A Genius Director Who Dominates OTT Platforms - Chapter 44
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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 44
* * *
After my private meeting with the CEO, I brought home a stack of scripts printed from the company.
I had read the scripts that came into the company before filming Accomplice, but I hadn’t looked at any since then.
The reason I bothered to print them out when I could have read them on the computer was because I wondered if the precursor symptoms might only manifest with physical scripts.
Maybe it doesn’t have to activate just one at a time, right?
So I began reading an enormous number of scripts.
The quality of the works varied drastically.
Some made me wonder how they even made it to SSK just from the opening, while others made me want to close my eyes and imagine the scenes as soon as I read the first episode.
But one thing was certain: I was comparing all these scripts to “Caught at Fingertips.”
I don’t really understand my own feelings.
Choosing “Caught at Fingertips,” whose potential was guaranteed by supernatural powers, makes me anxious.
Because I might not be able to find the right answer until the end.
On the other hand, choosing a script more trendy than “Caught at Fingertips” leaves me disappointed with the completeness.
Though the content is overly familiar, there’s no doubt about the completeness of “Caught at Fingertips.”
‘Should I meet with the PD?’
It might be better to visit Yeom Jae-mun PD from MBY who gave me the script and have an open discussion.
But the reason I didn’t do that was…
“You’re CE Dohyeon-u, right?”
“Could you please review this just once?”
Because I had seen the PD’s expression in the mirror.
A face where resignation built up over a very long time was about to devour his dreams.
No, a face where it had already devoured them.
Perhaps PD Yeom had already given up.
He showed no expectation when he gave me the script.
Feeling that the Accomplice situation was similar to his own, it felt like crossing the final gateway to giving up.
Rather, it was me who held onto the departing PD Yeom and asked various questions.
Surprised by the sudden precursor symptoms.
However, thinking my reaction was acting, PD Yeom Jae-mun gave a faint smile.
“You’re a kind person. To both works and people.”
That was all.
PD Yeom, who wasn’t part of the “Elegant, Wow” team, left the set immediately.
I learned detailed information about PD Yeom Jae-mun because of the assistant director.
Being quite a chatterbox, he spilled information I didn’t even ask for.
“To put it metaphorically, he’s like a perpetual manager whose desk the company removed.”
His peers all got promoted to CP, but he’s still just a responsible PD.
And it’s not like he even has the fun of making programs.
He’s called a responsible PD, but he hasn’t been assigned any programs for two years now.
He’s working on his fourth pilot project with no set timeline, and now they’re basically telling him to leave.
“I don’t know the exact reason, but maybe he got on the executives’ bad side?”
“There were rumors about embezzlement, whistleblowing, and stalking female staff.”
He probably didn’t actually commit any crimes.
They said he’s never received actual disciplinary action despite the obvious hints.
It’s probably an issue related to internal company politics.
Knowing this situation makes it difficult to visit PD Yeom.
I’m afraid I might just give him false hope.
Sometimes hope hurts more than despair.
While I was thinking about this, I heard the doorbell ring.
I looked at the clock wondering what it was, and it was nine o’clock.
“Already?”
I hurriedly opened the front door and the actors poured in.
“Director, Seon-jae went crazy!”
“What? Why?”
“No, the crazy guy stamped his personal seal when someone asked for an autograph!”
“…A personal seal? The kind I’m thinking of?”
“Yes! But why does he carry ink pad around?”
Surely actor Lee Seon-jae wasn’t the one carrying the ink pad around?
That can’t be right.
A fan must have happened to have it.
I was about to ask but refrained, feeling like I’d be staring into an abyss.
“There’s definitely something wrong with the intelligence of someone who stamps personal seals.”
“Today I can feel insight in hyung’s dad jokes.”
The chattering actors occupied the living room with alcohol and dried snacks.
This was a planned meeting.
We were all going to watch episode 7 of Accomplice together, but we didn’t gather to watch the drama.
If that were the case, we would have met tomorrow for the final episode.
This gathering was created by mutual agreement at the request of D.P and the actors.
For consultation regarding agency contracts.
They even cleared their busy schedules to gather, but first…
“I have an announcement. From now on, posting my face on SNS is prohibited.”
“What? Why? The response is good!”
“Because the response is good.”
“Director, that’s too much.”
“What exactly?”
“You let actor Seo Jae-yeon use it but you’re only restricting us!”
“Don’t misunderstand. I gave him a stern warning too.”
“I guess that didn’t work?”
“What?”
I held my forehead after seeing Seo Jae-yeon’s SNS that actor Park Jun-ho showed me.
I guess I should start using SNS myself?
I sent Seo Jae-yeon a critical message and threw my smartphone away.
“It’s better to talk before alcohol goes in your mouth, right?”
“Yes.”
“First, while this gathering was created for you to seek advice from me, D.P also asked me to persuade you. I’ll speak fairly, but keep that in mind.”
The situation was simple.
A few days ago, D.P made a bold decision.
They set a goal to take in all 8 main and supporting actors from Accomplice at once.
