Chapter 362: Chain (11)

Translator: Dreamscribe

Wear a mask. Smile. But what am I smiling for? I've forgotten where the truth lies. Who am I, and is the expression I'm wearing now real or fake?

It’s fake.

But it's also real. Because I change masks hundreds of times a day. It's an illusion and phantom of my own making. To belong, I must speak lies whose original intent has faded. The world doesn’t turn its back, you see. A society crushed under order isn’t fantastical, but it’s not hopeless either. However, when you look closely, it’s laughable to the point of absurdity.

There’s no romance, only chaos.

Ah- I'm tired. But why do you keep prodding at me? The current state of self-acquiescence is devastatingly desolate. Is this my true feelings? Where do my genuine emotions exist? They've become so distant that both form and scent have vanished.

Subtle contempt is unpleasant, but I ignore it.

Silent persecution is widespread, but I accept it.

Static discrimination crosses the line, but I close my ears.

Excessive prejudice repeats, but I adapt to it.

Sharp disdain hurts, but I endure it.

……Ah, what is this?

Screw you.

This is why the horrifying clown was born.

Yes, that’s me.

·

·

·

·

For hours now, Director Ahn Ga-bok had been engrossed in the script for 'Pierrot'. As if shaken by the lingering tremor of excitement, he let out a faint laugh while lowering the synopsis he had just read.

“......Unbelievable. Or should I say, remarkable.”

It was so fascinating that Director Ahn Ga-bok, who initially intended to skim it briefly, ended up reading the entire script in one sitting. He was utterly captivated. Throughout his reading of 'Pierrot', he couldn’t contain his excitement.

'They say it's comedy from afar but tragedy up close.'

The protagonist clown in the script 'Pierrot' transforms into a monster beyond the bounds of 'ordinary', but to society or the world at large, he was not seen as a monster but a mere insect. It was the birth of a hero in an age of chaos, disguised as the awakening of a villain.

Turning points and variations.

Right now, Director Ahn Ga-bok thought.

'How many emotions must be shown and hidden? And what about all those masks. If Kang Woojin were to do this-'

After reading the script for 'Pierrot', he couldn’t stop thinking about Kang Woojin. But at the same time, even if Woojin were to reject it, Ahn Ga-bok’s desire and ambition wouldn’t wane. That’s how much the script 'Pierrot' had captivated him, particularly its dark humor.

The unique contrasts and harsh reality were palpable.

However.

“......Can I even handle this project?”

Being enchanted by a script and directing it are two entirely different matters. Director Ahn Ga-bok felt a sudden wave of anxiety. Could he, with his extensive experience, take on such an overwhelming project? Even as a seasoned veteran, he couldn’t easily predict the outcome.

Then, unlike himself who won the 'Palme d'Or' after 100 films, Director Ahn Ga-bok.

"That kid Kang Woojin would probably scoff at this."

He was reminded once again of Woojin, who had clinched Cannes’ “Best Actor Award” in just two years. Right, if I can’t do it, I’ll find another great director. But this is something that Kang Woojin, that monstrous guy, should do to make it shine. Whether I’ll be merely the messenger of this work or its director, I shouldn’t decide hastily.

-Flap.

Director Ahn Ga-bok reopened the first page of the 'Pierrot' script. He was about to dive into further reading and analysis.

By the way.

-Flap.

Starting today, Director Ahn Ga-bok planned to stay in LA for several days.

A few days later, November 4. LA.

In the afternoon. At the massive amusement park located in the heart of Hollywood, or rather, at 'Columbia Studios', one of Hollywood’s 'Big Five' distribution and film companies. With over 30 sets labeled “Stage” and various themed filming locations, even the areas without ongoing shoots were bustling with tourists.

Inside the main building of 'Columbia Studios', numerous discussions about film production and planning were taking place at that very moment.

It was only natural, given its status as one of the largest distribution and film companies in Hollywood.

Of course, 'Pierrot' was no exception.

In a large meeting room of the main building, both familiar and unfamiliar foreigners were gathered. They sat around a rectangular table. Roughly a dozen or so people? Among them, four familiar foreigners stood out, figures like the bald man with glasses, recently involved in meetings with Director Ahn Ga-bok, and executives from 'Columbia Studios'.

