Translator: Dreamscribe
Several staff members gathered around Kang Woojin. About six people in total. Three of them wiped off Woojin’s bloodstains and soot, while the remaining three touched up his makeup and hair. Although it was a long-take scene that lasted for eight minutes, unfortunately, it ended with an NG, meaning they had to shoot it again.
Restoring his appearance to its original state was essential.
Meanwhile, the female staff surrounding Woojin were all excitedly chattering. What they had just witnessed wasn’t something they come across every day.
“Wow- Woojin-nim! That was truly amazing!!”
“Absolutely!! I seriously felt like I was watching a Hollywood movie!”
“Right!! The tension and intensity were insane!!”
“How can you do martial arts? Action? so well??!”
Among the staff, there were some who had quite a bit of experience, but even they found Kang Woojin’s long-take and ‘CQC’ impressive. Of course, Kang Woojin kept a cynical expression the entire time. Considering what he had just shown and his surroundings, it was the perfect environment to act tough.
“I just did a lot of mental rehearsal through imagination.”
Imagination? Is that even possible! Such comments continued. Even Kang Woojin was affected by their excitement. Though, only internally.
‘Honestly, it was super fun! Bang bang, huh? I shot way more bullets here than I ever did in the army?? Shooting is crazy fun.’
It might be a little lacking compared to the real thing, but it was so close to reality that he felt satisfied.
Around this time.
“……Special forces?”
The group of foreigners, including Joseph and Megan, were even more shocked. No, to be precise, it was a misunderstanding. A big-nosed man, Ethan Smith, repeated the words he heard to a potbellied executive from ‘Universal Movies’, pointing his index finger up toward Kang Woojin.
“Is that actor from a special forces background?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Ethan, the stunt coordinator of ‘Beneficial Evil’, became the host of this misunderstanding and was spreading it in real-time. The set was too chaotic, and since the conversation was happening in fluent English, nobody really paid attention. Only the conversation among more than 20 Hollywood figures continued.
“Special forces, huh……”
At this, Joseph and Megan didn’t react much. They had already heard about it before. However, the stunt teams Joseph had brought and the executives from the Hollywood film company were quite surprised. To them, Ethan calmly recited to them what had happened in the past, when he first saw Woojin at the action school.
The explanation took about five minutes.
Finally, when they seemed to understand the absurd skills and techniques of Kang Woojin, the film company executives started speaking up one by one.
“I see- So that’s why he handles action and ‘CQC’ so effortlessly.”
“No wonder, the way he held the gun and his posture didn’t look like something just practiced. Did you see his movements during the long-take? He really looked like an agent working on the field!”
Among them, the potbellied executive asked cautiously, his gaze directed toward the giant Joseph.
“So, is he. Is Kang Woojin, an action specialist actor?”
Ethan was quick to respond.
“No.”
The additional explanation came from Megan, who brushed back her brown bob.
“As I had already mentioned before, that this is the first time Kang Woojin is doing an action project.”
“……Ah, I was just asking to confirm.”
The giant Joseph, recalling Woojin’s acting, chimed in.
“To be honest, his long-take scenes and action sequences are mesmerizing, but the method acting Kang Woojin performs is even more overwhelming.”
At that moment, the eyes of all the executives from ‘Universal Movies’ widened.
“Method? His acting style is method acting??”
“Yes. He makes any role his own and brings it to life in reality. I can guarantee it’s extraordinary because I witnessed it myself.”
Had Joseph, a renowned Hollywood producer, ever praised anyone so highly? He was known to be quite stingy with compliments even towards top Hollywood actors. Yet, Joseph continued speaking.
“And you’ll get to see Kang Woojin’s work at this year’s Cannes.”
“Cannes? Are you saying he got nominated?”
“Yes. This year at Cannes, in the ‘In Competition’ section, the film ‘Leech’. Kang Woojin is the lead actor in that movie. By the way, it’s the only Korean film in the competition.”
