Chapter 14: Short Film (3)

Translator: Dreamscribe

The short film ‘Exorcism’ was a 45-minute-long movie, lengthy for a short film. It captures an incident that suddenly erupted for a man who lives modestly while operating an detective agency alone. The man’s name is Kim Ryu-jin.

One day, a man in his 40s came to Kim Ryu-jin as a client.

His request was to verify that his wife seemed to be having an affair. Infidelity-related requests were often received by Kim Ryu-jin, so he accepted the request without much fuss.

The next day, Kim Ryu-jin immediately started observing the client’s wife.

The client’s husband left the house saying he was going on a business trip at the request of Kim Ryu-jin, and as soon as the husband left, the wife went out as if she had been waiting. As expected, the wife met another man at a subway station. He was a smart-looking man. Up to this point, it was just a suspicion.

In the thoughts of Kim Ryu-jin, who was observing,

He therefore took dozens of photos. The unknowing wife and man arrived in a villa deep in Gangwon Province in the same car. Therefore, Kim Ryu-jin parked his car on the side of the road in front of the villa and looked inside with a binocular.

Fortunately, it was a villa with large windows where the living room was clearly visible.

Nothing happened until late afternoon. The other man and wife spent time like a couple. Such as having a conversation in the living room and drinking tea or watching TV. From this point on, the smell of infidelity was strong.

The problem occurred in the late afternoon.

The man and the wife were eating rice together. That was all. There was no sign of anything. But suddenly the man stuck his nose into the soup bowl. You can’t drink soup with your nose. Such a sudden change. Kim Ryu-jin, who was watching the situation, was a little flustered. What’s going on? Did he die?

Around the time Kim Ryu-jin was pondering thousands of thoughts,

The wife who had been poking the man with his nose stuck in the soup bowl made a phone call somewhere. The next thing to appear was a man with a sturdy physique. The wife and man moved the immobile man to the car. Then the wife and the man got into the car and disappeared somewhere.

What’s going on? What just happened?

Kim Ryu-jin was very confused. He only received a request and witnessed a murder scene. Therefore, Kim Ryu-jin instinctively approached the front of the villa and looked inside. Then, noticing the window was open, he cautiously stepped into the villa.

Five minutes later, Kim Ryu-jin found a door leading to the basement.

Slowly, Kim Ryu-jin went down the stairs leading to the basement. At the bottom, there was an iron door and the door was open. Kim Ryu-jin, peeking inside through the gap, saw a man lying on the floor. He’s trembling slightly.

He’s alive. That man is alive.

With widened eyes, Kim Ryu-jin quickly went into the basement and shook the man. However, the man’s condition wasn’t good. The man had dilated pupils and had no strength throughout his body.

It was then.

A sudden sound reverberated, and noise was heard from upstairs. That’s it. The wife and the big man had returned. Convinced of this, Kim Ryu-jin hid in the corner of the basement where the broken furniture was piled up.

From here on, Kim Ryu-jin was an intruder inside the villa.

The tension, thrill, and twists in this narrow space in the villa were all mixed in the short film ‘Exorcism’. From the protagonist Kim Ryu-jin’s perspective, the villa seemed somewhat like hell.

Of course, Kang Woojin felt that hell firsthand. Only he could. He entered and exited the world of ‘Exorcism’ and directly experienced it.

-[4/Scenario (Title: Exorcism), B grade]

-[This is a completed movie script. 100% reading is possible.]

Becoming the protagonist, Kim Ryu-jin.

[“‘A:Kim Ryu-jin’ Reading preparation in progress······”]

[“······Preparation complete. This is a completed script or scenario. The implementation rate is 100%. The reading will begin now.”]

It started in an old car. As soon as Woojin recognized this, he felt various senses. The car backrest touching his back, the musty air mixed with cigarette smoke, the breath coming out of his mouth in winter, and the scene of the parking lot seen through the front window.

And.

-♬♪

The trot¹ song that was playing loudly from the car sterio. The sound is too loud. When Kang Woojin lowered the volume, the husband sitting in the passenger seat talked to him. His eyes were full of anger.

“Can you kill those bastards? How much does it cost to kill them?”

Kang Woojin answered indifferently.

“500 million won per person.”

“That’s expensive.”

“It’s a joke, man. I wouldn’t do such a thing.”

“No discount? Like a telecom or credit card discount.”

“Hey, are you listening to me? Do I look like a person who makes pizza or burgers?”

“But you do make meat, human meat.”

“I’m not killing anyone, man. Wake up.”

After a conversation mixed appropriately with cruelty and wit, Kang Woojin accepts the request. Thus, Kang Woojin unexpectedly wipes out the traces in the villa and hides frantically. By the time Woojin returned to his one-room, the character Kim Ryu-jin from ‘Exorcism’ had already been deeply imprinted.

Along with the actual experience of the breathtaking tension inside the villa.

Kang Woojin’s visit to Blue Vision Film Company was next.

He had to act cool and show off. He thought there was no harm in being careful since they were in the same entertainment industry. Nevertheless, he couldn’t help feeling a bit nervous, as he visited without any prior contact. What if he gets slammed at the door and gets told to get lost?

