Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All-Chapter 767: Her Decision (1)

"These scripts were set aside because the lead roles are already tentatively cast. They're currently under investment review."

In the film industry, once a director and screenwriter finished their script and sent it to a production company, the production process began. The production company selected scripts they liked and recruited suitable actors. If there was no director attached yet, they brought one on board too.

Once a script had both a director and actors lined up, the production company submitted it to an investor-distributor like LT Entertainment for what was called an "investment review." An investment review was, simply put, a request to a company like LT Entertainment to finance the production of the film.

The twenty scripts Lee Eun-Joo had just brought over were all in that investment review phase. In other words, they already had tentative leads attached. Nevertheless, if those leads weren't officially confirmed, then there was still a window of opportunity.

Films could take anywhere from a year to a decade to get made. Most actors simply read a script and expressed interest. Only after the investors committed did everyone formally meet to sign contracts.

"If nothing's been confirmed, then we still have a chance. Would it be alright if we look through these?" I asked.

One of the two scripts I had been thinking about was right in front of me. I couldn't just give up now.

Lee Eun-Joo hesitated. "If by chance one of these appeals to you, you'll have to visit the production company and ask to replace the lead... Are you okay with that?"

"If the script is right, I'll get down on my knees and beg for the role if I have to."

It was never easy to ask for a lead role to be recast, because it meant humbling yourself and accepting that you're the underdog. There was also the risk of clashing with the actor already attached. But for the sake of my talent, I would do whatever it took. This was Yoo-Jin's first film, after all.

"I've never met anyone like you, Mr. Jung—someone who throws themselves into the fire for their actors. Most people with your reputation wouldn't dream of bowing their heads like that..."

"The only pride I care about is Yoo-Jin's success."

"You really are something else. Alright then, go through both the original ten and the twenty under review. See if anything clicks."

"Thank you."

"I'll leave you to it for now. Call me once you find something."

Lee Eun-Joo stepped out of the script room to tend to work. Now it was just Yoo-Jin and I, alone in the quiet space.

Tap.

Yoo-Jin took off her hat and asked with concern in her eyes, "Oppa, isn't it hard to replace someone who's already been cast?"

"Well, it depends."

"Depends?"

"From script to screen, movies take anywhere from two to five years. Sometimes even ten. Honestly, most of those attached actors probably have no clue what stage their projects are in. They just staked a claim. Don't worry too much about it."

"Really?"

"Really. Even after investment review, 90% of these get canned anyway. Just focus on picking something you want to do. I'll handle everything else."

Yoo-Jin gave me a bright smile. "Just choose one for me, oppa."

"Huh?"

"You know better than me what'll be a hit."

Yoo-Jin trusted my judgment completely and was leaving the decision in my hands. Judging by that grin, she had probably intended that all along.

"Alright. Then... is there a genre you're especially drawn to?"

"Hmm... the kind that makes me a ten-million-ticket seller?"

'Seriously, what kind of genre is that?'

I held back a laugh and asked, "Why? You want to make a ton of money?"

Yoo-Jin shook her head with a playful smile. "Nope."

"Then what?"

"I just want to be an actress my fans can be proud of."

The 20th episode of Hwaranjeon, which aired yesterday, had reached a whopping 33.9% viewership ratings. Thanks to that, Yoo-Jin's already skyrocketing popularity had soared even higher. She said that, if only to meet her fans' expectations, her first film had to be a success.

"Alright, fine. I can't promise ten million tickets, but I'll pick a film that'll succeed."

Yoo-Jin grinned mischievously. "Nope. I said pick one that'll make me a ten-million-ticket star~"

'Didn't hear that. Nope. Not listening.'

I ignored Yoo-Jin's teasing and began scanning the scripts. I skipped the initial ten and focused on the twenty scripts under investment review. I set Because I Love You aside and reviewed the remaining nineteen.

The first was Nine-Tailed-Fox Mother, but that would barely draw two million viewers. The second, Love Song, changed actors five times and didn't get made for another five years. The third, Wind, Wind, got scrapped when the producer had an affair with the lead actor, prompting the producer's wife to storm the set threatening arson. The fourth, Grace's Sea, collapsed when the line producer ran off with the company's funds.

Script by script, I looked through each title, production company, director, and cast, piecing together memories from before the regression. Most either never made it past funding or bombed at the box office.

By the time I got to the last one, She Was Beautiful still hadn't shown up. Just then, I noticed a familiar script.

'Wait. This is...'

[Reborn Idol]

-Production Company: GOGO Film

-Director: Go Gi-Dong

-Lead Actor: Park Eun-Bin (Leader of the idol girl group Petite More)

-Status: Under investment review

It was the same production company, same director, and same lead actor as the pre-regression She Was Beautiful. Titles often changed between script and final release, so I immediately flipped to the first page to check the content. The moment I read it, I clenched my fist. There were some differences from what I remembered, but it was that very script—She Was Beautiful.

