Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All-Chapter 699: Haze Audition (1)

[Everyday V13]

[Date: March 2, 2021]

-10:00 p.m. [NEW. Jung Miso]

-< Entertainment Everywhere> Child actress J makes repeated mistakes in front of senior actors.

-(Entertainment All Times) A child star who failed to live up to her name. Her repeated mistakes during the audition drew frowns.

(Meeting notes: Miso repeatedly made mistakes at the audition site for Haze. A countermeasure is needed.)

The afternoon audition for Mirinae's Haze was scheduled to be held as a public audition with reporters invited. This was to publicize the revival of the drama production company Mirinae and promote the project.

'But Miso making repeated mistakes at that audition?'

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't understand. Miso was currently learning acting from both Choi Ji-Yung and Yoo-Jin, improving by the day.

Just as I was pondering why this was happening, I heard Kang Gam-Chan's voice by my ear. "Chief Jung. What's wrong? What's the matter?"

'Oh right, we were in the middle of a meeting.'

I lowered my phone and replied, "Oh, I was surprised by how strong the advertisement offer for Deok-Bae came in. I apologize."

I used Deok-Bae's recent popularity as an excuse and sat back down. Since Miso's audition was at 1 p.m., I needed to focus on this meeting about Hoop Entertainment's future for now.

"Alright. Also, even though I know you'll handle Deok-Bae well, give it a little more attention. The early stages of an actor's debut are the most important for elevating their status."

"Yes, sir."

After giving his instructions, Kang Gam-Chan looked around. "All employees must finish subscribing to the employee stock plan by the end of this week. Also, since media management becomes more important from now on, the PR Division will be promoted to a PR Office. So first, Team Lead Sung Min-Suk!"

Sung Min-Suk responded, "Yes, Mr. Kang."

"The PR Office will become several times busier than it is now. Can you handle the position of Chief?"

"Of course. You can leave it to me."

"Okay. Then make sure to monitor public opinion until the IPO. Stocks are particularly influenced by it."

When listing shares on the stock market, having many positive stories was key. That way, potential investors would believe in the company's growth and put in their money.

Sung Min-Suk reassured, "Don't worry. Even if it means losing sleep, I'll take care of it."

Currently, Hoop Entertainment was riding a wave of positive stories centered around the celebrities under Division Jung, so Sung Min-Suk was brimming with confidence.

Then, he added playfully. "Also, since the company has a star talent agent, it's been easier to boost our name value. Lately, I've been having some fun using Chief Jung's name."

'No wonder.'

I had noticed my name popping up in articles a lot, and now I knew the culprit.

Kang Gam-Chan looked between me and Sung Min-Suk and burst out in loud laughter. "Hahaha. Team Lead Sung. No, I should call you Chief Sung now. Keep it up just like that."

"Yes, sir!"

After that, Kang Gam-Chan also gave instructions to the teams managed by the Gwanwoo Entertainment side to generate positive news and avoid negative press. That's when it really hit me that Hoop Entertainment was right on the verge of going public. However, Vice President Kim Gwan-Woo and his team, who barely bought any employee stock, looked absolutely devastated.

Just when I thought the meeting was over, Kang Gam-Chan called my name. "Oh, and Chief Jung."

"Yes?"

"I heard Deok-Bae's ads this week alone exceeded one and a half billion won, huh?"

"Yes. That's just the first round of contracts. We'll sign another round worth about the same later this week."

"Good job. Also, fifty million won will be wired to you today. Check your account."

Even in times like this, Hoop Entertainment made sure to properly reward hard work. As always, I felt that Hoop Entertainment was a company worth staying at.

"Thank you, Mr. Kang."

"Alright. Then everyone, you are all dismissed!"

The moment the meeting ended, I immediately left the meeting room. Especially on a day like today when the company just announced its IPO, I couldn't let an article about Miso's acting controversy be published.

***

Inside a Japanese restaurant in Apgujeong, Park Sang-Gon's daughter, Park Sang-Ah, was waiting for someone while still wearing sunglasses indoors. An extravagant Japanese meal was set on the table, but she was only drinking cold iced water.

Crunch.

Feeling on edge, Park Sang-Ah chewed the ice in her mouth.

Click.

At that moment, the VIP room door opened. Two of the four major shareholders of Hoop Entertainment, Chairman Lee Sang-Pil of LSP and President Park Hyung-Moon of True Angels, entered.

As soon as they walked in, they tilted their heads in wonder.

"Where's Mr. Park...?"

"Ms. Sang-Ah, where is your father?"

Since Choi Man-Sik had been detained in Japan, Lee Sang-Pil and Park Hyung-Moon had been visibly anxious. Without Choi Man-Sik, they couldn't confront Choi Eun-Tae.

Then they got a message from Assemblyman Park Sang-Gon, Korea's closest candidate for the next president, asking to meet. Without hesitation, Lee Sang-Pil and Park Hyung-Moon responded to the summons. But when Park Sang-Gon wasn't there and instead his daughter, Park Sang-Ah, was waiting, they were clearly flustered.

