Possessed 10 Million Actors

Knock, knock, knock.

The knocking sound echoed again.

"…"

For some reason, at the heavy knocking sound, a bead of sweat ran down Katahiro's back.

A man, guided to a luxurious suite with a warm welcome in a foreign land, and strangers who came to him late at night.

In a situation that could be straight out of a thriller, Katahiro's heart thumped.

Simultaneously, his mother's words, "Behind unexplained kindness hides a frightening conspiracy," continued to echo in his mind.

Katahiro slowly approached the door and secured the chain. Then, he checked through the peephole to see who might be outside.

"Yikes!"

It was a tall man with a shaved head, holding a 007 bag, and his expression frozen like a statue.

Katahiro swallowed dryly in fear.

"Is he a Korean yakuza?"

"He doesn't look like hotel staff."

The intimidation emanating from the man outside was substantial enough for Katahiro to entertain such thoughts. He turned his eyes away from the peephole and leaned against the wall to catch his breath.

Then,

Vrrrr!

The vibration of the mobile phone on the glass table sounded like a thunderous noise.

Though louder than usual, it wasn't that surprising. Due to the tension, Katahiro reacted more sensitively than usual.

Hurriedly, he checked the phone.

[OS Entertainment, Jang Sunho]

"Why would he call at this late hour?"

While questioning, Katahiro felt somewhat grateful. In this unfamiliar place with no acquaintances, at least there was someone he could ask for help.

Although he could have called the hotel front desk, Katahiro was too overwhelmed by the extravagant reception and the sudden appearance of the intimidating man to consider such a simple solution.

After some hesitation, Katahiro answered the call.

"Hello?"

[I apologize for the late-night call, Director. I got the notice that you checked in at the hotel, so I contacted you. Actually, our CEO would like to meet you tomorrow morning as the first schedule. So, I came to discuss a few things before that.]

"Discuss? In the hotel room?"

[Yes. I'm right outside the door now. However, I knocked, and it seems you're not inside. Did you go out?]

While continuing the call, Katahiro glanced through the peephole at the man outside.

"…Is this person Jang Sunho?"

Thinking of the man who saved his work from being discarded, he imagined a short, stout uncle. Instead, the man outside looked like the beast from Beauty and the Beast, just before the enchantment was lifted.

As Katahiro was hesitating, he heard the man outside still talking on the phone.

"…It seems I can't get in touch with him. I wonder if he went out."

"Ah, no. I'm here. Just a moment."

Katahiro unlocked the chain and opened the door. The man outside, Jang Sunho, greeted him with a deep bow and spoke fluent Japanese.

"Nice to meet you, Director Katahiro. I apologize for the late-night intrusion. I am Jang Sunho, team leader of the Actor Team at OS Entertainment."

***

‘Is it okay to buy sirloin, sirloin tip, and tenderloin even if it's with the production card? It all looks expensive.’

Late at night, Jang Sunho was inspecting the side dishes and ingredients he had filled the refrigerator with.

When Jang Sunho had provided side dishes before, thinking he paid for them with his own money, I apologized. Jang Sunho replied, "It's the support fund specified in Actor Kang Jinseok's contract, so don't worry."

‘Isn't this a bit too much, no matter what.’

It would be easy to eat, but it seemed too wasteful to force down the precious beef. To make it delicious, I should season it with hunger.

While contemplating this, when he was organizing the refrigerator.

"[Oppa, so about eating with the judges and participants this time. What are you going to do?]"

From the mobile phone placed on the counter next to the refrigerator, Seo Yeonsoo's voice was heard. It was on speakerphone.

Although I had seen Seo Yeonsoo's face in passing during the shooting of "Let's Become an Actor," I hadn't had a proper conversation with her, so I called her to ask about her recent situation.

"Eating with the participants? Ah… I forgot. My mind has been all over the place lately, so I didn't think about it."

"[…What will you do if you still haven't decided? Our team is shooting at the next shoot, as PD said to foster camaraderie in the final stages. So, fostering camaraderie like that will work, right?]"

