Gentle Visual Acting Genius Chapter 4 - Trust Me and Be Saved

#Trust Me and Be Saved

 

Film production company ‘#365’ is led by star director Kim Jooyoung along with his team and has been winning awards overseas. He is also a director under #365 and currently preparing to shoot a project titled <Finding You (tentative title)>.

 

Five years ago, he debuted with <Method> and rose to fame as a genre director who used various bizarre religious and occult materials including shamanism. Now, he is busy with the third and final installment of his ‘Faith’ series that started with <Method>.

 

Casting has become a particularly challenging issue. Thanks to his previous successes, investment hasn’t been a problem, and now all that was left was casting. But now he’s contemplating whether to take the extreme step of selecting all the roles through open auditions since none of the actors on his wish list have been available.

 

One day, Director Jang Hangyeol was drinking with actor Nam Juwon, the lead actor of his first film <Method> and a longtime friend.

 

While exchanging stories about life and trivial gossip, Nam Juwon, who was slightly drunk, suddenly started talking excitedly about what happened on the set of <The Punisher: Vigilante> a while ago.

 

Among them, Juwon’s praise for rookie actor Seon Woohyun caught his attention.

 

“It was just one line. It was just a line that could have easily been overlooked, but he owned that moment and changed the mood on set! Can you believe he’s acting like that at his age? He feels like he has been acting for ten years!”

 

“Really?”

 

Although Juwon has a gentle personality even in private, he’s known for having high standards when it comes to acting, so he rarely gives compliments.

 

That’s why Director Jang Hangyeol was intrigued about the actor he praised so much.

 

For a minor role with just one line to garner such praise—how good must this actor really be?

 

“Now you’ve got me curious. What kind of actor is he? Tell me his name so I can search for him.”

 

“His name is Seon Woohyun, but you probably won’t find much. I think The Punisher was his first work, and he doesn’t even have an agency. I’m thinking of trying to recruit him for my company if I get the chance.”

 

“Oh, I’m really curious…”

 

“Ah, hold on… will he show up? Judging from the video length, he should. I casually suggested to the production team that it’d be nice if he had a brief appearance.”

 

As Jang Hangyeol searched for Seon Woohyun online, Juwon realized it had just passed midnight and opened YouTube to play a video.

 

It was the trailer for <The Punisher: Vigilante>.

 

“He’s in this, even though it’s a minor role?”

 

“You’ll definitely get a feel for who he is when you see him. Just watch.”

 

After about two minutes staring intently at the screen, Jang Hangyeol hurriedly hit pause. He pointed to the young man with pure white skin who was frozen on the screen and asked.

 

“Is that him? Is he the one?”

 

“Did you just think, ‘No way he can act with that face?’”

 

“Unbelievable”

 

“That’s how we all felt on set. Amazing, right?”

 

“Uh-huh…”

 

For a brief moment, Jang Hangyeol stared at the paused teaser at 2 minutes and 19 seconds, where Woohyun’s face dominated the screen. He suddenly envisioned a character from <Finding You> combined with Woohyun’s image.

 

It was a crucial role, so he even had intentionally left the character’s gender undefined to keep all possibilities open.

 

After a moment of contemplation, Jang Hangyeol looked at Nam Juwon and said, “Can we meet this guy once?”

 

“Shouldn’t be too hard to ask. Are you considering casting him? Didn’t you say you’d be holding open auditions for all roles this time?”

 

“Right. I’m not saying I’ll cast him right away. I have to see him first and decide. Just ask him first.”

 

“Okay.”

 

And just like that, the audition was set in motion.

 

Since Nam Juwon praised him, he didn’t doubt his acting ability, but like the saying goes, it’s better to be cautious. Jang Hangyeol wanted to witness Woohyun’s acting ability with his own eyes.

 

He was eager to see if Woohyun’s acting matched the image of the character he had envisioned.

 

***

 

It’s been two days since the unexpected audition was confirmed.

 

“Isn’t the friend coming today that ‘2 Minutes 19 Seconds Guy’?”

 

In the conference room of the film production company #365, the assistant director of <Finding You> walked in with two iced Americanos and asked as he approached the slumped figure of Jang Hangyeol at the table.

 

“Yeah. But what kind of nickname is that, 2 Minutes 19 Seconds…?”

 

“You saw it too, senior. The teaser is 3 minutes 27 seconds long, but everyone only watches up to 2 minutes 19 seconds. Apparently, that’s the scene that got the most views. He appears for just one shot, but that 2 minutes 19 seconds alone stole all the hype from the trailer. If you see his face, it’s understandable. I mean, you could just watch his face for the entire 2 minutes and 19 seconds and still find it entertaining!”

 

“Anyway, what’s important is the acting. I need to see if he fits my project today!” 

 

“I’m curious too. If even the notoriously picky actor Nam Juwon praises his acting, it must be something.”

 

As they exchanged thoughts about Seon Woohyun, the office door creaked open and a young man stepped in.

 

He was Sun Woohyun, the first to audition for Jang Hangyeol’s final installment of the ‘Faith’ series, later to be known as <Fanatic>.

 

Sensing their presence, Jang Hangyeol and the assistant director turned their heads, and upon seeing them, Seon Woohyun bowed his head and greeted them.

 

“Hello! I’m rookie actor Seon Woohyun. Thank you so much for inviting me!”

 

“Nice to meet you. I’m director Jang Hangyeol.”

