Chapter 273
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 273
Chapter Title: An Ambitious Beginning
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MBS Drama Department.
Producer Park Mingyu was speaking with the CP in charge of the four-episode project. The CP's eyes widened at the paper Producer Park Mingyu showed him, then he laughed heartily.
“This is impressive. You’re already gathering actors? I heard Huichan hasn’t even chosen a project yet.”
The CP scanned the list of actors, pointing out notable names.
None of them were lead-level actors, but they were all skilled performers. They were the type who would gladly appear in a producer’s debut work if the project was good, and their acting was top-notch. It seemed Producer Park Mingyu had been preparing for this project for quite some time, and the CP nodded in approval.
Although it was just a project to fill a one-month slot, the CP was pleased with how well it was progressing. As the project head, he intended to offer some help to the hardworking producer.
“Let me know if you need any help.”
“Yes, sir!”
As the CP left, Producer Park Mingyu also grinned and walked away. And then, Assistant Director Kim Danbi, who had been hiding and listening without realizing it, slowly stood up.
* * *
“Producer Park is already casting actors!”
Producer Gong Huichan, who had just finished talking with the lighting director, and Assistant Director Choi Hyunwoo next to him, looked up at the approaching Kim Danbi, who was running breathlessly.
“She’s really good at finding things out.”
“Tell me about it.”
Watching Kim Danbi panting for breath, Producer Gong Huichan suddenly became curious. What kind of actors would Park Mingyu choose? Producer Gong Huichan stroked his chin. He, too, had researched actors while reading the script.
‘…Come to think of it.’
Producer Gong Huichan suddenly remembered the papers he had left on his desk with the script.
‘…No way.’
Unaware of Producer Gong Huichan’s grave expression, Choi Hyunwoo spoke up.
“Who was on the list? Any A-listers?”
“Of course not, nothing like that!”
At Choi Hyunwoo’s question, Kim Danbi listed the names of the actors she had heard. With each name, Producer Gong Huichan’s eyes trembled violently.
“He made some good choices, considering he only took your stuff a few days ago, Producer Gong.”
After hearing the actors’ names from Kim Danbi, Choi Hyunwoo was impressed, just like the CP. He had thought of him as a garbage producer who only stole other people’s scripts, but it seemed he had some ability after all.
“Right? They’re such a perfect fit you can just picture them in the roles, can’t you? No, no. Producer Park can’t be allowed to succeed! Producer! We need to find a script quickly too…”
Kim Danbi, who had been admiring the choices, snapped back to reality and looked at Producer Gong Huichan.
“…Producer?”
Producer Gong Huichan’s face was as white as a sheet.
* * *
Since they hadn't even chosen a script, the three of them were able to leave work early. Seeing Producer Gong Huichan’s unusual state, Kim Danbi and Choi Hyunwoo bought beer and dinner and headed to his house.
As they drank their beer, Kim Danbi and Choi Hyunwoo’s jaws dropped at Producer Gong Huichan’s story.
Kim Danbi’s mouth opened and closed before she finally managed to speak.
“Is he insane?!”
After cursing Park Mingyu out, Kim Danbi said with a somber face.
“Producer, why would you leave something so important on your desk?”
“…I know. Why did I do that?”
Producer Gong Huichan’s stomach churned as he chugged his beer. Seeing the two of them looking so down, Choi Hyunwoo sighed and said.
“It’s not your fault, Producer. Who would’ve thought someone would steal it?”
“That’s true, but… I’m just so angry. The script, the actors… is there anything he’s doing with his own two hands? That Park Mingyu!”
“Producer, what else was there besides the actor list?”
At Choi Hyunwoo’s question, Gong Huichan searched his memory. The script, the actor list, and…
“Potential filming locations, essential props for the drama, and the best director of photography and lighting director to shoot it…”
Kim Danbi and Choi Hyunwoo listened intently to Producer Gong Huichan, nodding along, but as the list went on and on, they found themselves drinking their beer without thinking. Kim Danbi slammed her can down on the table.
“That’s basically handing him a whole project proposal!”
Choi Hyunwoo nodded vigorously in agreement at Kim Danbi's words.
“They say the bear does the tricks while the man gets the money…”
“He basically had everything ready to start filming…”
It was one thing for Kim Danbi to be upset, but seeing Choi Hyunwoo like this too, Producer Gong Huichan could only drink his beer. His stomach felt like it was being torn to shreds. He never imagined Park Mingyu would take not just the script, but everything else as well.
