Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All

Chapter 448: Hwangryong Film Association (2)

"Mr. Jason has security camera footage of Oh Ji-Seok's assault. I'll let him know you're on your way, so go see him right now."

Yesterday, Oh Ji-Seok had caused a scene at JJ Studio and grabbed Jason Cho by the collar. I had stepped in to rescue Jason from Oh Ji-Seok.

When I left the studio with Lee Tae-Poong, Jason Cho promised to provide the security camera footage whenever needed.

-Really? Then I'll head there immediately.

I also gave Han Yeon-Hong the contact information of former talent agents who had worked with Oh Ji-Seok. If their testimonies about his assaults were added, Oh Ji-Seok wouldn't be able to hold out any longer.

Han Yeon-Hong sounded distressed earlier, but now seemed excited.

-Thank you, Mr. Jung.

Han Yeon-Hong had been an adversary, but now she was becoming a steadfast ally. After hanging up with her, I called Jason Cho to explain the situation.

-Don't worry. I'll hand over the edited security camera footage when the reporter arrives.

Jason Cho readily agreed and also added that he would only edit the footage to include the moments where he was assaulted.

However, a concern suddenly crossed my mind. If the footage were leaked, not only would Oh Ji-Seok face consequences but actors from Ace Entertainment might stop visiting JJ Studio, causing its revenue to drop.

I couldn't let Jason Cho, who had stepped up to help me, suffer any losses.

I suggested, "Jason, I don't think Ace Entertainment's actors will continue to go to JJ Studio, so I would like to compensate you, if you don't mind."

-Compensate? What do you mean?

"I could assign JJ Studio to handle formalwear for all my actors under Team Jung during award ceremonies and events. That would include Tae-Poong, Haru, Go Jae-Soo, Sung Ji-Hwan, and Deok-Bae."

Jason Cho's voice lit up with excitement.

-R-really? Are you serious?

"It may not compare to Ace Entertainment's requests, but..."

-Not at all! This is more than enough!

Then Jason Cho paused for a moment before continuing.

-Actually, Mr. Jung, I think I should be the one offering compensation. If you'll allow it, I'd like to sponsor outfits for your actors.

JJ Studio was known for not sponsoring celebrities as they believed selling their outfits at full price was key to maintaining their brand's value. But Jason Cho was willing to break that rule to show his gratitude. Although I initially declined his offer, Jason Cho remained adamant.

In the end, I accepted his proposal.

"Alright. In return, I'll make sure to promote your studio beyond expectations."

-Thank you, Mr. Jung.

After ending the call, I contacted Han Yeon-Hong again to tell her it was time to completely expose Oh Ji-Seok.

***

A day passed and it was finally the day of Hwangryong Film Association.

The moment I woke up, I saw an article by Han Yeon-Hong.

[Oh Ji-Seok's Studio Staff Assault Incident!]

(Video) Another scene of Oh Ji-Seok committing assault!

-According to the studio president, Oh Ji-Seok is known for habitual assaults, not only on talent agents but also on staff.

-The footage shows Oh Ji-Seok hitting staff members and even other talent agents from Ace Entertainment.

(Comments)

-What a complete trash bag, Oh Ji-Seok!

-How is someone like him even nominated for the Best Actor award at Hwangryong Film Association?"

-He shouldn't even be a candidate.

-Ace Entertainment, as usual! They should only defend what's defensible!

-To all those who said yesterday that Oh Ji-Seok would never cause trouble and threatened to screenshot my comments—where are you all now?

Even Ace Entertainment couldn't control the situation anymore. Especially since today was the day of the Hwangryong Film Association, Oh Ji-Seok's name remained the top trending search term all day.

I set my phone down and stretched with a refreshed mind. "Goodbye, Oh Ji-Seok."

Oh Ji-Seok didn't need to worry about winning an award. What he needed to worry about was getting arrested.

I quickly finished my shower, sat at my desk, turned on my tablet, and reviewed today's schedule carefully.

The day of the festival wasn't only busy for nominees. Yoo-Jin, Miso, and the actors from Team Jung, who would be seated in the audience, also needed to be fully prepared.

Just then, I heard Haru coming out of the bathroom.

"Haru, are you done?"

"Yes, hyung."

Hearing Haru's response, I walked into the living room. Haru was drying his wet bobbed hair with a towel.

Excited about attending Hwangryong Film Association, Haru hurried me along."The rest can be done at the salon. Let's go quickly, hyung."

He seemed thrilled even though he wasn't winning an award but just sitting in the audience.

I asked, "Haru, do you want to act in movies someday?"

Haru hesitated for a moment and glanced at me, but eventually nodded. "Yes. I like dramas, but after watching Tae-Poong hyung's acting, I got a little envious."

Haru had developed an ambition to become a film actor after watching Lee Tae-Poong's performance in Beyond the Boundary.

That's when one project suddenly came to mind: Happy & Happy.

