Acquisition (3)
Kang Jaeha’s mind was already racing after hearing about Choi Rina’s ability. Hers would help MEG, yes, but it was also uniquely suited to Choi Rina herself.
A child born for music.
A superior version of absolute pitch? No, from Kang Jaeha’s perspective, Choi Rina’s ability was more than just an upgrade.
Think of any experience or image, and the musical idea comes to her instantly. Just hearing a song makes the notes spread naturally through her head. Handling instruments is just a bonus.
When it came to music, it was on a level that rivaled the hand of God. And there was more.
She’s got PTSD problems right now, but she’s exceptional as a vocalist too.
She had been a main vocalist, and her singing ability was top-tier. Sure, there were a few issues at the moment, but those could be worked out one by one. Jaeha intended to help her recover as well.
While she’s recovering, she’ll keep doing music work other than composing, and in the end I’ll debut Choi Rina as a singer-songwriter.
These days, male and female singer-songwriters, meaning solo singers, were rare in the music market. Not absent, but a tiny minority compared to idol groups. Which meant that if she took off properly, she’d be highly unique. On top of that, Choi Rina could write her own songs.
A singer-songwriter who wrote her own music.
If she succeeded, the revenue would multiply several times over. She’d be both a composer and a singer, after all. Of course, Kang Jaeha wasn’t only thinking about that.
If I make good use of Choi Rina’s ability, the possibilities are endless.
It would also help the current growth of MEG enormously. For example, she could handle the music for the projects MEG was currently running, or for the works of the people Kang Jaeha had his eye on.
The music for films, dramas, and animation.
Several names flashed through Kang Jaeha’s mind. Director Kwon Seongmin, Director Yu Giltae, Director Hong Manseop, Oh Jongman, Leon Entertainment, and more.
In other words, Choi Rina could juggle being a singer, composer, music director, and several other roles at once.
With Choi Rina’s outline finally taking shape, Kang Jaeha let a thin smile form. There was more amusement in the situation now, more interest. He spoke to her.
“How many songs have you made so far?”
“Quite a few! I make them whenever I’m bored.”
“And your vocal videos?”
“I’ve got those too. Some are at the company.”
“Show me sometime.”
“Yes! If the commander looks at them, it’ll be an honor... oh, but my dedicated laptop is at home. Can I bring it next time??”
Kang Jaeha gave a small snort of laughter and nodded.
“Bring it whenever it’s convenient, once you’ve got everything sorted.”
Acquiring LX Entertainment came first.
The next day, Kang Jaeha gave Lee Chanhoo his orders.
“Meet with Representative Park Zahi. Take Cha Chunghyun with you.”
“You’ve made up your mind?”
“Yeah. The entertainment company acquisition is going through LX Entertainment.”
MEG’s first subsidiary would be LX Entertainment. Choi Rina being there was a big factor, and Representative Park Zahi’s capabilities had also been decent when they met. Whatever the case, she had recognized Choi Rina and tried to cultivate her.
Soon, Lee Chanhoo and Cha Chunghyun began work on the LX Entertainment acquisition.
Meanwhile.
Just as the entertainment world was buzzing over Woo Jeongcheol’s drug scandal, the film industry was starting to stir over something else entirely.
It was because of Day Moon House, which had opened a few days earlier.
It hadn’t been especially hot on opening day, but word of mouth gradually spread.
The momentum behind Day Moon House was growing stronger by the day.
And today, the weekend, was its peak.
People who had already seen Day Moon House shared their thoughts through words, keyboards, communities, SNS, and everywhere else they could.
At this moment, many people had gathered at Cheongyeon Studio, which had produced Day Moon House. There was Director Hong Manseop, with his thick eyebrows, as well as the head of Cheongyeon Studio and its key staff. Roughly twenty people sat around a U-shaped table.
Among them, the studio head, with a white laptop placed before him, let out a tense breath.
“Hoo, then I’ll check now.”
Before long, this page appeared on the laptop screen.
