A Genius Director Who Dominates OTT Platforms - Chapter 79

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

The Genius Director Who Dominates OTT

Episode 79

* * *

A spacious studio apartment with a panoramic view of the Han River.

Reflecting its owner’s personality, Jang Gi-un was in a space where nothing could be found except functional items.

Jang Gi-un smiled slightly as he rewatched the 2 minutes and 12 seconds video, which was long for a trailer.

“So he really was a genius?”

Then I should match up too.

He quietly muttered and closed his laptop.

* * *

Am I cursed?

How do problems arise every time I release a work?

It had only been 4 days since the first trailer completely lifted the atmosphere, but a damn issue exploded.

It was a controversy over Im Un-jae’s morality.

-Im Un-jae is fucking ridiculous. Did he ruin other people’s lives and then move to the drama industry?

As it turned out, there were problematic music videos that Im Un-jae had directed.

This wasn’t simply about whether they were well-made or not.

There was a boy group that received criticism because the music video’s symbols were too sexual, and a girl group that got cursed at for copying a foreign artist’s concept.

Fans of groups who had gone through difficult times because of this began attacking Im Un-jae.

But this is a bit strange.

They might not like the music videos, but isn’t this not a typical fan reaction?

I had someone suspicious in mind, but I called Director Im Un-jae first to resolve the situation.

-It’s my fault…

An unexpected response came back.

-I tried to do my best every moment, but there were probably times when I filmed half-heartedly. That shows in the quality.

-Same with the screening. I should have been strict during the concept meeting stage, but I let things slide because I was busy…

Since he’s saying it’s all his fault, I have nothing to say.

After hanging up with Director Im Un-jae, I was lost in thought when I saw Chae Seo-hui with a carefree face.

Kwon Cheol, Noh Jae-uk, and even Yun Hyeon-sol were worried sick, but she alone was peaceful.

Her expression is almost like a fennec fox?

“Why aren’t you worried?”

“What’s there to worry about?”

“A problem exploded.”

“You’ll solve it.”

“It might not be solvable.”

“Then I’ll worry about it all at once when that time comes.”

What is this? This unpleasant feeling from such overwhelming trust?

Then Chae Seo-hui asked.

“So don’t you have a solution?”

“…There is something that comes to mind.”

“What is it?”

Isn’t there an old saying?

Simple is best.

“Simple is the best.”

* * *

Choi Ha-il, who had been frantically handling Oxygen Warning’s promotional schedule, leaned back against the van seat.

“Ugh, I’m dying.”

It was hard to believe this came from a twenty-year-old’s mouth, but it was really too intense.

Judging by how much money Tivic burned on promotion, the promotional schedule was non-stop.

Of course, he wasn’t complaining.

This was much better than being idle after filming a work.

While Manager Hyeong was greeting reporters, Choi Ha-il took out his smartphone.

When he accessed YouTube, he could see thumbnails of 【Caught at Fingertips】 among the algorithm filled with Oxygen Warning.

‘Caught at Fingertips…’

Tivic thinks that his rejection of Handtip Crawl and choice of Oxygen Warning was the agency’s decision, but actually it wasn’t.

Choosing Oxygen Warning was Choi Ha-il’s own decision.

The reason was simple.

The character Pi Do-seon made him uncomfortable.

Looking at Pi Do-seon’s emotional lines and backstory brought up unpleasant feelings.

He felt like he could act it well if he tried, but…

‘Why bother?’

It would be different if there were no alternatives, but Oxygen Warning appeared.

And honestly, Handtip Crawl’s subject matter is a bit childish.

Liking games in real life is different from acting as a gamer.

Most game scenes in the script were handled as montages, but no matter how he thought about it, it didn’t seem like major scenes could be expressed with montages alone.

In the end, he’d have to act like it’s incredibly difficult while tapping keyboards and mice…

Cringeworthy.

No matter how he thought about it, it seemed like it would be childish.

That’s why he rejected it.

Seeing Director Im Un-jae getting criticized since two days ago, it seems like he made the right choice not doing it.

Choi Ha-il was thinking such thoughts while looking at social media.

Through the SNS of Handtip Crawl actors he followed (worried he might look bad), Director Im Un-jae’s apology post came up.

@MVIMUJ

There is no room for excuses.

I am deeply sorry for disappointing fans with the inadequacies that showed in the works of artists I should have filmed with greater affection.

I take this opportunity to apologize to the artists, and I am contacting each one individually to apologize.

I am truly sorry.

A textbook apology without a single excuse.

Honestly, it was unexpected.

Regardless of experience or age, most directors are quite stubborn.

You need that level of stubbornness to be called “Director” in this industry.

