A Genius Director Who Dominates OTT Platforms - Chapter 51

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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 51

 

* * *

 

The feeling of leaving the broadcasting station was refreshing.

 

Director Yeom Jae-mun said he would start revisions immediately from today.

 

During my unknown actor days, I saw many people like Director Yeom Jae-mun who eventually gave up in resignation.

 

I probably would have been the same.

 

Most of them disappear with only passionate memories, but a few people get opportunities like today.

 

Those people really run forward as if they’re living only for today.

 

Compared to the shitty feeling of giving up on dreams, pain in the body, sleepiness, and heart-bursting agony are nothing.

 

Director Yeom Jae-mun will probably be the same.

 

I was thinking such thoughts as I was about to exit through the main gate.

 

On one side, I could see broadcasting station staff and external filming crews mixed together carrying luggage.

 

No, to be precise, I saw one person among them.

 

Kang Min-sik.

 

A senior from the theater troupe who taught me acting before I received Seong Tae’s business card.

 

And…

 

Someone who gave up on his dreams.

 

Was it because I stared too intently?

 

“Hm?”

 

Senior Min-sik turned toward me and opened his eyes wide.

 

“Dohyeon-u?!”

 

Senior Min-sik, who was startled and almost dropped his box, shouted.

 

“Hey! Wait! Don’t go!”

 

Then he moved as if trying to finish work quickly, but there were too many boxes.

 

There’s no need to just stand still and wait, right?

 

I rolled up my sleeves and went next to my senior to start carrying luggage.

 

“What are you doing? Your suit will get dirty.”

 

“It’s okay. I have one more.”

 

Originally, I had resolved to buy suits for each day of the week once I received my incentive…

 

But my small citizen mentality didn’t go anywhere.

 

I bought exactly one suit.

 

But this is a good one.

 

Even though it’s temporary, it would be awkward if the general CE went around wearing something too shabby.

 

“You bastard, you’re still the same.”

 

As we carried luggage without rest, the boxes soon showed the bottom.

 

Senior Min-sik, who finished work, said something to someone who looked like an AD and then ran over to me.

 

“You still don’t smoke?”

 

“That’s a strange question.”

 

“Strange. I’ve never seen someone who controls filming sets who doesn’t smoke.”

 

“Why do you smoke something that’s bad for your body?”

 

“Are you my wife?”

 

As we headed to the smoking area together, I remembered having a conversation with Reporter Moon here just a few days ago.

 

Do I need to come to MBY Broadcasting Station often?

 

It seems like I meet pleasant connections every time I come.

 

“Senior, are you working with an external team? It didn’t seem like MBY.”

 

“Yeah, a studio created by an MBY director who went independent. Not bad. It’s enough to make a living.”

 

“How is sister-in-law doing?”

 

“Good. She’s working as a kindergarten teacher these days.”

 

“Really? That’s great. I remember sister-in-law used to pack lunch boxes for the theater troupe kids.”

 

“Did she? I don’t even remember.”

 

I had a long chat about recent updates with Senior Min-sik.

 

Senior Min-sik was like the king of our theater troupe.

 

He had tremendous charisma but also a heart broad enough to embrace everyone.

 

We used to be really close, but we lost contact after I signed with D.P and my senior retired a few years later.

 

“I’ve been watching you do well. It looked good. It’s unexpected that you succeeded as a director rather than an actor.”

 

“I know, right. I never thought I’d live by creating works.”

 

“Still, someone like you should succeed. Thinking about it, I wasn’t as hardworking as you. I only pretended to work hard.”

 

Though I couldn’t agree with those words, I didn’t add anything.

 

It seemed like Senior Min-sik’s gaze was dwelling in the past rather than the present.

 

When silence fell for a moment, Senior Min-sik smiled and changed the topic.

 

“I had a drink with the theater troupe kids recently. Was it about two weeks ago?”

 

“Oh, really?”

 

“We didn’t plan to meet, but kids who got jobs in this industry ran into each other by chance.”

 

“Please call me next time too.”

 

“Of course, man. You still haven’t paid your employment fee, right?”

 

“Ah, right. Our theater troupe had that tradition.”

 

“Anyway, there was a kid working at Studio AP at that drinking session.”

