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A Jungle.
The broadcasting industry was like a jungle where the strong preyed on the weak. The same went for drama scheduling. The head of the drama department decided on the prime-time slots and the production budget. However, that didn’t mean that the more support a show received from the viewers, the more it got funded. There was a limit to the funds they could allocate because of a limited operating budget. But Kim Jin, the producer, was the king of the snakes in this jungle.
“Director, I swear this drama will be a success. If we can’t get more funds, we won’t be able to film it properly. Just look at the journalists who attended the script reading. They’re already predicting a hit. What if the production budget isn’t enough and the drama falls apart?”
“PD Kim! It’s because you’ve been going around talking to the journalists about it! The greater the expectations, the greater the disappointment. Don’t you know that? And don’t you remember when you claimed to produce a high-quality drama a couple of years ago, and it completely flopped?!”
“Ah, why are you bringing up old stories again? Director, you know who the writer of this drama is, right? It’s none other than Writer Hwang. I’m really confident about this one. The actor we cast as the lead actor is no joke!”
“Seo Minhye? How far do you think she’ll go? This industry changes faster than people change their minds! Just because Seo Minhye shined a few times doesn’t mean she’ll shine forever!”
“No, I’m not talking about Seo Minhye!”
PD Kim Jin still couldn’t forget the exhilaration he felt at the script reading. The actors’ energy was overwhelming as if they wrapped up the entire room. It was not just about their stable voice and tone. It was about the aura they projected as if they had turned the script-reading venue into a real shooting set. As proof, when the male lead, Jang Yeongguk, recited his lines, even the reporters who were typing stopped their hands and held batted breaths.
“Anyway, I’ll disappear if I don’t get more funds for this production. Don’t look for me. I’ll just board a boat and go to any island.”
“Hey, Kim Jin!”
“Just a little more. Please, just let us use a little more money. If I mess up again, you can send me to some regional station or to some children’s program. I won’t say a word. Just like a couple of years ago. If I mess up once more, I’ll just make programs for toddlers.”
“I’ll think about it. Now get out of here. You’re driving me crazy!”
Feeling that he had somewhat achieved his goal, Kim Jin left with a satisfied smile on his face. Kim Jin was a well-known force to be reckoned with in the drama department. He had a light touch, like a bird, but his skills were heavy. The failure of the high-quality drama a couple of years ago was said to be affected by external factors; it just happened to have overlapped with the World Cup.
“PD Go, what’s going on this time that you’re hiding in the drama department?”
Kim Jin asked his colleague, PD Go Manseok, who worked in the entertainment department. Despite his large stature, he hid behind a partition in the drama department, trying to catch his breath.
“Don’t even mention it. Right now, our department head is so angry that his wig is about to fly off. Our youngest staff member didn’t know there was a scratch on the tape from a few days ago, and he edited it and sent it out like that. When the department head found out, he pulled out the tape and started strangling the kid with it. Ugh.”
“Was there no backup?”
“If there was, do you think we would be in this mess right now?! Now we’re in trouble because all the guests who appeared in the recording say they can’t reschedule. We have no guests to book right now, and we don’t know how to fix this mess. If the department head looks for me, just say I jumped off the rooftop.”
Kim Jin’s expression remained calm as he listened to the story. It was a relatively common incident in this field, especially among the youngest staff members. If there had been a backup, it would have been a minor issue. But it was difficult to end it with just a few written apologies since the whole recording was lost without any backup.
Kim Jin also knew the temper of the head of the entertainment department well, and he felt pity for the youngest staff member who had made that mistake. He probably not only strangled the kid with the tape but also covered his face with the wig to suffocate him. At that moment, an idea came to Kim Jin’s mind, like finding a spring in a dry jungle.
“What if I solve that problem for you?”
***
King Cobra Kim Jin.
Even Jang Yeongguk knew the nickname of SBC’s drama PD Kim Jin. He was someone he had a connection with in his past life. He was as light-footed as a sparrow visiting a mill, but his skills were greatly recognized. It wasn’t for nothing that SBC supported him. However, he was so free-spirited that he later left SBC to become a drama director at a cable channel. That’s how much he knew his own worth.
“Yeongguk! I thought I was gonna die waiting for you. Really, thank you for coming so willingly, even though I called you in a hurry. Let’s start with introductions. This is PD Go Manseok, my colleague from the entertainment department. He might not look like much, but he’s reliable when it comes to work.”
“Hello, I’m Jang Yeongguk.”
“Thank you. Yeongguk, no, Actor Jang!”
Go Manseok, the entertainment PD, grabbed the young man’s hand with his bear-like hand. His face showed his immense relief. No wonder since he just received a scolding from the head of the entertainment department.
Bring back a better picture than what we filmed! Right now!
If the picture wasn’t good, it wouldn’t be surprising if the head of the department’s hairpiece would come flying at PD Go Manseok’s face.
“PD Go Manseok, but are we not doing a pre-interview before filming?”
“Ah, have you not seen our program before?”
