My Life in Hollywood C38 Licensing Hunt (Patreon)

With the agreement signed, Marcus had secured a staggering seventy million dollars. Nobody could've predicted that a trip to Japan—originally just to license content—would turn out like this.

And handling that kind of money? That wasn't something you could just wing. Marcus finally made the call to hire a proper accountant.

Up until now, he'd been managing finances himself with Diana's occasional oversight, but seventy million changed everything.

He needed someone who could track expenditures across multiple countries, handle currency conversions, manage vendor payments to Japanese studios, and most importantly—keep a meticulous paper trail for when it came time to prove to Douglass that every dollar spent was legitimate.

The IRS would be watching too. One sloppy mistake and the whole thing could collapse under scrutiny. This wasn't just good practice—it was survival.

---◖⁠⚆⁠ᴥ⁠⚆⁠◗---

At Ichiraku Ramen, Marcus had invited Jefferson, Tanaka, and Minato to celebrate. He slurped his noodles and grinned. "Isn't this great? I've got the funding now. So just relax and focus on the project. Don't take on anything else. Just Naruto."

"Of course, of course." Tanaka smiled, looking genuinely happy for the first time in weeks.

He hadn't expected the funding from Netflicks to come through this fast. He was riding high.

Jefferson, on the other hand, looked miserable. He pushed his ramen around with his chopsticks, barely touching it. Still worried whether Marcus could actually repay that loan or not.

"What do you think of the ramen? Pretty good, right?" Marcus asked, trying to lighten the mood.

"It's fine." Jefferson's answer was flat, lifeless.

'He still hasn't recovered from the investment deal.' Marcus understood. Douglass was a good friend to Jefferson—when business wasn't involved. But the moment money entered the picture? The guy turned into a ruthless operator. And Jefferson hated that side of him.

'I guess to reassure this man, it's finally time to make that series.'

Marcus had been sitting on a major quest for a while now:

[Produce at least one original TV series or film exclusively for your platform.]

It was a major quest with a two-year time limit. The reward? Only about 80 points.

At first, considering how expensive producing a series was, Marcus had been thinking about just making a feature film instead. It would be way easier, and he'd still get the points.

But now? Things were different.

If he wanted to repay that seventy million to Douglass—the bastard who was kind enough to loan it to him in the first place—he was going to need a series that could pull subscribers. Something binge-worthy. Something that would make people stay subscribed month after month.

'I guess making Modern Family doesn't sound so bad for Netflicks.'

He pulled up the Quest Search Engine in his mind and searched for Modern Family. He spent the points to purchase the first season.

The transaction completed instantly, and now he could access all the details in the Questclopedia—the entire first season laid out comprehensively. Scripts, episode breakdowns, character arcs, shooting notes, even behind-the-scenes production strategies. Everything he needed was right there, ready to be referenced whenever he needed it.

After finishing their talk with Tanaka and Minato, Marcus and Jefferson wrapped up their business in Japan and flew to Singapore.

---ʕ⁠´⁠•⁠ᴥ⁠•⁠`⁠ʔ---

Singapore. A tiny island nation—smaller than most U.S. cities—but richer per capita than most of its neighbors. Gleaming skyscrapers, spotless streets, and an efficiency that made even Tokyo look chaotic. Impressive didn't even cover it.

They got to see some of the iconic spots—Marina Bay Sands, the Merlion, Gardens by the Bay—but they weren't here for sightseeing.

They were here for business.

The Asia TV Forum was held at one of Singapore's massive convention centers—a sprawling complex of glass and steel that could've hosted a small airport.

Inside, the energy was buzzing. Media companies from South Korea, China, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and across Southeast Asia had set up booths showcasing their best content.

This was where networks and distributors came to scout new shows, negotiate licensing deals, and find the next breakout hit before it went mainstream.

Drama producers from Korea were pitching romantic melodramas and historical epics. Chinese studios were hawking kung fu period pieces and modern crime thrillers.

Thai networks had their lakorn soap operas on display—over-the-top, melodramatic, and wildly popular across the region.

