Top Star By Luck [EN]: Chapter 139

139

As mentioned earlier, global media has undergone several shifts since the mid-2010s.

Firstly, content beyond blockbuster movies, like those in the Universe series, has largely migrated from theaters to Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms [streaming services like Netflix or Hulu].

[It’s not profitable in theaters anymore.]

[There are too many competitive franchise works… We can’t compete.]

[It’s inevitable that small and medium-sized businesses are pushed out by large corporations, but I wish they would at least give us a chance for mutual growth.]

[Only guaranteed famous directors can survive.]

Faced with these rapid market changes, numerous film producers, from small film companies to directors and actors, voiced their dissatisfaction.

The fact that the theaters they loved were turning into theme parks must have made them very anxious.

However, there was one thing they were overlooking.

[OTT is making more money than I thought?]

The fact that OTT was a titanium alloy lifeline [a strong and reliable source of support].

[If you break through just one OTT platform, you can sell it worldwide.]

[You don’t have to go through the trouble of entering each country to market to theaters.]

[They give you a lot of production costs, too?]

Basically, that was the trend among OTT companies: low margin, high volume.

Since their goal is wide distribution, if the content is guaranteed to be entertaining, even small studios can compete fairly with large studios.

In the realm of OTT, the pure entertainment value of a work can overcome marketing limitations.

And, the second change that came as OTTs took over the world was this:

“In my opinion, Korean works will soon dominate the global video market.”

Park Hanmo, Lee Min-ki’s manager, stared at him with wide eyes and said.

“…I know you like Korean movies and dramas, but isn’t that a bit of a stretch?”

“Really? I don’t think it will take even five years,” Lee Min-ki said, as if protesting the incredulous look.

“Korean directors are making incredibly good works these days. CG [computer-generated imagery] and special effects might suffer due to budget constraints, but the directing and screenplays are truly amazing.”

“Actor, wouldn’t there be a market problem? It is extremely difficult for Korean works to succeed in American theaters. Even if you bring a movie with ten million viewers [a massive box office success in Korea], it’s only a bonus stage at best.”

“What about selling through OTT?”

“Korea isn’t the only country making movies. There are a lot of works out there.”

It was a rebuttal that insisted water is water and salt is salt [a statement of the obvious].

It’s not that Park Hanmo particularly dislikes Korean movies. Rather, he loves the Korean market so much that he abandoned the American market and returned to Korea.

But what should I say? At this time, that was common sense.

‘Who would believe that in just a few years, Korean works would be lining up from 1st place on most OTT platforms?’

Lee Min-ki, who knew the future, knew very well that this common sense would be shattered.

‘From the heyday of Netplay [a fictional OTT platform], almost half of the top 10 were filled with Korean works.’

I remember it vividly: the situation where Korean movies dominated the American market, and American major movie companies and OTT companies came to Korean studios asking for just one work.

I remember them saying they would pour in as much production cost as possible, just asking for a work.

‘Who would believe it even if I said this?’

Lee Min-ki chuckled. He knew because he had seen the whole future, but if that wasn’t the case, he would have been upset, thinking, ‘Are you making fun of me when I’m already having a hard time because I can’t get famous?’

But now I know, so I felt frustrated.

“Manager, if a Korean work becomes a hit, is there a possibility that things like Korean shuttlecock kicking [a traditional Korean game, ‘Jegichagi’] will become popular overseas?”

It was the moment Lee Min-ki spoke in a serious voice.

“…Actor, are you feeling unwell anywhere?”

‘I’m going crazy. It seems like you’re never going to believe me.’

Lee Min-ki gave up on persuading him halfway and said, “Anyway, I really want to appear in this work. It looks fun.”

“Why this work and not another?” Park Hanmo stared intently at the laptop screen with a look of disbelief.

There were letters floating above the screen.

[war of all against all]

[The war of all against all]

Also known as Manman Battle.

It was a story about people who fell on an island fighting to survive, killing, plundering, and cooperating with each other.

“It’s so hip.”

Park Hanmo continued in a voice filled with disbelief, “It would be fortunate if it ended up as B-grade [low-budget and potentially low-quality], but even the director is unknown.”

That’s exactly what it was. The director is a rookie, and it’s a work that was parachuted in as the son of a famous director.

Moreover, it’s a co-director system.

“The fact that they are thinking of OTT distribution is also a factor. They will probably just swallow the production costs and make it carelessly.”

This was also a credible statement. Since OTTs sell works based on lump-sum payments (selling the work itself), directors often secure only the minimum level of artistry and then let go.

Netplay, the No. 1 platform in the industry, might be an exception.

“They probably didn’t seriously believe they could cast you.”

That was also true. It was at the level of poking around with the thought that it would be good if it happened, but if not, oh well.

Overall, the synopsis alone suggests a one-shot deal [a project with little chance of sequels or further development]. No normal actor would want to squeeze into that scene.

Right.

‘Who would know that this would be ranked No. 1 on Netplay?’

If you don’t know the results…

‘This one alone is better than the Odin Universe.’

It is one of the best works of the year and has swept the world. Only the top-tier works in the Odin Universe can compete. At least [Anonymous], an average work, doesn’t even have anything to compare.

Lee Min-ki, who had made a decision in his heart, smiled brightly and said, “I want to film this.”

“Actor, I’m telling you this much.”

“Oh, by the way, Manager, now that I think about it, our contract renewal period is coming soon.”

“I will persuade the director.”

Manager Park Hanmo. You are quick to judge.

* * *

Around the time of returning to Korea through the Korean airport, Lee Min-ki was already there.

