A Genius Director Who Dominates OTT Platforms - Chapter 43
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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 43
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A strange silence lingered in the office after Dohyeon-u left.
And for good reason—anyone could see that CEO Han Seong-hun’s target was Dohyeon-u.
Though he had conversations with the seniors from Teams 2 and 3, in the end, the person he took with him was Dohyeon-u.
It was only natural that the silence turned into gossip.
-Wow, I knew he was a parachute hire from regional management, but what kind of connections…
-You could tell from how much money they spent on Accomplice, right? Outdoor ads, TV ads…
-They bragged about low production costs, but considering the promotional budget, it probably wasn’t that cheap?
-If he was going to do that, why come to SSK instead of going to Tivic?
-He’s a high school graduate. It would’ve been awkward to go straight to Tivic.
-Won’t he create some story and return to acting?
-I saw him yesterday on Woo-woo and he acted well, right? If others saw it, he’d really be embarrassed lol
-Did you see him rejecting casting calls this morning loud enough for everyone to hear?
The reaction from CL Team 2 was particularly intense.
Team 3 at least had expectations that Accomplice would count toward their annual performance, but for Team 2, he was just a competitor.
That’s when Ju Yeong-hun stood up from his seat and clicked his tongue.
“Look at all that keyboard tapping. Are you that jealous?”
“…No, sir.”
“Shouldn’t you be happy? It shows our company is a place where only performance matters, regardless of position.”
The Team 2 leader bristled.
“Team 3 Leader? Are you saying that to our team right now?”
“I’m not targeting anyone specifically, but isn’t that the truth?”
“Let’s each mind our own team’s business, shall we?”
“Yes, well. Let’s do that.”
Ju Yeong-hun turned away, grabbed his cigarettes, and headed to the rooftop.
His thoughts deepened along with the exhaled smoke.
‘Dohyeon-u…’
He could acknowledge what needed to be acknowledged.
The situation with Youngpal might have been luck, but making a good work was Dohyeon-u’s ability, wasn’t it?
He was definitely a useful tool.
The problem was Kim Seong-tae.
He couldn’t stand the thought that if Dohyeon-u succeeded, Kim Seong-tae would be the one smiling.
‘What should I do…’
Should he embrace Dohyeon-u for the sake of performance?
Or should he kick him out to get back at Kim Seong-tae?
Dohyeon-u might be purely celebrating Accomplice’s success, but rising in position meant the risk of falling also emerged.
When he was just an ordinary assistant CE, there was no way to kick him out, but now it was actually easier.
Still…
‘Maybe I’ll give him a chance.’
There was also the method of keeping him around and discarding him when needed.
The acrid cigarette smoke scattered into the air.
* * *
“I enjoyed the variety show. It was funny, wasn’t it?”
“That kind of thing…”
I was about to grumble while receiving my coffee, then stopped.
It seemed like the habit from grumbling to Sung Tae-chang, Seo Jae-yeon, and the Accomplice actors since morning had lingered.
I thought I’d become more comfortable since this was our second private meeting, but I need to stay alert.
“…I’m embarrassed that you watched it.”
But the CEO wrinkled his nose and burst into laughter.
I wondered why he was doing that, but damn.
I’d recreated a meme in real life.
Does this mean I can never be embarrassed again?
“Don’t tell me you were trying to be funny?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Even if it’s a bit confusing, it won’t be a bad thing. We’re standing in show business, after all.”
CEO Han Seong-hun, who had wiped away his laughter while drinking coffee, opened his mouth.
“You succeeded, didn’t you? That crazy thing?”
“I had a lot of luck.”
“Luck is also skill. Especially in this industry.”
CEO Han Seong-hun, who had put down his coffee cup, casually threw out:
“You’ll receive an incentive. Combined portions for both assistant CE and supervising CE.”
“Pardon?”
He’s giving me the supervising CE’s portion too?
Then what does that mean?
Is he completely removing Accomplice from Team 3’s performance?
Or is he counting it toward Team 3’s annual performance but giving me the entire supervising portion?
The answer was the former.
“Accomplice won’t be counted as Team 3’s performance.”
Actually, there wouldn’t be any administrative difficulties in paying the incentive.
It would be even easier since the Accomplice team only had Chae Seo-hui and me.
The problem was Team 3’s reaction.
Since Chae Seo-hui and I, who were Team 3 personnel, had taken on external work, it became a situation where the external work performance was entirely allocated to us alone.
From Team 3’s perspective, they only lost manpower due to personnel outflow and suffered losses in the total pie of annual performance.
While I was thinking about this, CEO Han Seong-hun stared at me intently and asked:
“Does it feel burdensome?”
