Chapter 39: Busan (2)

Translator: Dreamscribe

The moment Netflix Korea announced their 'One-Act Drama Project', which they had been preparing for quite some time.

《Netflix Korea Launches First 'One-Act Drama Project' Since Its Korean Service Began!》

It was around early afternoon on June 2nd. Netflix was rapidly ballooning in size, and with broadcasters' one-act drama contest season in full swing.

《Netflix Korea Reaches for One-Act Dramas Too- "We Want to Be a Platform of Opportunity for New Writers"》

News of the 'One-Act Drama Project' spread fast. Every media outlet took the bait, and Netflix Korea poured its energy into media spin and promotion.

Thanks to that, the 'One-Act Drama Project' surfaced on social media and online communities as well.

-Whoaaa!!! Netflix is holding a one-act contest too!!

-ㅠㅠㅜㅠㅠ haaah... I really wanna get picked

-Competition's gonna be brutal ㅜㅜㅜㅠㅠ

-Probably several times more cutthroat than broadcaster contests?

-I'm going for it! I'm going Netflix, no question!!

-For sure... if you actually get picked... the impact's gonna beat the broadcaster route.... but I already sent mine to MBS...

-If Netflix is jumping into one-acts too, the broadcasters are gonna have to loosen their wallets now, right???

-From a writer's standpoint, no downside yeah, when platforms duke it out, the market grows

The writers' communities in particular lit up like wildfire.

"Let's set the ambition aside. Manager Kang said it was fine too."

He set the ambition aside in his head for now. Then another face came to mind. This time it was CEO Lee Chan-hoo of his agency, 'MEG'. Oh Jong-man recalled something Lee Chan-hoo had told him back at the contract meeting.

Back in the present, Oh Jong-man murmured softly.

"A YouTube short drama of any topic or length. He told me to write it freely. If anything, that side might be easier?"

Jotting down a few quick notes about the YouTube short drama, Oh Jong-man stretched and stood up. He did some light stretching. Five minutes later he sat back down and placed his hands on the laptop.

And then he froze.

His eyes flew wide open as he loaded the internet.

"Ah!"

The reason was simple.

"I-it's really up! The Netflix contest!"

Because he had just spotted Netflix's 'One-Act Drama Project'. Kang Jae-ha had told him it would go live soon, but he hadn't expected it this soon. Scrolling steadily, Oh Jong-man combed through the 'One-Act Drama Project' details.

'...... Conditions and hurdles are similar to the broadcaster side, but Netflix offers more creative freedom.'

Licking his lips in tension, Oh Jong-man thought for a few seconds. Then he moved again and picked up his phone. To fire off some texts. Two recipients. Kang Jae-ha and Lee Chan-hoo.

The message contained his decision.

-Hello, this is Oh Jong-man. For this one-act drama contest, I'll be submitting to Netflix Korea!

"Phew, it's fine. I've revised it and checked it enough. Just send it in."

Once the submission was complete, Oh Jong-man texted Kang Jae-ha and Lee Chan-hoo again, then scrubbed his face dry with both hands. It was a way to redirect his focus.

'Okay, next, next.'

'This is fun. Writing is fun!'

Signs of an awakening were slowly beginning to show in Oh Jong-man.

At the same hour.

The location was 'Cheong-yeon Studio', which was handling production on the animated film 'House of the Daytime Moon'. 'Cheong-yeon Studio' was unusually bustling today. With reason.

Today was the second test screening of the animated film 'House of the Daytime Moon'.

Unlike the first test, checked only internally by the director and the production company, the second test screening included the investors and the distributor. Strictly speaking, the second round was the proper test screening.

Soon, crowds began streaming into the studio to test 'House of the Daytime Moon'.

"Director-nim! Good to see you, sir!"

"Haha, hello there."

"'House of the Daytime Moon' is finally having its test screening!"

"I didn't think this day would come either."

The studio, with its sizeable screen mounted inside, quickly filled up with Director Hong Man-seop and the staff from both the production company and the distributor. The distributor side, which would shepherd 'House of the Daytime Moon' from promotion and marketing all the way through release, looked especially expectant.

"I've got a good feeling this time, Director. If 'House of the Daytime Moon' could break this brutal, barren cycle Korean animation is trapped in... that'd be something."

Director Hong Man-seop, his thick eyebrows framed by dark circles that had deepened several-fold in the meantime, answered.

"Five hundred thousand... no, let's dream bigger, if we just pull in a million viewers, I'll dance my heart out, truly."

