Chapter 18: Plot Twist (3)
Translator: Dreamscribe
“...Grade A or even top-tier? For ‘Exorcism’?”
The employee, with an expression suggesting difficulty understanding, responded. In contrast, bulldog-like CEO Seo Gu-seob had a confident look in his eyes.
“If not, it doesn’t make sense, does it? Originally, ‘Exorcism’ was trash that had been drifting for over 2 years after completion, wasn’t it?”
“Ye-yes, that’s right.”
“But we provided Jung-hyuk as the main male lead and added investment. And although it was a squeeze, even rookies, right? How many things are being sorted out at once? Can such conditions exist for a mere short film?”
“They can’t.”
“But damn, he violated the agreement, didn’t he? Even though Jung-hyuk’s past might be a bit problematic, would you question it over a short film that’s just a few millions worth in production?”
“...”
The employee glanced at Park Jung-hyuk on the five-seater sofa behind him and lowered his voice.
“Well, if they aim to win the ‘Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival’ with ‘Exorcism’... it might be a bit of a concern.”
“Who cares about that old story. The fact that they’re making such a shitty film is a grace in itself, and Jung-hyuk is a gentleman. Even worse guys go to the ‘Mise-en-scène Film Festival’ just fine.”
While exhaling smoke from his cigarette, CEO Seo Gu-seob moved towards the five-seater sofa where Park Jung-hyuk was sitting.This chapter's initial release occurred on the n0vell--Bjjn site.
“What does Director Park say? He took the rookies to Shin Dong-chun, right? Was there any sign of other actors when he went?”
“Ah-yes, yes. Except for the fact that he was in a meeting with an unknown actor, not particularly.”
“Unknown?”
“Yes. It was an unknown actor without any fame.”
At the words ‘unknown actor’, CEO Seo Gu-seob briefly clicked his tongue and reacted nonchalantly.
“Looks like he was interviewing some idiot for a minor role. We don’t need to worry about such insignificant people. Did Director Park have anything else to say?”
“No, nothing else. CEO, if an A-tier or higher actor is now on board with Director Shin Dong-chun... Shouldn’t Blue View Film Company know about it?”
“They should.”
CEO Seo Gu-seob, who agreed, tapped the armrest of the sofa with his index finger. Meanwhile, Park Jung-hyuk, who was sitting on the left with his legs crossed, chimed in.
“Did the Blue Vision Film Company secretly pull some strings? Director Shin Dong-chun has a decent network.”
Then, CEO Seo Gu-seop slapped his own thigh.
“Right. He’s worked quite a lot as a drama PD in the past, so he must have made some connections... Ah, isn’t Shin Dong-chun good friends with PD Song Man-woo?”
Park Jung-hyuk answered.
“They’re close. They are like brothers.”
“PD Song Man-woo has several top-tier connections behind him. If those two are in cahoots, it’s not surprising that they cast A-list actors in ‘Exorcism’.”
At this point, an employee cautiously added an opinion.
“I don’t think it’s a top-tier actor. There’s no merit. Even if ‘Exorcism’ goes to the ‘Mise-en-scène Film Festival’... An A-list actor is a bit too much, at best a B-list actor for a supporting role. Maybe Director Shin Dong-chun hesitated and chose a B-list actor out of fear?”
“Hmm-”
The implication was that he chose a safe B-list actor over Park Jung-hyuk, who had once caused controversy despite being a top actor.
“If it’s B-list or lower, it’s even more annoying.”
Whatever the case, for Seo Gu-seop, the CEO of GGO Entertainment, this was a very irritating situation. If it gets out in the media, they would say Park Jung-hyuk was fired comeback film.
Moreover, the comeback film was just a short film.
If it’s fortunate that the overall process was carried out very secretly. However, it didn’t change the fact that GGO Entertainment was scorned by Exorcism’s Director Shin Dong-chun.
“Ha- I feel like shit.”
