Peninsula: I'm the Top Streamer

Chapter 704 Some Thoughts, Sana's Getaway is a Flop!

Going to America is a good idea.

but.

As mentioned earlier, Kwon Heon-hyuk doesn't have a particular obsession with going to America.

If I really want to take a step back, I will do so according to my own ideas and in accordance with the trend, without disrupting my core foundation.

His foray into the US has both advantages and disadvantages.

Kim Min-young has clearly and proactively signaled future cooperation, which could be a very good stepping stone.

Coincidentally, her starring role in "20th Century Girl" also achieved global success, proving that she still has considerable potential for international dissemination.

His diverse upbringing, American citizenship, and childhood in China, coupled with his fluency in both Chinese and English, allow him to avoid cultural barriers and adapt well to the American environment.

Exposure is also plentiful, with top global endorsements from brands like Louis Vuitton and Chaumet, ensuring international fashion resources and solid international exposure.

Through works such as "Squid Game," they have gained international recognition, breaking through the Korean Wave circle and gaining fans across Asia and South America.

However, the barriers to market competition cannot be ignored. The chances of ordinary actors breaking into the US solely based on their performances are extremely slim, with only a very few successful precedents such as Jackie Chan. There is always a lower acceptance of faces from other ethnic groups.

There are advantages and disadvantages, but in the end, we still have to look at the specific projects that are implemented. Success is the best outcome.

If it works, do it; if it doesn't, withdraw. The European and American markets aren't so sacred that just because everyone else has done it at this level doesn't mean he has to too.

He wanted to make further contact and use his sixth sense to see how the project was going.

After Kim Min-young left, Kwon Seon-hyuk returned to the conference room.

Everyone was naturally curious about what Kwon Hyun-hyuk had said to Kim Min-young outside, but they all tacitly refrained from asking further questions.

After all, Kwon Hyun-hyuk is on a higher level, and they should be aware of their own limitations.

The atmosphere of the reading session quickly returned to its previous professionalism and focus.

The actors were deeply engrossed in reciting their lines, while the director and screenwriter occasionally chimed in to discuss details, making minor adjustments to the rhythm, tone, and subtext.

Time slipped by quietly, and the sky outside the window turned from bright to dusk.

When the dialogue for the final group scene was smoothly reviewed, director Han Junxi smiled with satisfaction.

He closed the script and looked around at everyone.

"Thank you all for your hard work. Today's reading went very well. The understanding and grasp of the characters were excellent, laying a solid foundation for our official filming. I'll be counting on you all when the official filming begins."

"Thank you for your hard work, Director!"

Everyone responded one after another.

Let's take a verification photo.

The producer raised his hand and took his phone out of his pocket.

"This is a moment to record the end of the DP Season 2 reading session."

The producer called for everyone to gather around, and Kwon Hyun-hyuk was pushed to stand next to the director, with Koo Kyo-hwan casually putting his arm around his shoulder.

The screenwriter, producer, and several other core actors also smiled and gathered around, taking photos against the backdrop of the conference table and the table full of scripts and water glasses.

"Come on, 1, 2, 3—DP Fighting!" the producer shouted, and his phone snapped a picture, capturing the moment.

The photo was quickly posted to the crew's chat group by Koo Kyo-hwan, and was also quickly synchronized to the official account by the staff responsible for operating the official SNS of "DP".

[Netflix K-Content Official Instagram & Twitter Update]

Photo: Under the warm lighting of the conference room, a group photo of the core team of DP Season 2 after their reading session. Director Han Jun-hee sits in the middle, with Kwon Hyun-hyuk standing to his left, looking slightly to the camera with a relaxed expression.

Koo Kyo-hwan stood next to Kwon Hyun-hyuk, giving a bright smile and a thumbs-up.

The other actors and screenwriters surrounded them, all with smiles on their faces, with scattered scripts and thermos cups in the background, creating a strong working atmosphere.

With text:

The script reading for Season 2 of *DP: The Fugitive* has successfully concluded! Ahn Joon-ho (Kwon Hyun-hyuk) and Han Ho-yeol (Koo Kyo-hwan) are back! Together with director Han Joon-hee and the entire cast and writing team, they breathed life into this brand new story. Thank you for everyone's dedication and passion; we look forward to seeing you all soon! #DP2 #D_P #KwonHyunhyuk #KooKyohwan #Netflix

The photo quickly garnered a lot of attention after it was released.

"Ahhhhhh, Ahn Jun-ho is finally back! Hyun Hyuk oppa!!!"

"Koo Kyo-hwan oppa is smiling so happily! This pairing has such great chemistry, I hope season 2 comes soon!"

"Everyone's back! That's great! Just seeing this photo makes me feel like the quality is guaranteed!"

"Actor Kwon is in such good shape, he looks amazing even without makeup."

"As expected of the DP team!"