What to do. Just go home. It’s not the only short film in the world.

That was his mindset at the moment. However, the square-jawed man who greeted Kang Woojin inside Blue Vision Film Company was strange. Because he pretended to know Woojin as soon as he saw him.

“You were supposed to come at 3 o’clock? You’re a bit late.”

You never even contacted me in the first place. So Woojin asked back, ‘Are you talking to me?’ Regardless, the square-jawed man led Woojin into the film company on his own.

Sure, go in when asked.

What was interesting was the attitude of the square-jawed man towards Kang Woojin. Somehow, it was casual but unfriendly. Whatever it was, Kang Woojin stepped into the shabby film company office, and when the square-jawed man told him to sit, he followed his words.

At the same time, the square-jawed man said to Woojin.

“While waiting for Director Park, why don’t we take a look at your acting? You’ve prepared, right? You didn’t just come to show your face, did you?”

Director Park? Here, Kang Woojin had an intuition.

‘This man seems to be mistaking me for someone else.’

The square-jawed man was undoubtedly confusing Kang Woojin with someone else. It was clear from his words and actions. Even the square-jawed man was asking Kang Woojin to act. Is he a film company staff? It was a bit of a concern, but Woojin thought.

‘Well, does it matter?’

He quickly concluded. Since what he wanted and the current situation matched. It would be okay to tell the truth after the acting.

So, Kang Woojin casually showed Kim Ryu-jin, which he had personally experienced and was deeply engraved in him.

Honestly, he tried to do it lightly, but the emotion came out a bit too much due to several recent role readings. By the way, Woojin recently realized that he could also control the intensity of acting. He would become more free and flexible as he experiences more in the Void space.

Anyway.

“······??”

When Kang Woojin’s acting ended, the square-jawed man’s eyes were wide open. It’s as if they’re about to pop out. Woojin, who was murmuring inside, neatly wrapped it up.

“That’s it.”

A satisfyingly stern voice came out. Yes, good. This Persona is also becoming professional. However, the square-jawed man just stared at Woojin with no reaction. That was about a few dozen seconds. Then the square-jawed man finally opened his mouth.

“Uh, excuse me. How long have you been with GGO Entertainment?”

As soon as his words ended.

-Bang!

The film company’s iron door that was closed opened, and a fat man suddenly appeared.

“Ha ha ha, Director Shin! I’m a bit late!”

His voice is terribly loud. The fat man was very hearty. At least to Kang Woojin it seemed that way. As soon as he saw him, Kang Woojin realized.

‘That big man is the person who was supposed to come.’

Because there were young men and women behind him. Maybe he confused me with them? As if to prove this, the fat man pointed to the expressionless Kang Woojin and asked.

“Who is this person in the front? An actor?”

The square-jawed man asked a question to Kang Woojin.

“Director Park······doesn’t know you?”

Finally, the time came. Kang Woojin kept his poker face as much as possible and calmly answered.

“My name is Kang Woojin.”

There was no fault on Woojin’s part. It was the other side that had made the mistake on their own accord. What’s interesting here is that the square-jawed man frowned as soon as he heard Kang Woojin’s name.

“Kang…Woojin?”

He made a face as if he had heard the name Kang Woojin somewhere before, and the fat man interjected with a slightly irritated face.

“Director, what do we do? Will we keep standing here??”

The implication was that he might have been late for the appointment, but he had a prior reservation. On the other hand, Kang Woojin.

‘Ah, this man is the director?’

From the word ‘director’, he confirmed that the square-jawed man sitting in front of him was the director of ‘Exorcism’. That director, with a square jaw, answered the fat man with a bit of anger.

“No! Director Park, the appointment was at 3 o’clock! Look at the time!”

At that moment.

-Creak.

Kang Woojin casually got up.

“I’ll be going then.”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The escalating situation felt a bit annoying. It seemed like sparks would fly? He had already shown all the acting he could show. More than anything, the handsome men and women standing behind the fat man were on his mind.

‘It seems like the leading and supporting roles were all predetermined.’

It was as Kim Dae-young had said, that short films usually have the main and supporting roles confirmed. Kang Woojin thought that was a bit of a downer.

‘If it’s not a leading or supporting role, it’s useless.’

After all, ‘Exorcism’ was a small work, a short film. Rather than ambition for a role, experience as an actor was important. Anything less than a supporting role? Although it was a shame, Kang Woojin shook off his attachment. He could always find another script.

Then.

-Swoosh.

“Well then.”

Kang Woojin, who had politely said goodbye, left the film company without hesitation. Of course, Director Shin Dong-chun, tried to stop Kang Woojin awkwardly.

“Wait, wait.”

But Woojin had already disappeared. By this time, the man called Director Park had brought the young man and woman in front of Director Shin Dong-chun.

“We’re sorry for being late. Haha, but please take a look at these kids’ faces. They’re in good condition, right?”

At that very moment.

“Ah!”

While looking at the faces of the rookies, Director Shin Dong-chun suddenly remembered something. His hyung he met yesterday.

‘But the one I want to recommend is not those top stars, but another guy.’

