Top Management Chapter 139-140

Chapter 139: Chief Jung, Your Actors are a bit (4)

TL: emptycube / ED: Isleidir

"Hey, hey, just what happened on set?"

The project producer burst into the office pantry.

The production producer grinned while making instant coffee with half-closed eyes.

"I guess the investors are interested?"

"They can't get enough. Didn't you see the smiles hanging on the CEO and investment team leader's faces? What is it? What happened on set?"

"We completely entranced them as the CEO ordered."

"Give me details! Don't you know I hate being frustrated?"

"Ah, I can't explain it with my inarticulate tongue. Just watch it on the news."

The production producer said teasingly as he took a sip from his coffee.

"But you know Chief Jung Sunwoo from W&U."

"Chief Jung? Did he do something?"

"His actors did. That person. There really seems to be something to him seeing as he only has two actors and they're both unique. I thought Lee Songha was great, but the other one is completely-"

The project producer's eyes widened.

"The other one? That unknown actor?"

"Mr. Nam Joyoon."

High heels walked through the door. It was Kim Minjeong from marketing.

"I bet Chungmuro District will be in a fuss next year with all the new faces. In my opinion, someone in our movie could receive the best rookie award."

"Lee Songha?"

At the sudden name, Kang Minjeong made a meaningful smile.

"It'd be great if both of them got an award."

"Who? Nam Joyoon too? He's that good?"

"I also think they'll get to walk to the podium."

The production producer yawned tiredly before saying,

"Unless these two scenarios happen. Although it probably won't, unless our movie fails so hard it leaves a mark in history…"

"Ah, geez! You're the production producer for Christ's sake!"

"I said it probably won't. If not, then…"

"An amazing scenario and actor…"

Kang Minjeong threw the stirring stick into the sink and added,

"Suddenly pop out of nowhere."

It definitely was summer. The monsoon has been going on a few days now.

The Team 3 Leader wrung his soaked sleeves as he got in the elevator.

"What kind of rain falls like there's a hole in the sky? So scary.,"

"There's a heavy rain warning in effect. They also say a hurricane is on its way."

The Team 3 Leader frowned when he heard me.

"Are you okay when the weather's like this? Will the shoot be fine?"

"Royal Family has a lot of rainy scenes so we can film them now, but Alive is the problem. They'll probably do all the indoor scenes until the weather clears up."

The elevator soon arrived on the fourth floor. I was about to enter the office when the Team 3 Leader pulled in front of the vending machines.

"Lucky Charm, did you hear about the Team 2 Leader?"

"No. I haven't been to the company recently. What is it?"

"He's about to die of frustration."

The Team 3 Leader grinned.

"Because of the rookie. You know, that guy."

"Song Inho."

I recalled his handsome face. I also recalled the scene where he looked like he was about to cry when he received the award. The scene that had been nailed to my mind and made me concerned over for the past few months.

"Yeah, Song Inho. The Team 2 Leader wants to make him out to be the second Sung Dowon, not personality, but image-wise. Anyways, the Team 2 Leader's been looking through drama and movie proposals when Song Inho suddenly brings over a scenario."

"… A scenario?"

My ears perked.

"An independent film's scenario. It's the lead role so it'll take up a bunch of his time, and they don't know how long they'll need to film either. He clung to the Team 2 Leader's leg begging, saying that he had to do this movie. The Team 2 Leader tried to persuade him over and over but eventually gave up. He looks like he might faint from anger."

The Team 3 Leader chuckled as he imagined it.

However, something else was filling my mind.

"Team leader, do you have the scenario?"

"Probably not? Song Inho was the one who personally brought it. Why? Are you concerned?"

He slapped my back.

"There's nothing to worry about. Isn't Nam Joyoon already a star in the making?"

He said with a beaming smile.

"I heard a few rumors here and there. If they are right, then he might be able to rid his label as an 'unknown actor' with this movie."

"He will. Not might. He will."

I said while suppressing the hurricane sweeping through my mind.

"The Team 2 Leader, that fellow, snorted, laughing at how we could compare you to him. If his prided discerning eye takes a hit, his bloated ego's going to deflate."

The Team 3 Leader made a satisfied smile.

"I can't wait."

I bought a soda from the vending machine.

My thoughts began to organize now that I had something cold in my belly.

