Extremely Global MBS (6)
The shoot for episode 10 of Must Die to Live three days later was a headache from the get-go.
The MBS Drama Department had secured extra budget approval from the president.
...And they poured it not into the set itself, but into stationing personnel around the perimeter.
"No entry from here on out."
"No, I'm an extra! Here's my pass!"
"Those got replaced two days ago. I don't know where you got it, but get lost before I call the cops."
"Shit..."
The AD sighed as he watched the man grumble off. Glancing around, he saw similar scuffles breaking out everywhere.
Well, fine. Entertainment YouTubers were a bunch of crazy moth-like lunatics anyway—at least that made sense.
But the real reporters who got busted every now and then? What the hell were they thinking...?
"It's just such a ridiculous situation. Their desks are probably pressuring them to bring back something."
His senior, who'd quit smoking a week ago, lit up like his guts were on fire.
"Think about it. If prime-of-life DiCaprio came to Korea and suddenly wanted to crash a Jang Ok-jung audition, you wouldn't lose your shit?"
"Setting aside how outdated that example is, this is our MBS... And why a historical drama of all things?"
"Fine, Dragon's..."
"At least make it Hur Jun..."
They were blankly trading lame jokes when yet another argument erupted. The two exchanged weary sighs and headed that way.
That said, things inside the set weren't any better.
...To be more precise, it was about a hundred and fifty times more insane.
"Gordon! Gordon! Gordon!"
"Show 'em what you're made of, Harry!"
"Don't chicken out, Kim Ho-jin!"
"You got this, Ho-jin sunbaenim!"
The set was on fire.
People cheering like soccer hooligans.
Harry Gordon waved to the roaring crowd as he strode toward the camera.
But his rival, the stunt actor, just stood there frozen in bewilderment.
This is insane...!
He finally squeezed his eyes shut.
Why...? What the hell had to happen for things to spiral like this...!!
It all traced back to the top brass at MBS.
After Aislinn Lewis's press conference, the vice president and Drama Department head Kim Kang-hyun had agreed to kick it up to the president for a decision. Nicely put, they were passing the buck.
And the president's response to their proposal? Cool as ice.
-Hmm, I see. Got the situation.
-Yes, sir!
-What should we do?
-Take it.
-...Pardon?
-The fire's lit, and we can't put it out. Might as well use it. Lock in the schedule ASAP.
-......?
The pragmatic call went down like lightning while the two were still dumbfounded.
To the point where the production team faced the approval docs without having settled on a single clear conclusion.
Han Ye-seul, pinching her brow in frustration, finally asked with a look like she'd spotted a bug.
"So, you're saying Kim Ho-jin and Harry Gordon are gonna have some kind of acting showdown?"
"Uh, yeah..."
"...Leaving aside how the hell you reached that batshit conclusion, how do you even judge the winner?"
"W-well, like a vote or somethin'..."
"How? You can't seriously mean show of hands. You've worked side-by-side with Kim Ho-jin for years—you'd be playing favorites."
"......"
"And what's the judging criteria anyway? Acting skill? Stunt technique? Chemistry with lead actor Kang? Rough cut or live viewing? Who plays opposite? The guy's Korean sucks—does that factor in?"
"Uh..."
"And what about Aislinn Lewis? Sure, buzz is great, but she needs a fitting role. Random one? Come on. Imagine shoving some toothpick-legged actress into a court lady part. Disaster, right? New character? How do you shoehorn that in? Talked to writer Yoo Ji-min? Directors? Lighting director's already shaking about a fight over the rigs—what's your plan there?"
"......"
"......"
"...We'll give you full authority, Han PD—"
"I'll go tell 'em all to fuck off in an interview."
"My bad, Han PD! Just this once, help us out!!"
Han Ye-seul was half-outsider with a free spirit anyway. Threats wouldn't faze her.
So Kim Kang-hyun clung desperately, original airport grudge forgotten—a tearjerker dad if there ever was one.
Even Han Ye-seul seemed to pity the balding department head. With a deep sigh, she rolled up her sleeves to make something happen.
That Aislinn girl, though... her gaze last time felt a bit...
...Nah, couldn't be. The articles all boiled down to rumors.
Despite the iffy vibe, Han Ye-seul's skills were as sharp as ever. In mere hours, she whipped most of it into shape—a near-miracle. Kim Kang-hyun breathed easy.
But soon, an unforeseen snag hit.
Kim Ho-jin's treatment itself.
The simmering tensions in the Must Die to Live team bubbled straight to the surface.
It started with S&W.
"Director Gonzalez, long time no see."
"Oh, actress Lewis! Been a while! Last film was a disaster, though."
"...Still no filter, huh."
"That's Lloyd Gonzalez for ya, haha!"
Aislinn was a known name, naturally tight with global powerhouse S&W. Harry Gordon chimed in slyly, and the mood turned chummy fast.
