Chapter 148
Chapter 148
I Will Live as an Actor Episode 148
The red dragonfly is flapping its wings as if it is sad that summer is leaving. People enjoying a picnic can be seen on the riverside where the heat wave has subsided. From the mother trying to feed him even just one bite of the carefully made kimbap, to the child trying to find a place to sleep by holding a bedding stick. Britain is running along such a river without stopping.
I’m completely out of breath. If I stop cantering at this moment, I will be extremely happy. However, the speed of running becomes faster, as if whipping the screaming thighs. As soon as I get over the hurdle, adrenaline comes out in my head and my once daunting steps suddenly become lighter, as if I had thrown off a sandbag.
“Whew.”
How long did it run? I think I should have run more than 5km at best. I sat on a bench facing the riverside, took out a water bottle, and drank. My back is already soaked, but the taste of water flowing down my throat is more refreshing than ever. Just then, an old man opens a newspaper and sits down next to me on the bench.
[Desiderio’s exclusive model, actor ‘Jang Young-guk’!]
[The reason why head designer Monica Rossellini chose actor Jang Young-guk.]
[Jang Young-guk breaks down a stronghold that even famous Hollywood actors could not break!]
From the front page of the newspaper, England His name was plastered all over the news. To conclude, we signed a contract with Desiderio. Of course, it was conditional. It was decided that model shooting would be carried out after all movie shooting was completed, and the down payment would be double the amount of the initial contract. If you ask me if I changed my mind because of money?
‘no.’
In fact, when it comes to money, I am already living without a shortage. It was a box office success not only in dramas but also in movies. Not only the appearance fee, but also the investment made when filming Confessions of a Priest had increased by several times the original amount, making it impossible to estimate. The reason the contract was signed was none other than the attitude of head designer Monica.
-Until you change your mind, I will come back to Korea any time. Because that’s how valuable you are to me.
At that moment, the old man who was reading the newspaper narrows his eyes and looks at the article. However, it looks like he may have left his reading glasses behind and is completely unreadable. In the end, I nod to England, who is sitting next to me.
“Bachelor, what does this article say?”
“The actor has signed a contract as an advertising model for a clothing company.”
“These days, articles like that are all on the front page?”
England hides his smile by pulling his hat down. The old man, dissatisfied with the content of the article, clicks his tongue and folds up the newspaper. And then he asks, as if he can’t help but regret it.
“Is this clothing store famous? Or is the actor famous? What is the actor’s name?”
“It says Jang Young-guk.”
“Jang Young-guk? This is my first time hearing this name. So the clothing store is more famous?”
It is a foolish question and a wise answer. Describing Desiderio as a clothing store is insufficient. This is because the comparison with England was not wrong. England stands up refreshed, looking at the back of the old man walking away. I think I need to try harder.
* * *
After finishing the shower, I wrapped a towel around my neck and came out.
“England!”
My uncle was waiting at the door with a pouting look on his face. It seemed like we were living together now, so there wasn’t much discomfort, but for some reason, their expressions were unusual.
“Do I have no presents?”
What gift?
“I’ve raised you on my back since you were a snot, so how can you treat me like that…!”
“Some kind of uncle raised me on his back. That’s what I always say.”
“That’s what they say.”
The uncle looks embarrassed as he scans the bridge of his nose and elaborates.
“I heard that you even received a long wallet as a gift from Desiderio.”
“I knew that would happen, so I prepared one for my uncle.”
“Really?”
In fact, the UK had decided to pay all costs related to the staff’s gifts. However, Monica stubbornly refused, saying it was her heart, and it was eventually canceled. Still, I felt uneasy, so I bought several Desiderio wallets.
Gifts bring happiness to everyone. Given the wealth of his uncle, who is said to be a national actor, Desiderio’s wallet would not be such an expensive item. However, he cherishes the wallet that England gave him as if it were a new urn and brags about it to his grandfather. When I saw that, I thought it was a good gift.
“England, are you going to action school today?”
“yes.”
“Take care of yourselves.”
My uncle opens his eyes and asks what my grandfather said.
“You’re going to action school?”
“There is a scene that requires action at the end of filming, so I’m planning to practice in advance.”
“This is it, brother. Shouldn’t I teach you a lesson?”
My uncle shakes his shoulders. Isn’t that true of my uncle, who has played a variety of roles across both the TV and screen? There are so many action movies that you can’t count them all with ten fingers. When I saw my uncle already warming up, I felt like I had to leave the mansion as soon as possible.
“England, opportunities like this don’t come easily. Even if I look like this, I want to be an action actor in my old days.”
My uncle looks around without speaking.
“Brother, where did England go?”
“He rushed out a little while ago.”
* * *
Combine.
It is a word that appears most often in action movies. This mainly refers to deciding the order with the other party in advance when filming a difficult action scene. Since this is a shoot that could easily lead to a major accident, we not only rehearse several times in advance but also practice regularly.
“England, have you worked out before?”
Martial arts director Jaehong Kwon expresses admiration as he massages England’s calf. That’s not all. Starting from the thighs surrounding the femur to the abs and chest, aren’t they toned as if they had been exercising for a long time? It was even more surprising because his muscles were not swollen thick like bodybuilders, but were filling his stomach as if they had been compressed.
