Translator: Dreamscribe
The scene where Kiyoshi and Misaki Toka face each other on the school rooftop was in progress. It was now the turn of Kang Woojin and Toka, played by Japanese rookie actress Nakajo Kimi. Although they were from different countries, both were rookies. In fact, considering their careers, Kimi had more experience.
However, the aura was worlds apart.
This was evident not only to the naked eye but also clearly captured on the monitor that Director Kyotaro was watching. Nakajo Kimi appeared infinitely smaller in front of Woojin.
‘It’s, it’s okay. I can do this. Breathe, breathe.’
It was partly because she was nervous, but it was also a difference in their acting skills. On the other hand, Kang Woojin remained calm.
“······”
Of course, Woojin, who was staring at her intently, was a bit worried about Kimi inside. It was similar to the time with Ginzo.
‘Is it because we’re on the rooftop? Maybe she has acrophobia.’
Meanwhile, Director Kyotaro was briefly contemplating.
‘Kimi-ssi is doing well, but she’s too nervous. Should we take a break and start again? No······ that might cause problems before we even get to the scene.’
It was a matter of confidence and self-esteem. Kimi, being a rookie, had a particularly fragile mentality. Soon, Director Kyotaro made a decision and calmly called out the signal.
“One, two! Ready – Action!”
Their acting began. It was quite an important scene in ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’. It was the first time Kiyoshi’s ‘homework’ manifested. Among the group of foreigners quietly watching Woojin’s performance, Megan, who had her arms crossed, muttered softly.
“He already knows how to do it.”
Megan, who muttered just enough to be heard, signaled to the surrounding team. It was time to slowly withdraw. Quietly leaving the scene, Megan descended the stairs while recalling the faces of Hollywood’s great actors. Hollywood has an overwhelming number of actors, but those who win acting awards like the Oscars and make a name for themselves are rare.
‘He has a similar vibe to them.’
The scent Megan perceived from Woojin was like that. Perfectly playing a role was a given.
However.
‘Being too perfect can sometimes make one invisible.’
For an actor, ‘being taken for granted’ could sometimes be a poison. In such cases, variation was needed. However, few could achieve this. The skill to maintain very ‘good’ acting while injecting shocks and stimuli to captivate the attention of directors, staff, co-actors, and the public.
The key here was that good acting was the default.
Only with flawless acting, which no one could refute, could an actor hypnotize the public, and when the hypnosis is broken by an explosion, the public’s eyes would see only that actor.
‘Then the astonishing acting would stand out even more.’
Megan had already stepped out of the school. Faces of several Hollywood great actors flashed in her mind. Megan and her team boarded a van parked outside. It was past 6 o’clock. The sky was getting dark.
-Vroom!
The van carrying the Hollywood scouting team roared as it hit the road. The team leader, Megan, had a serious expression as she looked out the window. The foreign team members also had stern faces. It was more of a look of bewilderment than a negative atmosphere.
Then the chubby man who was scratching his short hair spoke in English.
“Why on earth······ did Kang Woojin turn down ‘Last Kill 3’? It was completely different from the rumors. An actor who shows such acting tension couldn’t have run away because of a lack of acting skills.”
A man with orange hair sitting in the passenger seat agreed.
“That’s total nonsense. If Director George Mendes had seen this performance, he would have clung to him.”
“The acting Woojin showed earlier was really······ like a different person with every second. Have you ever seen such acting anywhere?”
“Not at all.”
“Me neither. My God, it means he has a unique acting method, right? Why is Kang Woojin passing on Hollywood? With that acting tension and martial arts skills······ he’d easily make it.”
At this moment, Megan, who had been continuously looking out the window, recalled everything from the first time she saw Kang Woojin up to now and made a sharp judgment.
“It’s a declaration.”
“A declaration?”
No, it was a sharp misconception.
“Yes. He’s been showing off his existence. He probably wasn’t interested in a minor role in ‘Last Kill 3’ from the beginning. In fact, I was the one who first reached out. But Kang Woojin, who had no interest in the role, still showed up.”
“······And then he confidently turned down the role.”
“He was showing that he could take on such minor roles anytime. Don’t you get it?”
“Ah.”
At this moment, the team members who finally understood Megan’s hidden meaning had exclamation marks in their eyes. However, Megan, who swept her short brown hair, did not stop spreading the sharp misconception.
“It’s not that he’s challenging Hollywood, but he’s confident that Hollywood will come looking for him. Look at today too. He was unfazed by us, right?”
“He was extremely calm. The usual reaction of actors when contacted by a Hollywood scouting team is excitement.”
Megan crossed her long legs and stroked her chin.
“······Kang Woojin is preparing to enter Cannes with Director Ahn Ga-bok’s project in Korea.”
“Ah- that’s right.”
“Director Ahn Ga-bok has quite a reputation in Cannes and Hollywood. He’s a veteran who has filmed nearly 100 movies and has the skills of a master. Imagine a work combining Director Ahn Ga-bok and Kang Woojin being thrown into Cannes. If we can notice it, what about the global bigwigs at Cannes?”
