Top Management - Chapter 204

Chapter 204

Chapter 204: Once You Start Being Swayed (2)

TL: emptycube / ED: Isleidir

“Screenplays are things that increase in polish after numerous drafts . ”

“It’s more like she took the idea and rewrote the entire script though . ”

“That idea is the most important . There is no final draft without the first . ”

I propped my chin up and stared at Director Joo Jaechan . He looked like he desperately wanted to escape from this embarrassing and uncomfortable situation . Director Joo Jaechan forced a smile as though he was suppressing his emotions .

“Did you perhaps talk to Director Oh Hyunkyung? I don’t know what she told you, but the matter has been settled internally . She caused a ruckus at the film production company not long ago . There’s a reason why the investors want to assign the project to me instead of her… You also said that you liked my directing . ”

His eyes gradually began to shine with madness .

“This is a project I must direct with my own hands . It’s true . ”

I knew it too .

That it would become a great work in his hands .

While he couldn’t keep his hands still, crossing and uncrossing his fingers, I said,

“Will there be any problems in the future?”

“Pardon? Problems?”

“Director Oh Hyunkyung . She seemed very attached to the scenario . It’ll become noisy if she files a lawsuit once the movie goes into production . Articles will also mention actors’ names . ”

Director Joo Jaechan blinked . Then, with an excited face, he jumped from his seat .

“You do not need to worry about that! No one would film a movie if you could sue investment and production companies with this . Who would work with a director like that?”

He glanced at my expression before chatting more excitedly .

“This . She already signed over the rights to the production company . Because the production company is adjusting the movie’s budget, they’ll have to do their best to cooperate with investment companies . That is why a lawsuit isn’t worth mentioning . ”

“Not worth mentioning . ”

“Yes, Director Oh Hyunkyung will be credited as an embellishing writer . There are cases where a scenario goes through various writers, so you can’t argue that it is your work because you edited it . This is how it works in this industry . ”

I nodded .

“That’s right . That is how this industry works . ”

Around the time our talk was about to end, an employee knocked on the meeting room door .

“Team Leader Jung, you have another guest . The mood is a bit…”

The whispering employee trailed his words . Director Oh Hyunkyung approached from the half-opened door . She looked like she aged ten years . Thick veins filled her eyes, making the whites in her eyes look red .

“Sorry for barging in again, team leader!”

She bowed then stood rigid in place as though struck by lightning when she noticed Director Joo Jaechan . The person who looked like she was about to die now looked like she was ready to kill .

“You rat-faces bast…!”

“What great timing . I just happened to finish talking with the team leader .

Director Joo Jaechan nonchalantly stood up .

“Then I will await your call, team leader . ”

He bid farewell, as though showing off to her, before passing her . Even though this took less than a minute, Director Oh Hyunkyung’s complexion went from deathly black to pale white . She faltered like she had lost her spirit and sat down in the seat in front of her .

“How much of the situation did he tell you…”

“That the main investment company opposed casting Joyoon hyung, and that the director was likely to be replaced . This is the most unsettling production circumstances I have encountered so far . ”

Director Oh Hyungkyung’s head drooped .

“I am truly sorry that things ended up this way after proposing it to you so confidently . I was sincere when I said that I thought Mr . Nam Joyoon was perfect as the male lead . This was something I should have persuaded the investment company . But the situation suddenly…”

“Of course, investment companies may have different options on the cast than you . Because they also have a big say on the matter . I understand the situation . What are you planning on doing now?”

As if my words stung, Director Oh Hyunkyung flinched . She simply opened and closed her dry lips for a moment before hastily getting up . She desperately pleaded,

“Team leader, I know this is a shameless request, but if you really like the scenario, could you consider Ms . Lee Songha or Ms . Son Chaeyoung for the female lead? Then I could try to persuade the investment companies again . If you have any conditions, I’ll definitely…!”

Her teary voice dampened . She had been avoiding my gaze, worried about what my reaction would be, but now she raised her head and checked my expression . The next moment, her face dropped in despair .

*

I am in my mid-forties . An age overflowing with dignity .

