Episode 458 Prologue (1)



In the United States—no, across the world—the most prestigious and revered film festival is none other than the Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars.

For filmmakers, actors, and industry professionals worldwide, the Oscars represent the ultimate dream and the highest honor. With a history spanning over 70 years, simply being nominated can catapult a film or an actor into the global spotlight.

Winning? That brings an even greater level of prestige—one that cements a legacy.

The Oscars are determined through a voting system involving thousands of Academy members—industry professionals ranging from actors and directors to cinematographers and editors. The process unfolds in two key stages:

First Round:

Academy members cast their votes to determine the official nominees for each category.

Second Round:

A final round of voting decides the winners, who are then revealed at the live Academy Awards ceremony.

These Academy members are spread across the world, but the majority are based in Hollywood and the United States.

Not just any film can qualify for the Oscars. To even be considered, a film must meet specific requirements, the most basic of which is:

The film must have a theatrical release in Los Angeles for at least one week.

Beyond this, there are additional eligibility criteria, including rules about running time, distribution format, and submission deadlines.

Only those that clear these hurdles stand a chance of earning a nomination.

Historically, Korea has never won an Academy Award.

While there have been notable achievements in international film festivals, Korean representation in Hollywood remains rare. In fact, the only Korean actor currently making waves in Hollywood is Kang Woo-jin—a rising star breaking new ground.

This lack of recognition extends beyond Korea. Asian representation at the Oscars has traditionally been minimal.

However, times are changing. And with Perriot: Birth of a Villain making a bold push for Academy consideration, the industry is watching closely.

Could this be the moment that shifts history?

_

For the first time in the history of the Academy Awards, a Korean actor's name was being discussed repeatedly—and loudly.

Kang Woo-jin.

The actor who was shaking up Hollywood.

The buzz around his Academy Award potential had begun at the Cannes Film Festival, where his acceptance speech for the Best Actor Award made waves. During that moment—watched by audiences worldwide—Woo-jin boldly mentioned the Oscars as a goal, calling it his next challenge.

It was a first.

Not just for Korea, but for the global industry.

Naturally, such an audacious statement did not go unnoticed by AMPAS (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences), the organization behind the Academy Awards.

Since then, Woo-jin had continued to fan the flames, casually bringing up the Oscars in interviews, press conferences, and most recently, at the Emmy Awards, where he had claimed yet another Best Actor win. By now, his name was well-known inside AMPAS.

Inside the Academy, discussions about Woo-jin were heating up.

-"Is this the first time a Korean actor has been mentioned like this?"

-"Yes, and it's also the first time one has treated the Oscars so lightly."

-"Lightly? No, he's not dismissing it—he's openly challenging it. That's different."

The room was divided.

Some respected his ambition. Others saw him as arrogant.

-"Since Cannes, Woo-jin has acted like the Oscars are something he can just walk into."

-"I don't think he should even set foot in the Academy Awards."

-"His reputation among actors isn't great either."

-"Still, love him or hate him, he's getting more attention than anyone else this year."

There was even a more cold-blooded take:

-"At first, I thought Cannes was just a fluke, but then he won at the Emmys too. I have a feeling he'll cause trouble at the Academy Awards."

Right now, AMPAS members are watching closely.

The first round of Oscar voting had already begun, and Woo-jin's presence couldn't be ignored.

-"He has so much attention on him that it will affect how the actor-voters score him."

-"Unless his acting is absolutely explosive, I doubt he'll even get a nomination."

-"That Emmy performance... and the Perriot trailer... I have to admit, it's visually stunning."

Perriot: Birth of a Villain had yet to be released, but the judgment on Kang Woo-jin had already begun.

-"The visuals are shocking, but the acting has to surpass them."

January 11 – 'SPT Studio' – The Banquet Hall



Inside the sprawling SPT Studio, the world of Beast and the Beauty was brought to life.

At the heart of a grand banquet hall, a figure entered.

Kang Woo-jin.

Dressed in tight-fitting motion-capture gear.

*Creak.*

Hundreds of eyes locked onto him.

Director Bill Lautner sat near the monitors, headphones on, while actors—including Maria Armas—and staff from World Disney Pictures filled the massive set.

A Total silence.

Nobody laughed at Woo-jin's tight suit anymore.

Everyone was serious.

They had already learned: Once the cameras rolled, Woo-jin wasn't just an actor. He was the Beast.

That slow, deliberate gait...

The weight in his breath...

The tension in his posture, stiff yet brimming with barely-contained power...

Director Bill Lautner, peering into his monitor, muttered to himself:

"I don't even see the suit anymore."

To everyone in that room, Kang Woo-jin was no longer a man in a costume.

