Chapter 213: Management Business Division Team 4 Leader (2)

TL: emptycube / ED: Isleidir

"Team leader! Team-team leader!"

The road manager who had been waiting for me outside ran over.

"Tell me about the situation. How is she?"

"I think she's about to explode. The set has been an icy battlefield for hours now. The staff were causing a fuss since a while ago. I tried to calm her down with snacks, but she didn't even give them a glance. I couldn't handle it any longer...!"

"If you couldn't handle it, you should have contacted me."

He lowered his stiff hair.

"Sorry! I was threatened, no, told not to contact you no matter what. I felt like the set would be flipped upside down at this rate, so I hid and contacted you in secret. She calms down in front of you...!"

At first, he had looked like he was dreaming after being assigned to Lee Songha, but his face now looked like he was suffering from nightmares even though it hasn't been a month.

"Uh, you are talking about Lee Songha, right? Not Son Chaeyoung?"

Chief Lee Bongjoon asked with dazed eyes as he followed us.

I sighed as I waved my hand.

"Let's go."

"Yes!"

I followed the road manager who quickly took the lead. As soon as I stepped onto the set, I felt like I heard ice crack. There were dozens of people here, yet it was oddly quiet. Only the sound of camera shutters interrupted the silence.

Lee Songha was covered in flowers. She buried her cheek in a bouquet of yellow freesia flowers. She slightly bit one as she smiled brightly. As soon as I saw her, I was caught by a chilly emotion. It felt like an awl was lodged in the back of my neck. 

"Smile properly."

The photographer said. Lee Songha's lips curved even more.

"I have been smiling. For six hours."

"So smile properly. Properly. Prop. Per. Ly."

Lee Songha bit her lower lip at his shifty orders. Her face looked like she had endured enough and was about to explode. Clenching on the bouquet like she was about to crush it, Lee Songha lifted her gaze. The next moment, her gaze met mine.

Her surprised face instantly distorted. Lee Songha glared at the road manager. The road manager made a sound like he was being strangled. At the same time, the photographer put his camera down.

"Let's take a break to cool our heads then come back."

Lee Songha immediately got up and came over with steadfast steps. It seemed like she might pull out a gun from the bouquet. Chief Lee Bongjoon backed away. Lee Songha simply passed us as she entered her waiting room.

"... Did she just ignore you?"

Chief Lee Bongjoon whispered with a flustered face.

"Why is she like that? Did you two fight?"

"No."

"Then I don't understand? You said that this isn't the first time she's been causing trouble. Has the troublemaker title at our company been passed on from Son Chaeyoung to Lee Songha? While she wasn't normal, she at least acted normally before. Why is she acting out now?"

"Team Leader Jung Sunwoo? You're Team Leader Jung Sunwoo, correct?!"

I heard a woman's voice. She was the editor I had met a couple times at photoshoots. She rushed over to us and clung to my arm like a lamb having found her savior.

"Father in Heaven, thank you! Team leader, please save us!"

"Sorry, Songha is not in a very good condition today."

"That's true. I thought so. The photographer didn't help either."

The editor glanced at the back of the photographer's head before clinging onto me again.

"Team leader! It'll be big trouble if the photoshoot today fails. A huge problem! It took considerable effort to get the dress and jewels sponsored for today's shoot from overseas, and we won't be able to set this up again. Could you...!"

"Please wait. I'll go talk to her."

Leaving the other behind, I entered the waiting room alone.

Lee Songha was sitting on a chair with her head down low. Her breathing was even ragged. It seemed like she tried to calm down the best she could as her exposed shoulders heaved up and down. When I approached her, I saw crushed, empty water bottles rolling on the floor.

"I'll get you some more water."

I turned around but almost fell. Lee Songha was holding the back of my knees with both hands.

"Where are you going?"

"To get you water."

"I don't need it."

Her head was still way down. I fumbled with my pockets and took out a bunch of caramel that I had brought with me. She didn't react even when I waved it in front of her eyes. On after I unwrapped one and put it in her mouth did she start to chew.

"Oppa, say my name again."

