A Genius Director Who Dominates OTT Platforms - Chapter 47
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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 47
* * *
Manager Gong Seok-jun, who had finished his breakfast-lunch with a sandwich while reviewing documents, stood up from his seat.
His stomach felt heavy, and he wanted to move around a bit.
Maybe it wasn’t his stomach but his heart that felt heavy.
‘Why is Dohyeon-u so obsessed with something like that…’
Of course, there was still time.
About two months or so.
They could just replace the project during that time, but from what Gong Seok-jun had observed, Dohyeon-u was the type to throw his heart into his work.
These types often hit it big, but they also often fail spectacularly.
And once they get their hands on a project, they rarely let it go.
He was thinking such thoughts while going up and down the stairs for exercise.
The 5th floor emergency exit door opened, and someone came in.
“Ah, thank you for the praise. I didn’t really do much. The actors just worked hard…”
He could only see the top of his head, but he could immediately tell it was Dohyeon-u.
The voice gave it away too.
‘A familiar scene.’
It was common.
Successful CEs receiving praise from all sorts of places was something they all experienced.
With success like Accomplice, even the tiniest connection would result in phone calls.
‘So did he get carried away?’
Just as Gong Seok-jun was thinking that.
“I haven’t been with the company long, so I haven’t really thought about changing jobs…”
Changing jobs?
Changing jobs?
“I don’t know much about Netflix’s ranking system either…”
Netflix?!
Gong Seok-jun rushed down the stairs, startling Dohyeon-u who was on the phone.
But he didn’t hastily hang up.
He was wrapping up the conversation, but at a pace that wouldn’t offend the other party.
Watching this, Gong Seok-jun was slightly impressed.
Most employees would have hung up immediately, but this was impressive.
‘He has more backbone than I thought.’
Come to think of it, if he didn’t have backbone, he wouldn’t have stopped the script reading midway or conspired with the director to change the call sheet on his own.
When you think about it, he just seemed shy because of his ‘Shy Hyeon-u’ image, but he’d never actually seen him intimidated.
Did I make a mistake?
What if he really changes jobs?
Then Dohyeon-u hung up and spoke.
“You might misunderstand, but I didn’t contact the headhunting company…”
“Hyeon-u. Why are you in such a hurry?”
“What? Hyeon-u?”
“We can drop the formalities, can’t we? You’re young enough to be my son.”
“Th, that’s right.”
“No matter how much I told the CEO that your script was mediocre… you don’t know about that yet, do you?”
“That’s right…”
“This is embarrassing…”
After dispelling the awkwardness with a brief silence, Gong Seok-jun spoke.
“Hyeon-u. Netflix is good. It’s big and has lots of money. But if you go there, can you get exclusive production rights? Can you make something like Accomplice? Do you know how severe the office politics are there? Even directors have their lines!”
“I got F.E.M because of office politics too…”
“Ah, right…”
Then Dohyeon-u smiled slightly.
“Manager, I have no intention of changing jobs.”
“Huh? Why? Honestly, Netflix would be worth considering, right? It’s the same OTT, and you’d be going there as a recruit.”
* * *
The manager wasn’t wrong.
And though I didn’t mention it, this wasn’t the first headhunting attempt.
This was the first time they contacted me so directly, but headhunting companies had called several times.
It probably started right after Accomplice was released.
Nevertheless, the reason I wasn’t really interested was because of my superpower.
No matter how I thought about it, I couldn’t have made Accomplice if it wasn’t for SSK.
Casting Eum Seong-hyeon would have been difficult, but the seven supporting actors would have been truly impossible.
Each line would have plenty of unknown actors they were holding onto, and there would be pressure to use that pool.
Moreover, what if my superpower recommended even more absurd casting than Accomplice?
Would I have the power to push for something like that right after changing jobs?
It wouldn’t be easy at SSK either, but at least here I had a track record of success.
I didn’t know how long I’d stay at SSK, but I was thinking of making at least 2-3 more successful projects.
While I was thinking this, the manager approached and pressed me.
“Why? Why don’t you want to change jobs?”
“Wouldn’t other companies not even dream of it? A work like 【Caught at Fingertips】?”
“Shouldn’t you dream of such things…! Or shouldn’t you?”
The manager let out a deep sigh, sat down on the stairs, and patted the spot next to him with his palm.
It seemed like he wanted me to sit, so when I sat down, I heard his voice with a layer of social persona peeled away.
“Hyeon-u. Are you really going to do that?”
“That’s what I’m thinking.”
“Can you confidently say you’re being objective? You’re not influenced by Accomplice’s success?”
