Chapter 36
Chapter 36
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: 1st Anniversary Commemorative Interview Filming
-----------------------------------------------------------------
No sooner had the sequel planning wrapped up than the biggest event of the second half of the year—the 1st anniversary of Girls Memorial's release—loomed just two months away.
Thanks to that, the development team was now knee-deep in work related to the anniversary.
The art team was handling anniversary event illustrations and fan tribute management.
The development team was working on the anniversary event and mini-games.
The planning team was scripting the anniversary event story.
However, game events like the commemorative broadcast were being managed by the publisher, SFLAG Corporation, so no one was too worried about those.
At least, not until the request for cooperation on the 1st anniversary video came in.
Because of that, I was currently on the receiving end of everyone's glares in the conference room.
Glares asking why I was only telling them now,
glares questioning if the filming was really necessary,
and glares implying they'd have chewed me out if I weren't the general director.
"I get that it's sudden and you're all surprised... but we got a formal request for cooperation. Okay?"
At my words, Yerin raised her hand and asked,
"I checked the official memo you forwarded, sunbae. But when exactly does filming start?"
"The day after tomorrow. That's when the schedule is set."
Yerin nodded at the answer, and behind her, a timid hand went up.
The hand belonged, of course, to Seol.
"Um... do we have to film bare-faced...? Could we wear masks or something...?"
"That's... uh, let me ask about it."
"Th-thank you...!"
I stepped out of the conference room to call Tanaka about Seol's request,
and got the green light—no issues at all.
"It's fine, so bring whatever mask you want. But you know not to go too crazy with the design, right?"
"Yes...! Thank you...!"
"Alright, any more questions?"
"Um... Director?"
Yumi, sitting right up front, tentatively raised her hand.
"Am I excluded from this shoot? My name wasn't on the participant list...?"
"Oh, right. Yumi, you don't have a personal interview, but you'll join the business team during their shoot."
"Business team shoot?"
"Yeah. They're filming the business team this time too, and they asked for your help."
"Got it~."
"Anyone else have questions? No?"
I scanned the conference room, but no one else raised a hand.
"Okay then, I'll announce details on the day of filming, so let's wrap up for today!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Lee Seungjin, team leader of Enson GT's PC Game Development Team 3.
With over ten years at Enson GT, he hadn't been enjoying his commute to work lately.
The reason went without saying: the mobile game development team.
He already hated how they strutted around backed by the president's trust,
but now that their revenue was skyrocketing, the mobile team's general director practically had his shoulders squared to the ceiling.
It was infuriating to see some young punk acting like that.
Of course, he knew most of the blame lay with the PC game development team.
They just weren't making any money.
'What the hell makes the games I run worse than the mobile team's?'
Top-notch graphics.
Excellent optimization.
Content that at least never got complaints of being empty—solid reviews all around.
Honestly, he couldn't wrap his head around how they were pulling in that kind of revenue with no real content, just some weird character art.
Why the hell were users pouring insane amounts of money into pulling those little drawings?
'Am I the one who can't keep up with the world, or is the world just going insane...?'
He sighed inwardly and headed to work, as always.
No matter how dissatisfied he was, quitting wasn't an option.
After passing through security and arriving at the fifth floor where the team office was, he noticed the hallway unusually bustling, unlike normal.
Wondering what was going on, he headed toward the office.
There, he ran into Team Leader 2, who was gawking at the crowd around the business team.
"What's all this racket first thing in the morning?"
"Finally made it in? They're filming something."
"Filming? What would bring a broadcast crew to our company?"
"No, take a good look over there."
Seungjin peered closely at where Team Leader 2 pointed.
Enson Korea's logo on the camera.
"Head office staff? Then why are they filming the business team like that? Some special feature?"
"Overheard it's at the mobile game dev team's request."
"Them? Why?"
"Beats me. Word is their game's hitting 1st anniversary soon, so maybe that's it?"
