Chapter 587
Chapter 587
Off the record.
Bae Se-jin’s intention in turning off his microphone during the variety show filming was clear.
“What you’re saying, Hyung… is that the production team is currently tormenting the cast excessively, more than necessary.”
“Yeah.”
He spoke with the typical mix of nervousness and bluntness of someone who had finally voiced something they’d been agonizing over for a long time.
“…For example, getting stranded on that deserted island variety show last time was an accident. But this time, all the hardships were intentionally manufactured.”
“……”
“Showing our struggles or mistakes as they are is fine. But driving us into a corner on purpose and then mocking us for failing… that’s not something people should find funny.”
Bae Se-jin tightly gripped his switched-off microphone.
“……So, I want to talk to the production team about this directly.”
A brief silence followed.
‘Hmm.’
I scanned the faces of the members, who were variously shocked, lost in thought, or flustered.
It looked like I’d have to be the first to speak.
“I understand what you mean, Hyung.”
“……”
Bae Se-jin swallowed hard. It was as if he was bracing for a rebuttal.
However.
“And I think you have a point.”
“…! Really?”
“Yes.”
I mean, why is he so surprised that I agree when he’s the one who brought it up?
‘Certainly… this shoot has been a bit much.’
I rubbed my chin.
Variety show sadism controversy.
This is one of those controversies with a long history and tradition.
They say life is a comedy from a distance but a tragedy up close.
The sudden hardships of a cast can be transformed into hilarious content through the magic of the screen and editing.
And well, even without those filters, if it’s not too serious, the person experiencing it can sometimes enjoy the ordeal themselves.
‘However, controlling the intensity is everything.’
The moment this kind of thing crosses the line, viewers start feeling uncomfortable, thinking, ‘Even so, this is a bit much.’
Of course, Bae Se-jin wasn’t making this point based on commercial performance. He was evaluating it from a moral and ethical perspective.
But even considering how the fandom would react to the program after it aired, I reached a similar conclusion.
‘If the editing is even slightly off….’
Hmm.
I nodded inwardly.
‘It does feel like they’ve crossed the line a bit.’
The current structure placed non-stop pressure on the cast regarding their work, food, clothing, and shelter.
Moreover, that pressure seemed unreasonable even from an outside perspective.
Mainly because it didn’t look like TeSTAR had brought it upon themselves.
‘I suppose you could extract humor from that absurdity, but still.’
It was a tightrope walk.
The only reason the balance was being maintained was that TeSTAR had somehow managed to land a satisfying blow against the production team.
I’d have to see how the rest of the filming went, but surprisingly, the combination of this variety PD squad and Writer Ryu Seo-rin might have created a synergy in a bad way.
‘It would definitely be best to check if this program is running properly and what their intentions are.’
But the thing was.
“But if we tell the production team directly, won’t we be misunderstood?”
“……Misunderstood?”
“As in, we just want to film comfortably and are complaining about the hard work.”
“…!”
Exactly.
First of all….
‘If we bring this up the wrong way, the atmosphere will be totally screwed.’
The relationship with the production team was the issue.
Half of the filming was still left.
If the cast were to confront the production team with a straight face now, even if their point got across, there was a high chance that future filming or editing would become stiff.
And in a variety show, that’s a truly bad move.
Why did we squeeze time out of our non-existent schedule to come here in the first place? To produce high-quality content.
But if that quality dropped, all this suffering would truly be a waste of effort.
“Even if that’s not your intention, Hyung, the production team might take it emotionally, thinking, ‘We worked hard too, so why are you making us out to be the bad guys?’”
In any job, human relationships were the blind spot.
“That… that could happen.”
Bae Se-jin’s face darkened.
However, unexpected support came from here.
“Moondae-Moondae, we don’t necessarily have to be the ones to say it, right?”
Keun Se-jin spoke up. Bae Se-jin’s mouth fell open as he looked at him.
“Huh?”
“We can just have the company say it instead of us~”
“…!”
“Hey, we’re signed to a company so they can handle stuff like this for us. Coordination!”
Keun Se-jin shrugged.
“TeSTAR is currently on a concert tour, and Hyung even has a drama schedule, right? We have plenty of justification, like being worried about our health if this continues.”
“Hmm, it’s certainly something that can be done from an artist management perspective.”
“Right!”
Keun Se-jin nodded at Ryu Cheong-woo’s agreement.
Let the company protest!
And TeSTAR could just maintain a close relationship with the production team without saying a word, positioning themselves as being slightly troubled by the company’s interference… That was the idea.
“I also had a few moments where I thought… ‘Hmm, is it okay to go this far?’ I thought it might be okay to test the waters a bit.”
