Peninsula: From a supporting actor to the best actor in Chungmuro

Chapter 121 "Veteran" Filming Completed

"Action!"

The door to the private room was suddenly pushed open.

The girlfriend, played by Yoo In-young, stumbles in.

The camera followed her unsteady steps, finally focusing on Kang Jae-hoon—

He sat imposingly on the leather sofa, the smoke from his cigar blurring his eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses.

"What are you doing here?"

Kang Jae-hoon's voice was as indifferent as if he were talking about the weather.

Liu Renying stormed forward and demanded:

How could you treat the woman carrying your child like this?!

"if not?"

Kang Jae-hoon slowly exhaled a smoke ring, a mocking smile playing on his lips:

"Do you want me to abort it right here for you?"

"you--"

She pointed a finger at Kang Jae-hoon and snapped, "Are you even human?!"

Kang Jae-hoon suddenly chuckled, shaking his head as he stood up—

This subtle gesture, a result of drug use, was something he designed after observing countless actors' performances.

next second.

He suddenly grabbed Liu Renying by the back of the neck, pulled her hair, and slammed her hard against the coffee table!
"boom!"

The glass shattered with a crash, and Liu Renying fell into the shards.

In close-up shots.

Her carefully drawn eyeliner smudged with tears, leaving two dark streaks on her cheeks.

"Crack!"

Ryu Seung-wan's voice broke the silence: "Actors, touch up your makeup, get ready for the next shot!"

The staff rushed forward immediately.

The makeup artist was busy applying makeup to Liu Renying to make her look injured, while the props team rearranged the layout of the props in the room to avoid any mishaps.

Kang Jae-hoon then went to repeatedly check the prop syringes—

Even though it contains glucose water.

"All departments, prepare—"

"Scene 89 of 'Veteran': 2 shots, 1 take!"

"Action!"

The camera focuses on Kang Jae-hoon in the foreground.

Lying sprawled amidst shards of sugar glass, Liu Renying's figure, hysterically cursing him, is blurred in the mid-ground—

Kang Jae-hoon was slowly removing the protective cap from the syringe.

Long, slender fingers unscrewed the medicine bottle, and the needle made a soft "pop" sound as it pierced the liquid.

Gently push the piston with your thumb to expel the air from the syringe.

A drop of clear liquid fell from the tip of a needle.

"Tick-tock-"

Liu Renying's cursing stopped abruptly.

Her pupils constricted sharply, and she scrambled backward, using both her hands and feet to pull herself back.
"What are you going to do?"

Kang Jae-hoon did not answer, but slowly approached.

The sound of leather shoes shattering glass was particularly jarring in the deathly silent private room.

"No, don't come here!"

Suddenly driven by her survival instinct, Liu Renying turned and began to crawl away—

"Snapped!"

Jiang Zai Xun suddenly grabbed her ankle and dragged her back.

"Don't you want a formal title?"

His voice was as soft as a lover's whisper.

"No...I don't want it anymore..."

Liu Renying shook her head frantically, then immediately knelt up and clasped her hands together in prayer:

"I was wrong... Can we make up? The baby... I'll get rid of the baby..."

Kang Jae-hoon tilted his head and looked her over, then suddenly smiled:
"Do you love me?"

"like!"

Liu Renying crawled two steps on her knees and hugged his legs:

"I love you the most..."

Her voice trembled, but she forced a fawning smile.

Kang Jae-hoon knelt down and stroked her tear-stained face as if admiring a work of art.

Then--

He suddenly grabbed her hair!

Under Liu Renying's horrified gaze, Jiang Zaixun gently kissed her lips while simultaneously inserting the needle into her neck.

"Well"

Liu Renying's sobs were muffled.

She could smell the lingering nicotine in Kang Jae-hoon's breath.

(That brat.)

(What's going on?)

—This kissing scene was not in the script.

Although kissing a handsome junior isn't a bad thing, this unexpected impromptu moment still caught her off guard.

however.

The moment the retractable needle touches the neck.

Liu Renying's years of professional experience allowed her to quickly adjust her state of mind.

She struggled violently, her fingernails digging deep into Kang Jae-hoon's wrist.

As the liquid in the syringe was slowly pushed in.

Liu Renying's struggles gradually weakened, and she eventually collapsed into his arms.

behind the monitor.

Liu Chengwan narrowed his eyes.