First, it was to solidify their title as Korea’s top actor-specialized agency, and second, they judged that the 8 actors had commercial value.
Three people had remaining contracts, but that wasn’t a problem.
Moon Jae-won’s agency was small-scale but conscientious, so they said they’d pay the penalty fee.
Jeong Min-woo’s agency was trash, so they’d fight by pointing out breached contract terms.
Eum Seong-hyeon needed to be handled like Jeong Min-woo, but they were worried about appearing in the media and strengthening his troublemaker image.
“If the fight doesn’t go well, they’ll pay the penalty fee, so you don’t need to worry about that.”
All three looked slightly surprised when I told them this.
“They’ll even pay the penalty fee?”
“It won’t be much. The contract fee was small, and there are many reasons attributable to their side.”
The reason this story was coming from my mouth was because it was risky for D.P to deliver officially.
What if they delivered it officially but couldn’t contract with the Accomplice actors?
Wouldn’t that be awkward?
“D.P is definitely a good agency. You’ve all experienced it for a few weeks now, so you know. You’ve already landed commercials, right?”
“Yes. Though I don’t understand why eight people need to do hangover relief together.”
“I guess it’s because you’re accomplices.”
“Director…”
“Ah, don’t make that face. Do you know how much I got criticized for appearing on variety shows because of that?”
After grumbling for a moment, I continued.
“That was the story favorable to D.P, now let me tell you the unfavorable part. D.P will raise you as cash cows.”
The other actors seemed to grasp the situation just from hearing ‘cash cow,’ but Eum Seong-hyeon didn’t.
“Cash cow?”
“Excluding top stars like Seo Jae-yeon or Ra-un, what makes money for agencies are actors who specialize in supporting roles. You know, the ones with ‘that guy again’ attached to them?”
Actors who perform well and do more than their share wherever they go.
Yet they have no distinctive features in appearance, so they’re not picky about genres and don’t worry about image consumption.
“I’m talking about prolific actors who film two or three works a year, sometimes even four or five.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“It’s not bad. But if you walk that path, you’ll never rise to leading man status.”
Especially since everyone except Eum Seong-hyeon is in their early to mid-thirties.
If they start being prolific now, they’ll never become leading actors.
“Of course, you’ll all think this way. That it would be good just to be able to work on projects, whatever they are. Since you’re people who were starved for acting. D.P is targeting that mindset.”
“…”
“You need to think that today’s choice will determine the rest of your acting careers. It’s not a decision to make lightly.”
However, what I didn’t mention was that D.P hadn’t decided on Eum Seong-hyeon’s treatment yet.
They hadn’t determined whether to push him as a leading actor or fix him as a supporting actor.
He was young, and he was the protagonist of Accomplice after all.
But I was asked to keep this part hidden since they didn’t want to create discord among the actors.
They said they would proceed smoothly in whatever direction they chose.
Watching the actors seriously contemplating, I felt slightly embarrassed.
I was an unknown actor who couldn’t even become a supporting actor specialist.
“There’s nothing more to advise or convey. Just discuss it well among yourselves for the conclusion… Shall we have some drinks?”
After lightening the mood like that, we all watched Accomplice episode 7 together.
“Wow, Seon-jae’s acting is incredible.”
By the way, that was what Lee Seon-jae said.
But well, it really is incredible.
“I’m curious about the ending reaction.”
“Opinions were really divided on the internet.”
After those enjoyable 70 minutes passed and Accomplice ended, an unexpected suggestion came up.
“It’s a shame to go home like this, shall we watch Youngpal while drinking beer?”
“Huh? Do you all watch Youngpal?”
“Of course. We’re all regular viewers.”
“At first we watched it because it was a competing work, but lately we watch it purely for fun.”
“Let’s watch Youngpal, Youngpal.”
Due to the actors’ enthusiastic reaction, I had no choice but to purchase episode 7 that was uploaded today.
Why did I have no choice? Because I haven’t watched episode 6 yet.
I was busy so I only watched up to episode 5.
When episode 7 started, the actors got excited and began chattering.
Talking about Kim Ra-un this and Seo Yun-a that, they’re like real fans.
People in the world probably don’t know we’re doing this.
“But wasn’t the latter half of episode 6 a bit risky?”
“Was it? I found it interesting.”
With So Jeong-hun’s words, everyone began to immerse themselves in the drama.
* * *
While filming 【Elegant, Wow-han】, we had debated whether the director or writer was more important.
Actually, this debate continued in our group chat even after filming ended.
I, who had been watching, couldn’t hold back and joined the battle too.
As a result, we concluded that the writer was more important.
Writers create, directors decorate.
Creation can exist without decoration, but decoration can’t exist without creation.
But we were wrong.
“…”
“…”
When a director roars with fury, the writer gets knocked out.
Creation? I destroy!
Why am I saying this…?
“…Isn’t this level worthy of ritual suicide?”
Because Youngpal died.
What the hell is this?
Did the director go crazy?
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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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