Seungjin smirked at Team Leader 2's words.
"1st anniversary? We've been running games for 4, 5 years solid and get zilch."
"A rolling stone gathering no moss or whatever—this is ridiculous."
"First mobile game they make succeeds in Japan, and now it's No. 1 in revenue on both major markets for a year straight."
Seungjin chuckled in disbelief even as he said it.
He'd felt it on the way to work, but now it was crystal clear.
The world was changing.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ On the appointed day, at exactly 9 a.m., Hye-ri from Enson Korea Studio's filming team arrived at the office.
"Hello. I'm Assistant Manager Han Hye-ri from Enson Korea Studio's filming team."
"Thanks for coming all this way. I'm Ji Hojin, general director of Enson GT's mobile game development team."
"I got a rough rundown of today's schedule, but what's the filming route?"
At Hye-ri's question, I handed her a floor plan of the team office.
"Start with me, then recording studio, art team, planning team, and dev room."
"Got it. Let's start filming right away, then."
I led Hye-ri, who picked up her equipment from the floor, into the conference room.
The room, which we entered with her, was now packed with Girls Memorial merch I'd never seen before—
the team members had raided the office for goodies to decorate since this was the filming spot.
Apparently, they'd clear it all out and return it to the office during the recording studio shoot...
Whatever, they'd handle it.
Lost in thought, I heard Hye-ri call me—preparations were done.
"All set. Shall we start right away?"
"Sure."
Hye-ri guided me to the filming spot.
I sat in the chair as directed, and she adjusted the camera angle before starting the countdown.
"Filming in three... two... one!"
A red light blinked on, signaling recording on the front camera.
I bowed politely and began.
"Hello, Girls Memorial managers. I'm Ji Hojin, general director of Girls Memorial."
.
.
.
"We'll keep bringing you even more fun stories and adorable, cute students, so please continue loving Girls Memorial."
The recording ended with one final bow.
I asked if it went okay, just in case, and Hye-ri nodded, thumbs up.
'Was a bit nervous, but good.'
With the tight schedule, we skipped rest and headed straight to the recording studio.
I'd texted Chaeyoung beforehand, just in case...
Guess she left her smartphone elsewhere and missed it.
If she'd checked, she wouldn't have been lounging in her chair, legs up, sipping canned beer while working right up until we entered...
"Wh-what? Filming's already starting?"
"I texted you, sunbae."
"I usually turn my phone off while working in here... Take the filming crew out for a bit."
Tight schedule or not, we obliged and stepped out of the recording studio.
Couldn't film with beer cans on the table, after all.
A short while later, the door opened.
"Come on in."
We entered with Hye-ri to find the messy studio now neatly tidied.
Chaeyoung glared at us—especially me—like she had a lot to say,
then composed herself and addressed Hye-ri.
"Starting right away?"
"Yes! Soon as I set up."
Hye-ri dove into setup the moment she spoke.
"Space is tight, so I'll step out first."
As I turned to leave, I caught Chaeyoung's lips moving.
'We'll talk after filming.'
...Future me would handle it.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After the eventful shoot with Chaeyoung, Yerin's went smoothly.
"Thanks to the directors cooperating so well, it wrapped up quick."
"Tell me about it."
"Just two more shoots left. Shall we get moving?"
"Let's."
We headed from the break in the conference room to the planning team, greeted by Seol in a white bunny mask.
"Uh, hello...?"
"......"
"Um...?"
"Er, very... unique."
"Thank you...?"
"......"
"Seol, you're filming in that...?"
At the question, Seol glanced nervously between me and Hye-ri before speaking cautiously.
"Ah, is it no good...? Director said anything was fine..."
"No, it's not not okay, but..."
"Then I'll go with this! It makes me less shaky..."
"...Alright."
Hye-ri snapped to and lifted her camera at our exchange.
"Proceed with the shoot like this?"
"Ah, yes! Please take good care of the filming...!"