I Will Live As An Actor

I will live as an actor Episode 144

“Actress Jang Young-guk!”

The reporter’s voice is more lively than ever. This is an interview shoot for the movie Outlaw. Baek Jang-hoon’s division has a great reputation not only in Chungmuro but also in broadcasting circles. How surprising is it that getting an interview from a filming team is more difficult than picking a star from the sky?

“There is a lot of interest from the public right now with the news that you have taken on an unexpected villain role.”

There is an unwritten rule among actors. In order to run the road to success, too much change in image is actually poisonous. Because of this, there was a lot of talk about England choosing the villain. After all, he’s not an ordinary villain. Rather than committing murder for his beliefs, he plays the role of a second-generation tycoon with a temperament that is unreasonable and unreasonable.

“Actress Jang Young-guk’s bold image transformation has led some to say that he will become a member of the troika that will lead the Korean film industry in the future. What do you think about this?”

Someone else said it was the result of stubbornness and pride. This is because being an actor does not necessarily require an unconditional change in image. Just as ground work is important when building a building, the foundation must be properly prepared, but if you change your image through heavy rescue methods, you may end up in a bad state.

“I know this is the first time you’ve officially worked together on set with Director Baek Jang-hoon since your cameo appearance as a child. How do you feel about it?”

Although he was usually a kind-hearted grandfather, it would be more accurate to say that he was colder than anyone else on set. That’s the nature of the job of a film director. A single moment of scene change and directing becomes a yardstick for judging the direction of the movie, so you have no choice but to be sensitive at all times.

No matter how gigantic a cruise ship is, you might encounter a glacier if you let your guard down. From director Baek Jang-hoon’s perspective, he becomes the captain at the helm of a cruise ship carrying numerous crew members.

“That actor Jang Young-guk…?”

The reporter looks at me with a puzzled look. All I can think of is that I want to end this boring interview quickly. The stitches on my palm were undone, but it still throbbed. There’s nothing better than reading a script to erase your thoughts. At that time, Son Hwa-won, who was sitting next to him, stabbed his side with his elbow.

“yes?”

“Ah, since you haven’t said anything, maybe I made you uncomfortable…?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Let’s start the interview again from the beginning.”

I thought I answered out loud, but it seems I only answered in my head. This phenomenon has been repeating since I took on the role of Jeong Hae-seok in the script. Instead of answering other people’s questions properly, more people look down on them. It was as if I had really been the one to interpret it.

* * *

“Wow, it’s bloody.”

The PD, who has finished filming the interview, shakes his head. It was a short interview that lasted only 30 minutes. Finding the filming location of Baek Jang-hoon’s division is as difficult as digging up pearls in the dirt. That’s because filming the interview itself was not permitted. Moreover, wasn’t it a film made up of actors who are currently drawing public attention?

“Mijin, is Actor Jang always like that? I got goosebumps all over my body while filming the interview. The person’s eyes looked so cold. Why didn’t you say that you interviewed Actor Jang once before?”

“It was a few years ago, but back then.”

It was a drama during my youth. At the time, she was a high school student full of the scent of youth, enough to earn her the title of the nation’s first love. It’s not as cold and cold-blooded as it is now. But it is true that today it was difficult to even ask simple questions.

‘It’s not like I was unfaithful in my answer.’

Among actors, there were sometimes those who disliked interviews themselves. It was a job that depended on the public’s attention, but this may be due to the tendency to view it as a nuisance as one becomes a top star. However, in the case of Britain, the former and the former were different. Rather than being bothered, I just felt that the person itself was cold. It’s like I’ve become a completely different person from when I filmed my youth years ago.

“Anyway, Jang Young-guk and Son Hwa-won.”

It is no exaggeration to say that the hottest actors currently in their 20s in Korea have come together. Moreover, the person holding the megaphone is none other than the master Baek Jang-hoon, who is said to be the legend of Chungmuro.

“I don’t know, but I have a strong opinion that this movie will be a huge hit. You said you could make a brief sketch of the filming location, right?”

“Yes, I heard so.”

“What do you want to do, Mijin? The interview is over. It’s a sketch anyway, so it’s just a matter of me and the camera director being left to pick.”

“I want to stay too.”

As a reporter for a broadcasting company, it is not easy to find director Baek Jang-hoon’s filming site. If you miss this opportunity, there is no guarantee that you will ever find it again. Moreover, doesn’t the image of an actor I encountered during today’s interview shoot keep lingering in my eyes?

* * *

“Actor Jang, should I accept the lines?”

He is an old actor. He played the role of Chairman Wang, Jeong Hae-seok’s father in the script. England bows his head deeply and expresses his gratitude.

“I would appreciate it, sir.”

He was an actor who was respected by everyone on set as much as director Baek Jang-hoon. Isn’t this someone who has been building his career by traveling across Chungmuro since he was young? However, on set, he showed up to work before anyone else and never complained even if the waiting time was long. Because of this, other actors couldn’t even complain about the longer standbys.

The two people practiced their lines with the script for a long time. Because the script was already frayed, even the short print was engraved in my mind, but I didn’t break it. How much time has passed? The elderly actor who received the lines from the beginning to the end of the scene spoke with a satisfied smile.

“I felt this on the original filming set, but no matter how much advice I wanted to give, I couldn’t give it to you.”

“No, teacher. There are still many things lacking.”

“Really, I’m not being sarcastic on purpose, I really have nothing to teach you.”

The old actor elaborates while looking at the filming site.

“It’s all because of me that you were sensitive today, right?”