Seo Yeonsoo said with a mischievous tone.

"Well, there's still some time left. I'll think about it slowly."

Seo Yeonsoo, who applied for "Let's Become an Actor," survived until the final 20. As you can tell from the term ‘our team' mentioned a little while ago, she, along with other participants, would eat together at the next shoot.

‘Where should we go?'

Looking at the SNS of other actors, pictures taken on rooftops or at upscale restaurants were frequently posted. But I didn't know about those places.

The place I know and like for dinner is the frozen pork belly restaurant and the simple Korean meal place where I went with the guys from the warehouse in Seongsu.

‘The cost-effectiveness is good there. If we go to the pork belly restaurant, we can take care of all the staff. Should we go there?'

As I was thinking this, suddenly, I heard the lively voices of boys from the distance.

("Noona! Check my homework! I did everything Mom asked!")

("I did everything Dad asked! But, Noona, he copied the answers!")

"[Hey! Didn't I tell you not to come into Noonan's room?!]"

("Hehe, who are you talking to on the phone to get so surprised~?")

("Uhu~ Noonan's boyfriend? I should tell Dad~ I won't tell if you give me pocket money~")

"[It's not a problem who I'm talking to… Hoo. I'll contact you again. My parents are on a trip, so I have to take care of the kids now.]"

"Oh? Ah, okay."

Around the time Seo Yeonsoo hung up, Jang Sunho faintly smiled at the unexpected context and closed the refrigerator door.

‘I guess the cleanup is done. Since there are no special schedules until tomorrow, how about watching a movie tonight?'

Coincidentally, among the things Jang Sunho had bought, there was microwave popcorn. It was a popcorn with a note attached that read, ‘Eat only one a week. It makes you gain weight.'

Humming a tune, I was about to put the popcorn in the microwave when his mobile phone rang.

It was Jang Sunho's KakaoTalk.

[Manager-nim: I apologize for the late hour. The director of "The Most Painful Predestined Relationship in the World" has entered Korea. He wants to meet tomorrow afternoon. Are you available?]

The director is in Korea?

—

The next morning, VIP Guest Room at ‘The OS Hotel Gangnam.'

A middle-aged man in a suit with an ordinary look and a bald gentleman with a shining head were sitting across from each other. Jang Sunho was standing behind them, escorting the two.

"Haha, you don't have to be so nervous. Have some tea before the car arrives. It's quite good tea."

The bald gentleman, Oh Haneul, recommended the tea with a smile.

"Uh… Yes, thank you."

The middle-aged man, Director Katahiro, tried to drink the tea cautiously, making as little noise as possible.

"How was your sleep? Our Team Leader Jang Sunho did his best to choose the best place for you in a hurry."

"Yes. I slept very well. I never imagined receiving such extravagant treatment."

"Haha, you're being humble, saying it's extravagant."

With a benevolent smile, Oh Haneul lowered the teacup again. Then, looking at Katahiro, he said,

"Regardless of what Team Leader Jang Sunho said about me, I am a businessperson who invests only in things that are worth investing in. I'm not a philanthropist."

Throughout his words, Oh Haneul was smiling, but there was clearly a bone in his words. Unable to overlook this, Katahiro asked in a tense voice,

"Do you mean you see potential in my work?"

"Yes. To be precise, I believed in the vision of Team Leader Jang Sunho behind me."

While speaking, Oh Haneul glanced at Jang Sunho.

"But why is Team Leader standing? Sit down. Don't strain your legs."

"I find standing more comfortable."

"It's uncomfortable to look up at you."

"I'll sit down, then."

When Jang Sunho sat down, Oh Haneul continued speaking.

"Let's finish the conversation we were having. Team Leader Jang Sunho mentioned that your work, Director-nim, has the potential comparable to ‘.'"

"My, my work?"

"Yes, Kang Jinseok really wanted to work on your film. And…"

Oh Haneul paused, looking straight at Katahiro before continuing.

