Prologue (2)

 

–< Pierrot: Birth of a Villain>

The English title appeared in the center of the screen. Kang Woo-jin felt a sense of emotion and unfamiliarity as he looked at the slightly rough title.

‘Ugh – the English title, something feels off.’

I’ve done a lot of work so far, but this is my first time with an English title. And since I’ve come to Hollywood and my first work, ‘Pierrot: The Birth of a Villain’, is being released on the screen, I’m overwhelmed with emotion and excitement as I think about all the things that have happened so far. How should I express this feeling?

‘A sense of accomplishment? A sense of elation? I don’t know, but it feels great.’

Woojin was very proud of himself for being the lead actor of the movie, which included Hollywood monster movie studios and other big names, and for being the ‘Joker’ who appeared in the first scene with a cool look. He had a calm expression because of the concept, but if he wanted to, he could have been excited and danced around.

‘Anyway, the quality, mysterious atmosphere, and sound are all there from the start. This is going to be really fun.’

Although it was his own film, Kang Woo-jin stared at the screen with the heart of an ordinary audience member.

-♬♪

The music that was ringing out grew louder and the title that had been appearing in the center of the screen disappeared. At this time, producer Nora Foster, who had her legs crossed and looked strong, had a deep smile on her face. It was a smile of joy.

‘The villain ‘Joker’ who appeared from the beginning, his outrageous acting and visuals dominate the atmosphere of this theater.’

The appearance of ‘Joker’ was not that long. But the future audience will decide on this part. This movie is very interesting. It was all the result of Kang Woo-jin’s first appearance. His grotesque laughter, mischievous lines, acting that leads the play, impactful images, and expressions that arouse interest.

‘I get goosebumps.’

Goosebumps spread across Nora’s arms. She glanced at Kang Woojin. He was staring at the screen as if nothing was wrong. Was he satisfied? Or was he feeling regretful? His face was completely indecipherable.

‘How calmly he is watching his Hollywood debut – well, it’s quite unusual.’

Then, Nora shifted her gaze slightly to the wrinkled face of Director Ahn Ga-bok. He was wiping the ball with one hand, but he couldn’t take his eyes off the screen. At first glance, he looked quiet, but Director Ahn Ga-bok’s eyes were clearly filled with excitement.

‘The directing was good, I didn’t know they’d write that scene like this.’

Even with the same scenario, the results can vary greatly depending on which director is involved. Sometimes it can be a masterpiece, and sometimes it can be a poor production. It all depends on the director’s sense, ability, and capability. The start direction of ‘Pierrot’ that I just saw was a little different from the shooting storyboard.

‘Originally, it was just an interview with ‘Joker’.’

However, director Ahn Ga-bok inserted music that contributed to Henry Gordon’s awakening during the interview, and chose to direct the scene in which Joker recalls the past. The past is in black and white to indicate Joker’s current emotional state. It’s still too early to tell, but Nora thought that directing was the right answer.

‘That cut not only arouses curiosity about the backstory, but also highlights the terrifying yet unfiltered side of the ‘Joker.’

‘Joker’ laughed heartily as he recalled his past filled with carnage, and talked about it as if it were a pleasant memory. It was no different from introducing the audience to a terrifying clown from the beginning.

Soon, Nora Foster clenches her fists.

The anticipation and sense of success were heightened. Naturally, all the foreigners in the theater felt the same way as Nora. From the bald man to the executives of Columbia Studios.

‘How can you not enjoy that performance from the first scene? This is good. Even if it were released all over the world right now, everyone would still be hooked.’

‘Kang Woo-jin’s acting – I saw it on site, but the overwhelming feeling he gives off on video is more than double. I’m glad he took on the prelude to the ‘cinematic universe’.’

‘Haha, this is ridiculous. It’s already fun. Have you ever seen a work like this?’

‘Pierrot: Birth of a Villain’ Keystaff, and all the foreigners gathered in the theater had their eyes fixed on the screen in front of them, praising Kang Woo-jin. No, they were worshipping him.

The acting was of a quality that was worthy of its name.

Then, instead of the villain ‘Joker’ on the black screen, a weak-looking ‘Henry Gordon’ appeared. His back and shoulders were hunched, and his eyes and expression were full of disappointment and emptiness. It was a face that did not expect anything from society or the world.

The beginning of ‘Pierrot: Birth of a Villain’ also started with the hardships and persecution of ‘Henry Gordon’.

-[“What? What are you looking at?! Can’t you just turn it off?”]

