Masterpieces Require Sacrifice (9)
Up until now, Kang Min's Death Acting hadn't received much high praise, surprisingly enough.
In the initial audition for King and Sovereign, the judges had argued endlessly over what the hell it even was. His meeting with writer Baek Chae-i had only sparked panic. And during the filming of his debut project, he hadn't even gotten a chance to show it off.
Aside from a few short pieces like Unbelievable, there had been hardly any opportunities for proper evaluation.
But then again, an expert's eye operates on an entirely different level from a novice's.
"So what the hell are you trying to say...?"
"Damn it, don't you get it, Ryu?! That's acting from a completely different person!"
Jacob Fisher,
the legendary figure in theater and film who graduated from UCLA and Moscow's GITIS National University of Arts, and had nurtured countless artists, was spewing curses.
"Every act of acting—no, every human—has some trait or habit! No one can escape it! But those two performances just now? They started completely differently! Are your eyes just for seasoning the soup?!"
"......"
Lee Strasberg had long emphasized four key areas of the face in his core "relaxation training."
The area around the eyebrows and temples, the bridge of the nose connecting to the eyes, the line from the nose to the cheeks and mouth, and finally the nape of the neck down to the back.
His claim was that releasing tension in these four areas down to the bare minimum was crucial.
He highlighted them because they were so hard to consciously control—and because, as humans, there were parts we simply couldn't control.
Hence, the "minimum."
Even that giant Strasberg believed it was impossible to completely eliminate an actor's ingrained habits.
But Kang Min, who had experienced thousands of utterly different deaths in his nightmares, was the one man who could overturn that premise entirely.
"The first one started at the temples with that 'KRAAACK!' The muscle twitched there, shock spreading through the cheeks to the philtrum! But the 'KREEEEEK!' went the opposite way! From the forehead down, the brow furrowing first and rippling out!"
"Th-that..."
"The muscles moved differently down to the fiber! If their faces hadn't been the same, you'd swear it was different people! It's an insane talent—no one's ever seen anything like it! And you can't see the difference?!"
"......"
The vice principal barely held back from muttering that it was just the difference between "KRAAACK!" and "KREEEEEK!."
Partly because Professor Jacob, whose hobby was Savate (French kickboxing), looked ready to unleash a roundhouse kick. Partly because Jacob himself seemed frozen in shock at this sudden betrayal.
And the betrayer? None other than Professor Kevin, who had bolted straight to Kang Min's side.
His eyes gleamed dangerously.
"Young friend—Kang Min, was it?"
"Yes..."
"Min's your name, right?!"
"Yes......"
"Mind telling me how long you've been acting?"
"Ah, it'll be a year soon..."
"A year!"
Professor Kevin's glint grew even more perilous—from his head to his eyes.
Like the Octopus Doc lusting after Peter Parker, he seized Kang Min's hand in a vice grip.
Even the mighty Kang Min felt a chill.
"First off, my sincere apologies. Your dilemma is absolutely worth researching! I was the fool!"
"Uh, thank you."
"Ahem, so—how about putting your name in my Kevin Moore Studio? Oh, I won't interfere with your work, of course! I'm successful enough, but my students are even better! Just drop by now and then, chat with them—you'll gain plenty! Hell, I could call a bunch who'd come running today!"
The actors Professor Kevin named were no small fries. Any one of them would make you nod instinctively.
But the real issue was this wildly generous invite to "just drop by and chat."
Vice Principal Yoo Myeong-woo's eyes welled up on the spot.
To me, you said I had to help out for two years before you'd even introduce me...
Unfortunately, Professor Kevin's vile ambition went unrealized. Professor Jacob charged over, snarling, and grabbed his collar.
"Kevin, you bastard! Daring to break your promise first?!"
"Beats me. Can't quite remember..."
"You're always like this! Denying it like the slimy prick you are!!"
Professor Jacob rolled his bulging eyes.
Then he forcibly smoothed his fierce scowl into a disarmingly gentle smile.
It was so grotesque that Kang Min shrank back even more.
"Uh, young friend."
"Yes..."
