I Was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor

Translator: Dreamscribe

She called as the Beauty ‘Belle’? As soon as Kang Woojin heard Miley Cara’s voice over the phone, he thought.

‘Huh? Then??’

Had she been confirmed for the role of ‘Belle’? Otherwise, the situation didn’t make sense. It was unlikely for Cara to call so early in the morning just to joke around. Nevertheless, Woojin decided to confirm it. Of course, his voice was as composed as ever.

“…Calling as the Beauty ‘Belle’ means you’re starring alongside me.”

“That’s right.”

Cara, sounding somewhat rushed and with a hint of laughter, cut off Woojin’s words.

“I’ve become the Beauty ‘Belle’. It means we’re in ‘Beast and the Beauty’ together.”

The situation was now clear, and Woojin, wearing a solemn expression, exchanged a brief glance with Choi Sung-gun, who was sitting in front of him. Still holding his planner, Choi Sung-gun silently mouthed to Woojin, “Why? What’s going on?” or something to that effect. Instead of replying, Woojin congratulated Cara and relayed the situation.

“Cara, congratulations on landing the role of the Beauty ‘Belle’.”

“It feels strange. Of course, I thought it would be me, but it still feels good.”

“You congratulated me before, so it’s only right for me to do the same.”

“Ah- I thought you had forgotten my congratulations.”

“I look forward to working with you.”

“Yes, Mr. ‘Beast’. I’m looking forward to it too.”

While Woojin and Cara were exchanging words, Choi Sung-gun and the team members around them were causing quite a commotion. Choi Sung-gun quickly pulled out his phone, while the stylists and other team members…

“!!!”

“Wow- mmph!”

…held back their voices but danced with excitement. It seemed they had all secretly hoped Cara would get the role. From the team’s perspective, Miley Cara, who had already worked with Kang Woojin multiple times on projects like her album and ‘Beneficial Evil’, was probably a comfortable choice.

More than anything…

“Amazing, Woojin oppa and Miley Cara’s ‘Beast and the Beauty’ will now be released worldwide??”

“Totally totally agree. The two of them look so good together.”

“I can’t wait to see it. I didn’t get to see their chemistry during the auditions.”

The whispers among the team members and their wishes alike indicated that Woojin and Cara’s synchronicity was notably high. Woojin, looking at such reactions indifferently, was inwardly pleased.

‘Heh, I like it, I like it.’

His heartbeat quickened slightly. Maybe he had grown desensitized to it after seeing her so often, but the Miley Cara he was currently on the phone with was a superstar considered one of Hollywood’s greatest. And now, he was starring alongside her in the globally beloved ‘Beast and the Beauty’. Every aspect of the situation was extraordinary. How could he even begin to describe this strange feeling?

No, now was the time to stay calm. He had to be composed.

With his characteristic composure, Woojin lowered his voice as he spoke into the phone.

“This will be our second work together.”

Miley Cara’s laughter grew warmer on the other end of the line.

“’Beneficial Evil’ was honestly a bit disappointing since it was so short. For me, ‘Beast and the Beauty’ feels like the first real one. And, while company will probably contact you too, how about filming something for YouTube?”

YouTube? Woojin, puzzled, fell silent, prompting Cara to elaborate.

“We haven’t filmed anything since my album, right? It’d be a nice way for ‘Beast’ and the Beauty ‘Belle’ to greet global fans. ‘World Disney Pictures’ said it wouldn’t be an issue. I already asked about it.”

Woojin figured there was no harm.

“Sure, let’s do it.”

Around this time, Choi Sung-gun, who had just confirmed an international news article on his phone stating that Cara had been officially cast as the Beauty ‘Belle’,…

-Swoosh.

…looked up at Kang Woojin in front of him. It still felt surreal. Just a few years ago, he had been blown away by Woojin’s performance as ‘Park Dae-ri’. And now, Kang Woojin was on the phone with Hollywood superstar Miley Cara as co-leads of ‘Beast and the Beauty’. In Hollywood’s very heart, Los Angeles, no less. At that moment, something surged within ponytailed Choi Sung-gun’s chest.

‘…You’re already a monster. No, you’re a world star, Woojin.’

Around this time, from Woojin’s phone again.

“The announcement is already out.”

Cara’s voice was heard again.

“This will cause quite a stir for a while, right?”

Afterwards.

After finishing his call with Miley Cara, Kang Woojin boarded the van to move to his next schedule and checked the international news reactions during the ride. What could he say?

‘Wow- damn, the articles are blowing up like crazy!’

The news articles were already spreading beyond LA and across the entire United States.