I reflexively tried to agree, then hesitated.
Thinking about it, it’s strange for a company CEO to call in a regular employee to discuss incentives.
That means he has other purposes…
Whatever it was, if I were CEO Han Seong-hun, I wouldn’t want to hear something like ‘It’s burdensome. There was a lot of help from team members.’
After making up my mind, I opened my mouth.
“Honestly, it’s not burdensome.”
“Why is that?”
“Because Accomplice was a competition work that had to be done anyway.”
If Teams 1 and 2 hadn’t assigned a CE, it would have been dumped on Team 3.
“You seemed worried though?”
“It was because I thought it would be uncomfortable working in the future.”
I’m not a saint, so would I really feel sorry for the Team 3 members?
Until Accomplice succeeded, all I remembered was hearing gossip about me.
I was worried about Team 3’s reaction because their thoughts were obvious and it would become uncomfortable.
Because…
“I’ve really come to love the work of a CE.”
I always had, but it grew even more after Accomplice’s success.
The exhilaration when a work that would have been buried without me gets to shine.
The happiness of unknown actors who brightened up using that light as their halo.
The satisfaction of viewers who enjoyed watching our work.
This was an addiction you could never feel without experiencing it.
“That last part would be a perfect score if this were corporate life.”
I guess it could sound like flattery.
I was about to make an excuse, but President Han was faster.
“Director Do will be converted to a regular CE starting next month. It’s an unprecedented promotion, but you’ve proven that your career as an actor aligns with being a CE.”
“Thank you.”
It was something I had expected.
Does this mean I’ll have a higher position than Chae Seo-hui?
How many years has she been here?
“And you’ll be assigned to Team 4.”
“Pardon?”
“We plan to establish Team 4 within two months.”
Team 4?
“The senior of Team 4 is…”
“That’s not something Director Do needs to know. You shouldn’t even ask.”
“I’m sorry.”
“We made a promise, didn’t we? That if Director Do’s plan succeeded, you’d take charge of the next project.”
“That’s what you said.”
My answer was confident, but my mind was complicated.
I haven’t known President Han Seong-hun for long, but one thing is certain.
This person doesn’t break promises.
My experience showed that, the employees’ stories showed that, and President Yun’s stories showed that too.
He’s not entirely benevolent, but he’s someone who absolutely doesn’t lie.
That’s what makes it even stranger.
3 Team was firmly controlled by Senior Ju Yeong-hun, so there wouldn’t be much problem even if I received F.E.M.
Could an assistant CE challenge a senior’s authority just because they received F.E.M once?
But going to the newly established Team 4 changes the story.
A new senior leads the team, but only I stick out and become project director?
Even if it’s temporary project director, how could Team 4’s senior maintain any authority?
“For that, there’s something needed.”
“Something needed…”
“The next project.”
Accomplice’s next work?
“I know it’s early, but you can’t become project director of a new team without holding anything, right?”
“If I can’t find a next project, I can’t take charge?”
“Of course not. That was a reward for Accomplice’s success.”
“Then…”
“The project director position is valid, but you’ll continue working in 3 Team. Since you have nothing to hold onto.”
President Han Seong-hun, who was smiling kindly, began to look different to me.
This is a trap.
After receiving the general CE’s incentive, I take charge of a project in 3 Team once again?
Senior Ju Yeong-hun won’t stay quiet.
Now he’ll know that my project’s success has nothing to do with him.
Then I’d really have to make a drama while headbutting bare ground…
It won’t be easy.
Accomplice had Chae Seo-hui and me handling most of the work, but the system itself used 3 Team’s existing one.
Even the art and Sound Director were from 3 Team’s network pool.
Of course, this isn’t malicious.
Promotion, incentive, keeping promises.
Nothing but good intentions.
But those good intentions were forcing my choice.
He couldn’t possibly not know what I was thinking, yet President Han Seong-hun asked with a calm face.
“How long has Director Do been working?”
“A little less than 8 months.”
“In 8 months, you must have seen plenty of scripts and proposals?”
I’ve seen plenty.
The common task of assistant CEs is to conduct first reviews of the enormous number of scripts that come into the company.
“Wasn’t there anything you liked?”
“There were a few.”
“It sounds like you had potential next projects.”
“Not really. The ones I was keeping an eye on were already taken by other CEs.”
“Then you’ll need to find a new project.”
“I’ll try looking for one.”
“I’m curious. What kind of project Director Do will choose.”
As I was about to bow and leave, a question suddenly arose.
Perhaps it was a small act of rebellion.
“What happens if that project succeeds too?”
“It’s proof.”
Proof?
“Proof that it doesn’t need to be temporary.”
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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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