‘What’s the reaction?’

Choi Ha-il checked the comment section.

-Hey, isn’t this just nitpicking; He’s just someone who films according to agency orders anyway;

-For real, honestly just fault-finding

-? Was this about our idol?

-Right? We’re busy sending trucks because they booked such a cramped concert venue, why are we talking about Im Un-jae…?

-Everyone shut up and go watch the Handtip Crawl trailer right now. It’s insane lol

-What the fuck is this

-Trailer? Kim Ra-un?

-No no no, go to YouTube.

Trailer?

Curious, he went to YouTube and saw the second Handtip Crawl trailer that had just been uploaded.

Choi Ha-il, who had played the video without much thought, muttered with a bitter expression.

“…I rejected this? Me?”

* * *

-Holy shit.

-What the fuck

-An e-sports drama? It looks fucking interesting.

-What’s this song? Is it a drama OST?

-Sounds like Luhan’s voice?

-Yeah, that’s definitely Luhan.

-I thought it would be tacky since it’s a gaming drama… but what’s with this sophistication.

-Can you handle this “sophistication”?

-hahahaha you’re crazy

-Damn, Director Im is fucking good at this. Isn’t this something only a music video director could do?

-It’s a bit much to judge just from a trailer, but he doesn’t seem like someone without skills? Kim Ra-un’s trailer was good too.

-The apology statement was clean too. He must have felt wronged in some ways.

-But why isn’t it ROR? What game is that?

-It’s called TOOL, a domestic AOS genre game.

-Why not use ROR? Why go out of their way?

-I heard Haiyen demanded tens of billions just to use ROR game footage.

-Are they idiots?? The user count is already declining, they should grab opportunities like this.

-Would Haiyen grab that opportunity?

-Right, their company management concept is tone-deaf.

The power of the trailer that had amazed the actors on set was formidable.

Originally, the music video format trailer was supposed to be the third trailer, but we changed it to the second due to circumstances.

We even moved the schedule up by ten days.

Thanks to this, the forces that had been attacking Director Im Un-jae disappeared without a trace in an instant.

It seemed like Ju Yeong-hun’s side had pulled some strings after all.

I had been uncertain, but seeing the attacking forces vanish so quickly confirmed it.

There was a possibility it could have been Jang Gi-un instead of Ju Yeong-hun, but probably not.

Jang Gi-un is someone who ignores even his own emotions and moves solely for profit.

What would he gain by messing with Handtip Crawl right now?

If I failed, he could get recognition that his management style was correct, but…

It would be inefficient and abstract.

Just attempting it would cost enormous money and time, while all Jang Gi-un would gain is abstract reputation.

There’s no guarantee he’d succeed in ruining Handtip Crawl either.

This isn’t Jang Gi-un’s style.

Although I counterattacked, the approach itself of badmouthing ‘Dohyeon-u’ to promote ‘Algorithm of 0%’ was low-cost, high-efficiency.

Anyway, it wasn’t just the public who were surprised by this trailer.

“Hey, what’s up with Dohyeon-u.”

“I thought he was just some music video director with a bit of indie film experience…”

“If we limit it to E-sports content, his direction might be perfect?”

I could frequently hear SSK employees whispering as they looked at me.

Time flew by quickly in this situation.

Like our first and second trailers, Oxygen Warning also released their second and third trailers.

The response was good this time too.

These were trailers that highlighted the passionate acting performances of actors other than Tae-ung.

Thanks to this, people openly debated which of the two works would be more interesting.

Then came Thursday, August 7th.

Episodes 1 and 2 of Oxygen Warning were released on the Tivic platform.

* * *

1st place in 5 Asian countries including Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

TOP 10 entry in 53 countries including North America.

Top-tier performance in all metrics including viewing duration and retention rate.

These were the records set by episodes 1 and 2 of 【Oxygen Warning】.

Country rankings are obvious if you have eyes to see, but data like retention rates usually takes a week to know.

I heard it through Seong Tae, but that’s the principle.

However, from morning, all SSK employees were talking about Oxygen Warning’s raw data.

It was because the 3 Team CEs visiting the 4th floor for marketing were excitedly chattering about it.

I think they’re saying it for me to hear…

Do I really have social problems?

Why do I have so many enemies?

I don’t know about Ju Yeong-hun, but I don’t think I’ve particularly clashed with the CEs.

“Doesn’t this mean it performed better than Accomplice?”

“I’d say so, right?”

Actually, just looking at the numbers, Accomplice’s data was better.

But comparing the numbers of these two works doesn’t make sense.

Oxygen Warning’s total viewing time is more than double that of Accomplice.

