Chapter 395: Full Bloom (1)

Translator: Santos

 

Chris Hartnett was a Hollywood superstar on par with Miley Cara in terms of fame, influence, and impact. Yet here he was, humbled by the thought of a Korean actor, Kang Woo-jin.

"I did put in a lot of preparation, but... I don’t know, the idea of performing like a clown in front of the 'real thing' just made my mind go blank."

Referring to his own performance as a mere "act," Chris felt that it wasn’t just him—every Hollywood actor who had been present at the audition was in the same boat.

"Whether you went before or after Kang Woo-jin, the result would have been the same. To him, we must have looked like kids playing in a sandbox."

Chris imagined that Woo-jin, with his lofty persona, would have just scoffed at them all. Though Chris had been eager to showcase the work he’d put into his performance, witnessing Woo-jin’s *Joker* made it impossible for him to move forward.

A matter of pride, perhaps.

He usually had high self-confidence and took any jealousy he felt as fuel to push himself further. That was why he had been excited for a showdown with Woo-jin. But with the *real deal,* there could be no competition.

"There was no way I could go out there and perform like a clown."

They say that giving up requires courage, too. Chris decided to drop out after witnessing Woo-jin's overwhelming performance, sparing himself the hope of "maybe just a little more, and I’ll get there," which only serves to drain a person.

Chris stared out the window, letting out a long sigh.

"Honestly, it doesn’t feel too bad to back out."

A faint, bitter smile crossed his lips. His team members watched him carefully, sensing his mood, and Chris, noticing their concern, shrugged and gestured that he was okay.

"I'm really fine. Not feeling bad about this is the truth. Besides, this might even work in my favor someday."

Encouraged by Chris’s positive mindset, his portly manager nodded.

"If you say so—got it. You did well. Now let’s move on and start looking at other projects."

Chris turned back to the window, a glint of determination in his eyes.

"But tell me, how did Woo-jin’s performance look to you?"

"…Honestly, I still can’t believe it. I mean, he won Best Actor at Cannes, but I never imagined it would be like that. After seeing him clash with you in the past, I feel embarrassed that I ever underestimated him."

"Haha, then apologize to him next time."

"Hey! I never said it out loud! Anyway, let’s focus on what’s next. Go over those other scripts we’ve received, and I’ll get ready for the meetings we’ve lined up."

As his manager reached for his phone, Chris turned back to him.

"I may have given up the role of *Henry Gordon,* but I haven’t given up on *Pierrot.*"

"What?"

"Wouldn’t you want to see it? A *Joker* that’s completely perfected? I’m insanely curious."

"You’re not saying…"

Chris’s smile grew as he crossed his legs.

"Get in touch with the Columbia Studios people. Tell them I want a different role in the film, just not *Henry Gordon.*"

"A different role? You do know that in *Pierrot,* if it’s not *Henry Gordon,* the best you can get is a supporting role."

"I don’t care."

For someone like Chris, who had been a Hollywood A-lister for years, it was a decision that left his manager speechless. But Chris Hartnett looked refreshed, already picturing Woo-jin in his mind.

"I just want to be in *Pierrot,* whatever role it is. Even if it's just a minor part."

Meanwhile, back at the *Pierrot* audition venue…

As the many vans slowly began leaving the vast Columbia Studios lot, one of the last to pull out carried Woo-jin. He’d exchanged the usual greetings with staff and had a short chat with Director Ahn Ga-bok after the *Pierrot* audition and screen test had wrapped up.

Woo-jin checked his phone, which was full of missed messages. Even though he was scrolling through them, his thoughts wandered back to the audition he had just finished. It was such a wild experience that his adrenaline still hadn’t completely subsided.

‘That was a hell of a lot of fun.’

He didn’t have any regrets. He’d put everything he had into the performance.

‘Out of everyone there, I’m pretty sure I made the strongest impression. Even Director Ahn and the CEO said so. Maybe I went a little overboard, but—so what.’

