Top Management Chapter 196-197

Chapter 196: Stop at Nothing, By Any Means (2)

TL: emptycube / ED: Isleidir

"…! Please look over here!"

The sound of camera shutters pounded against my ears.

The static was worse than normal, but I knew exactly where I was. Because the familiar short film photo wall was right in front of me, the photographers in front of the wall, and movie industry people walking around. I had just seen this same scene.

"Isn't that Team Leader Jung Sunwoo?"

My gaze turned regardless of my will. The person who recognized me was familiar. He was the large investment/distribution agency general manager I had met in this exact spot around thirty minutes ago.

What was going on?

Was I looking at the past and not the future?

Still in a state of confusion, my body bowed courteously.

"Team Leader Jung, why are you here? Are you here to check on rookies?"

"There's that, and I thought I could discuss our actors' next projects with directors."

"Ah… Really?"

So this wasn't the past.

The same short film festival closing ceremony. At the same location. But it was a few years in the future?

"Director Joo, you know Team Leader Jung Sunwoo, right?"

"I do. This feels different. We had met in this exact place a year ago."

The man next to the general manager spoke.

"It was the first time I received an award after entering my short film. I was so discouraged that I couldn't even meet your gaze."

His hair was styled, and his face had makeup on. He wore a nice suit. If I didn't hear that he was a director, I would have thought he was a celebrity considering how much attention he spent on his appearance.

Director Joo. Who was he?

I flipped through my memories until I finally recalled who he was. He was the face I had just seen. The unknown director I had been introduced to by the production employee. The one who entered the compet.i.tion. Just looking at his appearance, he looked like a completely different person.

The fact that he saw me a year ago… Does this mean this is a year from the present?

"Was there something like that? You can look at him in his eyes all you want now. You're not the same Director Joo as before. No need to be discouraged.

The general manager encouraged the young director.

"You made a box office hit with your debut movie, a non-mainstream with a noir feel, and won rookie director and screenplay awards. You even attended Cannes. People are remarking how your next project is the most antic.i.p.ated right now."

My ears perked.

"I had spent five years working on just the scenario for this project, so my next will be a problem."

"A project that is bound to fail will fail even if you work on it for five, even ten years. A film like this was born because you put your life on the line."

My heart had started to race the moment this vision began, but it felt like my clogged vessels had busted open and fresh blood was flowing through my veins.

If he attended Cannes, then it meant his film was good regardless of the actors or distribution agency. I should have a proper conversation with him once this vision was over.

A project he had been working on for five years. On top of that, if the movie released within a year from the present, then at the latest, he would probably start filming within the next couple months. His scenario was likely complete by now.

My body shuddered because of how much I wanted to read it.

What kind of film would it be? Just as I wished I could at least hear what it was called.

"Director Joo! City Jungle was a lot of fun. It was too polished for your first project?"

The answer just rolled in. People from production companies came over and began chatting.

Why was I getting information so easily this time?

It made me wonder if I was daydreaming instead of seeing the future.

Just then, my vision flipped. So it wasn't a daydream. It was my first time being relieved by getting kicked out of a vision. I blinked to adjust to my suddenly changed vision, but my vision was still filled with static.

What was this?

I was in a different place now. I heard the sound of meat sizzling and clinking gla.s.ses. Was I in a restaurant? A banquet hall? Anyways, this wasn't the present. It was another vision of the future. While surprised, my feet were moving. It seemed I had quite a bit to drink as my body staggered.

As soon as I opened the door, I was met with a warm night breeze. It was summer. Just as I took a step out,

"Did you see Team Leader Jung's expression when we met today? He looked like he had stepped in s.h.i.t."

"Why wouldn't he? I bet his stomach aches whenever he sees Director Joo's face."

My steps halted.

Three red faces were smoking in front of the brilliantly lit sign. They were the production people I had seen in the previous vision as well as in the present. They wore the same outfit as the previous vision. So this was the afterparty of the festival.

Understanding the situation, I perked my ears because I thought they were talking about me.

"Who? Team Leader Jung Sunwoo? What about him?"

"Do you not know? Apparently, Team Leader Jung was the first person Director Joo showed City Jungle to. I heard that he even went to his home to ask for Lee Songha to be the female lead."

"Huh, then his stomach wouldn't just ache, it must be lurching at the sight of him. If he went with that project, Lee Songha wouldn't have a flaw in her filmography, and Team Leader Jung Sunwoo would have continued to be well off."

