The Drama Production Meeting
China had the largest purchasing power in the world, with the United States second. China was already locked down — the buyer Li Keqiang had secured the entire northern region around Beijing, while Wang Qianshu had the Henan region centered on Shanghai firmly in hand.
Which meant it was time to break into the American market, the world's second-largest. They would need to lay the groundwork — a beachhead for their US expansion — well in advance.
"What options do we have?"
"Sooner or later we'll have to devour the American market anyway, so why not make our move now? Please arrange meetings with distribution company executives for us. We should be contacting at least two companies — one on the East Coast, one on the West."
"Kim, do you have any idea who I am? I've already taken care of all of that. The chairman of PBS has a younger acquaintance who runs a major distribution company out of LA — he's agreed to arrange a meeting when we visit. And on the East Coast, that Wang fellow has a business partner in New York, a fairly sizable operation. He's promised to set up a meeting with him too."
"Well, that works out nicely. We can pay a visit to your daughter while we're at it… and didn't you say her husband is a lawyer?"
"That's right. He's a senior partner at a law firm in New York at the moment."
"Then let's use this opportunity to break into America. We can leave the legal matters to your son-in-law."
"In that case, our girl will be thrilled."
"So it's settled — we're crossing the Pacific. What's the schedule looking like?"
"I'd like that Wang fellow over there as soon as possible. When works for you, Kim?"
"Shall we say this Sunday? Four nights and five days."
"Good, let's do that. Same arrangements for the ladies as before."
"Director Park says he's free as well."
"He's probably sprinting over here right now. That man would crawl after us on hands and knees if he had to — he'll invent any excuse under the sun to come along."
"Is there anything we need to prepare separately this time?"
"We've agreed to sell the Wang family two bottles of the Elixir at 40 billion won apiece, so pack another two or three bottles as merchandise for working the room."
"Understood. We'll have everything ready."
At that very moment, Director Park came bursting into the office, gasping for breath.
"Chairmen, you must take me with you to America! It's a long journey — shouldn't your personal physician be accompanying you?"
Chairman Choi responded as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "We leave Sunday. Will a week away from the hospital be a problem?"
"Of course not. I'll have everything squared away."
"Still, aren't you eating off us for free a bit too often? You did the same in China, if I recall."
"Then what would you have me do, Chairmen? It's not as if I can pay you, and thanks to the Elixir you're both in better health than I am. A man of sixty hardly dares to play the fool in front of you gentlemen."
"Hmph, fine. In exchange, just take good care of our health."
"Thank you, Chairmen! This time it's on me — a hundred times over! Hehehehe~"
"You can go now. We have a meeting."
"Of course. I'll assume we depart Sunday, then. Until then."
With nothing more than that brief exchange, Director Park turned and hurried back to the hospital. Young-hoon couldn't help thinking the man could have simply made a phone call — but then, who could say. In a way, these men past sixty seemed to burn with more passion than men half their age.
Once the matter of the US business trip was settled, Young-hoon moved with the two chairmen to the conference room. After a round of light greetings, Chairman Jang opened the meeting.
"We agreed last week to come back with more developed proposals. Let's hear what everyone's been mulling over."
Executive Director Yoo, who bore responsibility for the drama production team, delivered the first report.
"Since Representative Kim has already completed the entire screenplay, we've reached a consensus to proceed with 100% pre-production, exactly as you instructed."
At that moment, Young-hoon interjected. "Executive Director Yoo, I believe you've misunderstood me."
At Young-hoon's correction, everyone in the room except the two chairmen snapped into a state of acute tension.
"What I said, Executive Director Yoo, was that at least ten episodes — minimum — should be filmed and edited before broadcast. I never said 100% pre-production. If we went fully pre-produced, we wouldn't be able to air until well into the second half of the year. No matter what, this drama must premiere by April at the latest."
