Villain (5)

 

A heavy silence fell over the conference room of ‘Columbia Studios’. Although there were many people gathered, no one spoke. That was because a bald executive had just asked, ‘Are you going to give up Kang Woo-jin’s ‘Joker’?’

They had already tasted Woojin’s ‘Joker’.

‘······No way, I don’t know about anything else, but I have to catch Kang Woo-jin.’

‘Who can show more than the current ‘Joker’? It’s going to be hard.’

If you hadn’t seen it at all, you wouldn’t know, but those who were already pickled had become bodies that had to be Kang Woo-jin’s ‘Joker’. It wasn’t strange. If the ‘real’ Kang Woo-jin is gone, then no matter what actor is brought in later, it will end up being just an ‘imitation’.

The bald executive looked at everyone, overcome with fear.

‘Good, it worked.’

He continued with a faint smile.

“Why are you so afraid of other failures but not thinking about Kang Woo-jin? In fact, is there a bigger failure than him not doing a sequel? Losing him would be an irreparable failure.”

“······”

“I don’t know about this work, but how many ‘Jokers’ should appear? Of course, Kang Woo-jin’s ‘Joker’ will be fiercely loved. Whether it’s good or evil, if any character is loved, there will be backlash when the actor is replaced – but as everyone knows, the power of a beloved villain is greater than any other character.”

It was true. Usually, villain roles are hated, but if the actor has great ability, he or she is recognized along with hatred. That can also act as a mainstay that carries the work forward.

“Let’s trust our ‘Joker.’ It’s a big bet to bet on something that’s obviously unclear, but once the dice of the ‘cinematic universe’ are cast, we have to look at the forest, not the trees.”

Here, one or two people began to reveal their hidden true feelings.

“Yeah, I think so too. I honestly don’t think ‘Clown: Birth of a Villain’ will be a total flop at the ‘Academy Awards.’”

“There’s no way the ‘Academy Awards’ wouldn’t recognize that outrageous performance.”

“The more risk you take, the greater the reward.”

The bald executive nodded slowly and took back the initiative.

“Kang Woo-jin has mentioned the ‘Academy Award’ from Cannes to the Emmy Awards, so his ripple effect and influence are beyond words. And even that is being updated every day. I agree with Director Ahn Ga-bok’s words. At this timing, if you push the flow, it will even catch fire. If it explodes, it will be worse than a nuclear bomb.”

The bald executive who finished speaking paused for a moment and then took a deep breath. This gave everyone time to think. Then he opened his mouth again.

“If Kang Woo-jin lifts the trophy at the Cannes, Emmy Awards, and even the Academy Awards-”

He was a bald executive who gave me goosebumps even as I spoke.

“Can you imagine how much the power of ‘Pierrot: Birth of a Villain’ will explode? It will be the birth of the world’s best actor along with the villain.”

It was something that could be imagined, but not imagined. Kang Woo-jin’s influence is still growing, and no one knows how much he will grow by then.

“The world will cry out for ‘Joker.’ Don’t you all want to see that?”

Two days later, the 20th. Late morning.

The ‘Pierrot: The Birth of a Villain’ team is busy moving around the huge set complex inside ‘Columbia Studios’. Today, they were scheduled to move locations twice. Half a day for set shooting and half a day for outdoor location shooting. So there couldn’t be any disruption to the daily schedule.

“Actors, standby!!”

“I’ll pass it on right away!!!”

More than a hundred foreign staff members worked together perfectly. It was as if the entire site was a machine. This is the advantage and system of Hollywood. Originally, Hollywood was meticulous about pre-production and took a long time, so the filming period was shorter than expected.

There were many works that were shorter than those in Korea, and ‘Pierrot: Birth of a Villain’ is no exception.

Kang Woo-jin, who finished shooting the poster for ‘Beauty and the Beast’, returned to filming two days ago. Therefore, the first scene today was also Woo-jin’s cut, and director Ahn Ga-bok is talking with the key staff about the filming storyboard.

There is someone watching all this with their arms folded.

