Translator: Dreamscribe
Kang Woojin’s contract with bw Entertainment is for a year? The editor, with his double chin, frowned deeper, and said again to the female reporter with a serious expression right in front of him, his tone slightly raised.
“I mean, what kind of bullshit is that. A one-year contract? And who would believe that? Hey, do you not know who Choi Sung-gun is? He’s a player, a player. Would that networker have contracted with a diamond like Kang Woojin for just one year? No, to begin with, a one-year contract doesn’t even exist.”
Though what he said wasn’t entirely wrong, the female reporter didn’t back down.
“I’ve obtained the info from a source.”
“······”
The editor, who had been scratching his double chin, shut his mouth. Then, he slowly sized up the determined female reporter. After roughly a few seconds, he spoke again.
“How reliable is that information?”
“Well, about- 80%?”
“80?”
“Yes.”
Confidence was apparent. At this point, even the editor found it hard to ignore.
“Huh······this is quite the fresh news. Which crazy entertainment company contracts a newcomer for just one year nowadays.”
“Exactly! Especially since it’s Kang Woojin we’re talking about. He’s been involved in so many issues right now. He’s also accumulated a string of hits.”
Is that true? No matter how much he thought about it, the editor found it hard to understand.
‘Well, fine. Let’s say, for the sake of argument, it’s a one-year deal. But didn’t he blow up right after his debut with Mise-en-scène and Hanryang? Then, unless they’re idiots, shouldn’t they have immediately extended the contract?’
Moreover, Kang Woojin was currently shaking up the entertainment industry not just in Korea but also in Japan, in less than a year. And Choi Sung-gun just left him be? Has he lost his touch?
“······Hmm. I don’t know, but there must be some reason between those two. Or perhaps a deal.”
“If bw Entertainment loses Kang Woojin now, they’ll really be treated like clowns in the industry.”
“That they will.”
“Well, it’s not really our concern. Anyway, Editor-nim, how does this story smell to you? It’s juicy, right?”
The female reporter smiled slightly. The editor’s smile slowly spread as well.
“What’s there to say? Especially since Kang Woojin is practically monopolizing the market right now, this will turn the entertainment companies upside down. They’ll all rush in with their money. Public interest will spike too. At any rate, the story is interesting.”
“We can properly hook them in for once, especially with the year-end just around the corner.”
“So, are you going to release it right away?”
“What’s the point in delaying? Just go for it.”
Under normal circumstances, the editor would have agreed, but this time, for some reason, he was a bit more cautious.
“Hmm- no, that information you got. Check it again. Then get confirmation from me again.”
The female reporter furrowed her brows.
“···Editor-nim. Are you backing out now??”
“Yes.”
“Why! Why drag it out for no reason?”
“If you push this and it turns out to be baseless, are you going to take full responsibility if they sue us?”
“What’s there to sue for??”
The editor sighed softly.
“Listen well, touching Kang Woojin right now requires a certain readiness. It’s not going to end with just a slap on the wrist.”
“Huh??”
“List the big names associated with Kang Woojin.”
“Ah.”
“Drama, film, variety show, star writers, even Japan. You know that the main investor for ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’ is Japan’s conglomerate ‘Kashiwa Group’, right?”
“······”
“Those are heavyweights that a typical newcomer couldn’t even dream of, but whatever it is, Kang Woojin’s surroundings are swarming with such people. In other words, you need to be ready to touch all those heavyweights.”
“But it’s not a scandal.”
“What’s the point in creating unnecessary trouble?”
The female reporter understood the editor’s feelings. Then, the editor rose from his seat smoothly. His protruding belly was notable.
“If that case you mentioned is 100% true, there’s no problem. But if it turns out to be a rumor or hearsay, it’s a problem. Yet, it’s too good a topic to drop.”
He mumbled and then stood right in front of the female reporter, speaking in a low voice.
“So, check again, and then it’s not too late to turn the entertainment companies upside down.”
The same day, around lunchtime, at the ‘Mxdonald’ commercial shooting site.
Kang Woojin was still battling with a hamburger. The shoot that started in the morning was still ongoing. According to the shooting schedule, it looked like it would only end around the afternoon.