The expectations of those whose minds had already been blown by Kang Woojin’s action scenes soared dramatically. They could see a different kind of acting from this unbelievable Korean actor, and at Cannes Film Festival, no less, at a prestigious international film festival.
‘Ah, I see now why Joseph stopped by here before heading to Cannes. From the start, his entire plan revolved around Kang Woojin.’
‘Nominated in the ‘In Competition’ section? I heard that this year’s Cannes was already packed with submissions, making the selection process quite tough. Does that mean the quality of this film ‘Leech’ is exceptional?’
Not only Joseph and Megan, but the attitudes of all the foreigners present had completely shifted from earlier. Initially, they had the eyes of critics, but now they were clearly spectators. They wanted to see another kind of performance from Kang Woojin, not just his incredible action scenes. Their expressions made that desire clear.
Soon, the leader of the stunt team that Joseph brought along slowly scanned the entire set of ‘Beneficial Evil’.
PD Song Man-woo was in conversation with the key staff, dozens of crew members were busy preparing for the reshoot, the Thai actors were returning to their positions, and Kang Woojin, who had already finished his makeup and changed his clothes, was ready to go.
He murmured quietly, replaying the 8-minute long take scene they had just seen.
“It’s incredible to carry out an 8-minute take without an NG or a single cut, but looking at the overall quality, it’s not much different from what we do in Hollywood. Is this the current level of Korean productions?”
Joseph pointed towards Ethan standing beside him.
“Ethan’s participation must have been a great help, but the truth is that Korean productions these days are reaching quite a high level. Yet, what truly pushes that level to its peak is—”
– Swoosh.
He pointed his index finger upward. There was Kang Woojin, silently checking his firearms.
“It’s because of that alien-like actor.”
Meanwhile, Miley Cara, with her long blonde hair, was also looking up at Kang Woojin. A smile spread across her lips for some reason.
‘I can’t stop looking forward to it. I was already excited to see his work at Cannes, but now I’m even more fired up.’
Then she imagined it. Not just in front of the 200 or so Hollywood figures present at the set, but also in front of the countless global filmmakers, actors, and tens of thousands of people at Cannes, all watching Kang Woojin.
‘Why am I getting chills?’
The electric sensation wasn’t only felt by her; Kim So-hyang, the Executive Director standing to her right, also felt the same. Kim So-hyang observed the expressions of the excited Joseph and the Hollywood figures before speaking.
“It’s done.”
“Huh??”
“Even those big shots from Hollywood are making such a fuss. That means.”
She murmured softly to writer Choi Na-na.
“‘Beneficial Evil’ will be a hit on a global scale.”
About an hour later.
Gunfire resounded around the abandoned factory and building where the long-take scene of ‘Beneficial Evil’ was being filmed.
-Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!!
The shoot had already been ongoing for about three hours. Though the actual shooting time for the long-take scene was a bit over ten minutes, the reason it stretched beyond three hours was simple: NGs and reshoots.
This was the fourth attempt.
Given the large number of people, equipment, and props involved, an NG meant a lot of time was required to reset everything back to the beginning. Though every film set has its challenges, long-takes especially require more effort in setting up than in the actual shooting.
Of course, it wasn’t Kang Woojin who caused the NG.
“Cut!!”
“I’m so sorry!!”
“It’s okay! Let’s go again!!”
There were various reasons—whether it was a Thai actor missing their cue, the camera operator tripping, or a problem with one of the prop guns. No matter how much you check, there are always countless variables during a shoot. And yet, there are no shortcuts in a long-take. If there’s an NG, you have to start over from the beginning.
Gradually, the hundreds of staff members started to groan in exhaustion.
“Ah- this is killing me.”
“Are you okay? This long-take thing is way more intense than I thought.”
“Tell me about it. It feels like grinding through a never-ending game quest.”
The filming crew carrying the heavy cameras, as well as the sound team, makeup team, art team, and many others, were all feeling the agony of long-take shooting with every NG. However, the protagonist, Kang Woojin, was still going strong.
