Translator: Dreamscribe
Kang Woojin was inside a van.
The location was on the bustling roads of Hollywood. The van Woojin was in was large, but surprisingly, the number of people inside were surprisingly small. Kang Woojin, Choi Sung-gun, a hired driver, and two bw Entertainment employees, including an interpreter.
The rest were waiting at the accommodation.
Meanwhile, Kang Woojin, looking out the window, was dressed in a suit from head to toe. He wore no tie, but he had put on dress shoes.
“……”
His face was the epitome of a poker face.
‘Wow- there are so many people. Is this really Hollywood? I’ve never seen such a crowd before.’
However, internally, he was amazed at the sight of the foreigners swarming like ants. Where were all these people of various races heading? The densely packed buildings on both sides were also fascinating.
Actually, everything he saw was new.
Bus stops, crosswalks, etc. Though they all existed in Korea, they felt different. It was as if he had stepped into a movie?
At that moment.
“Woojin.”
Choi Sung-gun, who was sitting in the passenger seat, writing something in his diary since a while ago, turned his head.
“According to the navigation, we should arrive in 10 minutes, but the traffic is terrible, so it’s going to take longer. Do you see that sign over there? The one that says ‘Winner Movie Pictures.’”
Kang Woojin followed Choi Sung-gun’s pointing finger to a sign on a distant building rooftop.
“Yes, I see it.”
“That’s the place. Sigh- Running there would be a hundred times faster.”
Indeed, if the sign was visible, they were almost there. However, the traffic meant it would take tens of minutes more. Thus, Woojin.
“Hmm-”
Slowly crossed his legs and lifted the script on his lap. Naturally, a swirling black square was attached to it. It was provided by ‘Winner Movie Pictures.’
‘One more time before starting?’
With the screen test imminent, Kang Woojin decisively.
-Pook.
Pressed the black square with his index finger. Instantly, his surroundings shifted from the congested road to an endlessly dark void space.
Entering the familiar void space, Woojin stretched extensively.
“Ah-!!”
He also relaxed the concept covering his face. Woojin, feeling much more comfortable, walked towards several white rectangles that appeared. He focused on the last one he saw.
-[10/Script (Title: Unknown), Grade F (Indeterminable)]
-[*The completeness is very low. It is a damaged script or scenario. 100% reading is impossible. (About 30% implementation possible)]
It had been a while since he saw such a message. The first thing Kang Woojin had read (experienced) in the void space was also a incomplete script. Then, Kang Woojin, without much concern, selected the script rectangle. The visible letters soon changed.
There were only two characters.
Well, he had already read (experienced) it, but with the nature of the void space, it was better to repeat it.
Moreover.
“It’s strangely feels like my body is getting lighter-”
Woojin felt his body becoming more flexible. The exact reason was unknown, but a guess was possible. Probably, the ‘martial arts’ he had acquired were growing. It was clearly a capability of the void space.
Anyway.
-Swish.
Kang Woojin selected the role in the script. Soon, a robotic female voice filled the entire void space.
[“……Preparation complete. This is a damaged script or scenario. The implementation rate is about 30%. Starting the reading.”]
Something quickly engulfed Woojin. It wasn’t long before shapes began to appear in his vision again. It wasn’t the void space. The temperature was ambiguous. Or rather, should it be said it was non-existent? Kang Woojin was definitely in some space, but it was hard to describe.
Mostly because everything was blurry.
In such a place, Woojin stood. Oddly, the outfit he wore was clear. A suit. Around him, mirrors the size of a human body were embedded everywhere. Due to the blurriness, it was impossible to tell what was reflected in the mirrors. The floor was brown. The ceiling was black. The width was hard to gauge.
And then.
-Swish.
Suddenly, someone appeared between the mirrors. Perhaps similar in height to Kang Woojin’s? Similarly dressed in a suit, but their face was entirely gray except for the silhouette, as if they didn’t have eyes or a nose to begin with. The moment Woojin saw the figure, a few things became clear to him in the space he stood.
More accurately, emotions were hammered in.
Recognition at the start. Killing intent in the middle. Elimination at the end.
These three things made the previously motionless Kang Woojin move. No other extraneous feelings arose.
Only one.
Elimination.
Now Kang Woojin’s mind was filled only with purpose.
