After all filming for Haru ended.
Han Seongtae gained a very small bit of breathing room, along with time he could use however he wanted.
There was still a little time left until the awards ceremony.
And with it being break right now.
Han Seongtae could look through the script for Rampage more comfortably.
After even printing it out, Han Seongtae sat perched on the bed and slowly skimmed the script.
With time this ample, he was almost sad that the full script hadn’t come.
‘It’s not like I can ask for more scripts, either.’
Considering he’d sent him a script that hadn’t even gone into production yet, that alone was something to be deeply grateful for, but as long as you’re human, it couldn’t be helped that you’d feel greedy and a lingering sense of regret.
[‘The One With a Thousand Faces’ urges you to hurry up and turn a page.]
[‘The One Who Lives and Dies by Speed’ smiles, saying it feels nostalgic.]
He was already reading the script for the fifth time.
And yet neither the gods of acting nor Han Seongtae showed any sign of being tired of it.
It didn’t feel like Rampage would ever get old, no matter how many times he read it.
Each time, there was something new, and every moment he spent reading the script was fun.
How enjoyable would it be to act with a script like this?
Rustle, rustle.
Days spent passing time while reading the script together with the gods of acting.
Little by little, Han Seongtae practiced the characters who appeared in the script.
He didn’t know whether he’d be able to do this work or not.
But simply having such an excellent script and only looking it over was never the right thing to do.
[‘The Founder of Jeet Kune Do’ says it seems like you need to deliver the lines with more weight.]
[‘The One With a Thousand Faces’ advises that your understanding of the role is still lacking, and that you need to analyze more precisely.]
As long as he had the gods’ help, there was no big problem practicing alone.
[‘The One Who Lives and Dies by Speed’ says the keywords of this work are “race” and “under the bridge.”]
[‘The One Who Lives and Dies by Speed’ emphasizes that you must not forget those keywords.]
Advice coming in from all sides.
Han Seongtae absorbed each piece of advice and made it his own.
That was never difficult.
Because it was what he had been doing all along since regressing.
Buzzz.
It would’ve been better if not for the vibration that broke his focus.
Han Seongtae’s face, which had briefly furrowed, immediately relaxed wide the moment he checked the name.
On the smartphone screen was the name of a companion and longtime friend.
“What’s up?”
—Hey, what are you doing?
“I was looking at a script.”
—What script? Haru filming ended.
“I’ve got another script.”
—Man, you filmed that much and you’re not tired? Get some rest.
“I’m doing it while I rest.”
—Yeah. How am I supposed to stop you? Hey, if you’ve got nothing to do, come out and let’s eat.
“I said I’m reading a script.”
—Exactly, so you’ve got nothing to do.
At Kim Minseok’s words, Han Seongtae let out a small laugh.
Yeah, if you really got down to it, it was true that he had nothing to do.
Smiling, Han Seongtae left the house and went to find Kim Minseok.
“I found a good gukbap place around here. Let’s go there.”
“Gukbap sounds good.”
(T/N: Gukbap – rice soup)
Han Seongtae and Kim Minseok decided the menu quickly and sat down at the restaurant.
While they waited for the food to come out, the two of them didn’t really talk.
They waited quietly, and even after the food came, they focused on eating for a while.
How much time passed like that?
“Hey.”
“Yeah, what.”
“They said the trailer’s coming out next month.”
“…?”
At Kim Minseok’s words, Han Seongtae tilted his head.
For a moment, he couldn’t understand what Kim Minseok meant.
“I mean Haru. They said the trailer’s going to be released early next month.”
“Where did you hear that?”
“I accidentally heard the director talking to the department head. You’ll probably hear about it too.”
“Ah.”
Come to think of it, Kim Minseok was working under Yeon Jaehun.
When it came to Haru, he could get information faster than even Jung Dusik.
“It’s faster than I expected?”
“Everything was already prepared.”
At Kim Minseok’s words, Han Seongtae nodded.
The trailer being released quickly was also good news for Han Seongtae.
Because it meant he could see the results that much sooner.
“How about you?”
“About what?”
“You said you’re going to meet Director Britton Lee. I heard it from Dusik hyung.”
“Did you? I’m just kind of looking forward to it. He’s an incredible person.”
“Just incredible? He’s insanely incredible. I’m jealous. I wanted to meet him too.”
At Kim Minseok’s words, Han Seongtae let out a small laugh.
For Kim Minseok, who had chosen to live as a director, Britton Lee was an object of admiration.
It was only natural he’d envy Han Seongtae.
“I’ll tell you about it after I go.”
Han Seongtae said with a smile, and as time passed, the time of his appointment with Britton Lee arrived.
Britton Lee was a world-famous master.
There was no way Netflix would quietly stand by and watch a meeting with someone like that.
It was a meeting place Netflix had prepared themselves.
Looking at it, Han Seongtae could once again keenly feel the value of the name Britton Lee carried.
“Long time no see, Han.”
“It really has been. You’ve been well, right?”
“I’ve been well.”
Han Seongtae exchanged warm greetings with Britton Lee.
After sitting down while talking with him, Han Seongtae turned his head to look around.