Dispatch: [Kwon Heon-hyuk and Koo Kyo-hwan return! DP2 script reading photos released, top-tier cast assembled]

OSEN: [DP Season 2 Officially Launched! Kwon Heon-hyuk Leads Core Team to Complete First Reading Session, Anticipation Soars]

TenAsia: [Netflix's hit K-drama sequel launches! DP2 reading session revealed.]

The reports all emphasized Kwon Heon-hyuk's return as the core lead actor and the high level of anticipation brought by the reunion of the original cast.

Once the topic was sparked, the popularity of the first season gradually increased.

Fans began revisiting classic scenes and lines from the first season, engaging in heated discussions and speculations about the plot of the new season.

He's very popular right now, so he'll definitely get a lot of attention.

The current situation is that the market is blindly optimistic about him, which is not wrong, but it is clearly not a 100% good thing.

What if he loses his sixth sense and falls down someday?
So, Kwon Hyun-hyuk actually had another idea.

He accumulates good projects and tackles them one by one, while appropriately reducing production output.

His output in the past two years has been too high, sometimes so high that he can't fully take advantage of the benefits. As a result, he's either filming or on his way to filming. He's overeaten and can't fully digest the benefits.

Therefore, the next step should be to gradually reduce production, keep an eye on the inventory, and wait in line to bid for the remaining stock, focusing on a steady and long-term approach. After all, his popularity in the Korean Wave is almost at its peak.

...

...

With the arrival of November, everything is proceeding smoothly.

First, there's been some news about Kwon Heon-hyuk's movie "Night Owl".

Kwon Hyun-hyuk had suggested moving the film to next year, and as a result, the butterfly effect changed; the original film was scheduled to be released at the end of November this year.

However, Kwon Hyun-hyuk wanted to adjust the schedule because if all the films were released in November, he would have a film released every month, which would be a bad choice as all his films would be released at the same time.

But the question is, when exactly next year will it be moved?
First, there will be a film that will absolutely dominate the film market by the end of this year or the beginning of next year, not only in South Korea, but also worldwide.

That's Avatar 2.

This blockbuster is coming, and everyone wants to avoid it, so the release date has to be pushed back again.

The South Korean film market has long been decimated by Hollywood blockbusters, leaving it with nothing. Under the same conditions, local films cannot win over any audiences.

January will see Avatar 2, February will see Ant-Man 3, March will see Bellbud's Journey, April will see John Wick 4, and May will see Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

It wasn't until June that "The Outlaws 3" took the top spot at the box office. Apart from that, no domestic film won the monthly box office champion in the first half of the year, which shows how bad the Korean film industry is and how Hollywood has been coming and going in Korea, completely turning it into the shape of the Americans.

With Han Ying on her deathbed, it's incredibly difficult for her to make a name for herself based on her acting skills.

However, Kwon Heon-hyuk did not want to delay any longer, as the competition would only be more intense during the summer season, and he would not be able to gain any advantage.

He had a clear understanding of the film "Night Owl": it was a low-to-mid-budget, high-quality production without any visual effects advantages. The best outcome would be to release it in a moderately popular period and rely on word-of-mouth to generate revenue. This film was also snatched from the jaws of CJ, and was fully funded by his own company, BH, so he had to treat it with the utmost care.

In the conference room, Kwon Heon-hyuk, Park Jung-jung, and several core members of BH Entertainment, including CJ, who were in charge of film distribution, sat around a long table.

The latest South Korean film market analysis report and release date proposals from major distributors are spread out on the table.

“Xuanhe’s opinion is correct.” Park Jung-jung tapped his fingers on the Hollywood blockbuster release dates marked in red on the report.

Let's choose a suitable time slot in the first half of next year.

Another problem is that the extended period puts pressure on BH's cash flow.

Team leader Jin, who was in charge of distribution, pushed up his glasses and said, "That's right. Although 'Night Owl' has a solid script and its cast and star power are its strengths, it is too risky to go head-to-head with Hollywood special effects blockbusters. The audience's attention can easily be drawn away."

"Night Owl" is a suspense thriller that wins over audiences with its dramatic tension, atmosphere, and acting, and its core strength lies in its positive word-of-mouth.

What it needs is a relatively relaxed competitive environment, allowing word-of-mouth time and space to spread, rather than being instantly submerged in a vast ocean of towering waves.

Quan Xuanhe spoke up at this moment, beginning to share his thoughts.

"No matter how long the afterglow of Avatar lasts, it will basically subside by the end of January, as its extremely long screening period will consume the entire January market."

"Although there is 'Ant-Man 3' in February, the Marvel series' dominance in South Korea is not absolutely invincible, especially after the pandemic, and there is a certain mismatch between its target audience and the audience of 'Night Owl', which is a suspense and thriller genre."

It is common knowledge that Marvel has been on a downward trend since 2020.

Unlike before the pandemic, when an ordinary and unremarkable film like Captain Marvel could ride the coattails of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and rake in billions of dollars at the box office.

"Although Makoto Shinkai's animation in March was strong, it also had a clearly defined target audience, and the competition between animated films and live-action dramas was not so direct."

