Chapter 1

100 Million Audience Producer

Chapter 1

-100 Million Audience Mobilized by National Actor Yu Haejeon!

Occasionally, and only very occasionally, actors who could gather 100 million audiences did appear.

However, a producer who could gather 100 million audiences?

There was none, absolutely none.

There were several reasons for this.

One was the relatively small size of the Korean film market, and another was the short lifespan of film producers.

Ah, in case there might be any misunderstanding, let me clarify.

When I say "short lifespan" here, it doesn't mean that the average lifespan of film producers as a profession is particularly short.

It means that the period during which a film producer can survive in the fierce and challenging film industry is very short.

A producer might achieve box office success with one or two films, but it is extremely difficult to consistently produce successful films.

This is the real reason why a producer who could gather 100 million audiences has not yet appeared in South Korea.

Impossible!

Everyone firmly stated that a producer who could gather 100 million audiences could not appear in South Korea.

However, I am a producer who challenges what everyone says is impossible.

My name is... Lee Kyuhan.

"Life is going wrong. My daily life is still peaceful. I live without any particular issues."

The film "Manwol," in which Kim Beomjun, the male lead, delivers his monologue, came to an end.

"What the hell!"

As the end credits began to roll, Lee Kyuhan turned his head to glare at director Kim Daeman, who was sitting next to him.

The pure production cost was 30 billion won. Including the promotion costs, the total production cost of the film "Manwol" was nearly 40 billion won. However, the film "Manwol," which was first revealed at this VIP screening, was a commercial film in disguise, but essentially an art film.

If I had to describe it, it was standing on the boundary between commercial and art films.

Of course, Lee Kyuhan did not have any prejudice against art films.

Art films strive to depict human psychology to the extreme.

Such art films had their own value.

However, there was no 40 billion won art film in the world.

"Director Kim."

"Yes, sir."

"The film... the film... "

He was so stunned that he couldn't even speak properly. As Lee Kyuhan stammered, Kim Daeman said,

"The film turned out pretty well, don't you think?"

Lee Kyuhan glared fiercely at Kim Daeman.

After the film ended, the reaction at the screening was, as Lee Kyuhan had expected, cold.

Even as the end credits rolled, there was no applause from the audience. Instead, deep sighs could be heard from various places.

Was it because they felt guilty?

Kim Daeman had been avoiding Lee Kyuhan's gaze by turning his head since then.

"Why is it different?"

"What do you mean?"

"The film I saw at the production screening and the film now are very different."

"Well, I made some changes. The film seemed too cheap, so I made some adjustments during the post-editing process."

Lee Kyuhan bit his lip tightly.

"You should have reported to me first."

"I'm sorry."

'Sorry? If this is just sorry, it can be solved?'

This was not a problem that could be resolved with a simple apology.

'The film I saw at the production screening wasn't this bad.' It was far from being a masterpiece as a commercial film, but it didn't have the strong smell of an art film like now.

However, after Director Kim Daeman's changes, the film became a complete disaster.

'It's over!'

Lee Kyuhan rubbed his face with both hands to hide his flushed face.

'I want to cry. No, I want to die!'

As Lee Kyuhan was in a state of despair, Kim Daeman hurriedly stood up.

"I have an interview, so I'll go first."

'You made the film like this and are going to do an interview? You heartless bastard!'

Lee Kyuhan barely restrained himself from grabbing Kim Daeman's collar and shouting.

He knew that there were many journalists present at today's screening.

'Should I just run away?'

Lee Kyuhan sighed deeply and thought.

The reason Lee Kyuhan entrusted the direction of this film "Manwol" to the rookie director Kim Daeman was that the short films he had directed were quite impressive.

One of his works, which was submitted to the internationally renowned Toulouse Short Film Festival, even made it to the final round and won the jury prize, demonstrating his solid directing skills. Therefore, entrusting the direction to the rookie director Kim Daeman was a risky venture.

On the other hand, Lee Kyuhan was a seasoned producer in the film industry.

"Manwol" was the sixth film he had produced.

He had held press screenings for each of the films he produced, and Lee Kyuhan had always attended them.

Thus, he could roughly gauge the success or failure of a film by the reactions of the journalists and film industry professionals at the screenings.

However, this cold reaction was something Lee Kyuhan had never experienced before.

'What should I do?'

Lee Kyuhan felt as if the world was darkening before his eyes.

"Manwol" was a film into which Lee Kyuhan, who had been struggling with the poor performance of his previous films, poured all his efforts, hoping for a comeback.

He had begged his junior colleagues working at investment companies, setting aside his pride, and finally secured the investment. When the production costs were insufficient during filming, he even took out a bank loan using his house as collateral to cover the costs.

'If this film succeeds, everything will be resolved!'

It was this conviction that led him to take out a mortgage on his house and pour everything into the film. However, after seeing the film "Manwol" revealed for the first time at the VIP screening, Lee Kyuhan's hope was cruelly shattered.

'Will it even attract 100,000 viewers?'

The break-even point for the film "Manwol" was approximately 1.3 million viewers.

It was impossible to even guess how much loss he would incur.

'Let's not give up yet!'

After a moment, Lee Kyuhan shook his head.

"Manwol" had not even been released yet.

No one, except for God, could predict whether a film would be successful.

