In film and television, there are several kinds of directors.
Direction, editing, lighting, sound, and so on.
Among them is the action director.
The one who lays out the blocking for stuntmen and actors.
The action director of War of Villains was Jeong Jae-in.
“…It feels right to finish with Mu-cheol hitting Seong-tae in the solar plexus here.”
He set the action path that Han Seong-tae and Kim Mu-cheol had to show.
[‘Founder of Jeet Kune Do’ mutters that it is a fine bit of action.]
Jeong Jae-in had plunged into the industry at eighteen and worked until age forty-three, a veteran.
Twenty-five years on the job as an instructor at Action School.
A route arranged by such a man left little room for fault.
Veterans really are different.
Watching the path Jeong Jae-in mapped, Han Seong-tae felt satisfied.
To his eyes it was perfect, lacking nothing.
[‘Founder of Jeet Kune Do’ says he still sees room for improvement.]
[‘Man of a Thousand Faces’ agrees with the Founder.]
Clearly the Gods saw differently: good, yes, but not perfect.
[‘Founder of Jeet Kune Do’ looks at you, saying it would be better to add a touch of technique for flashier action.]
Seeing the message, Han Seong-tae hesitated.
If anyone else had said that he would have dismissed it as nonsense, but—
This was a God of Acting, a giant who left an indelible mark on action. Many actors still learned from his work.
“Um… senior, I have one suggestion.”
“Sure, let’s hear it.”
When they first greeted, Kim Mu-cheol had asked if he could speak informally; Han Seong-tae had said he preferred it that way, not expecting honorifics from such a veteran. The informal tone made Mu-cheol feel friendlier.
[‘Founder of Jeet Kune Do’ says there are several moves that suit you best; choose one of them.]
Han Seong-tae repeated the line of movement the Founder proposed.
“Hmm…”
Even hearing that Han Seong-tae was new to action, Kim Mu-cheol did not brush him off. He listened seriously, mulling it over.
“I was thinking, rather than me just getting hit and falling, what about showing some give-and-take before the finish?”
“…”
“It’s only a small thought, so I hope it doesn’t sound rude.”
Han Seong-tae turned to Jeong Jae-in beside Mu-cheol. Though he matched moves with Mu-cheol, final say on the path lay with the action director. If Jeong rejected it, there was no point.
“I think it’s good. Hyung, what do you say?”
“I like it too. It has a vibe. No need for a bit part to exit instantly. Good idea—Seong-tae’s got sense.”
They admired the proposal.
[‘Founder of Jeet Kune Do’ shrugs, saying of course it is good—he designed it.]
[‘Man of a Thousand Faces’ murmurs the action now has exactly what it needs.]
[‘One Who Made Laughter From Tragedy’ says it sounds cool and he wants to see it right away.]
Watching both men and the messages, Han Seong-tae smiled. Everyone was satisfied, himself included.
“Then let’s try it this way.”
“Yes, senior.”
Jeong Jae-in added flesh to the path laid out by the God, and Han Seong-tae and Kim Mu-cheol began rehearsing.
Clack, whoosh.
Their hands intertwined, pace growing.
[‘Founder of Jeet Kune Do’ advises that if you are going to rehearse, do it as though it were real.]
Han Seong-tae agreed. The question was Kim Mu-cheol.
“Seong-tae, I think this level of practice is enough. Let’s go full out. Okay if it’s a bit harder?”
Okay?
“Fine, senior!”
Why wouldn’t it be? Real-fight rehearsal was exactly what Han Seong-tae wanted.
Seeing his answer, Kim Mu-cheol grinned.
Taking some distance, Han Seong-tae set his stance.
“Since we’re at it, let’s act too. Learned your lines?”
“I have.”
“Love the clear answer.”
Mu-cheol nodded, and Han Seong-tae focused on becoming Park Jae-hun.
“Phew…”
Letting out a long breath, he glared as Jae-hun would.
His opponent was a cop barging into his business unannounced.
Jae-hun served no master, so he took pride in his position.
To him, Kim Mu-cheol’s character was intensely annoying.
“Detective Jeong Seok-tae. Even for a detective, barging in like this is rude, isn’t it?”
