The Crazy Mercenary Commander Goes to Work in the Entertainment Industry

Translator: Dreamscribe

Director Kwon Sung-min, whose intentions to remake the short film 'Condensation' into a feature film were showing. He'd naturally added that the current 'Condensation' shoot and the 'Busan International Film Festival' submission would be properly completed first.

Moonbak Film's CEO Jeong Tae-woo wore a serious expression.

'A plan for the future. Remaking the short film 'Condensation' into a feature...'

Remaking short films and independent films into feature films, that is, into commercial films, was fairly common. There were quite a few cases of actual success doing it that way, too. Usually it happened after a film posted strong results at a festival like the 'Mise-en-scene Short Film Festival'.

Well, more of them flopped than succeeded. It was a gamble, obviously.

CEO Jeong Tae-woo studied Director Kwon Sung-min's face as he pushed his glasses up.

'If you take away the embarrassment, he seems serious about it.'

He looked sincere. Honestly, broad-faced Jeong Tae-woo was a little impressed. For that young kid, a director about to do his very first shoot ever, to be thinking that far ahead. Considering Director Kwon Sung-min's usually mild-mannered demeanor, it was quite a bold decision.

'Did ambition get the better of him, or did someone give him advice?'

Short films and commercial films were worlds apart in everything, from scale to the entire production process. The production budgets alone were night and day different. That he was even thinking about a feature remake meant Director Kwon Sung-min's ambitions had expanded during the course of 'Condensation'.

But for now, the 'Busan International Film Festival' was more important.

'If, by chance, 'Condensation' manages to achieve something at the 'Busan International Film Festival'... that would create huge synergy when it crosses over to commercial.'

Whether or not a film carried the title of 'Busan International Film Festival' submission had a significant impact on audience numbers. And if it was an 'award', all the more so.

Sensing the mood had gotten rather heavy, Director Kwon Sung-min waved both hands.

"Oh, n-no, I'm not looking at it that seriously yet! It's more of a, maybe I should give it a try? kind of thing."

Even as he spoke hurriedly, Director Kwon Sung-min found himself thinking of one of the managers for Yoon Da-yeon and An Ji-hee. That stoic face. Kang Jae-ha. The casting of Leon Entertainment's actors owed a great deal to him.

Because a manager named Kang Jae-ha had found 'Condensation' interesting.

The reason Director Kwon Sung-min thought of Jae-ha was simple. Kang Jae-ha had said something to him in passing. It was after the audition for 'Condensation'.

'Director, have you ever thought about taking 'Condensation' to a feature film?'

When Director Kwon Sung-min had been startled out of his skin, manager Kang Jae-ha had added another line.

''Condensation', from what I can see, has pretty good odds as a commercial film too, and you've got the writing flair for it, Director. Well, that's just what I think.'

From that moment on, the feature-length remake of 'Condensation' kept circling in Director Kwon Sung-min's head. Kang Jae-ha's comment had been the catalyst. Of course, Jae-ha had seemed to say it extremely casually, but it had struck a deep chord with Director Kwon Sung-min. Looking at the result alone, the hook had set perfectly.

But had Kang Jae-ha really said all that without any ulterior thought?

In any case, as Director Kwon Sung-min waved his hands, CEO Jeong Tae-woo lifted the corners of his mouth slightly.

"Do as you like. I'm curious to see what 'Condensation' would look like as a feature film, too."

"Oh, really?"

"Of course. I agreed to produce it because 'Condensation' was interesting. So that's what you've been doing, working on the overall plot?"

"That's right. To remake it as a feature, I'd need to add scenes first, expand the character arcs, and also..."

Director Kwon Sung-min's mouth didn't stop, as if he'd already done the calculations in his head. Then, as if Lee Chan-hoo suddenly came to mind, he asked.

"If I bring up the feature version of 'Condensation', what would the Investor-nim say??"

"Hmm..."

CEO Jeong Tae-woo stroked his chin.

"Hard to say. I can't predict right now. That CEO Lee Chan-hoo has this strangely inscrutable quality about him."

"...That's true."

"Still, if the remade screenplay turns out well, or if it gets final selection for the 'Busan International Film Festival', there's a good chance he'd look favorably on it."

"Mm. Just submitting to the 'Busan International Film Festival' is already a huge deal for me, but I guess that alone wouldn't be enough."

CEO Jeong Tae-woo patted Director Kwon Sung-min's shoulder and offered his encouragement for the time being.

"Give it a shot anyway. No one knows how things will turn out."

About two hours later.

The location was near Suwon Station, Gyeonggi Province. A rundown building's third-floor room salon was bustling with a sizable crowd. Roughly fifteen people or more. It was the 'Condensation' film crew. In other words, this room salon was the first filming location for 'Condensation'. Leading the staff was Director Kwon Sung-min.

"The space is tight, so we need to keep the lighting to a minimum. Let's try working with just the room's existing lights for now."

"Understood, Director."

They had already mapped things out through location scouting beforehand, but on-site changes were extremely common on any set.

For reference, this room salon had recently gone out of business.

