Translator: Dreamscribe
The Hollywood movie series featuring dinosaurs, ‘Jurassic Land’. It’s been decades, but the movie ‘Jurassic Land’ was such a massive hit that even Kang Woojin was well aware of it, and there wasn’t anyone who didn’t know about this movie.
How should it be put? It was as if the medium of film had turned imagination into reality.
Even though it’s an old movie, the CGI was so high-quality that it didn’t feel awkward even by today’s standards, and the story and direction were handled by top-tier director and actors from Hollywood.
‘Jurassic Land’ was one of Kang Woojin’s cherished memories.
As a child, he watched the movie with his jaw dropped, and even after becoming an adult, he occasionally revisited the ‘Jurassic Land’ series whenever he felt nostalgic. In any case, the first and second installments of ‘Jurassic Land’ were massive blockbusters, even in Hollywood.
However, for some reason, the third installment never came out.
Then, around 2016, news suddenly came out from Hollywood that ‘Jurassic Land 3’ was in production, and it was released exactly two years later. Of course, the director, production crew, and cast had all been replaced, but the core remained intact. Naturally, the technology had also advanced. However, its box office success was moderate. Still, ‘Jurassic Land 3’ brought a wave of nostalgia to many fans, especially in Korea.
Kang Woojin also watched ‘Jurassic Land 3’ at the theater.
For a few years afterward, there was no news about ‘Jurassic Land 4’. Likely, it was because the global success of the previous film wasn’t as significant as anticipated. But now, the script for the legendary dinosaur series’ ‘Jurassic Land 4’ was right in front of him.
‘Wow- damn, this is insane. Is this for real??!’
It was right before Kang Woojin’s eyes. And it was none other than the script for ‘Jurassic Land 4’ for casting actor Kang Woojin. At that moment, he was overwhelmed with awe and disbelief.
‘Is this even real?!’
Reality felt surreal. A film that had existed only on TV, the big screen, or in his imagination, a movie tucked away in a corner of his childhood memories, was now calling out to him? This was beyond astonishing. Then, Kang Woojin.
-Swiik.
He checked Jurassic Land 4’s script again, along with several other scripts and screenplays handed over by Choi Sung-gun. Or rather, he was specifically checking the black squares attached to them. Fortunately, all the black squares were intact.
At this point.
“I see that script caught your eye, as expected?”
Choi Sung-gun, seated across from him, chimed in.
“To be honest, I was surprised too when I saw the title ‘Jurassic Land.’”
Agreed, me too. Woojin thought internally while lowering the script and asked.
“When did you receive it?”
“’Jurassic Land 4′? Yesterday. As for the other scripts and screenplays, they all came in within a few days after Cannes ended.”
Choi Sung-gun chuckled faintly.
“Cannes is really something, isn’t it? Sure, you set off a bombshell with your Best Actor Award, but I never expected such a legendary series like ‘Jurassic Land’ to reach out so quickly. At first, I thought this might be a scam. But after verifying it, it’s legit. This is indeed the next installment in the ‘Jurassic Land’ series.”
“……”
“But as soon as I received it, I did some digging about ‘Jurassic Land 4.’ There’s absolutely nothing. Not in Korea, and not even in Hollywood. It seems they’re keeping everything strictly confidential. The proposal itself even included a clause about non-disclosure.”
“The details?”
Choi Sung-gun immediately pulled out a few transparent files he had prepared. He opened one and continued.
“They sent the official script and are in the casting phase, so it seems to be in the early stages of pre-production. Most of the details, including the director, haven’t been disclosed. The key takeaway from their proposal is that they are very eager to cast you and want a meeting. However, the role they’ve proposed is described as a supporting one.”
“A supporting role.”
“Yeah, that’s right. However, the fact that they sent the official script before even meeting you, and their email was overflowing with enthusiasm about casting you, suggests that you can consider this offer 80% confirmed. They must have already thoroughly vetted you before reaching out.”
Finishing his explanation, Choi Sung-gun handed the transparent file to Woojin. Inside were details about ‘Jurassic Land 4’ and the proposal from the production company. Both the original English script and its Korean translation were included. Kang Woojin, without much hesitation, started reading the original English version.