The bulldog-like CEO Seo Gu-seop’s face was increasingly crumpled. He then coldly instructed the employee in front of him.
“Check around Shin Dong-chun. If an A-list actor is on board, rumors will circulate somehow. If there’s nothing, he’s taken some useless actor.”
“Understood.”
“And since he is starting all over, he’ll be looking for investors. Soften them up, especially independent, short film production companies.”
“...What kind of softening are you talking about?”
“Subtly hint that they shouldn’t invest a penny in ‘Exorcism’!”
“Ah! Understood!”
“If he doesn’t have money, he won’t even be able to make it.”
The growling CEO Seo Gu-seop turned his head towards Park Jung-hyuk on the left.
“Jung-hyuk, I’m going to give you a bunch of short film scenarios for the ‘Mise-en-scène Film Festival’, so carefully review them and select one by tomorrow.”
Park Jung-hyuk shrugged his shoulders and smiled.
“Yes, yes- but CEO, you’re going to push for me strongly this time, right?”
“Do I have to say it? I’ll definitely put my effort behind it, so you too, don’t take it lightly and act with determination. Make sure you’re at least selected better than ‘Exorcism’.”
“Eh, I have years of experience, you know.”
There was no director who could dismiss Park Jung-hyuk if they only saw his filmography. It was quite impressive, after all. Soon, CEO Seo Gu-seop scrunched up his bulldog-like face.
“I want you to crush ‘Exorcism’. This is a matter of my pride. If possible, produce a work of award-winning quality at the ‘Mise-en-scène Film Festival’.”
He spat out the words filled with intensity.
“So that that Shin Dong-chun, that little shit, hit the ground with regret.”
Afterwards.
Whether by design or by chance, the productions Kang Woojin got involved in began to pick up speed. At this point, the person who was most on edge was...
“Phew- Woojin’s also confirmed, now I need to go around the film companies first.”
Director Shin Dong-chun of ‘Exorcism’. Since he had thrown out everything that was going on, contacting the production companies was his top priority. Thanks to this, Kang Woojin’s contract was pushed back for now. They made a verbal agreement about the lead role and decided to sign a formal contract after the production company was confirmed.
On top of that, he needed investors. In other words, money.
The production company was not so much important as it was a basic requirement, and Director Shin Dong-chun needed to find investors along with contacting the production companies. There wasn’t much time until the ‘Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival’.
“If it doesn’t work out, I’ll have to somehow get the money from my connections.”
But there weren’t many who would lend a large sum of money recklessly. Especially when it’s a high-risk investment like a short film. In other words, Director Shin Dong-chun’s situation became even harder.
“They seem to have proceeded quite secretly. Anyway, put the pieces together.”
CEO Choi Sung-gun began to speculate.
“Originally, GGO Entertainment was involved. But for some reason, Director Shin Dong-chun has stopped it. In the meantime, this guy Kang Woojin appears. It feels like that bulldog from GGO Entertainment screwed up and took a hit. If there’s anyone who stinks lately in GGO Entertainment, who could it be? Park Jung-hyuk.”
“Ah.”
“It’s time to bring him back slowly. This is just my guess, but GGO must have tried to white wash Park Jung-hyuk through ‘Exorcism’, right? But it didn’t go well. The fact that Director Shin Dong-chun beat GGO in the picture scenario. Naturally, GGO Entertainment was pissed off and now they’re breathing down the necks of independent and short film production companies.”
“Breathing down their necks? What do you mean?”
“It seems GGO was also going to handle the investment. But if things fall through, Director Shin Dong-chun has to raise the money again. Do you think the pissed off GGO bulldog Seo Goo-seop will just stand still?”
Choi Sung-gun’s prediction was close to the answer. At this, Hong Hye-yeon, who had frowned, suddenly stood up.
“So you’re saying they changed the lead actor, but now they don’t have the investment money, so they can’t produce ‘Exorcism’?”
“What if that’s the case?”
“How much is the production cost?”