Thanks to that, the furnishings and fixtures were still in place. They'd gone through some trouble to rent the place. Building a set would have been much easier, but a short film like 'Condensation' almost never built sets for shooting. The filming schedule was short, too.

At any rate, the shooting was set up in the largest room, the VIP room.

"Setting up the glasses and bottles!!"

Inside the room, props that screamed room salon were arranged. Meanwhile, Lee Chan-hoo arrived at the set.

'Whoa, this is legit.'

Film sets weren't unfamiliar to Lee Chan-hoo, but perhaps because it'd been a while, he was quite impressed. Director Kwon Sung-min spotted Lee Chan-hoo and greeted him right away.

"Ah! You're here, Investor-nim!"

"Yes, Director."

CEO Jeong Tae-woo greeted Lee Chan-hoo shortly after. Then Lee Chan-hoo looked around. He was searching for his commander, Kang Jae-ha.

"Haven't the actors arrived yet?"

Director Kwon Sung-min answered quickly.

"No, they're already here. They're in the back room doing costumes and makeup."

"Ah, and the Manager-nims?"

"Huh? They were just here a second ago..."

Just then.

"Why? Is there a problem?"

A disinterested male voice cut in from behind. When they turned, Kang Jae-ha was standing there. Behind him were Senior Manager Kim Dae-yong and road manager Ryu Jin-woo. Confirming his commander's presence, Lee Chan-hoo laughed, ha ha ha.

"No no, nothing's wrong. I was just wondering if the actors had arrived."

Grinning like a little troublemaker for no reason, Lee Chan-hoo spoke to Jae-ha with his eyes.

'Watching the commander play manager is hilarious, you know. I'm addicted to it.'

Kang Jae-ha brushed past Lee Chan-hoo and whispered, barely audible.

"The investor shows up empty-handed? Go buy some food or something."

Lee Chan-hoo answered yes, yes inwardly and headed outside. Around the time the shooting setup in the VIP room was complete.

"Actors, you're up!!"

Yoon Da-yeon approached Kang Jae-ha first. Jae-ha turned his head at the strong scent of perfume. Wearing a hostess dress as her costume, Yoon Da-yeon cleared her throat awkwardly, seemingly self-conscious.

"Wh-what! Do I look weird?"

Kang Jae-ha looked at Yoon Da-yeon. Her costume was a black hostess dress with considerable skin showing from the shoulders to the thighs, her long straight hair had a bit of volume added, and her makeup was done heavy to match her character. Jae-ha responded matter-of-factly.

"I didn't say anything."

"Oh please. Your eyes are saying it. What is it, do I look weird? Should I change the outfit color?"

"That's the director's call, I'd think."

When the two looked at Director Kwon Sung-min, the answer came right away.

"I think it's great! You look exactly like 'Jeong-hee'!"

Yoon Da-yeon nodded and fussed with her stomach and upper arms for no reason.

"Did I gain weight? Why do I feel so off about this? How do I look? Do I look fat?"

"Not particularly."

"I'm asking how I look."

She was clearly fishing for a compliment, something like it suits you or you look pretty. Senior Manager Kim Dae-yong stepped in to deliver. Complete with a double thumbs-up.

"Da-yeon. Looking good, looking good! You don't look like you've gained any weight at all, and you're pretty!"

Yoon Da-yeon shot Kang Jae-ha a glare and muttered something along the lines of 'Would it kill you to say I look nice?' as she moved. She entered the VIP room where filming would begin. Behind her, An Ji-hee approached, her bobbed hair swaying.

"Um......Manager-nim."

The temperature difference from the prickly Yoon Da-yeon was stark. An Ji-hee was also in a hostess dress. However, hers was less revealing than Yoon Da-yeon's. Beige in color. Perhaps because it was the first time she'd ever worn such an outfit, An Ji-hee's face was full of embarrassment and awkwardness.

"D-do I look okay?"

Kang Jae-ha, thinking 'Why do they keep asking me?', answered roughly.

"Not bad."

"Oh! Really! What a relief..."

An Ji-hee's expression softened instantly, and she looked down at her outfit, her lips moving slightly. A faintly bittersweet smile mixed in.

"Seeing this outfit... it reminds me of when I was an idol trainee. It's kind of similar to stage costumes."

"I could see that."

"But I've totally put the idol thing behind me now! I'm going to do really well today!"

An Ji-hee declared confidently and entered the VIP room as well. Soon, the good-natured Senior Manager Kim Dae-yong patted Kang Jae-ha on the shoulder.

"The actors really trust you, Jae-ha ssi."

"Does it look that way?"

"I've noticed for a while now. Ji-hee ssi follows you around like a duckling. And especially that Da-yeon, she always tones herself down whenever she's in front of you, Jae-ha ssi."

To Kang Jae-ha, who was scratching his chin impassively, Senior Manager Kim Dae-yong spoke again.

"You've got this, how should I put it... this strangely magnetic charm that draws people in, Jae-ha ssi."

Lee Chan-hoo, who'd been secretly listening from behind, nodded at this.

