A Genius Director Who Dominates OTT Platforms - Chapter 11
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Genius Director Who Dominates OTT
Episode 11
Action 2. Holding a Ritual for Failure
【D.P】, an actors management company, is a company that has a diverse pool of actors.
A supporting cast cash cow lineup that fits any work and shoots 2-3 works every year.
A rookie actor lineup that gained recognition for acting skills and looks in the independent film scene and challenges to become rising stars of Chungmuro.
Even a premium actor lineup that carefully selects works, but whose name alone makes investors line up.
They really had a diverse and large number of actors.
But even so, if you asked who the pillars of 【D.P】 were, there were exactly three people.
Seo Jae-yeon, the only actress in her 20s capable of being a Chungmuro leading lady.
Choi Jae-hyeok, a Hallyu star who recorded mega hits in every work he appeared in.
Kim Ra-un, the most trendy star whose every outfit is analyzed in detail.
It was an absurd lineup that these three belonged to the same company.
But thinking of them only as actors and not stars, Kim Ra-un’s name value was lower compared to Seo Jae-yeon and Choi Jae-hyeok.
Among the three, he shined the most as a star, but felt slightly lacking as an actor?
That was Kim Ra-un’s complex and deficiency…
“What is this?”
After returning from an advertising shoot in Paris, he discovered an amazing script at the company.
With the title 【Accomplices】 stamped on it.
* * *
Go Sang-uk, the team leader of Actor Team 1, tilted his head as he entered the office.
It was because Kim Ra-un was sitting in his chair, frantically reading a script.
“What are you doing.”
“Oh, Go Team Leader.”
“Didn’t you come back from Paris yesterday? Why did you come to the company?”
“I was enduring the day because of jet lag. I have a lot of morning schedules starting next week.”
“Geez, can you even read scripts in that state?”
“I came to the company because I thought I couldn’t endure it because I was so sleepy…”
Kim Ra-un put down the script.
“What is this? I became completely awake after reading it.”
Only then did Go Team Leader realize that the script Kim Ra-un was reading was 【Accomplices】.
“You know Hyeon-u, right?”
“Dohyeon-u? Of course I know him.”
Go Team Leader slightly frowned.
“Isn’t Hyeon-u one year older than you?”
“Oh, there you go again. Hyeon-u’s mom.”
“Are you deflecting?”
“I got it. Why about Hyeon-u hyung?”
“It’s a script he’s developing. He retired from acting and joined Tivic.”
“Tivic? The OTT?”
“Yeah.”
“Ah, so Hyeon-u hyung is going around agencies with scripts?”
It wasn’t wrong, but Go Team Leader read the subtle nuance contained in those words.
The implication that if he just joined, he’d be running errands, so does the word ‘developing’ really fit?
“Did you get influenced by Director Jang too?”
“What?”
“I know Director Jang is capable, but don’t learn his habit of judging people by their rank. You know this industry – nobody knows what will happen tomorrow, right?”
“…I’m sorry.”
“I’m saying don’t do that outside, even if you can’t help saying such things at home.”
Looking at Kim Ra-un hanging his head low, he thought it was really hard to figure out his personality.
After spending 5-6 years at the same company, you get to know someone’s personal color, but Kim Ra-un was unclear.
But that didn’t mean he was sinister or scheming at all.
During active periods, when handling tough schedules while sleep-deprived, one’s true nature inevitably shows, and Kim Ra-un was a good kid.
Even his current dejection wasn’t acting or pretense.
Sure enough, Kim Ra-un tried to shake off the embarrassment by smiling and making a joke.
“Ah, really. Why do you only like Hyeon-u hyung? Since he left the company, shouldn’t you be taking care of me now?”
“You have Director Jang who likes you.”
“Director Jang is a cold city man, and you’re a warm countryside man!”
“I was born in Dobong-gu and have never left Seoul, you know?”
Kim Ra-un, who had blown away the awkwardness with a brief joke, opened his mouth with a serious attitude.
“So which role offer came in for this?”
“Child actors.”
“Child actors?”
“You probably haven’t seen it yet, but childhood scenes come out later. Adult actors will cover up to high school, but elementary and middle school doesn’t make sense.”
“…Who’s the lead?”
“Do you want the protagonist role?”
“Yes. Seriously.”
Go Team Leader fell into brief contemplation.
Kim Ra-un was a good actor and a decent person.
His personality was just a bit confusing, but he was confident he wasn’t a bad guy.
But he disliked Kim Ra-un’s manager, Director Jang.
No matter how he thought about it, Dohyeon-u’s decision to retire seemed to be because of Director Jang’s harsh words.
So if Kim Ra-un got cast, Director Jang and Dohyeon-u would have to work together…
‘If Ra-un gets cast, shouldn’t Hyeon-u be able to endure that much? His filmography would be solid from the start.’
He heard everything from Seong-tae.
How Hyeon-u became a solo CE and what responsibility he was shouldering for this work.
Go Team Leader, having reached a conclusion, opened his mouth.
“I admit the script is amazing. I was really surprised when I read it too. But there are too many risk factors.”
“What kind?”
“Rookie writer’s script, director who ruined 2 dramas directing, retired actor-turned-rookie as overall director.”
“…Hyeon-u hyung is the overall director?”
“Ridiculous, right? I found it ridiculous too. Even the production budget is tight – under 400 million per episode.”
If Kim Ra-un got cast, Tivic would probably increase the production budget, but for now he wanted to see his determination.
“Do you still want to do it?”
“I don’t care about the fee. I want to try a role where I’m truly recognized as a real actor now.”
