Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Is the Writer Omnipotent?
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Although he had figured out Oh Young-tae's worries, Tae-seong didn't let it show.
Instead, he threw himself into the shoot even more routinely than before.
Episode 7 was a turning point in the story, a crucial moment narratively speaking. In a drama centered on food, this was the episode where the plot took center stage.
With so many characters appearing, he had to pay extra attention to framing and camera movement.
Tae-seong left that entirely up to Oh Young-tae.
He had meddled a bit at first, but once he saw the man's skills, he placed full trust in him.
That was how talented he was.
But.
"Let's shoot it one more time."
Today, something felt off.
A reshoot.
It was rare enough that the actors and crew looked baffled.
Sure, reshooting was par for the course on any set.
But not here.
Tae-seong and Oh Young-tae's teamwork was the picture of perfect harmony.
Everyone knew Oh Young-tae's shooting skills.
So a reshoot?
It was unexpected.
Even more surprising was how readily Oh Young-tae accepted Tae-seong's call for it.
He was famous in the industry.
For his ironclad stubbornness when it came to shooting.
For him to go along with a reshoot meant even he wasn't satisfied with the take.
Either way, the shoot started over.
What would've been routine anywhere else had the actors and crew jumping back in willingly.
But.
"Let's do it again."
Another reshoot.
"Shoot it again."
Repeating the same scene over and over was torture for the actors.
"Reshooting."
The crew had to reset props and prep all over again—a grueling task.
"One more time."
After about ten takes, frustration was mounting.
Sensing it, Tae-seong finally called a halt.
"Let's take a break."
* * *
"Hmm..."
Tae-seong reviewed the footage they'd shot.
It was obviously off—plain as day.
Camera movement, focusing—everything.
Sloppy stuff that Oh Young-tae was capable of in his sleep.
'Psychological pressure is keeping the director from doing his best.'
Oh Young-tae was a pro through and through.
He took immense pride in his craft.
He'd stand his ground against a director if he had to.
But before he was a cinematographer, he was a company rep—and a family man.
Money was indispensable in this capitalist world.
Right now, cash worries were distracting him from the shoot.
'The fix is simple.'
An advance payment.
Plenty of excuses: new contract, bonus, whatever.
But that wasn't a real solution.
It'd douse the immediate fire, but long-term? The embers could flare up again.
'People tend to solve problems the same way once they've seen it work.'
He could help again if asked.
The issue was the precedent.
Tae-seong couldn't bail him out forever.
That's why he wanted a fundamental fix.
'Hmm...'
Nothing was coming to mind.
Bzzz—!
His smartphone buzzed.
Checking the caller ID, Tae-seong answered with genuine delight.
"Long time no talk! Kim PD."
-Writer-nim! It's been ages! How've you been?
The ever-energetic Kim Mi-hyeon PD.
"Yeah, doing great, thanks to you. You? How's the new station treating you?"
-Oh, you remembered. I'm past the adjustment phase and gearing up for a project. That's actually why I'm calling—got a new drama coming up. Got time to collab?
"Aw, man, talk about bad timing. I've got a packed schedule these days—hard to carve out space."
-Oh... figures...
Real disappointment colored her voice.
-Sigh... You're swamped, huh? Novels, webtoons, and now I hear you're doing a drama too?
"Yeah."
-I heard from CEO Kwon and checked it out. Impressive stuff. Great concept, killer cooking, solid acting.
"Thanks. Coming from you, that means a lot."
-Oh, and the cinematography? Blew me away. Who's the cameraman? You shooting it yourself?
"I did Episode 1, but after that, I found a top-notch guy and handed it off."
-Mind sharing his name? We're still hunting for ours. Since I switched stations, my old crew's dodging me—it's a mess.
Hearing her plight sparked an idea in Tae-seong's head.
"Why don't you swing by the set sometime?"
-Really? I was dying to see how you're shooting anyway.
"Of course. Come whenever suits you."
A smile crept across Tae-seong's face.
* * *
After hanging up with Kim PD, Tae-seong headed back to the set.
He'd planned to chat with Oh Young-tae before resuming.
But one look at the man's face told him it wasn't necessary.
"We're ready, Director."
Earlier, amid the reshoot frenzy, he'd looked dazed.
Now? Sharp and focused.
Back to his usual self. Tae-seong turned to the actors.
