Piles of Scripts and a Director's Breakdown
After my one-on-one with the CEO, I printed out a massive stack of scripts from the office.
I'd gone through the ones that came in before Gongbeomche's shoot, but nothing since then.
I could've just read them on the computer, but I printed them out in case the precognitive symptoms only triggered with physical copies.
It didn't have to activate just one at a time, right?
And so I dove into this enormous pile of scripts.
The quality varied wildly.
Some made me wonder how they even made it to SSK after just the opening, while others had me closing my eyes to visualize after the first act.
But one thing was clear: I was comparing every single one to At Your Fingertips.
I didn't fully understand my own heart.
Choosing At Your Fingertips, guaranteed by my superpower's potential, felt risky.
I might not find the right answer all the way through.
On the flip side, picking something trendier than At Your Fingertips meant settling for lower polish.
The content was overly familiar, but At Your Fingertips' completion was beyond doubt.
'Should I meet with the PD?'
It might be better to track down Yeom Jae-moon PD from MBY, who gave me the script, and hash it out openly.
But I hadn't because...
"You're Do Hyun-woo CE, right?"
"Could you take a quick look at this?"
Because I'd seen that PD's expression in the mirror.
A face where long years of resignation were on the verge of devouring his dreams.
No—had already devoured them.
Yeom PD might have given up already.
He'd handed over the script without a shred of expectation.
It felt like he saw parallels between the Gongbeomche situation and his own, crossing the final hurdle to surrender.
I was the one who'd grabbed the departing Yeom PD and peppered him with questions.
Startled by the sudden precognitive symptom.
But he'd mistaken my reaction for acting and given a faint smile.
"You're a kind guy. To works and people alike."
That was it.
Unlike the Gorgeous, Wow team, Yeom PD had left the set right away.
I learned the details about him from the assistant director.
A total chatterbox who spilled unasked info nonstop.
"Think of him as the perennial deputy manager whose desk got yanked."
His peers had all been promoted to CP, but he was still just a chief PD.
And he wasn't even enjoying making shows anymore.
Chief PD in name only—no assigned programs for two years straight.
Stuck on his fourth endless pilot proposal, it was time to get out.
"Not sure why, but maybe he pissed off the execs?"
"Rumors say embezzlement, whistleblowing, even stalking female staff."
He probably hadn't actually committed any crimes.
No formal discipline despite the obvious hints.
Likely some internal politics issue.
Knowing his situation made it hard to approach Yeom PD.
I didn't want to torture him with false hope.
Sometimes hope hurts more than despair.
As those thoughts swirled, the doorbell rang.
I checked the clock—nine o'clock.
"Already?"
I rushed to open the door, and the actors poured in.
"Director, Sun-jae's lost it!"
"Huh? Why?"
"Some fan asks for an autograph, and instead of signing, he stamps his thumbprint? Says no ink?"
"...Thumbprint? Like, that thumbprint?"
"Yeah! Why the hell does he carry ink around anyway?"
Sun-jae couldn't be toting ink, right?
Probably the fan had it by chance.
I almost asked but held back—didn't want to peer into the abyss.
"Only an idiot with a defective brain stamps thumbprints."
"Today's hyung's dad joke has some real insight."
The actors noisily took over the living room with booze and dry snacks.
It was a planned gathering.
We'd watch Gongbeomche episode 7 together, but not just for the drama.
We'd have met tomorrow for the finale if so.
This was a mutual agreement spot, at D.P and the actors' request.
For agency contract consultations.
They'd cleared busy schedules, but first...
"Announcement: No posting my face on SNS from now on."
"Why? Reactions are great!"
"Exactly because they are."
"Director, you're too much."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You let Seo Jae-yeon post it, but crack down on us!"
"Misunderstanding. I warned him good too."
"Didn't work, apparently?"
"What?"
I facepalmed at Seo Jae-yeon's SNS Park Jun-ho showed me.