The words that came out of PD Song Man-woo’s mouth.

‘He’s been cast in our drama. It was hard to get him. His name is Kang Woojin, he’s a new guy, so you wouldn’t know.’

Kang Woojin. Surely, it was the same name as the guy who just left. Soon, Director Shin Dong-chun, who narrowed his brow, muttered to himself.

“Could it be…the same person?”

An hour later, in a high-end Korean restaurant in Cheongdam-dong.

A large VIP room with model trees scattered around, was filled with many people. On the window side were five people, including Song Man-woo PD, and Park Eun-mi, the scriptwriter and head of the production team. Opposite them were four of Korea’s top actors.

The reason such high-value individuals gathered in one place was simple.

It was the first dinner with the main actors who were confirmed to appear in the drama ‘Profiler Hanryang’. Of course, only the lead actors gathered. Usually, at such gatherings, they mark each other’s territory before script reading and talk about the work.

Even if the actors are familiar with each other, personal and public matters are different stories.

Regardless, PD Song Man-woo, holding a water glass, looked at the actors sitting in front of him and smiled with satisfaction.

“Ha ha, it feels secure to have everyone gathered like this. It’s a magnificent sight, magnificent.”

The quickest response among the actors was from Hong Hye-yeon, with her long hair down.

“Umm-”

She smirked at Song Man-woo PD and Writer Park Eun-mi sitting opposite her.

“Aren’t you guys bigger than us?? I wonder if we can even sit in front of you.”

“Isn’t that an excessive flattery?”

“Don’t you all think the same as I do?”

When Hong Hye-yeon asked the other actors, they also agreed with her, smiling. It was then that PD Song Man-woo’s phone rang.

-♬♪

PD Song Man-woo silenced the ringing phone placed next to his water cup.

-Swish.

He picked up his phone. The caller was his close hyung, Director Shin Dong-chun. Why is the guy I met yesterday calling? With a slightly tilted head, he picked up the call.

“Hey, Dong-chun. I’m in a meeting now, so I’ll call you back later.”

“huyng.”

However, PD Song Man-woo’s words were cut off by Director Shin Dong-chun on the other end of the phone.

“Did you talk about it?”

“What?”

“Is the actor Kang Woojin, whom you were talking about when we were discussing while eating spicy chicken feet yesterday, over 180 cm tall? Does he have a somewhat strong impression and a cynical atmosphere? Also, does he have a low voice?”

“······How did you know that?”

“Did you talk about my film to him?”

“Why would I? you said no?”

“But how did he know and come looking?”

“Who.”

“The actor, Kang Woojin.”

“Did he go there? Kang Woojin?”

At the mention of the name Kang Woojin, a few people around Song Man-woo PD reacted. Writer Park Eunmi and Hong Hye-yeon across from him stared at Song Man-woo PD.

Regardless, PD Song Man-woo’s face crumpled a bit.

“······”

How did that guy, Kang Woojin, know to go there? It was too out of the blue.

‘Did Dong-chun… know that he’s my acquaintance and sought him out? No, that can’t be.’

Song Man-woo PD met Director Shin Dong-chun yesterday. Most importantly, it was recently that Song Man-woo PD encountered Kang Woojin. What on earth is going on?

With his thoughts in disarray, Song Man-woo PD stood up from his seat and said into the phone.

“Hey, I didn’t say anything. But he’s such an uncontrollable guy. Wait a moment.”

Song Man-woo PD, who had stepped out of the VIP room, continued to talk to Director Shin Dong-chun on the phone.

“So. What did that guy, Kang Woojin, do when he came looking for you?”

“He acted.”

“What?”

“What… is his acting like?”

Others would have asked why, but Song Man-woo PD, who had already had a strong experience with Kang Woojin, had an instinct.

This guy has made a mess there too.

Soon, Song Man-woo PD grinned.

“What’s your impression of his acting?”

“… As if the character I wrote.”

“Is brought to life? Rather, his portrayal is even more vivid.”

“I got goosebumps. It was the first time I was stunned by an actor’s performance.”

“That’s right. You usually react like that when you see Kang Woojin’s acting. Would you believe he learned all that by self-study?”

“Excuse me??”

When he asked back, Song Man-woo PD lowered his voice.

“He came looking for you himself- Hey, Dong-chun. I don’t know the exact situation either, and I should contact Woojin, but for now, let me just say one thing since I’m in a meeting.”

“What is it?”

“Remember when I said it was hard for me to secure Kang Woojin? I even raised his salary to get him. Writer Park is also a big fan. He’s the kind of actor I had to beg to do a drama with.”

“······What, that’s nonsense. It was a face I saw for the first time? He’s a nobody, right? But you and Writer Park did that???”

“Yes. Me and Writer Park. Well, it’s a long story. I was going to introduce you to him because he’s such a great actor. But Kang Woojin himself went to you out of the blue?”

“Yes, he did.”

As he recalled Kang Woojin’s face, Song Man-woo PD chuckled.

“A phoenix has flown to you on its own, are you really going to miss out on this treasure?”

*****

TL Notes:

1) Trot: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trot_(music)

*****