Mysterious Ability
The assistant director’s nerves were stretched razor-sharp. Drama shoots were always chaotic by nature. NGs were routine, but when they stemmed from an absurd mistake, anger was inevitable.
A scene that should have been wrapped up with a simple extra had been delayed. She was definitely going to get an earful. As the assistant director, she followed the main director around and oversaw the set.
That was why, throughout this entire take, her eyes stayed locked on the bit-part actor. If the same thing happened again, she would have to consider cutting him from the roster.
Besides, the extra was strikingly handsome, so her gaze couldn’t help but drift toward him. A good-looking man could sometimes steal attention even from the lead actors. It was simply a woman’s natural instinct, no matter how many male viewers a romance drama usually attracted.
From a director’s perspective, it was something to be cautious about. The moment after the NG, the next scene began. The assistant director’s eyes gradually widened.
His entire aura was changing. It was fair to call it an aura. From an extra’s standpoint, it might have seemed off-putting at first, but her earlier worries had been unfounded. Her mouth fell open in shock.
It was a level of technique that could never be dismissed as mere bit-part acting. While many actors naturally radiated presence, very few could kill it and melt into a role so completely. He was performing the extra’s part with the flawless understanding of a seasoned veteran.
It was so impressive that even the woman who had been nervously shaking her leg just moments ago was now completely relaxed, chatting comfortably. She no longer looked like a nervous amateur. She had become an ordinary civilian within the drama’s world—not the protagonist or a supporting character, but simply one of the people living in that universe.
And after years of walking the path of a director, she knew exactly how extraordinary that was. Anyone could zone out, but to execute it with such perfection was incredibly difficult.
The “okay” signal rang out. The assistant director checked the list of day-player extras and couldn’t hide her astonishment. The male extra who had just performed wasn’t even supposed to be on set today.
A chill ran down her spine. She headed straight for him. She didn’t know who had brought him in, but this needed to be corrected immediately.
The bit-part actor greeted her first. Her tension began to ease. Anyone watching him radiate such a calm, comfortable presence despite being thrown into the middle of a busy film set would feel the same way.
The assistant director apologized first. Having realized the situation late, she followed proper procedure before scolding the other staff members.
The man gave a somewhat vague answer and tried to go on his way. The assistant director stopped him. Before following protocol, her industry instinct screamed at her not to let a meteor like him slip away.
The assistant director bowed her head. Though she looked a bit like a graduate student pleading, Woo Dan-wol scratched his cheek and nodded. If he had filmed the scene, he should get paid. Once she stated the obvious truth, Woo Dan-wol gave her his information.
Was he some kind of wandering talent? Yet how had the assistant director never heard of him? Setting aside his proven acting ability, with a face like that, even a major entertainment company would snatch him up in a heartbeat. After obtaining his name, phone number, and account details, she headed toward the director.
As she watched the footage that had just been recorded, the assistant director’s face filled with astonishment. The presence was so overwhelming that even the director hadn’t noticed it. Her mind grew increasingly tangled.
Thump. Thump. Woo Dan-wol walked home with a pleasant sense of satisfaction. His officetel wasn’t far now.
For the past week, he had gathered information about this world’s Woo Dan-wol. Phone number, address, bank account. Once he had acquired the basic details needed for daily life, he unlocked the door.
The memories from before his hospitalization had been accurate. The room was decorated in a cute, dainty style.
He could not accept this. Not for Woo Dan-wol, whose veins ran with the blood of hearty stews and spicy stir-fried pork. A pink-tinted interior was utterly unacceptable.
It was a day that made the gender-reversed nature of this world hit home. A large envelope and his mother’s credit card—the ultimate weapons signaling the beginning of war.
Time passed. By the time evening arrived, Woo Dan-wol lay on his bed with a satisfied expression. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he had changed everything. From the bedsheets to the lighting and every decorative item. He had thrown out everything except the two-meter-tall Pepero doll.