The overall meeting seemed to be nearing its end, as the gathered individuals were now exchanging light remarks rather than serious discussions.

“By the way, has Director Ahn Ga-bok contacted us yet?”

One of the executives, a man with a protruding belly, brought up Director Ahn Ga-bok. A nearby employee shook his head.

“Not yet.”

The pot-bellied executive crossed his arms and snorted.

“Hm-he’s taking longer than I thought to decide.”

Another foreign executive chimed in.

“Well, he must be deliberating. Not only because of the language barrier, but also because Hollywood’s and Korea’s film production systems are entirely different. Surely, it’s not a decision to be made lightly. After all, it hasn’t been long since ‘Leech’ won the Palme d’Or.”

“But if it takes too long, we might have to consider alternatives. Time is money, after all.”

“Of course. But since we have an agreed timeframe, let’s wait a little longer.”

“Do you think he’s finished reading the script for ‘Pierrot’?”

“He said he’d read it right away, so probably.”

At this moment, the bald foreigner, who had spoken the most with Director Ahn Ga-bok, stroked his chin while seated nearby.

“I really hope Director Ahn Ga-bok takes on this project. It would be a significant loss if he declines.”

In fact, the decision to appoint Director Ahn Ga-bok for the film 'Pierrot' had already been discussed and agreed upon by the studio, the executive producer, and others involved. There were no objections to him holding the megaphone. Even if someone had complaints, it wouldn’t matter much. After all, Hollywood’s production system is strictly compartmentalized.

Once the distribution company and studio decides on the director, that’s the end of it.

While consultations with the producer take place, the other teams generally don’t express much discontent regarding the director’s appointment. Perhaps it’s more accurate to say they simply don’t concern themselves with it. In any case, while discussing Director Ahn Ga-bok, the executive shifted the topic.

“Director Ahn Ga-bok brought up Kang Woojin, didn’t he? He seemed to want to include him in the film.”

“Understandable. Director Ahn Ga-bok and Kang Woojin worked together to create one of the biggest sensations at Cannes this year. Besides, Kang Woojin was also the central figure in ‘Leech.’”

“Hmm- Kang Woojin’s performance in ‘Leech’ was... absurdly realistic and fantastic.”

“We only saw that performance on the screen, but Director Ahn Ga-bok saw it up close, didn’t he? It would be strange not to be captivated.”

The topic shifted to Kang Woojin, and the bald foreigner joined in.

“To deliver such monstrous performances, he must have gone through a lot of pain. He must have poured in enormous amounts of time and analyzed the role until the verge of death. Otherwise, such method-transcending performances, where the character seems to step into reality, would be impossible.”

“I agree. It’s hard to even guess how much time he devoted to ‘Leech.’ Probably every moment, except for eating and bathroom breaks. No, he might have poured in absolutely everything.”

“But this time, things are different from ‘Leech.’ We don’t know how much time Director Ahn Ga-bok gave Kang Woojin to prepare, but for our ‘Pierrot’, he’ll have to design and develop the character within a limited timeframe and present it to everyone. The same applies to every actor on the casting board.”

This referred to auditions or screen tests.

“Every actor is given equal time to show their best within that window. That’s the difference between ‘Leech’ and ‘Pierrot’. Of course, Kang Woojin’s value is high, but that difference is not concerning.”

“He’s already on our casting board, but there is some risk. The fact that this will be his first experience in Hollywood is also a factor.”

“On top of that, with the intense competition among actors, unlike in ‘Leech’, the pressure of a limited timeframe could make him waver.”

Kang Woojin’s evaluation wasn’t stingy, nor was it overly abundant. While his recognition had skyrocketed due to the Cannes Film Festival’s “Best Actor Award” and associations with Miley Cara, it was undeniable that Hollywood was unfamiliar territory for Woojin. Conversely, one could say that Hollywood itself had never experienced Kang Woojin. Furthermore, Hollywood was known for being notoriously stringent when casting actors.

Still, one thing was certain.

“Even so, there’s no doubt that Kang Woojin is a fascinating actor.”

Kang Woojin’s Hollywood prominence had soared to the point where he was now being mentioned alongside numerous Hollywood actors, a far cry from the past. As their conversation continued for several dozen minutes, the group began to rise from their seats, signaling the end of what had been a rather lengthy meeting.

