Kang Woo-jin moved with a cynical expression. The actors were taken aback and didn't know how to react. They felt something intense emanating from his indifferent face.
Ah, he's angry. You can tell just from that expression.
It was something even they could find unpleasant. Yet, Kang Woo-jin wasn't truly angry. Still, he felt the need to correct what was wrong. As he walked, he glanced at the wide-eyed actors and spoke briefly.
His tone was as usual.
"I am not affiliated with any agency."
Instantly, the actors' expressions darkened.
That statement sounded less like a corporate warning and more like a personal one. His indifferent expression briefly carried a growl. Every actor bowed their head to Woo-jin.
"I'm truly, truly sorry!"
Really sorry!
"We didn't know you were here… we apologize."
As the actors apologized, Director Shin Dong-chun blinked suddenly.
"Why? What happened?"
Kang Woo-jin, observing the actors carefully, responded calmly.
"They seem to have misunderstood."
"Misunderstood?"
"No need to worry."
The reason Woo-jin reacted so calmly was based on his self-analysis. He was the kind of quirky actor who didn't care what others thought—doing things his own way. There was no need to get upset over such trivial matters.
It was just petty gossip. Of course. That's part of his character.
Moreover, Kang Woo-jin was the protagonist of this set. Having both status and charm was a great advantage. As an actor, he inevitably found himself in "merciful" situations, like when superiors pick quarrels or cause harm.
In such cases, Woo-jin himself would have been genuinely upset. After all, he was the one who had boldly handed his resignation to the head of a design company.
'I could handle it, but is it really necessary right now?'
Still, the actors continued apologizing to Woo-jin. At this point…
'Hmm—'
Director Shin Dong-chun seemed to understand this to some extent.
"It seems the actors were rude to Woo-jin, so I'll call later to check. But Woo-jin is very patient. Even top stars often get angry at supporting actors for no reason."
He shifted his gaze from the actors to the distant villa. Preparations for the shoot were in full swing. The focus was more on the interior than the exterior of the villa.
"Check the props in the basement!"
"Yes, yes! On our way—"
"Will there be a shoot on the second floor today?"
"According to the schedule, that's tomorrow!"
The production team for Exorcism had about ten people stationed throughout the villa. There wasn't a lot of equipment. Compared to a typical commercial film crew, it was somewhat minimal. But for a short film, the staff and equipment were quite sufficient.
Normally, it would have been about half this size.
Fortunately, Exorcism had just managed to secure investment, which allowed for this relatively comfortable setup.
Still…
"Shooting starts at 2 PM! Hurry up!!"
The official shooting for the short film Exorcism was scheduled for 2 PM. They had about three hours remaining. During that time, Director Shin Dong-chun would conduct briefings on shooting preparations and accommodations. For reference, the production team would stay near the villa for approximately five days during the shoot.
According to the storyboard, most of the filming would take place near the villa.
At that moment…
—Swoosh.
A long-haired woman suddenly appeared behind Director Shin Dong-chun, who was looking at the villa. The well-built male actor noticed her first.
"…What??"
She looked both familiar and unfamiliar. The man muttered her name.
"Isn't that Hong Hye-yeon?"
The news quickly spread among the actors.
"What?! Where? Ah! Wow!!"
"Wow… it really is her, unbelievable."
"Is that really Hong Hye-yeon? Not someone who just looks like her?"
It truly was the top actress Hong Hye-yeon. The actors froze again, and Director Shin Dong-chun, turning toward her, immediately smiled broadly.
"Hahaha, surprised everyone, right? Sorry. This is Hong Hye-yeon, who will play the 'wife' role."
At the same time, Hong Hye-yeon, wearing a long white padded jacket, smiled and greeted the actors.
"Hello, let's work hard together."
The actors, shocked by her sudden appearance, returned her greeting with blank expressions. "Really… Hong Hye-yeon? Why is she here?" Their confusion was understandable—this was a short film set, and a top actress showing up was entirely unexpected.
Finally, Hong Hye-yeon's gaze met Kang Woo-jin's. His face was expressionless. She muttered to herself.
"He's calm. Was this expected? He was composed even during the script reading in front of hundreds of people. I thought he'd be a little nervous for the first shoot. Expected? What exactly am I expecting?"
Kang Woo-jin greeted her succinctly.
"Hello."
The surrounding actors widened their eyes slightly. What surprised them was not Woo-jin's low voice but how cold and composed he remained, even in the presence of the famous Hong Hye-yeon.
'Isn't that strange? How can he be so composed in front of Hong Hye-yeon?'
Meanwhile, Hong Hye-yeon, now accustomed to Woo-jin's reactions, smiled at him.