A flaw in Lee Songha's filmography? I would have continued to be well off?

"That's what I'm saying. He thought long and hard before coming to a decision, yet the project he chose completely flopped. And the project he rejected because it was a rookie director's first film became a hit. There was just a lot of empty hubbub about him being Midas's Hand."

"Midas's Hand. It's been a long time since I last heard that."

Their chuckles and laughed ground my ears. Although I didn't have a sip of alcohol, flames ignited in my stomach. Flopped? The project I thought long and hard before deciding flopped? What project did I end up choosing?

Wait, wait.

Right now, I should focus on not missing a single word…

"Also, I heard Team Leader Jung fell out of favor."

"Huh?"

"There are even rumors that he's being pushed aside since W&U is recruiting another team leader and other rumors about how he fell out of CEO Baek Hansung's favor and was demoted to back to chief. Either way, his current predicament isn't very good."

"Team Leader Jung Sunwoo, wasn't CEO Baek the one who promoted him to team leader?"

"I guess he found out that he wasn't team leader material after promoting him."

I didn't even have time to think as my legs just moved.

"He acted arrogantly like he wouldn't be successful for the next ten thousand years, yet look at him no…"

"If you have something you're curious about me, then just ask me directly. Instead of spouting nonsense."

Such sarcastic remarks came out of my mouth. A man who was exhaling cigarette smoke coughed loudly. His expression momentarily flashed with shock before he wiped it from his face. He said in a mocking tone,

"I mean I'm sorry that we talked about you behind your back, but it's not nonsense. Someone might think that I was making it all up. I heard this from someone at W&U."

"Who?"

"I can't tell you. Anyways, rumors have spread internally."

The man shrugged.

"That Team Leader Jung Sunwoo is a kite with a broken string."

I heard loud clapping. I blinked my dry eyes. My vision was no longer filled with static.

Someone who waving his award and bouquet in front of the screen.

"I saw his work, and it was filmed well."

Someone struck a conversation next to me. Still a little out of it, I turned my head and frowned. The person who said I saw a kite with a broken string was sitting next to me. I barely managed to contain my urged to shove his approaching face away.

"Team Leader Jung, are you perhaps interested in rookie director's works?"

He spoke with a smile on his face.

"Why there are cases where one's debut work is a huge hit. Those who wait a long time to debut and put their life on the line when the opportunity arises. Our company is looking for rookie directors like that, so if you are interested…"

"I don't know."

I fixed my gaze in front of me. I kept recalling his words, so I felt like my hand would strike out if I kept looking at his face. An unfamiliar man, clearly moved, was giving his award speech at the podium.

While acting like I was listening carefully, I organized the information in my mind.

I obtained a lot of information this time.

I now knew that the project I would choose would flop and that it would be a flaw in Lee Songha's filmography. It was also possible that matters other than that also didn't work out.

Though I couldn't be sure, I also knew that unpleasant rumors about me would also spread in W&U.

So all this would happen in a year.

My future looked great.

I rubbed my face when Im Seoyoung poked my side.

"Oppa, it's Lee Songha's turn."

When I raised my head, Lee Songha was handing a bouquet to another award winner. Applause soon broke out. I mechanically clapped before stopped. Then I scanned the winner. A young man who hugged the bouquet in a stooped position.

"Director Joo Jaechan. We will now listen to his award speech."

Joo Jaechan. Director Joo.

Yeah, I had obtained some good news before getting beat up about all this bad news.

No matter what project I choose in the future that will flop, it hasn't occurred yet. I could simply change the future like how I saved Royal Family, which had been about to flop due to a drug scandal. I had all the information I needed.

I just needed to grab ahold of the opportunity that found its way in front of me.

I attended the afterparty after watching all the winning works after the closing ceremony. The location was an outdoor banquet hall, different from the one I saw in the future. While I went around clinking gla.s.ses with people, my gaze soon fixed in one direction.

Director Joo Jaechan was sitting at a table with the unknown actors who appeared in his work. The actors went around, trying to network, but Director Joo Chaeyoung sat stiffly like a turtle.

I wasn't sure if he was just too shy or had no intentions of marketing himself.

Recalling his appearance in the future, he didn't seem like the shy type.

Right now, he was hugging a clunky backpack while downing gla.s.ses of soju. He occasionally glanced at other winners who were receiving attention from production companies.

