Glory Film Company

Episode 42. Switch

“My Way Pictures just needs to take the investment they’re due and step away.”
Youngkwang cautiously unfolded his plan.

“The funds they’re supposed to receive will be disbursed by the end of the month.”

“Sounds like things are moving quickly.”

“Technically, the paperwork is only about halfway done. The funds are being released first because production is prioritized, but the equity transfer is still being negotiated. There are more issues to sort out than expected.”

“Hmm…”

Although intrigued by the suggestion of a solution, Ahn Junseok still didn’t fully understand where Youngkwang was going. He listened quietly as Youngkwang posed an unexpected question.

“Hyung, do you know why Park Sunghoon is so fixated on My Way Pictures?”

“What? Not really.”

Because they’re easy to manipulate?
That was the impression Ahn had, though he didn’t dare say it out loud and instead mumbled an evasive response.

“It’s because he saw an opportunity to gain something he couldn’t from partnering with Stay Film.”
Youngkwang phrased the same thought in a more polished way.

“He calculated that he could generate more profit through My Way Pictures.”

“Well, sure. By owning equity, he’d get a better share of the revenue. And they’ve got some promising projects.”

“Exactly. A company like Stay Film wouldn’t have accepted equity investment, and even if they had, they’d have demanded an exorbitant amount. So he found a company that seemed like it could lay golden eggs and was also desperate for money. To Park Sunghoon, My Way Pictures fit that profile perfectly.”

“Hmm.”

“But that also means that if a bigger, more promising company appeared, he might very well switch his focus.”

“What? Is there such a company?”

Ahn blinked, unable to think of any such contender. Even if there were, he couldn’t figure out how it might benefit him if Jeil Entertainment’s interest shifted elsewhere.

How could the situation unfold in a way that fit the win-win picture Youngkwang had been painting?

“Not yet.”
Youngkwang smiled enigmatically.

“What? Are you joking with me right now?”

“Director Ahn.”

“What?”

Youngkwang looked steadily at Ahn, took a sip from his glass, and then spoke.

“What if you started that company yourself?”

“…!”

It was an idea Ahn hadn’t even considered. His thoughts scrambled before quickly settling into clarity. It could indeed be a way out—a solution with potential.

“So, you’re saying I should produce my film under my own company instead of letting My Way Pictures handle it?”

“Yes. Franchise films are on a different scale entirely. Compared to a two-part series by a director with two ten-million hits, your franchise has far greater volume. If you refuse to let My Way Pictures produce it and instead decide to handle it yourself, Jeil Entertainment will have no choice but to reconsider. Losing both you and your franchise film would be too great a risk for them.”

“Hah, that’s right.”

The realization sent a thrill through Ahn. If he had rushed to sign the contract, his project would have been irrevocably tied to My Way Pictures. But now, he saw a way to flip the script.

“The contract hasn’t been signed yet, so there’s still room to negotiate, right? Is that why you told me to wait?”

“Yes. The person with the upper hand depends entirely on timing.”

“Then I’m the one in a better position now. I know exactly how Jeil Entertainment is moving.”

“Exactly.”

“If I let them know I’ve got an inkling of what’s going on, even just subtly, it’ll change how Park Sunghoon treats me, won’t it?”

Ahn fell into thought again.

It wasn’t uncommon for directors to become producers or heads of their own production companies. Ahn had simply been so focused on his films that he hadn’t considered the possibility. But if he planned to spearhead a franchise, as Youngkwang suggested, he needed to broaden his perspective.

This is a long-term plan. I’ll need a proper system in place. Handing the keys to Jeil Entertainment would be downright foolish.

Resolving himself, Ahn nodded decisively.

“Why didn’t I think of this sooner?”

“Everything has happened so quickly. You must already feel overwhelmed just thinking about your project,”
Youngkwang said, nodding sympathetically.

“But, you know how opportunities are. They have a full head of hair in the front, but they’re bald at the back—if you miss your timing, you won’t be able to grab them no matter how hard you try.”

Youngkwang’s words were spot-on, and now was indeed the last possible moment to act.

“You said the equity investment is still in verbal discussions, right?”

“That’s right.”

“But tell me something.”
Ahn Junseok wiped the smile off his face and asked seriously,
“Why are you helping me like this? If I push forward with this, My Way Pictures could take a hit.”

It was a question that had been nagging at him.
He understood the selfish motives of people like Gu Bonjik or Park Sunghoon, but Youngkwang’s behavior seemed to lack any clear self-interest.
That made it all the more suspicious. Was this out of genuine admiration or some kind of fan loyalty?
No, that didn’t seem plausible. Despite his young age, Youngkwang was sharp and calculated—he couldn’t possibly be this naive.

“I only do things that result in a win-win,” Youngkwang replied without hesitation.

“Win-win? Then you’re saying this benefits My Way Pictures too?”

At Ahn’s skeptical question, Youngkwang nodded lightly.

“To be blunt, your film is bound to be a commercial success. You have an ideal style—balanced and universally appealing.”

“Hmm. Well, that’s true. But?”
Ahn couldn’t help but smirk at the unexpected praise.

“My Way Pictures’ films aren’t the same. To be precise, we’re planning to consistently explore unproven commercial potentials.”

“Unproven commercial potentials?”

“We’re aiming to be a niche-buster. That means we’re inevitably going to clash with Jeil Entertainment. In the end, one side will come out with a cracked skull.”

“Hmm.”

“So, it’s better for My Way Pictures to take what they can now and step away. And for that, someone like you—a highly promising filmmaker with a franchise project—needs to catch Park Sunghoon’s attention.”

“Ha, so you’re saying I’m the bait?”