In the wide space, there were only Han Seongtae and Britton Lee.
Up until the moment they entered, staff had been with them, but.
‘Are they telling us to talk comfortably?’
He could only be grateful for Netflix’s consideration.
“You said you looked at the script.”
“Yes, it was a very good script. I couldn’t do anything but admire it the whole time.”
“I’m glad you liked it. I struggled quite a bit writing it.”
At Han Seongtae’s answer, Britton Lee smiled with satisfaction and nodded.
Watching that, Han Seongtae smiled as well.
“Could I hear a more detailed impression?”
“Of course.”
At his words, Han Seongtae nodded right away.
This was a world-famous master sitting in front of him.
There was nothing strange about appealing himself in front of someone like that.
Han Seongtae knew well what kind of conversation was best between an actor and a director.
“The element of ‘under the bridge’ in the work was really good. The way it held one person’s life inside it was so impressive.”
Slowly, Han Seongtae drew out the feelings he had while reading the script.
[‘The One Who Lives and Dies by Speed’ says Rampage is a work that’s hard to fully explain in words.]
[‘The One With a Thousand Faces’ says the road racing scenes gave strong inspiration.]
With the gods chiming in from the side one by one, Han Seongtae’s words showed no sign of ending.
“I see.”
It felt like he had been talking for nearly an hour.
Maybe because he spoke without resting, his mouth felt dry.
“I understand clearly that you liked it.”
It wasn’t just that he liked it.
A strong desire to do this work had arisen in him.
“Han.”
“Yes.”
“If it’s not too impertinent, may I ask one favor?”
“Anything.”
“I want to see your acting.”
Han Seongtae met Britton Lee’s eyes.
An odd heat had settled in Britton Lee’s gaze.
“Can you do it?”
“Of course.”
There wasn’t the slightest hesitation in Han Seongtae’s answer.
Hadn’t he even practiced beforehand.
He could act right this moment.
“Good. Then let’s go act.”
But for some reason, Britton Lee stood up from his seat.
Saying there was somewhere to go.
Britton Lee was telling Han Seongtae to come with him.
“There’s a good place for acting.”
Han Seongtae quietly followed behind him.
[‘The One Who Lives and Dies by Speed’ makes his eyes sparkle wide.]
“Wow…”
In front of Han Seongtae, there was a car.
A sports car.
And it was one of the cars that appeared in Instinctive Rush.
A car that was hard to get on the market.
“How did you…?”
“I’m the director of Instinctive Rush.”
With that one line, the explanation was enough.
Han Seongtae blankly nodded and looked at him.
“You can act right away, right?”
“…Yes, of course.”
At Britton Lee’s words, Han Seongtae snapped back to his senses and nodded.
He had been startled by the sudden sight of the car, but when it came to acting, Han Seongtae was always prepared.
Click.
After getting into the car, Han Seongtae fastened his seat belt first.
Then, he slowly looked around the interior.
The steering wheel, the instrument cluster, the stick, even the booster…
It was exactly the same as in Instinctive Rush.
“Do it comfortably.”
At Britton Lee’s words, Han Seongtae let out a light breath.
Somehow, it felt like he could do good acting.
[‘The One Who Lives and Dies by Speed’ looks at you and curls his lips into a grin.]
Han Seongtae was always prepared.
Tap, tap.
Britton Lee had his arms crossed, tapping his forearm with his finger.
Beside him, Han Seongtae held the steering wheel and took deep breaths.
Britton Lee watched him quietly.
‘What kind of acting will he show?’
He had heard a lot about Han Seongtae from Kim Cheolmin.
A genius, someone born to act, an actor from heaven…
They were all compliments about Han Seongtae, and high praise for his acting.
So he was curious.
If it was acting good enough to satisfy someone with such high standards as Kim Cheolmin, then just how good was it?
Click.
He saw Han Seongtae place his hand on the stick.
The gear dropped into first.
Han Seongtae pressed the pedal.
The car moved forward.
Britton Lee quietly watched Han Seongtae drive while acting.
Han Seongtae’s gaze was fixed completely straight ahead.
An extremely serious look.
“Huh…”
Watching that, Britton Lee couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh.
He was acting right now.
On a road that had no car, he was unfolding a race.
Britton Lee could see it.
A tremendous concentration.
‘I think I understand why he said that.’
This was definitely concentration strong enough for Kim Cheolmin to praise.
Under Britton Lee’s gaze, Han Seongtae continued acting.
Click, ka-gak.
In an instant, he raised the gear and brought his hand toward the booster.
Then he hesitated briefly and instead gripped the steering wheel tightly with both hands.
Han Seongtae didn’t blink even once.
Keeping his eyes forward, he would glance to the side or look behind through the rearview mirror.
‘This is insane.’
Each and every one of those small actions was creating a single character.
Britton Lee hadn’t told him who to act as.
But he could recognize right away what role he was acting.
That was how delicate Han Seongtae’s acting was, and how powerful his immersion was.
To the point that admiration came out just from watching.
‘I have to hold onto him, no matter what.’
Britton Lee’s gaze, as he looked at Han Seongtae, quietly flared up.
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