"Lee Songha."

"..."

"Do you want me to make an acrostic poem?"

I joked, and she answered with a sigh-like laugh. She seemed to have calmed down as she raised her head. Then she quickly took her hands off my knees.

"Sorry, I had blood on my hands."

"You don't have blood on your hands, and are you not feeling well?"

Lee Songha lowered her eyes.

"It's hazy. I almost swore at the photographer. That damn b-photographer was right. Today's concept is the innocent freesia, yet I don't know what an innocent expression is. I'm doomed. Flowers like these no longer suit me."

"Then what kind of flowers suit you?"

"Marijuana."

Her symptoms were severe today.

"Or a pitcher plant, or Venus flytrap."

"Those aren't even flowers."

"That's right. There are no flowers in my life. Since my life is a jungle."

"There are probably flowers in the jungle."

I locked the waiting room door and lightly patted Lee Songha's head.

"I thought you were getting better with those counseling sessions."

"I think I have dissociative identity disorder. Or intermittent explosive disorder."

"What's that?"

"It's the proper term for multiple personality and anger management disorders. I saw it on the internet."

"Don't joke and have another caramel."

It has already been a long time since filming was done, but Lee Songha still couldn't get out of the female lead role from City Jungle. From what the counselor said, there were occasional cases where an actor became too absorbed in their role that it affected their daily lives.

From the outside, it really looked like she was possessed.

Although she was similarly absorbed in her role in previous works, she quickly turned back to normal afterward. Was her role in City Jungle particularly intense? There was a time where she flipped LJ over for touching her shoulder, and even a time when she couldn't eat meat. Since her role was a vegetarian.

I had only been worried about the end results for the film. I didn't think I would be worried about something like this.

"I told you to call me if there was a problem."

"I tried to handle it on my own. I can't keep doing that. I was planning on carrying a miniature of you since I return to reality when I'm with you. But it was too difficult to make, so I gave up."

What a relief.

"Instead, I found a place that'll make it for you with a 3D printer."

"Just call me."

"I already ordered it. They said they already finished the head."

Lee Songha said while chewing her caramel defiantly.

"Yeah, okay, whatever."

I guess I'll just live with a bit of humiliation.

Lee Songha's head slowly leaned over until she rested her forehead on my belly. Then, like a woodpecker, she hit her head repeatedly, and sometimes made noises that were either violent or pitiful. During that time, I rubbed her head like I was stroking her hair.

 Then she raised her head up and smiled. It was a smile of innocence.

*

At the investment company managing City Jungle's crowdfunding project.

Vested parties gathered for the meeting at the company founded for funding projects.

"How about we set the crowdfunding period to a week before release?"

"Since this is for marketing purposes, why don't we set the goal low? If we don't reach our goal, it'll only result in unpleasant rumors. It'll also lessen the topicality and expectations. It'll also be embarrassing."

"No, on the other hand, if we set the goal too low, it'll look like we aren't confident. It'll look like we are trying to save ourselves. The press is watching this, so it'll be worse than not doing it if we set the goal too low!"

I sat near the window as I looked through the files.

There were presentation slides introducing the film and investments, expectations on returns depending on viewership as well as previous crowdfunding scenarios among other things were clearly organized. They even mentioned me in the introduction of actors and staff.

Posters of competing films released around the same time were on the last page.

The list went from national blockbusters to famous Japanese animations. Our competition was no joke. Well-Made delayed the blockbuster they had originally planned and put City Jungle in its place, but there were reporters that were already saying this was a throwaway.

Well, it wasn't completely false.

While looking through the posters, I stopped at one.

Supernatural.

Ace Distribution Company. Director Cha Jaeho. Leads Heo Kakyung and Han Seoyeon. Breakeven point at 4.2 million viewers.

It was being released at almost the same time as City Jungle. On the same week, maybe even the same day.

There were rumors that they were prepared to pour billions of won into publicity and advertisement to compete against Hollywood blockbusters.

What did I say to Director Cha Jaeho last year? That I thought it would flop terribly? I definitely remembered how he cursed me. The back of my head felt itchy.

