A Genius Director Who Dominates OTT Platforms - Chapter 14

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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 14

* * *

When I arrived at work in the morning, suddenly everything was moving at breakneck speed.

The casting budget was approved along with the Finance Team’s OK, and Eum Seong-hyeon’s lead casting also passed.

Of course, the official document didn’t say something like ‘We hereby permit rookie actor Eum Seong-hyeon’s lead casting.’

But there was content about being able to support static and dynamic acting education for the lead actor upon the CE’s request when necessary.

If this wasn’t about Eum Seong-hyeon, then what else could it be?

Moreover, there were also instructions for the supervising CE to directly handle supporting actor casting, considering the lead actor’s situation.

It was right to view Eum Seong-hyeon’s casting as officially approved.

“…Hyeon-woo.”

“Yes.”

“Tell me honestly. You’re from a chaebol family, right? Undercover to inherit an entertainment company?”

“Was it that obvious?”

“No, but you’re too much of a one-suit gentleman for that…”

Suddenly attacking my weakness?

“Is even that part of your commoner cosplay?”

It was such a radical development that Chae Seo-hui was spouting nonsense and even considering searching for chaebol families with the surname Do.

For reference, the per-episode fee SSK set for Eum Seong-hyeon was 5 million won.

It was truly an ambiguous amount.

By Tivic standards, when a complete rookie appears as a minor supporting role in OTT, they receive 300,000 to 800,000 won per filming day.

For significant supporting roles, they make per-episode contracts instead of per filming day, which can go up to 1.5 to 2.5 million.

Well, if it’s someone a major agency is specially managing to develop into a star, it would depend on negotiations.

But this is the story for supporting roles.

Since there are no cases of complete rookies playing protagonists, Eum Seong-hyeon’s fee became the industry standard for ‘when a complete rookie is the protagonist.’

I’m not sure if another case like Eum Seong-hyeon will come up again.

‘It’s a bit disappointing though.’

Personally, I thought since he’s the protagonist and has a lot of filming, we could have gotten him up to 8 million…

5 million for 8 episodes is 40 million.

The supporting actors’ fees probably won’t deviate much from this range either.

Normally there’s a price difference between leads and supporting roles, but Eum Seong-hyeon’s case is special.

It seems like we’ll probably write the third record in Tivic history.

As the lowest-fee production.

“Whatever the case, this is happening…”

“The expression ‘whatever the case’ is a bit grating.”

“Now you’ll be casting supporting actors, right?”

Is it just my imagination that Chae Seo-hui has been saying only what she wants to say lately?

“Yes. I’ll move on it right away. CE Chae, could you look for an Art Department that can be on standby?”

“Why the Art Department?”

Finding teams for directing, cinematography, and lighting isn’t that difficult.

Moreover, the directing team will likely be formed through Director Jeong Hee-su’s own connections, since he’s the designated director.

But the Art Department is an exception.

The Art Department, which must handle sets, props, and even special effects under the art director’s command, can be impossible to find if you’re unlucky.

Even during my acting days, I saw more than once or twice when first shoots were delayed because they couldn’t secure an Art Department.

SSK has solid connections and internal staff, so that wouldn’t happen, but wouldn’t it be better to move as quickly as possible?

Chae Seo-hui nodded after hearing my words.

“Pass. As expected from someone with an acting background, you know well?”

“Was that a test?”

“Not a test, just checking how far I need to report and support you.”

“That sounds like a test though…?”

“I’ll somehow get the Art Department within the deadline. In return, let me come along for the supporting actor casting.”

“Why?”

“Why do you think? I want to get some energy too.”

Energy?

“I get most excited when recruiting unknown actors who desperately want opportunities.”

* * *

Before recruiting supporting actors, we first met with the writers.

Separate from receiving full authority over casting, I needed to tell them who was cast as the protagonist.

I thought there might be some friction.

No matter how detached they are about casting, Eum Seong-hyeon would likely be too unexpected.

But…

“We don’t mind.”

The writers’ reaction after hearing a detailed explanation of the circumstances was very cool.

Cool enough that I found myself asking back.

“Why?”

“CE Do chose him, right? Even when the company opposed it? Even when actor Kim Ra-un came by?”

I didn’t need to mention Kim Ra-un, but I brought it up first since I thought the writers might feel bad if they heard the casting behind-the-scenes through rumors.

“Yes. I chose Eum Seong-hyeon.”

“Then well, he must be a good actor.”

“We know how much effort you’ve put into our work, so you wouldn’t bring us terrible casting.”

Uh…

I’m grateful, but is it okay to trust me this much?

“And I actually like it. That the protagonist is a complete rookie.”

“Me too. It feels kind of special.”

“Then should you at least see the camera test footage…”

“I’m fine. I want to see the footage for the first time when it’s complete. Sang-hoon, you can watch if you want.”

“I’ll watch it live too.”

“Where’s the live broadcast on OTT?”

“Ah, don’t nitpick my words.”