It was like the Team 3 Leader said. There was no need to worry.

My team worked crazy hard for the past two months.

It was just that future. It kept bugging me. So I worked harder than ever before on this project. I even needed to shorten my sleep time. Lee Songha and Nam Joyoon also worked so hard that it was a wonder they haven't collapsed yet.

They also proved their hard work through their acting.

Each day on set was one of admiration. I always tried to look calm because there were people around, but whenever I saw them act, I felt a surge of joy in me. There were multiple occasions where I wanted to run around the set applauding them.

So…

Let's not worry about the uncertain future that might have already been changed.

Thinking this, I was about to go into the office.

"Ah, h.e.l.lo, chief!"

A person who was leaning on my desk hurriedly bowed to me.

It was pouring outside, yet it looked like the sun was s.h.i.+ning around him.

"I'm Song Inho. We met last time."

"… I remember."

I nodded while walking casually.

Honestly, taking each step was scary. I thought I would see that same future again.

However, my vision didn't go dark or become hazy.

I relaxed my tensed shoulders and said,

"What brings you to Team 3?"

"That is… I wanted to meet you. About this."

Song Inho showed me what was in his hand.

It was a bundle of A4 paper that had been flipped through so many times the edges were worn. I knew in an instant.

So it's that.

"It's a scenario of an independent film. It's the work of a director I'm close with, and I'm going to play the lead. That's why, if you're okay with it, I was hoping you could read this and give me your thoughts. You know, since you're famous for this."

Song Inho bit his lower lip before adding,

"I showed my team leader first, but his reaction was a bit…"

"What did the Team 2 Leader say?"

"An unknown director with no accomplishments, and a scenario that won't bring in investments."

He said with a faint smile.

"'It will be very time-consuming. It is uncertain if it can even be released or not. Even if it is released, a low-budget film like this will only open in at most twenty theatres. A project that'll be considered a success if ten thousand people go watch it,' is what he said."

"Yet you still want to do this?"

My voice sounded unfamiliar.

Without hesitation, Song Ingo nodded.

"I learned a lot from this director before I entered W&U. I told him I would do his movie if he ever had a good scenario. This. He said he wrote this with me as the lead. He even but his home as collateral to make this movie."

Song Inho carefully smoothed out the scenario.

His eyes were full of hope and happiness as he looked at it.

"How could I refuse? I…"

Song Inho's gaze landed on me.

"… don't want to be an actor like that."

… Ah, d.a.m.n it.

I want him.

I exhaled what felt like cigarette smoke and put my hand out.

"Then shall we read it?"

Nam Joyoon opened his apartment door.

A middle-aged woman entered while taking off her thick scarf. She was his mother.

"A hurricane came by during the summer, and now there's a crazy blizzard during the winter. We're just getting hit with everything, aren't we?"

"Why didn't you call? I would have gone to pick you up."

"It's not my first time coming to Seoul. I can make my way through it now."

His mother scanned his dreary apartment.

A clunky laptop tossed on his bed. There was a movie paused on its screen. His desk was piled with stacks of scenarios and notes. His bookcase was filled with DVD cases.

After carefully examining every nook and cranny, her wrinkled face relaxed.

"It's better than before. It looks like a human's room this time."

Nam Joyoon bashfully rubbed his neck.

His mother walked to his fridge and put down her large luggage bag. It was filled with plastic bags full of side dishes.

"I brought stir-fried anchovies, pickled garlic stems, and others. They will all last a long time in the fridge so eat up. Don't eat instant noodles, okay? Live like an actual human being."

"I am eating decently. I'm an adult."

"Oh, really? I can clearly tell how you live without even seeing. You incompetent son of mine."

His mother said with narrowed eyes before opening his fridge.

Then she paused. There were a few side dishes in containers inside.

"What the heck? There's human food in the fridge? Where did they come from?"

"Ah, those. Someone{1} I work with gave them to me."

Nam Joyoon said with a slight smile.

At the same time, his mother discovered the small notes on the containers.

{Eat them. Don't starve.}

"Is it a girl?"

"It's a he."

Her expectant face crumbled.

She jumped up and slapped his back.

"I can't believe it! How sad did you look for a man to give another man side dishes?!"

Slaps resounded for a long time in his small apartment.

