Chapter 36: Internship (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 36: Internship (2)
I slightly lifted the bag I was holding toward Choi Je-ho and spoke.
“Since they let me watch the shoot, I figured I’d help out as a thank you. Is the filming over?”
“Yeah. They said we’re on standby for a bit, then we’ll do a sunset shot when the sun goes down.”
I’d heard that filming a music video meant staying up for two nights straight. It really did take up the entire day.
“Right. Then I’m going to go move these bags.”
“Who told you to move those?”
“I volunteered. My conscience pricks me if I’m not working while everyone else is.”
I tried to send Choi Je-ho—who must have been exhausted from acting—back to the manager so I could finish moving the luggage, but he stuck by my side.
“Is there really a need to go that far?” Je-ho asked.
I was worried someone might overhear a question like that.
“You should be careful with how you phrase things; someone might misunderstand. Besides, I’m helping because I learned something for free. Even if it’s not much help.”
“Learned?”
“The atmosphere on set and things like that. You should pay attention too. That way, when we film our own music video, we can run simulations with Gi-yeon.”
“…….”
“How often do you get a chance to watch professionals work right next to you? Experience is something you can’t buy with money.”
I was already pushing my luck trying to pick up tips at someone else’s workplace, so what was a little heavy lifting?
In a harsh world where it’s hard to even get a proper handover at a regular job, this kind of special treatment was a luxury.
If anyone asked right now, I was confident I could run to the convenience store and buy drinks for every single person here.
Hearing my words, Choi Je-ho followed silently behind me as if lost in thought.
Then, he suddenly turned around, went over to a group of staff members standing a few paces away, explained something earnestly, and came back with a piece of luggage.
“What are you doing?”
“I asked if there was more to move, and they gave me this.”
“Oh. You’re sacrificing your precious break time?”
“My fellow member is working; I don’t want to get hit with a personality controversy for resting alone.”
This guy had a real talent for twisting his words into a knot just to say he’d help. Still, I decided to let it slide because I was proud he was actually using his head.
Perhaps we looked admirable—two young kids stepping up to help—because toward the end, after promising never to leak anything, I was even allowed to take a few photos of the set with the manager’s phone.
This was a bigger haul than I’d expected. I found myself humming. I’d organize all of these as references and put Kang Gi-yeon through mock training.
“I heard you were interested in planning, I-wol, but I didn’t know you were interested in directing too,” the manager said to me as I busily scrolled through the photos in the car on the way back.
“I thought there might be things I could tell the other kids. I’m glad I came. Thank you for bringing me.”
“It’s good to make a good impression early on. And I think you should talk to the kids as soon as we get to the dorm.”
“Pardon?”
“They were texting me all afternoon. I guess they were really curious about your shoot.”
The manager laughed, adding that the boys seemed to get along well.
‘I suspect it’s more worry than curiosity.’
The fact that they kept contacting the manager all afternoon meant they’d taken the laptop with PC-Talk installed to the practice room.
Maybe I should have messaged them beforehand to say Jang Jun-hu didn’t show up. I felt a bit guilty for making them worry when they should have been focusing on practice.
Encouraged by this unexpectedly heartwarming news, I resolved to give my teammates a vivid account of our colleague’s first filming experience once I got back to the practice room.
At that time, I didn’t know.
I didn’t know that I, who had been forcing the music video production process into my brain like a student in a lecture, would end up planning our own self-produced content.
It all started with a single line of work.
+
[SYSTEM] A ‘New Task’ has been assigned.
▷ Content: Setting Dorm Rules
▷ Reward: Experience Points (5)
+
How bothersome. We’d lived together for a few months without rules and hadn’t run into any major problems.
Even I, who found Spark incredibly awkward, didn't feel much discomfort in the dorm.
Despite being at the peak of puberty, none of the boys ever raised their voices in the house.
At most, some of them didn't fold their laundry on time?
Even that wasn't a big deal because I just folded theirs whenever I did mine.
Case in point: I was currently folding the thirteenth communal towel that had been sitting on the drying rack for three days.
‘Still, I can’t ignore the experience points.’
I accept everything people give me, except for extra work.
Perhaps because I’d lived my whole life by that creed, it was hard to ignore the vivid system message.
Just as I was debating how to bring it up…
“Hyung, what do you think about all of us having a talk about dorm life?”
As if by fate, Jeong Seong-bin spoke up first. This guy really was the best leader material.
I was so happy about the experience points falling into my lap that I almost accepted right then and there… but then.
≫ UA has no sense. What were they doing not filming faces like those?
Other companies do survival shows and drop self-produced content to promote trainees before debut, but we’re having a fucking surprise debut. They kept it so top-secret that nobody knows who they are.
└ Maybe they thought if they aged them long enough, they’d all turn into thousand-year wild ginseng.
I automatically recalled the community reactions.
It seemed that because I’d been such a dedicated proxy fan, information about Spark was etched into my very marrow.
“I think that’s a great idea. But could you give me two weeks?”
