Korean Hollywood (1)
"M-me? What kind of work could I possibly do...?" Son Min-gwan, having heard something he never expected, was quite flustered, even stuttering slightly.
"Of course. The person who will be dealing with the Korean film industry is none other than Manager Son."
"Um... aren't I in the novel department, not film...?"
At Son Min-gwan’s cautious attempt to voice his opinion, Yoon-gi grinned and nodded.
"That’s true. However, there is still a part where Manager Son can exert his influence. Well, that’s something you’ll find out soon enough. Did you bring what I asked for?"
"Pardon? Ah... yes. I did."
Son Min-gwan pulled the manuscripts out of a shopping bag and began laying them out on Yoon-gi’s desk. A total of seven manuscripts—feature-length, mid-length, and short stories. In Son Min-gwan’s eyes as he looked at the manuscripts, there was a mix of various emotions: the longing for the hardships he endured while writing, confidence in his work, and a sense of embarrassment.
"Manager Son. Which of these are you most confident in?"
"Pardon? That is..."
There is no manuscript he doesn't have an attachment to. However, there is always one he is most confident in. So, Son Min-gwan reached out cautiously.
"Not the one you’re most attached to, but the one you’re most confident in."
Stung by Yoon-gi’s words, Son Min-gwan shifted his hand slightly and picked up one of the feature-length manuscripts.
"Detective Aeran. I enjoyed reading that one quite a bit, too."
The story of a young girl detective active during the Japanese colonial period. It was one of Son Min-gwan’s works he was proud of, offering a fresh twist in that a young girl, not an adult, solved the cases.
"It was a novel I enjoyed writing as well. Aeran is... quite cute, isn't she?"
Seeing Son Min-gwan’s fatherly smile, Yoon-gi grinned and nodded before asking.
"Manager Son. Then, let’s talk specifics. I intend to make a total of three manuscripts, including this one, into bestsellers."
Bestsellers. The dream of every writer. Son Min-gwan’s face flushed with joy and shock.
"I-is that possible? I only thought you were giving me a chance to promote them..."
"Of course. Making a bestseller isn't actually that difficult. What’s harder is becoming a steady seller."
"Pardon?"
Son Min-gwan, unfamiliar with the terrifying logic of capitalism, showed a reaction of confusion.
"You’ll understand once you see it for yourself."
Even seeing Yoon-gi’s expression, which held a 1% bitter smile, Son Min-gwan didn't quite grasp what he meant.
It started with Detective Aeran. A mystery action drama about a genius girl staking her family’s honor. It wasn't a work the author had peddled to various publishers from the start. Nor was it a book published by a brand-new startup. It was just a book that started being published normally by an ordinary publisher. But suddenly, this book sold 100,000 copies and began to appear in the media day after day.
Nowadays, with the development of telecommunications, critics have lost their power, but there were very few eras where critics held as much sway as they did back then. Because various critics praised Detective Aeran and it received favorable reviews on broadcasts and in newspapers daily, ordinary citizens began competing to find Detective Aeran in bookstores. Additionally, Detective Aeran began to be donated to libraries across the country. The number reached a staggering 100,000 copies. However, even with that number, the demand couldn't be met, forcing the publisher to print more copies daily, and the name ‘Son Min-gwan’ began to be known to the public.
Then followed Son Min-gwan’s second work. The short story Princess Seollok, featuring the daughter of a Joseon Dynasty king, became a consecutive hit. Finally, the mid-length novel The Youth Detective Who Kills Everyone hit the jackpot, and before he knew it, the three novels combined had reached sales of 2 million copies.
"How is it?"
At Yoon-gi’s strangely wicked expression, Son Min-gwan scratched the back of his head with a dazed look.
"Um... well... it’s good, but honestly, it doesn't feel real. I wonder if this was really achieved by my own skill..."
Today’s meeting wasn't in Yoon-gi’s room, but in the mansion’s living room. A pleasant conversation enjoying refreshing Hallabong oranges while sitting on a plush sofa. With the warm interior, the soft sofa, and the refreshing taste of the Hallabong, it was hard to find any trace of ‘stiffness’ in Son Min-gwan’s heart.
"200,000 copies."
