In truth, Gang Rojun had been bothered from the very beginning of the script reading for “Like a Kaleidoscope.” Of course, the Japanese actors’ acting wasn’t bad. They were actors who had made names for themselves in Japan and were called top stars, so that much was only natural.
However.
‘Should I say it’s a bit too much?’
The acting was overflowing. Not because it was good. It felt like forcing a glass of water to spill over by shaking it. That was generally how the Japanese actors’ performances felt right now. Even so, Gang Rojun had intended to let it pass in moderation.
How many people were in this reading room?
From Tom Cavill, the head of Netflix Japan, to the directing PD and so on. Even if I don’t say anything, they’ll make it an issue soon enough. And yet no one pointed out the actors’ performances.
‘Am I the only one who thinks it’s off? Why is everyone quiet?’
Really? No one’s going to do it? Then I have to.
In the end, in a reading room lined with Japanese actors, Gang Rojun stepped forward without backing down.
“That acting just now was a bit overdone. That isn’t a ‘Look at me, I’m acting!’ tone.”
The direction was delivered in remarkably fluent Japanese. Soon, silence settled over the spacious reading room.
“······”
“······”
All twenty-plus Japanese actors were looking at Gang Rojun, and the same was true for the Netflix Japan staff, including PD Noguchi Ken and General Director Tom Cavill. Team Leader Kim Gibaek, who had been watching Rojun since the start of the reading, and Team Leader Ryu Jeonghwa of Culture Drawer had shock in their eyes.
Because there had been no sign of it whatsoever, no warning at all.
On the other hand, Gang Rojun was meeting eyes with Endo Takuto, who played Detective Nagai, with a very serious expression. Inwardly, he did wonder for brief moments, Is this really okay?
‘I don’t know. I’m the writer. Let’s just go for it first.’
Rather than hesitate, he chose to decide and act.
Besides, they might be Japanese top actors in other people’s eyes, but in Gang Rojun’s eyes, they were just Japanese Person 1 or 2.
Acting? Without the learning from “AI Automation,” Gang Rojun was still lacking too. As an actor, he wasn’t skilled enough to direct other actors. But as a writer, it was possible. The ability Gang Rojun had possessed purely from the beginning. “Rental Lover,” his other works, and this “Like a Kaleidoscope” were proof.
Strictly speaking, Gang Rojun wasn’t so much taking issue with Endo Takuto’s acting ability as emphasizing the characterization of “Detective Nagai,” the role he was playing.
In any production, it was common for the writer or screenwriter to give direction.
But rookie writers were usually so happy just to have their work produced that they kept their mouths shut. Rojun wasn’t any different. Whether on the writing side or the acting side, in terms of career, he was still a newcomer. Regardless, Gang Rojun had gone ahead and said it plainly, and Endo Takuto, the male lead of “Like a Kaleidoscope,” found his brain twisting into knots.
‘······My acting is overdone?’
In his eyes, Gang Rojun was a mere fledgling, and that fledgling had openly showered him with criticism. Regardless, Gang Rojun continued his moment as a writer. He pointed to the scene just now with his index finger.
“As you know, Detective Nagai is a character who’s dissatisfied even in ordinary times, and he doesn’t like the fact that he’s in this place right now. Most importantly, he looks down on Murata Sho.”
Endo Takuto’s eyes widened, but he gave no particular answer.
“······”
Whether PD Noguchi Ken and the others were flustered or not, they did not stop Rojun. Then Gang Rojun spoke again.
“On top of that, Detective Nagai is a veteran. He knows that if he gets agitated first just because he’s briefly annoyed, the other person will look down on him. In this cut, rather than getting worked up, it’s more fitting for him to suppress or pressure Murata Sho, whom he looks down on. That’s Detective Nagai’s agitation in this cut.”
Just because the script said “agitated,” shouting outright or immediately getting angry was amateurish for an actor. If one had analyzed the script thoroughly, an interpretation based on the character was needed rather than the image a single word carried. Wouldn’t it be strange for a character who had always been detached to suddenly shriek?
An actor had to keep asking themselves, “Why?”
Only when it was honed and hardened like that would a satisfying scene come out.
“But when Detective Nagai suddenly raises his voice, it sounds like a ‘Look at me, I’m acting’ tone. Your carefree atmosphere in the beginning was good, so how about lowering the tone a little this time too and making it more of a heavy, threatening manner?”
He inserted praise between the criticism and ended with a suggestion.
Writer Rojun had an expression as if he had said everything he needed to say, while Endo Takuto was still deeply flustered by a situation he had never experienced before. Still, for the time being, he answered first.