Therefore.
-Swish.
Woojin’s shoe-clad feet moved, and his eyes gradually filled with a subtle murderous intent. It gradually deepened.
Be agile. Be on edge. Feel the breath. Understand the smallest muscle twitches. Break the neck. The opponent won’t be easy. It will be over in a moment.
Be prepared.
In that moment.
-Pak!
As Woojin got closer to his opponent, he aimed for the neck with his right hand, and the gray-faced figure blocked with their hand, then raised a knee to Woojin’s empty side. From here on, in the strange space,
-Pak! Puck! Tak!
Only short impact sounds reverberated.
The white building owned by ‘Winner Movie Pictures.’
A building comprised entirely of internal sets and studios. The 4th floor, where the screen test for ‘Last Kill 3’ would soon take place, was almost ready.
The spacious floor was covered with mats without any gaps, and windows were covered to block out half of the strong light coming from outside. Cameras mounted on tripods were set up in the north, south, east, and west of the studio, and mock partitions were installed here and there around the center, replacing the mirrors mentioned in the script.
At the front entrance of the studio, a long table was placed, with several monitors on top. Two cameras set up on this side were also visible.
Even at a glance, the scale was considerable.
More than five cameras were deployed, and over 30 foreign staff members bustled about the entire studio. What about the meticulously prepared props? Indeed, it felt very different from a typical audition.
In any case, dozens of foreign staff members of all genders and ethnicities,
“Honestly, I didn’t expect them to install mirrors.”
“It’s a screen test, after all. It’s a good thing they didn’t set up real mirrors.”
“Hahaha, really? But don’t we have more cameras than last time?”
“It’s because the test includes action scenes.”
chatted amongst themselves as they finished setting up.
“Did you hear that a Korean actor was added to today’s participants?”
“Yeah, I heard. It’s quite sudden, but Director George Mendes always has his quirks.”
“Still, it feels a bit sudden. The original script had a Chinese character. And now, a Korean actor without any prior discussion.”
“I’m quite fond of Korea. I visited Seoul last year. However, I don’t have the impression that Korean actors are good at martial arts. It’s hard to see in Hollywood, and there’s no data on it.”
“Well, we often see Chinese actors, but Korean actors are rare. Maybe it’s just for show?”
“Perhaps? I think the main focus will still be on the Chinese actors who were originally supposed to come. The Korean actor might just be an experiment.”
As the staff were walking around the studio, the glass door opened, and foreigners entered again, about a dozen. However, this group appeared to be older. Leading them was a man resembling Santa Claus.
In other words, it was George Mendes, the director overseeing this screen test.
The people around Director George were roughly film company executives or key staff of the filming team. Behind them followed the familiar casting director, Megan Stone, and her team, along with the producer team responsible for coordinating the entire film production. Compared to Korea, these two teams wielded considerable influence in Hollywood.
Especially the producer team, whose influence was like a typhoon.
The system in Hollywood is entirely different from Korea, and the scale of investment is beyond imagination. Hence, the producer team, which oversees the whole production process, including film companies, investors, directors, actors, etc., holds tremendous power. Additionally, in Hollywood, it’s common for one producer team to be involved in several projects simultaneously.
The producer team for ‘Last Kill 3’ was also managing a few projects at the same time.
Soon, Megan Stone, the brown bob-haired leader of the casting team, crossed her arms as she looked around the set studio and spoke to the leader of the producer team standing beside her.
“Isn’t it a bit modest?”
The leader of the producer team chuckled in response. He was a tall black man, over 190 cm in height. His name was Joseph Felton.
“You want me to set up 48 mirrors for one screen test? That’s a waste.”
“They could have at least installed some around the characters.”
“Saving money in preparation will improve the quality of the shooting. More importantly, about the Korean actor added at the last minute. Megan, you recommended him, didn’t you? What wild idea are you entertaining now?”
“Well, I just contacted an actor who made a strong impression on Director George.”
“……The director took an interest in a Korean actor? Is he good? Or is it for marketing?”
“You’ll know once you see for yourself. Also mind your own business. You have plenty of projects to manage besides ‘Last Kill 3’, don’t you?”
Joseph shrugged his shoulders.
