Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 26

Drifting Scenario (4)

* * *

“PD Han.”

Representative Tae Jong-beom mumbled, sprawled on the office sofa with a dazed look.

“Yes?”

“I thought I’d seen enough crazy people in this industry while managing actors. I thought there was nothing more surprising than actors’ performances.”

“Yes.”

“But I’ve changed my mind. That guy isn’t an actor, he’s a psycho, a real psycho.”

The assistant director, who was transferring the filmed footage to a laptop and adjusting the left and right audio, clicked his tongue.

“His expression changed as soon as he said he wasn’t Roman? We’re lucky the actor and manager are easygoing people, or the contract would have fallen through…”

“Did I know it would be this extreme! The professional scene is always like that. Look at Director Kim, he’s so taken with him that he treats him like a sacred object.”

After the audition, Director Kim-ryul’s attitude changed dramatically.

He circled the office, making Tae and the assistant director, and even the staff outside, feel dizzy, and then went out, saying he had to revise the script.

“What should we do? It’s going to be a nightmare trying to cast the other actors now.”

“With this video, I think we’ll have plenty of good actors flocking to us.”

“They will. But their guarantees are the problem. Only the best stick with the best, but will anyone who can go toe-to-toe with that performance come cheap?”

Only one lead has been cast so far. Director Kim-ryul said he had ideas for the remaining roles, but the production company can’t help but worry.

“That’s why actor Park Geon cut his fee so much. He’s accepting a rookie-level contract fee, and the rest of his pay is all running royalties, so we can breathe a little easier.”

“That’s right, that’s right. C&J would have taken back as much as they invested…”

Muttering, Representative Tae made a phone call.

“Yes, Team Leader Jeong. This is Tae Jong-beom. About that ‘Black Priest’ scenario… the director’s opinion is so firm that I don’t think I can persuade him. How about we have a drink sometime and talk about something else? Yes, yes.”

You could tell who it was just by listening to the content. Team Leader Jeong from C&J Pictures, the man with the stern impression who had visited the office a couple of times.

Now the deal with C&J was completely over.

The investment they were trying to get from the large distributor was gone, but Representative Tae looked relieved.

“It might be better this way.”

“Why? Because Director Kim likes him so much?”

Tae Jong-beom looked back at the assistant director, rubbed his fingers together, and grinned.

“No. We get more out of it. If we can find an investor, we’ll make ten times more than being tied to that damn C&J.”

“······.”

In the end, money is the alpha and omega of this industry.

What if you could set your own table instead of eating the leftovers of a dinosaur? All the hardships and efforts you’ve gone through because of the scenario will be rewarded at once.

Representative Tae badgered the assistant director, who was staring at the laptop screen with a sullen look.

“Hey, Han Gi-hoon! Is this the time to be idle? Hurry up and get Kim-ryul and put out the audition announcement!”

“You told me to extract the video, saying you were going to use it to find actors and investors…”

“What do we need editing for! We only need Park Geon, take it out before the sparks fly instead of getting crumbs!”

As he left the representative’s office with the laptop, the assistant director trembled with a clenched fist.

‘I’m really going to overturn this once.’

*

In the car on the way back, Park Seon, who was holding the steering wheel, asked worriedly.

“Hyung [older brother/male friend], are you going to be okay?”

“With what?”

“The role is perfect, but you don’t have any time to rest. It’s only been three days since the drama ended… You can rest a bit if it’s just for the hype.”

“I haven’t done anything. And the more I act, the better.”

It’s not like my pockets are empty right now. Thanks to PD [Production Director] Na Jong-mo giving me a good guarantee, I’ve made quite a bit of money from ‘The Dog of Seoul’.

Park Seon’s round eyes became even rounder.

“Act a lot? Why?”

Geon paused for a moment before answering.

“You may have noticed, but my memory has been erratic since I was discharged. Like mild amnesia.”

“Amnesia······!”

Park Seon quickly turned the steering wheel and parked the car on the side of the road.

“How long has it been, what are the symptoms? Have you been to the hospital?”

“It’s nothing. It’s just that my memories from before I enlisted, when I was in this world, are a little blurry.”

Park Seon looked all over Geon as if his brother was bleeding profusely.

“What about other places? Is there any other pain?”

Geon smiled and tapped his temple.

“I couldn’t have filmed the drama if I was in pain. I’m fine except for here.”

“I didn’t even know…”

Park Seon looked shocked at his confession. It was no wonder that he was surprised that his brother, who had changed, turned out to have amnesia.

“I bumped my head a bit at the base on the day I was discharged. I didn’t tell my parents because I knew they’d be worried, so just pretend you don’t know.”

“Of course. Mom would freak out if she knew. She’d take you to a university hospital right away and have you checked out for three days and nights.”

After his father lost his job and took early retirement, his mother became increasingly worried about her family.

If one of her precious sons had a problem in the military, she might not even be able to sleep at night.

“I feel like my memory is coming back when I act in front of the camera. It’s thanks to you and writer Eun.”

“Do Seung-ah noona [older sister/female friend] and Young-ho hyung know about this, hyung?”

“They don’t know. I only told you.”

In reality, it was a part of his power, not a memory, but he couldn’t say it as it was.

It’s easier to introduce it as a cultural therapy program to cure amnesia.

