A Genius Director Who Dominates OTT Platforms - Chapter 60

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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 60

 

Startled, I jumped up from my seat as Senior Jeong Gi-jun exchanged greetings with the people around him.

 

“Senior Gi-jun! What brings you here?”

 

“I heard from Tae-ho.”

 

“Ah, Tae-ho was your manager until last year, right?”

 

I wasn’t acquainted with Senior Jeong Gi-jun, but the seniors who had been active for several years before me knew him.

 

He was contemporaries with the senior who was now working as a lighting director.

 

After catching up with the people around him, Jeong Gi-jun suddenly approached me.

 

“Nice to meet you, Director Dohyeon-u.”

 

“Hello, Senior. Please feel free to speak casually.”

 

“Hmm, should I? May I sit down?”

 

“Of course.”

 

Jeong Gi-jun brought over a chair and sat down, then got straight to the point.

 

“Actually, I came to see you, Director.”

 

I had a feeling that might be the case.

 

I had felt his gaze directed toward me several times while talking with the seniors.

 

“I have something I’m curious about. May I ask?”

 

“Please speak freely.”

 

“Why did you try to cast me?”

 

As I pondered this sudden question without any preamble, Jeong Gi-jun added,

 

“If there’s no reason, you can just say there isn’t one.”

 

“There is a reason.”

 

“Then why?”

 

“I was choosing my words carefully. Since I’ve been drinking.”

 

“How much have you had?”

 

“I think I’ve had more than two bottles.”

 

Senior Jeong Gi-jun chuckled, opened a bottle of soju on the table, and downed it in one shot.

 

I had heard rumors about this.

 

That Senior Jeong Gi-jun could really hold his liquor.

 

But still, is that even possible?

 

“Is that enough? Should I drink another bottle?”

 

“That’s sufficient.”

 

I didn’t know why he was asking about the reason for a casting that had already fallen through, but I decided to be honest.

 

Because I seemed to sense some unidentifiable longing in Senior Jeong Gi-jun’s eyes.

 

And I was curious if it might be exactly what I was thinking.

 

“I really loved your acting, Senior. But it changed somewhat after you started doing multiple projects.”

 

“How do you think it changed?”

 

“It seemed like the target you were trying to satisfy had changed. Instead of trying to satisfy yourself, it felt like you were trying to satisfy the viewers, the audience?”

 

“…”

 

“Like, ‘No matter how hard I try, you guys can’t feel it, right? So I’ll do it at the level you want,’ that kind of feeling?”

 

“That’s not necessarily a bad thing, is it?”

 

“Of course not. If it weren’t for the movie you filmed last year, I would have just thought your acting philosophy had changed. As you said, it’s not a bad thing.”

 

“The one I filmed last year… what was it like?”

 

“It seemed like you had returned to the past. So I thought, ‘Ah, this is the kind of acting he wants to do. Could we possibly have him in our production?'”

 

“…That one flopped. I think it’s been a really long time since I had a flop.”

 

“It wasn’t your fault, was it, Senior? And didn’t you know it would flop when you agreed to appear in it?”

 

After a long silence, Jeong Gi-jun chuckled.

 

“You’re like a ghost. Does that show?”

 

“Didn’t everyone know?”

 

“People who know me well knew. But you’re the first person to figure it out just from watching the work.”

 

“I think people just held back from saying anything.”

 

“Excessive modesty becomes deception.”

 

Jeong Gi-jun fidgeted with his soju glass for a long time.

 

“That movie was… Well, no need to get all melodramatic about it.”

 

It seemed like there was a story behind it.

 

The directing style changed dramatically midway through, and when I looked into it, the director had changed.

 

Had the younger brother taken over the megaphone instead of the older brother?

 

Then Jeong Gi-jun brought up something out of the blue.

 

“Actually, this contract is, um, fifty-fifty fault?”

 

“Contract?”

 

“The appearance contract for Oxygen Alert.”

 

“Ah.”

 

But what does he mean by fault?

 

“I didn’t give my okay, but the agency stamped the seal on their own. But then again, that’s how I’ve been working until now.”

 

I understood what he meant.

 

While doing multiple projects, the agency often set the schedule first and notified him later.

 

Since there had been no problems for several years, it had become an established practice.

 

“Junior. What do you want to do?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“If I pay the penalty and come over to your side, would you take me?”