Despite having shattered the audition, Woo-jin knew that his acceptance wasn’t guaranteed. Hollywood was known for its surprises, after all. And from what he’d heard, Hollywood didn’t base casting decisions solely on acting skills—they looked at everything from an actor’s public image to reputation. They’d dig deep into his background and go over him with a fine-toothed comb.

‘Korean actors don’t exactly have much footing in Hollywood. Oh well, if I don’t get it, there’s plenty else to do.’

He didn’t mind if he didn’t get *Pierrot*—even if it was an EX+ level opportunity. Hollywood was vast, and there would be plenty of roles down the line. Tossing away any lingering worries, Woo-jin looked up at his team members, who were buzzing with questions.

"Oppa! How did it go??"

"Yeah! Seriously! You haven’t said a word! Was the audition okay?"

"Of course, it went great, right? Oppa, you totally crushed those Hollywood stars, didn’t you?"

"Hey, what was Chris Hartnett like in person?"

"I saw Tom Brando earlier, and wow, he was incredible."

Besides Choi Sung-gon, no one from Woo-jin’s team had seen the audition, so they were naturally curious. Choi Sung-gon, who had been sitting in the front seat and watching Woo-jin’s expression in the rearview mirror, turned around.

"Woo-jin."

The intensity of what he had witnessed was overwhelming. In his mind, Woo-jin had completely outshone the Hollywood actors. Even Chris Hartnett had withdrawn. It seemed likely that Woo-jin would land the role, and Sung-gon’s heart pounded with the possibility. After three years, Woo-jin’s entry into a leading role in Hollywood seemed within reach.

Sung-gon asked him,

"What do you think?"

What am I supposed to know? Woo-jin didn’t know much either, though he had prepared himself for the possibility of rejection. For now, he threw on a smug attitude.

"You should probably start thinking about my new rate."

Sung-gon grinned at him.

"Kekeke, I thought you’d say that."

Sung-gon had already decided on Woo-jin’s new rate.

"Don’t worry. I’ve got it all figured out."

And it would be leagues beyond what they’d ever seen.

Meanwhile…

When it was late morning in LA, it was early morning in Korea, where the upcoming release of *Beneficial Evil* was creating a storm of excitement.

『As *Beneficial Evil* nears release, teaser and trailer views hit millions… global audiences eagerly await premiere』

Woo-jin’s news was gradually spreading.

『[Star Talk] Kang Woo-jin heads to LA, wrapping up the *Pierrot* audition and screen test—what’s the verdict?』

『*Pierrot* audition finishes… How did Kang Woo-jin fare against Hollywood heavyweights like Chris Hartnett?』

News of *Pierrot’s* audition completion was quickly picked up by Korean media, and soon, public interest followed. Speculation about the audition details, how Woo-jin had measured up against Hollywood’s elite, and when the results might be announced spread quickly on social media and online forums.

As expected, rumors and gossip began swirling.

- "I heard from an insider that Woo-jin totally bombed the audition, lol. FYI, I work at a production company in New York."

The buzz was electric, and the rumors spread like wildfire. What was interesting was that similar rumors were also circulating in Hollywood, and the ones from Hollywood carried a bit more weight.

"They say there was an actor who totally stunned the judges in the *Pierrot* audition."

"Really? Well, it makes sense; there were some big names in the lineup. But what about Kang Woo-jin?"

"Not sure. Haven’t heard anything about him. The fact that things are so quiet probably means he didn’t stand out much."

The reason was simple: people like key staff members who had been present at the *Pierrot* audition were the source of these rumors. Although the details were confidential, word had spread throughout LA about the general atmosphere at the audition.

"I heard there was even an actor who quit the audition."

"Quit? An audition? Were they sick or something? Who was it?"

"Not sure of the name, but my guess is it was Kang Woo-jin."

So, two days passed.

On Friday, the 28th…

As soon as morning arrived, the large conference room at Columbia Studios, one of Hollywood’s “Big Five” studios, filled up. The U-shaped tables could comfortably hold more than fifty people. Familiar faces dotted the room.

