After Story 125

It was just after 10:40 when he arrived at Gw.a.n.gwon Tower. He ended up arriving twenty minutes earlier than he had originally expected.

Im here to go to the JA Entertainment office, Maru said to the security guard.

Did you forget your employee card?

No, Im visiting because of an appointment. Last time, I was with someone else, but I came by myself this time.

What is your name?

Han Maru.

After he waited for a bit, the guard gave him a visitor card.

You can go up to the 8th floor if you put it next to the elevator. Dont forget to return it once youre done with your business here.

He put the card against the sensor. The elevator came down soon.

He went up to the 8th floor alongside another employee who was waiting. With the hallway that had the elevator in the middle, JA looked like a trading company to the left and an entertainment agency to the right. It seemed that president Lee Junmin was trying his hand at various other types of business other than just entertainment in this life as well.

I hope you dont feel too upset that Im making you visit. Next time, Ill make the time to visit myself.

Not at all, please call me any time.

Maru sat down on the chair Jumin pointed to.

In other agencies, leaders of teams or departments would be doing this work. But Im slightly different. I go through every little thing myself. Later on, Ill leave all the decision making, even down to choosing a movie scenario up to you, but for now, everything will proceed through me, even for the little events. So you should get used to it.

I might miss the overprotection if I have to work by myself later.

If you so wish, I can keep going through them for you. If you so wish, that is.

Ill be satisfied with asking for some opinion if necessary.

Junmin smiled and continued,

As for being a guest at the radio program, I have nothing more to say. I heard your segment and you sounded like a natural. Looking at you, it feels like you can do anything, huh?

Im sure you dont like people being humble, so if I may say, I can do it even if I were to be the main DJ.

Instead of just having the confidence to, you are actually declaring that you can do it?

Was I being too arrogant?

No, I just thought about it for a sec, if there was a radio slot thats empty. But I guess I should leave that to the side since theres not a suitable place. If an actor wants to do the radio, they have to have career experience, but you arent there yet.

Yes, Im aware.

Junmin put down some paper to the left. It seemed to be an informal contract from a TV station. Most of the time, contracts proceeded verbally, but the TV station seemed to have sent a contract over because of the name value of JA.

For the radio, youll be a fixed guest once a week. The broadcast will be for about 30 minutes, and the pay is 80 thousand won.

80 thousand won?

Why? Too little?

No, I was thinking it was more than I expected. I thought it would be 50 thousand at most.

Junmin scratched his chin.

So you know your stuff. The producer seems to have taken a liking to you as she said shed pay 30 thousand more. Maybe Suyeon had an influence on this.

I feel thankful.

You feel thankful for just 80 thousand won?

I live in a world where the minimum wage is not even 5 thousand, so getting 80 thousand for just half an hour is definitely something I should be thankful for. That takes care of my rent, I guess. No, wait, it might not be slightly enough after going through revenue split.

He made a disappointed face.

I wont touch a single penny from that 320 thousand won so take it all.

Am I receiving a privilege?

Its a great privilege, so continue to do well in the future.

Junmin picked up the paper underneath the contract.

Ever since Suyeon became the DJ of that radio, the program has been getting a lot of good commercials. The listening rate is good, and the audience is on the younger side. Theres no harm in being a fixed guest, so if you like it, you can keep doing it.

Ill do it.

Junmin nodded.

That takes care of the radio, but the problem is the TV show. Do you want to do this?

For now, I think its an opportunity. It can be a good stage for a newbie who doesnt have anything to show.

While the viewing rate was lower than other concurrent programs, it was still a TV entertainment show. There were many people who would call producers and writers just to have their faces shown in the entertainment shows of major TV stations, so there was no reason to refuse an opportunity like this.

Honestly speaking, I like the strategy of differentiation. Although the era has changed and actors do appear in TV shows, they still have a face to upkeep. If were talking about one of the top entertainment shows of the three major TV stations, it might be worth thinking about, but for this one, even if you do go, it wont become an issue and youll be suffering instead.

Maybe.

Why dont you reduce your appearance instead? If youre facing financial difficulties, Ill give you enough help, so well start with the good things. If its a friendly image, you can open up a social network account, Junmin said, crossing his legs. Honestly speaking, this show is a low-quality one. Even if youre new to the industry, you have the JA t.i.tle on you. Look above you. Is there a senior who lacks anything?

Youre saying they all climbed up to that position thanks to your consultations?

Junmin responded by shrugging.

Actors do need to be good at acting, but whats more important than that is the planning. The times are changing. Its becoming harder and harder to climb up to the top using talent alone. Were living in an era where even if you lack some skills as an actor, you can be a popular actor.

Maru did not respond and kept listening to Junmins words. While he didnt entirely agree, it was not something he could simply deny. Above all, the signs looked strange. He had to refrain from answering at this point.

Im always of the same mind. Actors need to be high-cla.s.s. To compare them to alcoholic drinks, they should be aged fine wine. There are many actors like soju too. However, soju will always be sold at soju prices.

What do I have to do to become an actor like fine wine?

As I said before, well go with a strategy of differentiation. Im going to choose the works of famous directors and writers to give you roles and, at the same time, leak some of your background through the media. You have the talent, so Im going to focus on that. Theres an image you showed through the drama, so Im sure youll receive attention in no time.

