After Story 162

Cha Myungjoon stared at Maru’s mouth, wondering if he had heard wrong.

“You’re going to do it?” he asked for confirmation.

Maru looked at Myungjoon and spoke with conviction,

“Yes. Please let me do it. So you can’t go looking for other people now. Please promise me, both of you.”

Maru put a lot of meat on the grill, saying that he could eat at ease now.

“I know it’s somewhat strange to ask this when you said yes, but why?” Myungjoon asked, still bewildered.

“You thought I wouldn’t do it?”

He looked at writer Yoo. Before he set up this occasion, he already told writer Yoo that not many actors would accept this readily and that Han Maru, whose reputation had soared after ‘Depths of Evil,’ would definitely find it difficult to accept.

Maru was insightful enough to see through the current situation at the TV station on the spot. This made him think even more that Maru would refuse, but he actually accepted without reservation.

“I didn’t think you’d accept it this easily at least. Why do you think I brought writer Yoo here? I had him come to persuade you if you showed signs of hesitation, but seeing you accept it just like that, it feels good and also weird.”

“Maybe I should’ve acted difficult just as the two of you wanted.” Maru smiled. It was a refreshing smile. “I’ll tell the president about this myself. I’ll persuade him if he says no. I’m definitely going to do this. You two can’t go anywhere and say otherwise either, okay?”

“There’s no need to when you’re the one doing it,” said writer Yoo.

“So who are you going to cast for the murderer character? The most important character in this story should be the murderer after all.”

Myungjoon flinched as soon as he heard Maru’s words.

“The murderer role?”

He said again to Maru, who tilted his head.

“You’re playing the murderer.”

“I want to play the role of Ahn Changsik though. Oh, the two of you were thinking of me as the murderer.”

“Naturally. There’s no one among your peers who can digest that role better than you.”

“While the murderer role is tempting, I’m more attracted to An Changsik.”

Myungjoon blinked a couple of times before looking at writer Yoo. This was outside of his expectations. He was planning to use the image that Maru showed in the movie in the drama, but the person in question refused to play the murderer character.

“I know what the two of you are thinking. Right now, I’m sure my image suits the murderer role better. I have the confidence to do it well too. But I don’t want my image to be consolidated in the beginning stage. Once it does, then even if I know how to play a variety of things, the production companies and directors will think about efficiency and will keep trying to give me similar roles, like a murderer or a psychopath.”

Maru continued as he flipped over the meat,

“You can call me foolish. You might tell me that I should be thankful that I can play anything and will make me choose to play the murderer. But I will not do this if I’m not playing Ahn Changsik. If you somehow think that I don’t suit the character, then allow me to return this to you.”

Maru tried to take out the synopsis from his pocket. Myungjoon waved his hand in denial for now.

“I’m not saying that it doesn’t suit you. I’m just saying you can do it better. I get what you’re worried about, but just because you play a series of murderer characters continuously doesn’t mean that your image will be consolidated. There are differences between movies and dramas.”

“Sure, they might be different. But the general picture does not change. Above all, I want to play Ahn Changsik. If I can’t play this role, I have no reason to join you for this drama. If you’re planning to scout me into your work for practical reasons, I’ll also have to think just the same.”

That was an unexpected answer. Myungjoon drank water for now. He thought things were going smoothly, but they hit a block in a weird place.

“If I may boast, I was offered five movie scenarios in my name. Some of them are already set to be shot at the end of the year.”

Myungjoon thought that Maru wasn’t boasting as it was only natural. Anyone would want to use an actor who had proven themselves. Not only that, Maru was young. Even better, he could change into anything.

Most people meeting Maru for the first time would be surprised because there wasn’t a single hint of Gomchi in him in real life.

In the current era where not many useful young actors existed, the sudden appearance of Maru was a very useful resource.

“I haven’t given a concrete reply to any of them. This is the only work I’ve given the okay on the spot after getting the synopsis. If you are willing to give me the role of Ahn Changsik, I’m going to set my schedule according to this drama. However, if you plan to let me play the murderer, I’m going to choose a movie over a private-owned channel’s drama.”

He didn’t give any hints and went straight to the point. He was saying that it had to be the way he wanted it to be. It was obvious from looking at his eyes that persuading him was not happening.

Myungjoon looked at writer Yoo. Myungjoon himself was okay with Maru playing Ahn Changsik instead of the murderer. He could still vividly remember Maru’s desperate death as a newbie investigator in the drama ‘The Witness.’

Maru, who managed to depict everything about a human turning from a newly recruited investigator to a coward fearing death, should be able to handle Ahn Changsik well too.

“Writer Yoo, what’s your opinion?”

If writer Yoo hesitated here, his job would not be to persuade Maru but to persuade writer Yoo instead. He couldn’t afford to miss Maru. Truthfully speaking, he had to grab Maru considering the production budget.

“Mr. Maru,” writer Yoo said.

“Yes, writer.”

“You know, I’ve shown this work to a lot of people. Not to mention TV station producers, I handed it around to production companies as well. I’m sure some actors must have seen the scenarios as well.”

“I see.”

“But not a single one of them reached out to me. Not a single one. The only one that called me was producer Cha Myungjoon here. It may not be possible on a public TV channel, but it can be done on a private-owned channel. He also told me this: I want to try doing this no matter what.”