‘Hmm- their desire is certainly evident in the proposal?’
As it turned out, ‘Jurassic Land 4’ strongly expressed its desire for a meeting with Kang Woojin. It was blatantly obvious that this was 100% an aftermath of the Cannes Film Festival’s impact.
‘Still, I didn’t expect a movie of this scale to reach out so quickly.’
However, the fact that it was a ‘supporting role’ bothered Kang Woojin slightly. Truthfully, if it were any other actor, they’d jump at the chance without hesitation to schedule a meeting. After all, it was the legendary ‘Jurassic Land’ series’ sequel. Most likely, this would be the first time in Jurassic Land’s history that a Korean actor would be cast, and if this news went public worldwide, it would undoubtedly cause a major sensation.
From a general perspective, even a supporting role in the ‘Jurassic Land’ series was an extraordinary opportunity.
At this point, ‘Last Kill 3’ flashed through Woojin’s mind.
Sure, the ‘Jurassic Land’ series was amazing, but was it something worth staking everything on?
‘Haa- Not really.’
They might call him crazy, but to be frank, Kang Woojin felt the supporting role was lacking. It seemed Choi Sung-gun, sitting across from him, felt the same way, as he scratched the back of his ponytail and spoke up.
“This is… I don’t know. I wonder if I’m the crazy one, or if being around you has made me lose touch with reality, but no matter how legendary ‘Jurassic Land’ is, it feels like a waste for you to take on a supporting role. Ah, even as I say this, I wonder if I’m right. But honestly, that’s how I feel.”
Choi Sung-gun looked as though he was grappling with some cognitive dissonance.
“On the other hand, from an agency CEO’s perspective, ‘Jurassic Land 4’ has an insane level of influence. If we turn this down, and if it becomes known that we turned it down, we’d be called morons here and in Hollywood.”
“……”
“Of course, it’s your choice. So, what do you think?”
Lowering the transparent file he was reviewing, Kang Woojin answered indifferently.
“All projects are the same to me. If it’s not interesting, I’ll pass.”
The time was around 9 a.m.
The black van carrying Kang Woojin was almost at the massive filming set for ‘Beneficial Evil’ in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province.
-Vroom!
They were about 10 minutes away. Inside the van, a dozen or so members of Woojin’s team could be seen. As always, Choi Sung-gun, who usually occupied the passenger seat, wasn’t present today. He had plenty of work to deal with and would join them later. After all, he had a mountain of tasks piled up during the ten days at Cannes.
In any case, Kang Woojin was:
“……”
Sitting silently, reviewing a stack of papers. These were the five scripts and screenplays Choi Sung-gun had handed him in the morning. While he’d already heard explanations for all of them, Woojin started by skimming through the simpler ones first- titles, summaries, and so on.
As it turned out.
‘They’re all interesting in their own way.’
All five projects were quite interesting. Not just from the perspective of an actor, but even through the lens of ordinary civilian Kang Woojin, they seemed appealing. Two were French films, two were Hollywood films, and one was an American TV series. Woojin, deep in his concept-focused mindset, inwardly clicked his tongue.
‘Hmm- honestly, I don’t mind doing any of them, but in terms of global influence, Hollywood definitely beats France, doesn’t it?’
One of the Hollywood scripts was ‘Jurassic Land 4’, while the other was a relatively gentle family drama. The TV series seemed like a success story of a singer-songwriter? Judging by the offers, the French projects were aiming to cast Kang Woojin in a lead role, whereas the Hollywood films and TV series offered main or supporting roles.
Well, having skimmed through the content adequately, it was time for the next step.
-Swipe.
Without making it obvious, Kang Woojin moved his index finger. He was aiming for the black square.
Soon.
-Poke!
The interior of the van transformed entirely into the pitch-black void space. As soon as he entered the void, Woojin dropped his heavy concept and, while cracking his neck from side to side, muttered,
“Ahh- I’m a bit tired. Might as well take a break while I’m here.”
He walked toward the floating white rectangles. He was planning to check the grades of all five works. It would feel incomplete not to, wouldn’t it? First, he stopped in front of the white rectangle corresponding to the first project he chose to examine. Among the various works, the one Woojin selected was visible at the far end.
