Chapter 68
That was when it happened.
“Gibaek, what are you doing here?”
I turned my head and saw Director Song Jaehyun approaching me with a glass of wine in his hand.
“Oh? Director, what brings you here?”
Director Song explained that he, along with the other directors whose films had entered the competition section of the festival, had been invited by the organizers.
“Hey, I came because they said there would be free alcohol, but this is so boring that I’m thinking of leaving.”
“What about the others?”
“Producer Jung had some business to take care of, so he went to Seoul today. Youngsoo and Jungin said there were movies they wanted to watch.”
As I walked around talking with Director Song, Director Park Junbeom, who had been sitting with CEO Han Taesung, noticed Director Song and stood up to greet him.
“Oh? Director Song, it’s been a long time. Fancy meeting you here.”
“Ah, sunbaenim. Have you been well?”
“I heard your movie entered the competition section this year. Congratulations.”
“Thank you. And I sincerely congratulate you on surpassing ten million admissions, sunbaenim.”
After exchanging greetings with Director Song, Park Junbeom turned toward Han Taesung.
“CEO Han, you know who he is, right? Director Song Jaehyun.”
“Of course I do. Congratulations on making it into the competition section, Director Song.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you.”
Caught off guard, Song Jaehyun took the hand Han Taesung offered and bowed ninety degrees as they shook hands.
This time, the CEO of the film company Woojoo, who was sitting with Han Taesung, took a business card from his wallet and handed it to Song Jaehyun.
“Oh, so you’re the director who made Home Sweet Home. I really enjoyed the movie. I was already thinking that I’d like to meet you sometime.”
“Ah, thank you.”
While Director Song greeted everyone gathered there, I stood a few steps behind him and watched awkwardly.
That was when it happened.
“Well, look who it is. Gibaek, you were here too.”
What is with that exaggerated reaction? Besides, he already made eye contact with me a little while ago...
Han Taesung greeted me as if he were seeing me for the first time today. I was so startled that I instinctively took a step back.
Seeing my confusion, Han Taesung discreetly winked several times, making sure the others did not notice.
Is he... telling me to play along?
Only then did I understand the situation. For the moment, I decided to follow CEO Han’s lead and play along with his act.
“Ah, yes, CEO.”
The corner of Han Taesung’s lips rose slightly, as if he was satisfied with my response. Then he continued.
“Oh, right. You also took part in Director Song Jaehyun’s film, didn’t you? Now that I think about it, both Director Park’s film and Director Song’s film might as well have been born from your hands. Hahaha.”
Was it because he said both films had been born from my hands?
For a moment, everyone gathered there looked at me with interest.
W-Wait... Is Han Taesung actually... promoting me in front of these people?!
“CEO Han, what do you mean by that? How were Director Park’s and Director Song’s films born from that young man’s hands?”
The CEO of Woojoo, who had handed his business card to Director Song, asked with equal parts suspicion and curiosity.
“I mean exactly what I said. That young man was practically the one who set the stage for both films.”
Once again, everyone’s eyes quickly moved back and forth between Han Taesung and me.
Ignoring their attention, Han Taesung continued speaking to me.
“Anyway, considering that Director Song’s film has also made it into the competition section, you certainly seem to have been born with an eye for good projects. Hahaha.”
The sudden attention made me uncomfortable, but I maintained a humble attitude while trying to figure out Han Taesung’s intentions.
“Not at all. You’re giving me far too much credit.”
That was when the people who wanted to know the full story began urging Han Taesung to explain it in detail.
“Good grief. It’s not even that interesting a story...”
“Come on, don’t be like that. You two shouldn’t just stand there. Come over here and sit down.”
The CEO of Woojoo even pulled over chairs from the next table, determined to make room for Director Song and me.
As I hesitantly sat down, Han Taesung gave me another subtle wink.
It was a signal that he had a plan and that I only needed to follow his lead.
This made it clear that Han Taesung had deliberately decided to promote me in front of these people.
But why is Han Taesung suddenly doing this for me? What exactly is he trying to accomplish...?
Once Director Song and I were seated, Han Taesung began speaking as if he had no other choice.
He told them about how I had agreed to an equity-based contract for Director Song’s film without taking any labor fees. He also explained how, while preparing Director Park Junbeom’s film, I had confidently predicted that it would attract more than eight million viewers and advised Big Picture to finance the entire production itself.
“My goodness. That young man certainly has guts.”
“He must have had that much confidence in himself, don’t you think?”
Everyone stared at me as if they were looking at a monkey in a zoo.
After taking a sip of wine to wet his throat, Han Taesung continued.
“That’s why I brought him into our company’s planning team.”
“Then, could it be... that the movie Big Picture is currently producing was also...”
The investment and distribution manager from C Entertainment, one of the event’s organizers, trailed off with a surprised expression.
