Chapter 86 – Reaction – Part 14

Chapter 86 – Reaction – Part 14

Talking with Woojin for too long made him feel like his brain was freezing up.

Jo Jeonghwan thought that, but immediately asked with curiosity.

Because Woojin’s unexpected and quirky remarks always had a deeper meaning.

“In what way?”

“I think actor Kim Min’s acting seems awkward. The scene where he pushes through the onlookers seems that way too. And sighing as if he’s stressed. And the way he ruffles his hair. When a person is stressed, their actions vary slightly; for example, putting a hand on their head due to stress is an unconscious action to ventilate. He should have either raked his fingers through his hair like a claw to ventilate his scalp, rather than just rubbing and ruffling it, or conversely, scratched it as if in self-harm.”

Woojin watched the monitor and spoke again.

“If it was ad-libbed, I think actor Kim Min misunderstood the mood of the scene.”

What extra could speak like this?

Other staff members and organizers would have been cautious with their words, or remained completely silent.

Of course, Woojin was an exception.

He wasn’t showing off, nor was he self-conscious about what he was saying; he was simply looking at the situation itself.

“If you can’t convince people’s unconscious, viewers might feel uncomfortable throughout the entire film.”

Jo Jeonghwan couldn’t help but exhale and smile.

Now he’s even talking about the unconscious.

At that moment, a word flashed through Jo Jeonghwan’s mind.

‘Bad Acting.’

There are actors who deliver bad acting.

Yet, it’s not uncommon for directors to not call out bad acting and just film it.

Of course, there were parts they gave up on and filmed after numerous bloopers, but there were also many times when the director didn’t catch the bad acting and gave the OK sign.

If Woojin is right, then do I fall into the latter category?

Am I so focused on the work that I’m not deeply observing the actor’s performance?

He could find the answer.

“Woojin, let’s discuss this.”

Jo Jeonghwan called each director and began monitoring.

Woojin, who was watching the scene from the side, nodded his head.

Director Jo Jeonghwan, unlike before, now accepts and agrees to my words without any objection.

He was moving well as I expected.

For Director Jo Jeonghwan to follow my instructions well, the audience and the group experiment must proceed smoothly.

How the unconscious of a group watching a movie reacts, their curiosity for new things in a safe environment, and how the theory of evolution, which states that all living things avoid competition, is incorporated into the movie to guide their psychology.

Woojin put all those things into the movie.

To summarize all of that in one word, he focused on ‘fun’.

Woojin, who was quietly staring at the place where the directors were gathered, made a call on his cellphone.

It was Detective Kim Taehyun.

His voice came out after only a few rings.

-Oh! My little brother! Have you eaten?

“It’s not dinner time yet. Detective Kim, about that…”

-What do you want to eat? What do you want to eat? Beef? It’s my day off after a long time today, let’s go eat something delicious! Where are you? I’ll pick you up.

“Could you come here? It’s a film set…”

-Film shoot? Why are you there?

“I came as an extra part-timer.”

-…Hmm, that could also be considered an ordinary part-time job.

Woojin was always a guy who longed for (?) ordinary things.

Conversely, he also seemed to have a desire (?) to try everything he hadn’t tried before.

“They say the catering truck at the film set is so delicious. Don’t you want to try it? Welcome.”

-I don’t particularly want to eat there…

“Also, to get some advice.”

-Advice?

“Yes. I think the actor isn’t doing a good job playing the detective.”

-…

Every time this happened, Kim Taehyun struggled to interpret Woojin’s words.

It seems he went there as an extra part-timer because of food, and the actor wants advice, saying they can’t act well.

It’s not connecting well with any particular algorithm…

-Ah, Braille Murder? You went to that film set?

Kim Taehyun could finally understand now.

Woojin seemed to be having an organic conversation with Director Jo Jeonghwan.

“Yes. The title has changed. To Synesthete.”

-Where is it? Send me the address.

*

After discussing with other directors, Jo Jeonghwan decided to resume filming as Woojin suggested.

Only the detective’s entrance scene needed to be filmed.

Woojin, who didn’t have to be Spectator 3, sat right next to Jo Jeonghwan.

“Action.”

As Jo Jeonghwan spoke, Kim Min pushed through the crowd and entered the alley.

Woojin and Jo Jeonghwan watched the monitor, and then a murmur escaped Woojin’s lips.

“It’s weak…”

Woojin, who had seen many detectives while solving crime cases, knew well.

The scene where he merely frowned seemed lifeless.

It couldn’t perfectly convince the audience.

Just thinking of Detective Kim Taehyun confirmed it.

His expressions were very rich.

Even when a top-tier actor played a detective, their expressions were alive.

Jo Jeonghwan, who heard Woojin’s murmur, stroked his chin.

Hearing that it was weak and lacking, he began to continuously see flaws in the acting.

Jo Jeonghwan brought the megaphone to his mouth.

“Cut!”

At the NG sign, Kim Min ran his hand through his hair and approached.

Then he glanced at Woojin.

‘Who is this guy?’

If he was an extra, he should act like an extra and stay out of the way. How important could his connection be to stick so closely to the Director?

Conversely, it was slightly irritating to have this wannabe Director sitting there watching his acting.

Because someone who didn’t know the first thing about acting was watching him.

But that was his inner thought, his expression was different.

Kim Min smiled and asked Director Jo Jeonghwan,

“Was it a bit awkward?”