 

Studio AP?

 

Isn’t that a fairly famous production company?

 

“That kid said Go Hak-su is keeping an eye on you.”

 

“Go Hak-su? Who’s that?”

 

“What? You know, the director who cast Kim Ra-un instead of you and put you on the blacklist.”

 

“Ah!”

 

I had forgotten the name since I never actually worked with him.

 

Usually directors are called by just their surname.

 

Director Go Hak-su was the director of the role that Director Jang had secured.

 

The director of the work I refused after learning that they had brought it by exposing the scandal of the predetermined actor.

 

Kim Ra-un, who was cast instead of me, became a rising star through that work.

 

“Why would that person be keeping an eye on me?”

 

“He’s anxious. The director was also involved in that scandal back then.”

 

That’s true.

 

The director personally called me to appear in it.

 

In normal circumstances, there’s no way they would make such an offer to an unknown actor.

 

But the problem is…

 

“I don’t know anything.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“I only know that I was involved in the scandal. I never thought to look into it.”

 

To be precise, Director Jang tried to explain something to me, but I refused to listen.

 

There was no need to hear anything.

 

I had no intention of taking that role.

 

“Really? Then the guilty one is anxious all by himself?”

 

“I guess so?”

 

“Then it doesn’t matter?”

 

“It doesn’t matter. SSK is bigger.”

 

In terms of production scale, AP and SSK might be similar, but the company weight classes are different.

 

“Then that’s a relief.”

 

Kang Min-sik, who had shaken off his worries, put out his cigarette and changed the topic.

 

“Hey, but I also watched Accomplice.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“You know that PD who appeared in the last episode? The one who went to interview at the psychiatric hospital and only showed his chin.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

“That’s you?”

 

“…”

 

“Wow, look at this guy. Isn’t this corruption? Did you audition properly?”

 

“What are you talking about? I’m really being wronged here.”

 

I never intended to act in the first place.

 

The actor for that scene froze up from nerves, so I stood in front of the camera for directing purposes.

 

Whenever there were problems with acting, I had been doing the directing.

 

Originally, I was just going to block out the movements, but Director Jeong suddenly liked it and used my cut.

 

For reference, the original actor was demoted to a junior role.

 

“Originally it was a cut showing the actor’s face, but since my face appeared and it might break immersion, they only showed up to my chin.”

 

“Is that what it was? But the atmosphere with just the chin showing was good.”

 

“I think so too. That’s why Director Jeong used it.”

 

This part could be seen as catching a mouse by walking backwards like a cow.

 

“Anyway… you did well.”

 

Sensing the unmistakable longing on Senior Min-sik’s face, I changed the subject.

 

“Isn’t there another occasion to meet theater troupe people and drink?”

 

* * *

 

I returned to the company and fell into contemplation.

 

PD Yeom would start script revisions from today, but I knew nothing about E-sports.

 

I had studied hard, but should I say I was ignorant about the common sense that E-sports fans have?

 

While I was pondering how to fill this gap, I saw someone approaching hesitantly.

 

“Um…”

 

The newly hired assistant CE, Yun Hyeon-sol.

 

Information quickly flashed through my mind.

 

27 years old.

 

Graduate of a prestigious university, but zero career related to dramas.

 

Height is average for an adult male, but has a slender frame so looks somewhat small.

 

But what’s this about?

 

“Yes, Hyeon-sol. What is it?”

 

“Please, speak comfortably to me.”

 

I pondered for a moment then nodded.

 

Even for me, I felt comfortable only after the Manager started speaking casually.

 

“Alright. What is it?”

 

“I, I want to do it with Director Dohyeon-u.”

 

“…What?”

 

“That game, the E-sports drama. The Manager told us to show enthusiasm if there’s a project we want…”

 

It was unexpected.

 

Though I hadn’t observed for many days, he always seemed intimidated and only watching others’ reactions.

 

“Why? What’s your reason for wanting to do it?”

 

Yun Hyeon-sol looked around then approached stealthily and opened his mouth.

 

“I was really, really so crazy about games that I almost ruined my life, but when I heard by chance that the company I got hired at was doing an E-sports drama, my heart started pounding…”

 

Those frenzied eyes are a bit scary.