Watching Chairman Jang and Chairman Choi sit back in silence, Executive Director Yoo realized anew who the real power in this room was. A swift change of posture was required.
"My apologies, Representative Kim. I misunderstood."
"Understood. Please continue."
"Then allow me to proceed. First, in keeping with Representative Kim's direction, we will restructure everything around a late-April premiere. The production team is currently being assembled: Jung Il-young PD will direct, Lee Hyo-young PD will serve as co-director and editor, Seo Dong-chan will handle cinematography, and Shin Hye-yoon PD will oversee production overall."
"So the production team is more or less in place?"
"We'll only need to bring on a few additional staff — assistant directors and the like — and we'll be fully staffed."
"And the actors?"
"That's actually the problem… Far too many actors are competing for the roles, so we'll need to sort out the traffic."
"Then we hold auditions. Every role, lead and supporting alike. Everyone will be busy with the year's end, so early January works. Star power means nothing. We cast purely on acting ability."
"Understood. We'll prepare accordingly."
Young-hoon believed that the single most important element in producing a drama was the budget. This society of his ran on money, after all — with enough of it, making a drama hardly seemed difficult at all.
"You said 10 billion won would cover the production costs — will there be any additional expenses on top of that?"
"I believe that amount will be sufficient."
"Don't you worry about the money. As long as we're making something good, I'd gladly spend a hundred billion. Don't you dare tell me funds are running short. And do you have a broadcaster in mind?"
At that, Chairman Jang chimed in. "Kim, don't give the broadcaster a second thought. I'll lock down a terrestrial network for you, guaranteed. Between you and me, I'm thinking MBS or SBC — one of the two. I'll arrange meetings with the other networks as well, so we can sit down with them later."
"Thank you. Then Executive Director Yoo — please have everything in place so that we can begin filming by early February at the latest."
"Understood. I'll do my utmost."
The meeting carried on from there as they worked through one minor item after another, and once enough conclusions had been reached, Young-hoon closed out the workday with dinner alongside the drama team.
When he got home, Su-jin was waiting for him.
"Hey there, sis. Don't you have a boyfriend? How are you flying solo every single day?"
"What's that supposed to mean? Men pester me so relentlessly that I'm actively avoiding them — didn't you know?"
"Nope, didn't know. If you've got any husband material lying around, let me take a look. I'll give him my professional evaluation."
"Worry about keeping yourself fed, big brother. I turn thirty in a month, you know — I'm at least still in my twenties. Meanwhile, you're the one who won't date anyone. Do you have any idea how long Mom and Dad have been waiting for grandchildren?"
"Well, this magnificent body of mine stays terribly busy…"
"Yeah, yeah, sure. It's about time for your drama, so go get in your room."
One careless remark, and somehow he'd ended up wearing the label of a heartless old miser. Young-hoon slouched into his room with drooping shoulders and stared blankly at the wall for a long while. For some reason, he felt close to tears. Deciding that this could not stand, he took a shower and sat down to begin transcribing the drama screenplay. Throwing himself into work would at least scrub away the stray thoughts. Resolved to finish up to episode six that night, he hammered away at his laptop keyboard until another day slipped past.
Young-hoon had no choice but to drag himself out of bed at the sound of Su-jin's wake-up call. He hurried through breakfast, and she shot out the door like an arrow, off to work. Young-hoon took his time getting ready and headed in to the office at the Synergy Building, where he brewed a cup of coffee and stirred in the herbal powder. He was fairly certain he was addicted at this point — no other coffee was drinkable anymore.
Today he had a regular meeting with the liquor team, and at ten in the evening, the premiere of Love After Separation. On top of that, he needed to prepare for the US business trip that had been decided so abruptly yesterday. The meeting with the liquor team was set for two in the afternoon, so the morning was relatively free. With nothing pressing to do, he started transcribing the drama script onto his laptop — but concentration refused to come. Bored out of his mind, he decided to go pester Team Leader Park and dialed his number.