"We meet again. We seem to run into each other quite often, don't we?"
It's a blessing for me. Woo-jin felt complex emotions inside but answered calmly.
"Yes, that's right."
This scene shocked the other actors somewhat.
'You meet Hong Hye-yeon often? Are you close?'
'Who exactly is he? A famous actor in the theater world?'
Suddenly, their gaze toward Kang Woo-jin turned to one of envy.
Meanwhile, at GGO Enter…
In a spacious CEO office filled with potted plants, Seo Goo-seop, CEO, sat smoking. His face still reminded one of a bulldog. Two male employees stood in front of him. He scanned a report before lifting his gaze.
"So there's no issue with Jeong-hyuk's work?"
The lean employee nodded firmly.
"Yes, that's correct. The shoot starts in two days, and Park Jeong-hyuk is in good condition."
"Handle it properly. Keep pressuring the production company to manage the set properly."
"Understood."
"Any equipment shortages?"
"From what we've heard, no such issues."
"Go check yourself—you never know what could happen."
Exhaling smoke, CEO Seo continued.
"This isn't just about protecting Jeong-hyuk. GGO Entertainment's reputation is at stake. Never take this lightly."
"Yes, understood. We'll pay special attention."
"If there's a lack in location support or casting, our side will assist."
Having resolved to restore Park Jeong-hyuk's honor, CEO Seo closed the report and changed the topic.
"How about Exorcism? Are those idiots still silent?"
"Yes. Aside from securing investment and preparing to start filming, there's no news. The supporting actors cast aren't even B-grade actors."
"Right. Even B-grade actors would have caused some commotion. Damn, this is defaming Jeong-hyuk by casting lousy actors."
"…."
Seo's face flushed slightly as he took another drag of his cigarette.
"Enough. They get what they deserve. Let them do garbage work. But who invested in it?"
"That… hasn't been confirmed yet. Definitely not from the short film production company. Probably Director Shin Dong-chun pulled some private connections to bring in external investment."
"Damn. It's probably not an attack from another entertainment company, right?"
"Unlikely. They have no reason to be interested in short or indie films."
"Tch. It would have been better if Exorcism had just failed without starting filming."
Irritated, Seo stubbed out his cigarette in the glass ashtray and suddenly stood up.
"Anyway, contact the reporters we know. Get some articles out. We need attention now."
About an hour later, articles about actor Park Jeong-hyuk appeared online:
[Exclusive] Actor Park Jeong-hyuk, starting from the bottom again, vows to repay through acting
Around 2 PM, back at the Exorcism set in the Paju villa.
Several dozen people gathered in the villa's front yard. The full Exorcism team, including staff and actors, was present. Interestingly, unlike before, tension was palpable on everyone's faces. The reason was simple:
The sudden appearance of top actress Hong Hye-yeon.
No one on set had expected to see Hong Hye-yeon today. Moreover, she had previously only appeared in blockbuster films. The staff continuously glanced at Hong Hye-yeon standing next to Director Shin Dong-chun.
At that moment, Shin Dong-chun said:
"You've probably all noticed."
He began briefing the additional staff brought by Hong Hye-yeon's management team.
"Hye-yeon's appearance is to remain secret until submission. The contract includes a confidentiality clause. Please ensure this is strictly followed."
Next to him, Hong Hye-yeon, hair tied back, gave a polite greeting.
"Please take care of me—"
In reality, the filming atmosphere was relaxed. Director Shin Dong-chun regained control.
"Except for Hye-yeon, everyone will stay nearby for about five days for filming. If anything is inconvenient, inform me in advance."
Short or indie films typically have short shooting periods, so staying near the set is common. Moving repeatedly would double moving costs and could disrupt the basic shooting schedule.
"Good! Please stick carefully to today's schedule!"
Though experienced as a PD, Shin Dong-chun was a rookie as a director. He bowed to everyone. At the same time, a crew member called out loudly:
"Filming starts in 10 minutes!!"
Immediately, the staff moved to their positions. About ten people in total, but their movements were agile. Meanwhile, Shin Dong-chun approached Kang Woo-jin.
"Woo-jin, you can go straight for makeup. As I said, your first scene is a solo shot. Let's start with the scene where you casually enter the villa."
"Understood."
Woo-jin's reply was calm, but internally:
'I'm going crazy. First filming, so nervous.'
His heart had been pounding since arriving at the set. Compared to Profiler Hanrang, the cast was smaller, but still…
'Filming? Am I really making a movie?'
The tension of the shooting was vastly different from script reading. Reading was preparation; filming was real. Though a short film, Woo-jin felt as if he were standing alone on a vast stage.