“Woojin-ssi! Can you make it look like lightning strikes in your eyes when you eat the hamburger??”
“Lightning? Yes, I’ll give it a try.”
“Okay! Let’s go again with feeling!”
Among Woojin’s team of a dozen or so members, Choi Sung-gun, with a very serious expression, stood out. Watching Kang Woojin quietly with his arms crossed, Choi Sung-gun, who was retying his ponytail, muttered to himself.
“A stepping stone? That Director Ahn Ga-bok?”
Choi Sung-gun’s mind was filled with thoughts of Director Ahn Ga-bok, especially the phone conversation they had earlier that morning. It was clear that the topics discussed were not light.
Then, Choi Sung-gun.
“Hmm-”
He recalled an important part of the conversation with Director Ahn Ga-bok. It started with the elderly voice of Director Ahn over the phone.
“I think you would have noticed by now. For my 100th film, I need actor Kang Woojin. You might have heard rumors, but I plan to challenge for the Cannes Film Festival with this movie.”
Though Choi Sung-gun had already finished his investigations, he hadn’t acted openly. Just pretended to be slightly surprised.
“Ah- Is that so? I was planning to meet you after the overseas location shooting anyway, so I will pass the message to Woojin and then arrange a time. But, Director-nim, may I ask you something?”
“Hmm?”
“I’m curious why you became interested in Woojin.”
“Sign language.”
“Sign language?”
“Yes. It started with sign language. It was a skill needed for directing the movie, and I preferred having an actor who already possessed it rather than having to train one. That’s when Kang Woojin caught my eye.”
“···I understand.”
“However, now I’m more interested in his acting and the person himself.”
The person himself? Choi Sung-gun was puzzled when Director Ahn’s voice continued.
“But when I mentioned Cannes to Woojin in Danang, he seemed uninterested. His eyes were sincere. He really has no big thoughts about Cannes.”
“······”
“Did you know about this, Choi Sung-gun?”
Rather than knowing, Choi Sung-gun had overheard. However, he had to pretend not to know.
“No, he’s quite unpredictable.”
“Hmm. Then, you probably didn’t know that what Woojin is really ambitious about isn’t Cannes but the ‘Oscars.’”
What? The Oscars?
“Excuse me? What do you mean by that.”
Over the phone, the giant of the industry, the seasoned director, nonchalantly explained his shrewd misunderstanding.
“The Oscars. That is, Woojin is aiming to be on the stage of the Academy Awards ceremony. I deeply felt it from the words he said and the look in his eyes.”
Choi Sung-gun was startled. The Academy Awards? The Oscars? Of course, it was a huge world that they would eventually collide with, but already? Even top actors would challenge it for over 10 years and still face rejection. But Kang Woojin had only been active for about a year. It didn’t make sense.
Here, Choi Sung-gun thought about Kang Woojin’s tendencies and the path he had taken, along with his capabilities.
And he couldn’t help but agree.
‘······No, it makes sense. The native-level English he had from the start. And many other languages. The ambition for overseas expansion, including Japan, just like he had stood his ground during ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’s crisis. The big names flocking around him.’
Looking closer, directors like Kwon Ki-taek or Kyotaro had high recognition overseas as well.
Ultimately.
‘And the special clause to not touch the choice of works.’
Putting everything together, the answer was clear. In fact, Kang Woojin was quietly walking towards the final boss without making it obvious. That final boss was the ‘Academy Awards’. Yes, that’s it. Choi Sung-gun’s conviction became clearer.
‘Has everything been moving under a clear plan from the start to reach the Academy Awards in the shortest distance??’
The veteran director’s casually spread misunderstanding thoroughly infected him. However, the main character, Kang Woojin, was just chewing on a hamburger, but only Choi Sung-gun and Director Ahn Ga-bok were serious. Among them, Director Ahn Ga-bok, on the other end of the phone, spoke again.
“The ambition that Woojin possesses doesn’t come from pretense. It’s derived from his stance. He’s truly running towards it. However, you must also know, CEO Choi. To go for the Academy Awards, many conditions are needed.”
