Chapter 332: Bangkok (8)
Translator: Santos
The essence of a long take lies in breathing. The lead actor, props, supporting actors, camera, audio, and the intricately planned storyboard—all of these elements must synchronize perfectly to create a masterpiece in a single camera shot.
If even one aspect falters, it results in an NG (no good).
When the director calls “cut,” everything must be reshot from the beginning. Therefore, every condition, including the lead and supporting roles, must hinge on the storyboard. There’s no room for other thoughts. Only precise timing and clear actions are required.
If there are only a handful of characters in the long take, the difficulty is relatively low.
However, in the case of *Beneficial Evil*, there were dozens of characters involved. This made it a hellish experience for both the actors and the production crew. Despite that, the reason they couldn’t let go of the long take was simple.
*Bang bang bang bang!!*
The realism and impact of the action were intoxicating.
“Ahhhh!!!”
“!!”
“Get down!!”
The adrenaline surged with the chaos.
*Crash!*
The excitement was palpable.
*Bang bang!*
The speed and liveliness were unmatched. The camera moved in tandem with the lead actor. When he ran, the camera ran with him; when he rolled, it mirrored his movements. The perspective was indistinguishable from the lead actor's eyes. This unity significantly heightened the audience's focus.
The continuous stimulation and violence kept the viewers on edge.
Above all, the beauty of the long take is its ability to make you lose track of time.
Although more than ten minutes is not a short duration, it constitutes only a portion of the whole. However, the relentless, uninterrupted camera work maintains a connection, bombarding viewers with numerous scenes in a short span. Thus, while it feels like more than ten minutes have passed, in reality, it might be less than five.
A lot can happen in one minute.
That was the driving force behind the long take.
Moreover, if the protagonist’s skills and abilities are exceptional, the audience can’t tear their eyes away from the screen. The explosive, violent stimulation releases adrenaline, leading to excitement. The audience reacts and breathes alongside the protagonist.
*Bang bang!*
In essence, the protagonist’s extreme situation reflects onto the audience. Currently, ‘Jang Yeon-woo.’ No, Kang Woojin was embodying that. Although the audience was not present, over 200 members of the *Beneficial Evil* production crew, along with various individuals from different nationalities, were captivated by Woojin’s CQC and overwhelmed by his violence.
The Thai crew members clustered on one side felt the same.
“...I heard that actor is doing action scenes for the first time today. Did I hear that wrong?”
Dozens of Thai crew members, who had received prior information, gaped at the spectacle unfolding before them.
“There's no way. Look at that! How can you say it's his first time? He’s beyond a veteran.”
“His skills are exceptional. It looks like he’s just enjoying himself.”
“Why is this Korean actor performing CQC as well as Hollywood actors? It’s... on a different level compared to the rehearsal.”
Amidst all this, the intense gunfire echoed throughout the abandoned building. Muzzle flames flickered, and spent shells flew about. Blood splattered from various spots. It was all about ‘Jang Yeon-woo’ or Kang Woojin.
He had just entered the second-to-last room on the fifth floor.
*Clatter!*
Woojin, covered in blood, roughly ejected the spent shell from the AK47 rifle in his hands. Bodies lay strewn across the floor, all with their chests, faces, and heads shattered. He picked up one of the rifles that lay on a nearby corpse and pulled out the pistol at his waist to check the ammo.
At that moment.
“Oh.”
As he wiped the blood from his face, Woojin smiled slightly, having spotted something on the floor. There was about a ten-second window until his next move. The action he was exhibiting now was not part of the original storyboard. Thanks to this, Director Song Man-woo, sitting in front of the monitor, furrowed his brows.
*What is it? What did he see?*
Kang Woojin picked up a burning cigarette from the floor. It was one that one of the gang members had been smoking. With just five seconds left to his next move, Woojin took a long drag from the almost finished cigarette.
*Hoo—*
The thick smoke was illuminated by sunlight streaming through the broken window. The scene was vivid. The screams of the gang members echoed nearby, bodies sprawled across the floor, Kang Woojin drenched in blood, his gray short-sleeve shirt stained red, and the leisurely cigarette smoke wafting around him. The cameraman instinctively moved closer.
*Swish.*
Taking two steps, he zoomed in on Woojin's lightly smiling face.
Director Song Man-woo, watching the monitor, couldn’t help but feel chills. Leisure? How could anyone think of controlling the pace in such a tense situation? This was an action that far surpassed mere calmness. Deviating from the established storyboard was problematic. However, as long as it didn’t interfere with the next move, it was fine.
