I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 76

The water truck on the set of ‘Drug Dealer’ was spraying rain endlessly, as if it were broken.

-Pitter-patter-patter!

Apart from the sound of the heavy rain, not a single word was spoken on set. It was strange. It wasn’t that the sounds were drowned out by the fierce downpour. There were easily over 60 people gathered, yet not a single one opened their mouth.

“……”

“……”

The supporting actor, who had barely managed to ask a question a moment ago, looked around. Soon, he realized.

Ah—everyone is in no state to answer my question.

The main and supporting actors, the staff, the production and distribution company representatives, and so on. Everyone was silent, just staring at the same spot. It was the filming zone where the rookie actor, a stand-in or a newcomer, had just briefly swept through.

Their expressions were all similar.

Dilated pupils, slightly open mouths, furrowed brows, and slightly flared nostrils. They were the kind of expressions one would make after being hit hard in the back of the head. In a way, they had been hit hard in the back of the head.

After a few dozen seconds.

-Swish.

The first to move among the frozen people were the actors.

‘…He’s good. No, but how can he be so good? He only glanced at the side script for a moment, right? How can he act like he’s been memorizing it for over a month?’

The actors’ frozen thoughts began to turn, and they began to retrace what they had just seen.

‘First scene after arriving on set. And it’s a revised scene. Let’s say no NG [no-good, meaning no mistakes] is fine, but he went in without any prior emotional context, right? Why is it so intense?’

They saw it with their own eyes, but it didn’t quite sink in. It felt like something was stuck in their chest.

‘Honestly… I thought he’d have some of Park Dae-ri’s vibe since he just debuted. But I can’t find it except for Lee Sang-man. Is it possible to already separate the acting persona? Does that mean he did that in three weeks after receiving the script?’

There were many veteran actors on the set of ‘Drug Dealer.’ That’s why they fell deeper into the mire. Because it was far beyond the bounds of common sense.

They couldn’t even muster admiration or exclamations.

The actors were just trying to understand the monster’s acting in their own ways. They didn’t even talk to each other.

‘He’s got the makings of a great actor, it’s questionable why he’s a stand-in. The problem is that his acting, technique, and impact don’t show any signs of being a rookie.’

The actors unconsciously felt that there would be no answer even if they asked.

On the other hand.

“……Wow.”

Unlike the silent actors, the executives of the production and distribution companies slowly began to regain their senses.

“That last scene was legendary.”

They began to murmur, stroking their chins.

“It was the revised script, right?”

“Yes, it was. It was perfect without deviating from the storyboard.”

“That’s not all, but what’s with the quality of Lee Sang-man’s role just now? Wow—that’s shocking, really.”

Since both the production and distribution companies had been troubled by the ‘Lee Sang-man’ issue, the current reversal was more intense than ever.

“Lee Sang-man’s accent, tone, expression, atmosphere, habits, it’s like he just lifted it straight from the script. That’s… how is that the form of a rookie?”

At this moment, one of the production company executives crossed his arms and solemnly muttered.

“As soon as ‘Lee Sang-man’ appears on the big screen, he’ll suck all the viewers’ attention, at that level.”

Meanwhile.

Kang Woo-jin was still standing still after passing the large camera.

“……”

Several minutes had passed since Woo-jin had looked at the eerie staircase. He was starting to wonder.

‘What is it? Did I make a mistake?’

It was too quiet. According to the storyboard, the scene was clearly over. There should have been an OK or NG. But there was no sound at all.

‘No, I didn’t make a mistake. I was nervous because there were so many people, but there’s no way the subspace was wrong. Then my acting must have been close to perfect too. I don’t know, whatever. I’ll just wait.’

Kang Woo-jin chose to wait, maintaining a poker face. It was a bit chilly due to the increased humidity, but what could he do?

‘More than that—I’m a bit worried about that supporting actor from earlier. Is his throat okay?’