“Then go convince Director Jang first.”
“Is it just a matter of me deciding? Isn’t there a predetermined lead?”
“There is. There is, but…”
Go Team Leader let out a deep sigh.
“It’s casting like they’re holding a ritual for failure.”
* * *
I spent a dynamic week.
Today marks exactly one month since I joined, but I don’t know how every single week is so dynamic.
In the first week, I got a contest script that was neglected after being marked by a senior.
In the second week, I experienced an unbelievable superpower.
In the third week, after twists and turns, I found Hyeon-tae from the script…
“That guy? Dohyeon-u?”
“Oh, that’s right. I can tell because he’s handsome.”
“Why is he using company money to vent his frustrations from his unknown actor days? What the hell is Senior Ju Yeong-hun thinking?”
“Hey, he might hear you.”
From the fourth week, I’ve been listening to gossip all day long.
This is all because I submitted the lead casting report.
What’s funny is that Senior Ju Yeong-hun approved it with a laugh as if it was absurd, but it got blocked from above.
“You know what? We’ve written another new chapter in Tivic’s history.”
Sung Tae-chang always says that, and lately Chae Seo-hui keeps popping up too.
Should I save her in my phone as Seo-stats-chang?
Is that a bit weird?
Then Seo-hui-stats-chang?
“What history did we originally write?”
“The first work where an assistant CE held full authority.”
“What about the newly written history?”
“The team senior gave the okay, but the finance team shot it down.”
“It hasn’t been shot down yet. It’s under review.”
“So why would they review it? It’s because even in the finance team’s eyes, it’s casting at the level of ‘Huh? Isn’t this an error? Or is it internal corruption?’ Originally, the finance team doesn’t care once a senior approves it.”
“It’s not that bad, is it? Seo-hui, you saw the camera test footage too.”
“I did. I was really shocked. The Hyeon-tae I vaguely imagined while reading the script descended with eyes, nose, and mouth fully formed.”
However, Chae Seo-hui shook her head.
“But do you cast leads based on acting ability alone? Then why can’t theater actors be protagonists?”
I know too.
That’s why company people criticize me behind my back, saying I’m venting frustrations from my unknown actor days.
But I have confidence.
My choice of Eum Seong-hyeon isn’t excessive immersion in the underdog story, nor is it vicarious satisfaction to overcome failures from my unknown actor days.
It’s simply that there’s no one who can digest the role of Hyeon-tae better than Eum Seong-hyeon.
It’s not that Eum Seong-hyeon’s acting is perfect.
He seems to have tremendous potential, but it feels like he hasn’t ripened yet?
In terms of dialogue delivery, mistakes are quite frequent too.
But after practicing together a few more times over the weekend, I completely shook off my worries about his acting.
Eum Seong-hyeon doesn’t act—he can become the character in the script.
If he can just immerse himself, he becomes 100% identical to the Hyeon-tae I saw in the script.
That said, I didn’t fail to understand Chae Seo-hui’s concerns.
Chae Seo-hui doesn’t know what level of work I’m dreaming of.
“Well, it’ll work out.”
“Is this someone else’s work?”
“I’m saying there’s no point worrying about it. I won’t change my decision.”
“Ugh, really…”
“Anyway, we need to cast supporting roles too, but we can’t proceed because we’re stuck on the lead.”
Chae Seo-hui, who had been glaring at me, spoke like a sigh.
“It’ll be decided today.”
“How do you know?”
“I overheard the finance team talking at the company cafeteria.”
As expected, Seo-stats-chang.
Should I record Hearing +10?
I was having such useless thoughts when it happened.
The company messenger dinged and a message calling me appeared.
It was a finance team meeting.
Attendees were me, Senior Ju Yeong-hun, the Finance Team Leader, and…
“The, the CEO? Our SSK CEO?”
“…It seems like it.”
“Hyeon-u. You can’t get fired. There’s rabbit-like rent and fox-like living expenses waiting at home! Go quickly and apologize for doing wrong!”
“What did I do wrong?”
I put on the suit jacket that was hanging on my chair and stood up, seeing Senior Ju Yeong-hun getting up from over there.
“Lead the way.”
When I entered the assigned meeting room with Ju Yeong-hun, we were the last ones.
The CEO and Finance Team Leader were already seated.
Looking at the reduced amount of coffee, I thought the two had already held a preliminary meeting.
“Hello. I’m Dohyeon-u, assistant CE of CL 3 Team.”
“Nice to meet you, CE Do. Please sit.”
Han Seong-hun, SSK’s CEO, whom I’d never even seen in photos, was younger than I expected.
Mid-40s? Or late 40s?
Looking at his perfectly tied necktie, spotless suit, and gleaming shoes, he seemed meticulous, but his expression was quite gentle.
“The reason I called you two here…”
Then a familiar face burst open the door and rushed into the meeting room.
“CE Chae. What are you doing so rudely?”
At Ju Yeong-hun’s scolding, Chae Seo-hui bowed her head repeatedly.
“I’m sorry. CEO, Senior. There’s a visitor looking for CE Do right now.”
“Tell them to wait. Can’t you see we’re in a meeting with the CEO?”
“The visitor must be special for you to rush in like this, right? CE Chae, was it?”
“Yes, yes. I’m Chae Seo-hui, assistant CE of CL 3 Team. I’m sorry for suddenly barging in.”
“Who came looking for CE Do?”
“Actor Kim Ra-un came with the D.P Manager.”
“Actor Kim Ra-un? What’s the purpose?”
“He says he wants the lead role in Accomplices…”
Everyone’s gaze pierced into me.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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