Instead of answering, Han Taesung merely nodded.
“Ha...”
“Why? What’s so special about the movie they’re making?”
The CEO of Woojoo, who had no idea what they were talking about, blinked in confusion before whispering to the head of another production company sitting beside him.
“Haven’t you heard the rumors? People are already saying that the movie they’re filming is going to be a huge hit.”
“Really?”
“C Entertainment is handling the distribution for it. Apparently, after they watched the rough cut, they increased the number of screens from the original 250 to 500. They nearly doubled it.”
“They doubled it?!”
Astonished gasps escaped from the people around the table.
In 2006, multiplex cinemas were still in a transitional period of rapid expansion. Securing five hundred screens back then was equivalent to getting around two thousand screens in 2024.
In other words, C Entertainment had also recognized the enormous potential of Family Scandal.
“If you have time, could you take a look at the screenplay our company is preparing? Ah, should I ask CEO Han’s permission first? Hahaha.”
“No, forget that. Young man, do you have any thoughts about changing jobs? I’ll pay you twice the salary you’re getting at Big Picture. Hahaha.”
“Good grief, you people. Are you openly trying to steal my employee right in front of me? Hahaha!”
Business cards were quickly exchanged amid cheerful laughter.
“Min Gibaek, was it? I should make sure to remember that name.”
At that moment, the concern I had felt just moments ago about how long it would take me to stand shoulder to shoulder with these people seemed to have found its answer.
It might not take as long as I thought...
“You said your name was Min Gibaek, right? Since everyone says you have a good eye for projects, let me ask you something. What kind of movies will succeed at the box office in the future?”
The investment and distribution manager from C Entertainment stared at me expectantly.
The people sitting beside him clicked their tongues as though scolding him.
“Hahaha. Manager Cha, I never took you for this kind of person. Aren’t you practically a thief?”
“Exactly. And you’re asking him so shamelessly too. Hahaha.”
I followed their mood and answered with a playful smile.
“Well... if you’re asking what movies will succeed in the future, should I say every movie Big Picture produces from now on?”
“What a clever answer to a foolish question. This is why I like you.”
Han Taesung laughed cheerfully, looking satisfied.
“I thought I might get some valuable information for free, but I suppose it won’t be that easy. Hahaha.”
I realized this was the perfect opportunity to engrave my name into these people’s memories.
“Of course, as long as someone with my good judgment is at Big Picture, none of our movies will fail. However, I don’t think the overall state of the industry will be very good for at least the next few years. Instead of investing aggressively, I would advise everyone else to focus on maintaining their current position. Otherwise, you should put more effort into planning from now on and develop or discover movies that genuinely have a chance of succeeding.”
Everyone seemed startled.
They exchanged glances with one another before the entire group fell silent.
Their expressions showed that they could not decide how seriously they should take the words of a young rookie like me, or whether they should simply laugh them off as a joke.
Even Han Taesung seemed surprised by my unexpected declaration.
Sure enough, the investment and distribution manager from C Entertainment asked in a slightly sharp voice,
“You think the industry is going to struggle? What makes you believe that?”
“Do you know how many Korean movies have been produced this year?”
The manager looked blank for a moment at my sudden question before answering.
“Around a hundred, from what I understand...”
“Yes. If you include the movies that haven’t started filming yet, I heard the total will be close to one hundred and ten.”
“Then what about next year? Do you know how many movies are expected to be produced?”
At my second question, Director Song Jaehyun spoke with concern in his voice.
“Gibaek, this isn’t some kind of riddle. What exactly are you trying to say?”
Ignoring Director Song’s question, I continued.
“Next year will probably be about the same, or perhaps even higher. The Korean film industry used to produce forty movies a year, or sixty at most. Now it is producing one hundred and ten or one hundred and twenty movies every year.”
“So what exactly are you trying to...”
The manager suddenly trailed off as something seemed to occur to him.
“Does that mean...”
“Yes. Oversupply. The supply is becoming far greater than the demand. Out of the forty million people living in this small country, how many movies do you think each person will watch in a single month?”
The people gathered there looked back and forth at one another, as if trying to confirm that they had understood me correctly.
“Of course, there will still be successful movies. Even during the difficult IMF crisis, there were always stores that made a fortune. But if a film could previously attract ten million viewers, it might only reach seven or eight million in the future.”
The atmosphere instantly became serious.
As if trying to lighten the mood, Han Taesung quickly spoke up.
“Come now, everyone. Don’t take this too seriously. This young man isn’t a fortune-teller. He isn’t saying it will definitely happen, only that it could happen. Hahaha.”
Good. This should be enough to make sure they remember my name.
Matching the mood, I continued.
“However, I can give you one special tip that will allow you to make a lot of money within the next few months, Manager Cha.”
The manager’s eyes immediately sparkled with curiosity at the promise of making a large amount of money within only a few months.