Director Joo Jaechan had received a mise en scène award. Since it was an award given to works with great visual arts and expression, he would receive less attention from production companies than the grand award or best work award.

"Congratulations on your award."

"Thank… Oh, h.e.l.lo!"

Director Joo Jaechan stumbled to his feet when he saw my face.

"Is there a spare seat?"

"Ah, of course. Please sit anywhere!"

As soon as I sat down, I raised a bottle of soju. Director Joo Jaechan quickly downed the gla.s.s of soju I poured for him. Half of it dripped on his clothes. I refilled his gla.s.s, and he poured me a gla.s.s as well. I would get to the point after b.u.t.tering him up with small talk.

"Is there a scenario you are preparing for a feature-length film?"

I went straight to the point… Forget b.u.t.ting him up, I couldn't contain myself.

"…. A scenario?"

"Yes, a feature-length film. I was wondering if I could take a look if you did have one."

Director Joo Jaechan, who blankly looked at me as if wondering why I was asking, moved his pupils. Soon, his face ignited with antic.i.p.ation. The moment he was about to speak, someone grabbed my shoulder.

"Team Leader Jung, if you ask that, our rookie director here won't be able to sleep tonight from the antic.i.p.ation."

He was the person who introduced me to Director Joo Jaechang. He seemed to be quite drunk as he was starting to slur his words. He placed one of his heavy arms on my shoulder and the other on Director Joo Jaechan's shoulder before saying,

"Director Joo. Don't get ahead of yourself and just show him. Relax. Team Leader Jung here is obsessed with scenarios. I heard he reads scenarios to proposals no matter if they were from a pro or an amateur."

"Ahh…"

The flames in Director Joo Jaechan's eyes dwindled slightly. He opened his backpack with a bashful expression. He seemed to have been prepared for situations like this as he took out a neatly bounded scenario.

I unconsciously gulped.

"Err, this is a scenario I've been working on for a long time."

Yeah, this.

"It isn't polished enough that I can show it off confidently…"

Even though he said that, his hands showed no hesitation in handing me the scenario. I checked the t.i.tle as soon as I received it. I flipped the pages and skimmed through the plot.

Then I asked Director Joo Jaechan,

"… Is this all?"

"Pardon? Yes."

"Even proposals?"

"This is the only feature-length film I've been preparing."

I looked down at the scenario again.

From what I knew, the t.i.tle of his work was City Jungle, and it was a noir flick.

Why was this one completely different?

/ /

Chapter 197: Stop at Nothing, By Any Means (3)

TL: emptycube / ED: Isleidir

'King's Warrior.'

The large characters in front of me didn't change even after blinking.

I opened my dry lips and asked,

"And the genre is…"

"A historical drama."

"That's right. Since there are a king and his warrior."

I flipped through a few more pages before closing it. In no way was this similar to the noir genre or the 'City Jungle' t.i.tle. The only similarity was that both films had four characters in their name.

I asked in a gentle tone,

"If you have short film scenarios or synopses, could I take a look?"

He might have restricted a short film to be a feature film, but he struck down my hope. I examined every short film scenario and synopsis that came out of Director Joo Jaechan's backpack, but I couldn't find a hint of what I was looking for.

"You have been preparing for this feature film for a long time?"

"Yes, I've worked on it for more than two years."

Two years.

Then where did the scenario he worked five years on suddenly appear from?

This really was strange.

"Is this historical drama your first feature-length work?"

"… Yes, it is my first."

Director Joo Jaechan said dispiritedly.

"It seems you are unhappy with all of them."

"No, that's not it."

"Your expression has gradually been growing worse. This is all I have."

Did that scenario have a different writer?

That didn't seem to be the case. They definitely said he won best screenplay, and he himself said it was a project he had been working on for five years. The investment/distribution agency general manager had praised Director Joo Jaechan from start to end.

What was going on?

Was Director Joo Jaechan lying to me right now? If so, why? It might have been easier to understand the situation if I knew the production company in charge of City Jungle. Where did he make the movie?

I suddenly looked next to me. The drunk production company employee was looking at me.

I casually exchanged a few more drinks before looking at them and asking,

"Are you planning on doing another project together?"

"Huh? No, no, nothing's decided. If he does have a good project."

He avoided the subject. Then he patted Director Joo Jaechan's shoulder,

"Don't promote that historical drama, okay? How can we let a rookie director direct a historical drama? It needs a large budget and it's difficult to get investments for. If the cast is good, we might be able to trust the actors enough to follow through, but you know that rookie directors have a hard time casting actors, right?"