The team members slowly nodded as if understanding.
“Everyone would take notice. There would be no need for Hollywood auditions.”
“If things go as expected, there would be no reason to take minor roles.”
Megan chuckled slightly.
“Minor roles? If he flips Cannes, he’ll start in Hollywood as a supporting actor. No, even more.”
Then she added somewhat meaningfully.
“Joseph Felton- that man figured this out early and made his move first.”
The team members tilted their heads, wondering what she meant.
The next day, the morning of the 24th. Korea.
Sunday. It was around 10 o’clock. Today was the day the first episode of ‘Our Dining Table’ would be aired. Following the episode zero last week, the anticipation had reached the sky with numerous teasers and issues over the past week, as well as many trailers uploaded by the ‘Our Dining Table’ team.
The ‘Our Dining Table’ members had gathered at a studio in Gangnam.
The studio was bustling with preparations for filming. Many cameras and lights were set up towards the filming zone. Posters related to ‘Our Dining Table’ were posted around. The dozens of staff members looked quite familiar.
This studio’s filming team was the ‘Sports Day’ team led by PD Yoon Byung-seon.
Today’s guests were the ‘Our Dining Table’ team. It was a shoot arranged by PD Yoon Byung-seon, the big name in the variety show industry, as both teams were under his line. ‘Sports Day’ was also a popular variety show, and with ‘Our Dining Table’ gaining momentum, it seemed PD Yoon Byung-seon was determined.
Anyway.
“Camera focus check!”
“Camera 1 OK!!”
“Camera 2 OK!!”
The various cameras of the filming team were directed at the ‘Our Dining Table’ members seated in a row. Ahn Jong-hak, Ha Gang-su, Hong Hye-yeon, Hwalin, and Yeon Baek-kwang. Everyone had dressed up in full makeup and dressed stylishly to show off their individual styles. However, Kang Woojin, who was in Japan, could not attend.
Although Kang Woojin was the main chef, what could be done?
Regardless, PD Yoon Byung-seon, who stood in front of the members, was energetically chatting before filming.
“By the way, is it true about Woojin and Hollywood?”
Of course, the topic was Kang Woojin. Yesterday’s news about Kang Woojin’s Hollywood debut had turned Korea upside down. So it wasn’t strange that the ‘Our Dining Table’ members were excited.
“Hey, hey, Hong Hye-yeon. Don’t you know anything?”
At Ahn Jong-hak’s question, Hong Hye-yeon, who had swept back her long hair, furrowed her brows.
“I don’t know. Just because we’re from the same company doesn’t mean I know everything, okay?”
“That’s true. bw Entertainment has gotten so big, it’s understandable.”
Hong Hye-yeon bit her lower lip slightly.
“I was surprised too.”
The youngest, Yeon Baek-kwang, wearing a beige knit sweater, interjected suddenly.
“But if it’s true that Woojin-hyung is going to Hollywood, that’s amazing, isn’t it?”
Ha Gang-su crossed his long legs and agreed.
“It’s super, super, super amazing. Going to Hollywood just a year after debuting is simply unheard of.”
“If you watch the video, the pictures look like genuine Hollywood. Wow- it would be great if it’s true. I could brag about being friends with a world-class actor.”
“But Woojin-ssi hasn’t said anything yet, right?”
Meanwhile, Hwalin, who had been quiet and wearing a white hoodie, was fiddling with her phone.
‘Should I contact him? But he must be getting tons of messages already. Ugh- I want to call him.’
Although the news of her absolute favorite’s Hollywood debut was a huge event that made her want to dance, Hwalin felt as if Kang Woojin was drifting further away. Quietly, she logged into Kang Woojin’s ‘Kang’s Heart’ fan cafe. As was the case yesterday, the ‘Kang’s Heart’ fan club cafe was currently overflowing.
At this moment, PD Yoon Byung-seon, who had been talking with Ahn Jong-hak, shook his head.
“But really, Woojin-ssi is endlessly creating buzz. He’s a hit, a hit. I had a feeling he was something special from the first time I saw him. Oh- this is really something.”
Ahn Jong-hak, shaking the phone he was holding, joined in.
“Can this speed of news be real? It’s crazy. It’s like a flood.”
“Of course. ‘Winner Movie Pictures’ is pretty big in Hollywood, right? Hyung, have you been there?”
“I’ve been there. Well, more like I passed by it. I didn’t actually go in.”
“The fact that Woojin-ssi didn’t even try to approach ‘Winner Movie Pictures’ directly, but they contacted him first—his level just skyrocketed.”
After giving PD Yoon Byung-seon a brief glance, Ahn Jong-hak changed the subject.
“But when did Woojin find the time to do a screen test amidst his busy schedule?”
“Hyung, are you 100% sure?”
“Well- there’s evidence. I’m about 80% sure.”