Yoon-gi’s short remark.
"Pardon?"
"I only intervened up to 200,000 copies. Everything after that is Manager Son’s own power."
At the fact that 1.8 million copies were his own doing, a bit of confidence appeared on Son Min-gwan’s face. However, there was still a lingering sense of regret.
"Originally, you need luck to succeed in literature. It’s just my opinion, but maybe 30 to 70 percent? Why do you think that is?"
"Um... well?"
Yoon-gi grinned and continued.
"Because no matter how well you write, you can only succeed if you get the opportunity to present it to the world. Think carefully. What is the common denominator of successful writing? It’s that they obtained the opportunity to be published."
"Ah... now that I think about it, that’s true. There must still be good writing buried in back rooms that hasn't succeeded..."
Yoon-gi nodded.
"Exactly. There’s a mistake writers often make. They think that if they just write good things in their room, they will naturally be recognized. But that’s not it. If you’ve written something good, you have to find a good place to sell it. That’s the only way to present your writing to the public."
Yoon-gi recalled Harry Potter, which was famous during his days as a laborer. A book rejected by over ten publishers, but this work, which eventually found a place to be published, became a world-class bestseller.
"Do you only get published by going to a publisher? It’s also a skill to find someone who will start a publishing company for you, or create a connection with one. Manager Son had that ability, which is why you grabbed the opportunity and succeeded."
Thanks to Yoon-gi’s consistent remarks, Son Min-gwan’s face began to fill with even more confidence. Then came Yoon-gi’s clincher.
"And most importantly, it’s still selling well, isn't it?"
Watching Son Min-gwan nod with a smile, Yoon-gi continued.
"Even if I mobilized 200,000 copies, if the book itself weren't interesting, people wouldn't buy it. In this day and age, word-of-mouth is more important than anything. No matter how much the media shouts that it’s fun, if a friend next to you says, ‘Hey, damn, that’s not fun!’, it’s over."
Finally, Son Min-gwan even chuckled and reached for a Hallabong without realizing it. Reaching for food while meeting someone overwhelmingly higher than himself—this was proof that his tension had definitely eased, so Yoon-gi kept the atmosphere going a little longer. And when he felt the time was right, he opened his mouth again.
"I won't be helping with the fourth manuscript. Because even without it, the initial sales will be sufficient."
"I am already grateful enough for what you’ve done. I will make the next work a success with my own strength."
Watching the confident Son Min-gwan, Yoon-gi also nodded.
"That’s a good attitude. Then, while you’re writing that work, I’d like you to do one thing for me."
The moment he heard that, Son Min-gwan pressed his knees together, straightened his back, and adopted a reverent posture. It was akin to how one would treat a deity.
"Just say the word. Whatever it is, I will solve it with my life."
It was a very satisfactory attitude, but Yoon-gi deliberately showed a soft smile.
"There’s no need to give your life. Manager Son is a valuable talent. But I like that attitude."
Son Min-gwan’s face brightened even more.
"Manager Son."
"Yes!"
Hearing the booming voice, Yoon-gi continued.
"For the first time in a while, try being the ‘Gap’ (superior) doing the sales."
Lighting that wasn't dark, but couldn't be called bright either. Under lighting that gave the feeling of a prosecutor’s interrogation room, Son Min-gwan was reading a scenario written on manuscript paper.
"Hmm..."
With his legs crossed and lying back on the sofa, stroking his chin with one hand while holding the manuscript with the other. Unlike Son Min-gwan, who looked extremely comfortable, the man sitting in front of him was literally sweating as he watched Son Min-gwan.
"You said your name was Lee Gyeong-su?"
The unexpected informal speech flowing from Son Min-gwan’s mouth. But despite the informal speech, the other party bowed his head immediately. Because he had been wearing a hat pulled low until he got here, his flattened hair caught Son Min-gwan’s eye.
"Y-yes, that’s right."
He was even trembling slightly, clearly feeling a great deal of pressure in this seat.
"What is the significance of this scenario?"
Thinking he had caught an opportunity, Lee Gyeong-ho’s face brightened. Confident eyes visible inside square glasses.
