Top Star By Luck [EN]: Chapter 141

Top Star Luck – Episode 141

It was true that NetPlay was a global OTT [Over-The-Top, meaning streaming service] company.

But why was it…

It had already been two years since they properly entered the Korean market.

They were pouring money into it, but NetPlay’s market penetration was becoming increasingly sluggish.

Aside from market share, in terms of exclusive content.

“Another strikeout today.”

“My legs hurt.”

Two sales representatives sighed wearily.

Why was this happening?

“This market is really tough.”

“Yes, we get rejected everywhere we go.”

The reason was that they were being rejected everywhere they went.

What were they being rejected for?

There was no need to even ask.

It was for project contracts.

“They don’t even consider us as a primary distributor, let alone secondary or tertiary.”

That’s how Korean film production studios felt.

[Providing exclusive content to OTT is a bit…]

[Other directors will also be reluctant.]

[We know. We know you’re doing well overseas. But the Korean market is already selling well in theaters.]

[If we make a wrong move into OTT and get a bad reputation, major studios won’t accept us, so the risk is too high.]

The structure of the Korean market was a major issue.

Basically, everything was intertwined like a spider web.

Didn’t the small number of distributors and studios stick together too well?

Venturing into OTT would make them look like traitors, and it would be difficult to return to the existing theaters.

“I heard that if we even try to work with them, the theaters will openly retaliate.”

“Yes, they’re very cautious.”

The existing big players’ retaliation was more intense than NetPlay had anticipated.

And another big problem.

“The people we managed to recruit ended up ruining their performances.”

Setting a bad precedent was a major blow.

“Who would have known? We brought in the best people, and they all ended up flopping.”

They had succeeded in bringing in three of Korea’s top directors.

But there were side effects.

NetPlay’s basic premise was an all-rights deal with a huge advance, so they had to pay a large sum to these directors because of their reputation.

What was the result?

“Why do they always make films that ignore the public’s taste as soon as we give them money?”

They were extreme hipsters.

They treated the OTT market as an experimental ground rather than a proper film industry.

It was true that there were many experimental works on OTT.

But wasn’t this going too far?

‘If they had done well and sold well, conquering Korea would have been a little easier.’

The reality was different.

Since the leading runners tripped over their own feet, what would the latecomers learn from that?

[Ah! NetPlay is not the way to go!]

They would just end up ignoring the market.

[Koreans have their own Korean film market!]

[NetPlay can always enter as a secondary distributor, right?]

That was the result now.

“Ugh, I wish someone with a big name would come along with a great project.”

The junior employee laughed at the senior employee’s grumbling.

“Haha, that’s not going to be easy. It might be better to target small companies one by one.”

“Abandoning the guaranteed directors?”

“The result of luring those guaranteed directors wasn’t good, was it? It might be better to nurture talented small studios. There will be less retaliation from theaters too.”

“…Is that really the way to go?”

“It can’t hurt to try, right?”

It was a reasonable judgment.

In fact, they succeeded in conquering the market by nurturing small and medium-sized studios a few years later.

By that time, even the major film companies that had previously shunned NetPlay were desperately trying to get involved.

It was only a matter of time.

But.

They hadn’t seen that future yet.

So they didn’t know.

They could only mutter in frustration.

“Still, I wish someone like Lee Min-ki would come along.”

Yeah.

If it was Lee Min-ki, things might work out.

If there was enough buzz, they could somehow manage with marketing.

‘Isn’t there a way to get someone like Lee Min-ki?’

Instead of relying on the company’s name like now.

“Oh, I heard Lee Min-ki got blacklisted in Hollywood?”

“Why Lee Min-ki? Wasn’t he doing well over there?”

“He rejected an offer from the Odin Universe [a fictional cinematic universe, similar to the Marvel Cinematic Universe]. I guess they were very offended. They sent a warning to their partners not to use Lee Min-ki.”

“Wow, they’re doing the same petty things as the theaters.”

“It would be perfect if we could bring him in now.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. What does Lee Min-ki lack?”

While the two were unable to let go of their obsession with a brilliant move.

