Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 48

The Stars of the Awards Ceremony (1)

* * *

“Team Leader, it’s a hit!”

“What’s the ticket sales rate?”

“Of course, it’s number one!”

“No, what percentage is it?”

The PR team employee, who was staring at the monitor, shouted in an excited voice.

“Right now… 82%, no, 83%. It will definitely go up more if we re-tally.”

On the first day tickets were released, an occult film, not a blockbuster or a foreign film, exceeded 80%.

‘Black Exorcists’ D-7 until the official release.

Team Leader Gong wore a sly smile.

“Add more firewood. So they can’t even think of climbing up.”

*

On the day of the paid preview, ‘Black Exorcists’ literally turned the community upside down.

Crazy posts saying re-watching and re-re-watching are essential, SNS [Social Networking Service] authentication photos taken with the director, and desperate voices searching for information about the cast members.

In the movie information section of the portal site that opened in advance, one-line reviews were endlessly uploaded.

– Park Gun is a god, and Kim Ryul is invincible.

– You must see it, highly recommended.

– The directing is really crazy. This is art itself, beyond occult.

– Overwhelming mise-en-scène [the arrangement of scenery and stage properties in a play or film scene], a sense of realism that grips your breath.

– The best movie of the second half of the year.

– If it’s released, I’ll shut up and re-watch it three times in a row.

Reporters also quickly changed their tune. Hyenas aren’t stupid. If there’s nothing to bite, you have to quickly chase after the tail, so even rotten meat falls.

[‘Black Exorcists’ Unveiled, Who Called Them a Motley Crew?]

[Paid Preview a Huge Success… There Was a Reason for the Confidence to Pre-release Only One Showing]

[Park Gun X Lee Jang-mi X Kim Ryul, Three Blue Chips of Chungmuro [the center of the South Korean film industry, akin to Hollywood]]

The guys who were biding their time have disappeared, and only those who praise them are swarming. At this point, the people who haven’t seen it yet are really going crazy.

The site was buzzing with excitement.

When is the release, will there be another GV [Guest Visit, a Q&A session with the director and cast], can’t you just move up the release date…?.

Of course, there are no more GVs.

By moving up the schedule under the guise of a paid preview, only showing it once and ending it is openly teasing.

The PR person, whoever they are, had no intention of an early release from the start. Since they’ve shown plenty of the taste, the audience will have to writhe for two weeks.

A famous movie blogger who went to the preview with ‘My Money, My Purchase’ put the final touch on that despair.

A masterpiece in Korean occult. The remaining two weeks until the release will be hell.

The work that was already curious had a huge hit at the preview.

One week before the release. Immediately, the ticket sales rate soared, and sell-outs continued. Because the screen allocation was initially small, only theater and distributor officials were in trouble.

“Team Leader, we’re in big trouble!”

“What is it this time?”

“Ticket sales for everything else besides Black Exorcists aren’t going up. Other works are going to be completely buried because of that!”

The distribution team leader at Art Entertainment chewed his fingertips anxiously. How many screens did they give to Black Exorcists? 20 percent… no, 15 percent?

‘I’m screwed, damn it.’

The movie that they ignored because it was a small production company and the lead was a rookie from the drama scene has returned as a big shot.

If the ticket sales rate is this hot, it’s a total disaster.

The higher-ups are grilling them for not doing well, and the audience is clamoring for more openings. The blame for not recognizing a flop and a masterpiece is entirely on them.

“What about Murder Train and Unesa? What is that PR team doing, just sucking on their spoons all this time?”

“Articles are coming out, but… the buzz is no match at all. The respirator is falling off in real-time.”

The ticket sales rate is still bearable. The problem is the seat occupancy rate of the movie after the official release.

If the contents inside are really crazy, and that movie sweeps the board…

The team leader shook his head, shaking off the terrible imagination. The genre is occult, but this is downright a nightmare.

“Call a special meeting. Make a report combining the ticket sales rate trends and the numbers of existing anticipated works. We need to get it to the higher-ups as soon as possible so we get less flak.”

“Yes? What are you going to do?”

“Are we going to leave the theaters empty? We need to prepare in advance to allocate even a few more screens!”

Even though they are a large distributor called ‘Big 3’, they can’t afford to be robbed with their eyes open. Officials everywhere started running around with sweat on their feet.

And on the 5th day of the official release.

The screen was taken over by the demon that Kim Ryul summoned.

*

Some movies aimed at ten million viewers… or aimed at ten million viewers, caused controversy every time. They monopolize the screen, the distributor gathered the audience, and so on.

However, it is difficult to find a precedent in film history for an anticipated work that is struggling because there are no theaters.

“No, why can’t I see it in a bigger theater? How difficult is it to make a reservation these days!”

“I’m sorry, customer. Internally, the movies allocated for screening are fixed…”

Overwhelming, merciless overwhelming.