After calming down, his mother said,

"Still, I'm thankful. Bring him home one day. I'll cook meat."

"I'll ask."

Nam Joyoon nodded while stealthily rubbing his back.

Sitting back down in front of the fridge and placing the side dishes in the fridge, his mother asked,

"You… aren't going to do that movie you were planning on doing with that actor Jung Hyowon during the summer, right?"

"I decided not to a long time ago because of some circ.u.mstances."

"Always with the circ.u.mstances. Why are there so many circ.u.mstances in this industry?"

His mother said clicking her tongue.

Moving the side dish containers around in the fridge, she sighed.

"You, just stay here during Lunar New Year this time. Don't come home."

Before Nam Joyoon could reply, his mother quickly added,

"It's not because we're embarra.s.sed. It's because of your father."

"Did something happen to him?"

Nam Joyoon asked with a stiff expression.

His mother hesitated, opening and closing her mouth a few times. Then she said,

"That's not it. Your father got together to drink with his siblings and made a mistake. He told them you were in a big movie. It seems he let it slip while drunk since those fellows were constantly asking what you were up to."

'That idiot. Alcohol is his enemy.'

His mother muttered under her breath before continuing,

"If you come home, they are probably going to pester you with questions and end up saying something unpleasant. There's no need to take the train all the way home to hear that. I'll pack some New Year's food for you so just stay in Seoul."

His mother shut the fridge door and stood up.

Breaking the short silence, Nam Joyoon said,

"I am in a different movie. If there's no problem, it'll be released in the summer."

"Good. If you didn't have your circ.u.mstances. Which theatres are going to play it? No matter how busy we are, we should watch it as a family."

"This time… It should be playing in theatres across the country."

His mother's eyes bulged.

"The country? E-even down in the countryside? All of them?"

"Probably."

"Oh my goodness. Is-is it as big as the summer movie you aren't doing anymore?"

Nam Joyoon's lips opened slightly before closing.

After a short moment of silence, he said,

"Once the movie is edited, once everything is certain… I'll tell you then."

"Okay, good. That's probably better. Don't tell your father. If he gets his hopes up and is disappo-"

His mother caught herself.

Nam Joyoon lowered his eyes.

"I'm sorry."

"There's no need to be sorry."

His mother slapped his back again.

"If you can't quit this anyways, just live doing what you love. It's fine as long as you eat."

Nam Joyoon smiled faintly at her blunt words.

His mother rubbed his back as she grumbled,

"Still, I'm curious what kind of movie it is."

I was about to get in my minivan like normal before I stopped.

The world, which had been freezing not too long ago, had begun to thaw. The people who went around huddled, fully geared in parkas and scarves, looked a bit more relaxed. Their breaths were almost invisible in the air now.

My phone in my pocket vibrated. It was Team Leader Park.

-Are you on your way to work?

"Yes, what is it?"

-Alive's main poster arrived.

"Ah."

-Royal Family's press release is also complete. We need to move at full throttle now.

"Time goes by very quickly."

Every day pa.s.sed as a blur and finally, the time had arrived.

Spring.

The season of harvest.

{1} In the raws, he uses 'dongsaeng' which is a gender-neutral term for someone younger than him.

{Quite a few time skips in this chapter :o}

/ /

Chapter 140: Spring, the Season of Harvest (1)

TL: emptycube / ED: Isleidir

"Two million! Two million for the first week!"

The SBE Film CEO shouted while slamming the table.

"This is our goal."

A few strands of wispy hair remained on his chin. He had lost so much weight that his eyes were sunken with large dark circles. He made people recall the zombies on the poster. The employees, who also struggled through the rigorous schedule for the past few months, were the same.

"Hollywood blockbusters are waiting like a shoal of piranhas. National movies opening on the same day are strong compet.i.tors as well. People don't wait long these days. We need to break through with the first week's score or else…"

"Our screen time would be taken by the shoal of piranhas."

The project producer said with a frown.

As if he just imagined it, the CEO's legs were shaking.

"Marketing is key, marketing! If we want to pull in as many people to watch it in the beginning, we need to pour all our efforts into marketing!"

"We have been releasing press releases every day starting last week."

The PR Team employee, Kang Minjeong, said with a partly hoa.r.s.e voice.

