Chapter 289: History (4)

Translator: Dreamscribe

Kang Woojin arrived at the ‘Leech’ studio set located in Jeonju. As soon as he appeared, a staff member’s shout spread through the walkie-talkie across the busy set where hundreds of staff members were rushing about.

“Kang Woojin-ssi has arrived!!”

Meanwhile, Woojin sensed that the atmosphere of the familiar set was unusual.

‘Ah- doesn’t the air feel a bit heavy?’

It was reasonable. If there were no issues, today would be the crank-up of ‘Leech’, the last day of shooting. Everyone’s spirit was different. It was a sight Kang Woojin had become quite accustomed to.

‘‘The ‘Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’ team was like this too.’

If we look at it recently, it would be ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’, but the atmosphere of all the works he had been through so far was consistent.

Even though they usually don’t do things half-heartedly, their energy doubles when it comes to the end.

‘Well, I understand. Going out with a bang? Or maybe it feels like the last exam day.’

Especially since the goal of ‘Leech’ was not just a domestic release. To attend the international battlefield, the Cannes Film Festival, everyone, including Director Ahn Ga-bok, the actors, and the staff, had pushed themselves to the limit.

For everyone, today was significant.

Therefore, Woojin, who usually had a poker face, thought,

‘Phew- I feel oddly nervous, seems like I have to work harder than usual.’

While trying to hide his gradually increasing heartbeat, he decided to be more alert. Whether it was acting or anything else. Well, he had never done things half-heartedly anyway, but this kind of resolve wasn’t a bad thing, right?

The more he did so, the harder Woojin’s face became, but he didn’t stop his mind control.

Then Kang Woojin, cutting through the numerous staff, arrived in front of the large tent used as the actors’ waiting room. All the main actors had already arrived and were waiting. The great actors Sim Han-ho, Oh Hee-ryung, Jin Jae-jun, Han So-jin, etc. Of course, Kang Woojin wasn’t late. They were just early because they stayed at nearby lodgings yesterday.

Anyway.

“Hmm, you’re here.”

Director Ahn Ga-bok, standing in front of the actors with his short white hair and even more wrinkled face, gave a small smile to Woojin. In his hand was the shooting continuity. It must be today’s, the last continuity for ‘Leech’.

Kang Woojin lowered his voice and bowed to Director Ahn Ga-bok.

“Yes, Director~nim.”

Woojin also greeted the senior actors. Most of them acknowledged appropriately. The expressions of all the actors were serious. It was no different from the atmosphere on set today. They were already focusing. Woojin felt it was slightly intense internally, but soon he let himself go with this flow.

The veteran director Ahn Ga-bok was giving his final remarks to the actors.

“Even though it’s crank-up, don’t rush. Let’s go just as usual, just as usual.”

Since Director Ahn Ga-bok was not one to give many directions normally, his advice regarding the final shoot was also brief.

“Alright- let’s do this. The start will be Han-ho-ssi and Woojin-ssi. Standby in 30 minutes.”

Several dozen minutes later.

The filming of ‘Leech’ began in earnest.

“Okay- action.”

The first scene of the day was with Kang Woojin and Sim Han-ho. Woojin, bringing out ‘Park Ha-seong’, and Sim Han-ho, portraying ‘Chairman Yoon Jung-bae’, sparked a quiet flame. It was sensitive and tense. Not only the two actors but the entire set was like that. Over a hundred staff members, all silent, Director Ahn Ga-bok watching the monitor, the actors spending time observing the acting rather than staying in the tent.

Moreover.

‘As expected- the atmosphere on set is hot, my mouth is getting dry.’

‘Was it always this intense? It’s even burdensome to take photos.’

Today, there were also reporters on set. Of course, their visit was for promotional purposes. The crank-up needed to be announced to the world. Additionally, about half a dozen making-of teams were busily moving.

Thus.

“Cut, let’s do it again from the back angle.”

The shooting speed of ‘Leech’ picked up. Kang Woojin and Sim Han-ho’s cut ended in about an hour, and Oh Hee-ryung was immediately brought in. Her solo cut took about 30 minutes. Then back to Kang Woojin and Oh Hee-ryung. Followed by Jin Jae-jun. Sim Han-ho and Jin Jae-jun.

