Ch.248Fatal Publicity

Times have changed.

Japanese films don’t necessarily need to be shot in Japan anymore.

Advanced CG technology has removed location constraints.

But.

“…You’re building a set? A village?”

“Yes, so it might take a little time.”

Director Kiryu seemed to have no intention of doing otherwise.

“We don’t need such a large area. Just… building a few structures on some vacant land would be fine.”

“No, that’s….”

I was at a loss for words.

While directors typically make all these decisions,

the scale of building an entire village just to shoot a film was incredibly unfamiliar.

‘Wait, is this similar to learning stunt flying and bringing in an airplane for action scenes?’

Even so, would that compare to the scale of a village?

While I was genuinely surprised,

“It’s not really a village in the way you’re thinking. It’s just a very large set.”

Originally, he had planned to build it in Japan, but…

Director Kiryu continued with a hint of regret.

“If the movie becomes a hit, imagine how many people would visit the Musashi filming location!”

Especially since he plans to submit it to Cannes.

Looking genuinely frustrated,

Director Kiryu thumped his chest a couple of times and then shrugged.

“Without courage, one cannot pursue great endeavors, I suppose.”

Saying this, Director Kiryu handed me the script.

“What I gave you before was, as you know, just the beginning portion.”

“Yes, I’ve been waiting for the rest. Haha.”

“I apologize. I originally intended to give it to you right away, but when I heard Donghu would be playing Musashi, I had a lot to think about.”

“Thoughts?”

“Yes, with you being Donghu… you’ll show something beyond what I’ve expressed in writing.”

With those words, Director Kiryu added that this script was the final completed version.

Without hesitation, I immersed myself in the script.

The world changes.

Why he didn’t mention the name at first.

And why this film is titled <Musashi>.

In what others would see as a fleeting moment, I experienced it all.

A world of blood and swords.

The resolve to walk the path of carnage and the terror of killing and being killed.

The times of running away and memories most strongly tied to when I was at my weakest.

All of these things, as if directly experienced,

are engraved on my skin and soul.

And what should naturally follow…

‘…There’s no message from Sims?’

There was no talent application download.

This was the same strangeness I felt before.

Usually, after immersion, something corresponding should appear.

There was only one case when this didn’t happen.

‘When my talent is already more overwhelming than what’s in the script.’

So Sims was implicitly saying,

‘You can already use Niten Ichi-ryū in your current state.’

Seriously?

I was taken aback.

Of course, I had acquired many sword-related talents.

But I thought the talent in the <Musashi> script was different from those.

Because while others were somewhat historically based,

‘This is quite different from that.’

In the case of <Musashi>, it incorporated many creative elements,

such as oral traditions and rumors.

‘Well, I’ll have to try it out.’

If Sims believed in me, who was I to doubt?

It was time to put everything I’d learned to good use and perform a sword dance.

“Director, could I have two swords to practice with for a moment?”

“Oh, oh! Did something come to mind as soon as you read the script? A flash of inspiration?!”

“Yes, what?”

“Just like during Traitor: The Root of Corruption!”

I had only made a casual request.

Why was his response so enthusiastic?

Even as I was thinking this,

Director Kiryu suddenly started moving things forward.

“The very first… showing Niten Ichi-ryū… at the end of that battle, alone… a scene of refining swordsmanship alone! That kind of feeling, right?!”

Of course not.

I had just mentioned it to get a feel for things while reading the script.

But.

‘Why are his eyes sparkling like that? I can’t refuse now.’

Suddenly, things were flowing toward actual filming.

It seems he misunderstood my words.

“Yes, that’s right.”

It didn’t seem necessary to explain, so I just went with it.

After all, today’s schedule was for filming anyway.

++++++

Watching Kim Donghu warming up for the shoot,

‘As expected! As expected! I knew Donghu would be different!’

Kiryu Sota smiled brightly.

To be blunt, Kiryu Sota was a director, not a swordsman.

Honestly speaking, no matter how much research he did,

and no matter how much expert advice he received based on that research,

and even after completing the script that way,

‘In front of a real expert, it’s just child’s play.’

It was unreasonable to expect him to fully direct sword performance.

And finding someone to instruct swordsmanship? That was laughable too.

Who could incorporate Niten Ichi-ryū into acting to such a degree?

Especially in the 21st century.

That’s why the actor’s role was so crucial.

And sure enough,

‘As soon as he saw the script, he immediately wanted to perform the swordsmanship…!’

