Goosebumps appeared on the shriveled forearms of the veteran director Ahn Ga-bok. It was a rare occurrence for Ahn Ga-bok, who had directed 99 films. He smiled an aged smile.
’20 years, or perhaps even more, I can’t even remember.’
A strange mix of embarrassment and elation curled up at the corners of his mouth. He had worked with actors of many nationalities, beyond Korea to Hollywood. The number of actors who had crossed paths with Director Ahn Ga-bok must have been enormous. Yet, the number of times an actor’s performance gave him goosebumps could be counted on one hand.
But now.
‘To think that a rookie’s performance could revive a dead sensation.’
Unexpectedly, his attention was drawn by a first-year rising actor. This was a rare experience even for Ahn Ga-bok, a director legendary in the Korean film industry. Yes, that’s right. It had to be of extent that he could steal the heart of the staunch Director Kwon Ki-taek.
-Swish.
Director Ahn Ga-bok’s gaze met Kang Woojin, who was slowly taking off his bulletproof helmet inside the filming zone.
‘Rare and not common.’
In the current factory-like actor scene, it was hard to find such an actor. At least, that was what Director Ahn Ga-bok thought. Like a ginseng in a barren field of actors.
Anyway.
-Thud!
After the first OK of the intense group shot was spat out from the mouth of the affable Director Kwon Ki-taek, dozens out of the hundred or so staff members who had been holding their breath rushed into the filming zone. The quiet set became noisy in an instant.
“Art team! We need help!”
“We’re on it!!”
The scene wasn’t over just because an OK had been given. They had to change the setup and shoot again, including solo shots of the characters. Repeating the same scene multiple times was basic, and the staff who rushed in now had to reorganize the filming zone for a reshoot.
However, it didn’t take long.
“We’re ready!!”
“1 minute! Standby in 1 minute!!”
The time for the reshoot arrived quickly. The actors caught their breath and entered the camera angle again. This time, the focus was on individual scenes of the characters rather than the whole.
“Hoo-”
The start was with Kang Woojin, that is, ‘Corporal Jin Sun-cheol.’ Therefore, what Director Kwon Ki-taek saw on the monitor were the overall shots of the actors, upper body shots, and a close-up of Kang Woojin’s face. Following that, Woojin, who was slowly shouldering his rifle, thought.
‘It starts with me, so focus.’
He once again summoned the ‘Corporal Jin Sun-cheol’ engraved somewhere within him. The sensation of his two identities filling up his calm wick spread through his veins. So? Are you going to do it just like before?
‘No, since it’s a solo, make it more intense. More vivid.’
Woojin’s acting was never lacking. If anything, it was overflowing. But as a beginner at the core, he didn’t know ‘how much’ was too much. There was no upper limit. The point of reaching a limit was unclear.
‘I don’t know, I’m not sure. So, let’s just do what I can.’
There was only one option. Continue to tread unexplored territory.
It wasn’t the posture of an actor.
After all, the experience of the top actors here couldn’t be narrowed down in a day or two. Kang Woojin simply delved into becoming ‘Corporal Jin Sun-cheol’ itself.
So, charge ahead.
Originally, repeating readings (experiences) would vividly bring a character to life with the power of the void space. With Woojin’s frequent acting added to it, it exceeded limits. He had already experienced this since ‘Park Dae-ri.’ Controlling, restraining, and expanding his thoughts wasn’t difficult.
It was always part of his usual concept.
Other actors might call this process exploration or interpretation.
However, Kang Woojin’s process and the results were on a different level. Of course, the novice Woojin didn’t care about such profound definitions.
-Swish.
Before he knew it, Kang Woojin’s control had been taken over by the timid guy. The camera focused on Woojin’s bust shot. Then, through the loudspeaker, Director Kwon Ki-taek’s signal reached ‘Corporal Jin Sun-cheol.’
“Hi- Action.”
The voices of his comrades were faintly audible, but to Kang Woojin, only the trembling movements of the private next to him were visible. What should I do? As a senior, I feel like I should help, but would talking to him freak him even more? Or would he even listen to me? I’m a bit scared.
At that moment.
‘Moron, why hesitate. If you think he won’t hear, just make him hear forcefully.’
A rough voice echoed.
‘How, how do I do that?’
‘You go rest.’
Instantly, ‘Corporal Jin Sun-cheol’s mindset changed. Pleasure or ecstasy. Although this was a phenomenon and dialogue occurring within Kang Woojin’s inner self, it wasn’t captured by the camera filming him directly in front. No, he wanted to show about having a dual identity.
Then how should he express it?
‘Corporal Jin Sun-cheol.’ Kang Woojin wanted to hide this from the uniformed toys here but flaunt it to third parties. This game. So, he explored. What could he add to make your legs tremble?
That’s when he realized.
Sign language. Yes, there was sign language.
A language that could make the other person feel an infinite range of emotions without speaking, without even opening your mouth. A skill that could silently unfold dialogue, emotions, mood, senses, and expressions.
Slowly, sign language melded and thickened unnoticed around ‘Corporal Jin Sun-cheol.’
At that moment, the camera zoomed in tightly on his face.