Numerous actors were rotated, and sets were changed.

Over a hundred staff members moved in perfect unison.

“Add one more reflector here!!”

“On it!”

Despite the time passing away, the concentration remained high. The shoot, which had started early in the morning, quickly passed lunchtime and moved into the afternoon. There were breaks in between, but no one took a proper rest.

Kang Woojin was no exception.

‘Ah, come to think of it, did I enter the void space today?’

On a usual day, Woojin would have entered the void space multiple times to rest, but today he didn’t go in at all. Caught up in the momentum and flow of the scene, he didn’t even think about it. While waiting for his turn, Kang Woojin looked down at his open hands. They were slightly sticky from sweat, but he also felt a strange thrill.

‘Not bad, this feeling.’

It was an experience that could be considered both much and little. Nevertheless, a tingling sensation always enveloped his entire body.

‘It feels like- walking a tightrope?’

It was a tightrope with the summit in sight. Although it swayed dangerously, the thrill would double if he crossed it completely.

Before he knew it, it was a late lunch.

The sky was dusky. However, the ‘Leech’ set was dazzling with various lights.

“Action.”

It seemed as if the life would continue endlessly. And about an hour later.

“Cut, next!”

Eventually, Director Ahn Ga-bok, who was sitting in front of the monitor, called the two actors. Kang Woojin and Jin Jae-jun, who was in a full suit. Although it was for a simple movement rehearsal before shooting.

“……Please do well.”

“Yes, Director~nim.”

“Understood.”

In reality, it was also Director Ahn Ga-bok’s way of cheering in his own way. Because the scene they were about to shoot was the last part of the ‘Leech’ shooting continuity.

In other words, the final shoot had arrived.

Meanwhile, in LA.

A vast conference room. Tiny buildings could be seen outside the large windows. The night view was splendid. This indicated that the conference room was high up. The exterior view exuded a grandeur fitting of LA. Of course, the conference room itself was also extraordinary.

Not only was it enormous, but it was also ornately decorated.

The ㅁ-shaped table in the center seemed to easily accommodate about 50 people, and numerous movie posters on the walls were all hit movies representing Hollywood. Moreover, the furniture and other items were luxurious, reminiscent of a lavish hotel room.

Many foreigners had gathered in such a conference room.

Bald, fat, thin, tall, bulky, and so on. At a glance, they were foreigners of various appearances. Close to 20 people. They were all significant figures in Hollywood.

Among them.

‘My goodness.’

A foreign woman sitting in the middle of the ㅁ-shaped table stood out. With a brown bob and wearing a suit, she was the famous Hollywood casting director Megan Stone. She was slightly amazed while looking at the people gathered in the conference room.

‘……We haven’t even started pre-production properly, and they’ve already assembled a team this big?’

Moreover, they were all skilled individuals with significant reputations. Of course, Megan had already greeted more than half of them as she was familiar with them. Even now, everyone was busy chatting leisurely with each other.

‘I see. It’s clear they’ve made thorough preparations. This seems to be the most powerful team I’ve seen recently.’

Indeed, was it because ‘Universal Movies’, treated as a giant even in Hollywood, was behind this? Recently, Megan had also been added to the team. While it was common in Hollywood to assemble the most glamorous teams for each project, it was Megan’s first time seeing a project scale up this much even before recruiting a director.

‘Gathering such prominent figures this early- it’s a bit difficult to attribute it solely to ‘Universal Movies’.’

At that moment, a famous producer crossed Megan’s mind. The man ‘Universal Movies’ was putting great effort into recruiting. Certainly, while having a large-scale film company made it easier to gather talented individuals, the real key in film production was the executive producer who could wield the most substantial influence.

In Hollywood, the influence of a producer is several times stronger than that of a director.

At that moment.

-Swoosh.

