The Haunted Monster Actor - Chapter 9



Only Krnovel

Episode 9

I returned home after finishing the company dinner.

The atmosphere of Hyun-soo sitting quietly in a dark room was somehow different from when he was having a company dinner with the staff.

A gaze that stares quietly at a point somewhere in the sky.

It’s as dark and settled as Lee Ji-woon’s.

In fact, Hyun-soo had to constantly control his emotions in order to shake off the presence of Jang Ki-chun, who had been immersive throughout the filming.

‘I’ve gotten better at controlling it than before, but it’s still unstable.’

Hyunsoo recalled the moment when he was discussing acting with Eunjoo Ko.

‘Blunt weapons are in many ways more reasonable for killing people.’

The ‘subject’ who said those words was clearly not me.

Jang Gi-chun crossed the line that Hyun-soo had set, even if only for a moment.

‘The bastard’s existence must not go beyond the boundaries of smoke.’

So, we focused on suppressing Jang Ki-chun’s presence throughout filming.

Thanks to such efforts, today’s first shoot was able to end without any major problems.

That doesn’t mean there were only negative aspects.

Although it was a bit unsettling, Lee Ji-woon succeeded in appropriately utilizing Jang Gi-chun’s emotions in his acting.

You can tell just by looking at the reactions of the staff around him, including PD Yoo and Writer Ko.

He performed beyond expectations.

‘The moment I was acting, it felt as if all the surrounding scenery was in a dream.’

In short, it means that Hyun-soo’s consciousness was completely immersed in acting as Lee Ji-woon.

Jang Gi-chun’s experiences and emotions are of great help in fully understanding the fictional character Lee Ji-woon.

Today’s performance made me realize one thing.

This phenomenon is indeed a ‘double-edged sword’.

‘This type of acting is only possible in the early scenes, when the actors are all soloists, like now.’

In a role where you have to interact and work in harmony with other actors, this strength can become a poison.

As I said before, it is because I am not yet able to completely control Jang Gi-chun’s existence.

‘I must be able to completely control this monster.’

Hyunsoo lay down on his bed, vowing not to give in to the ‘monster’ inside him.

* * *

Because of the special device in the script called the diary’s imagination scene, we continued to film flashback scenes without any dialogue.

Is it because I consciously created a ‘boundary’ through acting?

Recently, the frequency of dreaming about Jang Gi-chun has been gradually decreasing.

Thanks to this, I was able to analyze the character of Lee Ji-woon by looking at the acting from the actor’s unique perspective.

‘Easy.’

The main villain of the drama “When You’re Dyed in Darkness”.

The age in the work is 33.

He is the hidden culprit behind several unsolved murders that are unknown to the world.

‘Lee Ji-woon is a character who has been exposed to continuous abuse from his biological father since childhood.’

However, his anger towards his ‘mother’ who neglected and abandoned him is greater than that towards his father who abused him.

This is why most of the victims killed by Lee Ji-woon are young women.

From here on, Lee Ji-woon becomes a character who is a little different from Jang Ki-chun, who is the being in the dream.

If Jang Gi-chun’s feelings are close to unconditional anger and murderous intent towards everything but himself.

Lee Ji-woon’s emotions have a more three-dimensional structure, as befitting the author’s creation.

Why did he show the ‘diary’ to Jinyoungmi under the pretense of coincidence?

Understanding the character of Lee Ji-woon must begin from there.

‘Jang Ki-chun, who is the motif of the play, said that he always announced his murderous acts through anonymous bulletin boards in adult communities.’

Perhaps the ‘black diary’ in the play is a device to express that.

‘Did Jang Ki-chun and Lee Ji-woon both ultimately want someone to recognize them?’

But what was it that you wanted me to know?

I thought about it a little more, but no answer came to me.

In fact, it may have been impossible to even understand the killer’s thoughts.

“… … Cut! Okay!”

After filming ended, Yoo Jong-seok came over and opened his mouth.

“Actor Kim, I think you’ve pretty much finished your solo scene in the beginning?”

What Yoo Jong-seok meant was simple.

“I guess I’m now harmonizing with other actors.”

“Is this your first time working with another actor? You didn’t even participate in the script reading, so you probably haven’t met anyone else besides the main actor.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Jong-seok nodded and continued his story.

“So what I’m saying is, I think we need a mid-script reading. What do you think?”

Script reading.

Before full-scale filming begins, this is the time when the actors gather together to read the script and roughly agree on the synergy.

As you might expect, the script reading for the drama “When You’re Dyed in Darkness” was completed about a month ago.

It was quite unusual to have a script reading in the middle of a production like this.