Nothing wrong with that on its own. The issue? MBS staff had always quietly resented the overseas hotshots.
They grumbled in unison.
"Rolling stones anyway. What do they got to strut about?"
"They're here 'cause they want something. 'Advice' my ass—rambling about US shows, Hollywood this..."
"So damn arrogant, sometimes I wanna slap 'em."
It hadn't shown before. Pros they were, work came before grudges.
But this? Different.
Harry Gordon, Aislinn Lewis—fine. But sidelining their hardworking(?) passionate(?) Kim Ho-jin for some foreign hotshot? Hell no!
Especially once word spread that the president himself approved. Staff outrage exploded.
"Ridiculous!"
The kebab director raised his voice again, swinging arms like winter radishes in fury.
"Couldn't cut it with just Gordon, so they drag in another big name? Obvious power play! No matter how great they are, this is our drama! Who do they think they are, horning in?!"
"Exactly!"
"How great can they be?!"
"For actor Kang's sake alone, we protect Kim Ho-jin!"
Flustered Kim Ho-jin tried to calm things, but no dice. The backlash hit S&W ears instantly.
And no one likes rejection.
They scoffed back.
"Tch, so emotional."
"Harry Gordon's leagues above already, and now Aislinn Lewis! Should be kissing the ground they walk on."
"What'd we even do? Just offered pure goodwill advice."
"Unbelievable. Poor Mr. White must be suffering."
Now it was beyond Han or Gonzalez fixing. Conflict spread like wildfire.
S&W touted Gordon's veteran creds, killer scenes, stunt trends favoring foreigners, name-value gains.
MBS countered with Kim Ho-jin's diligence and honesty(?), Kang Min's trust, episodes 5-6 buzz—no need to gamble.
And once personal beefs go tribal, right/wrong doesn't matter. It's pride.
"Everyone, I really wanna quit!"
"Shut it, Kim Ho-jin!"
"For real, damn it...!"
"He's swearing...!"
"Yeah, must be tearing him up. Don't worry—we got your back!"
"Uwaaaah—!!"
Kim Ho-jin wailed; hearing it, Kim Kang-hyun screamed "Kang Min, you bastard...!" incoherently. But that was it. Couldn't stop the five-minute pre-shoot clusterfuck.
...Though peeling the lid off revealed it was clusterfuck prime, no pre-.
"Gordon! Gordon! Gordon!"
"Show 'em what you're made of, Harry!"
"Prove your skill objectively!"
"Even William White vouched for you!"
"Don't chicken out, Kim Ho-jin!"
"You got this, Ho-jin sunbaenim!"
"US entertainment ain't shit? Everyone knows 'Fencing Man' now!"
"Trust actor Kang's eyes!"
Total madhouse.
Promo reporters from News Division stared blankly like What the fuck?
But no one was as shell-shocked as total head Kim Kang-hyun.
What the...?
What kind of deranged shitshow is this...!
Kang Min even pondered briefly—then poured gasoline instead of water.
"Honestly, I can't judge who's better. Harry's great, but Kim Ho-jin sunbaenim's amazing too. Without him, King and Sovereign's scenes wouldn't have shone."
"I'll leave it to the production team's judgment."
S&W snarked: "Can't tell 'great actor' from adjective salad?" MBS: "King and Sovereign fans wouldn't spew that crap."
Magnified nitpicks and bullshit flew like partisan parliament brawl.
Kang Min... that bastard Kang Min...!
Regaining wits, Kim Kang-hyun grasped at straws for Han Ye-seul PD. Desperate salvage attempt.
But even that got blocked.
"Han PD, find a way somehow!"
"......"
"...Han PD?"
Han Ye-seul stared stone-faced somewhere, silent. Curious, the department head turned.
There: Aislinn Lewis and Kang Min.
Gesturing in talk, she accidentally brushed his hand—blushed, apologized. Kang Min chuckled like No biggie and kept chatting.
Nothing special. Why stare?
"...So goddamn obvious."
"Huh? What?"
"Be right back."
"Han PD! Where—Han PD!!"
Kang Min stole their last hope; nothing left to do.
All fixes crumbled like floodgates; the masked instigator shone at one thing: death acting.
Soon, the duel for MBS annals began.
"Kwaaaah—!!"
"Aigoooh—!!"
MBS staff and Steel&Wiztone elites watched gravely.
"Hmm, that final gasp felt off."
"Fall was unnatural."
"Nah, breathing's the issue. Not 'aaah!'—more 'a< em>—ah!'..."
"Bullshit. To me—"
Actors croaking like I die best, collapsing.
Staff picking nits logically, coldly—
Kang Min's dreamscape incarnate.
But Kim Kang-hyun, witnessing beauty, squeezed eyes shut.
Retire?
Well,
hindsight: last escape for Kim Ho-jin and department head.