He was a beast, wrapped in a royal blue banquet suit.

*Thud*

Woo-jin stopped before a grand piano—a golden frame set against a pristine white background.

His expression flickered. A subtle tremor in his gaze.

["Can I allow myself to enjoy this?"]

The Beast's life was finite. A curse was draining him, erasing his existence, piece by piece.

Even as he stood in this grand hall, even as he felt Belle's warmth—he knew.

He was disappearing.

He felt anxious.

He felt restless.

Like a child afraid of the dark, he wanted to roar in frustration.

But he swallowed the emotion.

A dull breath left his lips. He had to stay composed.

Slowly, Woo-jin settled onto the piano bench.

*Creak*

Though the set was silent, in Woo-jin's mind, he could hear it—the subtle, eerie sounds of the banquet hall.

The ticking clock.

The soft clink of teacups.

The whisper of an enchanted kettle.

By now, Kang Woo-jin wasn't just acting.

His vision, his world, his reality... was 'Beauty and the Beast.'

--Silence.

Kang Woo-jin swallowed his embarrassment, forcing himself to stay composed.

It was because of her.

The woman who had appeared so suddenly, shaking the foundation of his incomplete heart.

He wanted to impress her. To ease her fears, even just a little.

No—It was more than that.

["I want to show you that I'm human."]

Even though I look like a monster now, I was once just like you. So don't be afraid.

And then—

-♬♪

A melody drifted through the vast banquet hall.

Soft at first, hesitant. The Beast's fingers moved across the piano keys, playing something gentle—something that held a whisper of the man he used to be.

And then, she appeared.

A figure in a flowing, pale-yellow gown.

Miley Cara.

No—Belle.

Her golden hair was woven into a single elegant braid as she approached him—the Beast, the man at the piano.

A small, warm smile touched her lips as she reached out, placing a delicate hand on his shoulder.

Woo-jin met her gaze for a moment during his performance but quickly looked away.

Something about it felt too vulnerable.

But Cara only smiled wider.

["It's a beautiful song."]

The cameras, mounted on cranes, captured the moment—each from a different angle. The Beast playing the piano. The Beauty watching him, a soft glow in her expression.

Woo-jin's music deepened. The chandelier above them flickered to life. One by one, the candles lining the hall ignited.

And then, she stepped forward.

Cara moved into the center of the grand ballroom, her gown flowing with each careful step.

A heartbeat later—

She began to dance.

A slow, elegant movement, her body swaying to the rhythm of the music. The soft glow of candlelight shimmered around her.

And then—She reached for him.

Kang Woo-jin—or rather, the Beast—froze as her fingers touched his. She pulled him forward, gently urging him to dance.

Awkwardly, hesitantly, he followed.

The piano fell silent, but the music in the banquet hall did not stop.

-♬♪

Cara danced freely, lost in the moment.

Woo-jin, however, was cautious.

His movements were stiff, reluctant. He was not dancing—he was simply allowing himself to be led.

And yet—

There was something fragile about the way he held her hand. As if he were afraid she would disappear.

The cameras zoomed in.

Cara's expression was clear—she was worried.

Worried that she might step on his foot.

Worried that he might pull away.

Worried that he was still afraid.

For five long minutes, they danced like this.

And as the song built toward its climax, something shifted.

Something undeniable passed between them as they met each other's eyes.

This was no longer just a performance.

Cara's clear blue eyes softened.

For the first time, she wasn't just playing as Belle.

She was being herself. And so was he.

The Beast looked at her—really looked at her. And in a quiet voice, he murmured:

["...Thank you."]

Cara tilted her head slightly.

["For what?"]

Woo-jin hesitated, then exhaled.

["For... everything."]

Cara's smile deepened.

["Thank you too."]

For a brief second, the Beast—Woo-jin—felt fear.

'What do I do with this woman who smiles at me like this?'

Happiness. A dangerous, terrifying thing.

["If everything disappears..."]

His voice was quiet, almost breaking.

["I won't be able to endure it."]

The music continued, but Cara had stopped dancing.

She stared at him for a long moment.

And then—

She embraced him.

Warm, steady, without hesitation.

["It's okay,"] she whispered.

Her arms tightened around him.

["Nothing disappears."]

At that moment—the world stopped.

The grand ballroom faded into stillness.

The cameras kept rolling. But no one moved. No one even dared to breathe.

This was more than just a performance. It was something real.

And everyone watching it knew it.

"···Cut."

The weight of the scene lingered in the air.

Director Bill Lautner slowly removed his headphones, his sharp eyes fixed on the monitor for a moment longer before finally raising a hand.

"OK."

A pause—then applause.

It began with Lautner but quickly spread. A wave of approval.

