Chapter 132: Rising Stars (3)
Chapter 132: Rising Stars (3)
Lately, Seo-yeon had been drawing attention from all directions.
Being cast as the lead in the drama Sky Garden was part of it, but the public’s interest had spiked primarily because of Hyper Action Star.
The viewership rating for the first episode of Hyper Action Star was a staggering 5 percent!
It was an incredibly high figure for a variety show on a general programming cable channel. Since this was only the first episode, there was a high chance it would climb even further, potentially making it the highest-rated variety show of the year.
There was even talk that it might break the elusive 8 percent barrier, but...
"The rating for Episode 2 is 4 percent."
"..."
Producer Lee Gi-tae sighed at the words of the HK Channel staff member. It was a result he had expected to some extent.
"It seems the ratings dropped a bit because the other groups lack the distinct character that Group A had."
The staff spoke in resigned voices. They had anticipated this ever since the filming stage.
"The peak viewership at the start was double that of Episode 1, though."
The actors in Group B for Episode 2 performed the same firefight mission as Group A. While they put on a fairly intense show, it didn't quite capture the audience's hearts.
First of all...
"None of the actors are utilizing their superpowers properly."
"That can't be helped, really. It's not easy to coordinate choreography during a live shoot."
"But wasn't the whole point of the audition to find actors who could do that?"
Acting out a self-assigned superpower while engaged in a gunfight was no easy feat. Consequently, there was virtually no one in Group B who could pull it off effectively.
"We should have split Ju Seo-yeon and Jo Seo-hee into different groups."
"Or at least Han So-yu."
It felt like too many capable actors had been concentrated in Group A. However, since the groups were assigned randomly, there was nothing they could do about it.
"I'm already scared to see what the ratings will be like until Episode 4."
There were no compelling characters. It was only natural when one thought about it. This wasn't just regular acting; it was 'action acting.' Most of the participants were specialists in action but lacked fundamental acting skills.
"But to establish a character, you need solid acting skills first."
"Isn't that a given if you want to play a lead role?"
"I just didn't realize there would be so few people who could do both..."
Once again, they realized what a monster Ju Seo-yeon was.
It wasn't just her physical performance, which made them wonder if she actually possessed real superpowers; you could clearly feel that Seo-yeon was truly acting.
A protagonist with the aura of a villain.
Because she had projected that presence so perfectly, and because Jo Seo-hee had delivered that twist at the end, the first episode's ratings were able to explode.
"Alright, let's do this."
Producer Lee Gi-tae finally spoke after deep deliberation. Since Group A had already aired, they had to proceed with Groups B through D in the same format. If that was the case, they had to use a bit of a trick.
"An interview?"
"Yes. After we evaluate Groups A through D, I'm planning to insert scenes with CG added."
"Ah, for the footage from Episode 1?"
Seo-yeon briefly recalled the filming of the first episode. Come to think of it, the props and the floor had a green tint to them. It must have been for post-production CG.
"Is every group doing this?"
If so, it would take too long. When she asked out of curiosity, he replied, "No. We only plan to do it for the group that receives the best evaluation among the four."
But they were already doing it for Group A?
"Of course, the actual work will begin after all the other groups have finished their first missions."
Just in case a scene better than Group A's actually appeared. However...
That won't happen.
Producer Lee Gi-tae stared at Seo-yeon, who was looking back at him blankly. Her physical abilities were, frankly, so impressive they felt surreal.
But beyond that, it's her acting.
Ultimately, what a broadcast shows is acting. This wasn't just a variety show; it was an audition. Seo-yeon had fully utilized her physical performance while never losing sight of her acting. She even left them with a great laugh at the end.
I should make a request to Jo Seo-hee as well.
And to Han So-yu. Acting, in the end, cannot be done alone. It only shines when the chemistry and coordination are right.
Group A is the right choice.
Other staff and producers said these three should have been split up. But Lee Gi-tae thought differently. Episode 1 came to life precisely because these three were in the same group.
An actor who could react to the performance and an actor who could stab Seo-yeon in the back. If Seo-yeon had been alone, that level of 'superpower acting' wouldn't have come across. The firefight would have simply ended in a mundane victory for her.
Min Do-ha played her part well, too.
To be honest, he wasn't sure if that part was acting. It was so realistic that he wondered if it was genuine...
"Oh, and I'm planning to insert short interview clips into Episodes 3 and 4."
Of course, it wouldn't just be Group A.
But Group A will have the most screen time.
Since focusing on one group per episode would cause ratings to drop, he planned to mix them.
"Seo-yeon, you'll appear at the very end of Episode 4."
"Pardon? That's..."
"It means you showed the most impressive performance in Episode 1."
They would show Seo-yeon's interview—how she felt and what her mindset was during the shoot—at the very end. That way, people would keep coming back to see it. Even if Episode 3 was a bit lackluster, they could bring viewers back for Episode 4. They had to make sure people watched Episode 5.
"Then, I'll be in your care."
And so, Seo-yeon found herself in a private room, having a one-on-one interview with a reporter.
It feels like it's been a long time since I've done this.
She had done a few as a child actor, but this was her first since her return, so she felt a bit awkward.
"Wow, is that so? Min Do-ha's acting was certainly incredible! I thought it was real, too!"
"Yes. I'm just glad he seems to have passed the first round."
Seo-yeon smiled and replied to the energetic reporter. The interview wasn't anything grand. It was just about her mindset during the shoot and the intentions behind her acting.
The most discussed topic was the superpower scene she performed with Han So-yu. The reporter praised her so excessively that she felt genuinely flustered.