 

* * *

 

The alcohol effect completely wore off.

 

Pay the penalty?

 

So, he’d ditch Oxygen Alert and come to our production?

 

My sobered mind started spinning rapidly.

 

Though I didn’t know exactly, I could roughly estimate Jeong Gi-jun’s appearance fee.

 

He would have received 10% of his total appearance fee as a signing bonus, and since filming hadn’t started yet, the penalty would simply be double that.

 

At most, it would be around 100 million won.

 

Maybe even less than that.

 

It wasn’t an amount that an actor of Jeong Gi-jun’s caliber couldn’t handle, and if he split it with his agency, the burden would be even lighter.

 

After finishing my calculations, greed bloomed in my heart.

 

I wanted to steal Jeong Gi-jun away.

 

I wanted to see Ju Yeong-hun’s face contort with anger.

 

So…

 

“I don’t think that would work, Senior.”

 

My answer was a refusal.

 

“…Unexpected. Why?”

 

“It wouldn’t be good for you, Senior.”

 

“Me? You’re worried about me right now?”

 

“Yes. Because it goes against the natural order.”

 

This wasn’t about breaking an appearance contract due to problems with the production or casting.

 

This was purely a casting withdrawal based on whim.

 

From Jeong Gi-jun’s perspective, he might want to claim fifty-fifty fault, but from the outside, it wouldn’t look that way.

 

From casting directors’ perspective, this would be the worst disqualifying factor.

 

Moreover, there would be actors who decided to appear in Oxygen Alert because they wanted to work with Jeong Gi-jun…

 

“If you come to our drama and succeed all by yourself, wouldn’t your colleagues resent you?”

 

I couldn’t push an actor into an obvious pit just because I wanted to spite Ju Yeong-hun.

 

I didn’t want to become the same kind of person.

 

The moment I finished speaking, Jeong Gi-jun and the seniors around us burst into laughter.

 

“Ah, this is interesting. Good thing I came.”

 

At Senior Jeong Gi-jun’s words, Senior Kang Min-sik added.

 

“So you’re basically assuming your own drama will do well?”

 

I mean, does a director make works while doubting them instead of being confident?

 

“I guess this is why Accomplice did well. What a shame. I’ve become interested in working with my junior.”

 

“There might be an opportunity.”

 

“Right, there will be. So who are you considering for the new Han Guk-yeong? If it’s someone I know, I might be able to help.”

 

I had been racking my brains thinking about it.

 

Not just Han Guk-yeong, but Samoyeon and Pidoseon too.

 

Because they’re such important parts.

 

But honestly speaking…

 

This is quite fun.

 

I’ve never proceeded with casting according to my own will before.

 

In others’ eyes, I might look like a dictatorial director who crushed unknown actors, but everything started from my supernatural ability’s recommendations.

 

Of course, I don’t deny that the supernatural ability’s casting was perfect in terms of completeness.

 

But is there a reason there must be only one perfect actor?

 

Just like there are countless Jokers and Batmans in this world, each with different charms.

 

In other words, I was choosing actors according to my own will for the first time.

 

And…

 

The Han Guk-yeong candidate I had in mind was right in front of me.

 

Not Senior Jeong Gi-jun.

 

“Senior Min-sik.”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“Would you like to audition? For Han Guk-yeong.”

 

“What?”

 

I don’t overestimate my own abilities, but visualization is an exception.

 

This is my weapon and specialty.

 

And when I erased Jeong Gi-jun from Han Guk-yeong’s face using that ability.

 

Senior Kang Min-sik was the first to come to mind.

 

Of course, it would be somewhat different from Jeong Gi-jun’s Han Guk-yeong.

 

More reckless, more easygoing, more human.

 

But wouldn’t that be quite charming too?

 

If I can’t replace Jeong Gi-jun’s style of Han Guk-yeong, I need to find a new Han Guk-yeong.

 

It’s not confirmed.

 

Since he’s been away from acting for a while, there’s a lot to check.

 

I might have to apologize after conducting camera tests.

 

But if he can act properly, Kang Min-sik is my first choice.

 

Because I’m the person who has watched Senior Min-sik’s acting more than anyone else.

 

“…Are you offering me Senior Gi-jun’s role right now?”

 

“No. I’m proposing an audition. It’s not confirmed.”

 

“Still, you made the proposal because you have me in mind, right?”