"Team Leader Park, when exactly are you planning to deliver that work report?"
"What work report?"
"The one you promised?"
"Ahaha, that? I'm swamped, so let's let it slide for now. It's a war zone over here — I'll get to it when things calm down."
"Hmm. So what you're saying is, you're defying your superior right now."
"Did I eat something wrong this morning or what? Fine, fine. You're just bored out of your skull, aren't you? If you've got nothing to do, come on over. I'll keep you company."
Three-plus years in the same department apparently paid dividends — the man had read Young-hoon's current state with pinpoint accuracy.
"Don't you come over — you come to me, once you've finished everything urgent."
"Someone's got no one to eat lunch with, huh? Got it. Before lunch hour, I'll head over with the Department Head and Jin-man."
"Fine. I'll be waiting."
Still bored out of my mind.
Just then, a call came in from Secretary Byun.
"Yes, Secretary Byun!"
"Representative Kim, one moment please."
The sound of the receiver being passed to Chairman Jang came through the line.
"Kim, where are you?"
"At my office, sir."
"Here? Then get yourself over here."
"Understood. On my way now."
"Chairman, I saw you just yesterday, and here we are again today."
"So you'll be reporting here from now on?"
"I've left my old company, so I didn't really have anywhere else to go. As long as nothing comes up, I plan to come here to work from now on."
"Which reminds me — I think you ought to keep a secretary of your own in that office of yours. What's your thinking, Kim?"
"I— what? A secretary, for the likes of me? I don't need one yet, sir."
"Even if you don't need one today, the day will come when you do. So if there's anyone capable hanging around you, snap them up in advance. If there isn't, I'll find you one."
At that moment, a certain request flashed through Young-hoon's mind — the one Lee Ji-young had been angling for.
"I'll handle that one myself, Chairman."
"Then that's settled. Your meeting with the liquor team is at two this afternoon, yes?"
"That's right, Chairman."
"And what will you do with yourself until then, Kim?"
"I thought I'd work on the drama screenplay."
"Is that so? Keep at it, then. I have a lunch engagement, so I'll be heading out."
"Enjoy your lunch, sir."
Secretary Byun murmured his acknowledgments, and with that the call wound down.
Young-hoon returned to his own office and was deep in transcribing the drama script when Team Leader Park's party came calling. Jin-man swept his gaze around Young-hoon's office and let out a remark.
"Your office is killer, Representative."
"Ah, this is your first time here, isn't it, Jin-man?"
"Yes, sir. First time."
"Consider it a place to learn the ropes before you put in hard work at Girin Entertainment. Sooner or later, you'll be crossing over to this side anyway. There's nothing especially urgent for you at this company just yet, but once operations kick into full swing, everyone will need to move over. And Department Head — you'll need to start preparing to systematize Girin Entertainment's organizational structure in short order."
"Understood, Representative. Leave it to me."
Team Leader Park, meanwhile, seemed to have something he wanted to say to Young-hoon. He was fidgeting like a puppy that badly needed to go out.
"Representative, Assistant Manager Hwang from Marketing Team 2 keeps asking us to arrange a position for him. What should we do?"
"He messaged me on KakaoTalk about that yesterday, too. As for that matter, Department Head, discuss it with President Lee Jae-man and decide between the two of you. It's true enough that the company needs manpower right now."
"Understood. I'll take care of it."
"Representative, tonight is the premiere of Love After Separation. Shouldn't we all gather somewhere and watch it together?"
"I agree. I'd like to watch it with the Five Girls girls — where would be good? If we could borrow some restaurant for the evening, even better."
Just then, Team Leader Park stepped forward with a suggestion. The man's quick thinking was lethal as ever.
"How about the coffee shop next door — owner Kim Gi-hyun's specialty café?"
"That reflex of yours never misses. Let's do it there, then. Jin-man — you take full charge of the preparations."
"On it, Representative!"