-[11/Scenario(Title: Jurassic Land 4), B-grade]
-[*This is a scenario with very high completion. 100% reading possible.]
The first project he decided to check was, of course, ‘Jurassic Land 4’. Seeing it, Woojin smiled faintly.
“B grade? Ha- this is honestly a bit tricky. Does this movie’s grade apply to both domestic and international audiences?”
Either way, a B-grade was average. On top of that, the role offered by the ‘Jurassic Land 4’ team was a supporting one. Gradually, Woojin’s interest began to tilt toward indifference. If the grade for ‘Jurassic Land 4’ had been at least A, he might have been more eager, but with a B-grade? It left him feeling like, Is this really necessary?
“Sure, it’ll make headlines, but if the movie itself ends up being just moderately successful, it’s a bit…. My filmography would also suddenly take a hit.”
Though there was a hint of regret, Kang Woojin brushed away his current feelings and selected the white rectangle representing ‘Jurassic Land 4’. Whether he took the project or not, Woojin had two clear objectives right now.
One was…
“Either way, damn, I’ll get to see dinosaurs up close. There’s no way I’m missing that.”
It was the chance to experience dinosaurs firsthand. The other was…
“Let’s see- the character’s name was probably ‘Juan Gonzalez’, right?”
He was speculating about a new ability engraving.
A character in the work named ‘Juan Gonzalez’.
And in his lines…
[“‘E: Juan Gonzalez’ preparing to read…”]
[“A new language outside of your basic ones has been detected. Acquiring ‘Spanish’ first.”]
‘Spanish’ was included.
How much time had passed?
Everything in front was pitch black. This was Kang Woojin’s perspective. It was humid. And hot. The temperature against his skin was considerably high. A peculiar smell lingered in the air. It was a mix of a green, earthy scent and a sharp, almost metallic tang. The sound of insects buzzed around his ears. It wasn’t a high-pitched buzz sound, it was more of a low, fluttering thrum. Was it really insects?
Some barking-like noises could also be heard from the sky.
A bird? Or maybe something else? Overall, Woojin’s senses were heightened to an extraordinary degree. It felt both familiar and alien. The ground beneath his feet was damp and sticky. His heartbeat raced.
Kang Woojin opened his eyes.
-Swiik.
The dark vision turned gray, and then even that began to fade as color returned to his eyes. The most vivid color was green.
Yes, this was a forest.
Woojin, now with his eyes fully open, slowly turned his head. A forest? Was this really a forest? His pupils said yes, but his brain rejected the idea. There were too many unfamiliar plants. What about the trees rooted in the ground? They all seemed to reach the heavens, boasting a tremendous height. Each tree looked like it had lived at least a thousand years.
Woojin stood in the midst of a dense thicket of these ancient trees and unfamiliar plants.
“……My God.”
A mixture of awe and astonishment escaped from Woojin’s lips. It wasn’t in Korean, English, or French, it was Spanish. After all, Kang Woojin was now possessing Juan Gonzalez’s world. A different world, one engraved into his being, now perceived through his eyes. The heart of Kang Woojin, or rather Juan Gonzalez, pounded relentlessly.
So much so that his ears and head buzzed with a constant hum.
“Hoof- hu- is, is it really there? That thing?”
Muttering under his breath, a bead of sweat slid down Woojin’s cheek. He wore a large safari hat, a short-sleeved shirt, and jeans. In one hand, he held a black camera.
-Swiik.
Tense and brimming with anticipation, he took a step forward and leaned against a massive tree right in front of him. Its trunk was at least five times the width of a person’s body, and its height was so great that its top wasn’t visible. The forest was filled with countless such trees. Clearly, this wasn’t an ordinary forest you’d find anywhere.
Woojin, holding the camera, took pictures of the vast forest and the towering trees.
As time passed, sweat poured down his body like rain. His heart rate climbed so high that he was gasping for breath. Was the air here lacking oxygen? Still, he endured it. His adrenaline was surging in response to the breathtaking scenery.
At that moment.
-Whoop!
A sharp sting and a shiver ran down his right forearm. Woojin instinctively turned his head to the right.