This impromptu kiss scene was a stroke of genius—

First offer kindness, then inflict violence.

It perfectly showcases Cho Tae-oh's twisted aesthetics.

"Crack!"

The moment Liu Chengwan's voice rang out.

Liu Renying opened her eyes and gave him a light punch:
"Next time you add a kissing scene, just tell me in advance! Otherwise, I can at least touch up my lipstick!"

"Because Cho Tae-oh is the kind of person who would do that."

Kang Jae-hoon helped Yoo In-young to her feet, his eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses still not completely detached from his character.

"He enjoys the process of controlling other people's emotions—giving them a little sweetness first, and then crushing their hopes with his own hands."

Liu Renying paused for a moment, then burst into laughter:

"Oh dear, you're getting too into character!"

She reached out and poked Kang Jae-hoon's forehead:

"Don't look at people like that after the performance ends, it's creepy."

"Jae-hoon, come watch the replay!"

Ryu Seung-wan's shout interrupted their conversation.

The surveillance footage is frozen in a breathtakingly violent aesthetic—

Kang Jae-hoon's dark red suit silhouette occupies the left side of the composition, while his right hand grabs Yoo In-young's hair, forcing her to look up.

The cold light from the gold-rimmed glasses and the sharp glint of the needle tip create a diagonal echo.

The most amazing thing was that impromptu kiss—

As he bent over, the shadows cast by the folds of his suit spread out like bat wings, perfectly framing Liu Renying's wide-eyed, terrified eyes in the center of the frame.

The tenderness of their intertwined lips and teeth contrasted sharply with the needle poised to be inserted into her neck.

Where does inspiration come from?

Ryu Seung-wan pressed the pause button.

Kang Jae-hoon adjusted his glasses and said:

"In 'New Police Story,' Joe gives his seriously injured girlfriend his last kiss."

He made a shooting gesture: "But I'm using it in reverse—not as a farewell, but as an execution."

"Not bad, very insightful."

Ryu Seung-wan gave him an approving look:
“This kind of perverse beauty really suits Zhao Taiwu.”

"Thank you for the compliment, Director."

Kang Jae-hoon turned to look at Yoo In-young, who was touching up her makeup.

She noticed his gaze and suddenly raised an eyebrow:
"What are you looking at? Want to kiss me again?"

"Do not."

Kang Jae-hoon shook his head and said, "I'm thinking, should we add a scene where Jo Tae-oh takes a selfie in front of the corpse?"

"This is good."

Liu Chengwan's eyes lit up.

Liu Renying rolled her eyes upon hearing this.

Sure enough, men's understanding of perversion is exactly the same.

"..."

After filming three more close-up shots from different angles, Yoo In-young's scenes were officially completed.

Ryu Seung-wan personally handed over the wrap-up red envelope.

Kang Jae-hoon took the bouquet from the staff and handed it over, saying, "Senior, you've worked hard these past few days."

"Oh, you're being so polite?"

Liu Renying accepted the bouquet and gave him a hug:
"keep in touch."

As she released the embrace, her slender fingers subtly traced a path across Kang Jae-hoon's chest—

A small, folded piece of paper quietly slipped into his suit pocket.

Liu Renying blinked and turned to say goodbye to the other staff members.

Although Kang Jae-hoon was a novice.

But he wasn't unaware of those things.

In the restroom.

He looked at the note, which had a string of numbers written on it and a lip print at the bottom.

Without much hesitation.

He crumpled the note into a ball and threw it into the trash can.

(A couple from the film crew?)

(Are you kidding me?)

Just as I was about to leave.

Kang Jae-hoon, as if possessed, returned to the trash can, picked up the small piece of paper, tore it into pieces, and then left again.

……

Over the next few days, Kang Jae-hoon filmed the remaining scenes of the clubhouse sequence.

Cho Tae-oh fled in panic after learning of the police raid;

The ruthless order for the bodyguard captain to stop Xu Daozhe from escaping alone in his car;
And finally, that sickly smile as he adjusted his tie in the rearview mirror.

At this point, the filming progress of "Veteran" has reached 95%.

Only one final, crucial scene remains—

The finale features a high-speed car chase and a brutal, hand-to-hand combat showdown.

Because it was necessary to apply to the Seoul Metropolitan Government to close the entire Myeongdong commercial street, this scene was scheduled to be filmed a week later.

