A Spark Reignites
Ko Young-tae was actually worn out.
No, sick and tired of it all.
If it weren't for Sang-hoon, who had become almost like a brother by now, he would've abandoned Gongbeomche long ago.
So when he heard a new handler had been assigned, his first thought was, Here we go again…
A time loop?
Something about it just clicked.
Of course, at first he shook his head.
It sounded too out of left field.
But the more he listened, the more it seemed like it could hook viewers without touching the core drama at all.
The deeper he thought about it, the more brilliant the idea felt.
How does someone even come up with something like this?
And Do Hyun-woo wasn't just tossing out vague concepts.
"I've got another idea, but it'd require rewriting a good chunk of the script… There's a point I'd like us to brainstorm together."
"What is it?"
"Putting flashbacks to their school days in the opening of every episode."
"You mean pulling some of the backstory dialogues that unfold through conversations and shoving them up front?"
"Not all of them, just parts."
"Why?"
"Right now, the info dump is too linear. Like, highlight the subtle class tension between Young-soo and Hyun-tae, then flash back to related school days."
"Isn't that obvious?"
"Sure, posing a question and answering it is a standard technique. The problem is doing it over and over throughout the drama."
Do Hyun-woo's point was simple.
Moving flashbacks to the opening gives viewers more info than the characters have.
"You've felt it watching dramas, right? The characters are still fumbling around, but you figure out the answer first."
"Of course."
"Then viewers keep watching to confirm they're right. It's a viewing hook."
"Ah…!"
"Plus, our drama demands intense focus. Miss a second, and the rest won't make sense. Not a huge issue for OTT, but shifting key flashbacks upfront solves that too."
His heart started pounding.
A feeling he hadn't had in nearly two years.
The burning urge to revise the script right now.
"That's… a seriously good idea."
Gil Sang-hoon looked just as fired up.
After that, Do Hyun-woo CE kept dropping gems, and Ko Young-tae and Gil Sang-hoon whipped out notebooks to jot everything down.
Not a single word to waste.
This guy's a genius.
Why haven't we worked with a CE like this before?
Maybe he's such an ace they only send him in for disasters?
As Ko Young-tae mulled that over, the meeting wrapped up.
"So why does the loop power even exist? In web novels or webtoons, sudden powers fly, but not in dramas, right?"
Gil Sang-hoon's question wasn't really seeking an answer.
It was more like tossing out a topic for discussion.
With a CE dropping ideas this good, it was on the writers to fill in the gaps.
But Do Hyun-woo CE answered casually.
"This is something I saw firsthand—or, well, just riffing off the cuff here."
"Go on."
And dropped a bombshell.
"…So how about Hyun-tae gets this power?"
Gil Sang-hoon and Ko Young-tae just stared at each other, eyes wide.
Why do we even need writers?
This OTT guy's better than us at everything.
Do Hyun-woo laughed.
"I can't write scripts. Can't direct either. Just got a vivid imagination, that's all."
"Still…"
"Who contributes more? Doesn't matter. It's our drama."
Our drama.
The phrase OTT staff loved to trot out, like it was drilled into them.
But this time, it felt genuine.
Because no one knew how much time this handler had poured into Gongbeomche.
"Do CE."
"Yeah."
"Give us a week. We'll overhaul it into something killer."
"A week work?"
"Yeah. It'll get done. No matter what, we'll make it happen."
"I trust you. I'll line up some casting options in the meantime."
"Nice folks."
They'd impressed him from the café, crisp shirts and all, but talking to them sealed it.
Open-minded listeners who took his off-the-cuff ramblings seriously.
The opening flashbacks and loop origin weren't from the script dive, either.
Still, solid ideas he liked.
And he'd convinced the writers, reignited their drive. Perfect.
Now for the rest…
Casting.
The seven supporting roles? No issue.
They were his top picks from the script.
Acting auditions would verify, of course.
What he'd seen was their real lives, not performances.
If their acting fell short of that, he'd drop it.
But he doubted it.
He'd caught two or three in action before—top-notch performers.
The protagonist Hyun-tae was the headache.
He knew Hyun-tae's face now.
First-person possession, but bathrooms had mirrors.
The problem?
I have no idea who he is.
A fresh face.
Early to mid-20s, maybe late-20s if baby-faced.
Skinny, scrawny build. Sharp, irritable voice.
Who the hell?
He didn't know every actor, but anyone lead-worthy on OTT would ring a bell.
This guy? Total stranger.
A rookie?
Cinderella case, agency investing for a shot?
Issue was, the superpower's casting might not factor real-world logic.
Rookies need miracles for leads; superpower might just pick "perfect fit."
Hoping it's not a total newbie.
True rookies complicate everything.
SSK approval's tough; even if greenlit, disaster.
With rookie writer, lead actor's the trust anchor. Rookie lead? Dead in water.
Supports? Forget it.
Still, he couldn't let go easy.
It was perfect casting.
Couldn't picture another face or voice as Hyun-tae.
Don't psych myself out.
Whatever, track down script Hyun-tae first.
Even if realism kills it, he had to see with his own eyes.
Might be from some obscure project he missed.
Hit up Team Leader Ko for rookie lists, then pound pavement at big agencies.
"Script meeting go well?"
"Yeah, promising for now. Results will tell."
Chae Seo-hee tilted her head at my words.
"Gongbeomche meeting satisfied you?"
"Like I said, for now."
"Hmm…"
What's with that look?
Doubting me?
Makes sense. Even vets threw in the towel.
"Anyway, Seo-hee."
"Hey, titles. You said I reek of set."
"CE."
"Wait, CE's a role, not rank? Whatever, what?"
"How do drama castings work?"
Chae Seo-hee shook her head at my question.
"Hate casting more than scripting."
"Why?"
"Too many cooks. Production, writers, director, channel, even early joiners."
"Hm…"
Per her rundown, OTT dramas fell into three buckets.
First: 100% OTT-funded, like Gongbeomche. Channel-led.
"Easiest. All internal logic."
Second: Split costs with production company. 5:5, 6:4, whatever—joint power plays.
"Balance gigs are hell. We guard ours, they guard theirs."
Third: Production-heavy funding. OTT just pre-buys and distributes.
"Those, they really believe in, so channels snag 30% stakes on any terms."
She'd felt sharp before, but damn, explanatory skills on point.
Should've taught school?
"So ours is first case. Tvic dictates casting?"
"Nope?"
"Then?"
"Do whatever, Hyun-woo."
"Huh?"
"Who'd touch that bomb? Interfere with 'cast this, not that,' then share blame? Nah."
"Oh?"
My call?