The Genius Manager Who Sees Algorithms 020
— — —
20. What Was Bound to Come, Has Come
— — —
What a stroke of luck.
It was as if a pumpkin had rolled into my lap all on its own.
However, unlike me, the atmosphere inside the conference room was grave.
“It’s just that it’s similar to her previous work, and the fact that it’s a web drama is also a concern.”
“We already explained all of that last time. I told you the script is well-written, didn’t I?”
“But… honestly, it’s basically just being a sidekick.”
“Who’s a sidekick? You’re the lead, aren’t you?”
“Team Leader, you’ve read the script too….”
It seemed Yang Jimin had made up her mind to be firm today.
Though she looked distressed, she slowly voiced her thoughts to the end.
‘She must have been agonizing over this for a long time. Honestly, she’s not wrong about anything.’
Thanks to that, Team Leader Dokgo’s face was souring by the second.
“Besides, I’m not confident in this role. And I don’t have the confidence to do it better than Arin.”
“Why are you so intimidated? You’re the senior, you’re the bigger name, so why on earth are you like this?”
“…That’s exactly why it’s more burdensome. Because we’ll be compared.”
“…….”
“You know my acting is lacking. But the scenes where I face off against Arin take up more than a whole volume of the script. There’s no way we won’t be compared….”
As a top star, she had an excellent ability to read the landscape of a project.
She had accurately sensed the situation that was disadvantageous to her and was trying to avoid it.
Is this why they’re top stars?
It turns out being the best isn’t just about acting well.
“Haa.”
A frustrated Team Leader Dokgo ruffled his hair and looked at me.
“What do you think? You’re in charge of Arin, and you were the one who found this script in the first place.”
Team Leader Dokgo was sending an SOS to me.
However, I had already sorted out my thoughts.
From here on, it was important to lead them to a conclusion without hurting either person’s feelings.
“I think it’s better for Yang Jimin to step down.”
Both of them looked at me at the same time.
One in surprise, the other in gratitude.
“…The reason?”
“I understand the position of the production company, but the points Jimin is worried about are definitely valid. Especially with a short-form web drama, if the reaction isn’t good, it’s a heavy burden for a top star like Jimin. The hit to her image would be significant as well.”
“Hey, didn’t you say you were confident in this script? Didn’t you say it would definitely be a hit?”
“That’s correct. But I think Jimin feels the same way.”
“…….”
Yang Jimin affirmed with silence instead of an answer.
“Even if the project succeeds, the result might not be beneficial for Jimin. It could even have a counterproductive effect by being compared to a junior. I think that’s what Jimin is worried about… am I right?”
Yang Jimin nodded slowly.
Instead, she wore an expression of relief, as if someone had finally scratched an itch.
“Besides, Jimin has already made up her mind, so there’s no point in insisting on her appearance. If an actor’s heart is already elsewhere, there’s no way a proper performance will come out. If we proceed like this, it will be a net negative in many ways.”
“Haa.”
Team Leader Dokgo’s eyes narrowed as he listened.
With a long sigh, he sank back into his chair.
“Are you sure you won’t regret this? This involves your actor, too. It’s Arin’s comeback project.”
“Of course, Arin is important. But right now, it seems we need to be more considerate of Jimin. There’s no need to take risks with PJ’s marquee star.”
“…….”
The look in Team Leader Dokgo’s eyes as he stared at me grew increasingly firm.
“So, you’re saying Jimin stepping down is the right move, even if it kills us?”
Judging by his expression, he had clearly already made a choice either way.
But that old fox wouldn’t easily reveal his decision first.
He was probably testing my thoughts and judgment even at this very moment.
But my answer was already set.
“Yes.”
I had no regrets.
No, this was the best choice.
Team Leader Dokgo nodded slowly.
“Fine. Let’s have Jimin step down from this project.”
Once the definitive answer was given, Yang Jimin let out a sigh of relief.
Then, she looked at me as if grateful….
Jimin, please don’t make that face.
