Chapter 124: Hollywood

In 1912, there was a small town near Los Angeles.

Due to a lack of technology, film sensitivity was low and lighting was poor. This town, Insvill, became known as "Hollywood" because it was a place where films could be shot using natural light—specifically, strong sunlight—for more than 300 days out of 365.

Hollywood was a perfect natural studio, complete with snow-capped mountains, vast fields, the sea, lakes, plenty of water, and even deserts.

The history of Hollywood began when numerous film production companies started setting up studios in Insvill. Combined with massive Jewish capital, the global formula of "Movies = Hollywood" was born.

This is why the 1930s and '40s are commonly referred to as the Golden Age of Hollywood.

There were eight major studio companies that experienced this boom. These companies contributed to rapid industrial development by forming a vertical structure that handled everything from production and investment to distribution and screening. Among these companies are Paramount America, WeWarner Brothers, and Universal Cultures.

Of course, even Hollywood was not without its ups and downs.

The Supreme Court issued rulings that restricted the oligopoly of these large studios, and with the introduction of televisions into American homes after World War II, the film industry lost its title as the representative of popular culture to broadcasting.

Since the 2010s, Hollywood has undergone various fluctuations, leaving only five major production companies through acquisitions and mergers.

Furthermore, as the OTT market grew, the quality of original works from OTT studios increased. Hollywood production companies lost many talents because directors and writers were able to create freely without the pressure of investment.

It was only natural.

Unlike the Korean system, directors and writers in Hollywood have less authority, while the "Producers" hold immense power.

Of course, this excludes the world-famous film directors whose names everyone knows.

Generally, producers at a production company select a script that has potential, attach multiple writers to expand it from various angles, and refine it into the most complete version. Then, they choose a director to film it. Once the director brings back the footage, a professional editor is brought in to edit it according to the production company’s desired direction.

Because the final product is made this way, the resulting work is often something entirely different with added commercial traits, rather than the original vision of the creator, whether it be the writer or the director. Consequently, when directors or writers become famous enough, they often participate in production by becoming "Producers" themselves.

While some negative aspects have been highlighted, the unique advantage of the Hollywood system lies in this "division of labor."

Since it is a system that inevitably fosters professional staff, a single director or writer does not need to—and cannot—take responsibility for everything. A work created by a gathering of various experts naturally sees an increase in quality, and as the quality rises, each individual’s expertise is further recognized.

In Hollywood, the person who gathers these experts to create a single work—the person required to have the abilities of a comprehensive creator—is the "Producer."

---

 was a two-star Michelin fine-dining restaurant located in LA. There was a regular customer who had been visiting this place consistently since it opened.

It was Darren Smith, a producer known as Hollywood’s "Hand of God."

"Hello, Darren! You’re early," the manager of the two-star Michelin restaurant greeted him warmly.

The two exchanged a unique gesture before the manager guided Darren to his reserved seat. Shortly after, Brown, the Head Chef of , rushed out while wiping his wet hands on his apron.

"Is the Head Chef allowed to leave his post like that?"

"I’m the head here. Who would dare say anything?"

"Hahaha."

They shared a hug and a brief greeting. Even though Darren had visited the week before, there were many people with him then, so they hadn't been able to talk properly.

"Are you having the 'Darren Special' again today?"

"Yes. A cheeseburger, please."

"You really are unique. You might be the only person in Los Angeles who eats a $300 cheeseburger."

"Because the cheeseburgers you make, Brown, are the finest on this continent."

"Always proving you’re an American."

"Make it a Brown Cheese Burger, please."

"Hahaha."

Never missing a beat with their humor, as Americans do, they had to part quickly because of another guest who approached from the next table.

"Look who it is! Darren!"

"Oh. William, did you come from New York?"

"Yeah. I was actually going to contact you!"

At William Brad's boisterous greeting, people sitting nearby turned to look at them. They immediately recognized him and began to whisper.

William Brad. It was no exaggeration to say that he was considered the most influential actor in Hollywood—and throughout the United States—since the 1990s.

When he first came to Hollywood in the mid-seventies with dreams of becoming an actor, Darren was the one who fed him and gave him a place to sleep. It was also Darren who was certain William would succeed as he watched him pursue his dreams while working as an extra, a driver, and an air conditioner deliveryman.

Darren was the one who drove William, then in his twenties, to various auditions and taught him how to act. It wasn't until the nineties that William's face became truly well-known. He received overwhelming praise from critics for his role as a killer with an overpowering presence in the masterpiece thriller *Six*.

In the 2000s, he enjoyed global popularity through a series called *Ocean’s Seventeen*. He was someone so special to Darren that he never forgot to mention Darren's name whenever he won an award at a ceremony.

"Want to eat with us? I came with Angelina."

At his table was Angelina Molly, who was considered one of the most beautiful action-specialist actresses in Hollywood, alongside Grace.

"Sorry. I have an important appointment today."

"That’s too bad. Well, see you next time. There’s a movie I’m producing with Angelina, and I’d like you to take a look at it. Your eyes are always accurate, Darren."

