Chapter 156: Moonless Village (1)

Translator: Dreamscribe

The cold-eyed Director Kim Ha-jae. No, Kang Jae-ha. As Director Baek Jeong-ha stared intently at him, her eyes widened slightly. There was nothing strange about that. Jae-ha had just offered to recruit her.

Director Baek Jeong-ha then smiled faintly and replied.

"I don't think this is a conversation we can finish in five minutes?"

"Is that so."

Kang Jae-ha was relaxed.

"You don't have to give me an answer today. For now, you can just hear my offer, think it over, and give me your answer later."

Director Baek Jeong-ha glanced around at the surroundings, which had grown hectic over the Jeon So-hee situation, then started walking and gestured with her hand.

"Let's step over here for a moment."

After moving a short distance away from the dozen or so Key Staff members, she spoke again.

"I've seen enough to know very well how much momentum 'MEG' has these days."

Director Baek Jeong-ha thought back over everything 'MEG' had done so far. She held 'MEG' in high regard.

'Especially this man.'

Of course, her opinion of the masked Kang Jae-ha standing before her was extremely high as well. She had seen his skill at negotiating, his competence, his drive, and more ever since the early production stages of the 'One-Act Drama Project'.

And that wasn't all.

Starting with 'Rina', the Music Director of the 'One-Act Drama Project', there were Yoon Da-yeon and An Ji-hee from the season 1 cast, Writer and Actor Oh Jong-man, Kwon Sung-min or Director Hong Man-seop, and plenty of other talent. His eye for people was outstanding as well. Kang Jae-ha had always been the one standing at the forefront of the actual work.

'As far as I'm concerned, this guy is the most impressive one of the bunch.'

'MEG' itself also had tremendous influence. Everything 'MEG' had released so far, along with everything currently underway, was highly anticipated. There was no shortage of buzz, either.

Director Baek Jeong-ha had spent many years in the entertainment industry as a major director.

'I've never seen an Investment Firm like this before.'

As far as she could tell, this was the first time she'd seen an Investment Firm wield this much power and influence in less than a year. It was steadily turning into a monster. Both 'MEG' and the people affiliated with 'MEG'.

'That must be why even a master like Director Yu Gil-tae moved to 'MEG'.'

Its financial backing looked incredibly strong as well. From the massive success of the 'One-Act Drama Project' until now, they had probably already earned more than twice what they'd poured in. No, perhaps even more than three times as much. How ridiculous was it to keep producing hit after hit from the moment they opened their doors? Yet 'MEG' had done exactly that.

Having organized her thoughts, Director Baek Jeong-ha continued.

"Would 'MEG' even take someone as pigheaded as me?"

The question was half-joking and half-serious. The subtext was, You know I can be a real pain in the ass. Are you sure that's okay? Kang Jae-ha studied Director Baek Jeong-ha's weathered face for a moment before nodding.

"That's actually what I like about you. I like directors with backbone."

"You're making my heart flutter. If I were ten years younger, I might've fallen for you just like that."

"Then come over."

Director Baek Jeong-ha's smile deepened.

"You're unusual. Though I did think you weren't ordinary when I first met you, Director."

"Besides things like that, I have more than enough reasons to recruit you, Director."

"That many?"

"Yes. For starters, I've watched exactly how you've handled the 'One-Act Drama Project'. Of course, this offer also takes into account everything you've demonstrated as a director from the past up until now."

Perhaps growing slightly embarrassed, Director Baek Jeong-ha scratched her head.

"Maybe it's because it's been a while since anyone praised me like that? I don't really know what to do with myself."

Despite Director Baek Jeong-ha's stature as a major director, she was also widely known as an eccentric, so there tended to be more strange rumors about her than praise. Well, when it came to directing, she also had quite a strong Lone Wolf streak.

In any case, Kang Jae-ha spoke again.

"You're someone with very firm convictions, Director Baek Jeong-ha-nim, so I understand you've spent the past few years working almost entirely on your own without an agency. I'm sure there were convenient aspects to that, but there must also have been times when it became overwhelming."

"......"

"Being on your own gives you freedom, but it also means you have to handle and worry about every little thing yourself. The pros and cons are obvious. At your level, Director Baek, I imagine all of that is starting to get tedious."