Yeongguk scratched his head awkwardly. Though he was working as an actor, he had lived a life somewhat distant from television. It was the same in his past life. He rarely enjoyed watching variety shows that weren’t movies or dramas. That’s how engrossed he had been in his scripts.
“It’s okay not to do a pre-interview. There’s not enough talk time for an in-depth conversation. It’s more of a short, snappy talk style.”
“PD Go Manseok, that’s enough. I’ll handle the detailed explanations, so go prepare for the filming. We’ve gathered these valuable actors, can’t have them sitting around all day.”
“Of course. Actor Jang, I’ll treat you to dinner tonight with my money, so please attend.”
What kind of variety show filming could make the director act like this? Yeongguk couldn’t understand. An appearance on a variety show was like a gateway to the world of entertainment, right?
PD Go Manseok left, and “King Cobra” Kim Jin took his place quietly.
“Yeongguk, when Writer Hwang first recommended you, I was actually pretty skeptical. While you’re called the Ten-million Cameo in Chungmuro, that’s just a superstition among film people. But you know what?”
PD Kim Jin had not only reviewed Yeongguk’s filmography after the script reading but also examined every visual media appearance from his past. From riding a Bongo truck at the Busan International Film Festival[1], to confidently using a dialect when accepting an award at the Acting Awards ceremony.
“Somehow, while observing Yeongguk, my vision for the show changed too. You’re refreshing. That’s why I like you.”
“Since you’re praising me so much, I’m getting scared about today’s filming.”
“Caught me, huh? But my vision indeed changed because of you. I think I can create a really good work this time.”
Just then, the voice of the AD announcing the arrival of actress Seo Minhye echoed from beyond the waiting room. Upon her arrival, PD Kim Jin got startled and hurriedly left his seat. What could be so absurd about today’s filming that has everyone so on edge?
***
The studio for the talk show filming was so refreshing that it could hardly be called a studio—it was a swimming pool. Chairs for the MC and guests were placed facing the pool. Electric chairs with high-resilience springs were installed underneath. It seemed like I could picture the events that would unfold soon.
“Sunbaenim, it’s Jang Yeongguk!”
Sometimes, actors differentiate themselves from entertainers of other professions. It’s as incongruous as an actor sitting upright at an acting awards ceremony. If they were all in the same entertainment industry, they should all be sunbaes.
Why bother dividing professions?
“Your voice is as refreshing as your handsome face! Yeongguk, I heard you’re from Yeongdo, Busan, right? I’m also from Yeongdo. That’s why my name is Kim Yeongdo! Of course, with good water and clean air, handsome guys like us are born, right? When people used to talk about Yeongdo, they mentioned Kim Yeongdo, but nowadays, everyone says it’s Jang Yeongguk. But it’s nice that things are going well. Let’s shake hands as fellow Yeongdos.”
“Kim Yeongdo seems to be from a completely different industry, no? And were you really born in Yeongdo and named Kim Yeongdo? Then if you were born in Samcheonpo, you would be Kim Cheonpo!”
“Guk Jongi-hyung is talking nonsense. By the way, I didn’t expect such beautiful men and women to be here when I heard it was a re-shoot today. I never even dreamed of it.”
Looking at the filming site, I could see why. Who would want to come back here again? Once you get soaked, all your carefully applied makeup becomes useless, especially for actors who care more about their image. Even if one’s mascara smudges, the recording would continue, and there would still be more to do.
This snake…!
Just by looking at actress Seo Minhye’s expression, it seemed so. I wondered if she had been deceived by PD Kim Jin’s sweet words when she was cast in the show. She couldn’t hide her surprise when she discovered the filming location was a swimming pool. Of course, even with a laid-back image, nobody would want to be broadcast looking like a wet rat.
“Standby is complete!”
As the AD’s voice rang out, everyone took their assigned seats. PD Go Manseok, the camera director, and the entire filming crew all looked tense.
“Well, it’s been long since we’ve had such young men and women visit our set. Just looking at their faces, I have a feeling this drama will be a huge hit. Seo Minhye, Jang Yeongguk, please briefly greet the viewers!”
The filming began with the MC’s brilliant speech. There were keywords for each guest, and as soon as they said the keyword, the electric chair would activate, and they would fly backward. Seo Minhye finished her simple greeting to the camera, and now it was my turn.
“Hello, I’m Jang—!”
Hello.
As soon as I spat out the word, the electric chair activated terrifyingly. For a moment, it seemed like my body was floating in mid-air before becoming completely submerged in the swimming pool. The MCs laughed, saying,
“It’s more fun to fall in right from the start.”
As I fell into the pool, memories of Namhang came to mind. While the pool lacked the saltiness of seawater, it still stirred up memories. What might have been an unpleasant experience for other actors was quite enjoyable for me.
A tall figure gracefully emerged from the pool as if swimming like a fish. The soaked shirt fluttered in the spring breeze. The shoulder line that stood out along the seams was truly a work of art.
“Wow.”
It was like a scene straight out of a youth movie. Not only the MCs but also PD Go Manseok couldn’t close their mouths as they watched the spectacle. The young man lifted his head at that moment, and water droplets fell from his disheveled hair.
[1] See Episode 28.
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