Ch.326Award Ceremony

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

The thoughts I had in the Disney conference room still won’t leave my mind.

‘Am I really going independent?’

Going independent just to create one work?

That’s obviously impossible.

What independence are we talking about when we’ve already been acquired?

It’s realistically impossible.

All copyrights for works produced by Marvel now belong to Disney.

Not just that, but starting with budget decisions…

Simply put, Disney has complete authority over everything.

But even so.

‘That doesn’t mean there’s absolutely no way.’

The massive losses from Disney’s recent live-action films that have been severely shaken.

Along with continuously worsening public opinion.

There were plenty of opportunities to create new works under the pretext of the multiverse.

The downside would be that it might take some time.

I wonder if Kim Donghu would wait until then, I thought.

About 2 months later.

June 5, 2025.

Finally, Disney’s live-action film “Snow White” was pulled from theaters.

“…Are these numbers real?”

The stark revenue figures hit the Disney conference room hard.

+++++++

“Snow White, Maximum Estimated Loss Around 408 Billion Won?”

“Consecutive Box Office Failures, Is Disney’s Live-Action Approach Still Viable?”

“Continuous Disappointment! Live-Action Films Overflowing with Excessive Universe Expansion and PC Culture!”

“Disney Internal Meeting Results in ‘Suspension of Live-Action Films’ Announcement”

“Searching for a New Beginning? Is This Really True?”

“PC Culture That Has Never Succeeded, Disney in Crisis”

“Does Their Justice Contain Twisted Ideology? Disney’s Devastating Losing Streak”

Amidst the recording of absurd losses.

Some Disney executives had to admit it.

‘…It’s not making money.’

Of course, they weren’t making films just for money.

More precisely, if you polished the artistic quality, the money would follow naturally.

But recently, that wasn’t happening.

Wasn’t embracing diversity supposed to make things more trendy?

They thought they had followed the DEI (how PC it is) standards quite well.

Even though they had mandated that over 50% of the production staff

be women or people of color, the results weren’t particularly good.

What was the problem?

Was it because they gathered people who had no interest in films and were busy pushing ideology?

Was it because their thoughts were actually at odds with mainstream opinions?

‘Ah, well, I actually know.’

They just thought they had to see it through since they’d already started.

And now they realized they couldn’t continue any longer.

No, they couldn’t continue.

Everything we had believed to be mainstream until now.

“…24,000 dislikes in the shortest time, that’s also a record.”

Was being denied across the board.

“….”

“….”

“….”

A chilly atmosphere pervades the conference room as soon as Disney CEO Rip Iron speaks.

“We did everything we could, and if the results still didn’t come… well, it’s time to stop.”

Of course, this is just for now.

There were still many people who wanted to be PC.

More precisely, there were many people who still wanted to reflect their favorite ideologies in films.

To Rip, they were all pretty much the same.

“…Let’s say we leave alone the universes that can no longer be changed.”

Swish.

Rip’s gaze rests on Melvin.

“But universes that can be changed, we can change them as much as we want, right?”

He remembers the report he received a few months ago.

At that time, they postponed making a decision until they saw proper numbers.

Looking at how things are going now, they should have moved faster.

“Starting now, how long would it take to shoot quickly?”

“…Are you referring to the one starring Kim Donghu?”

“Yes, that’s right. If we give him full authority, how feasible would it be?”

Full authority.

This was a phrase that could only come out after going through a complex meeting process.

Normally.

Designing the universe.

Deciding on director, writer, casting.

Budget allocation and production schedule.

Promotion, release method, OTT strategy.

All these would have to go through project approval inspection procedures.

Pass intermediate review and get final approval.

But now they were deciding this at a suddenly arranged “Snow White” meeting.

Naturally.

“Wait a minute, isn’t this too sudden?”

“We’re talking about Snow White’s losses right now… why suddenly bring up Donghu Kim’s movie?”

There were people who opposed, but.

“That’s exactly why I’m talking about it. I can take responsibility for all those matters.”

Rip lightly dismissed the opinions of those who opposed.

“It has to be done with a completely different multiverse setting. We need to maintain the existing Marvel universe.”

“Understood.”

“No, wait. So you’re really going to do this?”

People’s opinions surge again at Melvin’s acceptance.

What they’re most worried about.

It was.