It was a coming of age movie about a high school boy raising a dog named Happy who befriends a visually impaired girl with a guide dog also named Happy. Together, they experience growth, tears, and laughter.

The film eventually reached one million viewers before the regression. Its script, quality, critical reviews, and audience reactions were all excellent, but it failed at the box office.

This was because, shortly after its release, a video surfaced on a large online forum showing the male lead, Ahn Sung-Soo, bullying a disabled friend during his school days.

Netizens criticized Ahn Sung-Soo harshly and the distributor immediately pulled the film from theaters upon learning of the incident. It was a prime example of why casting decisions should consider an actor's character as well as their talent and appearance.

I decided to recommend Haru for this project. "Don't worry. I'll make sure you stand on stage at next year's Hwangryong Film Association."

"Really?"

"Yes, let's aim for the Rookie of the Year award."

Haru exclaimed, beaming with excitement. "Awesome!"

Seeing Haru so happy put me in a great mood as well. "Come on, everyone's waiting. Let's head downstairs."

"Okay, hyung,."

I calmed the excited Haru down and headed downstairs. Yoo-Jin and Miso were already awake and bottle-feeding Lucky and Mimi's puppies on the first floor.

But Yoo-Jin's outfit caught my attention.

"Yoo-Jin, what's with those pants...?"

Yoo-Jin was wearing baggy floral pants, completely inappropriate for someone who would soon be gracing the red carpet in a beautiful dress.

Unlike my concern, Yoo-Jin looked utterly nonchalant. "Oh, Mrs. Jung bought these yesterday. Aren't they pretty?"

She explained that the puppies spilled milk so much while drinking that she had prepared accordingly.

"Don't you think the floral pattern is cute? Oppa, take a picture and post it on Instargem for me."

"Absolutely not!"

Though Yoo-Jin seemed satisfied with her look, it was a photo that would haunt her forever if posted online.

"Fine, whatever."

Yoo-Jin pouted. Then she asked as if she had just remembered.

"Oppa, do you think Deok-Bae can take care of Happy and Love?"

"Deok-Bae is too busy with acting training, but his younger brother Han-Ul will take care of them. Han-Ul's already memorized books on raising dogs and cats."

"Wow, he's seven years old and already memorizes books?"

"Yeah, he's pretty smart."

Deok-Bae's younger brother Han-Ul was exceptionally intelligent. After getting his birth registered and gaining access to libraries, he devoured books as if making up for lost time, practically memorizing every book he read.

At that moment, Miso glanced at me hesitantly. "Uncle Yoon-Ho, does that mean you like Han-Ul more than me?"

"Huh? Miso, what are you talking about?"

Stroking Baekseolgi's neck, Miso replied in a dejected voice. "I'm not that smart..."

I had been holding Injeolmi but I immediately handed the puppy to Haru and approached Miso. Kneeling in front of her, I gently pushed her stray hairs behind her ear and spoke kindly. "Why would you think that? Miso, you're a genius at acting."

"A genius at acting?"

"Yes, a genius at acting! A genius in looks! Hmm... and a genius at Powertuff Girls! You know everything about them, don't you?"

Speaking firmly, I watched as a bright smile spread across Miso's face.

"Yeah!"

"So no more thinking like that from now on, okay?"

"Okay!"

I patted Miso's small head and ruffled her hair gently. "Since the puppies are all fed, we should head to the salon. Do you want to change clothes?"

"Yes!"

Yoo-Jin and Miso responded cheerfully and quickly went upstairs to change.

They came back down in no time, and we headed to the salon to prepare for Hwangryong Film Association.

***

It was now 7:50 p.m. We arrived at the Pyramid Hotel in Incheon, where Hwangryong Film Association was being held.

Yoo-Jin, Miso, and the actors from Team Jung were escorted to their seats by Lee Yung-Jin and Jung Sang-Bong.

Meanwhile, Lee Dae-Ho and I brought Lee Tae-Poong to the hotel entrance in a Binz Springer to drop him off at the red carpet.

A long red carpet stretched out from the Pyramid Hotel entrance and actors exited their vehicles one by one for their photo sessions. As a result, the cars formed a long line in front of the entrance.

After about 30 minutes of waiting, it was finally our turn.

Lee Tae-Poong sitting next to me looked at me and said, "Hyung, I'll head out now."

"Alright, Tae-Poong. Remember, you're a nominee for Best Actor at Hwangryong Film Association tonight. Walk confidently with your shoulders back!"

"Got it."

The car in front of us pulled away and Lee Dae-Ho slowly advanced our vehicle. The Binz Springer stopped at the red carpet.

I instructed, "Mr. Dae-Ho, open the door."

On my signal, the side door of the Springer slid open.

The moment the door opened, Lee Tae-Poong stepped out of the car with a smile.

The sound of camera shutters clicking and flashes bursting filled the air. Lee Tae-Poong straightened his shoulders and confidently walked down the red carpet, showcasing the stunning tuxedo tailored by JJ Studio.

