Standout (3)
"So Natdaljib is the starting point for spreading out into the world?"
At Kang Jaeha’s words, Lee Chanhoo scratched his jaw.
"I get it for the domestic market, but the world sounds like a stretch, doesn’t it? We still don’t even know how Natdaljib is going to do. You know better than anyone how Korean animated films are treated here."
"Right. Nobody gives them the time of day."
But Jaeha already knew Natdaljib had a rather brilliant future ahead of it. What came after that was still out of sight, of course.
Getting the first crack in the dam is half the battle. If Natdaljib opens the floodgate, no one can say which way the current will run.
What followed from there held endless possibility. It could end with Natdaljib alone, or it could lead to an animated film even bigger than Natdaljib. Naturally, Jaeha intended to interfere with the current once it started to flow.
At that moment, Lee Chanhoo set the two copies of the Natdaljib script he had received from Director Hong Manseop onto the table. He kept one for himself and slid the other toward Kang Jaeha.
"First, the Natdaljib script. I brought it from Director Hong Manseop."
"So you’re trying to bring the animation director in on this too, like you did with Gyeollo."
"You’ve got to line them up early if there’s potential."
"Feels like you keep dragging in people who are all a little dry and worn at the edges. Works and people alike. Only the neglected corners with no rain."
"Putting life support on them is pretty fun, actually. You too, for that matter. I brought a washed-up nobody and made him the CEO."
"That’s why I give you my look of respect every time I see you, boss. Don’t you feel it?"
"Not at all."
Chanhoo shrugged and brought up Director Hong Manseop again.
"You must have thought pretty far ahead when you decided to cast MEG as their savior, the way you did with Hong Manseop."
He folded his arms and mulled it over for a moment before going on.
"Even if Korean animation never really makes it to the world, if it’s handled well and only gets into Japan, that’s still a massive hit. Money that’s been drying up in the Korean animation market would start moving again too."
Jaeha said nothing. He was absorbed in the script. After a while, he rubbed his chin.
This has serious pull.
As he turned page after page, his hand grew faster. Only after reading the Natdaljib script for about thirty minutes did Kang Jaeha let out a small laugh.
There’s a reason it still hit three million admissions even after forcing in a Chinese character.
The expectation that rose with the memory of Deja vu was substantial.
This could easily be turned into a series.
The next morning, the 8th. Inside a luxury sedan.
It was around nine. In the back seat of the sleek car, stopped at a red light, sat CEO Han Taeseong. A fitted suit, neatly slicked-back hair. Once again, he looked like the cover model for a middle-aged men’s magazine. It was Sunday, but he was busy.
"······"
Han Taeseong, who had been staring out the window with an oddly heavy air, turned his gaze to the front passenger seat.
"Director Park."
At the call, his assistant, who had a sharp, capable look about him, turned his head back.
"Yes, sir."
Han Taeseong asked in a low voice.
"The thing I asked you to look into. Has it been tidied up?"
"Of course."
The assistant handed Han Taeseong a transparent file taken from the briefcase beside him. As he did, he continued his explanation.
"The manager you mentioned from Team 4, Kang Jaeha. The artists assigned to him are Yoon Dayeon and An Jihee. It looks like Yoon Dayeon was handed to Team Leader Jang Hyeongsu, and An Jihee seems to have been taken on directly by Manager Kang Jaeha."
"An Jihee. So she’s the girl who was shifted from idol trainee to actress."
"That’s right."
CEO Han Taeseong looked quietly at An Jihee’s profile in the transparent file, and the assistant spoke again.
"The work Kang Jaeha assigned to Yoon Dayeon and An Jihee is a short film called Gyeollo. It seems Team Leader Jang Hyeongsu has already been briefed."
"Gyeollo."
"Yes. It’s set for auditions this afternoon."
"The audition is today, then. What time?"
"Three o’clock. I’ve confirmed the location as well."
Han Taeseong fell into thought, drumming his index finger against his thigh.
"What do you know about this short film, Gyeollo?"
"Nothing especially unusual. It’s the kind of short film no one would pay much attention to."
"So, just common as dirt."
"Yes. The director is unknown, and young too. His name is Kwon Seongmin. The production company is Munbak Film. It’s small, but they do have a fair amount of experience with short and independent projects."
"Munbak Film. I think I’ve heard of them. What about the investment?"
"I’m sorry, sir. I couldn’t confirm the investor."
"Not publicly disclosed, then. It doesn’t matter much anyway. It’s only a short film, so the scale would be small."
Investment in short films was, unlike commercial features, quite varied. The most common route was for the director to secure funding directly. The assistant lowered his voice.
"Sir, I found something interesting while checking Gyeollo."
"What is it?"
"The work Gyeollo was submitted to Leon Entertainment’s short-story contest."
A faint spark of interest surfaced in Han Taeseong’s eyes as he tilted his head slightly.
"Gyeollo was in the short-story contest?"
"Yes, though it was rejected."
"Hmm."
With his arms folded, Han Taeseong rubbed his cheek with his knuckle.
Coincidence?
He pictured Kang Jaeha’s face and gave a thin smile.