It was true. Recently, Director Baek Jeong-ha had gradually started finding it bothersome to handle everything alone. And that was precisely when Kang Jae-ha appeared.

"Come to 'MEG', leave all the annoying stuff to us, and I'll let you run wild however you want. What do you think?"

Director Baek Jeong-ha slowly scratched her chin as she replied.

"To be honest, it is tempting."

"Like I said at the beginning, you don't have to decide right away. You've been on your own for quite a while, so suddenly choosing an agency can't be easy."

Jae-ha checked the time on his phone.

"We'll send you a draft contract, Director Baek Jeong-ha-nim. Go over the conditions and everything else carefully. If there are any additional terms you want, just contact me. Of course, you're free to refuse as well."

Why was he so casually telling her she was free to turn him down? Once again, Director Baek Jeong-ha found herself thinking that Kang Jae-ha really was an oddball.

"All right. Send it over and I'll look through the contract."

Kang Jae-ha soon smiled faintly.

"Then good luck with today's shoot."

Watching Jae-ha's back as he walked away, Director Baek Jeong-ha scratched her head.

"This feels... nice. Was I secretly waiting for 'MEG' to scout me?"

At the same time.

The location was a rather large hall. The atmosphere inside was extremely boisterous. Hundreds of reporters had crowded in. Every one of them carried a camera, and an intense energy could be felt in their expressions.

At a glance, it almost looked like bloodlust.

Just then.

-Swish.

A woman in a somber suit and with no makeup on her face stepped onto the stage at the front of the hall. Her hands were clasped together, and she wore an expression as though the world had collapsed around her.

She was none other than top actress Jeon So-hee. In other words, this was Jeon So-hee's press conference.

The instant Jeon So-hee appeared.

-Pabababababaak!

-Pababababababak!!

A barrage of camera flashes erupted. There were enough to practically blind someone. Under normal circumstances, no one would have blamed her for frowning, but Jeon So-hee's rigid expression did not change as she parted her bloodless lips in a trembling voice.

"...First, I sincerely apologize for causing concern to the public because of my poor judgment. I have no excuse for what I've done."

As if they simply couldn't hold back any longer, questions exploded from among the hundreds of reporters.

"Jeon So-hee!! Is it true that you illegally used Propofol??!"

"Do you admit to everything your former managers exposed!!"

Jeon So-hee listened to the reporters' shouting for a moment, then stared at the flashes going off before her and groaned inwardly.

'Ugh......I think I'm going to throw up.'

More than ten years of her past flashed through Jeon So-hee's mind like a panorama. How much time had she endured to climb from the very bottom to the lofty position she held now? But this was the final stop.

'Someone, anyone, save me.'

Jeon So-hee had already boarded the train bound for Rock Bottom and even buckled her seat belt tight. It was fair to say she was finished.

"Everything about me that's currently spreading through articles and elsewhere is...true. I'm truly sorry."

Another barrage of camera flashes poured over Jeon So-hee as though they meant to kill her, and she squeezed her eyes shut. Watching the situation from inside a car, Kang Jae-ha showed little change in expression.

"Hm."

It was a scene he had already expected, and Jeon So-hee hitting Rock Bottom wasn't important enough to send his mood swinging wildly. Besides, Jeon So-hee wasn't the end. Jae-ha closed the press conference video he had been watching and sent Cha Chung-hyeon a message.

-Time to send GOO Production down too.

The next day. The drama department at terrestrial broadcaster LBS.

PD Do Jin-deok, Chief Director of 'The Cooking Teacher of Joseon', had become extremely busy. Naturally so, now that the investment for 'The Cooking Teacher of Joseon' had been confirmed, all that remained was to get moving.

"Whew, busy, busy."

First, PD Do Jin-deok worked with the Assistant Directors and others to roughly map out the overall production schedule, then began assembling the Key Staff who would be crucial to filming.

"Hey! Director Park!"

"Haha, PD Do. You look a lot happier?? I heard the investment for your current project got confirmed."

"That's right, that's right. I've got a really good feeling about this one, you know? So once you're done with your current project, work with me on this!"

"Maybe I will??"

Starting with the Cinematographer, then art, sound, lighting, and so on. PD Do Jin-deok pulled every connection he had to assemble a team consisting solely of highly skilled Key Staff. After spending more than half the day running around, PD Do Jin-deok didn't forget to scout actors either.

