I Was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor

Translator: Dreamscribe

In the United States no, in the world, the most prestigious film awards festival is the ‘Academy Awards’. Also known as the ‘Oscars’, the Academy Awards are the dream stage and ultimate goal of filmmakers not just in the U.S. but across the globe. With a history and tradition spanning over 70 editions, it is an event where even a nomination alone brings significant attention, regardless of whether one wins.

Naturally, winning brings an unimaginable level of honor compared to just being nominated.

The Academy Awards determine nominations and winners through the votes of thousands of members spread across the world. After the first round of voting, the Academy announces the confirmed nominees and proceeds with a second round of voting. Then, during the official awards ceremony, the final winners, both films and actors, are announced. The members consist of actors, directors, and key staff from various fields and are globally distributed.

Of course, to be eligible for the votes of the members, a film must meet the conditions set by the Academy Awards. Among those, the most basic requirement is that the movie must be screened for more than a week in a theater located in Los Angeles, USA.

Beyond that, there are numerous other conditions, including runtime and more.

Only those films and actors that pass these numerous quests and complex processes get the chance to stand on stage and receive an Academy Award. Until now, Korea had never once won an Academy Award. In fact, Kang Woojin was currently the only Korean actor active in Hollywood, and even in the past, the presence of Korean actors had been rare, so it was expected. Furthermore, even across all of Asia, the Academy Awards track record was rather poor.

However, since last year, for the first time in the history of the Academy Awards, a Korean actor had been frequently mentioned.

That actor shaking up Hollywood was none other than Kang Woojin.

He suddenly began to be frequently mentioned in conjunction with the Academy Awards starting with the Cannes Film Festival. After Woojin received the Best Actor Award at Cannes, he mentioned the ‘Academy Awards’ in his acceptance speech that was broadcast worldwide. With no backing down. It was an unprecedented moment across the entire globe, and since the situation escalated to such a large scale, there was no way the group overseeing the Academy Awards could remain unaware of Kang Woojin.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).

Moreover, after Cannes, Kang Woojin repeatedly mentioned the ‘Academy Awards’ during press conferences, interviews, and even at the recent ‘Emmy Awards’. Therefore, within AMPAS, which oversees the Academy Awards, Kang Woojin had become extremely well-known.

“A Korean actor being mentioned this often, isn’t this a first?”

“Yeah, and no Korean actor has ever disrespected the Academy Awards like this either.”

“Disrespected? Well, his tone may be a bit rough, that’s true, but judging from his comments from Cannes to the recent Emmys, it feels more like a challenge than disrespect.”

“That’s a totally different view. From Cannes onward, Kang Woojin treated the Academy Awards as if anyone could easily enter. I don’t think he should even be allowed to step into the Academy Awards.”

“Well- among actors too, his image isn’t all that great.”

“In some ways, the commotion he caused helped draw attention. From what I feel, this year’s interest is hotter than any other year.”

Inside AMPAS, opinions about Kang Woojin varied, some openly disliked him, some were neutral, and some viewed him positively. There were even individuals making quite cool-headed judgments.

“When he mentioned the Academy Awards at Cannes, I thought it was just youthful exuberance, but the way he keeps climbing makes this feel different. He even won Best Actor at the Emmys. I have a feeling he’s going to cause some kind of incident at this year’s Academy Awards.”

With the first round of project selection already underway, AMPAS was abuzz with talk about Kang Woojin. However, for now, they too were taking a wait-and-see approach. In the end, being officially nominated for the Academy Awards is determined solely by the votes of the members.

“Because expectations and interest in Kang Woojin are so high, it’s likely to affect the voting of actor members too. Even if his performance is objectively decent, he might receive low scores this time.”

“So unless it’s an overwhelmingly explosive performance that defies expectations, you’re saying he won’t even make the nominations.”

“The performance he showed at the Emmys or the visuals in the poster and trailer for ‘Pierrot’ were certainly shocking.”

Although ‘Pierrot: The Birth of a Villain’ had yet to be released to the world, perhaps the evaluation of Kang Woojin had already begun long ago.

“He’s a character worth anticipating, but the acting must surpass that shocking visual effortlessly.”

January 11th, at ‘SPT Studio’.

A vast set complex built entirely around the world of ‘Beast and the Beauty’. Among them, in an extravagant banquet hall, a man entered. It was Kang Woojin in a skin-tight suit.

-Ssshhk.

Under dim lighting, in the banquet hall where the floor was filled with various patterns, hundreds of eyes watched Kang Woojin as he walked in. Director Bill Rotner, wearing headphones and staring intensely at the monitor, the actors of ‘Beast and the Beauty’ including Maria Armas, officials from ‘World Disney Pictures’, and more than a hundred staff members.

Everyone held their breath in silence.

