Chapter 58: Filming the Corporate Promotional Video (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 58: Filming the Corporate Promotional Video (1)
I don't know how fandom names are usually decided. The only idols I know are Spark.
Still, I clearly remembered how Spark’s fandom name came to be.
If I recall correctly, it was during the live broadcast where they recruited the first generation of the fan club and revealed the lightstick...
While I was searching my memory, Yu Han-su was passionately preaching about how important it was for Spark, their stage names, and the fandom to share a unified identity.
To summarize his long-winded speech into a single sentence: he wanted to name the fan club ‘Yuilhan.’
“A name that signifies the one and only existence that supports the group Spark, making Spark a singular entity...”
Sure, sure. ‘Yuilhan’ is fine.
It’s unique. It’s a Korean word, so it’s pretty.
If you put it next to Spark, you could call them the ‘Unique Flame,’ so I didn’t think it was necessarily bad.
But so what? He was so obsessed with the concept that it felt like the group was being swallowed by it.
The fact that the first syllable of the fandom name matched his own surname, ‘Yu,’ was also unpleasant.
It felt like he was desperately trying to leave his mark all over it. Was this his personal fandom or something?
The reaction when the fandom name was revealed was also predictable.
≫ Seriously, stop it already.
There’s a limit to how much you can beat a dead horse.
≫ It’s so pathetic how they push this ‘oneness’ worldview while gritting their teeth to release 12 different versions of photocards, you bastards.
└ Hard agree.
≫ Just changed my Bubble Pop nickname to ‘Yuilhan ATM.’
└ As soon as I changed it, I got a message from Yeol-tin-seong-won (Passionate Support).
(Yuilhan ATM, are you very busy right now?)
I thought he was asking to borrow money...
└ LOL
└ A new kind of smishing scam, lmao.
└ Leaking paid messages is prohibited. Please take this post down.
Worldviews and relationships are all well and good.
But shouldn't a fandom name focus more on the bond with the idols?
“Wouldn't appealing to the fact that fans are an indispensable element of Spark’s journey make the fandom even stronger? That’s what I think.”
Instead of forcing it into that unified worldview.
The meeting room fell silent after Yu Han-su’s lecture.
This familiar atmosphere that wafts through the air when a business is heading in a hopeless direction. It felt strangely comfortable yet uncomfortable at the same time.
Regardless of their tightly shut lips, the Planning Team’s hands were moving busily.
It seemed they were desperately brainstorming to come up with any other fandom name.
Normally, I would have racked my brain to try and think of something too, but there was no need this time.
Because the original fandom name, ‘Sparkler,’ was created by the members of Spark themselves, not the company.
In other words, if I just stayed still, those punks would voice their opinions on their own.
Since the group name became ‘Spark’ just like before, the fandom name shouldn't be much different.
Sure enough, the employees who were tossing around various ideas looked toward us and asked.
“What do you guys think?”
It was an atrocious thing to do—offering a contrary opinion in front of the person who brought the proposal (Note: high-ranking)—but what could I do? If I didn't want to become the ‘Unique Flame’ of the idol market, I had to speak up.
I pretended to be deep in thought while observing the boys. I was ready to clap and call it a brilliant idea the moment the name ‘Sparkler’ came out.
I thought, ‘Think, you punks! Hurry up and mention Sparkler so we can end this meeting!’
But something was wrong.
Even as time ticked away, their mouths didn't move.
“PD-nim. Since the fandom name is something that will be used alongside the group for a long time, perhaps we should take some time to think it over...”
The Planning Team Leader stepped in, sensing the idols’ confusion. But Yu Han-su was adamant.
“No. I believe spending too much time on something like this is a waste of resources. To use a small workforce efficiently, we must eliminate unnecessary tasks.”
You’re going into the idol business and you call the fandom name ‘something like this’? Do you even have a brain?
And if you were planning to reduce unnecessary work in the first place, you should have brought several options.
If the one example you have is rejected, you have to come up with another, and then have another meeting to decide whether to pass it. My chest felt tight.
‘Well, I guess he never even considered the possibility of his proposal being rejected.’
I could tell just by looking at that confident expression and attitude.
That man had no doubt that his idea would be adopted. That’s why he was babbling incessantly.
I don't know how a person can be that arrogant. At this point, I suspected he might have planted a spy in the company.
On the other hand, our side was still filled with silence.
Someone should have said something by now...
‘What? Why is no one speaking up?’
For a moment, I wondered if the past interviews where they said they had personally come up with the name ‘Sparkler’ after much deliberation were all lies.
And then I realized.
+
▷ Excessively changing the existing schedule may result in corresponding disadvantages.
+
This, too, was the influence of the System.
For instance, let’s say the Spark guys needed about a week to think of a fandom name.
By drastically adjusting the debut date, a person named Yu Han-su suddenly barged in, and all the tasks that should have been carried out in the meantime were moved forward, causing the time they had to deliberate to vanish.