"Oh, and you deflected paintballs with your arms and hands. Did you get any injuries?"
"Pardon? Oh, I'm fine."
Seo-yeon smiled brightly at the question. She had expected this question and had already prepared an answer.
"The cosmetics I use are quite helpful for things like this."
"...?"
The reporter was a bit taken aback by Seo-yeon's confident answer. Did modern cosmetics protect against paintballs now?
"Ah, I... I see."
"Yes."
"They must be very good cosmetics."
"They certainly are."
The interview concluded neatly amidst that peculiar conversation. And because of that interview, the sales of a certain company skyrocketed. In a way, it was only natural.
*
Director Baek Min-chan of éclat Étoile sat in his seat, dazed for a moment. He was currently closing his eyes, savoring the feeling of being a 'god of business.'
"Director! I knew I could count on you!"
"The God of Business!!"
Everyone cheered and clapped repeatedly. Well, it was understandable.
1.5 times last year's revenue...!
It was a truly encouraging result. They had finally recovered all their lost sales and were now seeing a noticeable increase in profit.
I didn't expect it to be this much.
Baek Min-chan thought as he kept his eyes closed. How did this happen? No, he knew the reason.
It was the actress he had pushed for, purely out of fan sentiment and trust in his own eyes. Ju Seo-yeon had hit the jackpot. It wasn't just that the commercials turned out well. It was because Seo-yeon never missed a chance to mention the cosmetics whenever she appeared on a show.
"Ah, I think my skin didn't burn thanks to the cosmetics."
She said that on Wilderness Exploration Survival. And even in the recent Episode 4 of Hyper Action Star...
"The cosmetics I use are quite helpful for things like this," she had said with such confidence.
He wondered what that had to do with cosmetics, but regardless, the viewers seemed to have taken it literally. As things turned out...
"What cosmetics is Ju Seo-yeon talking about?"
"I think it's a brand called éclat Étoile."
Such talk could be heard frequently even in offline stores. A multi-purpose cosmetic that blocked sunlight and protected against skin abrasions. It was practically a triumph of modern science.
Hmm.
Looking at the situation and the vertical climb of the sales chart, Director Baek Min-chan thought:
I hope we don't get sued for false advertising...
It was a genuine concern lately. He certainly had pride in their products, and they did have UV protection and skin-soothing effects. But there was a limit.
How could it protect against the scorching sun of a deserted island all day? And how could it block paintballs in a survival game? If that were possible, who would wear safety gear? They'd all just use our makeup. A little more development and it'll be stopping actual bullets.
Just as éclat Étoile was transforming into a defense contractor in Baek Min-chan's mind...
"Director."
Jung Tae-soo, the Business Strategy Team Leader who had earned a massive incentive this time, spoke up.
"You know we're expanding into the apparel business under our own brand, right?"
"I know."
"What do you think about having Ju Seo-yeon as the model for that as well?"
It seemed the other directors had already nodded in agreement. And in Jung Tae-soo's eyes, there was a sense of infinite trust in Ju Seo-yeon.
Well, Director Baek Min-chan trusted her infinitely as well. However, she would be wearing those clothes on variety shows...
"I'm all for it."
"Right? Then we'll proceed with that..."
"If Ju Seo-yeon agrees, make sure the clothes we sponsor are durable."
"Pardon?"
"No, I should have a meeting with them myself."
éclat Étoile was currently putting a lot of effort into launching a new luxury clothing brand. They were bringing in top-tier international designers and meticulously preparing for the launch.
The clothes must be sturdy.
It was something he usually didn't worry about. Since it was luxury apparel, who would care about that? But it could be a problem if Ju Seo-yeon wore them elsewhere. Given her activity level, there was a distinct possibility the clothes would be reduced to rags.
"But Director, she's an actress..."
"Actress Ju Seo-yeon is quite... energetic."
"Was... she?"
Looking at her appearance and aura, she didn't seem energetic at all. But then again, she certainly seemed that way in her variety show appearances.
"The reason she always wears her school uniform is probably because it's durable."
Since uniforms are made for students, they use sturdy materials. Moreover, the uniform of Yeonhwa High School was clearly made of very high-quality fabric. As a result, the manufacturer was currently receiving love calls from various other high schools.
"Anyway, aesthetics aren't the only thing that matters. Durability! And Actress Ju Seo-yeon's opinion is the most important, so make sure to ask her."
"Understood."
Baek Min-chan nodded in satisfaction at Jung Tae-soo's reliable response. Everything was going smoothly. Cosmetic sales were soaring thanks to Seo-yeon, and the new clothing line was garnering interest without any issues. Even on internet communities, people were already buzzing about éclat Étoile's upcoming apparel brand.
I don't have the confidence.
The confidence to fail.
*
"Seo-yeon, an offer for a clothing commercial came in from éclat Étoile."
"Ah, really?"
Seo-yeon nodded at Manager Park Eun-ha's words. A clothing ad for éclat Étoile...
Come to think of it, it was around this time.
The time when éclat Étoile launched their new clothing brand.
"Hmmmm."
"What's wrong? You don't want to do it?"
Park Eun-ha reacted with slight confusion at Seo-yeon's expression. After all, a clothing ad for a luxury brand was a fantastic opportunity for an actress. It was good for her image, and the pay was excellent.
"No, it's not that."
It was just...
That brand is going to fail miserably.
Seo-yeon was a bit conflicted about what to do. After all, éclat Étoile was a precious company that had given her 400 million won.