Kang Jae-hoon did not mention to Yoo Seung-wan that he had asked for leave to go to Japan.

Although Yoona's manager had already coordinated the schedule with Kim Dae-won.

(Only one game left)

(I need to stay focused.)
He stood in front of the hotel's floor-to-ceiling windows, gazing absently at the dazzling night view of Gangnam District.

He felt like a stranger to himself in the mirror reflection.

He casually placed his gold-rimmed glasses on the bedside table, but the sinister look in his eyes lingered.

Kang Jae-hoon abruptly pulled the curtains shut, turned around, and walked into the bathroom.

As the hot water washed over his body, he stared blankly at the winding watermarks on the tiles—

The dark side that was exposed by the character of Cho Tae-oh seeped into his very being like water flowing through his veins.

The guilt of a kind person being forced to do evil?

No.

Even more frightening is-

He discovered that he felt no guilt at all.

Those violent scenes that should have kept him up at night, he was able to sleep peacefully after filming them;
Looking back on Liu Renying's rough actions, I only felt that "she acted so realistically";
Even when seeing news reports of chaebol scandals, my first reaction is to wonder how Cho Tae-oh will handle the public relations crisis.

(Am I actually playing the role of Cho Tae-oh?)

(Or have I been assimilated by him?)
Kang Jae-hoon turned off the shower, and only a blurry human figure was reflected on the foggy mirror.

He reached out and wiped away a patch of mist—

The corners of my mouth in the mirror were an unfamiliar curve.

It wasn't Kang Jae-hoon's usual goofy smile.

Rather, it's the kind of thing like Cho Tae-oh...

A cold laugh, tinged with three parts mockery and seven parts indifference. May 3rd.

Two o'clock in the morning.

The entire commercial street in Myeongdong has been completely blocked off by the film crew.

More than a dozen cameras were set up at different angles, and drones hovered at low altitudes, ready to go. More than eighty modified vehicles were neatly parked in the middle of the road, and members of the stunt team were conducting final safety checks.

Kang Jae-hoon stood by the monitor, watching Ryu Seung-wan and the action director repeatedly confirm the final storyboard shots—

This car chase scene is the ultimate climax of "Veteran":

Zhao Taiwu drove his sports car recklessly through the downtown area, with Xu Daozhe in hot pursuit on a police motorcycle.

The dangerous stunts here are performed by stunt performers.

All Kang Jae-hoon needs to do is film a few close-up shots of the driver's seat.

The panic of running for one's life, the unbridled arrogance, and the adrenaline rush brought about by wantonly trampling on the rules.

"Director, I'd like to direct this scene myself."

"No."

Ryu Seung-wan decisively and straightforwardly refused Kang Jae-hoon's almost unreasonable request.

"Director, I really can—"

"Jaehoon."

Ryu Seung-wan interrupted him abruptly, pointing to a stunt driver checking his protective gear not far away:

"See that guy? He's a professional driver who's won a rally championship. Are you trying to put stunt performers out of work?"

He's seen too many actors—

Filming kissing scenes requires clearing the set; dangerous shots require crying and calling for a stunt double; even a simple fall requires padding with three layers of foam.

But someone like Kang Jae-hoon who actively requested to risk his life...

(Too immersed in the role?)

(still.)

Liu Chengwan stared at him for a few seconds—

In Kang Jae-hoon's eyes, the stubbornness didn't seem to be for the sake of the performance, but rather...
(Seeking some kind of thrill?)
Kang Jae-hoon wanted to say something more.

Ryu Seung-wan, however, had already turned and walked towards the monitor:
"Just do what you're supposed to do—Zhao Taiwu's loss of control after taking drugs, his unfocused eyes, that kind of manic state, that's your area of ​​expertise."

(In the field of expertise.)

Kang Jae-hoon finally relented and walked toward the makeup truck.

In fact, Ryu Seung-wan's concerns were not without merit.

Not to mention that the professionalism of stunts such as violent vehicle collisions and drifting is far beyond the actors' capabilities;
He'd have a hard time explaining himself to Hwang Jung-min alone.

If this teacher, who treats Kang Jae-hoon like his own son, knew that he had put his student at risk, he would probably turn on him on the spot.

More importantly, dangerous driving can distract from the performance.