I was the CEO of a global management company who wore a classic suit, one that those British secret service agents would wear, and worked in a luxurious office akin to that of a penthouse apartment . After convincing myself this, I became more comfortable in confronting CEO Baek Hansung .

“Did you bring your resignation letter?”

Ah, damn it .

“Resignation letter?”

“That’s the type of face you’re making . You’ve been glaring at me for a while now . ”

“My face is always like that . ”

“I know that, but it seems particularly resistive today . ”

CEO Baek Hansung laughed in a low voice before asking,

“If not a resignation letter, have you come to prepare an exclusive contract?”

“Will you even do that?”

“If you want . I told you that I’ll manage you like a celebrity . Do you also want a signing fee?”

“I want to do City Jungle . ”

I poured cold water onto the warming mood .

“I tried to forcefully give it up, but it felt like my insides were turning .

“Team Leader Jung . ”

“Even celebrities can express their opinion when they aren’t considered rookies anymore . Whether it’s years of experience or fame, I believe I have passed that of a rookie . Also, above all, you are someone who respects the option of the celebrity . ”

I gave some lip service at the end, but the mood was still chilly . I felt like I would freeze to death .

CEO Baek Hansung frowned .

“Did I not say it so that you understand? Other celebrities can get back up if they fail once, however, your title is like a sand castle . Once you fail, its strategic value collapses . I had thought I gave you a great offer . ”

“I also think that it was a great offer since I would be walking a smooth path if I just do as the company decides . If I just follow that path, my career would also be excellent . It’s a great opportunity .

“So you are aware . Then why?”

“I had a similar experience . Once you start on that path, you end up getting hung up on it like an addict . And if that path cuts off, you get withdraw symptoms like a crazy person . It’ll become difficult to take a single step on my own . ”

I swept away all thoughts on going on different paths and stared at CEO Baek Hansung . He was also staring at me . He no longer kept up his composure and gentle smile . He had no expression .

I brought up my conclusion, which I had wrung my brain to come to .

“That is why, rather than getting swayed my opportunities, I plan on using them . ”

“How?”

If a movie with a high risk of failure was a problem…

“I will increase the movie’s potential with my own hands . ”

Strategic value . A sand-castle-like title .

In order to not get hung up on those things, I will create my own worth through my own ways .

*

“A declaration of war . ”

“He’s the only one who’s ever declared war on the CEO . He’ll be the only one ever . ”

“Even the Team 2 Leader, who’s been at the company for so long, was cut off in an instant . Where does he get the courage? I think he’s a sociopath or something . How can a normal person with over two years of experience declare war to his CEO’s face?”

I corrected the fellows who were chatting near my desk so that I could hear .

“It wasn’t to the point of declaring war . ”

“If you said, ’Screw you, I’m going to do things my way,’ then that’s a declaration of war . ”

“Did you prepare a resignation letter? You might end up having to leave without saying goodbye, so wouldn’t it be best if we had a farewell party ahead of time?”

The Team 3 Leader, Kim Hyunjo, Chief Lee Bongjoon, and Chief Sung Uimin said one after the other . While they were joking, their faces were wrought with worry . Like they were certain I was going to be fired soon .

“Have you become tired of company life? Do you just want to act crookedly?”

“I’m not tired, rather I’m completely motivated . ”

“What?”

Amongst their dumbfounded faces, Kim Hyunjo rubbed his face as he asked,

“So what are you going to do now?”

The first place I went to was the outdoor filming set, a mud pool, of Good Friends . After greeting Producer Yoo Sooyoung, who became the main Good Friends producer after completing Making Film, I went to see the girls . They were on as guests as part of their comeback special, so all four of them rushed over to me .

Covered in mud .

“Don’t come over . ”

“Why! Rather than giving us hugs for our hard work, are you running away from us because we are dirty? Were you that type of person?”

“I am . Don’t come over . ”

“I don’t want to!”

The four of them stuck to me, and soon, I was covered in mud . Lee Kwanwoo simply flinched his hands as he watched from afar . He seemed to have already been caught as his thick arms coming out his t-shirt and neck were covered in mud .

