Chapter 23
Producer Na Jinho asked the director again in a trembling voice.
“Huh, what do you mean, withdrawing investment? No, more than that. Their coming for me and doing that? Even having to pay a penalty?”
“Yes···. Fuck you. “That’s right.”
Sudden investment stoppage. It’s not something that doesn’t happen in the industry, but it’s a very ‘boyish’ thing to do.
The director sighed and said.
“They say that it has suddenly become difficult to invest due to the company situation, or something like that.”
“···Really.”
“That’s a ridiculous excuse. You guessed it too, right? KL Entertainment, those scoundrels are acting like a brat because we didn’t cast Lee Homin!”
The staff sighed at the director’s words. Among them, there was one person who mouthed, ‘What a bastard really….’
Writer Jo Seokwon even put a cigarette in his mouth in a non-smoking conference room and asked the director harshly.
“Even though it’s my work, it comes out like that? Then KL Entertainment won’t work with me from now on?”
“I looked into it too and it looks like they’re going to with break off from us and work with KSC Broadcasting Station. KL Entertainment, I never liked those bastards, but they throw bombs.”
The director scratches his head and speaks.
The voice was full of frustration and irritation.
Jo Seokwon touched the back of his neck and asked.
“···What do other broadcasting stations say? “On TV?”
“First of all, I think they’re watching us. It would be good for them. “If we and KSC fight and both fail, it’s an opportunity for them.”
As the conversation between the two continued, the atmosphere in the conference room calmed down.
Producer Na Jinho said with a deep sigh.
“Shit… “I think we need to resolve the situation first.”
It was a voice that clearly showed that he was angry. Nevertheless, Producer Na Jinho tries to handle the work calmly. It’s not for nothing that I’ve been a producer for 20 years.
“We have already recruited all the actors and almost built the set. I’ve also made arrangements for the filming location. “I already waste a lot of money, and I also need to pay the balance soon. Is there somewhere I can borrow money urgently?”
The director, who was thinking deeply, shook his head.
“There is no money in broadcasting stations. It would be the fastest to find another investor. But if there is a rumor that an existing investor suddenly withdrew their money, there is no way the bank or anywhere else would invest in us.”
“···That’s right.”
Producer Na Jinho muttered, clenching his molars.
“Lee Homin, you son of a bitch… “The reason I gave that bastard an audition was because KL Entertainment invest their money and they gave me a shitty actor. Are they blaming me for failing that bastard?”
Producer Na Jinho usually had a fairly gentle personality, but now he couldn’t hold back his swearing. That’s how angry Na Jinho was at Lee Homin and KL Entertainment.
The silence continued for a moment. The director waited for Na Jinho to calm down and then spoke quietly.
“Rather than that… “Those KSC bastards are even worse.”
“Really? “Why KSC?”
“I heard that KSC Broadcasting Station, films are set during the Japanese colonial period like us. A large number of KL Entertainment actors were brought in. “For some reason, I feel like this incident wasn’t done by KL Entertainment alone.”
Jo Seokwon, who had been listening quietly for a while, threw down his pen and said as if he could not stand it any longer.
Shut Up!
“Who is that writer? “What kind of empty-headed bastard would give credit for something I wrote myself?”
“I know writer Jo.” “It’s writer Kwon”
Writer Jo Seokwon said with a puzzled expression.
“If it’s writer Kwon, no way…. “Chaeyoon Kwon?”
“That’s right. From KSC’s perspective, they must have thought, ‘What the heck!’ “If we sell our work and other people’s work, we will eat up the basic viewership ratings.”
“···.”
“Honestly, Kwon Chaeyoon also has skills.”
“That’s true, but… whew. Chaeyoon Kwon, you going too far.”
Kwon Chaeyoon is a writer who has written many hit works comparable to Jo Seokwon. He dabbled in a variety of genres, including romantic comedy, alternate history, general comedy, and fantasy drama.
As a result, although he was recognized in the industry for his skills, few people wanted to work with him.
The reason was simple.
‘Because his personality is trash.’
Jo Seokwon recalled Kwon Chaeyoon’s past evil deeds.