I’m the one who’s much more grateful.
* * *
Once the conclusion was reached, Team Leader Dokgo quickly tidied up the situation.
The report went up to the General Manager and then the Director, and fortunately, the CEO’s approval followed.
Everyone agreed that while the expectations for the project were high, it could be risky for someone of Yang Jimin’s caliber to participate.
After a meeting with CEO Kwon Jin-ju, the departure was finalized.
Thanks to this, filming was delayed by a week.
Naturally, the overall filming schedule became tighter.
And Team Leader Dokgo’s leadership shone even brighter in the moment of crisis.
“Communicate with the other actor’s side and make some promotional materials. Tell the PR team in advance to pull some articles focusing on Arin. By the way, where did you collect the scripts that came for Jimin?”
While positioning Go Arin as the lead for *Academy Romance*, we simultaneously selected projects suitable for Yang Jimin.
Yes, this is what a team leader and a manager-level person should look like.
Compared to that, that guy, Department Head Kim… ugh.
Let’s not talk about it.
“Jung-woo, the PR team asked for some usable photos of Arin. Do you have any you’ve taken?”
Pi Young-ro asked.
Since Team Leader Song had requested it last time, I had been taking them here and there in my spare time.
“I have some I took during practice, would you like to see them?”
Pi Young-ro pushed his chair over and tilted his head to check the photos.
“They’re pretty, as expected. But these aren’t quite right for an article… Why don’t you take her out to the suburbs? You don’t have any special schedules today, right?”
“The suburbs?”
“Yeah. Go to a cafe with a nice atmosphere and take some photos. You know, the kind of places people go for dates.”
To focus on Go Arin, a well-shot photo was desperate.
I immediately put Go Arin in the car and headed to the salon.
“It will take about an hour and a half.”
A full hour and a half for hair and makeup.
It wasn’t an easy amount of time for Go Arin, the person involved, or for me, who was waiting.
But it was a time I would have to get used to from now on.
Of course, there was no rest for the manager.
While Go Arin was getting set up, I searched the web to choose a suitable shooting location.
Among several candidates, I chose a cafe near Namyangju that was the hottest place on social media recently.
By the time I contacted the manager, received permission to film, and returned, the preparations were finished.
“How do I look?”
Go Arin asked as she came out after her makeup.
After seeing her in training clothes for days, seeing her in a flowy skirt was wonderful.
Why is it that I’m slowly rotting away while Go Arin looks like she’s about to sprout wings and fly?
Is it the difference in management, or the difference in genetics?
It was an unsolvable mystery.
So, what was my answer?
“You’re pretty. You’ll look great in photos today.”
“Really?”
She beamed at the single compliment.
Come to think of it, this kid has a very honest personality.
Since her thoughts are all revealed on her face and in her expressions, there’s no need to overthink things.
Then again, that’s a huge advantage from a manager’s perspective.
I headed to the Namyangju cafe I had reserved.
I had already received permission to film, so we started right away.
It proceeded smoothly as expected, but one minor problem arose.
It was because of the staff working at the cafe.
“Would you like a blanket if you’re cold?”
“How about some warm coffee?”
“Should I turn the heater up a bit more?”
The cafe staff’s eyes wouldn’t leave Go Arin.
“Let us know if you need anything.”
“Yes, we are on standby at all times.”
Enough.
Just stop and go away.
I wanted to shout that inside my head several times, but all I said was….
“Thank you.”
It was all for my actor’s image.
We looked around the cafe to find a suitable background.
Social media was full of pretty photos, so where on earth were they taken?
Ah, there it is.
“Arin, how about here?”
“Oh, this is good! Did you look up the photo spots in advance?”
“Of course.”
“You’re so sensible.”
A thumbs-up for just this much.
Still, it feels good.
Is this the reward of being a manager?
Anyway,
As I raised the camera, Go Arin immediately struck a pose.
Perhaps because she had a lot of filming experience, there was a professional feel to every pose.
