Chapter 23: Chapter 23 - Elaborate And Thorough (2/2)
”But you're not.”
”Is that right?”
It was a relief and a pity at the same time.
”Except for one thing, if we're talking about similarity between you and Mr. Lim.”
”If?”
There was a prolonged silence. In the meantime, Juho had another spoonful of his soup. It was smooth and spicy.
”I'm not too sure.”
”Why would you even bring it up then,” Juho murmured silently.
”I can't pinpoint it, but I have a feeling. I can only explain it as an editor's intuition.”
”That was disappointing. You should stick to being an editor.”
”I appreciate that.”
Throughout their meal, Juho and Nam Kyung talked about the decrease in the reading population or a certain publis.h.i.+ng company going out of business.
”So, are you still against having your book made into a show or a movie?”
”Yes,” while helping himself with side dishes, Juho answered and stopped in his track.
That was one of the topics that had come up while the two were making plans for lunch over the phone, which meant that there was a studio interested in purchasing the copyright. Since he was already aware of the outcome, Juho declined at once.
Nam Kyung said quietly, ”If you agree to it, your book will be made into a motion picture. There will be famous actors playing the major characters. It's a book written by Yun Woo, so they'll really make sure not to mess with the original too much. They'll invest a lot of money into it too.”
Nam Kyung was obviously trying to lure Juho in, but Juho answered with a smile, ”It's not easy to adapt a novel.”
At Juho's rigid att.i.tude, Nam Kyung immediately changed his posture as he murmured, ”I knew you weren't as immature as you let on. This is a really a mouth-watering opportunity from the promotional point of view.”
”I didn't know that my book needed publicizing? It's already doing really well,” Juho answered light-heartedly, but Nam Kyung returned with a serious face.
”There's no end to corporate greed. You need to ride the wave while your book is doing well.”
Marketing. Juho fully understood Nam Kyung's perspective. Of course, promoting a product was an essential element of sales. That was no different in the publis.h.i.+ng industry. If anything, the power of marketing was much greater in publis.h.i.+ng.
That was the reason why editors built relations.h.i.+ps with bookstore employees in an offline capacity while putting up with incredibly temperamental literature merchandisers online.
That also applied to gaining exposure for a book.
It was common for a publis.h.i.+ng company to compete for the most visible spot in the bookstore. Some companies even paid bookstores for a display stand. The amount ranged from hundreds up to thousands.
The online market was exactly the same way. It was crucial for online bookstores to work with a merchandiser because they had the ultimate authority in terms of exposure. It was a struggle to earn the t.i.tle of 'Merchandiser's Recommendation.' That t.i.tle spoke louder than any other form of advertis.e.m.e.nt. It was an opportunity that no publis.h.i.+ng company could afford to lose. For that reason, there was an obvious contractual relations.h.i.+p between a merchandiser and a business, which explained the occasional buying-spree controversies. Once a book entered into the bestseller ranking, there was a noticeable increase in sales as well as promotion.
Juho was well aware of that situation, and he had a reason to turn down the offer to adapt his book.
”They're not adapting the story in its entirety. Once the story is made into a screenplay, things are bound to be taken out. I don't really know how the director will interpret my book either. The thought makes me uneasy.”
”I guess you have a point.”
”I'm sure they'll emphasize the romance.”
”You don't know that. Don't you think you'll have a better idea once you talk to these people in person?” Nam Kyung asked.
He wasn't aware that Juho's decision was based on his life experience. He had said the same thing in the past, ”You'll know better once you talk to these people.” However, that wasn't true.
”This is when my age works as a disadvantage.”
Back then, Juho's mind was as old as his age, seventeen. Communication had not been possible between an adult who's a skilled negotiator and the seventeen year old Juho.
The studio was a well-known company with several major works, so Juho's expectation had been through the roof. It had been like a dream to have real actors performing the story that he wrote.
However, the result had been far from his expectations.
In the end, 'The Trace of a Bird' had left a legacy as a failed example in novel cinematization. Unlike his usual self, even Nam Kyung had had a bitter expression on his face then. As a book enthusiast himself and the editor in charge of the book, he must have felt terrible.
”If its a request made by the author himself, they'll listen. If dealing with adults is too much for you, I can go on your behalf.”
”I don't know,” Juho answered vaguely. ”I'm not really looking to make things complicated either.”
Although the situation was different this time, Juho wasn't really looking to make any demands. Even if he decided to actively involve himself in the production to make sure the movie did well, he felt that he wasn't going to be genuinely happy.
'Well, maybe things could be different if a director approached him saying that he wanted to try to make 'The Trace of a Bird' into a movie with all his heart. That would probably never happen, however.'
”I'm sorry to say this, but I'm not interested.”
”It's your work. There's nothing to be sorry about.”
Recognizing that he couldn't convince Juho, Nam Kyung brought the water cup to his mouth. He must have been doing a lot between Juho and the publis.h.i.+ng company. Juho turned his attention to his tofu soup and slowly finished his meal.
”Done?”
”Yes.”
”How about a cup of coffee before you go?”
”I'm always up for that.”
After paying for the meal and the dessert, Nam Kyung went back to his work. On his way, he groaned in misery at having to work overtime again.
laborate and=”” thorough=””> The End
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