Kwon Chaeyoon is a villain who makes it a point to get rid of roles for actors he doesn’t like during filming and even gives them ridiculously difficult roles to make them voluntarily withdraw from them.
He is also very strict when it comes to filming and editing, which are the powers of the PD. The fact that he treats the production crew like his lackeys is at the level of hell.
He is even famous for his bad drinking habits at company dinners. He makes everyone, be it actors or his staff, very uncomfortable with him.
‘He is especially harsh towards small agencies and rookies. ‘Because he knows he has no strength.’
Even knowing this, many newcomers want to enter his work.
Because his work sells well.
Kwon Chaeyoon is a villainess who takes advantage of the desperation of people who want to be in front of the camera at least once. However, he was an ironic person who had excellent skills and created hits every year.
Jo Seokwon thought as he touched his throbbing forehead.
‘Kwon Chaeyoon… I thought he would just make silly pranks, but it feels like we’re going to war!
There are factions and competition even among writers. This was a clear declaration of war.
It meant that he would use this opportunity to pressure himself somehow.
‘After···.’
Jo Seokwon was also angry, but there was no suitable solution.
If he acts so blatantly, it means that he will push other writers no matter what.
Like Jo Seokwon, Na Jinho also had a complicated idea.
‘This work is set during the Japanese colonial period, so it is difficult to include PPL. However, you can’t force a PPL that doesn’t match. I’m going crazy, really.’
The only way to easily make money right now is through PPL, which involves promoting products within dramas.
However, even if the setting is modern times, it is not possible to include a lot of PPL in the background during the Japanese colonial period. It would be impossible to suddenly introduce smartphones or the latest electronic products into the Joseon Dynasty setting.
‘Then should we reduce production costs? no. That’s no different from doing what KL Entertainment wants.’
If the production costs already set are reduced, there is no way the work can be produced properly. It is common sense that if a drama is pushed too far, it will inevitably be ruined.
‘If the drama is ruined, either KL Entertainment or KSC will attack us like crazy. shit···.’
The more I think about it, the more frustrating it becomes.
At that time, a staff member who was quietly observing said.
“···PD. Look at this. “There was an article about it?”
“This morning?”
“Yes. however···.”
The PD’s least favorite word is ‘There was an article.’
Of course, there can be good content as well. But looking at the employee’s tone, it was clear that the content was bad.
PD Na Jinho confirmed the article.
‘B Broadcasting Station PD suspected of proceeding with auditions even though there was already a nominee.’
‘The abuse of power by a producer with 20 years of experience tramples on the dreams of an actor with 10 years of experience who wants to take another leap forward.’
‘A senior PD who was recommended by a junior PD. ‘Where is the fairness that PD N was shouting for?’
‘KL Enter. Paying a large penalty and withdrawing investment from a certain drama. The reason is?’
Although the exact contents were not written, Na Jinho was able to understand the meaning of these articles.
‘KL Enter, these bastards… ‘Are they spreading fake news like this?’
Since an article like this came out, I could see what was going to happen without even looking at it.
‘I’m sure Lee Homin will be interviewed soon. “I was bullied during the audition”. If KL Entertainment announces an official position and cancels the investment at the right time, we will end up being the bad guys.’
In the broadcasting and entertainment industry, the player who beats the player wins most of the time, or virtually always. This is because it is much more difficult to explain something than to create a controversy.
In other words, even though it was Na Jinho who was abused like now, if the other person spreads fake news first, he becomes a bad guy himself.
Na Jinho suddenly remembered what he said at the audition.
―···I invited Kang Jinseok because I heard he was selected for my junior’s debut film.
‘If only I hadn’t said that back then.’
One thoughtless word caused the work to fall apart.
While Na Jinho was regretting, the director, who was carefully reading the article with the staff, spoke in a serious voice.
“First, I’ll tell you to write a rebuttal article. I’ll try to save as much money as I can, so I, the producer, will do my best too. This work, BDD, also risked its life. know?”
“···Yes.”
“I will save this work. Make it right and use the viewership ratings to kill KSC, KL Entertainment, and all these bastards. Okay?”