“······Ah, yes. I’ll take that into consideration.”
“Thank you.”
Watching Rojun bow from his seat, Team Leader Kim Gibaek let out a weak chuckle without making it obvious.
‘What a masterpiece. A masterpiece, I tell you. Mm—good thing I came. You don’t get to see a spectacle like this often.’
He glanced at the “Vanguard” YouTube team filming.
‘If I had my way, I’d definitely want to use this footage—but this part will have to be scrapped. There are Endo Takuto’s fans to consider, and it could create unnecessary noise when “Vanguard” enters Japan. Anyway.’
Kim Gibaek then looked at Gang Rojun again.
‘He doesn’t hesitate to cut into Japanese top actors of that level—he does have that vibe normally too, but when he’s a writer, he’s even more merciless.’
He whispered to Ryu Jeonghwa, the Culture Drawer team leader sitting beside him.
“Is that kind of thing all right, as a writer?”
Before he knew it, the corners of her mouth had curved slightly. It felt like she was forcibly holding back a smile.
“It’s great. Totally fun. If you’re a writer, you need at least that much madness.”
This woman has a unique character too. As Team Leader Kim Gibaek murmured that inwardly, the blue-eyed General Director Tom Cavill was slowly stroking his chin.
‘Endo Takuto must feel a bit offended, but I agree with Writer Rojun’s direction too. Whew, I’d like to let all the Japanese actors hear what he just said.’
At that moment.
“I’m sorry.”
In the sunken atmosphere of the reading room, Endo Takuto’s voice spread, his face stiff as he swept his long hair back with both hands.
“PD, I’d like us to take a short break before continuing. As the writer said, I’ll think over the character once more.”
“······All right. We’ll take about a thirty-minute break.”
Soon, Endo Takuto abruptly rose from his seat.
—Swoosh.
He left the reading room.
Afterward.
The atmosphere in the reading room after Endo Takuto left was subtle. Some actors stood and whispered among themselves, while others murmured even while seated. From time to time, they glanced at Gang Rojun, who remained in his seat reading the script.
“Is this okay? The air in the reading room has gotten weird.”
“Should we go see Senior Endo? He’s already someone with a strong pride.”
“I think it’d be better not to go. It’d be like pouring oil on the fire for no reason, wouldn’t it? Anyway, Writer Rojun was unexpected.”
“Seriously. Who would’ve thought he’d give direction that sharply to Senior Endo of all people?”
“If we don’t stay sharp, we might become prey too.”
Some were stunned by his tension as a writer.
“Did you see his acting? As if he’d been acting for over a decade······”
“It was frightening, when he delivered his first line. His gaze, expression, diction, even the way he controlled the pace—are they sure ‘Rental Lover’ was his acting debut? No matter how I look at it, that was the acting skill of someone who’s filmed dozens of projects.”
“Is it possible for a writer to have acting skills like that??”
Others were impressed by his presence as an actor.
Meanwhile, Suzuki Rie, who knew Gang Rojun’s image from “Geubaekpeu,” thought,
‘He did originally have a bit of a villain image, didn’t he? But now that professionalism is mixed in······ he is kind of cool.’
Her hatred toward Rojun gradually faded.
Meanwhile, Endo Takuto, who had stormed out of the reading room, was venting his irritation inside a parked car in the parking lot.
“How insolent!! Directing me??!”
The fact that he had been chosen as prey in front of so many people made him unbearably angry, and on top of that, it angered him even more that not a single thing the fledgling Gang Rojun had said was wrong.
Perhaps it was anger directed at himself.
After tidying his disheveled long hair, Endo Takuto clenched his molars.
“Just you wait. I’ll act exactly as you directed and make your jaw drop.”
He gathered his venom-laced irritation into his eyes and head, then snapped open the script in his hand. His concentration soared more than ever before. Strangely, it had taken the form of Gang Rojun setting fire to Endo Takuto’s loosened mindset.
And so, the reading began again.
The actors and others returned to their seats, and Endo Takuto made his face calm, as if he had never been irritated. At that moment, PD Noguchi Ken, who was handling the reading and gave off a somewhat gloomy air, spoke.
“Everyone, don’t read Endo-san’s mood. As the writer said, let’s think accurately about the characters and focus on the acting.”
The atmosphere was organized at once. Soon, PD Noguchi Ken looked at Rojun.
“Please continue providing quality direction.”
For Rojun, it was welcome. Then shall I take the reins off?
“Yes, PD.”