“I… I see.”
Bae Se-jin looked almost moved, as if he had expected Keun Se-jin to oppose him.
‘He doesn’t seem to realize that Keun Se-jin’s goal is completely different from his own….’
But isn’t it a good thing that they aren’t barking at each other about whether this makes sense or not?
However… I shook my head.
There was something they were forgetting.
“Don’t expect the company to handle it that well.”
“……Ah.”
That’s the downside of indirect communication.
Agents have their limits.
The company isn’t TeSTAR; they can’t fully understand our position or represent us exactly how we want.
In fact, sensitive matters like this could easily be distorted.
‘If they can’t protest at the exact level of intensity we want, it’s better not to do it at all.’
What happens if they go in too strong?
Everything that could potentially be uncomfortable will be cut out during editing.
The variety show will lose its spicy flavor and become bland and tasteless.
Then, a different kind of dissatisfaction will arise.
The production team for TeSTAR’s previous variety shows was the same this time. No, with two famous producers collaborating, it should have been a fresh hellfire.
I could already see the reactions of people being disappointed by how mild and boring it had become.
‘Everyone will probably guess that guidelines came down from the company.’
Then, criticism and condemnation will be as rampant as the expectations were.
Yep, a total mess.
A whole landscape of reactions and trolls already unfolded in my head.
“I don’t know if the company will be able to handle it skillfully.”
The atmosphere became solemn for a moment.
“Mmm….”
“Then what should we do?”
A few opinions were brought up and dismissed, but none received a unanimous vote.
“Let’s just buy the production team late-night snacks. And then act cute and tell them we’re tired. That’s the answer.”
“We don’t have money.”
“Oh…….”
The reality was that Cha Yu-jin’s opinion was the most tempting.
‘Should I contact the company and just get some money?’
I was seriously considering it.
Then, as if he had made up his mind, Bae Se-jin spoke.
“Um… how about I try talking to them alone?”
“…?!”
“Even if things go wrong, I can say I acted on my own. Then the relationship between TeSTAR and the production team won’t get weird. And for the rest of the filming… I’ll be the only one who has to deal with the awkwardness.”
“Hyung…….”
“I know the method Cha Yu-jin mentioned is better for moving past this smoothly with a smile. But I don’t just want to change this immediate situation, I mean….”
Bae Se-jin struggled to choose his words.
Then, another unexpected person spoke up.
“Is it, perhaps, something like this…?”
“Huh?”
It was Seon A-hyun.
“Actually, I’m okay with suffering a little… but I’m worried about the other members not being able to eat well because of me.”
He continued softly.
“If we film like this, then on similar programs, people might say, ‘TeSTAR did it, so you guys should endure this much too’… I’m a little worried about that.”
“…!”
“Right. That’s it…! It’ll remain as a bad precedent!”
Bae Se-jin raised his head, looking slightly excited.
Then, as if suddenly coming to his senses, he hurriedly added.
“…But I won’t say it like we’re taking the fall for the sake of the industry environment! It’s not a criticism, just… I’ll try to explain as gently as possible!”
“Okay.”
“Se-jin, I’m not worried.”
Keun Se-jin didn’t get angry either; he just gave a bitter smile.
He probably didn’t want to use the method of sending Bae Se-jin alone.
‘He probably thinks Bae Se-jin is being too excessive and inflexible.’
However, something had changed.
He seemed to trust that Bae Se-jin wouldn’t do anything to harm the team.
‘They’ve improved a lot.’
I nodded inwardly as I watched them arrive at what was almost the right answer.
“So, Se-jin Hyung, you want to try talking to them alone?”
“…Yeah. If you guys are okay with it, I’d like to try.”
Of course, I couldn’t let one guy shoulder all the burden.
I spoke up with a smile.
“Then Hyung, you go, and I’ll go with you.”
“Huh?”
“Just as someone who tagged along.”
No matter how you look at it, going alone would make Bae Se-jin look too much like a rogue agent.
‘But if the leader or a variety-focused member like Keun Se-jin joined, it would be too much.’
Someone like me would be just right.
Well, I was confident I could step in and smooth things over if necessary.
“I’ll just read the room and position myself accordingly, so don’t mind me.”
“…Okay. Thanks.”
Bae Se-jin’s face brightened slightly.
“Then… I’ll contact them now!”
“OK!”
And a short while later.
“Ah, it’s cold, come inside quickly. TeSTAR.”
Bae Se-jin and I left the lodging and entered the mountain cabin where the production team was staying nearby.
We were finally facing the production team in person—the ones who had been messing with TeSTAR by only communicating via video calls throughout this shoot.