At this moment, the youngest, Yeon Baek-kwang, clapped his hands together.
“Ah!!! Wasn’t it then?? After we finished filming ‘Our Dining Table’ and returned, Woojin-hyung stayed in Hollywood for a bit!”
A moment of silence spread, and Ahn Jong-hak nodded in agreement, as if it made sense.
“That’s right, it was then.”
At this time, whether in the media, public opinion, or the domestic entertainment industry, the excitement was at its peak.
『[StarTalk] Kang Woojin, Hollywood debut imminent?』
『Kang Woojin, doing a screen test in Hollywood, likely to secure a spot after only 1 year og debuting, a first in Korea』
While news related to entering Hollywood wasn’t entirely unheard of in the Korean entertainment industry, it was very rare, and the fact that this time it was Kang Woojin made a huge impact.
『Domestic entertainment industry in uproar over Kang Woojin’s Hollywood debut rumor···‘Winner Movie Pictures’ remains silent』
The video from YouTuber Fact Guys, who broke the exclusive scoop, achieved massive views in just one day.
-【Exclusive Scoop!!】The Sensational Rising Actor Kang Woojin!! Secretly Took a Hollywood Screen Test Already?! Hollywood Debut Just Around the Corner! (Decisive Evidence Obtained!)｜FactGuys
-7.88 million views
Currently, numerous YouTubers following up on the story were producing endless derivative videos. However, they all sold well. Comments were exploding.
Gradually, idle talk and rumors were overflowing.
Although the news broke yesterday, today was several times more chaotic. It was especially worse because Kang Woojin, representing Korea, was currently in Japan. Given the situation, there was no way Kang Woojin’s parents wouldn’t know. However, Kang Woo-chul and Seo Hyun-mi, who were at the shop, had a rather subtle reaction.
“······Hollywood? This is the Hollywood we know, right? In America.”
“That’s right.”
“Then it’s not our Woojin, is it?”
“Hmm?”
“No- first of all, Woojin hasn’t contacted us. And our son isn’t… particularly good at English, right?”
Kang Woo-chul acknowledged honestly.
“…But he was good at listening. Only listening, though.”
A few hours later, in LA.
It was around noon in Korea and Japan. In LA, it was late evening. At that time, in a part of Hollywood lined with enormous houses. Among them was a house with an interior featuring many glass elements and a huge swimming pool in the yard, where a familiar man could be seen.
A towering height, a massive build, a foreign black man.
It was the famous Hollywood producer, Joseph Felton.
“Phew-”
Looking like he had just gotten off work, he opened the refrigerator as soon as he entered the enormous living room. Joseph pulled out a green drink. It didn’t look particularly appetizing. As he swallowed the drink, Joseph grimaced, indicating it tasted as bad as it looked.
“It tastes like garbage no matter when I drink it.”
He muttered to himself, struggling to swallow the drink, and checked the time. It was past 9 o’clock. Joseph was already managing three Hollywood movies, and he had a series of meetings lined up early tomorrow. He was contemplating about going to bed early today.
Just then,
-♬♪
His phone, lying on an expensive-looking sofa, started ringing. Joseph picked it up, muttering something like ‘here we go’ to himself. But.
“Hmm?”
He tilted his head, surprised at who was calling.
“Megan?”
The person who called was Megan Stone, the talented casting director. It was unusual for her to call at this hour. It had never happened before.
“Hmm-”
Whatever it was, Joseph set down the green drink and put the phone to his ear.
“Megan? What’s up at this hour?”
Megan Stone’s voice on the other end of the line was calm.
“It’s daytime here.”
“Daytime?”
“I’m in Japan right now.”
“Japan?”
Joseph, puzzled, suddenly remembered something.
“Ah- right. You said you were going to a film festival in Japan? You haven’t returned yet?”
“Yes. I’m coming back in two days.”
“You went there yourself? You could’ve sent a team.”
“I only believe what I see with my own eyes.”
“Haha, that’s true. So, did you find any good actors?”
“I did. A proper star.”
“A star?”
It was a surprising answer, but since Megan was quite eccentric, Joseph let it slide.
“That’s good. So? What’s the matter? This is the first time you’ve called me at this hour.”
“Kang Woojin.”
Joseph paused for a moment.
“Kang Woojin?”
“I met Kang Woojin in Japan.”
“Ah.”
Director Kyotaro and ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’ crossed his mind. It was a matter noted in Kang Woojin’s profile. Come to think of it, Kang Woojin had started filming ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’.
“Don’t tell me······Megan, are you talking about Kang Woojin when you said you found a star?”
“I saw his acting. Up close and personal.”
Damn. She was faster than me. Although it was a coincidence, Joseph felt a slight sense of defeat.
“How was it?”
“······”
“Megan?”
Joseph called out to the suddenly silent Megan Stone. She then asked abruptly,
“Joseph, are you the one who leaked the information about Kang Woojin’s ‘Last Kill 3’ screen test?”
****