“They’ll probably start filming soon… and we haven’t even picked a project.”
Kim Danbi said with a gloomy face. Choi Hyunwoo, nodding in agreement, asked Producer Gong Huichan.
“What did the lighting director say?”
“He said it’s a script for a one-act play. I told him it’s a four-episode series, and he said he’d contact the writer.”
“Will it be hard to adapt a one-act play script into a four-episode series?”
At Kim Danbi’s question, both Producer Gong Huichan and Choi Hyunwoo fell into thought.
“That depends on the writer's ability. If the one-act play is too perfect, it might be impossible to expand.”
“So, who is this writer? A radio drama writer? A screenwriter? Or did they win some contest?”
The writer of the script Park Mingyu had taken was a screenwriter who had made a few short films, and their work was good.
Seeing Kim Danbi’s sparkling eyes, Producer Gong Huichan’s own eyes darted around.
“They said it’s their debut work, too.”
At Producer Gong Huichan’s words, Kim Danbi and Choi Hyunwoo, who had just cracked open new cans, chugged their beers and giggled.
“Hehe. We’re doomed.”
“Haha. I concur.”
“No, no. Since both the writer and director are rookies, it could be even fresher for the viewers… right?”
“So fresh the drama will end up in the sea.”
“Flopping around?”
Kim Danbi burst out laughing at Choi Hyunwoo’s comment. It seemed both of them had completely lost it. It sounded like they were giggling and sobbing at the same time.
Producer Gong Huichan watched his juniors with a bitter expression as his phone began to vibrate. It was the lighting director who had introduced him to the writer.
“Yes, Director.”
Even though they had lost their minds, the word ‘Director’ caught the attention of Kim Danbi and Choi Hyunwoo, whose eyes flashed as they stared at Producer Gong Huichan.
-I told her it’s a four-episode series, and she said she can revise it. I’ll give you her contact info, so good luck.
“Thank you so much!”
-Well, it’s good for me to have favors owed on both sides. I’m a freelancer, so I have to do my own marketing, you know.
The freelance lighting director laughed heartily. At the sound of his laughter, Producer Gong Huichan couldn't help but smile. He was so talented that he was constantly getting calls from everywhere and didn't need to market himself, but he was making excuses like this so as not to burden him. He was truly grateful.
“Let’s have a meal sometime. My treat.”
-Sure. I like beef. If things go well, buy me some beef.
“Yes, sir!”
-Oh, I forgot to mention. She’s Writer So Eunjin’s assistant writer.
“…What?”
-Writer So Eunjin and Producer Choi Minsung both liked the one-act play, but I’m not sure about a four-episode version. Still, she’s got the fundamentals, so it won’t be a total disaster. If it’s a hit, it’s premium Korean beef, got it?
The lighting director chuckled and hung up.
Kim Danbi and Choi Hyunwoo, who had been listening without breathing, tilted their heads.
“…Is that a good thing?”
“I don’t know. The one-act is good, but a four-episode series is another story…”
“First, we have to read the script.”
With that, Producer Gong Huichan sent a text to the number the lighting director had given him.
<Hello. This is Producer Gong Huichan.>
<Are you available to talk right now?>
>Yes! Hello! This is Yoo Cheonga!
* * *
The next day.
A quiet café.
Producer Gong Huichan, who had arrived earlier than the appointment time, ignored the drink beside him and stared at what was in his hands. It was the script sent by Writer Yoo Cheonga, Writer So Eunjin’s assistant.
He had spoken with the writer just yesterday, but the script was already tattered, as if he had spent all night reading and analyzing it.
“As expected of a one-act, it’s perfect as a single piece.”
Yoo Cheonga’s script, which seemed to have been revised many times, had a perfect narrative structure. Producer Gong Huichan stroked his chin.
‘Just stretching it out by adding more story won’t work, there aren’t enough episodes. That means we need to add a new element…’
Forcibly adding a new character would be a waste of this great one-act play.
‘What should I do?’
Yesterday, he, Kim Danbi, and Choi Hyunwoo had read and analyzed the script Yoo Cheonga sent, but they couldn't come up with anything.
As Producer Gong Huichan was struggling, the café door chimed open.
A weary-looking Yoo Cheonga scanned the café and spotted the man reading a script. After ordering a drink at the counter, she approached him.
“Excuse me, are you Producer Gong Huichan?”