In truth, PD Noguchi Ken had not simply been standing by and watching the actors’ performances until now. His original style was to first watch all the actors’ performances, then give direction separately based on the notes he had made.
‘But if the writer comes out like that, my style has to change too. It was clear direction as well.’
PD Noguchi Ken was someone highly regarded for his ability even within Japan, and he had also received a separate request from General Director Tom Cavill.
‘Don’t be bound by the Japanese system, and don’t rationalize conventions. Please create as much of a fresh flavor as possible.’
From that point on, the flow of the script reading for “Like a Kaleidoscope” changed drastically. First of all, Endo Takuto’s acting was completely different from before.
“Professional or whatever you are, cooperate properly with the investigation. Don’t twist and turn like a snake.”
Immediately, PD Noguchi Ken’s direction came out.
“Let’s look down on him more. Treating him like an insect would be appropriate.”
“···Understood.”
Endo Takuto immediately glared at Gang Rojun as if he were an insect, but Rojun liked it.
‘Now that’s a bit more plausible. Good, good.’
Was it because he felt more at ease? Gang Rojun’s acting ran even wilder.
“If you want a response, you should pay an equivalent price.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to do it here? If we go to the police station, I won’t be as gentlemanly as I am now.”
Thanks to the battle of nerves between the two actors, urgency and crisis settled into the hearts of the other actors as well. The reading room, which had been somewhat relaxed, grew taut.
Thirty minutes, one hour, two hours.
That tense air did not loosen even as time passed, and as the quality of the work rose in real time, General Director Tom Cavill’s expression gradually flushed. Something akin to emotion kept welling up.
‘Yes, this is what I wanted. Something proper is going to come out.’
Above all, Gang Rojun’s presence, unique and unrivaled in this reading room, grew even larger.
‘I can already see Japanese fans going absolutely wild.’
Late afternoon.
The script reading for “Like a Kaleidoscope” ended only after it had grown dark outside. Dozens of people in the reading room stood and exchanged greetings here and there. The actors were the same. Among them, Endo Takuto bowed slightly to Rojun.
“I’ll see you on the day of filming.”
Although Rojun sensed something in his eyes,
‘He’s sulking. One hundred percent sulking.’
he responded with a faint smile.
“Yes. Thank you for your hard work today.”
Soon, the GN Entertainment team and the Culture Drawer team gathered around Gang Rojun. The closing greetings took several dozen minutes. Before long, all the actors had disappeared from the once-crowded reading room, and so had the production staff of “Like a Kaleidoscope.” What remained were Gang Rojun and the Netflix Japan side.
General Director Tom Cavill stood in front of Rojun.
“Writer, you truly worked hard today.”
His expression was markedly brighter compared to the beginning.
“I should treat you to a meal, but you have to head straight back to Korea, don’t you?”
Team Leader Kim Gibaek answered in his stead in fairly fluent Japanese.
“Yes. We have to return on a night flight.”
“That’s a shame. Then I suppose we’ll have to wrap up the discussion here.”
General Director Tom Cavill looked at Gang Rojun again and asked,
“‘Vanguard’ debuts on April 5th, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Congratulations. I’ve been watching since ‘Geubaekpeu,’ so it makes me feel good as well. Mm—first, I’ll let you know what has been internally confirmed regarding ‘Like a Kaleidoscope.’ We’re thinking of taking ‘Like a Kaleidoscope’ as two seasons, five episodes and five episodes.”
It meant launching the ten episodes in total by dividing them into five episodes each.
“That will make it smoother to coordinate the actors’ schedules, and we can bring the launch date forward as much as possible.”
General Director Tom Cavill seemed to be planning a swift approach, and Gang Rojun asked back,
“When do you think my filming will be?”
“We’ll discuss carefully with GN Entertainment whether it will be before or after ‘Vanguard’s’ debut. If it’s difficult to match schedules, we’re also considering filming only Writer Rojun’s cuts first in one go. And.”
With his smile deepening, General Director Tom Cavill continued.
“‘Like a Kaleidoscope’ will also be launched on Netflix Korea.”
For Korean fans, it was extremely good news.
It was about two hours later that Gang Rojun, having finished the script reading like that, boarded the plane to Korea. As Rojun sat in his seat and reviewed what had happened today,
“Rojun-nim.”
Team Leader Kim Gibaek handed him not a script, but a bundle of papers.
“You can check it and familiarize yourself with it whenever you have time.”
They were for the confirmed “Green Rain,” “Windveil,” and “Flying Bell.”
“The other members have already received them.”
It was the music video storyboard.