 

“Uh, CE Yun?”

 

“Yes, yes.”

 

“Could you step back a little?”

 

“Ah, yes.”

 

I pondered for a moment.

 

It’s true that I need an assistant CE.

 

During Accomplice, even though we had the same rank, I was the overall director so Chae Seo-hui took on the assistant role, but now that’s impossible.

 

Seong Tae-chang is also a proper formal CE.

 

But can I use this guy?

 

Given Team 4’s situation, we need to go with a small elite team, so once I get assigned an assistant CE, I won’t be able to change.

 

“CE Yun. Look at this and give me your opinion.”

 

“Uh… what kind of opinion should I give?”

 

“From a general E-sports fan’s perspective, are there any strange points?”

 

The materials I showed were E-sports elements I had organized for the drama.

 

It’s true I lived Park Seong-hwa’s life, but I don’t know the detailed parts of gaming teams well.

 

Park Seong-hwa was a coach who took care of the player team, and the team owner handled the team’s affairs.

 

However, this team owner character is quite interesting.

 

The story I learned while living Park Seong-hwa’s life is also unique.

 

If we make a drama, the team owner would probably be the 3rd or 4th role, so for that we’d need to know about the team too…

 

“CE?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“This is a total mess. According to this schedule, players wouldn’t do personal broadcasts or solo queue at all, which doesn’t make sense. And this league system also seems to be a method not currently adopted, just a few years ago…”

 

“Pass.”

 

“What?”

 

“You pass. Let’s work well together, CE Yun.”

 

“Ah, yes. But continuing what I was saying, the player here is 22 years old but is treated too young…”

 

Yun Hyeon-sol continued his passionate speech for 30 minutes after that.

 

I thought my ears were bleeding.

 

What was funnier was that as soon as the game-related talk ended, he became extremely timid.

 

When I asked what coffee he wanted, he couldn’t answer properly.

 

Anyway, his passion seemed genuine, so I felt relieved too.

 

However, that evening.

 

After finishing my shower after work, I saw a long message that came to my smartphone.

 

It was sent by Seong Tae-chang…

 

[WEB Message] [Youmustrespecmeiamtheballon…]

 

What the hell is this?

 

Voice phishing? Hacking?

 

I called with a worried heart and heard Chae Seo-hui’s sharp voice.

 

-Why.

 

“What do you mean why? What the hell is this? Ballon d’Or?”

 

-You don’t know soccer memes?

 

“What’s that?”

 

-Sigh, you don’t even use SNS. You don’t know anything.

 

I don’t know what it is, but she suddenly sent a meme?

 

It seems like she wants me to respect her…

 

What did I do wrong?

 

The answer came quickly.

 

-Why are you using him instead of me!

 

“Him? CE Yun Hyeon-sol?”

 

-Yes!

 

“I can’t assign assistant CE work to you, Seo-hui. You’re a formal CE now.”

 

-But we’re soul partners!

 

Well, I’d be happy if Chae Seo-hui joined as CE.

 

We work well together.

 

But is that okay?

 

-I’m being left out! I’m not doing anything right now! Team 3 is subtly trying to gauge if they can request support from me!

 

“Really?”

 

I had no idea.

 

I became a complete stranger to 3 Team the moment I left.

 

Well, Chae Seo-hui did spend a long time with 3 Team.

 

“Then… shall we work together?”

 

-Yes!

 

As a result, quite a decent team was formed.

 

Me as the overall CE.

 

Chae Seo-hui as the main CE.

 

Yun Hyeon-sol as the assistant CE.

 

The role distribution was excellent too.

 

Yun Hyeon-sol knows games better than me, and Chae Seo-hui knows SSK better than me.

 

Now what remained was convincing Hyen Games.

 

Hyen Games.

 

A global company that holds the IP of the game 【ROR】, which is treated synonymously with the term E-sports.

 

The game I saw in the script possession was ROR.

 

The problem was that Hyen develops many story IPs in-house, so getting permission to use them wouldn’t be easy…

 

But I had to give it a shot.

 

Now that the team setup was complete, I had to attempt the most difficult task first.

 

* * *

 

“This sounds great! Let’s proceed!”

 

Huh?

—————
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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