Chapter 064
Kim Eunkyung fixed her gaze on the Timeless proposal lying in front of her, her eyes even more serious than before.
She was such a strong poker-faced person that it was impossible to tell what she was thinking.
Because of that, Oh Sangmin, Joo Hanyeong, and I could do nothing but nervously watch Kim Eunkyung, moving only our eyes.
“Gibak.”
After a heavy silence, Team Leader Kim Eunkyung finally spoke.
“Yes, Team Leader.”
“I think it would be better to put I Am the Criminal in the final pitch rather than Timeless.”
Team Leader Kim Eunkyung's voice was calm, but there was determination in her eyes.
“As you said, I Am the Criminal has a minor genre and feels closer to an independent film.”
“But I also think that independent-film quality could actually become its strength.”
“And when it comes to the possibility of actually producing it, I think I Am the Criminal is the best choice.”
Seeing that Kim Eunkyung was trying to settle the matter like this, I quickly argued back.
“But Team Leader, if I'm told to choose only one of my projects to submit, I want to choose Timeless.”
“It is definitely a story that can succeed at the box office.”
For a moment, I thought I saw a strange sense of disappointment pass through Kim Eunkyung's eyes as she looked at me.
“Okay.”
“Then let's hear what the other team members think.”
“What do you all think?”
After looking back and forth between Kim Eunkyung and me for a moment, Oh Sangmin spoke.
“I also enjoyed reading the Timeless script.”
“But SF fantasy in Korea?”
“I'm doubtful whether it can even be made.”
“I agree with him.”
“The story is interesting, but Korea still doesn't have the technology to create SF movies on its own, especially when it comes to CG.”
“No.”
“It isn't simply a problem with technology.”
“If we have enough money, we can use Hollywood's technology and personnel.”
“This is a matter of emotional acceptance.”
“I don't think Korean audiences are emotionally prepared to accept SF yet.”
The opposition was much stronger than I had expected.
“Of course, I know that making an SF movie in Korea won't be easy.”
“But if we don't even try because it's difficult, we'll only continue falling behind.”
“And both of you admitted that the script itself is good, didn't you?”
Kim Eunkyung, who had been quietly listening, spoke again.
“Gibak, how much do you estimate the production cost of Timeless will be?”
“If you're talking about the production cost, as I wrote in the proposal, around seven billion won in net production costs....”
“If you're saying this because you think the budget is too large, we can adjust it enough....”
“Wait a moment, Gibak.”
Kim Eunkyung stopped me.
“I'm not opposing it simply because it's an SF fantasy either.”
“Technology and emotional acceptance?”
“Of course, they're obstacles.”
“But there are pioneers everywhere in the world.”
“However, we aren't pioneers.”
“We are planners.”
“From a planner's perspective, my conclusion is that Timeless doesn't have enough merit compared to the other projects.”
I had no way to argue against that.
That was why I did my best to persuade her.
“If we adapt the script in a way that minimizes the SF elements, we can reduce the audience's resistance toward SF.”
“We can also definitely reduce the budget.”
“Scripts are going to be revised dozens of times during pre-production anyway.”
“So the story itself is definitely attractive enough to....”
“Gibak.”
Kim Eunkyung's voice was firm as she stopped me again.
“Of course, as you said, if we put in the time and effort to adapt it over and over, it might improve.”
“No, it definitely will improve.”
“But even so, there is no company willing to take on the risk of a project written by a new writer with no idea who the director will be.”
“I thought you, of all people, would understand this situation.”
“Am I wrong?”
Once again, I couldn't refute her words.
But I couldn't give up just like this.
“Give me some time.”
“Just a little time.”
“Then I'll somehow revise it into a script that you'll like.”
At my unexpected words, Oh Sangmin and Joo Hanyeong quickly exchanged glances, as if trying to understand what was happening.
Kim Eunkyung, whose face had remained almost expressionless throughout, narrowed her eyes for a moment.
Then her expression returned to normal.
“Don't tell me....”
“Are you challenging me right now?”
‘Huh?’
‘What is she talking about now....’
I had never imagined that Kim Eunkyung would see my actions as me challenging her.
“N-No, not at all.”
“Challenge you?”
“Absolutely not.”
“I was just....”
“That's enough.”
“I'm joking.”
Joking?
This was a joke?
With that expression on her face?
“Seeing how strongly you're pushing this, can I assume you've gotten some kind of strong intuition about it?”
“My intuition?”
I felt the heat rush to my face because of my embarrassment.
“CEO Han Taeseong thinks very highly of your intuition, Gibak.”
In fact, Kim Eunkyung had initially opposed CEO Han Taeseong when he wanted to put someone like her, who had no experience or qualifications in planning and had even dropped out of university, on the planning team.
But what Han Taeseong had told her about me was that I was someone with very good instincts.
“But after seeing the projects you chose last time, I started to think that perhaps he was really right.”
“Maybe you really are someone who was born with good instincts....”
‘Born with good instincts?’
The reason I had been able to confidently push forward with various things until now was because of the future information only I, a regressor, knew.
But Timeless was different.
No.
According to the information I knew about the future, Timeless wasn't a guaranteed success.
It was a script guaranteed to fail.
And yet, I was the one pushing that script forward.
So I absolutely shouldn't have been pushing it simply out of stubbornness.
But the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to prove my choice and abilities as a planner.
