Chapter 40: Born for Action

When Kyung Juncheol first saw Taeha, he didn’t have any particular thoughts.

It was just work.

Even when the film industry faced its worst era due to the Pandemic and other reasons, every year there were still actors seeking out Kyung Juncheol, asking to learn Stunt work.

So, countless connections drifted past Kyung Juncheol, and Taeha wasn’t much different.

He was just one of many.

“It was just a bit odd. Of all the actors Jeong Myeong-hwan picked, he looked the least capable of Action Acting.”

Kyung Juncheol and Jeong Myeong-hwan had quite a long history.

He’d known Jeong Myeong-hwan since he was a rookie Director, so it was only natural.

Because of that, nearly every actor who appeared in Jeong Myeong-hwan’s films learned Stunt from Kyung Juncheol.

Except for the rare times when he couldn’t make it and had to leave the job to a junior, it was always him.

Because of that, Kyung Juncheol knew better than anyone what kind of actors Jeong Myeong-hwan preferred.

Jeong Myeong-hwan liked macho actors, the type favored throughout the long history of action films.

So, the protagonist in Jeong Myeong-hwan’s movies was always a sharp-featured handsome man.

“For example, someone like Seon Min-gi…”

Compared to that, Taeha gave off a rather gentle image.

By Kyung Juncheol’s standards, he looked more suited to being an idol than an actor.

Of course, it wasn’t as if actors with Taeha’s kind of face had never learned Stunt from Kyung Juncheol.

There were all sorts of action films in the world, after all.

In fact, these days, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that actors like Taeha appeared more often in action movies.

However, among these actors, hardly any truly committed to learning Stunt themselves, determined to film their own Spectacular Action Scene.

Most just learned enough not to get hurt during filming.

But for Killer × Killer, such an attitude was impossible.

Jeong Myeong-hwan’s directing philosophy demanded that the actors learn Stunt work in earnest.

Jeong Myeong-hwan believed there was a significant difference between actors filming their own Action Scenes and those who did not.

He wasn’t wrong.

“So, honestly, I was a bit worried. Wondered when this kid would finally become a proper actor.”

The only comfort was the fact that Seon Min-gi, who had joined a month before Taeha, was learning Stunt quite well.

He had a lot of experience shooting Action Scenes, so it was obvious he’d learned somewhere.

In other words, as long as Taeha could somehow be molded into an actor, this job would wrap up smoothly.

So, before properly teaching Taeha, Kyung Juncheol braced himself.

He would do whatever it took.

He thought if he didn’t set his mind to it, this job would not be easy.

Thus, on the first day,

Kyung Juncheol first tested Taeha’s physical strength.

After all, Stunt work required physical stamina.

Without enough strength, accidents would happen in situations where they didn’t need to.

Kyung Juncheol’s stamina test method was simple.

Three hours of regular class.

During that time, the trainee would exercise nonstop.

Even the toughest trainees would collapse within two hours if put through such a regimen.

Seon Min-gi also surrendered after just an hour and a half on his first day.

But,

“What the…? This guy?”

Taeha was different.

Of course, he struggled, but unlike others, he didn’t give up.

Slowly but surely, he completed the final movements and filled the three hours before collapsing.

Huff, huff.

Taeha’s ragged breathing filled the practice studio.

But no one said a word.

Not Kyung Juncheol, nor any of the other instructors who’d taught countless actors under him.

They all showed disbelief at Taeha’s tenacity.

Only Seon Min-gi, as if he’d expected it, smiled in satisfaction and handed Taeha a water bottle.

“And it wasn’t just stamina and grit that kid had.”

The second day,

Taeha also passed the athletic ability test.

He showed reflexes and adaptability that made it seem as if he’d once been an athlete.

So much so that Kyung Juncheol forgot he was supposed to be training a Stunt actor and asked,

“Wow, how are you so good at this?”

Taeha looked puzzled at the question, as if unsure if he was really doing well, then replied,

“I write. Maybe some of the rhythm from when I used to dance stuck with me? I was actually an idol. Didn’t make it big and failed, though.”

Taeha smiled sheepishly, and Kyung Juncheol shook his head.

Of course, Kyung Juncheol had experience teaching actors who used to be idols.

Even those who had been Main Dancers.

But none of them could do what Taeha did.

Which meant it wasn’t just because Taeha had been an idol that he was performing like this.

He simply had talent for action.

“…A natural talent at that.”

Taeha absorbed Kyung Juncheol’s lessons at a remarkable pace.

And now even Kyung Juncheol admitted it.

Taeha was a born action actor.

And ironically, that fact was exactly why Kyung Juncheol looked at Taeha with a sense of regret.

“Kang Taeha isn’t someone who’ll remain just an action actor.”

Among all the people he’d taught Stunt to, Taeha was the best at picking up the moves and understanding them.

He even felt like he wanted Taeha to be his disciple and pass on everything he knew.

But Taeha wasn’t someone who would remain just an action actor.

Even during the choreography sessions, his acting was enough to see what a great actor he could become.

Taeha was someone with the qualities to become one of the top actors in the Republic of Korea, not just an action star.

Kyung Juncheol, who had observed many actors over the years, was sure of it.

