Chapter 43: Recruitment (1)

Translator: Dreamscribe

While the BIFF closing ceremony was still underway, the news of Condensation's triple win spread rapidly beyond news articles into YouTube and online communities.

《Public Interest in BIFF Triple Crown 'Condensation' on the Rise↑》

《'Condensation' Sweeps Acting Award and Grand Prize in the Short Film Category... Could It Be This Year's Biggest BIFF Beneficiary?》

'Condensation', a film by a young, unknown director in his twenties. Word spread that this 'Condensation' had beaten out powerful domestic and international short films to win the Grand Prize, that the washed-up Yoon Da-yeon had returned to a supporting role in a short film and won an award, that the lead actress in Condensation wasn't Yoon Da-yeon but an unknown actress who had won Best Newcomer, and so on.

Since the surrounding stories were unusual, the public's attention quickly converged.

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋ a no-name director in his 20s won the short film grand prize ㅋㅋ first time seeing thissss ㅋㅋ

-Isn't it kinda unusual? Starting with Yoon Da-yeon doing a short film as a supporting role and winning an award ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Anyone know the actress who won Best Newcomer????

-Total unknown but seems like she debuted at BIFF

-I wanna see Condensation.....

-Total has-been Yoon Da-yeon somehow got put back on life support ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-↑Yoon Da-yeon isn't quite a total has-been yeah she was even on a morning drama

-But that Kang Jae-ha mentioned in the actors' acceptance speeches? They say he's the manager and he sounds insane ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Agreed agreed the actors and director were all praising him left and right

-If he's the one who actually found the project AND placed the actors in it, that's Midas-touch level crazy intuition ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-First time I'm seeing a manager become a hot topic

-Anyway we'll probably see the Condensation team on a talk variety show soon?

-They'll get booked for variety right away

-Won't manager Kang Jae-ha be on it tooooo ㅋㅋㄱㄱㅋㅋㅋ

-Oh! I am curious about his face

It wasn't just the 'Condensation' team. Kang Jae-ha's name, frequently mentioned in the acceptance speeches, was also brought up considerably, and BIFF's momentum kept growing. Meanwhile, the BIFF closing ceremony at the Busan Cinema Center finally wrapped up all its awards several hours later, deep into the night.

But there was still more on the schedule.

Especially for those who had won today, the real beginning might be from this point on.

"Director-nim! Director Kwon Sung-min-nim! Look this way please!"

"Yoon Da-yeon-ssi, An Ji-hee-ssi, please stand together and pose!!"

Starting with the photo time, all sorts of interviews were waiting.

Because of that, the 'Condensation' team would have to stay in Busan for roughly a few more days, starting tonight after BIFF ended. The official schedule was over. But unofficially, there were still greetings and meetings left with famous directors, various agencies, and production companies who had come to BIFF.

In fact, after finishing photo time, Director Kwon Sung-min was being approached by many people offering handshakes.

"Director Kwon Sung-min-nim? I really enjoyed 'Condensation'. It's astonishing that 'Condensation' is your debut work. And making something of that caliber at such a young age is remarkable."

"Th-thank you. Director-nim!"

"Haha, I'll give you my contact info. Let's grab a meal sometime and talk about projects."

He also received a lot of business cards. And talk of projects.

"Director-nim? If you don't have your next project lined up, would you sit down with us and discuss your follow-up work??"

"Ah, I'll be in touch!"

Even talk of agencies. That is, management companies.

"Director Kwon Sung-min-nim, are you currently signed with an agency?"

"Huh? No?"

"Then please contact us. We'd really like to take care of you, Director-nim."

But it was all so overwhelming that Director Kwon Sung-min just kept accepting the greetings and business cards as they came.

'This is insane!!'

It was just as overwhelming for Yoon Da-yeon and An Ji-hee. Many domestic and overseas figures were expressing interest in them. That the work was good, that the acting was incredible. Among them, the standout was the man who had just approached Yoon Da-yeon.

A gaunt-looking man wearing round glasses. He was Director Yu Gil-tae, one of the country's masters.

"Da-yeon-ssi."

Director Yu Gil-tae. At the master's arrival, considerable attention from those nearby converged on them, and Yoon Da-yeon, uncharacteristically, tensed up slightly.

"Director Yu Gil-tae-nim."

"Hm, today's hectic, so I'll just say a brief hello. Your performance in Condensation was impressive."

That Director Yu Gil-tae was praising her acting? Yoon Da-yeon didn't show it on the surface, but...

'What? I totally want to brag!'

Inside, she was setting off fireworks.

"...Thank you."

"I'll be in touch. Let's definitely meet again."

At the loaded words, Yoon Da-yeon swallowed.

"Meet again?"

It was at this moment that, watching Director Yu Gil-tae walk away, Yoon Da-yeon caught sight of Kang Jae-ha.

"Ah."

Not just Jae-ha, but General Manager Kim Dae-yong was with him too. Probably to look after Yoon Da-yeon and An Ji-hee in this crowded situation. Kang Jae-ha, heading toward Yoon Da-yeon and An Ji-hee, who were surrounded by people, glanced at the man passing by him.

It was the master Director Yu Gil-tae.

Soon, Jae-ha recalled Yoon Da-yeon's 'Deja Vu'. That scene of Director Yu Gil-tae giving Yoon Da-yeon a screenplay.

'Soon, then.'

Director Yu Gil-tae had probably watched 'Condensation' here at BIFF, and was clearly captivated by Yoon Da-yeon's performance in it.

'Is he writing the screenplay right about now? Or is it already finished?'

Just as Kang Jae-ha turned his gaze back to the front. He suddenly froze. His vision changed and a sense of déjà vu welled up. 'Deja Vu' had triggered. The subject was Director Yu Gil-tae.

