I Was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor

Chapter 472

Episode 472: Announcement (Part 2)

On April 1st, Kang Woojin found himself in a massive studio set. The Universal Movies complex in Hollywood was just as grand as those owned by the other members of the 'Big Five' studios.

It truly was a place that screamed "mega-production."

Currently, the John Persona team was moving through various sets that meticulously recreated urban settings from countries like Vietnam, Russia, and Spain. This was because John Persona involved numerous international locations. Although there were plans for on-location shoots in those countries later on, most scenes were being filmed on these Hollywood sets.

At the moment, Woojin was on the set designed to resemble a major city in Russia.

“Phew—man, that action scene was intense,” Woojin thought to himself.

Surrounded by the makeup team, who were busy touching him up after an action-packed scene, Woojin took a moment to relax. Just then:

“Help yourself, everyone!!”

Doughnuts and coffee were being handed out as snacks on set. With everyone feeling peckish, the crew eagerly devoured the treats. Woojin, however, didn’t feel particularly hungry.

“I’ll just have some coffee.”

With his usual stoic expression, Woojin calmly sipped his coffee. He wasn’t intentionally trying to maintain a certain image, but after years of cultivating an air of toughness, it had become second nature to him. Foreign crew members, many of whom were seeing Woojin for the first time on this project, couldn’t help but whisper among themselves as they watched him.

“Isn’t it amazing? Woojin handled all those intense action scenes, and I didn’t see him out of breath once.”

“Right? We’re still in the early stages of filming, but the action scenes are intense, and he looks completely unbothered.”

“I heard from the stunt coordinator that Kang Woojin used to be in the special forces.”

“Oh, was that Ethan Smith who said that? I heard it too.”

“No wonder. He handled CQC in Beneficial Evil like it was second nature.”

“Yeah, seeing how he handles the action in both Beneficial Evil and John Persona so casually, it makes you wonder how tough his military training was.”

As this casual chatter spread among the crew, Danny Landis, the director, and Joseph Felton approached Woojin, along with Megan Stone, the production assistant, and Ethan Smith, the stunt coordinator. With a doughnut in hand, Danny kicked off the conversation with a smile.

“The Academy Awards nomination announcement is two days away. Do you know what time it’s happening?”

Joseph Felton, the giant of a man, answered.

“8 p.m., live-streamed on the Academy’s official social media and YouTube, like every year.”

“Hmm. Who’s doing the announcement?”

“They haven’t said yet, but it’ll probably be some of last year’s winners.”

Danny Landis nodded slowly, then turned his gaze to Woojin, who was quietly sipping his coffee.

“Where are you planning to watch the announcement?”

Woojin’s deep voice was calm and measured.

“At home, probably.”

“After filming’s done, right?”

“Yes, director.”

On the day of the announcement, Woojin only had a morning shoot. Knowing it was an important day, the John Persona team had scheduled around it. Danny Landis, adjusting his round glasses, smiled.

“How do you feel? Two days until the big results.”

Of course he was nervous—how could he not be? Woojin quickly answered in his mind, but outwardly, he maintained his composure.

“I’ve done what I can. Whatever happens, I’ll accept the result.”

It was a practiced response, preparing for the possibility that he wouldn’t get nominated. After all, he would be working with these people for several more months. Joseph, however, misread Woojin’s calm demeanor and made an assumption.

“…You seem pretty confident. It doesn’t look like you’re even considering the possibility of not being nominated.”

Wait, what? Woojin felt a little frustrated but quickly masked it. He was used to dealing with these kinds of misconceptions.

“Well, being nominated would definitely be nice.”

At this point, Ethan Smith, who had worked with Woojin on Beneficial Evil, chimed in with enthusiasm.

“Haha! It’s unbelievable! Just four years into your career, and you’re a frontrunner for the Best Actor Oscar! It’s insane to witness this.”

Megan Stone, the production assistant with short brown hair, jumped in next.

“Winning at Cannes and the Emmys was already record-breaking, but if you make it to the Oscars—my God, this record will stand for decades.”

Their conversation mirrored what many in Hollywood were already discussing. Kang Woojin was considered a strong contender for Best Actor at this year’s Academy Awards. If he were to be officially nominated, it would mean he had gone from Cannes to the Emmys and now the Oscars in one straight line. Danny Landis, the influential Hollywood director, placed a hand on Woojin’s shoulder, his smile growing wider.

