Chapter 365: Power (2)

Translator: Dreamscribe

‘Pierrot’ was rated EX+, one level higher than ‘Beneficial Evil’s’ EX rating. Honestly, Kang Woojin couldn’t quite imagine what that meant.

“Wow- shit, EX+ grade?? Just how insanely explosive does that have to be??”

It was impossible to gauge. The only thing he could guess was that it would definitely be higher than 'Leech', which was SSS-grade and had turned the Cannes Film Festival upside down, and 'Pierrot' would be even more extraordinary than that.

“I mean, ‘Leech’ won the Cannes Palme d'Or and the Best Actor Award. On top of that, its audience numbers after release are insane, aren’t they?”

That was as far as his understanding went. If someone as knowledgeable as Choi Sung-gun were here, he could probably provide an answer, but Kang Woojin hadn't reached that level yet. So Woojin just smiled.

‘Whatever, as long as I do what I need to do well, that’s enough.’

After all, thinking deeply about it here would be pointless. As long as he kept acting like his life depended on it, that day would eventually come. What mattered now was to focus on the filming of ‘Beneficial Evil’ and securing the uncertain lead role in ‘Pierrot’.

-Swsh.

Woojin, who had been staring at the white rectangle, suddenly lay down. Then, looking at the void space’s dark emptiness, he muttered.

"Getting the role, huh- Well, what was that title back then? Ah, wonder if it'll be similar to 'Last Kill 3'?"

The system was undoubtedly the same. ‘Last Kill 3’ and the ‘Pierrot’ were both Hollywood films, after all. The difference was the role itself. Plus, the size of the film companies was like heaven and earth. In other words, it wouldn’t be as easy as ‘Last Kill 3.’

Though it was hard to clearly imagine, Woojin instinctively felt it. However, he quickly brushed it off nonchalantly.

‘I plan to fight aggressively to win the role, but even if I don’t get it, there’s no need to cling to it. It’s not like this is the only movie out there.’

The EX+ grade was a shame, but just as Kang Woojin thought, Hollywood, and the world, was vast. Somewhere out there, another project of the same grade would surely emerge. Organizing his thoughts that way, Kang Woojin took a break in the void space. Then, after lying down as long as he wanted, he called out 'exit' and returned to reality once again.

In a van driving on the highway.

Having restored his energy, Kang Woojin looked down at the script for the ‘Pierrot’ on his lap with a calm expression. He turned the pages.

-Flap.

It was to fully read the script before the reading (experience) in the void space.

About two hours later.

Having arrived in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi-do, Kang Woojin was now deeply immersed in filming as ‘Jang Yeon-woo.’

“Hi- action!!”

The hundred or so staff, actors, and PD Song Man-woo moved as one. In the midst of the bustling set, a man with a ponytail stood with his arms crossed and a serious expression. It was Choi Sung-gun. Watching Woojin, who was passionately performing as ‘Jang Yeon-woo’, Choi Sung-gun thought to himself.

‘...I need to lay out the pieces well for this.’

He was strategizing, naturally, about the ‘Pierrot’. Soon, Choi Sung-gun recalled his conversation with Director Ahn Ga-bok from earlier that morning.

It began with Director Ahn Ga-bok sitting across from him and explaining the situation.

“For now, everything about the ‘Pierrot’ is still top secret.”

Quick-witted, Choi Sung-gun immediately responded.

“Of course. Just looking at it, I can tell it’s a massive project. Only Woojin and I will know about it.”

“It won’t take too long. Since Woojin has decided to jump into this project, I’ll contact you soon with the right timing to announce it to the world.”

"...I understand. But Director-nim.”

“Hm?”

"About how you brought this work... what were the circumstances that led to this?"

Why did you suddenly go to Hollywood, and as soon as you returned to Korea, you handed the ‘Pierrot’ to Kang Woojin? Even setting up this urgent meeting. Choi Sung-gun’s curiosity was soon cleared up with one sentence from Director Ahn Ga-bok.

“Because I’m the director of this film.”

Choi Sung-gun was startled. Of course, Kang Woojin remained composed.

“What?!! Really?? Oh my, congratulations, Director-nim!!”

Choi Sung-gun immediately realized that Director Ahn Ga-bok had landed his first Hollywood directing role. It made sense, winning the 'Palme d'Or' at Cannes had surely caught Hollywood's attention, but even he hadn’t expected it to happen this quickly. In contrast, Director Ahn Ga-bok was calm.