“···All right.”
He answered, but Na Jinho’s voice was weak.
Normally, I would have said to Na Jinho, ‘Frown up, man. I was the director who would say, ‘Is your life over?’, but I couldn’t bear to say that now.
That’s why the current atmosphere is not good.
The director said as he left the conference room.
“If this is resolved well and the project becomes a hit, I will be appointed as the next director.”
“···.”
“Anyway, I will help as much as I can, so please do your best, PD. “It’s late, please leave work early.”
Thud!
After speaking, the director left the conference room. But no one could think of ‘getting off work’.
Because this was an emergency.
“Whoa…”
When the director left, Na Jinho sighed as if the ground was gone. The assistant director carefully asked Na Jinho.
“I···. PD. Shouldn’t we first contact the actors’ agencies? “They must be making guesses just by reading articles.”
“Hmm···.”
Na Jinho thought for a moment.
‘The assistant director is right. First of all, I need to let them know exactly what the situation is. but···.’
Just reporting the situation without providing a proper solution is not a good choice.
If you’re not careful, it may seem like you’re asking the agency and actors for help.
‘You probably know the BDD broadcasting station itself.’
Of course, they were able to throw away their pride as much as they wanted.
The problem is that the broadcasting station’s image is being ruined.
‘BDD broadcasting station that cannot properly respond to pranks from other broadcasting stations. A story like this might spread.’
If such rumors spread, it will be difficult for BDD broadcasting stations to cast good actors in the future.
However, even if I knew that fact, I was not relaxed enough not to react.
‘I can’t help it.’
After thinking about it, Na Jinho spoke to the assistant director.
“First, let’s do as the assistant director said. Contact the agencies. If they don’t have an agency, put it directly with the actor. “Should I inform the extras too?”
“I’m going to tell them anyway, I think I should tell them everything. “It would be better than suddenly contacting them a few days before filming.”
“···Okay. “Let’s do that.”
Once permission was given, the staff began to contact the agency at once.
Na Jinho, looking at that scene, suddenly thought of Jinseok.
‘I guess I should contact that friend too.’
This work was an opportunity for Jinseok to make a big splash.
However, if production costs could not be found, producer Na Jinho did not intend to have Kang Jinseok appear.
This is because if a new actor appears and the work fails, it will not be that big of a blow.
If it had been any other actor, I wouldn’t have cared this much.
But Na Jinho wanted to take special care of Jinseok.
The Jinseok he knows is a passionate actor who did not give up on acting even though he had a really difficult life.
An actor with both talent and personality.
‘An actor like that… ‘You can’t destroy old people by fighting.’
Na Jinho, who had been thinking for a while, began sending a long text message to Jinseok.
‘I don’t want to give up on this work because of something like this. ‘Is there any way?’
I thought this rather depressingly.
***
“KL Entertainment is doing something interesting. I didn’t realize it when I wasn’t interested, but the entertainment industry is a really messy place.”
A man muttered while reading an Internet article.
‘B Broadcasting Station PD, even though there was already a nominee…’
‘The abuse of power by a producer with 20 years of experience, the dream of an actor with 10 years of experience trying to leap forward again…’
‘A senior PD who was recommended by a junior PD. The fairness that N PD was shouting for…
‘KL Enter. Pay a large penalty and withdraw investment from a certain drama…’
The article the man is reading.
Those were all articles published by KL Entertainment and KSC broadcasting stations early in the morning.
He thought as he pounded on the desk.
He said, ‘Jinsu asked me to do something, and I was planning to start an entertainment business. The timing isn’t bad. ‘It would be nice if we could make the BDD broadcasting station on our side.’
After closing his eyes for a moment to collect his thoughts, the man pressed a button attached to his desk.
Beep-.
The voice of Misung’s secretary is heard along with the button beep.
[Yes, CEO. Did you call me?]
“Yes. “Please call the chief secretary.”
[All right.]
The identity of the man who called the chief secretary.
It is a global company that was asked to lead Jinseok by his close friend, ‘Jinsu Park’.
CEO of OS International.
It was oh heaven.