"Oh my, a million. A Korean animated film at a million would really be something."

Around then, two men entered the studio. The moment Director Hong Man-seop saw the man in front, he broke into a broad smile.

"Ah! CEO Lee Chan-hoo-nim! You've arrived!"

Because the one who had appeared was Lee Chan-hoo. Director Hong Man-seop's treatment of investors was lavish, and as Lee Chan-hoo gave a brief greeting in return, Director Hong Man-seop asked in startled tones. He had just spotted the giant monster standing behind Lee Chan-hoo.

"...CEO-nim, who's the gentleman behind you?"

Lee Chan-hoo's eyes narrowed to slits as he smiled.

"He works with me. Security detail, you could say."

"Ah, security detail."

Director Hong Man-seop looked up at the giant monster. No, at Go Chun-seok, and was inwardly stunned.

'H-he's huge!! Way too huge!'

Because Go Chun-seok's physical presence was absolutely overwhelming. Go Chun-seok then extended his hand.

"Pleasure to meet you. I'm Go Chun-seok."

Director Hong Man-seop flinched at the thick, heavy voice, but pretended otherwise.

"...Y-yes, hello."

Clasping Go Chun-seok's enormous hand, Director Hong Man-seop felt a pressure that seemed ready to crush his own. And Go Chun-seok wasn't even applying any particular force.

Director Hong Man-seop felt that none of the people around Lee Chan-hoo were anywhere close to ordinary.

'Wow, absolutely no one connected to CEO Lee Chan-hoo is normal. That beautiful reporter Ha Yeon-ji too. And this guy... he's terrifying.'

He couldn't have dreamed that they were all under someone's command. Finally managing to compose himself, Director Hong Man-seop showed Lee Chan-hoo and Go Chun-seok to their seats. Dead center of the studio. Thanks to Go Chun-seok, they commanded the attention of everyone in the room.

Now everyone who was meant to gather had gathered. Director Hong Man-seop stood before the crowd and spoke.

"Thank you so much to everyone who came to the test screening."

As if overcome with emotion, his eyes reddened. The long drought of time spent producing 'House of the Daytime Moon' must have flashed through his mind. Whatever the case, the moment Director Hong Man-seop finished his appropriate remarks and sat down.

-Swish.

The studio lights all went out, and the animated film 'House of the Daytime Moon' began playing on the screen. It opened with.

-♬♪

Film music woven on gayageum strings.

The running time for 'House of the Daytime Moon' was roughly 100 minutes, and the instant the test screening ended, Lee Chan-hoo smiled faintly. Then, quietly, he asked Go Chun-seok beside him.

"How was it."

Since Go Chun-seok had only recently joined, his perspective was the closest to an ordinary viewer's here.

"...I don't really know, but I can tell it's good."

"Same here."

Lee Chan-hoo nodded and immediately sent a text to MEG's head, Kang Jae-ha.

-Commander, House of the Daytime Moon might actually blow up, you know?

At the same time, a figure from the distributor sidled up to Director Hong Man-seop, who was deep in congratulations.

"Director, have you set a release window for 'House of the Daytime Moon' yet?"

Director Hong Man-seop answered right away.

"Yes. Rather than August, I think it would be better to push a little and aim for the end of July. Right before the summer peak. 'House of the Daytime Moon' does have a decent amount of occult elements."

The official release date for 'House of the Daytime Moon' was roughly fixed.

"Around then I think we can pull in the horror-seeking audience as well."

After that.

It was a few days later that House of the Daytime Moon's distributor kicked off promotion and marketing in earnest.

《How Many Years Has It Been Since a Korean Animated Film? Industry Attention Pours in on 'House of the Daytime Moon' / Photo》

The first teaser went up on YouTube, and the public reacted quickly to the keyword of 'House of the Daytime Moon' being a Korean animated film.

-A Korean animated filmmmm ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ putting my vote on it tanking

-Huh? The quality looks fine to me??

-Please succeed. I want Korean animation to grow

-Hope it succeeds and runs as a series like Hollywood or Japanese anime ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Damn, I thought Korean animation was all dead?? Guess there's still money moving in the market

-I'm curious, gotta watch it at least

-Nice yeah, looks like they've added some Korean flavor, should be worth watching

-Korean animation isn't behind on tech, the money just doesn't get invested

-Oh? Looks fun??

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ nope not into it ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-If you can't cheer it on, at least don't trash it for no reason

Around this time, the side running promotion and marketing several times more frantically than 'House of the Daytime Moon' was the 'Busan International Film Festival'.