No. It can’t be a coincidence. Jaeha must have pulled Gyeollo out after it came into Leon.
The short-story contest had been handled this time by the New Business Team, meaning Director Kim Cheoljung. The first through third place works had already been selected and were in production. The goal was the Busan International Film Festival, and Han Taeseong held a measured expectation for the project.
In the middle of that process, without anyone noticing, Kang Jaeha had fished out Gyeollo.
Then he had attached the obsolete Yoon Dayeon and An Jihee to it.
This could not have been accidental.
No matter how I look at it, this is a board Jaeha is deliberately moving. Did he see potential in Gyeollo? Or...
Is Gyeollo just a sacrifice to rewire the minds of two washed-up girls? Either way, from Han Taeseong’s point of view, it was not a bad flow.
He’s thinking for himself, building the structure, making room for change.
Until now, there had been no one like Kang Jaeha in Team 4. Han Taeseong recalled the man he had seen before, more precisely that look that seemed to keep dancing along the edge of a blade.
Slowly crossing one leg over the other, Han Taeseong murmured in a low voice.
"I’m curious."
That same day, in the afternoon. Leon Entertainment, Management Team 4.
Since it was Sunday, Team 4 was practically empty. Only one person occupied the office: Kang Jaeha, sitting at his desk with his chin in his hand and looking at his laptop screen.
"Did I come a little early?"
Jaeha, wearing an aviation jacket over the mild weather, checked the time. Around one o’clock. In about thirty minutes, Yoon Dayeon and An Jihee were scheduled to arrive at Team 4. The reason was simple enough: the Gyeollo audition was set for three o’clock.
Dayeon is fine. Jihee, though... this is her first time, so she’s probably nervous.
Then it happened.
- Swish.
A stout man entered the empty office. It was Chief Manager Kim Daeyong. Though it was his day off, he had shown up anyway, and when he saw Jaeha, he let out a broad laugh.
"Jaeha, I couldn’t hold back and came in."
Kang Jaeha smiled faintly and stood up.
"You didn’t have to rest?"
"It’s fine. It’s Dayeon’s work, so I should be here. It’s Team 4’s business too. If I’d lain around at home, I would’ve kept worrying about it. Better to come in."
"If that’s what you want, I won’t stop you."
"I told Jinwoo he should rest too, even though he wanted to come in."
Kim Daeyong, talking about rookie road manager Ryu Jinwoo, rubbed his hands together.
"An audition for Dayeon. A short film, no less. I’m nervous myself."
"You’ve been watching her a long time, so I suppose that makes sense."
"I hope it goes well... for Dayeon. And for the girl she’s going with too."
Without the slightest hesitation, Jaeha answered.
"It’ll go well. Probably."
At the same time, a female voice cut in from behind them.
"What’s going well?"
Turning around, they saw Yoon Dayeon standing there with her long hair tied back. She wore light makeup and a loose hoodie. As she approached and saw Kang Jaeha and Kim Daeyong, she pushed out her lips a little.
"This isn’t a parade. Why are you all coming in together? I could go by myself."
As though giving her the choice she wanted, Jaeha replied.
"You want to do that? Then we’ll stay here and cheer for you."
"Ah! No! I mean, that’s just a way of speaking. A way of speaking!"
"Too bad."
"No, it’s not! You’re just trying to sit here and drink up the good stuff yourselves!"
"How do you feel?"
"Combat effectiveness: through the roof."
Kim Daeyong laughed hard.
"Then go crush the audition with that energy, Dayeon."
"Obviously! I’m flipping the whole thing over, seriously!"
Yoon Dayeon and Kim Daeyong bounced with excitement, and Jaeha simply watched them with a faint smile. Then another woman entered Team 4, her short hair tied back tightly.
"U-um, hello!"
It was An Jihee. She too had almost no makeup on, which only made her look even more pure and innocent. Jaeha thought of one of the roles in Gyeollo.
She did it on purpose. She matched the mood.
An Jihee was busy bowing over and over.
"Hello! Hello, senior!"
Perhaps because they had seen each other a few times, Yoon Dayeon didn’t look at her with discomfort.
"Yeah, hi."
Still, an odd tension lingered between them. They were from the same house, but once they stepped into the audition room, they would be rivals. Jaeha glanced at the two of them and flicked a hand toward the door.
"Let’s head out soon."
He intended to drive.
At the same time, in an office near Samseong Station.
A rather spacious office had gathered together some familiar faces. Director Kwon Seongmin, Jeong Taewoo, the CEO of Munbak Film, and Lee Chanhoo as well. They were there for the Gyeollo audition. Seated side by side at a long desk set up in the rented office, Chanhoo was attending as an investor.
At the moment, the male participant was in the middle of a free-performance audition.
Unfortunately, the acting was a disaster.
"Yes! I think that’s enough. Thank you!"
Director Kwon Seongmin pushed his glasses up and cut the male participant off. After a few decent questions were exchanged, the man left the room, and Kwon Seongmin let out a long sigh.
"···This is harder than I expected."
With a broad face, CEO Jeong Taewoo laughed.