Park Seon nodded so hard that his chin touched his sternum, as if he understood.

“Hyung, I’ll get the production costs no matter what.”

“Production costs?”

“Yeah. I think the investors dropped out because of us… No, hyung, don’t worry about it and just prepare for the work. I’ll do whatever it takes to get the crank-in [start of filming] going.”

Geon recalled two hours ago.

As soon as he entered the office, he knew what to expect. A small production company. Poor filming environment. A scenario that has been adrift for a long time in bad conditions.

As his brother said, the representative’s eyes cooled rapidly as soon as he said that the agency was not Roman.

‘Did he need a famous actor’s name value?’

Belatedly, he remembered the gold and silver treasures he had left in the Iron Kingdom.

ㅡChoose anything, as much as you want! It’s all yours, Warrior!

The scribe who took him to the royal treasury shouted.

Inside the wide-open door, precious treasures such as Rasus’s light armor, the Blood Rainbow, and the Eunuch’s Necklace were piled up like mountains.

Of course, Geon didn’t even look at them.

Since he would be empty-handed anyway when he regressed, and this damn world needed something other than ‘item power’.

Except for the Holy Sword, the subspace pocket, and the ring that corrected his strength, only a body that had mastered Hapki [Korean martial art] to the extreme was a weapon that could kill the Great Demon.

“How much does a movie production cost?”

“Well… these days, big ones cost from 10 billion to 30 billion won [Korean currency]? Even a small commercial film costs from 3 billion to make properly.”

The appearance fee set for ‘The Dog of Seoul’ was 800,000 won per episode. After deducting the change, the amount deposited into the account was about 12 million won in total.

Even if he were to film all the commercials that came in from now on, it would be far from enough to cover the movie investment.

He’s not very interested in money, but he can’t help but feel regret.

‘I should have brought just one dwarf-made diamond. One that’s over 100 carats.’

As if trying to shake off his anxiety, Park Seon spoke loudly with a bright expression.

“3 billion seems like a lot, but it’s not that much money in this industry. If you say you’re going to be in it, there are plenty of production companies that will come to invest with money.”

“Don’t overdo it. We can film another work if it doesn’t work out.”

“What do you mean overdo it, it’s the manager’s role to support the work that the actor wants to film! It was too easy when I was filming ‘The Dog of Seoul’… I was lucky thanks to you, hyung.”

“We might continue to be lucky.”

“Huh?”

Park Seon asked back, but Geon looked down at his smartphone instead of answering.

A reply had come to the text message he had just sent.

[Roman Noh]

-Restaurant ‘Jeongwol’, 21:00 the next day.

*

When I went home, my parents had set the table full of dinner.

Han Young-joo, who was sitting at the table, gestured.

“Sit down quickly, I was just about to eat when you came. You haven’t had dinner yet, have you?”

Geon glanced at the table.

“Is the menu by any chance…”

“Wow, kimchi stew! There are no winged creatures that hyung hates, so come quickly!”

Park Yeol-ho also smiled warmly and picked up his chopsticks.

“Thanks to you, Dad has stopped eating chicken these days. I’m glad I’ll never get bird flu in my life.”

“Instead, hyung’s taste has changed a bit, which is a problem. He likes flour so much that he only eats pizza and bread as snacks on set.”

“It’s because it’s easy, because it’s easy.”

It’s also good to eat simply in the car, but the real reason is different.

After staying in the Iron Kingdom for twenty years, his taste buds were completely accustomed to greasy and rich dishes, especially meat and bread.

After dinner, while eating apples in the living room, Geon shared the news of the day.

“I went to the audition after reading the script. I think I’m going to be the lead this time.”

“Oh, are you doing another work?”

“Yes. This time it’s an occult film. Seo Hee-do, an actor I filmed the drama with, gave me the movie.”

“That’s good. Strike while the iron is hot, I’m not worried because you’re both smart. People must be diligent to seize opportunities.”

Unlike Park Yeol-ho, who looked at his sons with a proud look, his mother Han Young-joo was worried.

“I heard that actors and managers are overworked, and I’m worried because our family has both. Won’t it be hard?”

“Yes, if necessary, Seon can move without me.”

“What are you talking about, why would I quit!”

Park Seon waved his hand in surprise.

“Hyung is so physically strong that I’m not worried. I’ll exercise and take care of my health so I don’t fall behind.”

Park Yeol-ho cleared his throat and interjected.

“Yes, yes. Work is good, but Geon hasn’t been discharged for three months yet. See your friends often, and go out and play with each other.”

“That’s good too! Come to think of it, we haven’t had a proper family meal either.”

“Yes, when you’re free, take your mom and eat together in a good place. These days, your mom is very excited. The people in the apartment women’s group don’t know Geon, but they all know that Mrs. Han’s son is an actor.”

“Honey, are you going to say unnecessary things?”

Han Young-joo glared fiercely. Park Yeol-ho, who flinched, stubbornly said what he had to say while receiving his wife’s stinging gaze.

“No, I’m saying it because you like it… I was going to ask Geon to sign a few autographs. I heard that there are many Choi Seung fans among the staff?”

“That’s just what I said! What if he feels burdened, he’s not even aware of being a celebrity yet.”

“You were dying to show it off.”

“Eat your rice, please!”

*