Job Shadowing at tvM
"A mic? Why are you even asking about that? Just use whatever." Uncle reacted exactly as I'd expected. As he spoke, he held out a professional broadcast mic, but I shook my head. Using something worth hundreds just for a phone call felt like a waste. Besides, that kind of equipment was too complicated to set up.
"…Just give me any old task and buy me a cheap mic instead."
"Any old task? Hmm…"
He already took care of my food, clothing, and shelter without a second thought. Accepting even more felt shameless. I'd been brought along under the pretense of being a directing assistant, yet I hadn't done a single thing so far.
After a moment of thought, Uncle clapped his hands as if something had occurred to him.
"Ah, in that case, let's head over to the broadcasting station together."
"The broadcasting station? tvM?"
"Yeah."
"What for?"
"My junior's filming a program in the studio this time, and I promised to help out a bit. Since I brought you along as a directing assistant, you should at least see how the cameras work, right?"
A PD was essentially a director. Directing wasn't just about editing—it meant coordinating everything on-site to create the best possible footage. So going to an actual shoot to learn as a directing assistant made perfect sense.
I nodded at his words.
***
My first impression of tvM's headquarters was one of freshness. As expected from a relatively new company, the place had a modern, sophisticated feel. Of course, I'd never visited any other broadcasting station, so I had nothing to compare it to.
"Ah, PD-nim, hello. Is there something you need?"
The staff member at the lobby info desk greeted us warmly as we approached.
"Could you make a temporary pass for this kid? Just for one day is fine."
"Oh my, what's this? Your niece? If you had such a pretty niece, you should've brought her sooner. Is she here for a job-shadowing experience with her uncle?"
"Job shadowing… Well, something like that. Anyway, just hurry up and make the pass."
"Aigoo, got it. Please wait a moment."
Even Uncle used polite speech with people outside his close circle. It looked a little awkward, but that was how it was.
"Here you go. What's your name, little miss?"
"…Seo Sua."
"Sua, huh~ How did such a cute kid come from this PD-nim's genes? Huh? Now that I look at it, your surnames are different."
The staff member hung the visitor pass lanyard around my neck herself, her expression puzzled. Explaining everything would take too long—and more importantly, it was a hassle—so I hid behind Uncle's legs. He seemed just as unwilling to elaborate and gave a vague answer.
"…These days kids sometimes take their mother's surname. That's all it is. Well then, we're heading in. Thanks for your trouble."
The moment he finished speaking, Uncle turned and walked away. I hurried after him. We headed toward the entrance gate while the staff member's disappointed voice followed us from behind.
Beep—
When Uncle tagged his employee card on the gate sensor, the door opened. I followed and stood in front of the gate…
'…I can't see it.'
The gate was too tall; the card reader was out of sight. Even standing on tiptoe, my legs just trembled and I still couldn't reach it. I tried holding the pass in my hand and waving it around where the sensor might be—tap tap—but the door refused to open no matter what.
'Ugh, seriously!'
Frustration burned through me. I jumped! For a split second the sensor came into view. Jump again! I tagged the pass against it at just the right moment.
Beep—
The gate finally recognized me and granted entry. It felt a little hollow to have gone through all that, but I also felt oddly proud for overcoming a world that wasn't built for children.
At least, until I saw Uncle filming me with his phone camera.
Click—
"Came out cute."
"……"
The info desk staff member who had approached as if to help walked over and spoke up.
"PD-nim, please send that video to me too, please! Kyaa! It's way too cute!"
Heat rushed to my face. My cheeks burned.
"……Delete it right now!"
This time, unlike before, I wanted nothing more than to crawl into a mouse hole.
***
Not every studio was a vast, open set. Anywhere with a location and a camera could become a studio. In that sense, this repurposed storage room being used for an interview could still be called a studio.
Because the room was small, there weren't many staff. Only four people were inside: the PD who was Uncle's junior, the writer, the camera director, and the lighting director. The junior PD sitting on the floor in the center drinking coffee noticed us and greeted us.
"Senior, you got here fast."
"I finished everything I was working on. Got bored, so I came early."
"That kid… Don't tell me you're starting a new program, Senior? No, that can't be right. Our concepts would overlap."
"I can kind of guess what you're thinking, but no. She's not a cast member. Just think of her as a kid here for job shadowing."
"Ah, then that's fine."
"…This punk's gotten cocky ever since he became the main PD."
"I learned from the best."
"Damn it, kid, we're leaving."
"Ah, Senior-nim!"
I quickly grabbed Uncle's arm as he tried to turn and leave. Bowing deeply, I showered him with every flattering phrase I could think of. Even a third party would have found the flattery excessive. Uncle, wearing an incredulous expression at his junior's desperate display, stopped him.
"There's a kid here, what are you doing… It's fine. So, what did you need help with?"
"Ah, well…"
The junior PD's eyes flicked toward me.
"Ah, she's fine."
"Still, a little…"
"I said she's fine—"
"Is there somewhere nearby I can sit and wait?"
"The waiting room is right next door on the right!"
I cut Uncle off and gave the junior PD exactly what he wanted. If Uncle pushed, the junior probably wouldn't have said anything, but there was no need to leave a bad first impression. Besides, having a child on set was bound to make everyone nervous. They might worry about accidents or noise during filming. Leaving on my own would make a better impression than causing that kind of concern.
'I came to learn about directing assistance, but I can learn that from Uncle's program too.'