In other words, the influx is more than double, but the difference in metrics isn’t that significant.

Even with high influx inevitably leading to high dropout rates, achieving top-tier metrics meant Oxygen Warning was a really well-made drama.

Probably equivalent to a 15% viewership rating if converted.

Better than Youngpal’s start.

Personally, I found episodes 1 and 2 quite entertaining.

It was nice to see senior Jeong Gi-jun abandon his moderate acting tailored to the masses and return to his original passion.

Separate from my feelings about Go Hak-su or Ju Yeong-hun, I have to view works objectively.

But there seem to be quite a lot of people who want to see my expression crumble.

Ju Yeong-hun was among them.

We ran into each other in the lobby when I was coming back with coffee.

No matter how much Team 3 and Team 4 use different floors, it’s impossible not to run into each other while coming and going from the company.

Each time, we’d pretend not to see each other and pass by…

Today he seems to have something he wants to say.

Sure enough, Ju Yeong-hun’s mouth opened with a subtle smile.

“Should I say thank you?”

I thought he was talking about Tae-ung instead of Kim Ra-un, but that wasn’t it.

“Looking at the data, it seems I benefited from subscribers who came in thanks to Accomplice.”

That’s what he meant?

“Congratulations. Since we work at the same company, it’s good if we can help each other.”

I thought it was an appropriate response, but Ju Yeong-hun’s expression twisted sharply.

No, why is he being scary?

Isn’t this a gentle response?

Then I suddenly remembered what Go Team Leader said.

“Watching from the side, it really felt like you were looking down on him.”

“Go Hak-su came to provoke you once and seemed to get upset.”

What kind of expression am I making right now?

“Do you still believe your work will do better?”

“Um, yes.”

“What?”

“Shouldn’t a producer have confidence in their own work?”

I had said what I needed to say, but since Ju Yeong-hun was glaring at me, I forced myself to add more.

“I enjoyed watching Oxygen Warning episodes 1 and 2. The acting was great, and the direction was good too.”

“…”

“I’m sincere.”

Is there something else he wants to hear?

“I’ll be going now.”

I had nothing more to say, so I tried to greet him and pass by, but Ju Yeong-hun grabbed me.

“Hey.”

“Hey? That’s a bit much.”

“What exactly are you relying on to act so cocky?”

“What I want to ask is, why do you hate me so much? Because I’m a high school graduate? Because of General Manager Kim Seong-tae?”

“….”

“You’re the one who handed me Accomplice, and you’re the one who isolated me in Team 3, aren’t you, Senior? Should I come running down when you tell me to after getting beaten up happily?”

I asked because I genuinely didn’t understand, but Ju Yeong-hun had nothing much to say.

“Senior, I find making dramas fun, you know? So can’t we just quietly do our work?”

“Quietly?”

“Yes. The Ethics Committee, the production budget cuts… We all know about it, right? We’re just pretending not to know because we’re busy. Or do I need to dig into why you were kicked out of the general manager position for you to be satisfied?”

“…!”

“Anyway, congratulations on Oxygen Warning’s success. I hope it continues to do well.”

About half of that was sincere.

I’d feel good if Ju Yeong-hun or Go Hak-su failed, but the actors and the work itself aren’t at fault, right?

With that, I really did pass by Ju Yeong-hun and got on the elevator.

Looking at the mirror inside the elevator, my face looked perfectly fine.

It seems Go Team Leader was joking after all.

* * *

Ju Yeong-hun sat down, breathing heavily.

He had definitely been in a very good mood just a few minutes ago, but now it felt like he’d been doused with sewage water.

“Damn bastard….”

He could feel the CEs next to him flinch in surprise, but he didn’t have the energy to care.

Looking back, it had been like this from the first time he saw him.

Behind Dohyeon-u’s face acting polite, there was something ominous.

At first, he thought it was because he was Kim Seong-tae’s lackey.

But at some point, he realized.

Dohyeon-u had a line.

And he acted mercilessly toward those who crossed that line.

That’s why he felt he needed to step on him.

He couldn’t shake off the ominous feeling that if left alone, he would become a big problem someday.

“The Ethics Committee, the production budget cuts….”

“We all know about it, right?”

“Or do I need to dig into why you were kicked out of the general manager position for you to be satisfied?”

Should he not have crossed the line?

Ju Yeong-hun frowned, flustered at himself for having such thoughts.

Then he went online to shake off his thoughts.

He thought seeing Oxygen Warning doing well would make him feel a bit better.

But.

“What is this….”

Popular rising videos, real-time trends, hot topics.

Just a little while ago, it had all been about Oxygen Warning.

Everything had changed.

To ‘Jeon So-ra’s comeback’.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————