Beep, beep–

The phone rang loudly.

The senior employee frowned deeply as he took out his phone and checked the screen.

“Ah, it’s the old team leader.”

“Again? Why is that baldy calling?”

“Obviously. He’s going to tell us to beg for a project again.”

“Ugh, that’s easy for him to say. He just sits there and gives orders.”

Even while complaining, he answered the phone since it was from above.

“Yes?”

The senior employee, who had been busy complaining, muttered with a blank expression.

“Lee Min-ki produced a movie? And you’re saying NetPlay will distribute it?”

It was a strange thing to say.

Clearly, he had been muttering about wanting Lee Min-ki to come to NetPlay just a moment ago.

But to think it would actually happen.

Weren’t fantasies called fantasies because they were fiction?

‘Am I hearing things wrong?’

What did NetPlay propose to make Lee Min-ki come here?

Unless he was going to make a movie in Hollywood.

He pinched his cheek, still unable to believe it.

“Yes? Lee Min-ki made the proposal first? With his own project?”

It became clear.

This was a dream.

* * *

JC Headquarters.

A man sat in the company cafeteria, humming and happily piling up meat.

‘JC has a lot of protein, which is great.’

It was Lee Min-ki.

It goes without saying, but JC’s company cafeteria was a buffet and was quite well-equipped compared to the rest of the industry.

Was it because the better the actors managed their diets, the more it would lead to the company’s income?

From boiled chicken breasts to fresh salads, ricotta cheese, and protein supplements, they had everything that people who worked out would like.

‘I don’t know why people don’t eat this.’

It was always a mystery why no one ever picked it up.

‘Does Lee Min-ki really like that?’

To others, Lee Min-ki, who ate that so well, seemed like a weirdo.

Clatter.

Anyway, it was when Lee Min-ki had properly piled up a plate and sat down.

Squeak.

Someone suddenly took the seat in front of him.

“Trainer Kim?”

“Yep, that’s me.”

It was trainer Kim Ah-sung.

He had been hard to see since he left for the United States, but he appeared like a gust of wind in front of Lee Min-ki.

Lee Min-ki’s face brightened at the sight of his signature slouchy hoodie.

“It’s been a while. I was sad that it was hard to see you even after you came to Korea. I heard you went on a business trip?”

“Well, I get called to a lot of places.”

“Where did you go?”

“I was invited to do a variety show in Japan.”

“Ah, that one.”

“Don’t even mention it, can you believe they brought me in with the title of ‘the teacher who taught Lee Min-ki’? Min-ki should be Kim Ah-sung’s student.”

“…”

He was as confident as ever.

It would be refreshing if he changed a little.

But today, trainer Kim Ah-sung’s atmosphere was a little different.

It was as if he had come to say something.

“What’s wrong?”

It was the moment Lee Min-ki spoke first.

“I have something to say.”

Kim Ah-sung nodded, and then turned his upper body to look around as if to make sure there was no one nearby to eavesdrop.

It wasn’t something he couldn’t say anywhere.

Why was he looking around?

Just as Lee Min-ki was wondering, trainer Kim Ah-sung lowered his voice and opened his mouth.

“Min-ki, I heard you’re filming a new movie.”

“Yes, you heard.”

Lee Min-ki said with a cheerful voice as if he had nothing to hide.

“I put one exclusively on NetPlay. It’s still in the proposal stage.”

“…Tsk.”

At those words, Kim Ah-sung frowned deeply like a child chewing on a sour jelly.

“I knew it, I heard some strange rumors.”

“Strange rumors?”

“Yeah, it even reached my ears.”

Trainer Kim Ah-sung shook his head and sighed softly.

A few seconds later.

It was the moment when a casual word flowed from Kim Ah-sung’s mouth.

“Min-ki, rumors are spreading among American officials not to use you.”

“What?”

Lee Min-ki’s eyes widened.

“Don’t use me?”

“Keep your voice down. Someone might misunderstand. There are a lot of gossipy people.”

Right.

Was that why he was looking around?

But if he was going to tell a secret story, wouldn’t it be better to do it in a place where there was no one else?