Amidst the somewhat bustling conference room, a giant suddenly appeared. Dressed entirely in black, the imposing figure was Joseph Felton. Entering leisurely with a few of his team members, he greeted the skilled individuals sitting at the ㅁ-shaped table as he moved towards the upper seat.

In the process, Joseph exchanged a brief glance with Megan.

Regardless.

“……”

“……”

The arrival of Joseph Felton made the dozen or so skilled individuals in the conference room fall silent. They merely looked at the giant standing by the head seat. Indeed, the presence of the black man Joseph was extraordinary. Though he wore a small smile, the energy he exuded was not to be underestimated. His immense physique was overwhelming in itself.

Soon.

“Hmm-”

Joseph, who had let out a small hum, looked at everyone and spoke in English.

“Nice to meet you all, I am Joseph Felton, the executive producer of this film. There are some I haven’t seen in a while, and others I met just a few days ago. Haha.”

His simple greeting eased the somewhat stiff atmosphere. A few foreigners waved at Joseph. At this point, Joseph received a tablet from his subordinate, and the perceptive attendees in the conference room also began to operate the tablets placed in front of them. Joseph then met the gaze of Megan, who was sitting in the middle, and spoke again.

“First, let me update you on the progress. As you might have heard from me or the film company beforehand, the synopsis has entered the treatment phase. I have judged and passed the synopsis to five writers who I believe can craft this project well.”

For a moment, casting director Megan recalled the synopsis shown by the film company when she was scouted.

‘The motif is Jekyll and Hyde. Including the setting of dissociative identity disorder, it certainly won’t be easy to unravel.’

The film production systems in Korea and Hollywood are similar in some respects, yet they display entirely different aspects. First, the film company creates the basic concept or synopsis of the film. Then they hire a producer, who passes the completed synopsis to famous Hollywood screenwriters.

Of course, these screenwriters are not yet confirmed.

It is more like selecting the finished script later. After that, they contact the film director and assemble the team. This is the basic structure in Hollywood. Naturally, in Hollywood, a highly reputable director might also serve as a producer, but that is only possible for top-tier directors in Hollywood.

Anyway, after briefing for several tens of minutes, Joseph lowered the tablet he was looking at and smiled.

“As you all know, this is the most sensitive and time-consuming phase. But since the investment part has already been resolved, we will pick up speed the moment the script comes out.”

Having finished speaking, Joseph fixed his gaze on the casting team. In other words, Megan.

“Since you’ve already seen the synopsis, the casting team should start making a list of suitable actors from now on. Contact me whenever necessary.”

Megan, brushing back her brown hair, nodded.

“Yes, will do.”

The meeting continued for about 2 hours, including some casual conversations but also serious discussions related to film production. As the meeting concluded, the skilled individuals who had gathered exchanged brief farewells and left the vast conference room.

However, the giant Joseph remained at the head seat.

-Swish.

Megan approached him. Joseph, who was talking with his team members, turned his head at her presence.

“Megan, looking forward to working with you again on this project, just like ‘Last Kill 3’.”

“Me too.”

Megan replied briefly, glancing at Joseph’s team members. Joseph, being quick-witted, turned to his team.

“You guys go ahead.”

Soon, only Joseph and Megan remained in the conference room. Megan was the first to break the silence.

“You were the one who recommended me for this film, right?”

“Hm? Who knows.”

“I don’t have that deep of a connection with ‘Universal Movies’.”

“What matters is ability. I hold your abilities in high regard, Megan.”

Megan, quietly looking up at the smiling Joseph, gave a small cough.

“Ahem, thank you.”

“Please take care of the actor listing. Start gathering from now on. Regardless of the roles, just rank them by their overall quality.”

Megan, pausing briefly, exhaled softly and spoke.

“To be honest, when I saw this synopsis, Kang Woojin came to mind. Especially regarding the dissociative identity disorder part. Kang Woojin, he can freely express different personas in his acting.”

“I know.”

Joseph, interrupting Megan, folded his arms.

“You’re not the only one who’s interested in him. I’ve been looking for a work that would suit him well.”

“……What do you mean?”

Joseph’s answer to the question was simple.

“It means choosing this project was entirely intentional.”