'Found it!'

***

I now had both scripts I'd been looking for. However, choosing them too quickly might make Yoo-Jin suspicious, so I kept flipping pages to buy time.

Meanwhile, I stole glances at her to see what Yoo-Jin was up to. She was prepping to take selfies for Instargem, having slipped on thick-rimmed glasses to strike poses like a stressed college student cramming for exams.

Click. Click.

She took a selfie with a serious face, then a stern look. She even furrowed brows, acting out the whole mood.

'Looks like someone's a little bored.'

I ended up finishing my review earlier than expected.

"Yoo-Jin. What are you doing?"

Yoo-Jin looked up, then gestured around the script room. "Doesn't this place feel like a university library? I was pretending to be a college student prepping for finals."

Since she had jumped into work right after high school to raise Miso, I wondered if she had any lingering feelings about studying.

"Do you... want to go to college? Just say the word and I'll make it happen."

Yoo-Jin stared at me like I had just said something totally random. "Oppa. They say a dream is most beautiful when it stays a dream."

"Ah. So that's code for 'I don't want to study,' huh?"

Yoo-Jin clutched her chest, wincing dramatically. "Ugh... brutal truth bomb..."

Something about Yoo-Jin's expressive face made my chest flutter a little. Maybe it was being alone with her in this library-like script room.

Just then, Yoo-Jin's expression suddenly lit up and she looked straight at me. "Huh? Oppa, why are your cheeks so red? Did reading all those scripts overheat your brain? I mean... you weren't exactly a model student either, right?"

"Ma'am. Please, go easy with the facts."

Yoo-Jin giggled as she brushed her hair back, and I let out a small laugh too before sliding two script booklets across to her.

"I think these two are the best picks."

Seeing Because I Love You and Reborn Idol, Yoo-Jin took a deep breath. "I'll read them and let you know."

Yoo-Jin adjusted her posture and dove into the scripts in the blink of an eye.

Rustle, rustle.

The soothing sound of turning pages brushed past my ears. Enjoying a rare moment of peace, I watched Yoo-Jin, excited to see which script she would choose.

The sunlight pouring through the script room's window lit up her profile, and I couldn't help but think that Yoo-Jin looked more beautiful than any actress I had ever seen.

***

Sniffle. Sniff.

Yoo-Jin burst into tears while reading Because I Love You. The story of a mother caring for her teenage child suffering from ALS was far too heartbreaking to read without crying. When I quietly offered Yoo-Jin my handkerchief, she blew her nose with a dramatic honk.

'Go ahead. Use it all you need.'

Yoo-Jin held the handkerchief tightly in her hand and couldn't collect herself for a while even after finishing the script.

"Oppa... I can't do this one. It's too painful. I don't think I could act through something that heavy."

For the first time, Yoo-Jin turned down one of the scripts I had chosen. However, I didn't mind. Even if it was bound for success, I would never force Yoo-Jin to take on something she didn't want to do.

"That's fine. We'll just go with something else."

"Yeah. I'll read the next one right away."

"Huh? Don't you want a break?"

"Nope. I need something to shake off this feeling."

"Got it."

Yoo-Jin took a deep breath and dove into the next one.

Flip, flip.

Yoo-Jin's fingers moved quickly as she turned the pages of Reborn Idol. While she read, I took a closer look at the script myself.

'Hmm... it's a bit rough.'

Compared to the She Was Beautiful script I remembered from before the regression, this draft was lacking. Key scenes were missing and it felt incomplete. Yet that was normal. Scripts went through multiple rounds of rewrites and edits before production. I was certain there would be time to fix it.

Yoo-Jin's face broke into a smile as she read, giggling here and there. "Pfft! Hehe. Ahem."

I didn't even need to ask. Yoo-Jin's debut film was already decided. A little later, she shut the script with a soft tap.

"Oppa, this is so~ much~ fun!"

Yoo-Jin's eyes, still red from crying earlier, were now filled with laughter.

"Then you want to go with this one?" I asked.

"Yes!"

"Alright."

I immediately called Lee Eun-Joo at LT Entertainment.

-I'll come down right now with Mr. Shin.

Click.

Lee Eun-Joo hung up. A short while later, she returned with Shin Jong-Ki.

Upon seeing the script we chose, Shin Jong-Ki frowned slightly. "I'm sure it'll be fine if it's a Chief Jung pick, but... isn't this a bit too light for the great Jung Yoo-Jin?"

I shook my head. "While the overall tone is light, the story carries emotional weight. And more importantly, I've got a feeling about it."

Shin Jong-Ki's expression shifted. "Oh yeah? How strong?"