 

Internally, he kept thinking, ‘He’s so handsome,’ but contrary to his true feelings, he maintained a composed demeanor as he shook hands with Woo-hyun.

 

Jang Hangyeol carefully scanned Woohyun’s face and nodded. Visually, he was more than qualified—no, he was the top pick.

 

It was surprising that his real-life appearance was even better than the face seen in the trailer. His flawless, fair skin seemed to glow.

 

It was undeniable that his visuals perfectly matched the character Jang Hangyeol had envisioned in his mind.

 

‘Please just act well.’

 

With that thought, Jang Hangyeol guided Woohyun to the conference room.

 

After confirming some trivial information about Woohyun, then exchanging questions and answers, Jang Hangyeol cut to the chase, indicating there was nothing more to discuss beyond his acting.

 

“This project was originally intended to have an official open audition. However, since actor Nam Juwon spoke so highly of actor Seon Woohyun, I was so curious and wanted to meet you first. You’ve heard about the project from him, right? He must have told you what kind of acting to prepare for.”

 

“Yes, I was told to prepare for the role of a fanatic. Can I show you right now?”

 

Jang Hangyeol nodded.

 

Seeing this, Woohyun rose confidently from his chair and took his position.

 

Anxiety? None at all.

 

Ever since receiving the audition offer, Woohyun had already perfectly planned out the best acting to captivate Jang Hangyeol.

 

‘The most innocent yet darkest character. I heard that director Jang Hangyeol struggled the most to find an actor for this role in his past life. He mentioned that both male and female actors auditioned for it. With my visuals and acting… that role is mine.’

 

Phew-

 

Woo-hyun took a deep breath.

 

The first expression he showed while acting, looking at director Jang Han-gyeol, was a soft and warm smile.

 

“…!”

 

It wasn’t the typical desperate, frantic performance that actors usually display when asked to portray a fanatic. Jang Hangyeol held his breath at the unexpected start of Woohyun’s acting.

 

The character he had initially imagined when he first saw Woohyun resurfaced in his mind.

 

Without breaking the flow, Woohyun continued his performance.

 

“Do you know about the ritual called Pajan? It’s a cruel ceremony where a wild baby elephant is tied up to prevent it from moving, enduring suffering until it stops resisting. Most baby elephants don’t survive. Only the strong and chosen elephants can overcome this and gain a new life. Believers can be seen as the surviving baby elephants.”

 

With a gaze full of compassion and sorrow, Woohyun looked down as if he were gently petting a hurt kitten, puppy, or child.

 

Just this image alone made Jang Hangyeol feel as if he were witnessing countless people kneeling and crying in front of Woohyun.

 

Swish.

 

With a smooth motion, Woohyun’s hand seemed to caress the air. It looked almost sacred, as if he were soothing the head of someone exhausted.

 

Then, Woohyun raised his head.

 

“In this corrupt, rough and decaying world, the believers fought desperately to survive. But at the same time, their soul has withered away. There is no salvation in this world, and in order to survive, you’ve likely lived under the delusion that submitting to and accepting this cruel reality is the only way to find salvation. But you no longer need to do that.”

 

His soft words felt as if he were comforting the soul, and after a brief pause, Woohyun’s eyes began to gaze far beyond into the void.

 

Then, a shift occurred in Woohyun’s expression.

 

The gaze that had seemed infinitely kind and gentle fractured, revealing an unsettling glimmer filled with intense conviction as his focus appeared to fade.

 

“The believer who comes here will experience another Pajan. This will be a time for purifying both body and soul, shedding the rules and wounds learned in this world to head toward a new world. It will be painful, but… the end will definitely be different from before. At the end of the suffering you will face now, there will surely be… salvation.”

 

With those words, Woohyun stopped speaking.

 

His gaze, which had been staring in all directions as if taking in the believers in front of him one by one, was now fixed on Director Jang Hangyeol who was blankly staring at him.

 

Feeling a chill as if Woohyun could pierce his soul, Jang Hangyeol swallowed his saliva without realizing.

 

Woohyun, who had been staring at that sight with unwavering pupils without blinking, spoke with a faint smile and a twisted look in his eyes.

 

“So let us all pray. So that we may all be saved!”

 

Woohyun took a deep breath and lifted his head.

 

At that moment, he completely tilted back to look at the ceiling.

 

A prayer erupted forth.

 

“Father in Heaven, please watch over the young lambs who suffer and weep, and let them rejoice in the salvation they will meet at the end of their trials. Grant salvation to those who call upon Your name, living and longing for You forever. To those who are torn, broken, and struggling, give them a new life and name. Let us live within Your wisdom, whether alive or dead. On the day of purification You will come, may we return as the purest offerings to meet a new paradise. Let this faith not waver, and guide us until the very last moment!”

 

Woohyun poured out the prayer without a single pause, gazing into the void.

 

An immense silence fell over the conference room for a moment.

 

After collecting himself and steadying his breath, Woohyun lowered his head and looked forward, staring blankly at director Jang Han-gyeol and the assistant director, who were both in a daze.

 

“That’s all.”

 

With a slight bow, Woohyun finished his greeting, and the two who had been holding their breath finally exhaled.

 

“Crazy… We could just use that scene as it is!”

 

“I think we should definitely cast him, then.”

 

At that moment, the first casting for Jang Hangyeol’s <Finding You>,  later known as <Fanatic>, was completed.