The Haunted Monster Actor - Chapter 24



Only Krnovel

Episode 24

After the script reading, Director Maeng Jong-ho gave his overall review.

“Everyone did a great job despite my occasional nagging. What do you think of this movie? Do you think it will do well?”

Director Maeng, who had maintained a serious and sharp attitude throughout, made the actors and staff members’ expressions lighten and they burst into laughter.

While everyone was laughing and clapping, some people’s gazes briefly lingered on one person.

‘The cathode ray tube couldn’t even show half of what was shown.’

He wasn’t a so-called rising star who could act.

The secret weapon the director has prepared is not Jeon I-seo… … .

‘It was Kim Hyun-soo.’

Seo Young-ok’s gaze turned to Jeon Yi-seo sitting next to her.

‘If she can follow even a little bit of the ‘knot’ of acting that actor Kim Hyun-soo showed… … .’

Maybe this movie will produce unexpected results.

match!

“Okay, let’s end today’s script reading here. Since this is our first time meeting, I think some of you may have been expecting a simple dinner, but unfortunately, we’ll have to end it here.”

At Maeng Jong-ho’s words, the younger supporting actors opened their mouths with slightly regretful expressions.

“Yes? I’m so sad, Director!”

“But still, it’s our first meeting… …!”

“I feel the same way. But didn’t you all feel it today?”

“… … ?”

“… … As I watched the actors’ performances, something came to me. I feel like I should get to work right away.”

It goes without saying that no actor can stop a director from doing a job.

“Let’s try to schedule a chance to get to know each other before the crank-in. The main filming is expected to start early next month, but I’ll contact you separately through my agency for more details. Well, thank you all for your hard work today!”

Clap clap clap clap!

After safely completing the first script reading and greeting the other actors, Hyun-soo headed to the parking lot where Geon was waiting.

It was a shame that there wasn’t more opportunity to talk about the work with other actors, but Hyun-soo and Jong-ho basically had the same mindset.

‘It’s not enough yet.’

It was literally just a script reading, but Jeon I-seo’s aura inside the ‘frame’ will be even greater than what she showed today.

Hyunsoo just wants to increase the level of perfection of the character ‘Lee Gun-hoo’ in line with that.

“Wow, bro. I think this movie will be better than I thought.”

Go Geon, sitting in the front row, is watching the video of the script reading session and exclaiming in admiration.

“When was that taken?”

“Huh? Oh, I took some pictures just in case I could get a still cut that would help promote you.”

“Can you send it to me too?”

“Of course, hyung. Are you going to use it for practice?”

“I didn’t get an autograph, but that’s too bad… … .”

“yes?”

“Of course I’m going to use it for practice.”

After finishing my schedule, I watched the reading video all the way home.

The characters of “Torso on the Blue”, including Lee Gun-hoo, began to move and come to life inside Hyun-soo.

* * *

bang!

-I told you… …what was it?

Jin Young-mi’s words, as she held the broken Lee Ji-woon in her arms and screamed, seemed to represent the hearts of many viewers.

A glimmer of hope that he too had a human heart and love.

That heart was shattered without a trace with the sound of the pistol Jinyoungmi aimed at him.

Comments calling for Ji-woon to be brought back to life poured out like a waterfall on the live talk, but most people said that it was a clean ending that suited the psychopathic serial killer Lee Ji-woon.

Even though Lee Ji-woon fell to the floor… … the viewer ratings were the complete opposite.

[The highest viewership rating of the final episode of “When You’re Dyed in Darkness” was 26.23%. It didn’t stop rising until the very end.]

Considering that the highest-grossing film of the first half of 2023 recorded a viewership rating of 18%, it could be said that it was a truly enormous success.

“Brother, at this level… … wouldn’t it be possible to aim for the year-end grand prize?”

“Yeah, I think so too.”

Hyunsoo nodded after hearing Gogun’s words.

This is a work in which everyone did their best.

“When You’re Dyed in Darkness” deserved such an award.

“Brother, you might as well aim for Best Supporting Actor this year… or even Best Newcomer?

Hyunsoo shook his head at Gogun’s suggestive remark.

“No, I’m not there yet.”

Hyunsoo thinks that he just found a good role and work for his first project, but he hasn’t been able to show proper acting yet.

