Chapter 32: Tempo (1)

Translator: Dreamscribe

When the Commander mentioned pulling Oh Jong-man into 'MEG', Lee Chan-hoo answered from the other side of the phone.

"Ah, so the Oh Jong-man you're talking about, we don't need to worry about him as an actor, we just take him as a writer? That's what you're saying?"

Kang Jae-ha responded matter-of-factly to Lee Chan-hoo's quick comprehension.

"That's right."

"Sounds like you've got your eye on him. Does this Oh Jong-man really have that kind of feel for writing?"

"To my eye, yes. As an actor he's iffy, but as a writer he's got talent."

It was true. Oh Jong-man had said he wrote as a stress reliever. That is, he'd said he wrote almost as a hobby. He himself didn't seem particularly invested in it. And yet his writing had caught Kang Jae-ha's eye. The man had a natural writing talent to begin with, and his experience as an actor must have created some synergy.

"If he blossoms properly, he might make it big as a writer."

"Oho, if the Commander's putting it that way, then he must be the real deal. But why are you moving so fast? You said you just got his answer about becoming a writer, right?"

"Because he's a writer."

Writers were among the most essential personnel in content production, but positionally they were a bit of an outlier. Solitary, waging their war alone. There were downsides, but if a writer was fast, the advantage was equally clear- results came quickly. Lose focus, and someone could snatch them away.

So Kang Jae-ha was laying the groundwork in advance.

As if understanding, Lee Chan-hoo changed the subject over the phone.

"Leon won't have much to say, right?"

"Of course not."

"Well, I figured. They've probably forgotten Oh Jong-man even exists."

Correct. It was all but guaranteed that Oh Jong-man would be discarded by Leon. Unlike Yoon Da-yeon's situation, with Oh Jong-man there was a clear defect- an incident. Jae-ha smiled faintly, as if certain of it.

"Anyway, don't worry about Leon. Just leave the actor contract alone and it'll dissolve on its own."

"Yeah, yeah... so how should I prepare the contract?"

Kang Jae-ha laid out the contract for 'writer' Oh Jong-man in fairly meticulous detail. Contract terms, special clauses, conditions, and so on. Once he'd more or less wrapped up the call with Lee Chan-hoo, Jae-ha lowered his phone. Beyond Oh Jong-man, his mind drifted to Director Kwon Sung-min and Director Hong Man-seop at that filming set.

'Not yet, but soon enough. I'll pull those two into 'MEG' too.'

Jae-ha picked up his phone again. This time he was searching for something. The search term was 'Busan International Film Festival'.

With the opening looming close, there were quite a few recent articles about the 'Busan International Film Festival'.

《[Film Festival] 'Busan International Film Festival' set to be grandly held once again, star-studded lineup of invited actors/ Photo》

《World's filmmakers turn their gaze to the 'Busan International Film Festival'》

《'Busan International Film Festival' side: "We'll showcase a diverse range of films over ten days", selection of works to be shown during the festival begins》

That was when a woman slid up behind Kang Jae-ha. Long straight hair flowing down, her makeup dramatic for her character- Yoon Da-yeon.

"What are you doing by yourself?"

Lowering his phone, Kang Jae-ha answered with an appropriate smile.

"You don't need to know."

Yoon Da-yeon jutted her lips out in a pout.

"Seriously, you've never once answered me warmly. You want to pick a fight?"

"Bring it on."

"No! That's not what I meant! Look at you, you're like some kind of soldier."

"You want me to be warm?"

"...Never mind. If you were warm, I'd think you were sick."

"I was looking up info on the 'Busan International Film Festival'."

"Ah, right, I saw some articles popping up."

"Ever been?"

"Yeah, I've been. Just the once, though."

"If 'Condensation' somehow makes it into the 'Busan International Film Festival'... people are going to be pretty shocked."

"Because of 'Condensation'? Or because of me?"

"Both."

Fair enough. A washed-up actress, notorious as a 'crazy lunatic', would suddenly be appearing as a supporting role in a short film. And the unknown An Ji-hee was the lead. After picturing the scene for a moment, Yoon Da-yeon clicked her tongue.

"Whatever, people talk about me all the time anyway. More importantly, you sound awfully sure it'll get into the 'Busan International Film Festival'."

Kang Jae-ha nodded indifferently.

"It will. In my opinion."

"......"

Yoon Da-yeon stared... intently at Jae-ha without answering. Inwardly, she was quietly impressed.

'What is it with this groundless confidence? But when he says it, I somehow believe it. I really can't tell if he's got some insane sixth sense or if he's just insane.'