Licking my lips, I flipped to City Jungle's rate of return forecast in regards to investors.

Our breakeven point was 1.6 million viewers.

People could invest at least 100,000 won to at most 2,000,000 won. If we passed the breakeven point, we would get a positive rate of return, but if not, a negative one.

All that was left was deciding what to set our crowdfunding goal to.

"I'm telling you, lower is better. How about a hundred million to a hundred-fifty million?"

"And I'm saying that'll make it seem like we aren't confident in our end product. We need it to be 300 million won at most."

The production company employees and producers were debating the pros and cons.

I tapped my notebook with the tip of my pen before saying,

"Can't we just decide after we've had our internal screening for the final product?"

The mood became strange. The expressions of the general manager from Well-Made Pictures, who argued for a smaller goal, SBE Film's CEO, who argued for a larger goal, and Forest's CEO, who was busy playing both sides, turned complicated.

Well-Made's general manager said,

"I'm asking because you brought it up, but how did you like the draft version?

"Drafts are just drafts. We need to decide after seeing the final product. Our director is working hard editing the film."

"While we call it a draft, it's what we're submitting to the Cannes Film Festival. You can consider it as the final version."

Everyone's expression looked like they were just remembering that point.

We were going to submit an edited version of City Jungle to Cannes Film Festival. While there were some who held hopes it would advance, another goal was to use that it was submitted to an international film festival as a way to promote it in the country.

Either way, Director Oh Hyunkyung took a break in the real world before going back to increase the film's polish. Staff who took a glance inside were astonished, saying that Director Oh Hyunkyung had been bitten by the editing bug.

SBE Film's CEO looked at me.

"I think it'll do well in the film festival, don't you?"

"I believe we might have a chance to go to France if we're lucky."

SBE Film's CEO stealthily rubbed his chest as though my words calmed his nerves. Although I changed the future and could no longer be certain of the results, I was sure that it was a film that would do well at film festivals.

Well-Made's general manager licked his lips.

"Film festivals are good and all, but our box office performance is also important. The film is good. It is. But I thought this since reading the scenario and watching the draft, but it definitely lacks commercial value."

"We need to release it to know for sure. Last year, '17 Days with You' expected only a million viewers due to lack of commercial value after their internal screening, but in the end, they hit 2.5 million viewers."

"There are more cases where that isn't the case. To be honest, we aren't really interested in large profits and hope that we can at least hit the breakeven point. Aren't we going to use all the money gathered through crowdfunding directly to marketing?"

"Are you saying you want us to spend less money on marketing?"

"That's not it. If our crowdfunding goal is too large and our viewership numbers are lukewarm, the dividends..."

"That's why...!"

And things became loud once more.

Not long after the meeting, we held an internal screening with vested parties.

That night, we decided to set the goal to 300 million won.

*

"Team Leader Jung, did you put on makeup because you're going to be filmed?"

"You did, you did. It looks like you also trimmed your brows?"

Those people.

When I turned around, the people stuck to my door acted like they were doing something else.

"You're going to interfere with the audio, so please leave. Also, I didn't touch my brows."

"Now, let's quiet down so that we don't interfere with the audio!"

They had no thoughts on leaving and simply shut their mouths. I looked at the Team 3 Leader, Kim Hyunjo, and Chief Lee Bongjoon at the front before simply shaking my head. The director fixing the white balance on the camera chuckled.

"Shall we begin?"

I coughed and cleared my throat at the director's question.

This was a promotional video for City Jungle's crowdfunding event. Other actors, including Nam Joyoon and Lee Songha, had already filmed their part during filming, and I was the last. We planned on sending it out to the press and putting up on our crowdfunding webpage once it has been edited.

We already began sending out press releases. We pour out all we could for a press conference and events to publicize and advertise the film. We had already started promoting it as well. The public's reactions were growing heated as though they had been waiting for this.

Of course, because most the attention is on crowdfunding, marketing employees were paying particular attention to this.

While I was reciting the words I had prepared in front of the camera, the PR Team's female employee squeezed in through the door.