Uncle sighed at my smiling face and waved me off.
"Then I'll come find you later. You can wander around, just don't get lost."
"Do I look like a little kid to you?"
"Then what are you?"
"…You're right."
He had a point. I agreed and stepped outside. The waiting room was supposed to be right next door, wasn't it? If it was a waiting room, there would definitely be snacks. Since I was in the mood for something sweet anyway, I opened the door labeled "Waiting Room" with a light heart.
'Come to think of it, the junior PD earlier mistook me for a cast member and said our concepts overlapped, right?'
What kind of program would make him think that? The question didn't last long. As I entered the waiting room, I saw a girl. She looked caught somewhere between cute and mature. Quite pretty, actually.
Ah, maybe she was appearing on this broadcast? I stood there awkwardly, not expecting anyone to be inside, when the girl set down the cup she was holding and spoke.
"What are you doing? If you see your senior, you should greet her first. Haah, this is exactly why I didn't want to do cable. Having to film with some random kid like this… You're still not bowing your head?"
Aha. I think I knew what the program was now. It was Dr. Oh Eun-young's show. I'd never seen My Golden Child before!
***
"I've done terrestrial dramas too, so I know for a fact that the scale is completely different from cable. Just look at how many people are attached to a single program. And the snacks? Grape-flavored hard candy and ABC chocolate? Low-budget productions always show their true colors in places like this."
"Yes…"
"And my first variety show being something like this… I heard it was a tvM program by that PD-nim, so I thought it was PD Lee Seongbeom and agreed, but it turned out to be some PD I've never even heard of… Sigh, is this just my fate?"
"I see…"
So the junior PD was also named PD Lee. I hadn't known.
"There's No Country for Geniuses? I saw the title and completely thought it was PD Lee Seongbeom's work. Still, I suppose the PD who cast me has decent judgment. You look pretty too—what were you cast as? Since I'm doing the acting part, maybe idol? Child model? I don't remember seeing you on broadcast, so are you a trainee?"
"No, I'm just…"
The program name. It wasn't My Golden Child. I was a little disappointed I wouldn't get to meet Dr. Oh Eun-young. More importantly—
'She talks way too much…'
Every time I tried to say something, she launched into another story about herself. Eventually I gave up and just listened. Explaining myself felt like too much trouble. Still, it was exhausting to keep listening, so I attempted communication anyway.
"By the way, does Senior… watch broadcasts? Like, internet broadcasts."
"Internet broadcasts? Isn't that just people stripping and dancing online or begging kids for donations by pouring soy sauce on them? You watch that stuff?"
"Uh, um… Never mind."
I gave up. I was someone who could give up quickly when needed. After that, she went on and on about how internet broadcasting was low-class and no different from stripping—comments that would have enraged any actual streamer—while also bragging about the dramas she'd appeared in. My soul felt like it was being shaken loose, ready to leave my body, when—
Knock knock—
"Choi Bom-nim, we'll be starting filming soon~"
A voice of salvation rang out.
"Then I'll go film first. It'll probably be your turn next, so don't be too nervous."
"……Yes, Senior."
Her tone had softened compared to when we'd first met, as if she now considered us close. Maybe being called "Senior" really did feel that good. After she left the waiting room, I sank back into the sofa and let out a long sigh. Not long after, Uncle entered.
"…Why do you look so exhausted?"
"……I missed you, Uncle."
Really. Yeah.
***
"Please take care of me, PD-nim!"
With her long hair cascading smoothly down, Choi Bom had stepped into the entertainment industry as a child actress from a very young age. Because of that, she'd learned how to navigate social situations early. Even when something displeased her, she knew how to hide it on set—she was already a professional. Though the staff, including the PD, numbered only four, she showed none of the disappointment she'd displayed toward the girl in the waiting room. Instead, she greeted everyone brightly and took her seat in front of the camera.
"Ah, Bom-ah. There's something I need to tell you before we start."
"Is there some kind of precaution?"
"No, not a precaution. Someone might be observing the shoot partway through, so just don't let it bother you."
"Understood."
People entering the set during filming was common. Even during drama shoots, the director or writers would sometimes barge in while she was deep in an emotional scene. If she got startled and broke character every time, she might as well quit acting. Once preparations were complete, filming began at the PD's signal. Since this was just a simple interview shoot, there was nothing particularly difficult about it.
Questions like when she'd started acting and who her most respected actor was—standard questions for a child actress. She answered them smoothly until the door quietly opened and someone entered.
'Huh, that kid from earlier? And… Th-that's PD Lee Seongbeom?!'
Choi Bom was extremely surprised to see who had entered, but she didn't let it show. She continued the interview as if nothing had happened. She was already enough of a professional not to let something like this rattle her. She was dying to know why the two of them were together, but that could wait until after filming. The things she'd said in the waiting room were bothering her, but she could just call the girl aside later and swear her to secrecy.
Choi Bom kept smiling brightly, her eyes never leaving the camera and the PD. The PD asking her questions. At the same time, the girl from earlier was whispering something to PD Lee Seongbeom. Her voice was very quiet, but Choi Bom, whose attention had been focused that way, heard it clearly.
"…as my uncle…"
Huh. Uncle? PD Lee Seongbeom was that kid's uncle? Really? Her mind went completely blank. What exactly had she said to that kid earlier? Uh, uh-uh-uh-uh-uh?
'Aaaagh!'
This was bad!!!
Still, her expression never lost its smile. Choi Bom was a true professional.