In This Life, I Want an Oscar, Not a Husband - Chapter 84

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

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This life, I choose The Oscars over a husband.
Chapter 84

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A film production company in Mapo.
The film company Maru.
Ma Je-hee, its representative, was taken aback as he observed Park Seo-woo sitting across from him—a composed young man with an unassuming demeanor.
‘A rookie director without a shred of nervousness. At that age, no less.’
After watching “To My Dearest Kim Ji-hyun,” Ma Je-hee had coveted the film’s rights.
It was genuinely well-made.
From the screenplay to the editing, everything was flawless.
Even Ha Eun-rae’s performance as the lead was beyond reproach.
The only problem was—

“Director Park, I really enjoyed the film. Any chance you’d sell us the screenplay?”

Ma Je-hee wasn’t the only one thinking that.
Watching the spotlight converge on Park Seo-woo at the Busan International Film Festival, Ma Je-hee had already resigned himself to abandoning any hope of acquiring the rights to “To My Dearest Kim Ji-hyun.”
At that level of acclaim, he’d demand an astronomical sum for the rights.
And Maru simply didn’t have that kind of capital.
But then—

“You don’t need to pay an upfront fee. However, I do have conditions.”
“You don’t need an upfront fee?”
“That’s right. I’d like to direct it myself.”
“Ah, well that’s…”
“And I want to keep the cast intact. The actress Ha Eun-rae.”
“I beg your pardon?”

At those words, Ma Je-hee’s mind began to work.
He suspected Park Seo-woo hadn’t made such conditions just once or twice.
Park Seo-woo must have received countless offers.
But the fact that Park Seo-woo had extended this opportunity even to him meant that most production companies were thinking the same way.
‘A project with both a rookie director and a rookie actor won’t attract investors.’
Even if you could entrust the directing to a rookie, Ha Eun-rae was a rising newcomer.
In The Apartment and Purgatory, she had only played supporting roles—she had never led an entire production on her own.
What a commercial film’s lead needed was the kind of recognition and star power that appealed to middle-aged investors.
In short, it was impossible for Ha Eun-rae to claim the top spot in a commercial film.
But Ma Je-hee’s calculations were somewhat different.
He had seen Ha Eun-rae’s acting in Dear Kim Ji-hyun.
Though still a newcomer, she possessed both the acting ability and the visual appeal to easily take on drama lead roles in the future.
If she took on the female lead in a drama, her recognition would spread not just among the 10-20 age group but also to middle-aged and older audiences.
Then Ha Eun-rae would no longer be merely a rising star, but an acknowledged actress who would capture investors’ attention.
In other words, this was the perfect opportunity to ‘buy low’ on Ha Eun-rae.
For a production company without much money, it was actually a blessing.

“That sounds great. I also think actress Ha Eun-rae is absolutely perfect for this…!”
“Then I’ll reach out to actress Ha Eun-rae about it.”
“Directly?”
“Yes.”

And now—
“We got a call from Ha Eun-rae’s talent agency, Representative. They said they want to participate.”
Ma Je-hee couldn’t hide his smile at this windfall.
After seeing Ha Eun-rae sing on Celebrity Karaoke Competition not long ago, Ma Je-hee had wiped away tears.
The song itself was moving, but the sound of Ha Eun-rae’s stock rising was even more moving.
“Then I’ll start recruiting investors right away. Director, I’m counting on you. As for the screenplay—”
“It’s right here, the screenplay.”
What surprised him even more was Park Seo-woo’s screenplay.
How long had it been since the Busan International Film Festival ended, and yet a piping-hot two-hour film screenplay had arrived before him.
“Oh, the title has changed.”

Us, Kim Ji-hyun

Ma Je-hee smiled as he looked at the title written on the first page of the script.
“This has a really good feeling to it.”
Park Seo-woo responded to Ma Je-hee’s comment.
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“Man, but this fast….”
Watching Ma Je-hee’s admiration, Park Seo-woo smiled faintly.
He’d started writing the scenario the moment he returned from the Busan International Film Festival, and the first draft came together in just one day.
After seeing Ha Eun-rae at the Busan International Film Festival, Kim Ji-hyun and Lee Eun-rae—Ha Eun-rae’s characters—had crystallized completely in his mind.
Because he’d written the scenario that way, he’d thought there would be no need to revise it again—

“Ha Eun-rae’s acting is really… strange? Her performance feels different every time I watch it.”