What after that?

Ill look for roles that suit your image. I wont fit you to the character, but the character to you. The acting will become easier as well. Because Ill simply get roles like that. Youll enhance your image by playing similar characters. You just have to show above-average acting skills.

Then after that, the company will do marketing with that again, leaking my name through various media outlets.

Junmin put on a satisfied smile.

Only actors who have worked in theaters will become the blue chips of Chungmuro and eventually national actors. How many people do you think fit that criteria these days? Actors are no different from idols now. The financial and planning power of the agencies are what make a good actor.

So people are made into actors, not grown as one.

Im sure you know this. Actors cannot be cla.s.sified as artists anymore. At this point, its just a form of business that happens on an individual level. There are many directors and writers that JA has ties with. If you appear in their works and we move the media through JAs background, itll be hard for an actor to fail.

In other words, you can pretty much make anyone succeed as an actor?

Not just anyone. No matter how good the planning is, if you multiply zero by anything, the result is still zero. Someone on your level, however, we can expect some good results. Its a low-risk solid business.

Then do I just have to play the roles in the works youve selected?

For the time being, yes. Once the business item known as Han Maru has been polished somewhat and your image has been consolidated, it wouldnt matter what you do. An actors image will not be broken so easily once its been solidified. Youll continue to get work to do.

While you, president, will make profit in various ways.

Thats how it is.

Maru looked at the contract and Junmin alternately before speaking, Do you really think so?

Do I not look like it?

Not at all. I dont think you think like that. First of all, if you prioritized business above everything else, you wouldnt have brought me here. There should be many other people more suitable than me when it comes to taking the route that you just told me. Honestly, my appearance is not good enough to attract everyones attention in one go.

Really? I very much like it though.

Im not saying I dont like it. I very much like my appearance as an actor. Regardless if I play a beggar or a wealthy man, I can fit the role. If I had a fair face, there shouldve been roles I would have a hard time doing, but this face doesnt really differentiate.

Junmin looked at him as though telling him to go on.

Among the businesses youre running, Im sure the entertainment agency does not play a big portion. This is pure speculation on my part, so I may be wrong.

Does that make a difference?

It does. Im not too knowledgeable, but theres nothing as important as time when it comes to businessmen. Using precious time to talk about an 80 thousand won contract goes against the words you just said.

I just made the time to persuade you. Didnt I say? Youre a good business item.

If you really looked at actors as business items, then theres no need to go through this tedious process. All you had to do was just notify me. There are many people who can become ingredients. Going back to the beginning, if other businesses took up the minority portion, its strange that youre doing the planning yourself, president. Its not that JA doesnt have actors. It has some of the top people in the industry. Anyone can tell that making use of them is much more profitable.

So Im doing something useless, youre saying? Junmin asked back.

If you really saw actors as business items, then yes, you are doing something useless. However, you shouldnt be seeing actors as simple items. Though, this too, is a speculation on my part.

What do you think I think of actors then?

Actors are actors. Im absolutely not saying that money is not important. It is important. However, if I were to ask if you had to choose between money and a good actor, I think that you would take the side of an actor.

Because that was how Lee Junmin had always been. Of course, this last life had a lot of changes, so Junmin might have changed as well. However, the circ.u.mstances told Maru that Junmins words were not genuine.

He was such a logical man, so following the designs he said through his words allowed him to get a grasp on things. Although this too might be an error and a misunderstanding, he didnt think that the person known as Lee Junmin was so half-baked.

Also, I have the confidence to make a living even if you dont plan things out for me. I became an actor out of my love for acting, not because I wanted to become rich quickly. Though, of course, itd be great if I could earn a lot.

Youll be successful as long as you do what I tell you to do.

I have the confidence too. Also, I want to become an actor rather than a business item. Call me petty, but I want to keep trying as an artist.

But you do know that actors are ultimately products, right?

Yes, I do. However, other people treating me like a product and me becoming a product myself are two different things. Ill be in the market as a product, but I do not plan to change whats inside me.

Then I guess theres no helping it. Youll have to go to this uninteresting TV show.

Youre giving up on the differentiation strategy?

You said you want to become an actor like soju, so what can I do about it? Also, you dont want to change whats inside you. I cant put soju in a wine bottle and sell that. Thats illegal.

There was a phone call. It was Junmins phone. Junmin got his jacket after receiving the call.

The manager who will be in charge of you will be coming soon. Wait a bit here. You can talk to him about the specifics.

Maru said to Junmin who opened the door to leave, President, is there an actor who has become fine wine in JA?

Junmin turned his head around, his foot half out the door.

Everyones so old-fas.h.i.+oned, so theyre in a basket full of soju bottles. They really wont listen. I said I can sell them well as good products, but they all like being actors instead.

Junmin then walked off with a smile. His voice could be heard through the closing door.

But you know, I could never understand the taste of wine.

Tap - the door closed. Maru smiled and leaned back against the chair.

This person hadnt changed, whether it was lying without batting an eyelid or the process of checking whether someone was his own person.

I guess Im a member of the family now?

He stretched his arms out. He felt like a migratory bird that returned home after a long time. He felt comfortable.