“Two weeks? It’s not urgent, so that’s fine, but…”
Self-produced content was definitely necessary to establish each member’s image.
Furthermore, the more bait for the fans, the better.
Since there is very little content for fans to enjoy during the early debut period, the more you prepare, the better.
That said, I couldn't do everything from filming to editing myself.
I could do it if I had to, but if I did it alone, the sustainability would plummet.
Ultimately, it meant I needed the company’s help.
With all the planning personnel tied up in album preparations, it was hard to expect someone to suddenly shout, “Ah! Let’s film some self-produced content for our boys!”
In that case, all that was left was to plead. And I happened to be quite talented at desperate appeals.
I immediately thought of the three-piece planning set the system had handed over.
‘If I just change the structure a bit, I can use it as a content proposal.’
I turned on the communal laptop, intending to burn the midnight oil.
Inspiration was gushing out of me; it felt just like my days as an assistant manager at Hanpyeong Industry, when my brain would go a little haywire from frequent overtime.
“This is a proposal for self-produced content?”
“Yes. Even if it doesn’t go through, it would be a huge help if you could give me feedback on any shortcomings.”
I bowed ninety degrees as I handed the proposal I’d written all night to the Planning Team representative I’d been introduced to during the presentation a while ago.
I wish they’d introduce an electronic approval system instead of exchanging paper reports like this.
I wondered why Hanpyeong Industry and UA were so obsessed with being analog. I was curious, but I didn't actually want to know.
“I heard you were enthusiastic, but you’ve really gone to a lot of trouble. It might not happen, though. The company is short-staffed right now…”
“If you could just review it to see if it has potential, I’ll think of a separate solution!”
“Alright. Good work.”
The solution was already decided.
If the company truly said they couldn't do anything, I was prepared to film it myself with a hellish self-cam setup.
I’d just buy a cheap tripod and film. If someone moved even slightly out of their fixed spot, they just wouldn't appear on screen that day.
The important thing was to leave behind footage, even if it wasn't uploaded immediately.
Whether it was for a future documentary or video material for their early debut days, you needed raw material to work with.
If records were needed, it was best to have as many as possible, preferably in video format.
That’s why I emphasized this part in giant letters in the proposal.
I wrote it as if I were arguing for the historical importance of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, though I wasn't sure how it would be received.
‘From the company’s perspective, it’s an unexpected increase in workload, so it won’t be easy.’
Even the most mild-mannered office worker gets angry when new work is added to their plate. I just prayed that UA would give the Planning Team generous performance bonuses.
While I was yearning for my wish to reach the heavens, Lee Cheong-hyeon spoke up.
“Hyung, you really look like a human zombie.”
“I’d rather be a zombie.”
“Why? Do you like apocalypse settings, Hyung?”
“No. If I were a zombie, I wouldn't have to sleep.”
“Whoa. Are you serious?”
I was serious. Or maybe splitting my body in two wouldn't be so bad either.
“But Hyung, your dark circles are really serious. At this rate, you’re going to get permanent pigmentation.”
“It’s a bit problematic for an idol to have pigmentation.”
“Exactly.”
“……What are you two doing?”
As Lee Cheong-hyeon and I were seriously agonizing over skincare, Choi Je-ho asked from a distance with a look of utter disbelief.
This wouldn't do. After the dorm rules content, I’d have to film some skincare content.
One week later.
As a result of bowing my head to the Planning Team and begging for help with the filming, support from the Video Team was granted.
As expected of UA. They might not be ahead of the curve, but their support was solid.
UA even went so far as to ask if there was anything else we needed.
‘The Planning Team asked if we needed any props or cue cards.’
‘A small whiteboard should be enough. We’re not used to giving commentary yet, so I think it’s better to film in a natural atmosphere for now.’
And so, using our afternoon practice time, we gathered in the dorm living room with nothing but a single whiteboard.
I never thought the day would come when leaving work early would feel unsettling.
But it couldn't be helped. I had to make sure the Video Team staff could leave on time.
‘It’s my first time being filmed by such professional cameras.’
Watching the cameras being set up in the corners of the dorm gave me a strange feeling.
A filming team had once come to Hanpyeong Industry to renew the company website.
But even then, I had only communicated from behind the scenes; I’d never stepped in front of a camera.
Jeong Seong-bin, who ended up hosting because he was the leader, also looked a bit nervous.
“Don’t be too nervous. It’s not a live broadcast.”
“Yes…!”
“Instead, anyone who doesn't say at least ten words during the shoot will have to have a ‘talk’ with me afterward.”
“Heh? Is that a mission?”
“Well, is an idol going to stay silent in front of a camera? I won’t stand to see you just sitting there like clap bots, not even over my dead body.”
I sincerely refused to see the "Clap Bot" version of Spark ever again.
‘Work hard, if only for the sake of the fans who will scrape together even the tiniest anecdotes to write promotional posts for you.’
Whether my sincerity got through or not, the boys nodded with quite determined faces.