 

“Right? You’re the only actor I’ve contacted so far.”

 

I was originally planning to give detailed explanations separately tomorrow, but somehow the situation turned out this way.

 

“Why? Why, why me…”

 

“Is there a reason? I just think you’d suit it well.”

 

I took out a script from my bag and handed it to Kang Min-sik.

 

Amid the gazes of the seniors who had become quiet, Kang Min-sik received the script with trembling hands.

 

But that was the moment.

 

Something I had never imagined happened.

 

The ground suddenly sank, the bar spun around and around…

 

“You bastards! Won’t you come to your senses?!”

 

I was inside the script again.

 

* * *

 

“What do you mean? Dohyeon-u finished the core casting?”

 

“Yes. I heard a report went up to the Manager.”

 

“So he sealed the deal? Not just made contact?”

 

“Yes.”

 

At his subordinate’s words, Ju Yeong-hun frowned.

 

Ju Yeong-hun had also seen the script for 【Caught at Fingertips】.

 

Jeong Gi-jun, Lee Min-seon, Choi Ha-il.

 

They weren’t actors who could be easily replaced.

 

Honestly, he felt jealous of Dohyeon-u’s casting.

 

If the beginning of a drama is the script, the end is the casting.

 

Behind the saying that drama is a script game lies the prerequisite that proper actors are needed to perform well.

 

So casting is absolutely not something that can be done easily.

 

Countless team members gather to discuss countless actors, chew over countless scenes to find the right person, and watch their filmographies to diagnose synchronization rates.

 

Even doing all that doesn’t guarantee a conclusion.

 

At best, you can only find candidate groups of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choices.

 

It’s frequent to go back to the beginning when the candidates don’t give a good feeling during actual meetings.

 

But Dohyeon-u had no team members and no time, yet he knocked out castings in an instant.

 

Jeong Gi-jun might be understandable since he’s a prolific actor, but Lee Min-seon and Choi Ha-il were applause-worthy casts.

 

But as soon as that fell through, he found replacement actors?

 

Did he move quickly before getting robbed again?

 

Or…

 

Did he really find good actors?

 

Ju Yeong-hun gulped and asked.

 

“Who is Han Guk-yeong?”

 

“I don’t know. He was a Theater Troupe actor, a newcomer.”

 

“A complete newcomer? In his 40s?”

 

“Yes. He has no mainstream experience and only theater experience. His most recent independent film was 5 years ago. His name is… ah, Kang Min-sik.”

 

Ju Yeong-hun, who was sighing in relief, suddenly thought of Accomplice.

 

The 8 people he had signed off on because it was so absurd when he received the report.

 

Thinking of the results those guys produced made him feel uncomfortable.

 

“Then what about Pidoseon?”

 

Though Samoyeon is the higher role, he was more curious about this.

 

“He’s a member of DVX. His stage name is Ruan, and his real name is Kim Si-woo.”

 

“DVX? What… an idol?”

 

“Yes. He’s a 4th-year active idol with considerable popularity. He has a thick core fanbase too.”

 

Looking at just the situation, it does fit.

 

In the story, an 18-year-old pro gamer.

 

It’s a perfect role for an idol to play.

 

The problem is that the screen time is considerable.

 

“Does he have acting experience?”

 

“No. DVX never had individual activities in the first place.”

 

“He’s planning to film while teaching?”

 

“That’s what we assume for now.”

 

“Then what about Samoyeon?”

 

“Well…”

 

When his subordinate hesitated, Ju Yeong-hun pressed.

 

“What? Tell me.”

 

“That, her name is Jeon So-ra.”

 

“What? What kind of nonsense is that!”

 

“I thought it didn’t make sense either, so I checked several times, but it’s really true….”

 

“What kind of ridiculous…!”

 

Jeon So-ra.

 

The top actress who was most successful before Seo Jae-yeon, and the top star who was called the nation’s goddess.

 

Though it’s been over 5 years since she had any project activities, she’s still an actress receiving countless love calls from dramas and movies.

 

There wasn’t any particular incident or accident, and even her last work broke through ten million viewers.

 

Moreover, she’s only 37 years old.

 

There would be tons of projects where she could play the solo female lead, but she’s taking a 4th or 5th role?

 

“Stop talking nonsense and go find out properly!”

 

But Ju Yeong-hun’s outburst was useless.

 

Because it was the truth.

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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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