A Genius Director Who Dominates OTT Platforms - Chapter 6

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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 6

* * *

Go Yeongtae was actually exhausted.

No, he was sick of it.

If it weren’t for Sanghun, who had practically become like a brother to him, he would have given up on Accomplices long ago.

So when he heard that a new manager had been assigned, he thought ‘Here we go again’…

‘Time loop?’

Something about this feels right.

Of course, he shook his head at first.

Wasn’t it too out of the blue?

But the more he listened to the story, the more it seemed like it could spark viewers’ interest without touching the drama’s content at all.

The more he thought about it, the more amazing the idea seemed.

How could anyone even think of something like this?

Moreover, Dohyeon-u hadn’t just helped at the idea level.

“I have one more idea, but it’s a plan that would require quite a lot of changes to the script… There’s a point I’d like to think through together.”

“What is it?”

“Having past flashbacks in the opening of each episode. The characters’ school days.”

“You want to move the past flashbacks that unfold through dialogue to the very beginning?”

“Not all of them, just some.”

“Why?”

“Right now, the information comes in too sequentially. When the subtle class relationship between Yeong-su and Hyeon-tae is highlighted, related past flashbacks come in that style.”

“Isn’t that natural?”

“Giving questions and then answers is a natural technique. The problem is that it repeats throughout the entire drama.”

Dohyeon-u’s point was simple.

If past flashbacks were moved to the opening, viewers would have more information than the characters.

“You’ve all experienced this while watching dramas, right? When you figure out the answer first while the characters are still wandering around.”

“Of course.”

“Then viewers often watch the drama until they can confirm that their thoughts were correct. It’s a kind of viewing hook.”

“Ah…!”

“Besides, our drama requires too much concentration. If you miss even a moment of the drama, the following content becomes hard to understand. It’s not a huge problem since it’s OTT, but if appropriate past flashbacks move forward, this problem can be solved too.”

His heart started pounding.

An emotion he was experiencing for the first time in nearly 2 years.

The urge to hurry up and revise the script.

“That’s… quite a good idea.”

Gil Sanghun seemed to feel the same way.

After that, CE Dohyeon-u talked about various things, and Go Yeongtae and Gil Sanghun opened their notebooks and started taking notes.

Not a single word could be thrown away.

This person is a genius.

Why didn’t I have the chance to work with a CE like this earlier?

Maybe he’s such an ace that he only gets assigned as a firefighter in the worst moments?

Just as Go Yeongtae was having such thoughts, the meeting reached its end.

“Then why did the loop ability come about? In subcultures like web novels or webtoons, suddenly gaining abilities is acceptable, but dramas are different, aren’t they?”

Gil Sanghun’s question wasn’t really seeking an answer.

It was more like presenting a topic for exchanging opinions.

Since the CE had given such good ideas, it was the writers’ job to make everything fit together.

However, CE Dohyeon-u casually opened his mouth.

“This is something I directly saw, or rather, something I’m saying impromptu.”

“Yes.”

He brought up an amazing story.

“…So how about Hyeon-tae gaining this ability for this reason?”

Gil Sanghun and Go Yeongtae stared at each other’s faces with wide eyes.

If this is the case, why do we need writers?

The OTT employee seems superior to us in every aspect.

Dohyeon-u laughed.

“I don’t have the talent for writing. I don’t have the talent for directing either. I just have a somewhat rich imagination.”

“Still…”

“Does it matter who did more of what? It’s our drama.”

Our drama.

A phrase that OTT employees constantly use, as if they were trained to say it.

But this time, it felt sincere.

Because he had no idea how much time the manager in front of him had invested in Accomplices.

“CE Do.”

“Yes.”

“Give me one week. I’ll revise it brilliantly.”

“Will one week be enough?”

“Yes. It will be. It absolutely will be, and if it’s not possible, I’ll make it possible.”

“I’ll trust you. In the meantime, I’ll organize the casting lineup.”

* * *

“They’re good people.”

They had made a good impression from the time they sat in the cafe wearing neat shirts, but after talking with them, he liked them even more.

They were people who knew how to listen to others with an open mind.

Even though he had spouted improvised thoughts haphazardly throughout, they had listened seriously.

Actually, the past flashbacks in the opening and the origin of the time loop ability weren’t things he had seen in the script.

Nevertheless, they were ideas he liked.