“Please wave your hand here!”

He had become a pseudo-Hollywood star [a celebrity with a Hollywood-like image, but not necessarily working there].

“What’s the secret to winning the quiz show?”

“Where did you learn emergency measures?”

“I heard you received an offer to appear in the Odin Universe! What happened to that? Please say something!”

“I heard that Emma Specter praised you! What exactly did she say?”

It’s only a schedule of less than half a month. However, within that time, Lee Min-ki seemed to have built an image of a pseudo-Hollywood star through the Internet. Of course, only in Korea.

“Don’t say anything. Just leave him alone.”

“Yes.”

Following Park Hanmo’s words, Lee Min-ki carefully left the airport with the guidance of the staff sent by JC [the talent agency].

I could say a word or two to the reporters, but this time, the strategy was not to do so.

[The gift box is the most exciting when it’s unopened. Let’s just let them imagine. Don’t pour cold water on it.]

That was CEO Gu Inmo’s advice. If the situation is going to be detrimental to open your mouth, the more you save your words, the more you benefit.

‘Anyway, AST [a rival agency] will have some time left to reveal that the casting offer was rejected, so let’s enjoy the star premium during that time.’

It’s a good strategy. If you keep inflating that topic while dragging it along, it will snowball. There is a saying called ’empty fortress strategy’ [a military tactic of making a weak force appear strong]. It means to show off even if you don’t have it in order to look cool, but this time it was the opposite.

If people misunderstand you as a cool person on their own, it’s right to hide even the existing bluff. At least within Korea.

The fantasy about the actor Lee Min-ki has already reached its limit.

[The best of the new actors]

[Crazy career]

[Monster actor]

[An actor that Hollywood is also drooling over]

[Fashion sense recognized by LE [a fashion magazine]]

[A man who may rewrite the legend of the Korean film industry]

[JC’s hidden weapon]

[The Midas touch of the CF [commercial film] world]

I’ve already been eating only the good things [experiencing only positive things]. Bad image caused by the Kim Doha incident, washed away a long time ago after what happened on the plane.

Now, people who mention it are treated as aggro [intentionally provocative], so what’s the point of saying more?

‘The situation couldn’t be better.’

I will explode all these careers in the next achievement.

Lee Min-ki was about to get into the car with that thought, when Manager Park Hanmo opened his mouth.

“Are you going right away?”

“Yes.”

Even though I returned to Korea, there was no time to rest. Because there was something I wanted to get stamped as soon as possible [confirmed or secured].

‘I have to go first before they cast another actor.’

That was the key. The [Manman Battle] production team probably doesn’t have high expectations for casting Lee Min-ki. They said the production schedule was tight, so if they could cast another actor, they would try to do so right away. I was going to settle it before that.

“By the way, that director is very lucky,” Park Hanmo, who was holding the steering wheel, muttered as if he still didn’t understand. Rather than refuting, Lee Min-ki thought, ‘I’ll know when time passes anyway,’ and just enjoyed it, looking forward to the world that will be surprised in half a year.

* * *

A small film studio located in Ilsan.

Mayar Pictures.

A man there kept spinning around in place, muttering, “I can’t believe it.”

As if annoyed by that restless appearance, a woman sitting in a chair frowned and said, “Stop being so nervous.”

“No, how can I not be nervous? It doesn’t make sense for me not to be nervous now. Yes, that’s right. I can’t help it. When else would I be nervous if not today?”

That’s because, “Lee Min-ki is interested in our movie!”

Now, a meeting with Korea’s best young actor is scheduled.

“If we can attract Lee Min-ki, it’s over. Investment or whatever, it’s all over! The movie’s success is guaranteed! Maybe we’ll film a syndrome [a cultural phenomenon]!”

“You’re talking nonsense again,” another woman laughed as if the man’s fuss was ridiculous.

“Hey, realistically, would Lee Min-ki really be interested in our movie? He’s someone who’s being courted by Hollywood.”

“I don’t know. Maybe he’s someone who only looks at the quality of the work.”

“Quality? How are you going to prove that our movie has quality?”

“Synopsis?”

“Frankly, there are tons of people who write better synopses than us.”

“Hey, still, our previous work was kind of…”

“300,000 viewers?”

“Yeah, we got 300,000 viewers. At this point, we’re mid-level.”

“The companies that are courting Lee Min-ki now are all aiming for 10 million viewers, right?”

“…Ugh!”

The man stopped talking at the woman’s constant rebuttals and became depressed alone.

‘That’s true.’

It doesn’t make sense that Lee Min-ki is interested in their work. There are so many good studios in the world. I don’t know why they’re having a meeting, but I guess they’re just going to check it out and leave.

Of course, it’s strange to have a meeting and not intend to sign a contract from the beginning. But they couldn’t make any other assumptions. That’s because Lee Min-ki’s joining is so unrealistic.

“The newer the rookie actors are, the more they pursue stable success. OTT is a bit of a no-no. Unless they’re complete rookies.”

I don’t know if a dragon will appear from the sky and turn Seoul upside down.

“Sigh… How many people have just checked it out and left.”

“Lee Min-ki will also check it out. He’s too good. It’s a relief if he doesn’t no-show.”

That’s how the two of them weren’t expecting anything.

These two didn’t know yet about Lee Min-ki’s past life, or that these two are the genius director couple who shook the world: Jin Juyeon and Shim Seongbo.

“Hey, if you keep doing that, I’m going to want to break up.”

“Juyeon, please don’t say that… I’m hurt…”

“So stop being so wimpy and making people angry.”

They’re still lovers, though.