Chapter 208: Once You Start Being Swayed (6)
TL: emptycube / ED: Isleidir
“Crowdfunding?”
The project producer scratched beneath his ear.
“I don’t know. There’s a limit to the amount of money you can gather through crowdfunding. It’s also used a lot for charity or sponsorships than investments. It may be useful for an independent or a low budget film, but it probably won’t be of much use for our film.”
“A lot of blockbusters do it these days though.”
“That’s more for marketing than investments.”
“Yes, for marketing.”
Their expressions became strange.
I laid out the plain I had organized in my mind.
“We set a small target amount for funding. Although we say that it’s investing in the film, it’s simply giving the public an interesting event to participate in. We increased the public’s interest in Pretty Girls’ album with the production of Making Film, and it was received quite well.”
“It wasn’t ‘quite’. It was great.”
The project producer said in astonishment.
“This will also increase the public’s interest. There are tons of people who are interested in whether the project I’m set on will be a success or a flop. Whether it’s a thousand or ten thousand won, once the audience’s money comes in as an investment, even more people will be interested in the result. Of course, it’ll help with marketing the film as well.”
“… It’ll probably be incomparably more helpful than an interview.”
“If the general public’s interest surges, there will also be venture capitals that’ll decide to belatedly invest.”
“We might even receive too much and be unable to accept any more.”
“I think the public will be more interested the more I take part in the production of the film.”
The reason people used top stars as leads was, in the end, to increase public interest. Unlike drama that air whenever you turn on the TV, films put more burden on the audience as they had to physically go to the theatres to watch it. That was why companies spent billions of won making posters and promoting the movie.
A power to bring people to the theatres.
If Nam Joyoon lacked ticket-selling power, then I simply had to make up the difference.
“So, are you saying that you’ll participate in full force?”
“It’s not unexpected.”
“No, but what if…”
The project producer hesitated. Well-Made’s general manager picked up after him.
“This film might be a complete flop. If the crowdfunding participants and partial investors cannot get a return on their investments, the image you built up will worsen drastically. It could also destroy your ‘Midas’s Hand’ title.”
“That’s true.”
I nodded candidly. The project producer asked with a flustered expression,
“Are you certain that we’ll at least breakeven?”
“I can’t say that I’m 100% certain.”
Or to be exact, I personally decided to step on the uncertain path.
“Then why do you want to take on more risk?”
“This film. I want to make it a success.”
It was a path of uncertainty, but for some reason, I began to be certain.
It wasn’t the lukewarm certainty that it wouldn’t be a complete flop even if it wasn’t as big as a success as the version I saw in my visions.
The movie City Jungle, in which Lee Songha and Nam Joyoon starred in, directed by Director Oh Hyunkyung, produced by Forest and SBE Film, invested by investors who took a risk in its low possibility of success, and distributed by Well-Made Pictures.
The certainty that this film would be a success.
No, I began to become certain that I can make this film into a success.
The project producer and Well-Made’s general manager’s eyes darted back and forth. They seemed to be calculating how to use me, the promotional item, as effectively as possible. Their pens quickly scribbled on their notebooks.
Seeing this, I brought up another condition.
“Of course, if things progress like this, I need to receive something in return.”
“Of course, if there’s something you want, then please say it.”
Well-Made’s general manager said with a face of a salesman.
I leisurely said,
“First, regarding the actors’ contract fee.”
“The fee. That makes me nervous.”
Well-Made’s general manager laughed jokingly. As he said, his face became tense. Was he worried I would ask for an absurd amount? Of course, I wasn’t planning on taking out a huge chunk of our insufficient production budget. Only…
“I hope we could sign with running guarantee than a full contract.”
“A running guarantee?”
“Yes, in a way where they get additional money when after the film breaks even.”
It was similar to how investors split their shares. It would be a useless contract if the film didn’t break even, but they would gradually accumulate money once the film broke even and began making profits.
“I think our side will be more motivated.”
At my words, Well-Made’s general manager and project producer exchanged looks before nodding.
“It isn’t a hard condition. Let’s go with that.”
“It’s great that you’re quick.”
The corners of my lips rose as I continued,
“And another…”
*
{‘Midas’s Hand’ Jung Sunwoo, who has had no failures, his next project City Jungle, what kind of film is it?}
{W&Y’s ‘Jung Sunwoo’s Team’ Lee Songha and Nam Joyoon confirmed for film City Jungle.}
{Director Oh Hyunkyung, the director Midas’s Hand teamed up with for City Jungle, will she able to break the prejudice against ‘Unknown’ and ‘Female’ Directors?}
The bait we sent as a press release instantly spread like wildfire. Because Pretty Girls and Neptune’s new songs were still at the top of the charts and were appearing on TV and stages, nothing else had to be done for City Jungle and my name to hit the real-time search rankings.
We sent out short details about City Jungle and crowdfunding.
We set the period for crowdfunding after the film has been shot. That was when we need to put our efforts into promoting the film. The small funding target will be reached quickly, so if we started it too early, people might have already forgotten about the crowdfunding event by the time the movie releases.
As expected, the public’s interests were peaked.
-Oh, my god. A director I’ve never heard of and Nam Joyoon as the lead? This is a real gamble.