Most importantly,
*...With that single action, he’s infused a breath of life; it’s absolutely insane.*
The last five minutes had been a breath. In other words, it had been tense. With that one action, Woojin had effortlessly released the tight tension. It was a fleeting moment of relaxation. At this point, Song Man-woo discovered something else.
*This isn’t acting; he’s genuinely enjoying the slaughter.*
Kang Woojin was clearly having fun.
*Joy, madness. And satisfaction. The ease to express emotions between those. I realize once again that he’s a monster.*
Kang Woojin had further developed the ‘Jang Yeon-woo’ created by writer Choi Na-na. However, even the influential Song Man-woo had missed something. He was the director of the ‘Profiler Lazy’ project. Yet, he hadn’t recognized ‘Park Dae-ri.’ The character synthesis displayed by Kang Woojin was that sophisticated.
At that moment.
“!!!”
With a bizarre shout, the wooden door to the room where Woojin was burst open. Two masked gang members stormed in. However, with a cigarette in his mouth, Kang Woojin was already shouldering the AK47 rifle. The camera moved to follow Woojin’s predetermined timing. Then came five gunshots.
“Ugh!!”
“Ugh!”
To the temples. To the heart. Blood exploded from their bodies. Woojin spat out the cigarette. He crouched slightly, the scent of gunpowder wafting from the shouldered rifle. Cries rang out.
“Ahhh!!”
From behind, a hidden gang member charged in, swinging a long knife toward the back of Woojin’s head. Kang Woojin assessed the situation.
*Too late.*
It would be difficult to turn around and fire. He ducked. The long knife sliced through the air above his head. The knife-wielding gang member closed in on the lying Woojin. He plunged the knife downward with great force.
*Smack!*
Kang Woojin blocked the knife with the body of the AK47.
He kicked the man in the gut. The guy flew back. But—
“Ughhh!”
Two more joined from the side. Both were armed with knives. Once again, Woojin blocked their knives with the AK47. However, with the second guy’s attack, Woojin lost his grip on the rifle and rolled away. The knife hit the floor with a clang. Kang Woojin quickly got back up, his eyes darting around. He spotted chopsticks on a nearby table.
*Swish!*
The long knife came flying at him. Woojin dodged to the side and swiftly grabbed the chopsticks. He charged at the thug, delivering a sharp knee to the side. The thug let out a groan. The chopsticks lodged into his eye. The groan turned into a scream.
“Eeeek!!”
He delivered a strong low kick to the thug’s weakened leg. The thug spun around and fell over. Another loud cry echoed.
“Ahhhhh!”
The second thug raised his knife overhead and charged at Woojin. Kang Woojin smiled. The camera stepped back to capture all three in one shot. Woojin’s hand went to his waist, swiftly pulling out the Glock 17 pistol.
*Bang bang!!*
Two bullets pierced the thug’s neck and face. He crumpled like a puppet cut from its strings. With a sickening thud, the thug with the chopsticks in his eye groaned in agony. Woojin stepped over him. Of course—
*Bang!*
He smashed the thug's head effortlessly.
“Phew— phew.”
Kang Woojin’s breath was slightly ragged. There were still many gang members outside. The more weapons, the better. Woojin checked the Glock 17’s ammo. It was insufficient. He grabbed the AK47 and a short knife from the floor. Walking toward the door, the camera followed.
From here on, it was a full-on gunfight.
Woojin, pressed against the side of the door, peeked outside. Three thugs were charging in. He spotted a half-broken flower pot near his feet. *Crash.* The three rushing thugs glanced momentarily at the shattered pot in the hallway. It was something Kang Woojin had thrown.
At this moment—
*Bang bang bang!*
With the AK47 shouldered, Woojin burst forth, hitting the thugs in their chests and heads in quick succession. Blood splattered onto the stair railing. Cries erupted from the opposite hallway. Two men wearing hats fired their guns. The sound of bullets ricocheted off the walls as Woojin rolled down the stairs, the camera shakily following his movements.
On the fourth floor, Woojin aimed his AK47 upwards. Five shots.
The faces and torsos of the two men exploded, tumbling to the first-floor ground. Shards of debris flew everywhere. Just then, bullets fired from the staircase hit the adjacent wall. Kang Woojin raised his gun and fired.
*Bang bang!*
The first thug’s brain exploded, and he collapsed. But three more remained. Gunfire echoed, and Woojin rolled into the nearest room.
“!!”
The gang members yelled wildly, trying to chase him down. But—
*Swish!*
Kang Woojin came out again, lying low and exposing only his face and the barrel of his gun as he fired. At least six shots rang out. Blood splattered everywhere. The limbs of the charging thugs were sprayed with crimson.
Woojin’s eyes darted around, landing on a round object at the waist of a nearby corpse.