When the two men showed their disappointment, Park Sang-Ah furrowed her brow. "I'm here as my father's representative, and also as Mr. Man-Sik's proxy. So how about you two fix your faces unless you're trying to ruin my mood?"

At her sharp tone, Lee Sang-Pil and Park Hyung-Moon hurried to hide their displeasure. She was not only the daughter of a heavyweight politician tipped to be Korea's next president, but also the future wife of Myeongdong's viper, Choi Man-Sik.

On top of that, the art gallery owned by Park Sang-Ah was a known money laundering hub for political and business circles. She wasn't someone they could afford to take lightly, even without her father or fiancé's backing.

"Ahem..."

"Well then, let's hear what you have to say."

Once Lee Sang-Pil and Park Hyung-Moon sat down, Park Sang-Ah glared at them and spoke. "Before I deliver my father's message, I'll let you speak with Mr. Man-Sik first."

"You were able to reach him?"

Without a word, Park Sang-Ah pressed the call button.

Beep.

As soon as the call connected, Choi Man-Sik's voice came through.

-Mr. Lee, Mr. Park.

Lee Sang-Pil urgently asked into the phone,

"President Choi, what happened? We heard you went to Japan. Why couldn't we reach you?"

-Things got complicated. But there's only one thing I need to say. Please delay Hoop Entertainment's IPO by any means necessary.

"You want us to delay the listing? How?"

-Trigger some bad press.

"B-but won't that drive down the value of our shares?"

Worried more about the price of their own shares, they protested, and Choi Man-Sik sighed.

-Think of it as a step back to move two forward. I'm stuck in Japan right now and I have no way of stopping the employee stock or the IPO. In situations like this, we have to delay the listing by causing some bad news and shake up the opposing white knights so they pull out. In the meantime, we can grow our numbers.

Lee Sang-Pil and Park Hyung-Moon looked uneasy, but they couldn't say no. After all, they had already picked their side.

"What exactly do you want us to do? Be specific."

-First, mobilize broadcasters and newspapers to tarnish Hoop's image. Focus on the artists or actors managed by Chief Jung, if possible.

"But haven't you already tried that and failed? Besides, it's not like we're professionals at that sort of thing..."

-This time will be different. And from now on, discuss the details with Ms. Sang-Ah sitting there. She's better at this than I am.

It was rare for Choi Man-Sik to acknowledge anyone, but he acknowledged Park Sang-Ah.

"Alright, got it."

-And I'll try to return to Korea... as soon as I can.

Choi Man-Sik didn't tell them he had ordered a hit on Kang Eun-Gi, because opportunists like Lee Sang-Pil and Park Hyung-Moon might change sides.

-I can't stay on the phone long, so I'll hang up now.

"Yes, right."

Click.

As the call ended, Park Sang-Ah closed her phone and looked at the two men. "From now on, please follow my instructions."

Lee Sang-Pil made a displeased face. "You're telling us to become the limbs of a girl still wet behind the ears?"

"Normally, maybe not. But it's election season. The moment I make a move, I'll become a target for opposition reporters who tail my father. And this is by my father's orders."

When Park Sang-Ah said she was helping with her father's by-election campaign, Lee Sang-Pil fell silent. "Oh. R-right. I forgot. I'll fully cooperate. Please put in a good word with your father."

Park Hyung-Moon quickly chimed in too. "Y-yeah, I'll do the same."

Park Sang-Ah gave them both a disapproving look, then issued her first order. "The first place we'll act is at today's Mirinae audition."

"Mirinae? Why there?"

"Because a lot of Hoop Entertainment actors are auditioning there. Get the press or celebrities involved and stir things up. The target is Miso. I've already taken care of one celebrity, but you two need to work the media."

Then Park Hyung-Moon spoke. "But still, she's just a kid..."

At that moment, the glass in Park Sang-Ah's right hand shattered against the wall.

Crash.

Park Sang-Ah started yelling at the two men. "Are you two out of your minds? We're about to lose the company and you're sitting there being complacent? And if this goes wrong, do you think my father will let you off the hook?"

Shocked, Lee Sang-Pil and Park Hyung-Moon forgot their pride and apologized. With her eyes wide and unblinking, Park Sang-Ah looked every bit the crazy bitch.

"Alright, alright! We'll do as you say. Just calm down."

"Y-yeah. I'll contact the media people... Just calm down."

Park Sang-Ah breathed heavily. After a moment, she seemed to calm down slightly and glared at them. "If either of you thinks about jumping ship now, you're making a huge mistake. We live together or die together. Those are the only two options. Got it?"

Park Sang-Ah's eyes were even more vicious than Choi Man-Sik's, who was called the viper of Myeongdong.

At that moment, one phrase popped into Lee Sang-Pil's head. Buchang Busu—when the husband sings, the wife follows.

But at the same time, another thought crossed his mind. Jung Yoon-Ho had now risen to a level where even people like Choi Man-Sik and Park Sang-Ah were moving against him, and they themselves had to join in just to bring him down.

***

The drama Haze set to audition soon was a Korean-style fantasy thriller centered on the mysterious island of Yeonmudo, where a thick fog rolled in once a month.