My chest swelled with emotion. Before my regression, Lee Tae-Poong had been gossiped about as someone who relied on sponsorships. Now, he was standing tall on his own and walking the red carpet with pride.

"Mr. Dae-Ho, close the door and let's move."

"Yes, Mr. Jung."

As much as I wanted to linger and watch, we had to leave since the car behind us was waiting. Watching Lee Tae-Poong greet his fans, we left the red carpet.

After parking the van in the SBC lot, we used the staff entrance to reach the audience area.

At that moment, a young female staff member suddenly grabbed my arm. She had a short bob haircut and a familiar face.

It was Jo Ah-Yeon who would be an AD in the entertainment department at SBC and handle music shows about five years from now.

"Hello, Ms. Jo Ah-Yeon."

"Huh? You know me?"

"Of course. You've been working here as an AD for a year already, haven't you?"

"Wow, this is amazing! You really do remember all the broadcast staff names, even the first years."

PDs and ADs directly employed by broadcasting stations were rarely fired. As a result, I often ran into familiar staff from my past but all with younger faces.

I asked, "But what's the matter?"

"Oh, right! I almost forgot!" @@novelbin@@

Jo Ah-Yeon hurriedly called a PD on her wireless intercom.

"Mr. Yang, I found Mr. Jung. Yes. Okay, I'll bring him to the control room. Yes, understood!"

Finishing her conversation, Jo Ah-Yeon grabbed my hand firmly. "Please come with me."

"Huh? What's this about...?"

"Let's talk on the way since it's urgent. Our PD is in a rush."

When PD Yang Doo-Soo, the general director of Hwangryong Film Association, called for me, there was no choice but to follow.

"Mr. Dae-Ho, please go to Yoo-Jin and update her on the situation. Take care of things there."

Lee Dae-Ho answered, "Understood, Mr. Jung."

Leaving things in Lee Dae-Ho's hands, I headed to the control room with Jo Ah-Yeon.

As we ran to the control room, I asked why they were looking for me. "What's going on?"

Jo Ah-Yeon panted heavily and answered, "It looks like the first segment's special stage might fall through."

The first segment of Hwangryong Film Association was scheduled to feature a duet performance of Kang Ha-Na's 'New Beginning' by Oh Ji-Seok, the lead actor of Mist Horde, and Ju Yung-In, who had returned to Korea specifically for the event.

However, it seemed Oh Ji-Seok had decided not to attend the festival after all.

Jo Ah-Yeon explained, "Up until lunchtime today, he was claiming the allegations were false and said he'd definitely attend. But he's gone off the grid after his police questioning earlier, he's gone off the grid."

"What about a replacement? Don't you usually have someone lined up for situations like this?"

Since Hwangryong Film Association was being broadcast live, they typically prepared backup performers for the special stage. But apparently, no preparations had been made this time.

"We didn't have one ready this time. So Mr. Yang begged Oh Ji-Seok to show up, but things ended up like this."

They had tried to find other actors but concluded that asking Kang Ha-Na, the original singer, would be the best option.

I checked the time; it was 8 p.m. The first segment's special stage was scheduled for 9:30 p.m. While there was still an hour and a half left, Kang Ha-Na wasn't supposed to arrive until 10:30 p.m. for the second segment.

This meant she hadn't even left Seoul yet.

Cherry Blossom, who was scheduled to open the second segment, hadn't departed either. Since we were at the Pyramid Hotel in Incheon's Yeongjongdo area, it was impossible to make it in time by car.

As these thoughts crossed my mind, we arrived at the control room. The place was in chaos with the live broadcast set to start at 8:55 p.m.

Yang Doo-Soo, a fifteen year veteran PD, was cornering Lee Chan-Dong. "Chief Lee! What the heck is this? Yesterday, you swore up and down that Oh Ji-Seok's assault claims were baseless. Were you lying to me? Huh?"

"No, that's not it, Mr. Yang..."

Yang Doo-Soo bellowed and his voice boomed through the room. "If that's not it, then what? Do you intend to sabotage my stage? Even if he's in a detention center, you should've gotten him out! How does him disappearing make any sense?"

All Lee Chan-Dong could do was only apologize repeatedly.

At that moment, Jo Ah-Yeon shouted, "Mr. Yang! Mr. Jung is here!"

Yang Doo-Soo turned his head with his unkempt hair. He left Lee Chan-Dong behind and strode toward me.

Grabbing my arm firmly, Yang Doo-Soo immediately began pleading. "Team Lead Jung, please save me!"

I asked, "How can I help?"

"There's no one to perform the duet with Ju Yung-In for the first segment's special stage! Can you find someone to do it? Is it possible?"

A sly smile began to creep across my face upon hearing Yang Doo-Soo's desperate plea.

He had the look of someone willing to do anything to get what he needed.