KOPIC Integrated Theater Ticket Box Office Network
It was the official website where domestic box office results could be checked. In other words, Director Hong Manseop and the Day Moon House team were about to confirm their results so far. Today was August 2, and Day Moon House, which had opened on July 28, had now spent five days in theaters through yesterday, the 1st.
Director Hong Manseop swallowed hard and moved up beside the studio head.
“Let’s see it.”
Shortly after, the results for Day Moon House were displayed in front of Hong Manseop and everyone else.
[August 1, 2020 Audience Count Lookup]
[Daily Domestic Box Office]
1. Day Moon House / Release Date: July 28 / Audience: 263,949 / Cumulative Audience: 1,895,587
2. Truck Driver / Release Date: July 15 / Audience: 141,221 / Cumulative Audience: 3,129,113
.
.
.
It was a figure approaching 1.9 million viewers. Adding today’s audience count would put it over 2 million for sure. Two million viewers in just one week. And it had even taken first place in the domestic box office. Judging by the numbers alone, Day Moon House was running away with it.
It was a completely different situation from the somewhat sleepy early days of release.
More than anything, the fact that Day Moon House was a Korean animated film carried enormous meaning.
Soon, the staff around Director Hong Manseop at Cheongyeon Studio started shouting in delight.
“Two million! It reached 2 million viewers!!”
“And it did it in just one week!!!”
“Hahaha! Congratulations, Director! Our Day Moon House finally, finally!!”
“It was quiet on opening day, but the situation is completely different now! Isn’t this going to be an absolute monster hit??!”
“Director, you really did something huge! If Day Moon House posts strong numbers, it’ll bring major change to the Korean animation market!”
They still didn’t know how the overall final results would turn out, but Day Moon House had already achieved a performance that was practically enough to mark a turning point for Korean animation films. Of course, since it was only in its first week, those numbers would only grow larger.
On top of that, Day Moon House had long since passed its break-even point.
Which meant the profits going to investor Kang Jaeha were swelling fast.
So moved was Hong Manseop that his eyes grew wet. All the hardships he had endured, Chinese capital and everything else, must have flashed through his mind. Then he thought of Lee Chanhoo, who wasn’t here.
“That’s enough. That’s enough, investor.”
Then, the next day, the 3rd, the film industry press also began covering Day Moon House in earnest.
The word of mouth was only going to spread further.
In the afternoon of the 3rd, at Moonbak Film.
A small meeting room at Moonbak Film, the company that had handled production for the short film Condensation. Three people were seated there. Lee Chanhoo, with his half-closed eyes, and Go Chunseok, while across from them sat Director Kwon Seongmin. Pushing his glasses up, Kwon Seongmin glanced at Go Chunseok.
Wow, he’s huge. Seriously huge.
The overwhelming aura of Go Chunseok, who had appeared as a bodyguard, kept drawing his eyes back. At that moment, Lee Chanhoo smiled.
“Director, what’s the reason you wanted to see me?”
Lee Chanhoo already knew why Director Kwon had asked for this meeting. Kang Jaeha had told him in advance. He had also heard the bait Jaeha had already spread.
The key is to absorb the feature-length Condensation and Director Kwon Seongmin.
But Lee Chanhoo’s acting like he didn’t know was excellent, and after swallowing once, Director Kwon Seongmin handed over the stack of papers he had brought.
“President Lee Chanhoo, this is... the feature-length script for Condensation that I mentioned before?”
“Ah.”
“I’ve kept revising it, but... I’d appreciate it if you could take a look and think of it as, roughly, this kind of feeling.”
“So it’s finally out. Have you decided on the feature title as Condensation: Euphoria?”
“Yes.”
“Not bad. It keeps the color of the short film while carrying it forward into a feature. Pretty stylish.”
Lee Chanhoo nodded and opened Condensation: Euphoria roughly before continuing.
“I’ll read it.”
Tension filled Director Kwon’s mind as he wet his lips. It was time to get to the point.
“I... I know I’m still nobody and nothing’s been decided yet, but if you like Condensation: Euphoria, would you consider investing in it like you did with the short?”
