A Chance Meeting with a Student Director
One line from Seo Tae-jun was enough to turn my doubt into conviction.
'Multicultural is a fun script!'
Once I was certain, there was no reason to put it off.
I called Kim Jun-su, the director who had written the Multicultural screenplay, right away. I led with the fact that I was the chief manager at Baekhak Management, and he was so startled that he immediately agreed to meet.
The next day, when we met at a café in Sangsu-dong, my first impression of Kim Jun-su was... surprisingly different from what I’d expected.
For a rookie director who had written such a forceful work about the theme of multiculturalism, he looked remarkably fragile and lacking in confidence.
'He said he was twenty-five, right?'
That made him only three years younger than me.
And yet Kim Jun-su, after receiving my business card, sat there fidgeting and watching my expression as if afraid of offending me.
I clicked my tongue before I could stop myself.
'The script is good, but... Kim Jun-su’s condition might be the real wildcard here.'
This was starting to feel a little unsettling.
But contrary to my worries, Kim Jun-su’s filmography itself was fairly solid.
'He’s been steadily making short films since getting out of the military.'
One of the shorts he made last year had even won an award at a small film festival.
'So he at least has the basics as a director...'
I could feel that spark, that little something, just barely flickering to life...
It tickled my chest.
I wanted Kim Jun-su to give me just a little more certainty, but I still couldn’t tell.
I gathered my thoughts and smiled brightly.
It was the kind of polished smile I used when I was working to put someone at ease.
"I did set this meeting pretty suddenly, didn’t I, Director?"
Even after seeing my cheerful smile, Kim Jun-su only grew more tense and stammered badly.
"N-no, not at all."
"I read the screenplay you wrote and got so hooked that I came all this way on the presumptuous side, so to speak."
"T-thank you!"
"The theme itself was already so interesting. It isn’t easy to portray the lives of Korean immigrants like this, and I was deeply impressed, Director."
"...T-th-thank you so much!"
"It’s been a while since I’ve read a script this good, so I really hope we can work together..."
Kim Jun-su, who had been frozen stiff, blurted out, "I-I’ll do it!"
"Pardon?"
"I’ll g-give you the screenplay. Please take it!"
"?"
...Huh?
What the hell was this situation?
I was a little dazed by how fast Kim Jun-su had accepted.
After belatedly fixing my expression, I asked, "So when you say you’ll give me the screenplay, you mean you want to work together, right, Director?"
"Y-yes, of course!"
"That’s more than good enough for me, but aren’t you deciding a little too quickly?"
"N-no! I gave it plenty of thought before deciding!"
"What if a better offer comes in from somewhere else?"
"I’ll turn it down!"
My expression turned dubious.
...What?
This was really working out this easily?
'He doesn’t look like he has some other scheme from the expression on his face.'
Or maybe I’d been overthinking things because I’d spent too much time dealing with the foxes of the entertainment world.
I tilted my head, then asked again to make absolutely sure.
"So I really am taking this script?"
"P-please do!"
"...Do you perhaps want anything else from me, separately?"
For the first time, Kim Jun-su’s expression changed.
"Um..."
"Yes, Director. Just speak comfortably."
"I understand you used to be Lee Ha-eun’s manager..."
My eyes widened as I looked at him.
'Oh?'
Could he possibly be asking me to cast Lee Ha-eun in his short film?
If that was the case...
Kim Jun-su was far bolder than he looked.
With a faint rise of tension, my mind started moving fast.
As I thought through dozens of ways to counter this brazen request, Kim Jun-su leaned in and whispered in a small voice.
"...Could I maybe get one autograph someday?"
"?"
"I-I’m a huge fan of Lee Ha-eun, so! If it’s not too much trouble, just one autograph.!"
...I lost my expression again.
Clearing my throat, I answered, "I’ll ask her sometime, Director."
"Th-thank you!"
"Then there’s something I’d like to talk about regarding the project..."
I let the sentence trail off, silently praying that this time my guess would be right.