I had even made Yu Han-su’s position precarious, which lit a fire under his drive.
In short, I had turned what little time they had into ashes.
‘Damn it, so it was true that they spent a lot of time agonizing over it!’
I thought they had just come up with it in three minutes with a flash of wit and then said that. I almost felt like crying at their sincerity.
Whether the fandom name was Sparkler, Yuilhan, or a third option, it had nothing to do with me.
It had nothing to do with me, but...
‘You know we exist because Sparklers exist, right?’
≫ They say they can shine because we exist.
Why do our babies speak so beautifully...
└ That’s why I love the name Sparkler so much ㅠㅠ I feel so proud.
≫ To put it nicely, it’s Spark-Sparkler.
But isn't it actually Flame and Firecracker?
It sounds like they came from some gunpowder company.
It sounds strong, so it’s good, though.
└ I actually like it more.
The reactions of Spark fans that I had happened to see began to crawl back into my mind.
‘Please write ~Sparklers who will always make you shine~ in the bottom right! I’m counting on you again!’
Even the email Department Head Nam’s daughter had sent.
I suppressed the sigh that was about to escape reflexively and spoke.
“Um, I just remembered a name that came to mind when I was talking about the group name with the members the other day.”
I even mentioned the members so that the credit wouldn't be entirely mine.
“How about... Sparkler?”
I’m just a passenger here, so this is the last time I help you guys out.
The rest of the meeting ended in the best possible way, even if it wasn't perfectly satisfying.
The stage names were put on hold, and the fandom name would be ‘Sparkler.’
Yu Han-su glared at me as if he wanted to kill me, but I didn't care.
Lee Cheong-hyeon, who walked out of the meeting room with an expression of immense relief, called out to me in a small voice.
“Hyung.”
“What?”
“Can’t you just be in charge of planning our activities?”
“You want me to give up on debuting and switch to being a producer? Are you mocking me right now, Cheong-hyeon?”
“Well, that wouldn't work either... Can’t you do both?”
No. Would the fans like it if a member who left the group was in charge of producing?
Besides, it wouldn't do these guys any good to have a non-expert holding onto the production.
“My mom told me that society is a meritocracy. But lately, I feel like those words are wrong.”
“It is a meritocracy, but it’s just that age sits above merit.”
“Aha.”
Lee Cheong-hyeon was easily convinced. I felt bitter, as if I had already given a high schooler a taste of the harshness of society.
Jeong Seong-bin, who must have overheard our conversation while following behind, said,
“Still, he might be able to help in other areas, so let’s not be too negative.”
It was a wholesome statement that wouldn't cause problems even if someone overheard, just as I had always emphasized.
But this time, I needed to be a bit extreme.
In my opinion, that man needs to be kicked out.
There are people in this world who only increase the workload. It’s better not to have that kind of manpower at all.
“I’ll... try talking to the PD a lot.”
At my words, Jeong Seong-bin and Lee Cheong-hyeon looked at me.
Even if they didn't put it into words, I could clearly read their gaze. They were looking at me with pity.
I hope you guys remember my efforts at least a little bit when I suddenly leave the group later.
While there were tasks that the company and Yu Han-su were arguing over, there were also tasks that progressed smoothly.
The recording and music video shoot, for which the planning had all been decided, were like that.
I guess this is why the Planning Team struggles day and night. I sincerely pay my respects to them.
Among those, the recording went like clockwork.
It would have been cool and great if everyone had miraculously finished their recording in one take without a single NG...
But even if it wasn't to that extent, everyone did their part brilliantly.
Even Jeong Seong-bin and Park Ju-woo went as far as to sing their parts several more times even after getting an ‘OK’ on the first try. It was a great attitude.
How fortunate it was that I could be included in this ‘everyone.’
It was a stroke of luck that I didn't suffer the disaster of being stuck in the recording booth all night by myself.
And so, with the song completed, the day had arrived.
The day of Spark’s first music video shoot!
My condition was also at its peak.
Thanks to being closely monitored by Jeong Seong-bin to manage my dark circles, I had slept eight hours a day for the past few days.
Lee Cheong-hyeon, who had also been under strict surveillance, spoke in a highly excited voice.
“Hyung, this is my first time wearing such heavy makeup! How is it? Is it too much?”
“It’ll all get washed out once the lights hit you anyway. And your face would look fine even if we painted it with ink, so don't worry.”
“Wow, I’m touched!”
“Don't actually paint it with ink, though. Don't put just anything on your face.”
“Of course. Skin trouble caused by neglect is one of the seven deadly sins of an idol...”
Lee Cheong-hyeon left the spot with eyes that had suddenly turned hollow. He really is good at memorizing things.
More importantly, now was not the time to worry about Lee Cheong-hyeon’s makeup.
That was the most important thing, but I wasn't too worried about his makeup since the staff must have poured their souls into it...
The real problem lay elsewhere.
Right there, on my face.