"More importantly, there is a lack of strong domestic commercial blockbusters scheduled for release in February and March."

Team Leader Jin thought for a moment and nodded in agreement: "This analysis makes sense. February and March are indeed a relatively low-pressure period."

"If we can release the film during this period, leveraging its strong appeal to open up the market in the first week, and then relying on the quality and word-of-mouth of the film itself to stabilize the screening schedule, the possibility of achieving a long-term run, steadily recovering costs, and making a profit is very high."

Kwon Heonhyuk added, "Moreover, this timing also aligns with our overall pace."

"I have the energy to cooperate with 'Night Owl' on appropriate promotional activities. If the AAA Awards and Dark Glory become popular, their popularity will continue, and we can take advantage of that."

Park Jung-jung looked at the representative in charge of liaising with CJ: "What feedback has CJ given regarding the release schedule in February and March? They are in charge of distribution, and channels and screen time are key."

The representative immediately responded: "CJ understands and supports our proposed window of opportunity in February and March."

"They promised to use their theater resources and distribution capabilities to secure the best screening slots for 'Night Owl,' and they also recognized Xuanhe's current box office appeal and the film's potential for positive word-of-mouth."

Or perhaps his aura came in handy.

Quan Xuanhe nodded slightly.

CJ's cooperative attitude was expected, after all, they were the ones who ultimately distributed the film, and its box office performance was related to their profits and reputation.

Choosing this relatively safe release date also reduces CJ's release risk.

"it is good."

Quan Xuanhe looked around at everyone and made the final decision.

"Then it's settled. 'Night Owl' is officially scheduled for release at the end of February or the beginning of March next year. The specific date will be further refined and confirmed by both parties' distribution teams based on the theater schedule and the dynamics of other films released in the same period."

Given his current position, he is fully capable of making the decision.

Especially since he was also the producer of "Night Owl," Quanli is not just a simple actor.

Park Jung-jung gave the order: "Agreed, Team Leader Kim. Your distribution department should immediately establish a joint working group with CJ to begin developing a detailed schedule plan, publicity strategy, and budget."

"Time waits for no one. We need to determine a specific date as soon as possible and start the pre-launch publicity campaign."

A consensus was reached in the meeting room, and the release of Night Owl was officially confirmed.

...

...

...

Night had fallen, and several high-powered incandescent lights illuminated the set of an antique-style mansion that had been erected next to the filming location of "Breaking the Tomb" in the suburbs.

Sana Minatozaki wrapped her coat tighter around herself and got out of the van.

With a hint of anticipation on her face, she had deliberately chosen to come tonight, wanting to give Quan Xuanhe a surprise, and also to interrogate him a bit more, and see what was going on with his filming of this movie.

However, when she walked to the core area of ​​the shoot and asked a production assistant about Kwon Hyun-hyuk, the answer she received stunned her.

"Ah, Kwon Hyun-hyuk?" The stagehand looked at Minatozaki Sana with a puzzled expression.

"He just finished filming his night shoot not long ago, probably... less than an hour ago. He got in his car and left after filming."

"gone?"

Sana Minatozaki's voice unconsciously rose a little.

"Did you go back to the hotel? Or..."

“It’s not the hotel.” The production assistant shook his head. “I heard he’s rushing to another set, for the second season of DP. There are important scenes to film there today. Park Jung-jung’s manager told him to go there as soon as this is finished, because time is very tight.”

Sana Minatosaki was a little lost. She looked around and saw the crew still busy packing up equipment and setting up the set, but she couldn't find that familiar figure.

A cold wind swept across the fallen leaves, making her look quite desolate.

"I see..." She tried to keep her expression calm, but her voice sounded a little awkward.

"When will he be able to finish filming there?"

"I'm not too sure about that." The stagehand scratched his head.

"I heard that 'DP' is quite demanding, and Kwon Heonhyuk is the main character with a lot of screen time, so it probably won't be finished anytime soon."

A faint sense of loss and a familiar restlessness welled up in Sana Minatozaki's heart.

That's it again!

She wasn't told about the concert, and now even visiting the set is a hassle.

Sana Minatozaki looked around the film crew again and sighed.

They even tried to create a surprise. I should have tortured them first before coming over.

She took out her phone and quickly typed a message:
"I passed by the set of 'Breaking the Tomb' but it was empty. Director Kwon is really a busy man."

She sent the message without expecting an immediate reply.

Sure enough, the phone screen went dark and there was no response.

He's probably completely absorbed in the filming of "DP" right now, or he's resting with his eyes closed in the car on the way to another location, and he's not paying attention to his phone at all.

"Go back," she said to her assistant, her voice weak.

She turned and sat back in the van, leaning against the back of the seat, watching the suburban scenery rushing past the window and being swallowed by darkness.

The car was warm, but she felt a little cold inside.

The carefully planned set visit fell through, like punching cotton.

This guy is really something.

(End of this chapter)