the MC in a low tone of English.

‘I have no intention of looking around.’

Okay, that was enough to include ambition and greed. At the same time, it also implied that he would only focus on himself. Silent Kang Woo-jin was satisfied.

‘I answered a bit hastily, but it seems pretty good?’

About two hours later.

The recording of ‘The Tonight Show’ was over. Kang Woo-jin, who had finished greeting the MC and the foreign production staff, left the recording studio. Then, the bespectacled MC muttered, sticking to the place where the production staff had gathered. His gaze was towards the door where Woo-jin had just left.

‘That actor, I’ve heard rumors about him, but he has a considerable arrogance and force at the same time.’

‘I know. I was surprised by how relaxed he was. I guess that’s why he’s turning Hollywood upside down right now.’

‘Still, isn’t he a bit too confident?’

The MC, with his arms crossed, recalled one of Kang Woo-jin’s answers.

‘Hmm, ‘I have no intention of looking around’ means -‘

He uttered a meaning that was completely different from Kang Woo-jin’s true intention.

‘He doesn’t care about the other nominees at all, right?’

A few days later, on the morning of the 28th, at Kang Woo-jin’s LA home.

Kang Woo-jin woke up groggily from his bed in his second-floor room. With his hair disheveled, he yawned widely in his pure, concept-free state. He checked the time.

‘Wasn’t the ‘Pierrot: The Birth of a Villain’ standby around lunchtime today? And I have a YouTube shoot in the morning.’

Woo-jin, who was thinking about his schedule for today, got out of bed. He stretched out in his pure, concept-free state.

‘Augh!!’

Soon, Woo-jin went down to the kitchen on the first floor and leisurely made coffee. He walked towards the sofa in the living room. Woo-jin, who had closed the curtains of the large window, took a sip of the coffee in his hand and, at the same time, felt that his appearance was unfamiliar.

‘It’s so awkward, and it’s already been three weeks -‘

Kang Woo-jin, who had been admiring the scenery of LA outside the window for a moment, sat down on the nearby sofa. Then, he took out his phone from his pocket. It was to check various things before going to work.

-Swoosh.

The first thing he saw was the pile of messages. After checking DMs, messages, and emails, he entered KakaoTalk [a popular messaging app]. KakaoTalk was also piled up.

Among them.

‘Let’s see -‘

He touched Choi Sung-gun’s KakaoTalk first, whom he would be meeting soon. There were a total of three messages. For some reason, the content included a news article link. Kang Woo-jin immediately clicked on the article. What was displayed on the screen was an article from a famous Hollywood media outlet.

At the same time.

‘This is crazy.’

He narrowed his brows. The reason was simple.

『LA TIME/Kang Woo-jin, who appeared on ‘The Tonight Show’, declares, “I don’t care about the other ‘Emmys’ nominees”』

-[Kang Woo-jin appeared as a guest on ‘The Tonight Show’. He, who is the hottest man in Hollywood right now, expressed that he doesn’t care about the other ‘Emmys’ nominees in response to a question that included the Emmys……]

Kang Woo-jin, who was reading the article carefully, muttered sincerely. There was a mix of bewilderment.

‘Oh, come on – what the hell is all this nonsense?’

At that moment.

-Vvvv, vvvv.

The phone in his hand vibrated loudly. It was a call. The person displayed on the phone screen was Director Ahn Ga-bok. It was quite early, so Woo-jin tilted his head, but he composed himself. There was a slight excitement, but he had to calm down. Then, he put the phone to his ear and opened his mouth. A low-toned voice came out.

‘Yes, Director.’

Director Ahn Ga-bok answered over the phone with a tone mixed with laughter.

‘I saw the article, you’ve done it again.’

‘…Not really.’

‘Haha, the reporters here must like you. You’re creating issues like this every other day.’

‘……’

Woo-jin was silent both outwardly and inwardly. In that gap, Director Ahn Ga-bok changed the subject.

‘Columbia Studios just made a decision, about your ‘Emmys’ costume.’

No, it was a confirmation.

‘We’ll be able to see the ‘Joker’ walk the ‘Emmys’ red carpet.’