Chapter 112: Making a Movie
Chapter 112: Making a Movie
Perhaps it was because I'd fully recharged after resting at Laguna Beach.
“Jong-yeop, look for a really nice, large building in Los Angeles.”
“Yes, sir.”
I pushed forward with the purchase of a large, newly constructed building in downtown Los Angeles, built within the last three years.
Thanks to COVID, commercial real estate prices had dropped significantly, making it a great opportunity.
“Let's buy one in Los Angeles and another in San Francisco.”
“Yes, sir. I understand.”
I proceeded with the acquisition of buildings to be used as Earth Resource's headquarters.
Although I planned to spend over 1.5 billion dollars on real estate, I decided not to be stingy with my investments.
<Weekly gains: Dow Jones 6.9%, Nasdaq 9%. The largest increase since last April.>
<Pfizer vaccine scheduled for December release.>
<Global investors expect the vaccine rally to begin in earnest.>
<Wall Street investors: "A favorable environment for investing in U.S. stocks.">
Even after the U.S. presidential election, the New York stock market was in a frenzy.
On some days, I might lose billions of dollars, but by the time I woke up the next morning, it had soared even higher.
<Biden administration launches, all-out effort to overcome COVID.>
<President Biden declares aggressive expansion of government spending.>
<$1 trillion super stimulus package passes the House and Senate.>
<$600 stimulus checks to be sent to all Americans.>
<President Biden receives K-Vaccine.>
The low interest rates and U.S.-led fiscal spending were unprecedented in history.
Modern Monetary Theory, which posits that a government can control inflation through taxes and bonds even while continuously printing money, became widespread.
Taking out loans to buy stocks or crypto, a practice of scraping together every last bit of capital, was reported in the media as the investment method of choice for those in their 20s and 30s.
*'Could the outcome of this debt-fueled party possibly be good?'*
I didn't know much about economic theory, but the fact that economics PhDs were bad at stock investing had already been proven.
*'I have to live by my own instincts without being swayed by my surroundings.'*
When it comes to money, one must be both bold and cautious. Finding that middle ground is difficult, but I had no choice but to try.
―Kim Shin: Can Earth Resource get a loan?
―Ellie: Really? You’re thinking of getting a loan? You’ve always hated them.
―Kim Shin: The interest rates are low. I’d like to get a fixed-rate loan.
While resting at Laguna Beach, I cleared my head.
I decided to temporarily abandon the fixed notion that one shouldn't borrow money.
With interest rates as low as 2.3%, it was well worth borrowing.
*'I'm not borrowing money as an individual for personal consumption. For business funds and acquiring fixed assets, it's better to use a loan.'*
―Ellie: Earth Resource is a startup, but… phew. Thinking about it again, it’s just astounding.
―Ellie: It’s a company that’s not even a year old, yet its revenue and profit margins are insane.
―Ellie: And its growth rate is incomparable to any other company. Financial institutions would be more than willing to give us a loan, but how about issuing corporate bonds?
―Kim Shin: Corporate bonds? What’s the difference?
―Ellie: Banks or institutional investors can purchase the bonds we issue. Given Earth Resource's popularity, issuing bonds will likely get us a lower interest rate than taking out a loan.
We decided to issue 12 billion dollars in three-year corporate bonds, with JPMorgan as the lead underwriter.
This was the capital needed to acquire data centers around the world, a pressing need following the success of Earth Channel.
―Kim Shin: I’m counting on you.
―Vice Chairman Seon Jae-yong: From construction to equipment setup, we will shorten the construction period as much as possible.
The construction of the data centers also proceeded as scheduled.
Many thoughts raced through my mind.
*'I need to strike while the iron is hot.'*
After a good rest, I felt full of energy.
I reread my KaTalk conversation with Jo Soo-ah several times.
―Kim Shin: A blind date… sounds fun.
Honestly, I wasn't comfortable with the idea of Jo Soo-ah going on a blind date with another man.
Considering my own situation with Ellie in New York, it was shameless of me to feel this way.
―Kim Shin: Isn't he supposed to be some really cool guy?
I sent the text, thinking how pathetic I was.
When I thought about it, had I ever properly dated a woman other than Han Chae-won in my entire life?
In college, I avoided women because I couldn't afford to date, and Ellie was cool and focused on her work.
―Jo Soo-ah: He seems like a decent person.
―Kim Shin: Really?
―Jo Soo-ah: But I told him I have someone I like. I know it’s not polite to say that on a date like this, but I felt I couldn’t hide it.
―Jo Soo-ah: I didn't want him to waste his time on me.
―Kim Shin: Oh…
―Jo Soo-ah: I felt bad, so I’m going to pay for the meal. I’m a terrible person, aren't I?
*'Should I have gone to Korea?'*
If I weren't so famous, it would have been nice to go to Korea and date Jo Soo-ah.
I regretted how I'd spent all that time we had together visiting hospitals while working at Arcor.
I'd deliberately put up a wall and acted uninterested, not wanting to seem like the other employees who were infatuated with her.
And then…
<COVID cases in South Korea steadily increasing.>
<COVID-19, third wave hits university areas, college entrance exams in jeopardy.>
<Over 300 daily cases, Seoul begins Level 3 quarantine measures.>
In South Korea, which had been relatively less affected by COVID, the number of daily confirmed cases rose to 300.
<Bitcoin surpasses $17,000. All-time high in sight.>
<2017 all over again, excitement builds as Bitcoin's rally continues!>
<Major cryptocurrencies all on the rise.>
Bitcoin, which had hit $5,000 in March, had been steadily climbing, attracting investors' attention.
