Chapter 116
Chapter 116
Chapter 116. Power of the Power (2)
Bae Youngheon, the director of the movie ‘Extreme Detective,’ wore a bitter expression as he walked to the place a staff member guided him to.
There, he found Kang Chi-seung, the head of the film division at QA Entertainment, which was both a production company and an investor.
“Is filming going well?”
Kang Chi-seung asked with a sly tone, and Bae Youngheon’s face showed a hint of displeasure.
“There are no problems. More importantly, have you eaten? MH Future Security sent a food truck and a snack truck to support the filming. Would you like to join me if you haven’t eaten yet?”
At that question, Kang Chi-seung looked at the trucks parked on one side of the parking lot and the bustling people in front of them. His disapproving gaze lingered for a moment before he withdrew it.
“I’m fine. Actually, I have something important to discuss.”
Sensing an ominous atmosphere, Bae Youngheon let out a shallow sigh.
“What is it?”
“It’s just that, while looking at the story, I thought it might be better to increase the screen time for actor Cha Ji-hyung a bit.”
Cha Ji-hyung was the actor playing the male lead, acting alongside the female lead, Han Sa-min.
At the same time, Bae Youngheon’s brow twitched with the last bit of patience he was barely holding onto.
This wasn’t the first time. This was the fourth time.
The previous requests hadn’t been too demanding, so he had made some adjustments, but this time, the greed was much greater. Naturally, Bae Youngheon could no longer tolerate it.
“As I mentioned before, the balance is currently optimal. Forcibly increasing the screen time here will inevitably cause problems.”
“Oh, come on… Why do you think that way? Frankly, isn’t it generally accepted that it’s better for a male actor to have higher recognition than a female actor in a movie?”
The movie ‘Extreme Detective’ was, as the name suggested, a story led by a female lead as the one-top. The male lead would support her as her closest confidant, creating chemistry.
Because of this, Kang Chi-seung had been pushing for the male actor to have a larger role from the beginning, claiming that the movie would be a bigger hit that way.
However, that didn’t fit at all with the story of ‘Extreme Detective’ that Bae Youngheon had planned, so he had been constantly refusing.
“I’m sorry, but that’s not possible.”
“Am I doing this just for my own benefit? Frankly, Han Sa-min wasn’t even an actress originally. How well can a singer do, no matter how good they are? Despite that, I’ve put my weight behind the production and even the investment.”
He was trying to keep milking it that way.
Bae Youngheon knew he couldn’t let it go any further, so he resolved to be more firm.
“It’s not possible. And the actor and the agency are staying quiet, so why is Director Kang interfering?”
“Interfering? I’m stepping in because I’m concerned. You know how things work in this industry, Director.”
“Still, what’s not possible is not possible. Weren’t you investing on the premise that Han Sa-min would be the one-top from the start? And filming is going well without any problems.”
“You’re saying that because you’re the one filming. But we’ve seen countless situations, and our opinion is different.”
The conversation next to the warehouse was gradually getting louder.
Then, a group of people approached the two of them.
Kang Chi-seung’s face hardened slightly when he saw one of them.
“…Representative Eom, you’re here too.”
“Indeed, Director Kang.”
“Aren’t you busy? I heard the group is quite noisy these days because of your siblings.”
Eom Ayoung’s brow furrowed slightly at that moment. In fact, Eom Ayoung was the youngest daughter of the owner of QA Group, the parent company of QA Entertainment, where Kang Chi-seung belonged, before she was the CEO of Breath Film.
“I’m not particularly interested in that. I guess Director Kang is, though.”
“It’s QA Group’s business, so I can’t help but be interested.”
The conversation was calm, but the atmosphere within was like flying knives.
Eom Ayoung retorted with a prickly voice.
“What were you talking about with the director? If it’s about filming, shouldn’t I be listening too?”
“That’s…”
While Kang Chi-seung hesitated to answer, Bae Youngheon, who needed support, chimed in.
“Director Kang is asking to increase the screen time for actor Cha Ji-hyung.”
At the same time, Eom Ayoung’s expression hardened. She knew very well that Kang Chi-seung had made such requests several times, causing the script to be changed.
“What do you think, Director?”
“I told him it’s not possible.”
“Director Bae! Do you think I’m doing this to ruin the movie?!”
“But what’s not possible is not possible.”
Bae Youngheon didn’t waver even at Kang Chi-seung’s sudden outburst.
Eom Ayoung, who had been watching the scene, glared sharply at Kang Chi-seung.
“Why do you keep doing this? Did you perhaps receive something from Deep & Purple Enter?”
At that, Kang Chi-seung made a fierce expression.
“Representative Eom! No matter how big this industry is, everyone knows everyone else. There are words that you shouldn’t easily say out loud in such places, no matter how much misunderstanding there may be.”
“If that’s not the case, then why are you doing this? Why are you stepping up when even actor Cha Ji-hyung is staying still?”
“As I told the director earlier, in the end, a movie is about the actor’s recognition. And it’s true that male actors have higher recognition than female actors.”
“Where did you get such a ridiculous formula?”
Eom Ayoung was also getting annoyed because the conversation wasn’t getting through.
Then, Shinwoo, who had been watching the whole situation from behind, stepped forward.
“The atmosphere on set is also important, so please both lower your voices.”
At this, Kang Chi-seung frowned deeply and glared at Shinwoo.