“······”

It was the scene’s executive producer, Nora Foster, who seemed to be impressed. After watching the scene for a while, she exhaled and stroked her slightly longer hair. A gesture of relief. The filming was already in its second half, but neither the director, staff, nor actors seemed to be in a hurry.

At this time.

-♬♪

Nora’s cell phone rang. She was a little surprised when she checked her phone two steps away. The other party was ‘Columbia Studios’. It was definitely the result of Director Ahn Ga-bok’s proposal the other day. Soon, Nora put the cell phone to her ear.

“Yes, it’s me.”

A man’s voice was heard on the other end of the phone.

“Nora.”

When she heard his voice, it sounded like a bald executive from Columbia Studios. When she heard his voice again, Nora’s eyes widened slightly.

“Me, really?”

Nora, who had been talking on the phone for a while, put down her phone. However, her surprised face remained. It is difficult to judge from her expression alone. She stood there blankly for several dozen seconds.

‘What’s happening??’

On the inside, she seemed to be in disbelief. Then, Nora suddenly turned around.

-Ouch.

She strode briskly toward the scene. Looking in the direction, she saw that it was the busy director Ahn Ga-bok. Nora reached him and grabbed his arm.

“Director.”

“What a surprise!” asked Director Ahn Ga-bok with a surprised expression.

“Nora? What’s going on?”

“That’s Okay.”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“I never thought this would be real.”

“······no way.”

“is it so.”

Nora answered director An Ga-bok with a smile added to her surprise.

“The director’s suggestion worked. Columbia Studios contacted me and said they would move forward with the schedule the director had proposed.”

Director Ahn Ga-bok stared at Nora for a moment and then clenched his fist without showing it. It was a fighting pose of his own. Nora, who didn’t notice this, added an explanation. It was a bonus that he was getting more and more excited.

“There was even a comment that they would not spare any support, even including additional funds! The film company will take care of the support, so the director, staff, and actors should just focus on filming. That’s it.”

Likewise, director Ahn Ga-bok also smiled wrinkledly.

“···It’ll be busy, but it’ll be passionate busyness.”

A little later.

Director Ahn Ga-bok, who heard the news, first called together the staff. Later, producer Nora will officially take charge, but as the director, he thought he should first inform the staff of the future and gain their understanding.

“First of all, our ‘Pierrot: Birth of a Villain’ is challenging for the ‘Academy Award’.”

“Oh oh!”

“Yes! It is quite possible!”

Many of the cast members were fighting for the Academy Awards. It is a dream stage for anyone in Hollywood. However, most of them were taken aback by Director Ahn Ga-bok’s next comment.

“But the challenge will not be the one for the year after next, but this year’s ‘Academy Awards’.”

“······to?”

It was natural to be shocked. All the staff here are veterans, and the Academy Awards will be held in April next year, and they all know how the process works. At first, everyone thought it was Director Ahn Ga-bok’s joke.

However.

“Here is my proposal to the film company.”

As Director Ahn Ga-bok’s earnest briefing continued, everyone’s expressions hardened in an instant. Half were filled with spirit and half with bewilderment. In any case, the veteran director stubbornly said everything he wanted to say. The key is to release the film in LA first, as he told the film company, and then meet the conditions to challenge for the ‘Academy Awards’ in April.

The problem is, as expected.

“Is that possible?”

It was an incredibly tight time frame. But Director Ahn Ga-bok answered calmly as if he was encouraging everyone.

“I can do it. I already saw the potential in ‘Leech’, of course I need everyone’s help.”

Slowly, Director Ahn Ga-bok explained why he made this suggestion, and the ripple effect it would have if it went well. Fortunately, the staff members’ reactions gradually became more understanding and fighting spirit.

“Yeah, I guess I’ll just give it a try!”

“Wouldn’t it be fun? If you want to win an Academy Award, you have to put in at least this much effort!”

“Hahaha, does this mean that the ‘Joker’ who walked the red carpet at the ‘Emmy Awards’ will advance to the ‘Academy Awards’??”

“First, you have to get nominated!”

“If it’s ‘Joker’, don’t you think it’ll go as planned?”

