A Genius Director Who Dominates OTT Platforms - Chapter 82

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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 82

Exactly 30 years have passed since the first game broadcast began in 1999.

Two companies dominated the game broadcasting ecosystem in Korea.

‘GE Magazine’, which started as a cable broadcasting station and now controls media companies and variety production companies.

‘Userpoint’, which started with YouTuber management and is rapidly growing in the game broadcasting industry.

If GE Magazine was the traditional powerhouse with strong connections to the existing broadcasting industry, Userpoint was the emerging powerhouse quickly rising by understanding users’ tastes.

However, these two companies were coincidentally holding meetings at the same time about the same topic.

The agenda was ‘Handtip Crawl’.

More precisely, it was about how far TOOL would grow with this drama’s influence.

“We need to prepare when there’s no pro league. The reason we can’t break into ROR is because GE Magazine took the lead during the league creation stage.”

“Will TOOL really go as far as a pro league?”

“It was originally a well-regarded game. It was collapsing due to the small total user base characteristic of AOS, but it will dramatically turn around soon.”

“For that to happen, the drama needs to continue being successful… Is there a possibility?”

“There’s definitely possibility. Signs of a major hit are showing domestically, and while there hasn’t been a big reaction overseas yet, word of mouth is spreading. Above all, the reputation of the person who made the drama is very good. A ship steered by an excellent captain doesn’t sink easily.”

Stories related to Dohyeon-u poured from the mouth of the Promotions Team Leader who had been intensively investigating the drama side.

There was much content that even executives who didn’t know much about dramas could find interesting.

“If we can get exclusive broadcasting rights for TOOL, it’s worth considering using actors like Kim Ra-un, Min Jae-ryul, and Jeon So-ra as promotional models.”

After a long meeting, Userpoint decided to secure TOOL’s broadcasting rights.

Since there’s no pro league right now, they’d start with content inviting amateur experts.

“GE Magazine might make a move, so let’s secure it as quickly as possible.”

But contrary to Userpoint’s CEO’s concerns, GE Magazine’s conclusion was the complete opposite.

“【Handtip Crawl】 will lose steam. So let’s stop worrying about TOOL.”

At the CEO’s words, one of the directors cautiously spoke up.

“But CEO, TOOL’s user count increased significantly just from being briefly covered in Part 2. Shouldn’t we at least keep an eye on it?”

“This isn’t my opinion, it’s the opinion of the Drama Department managers. They all said so. That drama will inevitably lose power.”

The Drama Department managers are the top experts in that field.

Since the CEO personally ran around seeking expert advice, they should listen carefully.

“What’s the basis for that?”

“The success of Parts 1 and 2 was created by characters following existing drama conventions.”

“Existing conventions…”

“That’s what they said. That drama didn’t succeed because of the game, but because the kids playing the game are handsome and pretty.”

“That makes sense.”

“Everyone said the ratings will plummet the moment they seriously deal with the game.”

It wasn’t an unreasonable statement.

TOOL’s advance might also be an exaggeration created by migratory gamers who easily switch games.

But the younger employees couldn’t shake the feeling that the CEO’s opinion was wrong.

Because their hearts raced while watching the drama.

Because they desperately wanted to see how Seong-hwa Empire would succeed.

‘Is it because we work in the gaming industry?’

‘Maybe we’re biased…’

However, while they kept quiet due to lack of evidence for their judgment, the CEO said:

“It wouldn’t be hard to keep an eye on it, but I’m worried about offending Haiyen for no reason. ROR broadcasting rights are our bread and butter, so we can’t let that shake.”

“Yes, understood.”

“The industry consensus is that Handtip Crawl will lose popularity within 5 or 6 episodes at best, so don’t waver.”

Thus, the two companies reached different conclusions.

One side bet, the other folded.

The results of their choices would come sooner than expected.

It would only take 8 weeks for all 16 episodes of the drama to air.

* * *

Jeong Gi-jun watched Episode 4 of 【Handtip Crawl】 in the moving van.

Though he knew nothing about modern games, he was from the generation that played StarCraft.

It wasn’t too difficult to empathize with the pain and sorrow of the players on screen.

This wouldn’t be just him.

Those who were in their twenties when StarCraft was released in the late 90s are now in their fifties.

Moreover, Handtip Crawl properly incorporated the game into the narrative.

Whenever slightly unfamiliar content appeared, it was mysteriously connected to someone’s deficiency.

By empathizing with that deficiency, the game seemed to be naturally understood too.

‘This is amazing…’

Is it the power of the script writer?

It could be.

Looking closely, there wouldn’t be much dissonance even if that deficiency was connected to volleyball.

Is it the power of the director?

It could be.

Even if the script came out brilliantly, how much to show and how much to hide is entirely the director’s role.

Is it the power of the actors who performed?

This is also correct.

He’d heard several times that the filming atmosphere for Handtip Crawl was good, but the actors’ performances were fierce despite the atmosphere.

But when tracking each element, the answer you eventually reach is one.

Dohyeon-u.

Who changed a 15-year-old volleyball story into an E-sports story, brought in Accomplice writers to meet deadlines, appointed the best director, and cast perfect actors.