“Who are you to interfere? Can’t you tell when you shouldn’t step in?”
“Why can’t I step in? I think I have enough qualifications.”
“With what qualifications?”
Shinwoo let out a hollow laugh.
“If I’m the largest investor in the movie right now, isn’t that qualification enough?”
“Lar…gest?”
At that moment, Kang Chi-seung couldn’t help but think of one company.
At the same time, Shinwoo handed him the business card he had given to the director and Eom Ayoung.
“I’m Baek Shin-woo, the CEO of MH Future Security.”
“Hmph…”
As he let out a sigh mixed with lamentation, Shinwoo continued to speak.
“Judging by the situation, QA Entertainment seems to want to wield influence over the work under the pretext of investment and production support, but if you don’t intend to respect the opinions of the director and the main production company, how about just withdrawing completely?”
“…What?”
“I mean, withdraw everything if you don’t like it. Step down from production as well. Then MH Future Security will fill the empty spot.”
The funds that QA Entertainment had invested in the movie were about 2 billion won. However, whether to withdraw it or not was not something Kang Chi-seung could decide on his own.
“Have you said everything you want to say?!”
“Is there a problem with telling you to withdraw if you don’t want to do it?”
Kang Chi-seung couldn’t help but have heard about Shinwoo.
His achievements, starting as a parachute appointment at MH Group headquarters and creating MH Future Security, were being called legendary in the business world…
Of course, he also knew that MH Future Security accounted for more than 50% of the total investment share. That was why QA Entertainment had boldly invested 2 billion won.
At the same time, Shinwoo’s actions now became the trigger that convinced Kang Chi-seung, who was full of stubbornness, of the movie’s success.
“Ahem! Investment is not a matter that can be decided so easily.”
“Why? Are you scared now that you’re about to withdraw?”
A question that felt like a punch to the nerves. At that moment, Kang Chi-seung almost crumpled the expression he had managed to smooth out.
“…You’re going too far. I said everything for the sake of the work. If you misinterpret it too much, I’ll be in trouble.”
Shinwoo made a nonchalant expression.
“I said it so you would be in trouble. Did you not understand? Should I tell you more clearly?”
Kang Chi-seung swallowed hard at Shinwoo’s unwavering attitude.
Shinwoo continued to speak.
“I heard you were asking to increase the screen time for the other actor, Cha Ji-hyung. I’ve seen the script too. Frankly, I don’t know much about the movie industry, but the story was interesting enough as it is. So, I hope that the script won’t be changed from its current state under any circumstances.”
MH Future Security had just said that they would take responsibility for QA Entertainment’s investment share. Moreover, he was the largest investor now, so Shinwoo’s words couldn’t be taken lightly.
“As you said yourself, if you don’t know the movie industry, you might end up wasting the investment.”
“Director Kang Chi-seung, are you implying that the movie might fail in its current state?”
Kang Chi-seung was sweating profusely as he was pushed so hard.
“That’s too much… I mean, it might not be as successful as expected.”
Shinwoo was trying to drive a stake into Kang Chi-seung’s anxious appearance.
“Would it be better for us to withdraw our investment now if it seems like it will be a problem?”
“…Huh?”
At the same time, Kang Chi-seung, as well as Eom Ayoung and Director Bae Youngheon, were startled and stared intently at Shinwoo.
It was a whopping 5 billion won. If that money were to be withdrawn while filming was already in progress, the movie itself could be canceled.
Of course, they could raise it from other places, but who would try to invest in a place that MH Future Security, known as the icon of investment success, had abandoned? It was obvious that it would only delay the time and collapse.
“I heard that Director Kang likes to threaten with funds, so I tried it too. How is it? Does your heart drop a little?”
Shinwoo said it was a joke, but his voice was sincere. His eyes were also serious, so Kang Chi-seung had no choice but to back down.
Of course, QA Entertainment wasn’t a small company either. However, even as a director, Kang Chi-seung’s authority had many difficulties in pushing things too far.
“…I’m sorry. I think my opinion was a bit excessive.”
“It was very excessive. Then, let’s go back to our business now. I’m hungry because I’ve talked too much.”
“……”
With those words, Shinwoo returned to Jang Man-soo’s side. At this, Jang Man-soo suppressed a laugh and said in a quiet voice.
“I properly learned how to threaten with money. But what’s with saying you’re hungry at the end?”
“I had to step up so much. Is there no problem now with this much?”
“Probably. QA Entertainment wasn’t involved before, but a variable occurred. But it’ll be okay now.”
“That’s a relief. And I’m really hungry. Let’s go eat.”
Shinwoo returned to his seat with Jang Man-soo and continued to eat the food he had brought earlier.
In the meantime, Director Bae Youngheon and Eom Ayoung also returned to their seats and sat down.
“…Thank you so much, CEO.”
“Me too. I don’t know how long I would have had to listen to that nonsense if it weren’t for you, CEO.”
Shinwoo, who was cutting the meat, looked at the two of them.
“It was my job. So, please do your best as you are now to make a good movie.”
“We will. Are you going to watch the filming afterwards too?”
“Yes? That’s…”
Shinwoo couldn’t help but naturally look to the side. At the end of that gaze, Jang Man-soo was looking at him with pleading eyes.
‘I understand why Lillian stabbed Man-soo’s eyes…….’
At that moment, he barely managed to stop his index and middle fingers from unconsciously extending.