“It’s been a little over 3 hours, right? But how come Woojin-ssi looks exactly the same as he did at the start??”
“Right? But Woojin-ssi was like that even when he was filming for Hanryang.”
“Is this the same though? He’s been shooting, rolling, and running for 3 hours straight. Yet, he’s the only one who looks fine, just him.”
Well, at least that’s how it seemed to the staff. As Kang Woojin prepared for another reshoot, he was actually feeling a bit tired.
‘The intensity of this shoot is insane; honestly, without the Void Space, I couldn’t have done it. Maintaining this persona is exhausting.’
Thanks to the blessings of the Void Space, he managed to keep his composure. In any case, most of the crew members of ‘Beneficial Evil’ remained on edge. The difficulty of the shoot was high, and with that came the constant risk of accidents. That’s why PD Song Man-woo’s expression stayed serious. The spectators around were the same.
At that moment.
“Action!!”
The long take shooting resumed once again.
-Bang! Bang! Bang!
A barrage of gunfire. And then, screams that seemed to tear through the ears.
“Kyaaaah!!”
“Arghhh!!”
Kang Woojin moved through the abandoned building, in perfect sync with the camera. Although the repetitive filming was tiring, it also meant they had gotten used to it. Everyone’s skills improved gradually, allowing them to smoothly execute the sequence up to about 7 minutes.
Soon, Kang Woojin, with an AK47 rifle slung over his shoulder and a gray t-shirt soaked in blood, reached the last room on the second floor of the abandoned building.
-Bam!!
As soon as he kicked the door open.
“Hiyaaaah!”
Two men lunged at him. They were gang members with long knives. One was by the door, the other was straight ahead. Woojin’s focus shifted to the one on the side. The knife swung toward his face. Kang Woojin ducked.
-Clang!
The knife struck the wall. Two short gunshots followed. The bullets pierced through the neck and face of the man on the side. He dropped to the ground. The man coming from the front hesitated in shock. He paused for a moment, then tried to run away.
-Bang! Bang!
Two bullets hit the back of his head. Woojin, slightly out of breath, wasn’t about to let him go. He wiped the blood splattered on his face. The camera shifted from front to side. Woojin checked the bullets in the AK47 rifle and searched the room. In the corner of the bathroom, he found a child with their hands and feet bound, a cloth covering their face. When he removed the cloth, a familiar face appeared.
“Check.”
It was the daughter of the drug lord they were looking for. The problem was that the girl was unconscious. The good news was that she was thin and didn’t look too heavy.
“Tsk!”
Kang Woojin clicked his tongue. The AK47 was no longer useful since he had to carry the girl with one hand. Just as Woojin reached for the Glock 17 pistol strapped to his waist-
“%)(&%@*&)*@~!!!!”
He heard the shouts of the gang members again.
“Damn, there are so many of them. Where are they mass-producing these guys? Well, I’m having fun anyway.”
Woojin briefly delivered his line with a smile spreading across his face. He then wrapped his left arm around the unconscious girl’s waist. The girl was limp due to being unconscious. The door was not an option. It would have been easier if his hands were free, but with the girl in his arms, there was a risk of an accident. Woojin turned his gaze toward the window. Below, he saw the silver car he had arrived in. It was close.
“Oh.”
There was an iron ladder attached to the window.
-Smash!
Woojin kicked the window and immediately reached out for the ladder. He quickly descended to the first floor. He roughly placed the girl in the passenger seat of the car and buckled her seatbelt. The cameraman, now on a tracking truck behind, captured the action. As soon as Kang Woojin got into the driver’s seat, he stepped on the accelerator.
-Vroom!!
With a loud exhaust sound, the silver car sped off. From here on, it was a car chase. In other words, a pursuit scene. Woojin’s car led the way while the camera truck followed behind. After driving for about 10 seconds, Woojin passed the abandoned building and reached the deserted factory.
At that moment.
-Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!!
-Vroooom!!