As Woo-jin thought about the supporting actor who had a cigarette shoved down his throat, the middle-aged man standing right next to him was staring at Kang Woo-jin with a slightly blank look.

‘This guy is really, really crazy.’

It was the main cinematographer, Im Sang-ho. He was the one who had watched Kang Woo-jin’s acting from beginning to end, the closest to him on this set. Im Sang-ho had felt a sense of incongruity from the moment Woo-jin got out of the sedan as ‘Lee Sang-man.’

‘His acting is amazing, but more than that, he’s doing it all in one take without any adjustment time or breaks?’

Kang Woo-jin was too smooth. Even though this vast set, the staff, and the actors were all new to him, he didn’t seem to hesitate at all. It was as if he had been working on this set from the beginning.

‘Does he not feel any pressure? A rookie? Especially with the production and distribution companies all gathered here?’

Is this even possible? At least in Im Sang-ho’s past, there was no actor like this.

Im Sang-ho was a 20-year veteran cinematographer.

To Im Sang-ho, Kang Woo-jin seemed like an alien. And what about that composure? There were hundreds of eyes watching, all glaring with the intention of evaluating him, but Kang Woo-jin was completely unconcerned. He showed that crazy acting without a hint of tension.

‘No, he even looks indifferent.’

At this moment, Kang Woo-jin, with an indifferent expression, looked up at the stairs and slightly shivered. He also rubbed his arm subtly. Soon, Im Sang-ho narrowed his brows.

‘Could it be… is he getting into the emotion for the next drug injection scene? No, he’s already pulled it up. He’s picturing it in his head.’

Kang Woo-jin was grumbling inwardly, glancing at the stairs above.

‘Uh—did they turn on a fan up there? It’s freezing cold? I’m getting chills. How long do I have to wait?’

At that moment.

“……Cu, cut!!”

Finally, a shout came from outside the building through a megaphone. It was director Kim Do-hee’s signal. Thanks to that, Woo-jin turned his body indifferently and made eye contact with the cinematographer. Im Sang-ho was the first to speak.

“Are the emotions and tone for the next scene properly set?”

The solemn Kang Woo-jin tilted his head inwardly.

‘What’s this small-eyed man suddenly talking about?’

Is it some kind of sign only professionals know? Woo-jin decided not to think too deeply about it.

“Yes, roughly.”

“Haha. No wonder the staff from Hanryang are praising you so much. I’m quite close with the art director from Hanryang, so I asked about you, Woo-jin. That friend said that if he filmed with you, he’d be too busy watching. He said the character tears through the script and jumps into reality.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, but I didn’t quite believe it. I thought it was a bit of an exaggeration.”

The cinematographer paused for a moment and chuckled.

“You’re an actor who could have exaggerated tens of times more, and it wouldn’t have been a problem, Woo-jin.”

Kang Woo-jin was at a loss for words at the sudden praise. Hmm, it’s embarrassing. Director Kim Do-hee, with her messy hair, ran into the building at the perfect timing.

“Woo-jin!”

She grabbed Kang Woo-jin’s hand, accompanied by the assistant director and a few staff members. What is it? Of course, Woo-jin was startled. But he tried his best to act calm. There’s no room for carelessness in this concept.

“Why are you doing this?”

“Sh… I’m sorry. I was so excited that I almost cursed. Ha—Woo-jin, you absolutely nailed it! No, I can’t believe it even after seeing it??! How did you do it? You only looked at the side script for a few minutes, right?”

What did I do? I just went to the subspace. But I can’t say that. Woo-jin exuded a suitable amount of bravado and restraint.

“I did it according to the side script.”

“Ha… haha. The fact that you did it exactly is what’s unbelievable, you know?”

Whatever it was, director Kim Do-hee’s mood was already floating in the sky. She was sorry, but she didn’t even think about the actor Oh Joon-woo, who had been in the accident.

‘A blessing in disguise itself. No, damn it, this is the first time in my career as a director that I’ve been so mesmerized by an actor’s performance.’