“······That’s the stepping stone you mentioned.”
“Yes. Of course, what Woojin has is enough to stir Hollywood. But the process to show that is arduous. They don’t know Woojin at all yet. There are actors worldwide dedicating their lives to get that ticket.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“But Woojin’s interest must be beyond just attending the Academy Awards ceremony. He intends to grab something shining. For that.”
“I understand. A convincing filmography and noteworthy achievements are needed, for the resume.”
“That’s the foundation. The Academy Awards system is built that way.”
Director Ahn Ga-bok chuckled lightly, putting a bit more strength into his aged voice.
“There’s nothing like Cannes as a stepping stone. It grants credibility to everyone involved in the Academy Awards.”
Up to here. Choi Sung-gun, reminiscing the call with Director Ahn Ga-bok, returned to reality. His gaze was fixed on Kang Woojin inside the shooting zone. Then, Choi Sung-gun, infected with the misunderstanding, murmured to himself.
‘The only drawback and deficiency of actor Kang Woojin is his experience. His filmography is still barren. The Academy Awards system is complex. It’s full of numerous interests and hard-to-overcome connections.’
What Choi Sung-gun mentioned was the very basics. If you delve deeper into the Academy Awards, there’s a considerable amount of intertwined verification and systems. Quite profound, so to speak? Among those numerous things is the path the actor has walked or their name value.
A resume is something that boasts absolute power anywhere.
It was the same with the Academy Awards, and for the current Kang Woojin, it was difficult. It wasn’t something that could be pierced through with effort or passion. It was just realistically impossible.
However.
‘If a newcomer, only a year into debut, flips Cannes.’
There would be a sliver of possibility. It would arouse curiosity. Until now, there was no history of a greenhorn chewing up the Cannes Film Festival in just a year. That would be the key counterattack.
Then.
“Ha ha.”
Deep in thought, Choi Sung-gun chuckled dryly.
“I’m going crazy, even I’m starting to think of the Cannes Film Festival as a stepping stone?”
The very idea of a newcomer breaking into Cannes was unheard of, both in the past and the future. Well, until Kang Woojin appeared. Anyway, the Cannes Film Festival became a mere side dish.
At that moment.
– Swoosh.
During the break, Woojin, with an indifferent face, returned to his spot.
‘What? He seems incredibly uplifted??’
Then he asked.
“CEO-nim, do you have some good news?”
To the indifferent question, Choi Sung-gun smiled more deeply.
“Something like that. I imagined something good.”
He resolved inwardly to witness the impossible right beside him.
‘Let’s write history for once. But first, let’s sort out the contract.’
He had no idea that the basis was an misunderstanding.
The next day, the 10th. In the workspace of writer Lee Wol-seon.
In the quiet room, writer Lee Wol-seon was staring at her laptop. Unusually natural, she sighed lightly after looking at the laptop screen for a few minutes.
“It’s done.”
Then, writer Lee Wol-seon abruptly picked up her phone and called the director of ‘Freezing Love’. Probably filming, but the director picked up quickly.
“Yes, writer-nim.”
Writer Lee Wol-seon declared simply.
“I just finished the manuscript for the last episode.”
The manuscript work for ‘Freezing Love,’ which is about to premiere, has been completed. Upon hearing this, the voice of the director on the phone grew louder.
“Wow! You’ve worked hard, writer-nim! But- today won’t work! Tomorrow! I’ll come tomorrow morning!”
“Okay. But there are two versions of the last episode’s manuscript.”
“Two versions?”
“Yes. I kept thinking about the ‘Mysterious Man Next Door’ that you mentioned last time.”
“Hm? You wrapped it up nicely, didn’t you? You even inserted a flashback cut and a mention of him moving away.”
“But I felt a bit sorry for the character. Also, Woojin-ssi brought it to life, enhancing its quality.”
“···That’s true. What are the two versions?”
“One where the main character ‘Song Tae-hyung’ and the ‘Mysterious Man Next Door’ meet again in the last episode, and one where they don’t.”
“Aha.”
Writer Lee Wol-seon, who was slowly crossing her legs, continued to explain.