“……”

“……”

They all stared at Woojin, who had just entered the camera’s frame. Though his costume was a skin-tight suit, unlike in the past, not a single person laughed. Everyone was deadly serious. Perhaps it was because they had adapted.

‘That expression, mixed with anticipation and anxiety. The heaviness befitting a ‘Beast’, yet a cautious gait. Ragged breathing. A stiff yet dangerous movement. At this point, the special costume is barely even noticeable.’

Just as Director Bill Rotner, who had his nose nearly pressed to the monitor, muttered inwardly, Kang Woojin had completely erased any comical impression by embodying the imprinted character of the ‘Beast’ into reality. In the eyes of the hundreds of foreigners present, Kang Woojin now appeared solely as the ‘Beast’ dressed in a blue-toned banquet outfit.

That Kang Woojin then.

-Sshk.

Stopped in front of a piano placed on one side of the empty banquet hall. A white piano with golden accents. Woojin, now overwhelmed by the presence of the ‘Beast’, seemed anxious for some reason. The camera zoomed in on Woojin, his pupils trembling slightly.

‘Is it okay for me to be like this?’

Is it really okay to be enjoying moments like this? Kang Woojin wondered. The ‘Beast’ was essentially living on borrowed time. Even in this very moment, his existence was gradually fading. Not the ‘Beast’, but his original self. He felt uneasy. Restless. Emotionally immature. Like a child trembling with fear, he wanted to roar in fury at any moment.

But Kang Woojin suppressed the overwhelming emotion.

A dull breath escaped his lips, but he forced himself to calmly sit down on the piano bench. Because of his massive frame, a creaking sound was heard. In reality, there was no sound, but Woojin clearly heard it in his ears. The surrounding murmurs in the banquet hall brushed past as well. It was them. The clock, teacups, kettle, and so on. Kang Woojin’s vision was already immersed in ‘Beast and the Beauty’.

“……”

Embarrassment surged within, but Kang Woojin held it back. Yes, it was all because of her. The woman who suddenly appeared and shook his incomplete heart. He wanted to show off to her, to ease her tension even a little.

‘No-no. I want her to know that I’m human.’

He wanted to show the scent of a person. Though he looked so monstrous now, he wanted to say he was once a human just like her. So don’t be afraid.

-♬♪

Kang Woojin, or the ‘Beast’, began to play. A soft melody spread throughout the banquet hall. The performance was clearly different from the early stage of the ‘Beast’, and a blonde woman in a pale yellow dress appeared in the hall. Miley Cara or rather, beauty ‘Bella’. Her blonde hair was braided in a single strand as she slowly approached the ‘Beast’ playing the piano. Placing her hand on his shoulder, beauty ‘Bella’ smiled.

Woojin, who locked eyes with her during the performance, did not smile. As if awkward, he avoided Cara’s gaze.

But Cara smiled even more brightly and said,

“It’s a beautiful song.”

Several cameras, including one mounted on a crane, filmed the banquet hall. The appearances of the ‘Beast’ and ‘Beauty’ were captured simultaneously, though from various angles. Kang Woojin’s piano performance grew even more intense, and the candles attached to the pillars lit up. So did the chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Watching the ‘Beast’, Cara stood in the center of the hall.

And then.

-Ssshhk.

She began to dance gracefully to the piano music. A soft song was added. Spinning around, Cara pulled the ‘Beast’ or Kang Woojin away from the piano. Woojin, startled, followed her lead. Though the piano stopped playing, the music continued to echo through the banquet hall.

-♬♪

Cara was enjoying the dance, while Kang Woojin was cautiously responding to her rather than actually dancing. His worried expression, fearful of stepping on her feet or making her fall, was clearly captured by the camera. That continued for about five minutes. The piece reached its climax, and even the exchanged glances between Kang Woojin and Cara began to carry a strange nuance. Cara, both as herself and as beauty ‘Bella’, was now able to express her true feelings more comfortably.

Her clear blue eyes turned toward Kang Woojin.

Woojin, as the ‘Beast’, gazed quietly at the blonde-haired Cara, at beauty ‘Bella’, and then murmured softly,

“……Thank you.”

Cara tilted her head slightly and asked,

“For what?”

“Just, you know, everything.”

“I’m thankful too.”

What should he do with this smiling woman? The ‘Beast’ was scared of this happiness.

“If everything… were to disappear, I wouldn’t be able to bear it.”

Though the music continued, Cara’s dance came to a stop. She looked calmly at the weary ‘Beast’, then suddenly.

“It’s okay.”

She hugged him.

“Nothing is going to disappear.”

At that moment, the ‘Beast’ and ‘Beauty’ froze in both dialogue and movement. In the banquet hall set, it was as if time had stopped; no one spoke a word. Then it happened.

“…Cut.”

Director Bill Rotner, with headphones around his neck, stood up in front of the monitor and gave the signal.

“OK.”

He then offered generous applause to the two actors.