He wasn't going to cast them immediately, but it was necessary to start putting out feelers to various actors in advance.

"Aigoo... Jeong Star!"

"Hello, PD. You sound like you're in a good mood?"

"Of course, of course. How about doing a Fusion Historical Drama for your next project, Jeong Star?"

A Historical Drama required far more actors than a Modern Drama. It wasn't something that could be done overnight, but Moon Ji-a and Yoon Da-yeon had already been confirmed, so with those two in place, actor casting was bound to go extremely smoothly.

'With a production this big, it's obvious top-tier and A-list actors will come running.'

In fact, every single actor PD Do Jin-deok had approached agreed to a meeting. It already felt as though everything was falling into place.

And the smoother things went, the faster time melted away. In fact, one day, then two, vanished for PD Do Jin-deok in the blink of an eye.

Not long afterward, PD Do Jin-deok calculated the estimated Production Budget for 'The Cooking Teacher of Joseon'.

"Roughly...30 billion won."

An estimated 30 billion won. Of that, the broadcasting station would cover around 20% to 30%. In other words, Kang Jae-ha only needed to provide roughly 20 billion won in investment. The estimated investment amount was soon relayed to Jae-ha at Leon Entertainment.

After receiving the call from PD Do Jin-deok, Kang Jae-ha smiled faintly and crossed his legs.

'More than 20 billion won. Well, it's a huge amount of money, but it's less than I expected?'

It was an astronomical sum, but for Kang Jae-ha, whose pockets were deep, it wasn't enough to feel particularly burdensome. More importantly, didn't he already know just how enormous a hit 'The Cooking Teacher of Joseon' would become? Jae-ha's smile deepened as he replied to PD Do Jin-deok over the phone.

"You're in the middle of assembling the Key Staff, right?"

"Yes, that's right."

"I'd like to recommend a Music Director."

"A Music Director?"

"Yes."

After answering, Kang Jae-ha thought of Choi Ri-na and grinned.

"You won't regret it."

A few days later.

It was noon. A fierce-looking man could be seen inside a quiet studio. He alternated between hammering away at his laptop and stopping to think. It was a familiar face. The man was Oh Jong-man. At some point, Oh Jong-man's once-cramped studio had become fairly spacious. 'MEG' had moved him into a larger studio.

"Ah."

He stopped typing and checked the time.

"It's time."

As if he'd been waiting for something, he closed his laptop and picked up a tablet lying nearby.

-Swish.

He placed the tablet on its stand and tapped the screen several times. Within seconds, Netflix's home screen appeared on the tablet.

A large main banner immediately came into view.

The banner displayed the poster for an Animated Film, emblazoned with its characters and title.

-'Moonless Village'

It was 'Moonless Village'.

"Hmm... wonder how it'll be? I'm looking forward to this."

It was Monday, April 12. The official release day of 'Moonless Village', which had been drawing intense attention from both the industry and the public. 'Moonless Village' was practically a work released by 'MEG'. Since it was his own agency, Oh Jong-man's curiosity had gotten the better of him, and he had been waiting for 'Moonless Village' to release.

He also wanted to broaden his horizons as both a writer and an actor.

In any case, 'Moonless Village' was the only Animated Film attracting this much attention in Korea's otherwise barren animation scene.

Soon, Oh Jong-man tapped the main banner, and before long, 'Moonless Village' began playing on his tablet. It opened with low-toned narration from the Male Lead.

-♬♪

Gentle opening music featuring a Gayageum began playing. Oh Jong-man settled properly into his seat, his already fierce-looking face growing even more severe with concentration.

"......"

How much time had passed like that? Before he knew it, the ending credits of 'Moonless Village' were rolling across the tablet. After staring blankly for a moment, Oh Jong-man glanced at the clock. The runtime of 'Moonless Village' was roughly 100 minutes.

"...Two hours have already passed??"

Oh Jong-man muttered as though he hadn't noticed the passage of time, then turned his gaze back to the tablet. As he went back over the 'Moonless Village' he had just watched, a deeply heartfelt reaction burst from his mouth.

"Wow, fuck! This is insane."

At that moment, online communities everywhere.

"This is fucking awesome?

Were going absolutely wild over 'Moonless Village'.

*****

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