Not only popularity. Immediately after the release, the critics began to embrace Kim Ryul.

A critic famous for being stingy with stars rarely posted a long review on his personal SNS.

─A desperate escape of humans towards salvation, disguised as an occult. Rich religious symbols and metaphors add splendor to the narrative. In addition, the directing, which is both classical and avant-garde, maximizes the suspense of the play…

The public opinion completely reversed in the community that predicted the destruction of ‘Black Exorcists’.

Title: Chungmuro’s Shield ‘King God General Ryul’ [a hyperbolic title indicating immense popularity and power]

Never ignore God Ryul again… If you work with him, even a passing cat becomes a great actor.

– A guy who said Park Gun would blow up the movie? LOL

└It did blow up LOLOLOL Ticket sales rate 90%

– What? 800,000 viewers and IPTV? LOLOLOLOL

└I searched and he deleted the post LOL I was going to make a pilgrimage to the holy site

– But aren’t the distributors increasing the number of theaters?

└Everything is already contracted, so you can’t take it down all at once; Instead, they’ll increase it little by little and drag it out until the end of the year.

└└Unexpected ambush for year-end anticipated works LOLOLOL

The rebellion of the underdog always excites the public. As the behind-the-scenes story was revealed, the popularity of the ‘Kim Ryul Division’ soared into the sky.

Kim Ryul was originally a well-known genius even at Seoye Arts College, Lee Jang-mi and Jang Seong-hwa, the main and supporting actors, were practically performing without pay in local theater troupes, and most of the actors he directly cast were either from lifetime supporting roles or had already retired.

While videos analyzing the cast in the movie were circulating on YouTube, ‘Black Exorcists’ continued its high-flying success.

*

The largest multiplex in Daegu [a major city in South Korea].

Cheers erupt as the actors appear in the theater where the stage greeting is scheduled.

“They’re here, they’re here!”

“Wow! Park Gun!”

“Jang-mi, look over here!”

It’s a scene that I couldn’t even imagine on the theater stage, even in a non-mainstream theater troupe that wandered around the provinces.

Lee Jang-mi hesitated with a dazed expression, and only went up to the photo wall after Jang Seong-hwa nudged her.

Soon, the actors lined up on the stage in front of the screen and greeted one by one.

“Hello, this is Park Gun.”

“This is Lee Jang-mi.”

“This is Jang Seong-hwa. Everyone, I love you!”

After the previous turns were over, Kim Ryul grabbed the returned microphone. His face, which had been damaged while filming the movie, is now shining with confidence and joy.

“I’m Kim Ryul, the movie director. Daegu is my second hometown where I spent my school days. I hope you enjoy watching it.”

Another thunderous applause poured out.

*

“Black Exorcists local stage greetings… Daegu, Busan, back to Seoul… 8 additional theaters confirmed for release… This is like a major among majors.”

Kwon Eun-gu, the lead actor of ‘Murder Train’, muttered in vain as he read the article.

Where there is a successful business, there is also an unsuccessful business. With the emergence of the ecosystem destroyer, existing anticipated works were crushed.

In particular, Murder Train and Our Four Hours were completely ruined.

“I heard that Unesi is also making a fuss. I heard they put in twice as much production cost as us.”

“I know.”

The ambition to sweep through the theaters and leave, taking advantage of a well-timed, smooth thriller, has gone over the water [failed completely].

The management manager across from him comforted the actor.

“Eun-gu, it’s okay. The opponent was bad.”

They had all watched the movie too. Fighting in the reservation war, barely squeezing in one seat.

If the opponent is too strong, the will disappears. In front of a tornado that sweeps away crops, indifference comes before anger.

“I have nothing to say. I got beaten up too badly.”

“Beaten up, why do you say that…”

“What else can I say? As the manager saw, they’re not going to fight with us. They’re heavyweights who will fight with summer blockbusters.”

“Hey, hold on. Still, we got a lot of guarantees, the other kids must be going crazy by now, right?”

“Other kids?”

“This is the scenario. I heard it went around to the actors we know. Not just once, but two or three times.”

Because it was such a minor movie, I didn’t even know the scenario was money [the script was being offered for money]. The manager whispered secretly.

“But I heard they all turned it down. I heard from an official from Geunbeom that Bae Ji-na and Nam Seo-jun said they would come and didn’t show up for the audition.”

“Huh, after seeing this scenario?”

It’s not just about attracting audiences and ending. Either way, unless it’s a running guarantee, the money that falls to the actor is the same.

The problem is the trophies of glory that remain in various film festivals and careers when the movie’s quality is recognized.

“So they’re dog-eyed [unable to recognize quality]. The rumors must have spread already.”

Forgetting my misfortune with someone else’s misfortune. Kwon Eun-gu sipped his coffee with a much better expression.

“Our Ji-na must be a mess right now. It was a chance to hold one of the trophies she had been wishing for her whole life.”

