King of Dying Acting - Chapter 11
'A monstrous actor.'
After Kang Min left, Yu Ho-hyeon quietly rubbed the goosebumps prickling his arms.
He was a ten-year veteran PD, and naturally, he'd heard countless stories about actors who had 'turned the industry upside down.'
Of course, those tales were usually just endless ping-pong exaggerations between agencies hyping up their own and people bragging about working with such legends—rarely containing even a shred of truth.
But.
'...Maybe one or two of them were real after all.'
At the very least, what Yu Ho-hyeon had witnessed today transcended those tall tales.
Kang Min's acting had turned a single café into a hellish pandemonium in an instant. Yu Ho-hyeon had to comp free coffees to every customer just to apologize.
But even more astonishing was how someone with such absurd talent obsessed over every tiny detail.
'I get that you can't die like that from a backstab. But what about dying of thirst? Scratching at the ground in resentment, glaring up at the sky as hunger and thirst consume you—'
'No, someone dying of thirst couldn't do that.'
'Pardon?'
'As the body's fluids dwindle, a person loses the ability to move. They fidget restlessly at first, eyes darting, but consciousness gradually clouds. Reactions weaken, the body sags like empty skin, temperature drops, saliva dries up completely, eyes sink downward. They just feel endless agony in their fading mind until death. What you described lacks historical accuracy—oh, sorry.'
'.......'
For Kang Min, it was just a reflexive correction from his horrific firsthand experiences in those experiential dreams.
But to Yu Ho-hyeon, the PD, it hit differently.
'No one alive has actually died before.'
So—the answer was glaringly obvious.
'He tested it on himself... over and over!'
Yu Ho-hyeon swallowed dryly.
He could picture it clearly.
Kang Min must have tried it repeatedly.
Held out against thirst until his vision went white. Strived to recreate it in his acting. Dozens, maybe hundreds of times.
Only after experiencing it firsthand could he boldly declare that thirst wasn't like that. Only then could he assert with confidence that a backstab victim couldn't even groan.
Innate genius.
A relentless pursuit of perfection undeterred by talent.
And the humility to not flaunt it—
'Plus, sheer luck.'
Yu Ho-hyeon could only explain encountering Kang Min for his final project with that one word.
"Ahh..."
And the writer who'd paved the way for this opportunity was still a bit dazed.
She gulped her iced Americano to cool her flushed face, but the straw was slightly off. Coffee dribbled down her chin past her upper teeth, unnoticed.
Yu Ho-hyeon couldn't help a wry smile.
'Can't blame her.'
Even he, with a decade as PD and years as assistant director, wouldn't have caught the hidden intent if Baek Chae-i hadn't told him herself.
Yet a mere actor who'd just read the script had spotted it.
No need to mention how seriously he'd treated the scenario.
'He even argued passionately for why Hui-yul had to die in the story—ignoring his own situation entirely...'
Kang Min's eyes, indifferent when talk turned to higher pay or bigger roles, blazed with fervor explaining why Hui-yul must die. As if his life depended on it.
For actor Kang Min, the script he'd fallen for mattered more than his paycheck.
The writer had stared blankly at his impassioned speech.
Yu Ho-hyeon wasn't a writer, so he couldn't know exactly how Baek Chae-i felt.
But he could guess it wouldn't be easy for her to regain her composure.
"Ahh..."
...Still, it was about time to snap her out of it.
Yu Ho-hyeon cleared his throat and spoke.
"Writer Baek Chae-i."
"Y-yes?"
"So, what will you do?"
"Pardon?"
"Actor Kang Min seems set on it. How about adding a death scene at the end of Hui-yul's arc?"
"........."
Reason returned to Baek Chae-i's vacant eyes.
It was like a transformation.
Her dopey smile hardened, her soft gaze turned sharp, calm resolve settled on her cheeks.
A change so swift, she seemed more suited to acting as Kang Min's stand-in than writing.
"Ahem. About that."
"You have coffee on your chin."
"........."
After wiping the coffee from her chin, Baek Chae-i said primly,
"Ending it like that would be trash."
"...You're right."
Yu Ho-hyeon had seen the latest revisions expanding Hui-yul's role.
They weren't bad.
But shoehorning in a death scene at the end would cause issues. Drama forums would swarm with snarky comments like 'Modern dramas are so lazy these days?' in platoon-sized numbers.