“Thank you. Hmm- well, I suppose I should tell you as much as I’m allowed to for now.”

“......”

“I’ll be directing the 'Pierrot', and the Hollywood studio producing it is 'Columbia Studios'.”

“!!!”

Choi Sung-gun’s eyes widened in shock once again. It was only natural. 'Columbia Studios' was undoubtedly one of Hollywood’s top major production and distribution companies. In other words, the 'Pierrot' had to be an extraordinary script. Choi Sung-gun turned his gaze to Kang Woojin, sitting beside him. Woojin, however, had been quietly listening with no change in expression.

The only one surprised was Choi Sung-gun.

Suppressing his excitement as much as possible, Choi Sung-gun murmured to Director Ahn Ga-bok.

“Sorry, please continue.”

“I’m sorry, but I can only give you those two pieces of information for now. Ah, but there’s something else I should mention since 'Columbia Studios' is fine with sharing it.”

Director Ahn Ga-bok’s gaze fixed on Kang Woojin.

“Woojin, your name was already on Columbia Studios’ casting board. Even if it wasn’t me, they would’ve approached you. However, I insisted on personally giving you the script.”

“O-Our Woojin was?”

“Yes. It was likely the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival that played the biggest role.”

“......”

“Of course, you’re not the only one. The casting board includes plenty of Hollywood’s top actors.”

Director Ahn Ga-bok continued to explain.

“That said, I didn’t give the 'Pierrot' script to Woojin specially in advance. Columbia Studios is already in motion, too. They’re likely distributing the script to other actors on the casting board as we speak. They emphasized equal time.”

“...Equal time?”

“Yes. They’ll give the script to everyone at nearly the same time and call them in for tests around the same period. From there, they’ll choose the actor who suits the 'Pierrot' best.”

“Ah.”

"While the time is the same, they want to see which actor has the strongest intensity. Or."

Director Ahn Ga-bok stared directly at Kang Woojin.

“To see who can bring that ‘horrifying clown’ into reality the fastest.”

At this point, Choi Sung-gun snapped back to reality. The 'Beneficial Evil' set came back into view. Watching Woojin amidst the filming chaos, he murmured softly.

"A horrifying clown-"

Then, almost immediately.

‘'Columbia Studios' film. Directed by Ahn Ga-bok, a living legend in Korean cinema. If Woojin lands this...’

His perspective shifted to that of an entertainment company CEO.

‘The first 'Palme d'Or' and Best Actor award in Korea’s history, followed by Hollywood.’

It would be a massive headline.

On Sunday the 8th, in LA.

While it was sunrise in Korea, it was afternoon in LA, the center of the American or global film industry. Therefore, countless related companies were gathered here in enormous numbers. From distribution companies and film studios to agencies and various production companies, and so on.

In other words, multiple movies were always being produced at the same time.

The genres were just as diverse. In the midst of all this, inside a massive conference room of a major film studio in LA, a meeting was underway regarding a film production. A ㄷ-shaped table was packed with foreigners sitting shoulder to shoulder, each with laptops open in front of them. The room’s overall lighting was dim, and on the screen at the front, a video was playing.

-♬♪

It was the music video for Miley Cara’s new album title track, which had racked up hundreds of millions of views and was currently shaking up the Billboard charts.

-【alcoholism(feat. WooJin)】｜Miley Cara

All the foreigners seated in the conference room watched the music video on the front screen in their own postures. The peculiar thing was that they weren’t focused on Miley Cara but someone else. Specifically, they kept replaying the scenes featuring a Korean actor instead of Cara.

It was Kang Woojin in the music video.

When the foreigner woman sitting in front, who was presenting this meeting, moved her mouse, the video stopped. But it wasn't over. The foreigner woman now played another prepared video.

-♬♪

This time, a Japanese song accompanied by an animation started playing. It was the opening song of 'Male Friend: Remake', which had once topped the Japanese Oricon chart. So why were these foreigners listening to songs and vocals centered around Kang Woojin?

Even their expressions were noticeably serious.

After the opening song of the anime 'Male Friend: Remake', another track began playing. This time, it was the OSTs from Netflix’s 'Male Friend'. All of them were songs that had dominated Korea’s music charts. The dozen or so foreigners sitting around the ㄷ-shaped table quietly listened.

“......”

“......”