“If by any chance everyone is gathered here because of me… … .”

Before Hyun-soo could finish his worried words, Yoo Jong-seok waved his hand and said.

“Ah, don’t worry about that part. It’s hard to get all the actors together due to schedules anyway. We’ll just get together with actors Jang Do-seok and Joo In-ah, who will be filming mainly with actor Kim in the future, and do a brief reading.”

“… … !”

‘Jang Do-seok!’

Hyunsoo’s heart begins to flutter when he hears his name.

Jang Do-seok, a representative supporting actor in the drama world whose name is known to everyone who watches dramas.

Hyunsoo also grew up watching the movies and dramas he starred in, so he couldn’t help but get excited when he heard his name.

Reading the script with such a senior actor was something that Hyun-soo should have asked for first, even without Yoo Jong-seok asking.

“If my seniors are okay with it, I definitely want to do it!”

“Yeah, I knew actor Kim would say that. Okay, I’ll contact him. Let’s try to coordinate a date.”

The date for the mid-script reading suggested by Yoo Jong-seok was set much sooner than expected.

“Actor Kim, I spoke to Do-seok on the phone earlier. Since we’re on the subject, why don’t we meet up tomorrow? It just so happens that actor Joo also finished filming early tomorrow… What do you think?”

* * *

The place where we gathered for the script reading was a room in a cafe not far from the set.

Normally, script readings are held in a meeting room prepared by the production company, but due to Yoo Jong-seok and Joo In-ah’s filming schedules, they were inevitably held in a cafe.

“I heard that an interesting guy came in. Is this him?”

Jang Do-seok’s interested gaze turned to Hyun-soo.

“Hello, senior! My name is actor Kim Hyun-soo!”

“Ah, yes, yes. It’s Jang Do-seok. He looks ordinary, but I heard he’s so good at it?”

“yes?”

“Producer Yoo, okay sign. This guy isn’t the type of guy who would be easygoing.”

“Haha, hyung, why are you saying that… … Are you still upset because I kept cutting you off during the last shoot?”

“Huh? Who said I was upset? I’m just saying this because I haven’t been feeling well since that day.”

There was a sly smile on Jang Do-seok’s lips as he spoke like that.

“What’s your main character?”

“Oh, I just got a call from the broadcasting station, so I might not be able to come.”

“Really? Then the two of you are doing it. Let’s see how well our new junior does.”

“Yes, please take care of it!”

“Haha, you already did it earlier, why are you still greeting me? Yes, please take care of me too.”

“Haha, I’m also looking forward to seeing what kind of chemistry the two of you will show in the future… … .”

“Then let’s get started right away.”

As expected of a professional, Jang Do-seok picked up his script right after saying a few greetings.

This was a part that showed how much Jang Do-seok is a sincere actor when it comes to acting.

“Brother, you can have a cup of coffee and say hello a bit more before we continue… … .”

Jang Do-seok waved the script and said in response to Yoo Jong-seok’s words.

“Huh? That’s how actors usually greet each other. And, look over there first and say something like that.”

At Jang Do-seok’s words, Yoo Jong-seok’s gaze turned to Hyun-soo.

Hyun-soo, who finished greeting Jang Do-seok, is also looking down at his script as if he is about to read it.

“My junior is doing that, so should I be leisurely drinking coffee right now?”

Soon, we were given some time to prepare for the script reading.

‘The role played by Jang Do-seok is Jang Man-ho. He is the character who clashes with Lee Ji-woon the most after Jin Yeong-mi.’

Jang Man-ho.

He is a former organized crime member who runs a prostitution business. He notices the existence of the black serial killer (Lee Ji-woon) before Jin Young-mi and pursues him.

A character who initially opposes the main character, Jin Young-mi, but later becomes an important supporter to each other.

In some ways, he could be said to be the most important character among the supporting characters.

“Then, let’s start with ‘God, Our First Encounter in Front of the Police Station’.”

As soon as Yoo Jong-seok finished speaking, Jang Do-seok’s… no, Jang Man-ho’s sharp eyes turned to Hyun-soo.

[Jang Man-ho’s cool yet powerful voice stops Lee Ji-woon’s steps as he confidently enters through the main gate of the police station]

“Are you by any chance… … .”

“… … ?”

‘Where, should I go and see what kind of guy he is?’

“Are you going to embroider? If possible, don’t do that.”

As soon as he heard Jang Do-seok’s deep voice, Hyun-soo felt as if his footsteps, which were heading somewhere, had stopped on their own.

Even though I’m clearly sitting on a chair.

In that way, an unknown power and force could be felt in Jang Do-seok’s voice.