However, ‘Corporal Jin Sun-cheol,’ holding a rifle, couldn’t move his hands. So, he had to rely only on his eyes, nose, mouth, facial and body muscles, nerve tremors, gaze, breathing, etc.
It’s okay, that was enough.
Then, glancing at the private, he started the game. His pupils showed timidity, the corners of his mouth a slight tremor, and his lips a momentary thrill of ecstasy. Naturally, all of this was displayed on the monitor without missing anything.
Thanks to that.
‘…He’s showing off, he’s flaunting it.’
Director Kwon Ki-taek, with seriousness in his eyes, lowered his breath.
‘It’s unbelievable. Could he expand the subtle line of emotion more than the initial one? He’s boasting the secret of his dual personality to the audience, right now.’
Kang Woojin’s performance was captivating.
‘Is he growing even in this short moment?’
Director Ahn Ga-bok, who had goosebumps endlessly, was already closely attached next to Director Kwon Ki-taek. His wrinkled eyes widened. His eyes became incredibly large.
‘I see, the state of that character is vividly visible. He wants to thoroughly hide his inner self in that world but proudly show it to us, outsiders.’
Yet for some reason, Kang Woojin’s delicacy gradually grew in magnitude.
‘Was there more? Does he still have a lot to show? It’s as if…he’s explaining with his face.’
Furthermore.
‘Why do I smell the scent of the sign language I desired?’
At this moment, a gunshot is heard.
-Bang!
The elongated part of the creature intruded, a private falls down, the soldiers become disordered, and the officers becomes agitated.
Resulting in an endless barrage of gunfire.
-Bang Bang Bang!!
The cursing soldiers scatter in a panic on the battlefield. The situation unfolds smoothly, and Kang Woojin, holding the dead private, cried.
“Huuk! Huhuhuk!”
Inside, he laughed.
‘Keuk! Huhuhuhu, one down.’
I’m sorry, really sorry. Next time, I’ll definitely try to stop this bad guy. I didn’t do a good job. What? Shut your mouth. You’re enjoying this too, aren’t you? Just enjoy it.
“Jin Sun-cheol!! What the hell are you doing!! Didn’t you hear the order to run?!!”
Yeah, damn it, stop crying and run too.
“Snap out of it! He’s dead! He’s already dead!! Shut up and get up!! Quickly!!”
There’s still a lot to do.
Every second, every minute, Kang Woojin’s face shown on the camera changed constantly. The flowing tears were sincere, and the smile curved like a bow was real too.
Then.
“…Cut, OK.”
Once again, Director Kwon Ki-taek’s signal echoed on the set, but the hundreds of staff members were just silent.
“…”
“…”
“…”
Goosebumps spread to everyone, not just Director Ahn Ga-bok, fueled by the sweltering weather. What did I just witness?
‘Without a single word of dialogue…I can see that Corporal Jin Sun-cheol has a dual personality. Wow- insane.’
This feeling intensified with the second and third retakes. Clearly, Kang Woojin was developing in that short interval. Soon, the film company’s CEO and employees standing behind Director Ahn Ga-bok gave up on making judgments.
‘Acting? Can this be called acting??’
‘If, if this is shown in cinemas and seen by audiences…this goes beyond just being good at acting, doesn’t it?!!’
Especially, the film company’s CEO looked particularly shocked.
‘Extraordinary, an acting method I’ve never seen before. I feel sorry for the other actors who have to face him. He’s growing with every cut, and there seems to be no limit to his growth.’
He too was a veteran in the industry. He had seen countless actors. But this experience felt almost like ignorance. The film company’s CEO glanced down at the back of Director Ahn Ga-bok’s head before noticing the employees with slightly open mouths on either side. Then, his gaze swept over the hundred or so silent staff members. It’s vast. Expansive. Yet, it felt narrow.
This was about Kang Woojin.
The film company CEO’s gaze returned to Woojin, mingling with the other actors. Kang Woojin seemed like a whale mixed into freshwater. The CEO couldn’t help but let out a genuine chuckle.
‘He’s a monster to be dealt with, not directed.’
Soon, the film company CEO began to imagine, unwittingly spreading the wings of fantasy. The back of the ‘whale’ receiving a flash baptism on the world stage.
‘Can he overpower everyone even in the sea, not just in freshwater?’
For some reason, it didn’t seem far-fetched.
Afterward.
The filming of ‘Island of the Missing’ progressed at a rapid pace, through the hot morning and afternoon.
“Cut OK, let’s take a 10-minute break.”
“Yes! We’ll take a 10-minute break!!”
The concentration of the hundred or so staff members and actors, including Director Kwon Ki-taek, was higher than ever. Part of it was because Director Ahn Ga-bok was on set.
“Phew- Today’s filming is tough. It’s killing me, really killing me.”
“What can we do? It’s an important group shot, and after today’s filming, we’ll finally be out of these damn bushes.”
“Right. Most of the remaining shots are in the ‘Island of the Missing’ village. Ah, I can finally see the end.”
“The end my foot, we’ve only finished the overseas location shoots, and there’s still more filming in Korea.”