LJ even rubbed mud under my shirt as she grinned .

“Take a look since you’re here . Today’s shoot is dirty and fun . ”

“Keep it dirty and fun . I have things to do . ”

“How is a manager busier than his girl group, who just made a comeback?!”

Im Seoyoung grumbled . At least they had the energy to chitchat . Lee Taehee simply breathed, completely exhausted . She seemed to have been stuck in the mud the longest as her appearance was the most spectacular .

Lee Songha avoided my gaze as she asked,

“I look like the poop emoji right now . Should I go take a shower?”

“No, you look good, like microwaved chocolate ice cream . ”

“Chocolate ice cream?”

Her voice brightened . Lee Songha glanced at my face before smiling .

“Your face looks brighter . ”

“Yeah, thanks for the mud pack . I put a scenario in the passenger seat for you,”

“A scenario? Did you come here to give me that?”

Lee Songha’s eyes shined . I nonchalantly shrugged .

I was worried she would pick it if I showed that I was interested in it .

“For multiple reasons . I wanted to see you girls before you went on your out-of-city schedule and give you a new scenario I received so that you could read it during your free time . Let me know if you’re interested . ”

Like someone said, a project was chosen by both the manager and celebrity .

I left the set and drove to a small supermarket near a one-room apartment . Nam Joyoon was putting rice, curry, black bean sauce, meatballs and the like in a yellow shopping basket . {1} He made an awkward expression when he saw me .

“How did you know I was here?”

“It’s not like it’s my first time seeing you . You’re probably buying stuff to fill your fridge with since I was coming over . ”

Nam Joyoon just laughed . I stacked his basket with rice and fruits and placed it on the counter as I said,

“I brought over another scenario . ”

“Movie?”

“Yes . I think it’s best to read up to this one and decide on your next project . I’ll ask a nutritionist to set up a diet for you, so follow that starting tomorrow . You need to maintain your body if you are going to work all day and night . ”

Nam Joyoon’s expression completely changed when I mentioned filming .

The expression of the middle-aged woman at the counter also changed .

“Did you get a job? Oh, that’s great news when you were going around with nothing to do!”

After leaving Nam Joyoon, who was the official bum in his neighborhood, I dropped by my house . I wiped away the mud still stuck here and there, paid particular attention to my attire, and once I had a clean appearance like a salesman, I drove out to Chungmuro .

Amongst the densely populated forest of buildings, I found one with a huge banner of Alive and entered .

The moment SBE Film’s project producer saw my face, he shook his head .

“I don’t have any . Really . ”

“What?”

“Didn’t you come to ask for any new, good scenarios?”

“Not today . ”

Only then did he greet me happily and led the way .

“I definitely thought you had a condition for coming . I’m now more afraid of phone calls from you than debt collectors . I told you I will contact you when we receive a good scenario . We have our relationship from Alive . It’s a promise . ”

“How many times have you made that promise?”

“Ah, but all the good scenarios have dried up these days . There are none!”

We entered the meeting room while joking . An employee quickly brought over some drinks .

“But if you didn’t come to see scenarios, then why…?”

“I wanted to show you something . ”

“You do? Show me?”

I handed the project producer an envelope . He received it with a dazed face before taking the City Jungle scenario out of it . After scanning the title and synopsis, his face became even more perplexed .

“It’s a scenario? I think I saw this before?”

“It also came to SBE?”

“Unless a production company has an idea and is setting it up with a writer and director, most scenarios floating around Chungmuro without a production company usually pass through our company . We reject most of them for various reasons . I think this was one of them . ”

“Was it not good?”

“I don’t remember it well, but it probably was if we rejected it . ”

He closed the scenario he was glancing through and asked,

“But why did you come over to a production company with a scenario… Don’t tell me W&U is interested in production films? Is this a project W&U is investing in?”

“No, I am . ”

I replied while shaking my head .

The project producer frowned like he had just heard some amazing nonsense .

{1} Those are references to well-known instant foods .