*

“What what?”

A piercing voice echoes through the hallway. A commercial filming studio, the staff quickly pass in front of the waiting room.

“That… this time, Black Exorcists…”

“I told you not to mention that name!”

The coordinator doing the makeup has an expression that she wants to cover her ears. The manager, who had strongly criticized the ‘Black Exorcists’ scenario in the past, says hesitantly.

“Anyway, there’s a rumor that the movie will be nominated for several categories at the Grand Bell Awards [a prestigious South Korean film award]… If you hear anything, tell me…”

“…How much is it now?”

“Yes?”

Bae Ji-na, biting her lip tightly, asks again.

“How much? The tallied amount [box office revenue].”

2 weeks after release. The ticket sales rate is still overwhelming.

Large distributors who monopolized the theaters gradually increased the number of screens, and even though year-end heavy hitters are about to be released, ‘Black Exorcists’ shows no sign of slowing down.

“…It’s a million.”

“A million? Still?”

“That’s, with three in front… Three million [3 million viewers].”

There are no secrets in this industry. They already know that the production cost is in the 4 billion won range and how many viewers it takes to break even.

The head of the veteran actress rotates [she’s getting dizzy].

It’s not just about the number of viewers. The problem is the trampled pride.

The buzz is already the highest level in the second half of the year. In addition, what that crazy director did to the actors, the losers are acting like famous actors.

In particular, that Lee Jang-mi has suddenly emerged as a dark horse. A fresh face with crazy acting skills… Every time I hear such things, my stomach turns upside down.

A wandering troupe that rolled around in the countryside, where did she aim for the mistress of Chungmuro [a leading actress in the film industry]?

“…What will they say?”

“Yes?”

“Everyone knows that her role came to me, what will people say!”

Jiiikㅡ

A bright red cutting line was drawn on Bae Ji-na’s chin, who screamed. The coordinator slipped the lipstick because she turned her head.

“Oh, ah…”

The coordinator can’t even say sorry and is just trembling. Soon, the objects in the waiting room began to fly into the air.

“I don’t want to see your faces, get out!”

*

Cha In-hyuk took off the gold-rimmed glasses he was wearing.

The four girls in front of him. The girl group, who danced fiercely in the office, not the practice room, catches their breath and looks at him.

They are an idol group that successfully debuted in the first half of this year and is a promising player in the industry, but in front of DG’s cold-blooded man, they are like mice in front of a snake.

“Go out.”

“Yes?”

“I saw it, so go now.”

There’s no reason to go down to the practice room to inspect the products that have been filmed. He spared his precious time to watch, and it wasn’t bad, so that means get lost.

“You can go back now.”

The female secretary who approached sent the confused girls out.

After the door closed, Cha In-hyuk naturally took out a cigarette. A high-end tobacco worth 200,000 won per pack is lit.

A question flows out with the smoke.

“What percentage is it?”

“88% at the current time, the margin of error is around 1-2% depending on the research tally time.”

“Not the ticket sales rate. What is the probability that our information was leaked to Noh Joong-man?”

If you are a confidant of Director Cha In-hyuk, you must report all agendas by schematizing and quantifying them. The female secretary answered in a ready posture.

“It’s less than 20%. Given CEO Noh Joong-man’s personality, he is expected to have investigated all the actors cast from the pre-crank-in stage.”

“He was holding onto the cards until he blew them up… Anyway, he’s still a raccoon [sly person], still cunning.”

Cha In-hyuk snorted. It was his work to put the ‘hostess’ frame on Lee Jang-mi, using reporters hostile to Roman.

Of course, he didn’t expect her to collapse in one shot… but it was blocked too cleanly. As if he knew all of our jabs.

Anyway, he’s also an active player.

Cha In-hyuk shook the cigarette in the air. Hazy cigarette ash falls onto the rug on the office floor.

“He’ll be very sensitive for the time being. There’s still time for the actors, so focus on what you’re doing.”

“Yes.”

“Keep feeding them what you’re feeding them. If there’s a response from Director Hwang and Assemblyman Park, bring it right away. Don’t leave the handling to the idiots.”

“Yes, I understand.”

The guy who only knew how to do dramas jumped into the movie scene and hit it off as if to show off. It feels bad, but it can happen in this industry.

“Now is not the time for an all-out war…”

He has to do bigger business. Cleaning up the ashes and removing the smell from the room is the job of the underlings.

“Should I continue the investigation related to Park Gun?”

“Continue. Until you can make something.”

Not until it comes out, but until you make it [fabricate something]. As the secretary bows her head, Cha In-hyuk turns his gaze to the iPad on the table.

700 million, 800 million, 850 million… Among the photos of celebrities with prices attached like shopping mall products, Park Gun’s face is marked with a red check.

“Wasn’t it a one-time thing?”

*