No matter what Lee Min-ki thought, trainer Kim Ah-sung continued calmly.

“Most domestic film companies run on domestic capital, but there’s a lot of American capital mixed in with Japan.”

“Hmm, I guess you heard it there.”

“It’s still just a rumor. So even the higher-ups told me not to tell you.”

“What about you, teacher?”

“I don’t listen to other people anyway.”

“Really.”

“Anyway, there’s a rumor that Emma Specter is furious and told them not to use you.”

“…Emma Specter, huh.”

Lee Min-ki trailed off, with something in mind.

‘That person is famous for having a lot of pride.’

She was one of the most arrogant directors in Hollywood.

But when I saw her in person, she seemed like a pretty nice person.

Despite her high position, she was extremely cheerful.

‘Could it be because I rejected the offer?’

This is a bit absurd.

I rejected it because of the conditions.

No matter how great the Odin Universe is, I didn’t want to be dragged around by AST for four movies as they demanded.

If the contract doesn’t fit from the beginning, it’s over, why block someone else’s path?

‘What is she, a child?’

Just as Lee Min-ki was dumbfounded, trainer Kim Ah-sung continued.

“America runs a lot on connections, and even though the market is big, AST has a strong influence. If you get blacklisted there, you’ll be kicked out of Hollywood itself.”

“Would they really go that far?”

“Maybe not. But it’s true that it’s harder for you to break into America. There’s no need to take unnecessary risks.”

That wasn’t wrong.

Even if AST’s influence didn’t lead to being kicked out of theaters, it would definitely create a big obstacle.

The first button was buttoned wrong [a Korean idiom meaning ‘things went wrong from the start’].

I thought I only got honey from Hollywood, but it turns out there was a bitter taste too.

‘This is a bit difficult.’

It was true that the anger of a big shot like Emma Specter was burdensome.

But why was it?

Lee Min-ki wasn’t necessarily afraid of it.

‘In the end, doesn’t that mean I just need to become popular enough to overcome it?’

It’s a matter of recognition.

There are plenty of people who are doing well even after ruining their relationship with film companies.

Yeah, I just need to become popular.

Besides, Lee Min-ki has a way to become popular in his head.

If I can achieve results that make AST not even look at me, then companies other than AST will be on my side.

I’m confident.

Even if I’m not, I have to be.

If I’m weak and discouraged, no one will be on my side.

“Teacher, don’t worry.”

That’s why I could say it confidently.

“They’ll be grabbing my pants leg in Hollywood soon. Begging me for a project.”

Asking me to work with them.

It was the moment that was said.

Trainer Kim Ah-sung was blankly still.

“…Wow.”

He chuckled softly and said.

“Since when have you become so confident?”

He had changed a lot.

A person who would have been intimidated by someone scaring him in the past was now not intimidated by the threat of a Hollywood mogul.

It was as if the person had changed from the root.

A reed.

The reed, which had been strangely green, had grown into a baobab tree.

“You taught me that way. You always said I lacked confidence in my acting.”

“Are you subtly mixing in informal speech?”

“It’s an expression of affection.”

The person himself, Lee Min-ki, said with a chuckle.

“It won’t take long. Until I become that kind of star.”

He was strong.

His determination to treat the world’s harsh storms as nourishment stood out.

It became funny.

The person who should be the most afraid was so full of energy, how could someone else encourage fear?

“Yeah, that’s how people should be.”

Finally, trainer Kim Ah-sung could laugh and say.

“Hollywood, let’s show them the taste of Korean hot kimchi man [a playful way of saying ‘let’s show them what a spicy Korean man is like’].”

“Yes, so they’ll cry their eyes out.”

Lee Min-ki chuckled and picked up a piece of chicken breast with a spare fork.

“Would you like a piece of this?”

“No.”

* * *

An office with dust settled calmly.

There, a man sighed deeply as if his soul was leaving his body and said.

“…I didn’t think the proposal would actually be approved.”

It was Shim Sung-bo.

Lee Min-ki chuckled at the weak voice that seemed like it would break if you touched it.

“I told you. NetPlay has an eye for talent.”