An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 280

280. #51 – Breaking Free from the Yoke (3)

The contract termination with WG Entertainment, which could have been a tedious battle, was resolved smoothly and cleanly thanks to my girlfriend, Song Yuna.

Chief Kim’s resignation was also accepted faster than expected once I terminated my contract.

The ‘Nepotism Casting’ controversy, which had been heating up the internet for days,

escalated with WG Entertainment and Director Cheon taking opposing stances.

However, after I posted my statement on social media, revealing the truth,

instead of calming down, it stirred up even more commotion.

The controversy over singers trying to transition into acting,

and actors who were clearly unsuitable for their roles,

led to many past casting decisions being mentioned, making the movie ‘Turntable’ a hot topic on the internet for days.

But this issue didn’t last long.

The promise I made with CEO Park when terminating my contract with WG Entertainment,

to bury the issue so it wouldn’t be mentioned anymore.

Many said that burying an issue was nothing for a large entertainment company, but I doubted it could really be done.

However, my worries were unfounded as the issue disappeared overnight.

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I woke up and found that mentions of my name had decreased.

“Wow… they buried it like a ghost in an instant?”

How could they make this issue disappear so quickly…?

I quickly searched the internet, and it didn’t take long to find out.

With just a few finger movements, I could see where people’s attention was focused.

[Kang Jun♥Hanna – Working Together at WG Entertainment…]

[Lee Kang Jun-Kim Hanna, Continuing a Beautiful Relationship…]

I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw the headlines.

“They cover an issue with another issue, huh?”

Actor Lee Kang Jun and singer Kim Hanna, who had never had any dating rumors before.

The dating rumor between an actor and a singer was enough to grab people’s attention.

Even though they weren’t top-tier celebrities.

Kim Hanna, who had always maintained a mysterious image and never showed any personal side,

had people’s attention swept away by the dating rumor with the actor.

Coincidentally, both celebrities were from WG Entertainment.

In other words, CEO Park had released their dating rumor.

The ‘Nepotism Casting’ was quickly forgotten with the new dating scandal of internal celebrities.

It’s funny how people only pay attention to newly released issues.

As soon as the casting controversy about the movie Turntable broke out, everyone seemed to be concerned about nepotism casting, and attention poured in.

People focused on the issue, saying that nepotism casting and parachute hires should disappear from the world, and that the efforts of actors who had worked hard were being wasted.

But with just one dating rumor, the interest in the casting controversy cooled off completely.

“How many stories does the company have to release…”

I felt a sense of fear towards CEO Park and the Pandora’s Boxes of many entertainment companies.

This incident must have etched the movie Turntable into the public’s minds.

Because it was briefly and intensely controversial.

If the movie is released later, people will recall this incident and pay attention to the movie.

It was an unintended noise marketing [using controversy to generate buzz].

Although it has disappeared from the center of the controversy now,

if I were to add fuel to the fire here, it would be only a matter of time before it reignited.

However, for the sake of WG Entertainment and myself, we had to have a clean finish, so I held back the fuel.

If CEO Park had failed to cover the issue with another issue,

or if he had spread false information about my contract termination,

I would have immediately poured fuel, no, oil, on it.

After confirming that I was completely out of the spotlight from the morning, I left the house.

To carry out the plan.

The plans that Chief Kim and I had made with the dream of independence.

We were already more than halfway towards independence.

Just getting out of WG Entertainment.

That alone was more than half the battle.

Now, we had to proceed to the next step to establish an entertainment company.

And from the next stage, Chief Kim’s help was needed.

As time passed, after meeting with Chief Kim.

Without anyone saying a word, we naturally talked about the new article that had come out in the morning.

“I never imagined they would cover it with a dating rumor.”

I raised one corner of my mouth and replied to Chief Kim’s words.

“Right. I was even thinking they might release an article that was unfavorable to me.”

He nodded in agreement with my story.

“They are definitely capable of that.”

“Yeah. But I was surprised that they cleaned up the public opinion so neatly.”

Chief Kim chuckled and said to me.

“WG Entertainment must have been scared too. Yuna joined in. They knew there was no point in bothering you and Yuna.”

“Right. If Yuna leaves WG Entertainment, it would be a real disaster. Yuna is WG Entertainment’s representative actress. No, Yuna is top-tier among all the singers too.”

“I was about to call you a fool for your daughter, but Yuna being top-tier is such an obvious fact that I can’t argue with it. Haha.”

We burst into laughter at Chief Kim’s words.

“And honestly, Yuna has built several pillars for WG Entertainment. If such a celebrity says she’s leaving, the company has no choice but to comply.”

“Yeah, I’m glad that things were resolved cleanly and quickly for both of us.”

I straightened my posture and changed the subject.

“Chief, let’s move on to our next stage now.”

At my words, he also opened his diary with sparkling eyes.

It was our first meeting after independence.

“Yeah, what should we start with?”

“Now, I want you to look for an office first. I think I should start preparing for the Turntable movie.”

He nodded and checked the date.

“Yeah. I contacted Director Cheon, and the filming start date is soon.”

“Right. It’s our first project after independence, so it has to be a hit. I’ll work hard on filming, so please take care of the company and paperwork.”

Chief Kim tilted his head and asked me.

“Wait a minute. Then how will you handle going back and forth to the set and taking care of things on set?”

At his words, I smiled leisurely and waved my hand.