“Ah, yes. I’m Gong Huichan.”
“Hello. I’m Yoo Cheonga.”
Both of them still felt awkward introducing themselves with the titles of producer and writer. They smiled awkwardly as their eyes met and sat down.
Yoo Cheonga’s eyes fell on the script in Producer Gong Huichan’s hands. Her own script, which didn't even have a title yet, was tattered. Seeing this, she smiled gently.
After Yoo Cheonga’s drink arrived, the two began their discussion in earnest.
“As I mentioned, the broadcast date is in April. It’s a Monday-Tuesday 10 PM drama, and one episode will air per week. There’s another show airing at the same time, so we haven’t decided if it will be on Monday or Tuesday yet.”
Although she had heard this over the phone, Yoo Cheonga nodded.
“If it’s one episode a week, the ending of each episode will be very important.”
“Yes. We need to leave a strong impact at the end of each episode to keep viewers hooked until the next week’s broadcast.”
Yoo Cheonga jotted down notes in her notebook. Producer Gong Huichan continued.
“When do you think the script will be finished?”
“Ah, I had an idea about that yesterday. What do you think about adding this to the drama?”
Yoo Cheonga took a bundle of papers from her bag. Producer Gong Huichan accepted the printed pages. With a nervous expression, Yoo Cheonga said.
“Since we’re turning a one-act play into a four-episode series, I think we need a new element.”
“Yes, that’s right. Your one-act play is very polished, Writer Yoo.”
At Producer Gong Huichan’s words, Yoo Cheonga smiled shyly.
“So I tried adding this, but I wrote it in a hurry, so it might not make sense. Please keep that in mind while you read. Of course, it can be revised.”
She had pulled an all-nighter writing this.
“Yes, I understand.”
Producer Gong Huichan began to read the papers Yoo Cheonga handed him. As she had said, the story was unrefined, as if written in a rush, but he understood what she was thinking.
“This could be interesting. It doesn’t detract from the original story, and I think it will help viewers become more emotionally invested. It would also create a lot of new scenes.”
Producer Gong Huichan’s instincts screamed at him. This would be a hit. He had to grab this opportunity.
At his words, Yoo Cheonga’s face brightened.
“Then let’s do this.”
“Which actor are you thinking of for this role?”
At Producer Gong Huichan’s question, Yoo Cheonga’s eyes darted around before she spoke.
Her words made Producer Gong Huichan’s jaw drop. Seeing him tremble as if an earthquake had struck, Yoo Cheonga scratched her cheek and said.
“Of course, it’s only possible if they agree.”
“…Yes… that’s true.”
Producer Gong Huichan reached for the glass in front of him with a trembling hand.
He was glad he had ordered a cold drink today. If it had been hot coffee, he might have burned his hand. As he gripped the glass with his trembling hand, the glass itself began to shake. But his throat was so dry he couldn't put it down.
After forcing himself to take a sip, Producer Gong Huichan managed to utter a single sentence.
“Writer Yoo, you’re really… amazing.”
Even though they were both rookies, perhaps because she was the assistant to Writer So Eunjin, who had worked with many top actors, her scale was different from his. Even so, Producer Gong Huichan found himself drawn to Yoo Cheonga’s idea.
For some reason, it felt like it could work.
No, more than just working, it felt like a perfect fit.
‘It’ll be hard to get the other actors… but since it’s my debut project.’
Remembering the CP’s words that he didn’t have to worry about ratings and would receive adequate support, so he should try everything he wanted, Producer Gong Huichan smiled faintly. If the CP knew about this, he would have grabbed him by the collar and screamed, “Are you crazy?”
‘Is this what Danbi meant by so fresh it’ll end up in the sea?’
Thinking of how Kim Danbi and Choi Hyunwoo would be flopping around in shock when they heard this, Producer Gong Huichan smiled and said.
“Casting actor Lee Seojun as the child version of the male lead… That’s a really great idea.”
“Right?”
Yoo Cheonga beamed. Even Writer So Eunjin had looked at her like she was crazy, so she was thrilled that Producer Gong Huichan was on the same page. She had a feeling the filming would go well.
Finding himself absurd for having said it was a great idea, Producer Gong Huichan chuckled and said.
“Still, it’s better if we keep this between us until he’s officially cast.”
“Yes. Since there’s a chance he might not be.”
The writer and producer’s eyes met, and they finally burst into cheerful laughter.