Actors need to be fully focused on portraying the character's micro-expressions during life-or-death situations:
Pupils contract when catching a glimpse of a police car in the rearview mirror;

The veins bulging in the neck during a sharp turn;
Even the neurotic smile on his lips when he hit a roadside stall.
These details are key to shaping Cho Tae-oh's character.

"All departments, prepare!"

The script supervisor's voice pulled Kang Jae-hoon back to reality.

He took a deep breath and got into the modified sports car.

Four miniature cameras were installed inside the vehicle, aimed at his face, hands, and full body posture.

"Action!"

Kang Jae-hoon slammed on the gas pedal—

The dashboard needles swung wildly to the right, and the engine roared deafeningly.

Of course, the car didn't move at all.

The sports car was secured to a flatbed trailer and moved by a tow truck in front. He only needed to make driving gestures, and the racing scenes would be composited using CGI technology in post-production.

In fact, the difficulty of this kind of performance without props is far greater than that of filming on location.

There's no realistic sense of speed, no impact vibrations, and not even the street scenes rushing past the window. All the thrilling and exciting scenes rely entirely on the actors' imagination and body language to be presented.

Kang Jae-hoon must precisely calculate the timing of each reaction—

The 0.5-second moment of surprise when the police car stopped them;

A sinister grin 1.2 seconds after hitting the motorcycle;

The hesitation and madness in the two seconds before the reversing collision...

The slightest mistake could turn it into a ridiculous one-man show.

Even more frightening is-

This scene was filmed in one continuous take.

From the moment the police car was spotted to its eventual crash into the commercial street, the entire performance, lasting a full three minutes and seventeen seconds, could not have any breaks.

The emotions should fluctuate like a rollercoaster, yet they must still conform to the character logic of Cho Tae-oh—

It wasn't a desperate escape.

Instead, they enjoy the perverse pleasure of this cat-and-mouse game.

(First collision—)
Kang Jae-hoon's pupils suddenly shrank to the size of pinpoints—

It was as if I could really see police cars blocking my way.

His jawline tightened instantly, and the veins in his neck bulged, but there was no sign of him stepping on the brakes.

"boom!"

The imagined impact was transmitted through the vibration of the seat.

Using his core strength, Kang Jae-hoon simulated a realistic forward lean, and the pain of the seatbelt digging into his shoulder made him groan.

(Second collision—)
Two police motorcycles "appeared" ahead.

He smirked and slammed on the gas!

"Bang!"

The imagined metallic clanging sound made his temples throb.

(Third collision—)
Traffic on the main road "converges" in front of the windshield.

Kang Jae-hoon's breathing suddenly became rapid, his nostrils flared, and his eyes became bloodshot.

As he reversed, he stared intently at the rearview mirror, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed.

Then--

I floored the accelerator!
My whole body arched backward with the imagined impact, and the back of my head slammed heavily onto the headrest.

His gold-rimmed glasses slipped down to the tip of his nose, but the look in his eyes behind the lenses was terrifyingly excited.

(Fourth collision—)
The stalls on the sidewalk "exploded" in my mind.

Fruit, fabric, shards of glass.
Kang Jae-hoon's pupils contracted and dilated with each imagined impact.

The body reacted in sync with the "bumping." The masseter muscles bulged, and a breathy sound, somewhere between a groan and a laugh, escaped from the throat.

When the last "obstacle" was crushed—

He suddenly burst into laughter!
Hoarse, manic laughter mingled with the roar of the engine, echoing in the enclosed car.

in front of the monitor.

Ryu Seung-wan stared at the crazed Cho Tae-oh on the screen, his fists clenching unconsciously—

So true.

It's so real it's chilling.

That indifference that treats other people's lives as insignificant as ants, that morbid pleasure derived from trampling on rules...

It turns out.

Kang Jae-hoon brought this scumbag to life.

That kind of aesthetic that takes madness to the extreme...

Terrifyingly brilliant.

Kang Jae-hoon nailed this scene in one take, saving the production team a lot of time.

But nevertheless.

The visual spectacle of this car chase scene took four nights of intensive filming to complete.

May 7th.

Two o'clock in the morning.

Myeongdong shopping street.

The set for the final scene of "Veteran" was brightly lit.

Kang Jae-hoon stood on the street corner watching the staff set up the final safety mats in the middle of the road.

This scene is the ultimate showdown between Jo Tae-oh and Seo Do-cheol.

