Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: You're Talented Too (3)
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“Doesn't it bother you when your assistants talk to you like that?”
“Bother me? Hmm. Not really. Besides, the more opinions you hear, the better.”
“But there's such a large skill gap between you and your assistants. Is their feedback really that meaningful?”
Honestly, I'm the type who believes that receiving feedback from people who don't have a similar level of knowledge can be more harmful than helpful.
That's why I'm a firm believer in avoiding unnecessary questions and letting everyone focus on what they do best in their respective fields.
I naturally assumed Artist Han Sanghyeok would be the same way, which is why I felt a sense of unease seeing him in the meeting room earlier.
“Hmm. Well, that's not an entirely wrong way to think about it. PD Jo Hyunsoo, this is the ninth series I've worked on.”
“Oh, what do you mean by that?”
“When you've done this much, there's a limit to how many new ideas you can generate, no matter how hard you try to cram new things into your head. So, when I'm drawing the storyboards, I sometimes have this nagging doubt. I wonder if what I'm doing now is something I've already done in a previous work. To overcome that, I believe the only way is to listen to as many opinions as possible. Of course, it might sound contradictory, but an artist also has to maintain their own core vision through it all.”
“...”
Listen to opinions, but also maintain your core vision.
Those words sent a small ripple through my mind.
It was a sentiment that echoed what Part Leader Heo Yuri, Ms. Rokhui, and Yoon Byeongjong had said.
But perhaps because of some fear lurking in my heart, I had continuously avoided such things.
The fear that if I didn't appear perfect to my subordinates, especially on a small team and as a first-time PD, the entire team could falter.
Working in the game industry, I had seen many PDs get crushed under the weight of feedback coming from all directions.
*'Besides, I hadn't encountered any major problems so far, and I'd only ever received feedback through God Game Maker.'*
In a way, it was a very distorted system, far from the norm.
But because I'd been working like that for so long, I was missing a crucial part of being a creator, and as a result...
*'I'm afraid of giving feedback to someone as talented as Artist Han Sanghyeok.'*
I was fretting, unable to resolve even this simple situation.
Because I hadn't received feedback, I was also afraid to give it to someone I considered an equal.
In a way, it was pathetic, but also a little reassuring.
Because I had noticed this problem now, at least.
“If you're done with your questions, shall we discuss the storyboards, PD-nim?”
“Ah, yes. Artist-nim, this may be rude, but I'd like to share my honest thoughts.”
I forced the words out, my voice trembling.
But Han Sanghyeok simply smiled as if it were nothing.
“It's not rude. This is your project, PD-nim.”
Right, this is my project.
So if I have even the slightest reservation...
I have to voice it, no matter how much I respect the other person.
“I really enjoyed the storyboards you drew. However, I have some doubts about whether it works as a promotional webtoon. What I mean is, after reading this, I feel like the audience would want to read your webtoon, 'Pass On Dream,' not play the game. For example, if you look at the way Theo is presented in the middle...”
I carefully organized my concerns about the storyboards and laid them out for Han Sanghyeok.
He offered his own opinions in response, and as we talked, the gap between our views gradually narrowed.
The conversation flowed so smoothly that I felt foolish for thinking just a few hours ago that I shouldn't bring this up.
When our discussion came to a close...
“Hmm. It seems I was mistaken. I apologize, PD-nim. I've worked on so many series, but I've never done a promotional webtoon before, so I overlooked that aspect. Haha.”
Han Sanghyeok bowed his head to me, a slightly embarrassed smile on his face.
“Ah, no, it's just the storyboard phase. You don't have to worry about it at all.”
“PD Jo Hyunsoo, you had something you wanted to say about the storyboards as soon as you received them, but you were hesitating, weren't you?”
“Oh. Was it that obvious?”
“Yes, I could tell you had something to say but were being very cautious. You don't have to be. As you saw earlier, I'm ready to listen to anything. I think the right way to do this is for you to take the lead, and I'll follow up within that framework.”
“Thank you for saying that. I'll proceed that way from now on.”
Hearing those words directly from Han Sanghyeok put my mind at ease.
It felt like I had thrown off the chains that had been binding me.
“Well then, shall we wrap up the meeting here?”
“Ah, yes. I'll contact you if anything else comes up.”
With that, I left the cafe and bowed to Han Sanghyeok in front of the Studio Re-Birth building.
As I was about to leave, he added one more thing.
“PD Jo Hyunsoo. You may waver at times as you work, but when you do, listen more, and recenter yourself. It might sound contradictory, but I believe that creative work in a team is all about communication and responsibility. Of course, personal study must continue as well.”
Hearing that, I replied with a slight smile.
“Yes, I think you're right. Thank you for the valuable lesson.”
My steps felt light on the way back.
It was my first time being a PD, and I felt like I'd stumbled upon a small but significant realization about the job in a completely unexpected place.
*'I worried for nothing.'*
Feeling a little sheepish, I scratched my cheek and sent a message on my phone.