Her gaze drifting slightly downward, Yoon Da-yeon secretly scanned Jae-ha's body.

'Wait, what is this? His body looks better. Does he work out? His physique is way better than when I first saw him. Definitely.'

An Ji-hee, glancing over from the filming zone some distance away, muttered something tinged with envy.

"Lucky her, I want to be over there too."

And inwardly,

'I want to talk with Manager-nim.'

Around then.

-Swish.

Director Kwon Sung-min, having finished explaining the framing to the key staff, approached Kang Jae-ha. Pushing up his glasses, he delivered what was all but confirmed.

"Da-yeon-ssi, Manager-nim. Looks like filming should wrap up this Friday."

Meaning roughly four days left until crank-up (end of filming). Outwardly Jae-ha nodded placidly, but inside he was smiling.

'Even faster than the projected schedule.'

The next day, the morning of on the 7th. Leon Entertainment.

Yoon Da-yeon, An Ji-hee, and General Manager Kim Dae-yong went straight to the filming location, but Kang Jae-ha, upon arriving at work, headed to the meeting room. He had someone to meet.

None other than Oh Jong-man.

When he opened the meeting room, a seated gangster, no, Oh Jong-man, shot up from his chair. His features looked even more menacing than usual, probably because tension had made his expression severe. Spotting Jae-ha, Oh Jong-man greeted him first.

"Ah, hello, Manager-nim."

"Yes. Strong morning."

"Pardon?"

"Strong morning."

"Ahh... haha! Yes! Strong morning."

Quickly brushing off his fluster, Oh Jong-man demonstrated his trademark affability. Then, as Jae-ha took his seat, Oh Jong-man pulled in his chair across from him. It was Kang Jae-ha who spoke first.

"We went over the rough outline on the phone yesterday, so let's skip that. But I'll confirm one more thing."

"Yes."

"You're letting go of the acting side and focusing on writing. Correct?"

"Yes sir! I'm committed."

"Since you've decided, you'll need to devote yourself to writing."

After briefly sizing up the resolutely nodding Oh Jong-man, Kang Jae-ha showed a faint smile.

"Sounds like your wife gave you a big push."

Oh Jong-man's eyes widened.

"H-how did you know that?"

"Your eyes are different. Like someone going for a do-or-die shot. You've got a good wife."

"...Thank you."

Even as he answered, Oh Jong-man felt there was something uncommon about Kang Jae-ha.

'Last time and this time too, he's got this kind of detached? aloof? thing going on, but he's sharp. He sees right through the other person's head. His vibe is damn impressive.'

Regardless, Kang Jae-ha moved on.

"And, Oh Jong-man-ssi, the fact that you're switching to writing, don't tell Leon about it."

"Huh? Is that okay? Manager-nim, you're with Leon too, so wouldn't it be better to let them know?"

"I am with them, yes. But your writing path has to be handled separately. I'm recommending you personally."

"Ahh..."

"To put it bluntly, this isn't something Leon can touch. 'Writer' Oh Jong-man is, let's say, a free agent. On top of that, if possible, it's better if your actor contract with Leon dissolves."

"I think so too, actually."

Meaning that once the contract tying him as an actor expired, he could work freely as a writer. Well, Oh Jong-man's actor contract wasn't going to be a problem. Leaving it alone would suffice.

Soon Kang Jae-ha crossed his legs.

"You mean a one-act drama."

"Right. You can revise something you've already written, or write something new."

"Since it's a one-act, I'll try to pack a novel angle or some real entertainment value into the short runtime, haha. And after that?"

"The usual route would be the annual one-act drama contests held by various broadcasting networks. There are other options too."

"Ah, I see."

Oh Jong-man nodded vigorously and jotted down Jae-ha's points on his phone. After watching him for a moment, Kang Jae-ha got to the main point. It was time for 'MEG' to make its appearance.

"For unknown, rookie writers, having support makes things a lot easier."

"You mean a writer's agency or management?"

"Yes."

"Haha, that'd be nice, but what agency would sign with someone like me and offer support?"

"Of course, at the moment, they wouldn't even give you a second glance."

"Oof, it's the truth, but that still kinda stings."

"Ohh..."

"It's unfinished, but let's circulate this to an agency."

"I'm fine with that... but I really didn't put much thought into writing that one."

"!!"

"Let's send it around first. If anywhere reaches out, go meet with them."

"Yes, yes, understood."

Even as he answered, Oh Jong-man thought.

'No one's going to reach out. What agency would ever sign with me.'

He didn't have a shred of expectation.

A few days later, the 10th, Friday. Early afternoon.

