Chapter 56
At the word “condition,” both Moon Changsu and I turned our gazes toward Ma Sanghee.
“What kind of condition?”
“Actually, when I left that gangster-like company I used to work for, I took a few of the kids they were training with me…”
She took them with her?
This was what Ma Sanghee explained.
Even at that lousy company, there were aspiring singers and aspiring actors who were being trained as trainees.
Among them, there were a few kids whom she felt were too talented to spend their time performing at nightclubs or acting in reenactment programs.
So she persuaded them to leave that terrible company, telling them that she would help them find a better agency.
Some of them actually left with her.
**“Honestly, all I wanted was to find the best possible agency for those kids.
But after hearing what you said, Gibaek, I don’t think sending them somewhere else is the best option.
I think I should protect them.
They’re kids who trusted me and followed me out…”**
“Then what are you planning to do?”
“They’re still young, so I should check on them whenever I have time and help them with things like auditions.
Of course, I’ll do my best to make sure it doesn’t interfere with the two actors’ work.
Still, you never know what might happen.”
Since Gil Boyoung and Moon Hyunbin were the ones asking her for help in the first place, I figured they would understand her situation.
I told Ma Sanghee that I would ask the two of them for their understanding.
I also said that I would help if there was anything I could do.
“I can let you know if we need extras during filming or anything like that.
Practical experience is important too.”
**“Really?
Then I’d be very grateful.”**
Ma Sanghee bowed her head politely.
Moon Changsu, who was sitting beside her, pouted and spoke.
“Baby, I can do things like that too.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at Moon Changsu’s cute jealousy.
“Ah, since we’re talking about them, tell me their names and ages.
If a suitable role comes up, I’ll let you know.”
“Ah, there are three of them.
Two boys and one girl.
They’re all seniors in high school.
Their names are Seong Nahyun, Kang Doyoon, and Seol Gichan.
If you need them, I can make profiles for them and give them to you.
The girl writes her own songs and sings incredibly well.”
A smile spread across Ma Sanghee’s face, as if simply thinking about the kids made her proud and happy.
W-Wait a minute…
Those names she just mentioned… could they possibly be…?!
From Ma Sanghee’s mouth came the names of the future leading stars of ‘Star Light’ and the actors who would eventually lead the Korean Wave.
Ha… haha… hahahaha…
It’s a jackpot!
For a moment, I desperately held back the laughter that was about to burst out.
I held it in so hard that I almost got the hiccups.
And so, the prologue of ‘Star Light’ was beginning.
“So, you’ve decided?”
“Yes.
I gratefully accept the opportunity you gave me.”
The next morning, after deciding to accept the planning team’s offer, I knocked on CEO Han Taesung’s office door.
“Of course.
That’s how it should be.
I have high expectations for you.
Hahaha.”
“I’ll work hard.
But I assume I won’t be the only one in the planning team.
Is there anyone you have in mind for the team?”
Han Taesung took a sip of the tea on the table before continuing.
“Of course.
But except for you, I’m planning to bring in both the team leader and the other team members from outside.
As a matter of fact, we’re almost done discussing it.”
“From outside?”
“Yes.
Since our company is basically focused on production, our idea of planning has mostly been limited to participating in script revisions during pre-production.
We don’t really have anyone who specializes in planning.”
Instead of answering, I slowly nodded.
In fact, until the late 1990s, planning in the Korean film industry was fairly simple.
If a director said they wanted to make a certain kind of movie, the production company would simply say, “Really?
Then shall we give it a try?”
That was basically the beginning and end of film planning.
It was only from the mid-2000s that a producer-centered film production system began to take root.
The system clearly defined what material to choose, why it should be chosen, how it would be made, and who would make it.
“Can I know who might be joining us?”
“Ah, the person we’re currently discussing is Kim Eunkyung.
She originally worked in marketing before moving into the film industry.
You know the movies ‘Your Wedding Story’ and ‘Old Wooden Chair,’ right?
She participated in planning both of those films.”
Kim Eunkyung…
I think I’ve heard that name before…
In any case, ‘Your Wedding Story’ and ‘Old Wooden Chair’ were movies I had loved when I was young.
“And Kim Eunkyung, the team leader, will bring in the rest of the team members herself.”
“Ah, yes…”
Hearing about the new planning team gave me a strange mixture of excitement and nervousness.
It felt as though I was standing at a completely new starting point.
“Oh, and the planning team will also start coming to work when Director Park’s movie begins filming.
Keep that in mind.”
That evening, I sat across from Cha Seungjun for the first time in a while, drinking with him.
“What?
A planning team?
We had a planning team at our company?”
“No.
They’re planning to separate the production team and the planning team.
The existing production team will remain as it is, and they’re creating a separate planning team.”
“Ah…
So that means you’re joining this newly created planning team?”
Instead of answering Cha Seungjun’s repeated questions, I simply nodded.
“It is something worth congratulating you on, but…
Maybe because it happened so suddenly, I don’t know how to feel.
I guess I’m a little stunned…”
“PD Baek will probably make an official announcement soon, but I thought I should tell you personally.
Are you disappointed?”
“What?