"We have advertis.e.m.e.nts on buses, subways, and billboards as well. Our main trailer already has 4 million views."

"Good. How are the comments?"

"The production team made an amazing trailer. There's no way the comments will be bad."

The production producer blinked his sunken eyes as he smiled.

"We put our soul into it."

"Thanks to that, we've received comments like these."

"What?"

"'The trailer is everything. Since I've seen it, I probably don't need to watch the movie.'"

Silence hung in the meeting room. Soon, a suppressed laughed escaped. As though it was infectious, laughter quickly spread throughout the room. The zombie employees all had meaningful expressions on their faces as they laughed.

"'The trailer is everything'? They don't even know how much we didn't show."

"Although that was what we were going for, I want to tell them."

"I wonder what their reactions will be once they see the movie?"

"I know, right? I want to invite them all to the preview."

"Ah, the reporters were curious about that."

Kang Minjeong twirled her pen as she said,

"They were asking why we were offering so many free previews. They were wondering if we weren't worried that our opening score will be negatively affected by word of mouth."

"Only those who aren't confident in their work worry about that."

The project producer snorted.

"That's what I told them. That we were doing it on purpose to get some word of mouth marketing."

Kang Minjeong's red lips curled upwards.

"The previews will be the fuse. Once word of mouth spreads, we'll boost our marketing efforts and bring up the sales for the premiere. The people who watched in on opening day will spread it through word of mouth again. It'll s...o...b..ll from there."

"How are the press and VIP preview preparations going?"

Kang Minjeong looked at the list of guests at the CEO's question and laughed.

"It'll be as splendid as a film festival. We sent tons of invitations to Director Choi Sungwon's personal connections and friends of our cast. Even if only half of them attend, we'll be all over entertainment news columns."

After informing them of a few top stars who would be attending, Kang Minjeong added,

"Neptune will be there, and Seo Jijoon agreed to come as well. Chief Jung Sunwoo said he'll talk to the leads at Royal Family today so if we're lucky Yoon Taekyung, Seo Eunkyo, and Im Joowon could come too."

"Ah, Royal Family starts this week, right?"

"Today's its first broadcast."

The CEO licked his lips.

"We'll benefit if Lee Songha becomes even more of a hot topic. I hope their ratings are great."

"I hope so but it won't be easy."

"Why? From the rumors, it seems the quality is good? China seems to be excited about it as well."

"The project is good, but they have bad luck with their compet.i.tors."

"Compet.i.tors?"

Kang Minjeong clicked her tongue.

"They'll probably have a rough night."

"b.a.s.t.a.r.ds!"

PBS's drama director swore.

A chill smacked the inside of the director's office. The chief producer in charge of Royal Family, Director Sung from Well-Made Productions, Writer Jang, and Director Woo. They were all sighing with frozen faces.

It was because of the ratings chart on the table.

Two lines were highlighted.

{IBC's 'Benz after the c.r.a.ppy Car' Episode 2. 15.8% national ratings.}

{UBS's 'Afterlife' Episode 16. 11.8% national raitings.}

"If you add those two together, their ratings exceed 27%. What do we do?"

"I know, right? Why did you schedule things like this?"

Writer Jang said while brus.h.i.+ng her hair to the side.

The pearl earrings hanging from her ear shook violently.

"We needed to start at the same time. Don't you know that we'll be at a disadvantage if we start late? Drama performances are set after the fourth episode. Young viewers these days don't watch on air dates if they miss the previous episode. They wait to binge watch it after the drama ends."

"Writer Jang. I'm the director here. How could I not know this? If those immoral b.a.s.t.a.r.ds didn't scheme, all three companies would have started new dramas at the same time!"

The director beat his chest. The chief producer quickly opened a bottle of water and handed it to the director. Having dealt with the enraged director the entire day, the chief producer said with an exhausted face,

"IBC feigned ignorance before suddenly getting the jump on us, and UBS suddenly extending their originally 16-episode series to 20 episodes. It seems they worked hard to compete against us."

The chief producer cautiously said,

"It's not like we weren't doing anything either. We ended 'It's Fate' a week early for Royal Family."

"You said you were planning on ending it early anyways because its ratings were only at 4%. It wasn't 'It's Fate' but rather 'It's Dead'{1}. If you're going to take credit for something, make it believable."