Everything she does looks like a pictorial.
But she seemed to find it a bit lacking from her own perspective.
“Manager, if you take it like that, I’ll look like a little kid. Look, you have to frame it like this.”
She took the camera, tilted her body slightly, and shot from bottom to top.
It made her face look smaller and her proportions look longer.
Oh… professionals really are different.
“How is it? It’s totally different, right?”
“I guess so. It is different.”
Of course, it was fine.
But it was also true that it felt more artificial.
“But I think you look pretty even when you’re just being yourself. I think you look much more charming when you’re just being you.”
“Hey. That can’t be true. You know how important the camera angle and framing are.”
Well, it made sense since it’s a profession where you hear all sorts of things based on a single photo.
But I thought the corners of her mouth had lifted slightly… Did I see wrong?
We finished the shoot and sat down.
Go Arin’s knees and hands had turned red from shooting outside.
I brought a lap blanket from the car and covered her with it.
“Thank you.”
We sat side by side and picked out the best photos from today’s shoot.
I had to get the team leader’s confirmation before sending them to the PR team, but it was a sort of preliminary sorting process.
The conversation naturally drifted to the promotion of this drama.
With Yang Jimin’s departure officially reported,
The spotlight on the drama naturally shifted to Go Arin.
Of course, the interest level had dropped significantly compared to when Yang Jimin was the lead.
Moreover, there were quite a few malicious comments on recent promotional articles.
-Yang Jimin stepped down? Well, it’s not like it’s a web drama level.
└I thought the agency had lost its mind.
└Huh. But Go Arin is still in it?
└Who is Go Arin?
└You know, the one who was in *Achromatic Rainbow*.
└Ah… that annoying one? Huh. She’s in it? It already seems bad.
└My thoughts exactly. Why is PJ so clueless?
└Seriously, there are so many rookies with much better images than Go Arin, why her?
Wow… they really type that out without a second thought because it’s about someone else?
I’m worried her confidence might drop for no reason….
"I'm used to things like this. As long as the project turns out well, I'm fine."
Fortunately, Go Arin didn't seem to be bothered by it much.
Is she a true actor despite her young age?
She was certainly a professional when it came to acting and work.
That's right. Even if it's unfair, an actor should prove themselves through their work and acting ability.
But...
Are you really, truly okay?
* * *
"What about the photos to send to the PR team?"
No sooner had I opened the office door than Team Leader Dokgo was checking on the status of my work.
Talking on the phone with one hand, reading a script with his eyes, and checking on his subordinate's tasks all at once.
Is this guy a dual-core processor?
"Here they are."
I handed over the five photos I had selected with Go Arin.
Five was the perfect number—not too many, not too few.
"Hmm. Not bad. You took them well."
"I think it's because Arin has experience as a fitting model; her poses and expressions were quite extraordinary."
"True, her visuals are top-tier wherever she goes. If she can just pull off a proper image transformation with this project, I'd have no more wishes..."
That was the most important part of this project.
After scanning through them, Team Leader Dokgo picked three photos.
"Let's send these over."
I followed the team leader's instructions and sent the photos to the PR team.
"Good work. You can head home now."
"What about you, Team Leader?"
"I have to pick Yang Jimin's next project. Come to think of it, this is all because of someone."
There was no malice in his sidelong glance.
He just seemed frustrated that he couldn't find a suitable project.
'Is life, in the end, a battle between the questions God poses and the answers I provide?'
Ironically, solving Yang Jimin's problem had only led to another one.
My thoughts naturally drifted to Oh Seri.
If that's the case, then by any chance...
Could Oh Seri's situation also lead to another problem?
*Buzz.*
At that very moment, as if on cue, my phone rang.
I checked the caller ID, and like fate, it was Oh Seri.
My grip tightened on the phone without me realizing it.
'...The time has come.'
I held my breath and answered the call.
A moment later, Oh Seri's voice came through, her breathing steady.
"Manager, my check-up results are in."
0 Comments