The Haunted Monster Actor - Chapter 98



Only Noblemtl

Episode 98

‘I thought something was strange when martial arts director Park Jung-hoo wasn’t present at the meeting with director Lee Cheong-beom.’

Now that I look at it, it seems like the two decided not to work together anymore after their last project five years ago.

‘It seems like that happened for a worse reason than I thought.’

As soon as the topic of Lee Cheong-beom’s next work was brought up, the air in the room quickly froze, so much so that I could feel it on my skin.

Even Han Ik-sang, who had been looking at Hyun-soo with a friendly gaze the whole time, had a stern expression on his face.

‘It doesn’t seem like an atmosphere where one work after another will simply fail… … .’

Hyunsoo, who had been observing the two people’s expressions for a moment, carefully opened his mouth.

It’s Kim Hyun-soo who persuaded Woo Ji-yoon.

It wasn’t that I ran several kilometers with such a weak resolve that I would give up right away just because an order to evacuate was issued.

“I think the director is misunderstanding something. I haven’t yet completely confirmed my contract to appear in Director Lee Cheong-beom’s work. That’s why CEO Woo Ji-yoon didn’t tell me about the bad weather in advance.”

Park Jeong-hoo snorted after hearing Hyun-soo’s words.

“Do you know who came to mind first when I first saw actor Kim Hyun-soo?”

“… … ?”

“I was reminded of the actor Won Ji-sang.”

“I’m not that handsome… … .”

“I can tell just by looking at the way his hands tremble as he holds that damn script. Just like actor Kim, Ji-sang never lets his script out of his hands for even a second.”

“… … .”

“If you look closely, it’s not Bae Bu-yong, but the script that Cheong Beom-i was working on, right? If that’s true, then they’ve had at least one script meeting.”

Park Jeong-hoo continued speaking with a look on his face that said there was nothing more to see.

“You can tell just by looking at someone who likes to use their body. I can tell that guy is hot for action scenes, but he hasn’t been confirmed to appear yet? If you’ve heard the rumors, you’d know that I’m not the type of person who likes to play with words.”

“… … .”

A very sharp look at Park Jeong-hoo.

Although they have the profession of stuntman, their nature is closer to that of a martial artist who undergoes grueling asceticism.

An ordinary person would have flinched at his chilling momentum, but fortunately, Hyun-soo now had a ‘dream’.

This is none other than the dream of an ‘action actor’.

Unknown action actor Kim Young-cheol and Hyun-soo had no intention of backing down from this spot.

“I think I know just by looking at it.”

“… … ?”

“I can tell just by looking at the director’s eyes as he looks at the script I’m holding.”

“I don’t know what you’re trying to say, but… … .”

“The potential contained in Director Lee Cheong-beom’s work. Who knows it better than anyone else? No, it’s the director himself.”

Hyunsoo didn’t miss the moment when Park Jeong-hoo’s fingertips trembled after hearing his words.

Park Jeong-hoo also felt excited by the action scenes in Director Lee Cheong-beom’s writing.

That was also the reason why Park Jeong-hoo remained by Lee Cheong-beom’s side for ten long years despite repeated failures.

When Park Jeong-hoo seemed to be shaken by his words, Hyun-soo continued speaking without losing momentum.

“And even if the bad weather makes it to the show, I don’t think that’s a problem. After all, I’m here to learn in my personal capacity.”

“… … .”

Director Park Jeong-hoo fell into deep thought after hearing Hyun-soo’s sincere words.

After being silent for a while, he finally opened his mouth.

There was no trace of anger in his voice until just now.

“I got a little excited. Sorry about that, Actor Kim.”

“No, Director. I don’t know much about the relationship between the two of you, but I spoke too much.”

Park Jeong-hoo nodded at Hyun-soo’s manly apology and continued speaking.

“Actor Kim said he came first to ask for advice, so I will keep my mouth shut from now on. Is that okay?”

“Of course, Director.”

When Hyun-soo entered elementary school carrying a backpack on his back, Park Jeong-hoo wore a wire on his back and acted as a body double.

Since the topic of conversation that he, a senior in the film industry, would suddenly start talking about would not be light, Hyun-soo waited for his next words with a serious expression.

“I really enjoyed watching Nineties Dive. I really like stories about friendship between men, so for the first time in a while, I shed tears while watching it.”

Park Jung-hoo watched Nineties Dive whenever he had time during this shoot and was naturally impressed by Kim Hyun-soo’s acting.

“So, I looked through your filmography, but you have absolutely no action experience. Well, that’s not to say that’s a problem. Jisang didn’t have any action experience before he filmed ‘My Uncle’ either.”

“… … .”

“I got a little excited earlier, but the reason I won’t teach you isn’t just because I broke up with Director Lee.”

As Park Jeong-hoo spoke, his gaze turned to a large whiteboard hanging on one wall.

The whiteboard is filled with the names of over 200 Sangnamja Action School trainees.

‘There are 200 members…? When I saw it earlier, it didn’t look like there were more than 50 members?’

Next to the riders and names written on the whiteboard were the names of the works in which they were currently appearing as stunt doubles or action supporting roles.

The number of members currently on business trip is around 50.

“The blank spaces here are for members who have no filming or who have just finished filming and are returning.”

The number of blanks is also about fifty.