"Yes! It is a criticism of the military regime. Currently, the public cannot say anything under the military regime. And there are no people criticizing this either. But if people watch this movie, they will criticize the military regime..."
As Lee Gyeong-ho excitedly continued, Son Min-gwan, as if it wasn't worth listening to anymore, held his right hand vertically and slashed it from top to bottom.
"Stop."
"Pardon? Ah... yes!"
"Mr. Lee Gyeong-ho."
A way of speaking that attaches ‘Mr.’ after calling both the surname and given name. Any office worker knows what this means. However, Lee Gyeong-ho hadn't noticed the situation yet.
"Yes?"
"Are you crazy?"
"Pardon? W-what do you mean..."
"Criticizing the military regime? Don't you know this is an era where you have to receive prior censorship to release books or movies? If I make a scenario according to this content, are you asking me to go to Namyeong-dong?"
Son Min-gwan put the scenario he was holding back down on the table.
"Pardon? No, but... the people should also have the right to know..."
"That’s not all. I clearly said when recruiting that commercial elements should be included as well. But the whole scenario is just full of narration. Did people come to watch a movie, or read a biography? The directing is a mess, the content is a mess, and the risk is immeasurably huge. Who do you think is going to invest money in this?"
"T-that’s why I came here. If you just invest in me..."
Son Min-gwan cut him off again.
"So, please, if you want to do art, do it with your own money. Why are you trying to do art with someone else’s money? You call it art, but that’s stealing, stealing!"
Finishing his words, Son Min-gwan pointed to the door with his right index finger.
"Get out."
"B-but!"
"Get out!"
"A-another manuscr..."
"I said get out!"
At the third shout, the security guard next to Son Min-gwan dragged Lee Gyeong-ho outside.
"Manager! M-manager!"
Lee Gyeong-ho’s shouts could be heard, but Son Min-gwan was busy wiping the cold sweat that had suddenly started to flow with a handkerchief.
‘Phew, thank you. Section Chief Ma.’
The person Son Min-gwan recalled was none other than Ma Seok-il. If he hadn't learned about sales from Ma Seok-il, it would have been impossible to treat the other party like this.
[Soon, directors from the Korean film industry who were pushed out of the mainstream will come looking for Manager Son. Check their scenarios and select the directors and scenarios that have no problems.]
Originally, Son Min-gwan’s strength was listening to others. But while learning the ropes under Ma Seok-il, he also learned this style of rhetoric, and thanks to that, he was able to carry out Yoon-gi’s instructions surely.
‘I should buy Section Chief Ma a bottle of whiskey later.’
What Son Min-gwan focused on most was commercial viability and stability. Considering the current relationship between YK and the regime, content criticizing the current regime should never be included. And commercial viability. Since Son Min-gwan knew better than anyone that one could leave a lasting impression while prioritizing commercial viability, selecting the scenario wasn't very difficult. Rather, the hardest part was being firm and decisive, even though he had learned it from Ma Seok-il. Son Min-gwan was already on his fourth handkerchief.
His underwear, invisible from the outside, was literally soaked. ‘Still, I must do my best to repay the person who gave me a chance.’ Recalling Yoon-gi’s warm smile, Son Min-gwan called the fifth director inside.
Through the efforts of Son Min-gwan, who didn't even know how many handkerchiefs he had used, MEV succeeded in recruiting Korean directors who had been pushed out of the mainstream. However, they still had one final hurdle remaining. Commercial viability? Son Min-gwan had already checked it. Stability? Son Min-gwan had already checked that too. Then what could it be?
The directors gathered in the conference room, having passed the difficult hurdle of Son Min-gwan, wondered why they had been gathered in one place and began to share some casual chatter. However, the directors soon had no choice but to shut their mouths in an instant.
"The President is coming in."
A man who looked like a Yakuza appeared, opening the door to the conference room. Everyone had no choice but to freeze at the appearance of Choi Cheol-jun.
"Nice to meet you, everyone. I am Choi Cheol-jun, the President of MEV."
Without even sitting down, Choi Cheol-jun stood with both hands on the conference table, having pushed his chair back. Rather than having a conversation with the directors, Choi Cheol-jun continued to speak unilaterally. And then came the shocking news. The directors were so surprised they couldn't close their mouths.