"Wait!

She looked agitated.

"Tema leader! Please stop filming for a moment! Su-Supernatural! Our competition!"

"What about it?"

"They decided to start crowdfunding too!"

What?

"Articles are being published as we speak! Their goal is 800 million won."

/ /

Chapter 214: Management Business Division Team 4 Leader (3)

TL: emptycube / ED: Isleidir

Sly. Detestable. Sneaky. No, these were excessively nice descriptions.

These pieces of trash.

{This Year's Hot Keyword for Films, Interest in Crowdfunding Soars.}

{Two Films Attempt Crowdfunding, 'City Jungle' and 'Supernatural'}

{Supernatural Opens Crowdfunding with an 800-Million-Won Goal, 'Largest Ever'}

... Director Cha Jaeho of Supernatural stated that 'Mr. Heo Kakyung, the lead, expressed he wanted to use crowdfunding the join the audience together' and that 'they decided to proceed after confirming that it was a good project in a meeting'.

Additionally, in regards to the other film their crowdfunding project overlaps with, City Jungle (Director Oh Hyunkyung, Lee Songha and Nam Joyoon as leads), he said, "I have a close relationship with Team Leader Jung Sunwoo, who first planned the crowdfunding event. I also sent him my scenario while he succumbed to the pressure of choosing his next project" and that 'he wished both films would have good results even though they are competitors, so that it would add more energy to the national film industry'...

Hahaha, how absurd.

Supernatural was dragging us by our hair for their marketing strategy.

They constantly mentioned City Jungle in their crowdfunding press release and kept bringing up Lee Songha and me as well. It was all so that those looking for more information on City Jungle, Lee Songha, or me would naturally see information about Supernatural as well.

"At this rate, Supernatural might appear as a top search keyword amongst City Jungle related searches!"

"Wow, did they shove their manners down the toilet? Isn't this too much?"

While I was looking to regain my senses, the PR Team's female and male employees, the Team 3 Leader as well as others surrounded a monitor and were discussing. Realizing the mood wasn't very good, the camera director had long since left with his camera.

"Heo Kakyung brought it up first? Look at how they are using the actor as a scapegoat in case they get criticized!"

"It did work though. Looking at the comments, 'Kakyung oppa is famous for loving his audience. Let's hit ten million viewers. Fighting!' is what someone wrote. 'I looked up what kind of movie Supernatural was, and it's a blockbuster with a 15 billion won budget'."

Chief Sung Uimin said as he looked at his phone.

"And where's Team Leader Park?"

The PR Team female employee replied with an agitated face,

"She is flipping out- I mean lodging a complaint to Supernatural's marketing agency!"

"Succumbed? Succumbed to the pressure of choosing his next project?! Have you seen Jung Sunwoo ever succumb?!"

As expected, Team Leader Park was flipping out.

With her phone stuck to her ear, she approached us while shouted loudly.

"Even if promoting City Jungle isn't my business, promoting Jung Sunwoo is my business! It's not like he had an interview with a reporter. Even if Director Cha Jaeho did say that, you should have removed it from the press release! Don't you know this is a sensitive subject?! Already, reporters' eyes are shining, looking to prey on anything!"

Team Leader Park's torrential criticism ended with,

"Stop saying sorry, and make sure not to do it again. I hope that we never have to call you again for something like this."

Hanging up, Team Leader Park let out a sigh. The Team 3 Leader said in a dazed voice,

"Weren't you too harsh?"

"This is a company known to have hired part-timers to review bomb competing films. They'll look down on us if we tried to talk nicely. They know not to mess with us if we flip out like this."

Team Leader Park looked towards me.

"Did you ever hear any unpleasant words from Director Cha Jaeho? If they are mentioning you, we probably have to intimidate them."

"Unpleasant words."

I recalled my memories before saying,

"You work so foolishly. Han Seoyeon is much better than Lee Songha. Stuff like that?"

"What? You didn't do anything when you heard that?"

"I didn't just listen."

"Right?"

"I think I told him that I thought Supernatural was going to be a huge flop and that there was no need for me to put my actors in to flop with it."