“It’s not like I’m filming a project for the first or second time. I can handle it alone while you prepare the company.”

“No. You’re the lead and have a lot of experience, how can I send you to the set alone? I’d rather be your manager and prepare together.”

“Chief, from looking for an office to registration documents… you’ll have a lot of work to do, I’m fine. You’ll be busy too.”

Nevertheless, Chief Kim said to me with worried eyes.

“No. Then how about I just be your manager, and after this project is over, I’ll prepare to establish the company? Since this project is already under contract, there’s no need to rush the company.”

“Hmm… is that so?”

I stroked my chin and thought.

Chief Kim also repeatedly pondered and opened his mouth again.

“No. It would be better to have a company. Should we find one urgently before filming starts and finish it?”

“If it’s too urgent, you’ll get indigestion [stress yourself out]. Wouldn’t it be better to prepare slowly, even if it’s late, rather than making mistakes?”

We discussed our future plans for a long time.

“I need to confirm the confirmed filming date with Director Cheon again…”

As we were talking,

Bzzzz-

A call came from Director Cheon.

“Chief, Director Cheon called at the perfect time.”

“Oh, is the filming date confirmed? Pick it up quickly.”

I nodded and clicked the receive button.

“Yes, Director.”

-Oh, Hee-sung, are you available to talk?

“Of course. I was just talking about the director with my manager, and I was surprised to get a call from the director. Haha.”

-My story?

“Yes, the filming date you told me last time isn’t far away. So I was going to ask if the date has been confirmed.”

-Ah… the date.

I looked at Chief Kim’s eyes and showed a playful smile.

And I conveyed my sincerity, mixed with jokes, to Director Cheon.

“Director, you know, right?”

-Yes? What….

“This is my first project after leaving WG. I’ve bet my agency on this project. No, I’ve bet everything, including my manager. Haha.”

Chief Kim, who was sitting in front of me, burst into silent laughter.

And I continued to speak playfully to Director Cheon over the phone.

“I’ll practice and prepare hard, so Director Cheon has to raise us well?”

-Ah, that’s….

Director Cheon didn’t laugh or retort at my joke, but trailed off.

If he had always been a serious person, it wouldn’t have been strange.

But since he had always exchanged jokes with me, I erased my smile and carefully asked him.

“Director, is something wrong?”

At my question, Director Cheon sighed and forced the words out of his mouth.

-That’s… no, could we possibly meet and talk?

* * *

After receiving Director Cheon’s call, Chief Kim and I headed to him without delay.

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know. He said let’s talk after we meet… I hope the filming hasn’t been delayed further?”

I sighed worriedly and said.

Chief Kim replied as if to comfort me.

“If the schedule has been postponed, let’s think of it as a good thing. We can prepare the company a little more in the meantime.”

At his words, I nodded to think positively.

“I guess, let’s just think that we have a little more time.”

“If it’s been moved up, I’ll work as your manager as we planned earlier. And when this project is over, I’ll prepare to start the company right away.”

“Let’s do that.”

Chief Kim shrugged and said.

“While you’re acting on set, I’ll have relatively more time, so I’ll prepare in the meantime. So let’s proceed quickly.”

“Yeah, I can’t help you look into it right away because I have to prepare for the project, so please work hard. This project, we really have to succeed.”

The words that I bet my agency on Director Cheon.

It was like a joke, but in reality, everything of Chief Kim and mine was at stake.

I bet my huge investment.

Chief Kim, who was even married, quit his well-paying job and became independent.

It was our first project with all our lives on the line.

This project was a black comedy genre, and this genre itself was risky.

In addition to me challenging a new genre, we had to succeed as we were starting anew.

If it becomes a failing project as soon as we get out of the shadow of a large entertainment company.

All of my previous project successes could be attributed to the influence of WG Entertainment.

So, apart from the money I invested, I definitely wanted to succeed.

Because me getting to where I am was the result of my efforts.

I stared intently at the script in my hand, waiting for Director Cheon.

“Chief, I really want to do well in this project.”

He seemed to feel my burning will and nodded, wrinkling his nose.

“You can do it. Like you always have.”

Since it was a work full of satire, acting was so important to keep the content from looking too light.

It wasn’t about focusing on visual beauty or foreshadowing.

‘Acting’ alone was the most important work to express the humor and the reality refracted in the script.

So my role was even bigger.

It was no exaggeration to say that the success of this work depended on my acting skills alone.

“Everyone’s here.”

At that time, Director Cheon approached us with a calm voice.

“Director, it’s been a while. How have you been?”

“Hello, Director.”

Chief Kim and I greeted him with bright faces.

“Yes, the reason I asked you to meet today is because I have something important to tell you. Please sit down first.”

Unlike us, who were happy to see him, Director Cheon’s face looked troubled.

At that sight, Chief Kim and I felt an unknown chilling sensation.

And seriousness was cast on our faces as well.

“Director, has the filming date been delayed further?”

I asked him carefully.

Director Cheon couldn’t seem to open his mouth, and kept biting his lip, hesitating to answer.

At that sight, I forced a smile and urged him to answer.

“It’s okay. Please speak comfortably.”

Then Director Cheon swallowed a sigh and said.

“To tell you the conclusion first… it seems difficult for you to appear.”

“…Yes? What do you mean….”

I asked him with a bewildered face.

Director Cheon swallowed hard, paused, and then opened his mouth.

“To be exact, Turntable… the project has been canceled.”