Chapter 4

"Please trust me once. I'll stake my life on the success of this movie."

"Are you confident?"

"I am confident."

Of course, Lee Gwan-han was confident. He already knew that 'Three Generations of Family History' would be a huge hit.

'Almost there!'

Having gauged Park Tae-hyuk's inner thoughts from his expression, Lee Gwan-han decided to deliver the final blow by asking for Kim Mi-ju's help.

"Ms. Mi-ju, have you read both scripts?"

"Yes." "If you were the audience, which movie would you watch?"

"I wouldn't watch either."

Kim Mi-ju answered with her usual cool expression.

"Why wouldn't you watch them?"

"'My New Partner' is boring, and 'Three Generations of Family History' has a title that's too tacky."

"Too tacky?"

"Sort of like a human drama show?"

Hearing Kim Mi-ju's additional comment, Lee Gwan-han asked another question.

"Would you go to the theater if we changed the title?"

"Well, it was somewhat interesting."

Kim Mi-ju's role in the company was not just handling accounting and miscellaneous tasks. She also served as a general public evaluator for scripts. And her eye for scripts was very accurate.

Park Tae-hyuk, who knew this, had been listening to Kim Mi-ju's evaluation while pretending not to.

"Brother, did you hear Ms. Mi-ju's evaluation?"

"It was somewhat interesting, right?"

"Brother, you know that 'somewhat interesting' is high praise from Ms. Mi-ju."

With his hands respectfully clasped, Park Tae-hyuk, who had been conflicted, finally made a decision.

"Let's give it a try."

"Okay. A man's word is as good as gold."

"A man's word is as good as gold?"

"Don't change your mind later."

"Got it."

Finally, having successfully persuaded Park Tae-hyuk, Lee Gwan-han rejoiced inwardly. However, it was too early to celebrate because something more important remained.

"Brother, let's renegotiate the contract."

Lee Gwan-han suggested.

Hearing this proposal, Park Tae-hyuk showed reluctance.

"Why are you suddenly talking about the contract? I know you need money, but I'm in a tight spot too. So, get the investment quickly..."

"How could I not know your situation? That's why I'm suggesting this."

"Go on."

"I'll reduce the development budget by half. I'll meet people at coffee shops that offer morning specials and keep the meal expenses under 5,000 won per person, saving as much as possible."

"Can you really do that?"

Hearing the proposal to reduce the development budget, Park Tae-hyuk was delighted.

"Of course."

"What do you want in return?"

"Give me shares."

Hearing Lee Gwan-han's immediate response, Park Tae-hyuk's eyes widened.

"Shares? What kind of shares?"

"The box office revenue share of 'Three Generations of Family History.'"

"Why are you suddenly talking about shares?"

"I said I was confident earlier. If this movie is a hit, I want to make some money too."

"So you want shares? How much?"

Lee Gwan-han immediately held up two fingers.

"2 percent? I can give you that much."

As Park Tae-hyuk said this, Lee Gwan-han shook his head.

"Not 2 percent."

"Then what?"

"Add another zero."

"Add another zero? That's 20 percent?"

Park Tae-hyuk looked flabbergasted.

"Are you saying you'll take 20 percent of the net profit? Is that reasonable?"

A moment later, Park Tae-hyuk raised his voice.

However, Lee Gwan-han shook his head again.

"I didn't ask for 20 percent of the net profit."

After the movie is released, the real settlement begins once the break-even point is reached. From then on, the more audience members, the more profit.

Of course, not all the profit goes to the production company. The investment and distribution company and the production company must share the profit.

The typical profit-sharing ratio is 70-30. The investment and distribution company takes 70 percent, and the production company gets 30 percent.

'What a bunch of bastards!'

Lee Gwan-han showed his animosity toward the investment and distribution company.

The production company is the one that actually makes the movie. The investment and distribution company only assesses the movie's potential for success, invests, and distributes it.

Taking 70 percent of the profit is too much.

An unreasonable profit-sharing structure.

50-50.

That's the fair profit-sharing ratio Lee Gwan-han thought of.

However, he couldn't change the system immediately. And even if the production company received 30 percent of the profit, it wasn't all profit for the production company.

After deducting various additional costs, including the excess development budget from the planning stage, the real profit begins.

This is the net profit of the production company.

That's why when Park Tae-hyuk heard Lee Gwan-han's request for 20 percent of the net profit, he dismissed it as unreasonable.

'This won't be easy!'

Lee Gwan-han scratched his head.

Even when Lee Gwan-han asked for 20 percent of the production company's net profit, Park Tae-hyuk jumped up and showed reluctance.

However, what Lee Gwan-han really wanted was different.

He wanted 20 percent of the production company's profit, not the net profit.

"You know that's an unreasonable request, right?"

"It is unreasonable. Getting 20 percent of the net profit, which is just a tiny amount after all the deductions, isn't satisfying."

" ?"

"So, give me 20 percent of the profit, not the net profit."

Was it too absurd?

Park Tae-hyuk was speechless.

"Hey, do you have no conscience?"

After a long pause, Park Tae-hyuk finally spoke.

As expected, his reaction was very intense.

If there had been something to throw on the table, he probably would have thrown it.

However, Lee Gwan-han was not backing down.

20 percent of the net profit or 20 percent of the profit?

It was a one-character difference.

But this one-character difference made a huge difference in the amount.

"Think of it as an investment."

"An investment?"

"You won't lose anything. In exchange for saving on the development budget, I'm asking for a higher share. You save on fixed costs, and if the movie succeeds, you get more profit. Isn't that right?"

"Listening to you, it seems like that, but it also doesn't seem like that..."

"To be honest, we don't know if the movie will be a hit or a flop. And if it flops, what good is a share contract?"

"That's true."

"I'll really work hard to make sure you make a lot of money from this movie. So, let's rewrite the contract now."

"Right now?"

"Strike while the iron is hot."

Lee Gwan-han hurried to have the new contract written for two reasons. First, there was nothing more certain than a contract. Second, he didn't want to give Park Tae-hyuk time to think it over.

A moment later, Park Tae-hyuk brought the new contract.

"Is it okay?"

After confirming that the special clause stating the payment of 20 percent of the production company's profit was inserted, Lee Gwan-han nodded vigorously.

Thump!

Lee Gwan-han smiled brightly and stamped the contract.

'How much is this exactly?'

According to Lee Gwan-han's memory, the final audience count for 'Three Generations of Family History' exceeded ■ million.

Although it didn't quite reach 10 million, the profit was substantial due to the low production cost.

'At least a few hundred million!'

As Lee Gwan-han finished his rough calculation in his head, Park Tae-hyuk handed him the script for 'Three Generations of Family History.'

"Give it your all!"

"I will do my best."

Having obtained everything he wanted, Lee Gwan-han answered loudly and took the script.

At that moment, a number appeared before his eyes:

-4,582,546.

100 million audience producer