Chapter 162
The grand prize went to Her Memory Method.
Her Memory Method was a mystery thriller about a protagonist who had lost their memories and became entangled in a massive conspiracy while tracing their own past.
It also blended romance into the story with remarkable balance.
Most importantly, it was a project that looked ready to enter production immediately without much difficulty.
And so, Her Memory Method was unanimously selected for the grand prize.
The excellence prize went to Kingdom of Blood.
“In my opinion, this subject is too unconventional to handle as a drama.”
Song Jaehyun looked thoughtful.
“What if we revise the script and make it into a film instead?”
Han Taesung nodded as though he had been thinking the same thing.
“I suppose people with similar eyes really do arrive at similar conclusions.”
“I was thinking the same thing.”
“This project needs to target the global market.”
“Yes.”
Song Jaehyun agreed.
“The unique concept of zombies in the Joseon Dynasty would definitely attract attention from viewers around the world.”
“But if we make it as a Korean television drama, there may be limits to how far it can travel globally.”
I smiled faintly as I listened to them.
“I’m not so sure.”
“I think it could work perfectly well as a drama.”
At my sudden comment, everyone turned toward me.
Kim Eunkyung studied my expression before cautiously testing the waters.
“Well, Korean dramas are being sold overseas more and more these days.”
“But if the goal is to target the international market from the beginning, wouldn’t a film still be better than a drama?”
“That may be true now.”
I looked at her.
“But things could be different a few years from now.”
“A few years?”
Han Taesung tilted his head.
I paused.
Is it still too early to talk about the coming age of global OTT platforms?
But Han Taesung seemed to read something in my expression.
His eyes lit up with curiosity.
“Why?”
“Do you think some kind of change is coming?”
I hesitated briefly before answering carefully.
“Have you heard of the American company Network Flex?”
“Network Flex?”
Han Taesung thought for a moment.
“Isn’t that the company that provides movies through online streaming?”
“I’ve only heard about it, so I don’t know much.”
Unlike Han Taesung, who at least knew the name, Song Jaehyun and Choi Kyungmin glanced at one another as though they had never heard of it.
“Yes.”
I nodded.
“That’s right.”
“But why bring them up all of a sudden?”
“Actually, during Cannes this year, I happened to meet Network Flex CEO Reid Hayes.”
“Really?”
Han Taesung looked interested.
“I’ve heard he’s quite a capable businessman.”
As expected.
Han Taesung’s reach was more global than I had assumed.
“Then do you also know that Network Flex started producing and streaming its own original series earlier this year?”
“Ah... I think I heard something about that.”
Han Taesung frowned as he tried to remember.
“What was the title again?”
“House Made of Cards.”
This time, Song Jaehyun reacted immediately.
“Wait.”
“I know that drama.”
“Someone told me the quality was ridiculously high for a television series and that I absolutely had to watch it.”
“That was made by Network Flex?”
“Yes.”
I continued.
“But the important part is that Reid Hayes told me he plans to expand Network Flex’s business worldwide.”
“He also intends to keep producing original series like House Made of Cards.”
“And he’s even considering producing original content separately in each country.”
Han Taesung and Kim Eunkyung’s expressions became noticeably more serious.
After a brief pause, Kim Eunkyung spoke.
“So in your opinion...”
“You think that can actually happen?”
Of course.
But I deliberately kept my answer restrained.
“I don’t know whether Network Flex’s grand plan itself will succeed.”
“But I do think that within the next five years, platforms like Network Flex, services that let people watch films and dramas anytime and anywhere without relying on theaters or television schedules, will become central to the video-content industry.”
“A medium where people can watch films and dramas anytime and anywhere...”
Song Jaehyun muttered skeptically.
Then Han Taesung stared at me with an almost dumbfounded expression.
“So what you’re saying is...”
“Team Leader Min, you’re already preparing for a change that might not even happen for another five years?”
I smiled quietly.
“There’s no harm in preparing early.”
After the judging ended, Han Taesung and Kim Eunkyung remained alone in the conference room.
“Executive Director Kim.”
“Do you remember?”
“Back when Team Leader Min predicted the rise of general programming channels and told me we should expand into dramas to prepare for that era.”
“Of course.”
Kim Eunkyung nodded.
“How could I forget?”
“The reason Big Picture not only survived that four- or five-year slump in the film industry, but actually grew this much, was because we caught that trend early.”
“Exactly.”
Han Taesung leaned back slightly.
“But today...”
“I felt that same feeling again.”
Kim Eunkyung nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
“So did I.”
Then she added,
“Just how far ahead is Team Leader Min looking?”
A short silence followed.
Then Han Taesung spoke as though he had finally made a decision.
“Executive Director Kim.”
“You once said that if it were Min Kibaek, he might be able to accept Hanshin’s proposal.”
Kim Eunkyung’s eyes sharpened.