"I'm telling you, this one smells like a blockbuster."

"Heh~ Should've just led with that. If those words came from you, then I've got nothing to worry about."

"You can count on me, sir."

"Right. But Director Go Gi-Dong's riding high off back-to-back hits these days. His ego's probably off the charts. Are you sure you're ready to deal with that?"

Director Go Gi-Dong, though still a relatively new director, had scored big right out of the gate with Never Give Up, Taekwondo Boy. Then came Young CEO Bong Pil-Doo and My Beautiful Moments, both surpassing 3.5 million viewers each. He was on a winning streak.

However, he was also the classic type—strong with the weak, weak with the strong.

"If it's Yoo-Jin, that ego won't stand a chance."

"True. If the great Jung Yoo-Jin agrees to be his lead actress, he'd better rein it in." Shin Jong-Ki laughed heartily for a while, then gave a nod. "Alright then. Should I just have him come here?"

"No. We'll go to him. If we summon him while asking to change the lead, he'll definitely get defensive."

"Hmm... then when you do meet, feel free to tell him the investor is on board with the casting change."

That was as good as publicly backing the switch.

"Thank you, sir."

"Don't mention it."

After a polite bow to Shin Jong-Ki, I called Go Gi-Dong directly.

"Hello, is this Mr. Go Gi-Dong? This is Chief Jung Yoon-Ho from Hoop Entertainment, managing Actress Jung Yoo-Jin. I was hoping to discuss Reborn Idol if you're not too busy..."

-Busy? No way! Even if I were, I wouldn't be now. Come right over!

The moment Yoo-Jin's name came up, Go Gi-Dong responded exactly as I expected. He was ready to meet immediately.

I thanked Shin Jong-Ki and took Yoo-Jin straight to GOGO Production.

***

We arrived at the 22nd floor of R Tower, one of the top buildings in Gangnam. As we stepped off the elevator, a cute stuffed gorilla holding a welcome sign greeted us.

[COME AND GO~]

"Mr. Go's taste never fails to surprise me."

"He seems like a fun person."

"Oh, he's fun all right."

But despite his bulky build, the guy was sharp. At that moment, we heard a voice welcoming us.

"There you are~"

With his cropped sporty hair and broad shoulders, Go Gi-Dong strode down the hall, waving with his right hand.

Yoo-Jin and I bowed quickly. "Hello, Mr. Go!"

Go Gi-Dong pulled us up and immediately grabbed Yoo-Jin's hand. "The great Jung Yoo-Jin wants to be in my film? Hahaha. Guess I really made it, huh?"

Yoo-Jin smiled as they shook hands. "I read the script at LT Entertainment. It was so good that I lost track of time."

Go Gi-Dong flared his nostrils in delight. "Hahaha, thank you! Come on, let's head in."

He marched ahead to the meeting room. Inside the glass-walled meeting room, we sat down together while Production Chief Seo Chae-Yeon brought over some THE Best coffee and placed it before us.

"Please enjoy."

It was the same coffee I had blended with Jinseong Foods.

Once Seo Chae-Yeon sat down, Go Gi-Dong got straight to it. "If Miss Yoo-Jin is taking the lead, then it's a huge win for me. Honestly, everyone turned this script down for being too light, so it defaulted to Park Eun-Bin."

When people said a script was light, they usually meant it lacked depth. Nevertheless, it didn't mean it wasn't entertaining. That kind of criticism often just exposed the bias of so-called art film snobs.

"In that case, would changing the lead actor be an issue?" I asked.

Go Gi-Dong shook his head. "Not at all. I'll just have to resubmit for an investment review through LT."

Things were moving easier than I had expected.

"Mr. Shin said if Yoo-Jin takes the lead, he'll invest right away."

"Really~? The famously picky Mr. Shin said that?"

"Yes."

"Hehehe. This is starting to feel good already."

His mood was so upbeat that I asked cautiously, "Mr. Go, do you have a writer handling revisions for the script?"

"No, why?"

'Perfect.'

If he was handling rewrites himself, this was my chance to subtly plant some ideas for the key scenes.

"There was one thing I wanted to ask while reading the script."

"Shoot."

"In Scene 8, where the female lead gets into a car accident—she hits the guardrail, flips over, and crashes under the bridge, right?"

At that moment, Go Gi-Dong raised his hand. "Hold on. Let me check the script." He turned to Seo Chae-Yeon. "Chief Seo, bring me the script."

"Yes, here it is," Seo Chae-Yeon handed him a tablet.

Just then, I got a notification on my phone.

Buzz~

[Everyday V13]

[Notification: March 27, 2021 – A new schedule Entry related to Jung Yoo-Jin has been registered.]

When a sudden alert popped up, I opened it without much thought. But what I saw written there about this script was completely absurd.