'A fragile personality and a slightly vacant sort of person are things I can excuse as individual quirks.'
But if you were a director making a film, even if you were an amateur, you had to have some backbone.
I wanted Kim Jun-su to be the kind of director who had that backbone.
"For the role of Choi Ji-seon, the protagonist in your Multicultural, what kind of actress do you think would suit it?"
At my question, Kim Jun-su’s eyes widened.
After thinking for a long moment, he finally spoke without stuttering for the first time since meeting me.
"Well... first of all, I think she should be a child actress."
My eyes curved into a smile.
Exactly.
If he was a director, he needed to have a firm opinion about his own work!
I leaned forward.
"And?"
"I think acting ability should matter more than visuals, at least..."
"Because the film’s theme is about showing the bullying faced by a high school girl born into a multicultural family, right?"
"Yes, yes. Since the main character’s psychological portrayal is so important, I’d want a child actress with a lot of acting experience to bring out the picture I have in mind..."
At Kim Jun-su’s satisfying answer, the corners of my mouth lifted.
I reached out with my right hand and took out the document folder I’d brought from the company.
"After hearing your thoughts, Director, I think of one actress right away."
A blatant lie.
I had had only one actress in mind from the moment I came here.
But sometimes a lie of goodwill is necessary.
Just like now.
"Her name is Choi Go-eun, a child actress..."
By the way, you said you were a fan of Lee Ha-eun, right?
Then it was time to shake that heart a little.
"She’s the actress I’m pushing as the next Lee Ha-eun. Want to look at her profile?"
Kim Jun-su’s eyes went wide at my unexpected proposal.
***
After wrapping up the meeting with Kim Jun-su, I bought 200,000 won worth of red ginseng from Jung Kwan Jang and visited Blue Pine Production.
When Team Leader Choi and Director Park spotted me, sweeping the lobby floor with a vacuum and mop in hand, they broke into broad smiles.
"Hey, Chief Kwon! What’s with the two-handed gift?"
"I thought it’d be rude to show up empty-handed... Nobody here can’t use red ginseng, right?"
"Aigoo! Why’d you go and buy something like this? Your hands must hurt! Give it here, I’ll carry it!"
After handing the red ginseng to Team Leader Choi, I glanced around.
Last time I’d been here, the Blue Pine Production office had been so filthy you could barely find a place to stand. Today, though, it gleamed without a speck of dust.
'What is this? Is today cleaning day or something?'
Then Director Park led me to the meeting room and said, "You really could’ve just come as you were. You didn’t buy this red ginseng because I was needlessly putting the pressure on, did you?"
I came to my senses and answered, "It’s a bribe to get you to make the project shine, Director."
Director Park took a sip of the instant coffee he’d made himself and laughed.
"I will make it shine. Thanks to you, we even managed to cast Lee Ha-eun, so heh..."
"Then I’ll put my trust in you, Director."
"Don’t worry. I mean, I can’t say I’m certain it’ll be a monster hit, huh? But for some reason, I don’t think this one’s going to flop. You know that feeling, right? The kind you get before a project starts! That feeling hit me just now, big time!"
His voice was full of confidence.
"Since that feeling has hit me dead on, I’m going to film this one properly. For the sake of our Chief Kwon’s face, too!"
The corners of my mouth lifted slightly.
For a director of Park’s caliber to be getting that kind of feeling before shooting even began was a good sign.
After that, we talked about the project in a warm, easy atmosphere.
"The casting is nearly complete, and Baekhak has backed the production with plenty of money, so there’s nothing to worry about on that front."
"I already scouted locations while working out the script, so I think we can lock down the shoot schedule pretty quickly."
"As soon as the readings are done and the production schedule is set, I’m planning to go straight into filming. The first shoot will probably be..."
Director Park let the sentence drift off and shot me a furtive look.
"Since one of the locations is an abandoned mine in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, I think we’ll need to do some group lodging. Will that be okay for the Baekhak actors, Chief Kwon?"
I rubbed my chin.
A group shoot in Jeongseon...