Even if we assume there are 100 people in total, there is still a number of 100 left.

“Then the rest… … .”

Park Jeong-hoo then pointed to the remaining 100 names on the list, with ‘red letters’ written in the blank spaces.

“Knees, shoulders, ankles, waist… Can’t you tell just by looking at them?”

“… … .”

“That’s right, this is a list of members who have been injured while appearing on the show. Some of them have already left the industry due to major injuries or trauma, while others are still recovering and preparing for a comeback.”

The reason the names of the hundred members remained, written in red letters, was simple.

“As I think about it, this is a list that I have kept and not erased so that I and the members who have passed through our action school will not forget the moments when their bodies and minds were hurt.”

Park Jeong-hoo’s voice as he spoke was the weakest I’d ever heard.

Although they are no longer able to participate due to injuries, we have tried our best to leave the names of the members who have not given up yet.

Regret and bitterness.

I’m sorry.

Park Jeong-hoo’s complicated eyes, mixed with a strong determination to never let something like this happen again, turned to the bottom left section of the member list.

[4th Yoo Sang-jin – Waist]

“Do you know when the word ‘waist’ was written next to Yoo Sang-jin’s name in the bottom left box?”

“… … .”

“It was five years ago.”

Han Ik-sang’s face darkened noticeably as he listened to Park Jeong-hoo’s story.

‘Five years ago… … It was when I was filming director Lee Cheong-beom’s latest film, ‘The Laughing Killer.’

“I still talk to Sangjin occasionally on the phone, who was about to become a martial arts director at the time. He’s such a cheerful guy that I joke around saying that he’s living well without any particular inconveniences, except for the fact that he has a herniated disc between his 4th and 5th lumbar vertebrae, which left him with a limp in one leg.”

Director Park Jeong-hoo’s face, who continued speaking, was so cold that it was hard to tell he was the same person as before.

“Do you know what I’m trying to say?”

“… … .”

“I never want to lose my precious disciples again.”

That was the reason why Hyunsoo could not become his disciple.

* * *

“I feel sorry for making you go through all that in vain. I would appreciate it if you could consider the director’s position as well. I can’t tell you in detail, but between the two of you… … .”

“Yes, it seems like there are some goals that are not easily solved.”

“Haha… … . Thank you for understanding.”

Hyunsoo nodded with a calm expression at Han Ik-sang’s words.

“No, senior. Rather, I am grateful to the director for speaking honestly to me.”

Even though I was rejected, I didn’t feel particularly bad.

If Park Jeong-hoo had wanted to refuse, he could have come up with dozens of reasons.

However, Park Jung-hoo, who read Hyun-soo’s true feelings, explained the reason for his refusal to learn, even going so far as to explain the circumstances that would be difficult to reveal to a young actor he was meeting for the first time today.

It was clear that both Director Lee Cheong-beom and Director Park Jeong-hoo were outstanding figures who were not easily seen.

‘Working with those two would be more exciting than anything else… … .’

There are times in this world when we encounter things that cannot be overcome through logic or illogicality.

No matter how earnest Park Jeong-hoo’s teachings were, I never thought that they would penetrate something buried deep in a man’s heart.

Kim Young-cheol also seemed to have the same thoughts as Hyun-soo, and he did not show any particular reaction to this ‘Manly Action School’.

‘Well, the action school isn’t just here.’

“Well then, thank you for helping me with the guidance despite your busy schedule, Senior.”

“Ah… … Yes, no.”

“Then I will go in now.”

“Uh, uh… …Actor Kim Hyun-soo?”

The voice of Han Ik-sang, who is holding back Hyun-soo as he turns around.

“Yes, senior.”

“I wanted to ask you this earlier… … Why do you call me senior?”

“Huh? Well… … .”

Usually, actors on set don’t call stuntmen ‘senior’.

Then what do you call it?

‘Brothers~.’

‘Brother~.’

‘Martial arts brother~.’

This is no joke.

It depends on the actor on a case-by-case basis, but in reality, most sets call their martial arts team actors that way.

Only those who are at least as good as an action director can be properly called action director or martial arts director.

Martial arts brother.

In some ways, it is a title that is full of affection, but in fact, Han Ik-sang did not like it when actors called him ‘hyung’.

‘Because I am also a proper person… … .’

“Aren’t you an actor?”

“……yes?”

“An action actor who does action scenes. I thought it was natural to call him senior. Isn’t that right?”

“Action… … actor?”

‘… … This isn’t the 80s or 90s when Chinese martial arts films or Hong Kong films were popular.’

The world no longer calls stuntmen like himself action actors.

When a lead actor in an action genre shows off exciting action scenes, he becomes an action actor.

‘Yes, it was like when an actor like you, Kim Hyun-soo, appeared as the main character in director Lee Cheong-beom’s film… … .’

“This is something I learned while training this time. This action acting is something that requires the most painful training process compared to any other acting, so how can I not call you senior?”

It was at that moment that Han Ik-sang, who had been blankly listening to Hyun-soo, opened his mouth without realizing it.

“By any chance… … would you like to continue your tour?”

Hyunsoo answered with his eyes wide open.

“Yes? Is that okay, senior?”

Even though he knew something was wrong, Han Ik-sang could not help but nod.

Continued in the next episode ▶