『CNM/Official announcement from ‘World Disney Pictures’: Miley Cara confirmed as the Beauty ‘Belle’ for ‘Beast and the Beauty’!』

『LA TIME/ Beauty ‘Belle’ belongs to Miley Cara! The live-action ‘Beast and the Beauty’ will be completed by Kang Woojin and Miley Cara.』

『ABY/This is the fastest casting announcement ever, how high must the sync rate be between Kang Woojin and Miley Cara?』

The excitement, bordering on frenzy, was palpable through the overflowing articles.

『NT/Kang Woojin was unexpected, Miley Cara was expected, what kind of visuals will the two actors create in ‘Beast and the Beauty’?』

It was understandable. The live-action announcement for ‘Beast and the Beauty’ had caused one wave, Kang Woojin’s confirmation as ‘Beast’ had caused another, and now Miley Cara’s casting was adding yet another. Moreover, given the explosive global interest in the project, this level of reaction was only natural.

『BBX/Following Kang Woojin, Miley Cara’s confirmation as the Beauty ‘Belle’ causes a global stir once again!』

By this point, countless Hollywood studios, actors, and others in the industry were already aware, and it was only a matter of time before the entire world’s media caught on.

Thus, a few days flew by in the blink of an eye.

Before long, it was Monday, March 7th.

“Hello, Mr. ‘Beast’?”

“…Hello, Miley.”

“Ah! What’s this? You should call me ‘Belle’ too.”

“Next time.”

“Boring.”

On this day, Kang Woojin had a YouTube shoot with Miley Cara. Of course, the video would be used both for Woojin’s ‘Kang Woojin’s Alter Ego’ channel and Cara’s YouTube channel. The format was roughly.

-♬♪

A duet song presented to their global fans, a brief greeting from the two actors, and a lighthearted sharing of anecdotes from the auditions. While the runtime wasn’t very long, the impact of the video, uploaded to the ‘Kang Woojin’s Alter Ego’ channel two days later, was enormous.

-2.02 million views

It surpassed 2 million views in less than 30 minutes.

March 12th, early afternoon, South Korea.

The location was a large event hall inside a massive building in Seoul. The first thing that stood out was the dozen or so reporters stationed from the hall’s entrance to the back. The hall, which had seating for 500 people and a sizable stage at the front, was crowded with hundreds of attendees, many of whom were prominent figures.

Seated in the front rows were familiar faces like Director Kwon Ki-taek, with his warm demeanor, Director Kim Do-hee, known for ‘Drug Dealer’ and Director Shin Dong-chun, famous for ‘Exorcism’, along with many others.

All of them were present as judges.

There were dozens of renowned directors, honorary judges who were top actors, invited directors, special guest foreign directors, invited actors and celebrities, and notable figures from the industry.

On the stage at the front of the hall, this banner was displayed.

-‘Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival’

The ‘Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival’, a major domestic event often referred to as the ‘Blue Dragon’ of short film festivals, was also considered a gateway to success in the film industry. The festival was now wrapping up its roughly week-long schedule with its closing ceremony and awards event.

“We will now begin the awards ceremony.”

At the host’s announcement, several reporters’ cameras flashed.

-Pabababababak!

-Pabababababababak!

The first award was then announced.

“Short Film Entry Prize.”

The presenter was Director Shin Dong-chun, who had made his directorial debut at this very festival with ‘Exorcism’. With his square jawline drawing attention, he stepped onto the stage, and among the hundreds of people in the audience, rookie directors who had staked everything on this festival clapped and began to speak one by one.

“That’s Director Shin Dong-chun, the one who really made it big at the ‘Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival’.”

“I’m so jealous. His debut film’s male lead was none other than Kang Woojin.”

“But wasn’t Kang Woojin a rookie back then?”

“What does it matter? Kang Woojin became a world star in just three years. I heard ‘Exorcism’ is being remade overseas. The film was good, sure, but I’m certain Kang Woojin’s star power is the reason it caught international attention.”

The audience seats were filled with numerous rookie directors, most of whom were overflowing with envy as they watched Director Shin Dong-chun on stage.

“Well, it’s no wonder Director Shin is walking on air. I mean, his debut film was ‘Exorcism’, right? Kang Woojin’s first movie. If it were me, I’d be telling that story to my descendants forever.”

“They started as rookies together, but Kang Woojin hit 10 million viewers the next year, then swept the top three spots in Korea’s box office history. And now, he’s a Hollywood star. If I were Director Shin, I think I’d feel a little pressured.”

“Nah, Director Shin Dong-chun is doing fine, he’s working on a major film right now.”

While the rookie directors were busy chatting, Director Shin Dong-chun was on stage, handing over trophy. After that, the ceremony proceeded with awards for entries, bronze, and gold prizes.

“And now, it’s time for the Actor Award. Starting this year, only the grand prize will be awarded.”