And then there were the celebrities. A few Korean drama leads walked the floor, trailed by small entourages. A Chinese actress who'd just starred in a massive wuxia series was doing a meet-and-greet at one of the booths.

Fans and industry insiders alike swarmed around them with cameras and autograph requests.

Marcus and Jefferson blended in easily enough in their suits, looking like any other industry professionals there to do deals.

But the tension between them was noticeable. Jefferson walked a step behind, arms crossed most of the time, barely engaging unless Marcus directly asked him something. His responses were clipped, his body language closed off.

Marcus knew why. Jefferson was still rattled by the deal with Douglass. Still convinced Marcus had bitten off more than he could chew.

'Sooner or later, he'll see I'm right,' Marcus thought. 'He just needs proof.'

They moved through the aisles slowly, stopping at different booths to watch sizzle reels and trailers.

Each company had set up screens running their flagship content on loop—trying to hook distributors with the best thirty seconds they had.

The Asia TV Forum was nothing like Japan. In Tokyo, Marcus and Jefferson had to hunt down studios one by one. Here, the studios came to them—rows of booths showcasing content, producers eager to make deals.

Marcus and Jefferson walked through the convention center, taking in the offerings. They weren't planning to stay long.

"Let's split up," Marcus said. "Cover more ground."

Jefferson nodded and headed toward the Southeast Asian section.

---◖⁠⚆⁠ᴥ⁠⚆⁠◗---

At first, nobody paid Jefferson much attention. Foreigners weren't unusual here. But the moment he started asking about U.S. distribution rights? That changed everything.

"You—you mean you'll distribute our drama in the USA?" A Filipino producer stared at him in disbelief.

Americans didn't touch Asian content. The cultural gap was too wide, and most U.S. audiences wouldn't give it a second glance.

"Yeah. How much per episode?"

"It's ten thousand per episode, but I can offer a discount!" The guy was practically vibrating with excitement. Getting picked up by an American distributor wasn't just about money—it was prestige. It legitimized the studio, opened doors for future deals, and gave them something to brag about back home.

Jefferson kept his expression neutral and moved to the next booth. By the end of the hour, he'd locked down deals with three studios—Thai, Indonesian, Filipino. At these prices, Netflicks could afford to take risks.

---▼⁠・⁠ᴥ⁠・⁠▼---

Meanwhile, Marcus headed straight for the South Korean section.

South Korea was different. Their production values were higher, their writing tighter, and the studios knew it. Japan was already buying up Korean dramas like crazy, so the pricing reflected that confidence. Still, compared to what these shows would cost in a few years? Everything here was a steal.

Marcus walked past a few booths, scanning trailers. Then he stopped.

A Korean producer was talking with some Southeast Asian distributors about broadcast deals for their local networks. The screen behind them showed a trailer—a beautiful actress, an ethereal man watching her from across the street, then vanishing in a flash of light.

The title: "I Got Love From The Star."

Marcus paused. 'That title sounds familiar.'

He stepped closer. The producer—mid-forties, sharp-eyed, name tag reading Lee Ha-jun—noticed him but barely glanced his way. Just some kid.

"Excuse me," Marcus said. "What's this drama about?"

Ha-jun turned, clearly not expecting the question from someone so young. But since the kid asked, he answered. "It's about an alien who's lived on Earth for four hundred years. He falls in love with a famous actress—arrogant, spoiled, the works."

He said it casually, fully expecting Marcus to walk away. To most Americans, that plot sounded ridiculous.

But Marcus's eyes lit up. 'Wait. An alien living on Earth for centuries? Falls in love with an actress.' He remembered watching something exactly like that back in his previous life—during his intern days, late nights when he needed something mindless to unwind. That show had blown up internationally.

'Is this the same drama?'

Ha-jun was already turning back to the other distributors, dismissing Marcus entirely.

"How much for the licensing rights per episode?" Marcus asked.

Ha-jun stopped mid-turn, genuinely surprised. 'He's actually interested?' He glanced at Marcus again. The kid didn't look like he had money. "We're not really doing licensing deals here. Mostly working with networks for broadcast distribution." He paused. "But if you're asking... thirty thousand per episode."

