Bonds Forged in Booze and the Bitter Taste of Flops
That's why Do Hyun-woo had passed that message to the director.
Go beyond the best you imagined. We've already surpassed it.
Otherwise, your direction will hold back the acting.
Han Sung-hoon had felt that vibe watching the reading and grown curious.
What the hell had Do Hyun-woo done to shift the actors' immersion the moment he read the stage directions?
And how much did he trust these actors to pull a stunt like that?
If the reading had resumed with no real difference, it could've blown up his relationship with the director big time.
"So have Gong headquarters chief meet with Director Jeong and smooth things over. He's not the type to sulk, but you never know."
"Obviously, but... was it really that good?"
"Yeah. Felt like I wasn't watching a reading or the actors."
"Then what?"
"Like I was seeing the work and the characters themselves. I couldn't cast unknowns like that and pull it off."
Gong Seok-jun's eyes widened slightly.
Han Sung-hoon wasn't stingy with praise, but he didn't throw around rave reviews either.
"So, how do we handle marketing?"
"We saved a ton on production costs, right?"
Gongbeomche was a low-budget drama.
Eight episodes, minimal locations.
Most of it unfolded in that Gangwon-do cabin, so one main shooting spot. Flashbacks? Just school or back alleys.
Total cast fees clocked in at 420 million won—making it one of the cheapest productions ever.
Plus, as a contest winner, headquarters covered half the budget.
So.
"Let's dump every saved penny into marketing."
After the reading wrapped, I offered Director Jeong Hee-soo a proper apology.
No matter my intentions, an outsider meddling in a script reading was out of line.
Director Jeong didn't seem thrilled, but he didn't hold a grudge either.
"Wasn't thrilled, but the results speak for themselves. Feels like we nipped a mistake in the bud."
"What mistake?"
"Expectations weren't sky-high. The first read was solid enough. But the second? Changed my mind."
With that, Director Jeong begged off dinner to review the script again.
The actors and writers filled the void.
"Wow, that was insanely good."
"Way beyond what we imagined writing it. Straight-up moving."
They were all such good-natured folks that writers Gil Sang-hoon and Ko Young-tae hit it off with the cast right away.
Age gaps were small too.
Both writers at 29, actors mostly late 20s to early 30s—Eum Sung-hyun aside.
A few rounds of drinks in, and it was all "hyung" this, "dongsaeng" that.
The lone outsider? Eum Sung-hyun.
His spot was awkward, yeah.
26—the odd age out—and the only idol-turned-actor among theater vets.
But I couldn't babysit everything.
If he wanted to keep acting, he'd have to handle this himself.
I was mulling how to break it gently when he approached first.
"Great work out there, Director."
"You too, Sung-hyun. Tough day."
"Was I okay today?"
"More than. You nailed it."
"Really?"
"Yeah. For real."
No bullshit.
He wasn't the standout today.
That was Park Sung-won—usually insecure, but he sparkled.
But the one truest to the character I'd possessed? Hands down, Eum Sung-hyun.
On camera, his acting would look the most natural too.
Can't be helped— theater and drama aren't the same.
Theater delivers lines to live audiences; drama delivers speech to viewers.
Not the flashiest, but the most natural? Eum Sung-hyun.
Telling him that, I watched his face light up visibly.
Maybe eased some anxiety from being around the vets?
Then So Jeong-hoon butted in.
"Talking behind our backs over here?"
"Behind your backs? We weren't even whispering."
"We know. That theater tone creeps in deep immersion. But it's improved a ton, right?"
"Totally. Director didn't say a word."
Grinning warmly, So Jeong-hoon herded me and Eum Sung-hyun to the table.
Chae Seo-hee's cheeks were already flushed— a few drinks in.
Glasses circled, and eldest So Jeong-hoon spoke up.
"Sung-hyun, you've got skills—own it. We couldn't touch that at your age."
"Ah... thanks."
"Kinda rich from the guy who almost tanked the reading from nerves, but ditch the pressure and you'll kill it."
Eum Sung-hyun didn't know, but the cast talked about him.
Easy to act with.
Whatever style you threw, he'd catch it like Ko Young-tae.
Slower to immerse than others, sure.
But once in? Stuck like glue.
I'd seen him stay as Hyun-tae all day.
Me sharing that cracked the floodgates—everyone piled on the praise.
Eum Sung-hyun loosened up.
Then the real feast kicked off.
I'd seen plenty of sets, but Gongbeomche's vibe was top-tier.
No backstabbing alone was half the battle; shared underdog bonds sealed it.
We drank like fish... and
"Hyun-woo, have you lost your mind? Stopping a script reading? Director might hate you!"
I learned Chae Seo-hee's drunk mode.
Nagging.
Ten repeats of the same spiel—ears bleeding.
Today's stat screen: Self-Control -10.
In Korea, OTT platforms drop maybe 10 exclusive originals a year.
Latecomer Tvic pumps out more—15 tops—with aggressive investments.
SSK handled 3-4 annually, key partner for them.
But 2028? SSK's year.
Six confirmed, maybe seven.
One undecided: December launch or January?
No grand plan—just timing overlapped from planning to production (1-5 years).
SSK's first 2028 drop: Gyeseong Bakery...
Too shallow for period drama, childish for hero tale, dated for youth story, dry for romance.
1.5 / 5
It bombed hard amid critic pans and viewer mocks.
I felt the same watching.
Bakery tale? Resistance saga? Budding romance? Pick one.
Quit after four of sixteen episodes.
But kept quiet.
"Ughhh..."
Chae Seo-hee was assistant CE there.
Gongbeomche was the outlier; assistants usually just relay senior/CE directions.
Technically, no blame on her...
"Aaaarghhh!"
But weekends sacrificed on a flop? Brutal.
SSK buzz: Year's harvest starting with back-to-back busts.
Next up: Gongbeomche.
February to June gap, but we followed Gyeseong Bakery.
Then Kim Ra-un's next gig hit the press.
My history with Kim Ra-un hadn't leaked yet.
But it'd surface eventually—Jang Gi-un would milk it.
He's plotting the angle now.
Whatever.
I had counters ready, tailored to his moves.
Priority: Make great drama.
Time flew; script locked after director talks.
Unlike broadcast's page-script flexibility, OTT shoots fixed scripts cold.
Tweak one scene, schedules and budget tangle.
Sets built, call sheets finalized...
First shoot day loomed.