Bae Se-jin lightly scanned the inside of the cabin.
It was more dilapidated than where TeSTAR was staying.
Furthermore, even though it was late at night, no one in the production team’s lodging was sleeping.
Although he saw a few people taking catnaps, most were busy checking footage or preparing something.
And they seemed a bit flustered as to why the two of them were here.
‘…Everyone is working so hard.’
For a moment, he worried that what he was about to say would sound like a child’s tantrum.
Bae Se-jin’s heart wavered for a second, but he steeled himself.
It was still the right thing to do.
He just had to do it well.
“So… um, Se-jin, you said you had something to say to us separately.”
“Yes.”
Bae Se-jin clenched his fists. He could feel sweat forming in his palms, but he maintained a calm demeanor.
‘Since I said I’d speak, I have to do it properly.’
Conscious of Park Moon-dae standing beside him, he began to speak calmly.
“I’ve thought about it slowly, and there are some things… that have been weighing on my mind.”
He calmly listed examples one by one.
The composition feedback that felt like a prank, the issues with food, clothing, and shelter, the guilt and fatigue. The worry about the quality of the song.
“…So, a member is struggling so much because of guilt, but I think it would have been fun even without going that far.”
Bae Se-jin chose his words carefully several times to avoid sounding aggressive.
“…Showing us struggling or making mistakes is fine. But I don’t think there’s a need… to treat someone’s heart so harshly like this.”
“……”
A brief silence fell.
‘I’ve said everything I wanted to say.’
Bae Se-jin caught his breath without overdoing it.
And suppressing the urge to squeeze his eyes shut, he kept his gaze fixed forward.
Then….
Smack!
A succulent hitting sound began to ring out.
“…??”
The writers had started slapping the PD’s back!
“Ah, I! I knew this would happen!”
“PD-nim, what did I tell you!”
“Ow! Ow!”
“Sigh…… seriously.”
In fact, there were staff members from various roles mixed in, not just writers, but no one tried to stop them.
On the contrary, their reaction was more like ‘what was bound to happen has happened,’ and Bae Se-jin looked around in confusion.
While the surrounding people wore bitter smiles, the PD waved his arms and said.
“No, first of all… there’s a bit of a misunderstanding here.”
“Pardon?”
“The roles other than Rae-bin’s. Those were truly the results of pure chance in the games.”
“…!!”
“We really didn’t rig anything. Really!”
That was right.
Aside from isolating Kim Rae-bin, all the suffering poured into their basic needs was… truly a matter of luck!
‘Is this for real?’
Park Moon-dae didn’t know whether to call this good luck or Shitty luck.
Bae Se-jin also swallowed and asked.
“Then… what about Rae-bin?”
“That’s… well, I thought if Rae-bin was there, the composition would be finished in an instant. Then we wouldn’t have enough footage.”
The PD said somewhat seriously.
“Besides, Rae-bin is the type of character who enjoys resting alone very comfortably, so he’s not someone who would be disliked by viewers for it.”
“Ah…….”
“In this business, being likable is just as important as being funny. This is idol content, after all.”
Bae Se-jin realized the production team’s method of value judgment.
It was better for the production team to take some heat if it meant protecting TeSTAR’s image.
Even if TeSTAR had to suffer a bit in the process.
“Originally, a program with a story like this needs a villain, but we can’t give TeSTAR the villain role.”
Ryu Seo-rin, who had her arms crossed, chimed in.
“So the production team takes it. That kind of stimulation is necessary.”
“…!”
That… wasn’t what I was trying to say.
The problem wasn’t that TeSTAR was having a hard time, but the method and type of hardship.
Bae Se-jin tried to rebut, but the PD beat him to it.
“So what Se-jin is saying is that we weren’t funny as villains, but rather to the point of being unpleasant, Seo-rin.”
“…I suppose so.”
Ryu Seo-rin sighed as if embarrassed.
“Seeing what you did with the previous PD, TeSTAR’s improvisation was so good. So, to try and draw out more natural reactions… I think we were a bit excessive without prior discussion.”
“…!”
“Right. When you’re in the middle of it, you sometimes get too immersed like this…. Thank you for coming to tell us, and I’m sorry. Se-jin.”
The PD scratched his head.
“We’ve done so many fun things with TeSTAR… but because you guys reacted so well and overcame everything, we kept doing more. We shouldn’t have just left it all up to the cast like that. I’m really sorry.”
“…No, it’s okay.”
And so, Bae Se-jin relaxed his tension a bit and began to listen to the production team’s explanation.
“Here’s how it happened….”
His words were being taken seriously.