Writer Yoo picked up his chopsticks. He spoke as he picked up the meat that Maru had cut up,

“And you just told me too that you wanted to play Ahn Changsik, that you will only do it if you can play that character. I’ve written many works and had many of them adapted into dramas, but I have never experienced an actor telling me that. In your eyes, is Ahn Changsik that temptingly good?”

“I don’t want to let anyone else do it. Of course, I can only say this for sure after seeing some more of the script.”

“You really don’t hold back.”

“I’m not sure about other places, but on an occasion like this, I have to act like I’m at the end of my rope. If I miss the character because I was too proud, what kind of loss is that?”

Writer Yoo laughed, saying that Maru was right.

“There’s someone who wants it here, so I’ll give it to you. But acting Ahn Chnagsik will be very tough.”

“That’s precisely why I want to do it.”

Writer Yoo reached out his hand, Maru grabbed that hand with both of his hands.

“Try bringing Ahn Changsik to life.”

“Definitely.”

“It’s a bit late, but I’d like to drop the formal speech with you, if it’s okay.”

“Please go ahead.”

Writer Yoo let go and then spoke,

“Okay, yeah. Anyway, thanks for telling me that you want to do it. It really gives me room to breathe. I feel like I just died and revived as a theater writer.”

Myungjoon inwardly sighed in relief.

“Then let’s get on with the meal. It seems like producer Cha is treating us out big time today.”

“Fine, why don’t you strip every penny from me.”

Maru’s hand that was grilling the meat became faster. Myungjoon wanted to have a drink as well, but as everyone had brought cars, they went with just fizzy drinks instead. Running into an accident before the drama even started wouldn’t even be funny.

“Is there an actor you thought would suit the murderer?” Maru asked when they almost finished eating,

“I thought you’d be the perfect man, so I haven’t thought about anyone else. How about you, writer Yoo?”

“No one comes to mind. I was also thinking about Maru.”

“The drama won’t just disband into thin air because the casting doesn’t work out, right?”

Hearing Maru’s words, Myungjoon smiled bitterly.

“Actually, I’m very worried that things might turn out as you said. Even if we’re preparing, if the higher-ups tell me to stop, then that’ll be the end of it.”

“You should voice your opinion to the company that this drama will work.”

“Only people who can take responsibility can say stuff like that. A mere producer like me has no guts to say that. I just pray that they won’t block my way so that we can see through this until the end.”

“You go to church?”

“Should I at this opportunity? I’ll go to church, Maru, you go to a Buddhist temple, and writer Yoo, you go to the Catholic church. I’m sure god will be touched and will help us out.”

Writer Yoo said that they might as well do some shamanistic rituals instead.

“There are still a lot of mountains to cross. We can only proceed with the rest when we’re done casting the main characters.”

“Sounds like you’ll have to work hard, producer Cha, looking for actors who would dip their feet into this precarious drama.”

“If I can’t find anyone, I should just proceed with a public audition for everything and look for a pearl in the sand.”

“If you do that, the TV station will never give you a slot, you know? They won’t sell ads like that.”

“That’s true.”

Actors who were good at acting were large in number if he looked for them. The veteran actors in the play scene were better than most actors that appeared in dramas.

However, for dramas, acting skill wasn’t everything.

For one, people had to watch it. To make people watch, some kind of issue was necessary to attract viewers, and there was nothing that attracted more viewers than popular stars.

That was why star actors who were good at acting received sky-high payments. Everyone wanted that star to be in their work after all.

Sometimes — very rarely — there were dramas that hit huge jackpots with actors without much recognition.

Those works were born through a combination of many things, such as overwhelming production skills, godly acting, the most perfect story, and last but not least, the terrible failure of dramas airing concurrently.

In other words, it was almost impossible.

“For now then, I should go talk to the president about this,” Maru said as they left the restaurant.

He said it was nothing, so Myungjoon didn’t think much of it either at first but then remembered who was at the helm of JA.

“You’re talking about president Lee Junmin, right?”

“Yes.”

“You should contact him politely before visiting him. Things might not work out even if you show him the utmost respect. If you end up getting on his bad side, I can’t take responsibility for that.”

“It’s okay. He’ll probably like it instead, you know? He has been calling me for this past while about when I’m going to decide on my next work.”

“Really? He sounds different from what I imagined.”

“It looks like he’s gained an interest in raising little ducklings from scratch. Anyway, I’ll visit him today and give you a concrete answer by the end of the day.”

Maru left first in his car. Writer Yoo spoke after looking at the disappearing car,

“Now that I thought about it, he’s from JA, isn’t he?”

“Yes.”

“The president there is famous for not knowing failure.”

“He’s a self-made man. He’s also doing other forms of business with flying colors to the point that many are speculating that his job in the entertainment industry is only a hobby.”

“I heard that that’s precisely what makes him care so much about the actors.”

“Yes.”

“Do you think he’ll let Maru do this work? This must be an important period for Maru too.”

“True. Well, Maru said he’d try persuading the president, so we can only believe in him for now.”

Writer Yoo took out a cigarette.

“Even if Maru says yes, there are still problems. Who’s going to play the role of Yoon Hojung?”

“We’ll have to look for one. I’m sure someone will take an interest if I ask around if anyone’s interested in playing an awesome murderer.”

“And he has to be pretty popular too.”

“Let’s not think that far. It’s making me depressed.”

Myungjoon also started smoking.