He glanced at me while saying that. He looked like he would be interested in a talented actor was interested even if it was a historical drama. I simply laughed it off. After examining my reaction a bit longer, he seemed to think it was a fruitless endeavor and got up after emptying his gla.s.s.

"Write something besides historical dramas. A comedy seems good."

Leaving those words, he went over to a table where other directors were sitting at.

I drank while looking at Director Joo Jaechan. Maybe it was because he was a little depressed, but he didn't give off much of an impression either. Director Joo gave off a showy impression in the future. Did he change after his debut work became a hit?

Or was he simply acting well-behaved right now?

The afterparty reached its peak as more people were making a racket. I met a few people before going back to Director Joo Jaechan's table multiple times. Also, I confirmed a few more things once he was completely drunk.

Whether he really didn't have another work.

Whether he was interested in the noir genre. I even mentioned City Jungle. However, even as he was nodding off while drunk, he simply shook his head.

What to do now?

Thinking about it, I organized my thoughts.

Let's wait for now. Acting hastily now could change the future. Since, in the future, they said that Director Joo Jaechan brought the scenario to me first, it would be best not to change anything if I wanted that future to happen.

I handed Director Joo Jaechan my business card.

Along with a message, asking him to contact me whenever he had a good project.

Although I decided to wait and see, my surroundings move quickly.

-Have you seen the article?

"Yes, I'm reading it right now."

{Lee Songha, Her next work is 'Supernatural' with Heo Kakyung.}{1}

{Movie 'Supernatural' casts Heo Kakyung and Lee Songha among others}

-It seems the ones from Supernatural leaked this. You want to release a correction, right?

"Yes, as quickly as possible."

-We're writing a press release. Are you still considering the scenario or is it final?

"It's final. We formally refused in our meeting yesterday."

At least, that was what I thought.

-It seems that they didn't get that memo. Or they are thinking about using this to promote their movie since negotiations have failed. And they clearly know this puts us in a difficult spot.

After hanging up my call with Team Leader Park, I asked Reporter Park Woojeong as well. Then I refreshed the page as I waited for the correction to be made.

It was a common tactic to release an article while things were still undecided, but I didn't have the time to just laugh it off this time. It would complicate things if Director Joo Jaechan went elsewhere after seeing this article.

I kept refreshing the page when I received a call. It was from the 'Supernatural' people.

"General manager."

-Ah, I saw that an article confirming Ms. Lee Songha was released?

"Yes, it did."

-We're not the ones who released it. Just in case there's a misunderstanding.

What do you mean you didn't release it? Such a blatant lie.

I clicked my tongue as I refreshed the page. As soon as I saw the top headline, my tensed lips relaxed.

{Lee Songha's Side denies being cast in 'Supernatural'. Formal Refusal (Official Stance)}

-This is very awkward.

"It's okay. We released a correction."

-Pardon?

The other side because busy. I also refreshed the page. The correction seemed to be spreading well as a few more articles with similar headlines were published. Not long after, I heard a sigh.

-It's your official stance.

"I felt that it would be best clearly settle the matter since an article was released. If Lee Songha keeps getting mentioned in Supernatural articles, it would make it difficult for you to cast other actresses. We really are thankful for your proposal, but next…"

-Team Leader Jung Sunwoo.

An unhappy voice suddenly cut in.

"Director Cha Jaeho?"

-Yeah, it's me. I have never sent love calls or made script adjustments for young actresses.

Ah, adjustments.

The one-page adjustment proposal that would obviously be ignored once we signed the contract. I was curious when the director, who was too proud to allow even adlibbed lines, meant by adjustments, but it was as expected.

Before I could reply, Director Cha Jaeho sarcastically said,

-It seems that Midas's Hand really didn't like my project. Please let me know when you decide on Ms. Lee Songha's next project. I'm curious what amazing project you'll join after rejecting mine.

"Jung Sunwoo!"

The director sat on my desk. His brows, which were the only sharp features on his round face, twitched. The director stopped calling me Lucky Charm after that day with the Team 2 Leader. Instead, he looked at me like I was a headache.

"Did Director Cha Jaeho swear at you?"

"He didn't…."

But he did make a ton of sarcastic remarks.

"He said that I would regret it later. That he will be waiting to see what I pick after rejecting him."

"Tell him to get in line. Even the CEO is waiting."