And for good reason.

Everyone here was part of the *Pierrot* production team or Columbia Studios executives. Even some of those who had observed the audition were present, including Director Ahn Ga-bok and the lead producer.

The atmosphere was a bit heavy.

Everyone was watching the footage of the *Pierrot* audition and screen test that was

 playing on the screen at the front of the room. This gathering was meant to help them come to a decision after reviewing the audition.

Hollywood actors appeared on screen one by one.

They were clearly talented. Even on second viewing, their performances held up well. Normally, this would have been the moment when the decision-makers would start debating their choices, discussing the actors in depth to settle on their selection.

But no one looked moved, and no one said a word.

“……”

“……”

“……”

They simply watched the audition footage in silence.

Then…

**[“Next—Kang Woo-jin.”]**

With the lead producer’s voice, the screen lit up with an image of Woo-jin in his red jacket.

Immediately, the room's mood shifted.

There were small gasps and sighs of admiration, mixed with muttered comments of surprise. Some people even held their hands over their mouths, and a few let out a chuckle of disbelief. Soon, footage of Woo-jin gripping the bald producer’s head filled the screen. That producer rubbed his own head as the memory of Woo-jin’s intense gaze and palpable violence resurfaced.

‘That mad look in his eyes, that fury… it’s still fresh in my mind.’

The tension in the room grew heavier, and as soon as Woo-jin’s portion ended, the atmosphere fell completely silent. A few murmurs broke out when Chris Hartnett’s statement of withdrawal was replayed.

Five minutes passed…

The conference room, filled with Hollywood’s elite, remained quiet. Columbia Studios, which had produced countless blockbusters, had never seen anything like this before. Not a single person offered a word on the audition footage.

It was as though they were wondering if anything they said would even matter.

Everyone in the room was having similar thoughts.

‘Is there really any room for debate?’

‘I think… everyone’s reached the same conclusion.’

‘Have we ever reached a decision this quickly after an audition?’

‘Seeing it again, he still gives me chills. There’s nothing to discuss.’

‘Honestly… I can’t even remember the other actors anymore.’

Director Ahn Ga-bok surveyed the faces of the foreign decision-makers in the room.

‘I’ve never been so shaken by the appearance of such a monster of an actor. I understand why they’re stunned; I was, too.’

The speed at which they were finalizing the casting decision was unprecedented. In Hollywood, it usually takes a long time to cast an actor: pre-verification, several meetings, auditions, screen tests, more meetings, and then finally, contracts. The process could take anywhere from a few weeks to a month or more.

If they went forward with their choice at this pace, it would be a new record.

Then…

"Hmm—"

The lead producer, a stern-looking woman who had her arms crossed and had been staring at the screen, finally spoke.

"The audition footage felt more like a one-man show… as if we were watching *Joker* himself come to life."

A few days later, on January 30th, at Woo-jin’s residence in LA…

Woo-jin, who was staying in LA for his work schedule, woke up in his second-floor bedroom.

“Argh!”

He stretched as he woke up. He still wasn’t entirely used to the large LA house, but he had slept well. With his hair tousled from sleep, he yawned and spread his arms out over the bed, as if stretching wings.

**Thud.**

Something hit his left hand. It was his phone. Yawning again, he turned it on. The time read just past 9 a.m. A perk of being in LA was that he hadn’t had to get up at dawn once.

Just then…

**Buzz, buzz.**

His phone screen changed; it was a call. The caller ID read “Director Ahn Ga-bok.” What could this be about? Given that it was right after the *Pierrot* audition, Woo-jin was fairly certain he knew what it was regarding. Clearing his throat, Woo-jin deepened his voice and put the phone to his ear.

“Yes, Director. Good morning.”

Director Ahn’s aged voice came through, sounding slightly excited.

“Sorry to call you so early, but I thought I should tell you right away.”

“It’s no problem, sir. Please, go ahead.”

Director Ahn’s voice over the line was resolute as he made the announcement:

“*Joker* in *Pierrot*… is yours.”