Chapter 78
“Private First Class Min Gi-baek!”
“Oh~ Looking at you now, it seems like you’ve completely adjusted to military life. Hahaha.”
It had been a long time since I last saw Director Song Jae-hyun, and his face looked noticeably rough and tired.
“By the way, Director, why do you look so worn out? Did something happen?”
“Ah, I started working on a screenplay a little while ago...”
Director Song Jae-hyun casually rubbed his chin, feeling the rough beard that had grown there.
“You’re already preparing your next project?”
“Well... I don’t know if it’ll actually become my next project, but there’s something I want to try making. Ah, actually, I met Team Leader Kim Eun-kyung from ‘Big Picture’ last week. She said I should do my next project with ‘Big Picture’ as well...”
“Really? What do you think about it, Director?”
At my question, Director Song tilted his head as if he found it unexpected.
“That’s surprising... I thought you’d immediately say it was great news. Instead, you’re asking what I think first...”
“Of course, from our company’s perspective, it would be great if your next project was with us too. But that’s only ‘Big Picture’s’ position. Your position might be different.”
Director Song thought about my answer for a moment before speaking carefully.
“To be honest... I’m very grateful for the offer, but big companies definitely interfere in a lot of things. After you enlisted, during the final stages of post-production, I had some friction with the company over the editing.”
“Are you talking about the scene in the middle where the time machine malfunctions? It was originally there, but when I watched the movie in the theater, that scene was gone.”
“Right... So you noticed. The distributor pressured us to shorten the runtime so they could increase the number of screenings.”
Director Song’s voice trailed off cautiously.
“And in that situation, instead of taking your side, ‘Big Picture’ sided with the distributor, didn’t they?”
Instead of answering, Director Song slowly nodded.
When he saw that my expression had turned serious, he smiled brightly as though trying to change the mood and quickly changed the subject.
“Ah, forget about that for now. Min Gi-baek, congratulations!”
I stared at Director Song, not understanding the sudden congratulations.
Then he pulled an envelope from the bag he had brought and handed it to me.
Huh?
This situation somehow felt familiar...
And then—
“Ta-da! The settlement for ‘Home Sweet Home’ is finally out. This is the settlement statement for your five-percent share. You’re rich now. Hahaha.”
The amount written on the statement was much larger than I had expected.
“Everyone’s incredibly jealous of you. They keep saying that if they’d known this would happen, they would’ve asked for more shares instead of labor fees back then. Hahaha.”
Director Song Jae-hyun laughed as though he found the whole thing amusing.
With this much money, I could afford more than just a jeonse rental.
I could probably buy a small villa somewhere on the outskirts.
No, if I added the settlement money from the 0.1 percent stake I had received from Han Tae-sung, I might even be able to buy a small apartment on the outskirts.
Ha... I never thought I’d have this much money in my hands at twenty-six...
Before my regression, even after turning forty, my bank account had constantly been almost empty.
Thinking about that life, everything happening now still felt like a dream.
But this wasn’t the time to simply admire the amount of money I had received.
I decided that solving Director Song Jae-hyun’s problem came first.
“Director, about what we were talking about earlier... In reality, it doesn’t matter whether it’s ‘Big Picture’ or some other production company. As long as you’re the weaker party in the contract, situations like this will continue happening.”
Director Song’s expression darkened when I said these unfair situations would continue.
“Then what should I do?”
Thinking about his next project being changed however the company wanted, or having scenes removed without his approval again, Director Song frowned as if he already felt frustrated.
I looked at him and thought.
Right... At some point, there will also come a day when I see ‘Big Picture’ as an obstacle.
Of course, my reasons were different from Director Song Jae-hyun’s.
There was a limit to how high I could rise inside ‘Big Picture.’
Right... Maybe this is actually an opportunity.
My mind began working quickly.
And I started making plans for where I wanted to be ten years from now.
No.
Five years from now.
“Director, would you like me to tell you a way?”
Director Song stared at me blankly after hearing my sudden suggestion.
“A way? There’s actually a way?”
I nodded.
“You simply need to stop being the weaker party.”
Director Song’s expression went blank again.
“No, to be more precise, instead of signing a contract as the superior and subordinate parties, you need to sign from an equal position.”
“An equal position? Is that even possible...?”
Even after my explanation, Director Song blinked in confusion.
Then, as though something suddenly clicked in his mind, he quickly looked at me.
“Don’t tell me...”
“Yes. That’s right. Create your own company. And become its CEO. Then instead of having a superior-subordinate relationship, you can work together as co-producers.”
Director Song’s eyes lit up at the words co-producers.
“If you do that, when signing a contract, it won’t be between Party A and Party B. It can be a contract between Co-Production Company A and Co-Production Company B.”
Of course, even in a co-production agreement, there would always be a stronger and weaker side in business.
That was unavoidable.
But compared to a simple superior-subordinate relationship, he would at least be able to work from a more equal position.
That would reduce the chances of being treated unfairly.