『A studio with several cameras. In the filming zone the cameras were pointed at, two people sat. One was a woman, and the one talking with her was Director Yu Gil-tae.

"Director-nim! Congratulations! The atmosphere for the opening week of your new film is excellent, isn't it? 3 million admissions in the opening week!"

"Thank you."

"Everyone around me is already raving, saying 'as expected from a master director...' The public too."

Director Yu Gil-tae appeared to be filming an interview.

"What's the most recent work that left a deep impression on you??"

"Hm. It was 'Condensation', which I saw at the Busan International Film Festival."

"Ah! 'Condensation' was the talk of the town."

After finishing the interview, he greeted the reporter and stepped out of the filming zone. Staff were waiting for him. That was the moment.

"D-Director-nim!!"

A man, his face full of panic and confusion, came rushing urgently toward Director Yu Gil-tae. The man, who seemed close to Director Yu Gil-tae, spoke gravely.

"Just now, the l-, the lead actor Woo Jeong-cheol-ssi's... drug scandal has just broken."

"What... did you say?"

The instant he heard, Director Yu Gil-tae's face crumpled.』

That was where it ended. Jae-ha's vision returned to realty again. Kang Jae-ha, having returned to the bustling hall, turned his head slightly. A faintly surprised look in his eyes. Watching Director Yu Gil-tae's retreating back as he walked away, Jae-ha murmured to himself.

'It's about the new film he's preparing right now.'

According to 'Deja Vu', the incident breaks out after the film's release.

'Woo Jeong-cheol on drugs, huh...'

Kang Jae-ha turned his gaze toward Yoon Da-yeon. She was waiting for him.

'Woo Jeong-cheol, well, his reputation isn't exactly great.'

He'd have to take measures in advance.

Next morning, the 4th. Netflix Korea office.

It wasn't strange.

"Ughhh, there are so many, seriously!"

"Apparently it's twice what was expected."

"Twice!"

"That level's actually decent. The one I just read had the protagonist's name spelled differently every other page."

-Flip.

-Flip, flip.

"Hmm..."

After letting out a low hum, he suddenly smiled. A smile loaded with satisfaction.

"Overall there's a slightly rough feel to it, but it's so entertaining that doesn't matter at all. The pacing's well-controlled, the development's clean. Above all... how to put it, the characters are alive. Like they're raw?"

"But......"

-Writer: Jong-man

Jong-man? The Executive Director rubbed his chin.

"Jong-man. A real name? Or a pen name?"

For a moment, the image of a rough-faced supporting actor flashed through his mind, and he chuckled.

"The actor I know, Oh Jong-man... no, no. There's no way."

The 6th, Busan. Daytime.

The location was a tax accountant's office on the Busan side. The faded sign read 'Tax Accountant Cha Chung-hyeon', and the office wasn't very spacious. To put it kindly, it was simple. To put it badly, there was nothing to it.

How to put it, the atmosphere wouldn't be out of place if the place had shut down.

The only person in such an office was a single man. Sitting at a desk slightly cluttered with utility bill receipts and the like.

"......Huaam... smack."

The yawning man was zoning out staring into the air. With downturned eyes and a shaggy mop of hair he hadn't bothered with for days. The aura around the man was indolent.

He was Cha Chung-hyeon, the man Lee Chan-hoo had found.

On Cha Chung-hyeon's face as he sat there blankly was a feeling that boredom and resentment coexisted. Honestly, that was exactly how he felt inside too. He was killing time here, but deep down, resentment lay buried.

The place was so quiet that the honking of cars outside the office came through clearly.

After a long stretch of being lost in daydreams and idle fantasies, Cha Chung-hyeon opened his mouth.

"Maybe I'll head home."

There was nothing to do here anyway. Then, perhaps because even that became too much trouble, Cha Chung-hyeon let out a sharp sigh.

"Even if I go home there's nothing to do there... I'll just sleep here today. Yeah, that's the best."

Talking and answering himself, Cha Chung-hyeon fixed his eyes on empty space again. A somehow hollow look. It wasn't strange. This 'Tax Accountant Cha Chung-hyeon' he was sitting in was on the verge of shutting down.

The customers had already dried up completely, but he wasn't even taking the occasional one who showed up.

There might have been some reason behind it.

As he was quietly killing time, Cha Chung-hyeon suddenly thought about the other world.

'......I had fewer worries over there. Felt less drowsy. The Commander was a bit scary, though.'

After thinking about the other world for a while, Cha Chung-hyeon shuddered slightly at the Commander's scariness, then recalled other happy memories.

'That nap under that goddamn huge tree was sweet as honey, though.'

Soon, Cha Chung-hyeon got up and pulled the last canned coffee out of the small fridge. He'd cut the power, so the canned coffee was lukewarm. Maybe because the canned coffee felt a lot like himself, Cha Chung-hyeon let out a sort of hollow laugh.

-Swoosh.

He sat back down. Just as Cha Chung-hyeon took a sip of the canned coffee he'd cracked open. Suddenly, the sound of the tax accountant's office door opening reached him. But Cha Chung-hyeon didn't turn around, didn't spare a glance, just kept drinking his coffee and said carelessly.

"We're closed... go somewhere else."

"......"

But the presence remained. Cha Chung-hyeon scrunched his brow, sighed, and muttered inwardly.

'Ugh, what's with this guy? I said leave. What a pain.'

Still seated, he took another sip of canned coffee and turned his body. The instant he saw the customer standing at the door, Cha Chung-hyeon spat the coffee he was drinking out in a spray. Hacking and coughing.

The customer, on the other hand. No, Kang Jae-ha looked at the coffee Cha Chung-hyeon had spat out on the floor, then chuckled.

"That's a bit of an excessive welcome. Are you really that happy to see me?"