Top Management - Chapter 219 (Patreon)

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Chapter 219: A Good and Lucky Agent

From a young age, I have always loved watching movies. I wasn't picky about genres, but thrillers captivated me the most. Such unusual events would never happen in my life. I would immerse myself in characters caught up in enormous events, observing their vivid desires and despair, and enjoying the sensation of adrenaline rushing.

But now, after my life completely changed, I became curious. Those movie protagonists who justified their actions by saying there was no turning back once they crossed the line—could they really not stop, or did they just not want to stop? Could I stop at that line? No... should I stop?

***

I had heard it countless times, "Don’t mind things like standing ovations. It's just manners here." So whether the applause stops after five seconds or pours out for five minutes, don't attribute unnecessary meaning to it. There’s no need to be disappointed or excited. I decided to stay calm regardless of the outcome.

But this... the reaction was much more than expected. No, stay calm.

Just two hours ago, the people sitting with expressions that said, ‘If you waste my time, I’ll smear you on social media as a terrible movie,’ were now on the other side, their faces flushed as they gave a standing ovation. Stay calm. But how many minutes has it been? Hasn’t it been over five minutes already?

"Five minutes 37 seconds, five minutes 38 seconds...!" I looked beside me. The SBE producer was murmuring like a witch doctor.

“What are you doing?”

“Forty seconds! Manager Jeong, it looks like it’s going to hit six minutes, just a moment, 55, 56!”

“...You said not to give meaning to applause.”

“If it hits six minutes, that’s headline news! 58! 59!” The producer screamed. Other staff from the production and distribution companies were also hugging each other frantically. The SBE CEO, who insisted we not make a fuss, was now throwing uppercuts into the air, the embodiment of making a fuss.

I was the only one trying to remain calm.

“Manager Jeong! Why are you so calm by yourself?!”

A staff member was filming with a smartphone pointed at me.

“Well, when was this ever a big deal?”

“It is a big deal! The reaction is too good right now!”

...Right?

Lee Songha and Nam Joyoon were buried in the crowd in the distance. Our eyes briefly met. Neither were typically easily swayed, but now was different. The heightened emotions seemed to spill over to me. The sound of my heart pounding drummed in my ears.

Ah. I exhaled softly through the gap in my lips. It was a success. I clenched and then unclenched my fist. My fingertips were trembling slightly.

All the worries and anxieties that clung to me like a chronic disease since I took on the script of "City Jungle" had been washed away. In their place, a heavy sense of relief flooded in.

This movie was as much a process of proving myself. It wasn't the path foreseen by future predictions, but one I chose, affirming that I could still succeed. And now, here I am. In a place filled with joy everywhere I looked.

The noise of cheers and foreign languages mixed together sounded like the birth of new life. The future I crafted felt brilliantly tangible. At the moment I burst out laughing, the SBE CEO rushed over.

“Great! Great! It’s done! It’s all over now!” His palm, large as a pot lid, grabbed my shoulder and pulled me into a hug. The passion was excessive. It felt chilling for a moment as if he might lean in for a kiss.

“Manager Jeong, you’ve really worked hard! It’s all over now, so let’s stretch our legs out and sleep!”

Over?

“There’s still half the schedule left?”

“We’ve gotten everything we can out here. The international press loves it, and a little greasing will make for good articles. We’ve met our goals, so now let’s relax and head home!” He said with a content smile.

“Our battlefield isn’t Cannes, it’s back home!”

Turning around, the SBE producer was laughing among familiar journalists. Soon, articles with keywords like ‘Cannes local coverage’ and ‘six-minute applause’ would flood the domestic news.

The emotions that seemed to overflow settled down. Yes. My battlefield was not here, but back home. For now.

***

@Hollywood Preview

This year’s festival started off boring as usual but became fresh after the screening of "City Jungle." Just knowing this movie and its actors made the trip to Cannes worthwhile.

@Cinema Daily

Three thoughts after watching "City Jungle," invited for a special screening.

1. This was an unknown director’s first submission? Really?

2. Does anyone know those actors? No one? Really?

3. This movie was dropped from the competition section? Really?

@Cahiers du Cinéma

A work that maximized the pleasure of watching. I spent a very luxurious two hours. If I were a jury member, I would have given it a trophy.

***

It started with a few foreign journalists praising us on social media. Then calls from well-known people began, and during the official screening, tourists were seen holding signs to buy tickets in front of the venue.

Interviews increased, and invitations to receptions and after-parties accumulated.

I was also busy. Shaking hands until my palms tingled and exchanging business cards with people looking for the lead actor’s agent. Sometimes I couldn’t even remember whose hand I was holding.

But it was worth the effort.

“It seems like we’ve recouped the production costs?” Manager Sim of World Art Pictures said with a sunny face.

Inside the film market, the distribution company’s promotional booth was bustling with buyers and staff inquiring about rights. I looked at the "City Jungle" poster that took up an entire wall of the booth and said,

“Already? Seems like the rights sold well.”

“They sell, nowadays about a hundred countries or so. What matters is the price. We had high hopes for Asia because of Lee Songha, but surprisingly, North America and Europe also responded well.”

“That’s good.”

“Now all that’s left is to make money.”

The overseas sales were out of my hands, but it was good news that the movie was selling well. The lead actor was the face of the movie, and this time, it was a running guarantee with a stake in the profits. I had also invested quite a bit.