“As you can see in the script, the ‘Mysterious Man Next Door’ happens to meet Song Tae-hyung by chance. The ‘Mysterious Man Next Door’ avoids his gaze. But the completely changed Song Tae-hyung greets him with sign language, and the surprised ‘Mysterious Man Next Door’ also smiles and responds in sign language.”
“Oh ho! It would definitely warm hearts with the contrast between the first and the last episode, right??”
“But we can’t use it if Woojin-ssi doesn’t agree.”
“······Yes. And seeing Woojin-ssi in the media, he does seem very busy.”
“The shooting would only take half a day, so could you please request Woojin-ssi’s side?”
“Understood, writer-nim.”
What was unique was that the response to the message sent by the director was very quick. Of course, the respondent was Choi Sung-gun.
-[Yes, Director-nim. Woojin also wants to do it, and if you let us know a week in advance, we will make time.]
At a similar time, ‘Freezing Love’ released its official trailer to the world, across YouTube and various other video platforms.
-‘Freezing Love’ | Official 1st Trailer | KBC
There were 15-second and 30-second teasers and the official first trailer. It was a natural step since the premiere was only about 2 weeks away. Of course, both videos included a brief but intense appearance of the ‘Mysterious Man Next Door’ and sign language. Kang Woojin’s presence was strangely intense.
Naturally, the public’s reaction was swift.
-Kang Woojin, in Drug Dealer, devoured the acting with his eyes and breath alone….so thrillingly sexy like a crazy psychopath…but his sign language acting is something new??
-How much is Kang Woojin’s screen time in this??
-Kang Woojin’s mask is so versatile! Sweet one moment, chilling the next, now it’s softly heartwarming
-Ahㅠㅠㅠㅠfeels like it’s gonna be boring…..
-It’s Writer Lee Wol-seon’s workㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋwonder if she can surpass Writer Park Eun-mi?ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Kang Woojinㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋfrom a lover to a drug addict, now with sign languageㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋjust like a completely different personㅋㅋㅋ
-Jung Jang-hwan is in another dramaㅋㅋㅋdoesn’t he do movies??
-WoahㄹㄹㄹㄹKang Woojin’s brief appearance is killer…really everything from his facial muscles to his gestures is amazing….just the trailer alone is so fun….
Kang Woojin’s acting spectrum was endlessly expanding.
Meanwhile, at the same time. In a shop in Cheongdam-dong.
Kang Woojin’s van was visible in the large shop’s parking lot. Soon, Woojin, with full make up, got into the van. Inside the car, only Choi Sung-gun in the passenger seat was visible. Han Ye-jung and Jang Su-hwan were in the bathroom, and the rest of the team were at the office.
Today, Woojin’s schedule had two interviews in the morning, and from afternoon till night, he had to return to the filming of ‘Island of the Missing’.
Regardless.
-Swish.
Choi Sung-gun, sitting in the passenger seat, suddenly handed a transparent file to Kang Woojin.
“This is related to the end-of-year activities. It includes all the award ceremonies that have sent invitations so far. Just so you know, it’s beneficial to attend all end-of-year ceremonies, regardless of the type, you know?”
The cool Kang Woojin silently unfolded the file and nodded.
“Yes, I’m aware.”
Choi Sung-gun, who was intently watching Woojin look through the file, suddenly changed the subject.
“And the Oscars are currently impossible.”
Woojin slowly lifted his head to meet Choi Sung-gun’s eyes, followed by a moment of silence.
“······”
There was no wavering in his poker face. However, it seemed like there was a subtle disturbance. Or should it be called a question mark? After a few seconds passed, Kang Woojin responded with a clear voice.
“Of course, it would be difficult this year.”
Right after hearing the answer, Choi Sung-gun chuckled.
“Ha- I wondered, but as expected. The Oscars… it’s not just ambitious, it’s lofty, too lofty. It breaks all norms.”
The annoyance in his voice was a bonus.
“Were you aiming for the Oscars from the start? I feel slighted. You should’ve given me a hint about that crazy plan, so I could’ve prepared myself mentally. It’s enough to give someone a heart attack.”
Kang Woojin’s indifferent face was firmer than ever.
‘······?’