The location was near Gwangju in Gyeonggi Province. A fairly wide empty lot attached to an abandoned building. Whether construction had been halted midway or something, worn-out construction materials and trash were piled here and there.

In one corner of that lot, a crowd of nearly thirty people had gathered.

"Action!"

The 'Condensation' team. Except today, it wasn't just Director Kwon Sung-min and the 'Condensation' production crew. There was the broad-faced CEO Jeong Tae-woo of 'Moonbak Film' and his staff, Lee Chan-hoo uselessly putting on airs, the actors including Yoon Da-yeon whose shooting was already done, and so on.

And.

"......"

Kang Jae-ha, watching the filming with an expressionless face.

In a sense, everyone connected to 'Condensation' had gathered here.

The reason...

"Cut! Good, Ji-hee-ssi! Let's go once more with a full shot!"

It came from the mouths of the staff as they rolled into prep for the next cut.

"Phew- time flies. Can't believe it's already the last day of shooting."

"Right? The final shoot- maybe because it's a short? Three weeks went by like a bullet."

"To be precise, it didn't even take three weeks."

"True. Director-nim looked a bit green at first... but once he found his rhythm, the cuts just went bam, bam, bam."

"That director's form is going to be multiple times better after this. Anyway, I've been on plenty of shoots, but this one feels strangely... off."

Today was the last filming day for 'Condensation', and once the scene they were shooting on this set was finished, it was done.

Maybe that was why the eyes of An Ji-hee, currently in the middle of a solo take, were a fitting mixture of spirit and tension.

'Whoaa- last shoot? I can't believe it. That I made it this far.'

After taking a deep breath, she glanced around before her eyes landed on Kang Jae-ha. He calmly gave her a thumbs up. Just a plain, understated thumbs up, but

'Yes, Manager-nim, I'll give it my all till the end!'

It was a huge source of strength for An Ji-hee.

Director Kwon Sung-min, seated in front of the monitor, was more earnest and grave than at any point before. He'd been that way throughout the shoot, but today the focus was especially intense. Enough that the key staff, having wrapped their discussion, clicked their tongues in admiration.

"Our director's really locked in."

"Last shoot of his first piece. I'd be the same."

"Let's all be extra on it too."

Then Director Kwon Sung-min's spirited signal rang out once more.

"Action!"

An Ji-hee's expression shifted, and she began to act. The emotional arc moved from a blank face to resentment, a violent resentment that crossed over into emptiness. The camera pushed gradually from bust shot to close-up.

Soon tears spilled from the corners of An Ji-hee's eyes.

But her mouth was smiling.

Most of the actors watching her performance were moved, deeply moved. Yoon Da-yeon too.

"......"

"......"

Part of it was An Ji-hee's acting, but the thought that this was the terminus stirred up a whirlwind of emotions in them.

So one cut, then another.

Before they knew it, filming had stretched past an hour. Yet not a single person complained or grumbled. They simply watched the shoot roll on, watched the final period drop in silence.

Eventually.

"......Cut!"

Director Kwon Sung-min shot to his feet and called out loudly.

"OK!! Thank you all for your tremendous work! Thank you!"

A signal flare announcing the crank-up. Because of it, Director Kwon Sung-min's eyes welled up, and An Ji-hee, stepping out of her role, began bowing her way through a flurry of greetings.

"Great work! Thank you all for your hard work!!"

Applause erupted among the staff.

-Clap clap clap clap clap clap!

Director Kwon Sung-min, while expressing boundless gratitude, took in the entire set with his eyes.

'Filming's over...... I, I actually made it this far.'

In that moment, the days of drifting from construction site to construction site flashed through his mind. That despair, that frustration, that sense of failure. But now, it was completely different. He was standing here as the one who'd called the final OK, as a director.

'I'm so grateful to everyone, truly.'

Whatever the case, filming for 'Condensation' was entirely done.

The scene gradually grew bustling. In the middle of it all, Kang Jae-ha

-Swish.

Stepped a few paces away from where he'd been standing. Jubilation saturated the scene. It was the kind of atmosphere that didn't suit him. Jae-ha preferred watching people's faces, their expressions, from behind. The staff, the actors, the stakeholders. Their present emotions came through vividly.

Then.

"...Hm?"

As he watched the key staff exchanging greetings with Director Kwon Sung-min, Kang Jae-ha's vision wavered. Then came the surge of familiarity. That familiar sensation.

It was 'Deja Vu'.

Having seen scenes of a reality other than this one and returned, Kang Jae-ha smiled.

'Smells like money.'

Because it was a 'Deja Vu' absolutely reeking of money.

'Guess I'll need to buy some land this time.'