Hollywood (2)
"What’s there to overthink? Just tell him there’s an opportunity for investment."
"He isn't a producer or a studio head right now, so it won't mean much. He’s incredibly busy as it is."
"What does he do in Hollywood?"
"He works in the production department."
"I’m not very familiar with Hollywood, so could you enlighten me? I’ve seen the phrase 'Box Office Hit in Hollywood' on Korean movie posters plenty of times, but I don't actually know how the industry works."
"Hmm... honestly, I don't know much about it either. Why would I? I have no reason to care."
Andrew offered a wry smile, and Yoon-gi echoed it with a sheepish grin of his own.
"It seems I should have done some research on Hollywood before coming here. I’ll come back in a few days."
Perhaps sensing Yoon-gi’s slight disappointment, Andrew hurriedly waved his hands and spoke up again.
"No, no. I’ll make sure to set up the appointment quickly, even if I have to pester him. It won't be a long meeting, but you’ll be able to see him for a while."
"I’d be very grateful if you could do that."
"Sorry, I wish I could give you a definite answer right away, but honestly, I can't just order someone who’s currently working in the field to come and go as I please."
"I understand completely. In fact, I’m incredibly thankful as it is. If it weren't for you, Andrew, I would have been agonizing over who to ask for an introduction."
In truth, if he had asked Guster or Colson, he could have met someone far more influential. But Yoon-gi had specifically sought out Andrew because he didn't need to meet someone that high-profile. If he had asked Guster, the man might have twisted his intentions with good-natured zeal, leading to a situation where he’d be introduced to someone "important" he didn't actually need.
'There’s no need to use a butcher's knife to kill a chicken. Just as every tool has its intended purpose, one must use their connections only when and where they are truly needed.'
True to Yoon-gi’s philosophy, Andrew pulled every string he had and secured the appointment with his former classmate for three days later.
It was an expensive restaurant, the kind only the upper class frequented. Even there, Yoon-gi had reserved a table in a secluded area to ensure they could talk privately.
"Pil-gyu, did you prepare 'that'?"
"Yes, here it is."
After receiving the item from Cha Pil-gyu, Yoon-gi tucked it into his inner pocket and waited for Colin to arrive.
"Uh... um... Nice to meet you. I’m Colin."
When he had been forced to set up the meeting at Andrew’s request, he had been filled with irritation. But as he sat at the table in the luxurious restaurant, the walls Colin had built were already beginning to crack.
"Nice to meet you. I’m Choi Yoon-gi from Korea."
Even though he had made headlines as the owner of a trillion-won oil field, there were always people in the world who had no interest in such things. Colin was exactly that type. However, having heard his colleagues talk about it, Colin began to narrow his eyes, thinking the name sounded familiar.
"Uh... are you perhaps someone famous?"
"Well, the only thing I’m famous for in the U.S. is probably being the owner of that trillion-won oil field."
"Ah, that!"
Colin stood up, clapping his hands before he could stop himself. Thanks to the excitement, his pale skin flushed red for a moment, but as the adrenaline faded, it returned to its original shade.
"Your skin is incredibly clear."
"My mother is Norwegian."
"Ah."
Yoon-gi nodded. It was the truly fair skin characteristic of Northern European ethnic groups. However, the curly beard covering half his face largely obscured that feature.
"Ah, this? I’m just growing it out because I have so much work I don't have time to shave every day."
In a capitalist society, people instinctively bow to those with money. Just as a restaurant server becomes kinder to someone who looks wealthy, it was even more natural for Colin, who had lived his whole life in the U.S.—the pinnacle of capitalism. Because of this, the atmosphere began to warm up faster than expected.
"Ah, I see. Andrew told me you were an incredibly busy person, and I suppose that’s bound to show on you."
"Andrew kept pestering me to meet you, so I wondered why he was being such a pain, but honestly, I’m surprised right now. Just looking at this place, I knew it was somewhere I’d never have a connection to in my life."
Andrew had been warned by Yoon-gi previously about keeping things confidential, so he had described Yoon-gi merely as a potential investor, without mentioning the trillion-won oil field. While that had made it difficult to set up the meeting, it was now proving to be a great help in their conversation.
"Since I heard you were a busy man, I chose this restaurant to be mindful of your time. I’d like you to listen to what I have to say while you eat, if that’s alright?"
From Colin’s perspective, there was no reason to refuse. He nodded vigorously several times.
"Of course! Thank you so much."
Here, Colin’s lack of social experience showed. If it hadn't been Colin, but someone who had spent ten years grinding in Hollywood, they would never have ordered food. Why? Because if they ate the food and then rejected the other party’s proposal, they would have had to deal with the massive fallout.
If the other party said that and left after paying only for their own share? Colin would have been hit with a bill that exceeded his monthly income, and in the worst-case scenario, it might have even reached his workplace. Of course, Yoon-gi had no intention of doing that. Yoon-gi was a man who maintained a gentlemanly attitude unless someone threw the first punch.