“Calm down. I’ve just become interested in Korean actors lately. We can’t ignore the funds coming from China, of course, but lately, it seems like the quality from the Korean side, especially actors, is good. Considering the growing Hallyu wave, we can’t ignore Korea’s culture either.”
“The trend is indeed so.”
“Miley Cara went to Korea for the promotion of her new work, didn’t she? The demand for Hallyu is gradually increasing among the masses. So, is the Korean actor we called famous? Does he have experience in Hollywood?”
Seemingly a bit annoyed, the Megan handed over a clear file she received from the staff.
“He’s quite famous, but his career is short, and his filmography is unique. You should see for yourself, Joseph.”
Joseph, the black man, smirked as he unfolded the file. His eyes widened the moment he saw the contents. It was quite fresh.
“……A year? Does that mean he debuted this year? What, he’s a rookie? You brought in such an actor?”
It was then.
“Standby!!”
A male staff member shouted across the studio. As a result, the dozens of people finishing up left the studio in a stream. Eventually, the staff was reduced to about half, and they took their places behind the long desk at the front.
-Swish.
Director George Mendes, with the protruding belly, and the key staff that came with him, stood around the cameras set up in the studio, and George, along with a few others, sat at the long desk arranged for them. It almost felt like Santa Claus had arrived.
Director George then said,
“Hmm- let’s get started.”
He murmured in English as he looked around at the gathered staff.
“Stunt coordinator team, check the set first.”
Soon, several monitors placed in front of him lit up, starting to display various parts of the studio.
Meanwhile,
When Kang Woojin first arrived at this four-story building, he wasn’t particularly nervous.
‘Oh- So this is where the screen test or whatever takes place? Looks ordinary?’
Because it didn’t seem anything special. But that was a misconception. As soon as he entered the first floor and saw the inside of the building, Woojin’s mouth dropped open. He hadn’t realized the entire building was a set and studio. Moreover, since all the staff milling about were foreigners, Woojin’s heart began to race.
The scene was indeed worlds apart.
Thanks to that, by the time Woojin got on the elevator, a suitable tension had spread. It wasn’t the nervousness about the screen test. It was the trembling from a first experience. An unfamiliar country, staff speaking a different language, a scene vastly different in scale, an unfamiliar tense atmosphere, etc.
But having come this far, he couldn’t appear foolish.
‘Ah- Shit, I really need to control my mind. Forget it, just think of this place as Gangnam. Ah, Gangnam.’
Inside the elevator, Woojin took a deep breath without showing it, calming his pounding heart, and heightened his cynicism to an extreme. Then, an even colder and more rational calm spread throughout his body than usual.
Okay, his concept was in place.
Soon, Kang Woojin arrived at the waiting room he was directed to. Up to here, it was fine. The problem was the other actors in the waiting room. There were three of them, all dressed in suits like Kang Woojin.
‘Eh? They don’t seem Japanese. Chinese, maybe?’
They were definitely from Asia but not Japan. Somehow, their faces had a Chinese look to them. Since it was certain that Kang Woojin was the only Korean actor, he concluded that the actors already present were Chinese.
‘Are they famous? I don’t recognize them. But their expressions are damn fierce.’
The Chinese actors had stern faces. They seemed to know each other well and grouped together, but all three actors looked, or rather, glared at Kang Woojin, who had just opened the door. The staff behind these actors were also whispering among themselves.
Then,
“We’ll start with Mr. Wang Bang.”
A foreign male staff member’s shout prompted one of the Chinese actors to leave the waiting room.
Regardless,
‘Tsk- Look at these guys.’
Annoyance surged within Woojin. That was exactly how he felt. As if he was representing his country in an international competition. Well, it wasn’t on a national scale, but losing would still be irritating, right? Kang Woojin then took a seat near him, hardening his expression even more.
Moreover,
‘Forget it, I’ll just beat them all.’
The result was a matter for later; for now, he was filled with the thought of beating those Chinese actors. A competitive spirit or a desire to win. His own personal war or battle. The terminology didn’t matter. It wasn’t about a desire to join the work; it was purely instinctual desire. Well, the only ones who knew about this situation were Choi Sung-gun and Kang Woojin.
‘If I lose, I won’t be able to sleep comfortably back in Korea.’
Woojin was determined to stand out in this scene.
*****
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