novelburst
Chapter 458
Chapter 458
Chapter 458: Prologue (1)
Translator: NovelBin
"The Academy Awards," or "Oscars," is the most prestigious film award not only in the United States but around the world. With over 70 years of history, it represents the ultimate goal and dream stage for filmmakers globally. Just being nominated brings a tremendous amount of attention, and winning carries an honor of an even greater magnitude.
The selection process for the Oscars involves two rounds of voting by thousands of Academy members worldwide, composed of actors, directors, and industry professionals. First, members vote to select the nominees. After the nominees are announced, a second vote determines the winners, revealed at the official awards ceremony. To qualify, films must meet various criteria, with the most fundamental being a theatrical release of at least one week in Los Angeles.
Winning is rare for Asian actors, and South Korea has never had an Oscar-winning actor. Woo-jin is the only Korean actor currently active in Hollywood, and few Koreans have ever achieved recognition at the Oscars. Even for Asia as a whole, Oscar performance has been sparse.
However, since last year, a Korean actor has frequently been mentioned in relation to the Oscars: Kang Woo-jin.
Woo-jin first started being associated with the Oscars after his Best Actor win at the Cannes Film Festival, where he boldly mentioned the Oscars in his acceptance speech, which caught the world’s attention. Woo-jin’s speech was unprecedented, so it was only natural that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), the organization responsible for the Oscars, became aware of him.
Kang Woo-jin continued to mention the Oscars in subsequent press conferences, interviews, and after his recent Emmy win, making him quite famous within AMPAS.
“This is the first time a Korean actor has been mentioned this much, right?”
“Right. And it’s also unprecedented for a Korean actor to treat the Oscars this way.”
“A bit disrespectful? Maybe. But his words, from Cannes to the recent Emmy remarks, are more of a challenge.”
“True. With his rising fame, the Oscars are under more scrutiny than ever this year.”
Opinions within AMPAS varied widely on Woo-jin—some disliked him, some were neutral, and others were positive. A senior member remarked thoughtfully:
“When he first mentioned the Oscars at Cannes, I thought it was just youthful enthusiasm. But his rise since then is no joke. He even won Best Actor at the Emmys. Somehow, I feel he’s going to shake things up at this year’s Oscars.”
AMPAS members were buzzing with discussions about Woo-jin, though they knew the final decisions would depend on the votes.
“The hype surrounding Woo-jin will influence the votes from actor members. He’ll need an exceptional performance to back it up.”
“If his performance isn’t groundbreaking, he might not even make it as a nominee.”
“Looking at his Emmy-winning performance and the teasers of *Piero*, the visuals are certainly striking.”
Although *Piero: Birth of a Villain* hadn’t been released yet, discussions about Woo-jin’s performance had already begun.
---
January 11, SPT Studio
On the grand *Beauty and the Beast* set, decorated in the fantastical world of the story, Woo-jin entered the opulent ballroom, wearing his costume as the Beast.
All eyes were on him. Director Bill Roettner, Maria Armas, Disney executives, and over a hundred crew members watched in complete silence.
Under the dim lights, Woo-jin moved as the Beast with a deliberate, heavy gait, his presence immense yet restrained, as if holding back a wild, hidden power. Gone was any sense of humor about the costume. Woo-jin had fully transformed into the Beast, and the scene was nothing short of entrancing.
Woo-jin stopped in front of a grand piano, decorated in white and gold. His breaths heavy, he hesitated.
“Can I… enjoy this moment?”
As the Beast, Woo-jin’s life was ticking away. Every moment brought him closer to disappearing. His true self, his humanity, was fading bit by bit. He felt an overwhelming urge to roar, but he resisted, taking a deep breath as he sat at the piano. The quiet notes echoed through the hall.
The music, gentle yet filled with melancholy, floated through the hall. From the opposite side of the ballroom, Miley Cara, dressed as Belle, entered, her hair braided elegantly. Slowly, she approached the Beast and rested her hand on his shoulder, smiling.
“Such a beautiful melody,” she whispered.
Various cameras captured the moment from different angles. As Woo-jin continued to play, the candles in the ballroom lit up, casting a warm glow over the hall. Belle moved to the center of the ballroom, where she began to dance.
Dancing gracefully to the melody, Belle’s steps were light and airy, while Woo-jin, as the Beast, watched her with a mix of longing and admiration. At the climax of the song, their eyes met, emotions swirling in a silent connection.
“Thank you,” the Beast said quietly.
Belle tilted her head, puzzled.
“For what?”
“For… everything.”
She smiled warmly, a kindness that felt like a balm to his soul.
“I’m grateful too,” she replied.
The music reached a crescendo as they exchanged these words, and their gazes held for a moment longer. Woo-jin, as the Beast, whispered.
“If all of this disappears… I don’t think I could bear it.”
Belle, her expression soft, wrapped her arms around him.
“It won’t disappear,” she murmured. “I promise.”
With those words, the Beast and Belle stood still, frozen in a moment of quiet emotion. The set held its breath, and then:
“Cut!”
Director Bill Roettner rose, clapping, his satisfaction evident.
---
The next morning, Disney officially announced the end of filming:
“WALT DISNEY PICTURES: Filming for *Beauty and the Beast* has wrapped. It’s going to be a magical live-action adaptation.”
---
A few days later, Woo-jin was seated in a mid-sized theater with a capacity of around a hundred. But this wasn’t just any theater—it was inside Columbia Studios, specially set up for the test screening of *Piero: Birth of a Villain*. Woo-jin sat in the middle row, cap pulled low, his expression neutral.
“Wow, Hollywood sure knows how to put on a show. A test screening in a theater like this? The scale is insane.”
He glanced around and spotted familiar faces. In the front row was the bald executive from Columbia Studios, with several other executives beside him. To his right, his manager Choi Sung-geon watched the screen intently. To his left were Director Ahn Ga-bok, Executive Producer Nora Foster, and cast member Chris Hartnett.
The audience was a blend of key staff and industry figures, all gathered to witness the first screening of *Piero: Birth of a Villain*.
As the lights dimmed, Woo-jin turned his gaze to the screen, feeling a slight thrill of excitement.
“Alright, keep calm. It’s just another screening, just a bigger venue than usual.”
Director Ahn Ga-bok, observing Woo-jin, admired his calm demeanor.
“Unfazed as always. I hope he’s satisfied with my Joker.”
Chris Hartnett, catching Woo-jin’s calm expression, tried to settle his own nerves.
“He’s so composed. If he’s not nervous, I shouldn’t be either.”
Then, the theater went completely dark, and the screen flickered to life with a powerful sound.
“Hahaha… Hahaha!”
A man’s loud laughter filled the room, followed by the shocked face of Chris’s character, reporter Robert Franklin, who turned to see the back of a red-haired figure laughing maniacally.
The laughter intensified, mixing with a haunting classical tune playing in a restaurant setting. The Joker’s face slowly came into view, his dripping red hair, pale face, twisted smile, and mismatched socks creating an unsettling image as he laughed wildly.
“Why are you laughing?” asked Franklin, visibly confused.
The Joker, portrayed by Woo-jin, waved dismissively.
“Ah, sorry, friend. This song—it brings back memories.”
The screen suddenly shifted to a black-and-white image of a pizza parlor, where a body lay sprawled amidst flour and a pool of dark liquid. The same classical tune played in the background, adding a nostalgic yet eerie atmosphere.
As the music swelled, the screen faded to black, and the title appeared in bold white letters:
*Piero: Birth of a Villain*
At that moment, every person in the theater was spellbound.
They were witnessing the birth of something extraordinary.