-According to someone from Chungmuro, that scenario has been rolling around with any investments.
-Trash journalists predicted that Jung Sunwoo’s next project would be a safe blockbuster, but Jung Sunwoo’s completely doing things his way LOL ‘Move, I’m going down my own path’/
-How will this funding work? Maybe I should put all the money I spend on the lottery and put it in there.
-You should only invest a small amount and consider it gone when investing in films. Return rates are a mess.
-A guy I know’s a director, and apparently, there are bad rumors about Jung Sunwoo these days. They’re out of money.
It wasn’t just online. People I met were all eager to talk about it.
I received as many questions as lead actors at a VIP Film Festival I was invited to.
“Team Leader Jung, is City Jungle’s scenario really that good?”
“It really is.”
“Should we send some of our rookies for supporting role auditions?”
“Wait, wait. Did you also invest your own money into the film?”
“I don’t know.”
The majority seemed interested and supported the film, but there also many who whispered about how it was a foolish decision. That I would have been better off picking a relatively safer project.
Ah, there were also people who mocked me in my face.
“Here I was wondering which great director you would work with after rejecting me.”
Director Cha Jaeho, who I encountered in front of the washroom, snorted.
“Director Oh Hyunkyung? Who’s that?”
“She’s the director of City Jungle of course.”
“There are differences between directors. Team Leader Jung Sunwoo, you really work foolishly. I heard you’ve developed a panic disorder while picking your next project. The female lead role you rejected, we cast Han Seoyeon instead. I think she’s much better than Lee Songha.”
This fellow was making blunt remarks.
Director Cha Jaeho smirked as he patted my shoulder.
“You should come watch my film when it releases. I’ll send you a screening ticket. You need to see what you missed so that you don’t make the same mistake again. Ah, if the film flops after all this media hubbub, there might be no next time. CEO Baek Hansung’s cold-hearted.”
While leisurely walking past me, he added,
“City Jungle or whatever. I’ll pay my own money and watch it. That’s the least I can do.”
“Director.”
Director Cha Jaeho looked back at me.
I spoke with a gentle voice,
“I’m only saying this since you keep saying I missed out on your project.”
“What?”
“I rejected that film because I thought it would flop.”
“… What did you say?”
“Supernatural. I rejected it because I thought it would flop. Won’t you need around 4 million viewers to break even? I think it’ll be a complete failure. There is no need to send my actress to a failing film so that she can fail together.”
“What, you, just what…!”
Director Cha Jaeho’s eyes bulged like a fish.
Seeing him stutter with a stiff tongue, I smiled.
“Why are you so serious when I’m just guy with poor judgment?”
I brushed off his hand, which was still on my shoulder, and walked away.
After a long while, I heard him burst into swears behind me.
*
After the heat wave passed, and a cool breeze now blew on mornings and evenings.
With Well-Made’s investments and investments from partial investors we’ve scraped together, we finally began preparing to film. The film schedule and content meetings progressed day and night, and we filled our staff with SBE Film’s leadership.
At the same time, we were looking to cast supporting and minor roles.
“Actor casting?”
“Yes, we were hoping you would participate in auditions and the casting process.”
SBE Film’s project producer handed me a thick file. Opening it, it was full of actor profiles. There were some familiar faces, but the majority were new to me.
“We discussed what would be something you can participate in and be a hot topic when released in articles, and we concluded that it would be most interesting if you participated in casting actors. Your eye for actors is very good.”
The project producer added two more similarly thick files as he said,
“These are all the ones we received at our company so far, so take a look at their pictures. We made an announcement, so we’ll have to hold auditions soon. We are trying to approach actors with enough popularity to play supporting roles, but it might not work out since Mr. Nam Joyoon is the lead.”
“… Ah, that could happen.”
They might not be satisfied with a lead with less fame than them.
“It’ll be difficult to fill all our minor roles through just auditions. Auditions are also differentiated between big budgets and smaller budgets. Good actors aim for auditions for blockbusters that are likely to be a success or films of well-known directors to get close to them.”
“I bet Alive had it easy.”
“Then, we were overflowing with applicants. I wonder when we’ll ever be able to experience that boom again.”
Licking his lips, the project producer led me to the office. Perhaps it was because they were working throughout the night finishing up preparations before the filming began, but SBE Film and Forest’s employees were flopped over chairs and desks and sleeping.
Someone with their arms crossed was standing beside a sofa messily stacked with files.
His clothes were so tidy that it was borderline mysophobia. He was a man in his thirties, who looked like he would smell like ink if you got close. After seeing us, he uncrossed his arms and came over. His eyes were filled with interest as they looked at me.
“Team Leader Jung, which is Chief Lee Kyojin. He’s the casting director.”
Casting director?
***
CEO Baek Hansung was staring out the window.
The director, who was sitting on the sofa, glanced at him while asking,
“What are you planning on doing about Jung Sunwoo, Team Leader Jung, if City Jungle fails?”
There was no reply. The director scratched his round chin.
“Since you’ve been quiet on the matter, everyone’s been making their own predictions. There are also rumors that you’re going to fire him.”
There still was no answer.
Swirling his tea with a teaspoon, the director raised his head before flinching.
CEO Baek Hansung was silently laughing.