“Nobody? Hold your head up, Director. You won the grand prize in the short film category at the Busan International Film Festival.”
“E-even so.”
“I know you’ve been on broadcast shows and getting flooded with contacts lately from all over the place. Even if I didn’t touch it at all, Condensation: Euphoria would probably see release someday.”
“President! I want to do this one with you too!”
“To be honest, I was giving the choice to you, Director. It’s easy to get confused. Work is work, and once personal feelings get mixed into work, problems can follow.”
“Ah.”
Lee Chanhoo closed the script he had opened and paused for a moment. Kang Jaeha had advised him, yes, but these days Lee Chanhoo’s skill at steering the flow as a figurehead had improved considerably.
“I can invest in Condensation: Euphoria outright without even needing to read the script.”
“R-really?!”
“Yes. Others are already drooling over it, so it’s worth that much. It’s your next project.”
“If you’d do that, I’d be incredibly grateful! I really want to work with you again, President. You were the first person to recognize me, and... I’d like to repay that kindness somehow.”
Looking Lee Chanhoo in the eye, Director Kwon Seongmin spoke each word carefully. The overall scheme had been laid by the commander, but Lee Chanhoo felt a subtle thrill looking at him.
Did he grow more too? Nice. This must be the kind of feeling the commander gets all the time.
To the slightly fired-up Director Kwon, Lee Chanhoo tossed out another proposal. It had been the expected next step.
“Director, if you haven’t settled on an agency yet, how about MEG? We only have one writer on our books right now, but we plan to keep expanding the board. If that’s what you want.”
“I want it! I’ll join MEG!”
As if he had been waiting for the words, Director Kwon took the bait without hesitation.
“Manager Kang Jaeha told me something similar. If I want to keep making the films I want, he said it’d be best to join MEG.”
“...”
“And honestly, being the first director under MEG sounds better than joining some other agency!”
At that moment.
Go Chunseok suddenly extended his massive hand toward Director Kwon Seongmin.
“Welcome.”
His gravelly voice startled the director for a second, but Kwon Seongmin took Go Chunseok’s hand.
“Ah... t-thank you.”
Then came Lee Chanhoo’s turn.
“Then let’s not drag this out. Let’s get the contract process started right away.”
Lee Chanhoo and Director Kwon Seongmin met again the next morning, on the 4th. The place was the MEG office. Naturally, it was for signing the contract, and Cha Chunghyun was there as a witness and helper. Since this had all been prepared in advance, the contract process didn’t take long.
“I look forward to working with you!”
Following Oh Jongman, Director Kwon Seongmin officially became a member of MEG. With that, the number of writers and directors under MEG rose to two. Of course, Kang Jaeha had more people in mind.
Later that night, Lee Chanhoo met with Commander Kang Jaeha and reported on Director Kwon’s addition.
“Director Kwon joined without any issues.”
After hearing the reports, starting with the contract and more besides, Kang Jaeha gave a faint smile.
“Good. Then it’s time to start changing MEG a little. We need to hire office staff too.”
“For now, MEG is still doubling as an agency, but you’re going to split that off soon, right?”
“That’s right. I’ll keep MEG and the agency separate.”
Lee Chanhoo nodded and changed the subject.
“There’s something I should mention about that.”
“What is it?”
“Moonbak Film. They don’t look it, but their finances seem pretty rough. Cha Chunghyun checked it too.”
Moonbak Film, the company that had handled the short Condensation.
It had originally been a film company focused on independents and short films, and its finances had never been in good shape to begin with. The short Condensation had succeeded, and though it had taken three prizes at Busan International Film Festival, that only raised its reputation a little; money still wasn’t pouring into Moonbak Film.
“My feeling is that Moonbak Film may end up being nothing more than the last project for Condensation.”
This, too, had apparently been included in the plan, because Kang Jaeha’s answer came fast and clear.
“Buy it. We need a film company too.”
The second subsidiary of MEG would be a film production company.