The next morning, ‘World Disney Pictures’ made an official announcement.

『LA TIME / World Disney Pictures: “Beast and the Beauty finished crank-up yesterday, destined to be a fantastic live-action adaptation.”』

Filming for ‘Beast and the Beauty’ had wrapped.

A few days later.

Kang Woojin could be found in a small to mid-sized theater. A venue that could seat about 100 people. However, it wasn’t a public cinema, it was a theater located within ‘Columbia Studios’. Woojin’s seat was somewhere near the middle.

“……”

Kang Woojin, wearing his hat pulled down low, wore the most solemn expression yet. His face was filled with indifference, but inside, he couldn’t help marveling at the theater.

‘Whoa- this is insane, as expected of Hollywood! They’re doing a test screening inside a full-on movie theater? The scale of this, it’s like a premium theater back in Korea??’

So this is Hollywood? While trying to suppress his excitement, Kang Woojin casually crossed his legs to appear relaxed. At the same time, he noticed a slight gleam from the front.

‘Ah- the bald head.’

Seated in the front row was the bald executive from ‘Columbia Studios’. Of course, both of his sides were flanked by other executives. Kang Woojin discreetly scanned his surroundings. To his right, ponytailed Choi Sung-gun was watching the screen ahead with a serious expression. To his left sat director Ahn Ga-bok, with his wrinkled face, along with executive producer Nora Foster and Chris Hartnett. The cast of ‘Pierrot’ had all taken their seats.

Behind them, dozens of key staff and related personnel.

They were all here to witness the beginning of the ‘Cinematic Universe’.

Yes, at this moment, Kang Woojin was attending the test screening of the completed ‘Pierrot: The Birth of a Villain’, and the screen was just about to display ‘Joker’. It would be the first time Kang Woojin’s villain was revealed to the world.

As he inconspicuously rolled his eyes around.

-Ssshhk.

He turned his gaze toward the screen in front. A faint tension brushed over his whole body.

‘Ah shit, I’m getting a little nervous.’

He was uneasy. Worried that the faint sound of his beating heart might be heard in this quiet setting. The more nervous he got, the more intensely Woojin exercised mental control.

‘It’s fine, this is just another test screening, like always. Stay calm. The only difference is the venue’s freaking huge. Yeah, that’s all.’

Director Ahn Ga-bok, arms crossed, glanced sideways at Woojin’s expressionless face.

‘Composed, huh. No reason to be nervous. Let’s hope he likes the Joker I put together.’

Chris Hartnett, who had also been observing Woojin’s face, turned his gaze back toward the front.

‘Damn, I must be the only one nervous. If he’s that calm, I can’t afford to be tense.’

Just as he let out a long breath.

-Ssshhk.

The lights throughout the entire theater went dark. Then, as a video began to play on the previously black screen, the sound blasted powerfully through the speakers.

-[“Kekekeke! Hahahaha, hahahahahaha!”]

The booming laughter of a man echoed. The screen first showed the startled face of Chris, or rather, reporter ‘Robert Franklin’. The back of a red-haired head appeared in the same frame. The grotesque and bizarre laughter intensified, and the classical song that had been playing quietly in the background gradually grew louder.

-♬♪

The classical music was playing in an ordinary-looking restaurant, and the screen that had been focused on the strangely expressioned reporter ‘Robert Franklin’ now showed another face.

-[“Heeheeheehee, hahaha, kekekek!”]

Dripping, wet-looking red hair, a pale face, a long, torn red mouth, a red jacket and pants, mismatched socks. It was the ‘Joker’, laughing maniacally without holding back. Reporter ‘Robert Franklin’ asked him a question.

-[“……Wh-why are you suddenly laughing?”]

The ‘Joker’, or Kang Woojin, waved his hand.

-[“Kekekek, ah, sorry sorry, friend.”]

Now in an angle that captured the back of the reporter’s head, the Joker’s front bust shot was shown. He took a long drag from his cigarette, still laughing. Visually insane already, his laughter made him look nothing short of a monster. The ‘Joker’ pointed upward with his index finger.

-[“This song holds some memories. It reminded me of back then.”]

Suddenly, the screen showing the ‘Joker’ switched scenes in a flash. It turned black and white. Inside a pizza shop covered in flour, a massive hunk of meat lay collapsed on the floor, surrounded by a pool of liquid.

And then.

-[“……”]

There was ‘Henry Gordon’, drawing a split grin with that liquid. The classical music that flowed now was the same one playing earlier in the restaurant.

-♬♪

The music grew even louder. It roared through the theater. Then, as the screen gradually turned black, a title appeared at the center of the dark frame.

-<Pierrot>

The title was white with a rough texture. Below it, a subtitle was added.

-<The Birth of a Villain>

By this point, all the foreigners gathered in the theater.

‘……Killer.’

Couldn’t help but be captivated by the ‘Joker’.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!