“Only Director Shin Dong-chun would know.”
“.........”
For some reason, Hong Hye-yeon, who had been lost in thought, mumbled into her suddenly enlightened phone.
“Brother, our bw Entertainment is also preparing for an investment project, isn’t it?”
***
Meanwhile, at the same time. In the workshop of writer Park Eun-mi.
Kang Woojin, with an emotionless expression, sat upright at the kitchen table of the writer’s office.
‘It’s a workshop, but it’s just like an apartment?’
He came at the call of PD Song Man-woo. Woojin had just arrived, and on the other side of him, PD Song Man-woo and writer Park Eun-mi were seated.
At this time.
“Woojin.”
PD Song Man-woo with a goatee smiled lightly, breaking the ice.
“Is this your first time at writer Park’s workshop?”
Kang Woojin had been controlling his mind continuously since arriving at this workshop. It was to put on a strong front and pretence. In a way, this was a battlefield. Of course, only for Kang Woojin.
‘Complacency is forbidden.’
Thanks to this, Kang Woojin’s face was composed. It was a bit excessive, and there was a subtle madness in his eyes, which he himself did not realize.
“Yes. That’s right.”
“Haha, it’s called a workshop, but it’s not different from home.”
“That seems to be the case.”
“But Woojin. Let me ask one thing before we get to the main point.”
PD Song Man-woo, with a small smile, suddenly asked Woojin.
“How did you get the ‘Exorcism’ scenario?”
Out of the blue? Given the lack of response, it seemed that writer Park Eun-mi was also aware, and something came to Kang Woojin’s mind at this point.
‘Oh, right. Come to think of it, this PD Song, this old man, he was a friend of that square-jawed director, right? It was a surprise to me that they were somehow connected.’
Well, whatever that was, it was a bother to explain in detail in this situation. There was no need to lie either. So he just answered appropriately. Compressed and condensed.
“I got it from an acquaintance.”
“Acquaintance?”
At the same time, Kang Woojin added a spoonful of arrogance.
“Is the source of procurement important?”
“Haha, no, no. Honestly, that’s just my simple question, and what I’m really curious about is why you chose ‘Exorcism’. At this timing.”
“.........”
“I heard from Director Shin Dong-chun that you had a fondness for the scenario?”
Writer Park Eun-mi chimed in at the end of the sentence.
“Our drama is also in progress, but do you have a reason to go all the way to ‘Exorcism’? Park’s role is not easy, is it? I’m a little curious why you, Woojin, would specifically seek out to do ‘Exorcism’.”
“Are you curious?”
PD Song Man-woo answered for him.
“Honestly, it’s a bit risky to gamble? It’s a short film and the current situation isn’t too great. But now, Woojin, how should I put it, you seem to be filled with too much certainty.”
It was true confidence. The basis for the judgment was the void space that Woojin alone had. The ranks of works that can be seen there. Whatever it may be, Kang Woojin chose an answer. However, an appropriate pretense and gravity are needed. It’s not great to avoid answering since he has to deal with the two giants for a long time. A long-winded answer is also ruled out.
While being chic and slightly vague.
‘Yeah, let’s go subtly. I can’t talk about the void space anyway.’
Then Kang Woojin’s mouth opened.
“It was just a feeling.”
“.........Feeling?”
“Yes. The biggest reason I chose it was the feeling.”
This should pass. Kang Woojin praised himself. On the other hand, PD Song Man-woo and writer Park Eun-mi stared at Woojin from across the table. Then, PD Song Man-woo asked with difficulty.
“Are you originally... good at feeling things, Woojin?”
“I’m somewhat that way.”
At Woojin’s confident answer, PD Song Man-woo murmured to himself.
‘Feeling. In other words, the eye or instinct for seeing a work. Hu- If ‘Exorcism’ really does well, this guy........’
It was a deep exclamation.
‘He’s already a unique monster, and he even possesses keen instincts?’
The snowball of another misconception just set off.
*****