Hyunsoo thought that Lee Ji-woon’s current popularity was due to the plot and the charm of the character rather than his acting.

“Brother, can you say that after seeing that sight?”

“… … ?”

Hyunsoo’s gaze turned to the direction Gogun was pointing.

A large crowd of people can be seen crowding into the streets.

In the meantime, placards with the names of Kim Hyun-soo and Lee Ji-woon were occasionally seen.

“Whew, if someone saw you, they’d think there was an idol among the cast.”

Of course, not all of them came just to see Hyun-soo.

Today is the finale party for “When You’re Dyed in Darkness”.

Although it was held privately and on a small scale, the area was already packed with reporters and fans who had started arriving early.

“Brother, then I’ll see you at the finale party later.”

A short distance of about 15 meters from the car to the finale party venue.

As this is my last time greeting fans as an actor appearing in ‘Never Give Up’, it is a meaningful journey.

As I opened the car door and stepped outside, I was greeted with cheers and flashes from fans.

“Actor Kim Hyun-soo! Please look here!”

“Please tell us your thoughts on the end of the drama!”

“Whoa! Jiwoon senior!”

Every time Hyunsoo opens his mouth to answer the reporters’ questions, the fans’ cheers grow louder.

Until he had walked the entire 15m distance, Hyunsoo bowed his head to his fans so many times that it was difficult to count them all.

The finale party was held at a more ordinary restaurant than expected.

“Hyunsoo!”

As soon as I entered the entrance, the owner came over and greeted me with a warm expression.

“Didn’t you come here for the last company dinner?”

“Didn’t you know? The original ending party was always a meat restaurant.”

This is a place prepared for not only the director and actors, but also all the staff who worked hard together.

A place where hard-working staff can relax and unwind… … .

“Where else can you stretch out your legs and relax as comfortably as at a meat restaurant?”

“Well, I already feel at ease.”

The owner smiled and continued speaking at Hyun-soo’s response.

“In the past, the first round would be held separately for the actors and directors, but that’s almost gone now. Well, we’ve all gone through hardships together, so why bother dividing it into actors and staff? Oh, I guess I can just sit here.”

Jang Do-seok, who had appeared and sat next to Hyun-soo, nodded and added to the owner’s words.

“But it’s true that there are still PDs and writers like that. Well, even though PD Yoo has a bit of an old-fashioned streak, he’s not the type of person who likes to show off.”

“Oh, you’re here, senior!”

“Senior Jang, are you talking behind my back again while I’m away?”

They say even a tiger comes when called, and before I knew it, Yoo Jong-seok had come and sat down across from me.

“You were sitting next to me earlier, right? So in this case, you should call it a conversation. And that’s not wrong, is it?”

“No, even writer Ko is like this?”

Soon, the core members of Neeram, including Eun-ju Ko, naturally gathered around Hyun-soo.

Even though the event hadn’t even started yet, PD Yoo already seemed to be a little drunk.

“Anyway… … I’m so grateful to our writer Ko and the actors. As you know, I’ve been in a bit of a slump lately, right? I felt like I was being pushed to the back… … Thanks to you, I might be able to do a few more works.”

PD Yoo, who said that, poured a glass of soju for Hyunsoo.

“Actor Kim, you’ll definitely work with me again next time, right?”

Before PD Yoo could answer her question, Eun-joo Ko opened her mouth first.

“I’m going to write my next piece with actor Kim in mind, so I definitely need to clear my schedule.”

“No, then what about me? Am I going to be this pickpocketing?”

“Can’t we do it together?”

Joo Chang-seok, who was watching the two bickering, said with an amused expression.

“Oh, so… is this the birth of the Yoo Jong-seok Division?”

“Yoo Jong-seok… … Division?”

Yoo Jong-seok’s eyes lit up with ambition(?) after hearing Joo Chang-seok’s words.

Hyunsoo smiled and nodded while looking at that sight.

No matter what anyone says, these two people are the ones who first discovered actor Kim Hyun-soo.

If it weren’t for them.

‘I couldn’t have done my first work with such great colleagues.’

“I will do my best whenever you call me.”

It was then that Joo In-ah, who had heard Hyun Soo’s words, joined the conversation with a meaningful expression on her face.

“When that time comes… … shouldn’t I beg you to come instead of calling you?”

After hearing the owner’s words, Do-seok continued speaking as if something had come to mind.