Gangwon Province was too far for commuting back and forth from Seoul.
I’d need to look into lodging nearby that could handle a long stay.
'I should also check Lee Ha-eun and Seo Tae-jun’s schedules.'
I didn’t know about Seo Tae-jun, but Lee Ha-eun’s schedule was literally managed down to the minute.
Still, if the director wanted group lodging, this wasn’t something I could refuse.
I answered with the intention of making it work, even if it had to be forced into shape.
"I’ll adjust the schedules and contact you separately."
"Seriously, Chief Kwon, I keep taking from you."
"That’s what a manager is for."
Fueled by Lee Ha-eun’s addition, Director Park kept explaining the filming plan and the schedule ahead without pausing for breath.
But as I listened, I couldn’t shake the feeling of: why am I the one hearing all this?
'Is this just Park’s style? Why is he sharing the shooting plan with me in such detail?'
Usually, a director wouldn’t tell a manager all this.
And if they did, they’d usually go through the actor.
That made it a little strange, but it didn’t seem malicious, so I let it pass.
"Well then, I’ll be going, Director. I’ll call you again next time."
"Of course, contact me whenever you like. I’ll be waiting."
"Chief Kwon! Take this spam gift set with you!"
"I’m fine, Team Leader Choi."
"No, no! I just want to give it to you! It’s leftover from the Chuseok gifts I handed out to staff last time, so take it without worrying about it!"
Only after accepting the Chuseok gift set Team Leader Choi pressed on me was I able to leave Blue Pine Production.
While smoking a cigarette in a nearby smoking area, I muttered to myself.
"...They’re welcoming me a little too enthusiastically."
Was I imagining it? No.
Both Director Park and Team Leader Choi were unusually... friendly today.
And I didn’t know why.
'Hmm... Something’s off today.'
Kim Jun-su had been strange, and now Director Park too. Everyone I met seemed a little weird.
After thinking it over for a moment, I shrugged.
I stubbed out the cigarette and made a call.
Before even a second had passed, Choi Go-eun answered.
"Hello?"
"Choi Go-eun, it’s me."
"Chief Manager?"
"Yeah. Choi Go-eun, your next project’s been decided. Multicultural."
"!"
Choi Go-eun fell silent, clearly surprised.
Imagining what expression that prickly high school girl was making right now, I lifted the corners of my mouth.
"We’ll probably need to have a meeting, Choi Go-eun. Send me a text with the days you’re free."
***
Blue Pine Production, after the meeting with Kwon Chan ended.
Director Park Jun-seo crossed his arms with a triumphant look and said, "Told you so, didn’t I?"
"I mean... maybe?"
"Not maybe. I’m right, you idiot!"
Director Park Jun-seo let out a long sigh.
"That Chief Kwon guy is more of a big shot than we thought. Good thing we cleaned up."
"...No, I’ve known Chief Kwon for years, and he’s not that kind of heavyweight."
"Are you inside Baekhak Entertainment? No, you’re Team Leader Choi at Blue Pine Production, right? How would you know what’s going on inside the company?"
"Th-that’s true, but..."
"Hey, Team Leader Choi. Let’s be honest. Honestly, did you and I really think Lee Ha-eun would join us? A top actress with Hollywood rumors floating around, in an occult film like this?"
Team Leader Choi shut his mouth.
As Director Park had said...
He couldn’t believe it until he saw the article himself.
'Why would that Lee Ha-eun appear in a movie like this?'
From Team Leader Choi’s point of view, it made no sense.
Director Park Jun-seo let out a bitter laugh.
"And not only did he slot Lee Ha-eun in, he even pulled in Baekhak investment too? Is that something a normal manager can do?"
"...Now that I hear it, maybe not."
"Exactly! Finally, we’re speaking the same language! Honestly, I felt it ever since he got Seo Tae-jun to shave his head! Chief Kwon that guy..."
Director Park Jun-seo trailed off, his Adam’s apple bobbing.
"He’s definitely someone Baekhak is raising on purpose."
