Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 167

The Unfinished Manuscript (5)

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The news is official: Park Gun will be working on ‘The Book of God’.

[Park Gun finally decides on his next project… His next work is an ‘Unfinished Novel’ from 20 years ago]

[Author 01 of ‘The Book of God’, Kang Young-il, calmly shares his recent situation and feelings… “It will be the last challenge of a failed writer”]

[Roman insider, “The actor actively sent a love call… He opened the heart of the wounded writer”]

An insider’s comment from Roman rarely contains nonsense.

The author of ‘The Book of God’… Kang Young-il, who revealed his real name, announced his comeback and predicted the completion of the novel version and its adaptation into a screenplay.

The insider concluded the interview by saying that collaboration with the publisher and production company would also take place soon, asking everyone to wait for the official announcement.

“Well, money talks.”

At the premiere of a movie being released.

Even though it’s a work that has nothing to do with Park Gun or Roman, the topic of conversation everywhere is ‘The Book of God’.

“Money? Why?”

There’s still some time left before the actors arrive. To the question from a reporter in the same industry, the entertainment reporter who had just muttered replied.

“Well, Park Gun. Isn’t it obvious that he smells money? A man who had stopped writing for twenty years is crawling out because of it.”

“I would do it too. If you can find a project guaranteed to be a hot topic, with drama or movie adaptations and huge copyright sales guaranteed, why live in hiding?”

“Besides, the actor is Park Gun. He’s not going to produce it himself, but he’s going to look for a writer to act in that work, so isn’t that something to be grateful for?”

“From what I can see, the story is pitiful. There were many rogue publishing companies like that when we were young.”

People around him added their opinions. The reporter, who had inadvertently become the bad guy, turned red in the face and protested.

“No, are you all Park Gun’s fan club? Since when have we cared about actors’ images…”

“Yeah. I joined two months ago.”

“…What did you join?”

The reporter wearing glasses, sitting in the back seat, scratched his bearded chin with a movie pamphlet.

“My son is a huge fan of Park Gun. He says it’s the romance of men, and he’s making a fuss about wanting to be like that when he grows up, so I joined the fan cafe.”

“So, is there anything to gain there?”

“The company manages all the official stuff… but there’s a novel bulletin board that the actor writes himself. It seems like he wants to produce it later.”

“Well… because he’s sure about the work he wants. I should go in too.”

Other reporters also started searching for Park Gun’s fan cafe on their smartphones or iPads.

Only the reporter who initially sneered at Park Gun tapped on his laptop keyboard with swollen cheeks.

“I swear, why are we talking about that guy here? Do you get crumbs if you go to someone else’s party?”

“Reporter Kang brought it up first. Saying money is good.”

“……”

After a while, the premiere began as the actors entered with the director.

Looking down at the stars lined up and bowing, the reporter wearing glasses muttered with interest.

“Anyway, the main character is Park Gun, how are they going to fill the rest of the cast?”

A giant wheel began to roll.

It is often said that if only two of the ‘three elements of a masterpiece’ are met, it is easy to fill the remaining one.

First is the director,

Second is the actor,

Third is the script.

In that respect, this ‘Book of God’ already had more than enough conditions for a successful work.

The most popular star in Korea and even in the overseas market.

An unfinished masterpiece known to have marked a milestone in Korean fantasy novels.

You have to open a bad work to know it’s bad, but you know a good work without opening it.

Therefore, it was not strange that directors from all over the world who had seen , including Korea, sent love calls.

[Derek Jenin, Edward Paul, Huwei Chang mentioned ‘The Book of God’ on personal SNS and interviews… “I will fly to Korea if I can”]

[Park Gun’s side… Nothing has been decided yet, we plan to decide after careful consultation with the original author]

This is only the level of external action. Roman’s employees, those in charge of Park Gun’s business, were too busy answering the flood of calls.

“Yes, KBC [Korean Broadcasting Corporation]… Ah, the CP [Chief Producer] himself called. I understand.”

“YTS [presumably a broadcasting station] Drama Department, together with Newmake Studio? Yes, I will tell them.”

“We are sorry, but we have not scheduled a meeting with the production company yet. When the scenario is completed and the next stage is in progress…”

Regardless of domestic broadcasters, film companies, and production companies, calls are pouring in to mark their territory.

They are not the only ones who have received love calls. Top-level OTT [Over-the-top media service] platforms, Wellflix, UN Plus, and Helit, have also contacted them.

The conditions are slightly different, but all three platforms have the same conclusion: they are welcome anytime, as long as it is an exclusive release.

Jin Gyu-il, the former head of C&J Entertainment, now the general manager at Roman, smiled bitterly but cheered him on.

“Even though our C-VING is doing well recently, we can’t beat the three OTT giants. It’s enough that Baek Jeong-janggun [likely a historical figure known for building a foundation] laid the foundation.”

It’s a business meeting and a chance to see an old friend I haven’t seen in a while.

Gun shrugged.

“Nothing has been decided yet. It could go to C&J’s platform.”

“That’s ridiculous. I know what you want as an actor, and I can’t pretend I don’t know and ask you to stand by us. We are different from those three from the beginning.”

I haven’t scraped my conscience that much yet. Jin Gyu-il, who added that, asked as if he suddenly remembered.

“Ah, but what about the original work? Fortunately, the writer seems to be cooperative.”

“The novel? Or the scenario?”

