A Genius Director Who Dominates OTT Platforms - Chapter 2

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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 2

* * *

“Whether you’re an actor or producer, we’re all people in the showbiz industry. What’s visible is more important than anything else.”

The first Quest that Sung Tae-chang gave for Dohyeon-u, who had switched to being an office worker.

[Improve your appearance!!]

I cut my hair short and refreshingly, which I had been growing out not knowing what roles might come, and bought a suit with the gift certificate Go Team Leader gave me.

My hands were trembling since I’d never bought clothes with five or more zeros in my life, but this was my first step as a working professional.

A suit can be worn for 10 years once you buy it, right?

–

Quest. Improve appearance (Complete)

Reward: Good impression on first day of work

–

Surely if this were a proper status window, it should be like this…

Maybe it’s because it’s Sung Tae-chang instead of a status window.

“Ah, shit. What kind of parachute hire at a time like this. Hey, where did you graduate from college?”

The effect seems mediocre?

* * *

To conclude, Sung Tae-chang’s Quest wasn’t a complete failure.

“Wow, you said your name was Hyeon-u, right? Why on earth did you retire? Your face is so good-looking.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

“Our work doesn’t require certifications or degrees, so when someone who knows the field comes, they adapt quickly. This is our first time with someone from an acting background… I’m looking forward to it.”

Half were welcoming me.

“I heard he’s a high school graduate?”

“Is this place where failed actors come to find their rice bowl?”

Half looked at me with disdain.

I thought it was extremely polarized, but I soon understood the reason.

After completing the necessary paperwork for joining at the management support office, it was 12:15.

I thought I’d eat lunch alone since it was slightly past lunchtime, but my supervisor Chae Seo-hui was waiting.

“Let’s go somewhere a bit away from the company.”

At the ramen restaurant we arrived at, I could hear an explanation about the staff atmosphere.

“It’s true that we need manpower on site right away. It’s also true that we urgently need someone who knows the field well and can be deployed immediately.”

Tivic, being a latecomer, was making bold investments, and thanks to that, there was a shortage of CEs to take care of the sites.

“So all the employees in charge of sites are welcoming Dohyeon-u.”

“Ah, then the rest of the people are…”

“Yes. The managers. More specifically, those who are politically clashing with RCE Kim Sung-tae.”

“What’s RCE?”

“Regional chief executive. For the Korea region.”

Was Sung Tae-chang such a high-ranking person?

Well, from the first time I met him, he was so highly educated that I wondered why he was working as a manager.

Suddenly Seong Tae looks a bit different to me.

No wonder, even though it was a contract position, he made a spot for me too easily.

“To be a bit cold about it, Regional Chief Kim Sung-tae is a Tivic person, right?”

“That’s right.”

“We’re bound by contract, but we belong to SSK, which is a separate company?”

“Yes.”

“If Hyeon-u, who was pushed in by the regional chief, achieves results, what would the atmosphere be like? There’d be no reason for headquarters not to strengthen the regional chief’s authority, right?”

So if I do well, Seong Tae gets justification to exert influence over SSK?

“What if I do poorly?”

“SSK would gain the initiative. As long as they produce results, headquarters can’t really interfere much.”

“Then from your position as my supervisor, shouldn’t you want me to fail? Why are you telling me this?”

“Huh?”

Chae Seo-hui’s eyes widened and then she burst into laughter.

“What do I have to do with that kind of factional fighting? That’s a matter for the higher-ups.”

“Ah, then…”

“Yes. I’m just telling you this because I hope Hyeon-u will work as long as possible. We really feel like we’re dying.”

The ‘we’ she’s referring to seems to be the employees who go out to sites.

To summarize, my work gets bundled together with Seong Tae…

I snapped to attention.

If I, an orphan, had any brothers, Seong Tae would be at the top of that list.

“Thank you for telling me.”

“After lunch there’s site allocation… I think the meeting proceedings won’t be very favorable for you, Hyeon-u.”

* * *

When my joining Tivic, or rather SSK, was scheduled, I studied a bit about the organization I’d be entering.

From past to present, the most important thing in the content industry hasn’t changed.

Namely, good stories.

But stories that please everyone don’t appear easily, and those holding the money changed their minds.

Instead of finding good stories, let’s try making them.

Thus was born the Hollywood-style blockbuster that overwhelms narrative with spectacle, and drama series written by dozens of writers in teams.

This trend became even stronger in the OTT era.

So the organization that was born was Creative Line, aka the CL team.

The CL team’s hierarchy system is simple.

Everyone is a C.E (Creative Executive).

The team leader is a Senior CE.

The middle managers below Senior who manage several works are just CEs.

Those who manage individual sites according to CE orders are Assistant CEs.

Among these, my position was Assistant CE.

The full name is Assistant Creative Executive of CL Team 3.

Of course, the company isn’t filled only with CEs.