"Thank you so much."
"Please, eat up."
As soon as the food arrived, Colin picked up his fork and knife and began to eat frantically. At first, he had tried to maintain appearances by cutting his food neatly, but as time passed, his movements became bolder, and eventually, the sound of cutlery clashing against the plates echoed throughout the restaurant.
"Shall I order more for you?"
At Yoon-gi’s words, Colin finally came to his senses and set down the plate he had been licking. "Ah, no, no. The food was so delicious that I lost my mind for a moment."
Yoon-gi didn't react much to Colin scratching the back of his head and blushing. Instead, he ordered another serving for Colin, who, despite saying he was fine, licked his lips slightly and sat up straight. As the new dishes arrived, Yoon-gi began to steer the conversation.
"I did some research on Hollywood before coming here, but is life in the production department really that busy? I heard it’s an incredibly hectic place."
Colin lifted his soup bowl to drink the rest, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and nodded.
"Don't even get me started. It’s... it’s no joke. Honestly, I wasn't supposed to be able to come out today either, but Andrew told me if I didn't, he’d distribute my childhood photos to our alumni... ahem. Anyway, it’s true that it’s incredibly busy."
Childhood photos that would embarrass a man. Yoon-gi assumed they were likely photos of him riding an elephant, but he chose to participate in the conversation rather than dwell on that.
"The things I read were informative enough, but I’d like to hear from someone currently working in the field, if you don't mind?"
"Of course. You’ve treated me to such a meal, how could I refuse that?"
"To put it simply, the production department is the hands and feet of the producer."
The producer. While the general public thinks the director makes the movie, the person with the most decision-making power in Hollywood is undoubtedly the producer. Since the producer is often the one who secures the investment, that is their role as well. In short, if the director oversees the internal aspects related to 'filming,' the producer oversees everything related to the 'movie' itself.
"Then most people in the production department must be aspiring to become producers?"
Colin nodded, seemingly satisfied with Yoon-gi’s quick grasp of the situation.
"That’s right. Although, since becoming a producer requires a certain amount of capital, most people aim for the position of producer first. Once you’ve built up enough experience as a producer, you start aiming for the title of producer."
"What are the hardships of a producer?"
Colin thought for a moment, then shook his head vigorously.
"Phew, the time the director asked me to find a 70-year-old soda can was the most baffling. Even though the production manager suggested we just make a prop, the director insisted that 'it wouldn't feel real unless we used the genuine article,' so I had to scour the entirety of North Carolina."
"That director certainly had a clear philosophy."
Watching Yoon-gi chuckle, Colin cut a large piece of steak topped with truffle sauce and chewed, the rough gulping sound echoing around them.
"Phew, the struggle back then was beyond words. Aside from that, renting conference rooms, finding filming locations, executing budgets, sourcing props—you name it. You can consider the production department responsible for all the general grunt work."
In a company, they’d be the general affairs department running on their feet; in the military, they’d be the company administrative soldiers. Of course, the Korean film industry isn't 'vastly' different. After all, Hollywood is the textbook for commercial cinema.
"The hardships of the production department are endless, it seems. If you weren't dreaming of becoming a producer, which department would you want to work in?"
"Ah, that? Well, that would obviously be..."
From then on, Yoon-gi and Colin continued their conversation, keeping the atmosphere warm. After some time had passed, Colin, having finished his meal, brought up the main topic.
"Anyway, why did you ask to meet me today? You didn't just call me out to treat me to a meal like this, did you? At first, I felt you were a bit young, but after talking to you, your business sense is excellent, so I assume you called me for business reasons... Are you perhaps thinking of scouting me?"
Unlike in Korea, it’s virtually impossible for a director in Hollywood to bring their own 'production team' with them. Maybe if you were James Cameron, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Christopher Nolan, or someone of that caliber in the 2010s, it might be possible. But Colin asked this because his counterpart was Korean, and Yoon-gi naturally shook his head.
"It’s similar, but no."
As he spoke, Yoon-gi pulled an hourglass from his inner pocket.
"An hourglass...? Why did you take that out?"
In a sense, it was a situation where the golden time had already passed. But Yoon-gi had deliberately waited until now. What he was about to ask for wasn't something he could get through goodwill alone.
"Colin. I want information on movies currently being filmed in Hollywood. Not just the ones announced to the public, but the works being filmed quietly behind the scenes as well."
"Excuse me? No, wait... that’s... First of all, I’m not exactly a veteran in Hollywood. I haven't even been here for a few years."
"I plan to operate a movie theater franchise in Korea. And I intend to select and release foreign films. If you actively cooperate with me, I will give you 5 percent of the net profit earned from those foreign films."
Five percent of the net profit from a movie theater franchise’s foreign film imports. It was by no means a small sum, and it was a massive temptation for Colin, who was aiming for a producer position in the future. Colin’s lips parted. Watching his face, Yoon-gi finally flipped the hourglass.