“The world’s attention is definitely on you, Woojin.”

Meanwhile, in a vast conference room, a group of people sat in a very serious atmosphere. It was no surprise. These individuals were the members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), preparing for the highly anticipated announcement of the official Academy Award nominees in just two days.

In front of them were tablets displaying the results and information gathered from the roughly ten thousand Academy members worldwide. This included evaluations of the year’s standout films and performances. Though the official announcement was still two days away, the confirmed list of nominees was already in their hands.

As some of them reviewed the data on their tablets, a few couldn’t help but express their amazement.

“Haha, I didn’t expect these results.”

“Is this for real?”

“Incredible.”

Among them, an elderly woman in her 60s looked at the final five confirmed nominees for Best Actor with a curious smile.

“This year’s Academy Awards will be one for the history books.”

The Academy Awards nominee announcement, the dream stage for filmmakers worldwide, was just two days away, and the excitement was building across Hollywood and beyond.

?LA TIMES: Two days until the official Academy Award nominee announcement—this year’s Oscars are hotter than ever!?

Both on April 1st and the following day, April 2nd:

?BBX: Experts predict the Oscar nominees: “If The Clown and Kang Woojin are included, it’s a sign the Academy is evolving.”?

Back in Korea, excitement had reached a fever pitch. It was no wonder, given that:

?[StarTalk]: Can the Emmy miracle continue to the Oscars? The whole nation is cheering.?

?“I’m definitely watching the live nominee announcement!” Thanks to Kang Woojin, Koreans are captivated by the Oscars.?

For the first time in history, a Korean, or more accurately, an Asian actor, was on the verge of being nominated for the Academy Awards. Normally, the announcement would have passed by unnoticed, but this time, with Kang Woojin in the spotlight, Korean media and the public were paying intense attention.

In fact, Woojin’s influence had spread to Japan and other parts of Asia, where the reaction was similarly fervent.

As the final hours of April 2nd melted away, morning arrived on April 3rd in Los Angeles. Despite his heart pounding in his chest, Kang Woojin kept his nerves in check.

“Action!”

Early in the morning, filming for John Persona began. The day’s shoot wrapped up around 2 p.m., and as Woojin left the set, he was showered with encouragement from Danny Landis, Joseph Felton, and the rest of the crew. Though Woojin appeared composed as he accepted their support, the tension inside him was only growing.

“Wow—this is way more nerve-wracking than the Emmys!”

Sure, the Emmys were prestigious, often referred to as the Oscars of television, but in terms of global recognition and impact, the Oscars were the pinnacle. Even before becoming an actor, Woojin had known about the Academy Awards, so the growing anxiety was only natural.

“The Oscars feel like the final boss of a dungeon, don’t they?”

Just getting into the room with the final boss would be a massive achievement for Woojin. Later that afternoon, around 4 p.m., his house in LA was filled with people. In his casual gray hoodie, Woojin welcomed a gathering of over twenty people, including his manager Choi Sung-gun, his team, and staff from BW Entertainment’s overseas branch. And standing right next to Woojin was a familiar figure.

None other than Miley Cara.

As Woojin’s girlfriend, there was no way she would miss this potentially miraculous moment. Cara had even rearranged her schedule a week in advance to make sure she could be there. With more than twenty people gathered at Woojin’s house, he couldn’t help but think to himself.

“This is just making me more nervous! Come on, stay calm.”

Although his living room had turned into a party venue, Woojin was busy practicing mind control to keep his nerves in check. Soon, everyone gathered in front of the big TV as the live stream was set up. The table was piled with snacks and beer, and though they passed the time chatting, the clock struck 7 p.m.

Only one hour remained until the official Academy Award nominee announcement.

That hour passed in a flash. Before they knew it, the screen showed an empty stage at the Dolby Theatre, where the Academy Awards were held every year. Two large chairs were positioned in front of the giant Oscar trophy statue, which stood next to an equally massive screen.

• Swish.