“I canter every morning, but I don’t really do any exercise.”
“That alone makes it this balanced? It’s better than most of the friends at our action school. Being flexible here is just the icing on the cake.”
Jaehong Kwon whet his appetite. It was impossible not to covet England’s body as an action actor. Of course, among the actors, there were many who were in good shape. However, most of them focused on appearance and were not flexible. It was correct to say in layman terms that it was for pictorial purposes.
“Do you want to try this?”
This is Kwon Jae-hong, who raised his mitt to waist height. England simply warmed up and immediately kicked. As he easily kicks the mitt with his instep, Jaehong Kwon gradually raises his height. In the end, didn’t he raise his mitt to a point beyond the top of his head? An actor who has never acted in an action role would not be able to reach this level. but.
puck!
The mitt flutters with a light hitting sound. Britain’s flowing stance was without any unnecessary elements. Jaehong Kwon clicks his tongue again at that sight.
“England, are you sure you’ve never done an action scene before?”
Instead of answering, England smiled faintly. In fact, it would be a lie to say that I have never learned it. In your past life, didn’t you mostly play gangsters and bodyguards? At one time, I had the experience of working as a stuntman at an action school to make a living. Now that I am younger and my body is as light as a feather, my skills will no longer be inferior to my previous skills.
“It’s a shame that the action scene appears briefly at the end of the video, but since it’s my first time doing it, I think this level of flexibility would be amazing with a little tweaking.”
While Kwon Jae-hong was regaining his appetite, Son Hwa-won arrived at the action school. As someone who is well-versed in politeness, he greets everyone and raises his hand towards England. Kwon Jae-hong also received Son Hwa-won’s greeting and held his hand.
“Seeing as Hwa-won has developed calluses, it seems like she worked out quite hard.”
Son Hwa-won answered that she went to the gym diligently to avoid causing trouble. Soon, Sohnhwawon’s basic tests are also conducted. However, Kwon Jae-hong’s expression is quite lukewarm. It is true that the saying that I went to the gym did not lie, and my body was strong, but my flexibility was significantly reduced.
“First of all, it’s okay because there’s still some time left until action scenes are filmed anyway. I think Hwa-won just needs to develop basic flexibility, and England can test to see how well he can put it together. Now then, first, what kind of “I guess the idea is to show you what to draw and chase after the goal, right? Myeongdeuk, Jisung!”
At Jaehong Kwon’s shout, the stuntmen who were warming up in a corner of the action school came running. Not only did he wear compression patches on his thighs and forearms, but his solid body showed that he had been exercising for a long time, even to someone who didn’t know him.
“Here, Myeong-deuk will play the role of Yeong-guk, and Ji-seong will play the role of Mr. Hwa-won. I have matched the picture according to the script that Director Baek ordered, so please take a look.”
As soon as Kwon Jae-hong’s words fall out, the two people distance themselves from each other. As if a short nod was a signal, the two people’s eyes sparkled in an instant. Hands and feet quickly cross each other. It’s so fast that you wonder if someone might get hurt. Son Hwa-won, who was watching the scene, was so appalled that she could not keep her mouth shut.
“Well, this is the first round.”
“Director, what do you mean it’s the first time?”
“Usually, I prepare about three pictures of action scenes to be used in one scene. Usually, for scenes with a lot of supporting actors or geographical features, a double is used, but like in the scene that director Baek Jang-hoon ordered, no supporting actors other than the two appear. “Because the action scenes are shot in full, it is difficult to use a double.”
Son Hwa-won’s face is full of worry. At that time, Jaehong Kwon glances at England and asks.
“Yeong-Kuk, would you like to guess? It’s the scene you just saw. Jisung will teach you step-by-step, so let’s just preview it. Of course, you have to wear protective gear. First, you have to get a taste of what it feels like.”
England nods briefly and puts on his protective gear. While wearing protective gear, a stuntman named Ji-seong, who played the other role, and director Kwon Jae-hong informed us about the agreed upon order. Because I was wearing all the protective gear, I felt a bit out of place, but there was nothing I could do about it.
“Now then, Jisung, take the lead first.”
As soon as Jaehong Kwon finished speaking, a fist came flying from the opposing stuntman. England follows the order he heard in advance and bends his neck slightly to the side to avoid the punch. Then, he curls up his left hand and throws it towards the other actor’s abs. The opposing stuntman’s eyes widen in surprise when he sees England’s left fist stopping in front of his abs. Not only was it faster than expected, but there was no unnecessary addition to the sum.
“Go ahead.”
At that moment, England’s eyes sparkle. The fists and feet begin to move as if they had arrived at the actual filming site. A stuntman named Ji-seong was swallowing his surprise. They said he was definitely an actor who had done action scenes for the first time. Competitiveness is not something that can be achieved immediately by having excellent athletic ability. Not only is it necessary to have sharp eyes, but also the boldness to trust the other person.
“Wow.”
Son Hwa-won, who was watching from the side, involuntarily bursts out in admiration. This may be because the combination between England and the stuntman was perfect. Martial arts director Kwon Jae-hong also watched the scene and blinked in shock.