It was the turn for the award known as the Acting Grand Prize. Immediately, the rookie actors seated in the audience, numbering in the hundreds, grew visibly tense. After all, only one of them could win the award.

“…I really want this. I want to win the ‘Kang Woojin Award’ so badly.”

The rookie actors muttered their thoughts to the people they’d come with.

“If you win the ‘Kang Woojin Award’, it’ll definitely make the headlines, right?”

“Yeah, 100 percent. As long as Kang Woojin’s name is attached, it’s an instant buzz.”

“Please, please let them call my name.”

Interestingly, the rookie actors referred to the ‘Acting Grand Prize’ uniquely as the ‘Kang Woojin Award’.

“Why are there so many rookie actors this year? Damn, this sucks.”

“…They’re all here for the same reason as you, idiot. They’re aiming for the ‘Kang Woojin Award’. Don’t forget, Kang Woojin was the first to win it, and that was his first trophy ever. Since then, the Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival’s Acting Grand Prize has become synonymous with Kang Woojin.”

The reason was simple- Kang Woojin had received the Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival’s first-ever ‘Acting Grand Prize’. Moreover, the year he won marked the award’s debut and was also the year Woojin earned his first trophy.

In other words…

“They’re all dreaming of becoming like Kang Woojin.”

Kang Woojin had become the symbol of the Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival’s ‘Acting Grand Prize’. From then on, every rookie actor, director, and attendee at the festival referred to the award as the ‘Kang Woojin Award’. With his name attached, the award’s prestige multiplied several times over.

Even journalists and industry insiders held it in the highest regard.

Naturally, the rookie actors couldn’t help but drool over it.

“By the way… Director Shin Dong-chun is here this year, but isn’t Kang Woojin sunbae coming?”

“Why would someone who’s busy hanging out with Hollywood’s top actors bother coming here? He’s probably swamped with meetings with the ‘Big Five’ Hollywood studios.”

“…I just wanted to see him once. He’s my role model.”

“Win this award and work your ass off, maybe you’ll get to cross paths with him someday. Pray for it.”

And so, countless rookie actors prayed, wishing for even a sliver of Kang Woojin’s glow to shine on them.

At this point, it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that Kang Woojin had long become more than just a role model for domestic rookie actors. His popularity had reached near-mythical levels. Watching the rookie actors pray so fervently, one might even mistake them for worshippers of some ‘Kang Woojin cult’.

At that moment.

“The presenter for the ‘Acting Grand Prize’ will be-”

The male host, about to proceed, suddenly stopped speaking. A festival staff member approached him and whispered something in his ear. His eyes widened in disbelief, and he whispered back to the staff member.

“A-are you serious? That person is really here right now?”

If even the host didn’t know beforehand, there was no way the hundreds of people in the hall could have known. Still stunned, the host struggled to lift his handheld microphone and speak again.

“…Uh, um, sorry about that. Let’s continue. The presenter for the ‘Acting Grand Prize’ is an absolutely extraordinary individual.”

Hearing this, the reporters stationed at the very back of the hall began murmuring amongst themselves.

“An extraordinary individual? Who could it be?”

“Did anyone hear about this beforehand? This is news to me.”

“Yeah, it’s the first I’m hearing of it too.”

“No idea. Let’s just keep shooting and see what happens.”

The reporters, though puzzled, instinctively raised their cameras. Naturally, so did the prominent directors like Kwon Ki-taek sitting at the front, the top actors, and many others. Especially the rookie directors and actors, who openly murmured in excitement.

At that moment, the flustered host spoke again.

“Th-then, please come up.”

The sound of footsteps in dress shoes echoed across the stage.

-Swish.

A man with black hair, dressed in a suit and wearing an indifferent expression, appeared. As soon as his face came into view, the rookie directors and actors in the audience gaped, unable to stop themselves from exclaiming.

“Huheuk!!”

It was their idol, the man who had received the ‘Acting Grand Prize’ here and ascended to the rank of “world star” in just three years.

“K-Kang Woojin?!”

It was Kang Woojin. Immediately, hundreds of rookie directors and actors reacted with something akin to a collective seizure.

“……It, it’s really Kang Woojin- wow this is insane.”

Their eyes widened to their limits, and it was entirely understandable. No one could have imagined seeing such a global star this up close.

“His aura is just… unreal.”

Meanwhile, Kang Woojin, the true owner of the so-called ‘Kang Woojin Award’ and the man who had flipped the room on its head, seemed unfazed. With calm composure, he slowly scanned the hundreds of rookies in the audience before leaning into the microphone. His voice was deep and low.

“This is amusing. The fact that I’m here to present an award with my name on it.”

Kang Woojin had returned to Korea.

“Hello, I’m Kang Woojin.”