Though it’s regrettable that he wasn’t included in that lineup…

-Hello. I am Han Guk-yeong, team owner of Seong-hwa Empire. I understand there’s currently hot controversy regarding player Lee Yeong-han.

-As the general manager responsible for the team, I’d like to say a word.

-All you trashy yellow journalists can go eat shit. If you’re offended, then I’m talking about you. With that, I’ll end this press conference.

-Oh, right. We will win the next match.

Watching Kang Min-sik’s acting also brought pleasant feelings.

While Dohyeon-u was a junior he’d never worked with, Kang Min-sik was his direct junior.

When he heard the news that he’d left acting to work as a filming assistant staff, his heart ached.

‘There will be other opportunities.’

For him, it might be an opportunity that could come again, but for Kang Min-sik, it was a life-changing opportunity.

Moreover, to be honest, he wasn’t confident he could act Han Guk-yeong better than Kang Min-sik.

-Interesting, Han Guk-yeong?

-…Sa Mo-yeon.

-What were you thinking when you predicted victory? Isn’t the next opponent the league’s first-place team?

-You said it, didn’t you? That I can’t invest in people. I guess that’s not right. I just couldn’t invest in you.

-…!

-I’m going to try believing. In the players and the coach.

Especially in terms of chemistry with Jeon So-ra.

‘If I had acted with Jeon So-ra, it probably wouldn’t have suited us.’

There wouldn’t be the subtle tempo like now, and they probably would have just shown off each other’s acting skills.

Did Dohyeon-u think this far?

That while Jeong Gi-jun-Lee Min-seon chemistry was proven in Oxygen Warning, Jeong Gi-jun-Jeon So-ra or Kang Min-sik-Lee Min-seon wouldn’t suit each other well?

So he cast Kang Min-sik-Jeon So-ra simultaneously?

If that’s really possible…

“U-chang.”

“Yes, hyung.”

“From now on, give me any offers that come to Director Dohyeon-u directly, whatever they are. Got it?”

“Oh, yes. I’ll tell the CEO too.”

“Good.”

Rather than looking fondly at him as a junior from the theater troupe, it seemed she should worry about how to make herself look good to Dohyeon-u.

* * *

North American ROR pro team player ‘Ricky’ watched a drama on Netflix.

It was a K-drama he discovered by chance, and he clicked on it because the thumbnail looked like a pro gamer.

And it really was an E-sports drama.

At first, he started watching out of curiosity about Korea’s gaming industry, but soon he was completely absorbed.

Everything about it was captivating.

But what resonated most with Ricky was the shout from the coach, a former volleyball player.

-You feel like you have to win because of the team owner’s interview? You stupid bastards! Do you know how ridiculous it is to find reasons why you want to win?!

-Do you think I ever once thought about ‘why’ I wanted to win when I stepped onto the court?

-There’s no reason for winning! It’s your job!

-Job! Position! Duty!

-That handful of fans out there gave you this position! And you have to carry that as your duty!

-So after we win! After that, when we think about why we won! Ah, it’s thanks to the fans who gave me this position!

-This is a pro’s mindset!

-Is this something I, who doesn’t know games, shouldn’t say? Huh?

Until now, the players on the bottom-ranked team needed a reason to try hard, but the cry that no reason was needed ironically became the biggest reason of all.

-W-we won! We won!

-We won!

-Don’t get excited and prepare for set 2!

When they took the first set, Ricky got as excited as if he had won himself.

But the drama was very realistic.

The gap with strong teams wasn’t something that could be easily closed.

Seongwha Empire lost with a set score of 1:2.

But a new thought appeared on the players’ faces.

‘Maybe we can do it too.’

Finally, the coach who had always avoided mirrors looked at himself in the restroom.

A man who, when he was a lone wolf top player, only had to take care of himself and never learned how to help others.

He faced his memories of failure directly.

And he smiled.

-Bastard, still handsome.

Ricky was thrilled.

* * *

That night, Ricky turned on his stream and poured out words to his fans.

[North American pro gamers have lost their minds!

We say GAP IS CLOSING and that we’re getting closer to Korea, but…

We can never reach them!

Because we’re looking for reasons!

You don’t need reasons to win! It’s a JOB. In Korean, this is called JIGUP! JIG is like a knightly title…!]

-Why is he acting like this?

-I don’t know. He’s been like this since he started streaming.

-Did something happen with his team?

-He seems a bit over the top, but honestly, he’s not wrong. We lack too much drive for improvement.

-He’s right. Koreans finish their mandatory education and immediately rush to PC Bangs to integrate into the youth system.

-Youth system?

-It’s like a cradle and cornucopia where countless pro gamers are born.

Ricky’s remarks received some support, but only briefly.

Someone revealed that all of Ricky’s statements were lines from the K-drama 【At Your Fingertips】.

What followed was predictable.

Ricky was flooded with mockery like ‘over-immersed fan’, ‘lecture addict’, ‘K-drama otaku’.

But on the other hand.

-This is really interesting though?

-I recommend watching with subtitles instead of the crappy dubbed version.

-I found out about it through the Ricky issue, and I’m completely satisfied. Drama of the year!

-The only downside to this drama is that only 6 episodes have been released.

It became the starting point that drove Handtip Crawl’s overseas success.

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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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