"Don't fall for it. Kevin Moore's villainy is best known by his own students. Know how he grinds them down? Me? I've never shamed mine. If you truly seek answers, it's this Jacob Fisher you want—"
"Oh, cut the crap, Jacob. Word of the wailing in your studio has spread to Nevada! No one forgets how you tortured poor Jessie as Rapunzel for a whole month."
"Damn it, that kid could've done it but was just lazy! You're the one who had kids begging to die during The Major's Daughter!"
"At the Vulcan series finale party after part 8, you were the one who got the most shit—that's no joke!"
"The director begged me to push them! You're the one who—!"
Either way, neither seemed like someone you'd want to get too close to.
As the two professors scrapped like drunk college freshmen, and Vice Principal Yoo Myeong-woo inexplicably reddened with gloom, the twins edged closer hesitantly.
They both twirled their silver hair nervously, gauging the mood.
It was the same hesitation as a hungry Seo Bom eyeing food—Kang Min guessed their intent immediately.
"Hm, looks like that'll take a while over there. Shall we keep going? You said it's a showdown that ends when one admits defeat."
"Ah." "That's..."
They looked tempted for a moment.
But soon their faces fell, and they shook their heads.
"Nah, we're good." "We lost."
"Hm? Honestly, on pure technique, you two were way better."
"That's just practice difference." "Not the core."
"The core?"
"This contest's about how well you separate Jekyll and Hyde." "We cheated. And still lost." "Yeah, we cheated and... what?"
Joia cut in, glaring at Phinegan.
"Don't say 'lost' like it's nothing, Phine." "Why not?" "Makes me sound lame too!" "You are lamer." "Why you gotta go there?! That wasn't the point!" "Then what?" "Wanna get hit?" "I'm gonna smack you." "Ow! What the—?!" "Be honest, you sucked harder." "You sucked more?!"
This side devolved into chaos in seconds.
Watching the old folks brawl among themselves and the kids do the same, Kang Min stared blankly at the ceiling for a moment.
This is nuts.
Why the hell am I even here?
Whatever the reason, as an orphanage kid, this kind of mess was familiar territory.
The old guys were one thing—but pros never flinch at kids' fights.
Kang Min quickly loosened his neck.
"Well, I see it a bit differently."
"Hm?" "Huh?"
"Joia's Dr. Jekyll was brilliant. Controlling down to a single eyebrow isn't just from long practice. That final scream, dropping your right shoulder half a handspan lower than the left? Accounting for stage depth, right? I never even thought of that."
"......"
Joia's face flushed. She ducked her head, flustered. Phinegan shot her a grumpy glare.
Of course, a pro caregiver doesn't stop there. In kids' fights, the key is caring for both without picking sides.
"Phinegan was amazing too. To bring out Hyde's frenzy, you relaxed tension joint by joint, right? That final gaze work was masterful. You built the emotion gradually on purpose?"
"Y-yeah... yes."
"Both of you were excellent. So what's there to fight over?"
"......"
"...Um, her name's Phinegan, not Phine..."
"Phine's fine."
"?"
There was a bit of bickering, but they seemed mostly satisfied.
For some reason, they whispered with flushed faces, then reached a decision.
Phinegan, looking relaxed, stepped forward.
"So, what's Min's problem? Jekyll, Hyde—both perfect. Can't see why you'd come to those grumpy old geezers."
"Y-yeah, I agree with Phine. Just pick one, right?"
"That's the tricky part."
"?" "?"
Kang Min's method acting, drawn from his nightmares, was hard to control. It had improved lately, but he'd once beaten up his valuable colleague Kim Ho-jin in a tragic frenzy.
On the flip side, the narrative acting he'd picked up from Aisling Lewis was easy to handle. But he often wondered if it could improve—or if it was even the right path.
Being able to do both meant struggling to choose either.
Watching the twins at the extremes only amplified that.
Which path was truly right—
"?"
"...?"
And the answer to the dilemma he'd wrestled with for a month was profoundly simple.
The twins exchanged glances and spoke in unison.
"Both are right."
"Yeah, both are totally right."
"?"
Kang Min blinked.
Phinegan and Joia shrugged like they couldn't fathom the issue. Then they switched places.