Transforming the space into a modern interior of gray and black hadn’t even taken a full day. The Pepero doll now looked somewhat out of place, but Woo Dan-wol ignored it. Even he couldn’t resist something so soft and fluffy.
It was a bit large for a single man living alone, but no space felt wasted. The one area he hadn’t touched was the bookshelf against the wall. He stared at it, lost in thought.
Acting Without Acting
Actor’s Notebook
Actor Training
Michael Lane’s Acting Class
People on Line 2 – Script
What kind of person had the original Woo Dan-wol of this world been? He was curious, but there was no answer. However—
Among the many acting-related books, this was the only script. Its worn, tattered edges showed just how deeply he had studied and analyzed it.
The moment Woo Dan-wol picked up the script, he flinched. A tingling sensation flooded his mind with countless pieces of information. It felt exactly like what he had experienced on set, yet slightly different.
With his eyes closed, Woo Dan-wol began to explore his new ability. Though this mysterious power had appeared out of nowhere, he could manipulate it naturally.
The script had not yet been opened. For a second he wondered if he had gone insane, so he grabbed a notebook. He picked up a ballpoint pen and wrote down the names that came to mind.
Imi-ae, Han Seong-hoon, Kang Shin-ah, Seong Yeon-jin
When he opened the script, those exact characters were listed. Woo Dan-wol had never seen this script before. In other words, he wasn’t crazy—he had simply gained an ability. There was no other explanation.
Laughter spilled out, but he didn’t find it strange. After all, he was Woo Dan-wol, a Korean citizen who had already experienced death. Having been possessed into a new world and given a second life, what was so strange about gaining a special ability?
A power different from his previous life. Woo Dan-wol, who was obsessed with acting, wanted to let it bloom and run wild as much as possible. An endless period of exploration had begun. He closed his eyes and acted.
How many hours had passed? Woo Dan-wol wiped away the sweat that had poured down. Evening had long since become dawn, but to him it felt like less than thirty minutes had gone by.
It was exactly the same as in his previous life. Whenever he acted, time disappeared and he lost himself completely. It was only natural, and it was a relief. He was glad he could express himself freely in this life too.
He let out a long breath and organized his ability. What he had gained was a form of method acting. Becoming the role and expressing that life.
It meant erasing himself as Woo Dan-wol and embodying only the character. And the more he researched the character’s world, the higher the quality of his performance became.
Just a little more. The moment he thought he could push just a little further, Woo Dan-wol’s consciousness snapped.
When he opened his eyes again, it was already lunchtime—fourteen hours later. It seemed the physical toll was quite severe.
As he sat up, a groan escaped him involuntarily. His bones cracked loudly. It was only natural after sleeping on the hard floor.
Finally able to stand, Woo Dan-wol drank some cold water. His stomach growled loudly. Naturally, he picked up the card and headed to the soup restaurant.
It was mid-May, a Monday morning. Still too early to feel hot. Depending on one’s constitution, the weather might even feel chilly. Yet Woo Dan-wol was wearing shorts and a short-sleeved shirt.
He had walked out wearing exactly what he wore at home, dragging his slippers along as he headed to the soup restaurant with sincere determination. Indeed, Woo Dan-wol was a true soup enthusiast.
Receiving the stares of the women inside the restaurant, he blew on the steaming broth without a care, slurping it down as if drinking before stepping back outside. Enduring the owner’s teasing and the curious gazes, he left a ten-thousand-won bill and vanished like the wind.
Only then did the quiet atmosphere of the soup restaurant finally loosen. Though it wasn’t technically a women-only space, an early-morning soup restaurant was practically one. The appearance of a handsome man there was news worthy of a tabloid headline. Especially one without a tattooed girlfriend carrying a clutch bag beside him. A good-looking man in shorts and short sleeves, eating alone? It was truly bizarre.
Meanwhile, with a full stomach, he began acting again. Once started, he had to see it through to the end. He dove back into performance.
—Thud.
And then he collapsed.