Moreover, he was the lead of Exorcism.
Cameras, Director Shin Dong-chun, and the entire staff moved for him. Woo-jin felt both pressure and fear—different from acting alongside Mr. Park.
'I feel overwhelmed.'
Responsibility as the lead. The burden Woo-jin felt was responsibility itself, though he didn't fully understand its meaning yet.
"But considering the circumstances here, filming Profiler Hanrang would really be a nightmare."
Nonetheless, on his way to makeup, Woo-jin vowed to act tough. Both outwardly and inwardly, he had to appear strong. He received makeup without changing his expression, deceiving himself.
This made him appear cold on the outside.
At that moment…
"Woo-jin."
Suddenly, Hong Hye-yeon approached Woo-jin with the script in hand.
"Have you thought about that agency?"
Having just finished makeup, Woo-jin answered in a low voice:
"I'll decide after filming Exorcism."
"…You haven't met anyone yet?"
"Yes."
"Have you considered any options?"
Impossible. Filming was his first experience, so it was natural that he hadn't dealt with agencies. Woo-jin dodged the question.
"Maybe."
Hong Hye-yeon looked at him thoughtfully, then spoke:
"We're products too. As actors, it's important to determine your own value when dealing with a company."
She left, wishing him well in filming. Woo-jin muttered to himself as he watched her go:
'Should've taught me how to set my price.'
Director Shin Dong-chun called Woo-jin from the monitor.
"Woo-jin! Get ready!!"
Woo-jin took a deep breath and walked to the villa entrance. He rehearsed briefly with Director Shin Dong-chun holding the script. After the rehearsal, the director returned to the monitor. Behind him, Hong Hye-yeon let her long hair flow as she bowed.
"Director, can I watch from here too?"
"Haha. Of course. Why do you ask? Will you sit here?"
"No, I'll just watch standing."
After she spoke, other actors gathered to watch. Meanwhile, Woo-jin, in a black blazer, took his position. Two cameras had already been set up in the villa yard.
"…"
He quietly observed the villa, preparing to perfectly embody Kim Ryu-jin, the protagonist of Exorcist. Concentration had to be sharper than during script reading; everything had to be clearer.
This time, he had to move as Kim Ryu-jin.
Woo-jin suppressed his heartbeat and immersed himself in the character he had deeply internalized. Every sensation he had experienced through reading and observation flowed through him. Kim Ryu-jin's world unfolded before Woo-jin like a panorama.
Kim Ryu-jin's life, emotions, thoughts, senses, knowledge—all instantly became Woo-jin.
At that moment…
'In an instant. Woo-jin's usual coldness disappeared. His gaze brightened. I've seen it before, but his ability to bring out a character is unbelievably fast.'
Director Shin Dong-chun, watching Woo-jin on the monitor, shouted:
"Ready—Action!"
This signaled the reality of Kim Ryu-jin. He stepped forward. Witnessing a client's wife and a stranger moving a corpse, subtle fear tinged his steps.
Step one, step two.
Kim Ryu-jin stepped toward the villa on his third step. The dry grass crackled underfoot.
—Crack.
The grass seemed to scream with tension. On his fourth step, he misstepped and fell onto the dense grass with a thud. Fortunately, he regained balance, but his knee bent, letting out a short groan.
"Ugh."
Everything felt vivid and natural, like flowing water. It perfectly displayed Kim Ryu-jin's character. Director Shin Dong-chun watched in awe and whispered quietly:
"So smooth. Did he plan those intricate movements in advance? Reminds me of Kim Ryu-jin."
Hearing this, Hong Hye-yeon chuckled softly, observing Woo-jin from the monitor.
'Definitely. Kim Ryu-jin was slightly clumsy in posture… that tiny movement made the character's outline much clearer.'
Other actors whispered behind her:
"Seeing his reaction to the corpse, he's completely immersed in Kim Ryu-jin. The character's personality shows so well."
"Right. Acting is amazing. The character feels alive."
Hearing this, Hong Hye-yeon bit her lip.
"The meticulousness to ad-lib movements for the character, and the creativity to come up with them… Woo-jin is such a cunning actor. If the acting is this good, a small mistake wouldn't matter, right?"
Director Shin Dong-chun, smiling with admiration, buried his face deeper into the monitor.
"This part must be kept. Too precious to discard."
Everyone was captivated by the lively Kim Ryu-jin. Then, Kim Ryu-jin—or rather Kang Woo-jin—slowly rose with a blank expression, muttering to himself:
"Damn, that's really embarrassing."
It wasn't acting—it was because he genuinely fell.