Yeonmudo was a rarely visited island. One week each year, it got covered in an impenetrable fog known as Great Haze. During that time, the islanders never left their homes at night. This was because on the night of Great Haze, ghosts of the drowned rose from the sea and came ashore. So during that one week, even fishing guests weren't allowed.

But on that very day, a large fishing boat in the vicinity suffers engine failure and docks on the island. Afterward, the passengers on the boat become possessed by spirits and begin killing each other.

The mysterious beings living on the island also become involved. Two spirits, mistaken as gods, dwell on Yeonmudo: God Illyeong; who appears as a child, and God Wolryeong; who appears as an old man.

God Illyeong represented good, while God Wolryeong embodied evil. God Illyeong protected those who arrived on the island, and God Wolryeong possessed people and used them as sacrifices.

Today's Haze audition would include roles for both spirits, the tourists on the boat, and the islanders. Miso was scheduled to audition shortly in front of reporters, playing the scene partner of God Wolryeong. However, Everyday had warned that Miso would show poor acting in front of the press.

So I ran straight to Mirinae about fifty meters from Hoop Entertainment. Going up to the third floor where Mirinae was located, I saw President Han Yoo-Sik, Chief Producer Hyun Jong-Yeon, scriptwriter Yoo Tae-Pyung, and PD Oh Sang-Do in the meeting room discussing the audition.

I greeted, "Hello."

Han Yoo-Sik turned around, startled. "Oh? Why are you here so early? There's still forty minutes left."

The current time was 12:20 p.m.

"I have something I need to tell you."

"Oh? Is something wrong?"

"Could we talk in private for a moment?"

"Hmm... Alright."

Han Yoo-Sik told the staff to head up to the fifth-floor audition hall first, saying he would join them shortly.

After greeting the staff, I asked Han Yoo-Sik, "What time are the reporters arriving today?"

"They should be here in about ten minutes. Usually, they come about thirty minutes before the audition starts to grab their spots."

That meant it was already too late to ask them not to come.

"Then... is it possible to hold the God Wolryeong audition without Miso today?"

The actors auditioning for the role of God Wolryeong were experienced and skilled. Technically speaking, the audition could proceed without Miso, the scene partner.

However, Han Yoo-Sik looked troubled. "Why? That might be difficult. Honestly, the reporters are coming to film Miso. They're not really here for the actors auditioning for God Wolryeong. If Miso weren't in it, they probably wouldn't have shown up at 1 p.m.. They'd have come around 3 when Ju Yung-In, Sung Gyu-Hwan, and the supporting actors audition."

In other words, even though the veteran actors auditioning for God Wolryeong had solid resumes, they lacked the media appeal that Miso had.

"I see..."

"Miso isn't sick or anything, right?"

"No, it's nothing like that."

"Then I ask that you let her participate."

Given the situation, I had no other choice. This was the drama's first introduction to the press. If a bad article came out, it could derail the entire production before it even began. So the only option was to eliminate the cause of the acting controversy.

I nodded. "Understood."

"Alright, then. Good luck. I'll go up to the audition hall first."

"Yes, sir."

After exchanging farewells with Han Yoo-Sik, I began to think. No matter how hard I thought about it, I couldn't figure out why Miso would be caught up in an acting controversy.

That's when I got a call from Team Lead Yeon So-Hee.

-Mr. Jung, we've arrived at Mirinae.

It was perfect timing. This would be the right moment to check Miso's acting first.

"Come to the meeting room on the third floor, not the fifth. I'm at Mirinae now too."

-Yes, sir.

I ended the call and immediately headed for the third-floor meeting room.

***

After attending the entrance ceremony, Miso arrived wearing a red-toned dress. She had chosen something similar to what God Illyeong would wear.

"Uncle Yoon-Ho~~!" Miso greeted me brightly.

I smiled. "Hey, Miso. I'm sorry I couldn't make it to your entrance ceremony today."

Miso shook her head. "It's okay! I'm a grade schooler now, so I can handle it!"

She answered maturely saying she was fine, but there was no way she wasn't a little sad.

"Then let's have something yummy for dinner, okay? My treat."

Miso's eyes widened. "Really?"

"Of course~"

"Yay!"

Miso started shaking her hips and doing a little butt dance.

'So much for being mature.'

Still, when Miso was in a good mood like this, her acting usually rivaled Yoo-Jin's. Something definitely felt off. Either way, I had to check first.

"Miso, could you show me the scene you've been practicing?"

"Okay! But you have to be my scene partner."

"I've never acted before, though."

"Uncle Yoon-Ho, you had sword fights and everything in Hwaranjeon!"

Miso was all excited and praised my acting as she waved her hand like a blade.

'Well, if I play her scene partner, I can probably spot the issue more clearly.'

I nodded. "Alright."

I decided to play God Wolryeong and picked up the tablet.

"Then Miso, go ahead and start."

"Okay~"

Miso let out a long breath and quickly slipped into the role of God Illyeong.

But the moment we began acting together, I realized why today's schedule entry had appeared.