According to the storyboard, after this group shot, there would be more scenes shot in the village than in the forest. Meaning, they would leave the monstrous creatures behind and encounter the peculiar villagers of ‘Island of the Missing.’
The end of the hellish overseas location shoot in Da Nang, Vietnam, was in sight.
Of course, there was still a lot left to shoot in Korea, including green screen and Buyeo set shooting, but completing the overseas location shoot meant that about 30% of the work was done.
As the sun set in the afternoon.
Groups of actors stealthily glanced at the director’s chair. They were looking at Director Kwon Ki-taek, but the weightier gaze was on Director Ahn Ga-bok. In fact, all actors of ‘Island of the Missing’ had been concerned about Director Ahn Ga-bok since before the shooting.
Ryu Jung-min, slowly taking off his helmet, wondered.
‘How did he view my acting? Was it lacking?’
Ha Yu-ra, Kim Yi-won, Jeon Woo-chang, and other supporting actors all sneaked glances at Director Ahn Ga-bok.
‘The timing of my run in this cut was a bit late. Ah- damn, It had to be today! Okay, it’s fine. I’ll make no mistakes in the next cut. Stay calm, Ha Yu-ra.’
‘Ah, I’m so nervous I can hardly remember my lines.’
‘Director Ahn…it’s hard to read his expression. I wish he would look favorably upon us.’
Even Hong Hye-yeon, who was waiting for a cameo appearance and watching the shooting with the staff, felt the same.
‘How far is he going to watch today? Phew- I have to somehow make up for what he pointed out.’
Greed or desire wasn’t absent. They came as spectators, but being noticed by Director Ahn Ga-bok and participating in his project would elevate an actor’s career in an instant. For the actors, it was like a fragile opportunity.
However, there was one actor.
‘All I did today was run, tsk. Ah- I’m starving, I should ask Su-hwan for some chocolate bars when the timing’s right.’
Kang Woojin was the only one who did not pay much attention to Director Ahn Ga-bok. Well, it was almost as if he was deliberately ignoring him. A disconnection of interest. Then, Director Kwon Ki-taek, who had been sitting in front of several monitors, turned his head back.
Veteran Director Ahn Ga-bok’s thoughts were unknown, but his expression was stern. Director Kwon Ki-taek asked him gently.
“How was it, Director~nim?”
Director Ahn Ga-bok, slowly turning his gaze, answered in a low, aged tone.
“Good. Thank you, it’s been a while since I’ve seen a proper shooting. Well, your direction is always beyond expectations.”
“That’s too kind of you.”
“Not at all.”
Director Kwon Ki-taek, who had been smiling pleasantly, leaned in and whispered to Director Ahn Ga-bok, changing the subject.
“How did you feel about about Woojin’s role?”
“Dual personality, if you can’t see that from his acting, you might as well quit directing.”
Director Ahn Ga-bok then shifted his gaze again. To the actors in military uniforms, busy with makeup touch-ups, and particularly to Kang Woojin, who wore an indifferent expression.
“A rank and file, receiving commands. A loach hidden within relatively solid cohesion. Yet, there’s no visible sense of purpose, which makes it all the more intriguing and fills the scene with color. It’s a character the audience can thoroughly enjoy.”
Of course, Director Ahn Ga-bok wanted to elaborate more, but he restrained himself. After all, he was just a spectator. Director Kwon Ki-taek, whose smile deepened in agreement, stood up smoothly.
“It’s all thanks to Woojin’s individual ability.”
“Hm?”
“You know the atmosphere of my screenplay. ‘Corporal Jin Sun-cheol’s description was very simple. Bringing it to life was solely Woojin’s skill.”
For a moment, Director Ahn Ga-bok looked up at Director Kwon Ki-taek and showed a wrinkled smile.
“I see, I understand why you favor that guy.”
“I’ll give you the ‘Island of the Missing’ screenplay, please read it on your way back. It might give you a clearer understanding.”
“Thank you.”
Director Kwon Ki-taek bowed slightly and walked calmly back into the bustling set, with Director Ahn Ga-bok’s gaze following him.
The interesting part was.
“Hm?”
The moment Kang Woojin’s eyes met Director Ahn Ga-bok’s, and he avoided his gaze. At this, Director Ahn Ga-bok chuckled to himself, crossed his arms, and murmured.
“It seems I’ve somehow managed to be disliked.”
Two days later.
On November 3rd, in Da Nang, Vietnam, at the filming site of ‘Island of the Missing,’ Director Kwon Ki-taek’s signal was heard.
“Standby- Cue.”
The focused actors were Kang Woojin, Ha Yu-ra, and Ryu Jung-min. Their passionate performance in military uniforms lasted about 3 hours.
Soon after.
“Cut, OK. Great work, everyone.”
Around lunchtime on the 3rd day, the declaration of OK made the hundred or so staff members throw their safari hats in the air.
“Ugh!! Finally, freedom!!”
“Great job, everyone!”
“Good work! And to the actors as well!!”
“Wow- I won’t think about Vietnam for like 10 years!”
“You’d think the shooting’s all done with how we’re celebrating?! Hahaha.”
The overseas location shoot of ‘Island of the Missing’ had concluded.
****