Some closed their eyes to immerse themselves, while others busily jotted something down in their diaries. Each was focused in their own way. Though the videos and songs changed, the foreigners in the large conference room remained mostly still. The one common thread was that they all had their ears attuned to Woojin’s vocals.

Then.

“Next is from YouTube.”

The foreigner woman at the front, who had been managing various videos and audio clips, clicked her mouse again. Soon, the screen at the front displayed a restaurant in Japan, and Kang Woojin appeared sitting at a piano. He started playing. Yes, this video was from when Woojin had performed 'Merry-Go-Round of Life'.

-♬♪

The piano melody filled the conference room. Subtle changes appeared in the expressions of the gathered foreigners. Some widened their eyes, while others slightly opened their mouths.

“...His skills are incredible.”

"With that level, did he receive education from childhood?"

“His piano skills rival a professional’s, whether it’s Miley Cara’s MV or this video.”

“Right? Did he attempt music at one point and give up?”

"It's not unheard of, there are several actors like that in Hollywood too."

Their restrained exclamations, which they had been holding back, began to spread softly. But as if it wasn’t over yet, the woman at the front moved her mouse again. This time, a familiar YouTube channel appeared on the screen.

-[Channel Name: Kang Woojin’s Alter Ego]

Kang Woojin’s YouTube channel.

Various videos and tracks from 'Kang Woojin’s Alter Ego' began playing. Naturally, all of them were covers by Woojin. Whether it was Japanese songs or pop songs sung in Korean, Korean songs converted into English, or many others. Among them was also a cover of Miley Cara’s hit song. The songs were played in order, starting from the one with the highest views. There seemed to be no end.

'Kang Woojin's Alter Ego' channel was filled with songs proving Woojin's vocals that had captivated millions of subscribers, and even enchanted Miley Cara herself.

-♬♪

Finally.

“That’s it for now.”

The lights in the conference room brightened as the various videos and tracks came to an end. The appreciation time had concluded, and the gathered foreigners began speaking up one by one.

"Kang Woojin- not just his vocal skills, but his tone is unique. It’s not something you hear every day.”

"With that level, wouldn't it be fine to consider him a singer?"

“Of course. Honestly, if no one told me he was an actor, I’d just assume he was a singer.”

"But he is an actor, and he even won Korea's first 'Best Actor' award at Cannes."

"Is it true he only debuted 2 years ago?"

On each of the foreigners’ desks lay a clear file with a photo of Kang Woojin. In other words, this meeting was entirely about Kang Woojin. All the videos and songs shown so far were evidence of that.

“His vocals are undeniable. Especially his piano skills, they really stand out.”

“There’s even more interest because these are exactly the skills we’re looking for.”

“But his main profession is...acting. Am I the only one who finds that surprising?”

“His acting really is his main skill, though. He has the kind of acting ability that turned Cannes on its head.”

"It was written in his YouTube channel's description, everything except acting is just a hobby."

Amidst the murmuring, a unanimous conclusion emerged.

“Anyway, his skills are unquestionably proven. Meeting him in person might feel different, but based on all the materials we’ve seen, there’s more than enough evidence.”

Someone interjected.

“What about language?”

The answer came quickly.

"According to our research, English, Japanese, French, and even sign language. All at native level."

“You’ve heard the pop songs he covered, right? If you close your eyes and listen, it’s hard to believe he’s Korean.”

During the ongoing meeting, the man with an elongated face who exuded the aura of a decision-maker spoke.

“Vocals, language, acting, image. And piano. Not to mention his recent popularity. I don’t see a single thing lacking.”

Soon, all the dozen or so foreigners nodded in agreement.

“He absolutely has to be on the casting board.”

“The core abilities we’re looking for in this project are acting, vocals, and piano. He has all of them. Even if his language skills were lacking, we’d still consider making an offer. But on top of that, Kang Woojin’s language abilities are exceptional.”

Their conversation emphasized vocals and piano repeatedly.

"Kang Woojin- confirmed."

Then one fat foreigner sitting around the middle of the ㄷ-shaped table quietly stood up. He was holding the phone, indicating that he had received a call. Trying not to disrupt the meeting, he slipped out into the hallway as quietly as possible.

“Yeah, it’s me. I’m in the middle of a production meeting, so keep it short.”

As he spoke on the phone, the company logo and name were visible on the glass door of the meeting room behind him. It was extremely familiar.

- 'World Disney Pictures'