“Why not? Isn’t this a win-win situation?”

“Ha.”

Ahn looked momentarily flabbergasted, but soon burst into laughter.

“Alright, you’re right, Youngkwang. This is a win-win. A win-win indeed.”

He nodded vigorously as he laughed.

****

‘Is this enough?’
Having said all he needed to, Youngkwang let himself drift into thought for a moment.

While he had framed it as a win-win to Ahn Junseok, his reasons for deferring the investment were more personal and strategic.

You should only aim for what you can handle. Who do they think they are, trying to mark their territory here?

From the moment he reunited with Lee Deokjae, Choi Suhyeon, and Jang Hyunmin, 19 years after the fire incident, Youngkwang had resolved to use My Way Pictures as a springboard for his niche-buster vision.

Though he was just a rookie producer earning a base salary of 800,000 won with a 10% incentive per project, his goal was to reinvest his earnings into the company, solidifying his position.

Then out of nowhere, Park Sunghoon had appeared, offering bags of money and demanding a 40% stake in My Way Pictures.

Forty percent now, but soon he’d have gone for the majority.

Youngkwang had no intention of letting a powerful competitor bare its fangs at his hard-earned foundation. Moreover, as Yang Hyesoo had pointed out, Jeil Entertainment’s investment, while lucrative in the short term, would be poison for My Way Pictures in the long run.

For Ahn Junseok, however, this situation presented an opportunity. What could be poison for one could be medicine for another, depending on how it was used.

If Ahn established his own production company, My Way Pictures could subtly decline Jeil Entertainment’s overly ambitious proposal without losing face.

Sure, Park Sunghoon might try to go after both Ahn’s company and My Way Pictures, but Ahn’s fiery competitiveness, stoked by jealousy, wouldn’t allow him to sit idly by.

“Oh, and there’s a separate benefit we promised to Bae Youngho, the initial investor,” Youngkwang added casually.

“Right. And let’s not forget,” Choi Suhyeon chimed in,
“Our Producer Youngkwang may have a base salary of just 800,000 won, but his contract includes a 10% incentive for each project he works on.”

“Um… we made a separate promise to Director Kwak Junghoon…”
Lee Deokjae absentmindedly picked his nose, utterly sabotaging his first impression and making it far more likely that Park Sunghoon would walk away from My Way Pictures.

“Set up a meeting with Director Park, lay out your plans clearly, and push for a decision. If you force Jeil Entertainment to choose, they’ll have no choice but to clarify their stance.”
Youngkwang capped his advice by pouring another drink for Ahn Junseok.

Ahn, who harbored ambitions of creating a global box office hit, needed unwavering support and unmatched treatment. Though the idea came suddenly, he was fully ready to move quickly.

“Alright, I’ll have to talk to him. Thanks, Producer Youngkwang. You’ve really helped clear my head. And…”
Ahn hesitated as if he wanted to propose something more, but stopped short.

He’s probably thinking of inviting me to his future company once he establishes it, Youngkwang speculated, cutting him off smoothly.

“When it’s settled, make sure to treat me to something big!”

“What?”

“I’m absolutely crazy about meat.”

“Oh, really? Haha! I’ll buy you as much meat as you want.”

“Great, then let’s wrap up for today. I need to get back to the office.”

“Ah, sure. Let’s do that.”

In truth, Ahn Junseok’s franchise film was almost guaranteed to perform well. Its potential as a significant commercial success was clear from the outset.
Still, it wasn’t enough for him to leave My Way Pictures altogether—at least not yet.

For one thing, My Way Pictures offered opportunities that Youngkwang had painstakingly set up. Jumping ship at this point wouldn’t make sense, so for now, he chose to feign ignorance of Ahn’s intentions.

Instead, Youngkwang made a mental note to continuously remind Ahn of the debt he owed. In the unpredictable world of filmmaking, a talented director like Ahn was someone whose favor could pay off in the future.

“Director, let’s keep this win-win partnership going, alright?”

“Of course! Just you wait—I’ll repay this favor over a thousand years if I have to.”

****

It took exactly one week for the bait Youngkwang had laid to pay off.

“This is regrettable, but we’ve come to the conclusion that a long-term partnership with My Way Pictures would be too difficult to sustain,”
Park Sunghoon told Lee Deokjae, formally withdrawing Jeil Entertainment’s equity investment proposal.

“What? But why all of a sudden…?”

“Rest assured, the investments promised for your films will proceed as planned.”

“Oh, I see. Well, yes, the contracts for that part have already been signed.”

“Hmm, right.”
Park Sunghoon’s expression was neither relieved nor disappointed—it gave nothing away.

*****

Later, Youngkwang learned the details of the situation from Yang Hyesoo.

“It was chaos. No one expected Director Ahn to make that kind of proposal. He always came off as such a free spirit.”

“Well, big projects require a certain level of organization. It makes sense.”

“Still, Director Park crunched the numbers like crazy. Director Ahn made it clear he wouldn’t proceed unless he had full control. On top of that, there were certain terms from My Way Pictures that were already bothering him.”

“Yeah, we did play things a little messy there.”

“Honestly, how far ahead were you looking when you planned all this?”
Hyesoo’s curiosity was palpable, but Youngkwang simply chuckled.

Though Park Sunghoon had initially been flustered, he skillfully negotiated and reached a compromise. A new production company was hastily established as if it were lightning in a bottle.

While My Way Pictures seemingly missed out on a grand opportunity, they walked away with significant advantages:

The production funding they needed was secured.

Their equity was protected.

Ahn Junseok now had robust support to focus on his franchise film.

Just as Youngkwang had envisioned, the outcome was a win-win for everyone involved.

One month passed.