“Both. I’ve only read the first volume, but it’s said to be an epic comparable to Anglo-American fantasy. Plus, you’ve been resting for a while, so it’ll take quite a while.”

Gun told him the news he heard last night.

“The novel is all finished. The scenario is currently being adapted.”

“…What?”

As others did when they first heard the news, Jin Gyu-il had a look of incomprehension for a while.

Gun kindly added.

“I heard he wrote it all in two days after we visited. He wrote it all in one breath without resting until the end.”

“…How much was the volume?”

“About two books. He said it wasn’t difficult because it was something he had been thinking about for years.”

“That guy is out of his mind too. Introduce him to me later, I’ll bring him to our company.”

Standing in front of Jin Gyu-il, who was admiring Kang Young-il, Gun recalled this morning.

“Ah, actor. I should have gotten up to see you…”

“No. Please lie down.”

The main character of this superhuman show, who had written two novels in two days, was hospitalized in a general hospital.

Kang Young-il, who was trying to get up from the hospital bed, lay down again with an apologetic expression.

“You shouldn’t have come like this, I’m really okay. The hospital says it’s just overwork.”

“You overdid it because of the manuscript I asked for. I also wanted to talk to the writer separately.”

“Yes? Why with me…”

Passing by Kang Young-il, who was blinking, Gun put the fruit basket he had bought on the side table.

Even in the midst of that, it seemed like he was writing something, and a notebook and pencil were visible next to the blanket on the bed.

“Were you working?”

“Ah, yes. The first completion is out, but I have to turn it into a scenario again. I was adapting the amount after what I sent to Yong senior [likely a term of respect].”

There were dark circles under his eyes, but Kang Young-il’s face looked several years younger than when he first saw him.

The completion of ‘The Book of God’, or rather, picking up the novel he had put down, seemed to have brought back his old vitality.

“I didn’t know you would finish it this early.”

“Haha, neither did I. But this is really… it seems like it was stored while I was thinking about it for years. As soon as I sat down, I was surprised because I wrote it down as if I was under a spell.”

“That’s a relief. Then your health…”

Kang Young-il scratched the back of his head with an awkward expression.

“I may look sickly, but I’m surprisingly strong. I’m being discharged at lunchtime today, so I can focus on the scenario as soon as I finish the company’s handover within a few days.”

Even if you go back to a better job or your old job, it is important to finish the current one.

Gun nodded.

“Please tell me if there’s anything I can help with. I’m free these days too.”

“Oh no! Was it Yoo Manager? That person and that, even the manager who came with you gave me their contact information again. You said he was the actor’s younger brother?”

“Yes. He’s my younger brother.”

Kang Young-il couldn’t hide his admiration.

“You’re really amazing. Brothers are dark horses in the entertainment industry; it’s something you can’t do with ordinary brotherly love.”

“You flatter me.”

“I mean it. In fact, Manager Park Sun told me a lot. He said that you would never regret it if you entrusted it to the actor, and that he would help you with all his might if you took just one step…”

Gun thought about his younger brother for a moment. Park Sun, who helped his brother in every way, seen and unseen, every time he entered a work.

His devoted attitude towards the actors and production staff he works with has not changed, not only in the early days of his debut, but also now that he has become a star manager.

‘Hyung [older brother], I’ve read it all too? This is really good! Especially the atmosphere and loneliness of the main character… It feels like a combination of all the works I’ve filmed so far. It’s like a stranger who fell into another world?’

Besides… didn’t he reveal his secret a few weeks ago? I don’t know how much was conveyed, but I could feel that my brother was desperate enough.

Kang Young-il, who had been bowing his head for a while as if overwhelmed with emotion, opened his mouth.

“Thank you again. I would never have been able to finish it for the rest of my life if it weren’t for the actor.”

“I feel the same way.”

“Yes?”

“I think I can put an end to an old story with the writer’s work.”

“What are you thinking about so much?”

“It’s nothing.”

It was a lunch meeting, so most of the plates in front of them were empty.

Jin Gyu-il, who moistened his throat with tea, said.

“Anyway, what about the production company? Is it more overseas than domestic?”

“I’m thinking about it. Including the investment company, in the direction that can best capture the original work.”

The era when fantasy movies and CG [computer-generated imagery] shooting were the exclusive property of foreign countries is over.

In fact, domestic studios have enough technology and more. The important thing is the actors and directors who will film the work, and the capital to invest there.

“Casting is also a problem. The background is medieval, closer to the West… The directors will have a hard time picking the right people.”

“So I’m going to get help.”

“Huh? From me?”

Gun nodded. To create the final evolved ‘Park Gun Division’, he asked for help from many people.

Including CEO Noh Joong-man, domestic and foreign directors and writers who have worked with him so far, and even the connections of connections he has received recommendations from… .

While Kang Young-il was completing the script, his people would join forces.

“That should be enough. I’ll sort out what you asked for and send it to the company within this week.”

About an hour later, the meeting was roughly over.

Hanging his suit jacket and calling a driver, Jin Gyu-il suddenly asked as if he had remembered.

“Ah, then have you seen the ending too?”

“The Book of God?”

Jin Gyu-il showed the picture of the entire volume of ‘The Book of God’ saved on his smartphone and nodded.

“Yeah. I’ve got all the published volumes, but I’m a bit slow at reading. I’m curious if it was a satisfactory ending as an actor.”

Gun thought for a moment.

-It’s over, tyrant.

-No way, get out of my world! And be forever cursed to wander, a wanderer who does not belong to either!

-Father, no…!