"..."

My surroundings became quiet. Team Leader Park opened and closed her mouth a couple times before changing the subject.

"SBE Film is going to discuss with their marketing agency about the crowdfunding. They are probably in an uproar too. They sold your name for the past six months trying to raise people's interest and expectations, only to have Supernatural take the first bite."

Her face became distorted.

"What pisses me off more is that this will be greatly effective in promoting Supernatural."

It really was greatly effective.

There was nothing to say about how they swept through the real-time search rankings. As soon as Supernatural's crowdfunding event became known, people quickly went to invest.

Well, it was objectively an appealing option. It was a large-scale blockbuster. It had a well-known director and top star leads. Supporting roles were also famous for being great in their roles.

The number of investors and the amount of funds received kept going up without hesitation.

And, in just one day, they surpassed 200 million won."

Reporters wrote articles about how Supernatural would reach the highest crowdfunding goal among national films at this rate. Ln a large portal site, articles about Supernatural, albeit with different headlines, continued to be in the 'Most Viewed News' section.

Even the public who invested in Supernatural became marketers as they spread information about Supernatural here and there.

During this time, City Jungle staff were suffering from symptoms

Their stomachs hurt, heartburns, and irritation.

It was a disorder caused by rage.

SBE Film's project producer complained every day about how his stomach hurt and felt like his insides were twisted. The only calm person was Director Oh Hyunkyung who still locked herself in the editing room.

Anyways, even in this situation, City Jungle's promotional activities were proceeding smoothly.

"Yes! Geumjoo's Culture Storage! This week, we had Mr. Jung Sunwoo, and we introduced City Jungle, which is about to be released. Join us next week for more plentiful news!"

The reporter shouted the close remark of the info program. The staff went up onto the studio to prepare for the next segment. As soon as I handed my mic over to the audio team, the producer and main writer approached me.

"Team Leader Jung! You're going to help us cast an actor next week, right?"

"Of course."

"We have a recording of it. We really will call you!"

The main writer, who laughed in a friendly manner, added,

"Ah, right! City Jungle's crowdfunding must have started already?"

"Yes, it should be around an hour since it started."

I replied after checking my watch. Today was the grand opening of the crowdfunding event.

Right now, all the City Jungle staff were probably hung up on the crowdfunding platform. They were probably waiting impatiently for the aggregate results. After thanking the producer and writer, who said they would participate in funding, I went back to the waiting room to get my things.

I barely managed to retain ahold of my senses.

"Director! I am interested in acting, so can't you use me in a minor role next time?"

"You too, unni? I received acting lessons in the past."

"To be honest, my goal was to be a comedian/actor...!"

Unfamiliar celebrities were trying to strike a friendship in front of my waiting room. There were rookie girl group idols and a comedian. I checked the door in case I came to the wrong place, but it had 'Jung Sunwoo' in big letters.

"Wait, wait. The waiting room owner has arrived."

I heard a familiar voice. When I turned my head, I unconsciously frowned.

Director Cha Jaeho was sitting amongst the celebrities.

"Uh, uh, hello!"

"Hello!"

The celebrities greeted me with surprise.

Soon, Director Cha Jaeho chased the others away. Only after we were the only ones left in the room did he speak again.

"I came for a radio show, and I heard that you happened to be filming here too. So I came over to say hi."

"Why bother/"

With our relationship?

My thoughts blurted out my mouth. Director Cha Jaeho's brows moved up and down.

"It's all thanks to you that the trend of crowdfunding began. This is a better marketing tool than I initially thought. We also receive investments. A stock firm said that our total funds and the rate we received funds is the best thus far."

Oh, is it?

"What should we do now that we beat historic records before you? We should leave City Jungle with something at least. I heard City Jungle started crowdfunding today?"

Director Cha Jaeho mocked. Maybe it was because he was an eyesore, but every orifice of his face irritated me. His creased forehead wrinkles looked like he was needlessly stubborn, and his thin lips made it seem like he was a horrible character. 

"Did you come here to pick a fight?"