Guess I needed to start SNS myself?
I hurled a barrage of blame messages at Seo Jae-yeon and tossed my smartphone aside.
"Better talk before the drinks hit."
"Yeah."
"This spot's for you to get my advice, but D.P asked me to persuade you too. I'll be fair, but keep it in mind."
The situation was simple.
A few days ago, D.P made a bold move.
Aiming to sign all eight Gongbeomche leads at once.
First, to solidify their title as Korea's top actor agency.
Second, they saw merchandise value in the eight.
Three still had contracts left, but no big issues.
Moon Jae-won's small agency was ethical—would pay the penalty.
Jung Min-woo's was trash; he'd make a scene over breached terms.
Eum Sung-hyun same as Jung Min-woo, but wary of media scandal ruining his image.
"If the fuss fails, they'll pay the penalty—no worries there."
Telling the three this drew slight surprise.
"Even covering penalties?"
"Not much. Low advances, and their fault on many counts."
I said this because it was risky for D.P to state officially.
What if contracts fell through?
Awkward.
"D.P's a solid agency. You've seen it these weeks. Already landed ads?"
"Yeah. No clue why all eight for hangover relief."
"Gongbeomche spirit, probably."
"Director..."
"Don't make that face. How much flak did I take for that variety gig?"
I grumbled briefly, then continued.
"That's the pro-D.P side. Now the con: They'll turn you into cash cows."
The others got it from "cash cows," but not Eum Sung-hyun.
"Cash cows?"
"Minus top stars like Seo Jae-yeon or Ruan, agencies profit from supporting actor specialists. The 'again' types?"
Actors who deliver more than their weight anywhere.
No standout looks, so genre-agnostic, image-safe.
"Talking prolific ones—two or three a year, up to four or five."
"That's bad?"
"Not bad. But you'll never lead that way."
Except Eum Sung-hyun, all early-mid thirties.
Start prolific now, no leads ever.
"You'll think: As long as I act, it's fine. You're acting-starved. That's what D.P's banking on."
"..."
"This choice shapes your whole career. Not easy."
Unspoken: D.P hadn't decided Eum Sung-hyun's track.
Lead push or supporting lock? TBD.
Young, and Gongbeomche's protag.
But to avoid discord, they asked me to keep it quiet.
They'd handle smoothly either way.
Watching them ponder seriously, I felt a twinge of embarrassment.
I'd been a no-name who couldn't even snag supporting roles.
"No more advice or messages. Discuss among yourselves... Shall we drink?"
I lightened the mood, and we watched Gongbeomche episode 7 together.
"Damn, Sun-jae's acting slays."
Lee Sun-jae said it.
But yeah, it did.
"Wonder what the finale reactions'll be."
"Internet's split hard."
After that fun 70 minutes, as Gongbeomche ended, an unexpected pitch.
"Kinda sad to head home—beer and Youngperal?"
"Huh? You guys watch Youngperal?"
"Totally. All fans."
"Started as rival check, now pure fun."
"Youngperal, Youngperal."
Their fervor left me no choice—I bought today's episode 7.
Why no choice? I'd only seen up to 5—too busy for 6.
As episode 7 kicked off, they buzzed excitedly.
Kim Ra-un this, Seo Yun-ah that—true fans.
No one outside knows we're doing this.
"But wasn't late episode 6 kinda iffy?"
"Was it? I loved it."
With So Jeong-hoon's words, we all sank into the drama.
While shooting Gorgeous, Wow, we'd debated if directors or writers matter more.
The talk spilled into the group chat post-recording.
I couldn't resist joining.
We concluded writers > directors.
Writers create; directors polish.
Polish sans creation? Possible. Creation sans polish? No.
But we were wrong.
"......"
"......"
When the director howls in agony, the writer gets tossed.
Creation? I destroy!
Why say that?...
"...Isn't this straight-up seppuku?"
Youngperal was dead.
What the hell was this?
Did the director lose his mind?