"Alright, resuming the shoot."
Action.
Oh Young-tae delivered, transformed from before.
Camera work—night and day.
Loose and scattered earlier; now, laser-focused.
Tae-seong clocked it even while acting.
"Okay! Cut!"
Shoot wrapped.
Tension hung over the actors and crew.
'Please let this one pass.'
'Ugh, not the same scene again.'
'Did it work this time?'
Without a word, they watched Tae-seong check the footage, united in hope.
He sat at the monitor, reviewing every frame.
A satisfied smile spread across his face.
"Okay! Perfect. Moving to the next scene."
"Yes!"
"Sweet!"
Cheers erupted. Oh Young-tae looked sheepish.
* * *
The next day.
A visitor arrived on set.
"Writer-nim, long time no see. Looking even more handsome."
Kim Mi-hyeon PD.
"You look younger than ever, PD."
"Ho ho! Flattery will get you everywhere. This is my favorite junior, Shin Young-sik PD. Big fan of yours—cool if he tags along?"
"Absolutely. Jeong Tae-seong."
"Shin Young-sik PD! Loved Otherworld Chef, SSS-Class Hunter's Return, and your latest, Return of the Divine Immortal!"
"Haha, thanks. Make yourselves at home today."
"Appreciate it! Uh... mind signing this?"
Shin PD pulled a book from his bag.
Not the standard edition—a collector's.
No empty flattery; real fan.
"Sure thing."
Tae-seong signed it, then dove into prep.
Kim and Shin PDs watched.
"Not a huge staff."
"Yeah. Figured with that footage quality, it'd be a big crew. But it's lean—just what's needed."
"Writer-nim's handling most of it himself. Acting in that state? Incredible."
Dramas need a crowd.
Common knowledge.
Long-form ones? Fifty-plus staff easy.
Here? Barely ten total.
Extras too.
'He writes the story, so he can trim extras like that.'
Amazing writer.
Script to acting to directing.
All solo.
'The cinematography's pro-level too. That polish in the footage? Must be the DP.'
Kim Mi-hyeon was a vet.
She could read a set at a glance.
Small crew's hard to wrangle.
But Tae-seong nailed it.
Cinematographer and sound guy meshed perfectly, keeping things smooth.
Especially the DP—better than expected.
Camera work stood out.
And his steady back-and-forth with Tae-seong on framing? He owned the set.
'Oh Young-tae. Heard he was a grumpy pain from other PDs.'
Before coming.
She'd heard the dirt on Oh Young-tae DP.
Not good.
'Stubborn as hell,' 'Disrespects PDs,' 'No manners'—you name it.
No PD had a nice word.
'Skills are legit, though.'
She'd seen his work—top-tier. Results spoke.
Made her wonder why the rep.
'Sigh, picky much? Not when I'm scraping for a team.'
Truth was, she was in a bind.
Post-drama PD, she'd stuck with one production house.
Switched stations? Assumed same.
But cable PD now—no takers.
She dug, found out why.
Old station pressuring production houses.
Work with her, no work with us.
Pressure? Blackmail.
Team-building hell.
Some houses bit, but after top-tier? Meh.
'This guy's the real deal.'
Oh Young-tae's skills caught her eye.
* * *
Shoot wrapped.
Tae-seong took Kim Mi-hyeon PD to a nearby barbecue joint.
"Food here's solid."
"Coming from you, I'm hyped."
She knew his cooking chops—his word carried weight.
Neat side dishes, pork belly arrived.
Pork looked prime.
Sides? Delicious across the board.
"See? Writer-nim! Your taste is impeccable."
"Wow... Heard from Senior Kim you were a cooking whiz, but damn. Consult for my next food show?"
"Hey! Focus on Mask Singer first."
Mask Singer lit up Kim Dae-sik's eyes—the sound director.
"You on Mask Singer?"
"Yeah, I'm directing."
"No way! Huge fan!"
"Haha! Thanks."
Kim Dae-sik and Shin Young-sik PD geeked out over Mask Singer.
'Mom watches that a ton.'
Tae-seong knew the show.
Masked singers compete incognito.
Hidden talents, has-beens, celebs—big hit.
His mom? Devotee.
'Impressive folks.'
Then he caught Kim Mi-hyeon eyeing Oh Young-tae.
She had something to say.
Tae-seong knew what.
'Time to kick off the win-win.'