“How should I put it… Kim Min, I hope you don’t misunderstand what I’m about to say.”

Kim Min gave a humble smile, as if ready to accept everything.

“Yes. Please tell me, and I’ll try to fix it.”

“Your expression seems uniform. Like an expression of only annoyance, perhaps? I’d like it to feel like you’re also aware of the onlookers.”

“Should I try going with a feeling of being bothered?”

“Yes. That would be good.”

“Understood.”

The filming resumed immediately.

However.

“Cut!”

“Cut!”

Jo Jeonghwan repeatedly cut Kim Min’s acting.

Woojin looked at the staff.

He saw quite a few of them secretly sighing.

Jo Jeonghwan said,

“Let’s take a short break!”

The gathered film staff and organizers dispersed in small groups.

Just then, a staff member approached.

“Director Detective is here… Detective Kim Taehyun, they said.”

“Oh. Where is he?”

Jo Jeonghwan turned his head and saw Kim Taehyun walking towards them.

Jo Jeonghwan extended his hand warmly.

“It’s been a long time, Detective Kim.”

“Yes. Director, you’re looking much better.”

Unlike when he’d come to the police station with heavy dark circles, begging for an interview, now his face had filled out nicely.

After shaking hands with Jo Jeonghwan, Kim Taehyun turned to the man sitting down.

“Woojin, what are you doing?”

Woojin blinked, looking at Kim Taehyun.

“I’m in makeup… How did you know?”

“It just looks like you?”

Woojin’s gaze returned to Jo Jeonghwan, who gave an awkward smile.

“I don’t think I look like Woojin…”

“It’s clearly you, Woojin, what are you talking about?”

Woojin scratched his head.

“This is problematic…”

“Woojin, don’t worry. People won’t recognize you. You’re just jumping around, with half your face appearing and disappearing. Who would recognize that?”

“Someone with excellent observation skills could recognize me.”

At Woojin’s serious tone, Kim Taehyun smiled, placing a hand on Woojin’s shoulder.

“Woojin, there aren’t many people like you in the world. Don’t worry.”

“That’s something we don’t know.”

Woojin consciously began to search his brain.

He recalled the people he had met so far.

Was their power of observation excellent?

He could answer immediately.

It seemed he wouldn’t need to film again.

And the scene quickly changes from Spectator 3 to Detective.

Just then, Kim Min approached.

Jo Jeonghwan introduced Kim Taehyun to Kim Min.

“This is Detective Kim Taehyun. He came all this way to help you, Ms. Kim Min.”

“Thank you. I’m Kim Min.”

“I’m Kim Taehyun. How can I help you?”

Kim Taehyun asked calmly.

He seemed to have no particular feelings about celebrities.

Jo Jeonghwan spoke instead of Kim Min.

“I’m curious about how you feel every time you go to a murder scene, when people are all gathered around. What do you think when you see such people?”

Kim Taehyun nodded, as if thinking of the past, and began to speak.

“I get angry, annoyed, frustrated, and so on.”

“You get angry?”

“Yes. When someone has died, and people are swarming to gawk at it, how do you think I’d feel?”

A small gasp escaped Kim Min’s lips.

She had only ever seen actors playing detectives. She had never considered such emotions.

“Even if watching a fire is interesting, there’s a right way to do it. And there are also trash journalists who sensationalize it into articles to make money…”

Jo Jeonghwan and Kim Min instinctively nodded.

It was invaluable advice, brimming with the detective’s experience.

“What emotions do you feel when you see a body?”

Kim Taehyun answered Kim Min’s question without hesitation.

“It’s sad. And pitiful. It varies a bit among detectives, but some find it annoying. However, one thing is always the same.”

Kim Min’s eyes sparkled as she asked,

“What is it?”

“The fact that the criminal is a fucking son of a bitch.”

“Ah…”

Kim Taehyun chuckled, and Jo Jeonghwan, who had been nodding, looked at Kim Min.

“I think I’m getting a strong feeling about it, how about you, Kim Min?”

“Yes. I think I understand a little. Thank you.”

Kim Taehyun smiled subtly and looked at Woojin.

Woojin was looking at himself reflected in the turned-off monitor.

“I’m here to see my younger brother, that’s all.”

*

After fully acknowledging Kim Taehyun’s words, Kim Min began preparing for filming again.

Kim Taehyun watched the scene with his arms crossed.

“Woojin, do you really need to go to such lengths?”

“Because I can only get a house if I reach ten million views.”

Of course, there was also an experimental reason.

Kim Taehyun let out a hollow laugh.

Even though Woojin liked peace and ordinariness, his presence was clearly growing.

“Action!”

As the director’s voice boomed through the megaphone, Woojin quietly approached Jo Jeonghwan and stared at the monitor.

Kim Taehyun also looked at the monitor with interest.

Jo Jeonghwan tilted his head and stroked his chin.

It was better than before, but the emotions Detective Kim had mentioned were not comprehensively visible on his face.

It’s like it’s artificial, step-by-step?

Then Woojin opened his mouth.

“I think I need to show you a demonstration.”

Kim Taehyun unconsciously pointed to himself.

“Me?”

Woojin shook his head, his eyes seeming to sparkle like stars.

Because he saw the catering truck coming from far away.

“No. Me. I’ll finish quickly before the soup gets cold.”