That was the end of it.

After that, we just chatted about trivial things with the writers before leaving.

“Hyeon-woo. What exactly did you do?”

“What do you mean?”

“No, it’s my first time seeing writers like a director this much.”

“It’s not that I did anything, it’s because both of them have such good personalities.”

“That’s not it. They’re not the type to complain about trivial things, but they should have director-phobia.”

“Director-phobia?”

“You know the history of ‘Accomplice.’ How many versions are there? And how many revision notes per version.”

Right.

Going through that process, they couldn’t like directors even if they wanted to.

But why me?

Is it because of the ideas I proposed?

Anyway, successfully getting the writers’ approval without problems was something to be happy about.

Now that I’d crossed the big mountain…or what I thought was a big mountain but turned out to be a small hill, it was time to proceed with full-scale supporting actor casting.

“Where are we going?”

“Happy Home Entertainment first.”

“The appointment is set, right?”

“Of course.”

* * *

“That bastard kid, he’s not with our company anymore…!”

From his expression, it seemed like he wanted to shout, “Don’t come here for useless reasons.”

But the power of a Tivic business card was strong.

“…Please contact this number directly.”

Well, Happy Home Entertainment isn’t that big of an agency after all.

They probably didn’t want to leave a bad impression on OTT staff.

“Thank you.”

“But are you trying to cast Jojo-yeon? We have many good actors at our company too.”

“We’re just lightly considering her because her image fits. I just wanted to see her face once.”

“Then the role is for someone in their 30s, right? Our company’s 30s actor lineup is no less impressive compared to major agencies…”

I chatted with a smile as the Happy Home team leader continuously promoted their actors and shoved profiles at me.

All I wanted was actor So Jeong-hun, but I didn’t bother saying that.

Even when your cousin buys land, your stomach hurts, so if they knew that an actor whose contract was terminated was the target for the script’s second role, their stomach would hurt a lot.

While having a conversation in such a smooth atmosphere, I casually brought it up like small talk.

“By the way, did actor So Jeong-hun move to another company?”

“As if. Who would pay a signing fee to take such an ambiguous actor? We only kept him because we’d had him since his rookie days.”

“Then…?”

“He said he’s quitting acting.”

From my long experience as an unknown actor, I could guess the hidden situation in the Happy Home team leader’s words.

There’s no way he’d be this angry just because someone quit acting.

Happy Home definitely proposed something to So Jeong-hun, and he rejected it.

It was likely a reenactment actor or erotic actor role, or maybe some cheap YouTube content.

Whatever it was, they definitely forced him into a role that would prevent him from growing as a normal actor once he appeared in it.

D.P never did that to me, but it’s something aging unknown actors commonly experience.

“I’ll contact you.”

I left Happy Home and called actor So Jeong-hun, but it wouldn’t connect.

“He’s not answering?”

“No.”

“Then what should we do?”

“Seo-hui. Could you give me that profile we received earlier?”

As expected, the profile collecting Happy Home’s actors in their 30s also had ‘So Jeong-hun’s’ name and personal information written in it.

Since it was a batch-printed file, they probably didn’t have time to revise it yet.

“He’s affiliated with Cheongsu Theater.”

“Ah, Cheongsu. That’s in Sinchon, right?”

“Yes. Let’s go. Most actors live alone near the theater.”

So Chae Seo-hui and I took a taxi and arrived in Sinchon.

“I’ll buy some drinks, so could you go check if the theater is open first, Seo-hui?”

“Huh? We can just go together.”

“It takes 20 minutes round trip to the nearby convenience store.”

“Then you should have gotten off the taxi in front of the convenience store.”

“It’s tiring to walk up this hill. Wouldn’t it be better for just one person to go back and forth? It’s cold too.”

“Hmm, that face is cheating.”

“What is?”

“The way you show consideration as naturally as breathing?”

“It’s the greatest weapon my mother left me. Though it doesn’t seem to work on Senior Ju Yeong-hun.”

Chae Seo-hui made a strange “pahaha” laughing sound at my joke.

“I’ll go ahead. If there are staff members, I’ll get the actor’s home address too.”

“Okay.”

After sending Chae Seo-hui off, I bought plenty of drinks and snacks at the convenience store I visited.

I have good memories of when outside guests brought food during my theater days.

It’s not even my money but activity expenses, so I spent generously without holding back.

I filled both hands with that pleasant heaviness and arrived at Cheongsu Theater, but…

“I told you I retired, didn’t I?”

“W-wait a moment. Our general manager is coming!”

“No matter who comes, my decision won’t change.”

I saw Chae Seo-hui desperately trying to hold onto actor So Jeong-hun, who was frowning heavily.

That’s when Chae Seo-hui spotted me.

“Hyeon-u!”

I came to my senses and hurried over to hand him my business card, but.

“…Aren’t you actor Dohyeon-u?”

It became unnecessary.

Actor So Jeong-hun was smiling as if he was happy to see 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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