Chapter 52
At my cautious question, Han Tae-sung's eyes widened.
Then he burst into laughter.
“The yakuza? The triads? Haha. You have quite an imagination. Why don't you try writing a scenario while you're at it? Hahaha.”
Ha... Maybe I really went too far.
Watching Han Tae-sung laugh so cheerfully, I awkwardly scratched the back of my head.
“I'm sorry. There are so many rumors going around in this industry...”
Han Tae-sung nodded as if he understood when he saw my embarrassed, reddened face.
“No, it's fine. Actually, I've heard the rumors too, about black money from those circles flowing into the domestic entertainment industry.”
“Besides, Korea isn't Hollywood. It's not easy to receive foreign investment directly without putting a domestic investment company in the middle, so I can understand why you might have misunderstood.”
Han Tae-sung explained that although much of this investment was money raised by individuals or companies for purposes such as money laundering or tax reduction, it was by no means illegal investment money.
“The difference between them and ordinary investors is simply that their purpose isn't to maximize profits. They want to move their money as quickly as possible within a short period of time and launder it.”
“Of course, making a profit would be an added bonus.”
“When you look at it that way, there probably isn't a better place for them to invest than film production. From my perspective, it's practically an opportunity that has fallen right into my lap.”
Only then did I understand what CEO Han Tae-sung meant when he said there was no time.
“That's why we don't have time. We don't have a project we can immediately put forward as our next film.”
“No, to be precise, it's not that we don't have any projects. Dozens of scripts come into the company every day at most.”
“It's just that...”
“Even if it's money with no strings attached, you can't just make any movie you want.”
“Exactly. That's why I want to establish the planning team as quickly as possible.”
“I want you to use your ability to judge projects and separate the gems from the stones.”
Separate the gems from the stones...
For me, that was easier than eating cold porridge or swimming while holding onto the ground.
I already had all the future blockbuster movies stored inside my head.
All I had to do was take them out one by one, like pulling chocolates out of a drawer.
But I couldn't let any emotion show on my face.
Then Han Tae-sung drove the point home.
“If you take things step by step like this, won't the day eventually come when a movie you've planned gets made?”
A movie I planned being shown in theaters...
Just imagining it made my heart swell.
But once again, I couldn't show anything on my face.
“So, what do you say? Will you work on the planning team?”
After a short moment of thought, I answered.
“Could you give me just one week to think about it?”
Han Tae-sung tilted his head for a moment, apparently surprised by my answer.
“I thought you'd be happy. This is clearly an opportunity for you.”
“It is. Almost too much.”
I was telling the truth.
From the moment I stepped into this place called Big Picture, I had made up my mind to make Han Tae-sung properly recognize Min Gi-baek and acknowledge my abilities.
And I was extremely happy that my efforts had been recognized much earlier than I expected.
If things continued like this, I felt like my life in the film industry would be heading down a smooth road.
My heart kept pounding with excitement.
But strangely, the more my heart pounded, the colder my mind became.
Was I afraid that I might lose this hard-earned opportunity because I was getting carried away?
Or was it because the ability Han Tae-sung praised wasn't actually my own ability, but something I knew only because I was a regressor?
Unlike my words that I was "almost too happy," my eyes had become unusually serious.
Han Tae-sung tilted his head again.
“Well, I was already thinking you'd stay until the film went into production because of the handover process.”
“But by any chance... have you already received a scouting offer from somewhere else?”
“No. Nothing like that.”
I gave a small smile.
Only then did Han Tae-sung seem relieved, and the corners of his lips lifted.
“Really? Then that's fine.”
Han Tae-sung smiled.
While I was being offered a position on the planning team by CEO Han Tae-sung, a final meeting was taking place in the conference room about casting Gil Bo-young and Han Hye-joo, who had auditioned the day before.
“Ha, what a situation. We held auditions because it was difficult to decide the casting based only on their profiles, but now it's even harder to make a decision. Haha.”
The cinematographer gave a helpless laugh.
“Exactly. The two of them have such completely different atmospheres and colors...”
“And they're both so good. What do you think, Senior Min? Which one is easier for you to act with?”
At Baek Seong-han's question, Min Sung-jae tilted his head awkwardly.
“Hmm... Honestly, I liked both of them.”
“It's been a while since acting drained me so completely. It really made me feel like acting again. Haha.”
“And the most important thing is what the director thinks.”
“What do you think, Director? Honestly, given the situation, either woman would fit the role perfectly.”
Director Park had been lost in thought the entire time.
Then, as if he had finally made up his mind, he slowly opened his mouth.
“I've decided. Ultimately, the role of Consort Seo will go to...!”
Script supervisor Hwang Hyun-hee walked over to the casting board attached to one side of the office wall.
She took Han Hye-joo's photograph and placed it in the previously empty position for Consort Seo.
With that, the casting for nearly every major and supporting role was complete.
Min Sung-jae as the king, Han Jun-sang as the rookie historian, Gu Bon-jik as the Left State Councillor, Moon Hyun-bin as the Crown Prince, Yoon Hwa-seon as the Queen, Han Hye-joo as Consort Seo, and so on.
Only the Crown Princess remained to be cast.
“I heard it was a close race between Gil Bo-young and Han Hye-joo. In the end, Han Hye-joo got it.”
“Han Hye-joo? Ah, I don't really like her...”
“Why? I like her. She's pretty.”