‘It’s just a reading, but is it really like this?’

And thanks to Jang Do-seok’s ‘acting persuasion’, Hyun-soo also quickly began to become absorbed in Lee Ji-woon.

Before I knew it, my eyes were no longer on the script.

Bam.

The person covering the script on the table was no longer Hyunsu.

Before he knew it, Lee Ji-woon’s indifferent, sunken gaze was turned towards Jang Do-seok.

‘Hey, look at this guy? Is this saying we don’t need a script or anything?’

Jang Do-seok smiled inwardly, admiring his junior’s boldness.

‘Okay, I’ll take that.’

Jang Do-seok also gave up the idea of ​​a light script reading and put down the script to accept the challenge.

“You? Misuk and Yoojung, Jooah… … You’re all like that, right?”

At Jang Man-ho’s direct question, something changed in Lee Ji-woon’s expression.

But it was only a momentary illusion, and Lee Ji-woon still had a blank expression.

Jang Do-seok, who sensed that momentary change, felt a chill for a moment.

‘Huh? Did I see something wrong? I thought you smiled for a second.’

It was clearly a context that did not exist in the fingerprint.

“You little punk… … I already knew everything, so don’t use your brain… … .”

“then?”

‘Huh? What the? Why are you suddenly attacking me like this?’

While Jang Do-seok, who was reciting his lines, was inwardly embarrassed, Hyun-soo continued his lines.

“You already knew everything anyway.”

“… … .”

As Lee Ji-woon speaks like that, his gaze slightly lowers at some point.

This is a nonverbal performance that shows that Lee Ji-woon does not even pay attention to Jang Man-ho just by the position of his pupils.

‘Yeah, is this how it’s supposed to come out?’

“Huh, this kid is really a fresh kid. He tucks his tail right away as soon as I ask him that? It looks like he’s trying to crawl into the police station. He’s going to turn himself in anyway, so he has nothing to hide.”

“Why didn’t you report it even though you knew everything?”

“Huh? Oh, I don’t know anything about the law. I’ll catch you and kill you myself… … .”

It was then that a subtle arc was drawn at the corner of Lee Ji-woon’s mouth.

“How are you going to kill me?”

At that moment, Jang Do-seok felt as if he was being sucked into that strange, gloomy smile.

“But why has this kid been interrupting people and talking nonsense since earlier… … .”

“I’m going to stab you to death, Yujeong.”

“… … What? Who, what are you doing?”

“Jang Yu-jeong. 543 Geumho-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul. Nail shop employee. 23 years old. Likes to drink and often comes home alone late at night.”

“… … You, you little punk, what’s my daughter’s name… … ?”

Soon, shock and confusion begin to fill Jang Man-ho’s eyes, who had never been afraid of anything in the world.

The emotion covering the trembling pupils is fear of the unknown monster before their eyes.

“If you touch my daughter, you will be in my hands that very day… … .”

“Ugh.”

“… … ?”

“You’re going to kill me anyway?

“… … .”

“Come on, let’s make a bet.”

“bet?”

“Yeah, let’s bet. Who will kill first.”

Soon, Jang Man-ho’s eyes, looking at Lee Ji-woon, begin to fill with unbearable murderous intent.

“But actually, there’s no need to make this bet.”

“… … ?”

“Even if I try, I’ve already won.”

Jang Man-ho’s eyes begin to be filled with the same ‘darkness’ as Lee Ji-woon’s.

“Hey… … You little bastard!”

Boom! Boom! Boom!

At that moment, Jang Do-seok got up from his seat without realizing it and grabbed Kim Hyun-soo by the collar.

“Do, Do-seok hyung! Why are you suddenly like this? This is just reading! Reading!”

“Uh… … Huh?”

Jang Do-seok, who heard Yoo Jong-seok’s words, looked around with a blank expression.

The drinks on the table are spilled all over the place.

Soon Jang Do-seok could figure out what was going on.

‘This, this Jang Do-seok… … got emotional during the script reading? And to this… … a rookie?’

Jang Do-seok, who had been looking at Hyun-soo with a confused expression for a moment, soon sat down in his seat.

Then he continued speaking to Yoo Jong-seok with a heavy face.

“… … PD Yoo.”

“yes……?”

“I’m sorry, but I have to go back and take pictures of the scene I took yesterday.”

“Huh? No, if I go back to a scene I’ve already taken, what’s going on all of a sudden…? Do you know what kind of illusion this is?”

“Then! Are you telling me to just sit here and let that green-eyed junior eat me with my eyes open!?”

Jang Do-seok was truly an actor who was sincere about his acting.

Continued in the next episode