“Oh, Manager Jeong. Since you’re here, take a look at this.” Manager Sim handed me a stack of promotional brochures.

All foreign films. Some of which were currently being screened at the festival and I had seen them.

“Our company imported these films, and they’re set to be released domestically from the latter half of this year to next year. Our foreign film handler begged me to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“Which one do you think will do the best?”

At this rate, shouldn't I be getting a commission?

“I always say this, but I'm not a shaman.”

“You must have already visited a shaman's house. You’re the type to believe in that stuff.”

“Ah.” Feeling my absurd gaze, Manager Sim awkwardly added.

“Our film business department employees predict the annual movie rankings for fun. Just for kicks.”

It’s not like betting on sports.

I was about to wave it off, but Manager Sim said something meaningful.

“If, what Team Leader Jeong picked all comes true.”

What if it does?

“The department will grant you one wish.”

“A wish?”

“Anything within our means.”

This is intriguing.

WorldArt Pictures is a major investment distributor that divides the domestic film market into several large pieces. The proposal wasn't just a playful offer. Especially since Manager Sim seemed very serious.

The stack of brochures started to look like a lottery ticket.

I reached out my hand subtly.

“Let me see that.”

“Take your time, no rush.”

There were seven brochures. Six American movies and one Japanese animation. From blockbusters to low-budget, the scale varied, and so did the genres.

It seems pointless to rank movies when I haven’t seen most of them, but I read the introductions carefully anyway.

If this were the old days, I’d avoid such tricks, burdened by labels like 'Midas touch' or 'undefeated myth'. But now, I felt surprisingly relaxed, free from pressure.

Let’s see. Which movie will do well? Which will have the highest profit margin?

Like fitting a puzzle together, seven movie titles shuffled around in my head, soon neatly stacking up. I transferred that list onto a yellow sticky note.

As soon as I capped the pen, Manager Sim took the sticky note.

“Just look at it for fun.”

“Of course, naturally.”

I might even get half of them wrong. It was when I casually dropped the pen on the table.

“...!”

It felt like being pushed off a cliff. My muscles tensed all at once. A muffled noise filled the air.

“You're almost spooky. You got everything right except for one.”

It was the future.

Through my crumpled vision, I saw Manager Sim with his glasses. A wooden table, a vase, a teacup, an unfamiliar place. From the clothes, it seemed like... winter?

While instinctively observing, my mouth moved on its own.

“Too bad. You know, even if you miss one number in the lottery, you still get a second prize.”

Manager Sim laughed as if he'd heard a great joke. You seem a bit gaunt. Lost weight? Even your hairstyle has changed.

“If Team Leader Jeong had made this list after watching Let It Snow, would you have picked it as number one? Then you would have gotten it all right.”

“No. I would have still gotten it wrong.” I said.

“It was such an unexpected film.”

My ears perked up.

Reality, inside a booth at the film market. Manager Sim folded the sticky note.

“I’ll keep this list safe…”

“Hold on a moment.” I snatched the sticky note back as if grabbing it.

Let It Snow.

About a trendy fashion magazine director in her thirties who returns to her cringeworthy high school days to date the quarterback, build friendships, and eventually become prom queen. A Christmas season movie with high school drama, time travel, and Cinderella all mixed in. If you asked me to name similar movies, I could list five in five seconds.

I had ranked it fourth. First place? Why?

But then.

It’s more surprising that I correctly predicted the other six than getting one wrong. The rankings I casually picked matched so eerily.

“Team Leader Jeong, what’s up?”

“No…” Trying to suppress the fluttering in my heart, I said.

“I think I really have a good sense for this.”

“Suddenly? You’re just realizing this? Everyone knows that.”

“Right.”

Now I know. Until now, I had been looking at the answer sheet of future predictions and just excused it as having a good sense.

“...I’ll just change this one thing.” I drew a long arrow next to Let It Snow, moving it to the top.

“This is, the first place.”

“...This one?”

“Yes.”

Manager Sim looked puzzled.

Suddenly knowing the foreign box office results in my country, but I can’t use it right away. Production and distribution contracts are all set, just waiting for the release. For now.

I handed the modified sticky note back to Manager Sim.

“Remember this wish coupon.”

***

“René, should I show you something fun?”

A burly man wrapped in a beach towel and dragging slippers approached. René Emmerich, who was sprawled on a sunbed by the pool, smoking a cigarette, moved only her eyes.

“What?”

“I went to the booth of a Korean distribution company we always deal with and found this.” The man flicked a folded sticky note.

“It’s a list of movies imported by that distributor. Specifically, it’s the box office prediction ranking made by their Don Blake.”

René Emmerich snatched the sticky note. Inside, seven movie titles were neatly listed.

“Like Don Blake? What do you mean?”

“Do you know Urban Jungle? He’s the agent for the lead actors there. So far, none of the films he picked have failed. He’s famous over there. Good sense and good luck.”

“Ah, that kind of meaning.”

She scanned the list.

“He picked Let It Snow as number one, so I copied it specially to show you.”

“That’s not the movie that should be number one.”

“It’s your film, shouldn’t you be more optimistic?”

“Objectively speaking, that’s it. So, an agent?”

“Interested?”

“Good sense and good luck agent? Are you kidding?”

She flicked the paper with her finger.

Her grey eyes sparkled with interest.

“Of course I’m interested.”

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