[Me: Everything with Artist Sanghyeok is sorted out, Ms. Rokhui.]
[Ms. Rokhui: Wooow! That's great. Did you decide to revise the storyboards?]
[Me: Yes, just as you said, I told him it was a bit far from being a promotional webtoon, and he gladly understood. Thank you. It's all thanks to you being honest with me.]
[Ms. Rokhui: If you're thankful, you can buy me a meal next time!]
[Me: Sure, anything you want.]
[Ms. Rokhui: King craaab! King craaab!]
I chuckled and stretched.
Along with a sense of relief... I felt like I had grown, somehow, on the inside.
Then, a phrase Han Sanghyeok had said during our meeting came to mind.
- I believe that creative work in a team is all about communication and responsibility.
Suddenly, I realized I had been making a small mistake in how I managed the team.
It wasn't a major issue, but it was something that would be beneficial to address for the long-term management of the team.
“Everyone, sorry to bother you, but could you please gather in the conference room for a moment?”
Back at the office, I called all the team members together.
It was to fit in a missing puzzle piece that I had consciously ignored.
“Um, thank you all for coming, I know you're busy. I've gathered you here because there's something I'd like to ask of you while we're in the polishing phase.”
Everyone looked a bit tense.
They had never seen me make such a direct request before, so they probably thought something serious had happened.
“To get straight to the point, there's something I'd like to apologize to you all for.”
“An apology? Did something go wrong?”
Part Leader Jeong Yosep tilted his head and asked.
“No, development is going perfectly. The marketing preparations are also proceeding smoothly. However.”
I cleared my throat and continued.
“I wanted to apologize for not being more receptive to your ideas throughout the process of making this game.”
While making this project, POD, I hardly accepted anyone else's opinions, except for some technical aspects.
Whether it was from superiors or subordinates, I kept the channels of communication tightly closed, thinking it was right for me to lead the project on my own.
This was partly due to my overconfidence in myself and my God Game Maker ability, and partly a limitation of the one-man planning system.
Usually, the art team communicates frequently with the concept planner, and the programming team with the system planner.
In this process, various ideas are exchanged, and sometimes ideas flow back from the development side to the planning side.
A PD's role is to set the overall tone and lead the project by selecting and refining the work that the teams bring in, ensuring it aligns with that tone.
But I—though it was partly unavoidable due to internal circumstances—was controlling the entire planning process myself, leaving no room for other departments to have their opinions reflected.
After all, this is a company. A planner of a similar rank might speak up, but no employee would dare voice such opinions to their PD.
After briefly explaining these points to the staff, I continued.
“You have all made POD 100%, no, more than 120% of what I envisioned. And you did so even when there was no room for your own ideas or creative colors to be included. I've only realized this as the project nears its end, and I wanted to address it. Depending on the results of this project, if we get to make another game, I will make sure to create various channels for communication.”
When I finished my short apology, the staff members tilted their heads in confusion.
Then, Part Leader Heo Yuri spoke up first.
“PD-nim, that sounds like a good idea. But I didn't have any complaints. My team members probably didn't either, right?”
“Yes. I didn't really... I really liked this project, so I actually felt a sense of pride while working on it.”
I shook my head slightly and replied.
“No, it might just seem that way. This was clearly made by me, a person with flaws. I'm sure not everything—the scene direction, the dialogue, the systems, even a single line—was 100% to your liking. But there was probably nowhere for you to voice that.”
Even if there had been a way to talk about it, it would have been difficult.
For one, I was too busy because we adopted a one-man planning system. And because I had created a masterpiece like *Forgotten Andersen's Story* as a solo developer, it would have been hard to speak up under the shadow of that success.
Just like how I couldn't even voice a simple, necessary opinion to Artist Han Sanghyeok.
“Anyway, I'm sorry. I was in such a rush that I think I forgot that each and every one of you here is exceptionally talented in your respective fields and truly loves games. As I said, I will definitely improve on this in the next project.”
“Ah, it's alright, PD-nim.”
“That's right, PD-nim. I don't think you need to think of it that way.”
After finishing my apology, I felt as if a knot in my heart had come undone.
[Your team members' trust in you has slightly increased.]
God Game Maker also informed me that my words had a positive effect, and with that, my brief apology came to an end.
We returned to our desks, and I sat down, lost in thought as I nibbled on a piece of chocolate.
*'What a whirlwind of a day. But thanks to it, I definitely learned something.'*
I was just trying to create a promotional webtoon, but I feel like I've returned with several new realizations.
Although he's in a different field, Han Sanghyeok is an artist who has completed team-based projects time and time again.
He was someone I could learn a lot from, not just someone I was hoping to get a marketing boost from.
*'I need to change. I need to do what I can. That's the only way I can change what I want to.'*
Fixing my eyes on the monitor, I launched POD again.
While the team members were collecting their thoughts, I wasn't going to get drunk on the game I had made.
Instead, I would play it over and over, checking for anything I might have missed or failed to implement as intended.
And so, time passed once again.