“I see, haha.”

Everyone seemed to be joining in. Director Ahn Ga-bok glanced at Nora. She nodded. The ‘realistic’ story that followed was Nora’s job. The surroundings quickly became noisy, and Director Ahn Ga-bok quietly exhaled.

‘It’s a battle of speed from now on.’

In order for him to roll along as planned towards ‘Columbia Studio’, there was not even a single second to rest from now on. At this time, the actors entered the scene. Among them, Nora found Kang Woo-jin, who had an indifferent face and was currently dressed up as ‘Henry Gordon’.

‘Kang Woojin-‘

She smiled broadly and muttered to herself.

‘Who would have thought that the giant ‘Columbia Studios’ would bet on that actor’s ‘Joker’?’

The truth has set in.

‘No, this is the level of all-in.’

After that.

‘Pierrot: The Birth of a Villain’, which has been confirmed to be nominated for the Academy Award, naturally increased its speed. It was obvious that the filming schedule would change as well. It was supposed to finish filming in September anyway, but saving even a single day would be helpful.

What made this possible was the consent of the actors, including the staff and Kang Woo-jin.

Of course, the one who struggles the most while risking his life is Director Ahn Ga-bok, but without the help of others, his struggles would have been in vain. Surprisingly, the actors’ reactions were full of anticipation. Chris, who had become close to Woo-jin, grabbed Woo-jin Kang’s shoulder.

“Woojin! Are you finally going to win an Academy Award? Wait, then I should get something too??”

The rest of the actors were similar.

In addition, this matter was naturally decided to be a top secret. It was kept a strict secret until the opening. It was only natural, since if there were any unnecessary rumors or rumors about this matter, it would most likely fall apart.

Kang Woo-jin was nervous, but he didn’t show it.

Although he may seem tough, I think it’s better not to have high expectations in times like these.

‘Still, if it’s the Academ Award in April next year, it’ll be quick.’

Whatever it was, Woojin had to focus several times more on his part and acting than usual. Soon, it would be the first day of filming for ‘Beauty and the Beast.’

You have to cut out as many of your scenes as possible beforehand.

In this way, Kang Woo-jin is spurred on by the filming of ‘Pierrot: Birth of a Villain’. One day passes, two days pass. Everyone’s enthusiasm is so explosive that they don’t even notice how the minutes, hours, and days pass by.

Meanwhile, ‘Beauty and the Beast’, which has now reached its first filming, has also been busy.

『CNM/Controversial and hotly-talked-about live-action film ‘Beauty and the Beast’, first filming confirmed for September 1st!』

『LA TIME/One week left until the first filming of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ by ‘World Disney Pictures’, how will Kang Woo-jin, Miley, and Cara fare together?』

As the first filming news and promotions outside of Hollywood are being released, filming preparations are nearing their final stages.

Meanwhile, there was a work in Korea that was on the verge of delivering good news.

『[Issue Talk] Miracle of the 6-crown Emmy Award! Part 2 of ‘Beneficial Evil’, confirmed to open on Monday, September 19th』

The launch date of ‘Beneficial Evil’, which has recently completed editing of Part 2 and has shown miracles to the world including Hollywood, has been confirmed.

『’Beneficial Evil’ Part 2 Launch Confirmed News Excites Overseas Fans, Power of the ‘Emmy Awards’!』

『Will Kang Woo-jin, who won the Emmy Award for Best Actor, impress overseas fans in Part 2 of ‘Beneficial Evil’?』

Netflix was already running a full-fledged promotion campaign. In addition, promotional videos were added to Kang Woo-jin’s SNS and ‘Kang Woo-jin’s sub-character’ channel. The firepower was on a whole other level compared to the past.

Bonnie, a lot of things were packed into September.

And Kang Woo-jin thought.

‘Wow- is it already September? The year is already ending?’

Time really flies.

It was when he opened his eyes in bed at dawn that Woojin truly felt that time had melted away.

“Ugh- It’s dazzling.”

Kang Woo-jin checking the booth time.

-September 1st / AM 5:11

The first day of September dawned in the blink of an eye.