“Oh, by the way, I heard that actor Kim has already started a new project? Tollgate… What was it?”

“This work is called Torso on the Blue.”

“Oh, right. Torso.”

Joo Chang-seok, who was listening to their conversation, tilted his head.

“Torso on the Blue? I’ve never heard of that name before. Have you heard of a drama like that being produced?”

“It’s not a drama, it’s a movie.”

Joo Chang-seok continued speaking with a bewildered expression.

“Huh? A movie? No, since you just got really popular with the drama, you should think about doing a few more projects here. Why are you suddenly doing a movie? Didn’t CEO Woo say anything? Hey, don’t you think so? Our studio has a pretty good project coming in this time… … .”

“Who is the director?”

Yoo Jong-seok suddenly cuts off Joo Chang-seok’s words and asks a question.

“I’m director Maeng Jong-ho. Since this is his first commercial film, I think most people don’t know him.”

“Maeng Jong-ho… …? I don’t know who he is, but since he caught actor Kim, he’s really caught that guy.”

“Huh? What is that… … .”

Unlike Hyun-soo, who had a puzzled expression, everyone sitting there nodded to Yoo Jong-seok’s words.

“Honestly, it’s true that there were limits to how much actor Kim could show in a drama. In the first place, the character Lee Ji-woon showed a limited amount of things.”

Joo Chang-seok agreed with Yoo Jong-seok’s words.

“Yeah… … The real thing about actor Kim’s acting is seeing it on site!”

There are characters that become more attractive the more they are hidden.

The reason why Lee Ji-woon is so popular now is because he is so good at ‘hidden acting’.

What if Hyun-soo, like that, shows acting that properly ‘expresses’ his emotions?

“Anyway… … I can’t imagine this part about Lee Ji-woon being in a romance?”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Once again, when everyone was nodding, the owner swirled her glass and muttered.

“Probably, I’ll do really well?”

“Huh? Really?”

“Yes, actor Kim has a lot of the emotions of his co-star… … .”

“A lot of emotions… … what?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Anyway, I’m sure you’ll do well. Hyunsoo.”

“What, it’s bland.”

The finale party began in earnest while the actors sat down and chatted about this and that.

“You said it was a small finale party? Why is the cake that big?”

Yoo Jong-seok burst into laughter with a proud face as he spoke to Ko Eun-ju, who was surprised by the grandeur of the five-tier cake that looked like it would be used at a hotel wedding.

“Writer Ko, you saw the final episode’s viewership ratings, right? That was ordered by the CEO himself. He asked them to send it directly to the Signiel Hotel. He said he asked them to send the biggest one.”

“… … As expected, the viewer ratings are really a gangster.”

“Yeah, the director is already making a fuss about gently coaxing writer Ko into his next project. The writer has to want to do it, what power does a swindler have?”

“The PD is a bit weak.”

“what!”

“Instead, you have the skills.”

“Go, Go, writer… … .”

At Ko Eun-joo’s words, Yoo Jong-seok’s eyes welled up with tears, unlike any veteran PD.

“Writer Ko, you’ll definitely do it with me next time too, right?”

“Didn’t you hear what I said earlier? I said I’d think about it if you brought actor Kim.”

The five-tier cake, which was personally ordered by the broadcasting station president, was cut by lead actress Joo In-ah, who blew out the candles.

Along with the MC’s witty guidance, the actors stood up one by one and shared their thoughts on the final episode.

Some of the new actors and staff ended up bursting into tears.

“What if even PD Yoo cries?”

“I don’t know. What should I do with the tears just falling down my face!”

And then, it was Hyun-soo’s turn.

“I think the seniors who came before me have already said all the detailed thoughts, so I will just say something brief.”

Hyunsoo, holding the microphone, made eye contact with the producer, writer, actors, and staff one by one.

There is only one thing I want to say to those who are looking at me… no, those who ‘looked at me’ at this moment.

“I would like to work together again next time.”

The process of many teams collaborating to create one work lasted nearly a year.

As it was not a short period of time, there must have been some misunderstandings, fights, and sadness.

But, just for today.

“Thank you all for your hard work!”

They laugh, cry, and truly encourage each other for their hard work.

The last company dinner lasted late into the night, and Hyunsoo stayed until the very end.

I wished this fun time would never end.

Continued in the next episode