"Hang in there, Director. Still, that guy we just saw was decent enough. He at least came in having prepared a proper free performance. There are plenty of people who show up without even knowing what a free performance is."
"It’s a relief that some decent actors came too."
"Exactly. About five of them, right? At this point, that’s a windfall."
The Gyeollo audition had been running in time slots since that morning, and since this was the first experience of this kind for Director Kwon Seongmin, he had been visibly shaken at first. But by now he had mostly settled down. He turned to Lee Chanhoo, who wore a dress shirt, and asked,
"CEO Lee, are you all right with the time?"
As if telling him not to worry, Chanhoo wore an easy smile.
"I’m fine. I’m enjoying it, in my own way."
"If you’re busy, you can head out first..."
"Don’t mind me. Just take your time."
For the record, Lee Chanhoo had not said a single word throughout the audition since morning. He had merely watched. He was there as MEG’s CEO, as an investor, but his attention was fixed on only one thing.
Shouldn’t the boss be here by now? This is getting boring. My ass is starting to hurt too.
It was Kang Jaeha, and Jaeha alone. He had already agreed to pretend not to know him. Meanwhile, CEO Jeong Taewoo flipped through participant profiles and spoke up.
"Next are the actors from Leon."
Kwon Seongmin, who nodded, took a breath and braced himself.
"I’m looking forward to it. And worried too."
"Yoon Dayeon and An Jihee. More than anything, Dayeon is the one to focus on."
His tension rising, Kwon Seongmin looked down at Yoon Dayeon’s profile.
"Ms. Yoon Dayeon is coming for the lead, I imagine?"
"That’s what I think too. Yoon Dayeon as the lead, An Jihee as the supporting role. Leon probably set it up that way, and Dayeon herself would have pushed hard for the lead."
"Hah... I still can’t believe it. An actor with real name recognition auditioning for my film."
Scratching his chin, CEO Jeong Taewoo added,
"Don’t feel too much pressure. Just think of Yoon Dayeon as another audition applicant. Sure, she may have been called A-list once upon a time, but now..."
Jeong Taewoo swallowed the words washed up and past her prime before they could come out.
"More importantly, there are rumors that Yoon Dayeon has a pretty difficult personality."
"Really?"
"Yes, so keep that in mind."
"She doesn’t look like that at all."
"That’s what the agencies do to actor images. The real people are all different."
By then, Lee Chanhoo was thinking of Kang Jaeha.
Difficult? Boss, or what?
Thirty minutes after the break ended.
- Swish.
A staff member from the production company peeked into the audition room.
"The actors from Leon have arrived."
Yoon Dayeon and An Jihee had come. Naturally, Director Kwon Seongmin, CEO Jeong Taewoo, and Lee Chanhoo all rose from their seats. Before long, Yoon Dayeon and An Jihee entered the room.
"Hello."
"Hello!"
The two women greeted the judges, including Director Kwon Seongmin. Behind them stood the expressionless Kang Jaeha and Kim Daeyong. The instant he saw Jaeha, Chanhoo ground his molars together.
Damn it, I nearly burst out laughing.
He was fighting desperately to keep from cracking up. In Chanhoo’s head, a line Jaeha had once muttered kept echoing.
A four-year rookie manager.
When Jaeha’s eyes met his, the corner of Chanhoo’s mouth twitched. Jaeha’s brow gave the faintest jump in response.
That bastard.
His eyes said it plainly. You want to die? Chanhoo replied with his own stare. What am I supposed to do if it’s funny? Just then, Director Kwon Seongmin steadied his pounding heart and spoke.
"Ah, hello. I’m Kwon Seongmin, the director of Gyeollo. First of all, thank you for coming to the audition. What the two of you will be doing is a free performance, and since there isn’t a separate waiting room, you can wait over there on the folding chairs in back."
Yoon Dayeon remained composed.
Mid-twenties? The director’s really young.
Even if he was a washed-up rookie, he had plenty of experience. By contrast, An Jihee was sweating in her palms.
Focus! Just focus on acting!
Then CEO Jeong Taewoo turned toward Kang Jaeha and the manager beside him.
"You’re the one I spoke with on the phone?"
Jaeha answered without expression.
"That’s right."
"Ah—"
At that moment.
- Knock, knock, knock.
A knock echoed through the audition room. Because of it, not only Yoon Dayeon but everyone else turned toward the door at the back. Jaeha, the closest of them all, did the same. When he looked, a man in an expensive suit was standing there.
It was enough to make Kim Daeyong lose it on the spot. The reason was simple.
"S-Sir, CEO!!!"
The person who had appeared was Han Taeseong, the head of Leon. He greeted them with a relaxed expression, carrying himself with easy dignity.
"Sorry for the sudden intrusion. I heard our company actors were auditioning, so I came by."
Yoon Dayeon, An Jihee, Director Kwon Seongmin, and everyone else stared wide-eyed. Everyone except Kang Jaeha. Han Taeseong slowly fixed his gaze on the man directly in front of him and murmured in a low voice.
"You’re calm. As if you already knew."
As Han Taeseong said, Kang Jaeha’s face held no real expression.
"Should I be surprised?"