It was too early to give up and despair before the film was even released.

"Let's see it through!"

Just as Lee Kyuhan was resolving himself and standing up,

"Kyuhan!"

Yang Donghyun, the top producer in South Korea with a track record of producing two films that each attracted 10 million viewers, was approaching Lee Kyuhan.

"Senior! What did you think of the film?"

After asking, Lee Kyuhan swallowed hard.

Yang Donghyun's success in producing two 10 million viewer films was not due to luck or coincidence.

It was a matter of solid skill.

Especially, his intuition in predicting the success or failure of films was well-known in the film industry.

'What kind of answer will I get?'

Knowing this, Lee Kyuhan was extremely nervous as he waited for the answer. Then, Yang Donghyun said,

"Don't be too disappointed. There will be another chance next time."

"Ugh, bitter."

Was it because life was too bitter?

Sitting alone in an empty street stall, drinking soju like water without any side dishes, Lee Kyuhan muttered to himself,

"Senior, you were wrong."

The words Yang Donghyun said at the "Manwol" screening were wrong.

Lee Kyuhan had no more chances.

Due to the continuous poor performance of the films he produced and the box office failure of "Manwol," Lee Kyuhan was branded as an "inept and failed producer."

And the South Korean film industry was not a warm place that would give a failed producer a chance to make a comeback.

On the other hand, Lee Kyuhan was not wrong.

The final audience count for "Manwol" was 25,511.

Lee Kyuhan's prediction that it would not even attract 100,000 viewers was spot on.

"Why is it that sad premonitions are always right..."

Lee Kyuhan, humming the lyrics of a popular song from the past, scratched his head.

It wasn't just his prediction that "Manwol" would not attract 100,000 viewers that came true.

"Manwol" would fail, the company would go bankrupt, investors would call and curse him, turning their backs on him, the house he used as collateral for the loan would eventually be taken by the bank, and his wife would demand a divorce, seizing this opportunity.

These were the future scenarios that came to Lee Kyuhan's mind after the VIP screening of "Manwol."

And they all came true with almost no deviation.

Lee Kyuhan had signed the divorce papers his wife had handed him today, and from tomorrow, he would be harassed by loan sharks due to his unpaid debts.

Of course, Lee Kyuhan did not sit idly by, doing nothing to prevent the worst-case scenario.

He had visited each investor, begging on his knees for one more chance, and had asked friends for help to pay off the loans.

However, no one offered him a helping hand.

"Life is going wrong!"

From a promising young producer to an inept and failed producer.

The evaluation of Lee Kyuhan had changed drastically.

"Ugh!"

After drinking another glass of soju, Lee Kyuhan felt someone's gaze on him and turned his head. It was the owner of the street stall who had been looking at him since before.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Well...

"I have the money to pay for the drinks."

As Lee Kyuhan searched his pockets, the owner said,

"I was just worried you might not be able to pay."

"Is that so?"

"Whatever the reason, don't die. If you grit your teeth and hold on, good days will surely come again."

Lee Kyuhan smiled bitterly at the owner's words.

The cliché that good days will come if you grit your teeth and hold on was comforting. However, it was clear that his current situation was precarious enough for the owner to worry about him committing suicide.

At that moment,

"Kyuhan!"

Hwang Jinho entered the street stall. Hwang Jinho was also a film producer.

Janghu was the only person in this industry who Hwang Jinho believed would not turn his back on him.

And Janghu and Hwang Jinho had one thing in common.

They were both failed film producers.

"Hey, senior."

"Why didn't you answer my calls?"

"My battery was dead. How did you know I was here?"

"I've been looking for you all day."

"Wow! Why?"

"I wanted to buy you a drink."

"A consolation drink?"

"Yeah. You've bought me many consolation drinks before, haven't you?"

"This consolation drink life is tiring. When will we get to celebrate with a drink? Or can we even have a celebration drink?"

Lee Kyuhan, smiling, filled Hwang Jinho's glass with soju.

"Eventually, we will."

"When?"

"Soon. So... don't lose hope."

They repeatedly filled and emptied their glasses in heavy silence.

"Let's stop now. We need to meet investors tomorrow."

"Right."

Lee Kyuhan replied.

Of course, there were no investors who would meet a failed producer, but he answered this way to reassure Hwang Jinho.

"See you later. Don't drink alone. If you want to drink, call me."

After Hwang Jinho left, Lee Kyuhan took out a envelope from his pocket.

It was something Hwang Jinho had put in his pocket before leaving.

When he checked the envelope, there were two 50,000 won bills inside.

100,000 won.

It wasn't a lot of money, but Lee Kyuhan felt a lump in his throat when he saw the 100,000 won in the envelope.

He knew how much this meant to Hwang Jinho, given his difficult financial situation.

"Senior, I'll pay you back. I'll definitely pay you back with interest."

Lee Kyuhan shouted in the direction Hwang Jinho had gone, though he was already out of sight.

Left alone again, Lee Kyuhan sighed.

He couldn't see any clear way out of his current situation.

"I want to live again."

He laughed bitterly and shook his head, muttering to himself.

There was no way such an opportunity would be given to him.

"What will I do tomorrow?"

The fact that he had nothing to do made Lee Kyuhan even more miserable.

"Let's just go to sleep!"

Lee Kyuhan staggered as he moved.