Indeed, only Kim Donghu could handle Musashi.

With that thought, he quickly finished the filming preparations.

It wasn’t difficult.

Just set up green screens around, and that’s it.

On a completely blank white canvas, only the actor holds the brush.

It’s a place where the actor’s abilities are 100% tested.

But even in that situation,

‘He’s unwavering.’

Kim Donghu standing in front of the camera was extremely composed.

Despite standing in the position of performing Musashi for the first time,

there was no sign of nervousness.

“How did I do it back then?”

Japanese naturally slipped out,

and with that, Kim Donghu took his first step.

At first glance, it seemed like a very ordinary movement.

But simultaneously, two swords moved differently.

“…Did I do it like this?”

Though they were clearly blunt wooden swords,

as soon as Kim Donghu gripped and swung them, they looked like real blades.

In a peaceful everyday scene,

quiet violence coils itself around this land.

That’s how Kiryu Sota described the current situation.

At that moment, Kim Donghu moved slowly.

Dancing with two wooden swords,

thinking of them as brushes, painting in the air,

“What matters is not form and style.”

He slowly recites.

“What remains in the end are practicality and courage.”

It’s a world of killing and being killed after all.

What’s needed there isn’t spirit or courage.

It’s the means to decisively kill the opponent.

Only that determines victory and defeat and grants the reward of continued life.

“Lighter, sharper.”

The short sword in his left hand is a snake.

The long sword in his right hand is a bull.

Draw attention with the bull, kill with the snake.

But most die by the bull.

Because foolishly, everyone is still bound by form.

Kim Donghu, no, Musashi dances.

Exactly as written in the script.

No, something even more emerges.

In this situation where everyone is in awe,

Whirrrrr.

No one noticed that another camera was secretly recording.

++++++

Where does the leak come from?

‘Got it! Got it!’

Of course, it exists internally.

No, that’s not true.

Everyone is trustworthy.

But that doesn’t change the fact.

Leaks start from within.

That was the case with <Musashi> as well.

‘I wonder how many requests I’ve received to make this fail.’

Public opinion in Japan about <Musashi> is still not good.

And it got even worse when Director Kiryu announced he would film in Korea.

‘Plus, Japanese heavyweight actors are joining Musashi….’

Unlike the negative public opinion, the atmosphere is flowing positively.

Naturally, no Japanese production company would like this trend.

Because they ultimately couldn’t make it themselves.

Additionally, conservative companies didn’t view it favorably either.

Of course, they wanted <Musashi> to fail.

But wait?

It doesn’t seem like it will fail if left alone.

So,

They hire someone to cause a leak.

At the very beginning, before filming has properly started.

A filming scene gets leaked? What could be more detrimental?

Actually, they wanted to stir up some controversy,

but they gave up on that approach because they didn’t dare get close to Kim Donghu.

Anyway,

Tap tap tap tap.

The spy who secretly filmed Kim Donghu’s first shooting scene,

Kota, with almost no editing,

‘Going live now.’

He uploaded the raw video directly to YouTube.

To give no time to respond.

To shock viewers immediately!

‘With this level of sabotage, they should pay me handsomely.’

+++++

The world of YouTube is infinite and vast.

Billions of videos are uploaded daily.

YouTube periodically puts these numerous videos through its algorithm.

If you’re lucky, your video rides the algorithm and gets a ton of views.

Kota’s uploaded video was like that too.

Of course, regardless of the algorithm,

people who want Musashi to fail would share it diligently.

But even faster than that, YouTube’s algorithm spread the leaked Musashi video.

But,

ㄴIsn’t that Kim Donghu?

ㄴWhat is this?

ㄴWhat’s Kim Donghu doing with two wooden swords?

ㄴWhat kind of video is this? Why is he doing this?

ㄴIs it from Traitor? No, it feels too contemporary for that.

ㄴThere’s a CG panel too… what is this?

The situation took an unexpected turn.

This was clearly Kota’s mistake.

Currently, <Musashi> had only heated up in Japan and Korea.

Other regions still had no news about it.

Meaning they had zero information.

So they didn’t know what the controversy was or what was controversial.

In such a situation, suddenly a video of Kim Donghu swinging swords appears?

Rather than being a critical leak,

ㄴSo what is this exactly? Is it being released? Is it a movie?

ㄴI don’t know what it is, but if Kim Donghu is in it… I definitely want to see it.

It was closer to critical promotion.