I probably thought about this more than the manager did.
But not anymore.
I’m done worrying.
“Manager. How did you feel when you first read the Accomplice script?”
“…It was boring.”
“I found it boring too. But I had a strange feeling. Like it would shine if we added something to it.”
This wasn’t a lie.
This sensation had nothing to do with my superpower.
Back then, I didn’t even know if there were any warning signs.
“After thinking about it for about a week, it suddenly came to me. What I needed to add.”
“Time loop?”
“Yes.”
“You also came up with the ending, right?”
“How did you know?”
“I saw the phone interviews with the writers. An article just came out.”
Why would they need to reveal something like that to the outside?
I’m already doing well enough, so the writers should get some spotlight.
“So in your eyes, 【Caught at Fingertips】 also looks like a gem like Accomplice?”
“Yes. The density of the scenes is incredible. From the dialogue to the characters’ actions and emotional lines, nothing ever feels out of place. I’m confident that if we just remove the tacky packaging, something amazing will emerge.”
Was this the power of words?
I had been thinking this way originally, but after declaring it to Ju Yeong-hun yesterday, my conviction was growing stronger.
Accomplice was also a project I was forced to take on at first, but at some point, it became genuine.
【Caught at Fingertips】 was the same.
Manager Gong Seok-jun, who had been studying my face intently, nodded.
“Two months. If you can’t find an answer within two months, you can’t do it. I can’t tolerate a new team leader who can’t even establish direction.”
“I promise you. Two months.”
After saying that, I glanced at Gong Seok-jun.
Since we were having such an open and honest conversation, should I test the waters a bit?
“But who exactly is coming as the senior? Will it be okay for me to oversee the project?”
“This guy is testing me? Learning all the bad habits first.”
“Haha…”
“It’ll be vacant.”
“Pardon?”
“The senior position will be vacant. Otherwise, how would you be able to take charge, even temporarily?”
Vacant?
Can a new team be created with the head position vacant?
“This is also a big enough secret, so don’t ask any more questions. I’m telling you this so you can find the answer without wavering.”
Manager Gong Seok-jun brushed off his pants and stood up from his seat.
“Let’s go.”
Right, I should go.
To find the right answer.
* * *
From the moment Accomplice’s trailer was broadcast, I thought time was passing really slowly.
Two weeks from the trailer to the broadcast.
Four weeks for the 8-episode series to be released.
It wasn’t much time, but it felt like almost 6 months.
However, as soon as Accomplice ended, time began to flow quickly as if to make up for how slowly it had passed then.
During that time, there were also events like promotion and incentives.
The promotion wasn’t much of an issue.
It wasn’t just me who got promoted, but Chae Seo-hui and others with considerable experience as assistant CEs were promoted together.
It’s not that there weren’t people whispering that my promotion was fast, but the reaction was “Well, if you brought something like Accomplice to F.E.M…”
The real problem was the incentive.
Because it became known that I received an incentive that combined the shares of both the lead CE and assistant CE.
There wasn’t an official announcement, but somehow everyone found out.
I suspect it leaked from the Finance Team.
The attitude of Team 3 members, who had been grinning thinking Accomplice would count toward their annual performance, changed.
Those who didn’t shield me when Team 2 was badmouthing me, but also didn’t join in, all rushed to join in.
Ju Yeong-hun, who must have already known, didn’t show any particular reaction.
Just as the issues related to my incentive were dying down, the establishment of Team 4 was announced.
There were three people assigned.
Lee Dae-han CE from CL 1 Team.
Chae Seo-hui CE, who was promoted this time.
And me.
Lee Dae-han CE was the second-in-command of Team 1, but this time he was assigned as the senior of Team 4.
The remaining personnel were planned to be filled with volunteers and newly hired assistant CEs…
“What should we do? It seems like no one will volunteer.”
As Chae Seo-hui worried, there was absolutely no atmosphere of volunteers from Teams 1, 2, and 3.
This was more Lee Dae-han CE’s problem than mine.
He was famous for controlling his subordinates like catching mice.
His personality was also terrible.
Chae Seo-hui was trembling, but I had a feeling about something.
I felt like Lee Dae-han CE would be kicked out as soon as Team 4 was established.
Maybe CEO Han Seong-hun was holding onto some internal corruption by Lee Dae-han CE?
If that happened, the CEs of Team 4 would have the opportunity to pursue their own projects without a senior.
If they were holding onto major projects.
That’s why he told me to hold onto my next work.
But…
Even though the establishment of Team 4 was only two days away, I still hadn’t found the right answer.
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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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