On The Apartment film set, he changed his mind.
Every time he watched her perform, he refined the characters of Kim Ji-hyun and Lee Eun-rae more meticulously in his head.
The refined characters of Kim Ji-hyun and Lee Eun-rae moved freely within his laptop.
He simply had to follow their movements and write.
Watching Ha Eun-rae act, his mind overflowed with countless ideas as if it might burst.
So he wrote every single day, again and again.
He revised it countless times, and with each revision, it became more vivid.
It felt like excavating an archaeological site—as if he were simply unearthing the life of a character that had always existed.
That was the completed scenario.
And Ma Je-hee’s reaction after reading that scenario was—
‘Insane.’
It was shock.
“I’m going to start recruiting investors right away.”
In Ma Je-hee’s eyes, this was a perfect scenario that didn’t even need adaptation.
Right. Park Seo-woo had anticipated that much.
But the investors might want revisions.
They could have forced him to make it more commercially appealing to the masses.
“If the investors….”
“If anyone tries to adapt this, I’ll kill them all. Don’t worry.”
Watching Ma Je-hee’s eyes burn with passion, Park Seo-woo chuckled.
“I’m counting on you.”
It was fortunate.
This scenario had been crafted from the start as a perfect fit for Ha Eun-rae.

* * *

A week later.
Incheon Airport.
Surrounded by cameras, Park Yoon-bae, Jung Ji-hwan, and producer-turned-singer Jung Min-hyun stared at the PD and writers with dejected expressions.
Among them, veteran actors Park Yoon-bae and Jung Ji-hwan were fixed members of the variety show “Cafe for the First Time” and had also appeared on “Camping for the First Time,” driving the program’s popularity.
“What do we do? Apparently Dam Ro-yeon can’t make it due to scheduling conflicts….”
Dam Ro-yeon.
She was a famous solo female singer and had been the first guest on “Cafe for the First Time” alongside Jung Min-hyun, who was producing her new album.
“Ugh, those broadcasting station bastards! How are three people supposed to run a cafe? They said there are tons of tables! Ro-yeon was supposed to be the one serving!”
Lee Seop-jae, the PD known for his raw, sometimes fist-inducing approach, had put them through this before, but this time it was severe.
“Really? I guess Ji-hwan here will have to do the dishes and serve at the same time. Ha-ha.”
Lee Seop-jae’s characteristic cheerfulness ignited the anger of Park Yoon-bae and Jung Ji-hwan.
On “Camping for the First Time,” Jung Ji-hwan had taken on all the dishwashing in harsh conditions, earning him the nickname “Dish-hwan.”
Was he trying to use that again because it was funny?
Look at that grinning face.
Lee Seop-jae was different from other PDs who panicked at unexpected situations like this.
Rather, he enjoyed capturing the cast’s genuine reactions when such situations arose.
That was the secret to the popularity of Lee Seop-jae’s programs, but—
‘This punk of a PD!’
Telling them about the missing guest slot now.
If it weren’t for that demonic talent of his, I’d never do this again.
Park Yoon-bae sighed with that thought.
What could he do about it?
If they asked, he’d do it anyway.
Park Yoon-bae, who had showcased surprising culinary skills on “Camping for the First Time,” had even obtained his barista certification for this “Cafe for the First Time” shoot.
And guest Jung Min-hyun was also supposed to assist with making coffee.
But there was no one to do the floor service.
In this dizzy situation, he was already craving a strong coffee.
“Ha… forget it. We still have some time, so let’s have some coffee. Min-hyun. How about some coffee?”
Jung Min-hyun nodded.
“Yes. I’ll have an iced americano….”
It was the moment he was about to say that.
“Americano delivery.”
Someone shyly held out the coffee.
Jung Min-hyun’s eyes widened at the sight.
The exact same expression he’d shown at the “Celebrity Karaoke Contest.”
“Huh? Eun-rae?!”
Ha Eun-rae smiled shyly and greeted the three of them.
“I’m the guest for the first episode.”

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

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