'He's got it, he does. That reassuring presence. Cold as hell, though.'

Meanwhile, inside the VIP room, the first shoot was about to begin. Yoon Da-yeon and An Ji-hee sat on the sofa. No, they were 'Jeong-hee' and 'Ji-soo' from 'Condensation'. The character steeped in the gutter was 'Jeong-hee', played by Yoon Da-yeon, and the one beaten down by reality and just entering the gutter was An Ji-hee's 'Ji-soo'.

Two women crushed by money and reality, meeting in the gutter. A plot that built toward Ji-soo's quiet revenge after she eventually adapted to that same gutter.

Yoon Da-yeon and An Ji-hee checked their lines until the very last moment, and Director Kwon Sung-min, now seated before a small monitor, felt his heart pounding as if it might burst.

'Calm down. This is the real start. I can't blow it from the beginning.'

Because the moment had finally arrived when he could fire the signal for Condensation's first shoot.

At last.

-Swish.

Director Kwon Sung-min, having exchanged signals with the key staff.

"Going."

He called the cue to the actors.

"Action."

Filming of 'Condensation' began.

Several hours later.

Director Kwon Sung-min's shout echoed through the shuttered room salon.

"Cut!"

Not just Yoon Da-yeon and An Ji-hee but the cinematographer and other key staff all fixed their eyes on Director Kwon Sung-min. They were waiting for the on-set decision-maker's call. Director Kwon Sung-min gave a small round of applause to the two actresses.

"That was great! OK! This time, same scene, different angle. Cinematographer, instead of a close-up on the two, could you frame it as a bust shot, please!"

"Sure thing."

The quiet VIP room came alive again. Camera angle changes, makeup touch-ups, prop rearrangement, actors chatting, and so on. Director Kwon Sung-min, having just finished checking the props, glanced toward the back.

'There he is.'

Kang Jae-ha was visible, standing about two steps back from the cluster of staff. Talking with Senior Manager Kim Dae-yong. Director Kwon Sung-min, wearing a slightly awkward expression, took a step. He passed through the staff and sidled up to Kang Jae-ha. As Jae-ha turned at the approaching presence, Director Kwon Sung-min cautiously opened his mouth.

"Um, Manager-nim. About what you casually mentioned before."

Jae-ha asked back indifferently.

"Which thing are you referring to?"

"On the audition day......"

Perhaps still unable to say it outright, Director Kwon Sung-min pressed closer to Jae-ha and whispered.

"The advice you gave me on the audition day. About remaking 'Condensation' into a feature."

Kang Jae-ha remembered it well, since it was bait he'd dropped entirely on purpose. Not quite manipulation, but he'd worked things so they'd roll in the direction he wanted. Yet Jae-ha reacted casually, mixing in a touch of feigned ignorance.

"Oh, right. I did say that."

"You said 'Condensation' had a good chance as a commercial film, and that my... writing flair was good, right? So I've been working bit by bit on expanding the 'Condensation' screenplay into a feature."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Not enough to interfere with the current shoot at all. And it's not just because of your advice, Manager-nim. It's more that I want to challenge myself."

"Sure."

Director Kwon Sung-min, who'd been hesitating a little, pushed his glasses up.

"So, if it's all right... when the feature-length 'Condensation' is finished, could I send you the screenplay? Oh! Of course, I'd be showing it to everyone involved with 'Condensation', like CEO Jeong Tae-woo and others, but since you also thought well of my 'Condensation', I'd like to send it to you too, if you're interested."

"......"

Kang Jae-ha didn't answer immediately. His face was expressionless, but inwardly, he was reasonably satisfied.

'Good. This is how it should go.'

The advice he'd dropped to Director Kwon Sung-min hadn't been lies. Director Kwon Sung-min did have a talent for crafting stories and genuine writing flair. The moment Kang Jae-ha had read the short film 'Condensation' screenplay, he'd sensed the man was no ordinary talent.

Moreover, Director Kwon Sung-min was also one of the people to be absorbed into 'MEG'.

'If I want him to grow further, I need to plant the seeds early.'

In Kang Jae-ha's estimation, Kwon Sung-min was not a director who should stay confined to short films. Originally, he might have ended his filmography as a washed-up or unknown director, but meeting Jae-ha had changed the equation. He could grow far bigger.

'In any case, this guy can't keep scraping by on short films.'

So the practice of writing feature-length or commercial screenplays needed to start now. However, as a rookie director, he lacked experience. Rather than writing something entirely new, expanding 'Condensation' into a feature was the better path.

As a result, Director Kwon Sung-min had begun moving exactly as Kang Jae-ha intended.

Jae-ha gave Director Kwon Sung-min a calm nod.

"Sure, send it over and I'll give it a read."

"Oh! Thank you!"

Moonbak Film's CEO Jeong Tae-woo approached.

"Read what? Oh, Director-nim, is this about what you mentioned this morning?"

The moment Kang Jae-ha made eye contact with CEO Jeong Tae-woo.

'Hm?'

His vision wavered, and a sense of déjà vu surged up.

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