Kang Woo-jin and Miley Cara remained in place, breathing heavily, still caught in the fading remnants of their performance.

And just like that—

Filming for Beauty and the Beast had officially ended.





A Few Days Later – Columbia Studios

A dimly lit private screening room. Unlike grand Hollywood premieres, this was intimate—exclusive. A theater that could seat just about 100 people.

But its significance? Colossal.

Kang Woo-jin sat in the middle row, his cap pulled low, his expression unreadable.

On the surface, he looked calm. Indifferent.

But inside? 'Holy—Hollywood is insane.'

His thoughts raced beneath his detached demeanor.

'They just hold test screenings like this? In an actual movie theater? This is the scale we're talking about??'

Woo-jin crossed his legs casually, forcing himself to appear relaxed, but his fingers tapped lightly against his knee.

Then—

A glint in the front row caught his eye.

'Ah—bald head.'

A Columbia Studios executive sat ahead, his polished scalp gleaming under the dim lights. Surrounding him were other executives, producers, and key figures.

To his right, Choi Sung-geon, his signature ponytail swaying slightly as he shifted in his seat. His gaze was fixed ahead, serious.

To his left, Director Ahn Ga-bok, arms crossed, his wrinkled face betraying no emotion. Beside him, executive producer Nora Foster, Chris Hartnett, and the Supporting actors of Perriot.

Behind them, dozens of crew members and industry insiders.

Everyone had gathered for one reason.

To witness the birth of Hollywood's next great villain.

This was the test screening for Perriot: The Birth of a Villain.

And in mere moments, Kang Woo-jin's Joker would be unleashed upon the world for the first time.



Woo-jin rolled his eyes subtly, masking his excitement with an air of nonchalance.

His gaze flickered toward the massive screen before him.

A familiar sensation spread through his body—tension. A creeping unease settled in his chest.

'Damn. I'm actually nervous.'

It was quiet—too quiet. Was it possible to hear his own heartbeat?

Woo-jin inhaled deeply, forcing his emotions into submission.

'Relax. It's the same as every other test. Nothing new. The only difference is the scale.'

Director Ahn Ga-bok, still as stone, stole a glance at Woo-jin.

'Ridiculous. He's not even flinching. Looks like he already knows he nailed it.'

Chris Hartnett, seated nearby, did the same.

'Am I the only one nervous? This guy's just sitting there like he already owns the damn role.'

Hartnett exhaled sharply, shaking off his own anxiety.

And then—

*shooosh*

The lights in the theater dimmed.

Darkness swallowed the room.

A heartbeat later—The screen lit up.

A deep, thunderous boom echoed.

The first frame of Perriot appeared.

And just like that—the world was about to change.

_____

-["Kekekekeke! Hahahaha, hahahahaha!"]

A man's laughter boomed. The screen showed the face of Chris, or 'Robert Franklin,' who looked flustered. The back of the red-haired man's head was also displayed at the same angle. The bizarre laughter grew more intense, and the classical music that had been quietly playing gradually became louder.

-♬♪

Classical music played in the common restaurant, and a different face appeared on the screen that had been showing the mysterious-looking reporter, 'Robert Franklin.'

-["Hehehehe, hahahaha, kekeke!"]

Wet, flowing red hair. A pale face. Torn red lips. A red jacket and pants. Mismatched socks.

It was the 'Joker,' laughing without mercy.

Reporter 'Robert Franklin' hesitantly asked him:

-["······Why are you laughing all of a sudden?"]

The 'Joker,' or Kang Woo-jin, waved his hand dismissively.

-["Kekekeke, sorry, sorry, buddy."]

This time, the camera angle shifted to a front bust shot of the 'Joker.' He continued laughing while taking a long drag on his cigarette.

He looked crazy.

But with that laughter, he didn't just look crazy—he looked like a monster.

The 'Joker' raised his index finger, pointing upward.

-["There's a memory lingering in this song. It reminded me of that time."]

In an instant, the screen changed to a different scene.

A black-and-white frame.

Inside a pizza place covered in flour. A large chunk of meat lying on the floor. With a red liquid surrounding it.

And then—

-["······"]

'Henry Gordon' drawing a smiling mouth, torn apart by the liquid. The classical music playing in the background was the same song from the restaurant earlier.

-♬♪

The music swelled. The theater felt like it was about to shake apart.

Then—

The screen faded to black.

And in the center of the darkness, white text appeared.

–[ 'Perriot' ]

The title had a rough, raw texture to it. Below it, the subtitle emerged.

– ['Birth of a Villain' ]

By now, all the foreigners gathered in the theater—

'······This is crazy.'

—couldn't help but fall in love with the 'Joker.'