He said it with confidence, expecting the number to scare the kid off.

Marcus didn't even blink. "I'm the owner of Netflicks. U.S.-based streaming company." He pulled out a business card and held it out.

Ha-jun's eyes widened slightly as he took the card. He'd never heard of Netflicks. But the card looked legitimate. And this kid—seventeen at most—was claiming he owned a company?

"If the deal's right," Marcus continued, "I can have it dubbed in English for the U.S. market."

Ha-jun's composure cracked. Dubbing? That wasn't just licensing—that was a serious investment. Most American companies wouldn't even look at Asian content, let alone spend money localizing it. But if this kid was serious... the American market was exponentially bigger than Japan's. Even at a discount, the exposure alone would be worth it.

"I'll contact you soon," Ha-jun said, pocketing the card. His voice was calm, but his mind was racing. "We'll need to discuss terms with the studio."

"Don't wait too long," Marcus said. "I'm talking to a lot of producers here."

Ha-jun nodded, already pulling out his phone as Marcus walked away.

Marcus kept moving through the Korean section, flagging two more dramas—one medical, one corporate thriller. Behind him, Ha-jun was already on the phone with his higher-ups, voice low but urgent.

"Netflicks? Never heard of it. Don't fall for scammers!" The CEO's voice crackled through the phone speaker.

"I'm not falling for anything," Ha-jun said calmly. In this business, scammers weren't unusual—fake distributors promising deals that never materialized, companies that'd sign contracts and disappear without paying a dime. Some even posed as legitimate buyers just to get access to content they could bootleg. "But it's worth discussing with them."

There was a pause on the other end. "Just discuss. Don't sign anything stupid." The CEO's tone was stern. Then it softened slightly. "But if it's legit? Offering them a discount to get exposure in the U.S. wouldn't hurt us."

"That's what I was thinking," Ha-jun said.

"Research that company—Netflicks—before you do anything else."

"Already on it."

---ʕ⁠ ⁠º⁠ ⁠ᴥ⁠ ⁠º⁠ʔ---

A few days later, after Marcus and Jefferson had spent most of their time in Singapore hammering out deals with various studios, they finally sat down with Ha-jun at a private booth in a restaurant. He'd brought two colleagues with him this time.

Ha-jun looked at Marcus seriously. He'd done his homework—Netflicks was real. A small streaming platform based in the U.S. that distributed shows and films online, with DVD rentals as a backup option. Legitimate, and apparently gaining traction.

Streaming wasn't common in 2010. Most people still watched content through cable or DVDs. But Ha-jun could see the potential. Even if Netflicks was just an online platform, it could give them exposure in the U.S. market.

And from what he'd researched, the company was growing fast—pulling in subscribers steadily.

Right now, Japan was their biggest customer. But if the U.S. took off? That could become their most important market down the line.

"We've discussed it internally," Ha-jun said, cutting straight to the point. "We're willing to offer twenty-five thousand per episode."

He kept his tone measured, not pushy. From what he'd learned, Netflicks was a small company—recently founded but growing fast. He expected Marcus to haggle. Maybe push for twenty or even fifteen thousand.

Instead, Marcus nodded. "Alright. Twenty-five thousand per episode. Deal."

Ha-jun blinked, caught off guard. Then he extended his hand. Marcus shook it firmly.

Just like that, their drama had secured a U.S. distribution deal.

---ʕ⁠´⁠•⁠ᴥ⁠•⁠`⁠ʔ---

After weeks abroad, Marcus and Jefferson finally returned to the States.

Nathan was waiting at the house, along with Arya and Ryan.

"Welcome back!" they all said, crowding around Marcus.

Nathan turned to Jefferson with a grin. "I hope my kid didn't give you too much of a headache these past few weeks?"

"Headache?" Jefferson massaged his temples. "He gave me more than a headache."

Nathan's smile faltered. "What do you mean?"

"You don't know yet?" Jefferson sighed heavily. "Your kid made a deal with the devil."

