Chapter 104: Important Between Manager and Celebrity, Compatibility (2)
TL: emptycube / ED: Isleidir
“Weren’t you in the movie ‘Pet Shop’?”
When I asked, the actors’ gazes fell on me. Someone looked like he was recalling whether there was a similar title among the independent films he was cast in, and another person gave me an odd look, as though asking me what I was suddenly saying.
Then there was the man sitting at the very back.
The man who was slowly fanning himself with a wrinkled script paused.
So he was.
Even though it was a long time ago, I faintly remembered a scene. He gave a strong impression despite wearing a grey school uniform and having a tidy haircut that covered the tips of his ears. His arm barely managed to stretch out from a rusty grating.
“That’s right. How interesting. Not a lot of people know that film because it flopped.”
The man said while resuming to fan himself. The wind tangled his messy hair even more. His long eyes were revealed through his hair. Like diluting water with water, his eyes were dull and tepid.
I was the one who was surprised. Should I say it was like I discovered a trace from the past?
“I was watching a ton of movies when it released because it was just before my mandatory military service.”
“You have good eyes. Nam Jiyoon, this guy, he didn’t appear much in the film.”
A different man who wore a baseball cap joined in.
So his name was Nam Joyoon.
He really didn’t appear a lot. I remembered him as a supporting role. One who stood out more than the lead.
“He was to my liking.”
“Ah, I respect your tastes. If he was to your liking, then I can see why you remember him.”
“His atmosphere. His atmosphere as an actor was to my liking.”
The man wearing a baseball cap seemed to have a joking personality as he giggled.
When I looked to my side because I felt an itch on my cheek, Kim Taewoong, this guy, was looking at me while covering his mouth. I had an ominous premonition that ‘respecting your tastes’ would be plastered in the group chat with my friends.
“Bastard, today, to learn about your hidden preferences…”
“I like U-turns, should I do it?”
“Don’t, don’t. I’ll shut up.”
After shutting him up, I drove down the unpaved road again.
When I looked in my rear-view mirror, Nam Joyoon, seemingly unsatisfied with fanning himself, had opened the window halfway and enjoyed the breeze. Maybe it was because I first saw him on the big screen, but it felt like I was seeing him through a screen rather than in reality.
What sort of projects did he work on after Pet Shop? Seeing as I didn’t see him in theaters since, it seemed he was only cast in independent films.
He had a unique atmosphere and his looks and body weren’t bad so why didn’t he become popular?
While I was immersed in my thoughts about Nam Joyoon, the other actors were complaining about their companies and contracts.
“I was in a 5-year contract, but the company did nothing for me. They didn’t get me a good scenario or role. They just took a commission whenever I got a minor role after chasing down auditions. Bastards.”
“Big companies are absolutely better. They have a lot of connections and get a ton of scenarios.”
“Who doesn’t know they are good? I just don’t get scouted by them even though I can work like a bull.”
“Companies are companies, but you also need to get a good manager. Even though I was in a company, I had to hand out my own business cards because my manager wasn’t good at business. Hearing what other people have told me, it seems like chiefs lobby to get roles for you.”
It felt like I was watching women chatting at the stream while doing laundry, though two of them were men. The only one who didn’t join their conversation was Nam Joyoon. It seemed he wasn’t interested in talking about companies as he simply enjoyed the breeze.
The actors were discussing a few companies.
“W&U doesn’t seem like they are interested in discovering rookie actors, right?”
I unconsciously let out a dry cough.
“They are probably busy looking at top stars and A rank actors on the free-agent market.”
“I think they are more focused on developing idols than actors these days since the profitability of developing idols is good relative to the investment. I don’t like W&U as much these days since it seems like they’re getting greedy for money.”
“Yeah, right. You’re going to sign if they scout you.”
“Hey, of course, I am.”
“Still, W&U is still virtuous. There are quite a few who they discovered and raised to A rank. Just look at Seo Jijoon, who blew up recently, and they pretty much took care of Lee Songha as a rookie.”
“Isn’t her manager the one who took care of her, instead of the company? It seems that way when reading the articles.”
I had a feeling, but the actress with long hair brought me up in the end.
Kim Taewoong, who was fully aware of the company I worked for, kept alternating his gaze between me and the back. Glossing over their gossip about companies, I had no intention of eavesdropping a conversation about me in real time. I was already tired of monitoring comments about me on the internet.
Just as I was about to take off my sunglasses before the mood became weird…
“Is this your first time in this industry? That’s totally media manipulation. W&U keep bringing him up because he does well on entertainment shows. If they package it like that, it becomes a good story and Lee Songha’s image becomes better too.”