It was then.

“Hm?”

The bald executive with glasses paused. His phone began ringing. After a brief moment of taking the call, he suddenly smiled. Lowering the phone, the bald executive addressed the others with a definitive statement.

“Director Ahn Ga-bok has agreed to take on ‘Pierrot.’”

Meanwhile, in Korea.

Unlike the afternoon in LA, it was morning in Korea. Roughly around 9 a.m. Kang Woojin could be found in a large filming studio in Seoul. Dozens of cameras, lights, and crew members had gathered. At the front, in a set adorned with a Netflix logo and the title 'Beneficial Evil' on the back wall, Kang Woojin sat alone.

He was dressed in a navy suit, with his hair and makeup fully done.

Every camera and crew member was focused solely on Kang Woojin. The reason was simple. Woojin was about to film a promotional introduction video for 'Beneficial Evil'. These videos, which would air before the teaser or trailer, were being pre-recorded in advance. The scheduled shoots included one solo video featuring Kang Woojin and another with all the lead and supporting actors from 'Beneficial Evil'.

These two distinct concepts were prepared.

Judging by the fact that Kang Woojin was the only actor present in the studio, it seemed like this was the shoot for his solo cut. Woojin sat in the center of the filming zone, on a prop chair, surrounded by staff members making last-minute adjustments to his makeup.

“......”

Of course, Kang Woojin sat with a solemn expression, his eyes closed. However, inside, his thoughts were far removed from the concept of the shoot, teeming with unrelated musings.

‘Damn, why am I suddenly craving tteokbokki? And sundae too. Dipping sundae in tteokbokki sauce with a shot of soju would be amazing-'

It wasn’t surprising, though. Due to his grueling schedule, Kang Woojin often skipped meals. Although the staff did their best to take care of him, it was easy to forget to eat amidst the chaos. Still, whenever a craving for something specific struck him like this, he made sure to satisfy it no matter what.

At that moment, a man approached.

-Swoosh.

It was PD Song Man-woo, wearing a cap pulled low, who had been handling the entire studio. As he approached, the staff members who had been fixing Woojin’s makeup stepped back. Showing the filming storyboard to Woojin, PD Song Man-woo gave a brief explanation before saying.

"Since we're moving straight into 'Beneficial Evil' filming from lunch, you don't need to strain too much for this shoot. Just deliver the set lines moderately well. I'll handle the rest in editing."

“Understood, PD-nim. I’ll do it like I usually do.”

Suddenly, PD Song Man-woo lowered his voice.

“By the way, Woojin-ssi. That- Miley Cara situation, when are you planning to go public with it? I noticed this morning that rumors are spreading like wildfire among foreign press and public opinion overseas, and in Korea, well, there are already tons of clickbait articles flooding in. It’s heating up for sure. If you let it burn any further, the pot might end up scorched.”

In other words, if they stirred things up any more, it could hurt Woojin’s image. Soon after, Kang Woojin responded with a detached expression.

"I was actually thinking it's about time to go public with it anyway.”

A few hours later.

By now, Kang Woojin had traveled from Seoul to Yeoncheon in Gyeonggi Province. The massive set complex for 'Beneficial Evil'. Naturally, it was right before shooting, and Kang Woojin, holding a sharp knife in his hand,

-Sss.

summoned 'Jang Yeon-woo'. The staff once again marveled in awe.

“Doesn’t Woojin-ssi’s pre-shoot transformation give you goosebumps every time?”

“Exactly. He’s so calm usually, but the moment the camera starts rolling, it’s like a lightning bolt hits him and he transforms into a completely different person.”

“It feels even more intense than during 'Profiler Hanryang'. His emotional switching is so much faster now. That was already insane back then, but when I see Woojin-ssi these days… it’s like 'Jang Yeon-woo' is actually living in the real world.”

The word 'instantaneous' didn’t even do it justice anymore. The process of becoming one with the character had not only shortened but had grown more intense. Moreover, with the added 'freedom of the role', his transformation had become exponentially more fluid.

“Ready- and action!!”

It wouldn’t be any different for 'Pierrot'.