At Director Park’s words, Team Leader Choi’s eyes widened.
"Someone Baekhak is raising on purpose?"
"Can’t you feel it from how hard they’re backing him? Just the things he’s done for us alone would take a department head level person, at least."
Director Park Jun-seo warned him in a voice full of certainty.
"So we have to treat Chief Kwon well, no matter what, got it?! Our leash is in that guy’s hands!"
***
After the meetings with Director Park Jun-seo and Director Kim Jun-su ended, the next few days were so busy I could barely tell how time was passing.
The moment I opened my eyes, it was work, work, work.
Black Bride readings and promotion plans, To.Any’s schedule management.
On top of that, I had to keep an eye on Kim Jun-su and Choi Go-eun’s side of things, and for the first time in a while I could feel the limits of my stamina.
And yet, strangely enough...
My body was dead tired, but my mind had never been clearer.
Maybe I should say I was fired up?
Unlike my half-dead body, my tension never ran out, and every day it reached a new high.
When I thought carefully about why, it turned out not to be much of a mystery.
It was simply because I was getting results.
Black Bride was starting to ride the momentum.
Now the industry was beginning to reassess Black Bride, too.
With Lee Ha-eun on board, the once-small project had grown larger, and people were quietly saying it might become one of the defining films of the quarter.
Meanwhile, To.Any, which had officially begun its activities, was locked in a fierce fight for chart position.
Youth Travel was fourth.
Attention was third.
Now, to reach number one on the music charts...
Just two steps remained!
"No wonder I can’t rest."
The sweet fruit just ahead of me forced my half-dead body to keep moving.
And so I went to a university festival in Busan with To.Any.
"...One, two, three. Two steps to the top! Hello, we are To.Any!"
As I sat in the audience, I could hear the murmuring of youths who looked like freshmen.
"Whoa... damn. Who are they? Their faces are smaller than my hand."
"Seriously, wow. The one with the long black hair looks like a doll."
"Hey, hey, aren’t those the girls? To.Any!"
"To.Any? What the hell is that, you hopeless fanboy."
"Youth Travel! People are going crazy over that challenge where they sing along to Youth Travel these days. Are you seriously living under a rock?"
When you really feel an idol’s popularity, it’s moments like this.
When someone with no connection to you casually mentions your artist’s name...
that’s when it sinks in: ah, my artist is popular.
And right now, the girl group I had raised with my own hands before their debut was being cheered to the rafters.
"Kyyaaa! Seol Chae-i unnie! You’re so pretty!"
"Whoa... look how tiny Ga-eul unnie’s face is."
"Nova unnieeee! I love youuuu!"
"Rei! Please look this way and wink once!!"
"We love you, To.Any--!"
Pride, satisfaction, joy.
Emotion I couldn’t put into words brushed against my chest.
Then To.Any’s song began.
Under this starry night,
You and I can be together.
On the sea of youth,
Let’s ride the waves together!
Wow.
The sea, youth, a festival.
Wasn’t this too perfectly matched to the moment?
I laughed and stood up.
Once the stage ended, I headed toward the van parked by the shoreline, ready to load the girls up immediately.
But maybe because they’d received an encore request, To.Any didn’t look ready to come down from the stage.
Since this was the final slot of the night anyway, it didn’t matter much if they sang the encore a few times.
Thanks to the extra time, I turned on my smartphone with my back to the night sea.
"About time to start."
Tonight was the live broadcast of Star Observation! featuring To.Any.
I’d originally planned to watch it with the girls...
But there was no helping it.
I’d waited too long for this moment to just sit there and endure it.
Then the commercials ended, and the main broadcast of Star Observation! began.
My heart started pounding.
"I’m Kwon Chan, the chief manager for To.Any."
Two months of a long journey.
At last, the final piece of the puzzle had clicked into place.
***
The next morning.
A small star had been born.
But the star that had been born wasn’t just one person.
A star manager had been born.
The hero was Kwon Chan, chief manager of Baekhak Management Team 5.
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