Yu Ho-hyeon subtly teased,
"Then, another actor after all?"
"Have you lost your—!"
Ahem.
"No, I think that'd be a waste."
"A waste?"
"Yes, such a shame. An actor with that level of script comprehension? It means he grasps the story's flow at a glance and can set the mood effortlessly. Not intentionally, of course. That mood smooths the acting between set and roles, and that naturalness impresses viewers too. No need to swap out an actor who creates such synergy. Not that it's intentional, mind you. For the project's sake, isn't doing whatever it takes the right attitude? I'd love to respect your decision, PD, truly respect it, but maybe reconsider?"
"...Yes."
He'd poked the bear.
Yu Ho-hyeon gave a wry smile to the suddenly irked writer and posed the inevitable question.
"So, what'll it be? The script."
"Well."
Baek Chae-i hesitated.
Her eyes swirled with clear resolve and conflict over her lowly position. A dilemma repeated endlessly in human history—usually won by the latter.
But not this time.
The former prevailed.
"I'd like to propose expanding Warrior Hui-yul's role even further."
"Hmm."
"I know the already tight deadline just got tighter. But I think it's necessary."
A bold suggestion from a near-debut writer. Most PDs would jump up yelling, 'You think filming's a game?'
But Yu Ho-hyeon just smiled warmly.
"That's exactly my thinking."
A middle-aged man and a woman with hair like a bundle of brooms chuckled at their table as a server passed by with a fearful look.
'Cult meeting?'
#
"I did it!"
Back in my studio apartment, I whooped in triumph.
It was like Guus Hiddink had possessed this twenty-five-year-old and landed uppercut after uppercut.
And why not? It was a total victory, nothing less.
Shortly after the meeting ended, PD Yu Ho-hyeon called with this proposal:
- Writer Baek Chae-i has decided to accept Actor Kang's opinion.
- Hui-yul will die gloriously in the story. The script goes into revision immediately. Is that alright with you?
Alright? I couldn't ask for more.
As I fought to contain my joy, PD Yu Ho-hyeon sweetened the deal even further.
- Separately, your pay seems too low. We've adjusted it slightly.
"Adjusted meaning...?"
- We considered a custom contract, but too much paperwork. How about the standard 18th-grade contract? As you know, base per-episode fee is 1.85 million won, plus separate transport, outdoor/night shift allowances, meals, lodging...
"........."
If my knowledge was right, 18th grade was the top tier of actor standard contracts. Reserved for luxury leads or veteran mid-tier actors who carry weight.
I couldn't help but be deeply moved by PD Yu Ho-hyeon's generosity toward what was basically an extra-level bit part.
- Sound good?
"Of course."
- Oooh, you agree?
"Yes."
- Welcome to the family, Actor Kang Min! It'll be a project worthy of your discerning eye!
"Haha, aren't you the one who chose me, PD?"
- Hahaha! Such humility!
The heartily laughing PD Yu Ho-hyeon promised to call soon and hung up.
My chest swelled with anticipation.
Seven years in acting, nearly derailed by unforeseen obstacles—but I'd risen again.
It had all been a long journey to find my unique acting niche.
What must I do from now on?
The answer was crystal clear.
'I will become the King of Death Acting as a premium extra...!'
Finally, enlightenment.
Starvation.
Thirst.
Freezing.
Exsanguination.
Drowning.
Suffocation.
Falling.
Explosion.
Illness.
And even natural causes—
There is no death I cannot act.
And this King and Sovereign will be my first step to recognition.
'My ultimate goal: reenactment actor who dies every episode on Sunday's Unbelievable!'
I clenched my fist.
Unbelievable, airing the world's bizarre tales through reenactment actors.
Its performers don't tread red carpets, but sustain careers with essential acting till the end.
A role tailor-made for me—
With a satisfied heart, I awaited the revised script. Whatever death it demanded, I'd perish gloriously as befits a bit-part extra.
A few days later, the updated script arrived.
But that,
well,
how to put it—
The character intro section was seriously weird.
Warrior Hui-yul.
Bodyguard to Minister Choi Myeong and aide to the crown prince.
Seems carefree, but inscrutable, hiding some ulterior motive.
Arch-nemesis of Chief State Councillor Jeong Ji-uk, greatly influencing the story's direction.
Role weight: Main supporting lead.
"......?"
Printing error or somethin'...
New Style of Bullshit (2)