-[Sorry, sorry! “]

But it may be different depending on how you look at it. You may feel it as ‘ordinary’. However, as the play progresses, Kang Woo-jin or ‘Henry Gordon’s’ expression changes very subtly. It was growing with the accumulating ignorance, contempt, persecution, discrimination, prejudice, contempt, and violence.

That’s a monster.

In this way, the ‘Joker’ is born in the world of ‘Pierrot: Birth of a Villain’. Choi Sung-geon was moved to tears while watching Kang Woo-jin on the screen.

‘Ugh- It’s the end, it’s the end.’

It was a process of blood and slaughter, but strangely enough, it was an explosion of pleasure, perhaps because of the frustration shown by ‘Henry Gordon’ in the beginning. Everyone, starting with Choi Sung-geon, felt the same.

‘This must be a phenomenon that occurs when you are immersed in a character.’

The ‘Joker’ who does outrageous things on screen, his appearance was refreshingly ‘uncool’. That appearance somehow captures Kang Woo-jin’s true appearance.

About two hours passed by in the blink of an eye.

Everyone, including Kang Woo-jin, was completely absorbed in ‘Pierrot: The Birth of a Villain’, and only came to their senses when the ending credits appeared, signaling the end of the movie. It was at this time that applause suddenly broke out.

-Clap clap clap clap clap!

The applause was louder than the ending music in the theater. Executives from Columbia Studios, including the man with the bald head, stood up and clapped their hands together vigorously.

-Clap clap clap clap clap clap!

It was a compliment to Kang Woo-jin and director Ahn Ga-bok. This applause quickly spread to everyone. Nora Foster, the staff, Choi Sung-geon, Chris Hartnett, and the actors. Everyone expressed their congratulations and praise through applause.

-Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!

Director Ahn Ga-bok, who had finally relaxed a bit, muttered softly.

“Phew, I’m tired.”

Kang Woo-jin, who joined the applause and stood up without a care, also adjusted to the mood. With an indifferent expression. However, inside, he was shaking with excitement.

‘Wow!! This is so much fun! This is so much fun! This is crazy!!’

After the applause that had been going on for a while stopped, the people gathered in the theater started talking as if they had planned it. Woojin naturally mingled with director Ahn Ga-bok and Nora Foster, and Nora spoke to Woojin.

“Mr. Kang Woojin.”

Kang Woo-jin, who was trembling inwardly at the call, immediately raised his voice.

“Yes, Nora.”

Nora, who had no way of knowing this, smiled and gave a thumbs up.

“Your ‘Joker’ was the best.”

As a result, director Ahn Ga-bok, executives, and actors like Chris gave similar evaluations. Woo-jin, who was feeling a little embarrassed, chose to remain silent. At this time, No-ra let out a small breath.

“after-”

He continued speaking, looking at the screen where ‘Pierrot: Birth of a Villain’ had been displayed until just before.

“We will start promotional marketing soon, and in a few days, we will also reveal the pre-release date of ‘Pierrot: Birth of a Villain’.”

It was about the future of ‘Pierrot’.

“For your information, the pre-release date for ‘Pierrot’ has been confirmed as February 9th, so there’s about a month left.”

backwards.

After the preview test of ‘Pierrot: The Birth of a Villain’, Kang Woo-jin took a two-day break. He had already finished two works since coming to Hollywood, so it was time for him to rest. Choi Sung-geon said that he would have liked to have given him at least a week off, but it was difficult because he had many scheduled events that were delayed or were scheduled to take place.

As Woojin’s influence in Hollywood grew hotter, his schedule became more hellish than before. Kang Woojin pretended not to care, but grumbled inside.

‘Ao-shi, I’m telling you, it’d be really fun to actually film it.’

I feel like it would be a hundred times better to just film it.

Meanwhile, whenever he had time, Kang Woo-jin looked into trends around the world, including Hollywood.

‘As expected, the beast and the beauty are causing a stir. Korea likes it, but the rest are – as expected, at a crazy level.’

The hottest issue in Hollywood and the global entertainment industry was definitely ‘Beauty and the Beast’. Recently, ‘World Disney Pictures’ announced the crank-up of ‘Beauty and the Beast’.

Of course, the Korean media has been consuming Kang Woo-jin for a long time.

『[Issue Pick] ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Filming Completed, How Will Kang Woo-jin’s Beast and Miley Cara’s Beauty Be Selected?』

『Kang Woo-jin’s ‘Beast’, the first Korean actor! Overseas famous communities are buzzing with Kang Woo-jin/ Photo』

The domestic public, including SNS and YouTube, were busy spreading expectations and hints.

-Wow… The filming of Beauty and the Beast is over… I can’t really imagine Kang Woojin’s Beast lol

-But I’m starting to get really patriotic all over againㅋㅋㅋThe male lead in the Disney live-action film is a Korean actorㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-So when is it coming out?