And started acting again.
It was utterly different from before—yet somehow exactly the same.
[Emma, don't abandon me!]
[I swear by God's name, I need you! I love you!]
[If you die, I'll become you!]
[You are me! Don't you get it?!]
The swapped Jekyll and Hyde weren't quite as sharp as before.
But more than good enough.
They blinked at the blinking Kang Min.
"I'm method acting. But I can do about 70% of Joia's theater style."
"I can do about 70% of Phine's too."
"Why split hairs? Switch as needed."
"No acting style is superior to another."
"No need to agonize over poles. Like affogato. Mix 'em right, done."
"Exactly. Everything helps."
A casual remark.
But laced with the wisdom of acting seniors.
That one line sent electricity surging through Kang Min's brain.
Of course!
He slapped his knee.
It was a tidal wave of realization.
True Death Acting lies not in one or the other—but in between!
Looking back, he'd been mistaken.
Biologically, humans die when they die.
But what deems them "dead" is kin, friends, society.
All of that falls under Death Acting.
Thus, death can't be one direction!
Like a bird with two wings, true Death Acting is blending both!
How could I have been so blind...!
Past epiphanies had been like setting fire to a reed field.
But now, they seemed trivial.
Everything connected.
Logic.
Conflict.
Beginning, development, turn, conclusion.
Foreshadowing—
My God, how futile and pointless! All just words in the end!
True Death Acting transcended it all.
In martial terms, something like the Transformation Realm.
Hahahahahahaha!
...Or maybe the Demonic Extreme.
Anyway, having gained an enlightenment worthy of an ancient madman, Kang Min couldn't contain his joy.
He seized the hands of his two pint-sized mentors.
"Thank you!"
"Ah...?" "Uh..."
"Truly invaluable advice! I'll repay this debt someday!"
"Um..." "Er..."
"Call on me anytime you need anything! I'll come running!"
They mumbled awkwardly, flustered.
As Kang Min stepped offstage, the professors perked up.
"So, decided? Moore Studio, obviously?"
"Nonsense! It's Fisher Studio!"
"Thank you, Professors! I've learned so much from your students—I won't need it. Deeply grateful to you both!"
"?"
"Let's go, Vice Principal! Kimchi's no longer my enemy!"
"...?"
Kang Min strode out, business fully concluded.
......
Vice Principal Yoo Myeong-woo stared at the professors.
A blank look, like a dog that lost its chicken.
......
He glanced at the twins.
For some reason, they alternated between their hands and Kang Min's retreating back, faces flushed blankly.
......
He didn't get it.
But one thing was clear.
The vice principal gazed blankly at the ceiling.
Bom, you hopeless goof... Time to step up...
Naturally, things didn't end just because Kang Min had his epiphany and left happy.
The day after he flew back home same-day, two massive American agencies were gripped by terror.
In their respective offices, they forced smiles while breaking cold sweats.
"P-Professor Kevin...? What brings you here...?"
"Professor Jacob, if last week's pay didn't satisfy..."
"No."
"Not for that."
In different locations, they crossed their arms with eerily similar scowls.
Like they could devour a man whole.
"Know Kang Min?"
"Kang Min... Ah, William White? Of course."
"Your take?"
"On the deals floating around? We're mulling it. Value's debatable."
Emmy win was respectable.
Tempting, sure.
But a Korean-based actor at heart. Fine for Korean-origin S&W or multinational UTA, but squeezing in among Hollywood stars? Iffy.
"Mulling" meant "Hm, eh, whatever."
But now? Different story.
"Snag him. Whatever it takes."
"Pardon?"
"Snag him."
"My God, Professor! I owe you, sure, but this is business. You can't just barge in and—!"
"Five."
"?"
"Nab him, and I'll train five of your prospects."
"H-how can you say that? I'll move immediately!"
With vengeful professors descending, even America's mega-agencies stirred, jumping into the Kang Min scrum.
Unprecedented chaos.
"What the hell?! This is insane...!"
For Korea's Big 5 agency staff, already battered, it was the worst news. But of course, it didn't end there.
Soon, reporters' pens blazed with glee.