One of his few lines.
Mu-cheol snorted.
“Don’t you think it’s odd for a gangster to talk about manners?”
“You should go. Even a detective’s patience has limits.”
“What if I don’t hold back?”
“Hah…”
Jeong Seok-tae stepped forward and nudged Jae-hun’s chest with his head.
Jae-hun sighed. Detective or not, further disrespect could not be tolerated.
“If you want to leave on your own two feet, stop.”
“What’re you gonna do, punk!”
Thud.
Seok-tae’s kick slammed Jae-hun’s chest.
Crash.
Rolling across the floor, Jae-hun sprang up, scowling.
“Gangster punk.”
Whoosh.
A punch flew at his face as he rose. Jae-hun twisted away and drove an elbow into Seok-tae’s solar plexus.
“Guh!”
Groaning, Seok-tae’s face contorted and he charged.
[‘Founder of Jeet Kune Do’ taps your fist, saying hit without hurting and take hits without hurting.]
As he read, Han Seong-tae felt the force in his punch ease.
Whoosh.
Whump.
His fist struck Mu-cheol’s shoulder. Mu-cheol’s eyes flashed for an instant at the blow.
Crack.
Seok-tae’s kick whipped Jae-hun’s face. Jae-hun dropped. After that, police rush in and haul away Jae-hun and his crew—one of the film’s scenes.
“Whew… hey, be straight with me. This isn’t your first time doing action, is it?”
As Han Seong-tae got up, Mu-cheol demanded.
Sixteen years.
That is how long Kim Mu-cheol had lived as an action actor.
In all that time, he had never seen anyone like Han Seong-tae.
He’d heard this was Seong-tae’s first project.
He knew a bit: orphan, Korea University drama major, discovered through a play. Everyone said this was his on-screen debut.
But this was not the work of a rookie.
He’d met many actors before; none like this. Though called a newcomer, Seong-tae carried the air of someone with ten years on set.
It wasn’t only that he acted well—there was something beyond.
“So, how is he?”
“Mm…”
Resting, Ma Seok-dong approached, gaze on Seong-tae.
“It’s ambiguous.”
“Ambiguous?”
“Yeah. He doesn’t blow your mind, but he’s not lacking either.”
Mu-cheol kept looking.
“But his effort deserves respect. His grasp of action is high. I’ll keep watching.”
“If you say that much, there must be something.”
Seok-dong hummed and stared.
While everyone else rested, Han Seong-tae practiced alone. It looked as natural as breathing.
Strange. Adapting to that training load isn’t done in a week or two.
Whoosh, whoosh.
They watched his fists.
“His punches snap nicely.”
Hearing Seok-dong mutter, Mu-cheol turned, seeing the curious smile on Seok-dong’s face.
“Take a break.”
Turning at the voice behind, Han Seong-tae saw Kim Dae-hyeon holding two half-liter water bottles.
He handed one over.
“Thanks.”
“Tired?”
Drinking, Han Seong-tae paused at the question.
“I’m fine.”
“You’re something else. I thought I trained a lot, but I can’t match you.”
He answered with an awkward laugh.
[‘Founder of Jeet Kune Do’ likes your practice volume.]
[‘One Who Defined His Era’ worries that excessive training harms the body.]
Many had commented on his effort, but no one had broken his stubbornness.
“I can do it because it’s fun. If it wasn’t, I couldn’t push this far.”
Likely true.
Thinking back, maybe he really had practiced blindly. He shook his head—now each moment was genuinely enjoyable.
“Hyung, when you have time, could you train with me?”
“…Huh?”
Dae-hyeon looked startled—he hadn’t expected that.
“We have stuff to rehearse too. Since you’re here, it’s better to practice.”
“Well, I…”
“I’m curious how it feels with you.”
Han Seong-tae took Dae-hyeon’s arm. Being led, Dae-hyeon looked like cattle to slaughter.
“After I work with you, I can match with the others.”
“Maybe start with someone else…”
“Still, since hyung came in person, we should start together.”
Was Dae-hyeon’s face really that pale?
Smiling, Han Seong-tae took his stance.
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