Chapter 166
“So what you’re saying is... we should sell the theaters and build a streaming-based platform like America’s Network Flex?”
Executive Director Kim Eunkyung looked at me as though she had no idea how much of what I was saying she was supposed to believe.
“Not necessarily right away.”
“But I think we need to start preparing.”
My answer came without the slightest hesitation.
Kim Eunkyung let out a confused sigh.
“Ha... so you’re serious.”
I nodded.
“To be honest, I’ve thought about this possibility before, but this is the first time I’ve actually said it out loud.”
“Because this isn’t something just anyone can jump into.”
I paused and carefully watched the two of them.
“But...”
Kim Eunkyung urged me on.
“But what?”
“The reason I’m bringing it up now is because the premise has changed.”
“If CEO Han can actually take control of Hanshin Media and Mega Cinema, then this becomes a real possibility.”
Han Taesung fell into serious thought.
His reaction was understandable.
By common sense, what I had just suggested was no different from slaughtering the goose that laid golden eggs.
If he had immediately snapped at me and asked what kind of nonsense I was talking about, I wouldn’t have had much room to complain.
But Han Taesung’s reaction was unexpectedly calm.
Rather than getting angry, he spoke with an almost hollow look of admiration.
“Your own theater in the palm of your hand...”
He stared at me.
“Just what exactly is inside that head of yours?”
“How can you look that far into the future?”
That question made me feel a little guilty.
Still, I smiled naturally.
“I just try to read the flow.”
“The trends.”
“And when I’m confident in where that flow is going, I trust it.”
Han Taesung nodded quietly for a while.
Then he looked at me steadily.
“If I do what you’re suggesting...”
“Will you come with me?”
I smiled warmly.
“If you’re offering to build the stage, I have no reason to refuse.”
“I’ll dance well enough on it to make you smile.”
“Hahaha.”
“That really does sound like you.”
Despite his laughter, a shadow briefly crossed Han Taesung’s face.
His thoughts were clearly complicated.
“Of course, it won’t be easy.”
“If you announce that you’re selling the theater chain the moment you take over, there’ll be plenty of opposition.”
Han Taesung chuckled.
“You really do sound like you’re inside my head.”
I continued calmly.
“CEO Han, none of this can be accomplished overnight.”
“So rather than rushing, you should think of it as a long campaign.”
“Approach it strategically.”
“Carefully.”
Han Taesung slowly nodded.
“You’re right.”
“I suppose that’s the only way.”
Then he looked at me.
“In any case, wait just a little.”
“Until I enter Hanshin and properly build the stage.”
“Of course.”
I smiled.
“Until then, I’ll prepare the software.”
Han Taesung nodded in satisfaction.
“Ah, and once I go to Hanshin, I’m thinking of leaving Big Picture to Executive Director Kim Eunkyung.”
I nodded naturally.
“I assumed you would.”
“With Executive Director Kim’s meticulous nature, she’ll handle the internal management perfectly.”
“Exactly.”
“And I’m thinking of putting PD Baek Seonghan in Executive Director Kim’s current position and having him handle external cooperation.”
“PD Baek would do well.”
“Ah, and I’m also planning to merge the film and drama teams.”
“Same with the film planning and drama planning teams.”
Han Taesung explained that while working through the release of Song Jaehyun’s Kingdom of Crime and the competition, he had realized that the boundary between the film and drama planning teams had effectively become meaningless.
Big Picture was also producing more dramas than films these days.
So he had concluded that a restructuring was unavoidable.
Considering the overall direction production was heading, it sounded reasonable.
I nodded.
Then Han Taesung continued.
“And I’m planning to change every team into a business division.”
“Then I’ll create a new position above all of them.”
“Head of Production.”
He looked at me.
“I want you to take that position.”
Head of Production?
This wasn’t simply a change in title.
It meant holding practical authority over the planning and production of every piece of content developed and produced by Big Picture.
In other words, I would effectively become the head of the entire creative side of the company.
“Executive Director Kim would become CEO and handle management.”
“You would take charge of content production.”
“If we run Big Picture with the two of you at the top, then when Big Picture is eventually absorbed into Hanshin Media, the transition should be much smoother.”
“What do you think?”
I hesitated.
Of course I wanted it.
But it would be a lie to say I didn’t feel the weight of that responsibility.
“And more importantly...”
Han Taesung wasn’t finished.
“I want you to bring New Wave into Big Picture.”
Wait.
Bring New Wave in?
The unexpected offer caught me off guard.
“Are you proposing a merger?”
“Yes.”
“We could continue cooperating independently like we do now.”
“But I think combining our strength would be better than keeping it divided.”
He leaned forward.
“Of course, I’ll value New Wave at the highest reasonable level.”
“And both you and Director Song will receive corresponding shares and positions in Big Picture.”
I thought for a moment before answering.
“I’ll gratefully accept the Head of Production position.”
“But the merger between Big Picture and New Wave isn’t something I can decide alone.”
“I’ll discuss it with Director Song Jaehyun and get back to you.”
“Of course.”
“I expected as much.”
Han Taesung smiled.
“Still, once again, I feel like I learned something from you today.”
“I’ve spent years in this industry myself.”
“I’ve always tried to read cultural trends and thought I was reasonably good at it.”
“But compared to you...”
He laughed.
“I feel like a child.”
“A child?”
I shook my head.
“That can’t be true.”
Before my regression, Han Taesung had been a producer who accurately read trends and created countless successful films through analysis and planning.
No matter how talented someone was, though, they couldn’t beat someone who had actually experienced the future.
Even so...