She had already watched ‘Kim Ryu-jin’ and ‘Park Dae-ri’ dozens of times for research. But the ‘Lee Sang-man’ that Woo-jin showed now didn’t contain even 1mg of their vibe.

It was Lee Sang-man himself, as director Kim Do-hee had imagined.

It wasn’t something common or seen before. It was a new and innovative yet familiar Lee Sang-man. Director Kim Do-hee was genuinely moved as she looked at the composed Kang Woo-jin. It was a moving moment born from a misunderstanding.

‘A genius who works hard? He must have analyzed my script and Lee Sang-man to death, even with his busy schedule. There’s no way he could have achieved this level of detail otherwise, right?’

Anyway, as the director, there was only one way she could repay him.

“Woo-jin, let’s do the same scene again. The last one was according to the storyboard, and this time, let’s remove some of the lighting and focus the camera more on the front.”

“Understood.”

She would capture this composed monster’s ‘Lee Sang-man,’ which he had desperately brought to life, even more realistically. Soon, director Kim Do-hee ran outside with a battle-ready look in her eyes and shouted towards the water truck.

“Let’s make the rain several times stronger!”

At the same time, the cinematographer also patted Kang Woo-jin’s shoulder and vowed.

“If the picture is lacking, it’s my fault, so I’ll have to work my ass off. I can’t be embarrassed, leave it to me. I’ll make it look amazing.”

Somehow, the production team’s morale was rising arbitrarily.

“I’m in your care.”

They said they would film it well, so there was no reason to stop them. Ah—but if their passion increases, will I get off work late? Kang Woo-jin, feeling a strange emotion, came out of the building. The supporting actors and staff were already working hard to prepare for the reshoot.

Among them, the supporting and extra actors were whispering as they looked at Woo-jin.

“His acting is amazing, that guy.”

“I saw him right in front of me, and his eyes were just—honestly, Oh Joon-woo wasn’t at that level.”

“Shhh, the staff will hear you. But Kang Woo-jin isn’t hot for nothing, his acting is really something.”

Regardless, Kang Woo-jin approached the supporting actor who was being ‘concreted’ [covered in makeup to look like he’s been in a fight].

“Excuse me—”

The supporting actor was soaked, and the makeup of his bloody face was clearly fixed. He flinched as soon as he saw Woo-jin.

“Yes?!”

“Are you okay?”

“What—what do you mean?”

“I was wondering if you were uncomfortable in your throat or anything.”

“Ah… ah! No! I’m fine!”

“I’m sorry, I’ll try to go as fast as possible without any NGs.”

“Yes, yes! You don’t have to worry about it.”

“No, I have to worry about it.”

Kang Woo-jin, who had muttered softly, gave a small bow to the supporting actors and walked towards the parked car. Then, the supporting actors, who had been staring blankly at Woo-jin’s back, said.

“I thought he’d be a bit cold, but isn’t he just so cool?”

One by one, they began to fall for Kang Woo-jin.

“Not only is his acting great, but his personality is top-notch, that actor.”

Several tens of minutes later.

The preparations for the reshoot of the same scene were complete. All the setups in the filming zone were no different from the first time. Even.

“What do you think? It’s the second time, so will something be different?”

“If something different is added to that quality, it’ll be crazy.”

“Will it go without an NG this time too?”

“Who knows.”

The 60-plus onlookers were also the same. Not a single person had left their spot. The actors were closer to the set than before, and the staff were huddled around director Kim Do-hee. The executives of the production and distribution companies were the same. The cohesion of the circular ring surrounding the filming zone was extremely tight.

Choi Sung-gun, with his ponytail, who was watching the scene from a few steps away, gave a dumbfounded laugh.

“Is this a zoo or what?”

Han Ye-jeong, holding a styling book in her hand, chimed in.

“It’s understandable. It wasn’t given the day before, but Woo-jin oppa [an honorific term for older brother or male friend] didn’t even change his expression when he received it on set. I understand why those veteran actors are mesmerized, really.”