The chief producer crumbled at Writer Jang's harsh words.

Director Woo, who had been silent for a while, scratched his beard as he said,

"Let's talk about this after our first episode airs. We marketed as much as we could, and there are viewers waiting for our drama. Is there a reason to be so negative already? Well, we can also increase our viewers.h.i.+p through other channels as well."

"That's easy to say."

Writer Jang said with the click of her tongue.

"IBC's 'c.r.a.ppy Car'. People are going crazy over how great the chemistry is between the male and female leads. They ended their previous episode at such a great cliffhanger too. Also, 'Afterlife' is a genre-specific drama. Their viewers are extremely loyal so they probably won't go watch something else. If we can't get the ratings tonight, we're screwed."

The mood in the room became even gloomier at Writer Jang's words. Like a boat that was about to sink. Just then, Director Sung from Well-Made Productions, who was monitoring IBC and UBS's Wednesday-Thursday drama reactions, put his tablet down.

"If we're really unlucky…"

He laughed bitterly as he said,

"Then we've made an amazing drama that will flop."

I recalled the first night Cat Guardian Ghost aired.

The staff and cast had gathered to watch the broadcast that time too.

It was loud and full of antic.i.p.ation. People were glancing at the clock with expectant faces. Alcohol gla.s.ses clinked endlessly. Meat cooked on the grill. And the cheers that erupted after they reported real-time ratings.

I remembered how the drama's first broadcast was like a festival.

Compared to that, this was the Intensive Care Unit.

Perhaps it would be a funeral in an hour.

"What is this all of sudden?"

"The c.r.a.ppy Car pretty much splashed c.r.a.p on us. Why did they have to hit 15% ratings on their second episode? There wasn't anything to see!"

"Don't public broadcast dramas take up at most 35% ratings these days? If IBC and UBS take 27%… We really might have to start from the bottom."

"d.a.m.n it, I thought we would easily exceed 10% on our first night."

The staff and employees who had gathered for the broadcast whispered to each other. Even the leads, Yoon Taekyung, Seo Eunkyo, and even Im Joowon emptied their gla.s.ses with tense faces. The mood at the bar dropped below the ground, even reaching Earth's inner core.

In fact, even the behind-the-scenes team that planned on filming the scene had placed their cameras on the ground and raised their beer gla.s.ses.

The situation was just as frustrating as high our expectations and goals were.

I was fiddling with my gla.s.s when something soft touched my shoulder.

It was Lee Songha's head. It seemed she was voraciously eating fried chicken moments ago, but she was now sleeping with her round forehead and cheek leaning against my shoulder. With a fork in her hand.

She had been falling asleep on our way here, but it seems she reached her limit. She probably didn't have much time to sleep easy having to attend marketing events for both her movie and drama.

They weren't filming anything for the behind-the-scenes clips, and there was still some time before the broadcast.

I decided to let her sleep a bit and covered her with my coat.

"Chief Jung, are you okay?"

Im Joowon was chewing on a dried squid tentacle across from me.

"Me?"

"Everyone's uneasy, yet it seems you and Songha are completely fine."

People's gazes slowly landed on me.

"That's true. Mr. Sunwoo's been quiet for a while now for some reason."

"Wow, is Ms. Songha sleeping right now? While everyone's this anxious?"

"She couldn't sleep properly for the past few days because of her busy schedule."

People were astonished at my excuse.

"Still, she has nerves of steel."

"She can sleep easy because Chief Jung isn't anxious."

"No, Mr. Sunwoo, aren't you worried? If our ratings aren't good, isn't your image as 'Midas's Hand' ruined?"

"I know, right? Reporters and netizens are incredibly curious about what will happen."

"Maybe…"

Im Joowon leaned his face closer.

"Do you foresee our ratings being good? Is that why you're so calm?"

"If that's it, tell us! I might die from anxiety!"

"No joke. Seriously. If you say that, I feel like I'll actually relax."

At some point, people from other tables were staring at me as well. They urged my reply with sparkling eyes as though if I said that the drama would be a success, it actually would be.

I didn't know when, but Lee Songha had woken up and was looking at me while rubbing her drowsy eyes.

Under their gazes, I wordlessly laughed.