《'Largest Ever' Busan International Film Festival Opening Fast Approaching, Lodgings Near the Cinema Center Already Sold Out》

As the opening drew close, many foreigners were flying into Korea for the 'Busan International Film Festival'.

Meanwhile, rumors about Leon's Team 4 and Kang Jae-ha were catching buzz among various domestic entertainment agencies.

"You know that short that got invited to the 'Busan International Film Festival'? 'Condensation', was it? The only one in the lineup shot by a young director."

"Ah, that one. Director's in his twenties, right? Getting a fair bit of buzz these days. What about it?"

"I heard from a reporter, apparently two actresses from Leon's Team 4 got cast in that 'Condensation'?"

"Leon's Team 4? Isn't that the one they call Leon's dumpster? My understanding is it's where they park people right before cutting them loose."

"Word is the manager who just transferred to Team 4 is really making waves. Name's Kang Jae-ha or something? First I've heard of him."

"First I've heard too."

"Anyway, since this Kang Jae-ha, Leon's Team 4 is apparently starting to change a bit."

"Not bad in terms of ability. Still, they're washed-ups in the end, right? Team 4."

Whatever the case, the opening date of the 'Busan International Film Festival' was June 26th.

《Busan International Film Festival Opens June 26th, Red Carpet Already Laid / Photo》

That day arrived in no time at all.

Late afternoon, June 26th. Busan.

The enormous plaza in front of the Busan Cinema Center. Beneath the Cinema Center's massive canopy, thousands of lights in every color were already pouring down onto the long stretch of red carpet.

"They're here!!"

"Who is it?! Who is it?!!"

"Hey! I said stop shoving!!"

"Ah!! It's Kim Jung-hyun, Kim Jung-hyun!"

Waves surged beyond the fencing that lined the red carpet. Hundreds of reporters, domestic and foreign alike, had swarmed in. And that wasn't all. The onlookers ringing the reporters were even greater in number.

"%&*#%&(*#(*%#!!"

"*(&(*&*#(@@!!!"

The noise was so loud it was impossible to make out what anyone was yelling. Not that it mattered. The hundreds of reporters raised their cameras in unison. The sight of the cameras rising as one line looked almost like a single living organism.

-Pababababak!

-Pabababababak!

Light poured from the cameras with intense shutter noise. The sky was darkening, but the area around the red carpet was as bright as morning. Such was the flash barrage.

And then.

-Screech!

Just then, a new black van arrived at the head of the red carpet. Domestic and foreign reporters raised their cameras as if on cue.

"Who is it this time!!"

"Oi, who keeps stepping on my feet!!"

"Move, move!"

Before the stars even stepped out of the van, flashes began exploding. Meanwhile, inside the van that had just pulled up.

"Ugh! I can't, I can't get out, sunbae-nim."

"Yeah? Then I'll go on my own."

"What??!"

"Just stick close and follow me. If you're going to throw up, swallow it."

Yoon Da-yeon and An Ji-hee, dressed in their gowns, were preparing to step out. From the passenger seat, the portly Manager Kim Dae-yong poured on the encouragement.

"Ji-hee-ssi! Keep it together! Just wave your hand a little and walk, that's all! Da-yeon, smile a little too!"

As if the time had come, someone slid the van door open with a rattle. Instantly, an aggressive barrage of flashes sprayed into the van. An Ji-hee, her pupils dilating sharply, her short hair styled with a gentle wave, found the world out there looked like somewhere else entirely.

'...N-no way. I'm actually walking the red carpet.'

To Yoon Da-yeon, her long straight hair tumbling down, it looked like the land of opportunity returning.

'I've hit rock bottom. Now I climb back up.'

A well-built guard soon approached the front of the van. To take Yoon Da-yeon and An Ji-hee's hands. Right before stepping out, the two actresses turned their heads almost simultaneously and greeted the one who had opened the door for them.

"We're off."

"W-we're heading out, Manager!"

It was Kang Jae-ha. He nodded indifferently.

"Let's meet again, alive."

With a small scoff, Yoon Da-yeon stepped out first, followed by An Ji-hee after a long, deep breath.

-Swish.

A mad rush of camera flashes and shouts came pouring down on them, and the two washed-ups' red carpet march at the 'Busan International Film Festival' opening ceremony began. Kang Jae-ha smiled faintly in their wake.

'It's also the march that'll rip off the washed-up label.'