"The devil?" Nathan's confusion deepened.

"Yeah. And that devil's name is Douglass."

Nathan's expression shifted instantly. "Douglass? He's here?"

He still had unfinished business with that bastard. Bad blood over money that never got settled.

"No, relax. He's still in Japan," Jefferson said. "But that bastard made a deal with your kid..." He launched into the full story as they walked—Marcus and his friends trailing a few steps behind, chatting among themselves.

"What!?" Nathan stopped dead in his tracks. "He staked all his shares?"

"Right?" Jefferson threw his hands up. "That kid of yours is insane. He bet everything on—"

"He outsmarted Douglass and walked away with seventy million for some worthless shares? Hahaha!" Nathan burst out laughing. "That's my boy!"

Jefferson's brow furrowed. *'Outsmarted?'* Anyone with half a brain could see Douglass was the one who came out on top. Marcus had bet his entire company on a nearly impossible repayment timeline.

'Like father, like son,' Jefferson thought grimly.

---…⁠ᘛ⁠⁐̤⁠ᕐ⁠ᐷ---

Marcus felt the familiar air of home and couldn't help but feel hopeful about tomorrow. Seventy million dollars. That kind of money could change everything.

He returned to school, but he was already planning to attend less and less. After all, he had a bet to win. That seventy million either stayed a loan—or became Douglass's equity.

With the money in hand, Marcus and Jefferson got to work. They reached out to studios and managed to license a handful of classic films from Dinsley for five million dollars.

Considering these were famous classics, they got them cheap. But it made sense. The movies were getting pirated anyway. Dinsley figured they might as well profit from streaming, and Netflicks was the perfect partner for that.

Around the same time, Marcus secured a deal with a dubbing company to localize Naruto. The episodes were ready—twenty-five of them—but they were all in Japanese. Getting them dubbed into English was the next step.

As January approached, Marcus realized this world was starting to feel familiar. It'd been almost a year since he'd woken up in this body, and he'd already accomplished so much.

But now, he was moving forward with Modern Family. First step: rent a house in Los Angeles—somewhere that could pass for the Dunphy home. Outdoor filming needed the right location. They'd also rent a studio for interior shots.

Jefferson watched Marcus prepare for an original series with doubt still gnawing at him.

By the end of December 31st, Marcus officially turned seventeen. He kept the celebration small.

Even though Netflicks was growing—now pulling in three hundred thousand a month—he didn't touch the earnings. No dividends. Everything got reinvested into the company's growth.

By January 2011, Marcus had Netflicks open auditions for Modern Family.

He also sent the screenplay out to agencies. Standard procedure.

But a small company making a series? That wasn't going to attract known TV stars.

Still, it managed to catch the attention of people going through tough times.

A man who looked like he could play a suburban dad sat at a diner booth, flipping through a screenplay over coffee.

He'd gotten it from his agent—one of those low-priority submissions nobody else wanted to touch. The title read Modern Family.

He took a bite of his burger and kept reading. Honestly, he didn't care if the series was good or not. For him, this was about survival. He'd been grinding through auditions for years, taking whatever work he could get—commercials, small TV roles, anything that paid. The big break hadn't come yet, and bills didn't wait.

He glanced at the audition address. Not far from here.

"Guess it doesn't hurt to try."

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🎉 HAPPY NEW YEAR 2026! 🎉

Goodbye 2025

Welcome 2026

Thank you so much for being with me through everything. Your support truly means the world to me.

A lot happened to me this past year, and I know many of you have also experienced a lot in 2025, whether happiness or sadness. For me, I got sick, dealt with various challenges, and then lost my uncle. I know some of you have also lost loved ones too. I truly hope their souls are resting peacefully and doing well in the afterlife.

Beyond that, I struggled with motivation and anxiety, but I'm so grateful you stayed by my side through it all. I know many of you have been fighting your own silent battles, and I want you to know you're not alone.

I'm hoping and praying that 2026 will be kinder to all of us.

May we all grow and become better than we were before. Wishing you health, prosperity, and all the very best this year!

Here's to a blessed year ahead!