Three vehicles appeared along with the gunfire. Two vans and one sedan. These were the cars of the gang members stationed at the factory. The camera captured all four cars, including Woojin’s, from the rear as they maneuvered through the scene. The cars twisted and turned as they entered the outskirts of a town.
The city streets came into view.
Woojin’s car, which had been driving, suddenly slammed on the brakes.
-Screeeech!!
It was because in the middle of the road, there was another car from the gang already set up as a blockade. Kang Woojin’s sedan quickly reversed. He turned the car with smoke rising from the tires. And then.
-Bang! Bang! Bang!
Woojin, leaning out of the window, fired at the pursuing car’s window, causing the vehicle to crash into the building next to it. The camera truck arrived ahead of the chasing cars. The cameraman smoothly dismounted from the truck and mounted onto the backseat of Woojin’s sedan. Simultaneously, the car sped through the alleyway.
The camera alternated between focusing on the intense driving of Kang Woojin and the unconscious girl in the passenger seat.
The jolting vibrations were vividly captured by the camera.
The alleyway stretched on for quite some distance, taking several seconds to clear. Dust rose thickly behind them. Woojin sharply turned the wheel. A right turn. The car screeched as it struggled to change direction. The shaky camera pointed backward. Two vans were breaking through the dust, chasing after them.
The camera then focused forward again.
At the same time.
-Bang!!
The car shook violently. It felt like it was about to flip. No, the car was spinning in circles. Amidst the chaotic camera angles, Woojin’s tightly clenched jaw was captured. The car finally stopped shaking. The camera, which had been capturing Woojin’s side, quickly moved outside. Two motorcycles that had blocked Woojin’s car lay smashed. Kang Woojin also got out of the car.
He hid his body and gripped his Glock 17.
“Hoo-”
The pursuing vans stopped in quick succession. About four men got out. The one with the AK47 rifle charged forward first. Gunshots echoed.
-Bang! Bang!
It wasn’t from the gang member but from Kang Woojin. The head of the charging guy exploded. The camera moved behind Woojin. More shell casings ejected from the Glock 17. Two more shots. Another face burst apart. One more guy fell.
At this moment.
“Aaargh!!”
One guy lunged at Woojin from the side, swinging a short knife. Woojin quickly grabbed that guys wrist with his left hand.
“Ugh!”
He slammed the guy against the car door. Bang! Bang! Two shots to the chest. Blood sprayed across his face. A sound of breathing came from the right. Another guy. Woojin grabbed the barrel of his AK47 and twisted it to the side.
-Bang! Tatatatatata!
The frantic gang member fired wildly. The car door got riddled with holes. His ears ringing, Woojin ignored the noise and pushed the guy’s AK47 barrel upward. A low kick to the knee. Falling together, Woojin pressed the muzzle of the gun to the guy’s chest.
-Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The heart burst apart. Blood sprayed. The camera pulled back two steps from Woojin as he stood up from the dusty ground.
“Huh!”
Woojin looked at the corpse with its head slumped against the car door. Attached to the belt were two grenades. Soon, Woojin kicked the corpse and pulled the unconscious girl out of the car.
Then.
-Plop.
He tossed the two grenades onto the passenger seat. Slinging the girl over his shoulder, Woojin wiped the blood from his face. He picked up the AK47 rifle from the ground. He took out an earphone radio from his pocket, put it in his ear, and murmured in a low voice in English.
“I need a car.”
Kang Woojin was smiling.
The camera that was filming him from the front captured this. Woojin passed by the camera, which didn’t follow him but instead continued to focus on the smoke-covered, wrecked car with the bodies piled up around it.
And then, it happened. The grenades exploded, blowing the car apart.
-Boooom!!!
It was the grand finale of the long take.
****
For more chapters, you can check out my Patreon here –> patreon.com/dreamscribe
If you enjoy this novel, please review and rate it at Novelupdates. Thanks! 😊
To receive the latest update notifications or report mistakes, join our Discord server linked below.
Discord Server: .gg/woopread-708613326262894654