However, Choi Sung-gun, with his arms crossed, was focused on something else.

“Everyone seems to be obsessed with that—but I’m dumbfounded by the perfection of ‘Lee Sang-man.’ In that busy schedule, how… when did he create that?”

A level of perfection that no one on set could complain about, nor should they.

“What’s more, that guy Woo-jin isn’t just thinking about ‘Drug Dealer’ right now.”

“Ah.”

Choi Sung-gun recalled Kang Woo-jin after the filming of Hanryang had ended in the past.

“At that time, he was already embodying the character for ‘Island of the Lost,’ and including that and the recent Japanese one. He’s handling at least five projects right now.”

This was a fact that only Kang Woo-jin’s team knew.

“If they knew this, those dozens of people over there would be shocked, for sure.”

It was at this moment that director Kim Do-hee raised the megaphone.

“Water truck!! Okay, the camera is rolling!! Action!”

The reshoot had begun. Soon, Kang Woo-jin got out of the sedan. No, to be precise, it was Lee Sang-man. Lee Sang-man was in no way inferior to the first Lee Sang-man.

“Come closer. You’ll get all wet.”

But he wasn’t the same either. He was even clearer and more vivid. The languid yet firm atmosphere, the detailed movements like scratching his arm, and the lingering gaze captured by the camera.

Lee Sang-man, who had stepped on the first Lee Sang-man, was born with a deeper intensity.

“Hyung-nim [an honorific term for older brother or male friend]! Please save me! I! I think I was crazy! Please! Hyung-nim!”

The repeated readings (experiences) and reshoots were just a process of breathing life into Lee Sang-man. Soon, the heat in the filming zone grew hotter despite the pouring rain.

“Ah—open up.”

“……Yes??”

“Ah—I said open up. Open your mouth.”

Lee Sang-man, who was squatting, grabbed the hair of his subordinate, who was getting drenched in the rain. And just as he was about to put the wet cigarette in his mouth.

-Swish.

Lee Sang-man’s hand slipped due to his subordinate’s wet hair. In that instant, Kang Woo-jin realized his mistake.

‘Ah.’

The subordinate’s short hair was also a reason. The crazy downpour also played a part. Thanks to that, Kang Woo-jin, who was squatting, lost his balance.

-Thud.

Due to the force, Woo-jin hugged the bloody subordinate. It was very natural. This was a scene that was not in the script at all. Therefore, the subordinate who was hugged so warmly.

‘Huh?’

And Kang Woo-jin, who was hugging the subordinate.

‘Ha—damn it.’

They paused their movements for a moment. At this time, director Kim Do-hee’s brow twitched as she watched the acting on the monitor.

“…He hugged him?”

More than anything, the expressions of the main and supporting actors were all serious.

‘Is that an ad-lib? A rookie in his first scene?’

‘That’s an ad-lib.’

‘Ad-lib. Did he even plan that?’

And at this time.

At the large film company MV Film, two people, already deeply contaminated by delusion, were sitting face to face. No other people were visible except for the two of them.

Director Kwon Ki-taek, a master with a warm smile, and.

“Please take care of me, I have high expectations.”

Top actor Ryu Jung-min, who was maintaining his baby perm.

“I will do my best, director.”

It was the moment when Ryu Jung-min had finally joined ‘Island of the Lost.’ Ryu Jung-min had a slightly cute vibe with his baby perm, but the ambition in his eyes was real. Director Kwon Ki-taek smiled slightly as he looked at Ryu Jung-min.

“By the way. I didn’t give the full actor information to the actors who joined, but I did tell you, right? That Woo-jin was the first to board.”

Ryu Jung-min nodded calmly.

“Yes, director.”

“Hmm—there might be some awkwardness, right? Because of Hanryang’s situation, and it’s also a burden to work on projects together in succession, even if it’s short. Are you really okay? You’re not doing it against your will?”

Ryu Jung-min let out a small breath and immediately opened his mouth.

“No, honestly, I’m not okay.”