As it neared its previous all-time high, it received immense media attention.
Whether Bitcoin rose or not didn't matter to me, but its influence extended to Source Coin.
―Congrats! Source Coin breaks $19!
―It’s on the verge of hitting $20.
―I’m securing my retirement with Source Coin.
―You’re a winner. You’ll probably be able to afford one of those luxury retirement homes.
―With the launch of Earth Channel, it’s gained global popularity. A world where billions of people trade Source Coin is coming soon.
―This is Earth Resource, created by Kim Shin. Has he ever disappointed us?
―The fastest-growing, most innovative company in America. He even made a spectacular success out of the OTT service, which everyone predicted would fail due to fierce market competition.
The price of Source Coin surpassed 19 dollars.
* * *
Choi Won-seok, a dermatologist in Haeundae.
He had rarely failed to get what he wanted in life.
*'Did I just get rejected?'*
He was in his mid-thirties.
It was a blind date he'd gone on only because his father had pestered him.
He hadn't been particularly interested in who would show up, but the moment Jo Soo-ah walked into the restaurant in her business attire, his mind changed.
*'She's magnificent. I'm glad I came.'*
She had an uncommonly beautiful appearance.
He had seen many pretty faces in his life, but she was the type who seemed more charming and beautiful the longer you looked at her.
After talking to her, he found he liked her voice and personality as well.
*'Getting married… well, it might not be so bad.'*
His life philosophy of living as a bachelor and enjoying himself to the fullest was shaken.
The woman's family background was also good, and he didn't foresee any obstacles to marriage.
He'd thought all he had to do was make the decision.
“I have someone I like.”
He was shocked by Jo Soo-ah's words.
She even said it was a man she had an unrequited crush on.
“I'll pay for the meal. I've been very rude. I'm sorry.”
After she paid for the meal and left, he sat alone in the restaurant and let out a hollow laugh.
“So, Choi Won-seok got rejected. Hahaha.”
He had always been popular since he was young, and he never lacked a girlfriend throughout medical school and his residency.
After becoming a dermatologist, he'd been inundated with blind date offers and aggressive advances from beautiful patients.
*'Still, Ms. Jo Soo-ah is just a pharmaceutical company employee. Me, Choi Won-seok, got rejected by a pharmaceutical company employee?'*
No matter how he thought about it, the situation was absurd.
To be rejected by a pharmaceutical company employee, someone he wouldn't normally consider to be in his league.
*'Did I fail to properly show her my charm or abilities?'*
She was too good of a woman to let slip away like this.
Choi Won-seok made a call.
“Father, I like the woman I met this time. She's really great. I want to meet her more and find out what kind of person she is.”
* * *
Producer Seong Ho-jin returned to Korea and met with Vice President Jeong Beom-tae.
“This is the movie I'm going to produce.”
“Your next project is a movie? You've already written a script?”
“Yes. There will likely be quite a few changes during filming, but I've structured it as a documentary-style film.”
Jeong Beom-tae was not at all pleased with the situation.
With the success of Earth Channel, Dream Art Rainbow had taken flight.
It was selling Korean content to the global market and introducing its actors to the world.
Actors who used to treat OTT platforms as inferior to cable were now contacting them first.
*'We're just getting started… doesn't he know how important it is to keep filming the CEO? A variety show producer making a movie? Did he catch the art-house bug or something?'*
Jeong Beom-tae's lips twitched in anger as he turned his gaze to the synopsis. And as soon as he saw the title, his eyes widened.
“The movie's title is… Kim Shin?”
“Yes. When I learned about the CEO's life, it felt like a movie.”
He grew up with a gambling addict for a father and achieved tremendous success.
“If we cast a talented child actor, there are many scenes that can draw the audience in right from the beginning.”
“Right. Right.”
“I also talked to the CEO about his time in poverty. He said that rather than being miserable and sad, he actually lived quite enjoyably.”
“He did?”
“He persevered and overcame his difficult circumstances. Won't showing this side of him make the public feel closer to the CEO and create a more positive image? People who have only recently heard of him just see him as a super-rich guy with a knack for investing.”
“Right. A positive image for the CEO… yes.”
Jeong Beom-tae nodded unconsciously, as if he'd never thought negatively of the idea.
“This is something I felt while filming in the U.S. I believe I'm the most qualified person to make a movie about the CEO. I don't want to hand this over to anyone else.”
“Producer Seong, you're the perfect fit. You know how to bring out the visual beauty. I've always thought you were too talented for just variety shows.”
Before coming here, Producer Seong Ho-jin had expected Vice President Jeong Beom-tae to be easily persuaded. He hid his surprise at how much more easily he was convinced than expected and added,
“When famous figures overseas become successful, documentaries are made about them. Why shouldn't our CEO have one?”
“There's no reason. No reason at all not to do it.”
“There's a lot of interest in the CEO. If we make a documentary film and release it on Earth Channel, many viewers will watch it, and it will receive global attention.”
Jeong Beom-tae slammed his hand on the desk.
“We have to do this. Producer Seong, your instincts have really sharpened since you went to the States.”
“Th-thank you.”
“Set up the production schedule immediately. I'll get you all the A-list staff. Actors? If you want, I'll cast Hallyu-level stars.”
“The child actor is important. We'll also need a 90s-era set. And we'll have to build a private gambling den.”
“What's the problem with any of that? I'll take care of everything. Producer Seong—no, Director Seong—you just focus on making a masterpiece!”