There’s also a management support team, PR team, script team that analyzes screenplays, and research team that handles data and risk.

But these people are helpers for all CL teams, and ultimately what matters is which works each CL team produces.

…That’s what ChatSeong TaePT said.

Right.

Actually, I heard all of this from Seong Tae.

In that sense, I was thinking of making a good impression on the Senior CE…

But it seems quite hopeless?

“So… among what’s left, is there anything suitable for a high school graduate parachute hire?”

The prickly bearded guy I met as soon as I entered the company was Team 3’s Senior CE.

At Senior Ju Yeong-hun’s question, Chae Seo-hui sitting next to me spoke up.

By the way, supervisor Chae Seo-hui is also an Assistant CE like me.

“I think Gyeongseong Bakery would be good.”

“Gyeongseong Bakery? The one starring Kang Ji-hun? Aren’t you doing that?”

“We’ve finished all the studio shooting, and now we’re going into location filming.”

“So?”

“There’s quite a lot of Gangwon-do location shooting. Since I’m currently handling two works, this one should go to a male CE with good stamina…”

“Hey! Chae Seo-hui!”

She didn’t seem to say anything special, but the Senior exploded in anger.

“Is he a CE? What has he done to be called that already?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“And? Why are you giving him the spoon you put in your mouth? Do you want to kiss him or something? Huh?”

Wow, what kind of comment is that.

I really didn’t expect to hear such old-fashioned manager talk in real life.

But aside from that, I felt sorry for my supervisor Chae Seo-hui.

Looking at how things were going, it seemed like my supervisor was trying to toss me an easy project.

But I could feel the senior’s determination to somehow assign me a difficult project no matter what.

So I opened my mouth.

“Senior.”

“What? Got something to say?”

“I know I’m lacking, but if you just give me the chance, I’ll do my best on any project.”

“Oh, really?”

Senior Ju Yeong-hun smiled broadly as if he’d heard the answer he wanted.

Supervisor Chae Seo-hui sitting next to me kept poking my ribs, but this couldn’t be helped.

They’re beating around the bush, but ultimately what the senior wants is for me, who’s bundled as a set with Seong Tae, to fail, right?

If I can’t avoid it by running away, it’s better to face it head-on.

“Right. If someone unqualified for general management got pushed up by others, they must at least have some ability, right?”

Is office politics usually this blatant?

From what I heard, it was supposed to be a subtle power struggle.

“CE Kang.”

“Yes.”

“What’s that thing? Our contest-winning work.”

“Ah, you mean the thriller? The title is… Here it is. Accomplice.”

Accomplice?

“That needs to start filming for real now, right?”

“Yes. It’s been delayed repeatedly because no CE was assigned. We need to finish production this year.”

“Let’s try assigning that. Here, to our general manager’s recommended person.”

At the senior’s words, a proposal with the title 【Accomplice】 in large gothic font was passed to me.

The moment I reflexively, or habitually, turned the first page of the proposal.

Chirp chirp- Chirp chirp-

I heard the sound of insects crying from somewhere.

“Huh?”

There was a thick smell of grass.

What is this…?

But the strange experience was very brief.

When I came to my senses, I was back in CL 3 Team Meeting Room.

What was that just now?

Don’t tell me I dozed off?

As I was confused, Senior Ju Yeong-hun leaned his face close as if examining my expression.

“Why? Don’t want to do it? Not confident?”

Looking at the senior who wasn’t even trying to hide his malice, I opened my mouth.

“I’ll give it a try.”

* * *

“No, why did you do that!”

I shrugged my shoulders while looking at the angry Chae Seo-hui.

“I couldn’t just keep my mouth shut and wait for punishment there. It seemed like you were put in an uncomfortable situation too, supervisor.”

“That was all part of the plan! At first, when we push Gyeongseong Bakery, of course it’ll get criticized. It’s a work that’s finished filming everything except location shots! Then after I take some heat…”

“Supervisor.”

“Just call me by name. Or by my position.”

“Then, Seo-hui.”

“…”

“Seo-hui?”

“This won’t work. Could you call me by my position?”

“Yes? Why?”

“It feels like I’m on a film set and it makes me uncomfortable.”

“…?”

My first impression was that she was close to a cynical career woman, but it seems her appearance and personality are different.

“But why?”

“Has the work called Accomplice been mentioned frequently in recent meetings?”

“No? Everyone was deliberately ignoring it.”

“Then how could they find the proposal right away?”

No matter how much I failed, I’m still a former actor.

The senior saying “What’s that thing? The contest-winning work?” was bad acting, and CE Kang saying “Here it is” was also bad acting.

It was all a prepared situation.

In other words, the senior was planning to assign me that work no matter what.

“Ah…”

After hearing my words, Chae Seo-hui grabbed her head and collapsed.

“That’s really a hopeless work…!”

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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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