“…So we’re going to create a competitive structure with the current work that’s continuing the legacy of Iron Man?”

What’s currently being screened.

The possibility of competition with the next-generation female Iron Man.

Amid already unfavorable opinions.

Competing at the work level over Iron Man’s successor?

“Do you think that makes sense?”

“Nothing is impossible in the multiverse, right Melvin?”

“That’s right. Even Batman and Joker are the same person now.”

“….”

As a strangely unpleasant silence continues.

Rip summarized the situation with one clear statement.

“Are you afraid you’ll lose?”

Are you scared, he was asking.

“Excuse me?”

“I asked if you’re scared. Because the opponent is that Donghu Kim… at the Academy Awards… no. Let’s stop here.”

That’s how he asked.

++++++

To get to the conclusion.

“…Wow, you were quiet for so long I thought it was completely canceled.”

“I thought so too, but it wasn’t.”

“They said they were rewriting the screenplay, right?”

“Yeah, but they told me they’ll mostly follow the draft I gave you.”

“Working Title-Arc V” has been confirmed for production.

I don’t know what conversations took place during those two months.

But the result was good, so that’s fortunate.

‘The rating is visible too.’

<Working Title-Arc V, B+ (rating being adjusted upward)>.

The initial rating is B+.

And seeing that the rating is being adjusted upward.

‘I wonder how much higher the rating will go when the bones become more solid and flesh is added.’

Since Iron Man was a superhero movie that was loved for quite a long time.

It’s B+ now, but I firmly believed it would definitely become S later.

Moreover.

“They really gave me casting authority?”

“Not just that, you have directing authority too, you’re practically a co-producer.”

I could also actively participate in the film production.

With the power to check the film’s rating in real-time.

There was a high possibility of making the best film.

‘Then once again….’

My gaze briefly lingers on the Veritas trophy display.

Exactly 4 months ago.

The day of the 2025 Academy Awards still seemed to remain in my heart.

If I just close my eyes and think about it.

“Oppa, what are you thinking about so deeply?”

The events of that time are still vivid.

++++++

The Academy Awards are usually held in March.

The Academy Awards evaluating works released in 2024.

Since it would be absurd for Murciélago to be excluded.

Naturally, our entire team attended the ceremony.

“This is my first time here.”

“Mine too.”

“You too, oppa?”

“But I think we’ll be coming here often now?”

While exchanging light jokes with Chisako.

“Eeh, confidence!”

Poke poke.

After grabbing Chisako’s finger poking my side and giving her a quick kiss.

“Uh… uh… in, in public places this is a bit… a bit embarrassing, hehe….”

We sit in our pre-assigned seats.

And the first thing that follows is a splendid opening and host introduction.

Starting with Conan’s appearance who will lead the ceremony pleasantly.

They proceed with jokes that have been somewhat rehearsed.

“Ohoh! And here, seriously, every time I see him I’m amazed! He’s unbelievably handsome! Donghu Kim!”

Sometimes they lead the atmosphere with ad-libs.

“Actually, Donghu Kim and I go way back. He’s been on our show several times, has a great sense of humor… and gave incredibly amazing fan service!”

“Hold on Conan, are you bragging about your connection with Donghu Kim? I can’t be left out!”

“Mark! Mark… I understand how you feel! Stay there! Since I’m hosting right now, I’ll monopolize Donghu Kim for a moment!”

Right before the awards presentation.

After a brief icebreaking session.

The awards ceremony proceeds smoothly.

The first awards are for supporting roles and technical categories.

Here, an unexpected person received an award.

Namely.

“Congratulations. Murciélago’s Chisako Usami!”

Chisako receiving the Best Supporting Actress award.

Honestly, this was a twist even I didn’t expect.

Chisako suddenly went up to the award stage and.

“I, I never imagined I would receive this… truly… it’s an honor… *sob*… to everyone who helped me….”

She burst into tears.

And this marked the beginning of Murciélago’s significant award momentum.

The Academy Awards typically don’t highly regard superhero films.

They tend to focus more on art, treating superhero films as merely commercial.

But recently, there had been a steady trend against this.

Some works were even being nominated for Best Picture.

If Murciélago continues to receive awards like this?

Perhaps.

‘A new wind could blow at the Academy Awards.’

I thought that Murciélago might really make history.