“…….”

“It seems like I’ve been showing off for the past few days, knowingly or unknowingly. Now, I’m feeling so sad because I’ve become a character who disappears from the script. Moreover, I’m also retiring after this movie… …”

In the script, exit was synonymous with the death of a character. If you are not the lead role, you must have the mindset that you can exit the script at any time. However, since actors are also people, it is not easy to capture a role that one had affection for. Moreover, didn’t the old actor announce his retirement after this movie?

“I started my career as an actor when I was around the same age as actor Jang. At that time, I was an immature kid who didn’t know anything. I came to Seoul from the countryside and wandered around Chungmuro to try to show my face in a movie. Why did an idiot who didn’t even know how to become an actor leave Chungmuro like that? When I gave it to him, an assistant director seemed to take pity on me and gave me a small role. But for some reason, after I got that small role, I caught the attention of the directors and was successful.”

The wrinkled gaze deepens as if recalling the past.

“Now that I’m older, I regret why I was so lazy and conceited when I was younger. The country guy who came to Seoul from the countryside has gone, and now that he’s an actor with a lot of weight on his shoulders, he nags his juniors and calls in an assistant director when his standby gets too long. “I used to get scolded.”

It’s something I can’t even imagine right now.

“In hindsight, I realized that it was all my fault. In fact, when I first met Actor Jang, I was worried. I thought that Actor Jang resembled me when I was young. But as time passed, I realized that it was all my fault. “That you are a different person. That you are not simply an actor who shines with talent, but that your hard work is deeply embedded in your shadow. Others may not know, but you cannot fool my eyes.”

The old actor was vaguely aware of how much effort England had put into making a living as an actor. Didn’t most people praise young England as a genius actor with just talent? However, the image of England reflected in the eyes of the old actor only seemed to be an actor who gritted his teeth and worked harder than anyone else.

“You will achieve great success. You are famous now, but you will be even better in the future.”

“That’s too much praise, sir.”

Just then, raindrops fall on the filming site.

The old actor continues speaking while looking at the raindrops.

“Let’s go. It’s an honor to be able to film my last shoot with you.”

* * *

Track and trace.

The raindrops become thicker. The midsummer rainy season is cooling off the sweltering heat. A camera is pointed at the scene as the rain pours down so much that water sprinkler trucks are not needed. Like the gaze of a detective chasing a criminal.

“Interpretation, how did this happen?”

People gather in the VIP ward of Jeongil Hospital. These are the executives of Jeongil Group. Among them, Kim Min-cheol (uncle), the president of Jeongil Foods, approaches with a surprised look on his face. He came in such a hurry that raindrops had soaked into his shoulders, casting a shadow on them.

“You suddenly collapsed.”

Executives are buzzing. After all, it is a big deal that Chairman Wang of Jeongil Group has collapsed. It’s just that it hasn’t been reported in the media yet due to an embargo, but if it were reported, it would have caused an uproar in Korea. At that moment, even the aunt appears. Kim Min-cheol, president of Jeongil Foods, is about to enter the hospital room accompanied by his aunt, as if the time had come. but.

“I can’t go in.”

“what?”

“The doctor wants you to rest as much as possible. So, please go back.”

Mincheol Kim looks at his wife as if asking for help. Chairman Wang was already old. Wasn’t he suffering from a chronic illness to the point where it wouldn’t be surprising if he died suddenly in his hospital bed at any time? In this situation, if he suddenly passed away without hearing a word of his will, what would happen next was obvious even without looking at it. Kim Min-cheol’s wife and Jeong Hae-seok’s aunt walks forward with her eyes raised.

“No one else may know, but I definitely have to see my brother. Stop interpreting!”

It was then.

Crack.

Jeong Hae-seok holds his aunt’s approaching aunt by the shoulder with one hand, his eyes shining.

“I would have told you to go back.”

Jeong Hae-seok’s personality is already famous within the Jeongil Group. Isn’t his personality so similar that he is similar to Chairman Wang, who caused the brothers’ rebellion and swallowed up the Jeongil Group? The elders said that when they looked at Jeong Hae-seok, they sometimes reminded him of Chairman Wang in his younger days. A person who was infinitely cold-hearted and sometimes cruel even to his own relatives, that was Chairman Wang.

Track and trace.

Heavy rain hits the window of the hospital room noisily. However, even that sound is drowned out by various mechanical sounds and cannot be heard properly. Chairman Wang, who is lying in a hospital bed, has numerous life support devices attached to his body. The will to save him at all costs stands out. Jeong Hae-seok visited the hospital room alone.

“Father, since you are showing such weakness, bastards will not miss an opportunity to come after you.”

Jeong Hae-seok lowers his head and looks at his father lying in the hospital bed. Wrinkles that clearly show signs of age and age spots that are wider than before are clearly visible on the face. Jeong Hae-seok looks at him and speaks as if he is giving a confession.

“I have learned a lot from my father since I was young. He encouraged me to become stronger when I was weak. He said I was too weak to inherit a huge company called Jeongil Group.”

Chairman Wang was a very greedy person to begin with. That’s why he was able to surpass all his brothers and stand tall alone. Desire is like an endless well. Even if you pour water, it cannot reach the top. Because he was obsessed with that deep and wide desire, he never let go of management even as he grew old and sick.

“But I’m really curious.”

The corner of Jeong Hae-seok’s mouth twitches. He moves forward and glares cruelly at his father, who is lying in the hospital bed.

“Did you really not think of losing your spot to such a weak bastard?”