"The CEO is?"

"He said that he was very interested in what kind of project you will bring in the future once he saw the article."

"Ah."

"I'm curious too. Just what is inside your head."

City Jungle was in my head.

I was curious where that scenario was hiding, and I was curious what Director Joo Jaechan was doing, if he had eaten, if he was thinking of me, and when he would come to see me.

While thinking these stalkerish thoughts, I suddenly saw the director's face.

How would he react if I mentioned Director Joo Jaechan and City Jungle to him?

The only experience he had was being an a.s.sistant director and winning an award at a short film festival. He was still a director who had yet to make his debut. And right now, it was uncertain who would produce and invest in it. If I was frank with him, I wonder if he would hit me?

However, I was confident in persuading him about it.

Because I knew that it would be a success. Like Cat Guardian Ghost.

I was confident in persuading him, but the problem was that the whereabouts of the scenario was unknown.

"Anyways, you need to guard your position. Make sure you're not emptying your office as soon as you move into it."

The director got down from my desk. Then he looked at me up and down before clicking his tongue.

"It's not just Lee Songha, you'll now have multiple actors asking for projects. The CEO says to let you be since he trusts your incredible eye. However, remember that the failure of a team leader is on another level from a chief failing."

The mumbling director looked back at me with a strange expression.

"You know that the actors will falter too if you do, right?"

A few scenarios and proposals were evenly spread on top of the meeting room table.

Chief Lee Bongjoon and Chief Sung Uimin put their heads together,

"I think that this script is good, but Jijoon is showing no interest."

"Who else have they sent the script to besides Jijoon? I want to show Joowon."

"I think they sent one to Yoon Taekyung?"

I stared at the thick stacks of paper. They were projects we had examined and picked. They were projects I had read while thinking about Lee Songha's next project. Objectively good choices with good synopsis, directors, and writers.

'He thought long and hard before coming to a decision, yet the project he chose completely flopped.'

The remark I heard in the future rang in my mind. If I had heard which project I had chosen, I would have avoided that one. Now, they all looked like flops. I felt like I was going crazy.

Good projects. Good projects.

I would do anything to get actors good projects.

My thoughts naturally turned to City Jungle.

If Director Joo Jaechan hadn't decided on actors, what if I proposed other actors besides Lee Songha for other roles? I wouldn't be able to tell until I saw the scenario. That d.a.m.n scenario. I needed to check it…

The next moment, my vision went black. My vision was filled with static.

Again? A future vision again?

My vision was so dark that I couldn't see in front of me. Ah, my eyes were closed. I could feel my eyes moving underneath my eyelids. I heard noises from the distance, and the stuffy scent of cigarettes flowed into my nose.

"Do you regret it?"

Someone beside me asked. Only then did my future self open his eyes.

I was sitting on a cement floor. I saw a pair of legs leaning against the wall. When I lifted my gaze, I saw Director Joo Jaechan exhaling cigarette smoke.

Rather than the depressed, shy Director Joo Jaechan, this was the aloof Director Joo Jaechan from the future, who wore fancy suits.

Was this still the afterparty?

I saw two visions one after another last time. This really was strange.

"When you rejected my project because I hadn't made my debut as a director yet. I was wondering if you regretted it now."

Director Joo Jaechan asked again, urging me to respond. He seemed drunk as he was slurring his words.

First, I pushed aside my questions and perked my ears.

"I didn't reject you because it was your debuting work. It conflicted with another project."

"Ah, that. The flop."

Director Joo Jaechan threw his cigarette b.u.t.t into the outdoor ashtray as he chuckled.

My future self said in a low voice,

"Anyways, I do regret it. I had fun watching it. The plot was good, and so were the characters. It would have been great if Lee Songha had been the female lead. I made the wrong choice at that time."

The plot was good, and so were the roles? What a relief. I was a bit worried that the female lead would have little presence like Supernatural.

"It's refreshing that you regret it."

Director Joo Jaechan chuckled again.

"If you were going to regret it, it would have been good for both of us if you had just done it when I begged."

"That's true."

"I told you that the scenario was good."

Scenario.

I perked my ears in hopes of gaining a hint.

Director Joo Jaechan mumbled,

"I had a hard time getting that scenario in my hands."

Getting it in your hands?

{1} So the author previously wrote 'Telepathy'. Here, he goes with 'Supernatural Human', which I shorted to 'Supernatural'.

/ /