"Of course."

Darren gave a wink and returned to his seat. Right then, Darren’s long-time friend, Grace Kim, walked in with her companion.

"Darren! It’s been so long."

"I missed you, Grace. I almost forgot your face. Though you’re on TV so much, it's impossible to actually forget."

"Haha. Sorry. I should have contacted you more often. This is the friend I wanted to introduce to you."

Darren shifted his gaze to the person Grace was introducing. He soon tilted his head at the familiar face.

"Florence?"

"Huh? Darren?"

"What? You two know each other?"

"What a coincidence. The person Grace wanted to introduce was Junghyuk Lee?"

"Yes! How on earth do you two know each other?"

After Darren finished hugging Grace Kim and Junghyuk Lee, he briefly told the story of how they had met at a store.

"Goodness. What a fascinating connection."

"Indeed. It's nice to see you again, Junghyuk."

"It really is strange. To think the person Grace so desperately wanted to introduce me to was Darren. What is your relationship?"

At Junghyuk's question, Grace Kim and Darren looked at each other and laughed simultaneously. Their laughing faces were so similar they almost looked like father and daughter.

"He’s like a father to me. When I moved to Hollywood and went to the academy to become an actress, Darren was my teacher."

"Remember? I told you to quit acting and open a McDonald’s instead."

"That's right! You told me to go flip burgers instead of torturing people with my terrible acting."

"Don’t misunderstand. I really like hamburgers."

As Grace Kim and Darren talked excitedly about their first meeting, they mixed in so much slang that Junghyuk could barely understand. However, the two of them didn't seem to notice Junghyuk, as they were lost in nostalgia, deeply immersed in their own conversation.

Of course, Junghyuk didn't feel bad. In fact, he enjoyed watching them. It felt like he was getting to know the human side of Grace, rather than the woman who had only been showing her romantic interest in him lately.

To Grace Kim, who had been adopted, Darren Smith was no different from a godfather. It was said that Darren was also the one who coolly taught Grace how to handle the racial discrimination she faced in the industry for being a small Asian woman.

Darren, who had no children of his own, seemed to treat Grace like his daughter. Love was practically dripping from his eyes; one could tell even without hearing about their past.

While the seven-course meal was served in succession, Junghyuk, Darren, and Grace exchanged trivial stories. During that time, Darren quickly devoured one cheeseburger and was already on his second.

"But by any chance, Grace, were you the one who gave Junghyuk these clothes as a gift?"

"As expected, you recognized them immediately. You aren't a major shareholder for nothing."

"No wonder. I ended up talking to Junghyuk because of these clothes. So, is the friend you’re dating these days Junghyuk?"

"That’s right. The man I said I’ve been obsessed with lately is Junghyuk."

"Holy shit!"

Darren looked at Junghyuk in surprise, as if he finally understood the situation, asking if he was really the man from the rumors who had rejected Grace. Junghyuk felt embarrassed because Grace just shrugged it off.

To make things even more awkward, other industry people who recognized Grace approached and politely asked to borrow her for a moment.

"Go ahead. I'll ask them to bring out dessert slowly."

"Thanks, Papa."

As soon as Grace left her seat, Darren asked me directly.

"So. Exactly what does our Grace lack that made you reject her?"

Darren gestured with both hands as if he truly couldn't understand. Junghyuk scratched the back of his head and gave a vague excuse, saying it wasn't that she wasn't attractive, but that he had his reasons. However, Darren wasn't about to back down and demanded to know what those reasons were.

'What am I supposed to say to this... What's the English word for erectile dysfunction...?'

In the end, Junghyuk looked up the word on a translator app and showed it to him. Darren, who had been scowling as he read the word on the screen, suddenly burst into laughter.

"OMG. You’re a truly interesting person."

Junghyuk was about to feel offended, wondering if the man was mocking him, when...

"To think we have even this in common. Perhaps we really were meant to meet?"

Darren's confession about his own condition made Junghyuk's tension melt away. A comrade in a far-off country? Junghyuk whispered softly, thinking that Darren might be an even better person than he thought.

"Please keep it a secret from Grace."

"Of course, of course. This is a story only between men."

"What? What is it? What are you two talking about that's so interesting?"

Grace, who had quickly said her hellos and returned, asked as she sat back down. Darren kept his promise and told her there was no need for her to know since it was man-talk. He even went as far as to warn her that he would never tell, then gave Junghyuk a wink.

"That's so strange. It took me a long time to get close to Darren. How did you two get so close after only seeing each other twice? I’m starting to feel a little bit jealous."

"It just means you have an eye for men, Grace."

"Hehe. That’s true."

Junghyuk became certain that Darren was the only person in the world who could handle the great Grace Kim so easily.

"So. What's the real reason you wanted to introduce Junghyuk to me today?"

"Um. Darren, I actually have a favor to ask."

Grace gazed at Darren with deep eyes.

"I’d like you to invite Junghyuk to the writers’ meeting for *Kingdom Game*, which you are currently producing."