A tycoon's son, driven to the brink of despair, fights like a cornered beast; a veteran detective's righteous fist, ready to unleash his fury.

"Action!"

Kang Jae-hoon staggered as he climbed out of the overturned sports car.

Her carefully styled hair was now a mess, and her gold-rimmed glasses were nowhere to be found.

He stumbled and ran toward the sidewalk, only to be blocked by Hwang Jung-min at the corner—

"It's over, Zhao Taiwu."

"Xiba..."

Kang Jae-hoon stared at him for two seconds, then suddenly burst into a neurotic laugh: "You really are a persistent ghost."

The first punch came unexpectedly—

Kang Jae-hoon lunged forward, his fist aimed straight at Hwang Jung-min's face!

Hwang Jung-min leaned back to dodge, then pounced and pinned Kang Jae-hoon to the ground.

The two rolled and wrestled on the asphalt road; the action director's meticulously designed "turn-based" fight had begun.

Kang Jae-hoon suddenly elbowed Hwang Jung-min in the ribs, and took advantage of the moment when the other party loosened his grip in pain to roll over and get up.

Hwang Jung-min clutched his ribs and took two steps back, glancing at the passersby who were filming with their phones. He swallowed the urge to retaliate.

The police dare not beat people in the street.

But Cho Tae-oh will not show any mercy.

"what!"

Kang Jae-hoon roared and charged forward again.

Hwang Jung-min maintained a defensive stance throughout, only parrying when necessary.

He originally thought that this kind of wealthy young master, whose body had been hollowed out by wine and women, was just a pretty face.

However, they clearly underestimated Zhao Taiwu's fighting ability.

Soon, Seo Do-cheol, played by Hwang Jung-min, was defeated.

Just as Kang Jae-hoon was about to leave, his wrists were suddenly handcuffed together.

"I'm really speechless."

The gold-rimmed glasses were gone, but Zhao Taiwu's inherent arrogance remained undiminished.
"Hey, sir, do you know who my grandfather is?"

He squatted down and patted Huang Zhengmin, whose face was bruised and swollen, and said arrogantly:
"This country is finished without us."

Huang Zhengmin didn't reply, but just gripped the handcuffs tightly.

The siren sounds from far to near.

The flashing red and blue police lights illuminated the two men's faces in shifting light and shadow.

"..."

"Cut!"

Ryu Seung-wan's voice came through the loudspeaker:
"Pass!"

The set erupted in enthusiastic applause.

The staff rushed over and quickly unlocked the handcuffs from the two people.

The script supervisor walked over with the wrap-up sign: "Kang Jae-hoon-ssi, congratulations on wrapping up filming!"

It was written on the board—

[Jo Tae-oh wraps up filming for "Veteran"]

【2014.5.7 05:27】

Kang Jae-hoon took the marker and solemnly wrote his name in the signature column.

As he turned around.

I noticed that the entire crew was applauding.

The lighting technician turned off the glaring filming lights.

"Give."

The stagehand handed over another bouquet of flowers, which Kang Jae-hoon mechanically accepted.

The moment the flash went off, he instinctively gave a cold laugh reminiscent of Zhao Taiwu.

The photographer quickly waved his hand:
"Actor Jiang, smile!"

"You are Kang Jae-hoon now, not Cho Tae-oh!"

Kang Jae-hoon blinked, trying to move his facial muscles.

But that familiar, kind smile...

(Where did you go?)
In the end, he could only manage a weak twitch of his lips.

The photo captures a strange expression that falls somewhere between Kang Jae-hoon's and Cho Tae-oh's.

"Jaehoon."

Hwang Jung-min patted his shoulder with his blood-stained hands:

"Filming has wrapped."

Kang Jae-hoon turned and stared at Hwang Jung-min for a few seconds before suddenly hugging him and bursting into tears.

It's not acting.

It's all the emotions that have been building up over the past four months—

Zhao Taiwu's sinister, violent, and manic nature.
Now I can finally be completely released.

Hwang Jung-min let him cry until his shoulder was soaked, then turned and made a gesture to Yoo Seung-wan.

The director understood and quietly signaled to the cameraman to continue filming.

On the monitor—

In the dim light of dawn, a "policeman" covered in blood embraces a "tycoon," a scene both absurd and heartwarming.

This is the best wrap-up shot.

(End of this chapter)