"After receiving Team Leader Jang Sunho's call and hearing that you were coming from Japan to Korea, I felt the director's passion for the project. Trustworthy support from a subordinate, the choice of excellent actors, and a passionate director. With these three elements, the project can't fail. So, I decided to invest. My gut feeling was good too."

"Th-thank you."

"Just show your gratitude through a good piece of work."

After quickly finishing his words, Oh Haneul clapped his hands to lighten the mood.

"Now! Shall we get into the business discussion?"

Katahiro nodded with a more tense expression.

"Yes. I assume you're quite busy, so it's better to proceed."

"Thank you for understanding. Frankly, there won't be much for us to discuss. Detailed matters will be handled by Team Leader Jang Sunho and other staff."

"Yes."

"I'm just here to provide the money, so don't think too hard about it."

"Haha…"

‘Just providing the money, so don't think too hard about it.'

No matter what the situation, the most important thing in creating a piece of work is money. And every solution to a problem involves money—whether it's time, manpower, or anything else.

Although Oh Haneul consistently spoke lightly, Katahiro couldn't treat him casually.

"I'm not one to beat around the bush. I'll ask directly. How much production budget do you need?"

Asking directly like this. Even though he had made quite a few works so far, this was the first time Katahiro encountered an investor like this.

"In… What's the upper limit?"josei

Katahiro asked, swallowing dry saliva.

"For now, don't worry about the complications. Just tell me how much money you need to turn your script and the image in your head into a movie."

Although squeezing within a set budget was a skill, being told to do as he pleased was a first for Katahiro. His head started to get complicated.

‘Yesterday, I discussed with Team Leader Jang Sunho, and Kang Jinseok's appearance fee is around 60 million yen. So, I should match the supporting role with 30 to 40 million yen. Other main supporting roles, 10 million yen, minor roles, 3 to 4 million yen… Korean actors' fees are too expensive. Considering the staff's salaries and other expenses… Fortunately, there won't be much money going elsewhere…'

Deep in thought, as Katahiro was pondering, one particular idea flickered across his mind.

‘No, the actors originally planned for the film, except for actor Kang Jinseok, are all Japanese actors. I should calculate differently.'

"Oh, um, if it's 500 million yen…"

With his forehead dampened to the point where sweat formed, he spoke with a trembling voice.

"I can create a flawless work… No, I will make it."

Even as he spoke, he felt it might be too much. Honestly, even three or four hundred million yen would have been sufficient.

Regret washed over him for not discussing the production budget during the meeting with Jang Sunho yesterday.

However, the words were already out, and there was no turning back.

As Katahiro closed his eyes, waiting for Oh Haneul's reaction, at that moment…

"If it's 500 million yen, it's a bit less than 5 billion won, isn't it?"

"More precisely, it's 4,777,300,000 won, Representative."

After Oh Haneul asked Jang Sunho with a puzzled expression, he turned to Katahiro for confirmation.

"You said 500 million yen. Did you misspeak?"

"Oh? Um, if it's a lot, then 400 million yen should be enough…"

"I heard Team Leader Jang Sunho say you need about 7 billion, so I thought a generous 10 billion yen would be appropriate."

"Oh…"

Katahiro, overwhelmed by an amount he hadn't even considered, anxiously looked at Jang Sunho.

Sending a gaze that said, "Is this person joking right now?" Jang Sunho remained expressionless, tilting his head.

"Oh, and, President. The 7 billion I mentioned earlier is already a considerable budget for a romance film. Even considering the trend where the Korean film industry doesn't spare expenses for production these days."

"Ah, I see."

"Yes. Spending 10 billion on a romance film might be excessive. Since this project is not a historical drama."

Listening to Jang Sunho's explanation, Oh Haneul nodded in understanding.

"Let's just go with that. Anyway, the company probably planned the project based on a 10 billion won investment."

However, what came out of his mouth was far from that.

"Originally, you need ample funds for everything to run smoothly on set, don't you?"

With Oh Haneul's significant words, vitality returned to Katahiro's eyes, which had lost their vigor.