A grenade.
He snatched it up and hurled it toward the staircase. The thugs rushing in screamed.
“Ahhh!!”
“Grenade! Grenade!!”
In that brief moment, Kang Woojin reloaded his gun. Bullets shattered the skulls of several of the thugs. Simultaneously—
*Kaboom!!*
The grenade exploded. Heads, hands, feet, and bodies flew through the air. The area fell silent for a moment. Voices were still audible from the first floor, but they felt distant. Kang Woojin rose to his feet, first checking the ammunition in his gun. Then he scanned the room.
“Hmm?”
Five children lay unconscious. One girl and four boys. Kang Woojin gazed down at the closest girl. She had a familiar face. It was Lim Hae-eun, who had recently joined *The Good and the Evil* through a large audition.
The camera zoomed in on Woojin’s expression. There was no sympathy in his eyes. He looked at them as mere objects.
*Not her.*
He meant that she wasn’t the drug lord's daughter he was searching for. However, he logged the information. Five children were in the first room at the foot of the staircase. He might need to rescue them once things were sorted out. It wasn’t for their sake; he needed them. If they were trapped here,
*I might be able to extract valuable information.*
As if they had made a promise, the camera slowly moved out of the room and into the hallway. Following closely behind, Kang Woojin, shouldering the AK47, peeked into the corridor. He spotted some thugs approaching from the second floor.
*Bang bang bang!!*
The first thug's fingers and shoulder were blown apart.
“Eeeek!!”
The pursuing thugs hesitated. Woojin seized the moment. He fired as he ran. Roughly nine minutes had passed. The long take scene exceeding ten minutes was now nearing the car chase and explosions.
At that moment—
*Thud thud thud!*
The thugs on the second floor—Thai actors—fell like dominoes. This wasn’t a pre-agreed movement. One of them tripped, causing the others to stumble and fall.
Soon, Director Song Man-woo shouted into the megaphone.
“...Cut!! NG!”
It was an NG. Immediately, dozens of staff members rushed around Director Song Man-woo. Since it was an NG, they couldn’t use that cut. They needed to reset for a reshoot. The bearded director rose from his seat, his expression reflecting his disappointment.
*What a shame.*
But this was all anticipated. Long takes require repeated work. One minute shot, NG; two minutes shot, NG; three minutes shot, NG. Continuous reshoots. This practice leads to high-quality cuts.
In fact, pulling off more than eight minutes without a single issue was close to a miracle.
*Woojin pulled this off single-handedly.*
While the breathing of the Thai actors was fine, it was Kang Woojin’s skills and capabilities that far surpassed expectations, making it possible. The actors, who had previously collapsed like corpses, began to rise, and dozens of staff members dashed in to collect props. The makeup team gathered around Kang Woojin.
He was unfazed.
*...*
There was little change in his expression. To the Thai actors, this was quite astonishing.
“He hasn’t even taken a breath?”
“Is it possible for someone who has been rampaging for over eight minutes to look so unfazed?”
“Did you see Kang Woojin’s movements? I almost missed my timing just watching him.”
“The quality is nearly Hollywood level.”
They were wrong. Kang Woojin was currently exhilarated.
*Wow— this is insane! So much fun!! Adrenaline is surging! Ah, no. Calm down. Don’t let the concept slip away.*
Indeed, the first action long take brought a refreshing experience for Kang Woojin.
*It’s incredibly intense. I want to do it again soon.*
Looking up at him were Joseph and Megan, towering near Director Song Man-woo. Their faces broke into smiles. Though they didn’t say anything to each other, they shared the same sentiment.
*Oh my! At this level, he could easily make it in Hollywood! No, there are very few Hollywood actors with such a level!*
“The martial arts from ‘Last Kill 3’ were child’s play, right??! What on earth is this actor! How enormous is he!!”
Surrounding them, the group of foreigners, including Joseph's stunt team and executives from Universal Movies, looked completely dazed. They were frozen, questioning the reality of what they had just witnessed. Finally, one of the portly executives managed to speak up.
“How... how many minutes was that?”
The response came quickly from the towering Joseph.
“About eight minutes.”
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“...Eight minutes without a single NG? Is that even possible?”
“That guy always breaks common sense.”
The portly executive slowly raised his head to look at Kang Woojin.
“How... how is that even possible?”
Just then, a voice rang out, not from Joseph but from a tall foreign man who had been smiling. It was Ethan Smith, the stunt coordinator for *Beneficial Evil*.
“Kang Woojin, he’s a former special forces operative.”
In an instant, the eyes of the portly Universal Movies executive widened in shock.
“Special... forces?”