As soon as I asked, Director Cha Jaeho got up from the sofa and came over.

"I came to have you face reality. My film, which you rejected because you thought it would flop, is a work that has both commercial value and essential elements for box office success. Whether you call it dull or that we sold our soul for commercial value, in the end, the audience will buy tickets. Can't you tell by how people are clamoring to invest as soon as we set crowdfunding up?"

His eyes glimmered with excitement. He repeatedly pushed my shoulder with his index finger.

"How do you feel? Isn't it time for you to regret your decision? If you still haven't figured it out, then you're hopeless."

Although there were multiple times where I thought, 'just where did a guy like him come from,' this man was the most absurd amongst all of them. To think that the guy causing trouble for me just because I rejected his scenario is one of the famous individuals in the movie industry.

Even now, his expression read, 'You dare reject my work? Do you even know who I am?' Oh my god. Would he be satisfied if I said, 'Sorry for not seeing this sooner, teacher.^{1} I was blind.'

I couldn't do that.

Director Cha Jaeho became more intimidating when I didn't answer.

"... You dare reject my film because you think it'll flop? In all my twenty years as a director... It was so absurd that it appeared in my dreams!"

That was some good news.

"How dare you, who chase after celebrities, squawk in front of me?"

"It's because you answered in a crude manner after I put it politely. That was why I matched your preferences and spoke crudely. I guess you didn't really like that. Also, I think there's a misunderstanding, but even if there was on City Jungle, I still wouldn't have done Supernatural."

"You bastard!"

"I'm not a bastard. The first digit of my age is changing this year too." ^{2}

Director Cha Jaeho, who was glaring at me, made a sarcastic remark,

"Seeing as your neck is still upright, I guess your film came out quite good. I saw that scenario too. Since it is my competitor. Well, it was okay. However, no matter how artistic you create a film, the audience in our country don't like dark, difficult films."

He seemed certain at this point.

"There is a clear limit. Even if rumors spread about how good the film is, at most, you'll have a million viewers. Well-Made will get you in theatres at first, and people will gather since they are curious, however, that'll only be for a moment. I bet that the number of viewers will half in a week."

"Ah, I guess you can see the future. What an interesting ability."

"It's obvious without that. The film market is pretty much a fight for a larger slice of the pie. How long do you think a film that turned its back on the public will last again blockbusters?"

Just then, my phone rang. It was SBE Film's project producer.

I left Director Cha Jaeho aside and answered the phone. The background was full of loud noises.

-Team leader! It's over! We're done!

Done?

My heart dropped.

"... What is?"

-The crowdfunding!

"It started one hour ago? Is there a problem?"

-It's over! We surpassed our goal of 300 million! In an hour!

This guy must be experiencing side effects after taking too many pills for his heartburn... There's no way that's true.

The crowdfunding has ended? We gathered 300 million in one hour? Not even a day?

Was that possible?

I first put down my phone. I gulped dryly before turning my gaze.

Director Cha Jaeho was looking at me with his arms crossed. It seemed the project producer's voice didn't leak out. Director Cha Jaeho seemed to have assumed that there was a problem with funding from just my words as he arrogantly began talking about funding.

"Was City Jungle's goal 300 million? I was thinking about investing around 2 million."

"I don't think so."

I spoke as I hurriedly got my bag form the sofa.

"Why? Do you not want my money? But our marketing agency said it would be a good idea. It'll be newsworthy."

"We can't accept even if we wanted to, though we don't. The funding's over."

"What?"

"The funding. We checked the aggregate total, and it's done."

"What's... done?"

"We reached our 300-million-won goal in one hour."

Director Cha Jaeho simply blinked.

My expression was probably the same just moments ago.

"So I think I need to head back quickly. Ah, you can rest easy here."

All he could do was open and close his mouth as he was so taken aback. Leaving him behind, I left the waiting room.

Behind me, I heard loud noises like a table being flipped.

^{1} Teacher here is used as a form of respect, how you would talk to someone deserving of respect. 

^{2} The word 'bastard' can also refer to babies as well. Hence the age comment.

/ /