He had successfully persuaded the writers and instilled work motivation in them, so everything was perfect.

Now what remained was…

‘Casting.’

The seven supporting actors were no problem.

The ones he had seen in the script were his first choice in his heart.

The process of verifying their acting was necessary.

What he had seen wasn’t the actors’ performances but their actual lives.

If the actors’ performances fell far short of his experience, he had no intention of insisting on the casting.

But somehow he didn’t think that would be the case.

Among the seven, he had directly seen two or three of them acting, and they were owners of excellent acting skills.

The problem was the protagonist Hyeon-tae.

Now he knew Hyeon-tae’s face.

Although it was first-person possession, there were mirrors whenever he went to the bathroom.

But the problem was…

‘I don’t know who it is.’

A face he was seeing for the first time.

He seemed to be in his early to mid-twenties, or late twenties if he had a youthful face.

He was thin and small, with a sly and irritable voice.

Who could it be?

It’s not like he knew every actor, but if someone was good enough to land an OTT lead role, the face should be familiar.

But it was a face he had never seen before.

Could it be a newcomer?

A Cinderella who got the opportunity because their agency participated in production investment?

However, the problem was that he couldn’t know whether the casting shown by the supernatural ability included actual casting logic.

In reality, for a new actor to take the lead role, tremendous reasons would be needed, but the supernatural ability might have simply composed the roles with ‘the most suitable person.’

‘He shouldn’t be a rookie.’

If he’s really a rookie, things would get quite complicated.

Getting an okay from SSK would be difficult, but even if they did okay it, there would be many problems.

With a script written by a rookie writer, the only reliable element would be the lead actor, but the moment the lead is also a rookie, everything would be an uphill battle.

Casting even supporting roles would become an impossible dream.

Nevertheless, I couldn’t easily give up.

What I had seen was perfect casting.

To the point where I could no longer imagine Hyeon-tae with any other face or voice.

‘Let’s not get scared prematurely.’

Whatever the case, I need to find the Hyeon-tae I saw in the script first.

Even if I have to give up on casting for realistic reasons, I need to see him with my own eyes.

Once I actually look for him, he might turn out to be an actor who’s been active in works I don’t know about.

For now, I should contact Go Team Leader to get a list of rookie actors first, then start visiting the big agencies on foot.

* * *

“How did the script meeting go?”

“Well, I’m satisfied with it for now, but I’ll know for sure once I receive the final product.”

At my words, Chae Seo-hui tilted her head.

“The Accomplice meeting went satisfactorily?”

“For now, as I said.”

“Hmm…”

What’s with that look in her eyes?

It seems like she’s doubting my words.

Well, it is a project that even experienced CEs have given up on completely.

“More importantly, Seo-hui.”

“Hey, hierarchy. You sound like you’re from the field.”

“CE-nim.”

“Come to think of it, is CE a rank or a position? Anyway, what is it?”

“How does drama casting proceed?”

At my question, Chae Seo-hui shook her head back and forth.

“I hate casting even more than script work.”

“Why?”

“There are too many cooks. Production companies, writers, directors, channels, even actors who joined first.”

“Mm…”

According to Chae Seo-hui’s explanation that followed, dramas produced by OTT can be divided into three categories.

First is 100% OTT works.

Channel-led works where OTT covers all production costs, like Accomplice.

“This is the most comfortable to work on. It proceeds only with internal logic.”

Second is when OTT and production companies split the production costs.

It could be 5:5 or 6:4, but co-production works where the production company exercises influence that can’t be ignored.

“Balanced production is really the worst. We have our things to protect, and they have theirs.”

Third is production-led works where the production company takes responsibility for most of the production costs.

In this case, she said OTT only plays the role of pre-purchase + distribution network.

“Of course, these works are often cases where production companies are really confident, so channels try to match conditions somehow to participate with about 30% stake.”

I’ve felt this since last time, but Chae Seo-hui definitely has a talent for explanation.

Isn’t she a talent who should have gone into the education industry but ended up in the drama industry?

“Then since I’m the first case, casting will also proceed according to Tivic’s policy, right?”

“No?”

“Then?”

“You can do whatever you want, Hyeon-u.”

“What?”

“Who would get involved when you’re running with a bomb? What if they interfere saying cast this person, don’t cast that person, and then become co-responsible?”

“Ah?”

I can do whatever I want?

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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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