So it was a real shame.

The fact that this project with Taeha would end here.

“It’s inevitable, but I can’t help feeling regret.”

Thunk.

Kyung Juncheol, watching Taeha run the 11th routine, smacked his lips in disappointment.

Noticing this, Taeha tilted his head and asked Kyung Juncheol,

“Did I get something wrong?”

Kyung Juncheol stared at the handsome face for a moment, then shook his head and replied,

“No, nothing’s wrong. Perfect.”

After all, Taeha was a vessel too big to hold in his arms.

So he thought to himself.

“Let’s just be satisfied that, if only for a moment, I was the teacher of a man destined to be a top actor. And let’s teach him everything I know.”

With that, Kyung Juncheol began to pour out all the secret tips that only a true master of action could know.

***

“I thought I performed perfectly, but if I move like that again, I might hurt myself… I’ll have to be careful.”

In the car on the way home after Stunt practice.

Inside, Taeha quietly reflected on Kyung Juncheol’s advice.

The truth was, the reason Taeha could surprise even Kyung Juncheol with his Action Acting wasn’t because he was born with it.

It was because of his Immersion Ability that activated whenever he acted.

That’s right.

Even Taeha hadn’t realized at first, but his Immersion Ability also worked during Action Acting.

Thanks to that, Taeha could learn and execute movements with just a short practice.

He had realized this since filming Heureojeo Itdeon Saramdeul.

It didn’t have as many action scenes as Killer × Killer, but Heureojeo Itdeon Saramdeul still had a fair share.

It was an incredible stroke of luck.

He had been worried whether he could perform action acting to the level Director Jeong Myeong-hwan wanted.

But thanks to his Immersion Ability, he could put his mind at ease and gain confidence.

Of course, that didn’t mean he was overconfident.

“Unexpected variables always pop up on set. Especially with works full of Action Scenes.”

So, he would only really know if he was okay when he was on set.

While Taeha was lost in thought, Im Chan-hyung, who was driving, spoke up.

“I talked to PD Kim earlier. The issue with the assistant writer’s been resolved.”

By PD Kim, he meant Kim Seoan of Sallamander Studio.

Taeha had been thinking of contacting her to check on that matter, but it seemed Im Chan-hyung had already been in close communication.

Taeha was truly grateful for that.

Im Chan-hyung’s only duty was to support Taeha as an actor, not as a writer.

But Im Chan-hyung naturally took care of issues related to Taeha’s work as a writer, too.

Even though Taeha told him it was fine, Im Chan-hyung shook his head.

He insisted that, for Taeha to succeed as an actor, this kind of support was necessary.

So Taeha found himself once again grateful for Im Chan-hyung’s presence.

“I’m glad it was taken care of. Thanks for looking after it.”

“No problem. By the way, PD Kim said she was sorry. She said if she’d been more careful during the assistant writer interview, you wouldn’t have had to go through all that.”

“She sat in on the interview? I was there too, so it’s not just on her.”

“It’s really hard to judge people, isn’t it? Even someone as competent as you goes through this.”

At Im Chan-hyung’s words, Taeha nodded.

He thought he’d gotten pretty good at reading people after working under Baek Seung-chul as an assistant writer for so long, but he’d never expected Go Dae-seong, who’d seemed so blank, to be like that.

For Taeha, it was honestly a shock.

At the same time, he learned a lesson.

Not to judge or jump to conclusions about people too quickly.

“Whether writing a work or acting in one, the biggest variable in this field is people.”

Thankfully, the current project had relatively few people-related variables.

Unlike Critical Point or Heureojeo Itdeon Saramdeul, where he hardly knew anyone personally,

Killer × Killer had Seon Min-gi, whom he’d gotten quite close to during their previous project together.

Even though their beginning hadn’t been great, Taeha and Seon Min-gi had built up a solid trust while working on that project.

“Min-gi hyung is definitely a reliable actor.”

His acting skills were a given.

And as a person, he was easy to work with.

He’d even let go of his only real flaw—his desire to be the sole lead—so he was as close to perfect as could be.

“This time, Min-gi hyung and I are co-leads.”

Thinking about it, Taeha had just barely escaped playing minor roles, with only one supporting role under his belt, so this was an incredible honor.

It meant he could now act on equal footing with one of the Republic of Korea’s leading actors.

“Above all, I feel at ease. Min-gi hyung has a strong sense of responsibility for the project. I’ll lean on him and do my best with this shoot.”

At least for now, Taeha had no idea.

Just how much the variable of ‘people’ would change the situation once again.

***

A few days later.

A series of articles about Seon Min-gi came pouring out.

[Seon Min-gi of Heureojeo Itdeon Saramdeul… Countdown to Hollywood debut]

[Will he drop out of Killer × Killer and head to Hollywood? Attention on Seon Min-gi’s next move]

[It’s Hollywood after all! Seon Min-gi confirmed for Downtown]

[‘I couldn’t miss this chance’—The reason Seon Min-gi dropped out of Killer × Killer]

Amazingly, all of these articles were about Seon Min-gi’s withdrawal from Killer × Killer.

For Taeha, it was a completely unexpected variable.