-The kids overseas are having a seizure right nowㅋㅋㅋAt this rate, the number of viewers for Beauty and the Beast will probably explode in the first week of its releaseㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Looking at the leaked photos from the filming of Beauty and the Beast, Kang Woo-jin and Miley Kara look great together.

-Leak?? Where did you see that???

In Korea, there are more positive than negative reviews, but when you look at the rest of the world, it was almost half and half. The controversy that had been in a lull during filming reignited the excitement of the public around the world that was rampant in the early days of ‘Beauty and the Beast’.

There is a lot of cheering and swearing.

But what can they do now? The filming of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ has already been completed, and after finishing the minor finishing touches, they will soon enter the post-production editing stage. Now, ‘World Disney Pictures’ has no choice but to eat it.

Then, late in the morning on January 15th.

Inside a large meeting room in downtown LA. Employees of A8 Media, the film company behind the movie ‘The Guest’, were gathered in this rented meeting room. Of course, Jennifer Thurman, with her short brown hair, was there. Jennifer was sitting in front of a large square-shaped desk, and the employees were busy setting up something.

Soon, Jennifer Thurman gulped as she looked at the still empty seats.

“Finally- is everything coming together?”

An hour or so later? It was the same space, but the large meeting room was already crowded with many foreigners. At least 20 people. They were busy greeting each other, whether they knew each other or not.

“Hahaha, it’s been a while.”

“Yeah. It’s been about two years, huh? You’re working on the same piece again.”

“Please take care of me.”

“It’s me.”

Jennifer Thurman looked at them with pleasure. The reason was simple. The foreigners gathered now were the core production team that would lead the movie ‘Guest’. The key staff of each team, including the director. They were people with dazzling backgrounds that were unimaginable in the past, and the mustachioed director also had a very impressive filmography.

That’s right, today is the first meeting of the key members of the movie ‘Guest’.

At this time.

-Ugh.

A blonde woman appeared in a meeting room filled with production staff.

“hello-”

It was Hollywood’s top actress Miley Cara, who recently finished filming ‘Beauty and the Beast’, wearing a beige short padding. The atmosphere in the meeting room soared at her appearance. Jennifer Thurman, the director, and the production team all clung to her. It was a natural picture for Miley Cara, who is one of Hollywood’s top tiers.

But she wasn’t the end.

“Ooh- Miley came first, how are you? Haha, everyone looks happy.”

Following Kara, another top actor with charming dark brown eyes was added. It was Chris Hartnett, who had just finished filming ‘Pierrot’. Everyone went crazy when he showed up.

“Ohhh! Chris, come in!”

The meeting room suddenly became noisy. The reason why two of the top Hollywood actors showed up here was simple. Miley Cara and Chris Hartnett were confirmed as the top two ‘Guests’. At this point, a man with freckles on his face among the ‘A8 Media’ staff members opened his mouth at the sight before his eyes.

‘······I was looking forward to it, but when I actually saw that sight – my mouth was wide open. Oh, how did it end up like this??’

Sure, ‘Guest’ was a damned piece of work that was on the verge of being taken off the airway. But what about now? Not only did they have a famous director and production team, but they also had Miley and Chris, who are top stars all over the world, join. The freckled staff member wondered if this was a dream.

‘Please- please, if this is a dream, don’t wake up.’

at that time.

-smart.

The knocking sound was heard again, and new people entered the meeting room. The first person to appear was a man with a ponytail. Jennifer Thurman was the first to run to him as soon as she saw him.

“CEO Choi Seong-geon!”

The main investor who poured hundreds of billions into ‘Guest’ was Choi Sung-geon. Choi Sung-geon smiling and shaking Jennifer’s hand.

“Haha, everyone is here.”

Behind Choi Sung-geon, there was a man wearing a gray coat over a black hood, and his face was filled with indifference.

“······”

Jennifer Thurman, who was seeing him in person for the first time, stared at the man’s face for a moment with her mouth wide open.

‘···Kang Woojin.’

It was Kang Woo-jin who was scheduled to make a special appearance in ‘Guest’.

Meanwhile.

Around the time Kang Woo-jin joined the ‘Guest’ members, ‘Columbia Studio’ shared news about ‘Pierrot’ through their official SNS.

-[······’Pierrot: The Birth of a Villain’ has successfully completed editing and testing. Now we will move on to challenge for the ‘Academy Award’. ‘Pierrot: The Birth of a Villain’ will be pre-released in several theaters in LA, and the release date has been confirmed for February 9th.]

The pre-release date of ‘Pierrot’ was announced to the world.