If I was honest…

I was so nervous my mouth felt dry. I felt like I would dry out.

It was my first time waiting in such frustration. I had some degree of confidence that Next K-Pop Star and Cat Guardian Ghost would be a success. But the future was unclear this time.

I was able to stop Royal Family from being a bust by stopping Park Dojin from being picked as the lead, but that didn't ensure success for this drama.

IBC and UBS's sudden scheduling change was a bolt out of the blue for me as well. It felt like someone swung a baseball bat at the back of my head. After hearing this news, I was hoping that I could see another future. Anything.

However, there were no signs of that happening.

Even though I looked calm on the outside, I was inwardly more nervous than anyone here. d.a.m.n it. If I could pay some price to see the future, I would have done it already.

My cheeks tingled. People were staring at me.

Lee Songha was also looking at me with slowly closing eyes.

After downing a gla.s.s of beer, I casually said,

"Well, we did everything we could."

"That's exactly why we're frustrated!"

Grumbles erupted all around me. Soon, the gazes on me moved towards the clock. 9:55. Royal Family's first episode would air in a few minutes.

"Oppa, look at this."

Lee Songha tapped her phone a few times before showing me Neptune's official social media page.

-Euaah! Waiting for Royal Family to air! Everyone, please wait with us!

There was a picture with a caption that was undoubtedly written by Im Seoyoung. A picture of the girls gathered in the living, each holding a slice of pizza. Behind their gathered faces was a commercial running on PBS's channel.

When I went on the entertainment section of the portal site, it was pouring with Royal Family related articles. This was the result of PBS's marketing team, Well-Made's PR agency, and our W&U's PR Team holding nothing back.

Neptune's picture was already posted in an article. Not only that, but there were also pictures of Son Chaeyoung and Seo Jijoon, who made cameo appearances. Even supportive comments on Alive actors' social media accounts were picked up by reporters.

"It looks like everyone is waiting for it to air."

Lee Songha said while stabbing her fork in a chicken drumstick.

She looked no different from normal. Like me.

What was she actually thinking?

"Songha, aren't you worried about the ratings?"

"We did everything we could like oppa said."

She replied as she offered the chicken to me.

"And our luck is good. I think our ratings will be good."

"Our luck is good?"

When our luck couldn't be any worse?

Lee Songha looked around before whispering in my ear,

"I think I slept for a long time, but there's still a drumstick remaining."

Then she pointed her fork at me, urging me to eat it.

I unknowingly began laughing. It was so ridiculous.

Lee Songha laughed along with me.

Unconcerned whether people would think we were crazy, we laughed for a long time.

I hoped everything would go well. Really. Unlike in the past when things didn't work out no matter how hard Lee Songha tried, I hope that she would be rewarded with great ratings.

I wished that the future I had yet to see was something like that.

Just as I thought this…

"Huh? Why is c.r.a.ppy Car starting already?"

Someone exclaimed in a fl.u.s.tered voice.

PBS was still running their commercials, yet IBC was already at their t.i.tle screen. The text 'Third Episode' appeared on a black screen then the drama began right away.

With a scene of the male and female leads running towards each other and kissing.

They hugged each other as they crashed into the fridge, then the table. Plates and gla.s.ses were being shattered as they pa.s.sionately kissed.

"This is supposed to be a romantic comedy! Why are the leads kissing on the third episode?!"

"Tongue! I think I just saw tongue?! Isn't this worth reporting to the KCC{2}?!"

The audio director holding the remote quickly changed the channel. The female lead on UBS's channel was wailing. A collapsed body spilling blood could be seen on the side.

"Are they kidding me?!"

"G.o.d d.a.m.n it!"

"Just what are they pulling here?!"

While angry voices erupted out, Writer Jang's drearily said,

"They want a fight."

The TV stopped at PBS's channel. Royal Family's first scene was playing.

"Ratings! What ratings did it start with?!"

Writer Jang shouted.

The production a.s.sistant, who already had his phone to his ear, raised his finger to his lips to shush us.

The bar became so quiet one could hear a needle drop.

Soon, the a.s.sistant opened his lips.

{1} Korean pun. 'Pa.s.sed away' and 'Fate' here use the same word phonetically.

{2} KCC - Korea Communications Commission, a media regulation agency.

/ ToC /