The camera captured two individuals entering the shot: an older man and a charismatic woman, both well-known in Hollywood, who had won Academy Awards the previous year. As they appeared holding cue cards, everyone in Woojin’s living room erupted in excitement.

“Oh, oh! It’s starting!!”

“Wow—this feels different, doesn’t it? The weight of the Oscars is undeniable!”

“Right??! It’s got this premium vibe!”

“They better read Woojin oppa’s name!!”

Most eyes, including those of Choi Sung-gun and Miley Cara, turned toward Woojin, who stood in front of the TV. His expression remained as stoic as ever. Everyone was anxious, but Woojin looked completely unfazed.

“He’s got nerves of steel! How is he so calm about this??”

That wasn’t the case at all. Woojin’s heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might explode, and his palms were sweating.

“Oh my God, wait! My hands are soaked!”

Meanwhile, the speakers on the live stream began to speak.

• ["Hello, everyone. We're thrilled to bring you the news you’ve all been waiting for."]

• ["Yes, it’s a real honor to be here again. It feels like that glory is still lingering from last year."]

The director and actress hosting the event began with pleasantries.

• ["We’ll begin with the nominees for Best Costume Design. Five talented individuals have been nominated."]

The first category announced was Best Costume Design. Woojin swallowed nervously, doing his best not to show it. Of course, he wasn’t the only one feeling the tension. In the large conference room at Columbia Studios, executives, costume designer Nora Foster, and director Anga Bok were all watching the screen intently.

Please, let it be called. Please let The Clown be called.

Then, it happened. The actress reading the nominees for Best Costume Design said the final name.

• ["And the last nominee for Best Costume Design is Laura Cole for The Clown: Birth of a Villain."]

The Clown was called—right from the very first category. In that moment, the woman with her hair tied up in the Columbia Studios conference room shot up from her seat.

“It’s me! I got nominated!!”

Cheers and applause filled the room. Even though it was only for Best Costume Design, it was still a huge relief to have The Clown called at the Academy Awards. As he clapped, Anga Bok thought to himself.

“Best Costume Design—it must be because of the Joker’s outfits. If that’s the case... there might be more to come.”

The Clown was only just getting started.

The news spread quickly across Hollywood. Filming was momentarily paused on the set of John Persona, and the crew of Guest also celebrated. Hollywood’s elite and hundreds of staff members were holding their breath.

That same excitement filled Korea.

With the time difference, it was already past noon in Korea, and prayers were pouring in from all corners of the country. People in buses, subways, taxis, cafes, restaurants, and convenience stores were glued to their phones or laptops, watching the live stream of the nominee announcement.

People like Kang Woojin’s family—his parents, Kang Woochul and Seo Hyun-mi, and his sister, Kang Hyun-ah—were sitting in front of the TV, anxiously watching.

“Please—please!! Please!!!!”

“Ah! Dad! You scared me!!”

“…Dear God, Buddha, teachers, CEOs, aliens—whoever’s out there, please let Woojin’s name be called.”

“Uh, Mom? Some of those aren’t gods. But anyway, ah! I’m so nervous!”

Top Korean stars like Hong Hye-yeon, Ryu Jung-min, Jin Jae-joon, and Hwaryin were no different. Each in their own space, they were glued to their phones, holding their breath as they watched the live stream. The tension in the air was palpable as the director on screen announced the next category.

• ["Next is the Best Actress category. We have some truly incredible nominees here."]

The presenter began listing names of well-known Hollywood actresses. Woojin, along with Miley Cara and everyone else gathered at his home in LA, was completely focused on the TV.

“...”

“...”

Choi Sung-gun and the dozens of others were also silent, hands clasped as they nervously waited for the announcement.

Then it happened.

• ["And now, for Best Actor. Wow! We’ve got some amazing talent in this category."]

The actress on the live stream, ready to announce one of the main events of the Oscars, began reading the official nominees for Best Actor.

• ["There are five nominees in total. Congratulations to all of them. Let’s begin. David Ross, Ryan Chapin, Thomas Bosman, James Resner."]

She was listing well-known English names when, suddenly—

• Swish.

Smiling, she looked up from her cue card and announced the final nominee for Best Actor.

• ["And Kang Woojin."]

For a moment, Woojin muttered to himself, barely audibly.

“...Holy crap, it actually happened.”