“Aaaahhhh!!”
He screamed in shock. A bug with wings the size of his palm was clinging to his forearm. It looked like a mosquito but was as large as a human torso. Letting out a horrified yell, Woojin flailed his arm wildly and fell backward onto the ground. Thanks to the soft, squishy forest floor, the pain was minimal, but he could vividly feel cold moisture seeping into his buttocks.
-Whoosh!
After seeing the monstrous mosquito fly up into the sky, Woojin finally let out a sigh of relief.
“Ha- hoo, damn it.”
His hands and feet were trembling. He realized that the camera he had been holding had fallen and was now stuck in the ground. After wiping the sweat streaming down his face, Woojin stretched out his hand to pick up the camera.
At that moment.
-Crack!
A sharp, intense sound of movement reached his ears. Following it came the sound of grass brushing and slapping against each other.
And then, faint vibrations traveled through the ground.
Startled, Woojin slowly turned his head around. But before he could complete the motion, enormous bodies brushed past him on both sides.
-Wooooouup.
A strange, deep bellow, rough, armored skin, short but sturdy legs, and two long, sharp horns. At first glance, they looked like rhinoceroses. But they couldn’t possibly be rhinos. These creatures were at least ten times the size of a human. Not one, but several of them, a herd of eight. Still seated on the ground, Kang Woojin involuntarily gaped with his mouth wide open.
“Ah-”
With hushed, shallow breaths, Woojin watched the creatures pass by. Each step they took produced a thunderous thud-thud sound. Staring at the massive creatures beside him with a dazed expression, Woojin murmured again,
“Triceratops……”
Triceratops. In other words, dinosaurs. Then, suddenly, he froze. The lead Triceratops stopped in its tracks, causing the entire herd to come to a halt as well. Then, the Triceratops began grazing on the surrounding grass.
What an bizarre yet magnificent sight?
Woojin’s eyes widened as though they were about to burst, and a slightly manic smile crept across his lips. Slowly, he began lifting his rear off the ground. Soon, Woojin, whose height was only slightly greater than the legs of a Triceratops, stretched out his hand toward the belly of the Triceratops grazing right in front of him.
-Sss.
Its skin was rough, almost gritty, yet it had a soft, pliable texture beneath the surface. Each time the Triceratops breathed, its belly expanded and contracted. As it let out a faint puff sound and continued grazing, it turned its massive head toward Kang Woojin. The two horns sliced through the air, creating a whistling sound.
“……”
Fortunately, the Triceratops didn’t seem to care about Woojin and simply returned to eating the grass.
“Hah… hahaha.”
Letting out a faint, incredulous laugh, Kang Woojin shook his head in disbelief. With trembling hands, he picked up the camera that had fallen to the ground. Just as he was about to capture an image of the gigantic Triceratops in front of him,
The ground began to shake.
At first, he thought it might be his imagination, but it wasn’t. The tremors grew stronger and closer. And then, there was more.
-…Thump, thump, thump!
Thunderous explosions reverberated through the air.
In that moment,
-Roooaaarrrr!
The grazing Triceratops bolted away in a panic. The sudden stampede knocked Kang Woojin to the ground once more, causing him to fall forward into the mud, his face smearing into the wet soil.
And then.
-Boom!! Booooom!!
A deafening roar of splitting earth came from directly behind him. Woojin, lying face-down, felt his body involuntarily start to tremble. His hands shook uncontrollably as well. Crack. The sound of trees snapping echoed. Something enormous was definitely behind him.
-Grrrrrrrr.
It sounded like a typhoon, but it wasn’t. It was the breathing of whatever was behind him. Woojin’s lower half was damp. Some of it was from the moisture in the ground, but, truthfully, some of it was from fear. Frozen in place while lying face down, he slowly began to turn his head toward the source of the sound.
“……H-heup.”
A monster as tall as a building was staring down at the fallen Kang Woojin. Its arms were absurdly short, but its head was as massive as the Triceratops from moments ago. The creature suddenly let out a ferocious roar.
-GRAAAWWWWRRRRRRR!!!
Kang Woojin instinctively leapt to his feet and started running.
“AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!”
It was a Tyrannosaurus.